Inside High Point - July

INSIDE HIGH POINT JULY 2021

MEET YOUR MANAGER! TASHA LOGAN FORD MAKES HIGH POINT HISTORY AS NEW CITY MANAGER

CONTENTS Welcome to Inside High Point, the newsletter that covers everything going on within the City of High Point and its various departments. If you have news, photos, questions or suggestions for what you would like to see featured, please email us at PIO@highpointnc.gov.

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COVER STORY

PUBLIC SERVICES CELEBRATES APPRENTICE

2021 TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE WINNERS

High Point's new city manager has arrived.

Joshua Best graduated Monday, July 26, from the NCRWA PreApprenticeship Program.

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Inside High Point

See who made the biggest wellness transformation!

CITY COUNCIL City Council meets the first and third Monday of each month. You can find their meeting schedule HERE. Mayor - Jay Wagner

Jay.Wagner@highpointnc.gov 336.883.3305

Member at Large - Britt Moore

Britt.Moore@highpointnc.gov 336.687.2200

Member at Large - Tyrone E. Johnson

Tyrone.Johnson@highpointnc.gov 336.307.8261

Ward 1 - Cyril Jefferson

Cyril.Jefferson@highpointnc.gov

Ward 2 - Chris Williams

Chris.Williams@highpointnc.gov 336.883.1736

Ward 3 - Monica Peters

Monica.Peters@highpointnc.gov 336.906.7328

Ward 4 - Wesley Hudson

Wesley.Hudson@highpointnc.gov 336.655.5880

Ward 5 - Victor Jones

Victor.Jones@highpointnc.gov 336.899.7777

Ward 6 - Michael Holmes

Michael.Holmes@highpointnc.gov

www.highpointnc.gov

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Living out our values has to be more than just words. It must be demonstrated in our deeds, from police to planning to parks to procurement. We must do the work to bring the goals to fruitio the value of each individual, no matter which part of High Point home.

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Tasha Logan Ford Magazine

e o on, realizing t they call

WELCOME TASHA LOGAN FORD!

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igh Point’s new city manager, Tasha Logan Ford, has arrived and gotten straight to work! Ford’s official first day on the job was July 19. She held a press conference on July 22, during which she spoke to the media about what led her to local government.

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There were opportunities early on in my career where I could have worked at the federal level or at the state level, but I feel like the local government is really where you get to meet residents,” said Ford. “You see them when you are out in the community, and you can build relationships that last a lifetime.”

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ord also addressed her goals for the City.

High Point," she said. "First, I would have to say it's by the grace of God and the strength that he gives me each day that I'm standing here on the shoulders of many pioneers before me."

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he went on to identify such pioneers, including Katharine Morgan Kirkman, the first woman council member, Judy Mendenhall, High Point's first female mayor, Samuel Burford, the first Black council member and Bernita Sims, the first Black woman elected to council and the first Black mayor.

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efore joining the City of High Point, Ford served as assistant city manager in WinstonI want us to set operational, Salem. She worked for a community aspirational goals that include development credit union in Durham stewardship, innovation, equity early in her career before moving and transparency,” said Ford. “But we can’t to municipal government. She just stop at having goals. We must do the served the City of Goldsboro as an work to bring the goals to fruition, realizing administrative assistant, assistant city the value of each individual, no matter manager and interim city manager which part of High Point they call home.” from 2004 to 2013. She later served as assistant city manager in Rocky ord has made history by becoming Mount from 2013 to early 2018. She High Point’s first woman and first Black has been actively involved in civic city manager. affairs in all of the communities where she has lived and worked.

I'm often asked about how it feels to be the first African American and the first woman to serve as the city manager of

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www.highpointnc.gov

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PUBLIC SERVICES Department Teamwork Slows Speeders The City of High Point Street Maintenance Division of the Public Services Department has recently completed its third project related to installing speed humps within neighborhoods where vehicle speeding has been an ongoing issue. In coordination with the transportation department, crews have completed speed humps for Rotary Drive, Kensington Drive and Jamesford Drive. These installed measures should reduce the speeding of vehicles along these roadways that connect to major thoroughfares.

Since these speed humps have been installed, the City has continued to receive overall positive feedback. Homeowners in these neighborhoods say they have begun to see a reduction in vehicle traffic and overall speeding. The transportation, public services and fire departments have worked together to create a comprehensive design and constructed these measures in-house, which has saved the taxpayers the expense of hiring a contractor. These designs have also allowed emergency vehicles to pass without reduced response times.

Currently, there are no other proposed project sites for the installation of additional speed humps. Any future requests from neighborhoods must go through a review process with the transportation department to determine if they are eligible. We greatly appreciate the coordination with multiple departments and the City employees involved with these speed humps from design to installation.

This project has contributed significantly to the community’s safety and well-being!

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Inside High Point

AUGUST EVENTS

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www.highpointnc.gov

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PUBLIC SERVICES Apprentice Excels in City's Water Division After an extensive three-week job shadow with the City of High Point’s Public Services Department, Joshua Best graduated from the North Carolina Rural Water Association’s Go Water Pre-Apprenticeship Program.

The NCRWA’s six-week summer program introduces participants, ages 16 to 24, to water industry career pathways. By participating, pre-apprentices ages 18 and older gain direct entry into the NCRWA Water and Wastewater Systems Operations Specialist Registered Apprenticeship upon successful completion of the program and a high school diploma or equivalency.

In the first three weeks of his pre-apprenticeship, Best completed skill and interest assessments, took part in basic job readiness training and was introduced to the water industry. In the second phase of the program, he explored various career options available within the water and wastewater industry by job shadowing our water division staff.

“Joshua had a very positive attitude and showed an enthusiasm to learn about our water and sewer divisions,” said Derrick Boone, assistant public services director.

“The Public Services Department enjoyed working with Joshua, and we look forward to continuing a relationship with the NCRWA through the pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. These programs provide an opportunity to promote the water industry and hopefully give us an opportunity to train and recruit future employees.”

On Monday, NCRWA Workforce Development Coordinator Carolyn Bynum presented Best his graduation certificate in a short ceremony at City Hall with his family and members of the public services staff to support him.

“I enjoyed doing it,” said Best. “I learned a lot doing it. If you like the environment and helping people, this is definitely something you should look into.”

HIGH POINT FARMERS MARKET Farmers Market Makes Headlines The High Point Farmers Market was featured in the "High Point Enterprise" on July 11. The article highlighted the market’s “rebound,” stating, “the farmers market is growing its efforts to offer the community healthy food choices with help from local businesses — most recently a big boost from Bethany Medical Center.”

Farmers Market Manager Lee Gann and High Point Public Library Director Mary Sizemore were interviewed for the piece by Cinde Ingram.

“We’re now the High Point Farmers Market grown by Bethany Medical,” said Gann in the interview. “Now we have resources. We’re not worrying from month to month whether we are going to have enough money to keep this program going. At the same time, I want to give credit to those who helped us get it started and made it viable.”

Sizemore identified another reason for the market’s growth as the increased use of food assistance benefits, like Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT).

“Our use of EBT has really increased, which is wonderful,” Sizemore told the "Enterprise.” “We want everybody to know that people who get SNAP benefits can use them here. We accept SNAP, plus we offer Double the Bucks.”

Barbour Spangle Design, Great High Point Food Alliance, Good Friends of High Point and Bethany Medical Center have all helped fund these benefit programs.

“Every time we’ve needed something to support this program, the community has stepped up in increasingly generous ways,” said Sizemore.

The High Point Farmers Market takes place every Saturday between April and October, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the High Point Public Library.

The market offers regional and local produce, as well as handmade crafts and retail.

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Inside High Point

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Photos courtesy of the High Point Enterprise

PARKS & RECREATION August Schedule Aug. 2: Tie Dye Class at Oakview Recreation Center Aug. 2 – 4: Youth Summit: Unleashing the Power of Youth at Morehead Recreation Center

Aug. 18: Summer Recreation at a Park: Outdoor Giant Games at Allen Jay Recreation Center Aug. 17: Pickleball for Beginners (age 50+) at Morehead Recreation Center

