The Inbox December 2016

INBOX

THE

Delivering the latest news to Henry County employees

December ‘16 Published by Henry County Communications Department & Henry County Board of Commissioners

Introspection Will Bring Inspiration in New Year

Editors Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson Graphic Designer Samantha Watson

Please contribute to the monthly employee newsletter!

Email Communications Director, Melissa Robinson at mrobinson@co.henry.ga.us.

Contributions can include: original artwork, comics, pictures, announcements, classifieds or columns.

By Samantha Watson

Contributors Meredith Butler Melissa Robinson Samantha Watson

The end of the year is a time for reflection, introspection and planning. All of which will get you to the beginning of a new year, which is a time for celebration, concentration and action. In order to make a viable attempt at keeping a New Year’s resolution, or even thinking of an appropriate one, we first have to thoroughly think through the previous 12 months. Below are a few questions to get you pondering about the past year and what you’d like to get out of the upcoming one.

I suggest you commit 30 minutes to sit down and evaluate your life, your feelings and your hopes and dreams.

Answer the following and write down your answers in a journal: 1.

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you think it didn’t stick. If you did accomplish your resolution, list the reasons you think made it work.

What do you want your life to look like a year from today?

In the next five years, what goals do you want to accomplish and why?

What makes you internally happy?

Big picture: What do you want for your life/out of your life?

Hopefully you’ve learned something about yourself, feel more organized or are able to identify a 2017 New Year’s resolution from the questions above. Deciding on a resolution is only the beginning What experiences were most though, and now you need to ensure profound for you in 2016? that this year you’ll be successful in Describe one of your fondest attaining it. Below are some helpful memories from 2016. tips on keeping your promise to Did you make a New Year’s yourself. resolution for 2016? If so, what was it and did you accomplish it? • Make your resolution specific If you didn’t accomplish your and measurable. You’re setting resolution, name the reasons a goal, or even a series of goals Continued on page 7

December ‘16

Strong with sam = Strengthen your knees =

Short Arcs: Lie on your back with your leg horizontal on a flat surface. Place a rolled up towel under your knee. Flex your foot, clench your thigh muscles and lift your foot up off the floor until your knee is straight.

Hold for 3 to 5 seconds and repeat 10 to 20 times.

Knee March: Sitting in a chair with your feet on the floor, march your legs up and down one at a time.

Repeat for about one minute and repeat any time you’re sitting for more than 20 min. to reduce stiffness.

Community Cares C hristmas Toy Shop

Glute Kicks: Lie on your stomach with your legs straight.

Lift your foot and shin off the floor and bring it toward your glutes as far as you can then slowly release it back down. Repeat 10 to 25 times.

Heel Raises: Stand with your feet hip width apart and rise up onto your toes, lifting your heels as high as possible. Keep your body upright and hold for 3 to 5 seconds and slowly lower. Repeat 10 to 30 times.

Beginners Bridge: Lie on your back with both knees bent about 90 degrees and your feet on the floor.

Clench your glutes, pull in your lower tummy (to protect your back) and lift your bottom off the floor as high as you can without arching your back. Hold for 3 to 5 seconds and slowly lower. Repeat 10 to 25 times.

Clam: Lie on your side with your hip and knees bent approximately 90 degrees. Keeping your feet together, lift the top knee up as high as you can and hold for three seconds. Slowly lower and repeat 10 to 25 times.

Sit to Stand: Sit in a chair, with your feet on the floor.

Lean forward, lift your bottom and stand up straight then sit back down. Activate your core to protect your lower back. Repeat 10 to 30 times. You can make this easier by pushing up through your arms and using a chair that sits higher up.

Consult your doctor before beginning any new exercise routine.

The Inbox

Candy Cane Martini

Caramel Apple Cocktail

INGREDIENTS: 2 oz of soda water; 1 oz vodka; 5 drops of peppermint extract, 1 teaspoon of honey syrup (1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of raw honey, 1/4 cup of mint leaf stems); 3/4 oz unsweetened cranberry juice.

INGREDIENTS: 3 teaspoons of vegan caramel (1/2 cup of coconut sugar, 3 tablepoons of water, 1 cup of room temperature canned coconut milk, salt, 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla extract); 1/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk; 1 1/2 oz apple brandy; 1 dash of vanilla extract.

1. For Honey Syrup: Add honey and water to a saucepan over medium heat and add in mint leave stems just as it begins to boil.

2. Remove from heat and let stand for five to ten minutes then chill.

3. Place soad water in a martini glass and set aside.

4. Combine vodka, extract, honey syrup and cranberry juice in a cocktail shaker that is half full of ice. Shake and strain into the martini glass.

5. Garnish with a mint leaf and peppermint stick and serve.

1. For caramel: Simmer coconut sugar and water and once sugar has melted, add in coconut milk and simmer for 12 to 15 min. Once thick, turn off heat, add a pinch of salt and vanilla extract then chill.

2. Fill a cocktail shaker 1/2 full of ice and add almond milk, brandy, caramel sauce and vanilla extract then shake vigorously.

3. Strain into the prepared martini glass and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and an apple slice.

Calories: 89; Fat: 0g; Carbs: 6g; Protein: 0g; (serves 1)

Healthy Holiday Treats PB C hocolate Balls

Healthy alternatives to tempting treats that will help get you through the Holiday Season.

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup of all-natural smooth peanut butter; 1 tablepoon of cornstarch; 3/4 cup of coconut flour; 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup; hot water; 8 oz of semisweet 62 percent cocoa chocolate, chopped; 2 teaspoons of extra-virgin, unrefined coconut oil.

1. Blend together peanut butter, cornstarch, coconut flour and maple syrup until a dough forms.

2. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Put a toothpick in the center of each and refrigerate for 20 min.

3. Boil 2 inches of water and reduce heat to low. Add chocolate and oil and simmer for 2 to 3 min or until melted.

4. Take the balls out of the fridge and while holding the toothpick, dip them into the chocolate.

5. Once they’re all done, remove the toothpicks and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

Calories: 134; Fat: 9g; Carbs: 12g; Protein: 4g; (serves 24)

Calories: 170; Fat: 3g; Carbs: 11g; Protein: 1g; (serves 1)

PB Banana Ice Cream

INGREDIENTS: 3 ripe medium bananas, cut into chunks; 3 tablespoons of all-natural peanut butter; 1 to 2 tablespoons of unsweetened almond milk; 4 teaspoons of chopped dark chocolate; 4 teaspoons of sliced raw almonds.

1. Place bananas in a plastic bag and freeze for four hours, or until completely frozen.

2. Place bananas and peanut butter in a blender and blend until smooth. Add in almond milk and blend more.

3. Divide ice cream evenly between four serving bowls and top with one teaspoon of chocolate and almonds.

4. Serve immediately.

Calories: 182; Fat: 9g; Carbs: 25g; Protein: 5g; (serves 4)

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December ‘16

C hairman & Commissioner Farewell

SAFETY FIRST Winter Weather Safety with LGRMS of ACCG & GMA

The weather outside is frightful, and if you find yourself out driving, it might not be so cozy.

Winter can cause many weather-related accidents through limited or reduced visibility or traction, aggressive braking on a slick road, inability to judge safe speed for weather conditions, poor negotiation of a curve, failure to prepare vehicle or plan a route properly or failure to adapt to changing weather patterns.

Proper planning, preparation and driving can result in successful completion of a trip. Check weather forecasts and possible construction areas along your route, chart fuel and meal stop locations and allow extra time for traffic delays. Compensate for poor traction by slowing down and making all movements gently. Double or triple your following distance and never tailgate. Approach bridges and overpasses cautiously, looking out for black ice which is likely to form first in shady spots, at intersections and under bridges and overpasses.

Brake gently to avoid skidding.

If you begin to skid, take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral quickly then steer in the direction you want your vehicle to go. Before the rear wheels stop skidding, shift to drive and gently press the accelerator; do not slam on the brakes.

Stay alert, turn on your lights, turn off the cruise control, check for ice around your car, don’t push your vehicle to do more than it can and always, always wear your seatbelt.

The Inbox

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December ‘16

Office Notes

What body part do butterflies taste with?

What State is the Cheese State?

senior services raffle • Senior Services is raffling off a Christmas Flowerpot Lady, which ends on December 19.

One dollar gets you one ticket, $3 gets you five tickets and $5 gets you 10 tickets. All proceeds will go to benefit Senior citizen programs. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Senior Services at 770-288-7001.

Inauguration event • You’re invited to the inauguration ceremony for the newly elected members of the Board of Commissioners on December 20 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at the Administration Building.

leave donations • An annual leave donation request was submitted on December 5 and an employee-wide email was sent out asking for annual leave donations for an employee experiencing an approved, extreme hardship situation. Employees interested in donating time can do so by completing the donation form attached to the email or found on the HR intranet page. All donations must be submitted to and approved by the donor’s department head and then submitted to Angie Wilkerson or Doris Patterson in HR for processing.

Refer to Article VII, Section IV of the Personnel Policy Manual if you have any questions.

The Inbox

In the book, From the Inferno, at what circle of Hell do Dante and Virgil encounter Satan?

In the movie Pinocchio, who created Pinocchio?

What number does the Roman numeral L represent?

What is the NFL team for Minnesota?

The Texas town Corpus Christi is Latin for what?

What do cobblers work with?

What is a group of honey bees called?

In the sitcom Seinfeld, what museum does George claim to have designed?

Answers to the triva questions are listed on the employee intranet on the Communications page.

New Year’s resolutions from page 1 for yourself so you need to plan it out. “I want and keep clear about what you need to do. to lose weight” is not a specific or measurable • Only set goals that are in your control, and don’t goal. Instead you could say “I want to lose 1 to 2 set a goal that depends on changing someone pounds a week until I reach my goal weight of 170 else. Instead of saying “I want to fall in love this lbs in April.” year,” try “I want to be more social by attending • Create a precise action plan. If you want to lose more parties and going to more community weight, then plan out how you’re going to do it. events.”

Are you going to cut calories? Exercise? Eliminate • Log your experience. Keeping a journal of your processed foods? Allow yourself a cheat meal? changes will keep you on track. Monitoring your • Take small steps. Reward yourself for reaching behavior is one of the best ways to keep motivated small goals and realize that the small successes and focused on reaching your goals. you achieve will lead to your end goal. People tend • Get a goal buddy. Sharing the experience with to be fearful when they imagine the long-term someone who has the same goal increases your effort it takes to reach a large goal. Fear overrides chances of being successful. This is especially true the logical, decision-making part of the brain. By when it comes to exercise. taking small steps, you bypass the fear response,

Letter from the Editor

The Inbox is celebrating its one year anniversary this month and it feels like the perfect time for me to say goodbye, as I’ll be leaving the county after this edition. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed crafting this newsletter for you every month. It’s been exciting to hear your feedback and incorporate your suggestions. I hope for the past year you’ve been able to make the most of this publication and its columns, factoids and activities. I’ll miss bringing you monthly exercise routines, health and wellness tips, themed puzzles and seasonal feature stories, but don’t fret because The Inbox will live on!

Make sure to keep an eye out for future publications of the employee newsletter, which can be found in your email inbox or online within the employee intranet.

I hope you have a happy holiday season, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Samantha Watson

The Henry County Board of Commissioners wishes you and yours a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Joyous Holiday Season.

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