Piano Palooza VIII is February 1, 2014!

The Eighth Annual Piano Palooza is Saturday, February 1st, 2014.  Join us for an evening of dining, dancing, and dueling pianos!  It's one of the great fundraisers of the year!  

Tickets are on sale now ($85/person)! Seating is limited and spots are filling up fast!

Piano Palooza is Saturday, Feburary 1st, from 6-10pm at the Midland Country Club.

For Marie, Success Comes in STAGES 

When Marie started high school, she was enrolled in special education classes full-time. Having had little interaction with students in general education classes, Marie faced many social hardships. She had difficulty making friends and she struggled with confidence in herself and her abilities.

Marie began working with Nora Maza from DNMM's STAGES program. And while those first months were slow, Marie trusted Nora enough to participate in the Summer STAGES program for the first time. And Marie believes it was the best decision she ever made. That summer, Marie met lifelong friends, she enrolled in the Work Program (her first job of any kind), and she found her confidence.

Marie remained active in the STAGES program over the next several years. She became a Peer Mentor for younger girls with similar social anxieties. Marie began taking more and more classes in general education, and she did well, graduating from high school with a full diploma.

Since graduation, Marie has obtained her driver's license, which had been a long-time goal from her first days in the STAGES program. She has also obtained certification as a nurse's assistant and she is currently working in that capacity at a nursing facility.

"The STAGES program helped me find my path and my confidence," said Marie. "All those job-skill building sessions, resume drafts, and mock interviews gave me the confidence to start a career. My experiences in the summer program helped me work with others and it prepared me for life after high school."

 Your Voice Matters! Help Make Plymouth Park Accessible!         

The Fun Zone, located within Plymouth Park in Midland, is in need of renovations.  The structure will be 20 years old this year, and while it has been properly maintained over that time span, a major overhaul is being planned to upgrade, repair and add new features to the park.

According to Director of Public Services Karen Murphy, the Fun Zone is one of the most-used parks in the area.

"The Fun Zone is extremely popular for families, and it's great to see so much foot traffic year after year," said Murphy.  "After twenty years of wear and tear, we decided it's time to look at our first major renovation."

The City of Midland is partnering with the Midland Area Community Foundation (MACF), who will provide expertise in fundraising and community involvement, to complete the project by June of 2014.

Sharon Mortensen, President and CEO of MACF, believes that in order for the project to be successful, broad community support is necessary.

"The original Fun Zone build involved hundreds of volunteers and donors, as well as the support of nearly everyone in our community," said Mortensen.  "We would love to see the same excitement leading up to this renovation.  What new ideas do children and their parents have for the park?"

After two public meetings, several ideas came forward.  Some thoughts include fencing around the perimeter of the park, more play structures that are fully accessible for children with disabilities, and adding a walking trail or other fitness features for teens and adults.

Everyone is invited to provide input through a short online survey.  Everyone who fills out the short survey is automatically included in a drawing for a free family pizza dinner worth $50.

Opportunities are also available for several volunteer committees, including fundraising, materials and tools, volunteer recruitment and food/refreshment planning.  Those interested in serving should contact the City of Midland at 837.3300 or MACF at 839.9661.

Michigan Energy Assistance Program   

Need help? Try THAW.

The energy assistance program overseen by the Michigan Department of Human Services is changing this year. It is focusing on helping at-risk families before they have their power shut off.

Below are some of the highlights of the changes to the assistance program:

Please do not wait for a shut-off notice if you need help with your energy bill.

• Only a past due notice is required for natural gas and electric accounts.
• Propane and fuel oil customers must have a tank that is below 25% full.

Low-income households will work with a single agency for energy assistance throughout the entire year.

• You will not be expected to go to other agencies if you need additional assistance; you may return to the agency from whom you first received assistance.

The heating season is now defined as November 1 through May 31.

• DHS energy assistance will only be available during this time frame.
• You are not required to see assistance from DHS prior to seeking assistance from another agency like Salvation Army or a Community Action Agency.

If your household makes at or below the amount in the chart for your household size, you may qualify for energy assistance. Your caseworker will verify your household's income and members. 

2013-2014 Annual Income

Household Size	150% of Poverty Level
1	$17,235
2	$23,265
3	$29,295
4	$35,325
5	$41,355
6	$47,385

 Covenant HealthCare Opens Center for Autism 

 Over Snow and Ice: Winter Mobility for Your Wheelchair 

Wheelblades are small, high-end skis, and one click attaches them to the front wheels of wheelchairs or strollers, clearly improving mobility in winter and during snowy and icy conditions.

The wide Wheelblade contact surface distributes the wheelchair driver's pressure evenly onto the ground and prevents the small front wheels from sinking into the snow. The blades run over the ground with very little pressure and have no problem smoothing out rough spots. 

In order for the ski to move in the desired direction at all times, the binding was moved to the front part of the ski. No matter where you want to go - the ski knows its way. 

Two tracking channels on the Wheelblade underside compress the snow, ensuring stability; this is to say that you move along as if on rails. In addition to this the Wheelblades are very handy due to their low weight: A few seconds are enough to attach them to all commonly used wheels. 

The attachments allow wheelchair users maximum mobility in all kinds of weather and at any time of the year.

Click here for more information on this exciting new assistive technology!  

 Need a New Sidewalk?

Residents who want Midland City Council to consider installing new sidewalks in specific locations where no sidewalks exist should submit a letter outlining their request to the City Manager's Office by Saturday, February 1, 2014. 

Requests for maintenance of existing sidewalks can be submitted to the City of Midland Department of Public Services at any time, either by phone at 989-837-6900 or by completing a sidewalk repair Action Line request form, which can be found on the city's website www.midland-mi.org under the "Contact Us" header.

City Council plans to consider the list of sidewalk requests at the Council meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, March 10. City Council then schedules a public hearing to determine the necessity of proposed sidewalks and approves the sidewalk construction list.

For more information, contact the City Manager's Office at 989-837-3301.