Campus Road partially closed weekdays
Due to the construction of an addition to Statler Hall, the short section of Campus Road between East Avenue and Hoy Road (between the two all-way stop signs) will be closed to vehicular traffic through Monday, Nov. 17.
A full closure will be in effect during weekdays; however, the road will be open to traffic from the end of business each Friday through Sunday evening.
The sidewalks adjacent to the Statler Hall project are closed. Pedestrians on Campus Road between East Avenue and Hoy Road are guided to the south sidewalk in front of Phillips and Duffield Halls. Sidewalk traffic on the east side of East Avenue has been redirected to the west sidewalk at the Statler-Sage crosswalk.
Detour Information: For the safety of those working and walking in the area, and to avoid congestion at these intersections — especially during weekdays — please use posted detours.
TCAT routes 31, 32, 81, 82, 83 and 85 will be modified to use bus stops on Tower Road. Please refer to www.tcatbus.com.
Red Cross pushes fire safety
During National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5-11, the Tompkins County American Red Cross is offering home fire safety tips. Nationally, the American Red Cross network of local chapters responds to approximately 170 home fires a day. Last year, the Red Cross responded to more than 74,000 disasters in communities across the United States, and 93 percent of them were fire related. While home fires may be the most common disaster in the United States, they are also easy to prevent.
* Be “Fire Safe”
Smoke alarms save lives. Having a working smoke alarm reduces one's chance of dying in a fire by nearly half. Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each level of your home.
If people sleep with doors closed, install smoke alarms inside sleeping areas, too.
Use the test button to check each smoke alarm once a month. When necessary, replace batteries immediately. Replace all batteries once a year.
Vacuum away cobwebs and dust from your smoke alarms monthly.
Smoke alarms become less sensitive over time. Replace your smoke alarms every ten years.
Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Get training from the fire department in how to use them.
Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your home.
* Plan Your Escape Routes
Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second or third floor. Learn how to use them and store them near the window.
Select a location outside your home where everyone would meet after escaping.
Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
* Escape Safely
Once you are out, stay out! Call the fire department from a neighbor's home.
If you see smoke or fire in your first escape route, use your second way out. If you must exit through smoke, crawl low under the smoke to your exit.
If you are escaping through a closed door, feel the door before opening it. If it is warm, use your second way out.
If smoke, heat, or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed. Signal for help using a bright-colored cloth at the window. If there is a telephone in the room, call the fire department and tell them where you are.
Contact Gregg Cotterill, emergency services director of the Tompkins County American Red Cross, for more information on home fire prevention and safety 273-1900, ext., or go to For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires.
Eco-cruises planned for Cayuga Lake
The Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom is offering a series of public eco-cruises on Cayuga Lake throughout the fall. Each cruise will examine a different aspect of our relationship with Cayuga Lake, and will link informal guest presentations with hands-on lake monitoring activities suitable for older children and adults.
The series kicked off on September 20, with a presentation on basic lake ecology by Professor Clifford Kraft, of Cornell University. Weekly themes will range from science to the arts, and a full schedule may be found online.
Each Saturday afternoon cruise will depart from the Ithaca Farmers' Market at 3 p.m., returning at 5 p.m. A donation of $5-$10 is suggested. See www.tioherotours.com for a complete schedule and advance registration, or contact Tiohero Tours, at 697-0166.
Pilates Room to donate to Cancer Resource Center
The Pilates Room will donate all October proceeds from its mat classes to the Cancer Resource Center. Mat classes are one of several types of classes The Pilates Room offers and are designed for everyone from beginners to advanced students. With more than 35 of these classes scheduled in October, and a location in the Island Health and Fitness Center, The Pilates Room will also be asking its many clients to consider making an additional small contribution to the Cancer Resource Center.
For more information about The Pilates Room, call 330-0957 or visit www.pilatesassociatescny.com. To contact the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes, call 277-0960 or visit www.ibca.net.
IC collects ‘Books Thru Bars,' stages play on wrongfully convicted
Ithaca College Theatre is accepting donations of books and other reading materials to be sent free of charge to inmates across the country via the Ithaca-based organization Books thru Bars. A donation box has been set up at the entrance to the Clark Theatre lobby in Dillingham Center.
Donations will be accepted through Oct. 12.
The book drive is taking place in conjunction with Ithaca College Theatre's production of “The Exonerated,” a play based on the real stories of six wrongfully convicted Americans. For more information, contact Susan Monagan, manager of audience development and special projects, at 274-3915 or smonagan@ithaca.edu.
“The Exonerated,” a play by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, will be presented by Ithaca College Theatre and directed by Cynthia Henderson. Performances will be held in the Clark Theatre at Dillingham Center at 8 p.m. on Oct. 9-11, with 2 p.m. matinees offered Oct. 11 and 12. “The Exonerated,” will run approximately 90 minutes without an intermission. Because of its thematic content, this play is intended for mature audiences.
Tickets for “The Exonerated” range from $4.50 to $10. They can be purchased from the Ithaca College Theatre ticket office in Dillingham Center or by calling (607) 274-3224. Tickets can also be purchased at the Ticket Center at (607) 273-4497 or online at www.ithacaevents.com.
Kerry Max Cook, who spent two decades on death row wrongfully convicted of murder, will visit the college on Oct. 10 and 11. The visit is in conjunction with the production of “The Exonerated,” as Cook is one of the actual voices behind the play. Cook will discuss his experiences on death row in an event open to the public on Friday, Oct. 10, in Textor 102 on the Ithaca College campus at 3:30 p.m. He is signing copies of his book, “Chasing Justice,” at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, in the lobby of Dillingham Center before the 2 p.m. performance of “The Exonerated.” The evening of Oct. 11, Cook is also participating in a talk-back at 9:45 p.m. in the Clark Theatre at Dillingham Center, immediately following the 8 p.m. performance of “The Exonerated.”
Benefit planned for cancer survivor
A benefit concert for Bert Scholl and his family will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at Castaways, 413 Taughannock Blvd.
The John Reilly Band, Kevin Kinsella & Hank Roberts and the Sim Redmond Band will provide the music. A $20 donation is suggested. Ages 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.
Massa to speak, take questions Friday
All are welcome to join Back to Democracy at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at the Trumansburg Fire Hall, Main St., Trumansburg, as they host Eric Massa, the candidate for New York's 29th Congressional District who is challenging incumbent Randy Kuhl. Massa will present his platform and take questions. All meetings are free, handicapped accessible and open to the public. Donations will be accepted that night to support the Massa Campaign.
Oct. 10 is Nov. 4 voter registration deadline
The last day to register to vote for the Nov.4, general election is Friday, Oct. 10, according to the New York state Board of Elections.
Completed mail-in voter registration forms postmarked by midnight, Oct. 10 and received no later than Oct. 15 are valid for the upcoming general election. Residents who have moved to a new county must re-register from their new address. Those who have moved to a new address in the same county do not have to re-register, but they should provide their board of elections with their new address and to locate their new polling site.
Internet users may look up the status of their voter registration, learn the location of their poll site, or download a registration form by clicking on “Voting Information” on the state board's web site: www.elections.state.ny.us or by accessing the state board's voter education website: www.VOTE-NY.com .
Requests for registration forms may also be made by calling 1-800-FOR-VOTE. Registration form requests will be processed and the forms will be mailed to the caller's home or business address. Requests received after Oct. 6 will still be processed, however, it is unlikely callers will receive their form in time to register for the general election.
Registration can be done at the Tompkins County Board of Elections, 128 E. Buffalo Street in Ithaca, 274-5521, www.co.tompkins.ny.us/boe/voteinfo.html.
Pride of Ownership nominations due
Ithaca's Eleventh Annual Pride of Ownership Awards program is seeking nominations to recognize owners of properties within the City of Ithaca who have developed projects or taken care of their properties in ways that enhance the physical appearance of city neighborhoods and commercial areas.
The program is a joint project of the Ithaca Rotary Club and the City of Ithaca.
Projects may range from major structural work to small but significant improvements. Commercial projects, owner-occupied housing, rental housing, and community and institutional projects (educational, religious, government) are eligible. Awards focus on how properties appear from the street and public right-of-way, improve their local surroundings, and thereby improve quality of life for the city as a whole.
Nominations must be received at the City Clerk's Office, 108 East Green St., no later than Friday, Oct. 10. For more information or an application, contact Peggy Haine at 387-5171 or at Realtor.1@peggyhaine.com, Margaret Hobbie at 220-5334 or at mhobbie@verizon.net, or, on the Internet, go to www.cityofithaca.org and click on “Announcements.”
Rummage sale planned at Methodist church
Lansing United Methodist Church will hold their annual fall rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Church on Brickyard Road, Lansing.
The sale features clothing and accessories for all ages, furniture, tools, housewares, costumes, toys, sports equipment and more. Items are $1 per bag Saturday.
Man exonerated after more than 20 years on death row to speak at IC
Kerry Max Cook, who spent more than two decades awaiting execution in Texas before DNA evidence proved him innocent, will visit Ithaca College Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10 and 11, to talk about the American legal system.
Nineteen years old when he was falsely accused of rape and murder, Cook endured three trials, countless prison rapes, and two suicide attempts during his time on death row. Free and open to the public, Cook's Ithaca College appearances will be held in conjunction with the Ithaca College Theatre production of “The Exonerated.” Written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, the play dramatizes Cook's story, along with the experiences of five other people who were wrongfully accused of capital crimes and eventually released.
Cook will speak on the American legal system at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, in Textor 101.
At 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, in the Dillingham Center lobby, Cook will sign copies of his book, “Chasing Justice,” which details his struggle to prove his innocence. (The book signing will precede the 2 p.m. matinee performance of “The Exonerated.”)
Also on Oct. 11, at 9:45 p.m., following the evening performance of “The Exonerated,” Cook will conduct a talk-back session in Clark Theatre, Dillingham Center.
Special Olympics fundraiser tickets on sale this weekend, next
Special Olympics Area 17, Ithaca, is holding its fourth annual fundraiser, “Keen on Green,” featuring prizes such as green activities, stay-cations and a variety of green products from the area.
Some of the prizes are: Cornell sports tickets, a golf packages at the Cornell Golf Club, solar outdoor lights from Home Depot, a $20 gift certificate from Agway, an evening at Best Western University Inn's master Jacuzzi suite and a $25 gift certificate from Home Green Home.
Tickets will be sold between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12, at the Trumansburg Shur-Save and between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18 and 19, at East Hill P&C. Suggested donation for the tickets is $5 each or three for $10. A limited number of tickets will be sold.
The fundraiser will end with a drawing Saturday, Oct. 25, at a party for the Special Olympic Athletes at the Holiday Inn, 222 S. Cayuga St. Ticket holders need not be present to win.
Celebration of lace planned Saturday
The 28th Annual Ithaca Lace Day Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Ramada Inn, N. Triphammer Road.
Visitors can enjoy exhibits, demonstrations, talks, antique laces and hands-on activities. Admission is free and open to all.
Harvest block party planned Saturday
New Life Victory Church of Ithaca will host a Harvest Fest Block Party from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, on the lawn and parking area of Clinton West Plaza, 609 W. Clinton St.
All are welcome to enjoy chicken and pulled pork dinners, live bands, children's games, a pie eating contest, pumpkin smashing, wheel barrel races, face painting, a bake sale, prayer and dream interpretation tent, mini hayrides and more.
All proceeds will benefit the New Life Victory Center Ugandan Mission Fund.
Garage sale to benefit alliance for mentally ill
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Finger Lakes Region, will hold a Garage Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at 104 E. Lewis St. Items will be half Price after noon. Proceeds will benefit those with mental illnesses, their families and friends.
Cooperative Extension to host fall harvest festival for kids
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County will host a cross-cultural celebration of the harvest for children and adults at the P&C grocery store parking lot from 1:30-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13 at 212 Hancock St. in Ithaca.
The festival includes free hayrides, a 4-H live animal display and fitness trail, pumpkin painting and other harvest-themed crafts, food samples and nutrition activities, cheese samples with the Dairy Princess, storytelling with the Family Reading Partnership, and activities and displays by CCE, the Ithaca Children's Garden, the Sciencenter and many other organizations. Cornell Cooperative Extension sponsors this event to celebrate the harvest with our neighbors in the Northside, Fall Creek and Southside neighborhoods. All are welcome to participate.
First Street between Hancock and Adams will be closed off to include the Big Red Reading Tent with the Family Reading Partnership, and the First Baptized Church of Jesus Christ will be providing entertainment throughout the afternoon and selling dinners featuring traditional recipes from around the world prepared with many local foods.
