HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-07 COUNTY CORRIDORS
Vol. I, No. V A Newsletter For Employees and Retirees of Tompkins County July 1988 op
Ag. .i� iY II 46 -PERS w �
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The Life Saver .. �„� f I - 4-.* 4 -:-:it
I II eit .1"* oe i —.NS
by Barbara Mearse,Office for the Aging } I
The 88 year old woman living alone in ,
the isolated north Lansing farmhouse lay
helpless on her basement floor at the foot
of the stairs.She had lost her footing and
fallen down the last half-dozen steps.
Keeping her wits about her,she pushed J. :''._,,',,'
the small red button on the pendant hang-
ing around her neck, and waited. Almost �r
before she had time to think about her —
situation the Lansing Rescue Squad was I
getting her up and into an ambulance for it, ),,
transport to Tompkins Community " '_! S
Hospital.After a few days of treatment for 1
minor injuries,she returned home thank-
ful for being a subscriber to the Tompkins '* iiiik. •'i ■ _ 41
County Personal Emergency Response photo by Bill Chopp
System(PERS). RIBBON CUTTING -Hams B. Dates Drive was officially opened for traffic at noon on
July 20, 1988. Prior to the cutting of the ribbon by Harris B. Dates, longtime County
Since this program's inception in Sep- Legislator and former Chairman of the Board of Representatives, speeches honoring
tember 1985,similar scenarios have been the occasion were given by Noel Desch, Supervisor of the Town of Ithaca; Bonnie
repeated throughout the County. Multi- Howell,Administrator of the Tompkins Community Hospital;and James Mason,Chair-
ple sclerosis victims falling and,although man of the Board of Representatives.The first automobile to drive on the road official-
uninjured,unable to get up,heart attack ly was a 1913 REO.
victims, diabetes sufferers, persons in
chronic kidney failure,frail senior citizens The County Health Department main- The County initially purchased 30 units
living alone---all of these plus many others tains all financial records related to the in 1985.To date 166 units have been pur-
have benefited from the unique system.It PERS program and is in charge of billing chased and 106 are currently operating in
is unique because it represents a success- subscribers and receiving all monies that homes all over the County.
ful collaboration of three County depart- come in from purchases and rentals of
ments that cooperate in administration, machines. Over the past three years,many elder-
implementation,and monitoring. ly,frail,and medically at-risk residents of
The County Office for the Aging the County have been able to remain in
Fire Coordinator Jack Miller's office provides two outreach workers, Barbara their own homes longer and avoid prema-
orders, receives, and maintains the pen- Mearse and Cheri Bowers, who take ture institutionalization because of our in-
dant units and all signals activated by the referrals for possible subscribers, make terdepartmental PERS program.
subscribers are received at Central Fire home visits to demonstrate the equipment
Dispatch in the Green Street fire station. and to assess the applicant's condition and
The dispatcher on duty sends out ap- needs,install the PERS units,take care of
propriate assistance according to the pre- any questions or difficulties that arise,and THIS PAPER IS RECYCLABLE.
viously-recorded requests of the sub- keep the other two County departments
scriber. informed about PERS subscribers.
f 1
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�If 4 •s,'sA., , ' VACANCIES AS OF JULY 15, 1988
+ .- �_ _' +5.,, .00'• CARDIOVASCULAR PROGRAM DIRECTOR:
� '-"'^ Health Dept.; MS in Public Health, Human Ser-
vices,Health Education,Nursing or related field
•-. r. �.� t plus one year supervisory experience in health
•. ` ,i i , education OR BS plus two years supervisory ex-
(.‘iv. ) l i - penance.Grade 18.
-kl'4i s.'''A 't i �� CARDIOVASCULAR COORDINATOR: Health {
t Dept.; MS in Health Education OR BS in Health
;�, Education,Nursing or related field plus one year
E' Li 1' : experience in Health Education.Grade 12.
CASE AIDE:DSS and Mental Health;One year
experience in any position supporting human
services programs in public or private agency.
r ,- Grade 4.