Aug. 3 – 31: More Flips, More Fun Youth Gymnastics at Oakview Recreation Center

Aug. 20: Sunset Paddle at High Point City Lake Park

Aug. 3: My Little Taste Buds at Morehead Recreation Center

Aug. 21: Basic Stand-up Paddleboarding at Oak Hollow Marina

Aug. 5 - 26: Let’s Make Some Racquet! at Oakview Recreation Center

Aug. 21: Back To School E-sports Tournament at Southside Recreation Center

Aug. 5: My Little Taste Buds for Teens at Morehead Recreation Center

Aug. 21: Basic Stand-up Paddleboarding Class, Oak Hollow Marina

Aug. 7: HIGH Fitness at Oakview Recreation Center

Aug. 21: Stand-up Paddleboarding Glowing Night Paddle, Oak Hollow Marina

Aug. 7: Intro to Kayaking, Oak Hollow Marina Aug. 9: Floral Canvas Painting Class at Oakview Recreation Center

Aug. 23: Lip and Body Scrub Class at Oakview Recreation Center Aug. 24: Walkers Club at Morehead Recreation Center

Aug. 10: Double Dutch Club at Washington Terrace Community Center

Aug. 26: Stability Training (age 50+) at Senior Center

Aug. 13: Sunset Paddle at Oak Hollow Marina

Aug. 28: HIGH Fitness at Oakview Recreation Center

Aug. 14: Chair Yoga (age 50+) at Oakview Recreation Center Aug. 30: Shadow Box Art Class at Oakview Recreation Center Aug. 14: Denim & Diamonds: Bow Ties and Tutus at Oakview Recreation Center Aug. 15: Women’s Intro To Kayaking & Safety on the Water at Oak Hollow Marina Aug. 16: Wooden Bird Feeder Class at Oakview Recreation Center

Aug. 31: Special Olympics Softball begins, Allen Jay Recreation Center

HIGH POINT MUSEUM August Schedule Saturdays, Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Blacksmith Demonstration in the Historical Park Watch our costumed blacksmith in action as he crafts various iron pieces. All ages welcome to this free, drop-in event.

Saturday, Aug. 7 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Family Fun Day Enjoy the last few weeks of summer with a picnic in the park, fun games, sidewalk chalk, and delicious popsicles and lemonade to cool off in the heat.

Saturday, Aug. 14 8 a.m.

Washington Street Historic Walking Tours Local historian Glenn Chavis offers his monthly guided tours of Historic Washington Street. The tour begins at Jackie's Place (607 E. Washington St.).

Saturday, Aug. 28, 11 a.m., Noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m.

“A” is for Artifact Program: The Letter “M” Join us for a 15-30-minute program themed around a letter of the alphabet and the artifact of the day. Due to COVID-19 safety, masks are required inside, and there is a 15-person limit inside the building.

For more information on these events, call 336-885-1859 or visit www.highpointmuseum.org www.highpointnc.gov

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EMPLOYEE WELLNESS Free Employee Stand-Up Paddleboarding Fundamentals of Stand-Up Paddleboarding

• Aug. 21, 5 – 7 p.m.

• Sept. 18, 3 – 5 p.m.

Basic Stand-Up Paddleboarding

• Aug. 21, 9 – 10:30 a.m.

• Sept. 18, Noon– 1:30 p.m.

Glowing Night Stand-Up Paddleboarding

• Aug. 13, Aug. 21 & Sept. 18

• 7:15 – 9:45 p.m.

Yoga Paddleboarding

• July 15 – Sept. 4

• Thursdays, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Reservations can be made by contacting Lamar Lee & Kristi Wallace.

Kristi Wallace Kristi.wallace@highpointnc.gov 336.822.4785 16

Inside High Point

Lamar Lee Lamar.lee@highpointnc.gov 336.883.3845

AUGUST EMPLOYEE WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES

Aug. 11

AUGUST 2021 WELLNESS COMMITTEE MEETING 3:30 P.M. - LINK: WELLNESS COMMITTEE MEETING

Aug. 17

FINANCIAL WELLNESS SEMINAR: IDENTITY THEFT 9 A.M. - LINK: IDENTITY THEFT

Aug. 17

PERSONAL FINANCIAL CHECK-UP 8 A.M. - 6 P.M. - CONTACT KRISTI WALLACE TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT

Aug. 18

WEDNESDAY WELLNESS CHAT: OVERALL WELLNESS 3:30 P.M. - LINK: WEDNESDAY WELLNESS CHAT

Aug. 23/24

MAMMOGRAMS - CONTACT KRISTI WALLACE TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT

Aug. 26

NUTRITION SEMINAR: INFLAMATION AND YOUR HEALTH 10 A.M. - LINK: NUTRITION SEMINAR: INFLAMMATION AND YOUR HEALTH

Sept. 14, 15, 22, 23, 28

BIOMETRIC SCREENINGS - CONTACT KRISTI WALLACE TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT

SMALL GROUP PERSONAL TRAINING

Southside Recreation Center RSVP Required (Kristi Wallace: kristi.wallace@highpointnc.gov or 336.822.4785)

DAILY WELLNESS TEXT

Text ‘DailyWellnessText’ to 833.744.0553 to opt-in

VIRTUAL 5-MIN WORK BREAKS & 30-MIN WORKOUTS

Access Here: Employee Wellness Channel

FREE HOME EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

Contact Kristi Wallace for details

INDIVIDUAL EXERCISE PRESCRIPTIONS

Contact Kristi Wallace for details

VIRTUAL/TELEPHONIC/ IN-PERSON (AT A SAFE DISTANCE) HEALTH COACHING

Contact Kristi Wallace to schedule (Kristi Wallace: kristi.wallace@highpointnc.gov or 336.822.4785)

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2021 TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE WINNERS George Eckart, Transportation Department What is your favorite thing to do for exercise?

By far, my favorite thing to do is get out into the woods and hike or ride my bike on a dirt trail without any chance of encountering a car or truck!

How long have you worked for the City of High Point?

I started working for the City of High Point in January 2021 in the Transportation Department.

Tell a little bit about your wellness journey that you’d like to share to motivate other employees.

I am very thankful one of my fellow employees, Gwen Ford, suggested I go speak with Kristi Wallace about general wellness issues just after I started working for CoHP. I have never worked for a company/agency that had a wellness coach, and I really didn’t know what to expect. Just sitting down with Kristi and talking about my issues was enough to make me realize that I needed to change some of my eating and exercise habits. I used the “COVID-excuse” for many months, and I was just eating without thinking and making exercise the last thing I thought about every day instead of the first thing. Kristi helped me establish some good habits just a few weeks before the Transformation Challenge started, and I think planting those seeds really got me in the right mindset to make some REAL changes. Getting up at 5:15 a.m. and doing 30 minutes of yoga without any interruptions (or excuses) made a significant change in my attitude. I have been a psychological eater ever since I was young and had four siblings.

If I didn’t fill up my plate and eat it quickly, the food might be gone before I got my ration! Kristi helped

me take control of certain things that I had largely given up on. That first fit3D scan in her office was a necessary evil. I knew my BMI was going to be scary – and it was. But at least it gave me a starting point. I knew I never wanted to weigh that much again in my life. Kristi’s best advice when it came to weight loss (for me) was to drink the proper amount of water for my current weight. I know I’d heard there was a body mass to water intake ratio, but I never bothered with learning what it was. Once I did, I found that I was woefully under the healthy water intake level.

The first few weeks were tough because I felt that all I was doing was drinking water and eating vegetables. I gave up dairy, all forms of added sugar, all forms of wheat and basic starches and found myself eating eggs, chicken, fish and whatever non-starchy vegetables I could find. I also found a green smoothie breakfast recipe that looked kind of scary but tasted great! I found there were many days that I didn’t even think about eating after that smoothie and a cup of coffee with some MCT powder (instead of creamer). I wasn’t planning on intermittent fasting, but I ended up skipping a LOT of meals because I just wasn’t hungry. I’m forever thankful that I listened to Gwen’s advice and went over to Kristi’s office just to talk.

If I didn’t take that first step, I would probably be having another scoop of COVID ice cream just because I knew it was right in the freezer! THANKS KRISTI!

Amanda Honeycutt, 911 Department What is your favorite thing to do for exercise?

Walking is my favorite thing to do for exercise.

How long have you worked for the City of High Point?

I have been with the City of High Point for 18 years.

Tell a little bit about your wellness journey that you’d like to share to motivate other employees.

My teammates in the 911 Center encouraged me to stay active and drink water. It has totally been a group effort. I have currently lost over 30 lbs and 30 inches.

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Inside High Point

www.highpointnc.gov

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THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS. WE APPRECITE YOUR EFFORTS.

GREAT WORK, GREG! 22

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INSIDE HIGH POINT Brought to you by: City of High Point Communications and Public Engagement Department High Point, N.C. 27260 336.883.3288 Noelle.Varga@HighPointNC.gov