HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-11 N i u _ \\ \\ ,,,," A Newsletter for
, , /.._,_._
Employees and Retirees
.:,:..::: ' of Tompkins County
( 7.--- .7): ill : \\\, ..// 1 NOVEMBER 1999
tine Volume 12 Number 11
Court House "Deputy Dog Missing
by Vickie Wagner, Assessment
Pedro's absence from his post atop
here S the Court House metal detector
V I I ta
Oh HQ$ our .� saddens many. The faithful guard
erg il dog was reported missing this
Qh 1. Y dp summer when he failed to report to
h _ 9 90 his job guarding the Court House
e re h�°? entrance. Notes supposedly written
by Pedro, have been received by
Deputy Michael Day. One such note
�ij� ��� � � , ^ u indicates that he is fine, that he
/ needs time to find himself, and that
.� "AI plans to hitch hike to Mexico to
, st Z/ 1 see his family. Foul play has not yet
\`11 been ruled out. Corridor's will keep
you updated on any new information
leading to his whereabouts.
-( 67 G57
C KKic
4
Sheriff Meskill initiates
Work Release Program
(Hallow 1999)
Missing
r _ -_ _ 1 �
1 f l
P edro ( Chihuahua)
11S4 1 111111111 11111111111 Height - approx. 6" �. .'
i
Eyes - Brown � :
Wearing Deputy
Sheriffs Badge
Last seen on duty at
Court House
1 to r: J. Miller, L. Laplant, S. Cooper, S. Dean, J. Hulbert
County Administrator's Report Tales from the Bush
Rick Erb
by Dave Bush
" It was several months ago that Hello all fellow county
I passed along to you ; ,
"~ > information on the status of ,
•^T� ,
�� ) employees from high above
4, tobacco settlement funds and : *; 1/' # Lake Cayugas waters.
; the impact they will have on li4 N.. • Well first off let me take care of
county government. By now
you may have seen that we important business, I have
been very busy with this year's
have included a portion of
these funds in the proposed Cops, Kids & Toys program.
2000 budget. How did we get We are off to a very good start
and expect this year's numbers
from there to here? Well, let me tell you. to top 1998 which was 1,350
New York State's share of the national settlement is worth children who recieved gifts
an estimated $25 billion over the next twenty -five years. from the program. 1 have been in touch with the gang at
0 Budget & Finance who did a great job last year collecting
The funds which are split between the state (51 /o), toys and they along with the Health Department have
counties (22.3%), and New York City (26.7 %), will begin to agreed to collect again. The Alcoholism Council has "come
flow when 80% of the states participating in the settlement aboard" this year and has offered to take all the names and
reach agreement on the distribution plan. New York State addresses that come in. If anyone has any questions about
has approved the plan, but we are now waiting for other the program feel free to contact myself or Sharon Cooper
states to complete their ratification. Even if this consensus at the Sheriffs office.
is not achieved, the settlement proceeds will begin to be
paid out no later than June 30, 2000. As the winter weather may break at any time I want to
At the conclusion of settlement negotiations in 1998, the assure you all that the weather reports will start as needed,
I know you all can't wait for the snow to fly!
tobacco companies placed an initial payment in an escrow
account to be released when the above criterion has been And now the top ten reasons that you may have
met. In our case, this amounts to $521,000 for Tompkins bought a cheap car.
County. We have included this amount as anticipated
revenue for the year 2000 in the proposed budget, and this
helped to limit the proposed tax increase to 2 %. The 10. Your tinted windows are also known as hefty bags.
$521,000 is separate and distinct from the annual
payments of approximately $1.4 million that are scheduled 9. The car reaches optimum speed when going down hill.
to begin next year. The Board has made no decision on
the use of these funds and will fully discuss our alternatives 8. The high tech stereo system often requires a new
in the coming months. Although the settlement is intended needle.
to reimburse the County for Medical expenses linked to
smoking related illnesses, we are not mandated to spend 7. The rear view mirror says, "Objects in Mirror Are Better
the proceeds for any particular purpose. The State Than This Piece of Junk"
Comptrollers Office is only advising local governments to 6. The odometer on the dashboard is not as sophisticated
utilize funds for purposes consistent with needs traditionally
funded at the local level and to use prudent budgetary as the everyday abacus.
principles as a guide in the decision making process.
