HELOISE Campus police and Web site offer many safety tips

Dear Heloise: I read your column on Aug. 16 about sending your student to college safely. As an additional and easy suggestion, parents and students should feel free to contact their university or college police department by phone and ask for information about safety issues. Also, they should take time to visit that agency's Web site. Ours, for example, is located at http://Police.-calpoly.edu and includes many safety tips for home and campus.
The vast majority of these police departments are certified by the state and include trained and experienced peace officers, 911 systems and all of the other resources one might expect in an active community.
These police agencies focus heavily on crime prevention, safety enhancement and other related community-policing approaches. Safety presentations for students, parents, faculty and staff are frequently provided throughout the year.
In any case, access to student safety pointers is as simple as a phone call, visiting the campus police agency's Web site and attending any number of safety programs. Many thanks for helping us keep people informed and safe. Tony Aeilts, Chief of Police, California State University Police Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
FAST FACTS
Here are some other uses for clothespins, sent in by Cheryl Hepler, via e-mail:
UPin millet or spinach on the side of a bird cage.
UHold curtains open on a breezy day with the windows opened wide.
UMark a book page.
UHold recipes.
USpray-paint the pins to hold Christmas cards on a cord.
Dear Heloise: You can make interesting mobiles or wind chimes using old keys hung with fishing-line filament. Other items that can be used are gears from old windup alarm clocks, old odd pieces of flatware, small machine parts and pieces of colored glass. You are limited only by your imagination!
I have several on my patio and love listening to them tinkling in the breeze. Kirk, Nashville, Tenn.
Dear Heloise: I had five bags of packing peanuts (I think they multiply when I am not looking) and didn't want to put them in the trash. I stopped at a store near me that does shipping and mailing -- the people there were glad to have them. Connie Ridlon, Hillsborough, N.J.
You can also call (800) 828-2214 to find all stores in your area that accept packaging peanuts. Have a pen and paper ready! Heloise
Dear Heloise: My greatest pet peeve is when you get the newspaper and read the sale ads, then go to the store the same day or the day after, only to be told they are sold out. How can they sell out the same day or the day after if they have an ample supply? Stores should make sure they have ample supplies of merchandise before they advertise them on sale. And with the price of gas now, wild goose chases are a thing of the past. Patricia Fuller, via e-mail
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate