CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER PRAIRIE PULSE

December 2020 What's Inside Major League in GP The City of Grand Prairie approved USA Cricket National team and its City Employee Coat Drive a long-term lease agreement with premier high performance center. (MLC) and COVID-19 Holidays American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) “Grand Prairie’s centralized location Winter Wellbeing for redevelopment of AirHogs Sta- in the U.S. and the thriving Texas dium, 1600 Lone Star Parkway. cricketing community, allied with the Gingerbread Competition Redevelopment of the stadium is quality of the facility, make it the per- scheduled to take place throughout fect site for us,” said Sameer Mehta Message from the Manager 2021. The inaugural Major League and Vijay Srinivasan, co-founders of Toastmasters Spotlight Cricket season, featuring world-class ACE and MLC. T20 cricket, will begin in 2022 with Local Holiday Shopping six franchises from major U.S. cities. Learn more about the rules of cricket The Grand Prairie stadium will host and City of Grand Prairie agreements Events the Texas franchise of Major League with the MLC and ACE at GPTX.org. Cricket, and serve as a base for the

City of Grand Prairie Employee Newsletter Mayors 70 for 70 City Employee Coat Drive City employees can help collect 100 new coats for kids to celebrate Mayor Jensen’s 70th birthday. From now until Dec. 31 please bring your new coat with tags to City Hall Central, 300 W. Main St. or collect throughout your building and email asprinkles@ gptx.org to pick-up. Kids coat sizes can be from kindergarten to senior high school.

Celebrate Mayor Jensen’s 70th Birthday with a free dessert from these participating Grand Prairie restaurants on Dec. 26 and 27! While supplies last and with the purchase of a meal. Dine-in or carry-out. Be sure to tell your wait staff you are there to celebrate the Mayor’s birthday! Crazee Crab 5244 TX-360 Suite 340 Firehouse Gastro Park Preparing for the Holidays 321 W Main St During COVID-19 IKEA Bistro For many of us, the holiday season employees and dependents of the 1000 IKEA Way will look different this year. We often City of Grand Prairie. The EAP benefit Jake’s Burgers and Beer spend the last few months of the covers six confidential, short-term 2860 State Hwy 161 #180 year attending holiday parties and counseling visits and is at no cost visiting family and friends. Howev- to employees and their families. Outlaw’s BBQ er, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Deer Oaks EAP can assist you with 2334 Belt Line Rd things such as gathering and travel- stress, depression, anxiety, work- Roma’s Italian Bistro ingText may not be possible. Many people place difficulties, substance abuse, 101 W Main St have lost loved ones and will be miss- marital problems, grief, violence and ingText someone’s presence during the unhealthy lifestyles. Deer Oaks EAP is Subway holidays and others have lost their available when you need it, 24 hours 121 E. Main St jobs and are dealing with financial a day, 365 days a year. For additional 1625 S. Belt Line Rd, #400 stress. It can be difficult to cope with information or a referral to a provider the stress and anxiety of these types located nearest you, please call toll- The Oasis of changes, especially during these free at 1-866-327-2400. Online tools 5700 Lake Ridge Pkwy times of uncertainty. are available at deeroakseap.com, The Pearl password is GPTX. 2625 W Pioneer Pkwy #600 Deer Oaks provides Employee Assis- tance Program (EAP) Services for all More details at GPTX.org/70for70