5. The traffic helicopter warns other drivers what route
Although twenty -five years has been the period of time you are taking.
used by the media and others to quantify the amount of the 4. The sticker on the windshield says, "Batteries not
settlement, in actuality the agreement provides for y
payments in perpetuity. You may be aware that the federal Included ".
government and private individuals have their own litigation 3. You fill the tank up with Unleaded Coals.
pending against the tobacco companies. Their chances of
success and the affect it will have on the industry is an 2. You can only go to restaurants that offer valet pushing.
unknown at this time. Certainly few people predicted the
current situation when the states first contemplated their
own lawsuits. and #1
When you pass hitchhikers, they put their thumbs down.
And speaking of predictions... the new millenium will bring See you all next month Dave
an end to the Curse of the Bambino that has haunted the Y
Red Sox for three generations. David C. Bush, Tompkins County Sheriffs Department
Have a great Thanksgiving. 779 Warren Rd. Ithaca N.Y. 14850 (607) 272 -2444.
Dear Marylou,
I don't know what "proper" means, but I do know
F f that from my experience "no gifts, please" is only a
\U �U guideline. You are never prohibited from expressing your
fondness either by card, gift, or other means. Hand the
and card to the hosts when you greet them. Don't worry about
it being misplaced.
,04 — Danielle
Dear Marylou,
From my experience, "no gifts, please" usually
Dear Dan & Danielle, doesn't refer to a greeting card. Usually this statement is
used to inform the invitee that they are not obligated to
I have noticed the new quarters that are now being bring a gift. I think that it's a good gesture and politically
circulated that honor the various states. Do you think it correct to bring a card to such a wonderful celebration.
would be worthwhile to save them as a collection? My Have a good time.
husband thinks it's silly but it would be so easy to do. I
thought maybe I'd start one for each of my children. What — Dan
do you think ?.
Penny *...**** . « *.. *... * *. * * * *. * * * * * * * * *.. * *. *. *... *. *... *., * *..
Dear Penny, Please send your questions
for Dan /Danielle to
Sounds like a great idea. You can find the folders Ruth Pond, Finance or
for these coins at "imcoins.com" on the internet or call 1-
877- 762 -6467. There are a number of other merchants out 125 East Court Street,
there, so take your pick and enjoy your new hobby! Ithaca, NY 14850.
— Danielle
Library says:
Dear Penny, "Babies are born to Read"
from Karen Creenan, Library
I myself have begun collecting these coins. I The Tompkins County
thought it was a great idea when President Clinton signed Public Library believes that babies ,
the 50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act into law are born to read, and invites parents � '"
on December 1, 1997. of babies from newborn to one year
old to discover the joy of sharing
You'll be interested to know States will be honored books with their little one. A special Ir ,/"�, .'�
with a reverse quarter i p rogram • on November 11, 1999 �1' -
,
design "in the order in which such l � �1
States ratified the Constitution of the United States or were introduced parents and caregivers to
the best books for the very youngest "
admitted into the Union." and provided tips for using books
effectively with babies. This program will be repeated on the
You can view the release schedule on the internet second Thursday of each month through June, 2000 for those
at: http:// wwwl. usmint .gov /50states /schedule.cfrn, who couldn't attend on November 11.
What you're doing is a wonderful idea. The best gift a parent can give their child is a love of
reading. Experts agree that reading to a child during the first
Dan years of life, long before they enter school or attend a story hour,
builds a strong foundation for reading and language development
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *, * * * *, * * ** ******** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *, * * * * * * * * ** later in life. Wonderful books are written and illustrated for
children of every age including babies. Books with simple words
and stories, colorful pictures, rhymes, and repetition are good
Dear Dan & Danielle, choices for the very youngest. The library has a great collection
I have been invited to a 25 - year anniversary party of books for babies and for parents who agree that their baby is
and the lovely invitation stated "no gifts, please." "born to read."
Somehow, I would like to let this couple know how much
they mean to me. The event is being held at a restaurant This program was made possible by funding from the New York
and so I feel perhaps a card might get misplaced. What is State Library's Parent and Child Library Services grant program.
proper at an occasion like this?
Marylou
TIC
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UNITED WAY b 7 1A N K s et thi y ° cal h uma n s
of Tompkins County tjj GIV s e
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313 North Aurora Street
C It ur pl
Ithaca, New York 14850 * "-•-
Pfione: 607- 272 -6286 November 1999 Pledge tOda
Fax 607-272-2736 y
To Our Friends in Tompkins County Government:
As Executive Directors of many United Way of Tompkins County's member agen-
cies, we ask you to give thoughtful consideration to supporting this year's United Way cam-
paign.
United Way agencies positively impact the lives of many people in the Finger Lakes. United Way
of Tompkins County provides funding for more than 100 health and human service programs that
impact and improve the quality of life for thousands of residents, from infants to senior citizens. All
6 United Way member agencies and community councils are listed on the back of your pledge card.
As important as these organizations are, what is most significant about United Way is the network
?` of services that affect thousands of lives that you support with one gift.
The fundamental activity at United Way agencies is learning. Preschool children getting ready for
school, young people learning new skills, families learning to communicate with and support each
other better, people with special needs enjoying new opportunities, and people helping people.
Our goal is to help people be successful._;
The strength of United Way, and of each member agency r
and community council, is important to each of us. Your par -
ticipation with the United Way of Tompkins County this year , e t0
Pl o 'tAivi c „ U i
will make a difference. Thank you. to wa, es and Reti
i year 20 ur U nite d who con i h + ;
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Ili bu
} Sincerely, i u re d gs ogdt , emP l f o is uri'ti f
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Member Agency Executive Directors l ye ar's t /8% taf and retn�b_
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Tompkins County goes t0 the A sPeeia/ over last ees
t' Y i nPlo y es: yo eref's d e p a you •
Wh a Paign asuer0sityr te
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make a d e l fyou k , 0 tr uly over_ s
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POINTS TO PONDER!!! PUT IT OUT
from Liz Croop, Mental Health by Katy Prince, P.H.
Tompkins County H Department employees
c\ underwent fire extinguisher ealth training last month. In the
training they learned types of fire extinguishers
+( Z j r.
and what kinds of fires the they different put out.
A. Anything you can hold in your hand (Materials)
B. Liquids you may need a Bottle for (Chemical)
C. Current carrying (Electrical)
D. Dust from flammable (Metals)
Now that I'm older...here's what I've discovered:
The Health Department employees even got to put out
I started out with nothing....I still have most of it. so me real fires!
When did my wild oats turn to prunes and All Bran? y `
I finally got my head together, now my body is falling apart.
All reports are in. Life is now officially unfair.° 7 1., itti*,,, ttlil .,,,,,, „,,,,,,,,, ;vow ,..., :, ,c,„
If all is not lost, where is it? ,
Q
It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser. �,
��
I went to school to become a wit, only got half-way � ��
The first rule of holes: If you are in one, stop digging.
e
through..
" 4
ID
It was all so different before everything changed.
Christina Morse, County Clinical Nurse
Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
Get Ready - It's Coming!
A day without sunshine is like a day in Seattle.
I wish the buck stopped here. I could use a few...
It's not the pace of life that concerns me, its the sudden // 9 �
stop at the end. �■, " , r,•
--- r ,
It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been � ' 11 I ' , '
anywhere. � ,` � " Ai
The only time the world beats a path to your door is if k `� ;„„ ( • ,, e, 1 ,
y ou' re in the bathroom. ''�.-
If God wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put r ��,;'� ,.
f1 ,,i?
them on my knees. �
i
,i; , 9 , 9 11 ; "-
When you're finally holding all the cards, why does i , ..
everyone else decide to play chess? . % (► 1
Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can
die. /
'1' / il(;w, '+ 4
It's not hard to meet expenses... they're everywhere.
