ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး2002-12 (2) Information Services 10 H Newsletter for v Employees o ins and o R etirees Y tbt-r-\miD 0 v Tom k Cu P December 2002 Volume 15 Number 12 A - ' ':' lt. klk)-1 7 .., ,,?„....... 1 ,.... 4 „...„,,, :,e„.„ ,._...,,, , . ...,k. _ .,. .kJ i_tii ,,,,,...,,,.„.„. ., x k \ 1 t. 1 ., At- , ' , ' i(t o i - 1 t ? ' 1 1 \) t \ t 0 . ' i ‘,A fr4 J t . r i r �f t I j ,,/- 1 ` 1 _ R • 1 `�(f- \ c • I a ? i ice ) / � L� ,...;•......t.::, - A..N. - .7..notx — 4 ‘-• , r 1 ..x- . % . 4 I , .. I . : Al .ef‘. - li"ing 0 riLl[Ifilli"--13-c-r—A.'' A'. Don't forget the address: http:// www. tompkins- co.org/countycorridors REPORT Happy Holidays from FROM the Corridors Editorial THE COUNTY Board ADMINISTRATOR e : We would like to remind all By Stephen Whither employees and retirees that this is This has been quite the year. As an organization, we the last paper copy of County have gone through an incredibly difficult transition to a new world where resources are scarce and times are Corridors that will be distributed challenging. other than those requested by We have made this transition rather smoothly and retirees. We hope you will visit us managed to preserve the integrity of most programs. However, we can not loose sight of the real cost to all online. Please continue to send in of us not only in seeing many of our fellow workers articles! move on to retirement or other positions, but also to everyone who had to endure the anxiety of this year's particularly arduous budget process. Thank you all for POPCORN SNOWMEN your courage, understanding and dedication. To those of you who are moving on, either to retirement or to Yield: 6 servings new positions, your many years of service have enabled Tompkins County to earn a well - deserved reputation 4 tb Unsalted butter 4 for being leaders in nearly every field of service; thank 4 c Mini marshmallows you, I wish you the best in life. 9 c Popped popcorn 1/2 c Confectioners' sugar 1 tb G In the coming year, the general consensus is that we u Gumdrops, cinnamon candies; need to spend more of our time concentrating on -fruit leather, jelly beans, program support and development rather that on - licorice, pretzels, for budget review. Recently, on Administration's budget garnish. process review survey, a department head summed it up quite well: Most of us take GREAT pride in Tompkins In a large saucepan, melt the butter over County as a place where doing the right thing and low heat. Add the marshmallows and cook, pride in public service is valued above most else. We stirring often, until melted and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Place the popped popcorn often talk about how much better it is here as in a l arge lightly greased shallow pan. Pour compared with other counties where Neanderthal the syrup over the popcorn tossing to coat thinking and partisan conflict pollutes public processes. evenly. It will be important this year to ensure that our pride in our service does not ebb and our support for the While still warm, form 6 balls about 5" Board is focused on our program goals and in diameter from the coated popcorn for the achievements. The budget process and concerns will bottom sections, giving the balls flat bases still be there, but they do not need to be our entire so the snowmen will stand. Form 6 balls focus. I am confident that through all your efforts, about 3 -1/2" in diameter for the middle Tompkins County will continue to innovate and lead sections. Then form 6 balls about 2" in diameter for the top sections. Stir in the the way for county governments. confectioners' sugar and milk together until smooth. Use the icing to stack three popcorn May you and your families experience all the balls of decreasing sizes into a snowman, joy of the holiday season, then attach candies to decorate. (Gumdrops for hats, fruit leather for scarves, etc.) 2 gittit the ( 5,q STOP -DWI News by Geri Lockwood and John Lampman, Highway Division By John Beach, STOP -DWI Coordinator Have you taken a drive on North Triphammer Road lately? If you On December 17'h the New York State Senate is slated have, you've probably noticed how nice and smooth it is. The to pass legislation that would crack down on drunk drivers reconstruction project, from Cherry Road to Rt. 34B, was by reducing the state's legal limit to be charged with completed near the end of October. DWI to .08 BAC, and separate measures that would put in place stronger criminal penalties against repeat drunk drivers and drivers with very high blood alcohol levels. The bridge at the Asbury Road intersection was replaced as part The Bill scheduled to be passed by the Senate is the of the project. You might also notice that the flashing caution light at this intersection has been removed. With the same Bill passed earlier this year by the State Assembly. Governor Pataki has stated that he would sign the Bill reconstruction, sight distance was extended, making this Tight into law and that it would most likely take effect mid unnecessary (saving taxpayer dollars from the utility and year 2003. maintenance expenses for the light). Drainage ditches were moved away from the road and roadside What would a lower BAC level mean to all of us? slopes were flattened. These changes were designed to both • According to the National Highway Traffic Safety improve drainage, thereby extending pavement life, and to make Administration, an average 170 - pound man must the road safer for errant vehicles. Storm sewers were installed in have four drinks in one hour on an empty stomach areas where terrain was adverse or the impact on properties would to reach a .08 percent blood alcohol concentration be severe. (BAC) level. A 137 -pound woman would reach .08 BAC after