Inside this issue

5 Shots that Adults Need .............2

Herbed Slow Cooker Turkey ........3

Slow Cooker Buttery Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes ........................3

Money Talk..................................4

Employee’s Corner ......................5

Brain Games ................................6

Special points of interest

Last Month’s Winners Courtney Doescher-Hino Erika Tecua Terri Mulder Jamie Denman Michael Junik Jennie Dillenbeck

Mental Health Prize Winner Dawn McFarlane Valerie Hoodjer

Medicare Seminar January 25, 2020 2865 N Sherman Ave Madison WI #608-261-9930 Must Register by: 1/15/20

Seasonal Affective Disorder Fall is a time when the days get shorter and darker. This can also be the time when many people begin to

show symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, a.k.a. SAD. This mood disorder usually occurs at the same

time every year, usually when the seasons (especially fall and winter) change. Some symptoms, which can

be dependent on whether you have Fall/Winter SAD or Spring/Summer SAD, can be:

Seasonal depression

Daytime fatigue

Changes in sleeping patterns

Feeling agitated

Withdrawal from social situations and normal daily activity

Changes in eating habits, including food cravings and weight gain

It’s normal and natural to feel some of these symptoms throughout our lives. It’s not a set for alarm. How-

ever, if you notice that you are having symptoms regularly and/or around the same times every year you

may need to do something to help yourself.

Please know that there are ways to make your mood and environment better. You can try to get some

more sun exposure, take a midday walk, or try light therapy. If that doesn’t seem to work, then you may

need to talk to a doctor about other options, including prescription medication.

Reference:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-

20364651

https://www.verywellmind.com/treatment-for-seasonal-affective-disorder-2795570

Around Madison November is quite the busy month. Check out what’s happening:

Winter Art Fair off the Square—November 9 (9am-5pm) & 10 (10am-4pm) at Monona Terrace, $5

Wisconsin Dog Fair—November 10 (10am-4pm) at Alliant Energy Center (get free parking pass online)

Empower the Mind, Body, Spirit Wellness Expo—November 16 (10am-4:30) at Brassworks Building Goodman Center, free

Cave After Dark—Starting November 16 (goes through December 14) at Cave of the Mounds, $35

Dinosaur Adventure—November 16 (9am-8pm) & 17 (9am-7pm) at Alliant Energy Center, tickets start at $20 (other more expensive options avail)

Madison Turkey Trot 5k Run/Walk—November 28 at Alliant Energy Center, $36 (after 1/13 it’s $60)

November 2019 Volume 2, Issue 11

Highway to Well & Safety

Sponsored by: Wellness Committee

There’s an App for That

The way we access information and

the way we interact with each other

has been changing over the last few

years. Technology has quite the grasp

on us. So, it’s important to adjust and

start using other methods to improve

certain aspects of our lives.

Did you know that there are several

apps out there that can help you with

sleep? Well, there are, several in fact.

Find me three apps that help with

sleep and describe how it can help.

Email them to our email address and

be entered to win a prize, separate

from the Brain Games.

The Triple Z Prize consists of: Mini

Sound Spa, Sleep Mask, and the book

called “Improve Sleep” by Katrin

Schubert, MD.

Good luck.

Vaccines save not only the lives of young people, but

adults as well. Here are a few shots for adults:

1. Influenza—It is spread through airborne drop-

lets released by coughing, sneezing, talking,

and merely breathing (which was recently

discovered). Effectiveness: Varies from year to

year, so it’s important to get annually. Who

needs it: anyone over 6 months old. The more

you know: If you say “I don’t get the flu,”

know this-only half infected get symptoms and

you can still transmit it to others.

2. Tetanus—Known also as lockjaw, it is spread

by bacterium found in dust, manure, and soil.

It enters the body through cuts. Effectiveness:

extremely well. Who needs it: everyone, every

10 years. The more you know: It is a very seri-

ous illness and you will be hospitalized.

3. Shingles—blistering rash that can cause scaring

and vision loss. This originates from the virus

that causes chicken pox. Effectiveness: If you

got the Zostavax, it’s considered 50% effective.

If you got Shingrix, it is 90% effective. Who

needs it: anyone 50 and older. The more you

know: If you were vaccinated with Zostavax,

get revaccinated with Shingrix. FYI-there has

been such a high demand for this vaccine that

shortages are expected through the rest of

2019.

4. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - Sexually

transmitted disease that can cause warts on

the genitals, mouth, and/or rectum. Often

symptomless, making it hard to catch. If left

untreated, it can then become cancer. Effec-

tiveness: It is considered as close to 100% as

you can get. Who needs it: All women up to

the age of 26 and men up to the age of 21. The

more you know: The FDA approved for its use

for women up to 45, but insurance may not

cover it. First dose is recommended at age11.

5. Varicella (chickenpox) - if you’ve never had it

or been immunized, you can still get it. With

older individuals, it’s considered worse since

you’re at risk of serious complications. Effec-

tiveness: Two doses are 98% effective at pre-

venting any form of the illness and 100% effec-

tive against severe cases. Who needs it: All

health care workers and adults who have never

had chicken pox or the vaccine. The more you

know: Vaccine can protect you even after

you’ve been exposed if you receive it within

the first 72 hours.

Always remember to talk to your doctor and find out

which are right for you. Many factors need to be

looked into like age, medical history, and even

occupation. Being vaccinated doesn’t just help the

person, it helps the community.

Reference: Bukszpan, Daniel. “5 Shots Adults Need.”

Prevention Magazine-July 2019, Pages 66-71.

“My bed is a magical place where I suddenly remember everything I forgot to do.”

MedDrop

5 Shots that Adults Need

According to Safe Communities, last year, uninten-

tional poisonings killed more Dane County residents

than automobile crashes.

Leftover and expired prescriptions and

over-the-counter medicines can be found in every

household. Many are misused, abused, and also

disposed of improperly.

There are numerous MedDrops located throughout

the city where you can drop off your unused or

expired medication. You can get rid of the follow-

ing at the locations:

Prescription medicine like pills, liquids, creams, powders & patches

over-the-counter medicine like pills, liquids creams, powders & patches

medications for pets, vitamins, medication samples, nebulizer solution, and inhalers

If you do not have a MedDrop near you, you may

dispose them in the trash and do notflush them

down the toilet.

When disposing them in the trash, make sure you:

Remove all labels that identify the materials

Render them unattractive by dissolving them in small amount of water/alcohol or by grind-ing them up and mixing them with coffee grounds or kitty littler.

Put them in a second container or small plas-tic bag and hide them in your trash.

All medications collected by MedDrop are inciner-

ated and disposed of in the most environmentally

safe method currently available.

Reference: https://safercommunity.net/meddrop/

2

Ingredients:

3 cans (10 3/4 oz.) of Mushroom Soup

1/2 cup milk

1/8 tsp. black pepper

1/8 tsp. onion powder

10 cans (14.5 oz.) of Del Monte Cut Green Beans, drained

2 canisters (6 oz.) French’s French Fried Onions

Non-stick cooking oil spray

Instructions:

1. In a very large bowl, add the cream of mush-room soup, milk, black pepper, and onion powder, whisk until smooth.

2. Add the drained green beans, and 1 of the canisters of French Fried Onions into the large bowl with the soup mixture you just made, and with a spatula, fold everything together, being careful not to break the green beans up.

3. Spray the slow cooker with the non-stick cook-ing spray, and add the green bean mixture to the slow cooker.

4. Cook on HIGH for 2.5 hours.

5. After cooking time is done, add the other canister of French fried onions onto the green beans. Take the slow cooker insert out of the heating element, and put into the oven (w/out the lid on!). My oven was set at 350 degrees.

Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the onions are browned.

6. Set the insert back into the slow cooker heating element, replace the lid, and set the slow cooker to WARM until ready to serv. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. butter, softened

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

3 lb. turkey breast, with bone and skin

1/4 cup chicken broth

Instructions:

1. Before beginning recipe, unwrap turkey, pat

dry with a paper towel, and set aside.

2. Mix together the butter, herbs, garlic pow-

der, salt and pepper.

3. Loosen the skin on the turkey breast and

rub the herbed butter mixture between the

skin and meat.

4. Add the chicken broth to a 6 quart slow

cooker.

5. Place the turkey breast in the slow cooker

and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until it

reaches 165 degrees (F).

3

Ingredients:

2 lbs. red potatoes, washed and chopped into 2-inch pieces

4 tbsp. Butter

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tbsp. minced garlic

1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley

1/2 tsp. dried or fresh basil

1/4 tsp. dried oregano

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1/4 cup milk

Instructions:

1. Add chopped potatoes to a greased slow

cooker. Cover and cook on high for 2-3

hours or on high low for 5-6 hours on low.

