Veterans Guide

Map ©2002 City of Traverse City

How to Protect Yourself From Moving Scams
Moving? It's easy to get excited about moving someplace new... you've got your promotion, you've found a new home, and you're ready to relocate halfway across the country. Life is good! Until you try to find a moving company, that is... then you may find you've entered a nightmare world

Traverse City at a Glance
An overview of Traverse City including links to local information and resources.

Do Less, Achieve More: The Hidden Power of Giving In
Why, when a situation seems especially important, do we so often fail? Secrets for overcoming self-sabotage...

Help Prevent Airlines from Losing Your Luggage
Don't let lost luggage ruin your next vacation. Things you can do to ensure that your luggage arrives when you do...

Free Houses Looking for a New Home
The board of the Music House has given 18 months to find lots for two houses they no longer want on their property. The houses were built in the 1890's. There's nice character and good floor plan. Both houses are off their foundations and ready to move. Contact: Jerry Keelan Commercial Group, Ltd. 231.929.9919 or e-mail jkeelan@netonecom.net

City's idea to ban animal traps hits a snare
The city is pulling up stakes on a proposed animal trapping ban that may have baited the state into a legal challenge. The proposed ban - including a complete ban on the use of kill traps - that was set for city commission approval tonight is being shelved after the state Department of Natural Resources raised legal questions.

Residents can search records on Web
Information about a person's felony record, whether they're married or divorced, or whether they have sued or been sued is now just a click away at Grand Traverse County's Web site. County records became available online last week through the county clerk's office.

Traverse City considers kill trap ban
City commissioners are studying an ordinance to protect critters from animal traps within the city limits - including a ban on kill traps.

City ponders parking rate hike
Some parking fees for on-street parking downtown would double next year under a proposal from the city's Downtown Development Authority board.

Dispatch hopes for another vote in 2004
A $9,060 research contract was approved by county commissioners Wednesday that will include a telephone survey, focus group discussions and more to get the views of local residents on the recently failed 911 surcharge election. The proposal, to increase a monthly land-line telephone surcharge for 911 services from 80 cents to $4 per month, was defeated by a 59 to 41 percent margin at a county-wide special election on May 6.

Traverse City discards tall grass ordinance
The city commission has decided to bag plans for a lawn maintenance ordinance targeting overgrown properties in the city.

Wiring: $10,000 a home?
Traverse City Light and Power is reviewing a policy that would require homeowners to pay some of the cost of underground wiring - estimated at upward of $10,000 per household in the Central neighborhood.

L&P's power line fees could bury pole policy
In a move that smacks at being retributive, the Light and Power board is considering a policy that would require each residence to pay an average $10,000 - possibly in advance - to have its street wiring buried.

Parking violators beware
Parking scofflaws beware - the city will be coming after you with a bigger hammer this year. The city commission approved two ordinance changes Monday night targeting repeat parking violators. One allows the city to tow or immobilize vehicles with six or more unpaid parking tickets, while the second will increase parking fines to $75 for individuals incurring six or more parking tickets over a one-year period.

Mental health imposters sought by state police
State police are continuing their search for two men who reportedly approached a woman at her home Tuesday and said they were community mental health workers there to remove the children.

More schools could be closed
Will Traverse City public schools be forced to close another elementary school?

A New and Better You for 2003
You increase your chances of changing your life when you do it incrementally...

How to Save 25% or More on Car Insurance
Even if you secured a good rate in recent years, you might find a better one now...

Painless Ways to Build Exercise Into Your Daily Routine
If you want to improve your health and fitness, you must increase your physical activity. Here's how to do it easily and effectively...

No Child Unrecruited
Should the military be given the names of every high school student in America?

Acts of kindness real gifts to community
Too often we get so caught up in the hurly-burly activities of our daily lives that we neglect to take a deep breath and appreciate the really kind things people do for each other.

16 Ways to Be a Better Grandparent
Don't take grandparenting for granted. It requires practice and patience. Here are some helpful ideas.

Board OKs cuts to BATA budget
The Bay Area Transportation Authority has made a host of cuts in its public busing service - including reduced weekend and nighttime runs - following last month's narrow millage defeat.

Services offer a safe ride home
Holiday revelers in Traverse City and Cadillac will have an alternative to getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink.