about three drinks in an hour on an empty The road was closed to thru traffic for the duration of the project. stomach - a level that exceeds what is commonly Hopefully you will feel it was worth the wait and inconvenience accepted as social drinking. of the detours when you drive across the nice, smooth new • Regardless of how much alcohol it takes to get to pavement. this level, at .08 BAC any driver is a dangerous threat on the road. The .08 BAC level is the point at which The project was contracted to Economy Paving, from Cortland, the fatal crash risk significantly increases and virtually and was overseen by John Lampman, Associate Civil Engineer everyone is seriously impaired, affecting all of the from the Highway Department. basic critical driving skills including: braking, steering, lane changing, judgment and response time. (before picture) • Remember, there is really no such thing as "average ". The impacts of alcohol on each of us vary, and will _- , not only depend on the amount we have had to drink °=" in a certain time period, but will also be determined * by other factors such as our body size and type; " 'm ' 111 4111 , the amount of rest we may or may not have had; how well we have eaten recently; our physical condition (do we have a cold, etc); whether we are taking any medications; have we been under a lot of stress. It is estimated that if every state passed a .08 BAC law, about 500 lives would be saved each year. Currently thirty -four states and the District of Columbia have a • ( .08 BAC law; if passed and signed, New York would <„� ,� . - become the thirty -fifth state with the lowered BAC. . " ____ ■ During this wonderful Holiday Season, when planning gatherings with colleagues, family or friends, please also "s= plan for a safe return home, both for yourself and others. i It' ._ ,. , . First and foremost, if you are going to be drinking — DON'T DRIVE! have someone be chosen as the designated driver; r� , use public transportation; stay overnight..... do anything i_ .� other than get behind the wheel of a car after you've been (after picture) " drinking. You will be safer and so will everyone else. 3 CLASSIFIEDS Best Wishes: For Sale: Best Wishes and congratulations to Shary Zifchock and Carol Boles on their retirement For sale: Lifestyler 1000 Exercise Bike. Call Judy at 347 -6791. Leave message. from the Board of Elections. Best wishes to Tai Musson on her recent marriage and For sale: Electric stove, good condition $45. TIRES; 2 relocation to Albany. all/weather, 215/70R15, like new $40, 205/75R15 $25, 4 M/S 225/75R15 mounted rims (from S10 Blazer) $40 ea. 2/$75,4/$145. Contact Ken Thompson at 607 - 898 -9992. For sale: Electric and manual wheelchairs, and other CLASSIFIEDS various handicap /disability equipment. For more Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County information call 607 -659 -4180. employees, retirees and their immediate families. Ads may be for any purpose, however personal ads will not be For sale• 95 Camaro Z28 T -Tops, Maroon, mint accepted. No County addresses or telephone numbers may condition 350 6 speed, only 38,000 miles. $8,950. Call be listed in your ad, however, we do need your full name anytime and leave a message - 607 - 273 -6241. and County telephone number submitted with the ad in case there are questions. Submit your ad to County Corridors c/o Michelle Pottorff, Board of Representatives, Services: 1 Courthouse, Ithaca, NY 14850 via US or interdepartmental mail or e-mail to: mpottorff@tompkins- co.org Tioga Technical - Don't kill your computer! Let me help NOTE: with troubleshooting, training, upgrades - whatever it If you would like to modify your classified or want to takes to get you and your computer working together run it again, you must re- submit it! again. Call James Keegan at 273 -7957 evenings or weekends. DEADLINE: 1 TUESDAY OF THE MONTH Tense? Stressed? Achy? Therapeutic Massage can put Articles to be considered for the January 23`' issue, must relaxation and comfort back into your life. For an be received by noon on Tuesday. January 70'. Submit appointment or information call Richard Reed at 753- articles via e-mail as an attachment or on disk in any file 6383. format that is readable by Word for Windows '95. Send disk and hard copy to County Corridors c/o Michelle Kinetic Performance — Custom racing carburetors parts, Pottorff, Board of Representatives, Courthouse, Ithaca, and racing fabrication. Call Dayton or Margo Umholtz at NY 14850. Please include a contact number in case questions 277 -6462 evenings /weekends or email arise. KineticPerformance @.thedirtforum.com. Visit our website at 222.KineticPerformance.net COUNTY CORRIDORS French Tutor — Call Sarah at 257 -3047. Please leave a Articles and opinion pieces for County Corridors are selected by the Editorial Board based on their interest to message. Tompkins County employees and retirees. They do not Goosa Arts - See our beautiful and affordable traditional necessarily express the opinions of the Editorial Board. Russian arts: nesting dolls, eggs, jewelry boxes, amber, Material is solicited from current employees, retirees and others. The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit etc. Alisa Mengel, 277 -2917, hours by appointment, 120 submissions, except in the instance of copyright materials. Linn St. EDITORIAL BOARD Welcome: Michelle Pottorff (Editor) Board of Representatives Iretta Ellis (Chair) Information Technology Services To Steve DeWitt, Democratic Elections Liz Croop Department of Mental Health Katy Prince Health Department Commissioner, who will begin employment on Vickie Wagner (Artist) Department of Assessment January 2, 2003. Geri Lockwood Highway Tammy VanOrman Assessment Donna Deputron (Distribution Coordinator) Facilities 4