Author: Amanda Corrigan

The Hot Sardines
Saturday, Sept. 21, at 8 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
Tickets: $48, $41, $29
Box Office: 703-993-7759 

The 2019–20 Hylton Presents season opens with an evening of sensational entertainment by this hot New York-based jazz ensemble group known for their brassy horn arrangements, rip-roaring piano tunes, and smoky vocals. “The charismatic front-runners of vintage jazz” (The Guardian), the Hot Sardines whisk you back to the days of Parisian cabarets, French Quarter jazz clubs, and Harlem speakeasies as they channel the music and the style of the Jazz Age while adding their own distinct contemporary verve. Bandleader and pianist Evan Palazzo and lead singer Elizabeth Bougerol met in 2007 at a jazz jam session and bonded over their love for Fats Waller and other greats like Dinah Washington, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday. 
  

An Evening with Audra McDonald: Songs from the American Music Theater
Saturday, Sept. 28, at 8:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Tickets: $100, $75, $50
Box Office: 703-993-2787 

Tony, Grammy®, and Emmy® Award winner Audra McDonald makes her Center for the Arts debut. In this concert, McDonald performs her trademark mix of hits from Broadway and the Great American Songbook. In addition to a record-breaking six Tony Awards—distinguishing her as the most decorated performer in American theater—she is the recipient of two Grammy® Awards, an Emmy® Award, and a 2015 National Medal of Arts bestowed on her by President Barack Obama. Tony-winning performances include Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. Blessed with a luminous soprano voice and an incomparable gift fordramatic truth-telling, she is as much at home on Broadway and concert stages as she is on film and television.

September is Campus Fire Safety Month, and the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHS) is pleased to use this opportunity to remind the Mason community of a few essential fire safety tips. In addition to the advice below, EHS encourages you to review the university’s Fire Safety Plan, which describes roles and responsibilities, policies, and procedures designed to mitigate the causes of fire, prevent loss of life and property by fire, and outline the procedures used to maintain fire protection and life safety systems at George Mason University. 

Stay Warm…and Safe! 

With cold weather approaching, it’s important to be aware of heating safety practices. While the university permits the use of personal space heaters, they must be used in accordance with the directives below.

• Space heaters must have tip over automatic safety cut-offs and wiring that is in good condition. 
• All combustible materials must be removed at least three feet from the space heater. 
• Never place a space heater directly on top of combustible paper products, wood, or fueled equipment.  
• Space heaters must be plugged directly into the wall, without the use of an extension cord or power strip. 
• Space heater may never be used in areas where hazardous materials (i.e., flammable materials) are used or stored.  
• Space heaters must be turned off when they are left unattended. 
• Heaters must have a ceramic element. Coil elements are not permitted. 
  

Download this tip sheet from the National Fire Protection Association to learn more about heating safety practices.  

Fire Emergencies: Evacuation 

Most of us have a habit of entering and leaving our offices through the same door. In an emergency, that exit door may not be accessible, and you’ll need to quickly locate an alternate way out.

Evacuation Plans, like the one pictured here, are posted throughout all university buildings. Students, employees, and visitors are encouraged to know and use two exit routes for all buildings and know your designated assembly area. Evacuation plans also show the location of fire extinguishers and pull stations. 

Review your evacuation plan today, and if you have any questions or need additional guidance, please contact EHS. 

Training Opportunities 

EHS offers Fire Extinguisher Use training to all members of the university community. In this engaging, one-hour course, you’ll learn how to operate a fire extinguisher through hands-on practice and classroom instruction. Visit ehstraining.gmu.edu to register for a class today, or contact EHS to schedule a group session for your office. 

 

Take a break with a walk around campus! Join members of the Staff Senate for Who’s Walking Wednesday on September 18. 

This is a great chance to meet some of your senators, hear about the work they are doing, and share any questions or ideas of your own. 

The walk begins at noon in front of Merten Hall. Bring your water and walking shoes! 

If you have questions, contact staffsenate@gmu.edu. 

Save the Date: Car-Free Day, September 21–23

With the construction projects on I-66 and a host of commuting challenges on the roads every day, it may be time to think about sharing your ride with others or even going car-free. Car-Free Day is a great time to try something new and establish another way to get to work! Take the pledge at carfreemetrodc.org.   

Some additional resources for faculty/staff: 

Mason Programs: Full listing at transportation.gmu.edu; including:  

• Commuter Choice – eligible employees can receive up to $265/month for using public transportation or vanpool to get to work 
• Zimride – to assist in finding people with whom to commute (available to faculty, staff, and students) 
• Bike Commuter Choice – three tiers of financial support based on how much you ride 
• Guaranteed Ride Home Program – an emergency ride home four times per year at no cost for those who use car/vanpool, mass transit, bike, or walk at least two times per week
• Pool Party (Car/Vanpool): Sept. 19 at noon in the Hub Corner Pocket. Help the environment, save money, and reduce your commuting stress all by choosing not to drive alone to Mason. Additional information available on the website. Free pizza and games! Open to faculty, staff and students. 

