Mark’s Message
Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day big success
Department Highlight – Macomb Food Program
CARROT Survivor Challenge boasts 12 finalists, MCA employee final winner
Macomb’s Memories – The Macomb County Jail
Paw Print
Recipe Corner
May 2017 Renovation Report
For Your Benefit
Event Calendar
County-sponsored events (Blood Drive) (Family Day at Jimmy John’s Field) (Sprint & Splash
March New Hires/Retirees
Blog Log
News Nook
Mark’s Message
Summer is finally here and along with the season comes so many great opportunities to enjoy Macomb County. If you’re looking for something to do, definitely stay engaged with our Make Macomb Your Home website. We are currently focusing on our On The Water feature, which promotes all of the awesome water-related activities, from kayaking to fishing, available here. We have recently written a blog about all the fantastic farmers markets now open in the county and, a few weeks ago, we launched our Day Camp Fun in Macomb resource which features day camps available locally this summer for children 6 to 17 years old.
Also, don’t forget to enjoy two of Macomb County’s best entertainment venues: Freedom Hill, which has a great concert lineup for this summer, and, Jimmy Johns Field, which has games every Thursday through Sunday until Sept. 10. There really are countless ways to make Macomb your home this summer. For more ideas on what to do this weekend, check out this article from the Macomb Daily.
A few weeks ago, we received notice that Health, Community Corrections and Roads all received Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo).
These awards are given in 21 different categories that represent different services provided by counties nationally. Our county earned five of the 21 total given out statewide.
Of the departments under the direction of the County Executive Office, three were awarded to Health, one to Community Corrections and one to the Department of Roads, who was also honored for Best in Category.
Health
- Community Resiliency Through Intergovernmental and Library Partnerships
- Enhanced Hepatitis C Surveillance and Prevention
- Healthy Cooking for a Life Program Max Thompson Family Resource Center – Kitchen Renovation
Community Corrections
Roads (Best in Category)
Congratulations to all our winners. You make us all proud, demonstrating for the nation Macomb County’s innovative programs.
Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day a big success
By Macomb County Human Resources and Labor Relations
Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day was a huge success thanks to volunteers and participating departments. Nearly 100 children attended various events throughout the county. Employees and children alike enjoyed hands-on activities with Public Works, Animal Control, Judge Matthew Switalski, COMTEC, Michigan State University Extension and the Sheriff's Office. The program was dedicated to helping our county's daughters and sons explore their future opportunities at work and in their communities.
Lakeisha Johnson, an employee with Macomb County’s Friend of the Court, said her son and niece thoroughly enjoyed the day.
“I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone involved in Bring Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day. My son Caleb and niece Ja'Mya had such a wonderful experience – they can't stop talking about it. From the water display, to the patrol dog and most certainly COMTEC! We had an amazing time running from place to place. I have to admit I was amazed myself to find out all the exciting and educational facts we learned together. Most of all, we had fun with my job. I really can't wait until next year to do it all over again. This was the most fun I've had here at Macomb County since 2015!”
Department Highlight – Macomb Food Program
By Sarah Cormier, Macomb County Executive Office
In Charge: Linda Azar – Division Director for Child and Family Services
Location: Vic Wertz Warehouse, 44900 Vic Wertz Drive, Clinton Township
Number of employees: Three full time and three part time (mostly volunteer based)
Description of department: As part of Macomb Community Action, the Macomb Food Program is a food bank which is dedicated to stocking the shelves of over 50 pantries and hunger mission organizations throughout Macomb County. The program also administers other food distribution programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which help supplement the diets of low-income seniors and families. Macomb Food Program is also a distributor of Focus Hope for qualifying seniors. Food distribution additionally includes a mobile food pantry and food recovery. The program also supports education, food safety and other programming for our partners.
How the department fulfills its objective: Fundraising, community support, grants, food drives and partnering with other organizations such as Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest allows the program to distribute over 3 million pounds of food annually to over 283,000 individuals. One of our largest food drives is the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger food drive which brings in over 300,000 pounds of food into our program ann ually, helping us to distribute more food to the community.
