DUNDEE--Fred Merwarth, head winemaker and co-owner of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Standing Stone Vineyards has been awarded the Wine Enthusiast magazine Wine Star Award for Winemaker of the Year. The magazine writes of the awards, "This year marks the 22nd anniversary of Wine Enthusiast's annual Wine Star Awards, honoring the individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the wine and alcohol beverage world.

WATKINS GLEN--Unseasonably warm weather may have pushed back the opening of the new Clute Park ice skating rink to Nov. 27, but that has done little to diminish enthusiasm both amongst the public and village officials. Covering about 10,000 square feet of space, the ice rink sits in front of the newly constructed community center where the impressive size of the space is both easily accessible, contains excellent views, and is very noticeable driving by.

PENN YAN--The Yates Community Center is working towards the fundraising goal of $2.2 million for new facilities including an indoor turf facility with enough space to play soccer and lacrosse in the cold months. If constructed, the roughly 9,000 square foot indoor facility would be the first of its kind in Yates County.

WATKINS GLEN--With the new zoning laws now not expected to be put into place until January, the Watkins Glen board of trustees voted to amend the current zoning laws Tuesday, Nov. 16. At issue was a section of the zoning law Mayor Luke Leszyk said was preventing a project from going forward that would be allowed under the new laws.

ALBANY (AP)--New York is continuing to see an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in November as the holiday season approaches, according to the latest state data released Saturday. Nearly 6,100 people a day are now testing positive for COVID-19 in New York -- up 22 percent from roughly 5,000 for the seven days through Nov. 11. That's the highest seven-day average since mid-April.

FINGER LAKES--As New Yorkers emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, residents are looking forward to gathering with their friends and families again. With Thanksgiving upon us, the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY) is urging everyone to follow basic cooking safety tips in order to keep everyone safe.

ALBANY--Joined by senators from around the state, State Senator Tom O'Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) announced the induction of 100-year-old Richard T. "Dick" Gillespie of Penn Yan and a veteran of World War II, into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame during a virtual ceremony on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11. Gillespie, who was the selection for the 58th Senate District, was one of 60 veterans throughout the state to be inducted into the hall of fame this year, the second year in a row that it was held virtually due to the COVID pandemic.

YATES COUNTY--At the Monday, Nov. 8 meeting of the Yates County Legislature, Sara Christensen was unanimously appointed as the next Director of Public Health for Yates County. Christensen's appointment comes after the former Director of Public Health, Annmarie Flanagan resigned, effective Oct. 31. The recommendation to authorize the appointment of Christensen was made to the legislature as soon as Flanagan's resignation letter was presented. The county then received approval for a conditional appointment from the state commissioner of health.

CORNING--Members of the Senate and Assembly Republican conferences held a listening session with stakeholders across various industries Monday, Nov. 15. The discussion surrounded the potential impacts of the Climate and Community Investment Act (CCIA), a proposal currently being advanced in Albany that has the potential to increase the costs of using fossil fuels. In a media release, the politicians said the measure could raise the cost of gas by as much as 55 cents per gallon and increase home heating costs by more than 25 percent. The event was the fourth such listening session, following other forums in Albany, Buffalo, and Long Island.

WATKINS GLEN--During a brief meeting of the Watkins Glen board of trustees, Nov. 2, the board unanimously approved a Request For Qualification to survey the campground at Clute Park for potential expansion projects. Deputy Mayor Louis Perazzini said the village is interested in getting a survey done of the campground area as soon as possible to help expedite current and future projects.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Over an 11-hour interview with investigators last July, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo defiantly denied allegations he sexually harassed women and sparred with the lawyers questioning him, accusing one of being out to get him, according to a transcript released last Wednesday.

SCHUYLER COUNTY--The unofficial election results for races across Schuyler County on Nov. 2 have been released and for the first time in 16 years a new sheriff will lead the Schuyler County Sheriff's Department. Kevin Rumsey won the race 2,843-1,789. Rumsey, a Republican and Conservative on the ticket, is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps who has been working for the Schuyler County Sheriff's Department since 2005. He defeated Undersheriff Breck Spaulding.

SCHUYLER COUNTY--Following a public hearing and the last budget presentation from retiring County Administrator Tim O'Hearn, the Schuyler Legislature unanimously passed the $55 million budget during the Monday, Nov. 8 legislative meeting. Prior to the meeting, O'Hearn took time to single out the contributions of county department heads and legislative assistants in constructing the budget.

STARKEY--The Starkey town board has decided not to move forward with the final draft of a proposed local law on wastewater that would have impacted residents who use a septic system at their property. In a letter to the town, it explained the adoption of the law would not move forward and a public hearing scheduled for last week was canceled.

SCHUYLER COUNTY--After some back and forth with County Attorney Steven Getman, Monday, Nov. 8, the Schuyler County Legislature will wait to pass a measure asking the state to reconsider the recently announced upcoming closures of Southport Correctional Facility in Chemung County, and the Willard Drug Treatment Campus in Seneca County. Legislator Phil Barnes, who initially brought up the matter, said he wanted a strong response from the legislature and multiple legislators indicated they would be willing to vote. In the end, Getman convinced the body to let him work on their response.

ALBANY (AP) -- A prosecutor investigating accusations that former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo groped a woman asked a judge for more time to evaluate the evidence, saying the criminal complaint filed last week by the local sheriff was "potentially defective," according to a letter released Friday. The request from Albany County District Attorney David Soares throws the high-profile case into further turmoil a week after Cuomo was charged with committing a misdemeanor sex crime.

PENN YAN--The Penn Yan Academy Drama Club will stage its fall production of "She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition" by Qui Nguyen from Nov. 5-7. It is 1995, and Agnes Evans (sophomore Addyson Webber) is a high school senior who is, as described by the play's narrator (junior Vanessa Martinez), "engrossed with transcending her seemingly permanent state of averageness."

YATES COUNTY--Yates County Administrator and Treasurer Nonie Flynn has presented a proposed 2022 budget with a tax levy of $16,519,672 resulting in a tax rate decrease of $0.39 per thousand of assessed value. Despite issues created by the COVID pandemic that have affected the region for well over a year, Flynn said this year's budgetary process went smoothly.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Watkins Glen, Odessa-Montour, Penn Yan, Dundee and Hammondsport. These results appeared in the Nov. 10 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the Nov. 3 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the Oct. 27 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the Oct. 20 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the Oct. 13 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the Oct. 6 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the Sept. 29 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the Sept. 22 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the Sept. 15 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Dundee, Penn Yan, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the Sept. 8 newspapers.

WATKINS GLEN (AP) -- Kyle Larson took another step toward a regular-season NASCAR Cup title. Chase Elliott lamented a race that he let get away. Larson gained the lead from Martin Truex Jr. during green flag pit stops in the final stage Sunday, built a big lead and kept his hard-charging Hendrick Motorsports teammate at bay over the final laps to win at Watkins Glen International.

FINGER LAKES--The United Southern Tier Aquatics team have won a 2021 AAU National Champions after they beat out Team Florida and Team New England at the Junior Olympic Championships in Houston, Texas. The margin of victory was by less than 150 with the team consisting of swimmers from Watkins Glen to Syracuse.

WATKINS GLEN--After a regularly scheduled two-week break in the season schedule, NASCAR is now ready to take on the twists and turns of the road course at Watkins Glen International. The racing weekend will get underway on Friday, Aug. 6 and continue through Sunday, Aug. 8 with the running of the 90-lap Go Bowling at The Glen.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Penn Yan and Hammondsport. These results appeared in the June 23 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the June 16 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the June 9 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Watkins Glen, Odessa-Montour, Penn Yan, Dundee and Hammondsport. These results appeared in the June 2 newspapers.

FINGER LAKES--Please click the 'Read More...' link to see the weekly sports results for Penn Yan, Dundee, Hammondsport, Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour. These results appeared in the May 26 newspapers.