Seattle author writes to praise 'world-class' TC library
"Walking into TC's excellent public library I was pleasantly surprised to find it a world class institution with a very friendly and competent staff, a state-of-the-art science computer facility

Resources for Workers Facing Layoffs
Resources for surviving unemployment, meeting working family challenges, learning what went wrong, protecting your retirement security, getting active—and having a little fun meanwhile.

Traverse City L&P Special Report
News and information about the new Traverse City Light and Power substation and towers.

What Traverse City L&P Consumers Want
The following include ideas presented at the November WeAreTraverse City, Inc. community forum at the Traverse District Library.

The 12 biggest reasons we fight over finances
It's an emotional battlefield: Superheated 'discussions' with your partner about who's spending, who's saving, and how. Caution: You may spot yourself in here.

Help the House of Hope
The house of hope second annual online auction! Begins November 6th and ends December 6th at Bill Marsh Motors with a bang! Food, Entertainment, last minute computer mania!

A MIRACLE?
The school used to be out of control. Kids packed weapons. Discipline problems swamped the principal’s office. But not since 1997. What happened?

GT getting opportunity to recycle electronics
A one-day recycling program for computers and other electronic items will be held Nov. 9 by Grand Traverse County's resource recovery office.

Michigan's Money Quest
The Michigan Department of Treasury has millions of dollars in lost or forgotten assets from dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, valuables left in safe deposit boxes and stock certificates. Because these properties were considered abandoned and unclaimed by the bank or company entrusted with them, they are turned over to the state, as required by law. The Michigan Department of Treasury is the custodian of these assets and returns them to their owners (or the owners' heirs) when they are rightfully claimed.

11-November: Women Rise for Global Peace
It is time for women to come forward with these qualities that they know and live so well. Our world is in extreme crisis with all the wars and the philosophy of greed as a virtue. Let us consciously invest our power in that which will bring joy, peace, and prosperity to all. Let us all, women and men, join together on 11-11 in the streets and in spirit, to make the transformation we know in our hearts is needed for us to survive and thrive.

Winter Squash
The brilliant greens, oranges and yellows of winter squash make eye-catching table decorations, but these same squash can be downright mystifying when it comes to actually cooking them. This season, get past that pretty-but-tough exterior and discover the mellow, sweet heart of the squash. When cooked, that orange and yellow flesh gets buttery-soft and tastes delectable in an amazing array of savory and sweet dishes. And, not only is squash versatile and tasty, but it's packed with beta-carotene and vitamin C to keep you healthy and happy through the cold months.

Teen leaders create list of projects and programs for panel
Participants came up with 15 different projects in which youth could become more active in the community.

Bacterial meningitis case is diagnosed on campus of NMC
A student at Northwestern Michigan College has been diagnosed with a probable case of bacterial meningitis, a contagious and sometimes fatal disease, school officials said Tuesday.

Holiday Hills won't open this year
The Mt. Holiday Ski Area will remain closed this winter while fundraising to refurbish the ski hill continues, the nonprofit group that recently bought the property announced Friday.

'Always wear a helmet when riding bike'
In the Eagle household, no one can ride a bike without strapping on a helmet first.
That simple rule as well as a white-and-blue helmet on Storm Eagle's head, probably saved his life Sunday

Housing Commission operations lambasted
A scathing financial assessment of the Traverse City Housing Commission's financial operations has been turned over to the FBI for a possible criminal probe - and may lead to a significant shake-up of the agency.

Foods for Fall!
There's a chill in the air, a pile of blazing red and orange leaves on the lawn, and a harvest moon in the sky. Apples and squash and root vegetables galore are begging to be baked into something warm and comforting. You crave steaming soups, oven-fresh yeasty breads, hearty casseroles and spice-laden pies.

Press Release: Building Green
TC TV2 will be airing a new video in October entitled "Building Green".

Illegal hook-ups tax TC's sewer system
When a public health advisory closed city beaches for two days following a heavy rain storm late last month, it represented the fourth time in as many years that the city sewer system has backed up in the downtown area - spilling an unknown amount of raw sewage into the Boardman River and the waters of Grand Traverse Bay.

AP courses having an impact
Advanced Placement is a College Board program that gives students throughout the country an opportunity to take college-level courses and exams while still in high school.

Former TC Library begins its new life as Heritage Center
The Con Foster Museum, long one of Traverse City's least-known cultural resources, has just reopened its doors in a new home: the former city library building on Sixth Street, now known as the Grand Traverse Heritage Center.

