friday takeout

December 4, 2020

CUPPA JOE | straight up news.

  • Successful outcomes and COVID-19 response requires a plan: NICC Business and Community Solutions creates The Strategic Consulting Group ... news


  • Safe at Work webinar information distributed to northeast Iowa business leaders in Business Insight update ... link


  • College produces second Legislative Update piece for state lawmakers ... link


  • FACULTY AND STAFF: Stay up-to-date on the College's Strategic Plan and Tracking document in NICC Shared Files!

WEEKLY FEATURE | good to know.

Important Print Center Update for All College Employees

Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases the print centers, on both campuses, will begin operating under limited office hours.

ALL print requests must be submitted electronically: Calmar Print Request | Peosta Print Request

The print center operators are monitoring print requests multiple times a day and are adjusting their schedules around deadlines as much as possible. Please know that a short turnaround time cannot be guaranteed. It is best to submit a minimum of two days before you need your printed materials to ensure timely delivery.

All printed materials will be delivered to campus mailboxes to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

We ask that under no circumstance anyone enter the print centers to pick up materials. This is to limit exposure for the print center operators and to ensure proper tracking of your project.

Thank you!

Marketing Office

Marketing Creates Improved "Training by Topic" Functionality on College Website!

The Marketing Office has completed extensive reorganization and improvements to the Business and Community Solutions pages on the College's www.nicc.edu website. A new Training by Topic page assists site visitors with navigation and the redesign effort includes subpages based on topic area. The restructuring and revised page content should give College employees a better idea of the types of courses and services Business and Community Solutions offers the public.

JUST DESSERTS | let's celebrate.

Welcome to the World!

Kelli, Shawn and Brek Hovey welcomed a baby girl, Konnor Jules Dawley, on Saturday, Nov. 28. Konnor was 6 lbs., 9 oz., 18 3/4” long. Kelli Hovey is a Veterinary Technology program instructor at the Calmar campus. Congratulations to the Hovey family!

APPETIZER | something for your appetite.

Billboard’s Website Shares the Best Livestreaming Music Content during COVID-19

With venues and bars shut down from coast-to-coast, Billboard’s website offers an continually updated guide to music content for listeners and concert-goers all over the world. The site is currently highlighting music acts in every genre with concert date promotions stretching into mid-January.

Nearly all livestreams require ticket purchase, but some – such as The Farm Must Go On, a live benefit concert to raise money for farmers impacted during the coronavirus pandemic (pictured) – are free of charge and accept donations.

WELLNESS 360 | be well.

Self-Care Tips and Inspiration

by Flannery Cerbin-Bohach, Wellness and Life Stage Program Manager

Recipe of the Week:

This was a recent success in our household: Butter Chicken. It’s not spicy, just creamy and satisfying! We omitted the garam masala and fenugreek leaves. We used whole milk instead of heavy cream.

Inspiration of the Week:

Self-Care Tip of the Week:

Recently, the Wellness Committee and I had a conversation about pandemic stress, without calling it that. Many of us agreed we had heard anecdotes about hair falling out. Turns out hair loss related to stress is a real thing and happening at increased rates this past year. Telogen effluvium is the name for a common cause of temporary hair loss due to the excessive shedding of resting (telogen) hair after some shock to the system.

Additionally throughout the pandemic, people who never had the coronavirus have reported excruciating headaches, upset stomach, sudden outbreaks of shingles and even flare-ups of autoimmune disorders. I went to the audiologist recently because I’ve had intermittent ringing in my "good,” left ear (I had permanent sudden hearing loss in my right ear 5 years ago). Stress was one of the possible explanations.

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation

BIG FISH | be amazed.

Steffi Miehe

Nursing Clinical Instructor | Calmar Campus

When you were growing up, what game or activity did you absolutely dread playing, and why?

I am a gym teacher’s daughter so I grew up in a home where my dad encouraged physical fitness. Nowadays I am so appreciative of the time and energy he put into fueling my passion for fitness, but the summer days when we ran up the hill outside of our house I dreaded.


During your career at Northeast Iowa Community College, what is the nicest thing that ever happened to you, or someone did for you?

The nicest thing I have heard is positive feedback from students and encouragement that they are learning and enjoying the learning process! My goal as a clinical instructor is that they have a positive experience and feel confident in becoming nurses.


Is there a book you’ve read that you love so much you’ve read it twice, or even multiple times?

I have really enjoyed David Goggins book, Can't Hurt Me. It is highly motivating and tells his life story of overcoming adversity to become who he is today.


Give your colleagues a suggestion: what are 1, 2, or 3 of your favorite smart phone apps?

  • Spotify: I love the variety of music/playlists and podcasts available.

  • 1 Second Everyday: the app compiles a one-second clip every day and it puts together a video. I find this so cool to watch my daughter’s growth and be reminded of a clip of a fun event of that day. We watch them at the end of every year.


In one sentence, how would you explain the internet?

A blessing and a curse.

If you have input on a upcoming feature, Big Fish, something to celebrate or a suggestion, email us at news@nicc.edu!