2. When potatoes are cooked and fork-tender,

add all remaining ingredients (let the butter

melt for a couple of minutes). Use a hand

mixer or a masher to mash the potatoes.

Serve warm.

Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

Slow Cooker Buttery Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes from: Cre me de la Crumb

Recipe from: The Magical Slow Cooker

Herbed Slow Cooker Turkey from: Plum Street Collective

Take That Vacation

It was reported that in 2017, 52% of

Americans didn’t use their vacation

days. So, when was the last time you

had a vacation? A real vacation? The

one where you’re not looking at your

email, nor taking calls regarding

work, nor calling in to check on

things.

Many state taking a vacation is rec-

ommended because of the follow-

ing:

1. Stress Reduction—Many are so

burned out that the quality and

production of actual work is

worsening.

2. Improve Health—Men who go

on vacation reduce their overall

risk of soon death by 20%. Also,

it helps with heart disease

prevention.

3. Improve Sleep—When you

can’t stop your mind from

running, it prevents you from

sleeping which in turn it can

prevent you from focusing and

being alert, impairing memory,

and increasing the chance of

accidents.

4. Better family or self time—It’s

important to be selfish. And,

quality of life is dependent on

how you appreciate yourself

and also those around you.

These are a few things on how a

vacation can help. Even taking short

vacations can do wonders.

It’s recommended you take time

every 3 months. Even if it’s for a

staycation. Unplug and relax.

Reference:

https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/4-

scientific-reasons-why-vacation-is-

awesome-for-you.html

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/

lifestyle/7-reasons-why-everyone-

should-take-vacations-even-youre-

busy.html

Prevention Magazine-July 2019 Issue.

Page 6

Money Talk Americans are spending an estimated $57,000 a

year on life and luxuries. To break it down for you,

folks are spending:

33% - Housing

15.8% - Transportation

12.6% - Food

11.9% - Personal Insurance & Pensions

8% - Healthcare

5.1% - Entertainment

3.6% - Cash contributions

3.1% - Apparel & Services

6.9% - All other

Now, look at that breakdown and ask yourself if you

have been able to make room for savings. It’s rec-

ommended that you have at least 6 months of

savings to pay for all your responsibilities.

So, I ask again, do you have a savings with enough

funds to cover six months of expenses?

It’s difficult, especially if you’re living paycheck to

paycheck and have little left over. But a little can go

a long way. Here are a few ways you can save.

Record your expenses—That means to keep track of every coffee, household item, and cash tip. Organize your numbers by category and pay attention to the data. Suggestion: Look for a spending tracker, many are free.

Budget for savings—Begin to organize your recorded expenses into a workable budget. Make sure your expenses measure up to your income. This is so you can plan your spending and limit overspending. Suggestion: Include a savings category and try to save 10 -15% of your income. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t make it that amount. Even if it’s 2-5% is better than nothing.

Find ways you can cut your spending—If you notice that your expenses are too high, you need to make the decision to cut back. Point

out what you can cut back on. Spend less on entertainment and dining out. Suggestion: Look for listings to find free or low-cost events, cancel subscriptions you don’t use, eat out only once, and don’t be impulsive.

Set saving goals—Thing about what you want to save for, like wedding, vacation, or retire-ment. Then calculate how much money you need and how long it may take to obtain that amount. Suggestion: Short term (1-3 years) can be emergency funds, vacations, down payment for car. Long term (4+ years) can be down payment for home, child’s education, or retirement.

Decide what your priorities are—Short term savings is good. But, remember to focus on long-term goals. Don’t leave retirement till it is too late. Suggestion: You can always do both .

Pick the right tools—If you’re looking at short term goals, you can use a savings account or Certificate of deposit (CD). For long-term goals, you can do IRAs, stocks or mutual funds. Suggestion: You don’t have to pick just one. Consider things like balance minimums, fees, and interests.

Make saving automatic—Most banks offer auto transfers between checking and savings. You can chose when you want this to take place and how much. Suggestion: Split your direct deposition between checking and sav-ings.

Watch your savings grow.

Money stress makes a huge impact on people’s

lives. Especially, when wages do not match the cost

of living. However, it’s important to know that tak-

ing small steps can still make an impact.

Reference:

https://bettermoneyhabits.bankofamerica.com/en/

saving-budgeting/ways-to-save-money

https://www.fool.com/slideshow/9-most-common-

ways-americans-spend-their-money/?slide=11

4

Do we really need to take 10,000 Steps? In 1964, during the Tokyo Olympics, the

marketing concept of 10,000 steps was

born. However, is it really a number that fits

everyone? Not necessarily.