TC is above average on MEAP
Traverse City public school students in grades four, five, seven and eight outscored the state average in math, science, writing, social studies and reading on the latest Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests.

What to Teach Your Kids Before They Leave Home
Whether your children go to college right after high school or take a few years off to work or explore the world, they'll face a steep learning curve. Schools rarely teach the life skills -- using credit cards responsibly... making friends in new places... reading the fine print on contracts, etc. -- that kids need to become responsible adults.

How to Live a Life that Truly Matters
My teacher once said to me, “When I was young, I admired clever people. As I grew old, I came to admire kind people.”

Fast, Easy Stress-Busters
there are plenty of quick, easy ways to fight stress. Here are 16 of my favorite strategies...

Telephone Scams and Fraud Defense
The more you know about the various scams, the easier it is to protect yourself. Here are some tips that may help you identify and avoid telephone fraud.

How to Best Prepare Teens for the World of Work
First jobs can leave a lasting impact on how kids feel about working -- and how successful they are in the future

When to Buy a Fixer-Upper, When to Walk Away
Houses that need a lot of work can be great deals or money pits. How to buy wisely...

Make Love, Not War: Secrets of a Much Happier Marriage
It takes only one person to break the vicious cycle of hurt. Strategies to improve any marriage

A Word To The Wise
I'm in a sporting goods store, trying to decide which of the gazillion athletic shoes would be right for the low-speed way I exercise. There are three cool teenagers in the same aisle. I know they are cool because the boys have their hats on backward and the girl's jeans come below her navel. She is wearing a top the size of a Post-it note.

TC school buses rate better than last year
Unofficial results of an annual school bus inspection show Traverse City's bus fleet is in better shape this year than last.

Job-Hunting Strategies from the Author of “What Color Is Your Parachute?”
In today’s difficult economy, finding a new job probably won’t be easy -- especially if you’re getting back in the workforce after being away from it for a few years. These winning strategies will help...

Looking to hire? Need a job? Try posting the want ad on these job sites
Try some of these Web sites you've probably never hear of: CFO; BrassRing; DICE; FlipDog; WetFeet; BrilliantPeople; HospitalSoup. There are CoolJobs and HotJobs and JoyJobs and if finding a job is an emergency there is Employment911. The latter will search 300 job boards for you, including the job postings of other job sites.

Are Your Beauty Products Killing You?
A new report linking birth defects and health risks with a chemical used in trendy cosmetics, gives a long overdue wake-up call to the FDA, consumers and the beauty industry.

Back to School!
If you've got kids in the house, you know that the end of summer means the beginning of a whole new way of eating. Once school starts, breakfasts are eaten on the way out the door, lunches are picked apart far from your watchful eye, and dinners need to be fast and hassle-free if everyone is to sit down together. We're here just in time with ideas to help you and the kids ease into the school year deliciously!

Neighbor Versus Neighbor?
John Ashcroft and the Bush Administration's insatiable appetite for new powers in the wake of 9/11 has taken on an alarming dimension -- the recruitment of American workers, including your meter reader and your cable technician among them -- to spy on their fellow Americans.

In Surreal Development, Bush Administration
Routes TIPS Calls to TV Show "America's Most Wanted"
In a development bordering on "surreal," the Department of Justice is forwarding incoming Operation TIPS calls to the Fox-owned "America's Most Wanted" television series. "This is like retaining Arthur Andersen to do all of the SEC's accounting," said Rachel King, an ACLU Legislative Counsel. "It's a completely inappropriate and frightening intermingling of government power and the private sector. What's next - the government hires Candid Camera to do its video surveillance?"

Never Go to Bed Mad and Other Marriage Myths
Many marriages fail because people base their behaviors on beliefs that simply aren't true...

Neighbor Versus Neighbor? Protect Our Civil Liberties: Fight Operation TIPS!

Ashcroft vs. Americans
The Terrorism Information and Prevention System - is a scheme that Joseph Stalin would have appreciated. Plans for its pilot phase, to start in August, have Operation TIPS recruiting a million letter carriers, meter readers, cable technicians, and other workers with access to private homes as informants to report to the Justice Department any activities they think suspicious.

Easy Tricks to Make a Small Kitchen Much Bigger
Inexpensive ways to make your kitchen more efficient...

