HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07 Cc u n A Newsletter for
Tompkins County
Employees and Retirees
- July 2009
li 1 1 1 d o rs Volume 21, Number 2
http://www.tompkins-co.org/countycorridors
Nine New Members Welcomed to 25 Year Club
On May 28th at the 19th annual 25 Year Club Dinner, Tompkins County honored the county employees and retirees who belong to the Club, with 25 or more
years of service, and welcomed nine new members who are achieving that milestone of service with the County. Congratulations were offered to each of
the county employees who have attained the 25 year mark for their dedication to the County and their service to county government, with admiration and
appreciation by all members of the County Legislature.
Legislator Jim Dennis, who currently chairs the Legislature's Budget, Capital and Finance Committee, offers the following thoughts about the contributions
of our employees and what that means for Tompkins County:
People think of public employees as the people they see working on the roads, at Motor Vehicles, giving them a ticket, or putting out fires. What they forget
is that there are many other people who are not so visible, doing theirjobs, who are now more stressed because of the number of people who need the
help that Tompkins County offers to our less fortunate citizens during these bad economic times.
We value those people who work for Tompkins County, especially those who have stayed with us for 25 years and beyond. They deserve our respect and
admiration. They make the Ithaca area the "special place" that many say it is.
1 4114 * , NitA „„ ., 74
..
„i
4
Richard Baker - Highway Division Dale Gregrow -- Highway Frances A - Comptroller Daniel Kramer - Mental Health
1.
• - J
diiiiA . ,,
1 -∎ Michelle Pottorff - Legislature
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Lauri Wallenbeck- Social Services William UanDeMark- Highway Notes From the County Administrator: 2
Diversity Roundtable 2
Blood Drive Reminder 2
•
What's Up at the Board of Elections 3
_ Golf! 3
Biodiesel is Here! 4
Ate, The Puzzle 5 •
tom.
Fond Farewells to a Special Couple 6
a, Highway Highlights... 7
Employee Spotlights 8
2 1 . — r Kudos Korner 9
iiv"
Ad Department News 10
Patricia Buechel - Probation Mitzi Banner - Social Services Classified Ads 12
-2-
Notes From the County Administrator:
The Challenges of the 2010 Budget
11.4 As we all know, the ripples created by the worldwide To balance the 2010 budget while respecting the financial limits of our
r economic downturn are wide and deep, touching nearly taxpayers, we will explore new sources of revenue, consider a property tax
every business, institution, government, and family. increase of up to 3 %, and reduce spending. This balanced approach would
in raise $2.4 million in revenue and reduce $2.4 million in spending.
a r More than any other level of local government, counties
n _s-ip ' 1' are particularly hard hit by a recession because of the After years of belt- tightening, a $2.4 million spending reduction will be a dif-
i / nature of our business, and the source of revenues we ficult challenge. We will need to look closely at the programs and services
use to pay our bills. we offer, and target our shrinking resources to the services that reflect our
highest priorities and provide the greatest benefit to our citizens. That may
Although counties do a lot of things, our core business is the delivery of hu- mean reducing or eliminating programs or services that can no longer be
man services. We help people experiencing distress. When the economy afforded.
goes down, more and more people rely on us for help.
Waiting out the recession is not a strategy that will work for individuals,
Unfortunately, the recession not only increases the demand for our services, families, institutions, businesses, or governments. Our environment has
it also reduces the money available to pay for them. For example, sales tax changed, and we need to adapt to it.
revenue, which pays for nearly half of our local dollar budget, is down by
nearly 10 %from a year ago —a major casualty of the recession. Fortunately, the intelligence, compassion and dedication needed to guide
these changes are the hallmarks of this county. Already, my office has re-
Throw into the mix the fact that the cost of our own pensions is expected to ceived several dozen suggestions from County employees through the new
rise by over 50% next year because of losses in the State pension fund's Electronic Suggestion Box. That's not surprising. In my career, I've found
investments, and we begin the 2010 budget process with a very large gap the best ideas often come from the people who actually deliver our services.
between our revenues and expenses.
I greatly appreciate your ideas, and encourage all County employees to
If we simply continue to do what we are now doing, and the way we are pass along their thoughts about cost saving and /or quality enhancing initia-
doing it, we would have to raise the County property tax levy by nearly 15 %. tives that would help us through this difficult period. The Suggestion Box is
That's too high a burden to add to families already experiencing the effects accessed through the County's intra -net (Click on the "Suggestion Box" link
of the recession. under County Administration.).
Joe Mareane
Diversity Consortium Holds Third
Diversity Roundtable Please Help Again This Year...