There are many discussions going on about this, but

in truth, the number should fit the person. Not

everyone is 100% healthy. Not everyone has high

endurance. Not everyone is physically fit. It’s not a

one size fits all kind of situation. It’s more of a what

works best for you, according to your situation.

There have been studies of older women that those

who took as few as 4400 steps had lower risks than

those women who only walked 2500 steps. Other

studies are showing that there is a reduction in

health complications and lower risk in future health

issues in people who accomplish every 1000 step

increase per day.

The important thing is to keep moving. Set a goal and

stick to it. Once you’ve steadily reached that, then

increase it. If you don’t reach those 10000 steps,

don’t stress about it. As long as you are consistent

and showing some form of increase, you’re doing

well.

Reference:

Harvard Women’s Health Watch. November 2019.

Page 1 & 7

https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-

wellness/do-we-really-need-to-take-10-000-steps-a-

day-20190208-p50wgu.html

RETIREMENT

WRS has videos that may help you.

They’re categorized by: New Employee,

Mid Career, and Nearing Retirement. To

access: etf.wi.gov. Go to members, scroll

down, and click on “Online Video-road

to Retirement.”

ER VS URGENT CARE

Always keep in mind that before you go

to the ER or even Urgent Care, assess

your situation and find out if a Virtual

Visit could be the option. They are fast,

convenient, and are free for Dane Coun-

ty employees.

Please note: Do not confuse virtual

visit from the e-visit that you can find on

MyChart. They are two different ser-

vices.

REIMBURSEMENTS

Don’t forget to look at the various types

of reimbursements Dane County has to

offer. Also, you can get reimbursements

in the form of gift cards from Dean

Health Plan.

General Information Dane County Employee Relations

210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd Rm 418

Madison WI 53704

Phone: 608-266-4125

Fax: 608-266-4409

E-mail: employee-

relations@countyofdane.com

Americans w/ Disabilities: Richard Johnson 608-267-1520 Anthem Vision Customer Care: 1-844-226-2849 Bus Passes & Rideshare: 608-266-7433 Dean Customer Care Center: 800-279-1301 Deferred Compensation: 608-241-6605 Delta Dental Customer Service: 1-800-236-3712

Direct Deposit: Lea Kuqo 608-283-1230 Employee Assistance Program: 608-280-2644 ETF/WI Retirement System: 608-266-3285/608-266- 3286 Flex Spending: Cathy Lippart 608-266-4116 FMLA/LOA: Deb Henke 608-266-9025 Health, Dental, Retirement: Carol Cady-Severson 608-266-4081

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Cathy Lippart 608-266-4116 Reclassification/Reallocation: Alex Hauri 608-266-4794 Wellness: Katelyn Thurs 608-266-4649 Workers Compensation: Scott Teuscher 608-267-1555

Dane County Directory

Employee’s Corner

Left: This is Rory dressed

up for Halloween. Next to

her is Charlee enjoying

the fact that she’s not

dressed up. (From em-

ployee Maddie Parise)

Right: Bella is relaxing in

her Wonder Kitty cos-

tume, while Zelda is not

too happy about wearing

a costume that shows her

true self-a naughty devil.

(From employee Linda

Ramirez)

Tumaz-Foot Massager

Danum-Infuser Bottle

Shake Bottle

Collapsible Bottle

Letsfit Water Bottle

Black Bike Lock

3 Pocket Runner’s Belt ( M or L)

Strong by Zumba DVD

Fitness planner

2lb. Weighted gloves

Follow Your Heart 500 piece puzzle

Sit Strong by Harriet Griffey

Live Green by Jen Chilingsworth

Fitness Ring

Ultimate Mind Games

Tasty: Latest & Greatest

Evolution by Joe Mangianello

65cm exercise ball

Muscle Roller Stick

Yoga Mat (Red or Blue)

Yoga Block & Yoga Strap

Name: _____________________________________________________ Location: _____________________________________________________

All entries must be received by Employee Relations by November 15th, 10:00 a.m. Send entries to employee-relations@countyofdane.com or inter-d to

CCB-Room 418.

Please circle the prize of your choice (circling more than one prize in case your choice runs out).

6

Brain Games

Last Month’s Answers:

Puzzle #1:

177-77

Puzzle #2:

AFHYNZK

Puzzle #3:

Puzzle #1: Puzzle #2: