As the holiday season draws near, we’re excited to bring you this edition of the SFM newsletter, filled with updates and highlights to keep you informed and engaged throughout this festive time of year.
In this issue, we’re proud to spotlight some exciting new initiatives, including the Athlete and Student of the Month in Tipp City, as well as a Wellness Day event in Miami County. We are adding a “Mental Health Minute” section from our friend Brad Reed at the Tri-County Board of Mental Health. We’re also taking a moment to honor and celebrate our Veterans, and of course, gearing up for the upcoming holidays—Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner!
We celebrated a HUGE milestone at SFM- 50 years in business! Ben and Louise bought their first McDonald’s restaurant in 1974. On September 14th, 2024, we threw a rockin’ surprise celebration at the Piqua Country Club for the Scott Family. There were lots of laughs and tears as we walked through the many memories Ben and Louise started 50 years ago.
As we embrace the holiday season, let’s not forget to take time for ourselves. We know it can be a hectic time of year for many, but your well-being is a priority. Amid all the festivities, shopping, and planning, it’s essential to carve out moments of peace and relaxation. Whether it’s taking a quiet walk, enjoying a cup of coffee, or simply sitting in stillness, remember self-care is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Give yourself permission to recharge so that you can fully embrace the joy and connection this season has to offer.
Just a reminder that this is your newsletter, and we want to make sure it reflects what matters most to you. Let us know what you’d like to see in upcoming issues. We’re here to serve and support you!
May your holiday season be filled with warmth, love, and connection.
All the best!
Cindy Frantz
Recruitment/Community Relations
Scott Family McDonald’s Celebrates 50 Years
“It is a true blessing to celebrate 50 years at SFM. Over the years, we have had the honor to watch our employees build lives, get married, start families, and thrive in careers shaped by the skills they developed with us. Thanks to our dedicated teams – many of whom are still with us today – we have been able to give generously to our communities. Their hard work has helped us become a leading organization within the McDonald’s family. We are deeply grateful to be part of these wonderful communities, to work with incredible people, and create feel-good moments for our customers.”
COMING UP AT SFM!
RMHC Donation Drive
Starting November 18th, we will be collecting any canned & non-perishable food in our lobbies to help fill the pantries at the Ronald McDonald House!
Wellness Clinic in Miami Co.
We are teaming up with Miami Co. Health Partners to bring some wellness into our stores! Representatives from Health Partners will come and administer Flu Shots, COVID Shots, BMI testing, Blood Pressure and Sugar tests! This is FREE for our employees and the community! The dates are as follows:
Friday, December 6th, 10am – 12pm @ Piqua East
Wednesday, December 11th, 10am – 12pm @ Tipp City
Friday, December 13th, 10am – 12pm @ Troy
Company Meeting
For managers will be on December 9th!
Deck the Doors Contest!
Be ready! We are holding the Door Decorating contest between stores again this year! Decorate your door and get the most votes to win a pizza party!
12 Days of Christmas!
We are excited to spread Christmas Cheer this year with 12 days of FUN Christmas activities for your stores! Stay tuned for more information!
Kentucky Supervisor Bev is also a Veteran and happily shared some details about her experience with us!
What branch did you serve?
I served in the KY Air National Guard – 1984 through 1997. I got activated for Desert Storm and went to Little Rock AFB in January 1991 through June 1991. Our unit helped fill spots during the conflict.
Any cool stories you’d like to share?
I met my husband while on active duty at LRAFB. He worked as a civil servant for the LRAFB. I did not want to go out with him because I was only to be there temporarily. I finally said yes when he asked me to go to the horse races with his dad and him. We have been married for 32 years .
I’ve been able to go to many places while in the guards, just to name a few.. Costa Rica, Germany, IceLand, Azores, and many places in the US as well!
How do you and your family celebrate Thanksgiving?
We have always been able to gather as a family and give thanks for all God has provided. This year, I will be celebrating being a part of the SFM for a year and am so thankful for Benny and Stacy for all they do for us!
There has been a lot of interest in employees wanting to learn Spanish as a second language. With Archways only offering Spanish Under the Arches 3-4 times per year, we decided to look to our local community college, Edison State to see what they had to offer.
Edison State offers Speed Spanish classes and enrollment is monthly. The cost is $125 per class, and Archways will cover this cost! So, if you are ready to learn Spanish as a second language and you don’t want to wait for the quarterly sign up with Spanish Under the Arches, please consider Edison State. Cindy knows the instructor personally, and you will have an excellent experience!
Visit the website to learn more: https://www.ed2go.com/edisonohio/online-courses/speed-spanish/
Or reach out to Cindy!
How many moments can you focus on at once? Trick question! Our brains have an attention budget of “one moment per moment.” That is, for any given moment, you can only pay attention to one moment, and people with good mental health have learned to keep their focus on here and now. It’s not easy! Our minds are naturally pulled toward the past – maybe that mean thing a customer said yesterday – or toward the future – worrying about juggling your busy schedule tomorrow.
Being focused too much on the past or the future and not focused enough on here and now increases stress and negatively affects your happiness and your productivity. With a little practice, you can train your brain to recognize when your attention is drifting and learn how to bring your attention back to here and now. This practice – called “mindfulness” – is simple and does not require any special equipment or formal training. You can learn mindfulness techniques that you can practice at home, at work, or wherever you are. In future “Mental Health Moments” we will discuss some of these basic techniques to reduce stress and increase happiness.
To learn more, or to find mental health resources, please visit the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services website at www.tcbmds.org/resilience.
BRAD REED is the Associate Director and Chief of Community Engagement for the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services
Are you ready to start some healthy habits but aren’t sure where to start? We are here to help! You can always reach out to Cindy for some guidance – whether you want to create a healthy meal plan or an exercise schedule! Cindy used to be a certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach, so she is very knowledgable when it comes to healthy habits. In fact, she recently helped managers Matt & Bobby start a healthy habit plan and here is what they had to say about it:
“The biggest thing we took away was meal planning, using the principles Cindy talked about with doing high protein items. We are more aware and thoughtful of what we are eating, causing us to make healthier choices. We have been doing this for about 6 weeks now and have noticed that we do less snacking after dinner.”
Do you want to earn leadership credentials without the time it takes to earn an associate’s degree? WGU has just what you are looking for! The Business Leadership Certificate might be for you!
This certificate offers a skills-based curriculum aligned with employer demand. Upon completion, you are primed for a leadership career! And it only takes 4 months to complete!
Please visit the website for more details. Any questions, you can reach out to Cindy!
https://www.wgu.edu/online-business-degrees/certificates/leadership.html
We recently partnered with Tipp City High School to recognize students for their academic achievements and athletic achievements. Cindy & Brayden got to award Jackson & Melany with a McD’s gift basket!
We are hoping to implement this in more schools within our communities!
Makayla Sexton and Lesli Silva both were recognized with Outstanding Shift Manager Awards from the BOA!
General Manager in Owingsville, Kim Denkins won the Community Value Award from the BOA!
Isaac Meyers, a crew member in Sidney is heading off to Bootcamp for the US Navy!
Connie Kissick and her team in Morehead 1 were the winners of the Dr. Pepper Incentive put together by the BOA!
Congratulations to Ayla Wroten for graduating from Hamburger University in October!
Ayla is the 1st Assistant at our Towne Centre location and has been with SFM for 6 years! Ayla said that she loved HU for the diversity of operators/corporate and hearing all the differences there are across the US. Ayla loved learning the new tools to help her be better at leading. She isexcited to use the iGrow tool in her own store!
Paula, General Manager of our Winchester store particpated in a benefit barrel race competition recently for the University of Kentucky Rodeo Team with her horse Cona. It was a costume contest, and they dressed up as Indians.
Paula started riding when she was just 8 years old, and began showing horses when she turned 9! She’s had Cona since he was 6 months old. She started him undersaddle and trained him herself! How cool!
Lasagna Soup
It’s soup season! This soup is PERFECT to warm up to on a cold day! November is National Gluten Free Diet month and this creamy, delicious soup is Gluten and Dairy free!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ pound ground beef
½ pound ground Italian pork
1 small onion chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes liquid included
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon sea salt adjust
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
2 cups spinach (optional)1 box (10 oz) gluten free lasagna noodles broken in half
Directions:
1. First, add the olive oil to a large stock pot or dutch oven. Sauté the onion and garlic until fragrant and onions turn translucent. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook until browned and meat is cooked through. Drain any excess fat.
2. Add the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce the heat to simmer and add the broken lasagna noodles. Let simmer for about 15 minutes or until the noodles are done.
4. Before serving, add the spinach and let it wilt. Taste and adjust the amounts of spices and broth if needed. Serve with ricotta cheese or cottage cheese if desired.
Lasagna Soup
It’s soup season! This soup is PERFECT to warm up to on a cold day! November is National Gluten Free Diet month and this creamy, delicious soup is Gluten and Dairy free!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ pound ground beef
½ pound ground Italian pork
1 small onion chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes liquid included
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon sea salt adjust
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
2 cups spinach (optional)1 box (10 oz) gluten free lasagna noodles broken in half
Directions:
1. First, add the olive oil to a large stock pot or dutch oven. Sauté the onion and garlic until fragrant and onions turn translucent. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook until browned and meat is cooked through. Drain any excess fat.
2. Add the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, broth, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce the heat to simmer and add the broken lasagna noodles. Let simmer for about 15 minutes or until the noodles are done.
4. Before serving, add the spinach and let it wilt. Taste and adjust the amounts of spices and broth if needed. Serve with ricotta cheese or cottage cheese if desired.
Are you Ready to Further your Education?
Archways to Opportunities gives you all of the resources you need to begin or continue your college education!
Archways To Opportunity
McDonald’s and its independent franchisees are committed to helping employees further their education and achieve their dreams.
To help individuals who work at a company-owned or independently franchised restaurant, we created Archways to Opportunity, a comprehensive education strategy with multiple programs that give people an opportunity to grow and learn – no matter where they are on their journey.
How do I earn my High School Diploma?
You can graduate from high school by taking classes online – whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you – through Career Online High School. And, you may be able to apply credits from high school courses you’ve already completed.
How do I choose an affordable path to college?
If you are ready to get started working toward your college degree, Archways to Opportunity® offers programs to help make your goals a reality – in a way that fits your lifestyle.
Our programs can help you explore educational opportunities while getting financial support to make your educational journey easier.
How do I figure out the right path for me?
Figuring out the next step in your education and career journey may feel like a lot. Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions has Success Coaches who are available to help you identify your education needs, review your career goals and develop a plan for the future. Your coach will continue to support you throughout your experience to ensure that you successfully achieve your goals and complete your program.
How do I improve my English?
We want you to feel confident in all that you do. If you are bilingual, this includes being comfortable talking in English. Whether you are speaking to customers or staff, your voice should be heard. English Under the Arches® can help.
With the support of English Under the Arches, you can improve your English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
How do I earn my degree for free through CTU?
The Commitment Grant, along with maximizing Archways to Opportunity tuition assistance, covers 100% of eligible students’ online tuition, including eBooks and student fees, at CTU helping you to pursue your educational goals without the need for student loans.
Eligible students may utilize the Commitment Grant towards any Associate or Bachelor’s degree program offered at CTU.
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