By Stephen Estes Deputy Commissioner of Personnel
President, 2009, Diversify Consortium of Tompkins County, Inc. Annual Employee Blood Drive August 11th
By Cheryl Nelson and Jackie Kippola
The Diversity Consortium of Tompkins County, Inc. (DCTC) is a joint and
volunteer effort of local employers and community leaders dedicated to The date of the annual employee blood drive has been set forAugust 11
promoting the benefits of diversity and inclusion throughout the greater Once again, the blood drive will take place at the Tompkins County Library,
Tompkins County community. Since its founding in 1999, the DCTC has Borg Warner Room.
endeavored to cultivate a continuous learning environment, promote a posi-
tive community image and provide resources, education and best practices There is always a need for blood in our region, but the need is especially
in the field of diversity and inclusion. The Community Diversity Roundtable high in the summer months. Employees are asked to donate one pint of
Event is an ongoing biannual initiative undertaken to further these objec- blood, which takes about one hour and can benefit up to three people in
tives. need of blood or blood products. If for whatever reason you are unable to
donate blood, your assistance would be appreciated either as a canteen
The third biannual Community Diversity Roundtable Event, Preparing for worker (serving donors cookies and juice), or registration worker (checking
Change, was held on May 7, 2009. The roundtable built upon previous names off the list of donors and providing them reading material while they
events and reinforces our ongoing efforts to enhance awareness of, serve wait for the nurse to call them to donate). The canteen and registration du-
as a supportive network for, and demonstrate how acknowledging and le- ties are broken into one -hour shills.
veraging our differences can create a strong local community and a thriving
business environment. The 2009 Roundtable event was a partnership be- Please mark your calendar for this very important day. Be sure to get
tween the Diversity Consortium of Tompkins County, Inc. and the Society for permission from your supervisor. And, be sure to get a good night's sleep
Human Resource Management of Tompkins County. There were, of course, the night before donating, eat breakfast (if you are donating in the morning),
many other supporters and sponsors — including Tompkins County —who and lunch (if you are donating in the afternoon). Drinking several glasses of
helped to make this event such an overwhelming success, and we thank fluid prior to donating is also recommended.
those individuals for their efforts.
Continued on page 11
-3-
Board of Elections in "Off Year"
Typical BOE Year at a Glance
By Elizabeth W. Cree and Stephen M. DeWitt, Board of Elections
January - Candidates file for Village Elections, Annual Report and
At the Board of Elections in the run up to the November 2008 election, the F e to Stale
February - Maintenance on machines, set up for Village Elections
phones never stopped ringing, the mail was delivered and sent out by the March — Village Elections in Cayuga Heights, Dryden, Groton and
boxful, and a steady stream of people lined up for their turn at the counter. Trumansburg
Temporary staff and volunteers pitched in, and the regular staff worked April - Lansing Village Election, Prepare for School Board elec-
overtime. A record number of voters, 4,230, requested absentee ballots, and Lions, Secure annual contracts for polling places
on Election Day, a record number of voters turned out. May — School Board elections, National Change of Address pro-
cessing, Poll site evaluations for accessibility
Now it's 2009, and all is quiet at the BOE. Employees take naps and dream June — Party Petitions passed, Campaign finance school
of 2012 while cobwebs form on the telephones and filing cabinets. July - Petition filing, hearings, court cases
August - Mailcheck, nominating petitions filed, hearings, court
cases, certificates for caucus, set up for primary
Not quite.... September — Primary elections, pack election material for both
elections
True, the observable hectic activity has slowed to a more manageable pace, October -Setup for General election, absentee voting, machine
but the workload hasn't really diminished, just shifted. training for 400 election workers
November — Election, canvassing, certifying takes 25 days
For one thing, about 70 local offices are up for election this year. These December — Collect year end data, fire elections
include County Legislators, City Alderpersons, Town and Village Supervisors,
Councilpersons and Superintendents. This could mean over 140 candidates doesn't inck de special elections created by vacancies
who need to correctly file petitions, financial disclosures, and other legal
documents. Plus the local parties will also file petitions and documents for
their party positions. The staff at the BOE will spend a lot of time helping
candidates and committees with the whole process.
In addition to the large number of races later in the year, the Board is also
involved with many smaller elections. The Board runs Village elections, and
provides various levels of support for a number of school board and fire
district elections.
If Golf Golf Golf Golf....
Meanwhile, certain tasks continue day in and day out, year after year. New >
voters register, current voters change their address or party affiliation.+ `
Databases need constant checking and updating. Reports are compiled and
filed with the State. Voting machines receive periodic maintenance. Voter ; `ti I Circle yohr Calendar for the
outreach is conducted at schools and clubs and community events. New ; / c 15 Annual Employee
Golf Tournament
procedures, laws, machines and software mean more staff training. Recruit- o -` o Friday, September 11, 2009
ing and training over 300 election poll workers each year is a never ending r A `
Contactjkippola @Tompkins- co.ora for details
process. o •
Because of the uncertainties at the State and Federal level with the status of
our HAVA mandated new voting system, at this writing we can't even be sure
whether we'll be using the new optical scanIBMD machines, our old lever
machines, or a combination this fall. Thus, we have to plan for all possible
scenarios. And if we do roll out the new voting system, we will also need to
undertake a massive training effort for our election workers, and conduct
a public outreach program to educate all voters about the new system, all A Note on the Jackie Yoder Memorial Golf Tournament
within an extremely narrow time frame. The tournament was replaced by the 1st Annual Dryden Community Golf
Tournament on Friday, June 26th, co- sponsored by the Dryden Kiwanis
So, while one might imagine this year is a pleasant interlude for the Board, and Sertoma Clubs. All proceeds raised by Kiwanis went to the Caring
the reality is 2009 will be a very busy and extremely challenging year. Community Hospice of Cortland County. So, while Jackie's name is no
Guess those naps will have to wait. longer in the tournament her spirit lives, since the proceeds go towards the
group that Jackie's family asked them to go to.
