🌱 East Hampton Daily: Biz Mask Mandate Lift + EH Airport

Happy Thursday, East Hampton! Diane Witek here with everything you need to know around East Hampton today.

First, today's weather:

Turning sunny; breezy. High: 45, low: 33.

Here are the top stories in East Hampton today:

1. Due to a dramatic decline in NYC COVID-19 cases, Gov. Kathy Hochul is lifting the indoor mask mandate for New York businesses. The policy shift comes as New York makes "tremendous progress" in the fight against the coronavirus with sharp drops in new cases, positivity and hospitalizations, the governor said Wednesday. