ဟံၣ်My WebLinkဘၣ်ဃးဒီး2003-04 CCU %TY A i e..** slett* r fcr Lrili k 'ees and 1. etlrees c f Tcrirrnkiris Cturrts CCU 1 ID 4D IQ S Volume 16 Number 4 Highway Highlights... by Joe Stacy Ever try a group hug? Some members of Group hugs consist of two or more people the County Highway Department have huddling around the individual involved discovered a way to promote unity, and giving them a rowdy hug. When the relieve frustrations, and have a little fun. hug is completed, the stress and tension has been relieved, and the problem can Working as a team can often lead to be addressed with a fresh perspective. disagreements and frustration among team members. When this occurs at the This technique has been so effective Highway Department, the familiar call of that is was listed as a 2002 Highway "Time for a Group Hug ", followed by Department accomplishment! sounds of laughter, can be heard echoing throughout the building. 4 mt T \ \t Left to right — Mike Rogers, Joe Stacy, Matt Whittemore (the unsuspecting "hugee "), Steve Mente, and Dave O'Brien. Congressman Hinchey to cover the cost of much of the REPORT equipment. If all goes well, there is a possibility that the entire project will be completed at a minimum cost to FROM r� y7� Tompkins County taxpayers. THE COUNTY Many thanks to Lee Shurtleff, Mikel Shakarjian, Jonathan Wood, David Squires, and Arel LeMaro for getting us this ADMINISTRATOR far. And for her undying drive and inspiration a special �,. thanks to Barbara Blanchard who reminds us constantly that We will get this project done". By Stephen Whicher If you drive up Brown Road, past the airport entrance and just past the Crash/Fire /Rescue building you will see the beginnings of a new County building. To be known as the 1` Emergency Response Center (ERC), this facility will GO house the countywide consolidated dispatch operations, the Department of Emergency Response and the *i n S Emergency Operations Center. They will be the lynch -pin of the proposed emergency communications system. Household Hazardous As the ERC is being constructed, it will be integrated into Waste the existing communication system. Once the center is up and running we will begin the process of rebuilding the CA ', Management communication system itself. The goal of both projects is ! Program to improve communication interoperability among mutual aid response agencies in Tompkins County. The projects will protect the health and welfare of first responders and The 2003 Household Hazardous Waste the public by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of response and recovery efforts, currently threatened by Collection Dates unreliable communications between and among the responders. The proposed projects are part of an integrated, multifaceted program to address our critical To bring your household hazardous waste to the public safety communication problems, (see website: b.E.P.O.T. you must call 273 -4496 to sign -up. The http:// www .tompkins- co.ora /pubinfo /pscs) and are a 2003 collection events will take place on: prerequisite for successful implementation of the Tompkins County Emergency Management Plan. April 19 Many people have asked how Tompkins County can June 21 possibly afford to build a new building and August 16 communications system at a cost of nearly $20,000,000 September 20 while facing the known budget challenges. The answer is November 15 that, given the condition of the existing facilities, the Legislature has little choice. These events operate from 8am -2pm and fall on the We would be hard pressed to fund the project if monies third Saturday of the month. from the tobacco settlement were not available. In addition, the County has initiated a partnership with a To participate you must call 273 -4496 to use the New York State effort called the "Statewide Wireless D.E.P.O.T. Network" (SWN). It is hoped that this partnership will result in SWN carrying the lion's share of the The Tompkins County Household Hazardous Waste communication system portion of the overall project. The County is also in the process of applying for member item Collection Program is partially funded by the NYS money from our Senators Schumer and Clinton as well as Department of Environmental Conservation. 2 vo ure 7n THIRTEENTH ANNUAL TOMPKINS COUNTY 25 -YEAR CLUB DINNER The Tompkins County Legislature cordially= invites you to join them in honoring this year's inductees into the Tompkins County 25 -Year Club at a dinner to be held at the Clarion University Hotel, 1 Sheraton Drive, Ithaca, New York on May 15, 2003. There will be a social hour from 5:30 until 6:30 and a banquet dinner at 6:30 p.m. Reservations, including payment of $15.00 per person, must be received by May 1, 2003. There is no charge to 25 -Year Club members and their guest. This year's new inductees David A. Chase --- Dept. of Social Services Denise Green --- Dept. of Social Services Penny P. McGuire --- Dept. of Motor Vehicles I will attend the 25 -Year Club Dinner on Thursday, May 15, 2003 Number Attending: Amount Enclosed: Name: Contact Number: Department: Name of Guest: Please make checks payable to TOMPKINS COUNTY and send to Tompkins County Personnel Department, 125 East Court Street Ithaca, New York 14850. 3 4r, A 1 Submitted by Terrie Upcoming Vending Committee Crane, ACS trips: RELAY Volunteer New York City Spring Trip FOR LIFE When: Saturday, May 3rd Irg Cost: $25.00/pp The response to this spring trip has been so good in the past that we decided to sponsor our own bus this time. We will leave from the Tompkins County Highway Department Facility on Bostwick Road at 7:00 A.M. sharp, with expected arrival in New York City around noon. You will be let off at I am a volunteer for the American Cancer Society Radio City Music Hall (50th St. and Ave. of the Americas) or Relay for Life here in Ithaca. Relay for Life is a Macy's (34th St. and 7th Ave.). You're on your own to celebration of survivorship and community and a explore the vast and exciting city, and enjoy your own interests. Departure will be from Radio City Music Hall at event which I think many County employees members 8:00 P.M., arriving back in Ithaca around midnight. may be interested in. Minimum of 40 people needed to make this trip possible. Reservations must be received by April 4th. Call for Relay for Life is the #1 non- profit fund- raising additional information. activity in the world! It is a unique overnight activity that brings our community together to participate in Turning Stone Casino /Bingo When: Saturday, June 7th the fight against cancer. In 2002, Relay events Cost: $10. /pp raised over $243,000,000 in the US alone. This This includes bus transportation and either a Casino or Bingo event was held in over 3800 communities across the Bonus Coupon Package valued at approximately $30.00 /pp. USA. More than 450,000 cancer survivors were The bus will leave Ithaca at 8:30 A.M. and expected arrival honored during these events. On July 11 and 12 the back to Ithaca will be 7:00 P.M. Reservations must be received by May 9th. Tompkins County community will be holding our very own Relay for Life event at the Ithaca High School Upcoming trips...more information to follow! Track. Sterling Renaissance Festival When: Saturday, July 12 Cost: $20.00 /pp (minimum of 30 For five years, Tompkins County has hosted a Relay people) for Life. Last year, there were more than 80 Relay Hangar Theatre presents "My Fair Lady" teams, with 1400 participants who raised an When: Sunday, July 20th, 3:00 P.M. Matinee; Cost: $7.50 /pp impressive $171,000. We want 2003 to be the Only 40 tickets available! largest event to date, and we need your help to achieve that. Darien Lake When: Saturday, August 16 Cost: $20.00/pp; We will only be taking one bus this year, however we were able to reserve The American Cancer Society is offering County the "BIG" bus for this event...limit of 57 passengers. employees the opportunity to put a team together to represent your family, organization or neighborhood, New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox and join the rest of our community in raising funds to When: Saturday, September 6 Cost: $70.00 /pp; This is a Swarthout trip. We have reserved 15 seats on this trip. fight cancer. This is a fun, team building experience to share with your family, friends or co- workers and Franklin Mills Fall Shopping Trip an incredible event that you won't want to miss. When: Saturday, November 1s Cost: $40.00 /pp; This is a Swarthout trip. We have reserved 10 seats on this trip. If you are interested in participating or would like New York City Day Trip additional information call June Losurdo at 227 - 2276. When Saturday, December 6 Cost: $25.00/pp; Seats will go fast. Call early to make reservations for this trip. Come and see what the American Cancer Society and your community are doing to make a difference in the For more information call or e fight against cancer. Pete Coats - 274 -6688 (pcoats@tompkins- co.org) Patty Stamm - 274 -6674 (pstamm@tompkins- co.org) 4 CLASSIFIEDS • To Jennifer (Health Dept.) and Derek Grier, on the birth of their second baby boy on April 6. His I name is Dominick Joseph. For Sale: I • To Bernie Seneca) (Highway), who quietly retired on March 28 after more than 21 years with the For sale: Electric and manual wheelchairs, and other Highway Department. various handicap /disability equipment. For more information call 607 -659 -4180. 1 Welcome: For sale: 2001 KX125 dirt bike with complete riding To: Jeff Schenck, who joined the Highway gear. Ridden only one summer. $3,000 OBO. Call 607- Department on February 18 as a Civil Engineer. 898 -5295. CLASSIFIEDS For sale: ATV - 1999 Yamaha Big Bear. Looks and Classified ads up to 25 words in length are free to County runs like new, must see, 80 hrs. Cover, snowplow, employees, retirees and their immediate families. Ads may chains, yard cart and garden cultivators all included. be for any purpose, however personal ads will not be $3,000. All records and manuals also included. Contact accepted. No County addresses or telephone numbers may Steven Mente - 607- 898 -3460. be listed in your ad, however, we do need your full name and County telephone number submitted with the ad in I Services: I case there are questions. Submit your ad to County Corridors c/o Michelle Pottorff, Tompkins County Legislature, Courthouse, Ithaca, NY 14850 via US or Tioga Technical - Don't kill your computer! Let me help interdepartmental mail or e-mail to: mpottorff @tompkins- with troubleshooting, training, upgrades - whatever it co. org takes to get you and your computer working together again. Call James Keegan at 273 -7957 evenings or NOTE: weekends. If you would like to modify your classified or want to run it again, you must re- submit it! Tense? Stressed? Achy? Therapeutic Massage can put sr DEADLINE: 1 TUESDAY OF THE MONTH relaxation and comfort back into your life. For an 29 Articles to be considered for the May 29 issue, must be , appointment or information call Richard Reed at 753- received by noon on Tuesday, May 6 Submit articles via 6383. e-mail as an attachment or on disk in any file format that is readable by Word for Windows 95. Send disk and hard copy Kinetic Performance — Custom racing carburetors parts, to County Corridors c/o Michelle Pottorff, Tompkins and racing fabrication. Call Dayton or Margo Umholtz at County Legislature, Courthouse, Ithaca, NY 14850. Please 277 -6462 evenings /weekends or email include a contact number in case questions arise. KineticPerformance (a,thedirtforum.com. Visit our website at www.KineticPeiformance.net COUNTY CORRIDORS Articles and opinion pieces for County Corridors are French Tutor — Call Sarah at 257 -3047. Please leave a selected by the Editorial Board based on their interest to message. Tompkins County employees and retirees. They do not necessarily express the opinions of the Editorial Board. Goosa Arts - See our beautiful and affordable traditional Material is solicited from current employees, retirees and Russian arts: nesting dolls, eggs, jewelry boxes, amber, 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 Congratulations. I Michelle Pottorff (Editor) Tompkins County Legislature Iretta Ellis (Chair) Information Technology Services Liz Croop Department of Mental Health • To Frank Croteau, Health Department, on Katy Prince Health Department becoming a grandpa on April ls His daughter, Geri Lockwood Highway Michelle, gave birth to a baby boy, Nolan Patrick. Linnett Warner Solid Waste Division 5