For more information, call CCE at 272-2292 or visit www.ccetompkins.org.
Bird club hosts monthly meeting Monday
The Cayuga Bird Club will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, in the Auditorium at the Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road. Andrea Townsend will present “The Secret Sex lives of American Crows”, describing her research with the local crow population. Meetings are free and open to the public and anyone interested in birds is invited to attend.
How to care for elderly from a distance
The Tompkins County Office for the Aging is offering a free workshop, titled Caregiving from a Distance, for persons concerned about ill or elderly relatives who live apart from them from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Ave., Ithaca.
Trudy Cedar, RN, a local geriatric care manager, will address concerns of those who live a short distance or many miles away from a relative with long term care needs. Issues to be addressed include assessment of needs, communications issues, coordinating care and other issues of concern to those in attendance.
To register for workshop or receive information on local supports for family caregivers, call the Tompkins County Office for the Aging, 274-5492 or e-mail dstoyell@tompkins-co.org.
Highway crews extend closure of Ringwood Road
The Tompkins County Highway Division will be extending the closing of Ringwood Road, in the Town of Dryden, between Midline Road and Ellis Hollow Creek Road, intermittently from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Thursday, Oct. 16, for road crossing pipe replacements. The road will be closed to all through traffic during the intermittent closures.
Contact the Highway Division at 274-0300with questions or concerns.
Meeting examines FLT, Emerald Necklace
The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) will host a public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 at the Caroline Town Hall at 2670 Slaterville Road to discuss the future of the Finger Lakes Trail as well as other open space and recreational resources within the Emerald Necklace Greenbelt, a swath of forested land stretching across the southern half of Tompkins County.
With support from Tompkins County and New York State, the Land Trust is preparing a Finger Lakes Trail Corridor Protection and Enhancement Plan to ensure continued public access to the trail, and the protection of natural and scenic resources along the trail corridor. Mark Whitmore and Rick Manning, consultants working on the plan, will discuss the project and how FLLT is using conservation easements (voluntary conservation agreements on private lands) to secure significant open space lands in this area. Attendees will also be invited to provide their input on how best to ensure the future of these resources in both Caroline and Tompkins County.
For more information on the meeting or this project, please contact the Finger Lakes Land Trust at 607-275-9487. Additional information about the Land Trust is also available at www.fllt.org.
Applications needed for positions on environment council
The Environmental Management Council has vacancies for terms beginning Jan. 1. Residents of Tompkins County are invited to apply for membership.
The Environmental Management Council has seven at-large seats that are open to county residents and vacancies for appointed representatives from the towns of Enfield, Groton, Ithaca and Lansing; villages of Cayuga Heights, Freeville, Lansing and Trumansburg; and the City of Ithaca.
The council's activities include providing a public forum for discussion and resolution of issues impacting natural resource management and protection, providing education and increasing awareness of local environmental issues and implementing the Local Action Plan to reduce county government greenhouse gas emissions.
Deadline for applications for Environmental Management Council at-large seats is Oct. 17 and municipal representatives is Dec. 1. Environmental Management Council municipal representatives must also submit a resolution of support from the municipality.
For an application, visit www.tompkins-co.org/legislature/advisory/resume.pdf or pick one up at 121 E. Court St.
Cornell seeks not-for-profit job opportunities for students
The Cornell Public Service Center Community Work Study Program is seeking academic year job opportunities for Cornell eligible work study students from local non-profit agencies, schools and municipalities.
To learn more about the program or to inquire about eligibility contact the Cornell Public Service Center at 255-0144.
Empire State College has information sessions
Information sessions on programs at the Ithaca branch of Empire State College are planned during the coming weeks.
The monthly sessions will provide prospective students with information on college degree programs. The college offers individualized degrees and programs designed by students and the faculty mentors. The college also gives college credits for life and work experience.
Information sessions will be held in the Tompkins Cortland Community College Extension Building, 118 N. Tioga St., on the Ithaca Commons on these dates:
* Noon Oct. 23 in Room 501
* 5 p.m. Nov. 10 in Room 513
* Noon Dec. 10 in Room 501
For more information, contact Christiane Warren at 273-4536 or Christiane.Warren@esc.edu.
Resource center offers insight into long term care insurance
New York state has established “Long Term Care Insurance Resource Centers” in every county to help consumers get impartial help in understanding the complex topic of long-term care financing and long-term care insurance.
Monthly group seminars and individual counseling are offered free of charge to help people decide whether to purchase insurance during their working years (typically ages 45-65). Lifelong and the Tompkins County Office for the Aging are cooperating to offer this service in Tompkins County.
The schedule of workshops is as follows:
* 7-8:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Brooktondale Community Center
* 8-9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at Lifelong, 119 W. Court St.
* 8-9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at Lifelong, 119 W. Court St. (includes free continental breakfast starting at 7:45 a.m.)
To register for any of the seminars, or to schedule an individual counseling session, call Lifelong at 273-1511 or the Office for the Aging at 274-5492.
History Center launches inaugural Haunted History Tour
Which local house fell into a gorge, after a series of reported ghost sightings?
What happened during the Buffalo Street bobsledding trip gone wrong?
Which early settlers to the county were chopping more than just wood?
Learn about all of this and more, on The History Center's Haunted History Tour of Downtown Ithaca at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24 and 25 and Friday, Oct. 31.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door (space is limited). All tours meet and embark from the Main Pavilion on The Commons.
The tour is a leisurely guided walking tour spanning approximately one hour, featuring tales which touch upon many important events in the City such as the Iroquois Settlement along Cayuga Lake, Cornell family and University history, Silent movie stars, World War II Veterans, and such landmarks as Cascadilla Gorge, the Clinton House, the State Theatre, and the City Cemetery. Tour goers will encounter reenactments and vignettes along the route.
All ages are welcome.
There is limited space on each tour — registration is highly recommended to ensure a spot.
The tour is also available for private bookings. To reserve a spot or for more information, contact Wylie Schwartz, Marketing & Development Manager, 401 East State Street, Suite 100, or call 273-8284, ext. 6.
Hearing, senior fair at Titus Towers
The Tompkins County Office for the Aging plans a public hearing and Senior Citizens' Fair Thursday, Oct. 30, with registration beginning at 9:30am at Titus Towers, 800 S. Plain St., Ithaca. Seniors, agency representatives and interested community members are invited to attend. The public hearing is a chance for people to tell the Office for the Aging about any issues or concerns they have about services for seniors in Tompkins County, and to give comment on the proposed plan of work for 2009.
Following the Public Hearing, a Senior Citizens' Fair is planned, including presentations on Tai Chi for Arthritis, Medicare Advantage Plans, and Brain Aerobics. Also, the “Please Try It” display of handy adaptive equipment will be available. At noon, Foodnet will serve lunch to all Senior Fair attendees. The Fair is free and open to Tompkins County seniors; however, seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Please call Danielle Conte at the Office for the Aging, 274-5490 to RSVP.
Farm bureau sponsors scholarships
The New York Farm Bureau is encouraging high school seniors who have been involved with agriculture and plan on continuing studies in this field to apply for the New York Farm Bureau Agricultural Youth Scholarship sponsored by the New York Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee. Scholarship awards are $1,500 for first place $1,200 for second and $1,000 for third place. The first place winner will be invited to present their essay at the annual Spring Conference.
Students applying must have a family Farm Bureau membership or a Student Farm Bureau membership (a membership application may be included with scholarship enclosures). Students are required to submit a brief essay answering the question, “If you had the power to change something in your community or on your farm, what would you change and why?”
The application submission deadline is Friday, Nov. 21. To nominate someone for the scholarship or to request an application, call (800) 342-4143 dmCQ or visit www.nyfb.org.
Homeowners can apply for property tax rebates with state
Property tax rebates will be mailed out beginning this month and into October, and Senator James L. Seward, R-Oneonta, urges area homeowners who didn't receive checks last year to apply this year.
Applicants may apply online at www.nystax.gov.
Those who applied and received last year's rebates and whose property information has remained the same in 2008 do not need to reapply. Checks will be issued automatically.
Property owners who did not apply in 2007 and those whose information has changed during the year must apply. Applications will be mailed these homeowners or they can apply online.
Eligible senior citizens will receive their checks automatically.
Those applying this year must do so by Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Applications for Small Comforts accepted through December
The Small Comforts Foundation is accepting applications for the Fall 2008 Gifts and Assistance Program. Any resident of Tompkins County or their families may apply to Small Comforts for an item that would raise the morale and quality of life for a person living with chronic illness. The value of the item should not exceed $250. Examples of previous gifts awarded to recipients are Rollator walkers, hearing devices, air conditioners, mattresses, washing machines, wheelchairs and various personal care items.
Applications may be downloaded at www.smallcomforts.org or obtained by calling Candy Cima at 257-6059.All applications must be postmarked by Dec. 31 and recipients will be notified by Feb. 1, 2009.
Free Clinic partners with students, faculty of IC
To help the Ithaca Free Clinic facilitate health care to uninsured residents of Tompkins County, occupational therapy students and faculty from Ithaca College are providing their services to IFC clients. The new partnership began this fall.
The services will include:
* range of motion exercises to increase functional abilities,
* creating customized splints,
* engaging clients in meaningful activities (cooking, home management, self care, leisure),
* education in compensatory strategies to help people participate in daily activities (adaptive equipment, energy conservation strategies, joint protection techniques, body mechanics),
* community re-entry skills such as seeking employment, managing a bus schedule, grocery shopping, and budgeting.
The occupational therapy program in the college's School of Health Sciences and Human Performance is a five-year program leading to a bachelor's degree in Occupational Science and a master's degree in Occupational Therapy.
Since opening at 225 S. Fulton St. in 2006, the Ithaca Free Clinic has been offering conventional medical and chiropractic care, nutritional counseling, and holistic treatments such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and massage therapy. These services are free to residents of Tompkins County without medical insurance.
Tops to sell E-Z Pass
Tops Friendly Markets will start distributing New York State Thruway E-Z Pass tags through the E-ZPass On-the-Go program, the Thruway Authority announced.
As an approved retailer, Tops will be selling E-ZPass On-the-Go tags at more than 70 of its supermarkets in New York State.
Upon purchasing an On-the-Go tag, customers will receive the full $25 towards their E-ZPass account. E-ZPass provides a savings of 5 percent off the cash rate on all Thruway tolls for passenger vehicles. On-the-Go tags are only available for passenger vehicle use. Customers must register the On-the-Go tag within the first 48 hours of using the tag.
Customers with E-ZPass are reminded that in addition to receiving a 5 percent discount on tolls, they can also sign up for a number of E-ZPass commuter discount plans. Additional information about all of the E-ZPass Discount Plans is available online at www.thruway.state.ny.us/ezpass/discount.html.
Youth bureau employment service has teen workers
Those in need of help with yard work, baby sitting or other jobs may contact the Youth Employment Service at 273-8364.A program of the Ithaca Youth Bureau, YES is a referral network which can be useful for businesses or local residents with part-time work or one-time projects. YES has a pool of Teen Members who are ready to work after school and on the weekends.
Child Health Plus expands with lowered rates
Effective Sept. 1, children in families with annual incomes up to $70,000 for a family of three or $84,000 for family of four are eligible to obtain subsidized coverage under New York's Child Health Plus insurance program.
Child Health Plus provides free or reduced cost health insurance for uninsured children up to age 19. Families should not drop existing coverage for their children in order to enroll in Child Health Plus. Families who drop employer-sponsored coverage in order to sign up for Child Health Plus will be subject to a six-month waiting period. There are some exceptions to the waiting period.
How much a family pays for insurance through Child Health Plus depends on their income and the number of people in their household. The health insurance is free for children in families with lowest incomes. Other families pay a monthly premium ranging from $9 - $40 per child per month, depending on income. Families whose incomes exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($70,000 for a family of three; $84,000 for a family of four) can still buy in to Child Health Plus by paying the full monthly premium of $138 or $179, which is still more affordable than many insurance plans available on the private market.
For information about what premium that rate your family may qualify for and how to enroll in Child Health Plus locally, contact the Get Covered Info Line at 272-9331.
Community Police Board open to new members
Ithaca's Community Police Board is seeking new volunteer members.
The board began a decade or more ago to establish a review system of the police force. It started with board members taking complaints about officers' actions and reactions in interchanges with citizens, but has grown to include compliments and commendations, too.
Ithacans who have lived in the city at least two years are eligible to join. The board needs four adults and one youth 16-18 years old.
For an application, call 275- 0799 or go to the City Clerk's office at City Hall, 108 E. Green St.
Support group for abused girls formed
CASA, a support group for teenage girls age 13-18 who have experienced child sexual abuse, sexual assault, dating violence, or other abuse in their lives, is welcoming new members. The group is appropriate whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, by an adult or a peer. CASA is a joint project of the Advocacy Center and Family and Children's Services. For more information about CASA call Bonni Georgia at 277-3203or Pat Karr Segal at 273-7495.
Program assists in food stamp application
The Nutrition Outreach and Education Program at Catholic Charities has been selected as the community partner with Tompkins County Department of Social Services to implement the food stamp online application (e-app) pilot project. To find out if you might be eligible for Food Stamps, call Ellin Corrigan, program coordinator, at 272-5062, ext. 21.
City has mini-grants for bike racks
To encourage property owners to provide new, or improved, bicycle parking facilities, the City of Ithaca's Engineering Office is awarding five mini-grants of $200 each to help offset the purchase price of bicycle racks. The first five successful applicants will receive the grants.
Criteria:
The bicycle rack(s) must be available to the general public, be installed on public (City of Ithaca) property, and must be in a convenient and highly visible location.
The bicycle rack(s) should be of the “inverted-U” design, though other designs (especially artistic designs) may be considered. Racks should support the bicycle frame in more than one location. Racks that support bicycles by the wheel, rather than the frame, will not be permitted.
The location of the bicycle parking area(s) may not encroach into pedestrian, bicycle, or motor vehicle travel ways.
For additional program details or to request an application, contact Kent Johnson at 274-6528 or at kjohnson@cityofithaca.org. Printed copies of the grant applications may be picked up in the City of Ithaca Engineering Office at City Hall, Room 202, 108 E. Green St.
Schools continue sneaker recycling
The Recycle Sneaker Initiative continues in the Lansing schools. Sneakers can be dropped at any of the schools or in the foyer of the Recreation Department. Simply make sure that sneakers are dry with no metal. The first drop off after four weeks of collection netted about 60 pair. Check out the surfaces in Myers Park to see recycled sneakers in action.
Floating Classroom seeks presenters
The Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom Project is planning a series of public eco-cruises, to be offered on weekend afternoons this fall. Each cruise will feature ecological monitoring activities, in combination with an interactive presentation exploring artistic, historical, cultural or scientific aspects of our relationship with Cayuga Lake.
The Floating Classroom is seeking presenters for these cruises, who may wish to share their mission, work and interests, as they pertain to Cayuga Lake and the sustainability of our natural resources. The two-hour cruises will be offered to adults and families with school-age children, with support from the Park Foundation.
Interested individuals should direct inquiries and brief descriptions of their presentation idea to Bill Foster, floatingclassroom@cayugawatershed.org, or call 272-7256.
Homebuilders group begins 10-part training
Over the course of the 2008-09 season, the Homebuilders' Lunch will present the International Codes Council 10-part training series for the 2006 International Residential Code. Each part includes a DVD presentation, discussion and exercises. One part will be presented at each meeting at the Ramada Inn, 2310 N. Triphammer Road. The lunch program is free and open to the public; there is a $12 charge for those having the buffet. To reserve a space, contact Ben Curtis at 257-8363.
Updated gas leasing information sheet available digitally
A newly updated, 10-page information sheet “Gas Exploration and Leasing on Private Land: Tips and Guidance for New York Landowners” is available as a PDF on the Tompkins County Cooperative Extension Web site, www.ccetompkins.org.
The sheet outlines what the gas resource is, why landowners may be contacted, how a gas lease works and what to consider when making decisions about gas leasing.
A DVD of a workshop on Natural Gas Exploration and Leasing is available for loan or purchase. For more information about the DVD, contact Debbie Teeter at 272-2292or e-mail dlt22@cornell.edu.
Volunteers needed to help homebound senior citizens
The Tompkins County Office for the Aging is seeking volunteers to assist homebound senior citizens through the Project CARE Program.
Volunteers typically visit an individual once a week for about one to two hours, depending on need.
Needs may include companionship, assistance with laundry or light housekeeping, errands, grocery shopping, light yard work or respite for a caregiver. Respite might involve staying with the senior so the caregiver might go out or have some time off.
Volunteers should be good listeners and enjoy the company of seniors.
For more information, contact Trina Schickel at the Office for the Aging at 274-5491.
Lifelong to feature Scottish dancing Tuesday nights
Following a summer sabbatical, the Ithaca Scottish dancers plan to return to dancing in Ithaca.
There will be reels, jigs and strathspeys from 7:30-9:30 p.m. every first, third and fifth Tuesday at Lifelong on Court St. Admission costs $3.
All dances are taught, and beginners are welcome. Partners are not required, but soft shoes are.
Advisory committee for T-burg schools needs members
The Citizens Advisory Committee of the Trumansburg Central School District is seeking district community members to serve.
The district superintendent appoints volunteers, who serve in an advisory capacity only. The group meets with the superintendent approximately once a month with the goal of improving communications between the public and the district.
Community members who have an interest in learning more about school operations and funding and who desire to contribute to the successful education of our children should contact Superintendent Paula Hurley at 387-7441 ext. 421or PHurley@tburg.k12.ny.us. For more information, contact co-chairpersons, Ron Mac Lean at gayleron@twcny.rr.com or Mary Newhart at mjn3@cornell.edu.
Thrift shop hours are Tuesdays, Saturdays
The J-Ville Jazzy Jumble Thrift Shop, located in the Jacksonville Church on Route 96, will be open from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
All are welcome to visit and see all the good used items and clean used clothing the shop offers at reasonable prices.
Energy saving tips from NYSEG
NYSEG and RG&E are advising customers to use energy wisely to help manage electricity bills and minimize the stress of high demand for power that is put on electricity delivery systems. The companies recommend these energy saving tips:
* Keep curtains and blinds closed on hot, sunny days.
* During the hottest parts of the day close curtains and doors to keep out heat.
* Considering using fans (not air conditioners).
* When using air conditioners keep the thermostat at 78 degrees or higher.
* Turn off air conditioners when leaving the house.
* Turn off unused lights, TVs, computers and stereos
* Avoid cooking or baking during the hottest parts of the day.
* Hang laundry outside to dry (when the weather permits).
For more information visit www.nyseg.com or www.rge.com.
Town recruits for Planning Board
The Town of Ithaca has a vacancy on the Planning Board and is recruiting to fill the position.
Interested applicants must be town residents and have an active interest in participating in the town's planning process. Some knowledge of the application of municipal law or other rules and regulation is helpful, but not required.
The Planning Board consists of seven members appointed for seven year terms. The Planning Board reviews land use and development issues, approves subdivisions, site plans, and special requests.
Planning Board meetings are generally held at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of the month. Those interested should send a letter of interest to the Town of Ithaca, Town Clerk, 215 N. Tioga St., Ithaca, NY 14850 or visit www.town.ithaca.ny.us.
RSVP seeks seniors to volunteer
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Tompkins County (RSVP) is seeking senior volunteers to contribute their time and talents to not-for-profit agencies in Tompkins County.
RSVP helps volunteers identify service opportunities in more than 100 agencies. The agencies have a wide variety of needs from health insurance counselors to clerical assistance to food pantries to caring for abandoned animals to driving.
RSVP will match volunteers to opportunities of their skills and interests. RSVP is a federal program offering their service to individuals age 55 and older. For more information, call 273-1511 and ask for the RSVP office.
Lab of Ornithology seeks urban bird watchers
The public is invited to join the free, year-round “Celebrate Urban Birds” citizen science project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
People of all ages and backgrounds participate in Celebrate Urban Birds through gardening, cultural activities and citizen-science. For the citizen-science part of the project, participants watch city birds for 10 minutes, check off 15 target species of birds, and send the information through the mail or the Internet to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Once enough data are gathered, scientists hope to learn more about how birds survive in cities and how they use urban green spaces such as parks, rooftop gardens, and even potted plants on balconies for food, resting sites, and shelter.
Individuals can participate on their own or through public events organized by local groups.
While supplies last, everyone who signs up will receive a Celebrate Urban Birds kit in English and Spanish with two colorful urban birds posters, educational materials about birds and urban greening, a data form, and a packet of sunflower seeds to plant in pots and gardens. More than 60,000 free kits have been distributed. For more information visit the Lab's Web site, www.birds.cornell.edu.
Tompkins Red Cross offers online CPR, First Aid classes
The Tompkins County Red Cross is offering online training in CPR and First Aid.
This computer-based training releases those interested from the classroom and offers a chance to learn lifesaving skills at one's own pace, with classes accessible any time of the day. The course will require a short classroom skill session for certification and is regularly scheduled during the week and weekends.
To sign up, visit www.tompkins-redcross.org or call 273-1900, ext 14.
Program offers free on-site voter registration to area groups
The Finger Lakes Independence Center's Voter Registration Outreach Program is offering free, on-site voter registration services to area not-for-profit organizations, schools and community groups.
Thanks to the Tompkins County Board of Elections, the program will provide the registration forms and assist anyone in filling one out. The registration form may be used to register to vote in any county in New York, to change one's name or address, or to enroll in a political party or change enrollment.
To register, a person must be a U.S. citizen. A person must be at least 18 years old by Dec. 31 of the year in which he or she files the registration form. A person must be at least 18 years of age to vote in an election. In addition, a person must not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction. And, a person cannot claim the right to vote elsewhere.
The Voter Registration Outreach Program encourages people to participate in the democratic process and vote. For more information or to schedule an event, contact Teri Reinemann at 272-2433.
Scientific ‘cafes' meet monthly
Ithaca's Science Cabaret was inspired by the Café Scientifique movement, which started in Europe in the late 1990s and has spread rapidly.
Cafés Scientifiques are informal talks in bars, cafes and other public venues that give like-minded people a chance to discuss current and sometimes controversial topics in science. The Ithaca Science Cabaret meets in Ithaca one Tuesday a month at the Lost Dog Cafe on 112 South Cayuga St.
The Cabaret is organized by local professors, graduate students and members of the Ithaca community and is open to everyone. Children are welcome to attend, though not all topics may interest. Bring an appetite for food, drinks and knowledge. For more information e-mail sciencecafe@cornell.edu.
Extension seeks volunteers to teach money management
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County is looking for volunteers to become Money Management Educators and work one-on-one with individuals and families.
Money Management Educators work with people interested in receiving individualized instruction on making the most of their financial resources. Volunteers complete a form and must consent to criminal background screening.
Applications are available at www.ccetompkins.org. For more information, contact Alexis Heath at 272-2292 or e-mail ach95@cornell.edu.
Thrift Shop open on Fridays, Saturdays
The Mecklenburg United Methodist Church, on Turnpike Road in Mecklenburg, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
The store sells clothing, household items, books, puzzles and other personal items.
Crisis service seeks volunteer counselors for hotline
Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service is seeking open-minded, compassionate persons as volunteer Crisisline Counselors. Excellent preparation and training is provided at no cost to develop the skills needed to become an effective counselor.
The Crisisline offers counseling, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to callers who may be dealing with any personal problem, including anxiety, alcohol, family, school, sexuality, loneliness, depression and suicidal thoughts.
Call 272-1505, ext. 10, for more information.
Slaterville fire department needs EMTs, drivers
Slaterville Springs Ambulance and Fire Department in the Town of Caroline is in need of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and drivers.
Training is provided and the commitment is only a couple of days a month. Call Greg or Beth Harrington at 539-7193 for more information.
DEC urges state residents not to move firewood
The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation is continuing the “Don't Move Firewood” campaign that urges campers not to haul firewood from home to help prevent the unintentional spread of tree-killing pests.
Campers should buy firewood from sources near their campsites. New York's forests are under attack from numerous invasive exotic insect pests. The state has experienced chestnut blight, European gypsy moth, Dutch elm disease and beech bark disease, all with devastating results in the past years.
Recently, the DEC has discovered Asian long-horned beetles, hemlock wooly adelgids, pine shoot beetles and sirex wood wasps infesting urban and rural forests and killing thousands of trees.
Book club will focus on caregiving, aging
The Powerful Caregivers Marching Band Book Club invites caregivers to discuss areas of caregiving from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month at the Beechtree Care Center, second floor conference room, 318 S. Albany St.
Fore more information, call Adrienne McNair at 266-0708.
Depression support group meets every Thursday
A depression support group meets from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursdays at the Finger Lakes Independence Center, 215 Fifth St.
The group is free, confidential and organized by people who have personal experience with depression. For information, call Larry Roberts at 272-2433 (v/TTY).
2-1-1 access now available on most cell and cable phones
2-1-1, the easy access number to dial for information and referrals to health, human and governmental services, can be reached through most cell phone providers and on Time Warner Cable phones.
Sprint, Nextel, AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless cell phones can all now dial 2-1-1 and be connected with trained information and referral specialists who can help callers locate essential community services.
Anyone can also dial (877) 211-8667 if 2-1-1 doesn't work from their phone.
The 2-1-1 Finger Lakes Network provides area residents with information on finding health care, services for seniors, programs for people with disabilities, mental health services, legal assistance, addiction treatment, employment, transportation, day care and other community services.
Donate unused cell phones for soldiers to use
Cell phones for Soldiers and the Pak Mail Center at 907 Hanshaw Road invite the public to support the 150,000 men and women serving overseas by donating their unused cell phones.
Cell Phones for Soldiers recycles the phones and the proceeds are used to buy prepaid calling cards sent to soldiers to keep troops connected with their families.
For more information regarding the Cell Phones for Soldiers program visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.
Weatherization program available for seniors with limited income
The Weatherization Referral and Assistance Program of the Tompkins County Office for the Aging helps senior citizens with energy related problems and home repairs. The program assists income eligible seniors in making energy efficient modifications to their homes.
The WRAP representative at the Tompkins County Office for the Aging can discuss and assess weatherization needs, and help develop a plan to meet those needs. Anyone who is age 60 and older, a full-time County resident, and of limited income are eligible of qualifying for the WRAP program. The income guidelines follow those of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). For further details contact Gladys Brangman at the Tompkins County Office for the Aging 274-5487.
Advocacy Center offers support group for women
The Advocacy Center is offering a free ongoing support group for adult women who have experienced abuse. Women who have experienced sexual violence or abuse in a relationship will find a safe and supportive place to talk with others who have had similar experiences. To schedule an intake call the Advocacy Center at 277-3203.
Gadabout seeks new volunteer drivers
Gadabout Transportation Services is facing a shortage of volunteer drivers and is issuing a call to people to volunteer.
Gadabout is a not-for-profit agency that provides door-to-door transportation to people with disabilities and those over age 60 who live in Tompkins County. It relies heavily on volunteer drivers to keep the cost of service affordable.
Gadabout volunteers are asked to drive one morning or afternoon per week, and the agency works with them to accommodate their schedules. Gadabout also provides training and will pay for a volunteer driver's state-mandated CDL Class C license. Volunteers are encouraged to take Gadabout for a “test drive” before making a commitment.
Gadabout provides more than 60,000 one-way rides on an annual basis. Fares remain at $1.50 for one-way trips within the City of Ithaca and $2 for one-way trips across or outside the city limit. The fare has not increased since January 2004, due primarily to Gadabout's commitment to operating on a minimal budget and a reliance on volunteer drivers.
For more information about volunteering with Gadabout, call 273-1878.
Town seeks member for Conservation Board
The nine-member Town of Ithaca Conservation Board is seeking a new member.
The Conservation Board advises both the Town and Planning boards on matters of environmental protection and conservation and reviews development proposals that may affect open space or pose other environmental concerns. Applicants must be Town of Ithaca residents and be interested in playing an active role in the town's planning and advisory process as it relates to environmental protection.
Members serve two-year terms that are renewable. The board usually meets the evening of the first Thursday of every month. Members occasionally meet for site visits and usually contribute to a particular Conservation Board project by working on a committee.
If interested, send a résumé and letter of interest to Karen Billings, Town Clerk, Town of Ithaca, 215 N. Tioga St., Ithaca, NY 14850.
For more information, visit www.town.ithaca.ny.us/cboardi.htm or call 273-1721.
Plumbers/Steamfitters conducting apprentice recruiting
The Plumbers and Steamfitters Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, Local 267, is conducting recruitment through Dec. 1 for six plumber-steamfitter apprentices.
Applications can be obtained from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the first working Monday of each month during the recruitment period at the local, 701 W. State St., Ithaca.
The committee requires that applicants:
* Be at least 18;
* Have a high school or equivalency diploma — transcript or certificate required if selected for the program;
* Live in Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga or Tompkins counties;
* Have reliable transportation to work sites and related instruction classes;
* Sign an affidavit stating they are physically able to do the work;
* Pass a drug test, at the sponsor's expense, at the time of appointment.
For more information, applicants should contact the New York State Department of Labor office nearest their home or the sponsor at 272-8586.
Apprentice programs registered with the Department of Labor must meet standards established by the commissioner. Under state law, sponsors of programs cannot discriminate against applicants because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability or marital status. Women and minorities are encouraged to submit applications for apprenticeship programs. Sponsors of programs are required to adopt affirmative action plans for the recruitment of women and minorities.
Law firm to offer diversity scholarship
The law firm of Harris Beach PLLC, with law offices in Ithaca, has launched an annual diversity scholarship program to take effect in the 2008-2009 school year.
The scholarship provides second-year law school students $7,500 paid directly to the school toward the cost of tuition. Scholarship recipients will be offered an opportunity to participate in the Harris Beach law student summer program and be considered for an offer of employment upon graduation.
Scholarship candidates and recipients must be members of groups traditionally underrepresented in large law firms, and must express a desire to work, live and practice law in New York state.
Founded in 1856, Harris Beach is one of the country's Top 250 law firms as ranked by the “National Law Journal” and has offices throughout New York state.
For more information, visit www.harrisbeach.com.
Sustainable sewing group seeks donations, members
SewGreen, an Ithaca-based organization that encourages reuse and sustainability in sewing and needlecrafts, is accepting donations of clean, folded fabric that is no longer wanted, as well as yarn, sewing notions and sewing machines of any vintage.
The donations will be used in sewing classes and for reuse projects, or will be sold at low cost to help support SewGreen events and outreach. SewGreen also donates materials to other programs that will reuse them.
To donate items or to be added to an e-mail list that announces SewGreen events, contact Wendy Skinner, SewGreen coordinator, at 277-7611.
Low-cost spaying, neutering offered at county SPCA
The Tompkins County SPCA offers low-cost spaying and neutering services.
Participants must be Tompkins County residents and meet income guidelines to be eligible.
Appointments are required and can be arranged by calling 257-1822 ext. 233.
City seeks volunteers for boards, committees
The City of Ithaca is seeking volunteers to participate in a variety of advisory boards and committees.
These include: Board of Public Works, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council, Board of Zoning Appeals, Cable Access Oversight Committee, Commons Advisory Board, Community Police Board, Conservation Advisory Council, Design Review Board, Disability Advisory Council, Housing Board of Review, Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission, Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency, Parks Commission, Planning and Development Board, Public Art Commission, Rental Housing Advisory Committee, Shade Tree Advisory Committee, Workforce Diversification Advisory Committee, and Youth Bureau Board.
Interested parties can obtain a résumé form by contacting the city clerk's office at 274-6570 or visiting the city Web site at www.cityofithaca.org.
Help offered for seniors needing home repairs
Better Housing for Tompkins County Inc. is taking applications from low-income senior citizen or disabled homeowners who are in need of small repairs.
Repairs often include fixing leaking roofs, making steps secure and adding features that enhance mobility or address accessibility problems.
The homeowner pays for the materials, but labor is provided free of charge to those who qualify. Income guidelines apply.
For details, call Better Housing at 273-2187 or visit www.betterhousingtc.org/bet2_homerepair.html.
Volunteers needed for dispute resolution
The Community Dispute Resolution Center is recruiting volunteers to be trained and certified as mediators for Tompkins County.
Volunteers will use specific skills including active and reflective listening, conversation summaries, and check-ins. Those interested may call the CDRC at 273-9347 or visit www.cdrc.org.
Women's singing circle to be held monthly on first Mondays
Women Singin' at Hospicare, a singing circle, will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month in the Great Room at the Nina K. Miller Hospicare Center, 172 E. King Road.
All women who enjoy singing are welcome. The circle will be led by Jayne Demakos, director of Hospicare's music program. A suggested donation is $3.
Contact Saoirse McClory at smcclory@hospicare.org or call 272-0212 for more information.
Informal cancer group meets monthly at Cayuga Medical
Get-togethers for people affected by cancer will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at Cayuga Medical Center.
People with any type of cancer and at any stage of treatment or recovery are welcome as are their family and friends.
Most sessions will include informal conversation from 4:30-5 p.m. and a presentation beginning at 5. Speakers will be arranged based on the interests of participants, with a particular focus on health and well-being. Possible topics include nutrition, exercise, humor, and spirituality. Although not designed as formal support groups, these get-togethers will provide an opportunity to connect with others in similar situations.
Registration is not required. For more information, contact Bob Riter at 277-0960 or at bob@ibca.net.
Lansing mother forms autism support, education group
Kim Fezza of Lansing, who has a 3-year-old child with Atypical Autism, has formed the Ithaca Autism Coalition and is welcoming new members.
The group is meeting the third Thursday of each month in Room A-14 at T-S-T BOCES, 555 Warren Road.
For more information, call Kim Fezza at 257-3371 or e-mail her at kimfezza@yahoo.com.
Web site connects volunteers with those in need
Volunteertompkins.org connects community members who want to offer their time and skills with local organizations that have a need for volunteers.
At the Web site, prospective volunteers can search the database of organizations seeking volunteers. They can enter a profile of their skills, interests and contact information into a secure database that provides access to community organizations seeking volunteer help.
Individuals can also search for volunteer opportunities on a calendar of events. Through this Web site, organizations provide and update information on what they do and how volunteers can help them achieve their missions.
The Volunteer Tompkins Partnership is a collaborative effort of five organizations that help to coordinate and promote volunteerism in our community.
For more information, contact Information and Referral at 272-9331 or e-mail: info@volunteertompkins.org.
FISH seeking drivers, phone volunteers
“Friends In Service Helping” of Tompkins County is seeking new volunteers for its service providing transportation to medical and dental appointments within the county.
FISH provides rides to clients who are elderly, handicapped and financially needy and have no other means of transportation. The organization frequently serves clients from Longview, Titus Towers, Ellis Hollow Apartments and outlying and remote areas not along bus lines. The main service is to doctors, dentists, the Cayuga Medical Center and various clinics and offices.
Potential drivers should enjoy helping others and meeting strangers, have a clean driving record and be prepared to pay for gas and oil used in connection with their FISH drives. Persons interested in volunteering to drive for FISH should contact the RSVP office at 273-1511.
Financial donations are always welcome and can be sent to F. Elizabeth Phelps, 1028 Ellis Hollow Rd. Apt 232, Ithaca, NY 14850.
Support group available for girls who have experienced abuse
CASA, a support group for teenage girls age 13-18 who have experienced child sexual abuse, sexual assault, dating violence or other abuse in their lives, is welcoming new members.
The group is appropriate whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, by an adult or a peer. CASA is a joint project of the Advocacy Center and Family and Children's Service.
For more information about CASA, call Bonni Georgia at 277-3203.
Cayuga Dog Rescue seeking financial donations
Cayuga Dog Rescue rescues abused, abandoned and stray dogs, and provides full veterinary care and rehabilitation in foster homes while they await adoption.
The organization is looking for financial donations for vet costs, and is also accepting supplies such as dog beds, toys and treats.
Donate online with a credit card at www.cayugadogrescue.org or send checks to Cayuga Dog Rescue, PO Box 722, Ithaca, NY 14851. They will pick up supplies if needed.
For more information, e-mail cayugadogrescue@yahoo.com.
Take precautions to keep pets safe in hot weather
Hot, humid weather can have a detrimental effect on pets, particularly dogs in cars or chained outside. Pets can suffer brain damage, heat stroke or even death.
To protect your pets, the Tompkins County SPCA urges all pet owners to:
* Make sure dogs and other pets have access to shade.
* Make sure there is plenty of cool, fresh water to drink.
* Do not leave older pets, pets with health problems, or short-nosed dogs like pugs outside in the heat.
* Most of all, do not leave your dog unattended in a parked car. Temperatures in a parked car can quickly reach more than 120 degrees, even with the windows partially open.
The following signs are association with heat stress: heavy panting, glazed eyes, vomiting, staggering or unsteady gait, rapid pulse, or deep red/purple tongue. If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, you must lower its body temperature immediately by:
* Getting the animal in the shade and applying cool water (not ice) all over its body.
* Letting the animal drink small amounts of water.
* Contacting your local veterinarian for care and treatment.
If residents see an animal trapped in a hot car, they are asked to call the SPCA at 257-1822.
Contact: dsmiller@ithacajournal.com