Bob Slocum
-4-
Sustainability Spotlight:
Biodiesel Comes to Public Fleets Across Tompkins County
By Cheryl Nelson, Public Works Administrator
Municipalities, public-sector entities, and educational institutions in Tompkins County recently formed a consortium for the purpose of investigating and pursu-
ing alternative fuels for use in their vehicle fleets. Up to this point, biodiesel has not been available for public sector use in Tompkins County through state
contract purchasing process.
The consortium members recognized the need for biodiesel availability as a prime focus. Biodiesel is available in neighboring counties, but since Tompkins
County does not have an interstate highway running through it, delivery costs, coupled with the biodiesel pricing, was not obtainable for municipal and public
users. To this point, all of the vehicles were running on regular diesel as provided by the State contract process.
Tompkins County Legislature recently adopted the new element of the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan that calls for a target reduction in green house
gas emissions 80% by the year 2050. This element, coupled with the fact that facilities and vehicles are the largest contributors to the green house gas emis-
sions, caused the consortium to opt to seek bids for biodiesel on its own now to begin to assist with reaching this goal and other sustainability principles. New
York State bid pricing for the next two years will be announced later in the fall. On April 7, 2009, the Tompkins County Legislature approved the biodiesel bid
of Mirabito Energy Products.
The first delivery of biodiesel into the County, in the amount of 9000 gallons, was made to the County Highway Division on April 9 Dale Gregrow, Tompkins
County Highway Equipment Service Manager, calculated that the use of biodiesel in the County Highway Division's fleet will save an estimated 114 tons of
green house gas emissions annually.
Cheryl Nelson, consortium facilitator, states "the consortium members are keenly aware of the environmental issues, but that has to be balanced against the
present economics and budgets of each member entity. With this bid's pricing coming in comparable to straight diesel, it is now an attainable commodity. The
use of biodiesel in public fleets will have positive impacts on green house gas emissions across Tompkins County. This consortium is an outstanding example
of municipal and public sector organizations coming together and using their collective purchasing power to reach a goal that is in the best interest of all of
Tompkins County. I am very impressed with and honored to be working with this consortium."
%1 �ra1, '
i
A - ‘1 . ei
Cheryl Nelson and Dale Gregrow, along with the Mirabito delivery driver, observe the first delivery of biodiesel to the Tompkins County Highway.
(Photo by Jerry Stern.)
kn
z v
To •
SOUr C oU
your cie aye t wast
1 R�s i s w a
L ,. er
take's- � `\ tiOa ° n /o av r h S � � " ohms , N pre " S i ng • t re-
buyGreen! aUab env gerlak es e y efa rre d to � ?q
°h me ntally e8p ns L. f Prod 'gent rf p) of
ucts. a.
4innett Short
-5-
THE PUZZLE
ByAlanna Congden
The goal is to "fill in" the grid with the words in the word list. Words are entered horizontally and vertically, as in crosswords,
but the word list gives no indication of location or direction; the puzzle aspect comes from determining the placement of all the
words.
MMM■MMM MIIIIIM LrissIrs CG.Lit.
• _ / /WIN /WIN /WIN /WIN/
= �:�/��� •••••_ IN
• •••••• / /MM. /MM. /WIN /M./
• • • • •
• •_• • • •
• • •
• • • • • •
• _ • _ • •
/ /•M/ = • i=___
_•
/1=11/ • I■ •
•••_•:•••:• •_:•••••••••:•_
• :••••••:• •
• • •
• _ IN
■ IN W
• •
•
Tompkins County
3 15
DMV 1. - _„_I COMPUTER I___. I CRIMINAL JUSTICE i___.. I
GIS PLANNING
ITS ! - I MAILROOM ! "" _ " "_ 16
PEN 1:::j BOARD OF ELECTIONS[ _ ___1
9 DISTRICT ATTORNEY
A BUILDINGS I_ - _ - - _ 1 - - - --
CSEA DIVERSITY " _ 17
I___._�
JAIL ____ HISTORIAN _ _ EMERGENCY FOR PERSONNEL _ _ OFFICE FOR THE P.GING(_____
S PROBATION ,_
NURSE
PAPER i___i 10 ANSWERS TO "THE PUZZLE"
PHONE ASSESSMENT
SMILE !! FACILITIES !"" - -y POSTED ONLINE AT
UNION i_____J HEALTH DEPT I___ _J
RETIRMEN !_._._ 1 wvwd kins-co.or /count corridors
6 _ RETIREMENT _ P 9 Y
BUDGET j__ __I SOLID `WASTE i_____i AS OF JULY8th!