The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
Unclassifieds The Personal Touch
For Sale: Thank you to:
Gun Cabinet - brand new $60 pp
Hotpoint Upright Freezer - used, $75. to the many county emp(oJees for gar support, prayers, jiffs
Call Peggy 347 -6721 / /Q� / /
and floruers n during / m, recent iurfer/. Alice ate, p , � Jd. q
Snow Tires - 2 on Rims. P185/70 - R14. all IL cou4 mp /o eyeei w/o cionatec/ /uncb to ilw
Goodyear F32's_ Top of line. Off Honda Accord / // /
$175. 564 - 3430. in memory of � ather - in Ca Richard /ouncL, wlio passed
Snowboard - excellent condition with bindings. away. tra4 appreciate a[C 1I.e support curing
New $500 - asking $200. Leave message at 387- �/� / / (�
9376. Great Christmas gift! gal time of need . l l(anj / \oun aS >
Congratulations to:
Free: Gina Newlin, DSS Family Preservation, proud mother of son Cole
Storm windows wood frame: 6 - 32" x 60; James born 10/22/99.
3 - 36" x 70. Door - 32" x 80. Call 273 -2725.
Sue Wrolstad, DSS Sr. Caseworker who has transferred from
Services: Children's Services to Treatment Foster Care, filling in temporarily
Zart Computer Services - for all of your computer for Gina Newlin who is on leave.
needs: consulting, computers and accessories.
266 -7492. Welcome to:
Bill Gahnz, DSS Caseworker, Children's Services who is filling in
Wedding Photography Dunn Rite. High quality temporarily for Henry Peterson who is on leave.
matte albums. Videography. Affordably priced.
Call 594 -3387 until 8:00 p.m. Kathleen Drew, Administrative Assistant who transferred from
Personnel to Children's Services and will be assisting Patricia
Carey, legal Unit.
Tynyk Originals suggests that you order your
Christmas stockings, tree skirts, aprons, door /waif Articles to be considered for the December 16 issue must be
panels and gifts now and avoid the seasonal received by Monday, November 29. Lengthy articles must be on
rush.. Give your Christmas the "Tynyk Touch "! disk. Send by interdepartmental mail to Ruth Pond, Finance, or
Call 564 -9244 evenings or weekends. 125 East Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850. Fax: 274 -5505.
Tense? Sore and aching shoulders and neck? UNCLASSIFIEDS
Relax! Get the stress out with therapeutic
massage! Call Richard Reed 844 - 9327 or 756 Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County employees, retirees
2427 for an appointment. and their immediate families. Ads may be for any purpose except no personal ads
will be accepted. No County addresses or telephone numbers may be listed
Mental Health Forensic in these ads, however we do need the full name of the person submitting the ad.
Team in Happier Days Use this coupon to send your ad via interdepartmental mail to Ruth Pond, County
Corridors c!o Finance, or 125 East Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850.
by Linda Riley, MH Please type or print legibly/ Thanks!
COUNTY CORRIDORS
Articles and opinion pieces for County Corridors are selected by the
volunteer editorial board based on their interest to Tompkins County employees and
retirees. They do not necessarily express the opinions of the Editorial Board.
Material is solicited from current employees, retirees and others.
Material for publication is selected by the editorial board which reserves
the right to edit any submissions except in the instance of copyright articles. The
Linda Riley, Karen Kalista, Lorraine Carvell. Editorial Board is made up of: Bill Chapp, Social Services; Sharon Cooper, Sheriff's;
Liz Croop, Mental Health; Iretta Ellis, Information Services; Ruth Pond, (Editor),
Sadly, we've had to say good to Karen and Finance; Michelle Pottorff, Bd. Of Representatives; Katy Prince, Health; Judy
Tynyk, (Chair), Weights and Measures; and Vickie Wagner, (Artist), Assessment.
Lorraine who have been sentenced to community Correspondence may be sent through County inter - department mail to:
service in other locations. Good luck, ladies! County Corridors, c/o Finance -, 125 East Court St., Ithaca, NY 14850.