Goals of the program: To feed the hungry in Macomb County through food distribution to pantries and other hunger mission organizations by stocking their shelves and ensuring families in need can receive assistance. Pantries are located throughout Macomb County. The Macomb Food Program makes every effort to provide healthy and culturally appropriate food to families.
Accomplishments: Food recovery, which allows the Macomb Food Program the ability to bring fresh food options to low income senior housing sites. The Macomb Food Program’s new fresh mobile pantry encourages not only healthier food options but brings fresh fruits and vegetables to seniors and children who lack access. Macomb Food Program also provides healthy eating education as well as food distribution through our client-choice pantry at the Macomb County Family Resource Center in Mount Clemens, where families can access other services as well as food support. Just recently, Macomb Food Program expanded its commercial-grade freezer in our warehouse, doubling the capacity of frozen food stored for our customers. The expansion was made possible through funding provided by TEFAP.
CARROT Survivor Challenge boasts 12 finalists, MCA employee final winner
By Macomb County Healthstyles
Macomb County's very first CARROT Survivor Challenge was a huge success. The challenge is a last-person-standing competition – it requires participants to make their personalized activity goal each day to stay in the contest. As it turns out, we had a record 12 staff members still alive in the challenge after 63 days (the previous record for a CARROT survivor was four!).
In keeping with the contest rules, a random drawing was held to determine the winner. The drawing winner, Terena Tubbs with the Macomb Community Action Head Start, was a great example of the dedication demonstrated by each of the 12 finalists. When she began the challenge on March 1, Terena's daily goal was about 4,400 steps. She proceeded to make her goal every day for the next two months, regularly walking more than 10,000 steps daily by the end of the competition!
“The reason why I participated is because one of my co-workers, Leonora Ruffner, encouraged me to get up and get moving. So I did, and then the invitation for the survivor competition came, and I joined because I always wanted to be in a survivor competition,” said Terena. “What drove my dedication was receiving the coins and being able to purchase awesome gift cards. What truly motivated me was achieving the goal that the CARROT app provided for me every day. When I achieved the goal for the day, it gave me confidence and motivated me to do it again the next day.”
Terena said the app and competition have encouraged her to stay healthy.
“It was well worth the effort because of the health benefits that came with walking every day,” she said. “My blood pressure decreased, I lost weight, my body doesn't ache, and I feel so much better. I feel great!”
To take advantage of the county’s free CARROT Wellness Program:
1) download the app (search “carrot wellness” on the app store).
2) sign in with your phone number.
3) enter your Macomb County email address on the “Wellness” screen.
4) click on the link in the verification email from CARROT, then return to CARROT and refresh.
Contact Healthstyles or CARROT (support@carrotwellness.com) if you have any questions. And congratulations to Terena and all of the finalists for their great accomplishment!
Macomb’s Memories
The Macomb County Jail, 1882-1959
By Cynthia S. Donahue, Macomb County Facilities and Operations
.jpg "Macomb County Jail Mt. Clemens")
The county’s fifth jail was located on Front Street (N. Gratiot) in Mount Clemens and was completed in 1882. The architect was Northup J. Gibbs and the builder was Mr. Heath. The cost of the facility came close to $11,000 upon completion. The building consisted of two parts: the dwelling and the jail proper facing the river. The dwelling had a frontage of 42 feet facing Front Street, while the measurement from front to rear was 30 feet. The dimensions of the jail part were 30 by 32 feet, with the dwelling having two stories and a basement.
The basement had two cellars, a kitchen and dining room, and one bedroom. The main floor was the sheriff’s office, sitting room, bedroom and parlor. The second floor consisted of four chambers, a closet, and a restroom with 10-foot ceilings. The jail section was on the river slope and was comprised of three stories with 18 cells.
.jpg "Macomb County Jail Aerial View")
It is exceedingly difficult to ascertain just how the jail fit upon the small slope adjacent to the south side of the Crocker Bridge that we see today. The above aerial view, courtesy of the Mount Clemens Public Library, shows the placement of the jail in 1950. A notable difference from today’s setting is the location of the Macomb Bridge; it was located on the east side of the County Building. The Crocker Bridge replaced it in 1960 and was located on the west side of the building. Additional changes were the widening of Gratiot.