PUBLIC ;.__.._
7 11
AIRPORT �______ COMPTROLLER ;
DIGITAL 1____ 1 COUNTY CLERK j::::::1
FINANCE HUMAN RIGHTS !
GROUNDS! LEGISLATURE ! ---- 1
_y
HIGHWAYj___ __i YOUTH BUREAU L__-_J
LIBRARY
MEETING! " " - ! 14
RECORDS'____ ADMINISTRATION ___
RECYCLE!____ "__! COUNTY ATTORNEY __ "�
SHERIFF!______! DEPA..RTMENTHEADI - I
SOCIAL SERVICES i______1
If you have comments or suggestions for future puzzles, contact Editor Maureen Reynolds at mreynolds@tomokins-co.org or 274 -5431.
-6-
A Fond Farewell to Our Steadfast Mail Clerk...,
By Aurora R. Valenti, County Clerk
a tristik
Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat nor gloom of night stays these t`
couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds...
-L.
Michad Patrick Armstrong was born in Ithaca, NY, on October 29, • r4a
1947. He married his Iovdy wife, Fran, 20, in April, 1967; while serving
in the U.S. Army in Germany, their first child, Michad, Jr., was born. 1
In addition to Mike, Jr., Mike and Fran have two daughters, Karen and •
Krista; and they have four grandchildren. .R
Mike has been employed by Tompkins County since June of 1987. The Finance Department Bids Adieu
Prior to that employment he worked for Brown Cow and for a local to a Very Special Person...
banking institution as a proof supervisor. By Lynda Rose and Lisa Jehu
We are sure that when Mike retires on July 24, 2009, he will have July 30, 2009 will be a day of mixed emotions for the staff In the Finance
a little more time to play golf and to do the other things he loves... Department as well as many other County employees and retirees alike as
watching all sports, walking, traveling. He and Fran have visited many Frances (Fran) Armstrong will be retiring after twenty- five years of dedicated
baseball stadiums in the U.S., and we are hoping that they have long, service.
healthy, and happy times together visiting all of them, which Mike would
like to do. Fran began her employment with the County in June of 1984 as a Typist
in the Comptrdler's Office. In June of 1987 she accepted the position of
We strongly believe the rumor that Mike is a terrific husband, father and Payrdl Clerk, which was upgraded in April of 1991 to her current position of
grandfather. We know, as a matter of fact, that he is a great big teddy Payrdl Coordinator. It is through her hard work and dedication that we all
bear whose growl is as loud as his heart is large. receive a paycheck, on time, no matter what the conditions may be.
Mike, thanks for all you've done over the years for all of us employees. As wdl as spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren Fran
Here's what we wish for you: enjoys gdfing, traveling, and attending sporting events to cheer on her
grandchildren. Her love and pride for her family are evident to all that know
May the road rise up to meet you; may the wind always be at your her.
back; may the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft
upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in So, it is with sadness for our loss, joy for her wonderful future that lies ahead,
the palm of his hand. and very fond memories that we must say goodbye and a heartfelt "Thank
You" for all she has done over the years. We wish Fran and Michael great
Public Works Managers " Reunion" — Still Looking Good After All The
Years! First Row —Arel LeMaro, Facili-
By Cheryl Nelson, Public Works Administrator ties Director, Barbara Eckstrom, i rr 111 *"'` ,'
Solid Waste Manager, Jim Kazda, •
On June 4th, the "old Public Works Managers gang" got together for a reunion lun- former Sr. Civil Engineer (now , a ' _.
(9,
cheon. Although the group has met several times, this was the first time a photo was employed by Cornell University) - I
taken to commemorate the occasion. The two photos were taken in the same location 4 '�
in the airport terminal, but eleven years apart. The first was taken in 1998 just prior to
the retirement of then Commissioner of Public Works, Bill Mobbs. Second Row - Cheryl Nelson,
Public Works Administrator,
Although some of the time was spent talking "shop ", the majority of the time was spent Ward Hungerford, former County J
catching up on families and other topics. Most of the managers started working for the Highway Manager, Bill Mobbs,
county when their families were young. Now, the discussion is of children, grandchil- former Commissioner of Public
dren, college degrees, and career paths for the next generation. Works (now employed by C &S
Companies), Dwight Mengel,
Talk about experience, the combined number of years of service to Tompkins County Chief Transportation Planner, Bob
and the residents by this group is 192! So, when you travel on county highways and et
bridges in your vehicle or by public transit, fly in or out of the airport, put out your Nichdas, Airport Manager
recycling bin or visit the Recycling and Solid Waste Center, or work in or visit county Vits
buildings, remember this team and how their service made /make Tompkins County a
great place in which to work and live.
If you have fellow employees that you haven't seen in a while, why not give them a
call and schedule a time to meet? Life is short — take time to reflect on the past and
enjoy those that made it special!
-7-
I-f i , hwGt y }-f U oU s <. .
Submitted by Geri Lockwood, Administrative Assistant
2009 Major Construction Projects:
Please be sure to visit the website, http : / /wwwtomokins- co.ora /hiahwav, for monthly updates on road and bridge projects.
Careers in Construction Day:
The 5th Annual Central New York Careers in Construction Day, hosted by The Skilled Trades Diversity Council, was held on May 5, 2009, at TC3. The
Highway Division of the Tompkins County Public Works Department participated in the event, with Ryan Sherry, Engineering Technician, displaying comput-
erized aerial photography of Tompkins County; Geri Lockwood, Administrative Assistant, with job descriptions and applications; and Jerry Stern, Highway
Technician (Permit Agent), with a popular hands -on demonstration of applying thermo - plastic material to the pavement (i.e. stop bars, arrows, etc.), as well
as the division's radar traffic counter and road core samples. Jerry was assisted by Bruce Reed, Seasonal Worker. (Jerry is also a member of the Skilled
Trades Diversity Council and recently instructed a second session of the Flagger Training Course, sponsored by the Council.)
_ rr
no
Jerry Stern, with the hands -on ap plication Ryan Sherry, with the computerized
of thermo - plastic material aerial photography.
'FT
1 - --- 7
_ .,
1..a. ii,„
_..
_._ i
.. . . .
iniyo 3 1 1 T - - Ir
- '`
Bruce, with the road core sample display. Students reviewing Seasonal Worker
job descriptions.
National Public Works Week:
May 17 -23, 2009 was National Public Works Week. The Public Works Division includes Airport, Facilities, Highway, Public Works Administration, and Solid
Waste Management.
Thank you, all Public Works employees. for your dedicated service!
-8-
Employee Spotlights
Doreen Lauper sports activities — elementary grade basket ball, Middle and High School
. Plays, College level soccer; spending quality time with my hubby of 33
years, Roger (watching TV with our eyes closed in the evening) and, oh, let
Doreen Lauper is Secretary for me tell you about our children and grandchildren!
County Administration. Doreen
has worked at the County for go- Our older blessings are: Lynn who lives and works locally and Ryan,
ing on 20 years —three years at with wife Elizabeth Lis
( y) , who have provided us with a vacation home
DSS, and 13 years as Secretary/ in South Carolina: all three are good looking, intelligent, considerate
Administrative Assistant in the and compassionate people (like their Mom!) We have three exemplary
Office of Assigned Council, before ► . grandchildren, Arianna and Riley who reign in South Carolina and Iris who
joining County Administration in - ' ' has seized Ithaca —all three are answers to Nana and Papa's prayers
April of 2006. Doreen responded to the following questions from County (hope you get one just like you)!
Corridors:
Ten years after our baby was born, our baby was born — Shawn. We still
What do you do here (your job duties)? have him at home for _
Duties: atmospheric lightening (as energy efficiently as possible of course); another year, well, after a
equipment care — speaking nicely to all the cute electrical machinery in the summer in Fort Benning, -" - -
office and contacting the appropriate services when they act out; sustain- GA in boot camp. The r'. a .
ability —cardboard food containers (after rinsing) and the center of the boy never sits still - - 1 . Y - , lit
paper towel roll can be recycled, but not the actual paper towels; directional (hence, parents watching _
assistance — Personnel is on the first floor -exit the elevator on "1" and take the TV with their eyes
a left, Certificates of Residency can be applied for on the second floor -exit closed) and he likes to
the elevator on "2" and take a right; and for consistency purposes "Admin- explore all avenues. He
istration, this is Doreen" is my mantra and I have memorized the Airport is a Police Explorer, has r
telephone number along with flight schedules and the luggage /carry-on held many positions— ,
rules. Oh, and we can't leave out "Does work related as required." Please including Captain,
feel free to contact Tompkins County Personnel for a generic job descrip- Junior Firefighter of the Year in 2008, is a Certified First Responder, goes
tion, a listing of vacancies, and when the exams will be given. to rescue calls -was part of a team that brought someone back to life last
August, just graduated from Fire Fighter 1 class. Sports venues consist of
What do you like best about your job? an attempt at softball and basketball, played a little football and ran track,
People, I love to help people. There are also many opportunities available but his passion is wrestling. He's on his fourth season of haying and third
to challenge and improve my skills. season at Taughannock Farms Inn, and serves with the Army Reserves
one weekend a month. Thanks for letting me brag a little. Life is Good!
What do you like least about your job? (But I need to go watch a little TV; -)
What I like least is the fact that I have to work to get the paycheck.
If you ran the world, what is the first thing you would do?
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? Offer free higher education, which would help put everyone on an equal
Partaking in loud, obnoxious, hilarious events with my wonderful, large, playing field. Mandatory classes would include Humor as a Second Lan -
loving FAMILY. Be it an evening meal (Friday at Mom's and Sunday at guage, Telephone Etiquette, There Is No "I" In Team, and How To Play Well Dad's), watching any number of nieces and nephews in their scholastic and With Others. John Navarro John Navarro has been employed by Tompkins County, as Motor Equipment Operator in the High- way Division for 35 years. John responded to the following questions from County Corridors: e - Ao ♦- What do you do here (your job duties)? - -_ Operate equipment, laborer duties, patch holes, pick up dead deer and adopt -a- highway collections, - drive snow plow. c we What do you like best about your job? I '` Being outdoors and enjoying the beauty of nature (and the paycheck). • What do you like least about your job? N Z The long winter. What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? If you ran the world, what is the first thing you would do? Running, riding the Harley, and driving the corvette. Improve everyone's health care. -9- Kudos Korner... Kat McCarthy Recognized by Hats off to.... Peanut! Toastmasters International Believe it or not, hard hats actually have an expiration date. As they are re- Waste Reduction and Recycling Specialist Kat McCarthy has been placed, the "expired" ones are discarded. "Leave it to Peanut" to think of a recognized as an Advanced Communicator Gdd for participation in the creative way to reduce waste and reuse the discarded ones. Toastmasters International communica- tion program. :; I Peanut (Ida Besemer) works fo r the Facilities Advanced Communicator Gold recogni- - .. Division, as a cleaner tion is the highest award in Toastmas- ` - at Sdid Waste and the ters' communication program. The , [ \ �4 Public Works Facil- communication ro ram is a self aced Y Y r. p g p �, ity (PWF, which houses foo training program that helps participants ; � • Facilities , Highway, improve their speaking skills in a club A - Public Works Adminis- environment. To achieve Advanced ,.%.yrii,r' ;�� tration, and Weights & Communicator Gdd status, participants Measures). One of her must complete a series of challenging ' ' ideas was to turn them into planters, which she hung with flowers at various speech assignments, conduct a training locations at the PWF. program, and mentor a new member. We have received several positive comments on how "cute" they are. If you Aletterfrom Toastmasters International Executive Director Daniel are near Bostwick Road, please be sure to admire her handiwork. Thank you, Rex states, "Completing these requirements involves several years of Peanut - our "hats" are off to you! O study and excellent communication skills. It also involves tremendous self - discipline and a strong interest in self- improvement,. By achieving Geri Lockwood, Highway Advanced Communicator Gold recognition, Toastmaster McCarthy has shown a commitment to excellence in communiction and a desire to ap- ply these communication in all facets of life." Congratulations, Kat! Foster Families Needed 4 Las To anyone who may be considering becoming a foster parent or adoptive parent and wants more information, C, Tompkins County Department of Social Services will hdd an informational meeting at the Human Services Building, room 142, 320 W. State St., on Thursday July 9 and Thursday, August 13, from noon to 1 p.m. each day. Tompkins County has a special need for foster families in the Ithaca City School District and for families who will foster teenagers. Retiring Member of the Team Please call 274 -5266 for more information. By County aerk Aurora R. Valenti - Shawnae Milton, D55 GERALDINE (Geri) BOCHENSKI, Recording aerk in the Tompkins County Clerk's Office for a total of 22 years. will retire from service on July 24, 2009. Her first stint in the TCCO was from 1985 to 1987, when military duty called her husband away, and then from 1989 to the present time. Geri tells us she Tom Valenti will be appearing at BORDER'S, up at the will miss us (every chance she gets). Her fellow team - mates, however, truly mall, on Saturday, July 18, 2009, at 2:00 p.m., for a do not know what we'll do without her smiling face and ultra - pleasant man - book- signing and discussion of YOU DON'T HAVE TO ner, her wonderful assistance and dependability. BE DIABETIC TO LOVE THIS COOKBOOK. Geri is married to Bernard (Bernie) Bochenski; they have three children, We would love to see you, your family, and all your Diane, Patricia, and Jason, and boast five beautiful grandchildren, Zachary, friends there. Jordan, Eric, Nicole and Audree. We know Geri and Bernie will spend many wonderful days with their children and grandchildren; but we hope Geri will Thank you. stop by from time to time to chat and to drop off some of her delicious lemon Aurora bread which she bakes at hdiday time. We wish you health, happiness, and many years of joy. Ciao Geri! -10- Department News Airport Office for the Aging Two outstanding seniors were honored at the Office for the Aging's Annual TI NG Luncheon May 13. Joan Barber was awarded a certificate of appreciation ► _ 1 1%; Senior Citizen of the Year, acknowledging her tireless volunteer work with 1 � Illitliki t the Kitchen Cupboard and the Danby Food Pantry. Ray Oglesby was also ' "1 ,d+ honored with a certificate of appreciation for Outstanding Contribution by a > / 1 Senior Citizen for his many and varied volunteer efforts. A IA- The keynote speaker for this year's luncheon was Dr. William