City of Grand Prairie Employee Newsletter Gingerbread House Competition VisitCreate Raving Fans your to learn allgingerbread about this season’s competitionmasterpiece! hosted by the Employee Recognition Commitee. Ends at 5 p.m. on Monday, December 21, 2020. Show us your holiday spirit and create a gingerbread house masterpiece! Maintaining Your Well-Being During Winter Weather • ChooseKeep to a structured Your schedule. Category mind and body offPhoto track, making Entry AlthoughRules you may need to make •Sadness, Most depression,Creative and the you feel down andIndividuals sluggish. and groupssome changes (departments) if you have to re- blues feed off inactivity. Although main inside, stay physically active. • Most Ingredients Used • Stay social (distanced).may submit Staying one photo to one of the cold weather may make the couch, Walk outdoors when you can. You • Best Movie/Character themesocial with friendscategories and family can which will be judged by the TV, and internet more tempting, can even try yoga/exercise videos • Best Individual be tough during theEmployee pandemic. Recognition Committee. engaging in these activities for at home. • Best Group However, you can •still Only remain one photo per individual is long periods of time can lead to connected through socialallowed media, • Set goals. Keep a weather eye decreased energy and low moods. Snap a Pic video chats, virtual• gameOnly nights, one photoon or the video horizon for to reminda you that Schedule activities during any or even calling an old departmentfriend or entrywarmer is allowedweather will be here soon. Takedown timea picture you may ofhave your/group’s at home; holiday family member that• youPhotos know can must beDevelop submitted a list of by realistic 5:00 projects p.m. masterpiece!even if your schedule Submit includes it to the category of make you laugh! on Monday, Decemberor goals, both 21, short2020 and on long-term. things like “read the newspa- choice along with your name, department Raving Fans. Set projects for the spring and per,” “go grab coffee,” or “check • Lighten up. Studies have shown and work email by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, • Creations mustsummer be edible. and get planning and pre- emails.” Having structure can that exposure to light (especially December 21, 2020 on Raving Fans. paring now. It will save you time prevent feeling slow or lethargic. natural light) can •help Creations combat the must be displayed on City and serve as a tool to know that winter blues. Bundle uppremises. and go • Practice good sleep hygiene. winter doesn’t last forever; even if outside when you can. If not, sit by Similarly, your sleep habits can it may feel like it. a window at work or home period- makeInappropriate or break your mood.entries Falling will be disqualified. Please be considerate of the workplace/ ically. asleeppublic and setting waking upwhen at the selecting same your décor. This is a lightheartedLife can and be hectic. fun Theevent, Deer soOaks timenothing every day,inappropriate even on the week or- offensive• Get moving. will Exercisebe accepted. and physical EAP can help you find your balance. ends, can get your body back on a activity release “feel-good” chem- deeroakseap.com – password: GPTX healthyBrought cycle. to Napping, you by staying the Employeeup icals Recognition in the brain that Committee. can quickly 1-866-237-2400 | eap@deeroaks. late, and sleeping in can get your boost mood and energy levels. com Events The most up to date information Prairie Lights Drive Through Virtual Zumba regarding events can be found on Daily, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Grand Prairie Librairies gptx.org/calendar. Lynn Creek Park Tuesdays, 7 p.m. until Dec 15 5610 Lake Ridge Parkway Zoom: Email [email protected] to register and receive the link Farmers Market Saturday Dec. 5 & 12, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. COVID-19 Testing 120 W. Main St. Visit gptx.org/COVID-19 City of Grand Prairie Employee Newsletter Toastmasters Message from the Manager Spotlight What a year! We’ve gotten through a lot together. I appreciate everyone rising to the occasion and providing a very high level of service to our citizens. Hopefully, better treatments, new technologies and a vaccine The Grand will end this virus, but until then the city remains committed to doing all Orators Toast- we can to make sure our work areas remain as safe as possible. masters Club, for City of Thank you for adhering to COVID-19 protocol. It has proven to be effec- Grand Prairie tive, but we still need to remain vigilant about wearing masks, washing employees, hands regularly and social distancing. In October, 18 employees tested meets on positive, but in November we had 45 positive employee cases. Wednesdays at 12:05 p.m. via Zoom. Toastmasters Club Pres- On a very sad note, we lost Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Jim Swafford to ident Michael D. Levy, Assistant COVID-19 on Dec. 1, just a few weeks after his wife Judy Swafford also Manager for The Summit, found passed from COVID-19 complications. Jim served 22 years on the City Toastmasters in fall of 2018. He Council and he was the only person still on City Council who hired me is a graduate of Texas A&M Uni- in 1999. He was a great friend, had a keen financial mind and - pro versity with a B.S in Recreation vided wonderful support. I will miss our conversations, his humor and Administration. thoughtfulness. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jim and Judy’s fam- ily during this difficult time. “Look at Toastmasters as an opportunity for yourself. Open I sincerely hope that you and your loved ones and friends are in good the door to new possibilities. health, and for those who have suffered loss or worry, please know that Learn about yourself and we are all in this together. I appreciate our talented employee family discover your potential! Toast- and the work you have done for the city this year. You have helped us masters has positively changed provide world class service during a challenging time. Stay safe and my outlook on life and can for healthy this holiday season. you too!” Levy says. “In Toast- Sincerely, masters you will learn how to run meetings, discuss topics on the fly and enjoy long lasting friend- Tom Hart ships. It is the best training for City Manager your career you can get. Take that leap of faith and come join us!”

Anyone can join in the Toastmasters meetings here: https://gptx/zoom. us/j/778600369 Shop Local During the Holidays Phone: 346-248-7799 Support local businesses during the holiday season. Treat your loved Meeting ID: 778-600-369 ones to dinner with dine in, drive through or curbside at their favorite Grand Prairie restaurant. If you feel comfortable, supporting local busi- **All meetings are waiting room nesses and services supports our community while increasing your enabled, please stand by on the sustainability! day of the meeting to be let in** For a list of great Grand Prairie restaurants visit visitgrandprairietx. com/things-to-do/eat. City of Grand Prairie Employee Newsletter