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Lansing's Advice Column

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Dear IMO,

All of my children are computer savvy. I guess they spend about 2-3 hours a day on line. I monitor their activity walking by the computer from time to time, but I'm worried about their safety. Should I be worried? I have heard about the threats that exist, but what can I do to insure their safety and allow them to enjoy their computer time?

Thanks,

Shelia

Pet of the Week Hey there my name is Nicky. I am a gray and white neutered male cat. I am also declawed so I won't shred your furniture and demolish your favorite pillows! My adoption fee has already been paid so all you have to do is bring me home! I am a great cat who needs a great home so come and visit me at the SPCA today!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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Just a day after Hurricane Ike hit Texas, over 3,000 American Red Cross disaster relief workers from all over the country had moved into the impacted areas and were ready to help.  More than 16,000 victims have found protection in 162 different Red Cross shelters across Texas.  One million ready-to-eat meals have been distributed, and 25 kitchens are serving 300,000 meals per day to these affected Hurricane Ike individuals.

To date, five members from the Tompkins County Chapter have been deployed to Texas, two volunteers and three staff members. They landed in the Dallas-Forth Worth area and were assigned from there. They will be in the area for three weeks helping the hurricane victims in various capacities. Staff members are reporting that they are working long hours in areas without electricity or cell phone coverage counseling people who have lost everything in the hurricanes.

Tompkins County is being honored as the nation’s first-ever Go Green County of the Year,  in recognition of the Solid Waste Management Division’s innovation and success with its Go Green Initiative program through area schools.  The award will be presented October 18 at a Go Green summit in Syracuse.

The  local Go Green Initiative (GGI) program, adapting principles of the national GGI movement, was initiated by the Solid Waste Management Division a few years ago.  The program unites parents, students, teachers, staff and  administrators to create a culture of environmental responsibility in schools throughout Tompkins County.

Ithaca, NY- United Way of Tompkins County announced that grant funds totaling $82,850 are available to support current work in the targeted impact area of Hunger and Food Security and the investment in efforts to promote continuous improvement in community conditions. The results of the grant-awarded programs combined with the strength of our local community as demonstrated on the successful Stephen E. Garner Day of Caring, will achieve greater community impact.

Hunger and Food Security Fund, $33,000 Available
United Way of Tompkins County continues to document an increased demand for food and personal care items and is focusing its efforts on addressing the many complex food and hunger issues. UWTC is working with community nonprofits to support programming to make an impact to improve the quality of life of area residents. All local nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for Hunger and Food Security Funds.

This week the Tompkins County Democrats kicked off an aggressive campaign to get local Democrats jazzed about working to get their candidates elected.  Sunday afternoon the Democratic Club of Tompkins County held a candidate meet and greet event at Common Ground Coffee Shop in Ithaca.  Later in the day more than Democrats came to Stewart Park for the 20th annual 'Meet the Candidates' barbecue.  On Tuesday they held a grand opening of their new Cayuga Street headquarters. 

At the Stewart Park event Tompkins County Democratic Comittee Chairwoman Irene Stein listed a number of candidates in local races around the county.  But the headliners of the day were running in national and state elections.  While New York Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith had to beg off because of unforeseen events, U.S. Congressmen Maurice Hinchey and Michael Arcuri, State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, and State Senate candidates Don Barber and Paloma Capanna all showed up to speak, as well as Tompkins County Obama Campaign chairman Brian Hunt.

Pet of the Week Hey there my name is Mistletoe. I am a female brown tabby who needs a loving home. I am a great cat who needs great owners so come and visit me at the SPCA today!

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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It's a Girl!    Janeaya Trinity Shelis Craig
Born Sept. 8, 2008
7.8 oz - 18" long

We wish you every blessing!

Pet of the Week Hey there my name is Halona. I am an adult female gray and white cat. I need a great home with people who will take good care of me, so please come and visit me at the SPCA today.

Visit the SPCA Web Page

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When 22,000 people descended on Saint Paul, Minnesota for the Republican National Convention last week Lansing's Richard Thaler was among them as a member of the New York delegation.  This was Thaler's third convention, and he says this one was unique in several ways.  "I found that the access to people was better than at the two other conventions that I'd gone to," he says.  "Maybe it's because I'm older, or maybe it was because the organization was compacted."

Thaler went early because he was on some of the organizational committees.  With Hurricane Gustav threatening the gulf coast that meant that he and other planners had to be nimble.  "It wasn't until Sunday that the determination was made that they were going to call off the first day of the convention," he says.  "We then went back into committees and tried to revamp.  Fortunately for the country and the people down in Mississippi and Louisiana and Texas and Florida the hurricane wasn't as bad as they anticipated, although it did do damage."

Ask IMOAsk IMO

Lansing's Advice Column

Email your questions to IMO at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dear IMO,

I am currently employed, but I am actively searching for a job. In fact, I have had my first interview with the company that I hope will hire me. It went very well, and I was told by the individual leading the interview that I was a "very strong candidate" and would be invited to the next round? How should I handle things back at work? Do I tell my boss? Do I let others know?

Thanks,
Lynda

At least 140 people came to All Saints Catholic Church Saturday to see Father Greg Schaffer talk about the San Lucas Mission he heads in Guatemala.  The Lansing Youth Mission, which includes young people from All Saints and Lansing United Methodist Church, has been going to the San Lucas mission for a dozen years.  The event raised more than $780, which was given to Schaffer to support the mission.  In addition the Youth Mission presented him with a check for $6,000.

"You have a number of families in the community that have been affected and drawn to this," says the program head Steve Palladino.  "There have been over 50 different families from Lansing and Cornell who have gone and who are constantly reaching out to make people aware of the mission and its needs and people.  Most of the people that have traveled there have at least heard Father talk there.  Once you have experienced that, and when people heard that he was coming they wanted to rekindle something that was dear to them."