H. Thomas (below) an international authority on geriatric medicine and eldercare and 0: founder of the Eden Alternative which offers a creative way to "change the Pictured is airport manager Bob Nicholas with United States Senator culture" of nursing homes by bringing life and laughter into the lives of elders. Chuck Schumer. The photo was taken at a recent press conference where In his remarks, Dr. Thomas presented a new way the Senator announced the continuation of Continental Airlines service to to look at the aging process. "Aging is an amazing Newark's Liberty International Airport after Continental had initially said they journey. Aging offers an opportunity to live a new were pulling out of Ithaca. The decision to continue came after Senator and different kind of life. I am pro aging. Aging y , Schumer's intervention with Continental's CEO and some in -depth discus- will open up doors and windows to new growth. I sions between the airline and the local business community. believe there is life after adulthood and the silly, fevered obsession that often accompanies it. You ,1 „ t Ithaca- Tompkins County can choose to live a life of an elder — choose to let e�' ` � ° Transportation Council go of adulthood and embrace elderhood!" �~ Happy Birthday, Teresa! We all have memories of a favorite birthday (or !!,f : A iot4cr "COFA $Ally !!" maybe all those times you turned 29 ...), but Teresa Linde's co- workers at the Ithaca - Tompkins County it Transportation Council (Tompkins County's metro- 1 e Congratulations to Trina Schickel, of COFA, politan planning organization) searched high and low on the recent birth of her granddaughter, Mary for a special idea to please her. Kerwick Bogart! And that special idea was right in their own building, . working as a project assistant for the Planning De- a partment. Teresa, of Scottish descent, was thrilled - + o- to have tea time begin with John Simeone playing _ .- - ' the bagpipes outside her office window. Here's a photo. - Kathy Wilsea Mental Health Celebration Recognizes Community of Care On Wednesday May 27th, the Tompkins County Community Mental Health Services Board held a celebration event to recognize achievements in the areas of mental health, developmental disabilities and chemical dependency treatment, progress and recovery. Approximately 150 people attended this moving event which celebrated the personal accomplishments of individuals facing significant challenges and individuals and programs that work in this field. The goal of this event was to recognize the accomplishments and service of individuals, families, programs and organiza- ` —" !" tions, to celebrate successes and to highlight the system of care in our community. It is clear, by the many comments .• written about the award recipients, as well as their comments, that this goal was achieved. -, - ; SWOP 4 ; ii # , Many individuals were noted for their long standing contributions to the community —among them PaulaAustic (at right, i recently retired from Mental Health), who acknowledged her unwavering dedication to persons with mental illness over 27 years. Commissioner Robert De Luca noted that she was known as "St. Paula" in the department and was a "real deal" r AN case manager who went always beyond the call of duty. Continued on page 11 -11- :e FUNNY BON ES CSEiti * * SAVE THE DATE * * 9 tv*4- 1.14-1 4-fuknor CSEA Local 855 — 2008 Employee Recognition Day (Pic - What does the letter "A" have in common with a flower? nic) They both have bees coming after them. Date: Saturday, August 15th Time: 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The best way to garden is to put on a wide - brimmed straw Location: Stewart Park (near the small pavillion) hat and some old clothes. And with a hoe in one hand and a cold drink in the other, tell somebody else where to dig. (Informational registration forms to be mailed at a later date.) DeWitt Park and Tompkins County Veterans' Memorials Restoration Project and Rededication Ceremony The DeWitt Park Restoration Com- mittee, comprised of local veterans, has been working very hard over the Bus Pass Program Renewed past several years to restore the park, " maintain the monuments, and honor x Our popular TCAT bus pass program has been renewed for July through ' December 2009 for routes within Tompkins County. All county employees those who gave the greatest gift to - their country. are eligible to receive a free pass for Tompkins County TCAT bus service. On Saturday, October 3, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. a rededication ceremony will take New bus pass applications are required for this phase. The application form place to rededicate all monuments: Civil War, World War I, World II, Korea, is attached to this email, and it also is available on the employee intranet On Vietnam, USS Liberty, and Iraq. The latest veterans to be added will be John the Forms section, Personnel Dept.) or via interdepartmental mail from me. C. Smith, Jr., USS Liberty and Patrick L. Griffin, Jr., Iraq. Use of the pass is free to you, The Restoration Committee is seeking relatives of those who valiantly gave though the county pays for each r - 1 their lives for our freedom and intends to provide a special reserved seating. ride. For that reason, a bus pass +' `•r may be used only by the em- If you are the father, mother, sibling, wife, son, daughter, grandparent, grand- ployee to whom it is issued, and child, great grandchild, niece, cousin, etc. of a Tompkins County resident who - died in service during war time, please contact Holly Hollingsworth at 607- only for commuting to and from 539 -7696 or pthollinqsworth@aol.com. work or for