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In a letter released to the media this morning, Chemung County Executive Christopher Moss stated that over the weekend, the county received numerous complaints about violations of "New York Forward" protocols. The complaints included violations by restaurants, bars, retail and other businesses as well as residents not wearing masks and more. "While I look forward to the future where we will no longer have to abide by wearing facial coverings and social distancing rules, I would respectfully remind Chemung County residents that we are still experiencing a small COVID-19 infection rate," Moss wrote. "Vaccinations and testing remain a priority, but we still need everyone to remain vigilant on their facial coverings, social distancing, hand washing, etc." "The last thing we want to do is have the Governor's office place additional restrictions on our County," Moss added. As of today Chemung County's rolling average is 1.89%, with seven active cases in the county.

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after entering New York from another U.S. State or U.S. Territory starting April 1st. While no longer required, the NYS Department of Health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution. Mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers. All travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form. Individuals should continue strict adherence to all safety guidelines to stop the spread - wearing masks, socially distancing and avoiding gatherings. "New Yorkers have shown strength and perseverance throughout this entire pandemic, and it shows through the numbers that continue to decrease every day," Governor Cuomo said. "As we work to build our vaccination infrastructure even further and get more shots in arms, we're making significant progress in winning the footrace between the infection rate and the vaccination rate, allowing us to open new sectors of our economy and start our transition to a new normal in a post-pandemic world. As part of that transition, quarantine for domestic travelers is no longer required, but it is still being advised as an added precaution. This is great news, but it is not an all-clear for New Yorkers to let their guard down. To beat this virus once and for all we all must continue doing what we know works to stop the spread, including wearing masks, washing our hands and practicing social distancing." Regardless of quarantine status, all individuals exposed to COVID-19 or returning from travel must: Continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14; Continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face coverings, through Day 14 (even if fully vaccinated); Must immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning will begin March 16, and run through May 14. With spring approaching, DEC is reminding residents that conditions for wildfires are heightened in springtime when most wildfires occur. "While wildfires are more visible in the western part of the country, the start of spring brings an increased risk of wildfires right here in New York," Commissioner Seggos said. "In an effort to protect our communities and natural resources, New York prohibits residential burning for two months starting on March 16, when dry conditions are highest. Help DEC put safety first and continue to reduce the number of wildfires in New York's communities by following the burn ban." Even though some areas of the state remain blanketed in snow, warming temperatures can quickly cause wildfire conditions to arise. DEC will post a Fire Danger Map rating for the 2021 fire season on DEC's website once there is a moderate risk anywhere in the state. Open burning of debris is the largest single cause of spring wildfires in New York State. When temperatures are warmer and the past fall's debris and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily and be further fueled by winds and a lack of green vegetation. In 2020, DEC Forest Rangers extinguished 192 wildfires that burned a total of more than 1,122 acres. In addition, local fire departments, many of which are volunteer, all too often have to leave their jobs and families to respond to wildfires caused by illegal debris fires. New York first enacted strict restrictions on open burning in 2009 to help prevent wildfires and reduce air pollution. The regulations allow residential brush fires in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents during most of the year, but prohibit such burning in spring when most wildfires occur. Campfires using charcoal or untreated wood are allowed, but people should never leave these fires unattended and must extinguish them. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round. For more information about fire safety and prevention, go to DEC's FIREWISE New York website.

Yesterday Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that as the federal vaccine supply continues to increase, New York will establish 10 additional state-run mass vaccination sites in the New York City, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Capital, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley and Western New York regions to further grow New York's vast distribution network. The sites remain in development and are expected to launch in the coming weeks. Final details, including appointment scheduling information and hours of operation will be released in the coming days. "Thanks to increasing vaccine supply from our partners in Washington we can utilize more of our state's capacity to distribute doses, and once they are open, these new sites will allow us to continue to get shots into arms on a large scale," Governor Cuomo said. "We know the vaccine is the weapon that will win this war, but it's only effective if we all take it, which is why we are working around the clock to establish sites like these across the state to reach as many New Yorkers as possible. The more people we vaccinate, the more we can continue our progress in keeping the infection rate at bay, reopening our economy and defeating COVID once and for all." For the Southern Tier, Corning Community College was chosen as the site. The sites remain in development and are expected to launch in the coming weeks. Final details, including appointment scheduling information and hours of operation will be released in the coming days. Once appointments are opened, eligible New Yorkers will be able to schedule appointments by utilizing New York's 'Am I Eligible' website or by calling the state's COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).

Do you enjoy writing and feel like you have something to say? Why not become a contributor to the "Local Writers" section? Since this is an entirely out of pocket venture, our writers volunteer their time and talent and share their perspective with the community. While some columns are collaborative efforts with local organizations and other writers, many are neighbors from right here in the Twin Tiers. We are continually looking for fresh content and new voices on a wide variety of topics. If you have something you want to say and would like to be a part of our local writers group, send your ideas to me at twintiersliving@gmail.com

At the end of another state Covid briefing earlier today, Governor Andrew Cuomo offered an apology to the women who felt uncomfortable, saying it was never his intent. "I want New Yorkers to hear from me directly on this. First, I fully support a woman’s right to come forward. And I think it should be encouraged in every way. I understand that I acted in a a way that made people feel uncomfortable. It was unintentional, and I truly and deeply apologize for it. I feel awful for it, and frankly, I feel embarrassed by it. I never touched anyone inappropriately…. I never touched anyone inappropriately. I never knew at the time that i was making anyone feel uncomfortable. And I certainly never, ever meant to offend anyone or hurt anyone, or cause any one any pain. That is the last thing I would ever want to do." "I ask the people of this state to wait for the facts in the attorney general report before forming an opinion," Cuomo said. "I have learned form what has been an incredibly difficult situation… I’m sorry." When questioned whether the investigation is a distraction from other issues at hand, including the state budget he feels he should step aside, Cuomo told a reporter, “I'm going to cooperate with the AG investigation and do the budget. Addressing the picture that’s been circulating, “I understand the opinion and feelings of Ms. Ruch. You can find hundreds of pictures of me making the same gesture with hundreds of people.” Cuomo went on to explain that such gestures, hugging and kissing people, are not only his way of greeting people, it was also his father’s, former Governor Mario Cuomo. "What I also understand is, it doesn’t matter… if anybody was offended by it, then it was wrong. If they were hurt by it, I apologize. If they felt pain from it, I apologize. I did not intend it, I didn’t mean it that way. But if thats how they felt thats all that matters and I apologize." When asked again about calls for his resignation, Cuomo emphasized he has no intention of resigning. “Im going to do the job the people of the state elected me to do.”

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Barbie Parsons, aka "Barbie the Welder" is a world famous metal sculptor. According to her Wikipedia page, she was inspired to take up welding after seeing a character in the film Cast Away weld wings onto an angel sculpture. Parsons started her career in 2007, saving $1,200 to attend a local BOCES welding program. She was subsequently hired at Cameron Manufacturing and Design, where she worked as a sheet metal fabricator. After working for five years to learn the art of welding and fabrication and earning her Journeyman in sheet metal and iron plate, she quit in September 2014 to work as an independent artist. Barbie has created sculptures for various corporations such as Harley Davidson and has been featured on NBC's "The Today Show". She currently lives in Erin. Check out this interview from 2017:

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Interesting idea for a need vastly overlooked. Read more here.

The Vegetable Soup Collection contains episodes from the eponymous children’s educational television series produced by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) with support from a grant from the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare under the direction of the award-winning producer Yanna Kroyt Brandt. Produced over two seasons and distributed by PBS and NBC from September 22, 1975 to December 14, 1978, the series aimed to oppose racial and cultural stereotypes by exposing children to characters of various backgrounds, ethnicities, races, and cultures. Brandt and her production team geared Vegetable Soup toward children of elementary-school age. Episodes are made up of a mix of live action, cartoon, puppetry, and mixed-media segments. Among the voice actors included in the series are James Earl Jones, who played Long John Spoilsport, and Bette Midler, who played Woody the Spoon. Episodes in the collection are from seasons 1 and 2, and include segments featuring Puerto Rican music and history; “The Big Job Hunt,” a segment in game-show format where two teams of students from schools around the U.S. answer trivia; a puppetry performance of an African folktale; a cartoon rendition of “Kasa-Jizo,” a traditional Japanese folktale; a live-action lesson about girls in sports; and a story about a Hupa girl who educates her non-Indigenous friends about the hurt behind stereotypes. Among the many subjects featured in the collection are race, gender, history, education, folktales, art, music, sports, nature, crafts, and childhood. Locally, the show was shown on WETm weekday mornings through the early 1980's. Collection Background Vegetable Soup was created by the New York State Education Department and distributed by PBS and NBC from 1975 to 1978. Episodes of Vegetable Soupare held by the New York State Archives. Materials were digitized in 2019 and submitted to the American Archive of Public Broadcasting. You can find the collection here, or view the sample below.

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Are you like many other people and thinking about getting some chickens for the backyard? We recommend learning as much as possible before you hear the first peep out of the little balls of fluff. Here's a good video to learn the basics: