October 20, 2008 12:00 am Cheers -- To the Traverse City commission for opening the search for a new city manager to the wider community. The three finalists -- Tom Menzel, R. Ben Bifoss and Bob Schaumleffel Jr. -- met with residents, city staff and representatives from the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority. Commissioners may make a final decision tonight. -- To Traverse City Rotary Club for hosting its annual Gourmet Game Dinner, a gathering that features great food, Boardman River environmental concerns and raises funds for various environmental initiatives. The dinner has raised $60,000 for the river. Projects have included updating an inventory of erosion sites and replacing access steps at the Sabin Pond trailhead. -- To the organizers of a Community Pep Rally at Thirlby Field in Traverse City at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to show off the improvements at Thirlby and raise money for the group Fourth and Goal's ongoing rehabilitation and upgrade project. Firefly Lounge will offer a tailgate at the rally, which will feature bands, cheerleaders and representatives from area high school football teams. Tours will be offered. -- To the organizers of the annual Traverse City Bioneers conference held over the weekend where attendees shared ideas about a host of environmental and planetary issues. Highlighted programs included Community Supported Agriculture, including information on creating greenhouse operations to provide fresh food year round. -- To the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians for landing a $823,500 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for environmental work on a handful of local waterways. The funds will be used in partnership with the Conservation Resource Alliance to complete five water quality and habitat improvement projects in Benzie County, including work on the Betsie River, Platte River and Otter Creek. -- To the office of Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox for continuing to provide funding for three special assistant attorney generals to handle local domestic violence cases for at least another year in nine northern Michigan counties, including the five-county Grand Traverse area. Half of the funding will come from the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board. Jeers -- To the scam artists targeting area residents through mail, telephone and the Internet. Grand Traverse County Undersheriff Nate Alger said the number of incidents has trended upward in the past few years. Internet and phone scams are eclipsing mail as the preferred venue of scammers, and the elderly often are the target of choice. Police warn that residents should not give out sensitive personal information such as bank account or Social Security numbers. For Information and resources about scams, visit www.fraud.org and www.ic3.gov.
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