.jpg "Mt. Clemens Police Department")
The county moved to the new jail on Elizabeth Road in 1954 leaving the dilapidated building to the Mount Clemens Police Department. The city used the building until 1959 as a lockup for the police department and as the distributing center for surplus commodities.
The old jail had become a community hazard and was demolished in December 1959. The Mount Clemens police moved to temporary headquarters in a garage on Pine Street until facilities became available in the new municipal building in 1960.
Paw Print
By Macomb County Animal Control
We had two very successful events in April/May that reminded everyone at the department how important our work here is. Between the Bissell Empty the Shelter and Fill the Trailer with Pet Supplies Plus in Clinton Township events, the department was able to adopt out over 30 animals and take in thousands of pounds of pet food to help Macomb County's seniors in need feed their companion animals. We look forward to the continued support from our fellow county workers and the community as a whole as we start our busy spring/summer season taking care of dogs, cats (especially kittens) and wildlife!
Recipe Corner
Provided by Michigan State University Extension
Fluffy Key Lime Pie
Serves 8
Ingredients:
¼ cup boiling water
1 package (0.3 ounce) sugar-free lime gelatin
2 cartons (6 ounce each) key lime yogurt
1 carton (8 ounce) frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
1 reduced-fat graham cracker crust (6 ounce)
Directions:
In a large bowl, add boiling water to gelatin; stir 2 minutes to completely dissolve. Whisk in yogurt. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate until set, approximately two hours.
Any flavor of sugar-free gelatin and yogurt can be substituted for lime.
Nutritional Facts:
Calories per serving: 194
Fat: 3 grams
Carbohydrates: 33 grams
Protein: 3 grams
Submitted by: MSU Extension
Source: Taste of Home
For Your Benefit
By Macomb County Human Resources and Labor Relations
Macomb County values its employees by offering competitive benefits to those who are eligible. Additionally, voluntary benefits are available to supplement current benefits and offer income protection, long-term care, legal assistance and even insurance for a beloved pet. Voluntary benefits include:
- Short-term disability – offered by AFLAC
- Long-term care for employee and spouse – offered by Life Secure
- Pet insurance – offered by Nationwide
- Critical care protection – offered by AFLAC
- Legal plan – offered by Legal Shield
- Term life insurance for employee, spouse and children – offered by The Hartford
- Accident insurance – offered by AFLAC (New 2017).
Benefit Open Enrollment will be June 1 through June 30 with an Aug. 1, 2017 effective date.
Informational meetings will take place as follows:
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, May 24
Board of Commissioners Board Room
1 South Main – 9th Floor
Mount Clemens
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 25
VerKuilen Building – Assembly Room B
21885 Dunham Road
Clinton Township
The enrollment schedule for individual meetings will be posted on our Intranet. You may also contact TMR & Associates at (800) 529-1663 for additional information and scheduling.
The following benefits are available for enrollment any time throughout the year:
- The County Deferred Compensation (457) Plan through Vanguard
- The opportunity to plan and prepare for college expenses for your children through the Michigan Education Savings Plan (MESP).
County-sponsored events
Macomb County MSU Extension wants you to R.E.L.A.X.
MSU Extension Spring Plant Exchange returns
Yoga At The Hill Returns for Second Year
Macomb Food Collaborative presents the 6th annual All about Food: From Farm to Fork conference
Tour Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair Flats on a Summer Discovery Cruise
Blog Log
Summer sport camps bring skills, sweat to Macomb County
Great summer camps for the artist in every child
United Shore Professional Baseball League season
Building community through gardening
Keeping things fresh at Macomb County farmers markets
News Nook
Make Macomb Your Home launches Day Camp Fun in Macomb resource
Lockheed Martin visits Macomb County to connect with potential suppliers
Macomb County wins five NACo Achievement Awards, including Best in Category
Community Mental Health receives grants to fight substance abuse
Innovate Mound sends representatives to Washington D.C.
County celebrates Arbor Day with tree planting, sale