, . A' ,f SENIOR STENOGRAPHER: District Attorney;
- -.J Ability to take and transcribe dictation at 80 wpm
— dio AND completion of a one year Certificate
photo by Bpi Chopp Program in Secretarial Science or a closely re-
Biggs Complex employees enjoy a walk in the sun for the health of it. fated field plus one year experience; OR High
School plus two years experience; OR six years
experience. (All experience involving stenog-
Healthy Notes raphy).Grade 9.
WALK! Don't Run MARKETING/MEDIA SPECIALIST: Health
MS in Marketin g
Communications,Adver-
tising or related field plus one year experience in
Marketing, Public Relations or Media Corn-
by Lauren Wright,Central Services
munications OR BS and two years experience;
one year in a supervisory capacity.Grade 12.
The women walkers are easier to spot than the men.The athletic shoes worn with skirts
and dresses give them away. County employees are walking in response to the Wellness REHABILITATION SPECIALIST: Mental
Challenge and as part of the larger trend.Americans are walking in a big way.There are Health; MS in Vocational Rehabilitation,
specially designed walking shoes, a magazine devoted to walking,and audio cassettes to Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology, Social
encourage walkers from such diverse sources as Jane Fonda and the US Marine Corps. Work,or Occupational Therapy OR BS plus NYS
Walking is for everyone.No special equipment is needed,it can been done almost any certificate as a Rehabilitation Counselor, Cer-
time and it can be adapted to anyone's fitness level by varying speed and distance.Mile titled Social Worker or Occupational Therapist
for mile,it equals the caloric output of jogging and is less stressful for the body. license.Grade 12.
• WALKING STRATEGIES REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSE:
The Biggs complex is blessed with a beautiful setting.Take advantage of the fresh air Health Dept. (Hypertension Program); Comple-
and scenery and the service roads. From Indian Creek Road to the visitors'entrance of tion of a course of study approved by NYS Educa-
the Hospital is three quarters of a mile. Check out the view of Cayuga Lake and the tion Dept.as qualifying for RPN AND possession
progress of the construction on DuBois Road.Need more excitement?Route 96 down to of RPN license at time of appointment.Grade 11.
Candlewyck Apartments is about a mile.Don't let bad weather stand in the way;there are PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE: Health Dept.;BS in
all those long corridors in Biggs Building A. nursing AND one year experience. Eligibility for
Downtown can present more of a challenge for walkers.Traffic lights will ruin anyone's NYS RPN license;Grade 12.
pace.And window shopping doesn't count;being able to actually look at what's in the win-
dows means the pace is too slow.Instead, head away from State Street.Explore some of SECURITY OFFICER: TC3; High School and
the neighborhoods.Beautiful flowers and interesting architecture abound.Walking uphill two years experience as guard or peace officer
burns calories at a faster rate.Try going up Buffalo Street to Collegetown.But remember, OR MS in related field. New York State driver's
walking downhill puts more strain on the knees,so take it easy coming back. license required.Grade E.
Walking alone can be good therapy,especially if work means dealing with many people
every day.Walk with co-workers or meet a friend and walk for lunch.Conversation should CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
be easy if walking is properly paced.
Select a route or destination with predetermined mileage. Or walk to time; fifteen REMINDER TO RETIREES
minutes out,fifteen minutes back.
Like any aerobic activity,walking for health requires a minimum of 30 minutes three
times a week.At 4 MPH,that's six miles a week.Without changing any other health habits, Don't forget the Health In-
that six miles can translate into weight loss,as well as lower blood pressure,slower pulse surance/Social Security ses- 1
and greater lung capacity. sion on Tuesday, August 9, 10
Remember,also,to warm up and cool down every session. ,
Walking can pay off in Employee Wellness Challenge points,too.Contact the Person- a.m. to noon, at the Ramada.
nel Department to find out how.
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH � i
SHE PUTS THE i
'it
PERSONAL INTO ' 'Sj
.