Car Free Day with the City of Manassas: 

• Sept. 21 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additional information available here.
• Includes a community bike ride from Colgan Hall at the SciTech Campus to the Manassas Farmer’s Market. Open to all. 

I-66 Commuter Incentives: Click on Outside the Beltway and then Commuter Options 

Questions?  Contact Parking and Transportation at transpo@gmu.edu.  

Fall Biking-Related Opportunities at Mason

Parking and Transportation has teamed up with the Office of Sustainability, Human Resources and Payroll, and the Fairfax Alliance on Better Bicycling (FABB) on some biking-related opportunities this fall for faculty, staff, and students including: 

September: 

• Learn to Ride Classes with the Fairfax Alliance on Better Bicycling (FABB): Saturday,Sept. 14, or Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon, $10 
• Abandoned “As Is” Bike Sale, Friday, Sept. 20, from 2 to 5 p.m., in the Visitor Section (first level) of the Shenandoah Parking Garage. Approximately 60 bikes need some TLC, but see if there is one for you. Prices start at $10.   

October: 

• Bike Commuting 101 with Rick Holt of Human Resources and Payroll and a American League of Bicyclist’s Certified Instructor: Thursday, Oct. 10, from noon to 1 p.m. Free.
• Bike Skills Building Class with FABB: Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to noon, $10.
• Social Ride with FABB from Mason to Burke Lake Park and back, Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., $10. 

All the Time: 

• Patriot Bike Check Out Program: Check out a bike from the RAC or the Aquatic Center (AFC) at no cost, Monday–Thursday, for a one-day check out by showing a valid Mason ID.  Check it out on Friday or Saturday and have it until Sunday night. Return to either location. 

For more information, including registration for some events, visit bike.gmu.edu.

Join us for the Mason Libraries’ Annual Edible Book Festival—where books and food converge in creative and tasty ways! The International Edible Book Festival combines books, art, food, and fun. Edible books look like a book, or just have something to do with books.

Be creative! Your festival entry should be made from sweet or savory edible ingredients. All entries are displayed, judged, and prizes awarded.

Register your entry by October 1, 2019. More details and Festival entry form at library.gmu.edu/edible.

Sponsors + Prizes! Argo Tea Cafe — University Bookstore –University Library

For more information, contact Amy Sullivan, preservation librarian, at asulli21@gmu.edu or 703-993-2667.

Congratulations to all of our Summer Staff Appreciation Raffle Winners. Enjoy your prizes!

Arlington Campus Winners:
Darlene Montgomery, Shell Gas Gift Card
Charlene Xu, Starbucks Gift Card
Megan Friend, Target Gift Card
April Grayson, One Semester of Complimentary Parking, Courtesy of Mason Parking and Transportation

Science and Technology Campus Winners:
Ruth Cope, One Semester of Complimentary Parking, Courtesy of Mason Parking and Transportation
Jun Liu, Starbucks Gift Card
Marques Wilson, Shell Gas Gift Card
Nathan Katlein, Mum Mum Restaurant Gift Certificate
Tiffany Sandstrum, Amazon Gift Card
Manuel Segovia, Target Gift Card

Fairfax Campus Winners:
Heather Leadingham, Amazon Gift Card
Stephen Winn, Shell Gas Gift Card
Joe Chey, Starbucks Gift Card
Mary Lulis, Target Gift Card
Kristin Tyburczy, One Semester of Complimentary Parking, Courtesy of Mason Parking and Transportation

If you were enrolled in flexible spending accounts (FSA) during the 2018-2019 plan year, you have until September 30, 2019, to send Anthem your reimbursement claims and additional necessary documentation. These claims are for eligible expenses that were incurred between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019.

Reimbursement Forms: 

• Reimbursement forms are available on our forms page (please make sure you use the forms for Anthem)
• For assistance with form and claims processing, please call Anthem FSA at 877-451-7244

You may file reimbursement claims by:

• Faxing them to 888-347-5212
• Mailing them to Anthem FSA, P.O. Box 660165, Dallas, TX 75266-0165

Health FSA Participants:

• Please provide documentation for expenses that were paid using the debit card
• You may be taxed on any amount spent for which there is no documentation

For questions, please contact Benefits at benefits@gmu.edu or 703-993-2600.

 

Do you work with an incredible Mason administrative/professional faculty member, classified staff member, or wage employee who goes the extra mile, collaborates with their colleagues, and supports the university? Then nominate them for Mason’s Employee of the Month award!

Ready to nominate someone? Additional information can be found on the HR & Payroll website.