work related travel during your regular work hours. - Karen Fuller Diversity Roundtable Continued From Page 2 Anna Smith, Personnel Dept. This year, we showcased some intriguing topics to demonstrate the myriad ways in which diversity, inclusion and acceptance play a vital role in strengthening the fabric of our community. We were fortunate to have Fernan R. Cepero, PHR, Vice President of Human Resources for the Mental Health Continued From Page 10 YMCA of Greater Rochester as our keynote speaker. Fernan did an excel The consistent theme of the evening mentioned by many was how someone lent job of blending knowledge, humor, theory and practical hands-on can go from "darkness to light" and then go on to help others. There were application into his presentation. several individuals who were shining examples of this at this event. The breakout sessions covered the role of our municipalities in promot Board Chair Mary Hutchens noted that Tompkins County has a forward think- ing diversity and inclusion; why diversity is everyone's business; "Nasty ing and high quality system of care, involving many partner organizations, in Fighting Words'; the rights of immigrant and guest workers; measuring which people can and do accomplish amazing things in the face of significant diversity initiatives; understanding generational differences; queer and challenges. transgender issues in the workplace and community; and retention in our workplace and community. Kirby Edmonds of TFC Associates summa- Bob De Luca rized the day and helped us bring it all together. -12- Classified Ads Dog Dayz Inn FOR SALE — Sofa, loveseat, and recliner — Hunter Green — excellent A place where your dog feels condition, $350.00. Dining room suite — Trundle table, 6 high -back chairs w /upholstered seats, extra large lighted hutch — excellent con- -- - - "at home ". dition, $900.00. Barbie Princess Car w /battery — great condition, Located in North Lansing _ $25.00. Please call (607) 592 -9172. Sandy Strehle, 315-497-3467 dogdayzinn car yahoo.com http://www.dogdayzinn.com FOR SALE — 1995 31' Challenger 5th -wheel camper. Features in- FOR SALE — Full -size pool table, one -inch thick slate top, with clude two slide -outs, basement, full -size bathroom, and a queen- green felt. Includes rack, balls, cues, and help to move it, if needed. sized bed. Excellent condition. Must sell due to health reasons. $150.00, negotiable. Please call Nick Berg, at (607) 387 -3583 and $11,000.00, complete with hitch. Please call (607) 898 -5196. leave message, or e -mail to berc17777 @zoom - dsl.com. FOR SALE — Marantz Stereo System w /turntable, 2 large speakers, TRAIL RIDING LESSONS — Being offered at Painted Bar Stables cassette, and remote, $300 or best offer. Butcher block table w/4 in Burdett, NY (20 minutes from Ithaca). We are a family -owned chairs, $200 or best offer. Please call (607) 273 -5609, leave mes- business that combines the fun of horseback riding with the beauty sage. of the Finger Lakes National Forest. Rides accommodate all abilities FOR SALE — New fishing equipment and accessories. Please call at affordable fees. For more information, check our website: www. (607) 387 -5197, evenings. paintedbarstables.com. FOR SALE — 2000 250 Suzuki motorcycle. Good starter bike. Runs WANTED — Nice 1 or 2 bedroom, apartment in private home, in good. Please call (607) 898 -2621. the Ithaca or Triphammer area. Please call (607) 273 -5609, leave message. WANTED — 3 -point hitch backhoe attachment, or an older model backhoe. Please call Jim, at (607) 532 -4092. FOR SALE — TAKE YOUR TOYS WITH YOU! 2005 Keystone Hor- FOR SALE: net Hideout camper - trailer with "garage" in the rear. Sleeps 6 +. Ex- 6 antique dark oak chairs with 6' pine trestle table, $400.00; Antique cellent condition. Will sell fully stocked and ready to go. $15,000.00, solid cherry drop -leaf table, excellent condition, $150.00; Black or best offer. Please call (607) 898 -3214, evenings. iron baker's rack with 3 -18" -wide shelves, $45.00; Antique wooden clothes dryer /wall mount, $45.00; 48 -piece blue /white dishes, LIBERTY BLUE series, 1960's, $95.00; Lifestyle treadmill, black voiDDIG standard size and functions, $100.00; Antique desk, mahogany, 9- drawer, excellent condition, $200.00; FREE: 17" TV Please call (607) 533 -9133, evenings. ..VEN DtIRIE�l DAY TRIP THE CORRIDORS TEAM Date: Saturday. July 25 Managing Editor Cost: 525.00W (includes ticket to park and bus transported* '55.00 pp for :hi?drea 2 and under. Maureen Reynolds, County Clerk's Office Depart: ,:30 SHARD: ; Begin loading bus at7:15am) Editorial Staff (From the Tompkics Conan Public Works Facikty on Bostwick Road) Depart: From Darien Lake ai 7 COp.m. SHARP ! Geri Lockwood, Highway Arrive: Bads in Ithaca around 9 30 a.m. Minimum of 50 petiole needed to cake tl s trip possfo1. Cal: now for reservations or for Linnett Short, SW Management Division ad iitionel infarmatoan. Reservations & Pavment: Accepted btsraligh Alenke,, J'tv 23* Katrina Schickel, COFA Classifieds Editor - Geri Lockwood HANGAR THEATRE MUSICAL — "RENT" Date: Sankey. August :5' Multicultural Editor — Shanovah Moodie, Records Time: 3:30 p.m cost: SI:00pp Advising Editor, Page Layout Reserations&Pavment: Accepted rhraieFradgt•, JO' i ". Marcia Lynch, Public Information (Tickets are limited Cal!! or details and r<ardng fist irgformation.) Contributors Please visit the website for further 2009 trip information aid update. w•tv .rompk_us- co.creemnlovee ah ',"eudiu=- Cou:ust:eeNews.pdf. All County Employees and Retirees also accessible from the eu plovee Intranet. Interested in joining the Corridors team? Contact Maureen at 274 -5431 or mreynolds @tompkins - co.org