PERSONNEL
./ ." 01..„ -
by Judy I.Tynyk,Mental Health ,er , ;
When she was young and in her prime,
She thought with us she'd spend sme time. ‘ ° _
So she talked-with Hugh and they agreed, . . r
A stenographer he sure did need. ..-1 4 1,.f •\ . ''� - '
�. '� '.,'• `.4 .t
' ' z n
That was back in'67 `% +�'1tr 1!; '' '
She thought she'd died and gone to heaven. '�' r'� ,�, ;
Louise McEwen is her name,
6► �f fir, ' '�`T��c�4,��*� ' e
And Spencer is from whence she came. � � .A-4 , h i7: 4
Now twenty-one years have come and gone, , h, *�, �l .6,∎,v,h i
SUNDAY IN THE PARK Unclassifieds
TYNYK ORIGINALS opening for
business August 1st. Sewing and altera-
tions.Reasonable rates. Call Judy,even-
The First Annual County Picnic has employees, retirees or their families. rags and weekends at 564-9244.
been set for Sunday September 25, 1988, However,everyone must have a ticket for
from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the large food or drinks.Tickets will be issued for CD Canine Obedience School NEEDS
pavilion in Stewart Park.There will be hot the number of people included on the TO RENT space, large garage,building
dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, salads, questionnaire. with heat,lighting for Canine Obedience
and all the trimmings. Music will be Classes.272-6719 or 838-3341.
provided by the County's own Harold Volunteers are needed to help set up,
Brill as disk jockey. clean up,cook and serve.If you would like WANTED:Queen-size bed(firm)and
to help out, let personnel know on the a hanging garment wardrobe. Need by
In order to have enough food and same sign up sheet. This sheet must be August 1st. Call Kathy, 277-1731 after
drink, employees and retirees must sign returned to the Personnel Department by 4:30.
up in advance. It is imperative to return August 5. For Sale or Rent:(1)Trombone made
the handout that come with this week's ( )
paycheck listing the total number of This is the first all-County function in by Bundy.A fun instrument to play.Call
people that will be in your party. many years. Please put this September Dwight at 277-2917 after 6:00 pm.
Employees, retirees, spouses and their Sunday afternoon on your calendar, and
children may attend. There is no cost to plan to help make this a big success. Interior/Exterior Painting. Fully in-
sured. Excellent references, free es-
timates.1-842-6169
r
WANTED: Corridors Staff Car-
Tell It To The Newsletter toonist, Labor Grade 0. Hours variable.
The Editorial Board Wants Your Input Call Greg 274-5303
Send in your story, photo, and people ideas, what you want to MUSIC FOR SALE: Music for All
read. Occasions. Direct Drive Sound Systems.
Sound for every need. Call Harold Brill
844-8953.
Learn to Ride Before You Ride.
Motorcycle Beginner's Course taught by
Certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation
Instructors.Call 532-4750 or 844-8953.
COUNTY CORRIDORS
Articles and opinion pieces for County Cor-
r r ridors are selected by the volunteer editorial board
based on their interest to Tompkins County
FREE U N C LAS S I F I E D S employees'and retirees.Material is solicited from
current employees,retirees and others.
Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County employees,retirees and their im- County Corridors is published by County
mediate families.Ads may be for any purpose except that no personal ads will be accepted. No Central Services using `desktop publishing"
County addresses or telephone numbers may be listed in the ads.Use this coupon to send your typography and layout.Publication and distribu-
ad to Corridors c/a Central Services. tion is on the second County payday of the month.
Material for publication is selected by the
editorial board which reserves the right to edit any
submissions.The editorial board is made up of
Bill Chapp(DSS),Sheila Ferrari(Purchasing and
Central Services),Scott Heyman(Administration),
Joyce Musson(Administration),Janet Nissenson
(Stop-DWI), Geri'Roebel (Youth Bureau) Greg
Smestad (Central Services),Marilyn Strassberg
(Office for the Aging),Judy Tynyk(Mental Health
Clinic)and Lauren Wright(Central Services).Cot-
respondence may be sent to Newsletter,Central
Services through.County inter-office mail,or to
Newsletter,c/o Purchasing and Central Services,
Biggs Center Building A, 301 Harris B. Dates
Drive,Ithaca,N.Y.14850 via U.S.Mail.