State suspends TC woman's daycare license
The state has suspended the license of a Traverse City daycare operator after the woman's husband was charged with criminal sexual conduct for improper contact with one of the children in the home.

Magistrate offers important pointers for safe summer driving
She says it's important to strike a balance between safety, courtesy

Police, fire issue makes TC ballot
Two proposed amendments to the city charter which would require the city to operate its own police and fire departments will go before voters Nov. 5.

BATA will seek to double millage
The Bay Area Transportation Authority will ask voters this fall to nearly double a property tax millage that helps fund the two-county bus service.

Court Approves Random Drug Tests in Public High Schools
The Supreme Court ruled that schools can impose testing as a condition for participation in extra-curricular activities.

Bicycles deserve a piece of the road, too
My daughter and I were riding our bikes on a secondary country road early on a recent Sunday morning when a 'concerned motorist' slowed down to inform me that I was endangering my daughter (by riding in the road). Bike riders must follow the same laws as motor vehicles. That's why city ordinances can ban them from sidewalks. So like it or not, drivers must obey the laws and pass slower-moving vehicles, such as bicycles, in a safe and approved area. Motorists need to remember that they are the ones piloting the potential weapon and that they must stay in control at all times. Yes, even if this means they must slow down and wait for a clear roadway before they pass a bike rider who is courteous enough to stay near the shoulder of the road.

Safe Driving Starts With Me
An informative new website dedicated to understanding road rage, seatbelt laws, tips for older drivers, graduated licensing, where to find police agencies around the state and accident statistics.

Become a road scholar at new MDOT Web site
The Michigan Department of Transportation has a new Web site, designed to offer easier access to the huge amount of information offered regarding roads, bridges, airports and railroads.

Woman touts merits of giving
It's never too early to start teaching children the value of giving, a philanthropist said in a speech to community members Thursday.

Be creative — or die
A new study says cities must attract the new "creative class" with hip neighborhoods, an arts scene — or they'll go the way of Detroit.

Cities for People! Not Profits!
Concerned that the interests of ordinary city residents are increasingly being sacrificed to serve the agendas of the large corporations and the rich, a coalition of community groups, faith communities, labor unions, students, youth, and political parties has assembled under the name "Cities for People!" The members of Cities for People! are united by seven major "Points of Unity" which express our call for an urban policy which emphasizes the needs and empowerment of youth, working people, poor people, communities of color, immigrants, and future generations.

Promoting Tolerance & Accepting Diversity
One of the most important lessons parents can teach their children is tolerance for others-acceptance of differences in appearance, culture, language, or ability. This can be particularly difficult at those developmental stages when children seem more vulnerable to teasing and peer pressure. In the presence of a desirable social group, children can easily become caught up in behaviors that lead to stigmatizing others because of some characteristic. This stigmatizing usually results from misunderstandings of individual differences or from prejudices reflected in their neighborhoods or communities. These perceptions often reflect the behaviors and attitudes of significant adults in these children's lives.

Lost Pets?
Send a photo and description of your lost pet, (as well as your neighborhood if applicable — see map above), and we will post it at this web site. E-mail: LostPet@WeAreTraverseCity.com

Crime Data
An informed community is a safer community—knowledge is power. We will be providing Traverse City crime data by address and type of crime. Crimes involving a victim only will be listed. For example, speeding tickets etc. will not be listed, unless the neighborhoods desire this depth of information. We will also be offering ideas on things you can do to keep your home, car and self safe.

Every Friday - the Bits & Pieces Newsletter
Richard Lewis provides a weekly update from the City Manager's office about items of interest and upcoming activities in Traverse City. This is a great place to find information about upcoming city projects.

Traverse City Mayor Supports Strong Neighborhoods
“Strong neighborhoods are an essential part of Traverse City's small town charm. If the downtown is the heart of the community our neighborhoods are its soul—they are where we spend our lives and raise our families.

Well organized neighborhood associations help deter crime, making Traverse City a stronger, safer, more pleasurable place to live. Our city law enforcement department offers special training for citizen "Watch" groups on a regular basis.

As an independent nonprofit citizens support and advocacy group, the organization known as We Are Traverse City, Inc. is providing a valuable resource for people who live, work and play in Traverse City.” Margaret Dodd

About We Are Traverse City, Inc.
We are working with various civic organizations and associations to develop the most useful online community possible. Families who are unable to attend neighborhood meetings because they are at home with young children are especially appreciative of this new community resource.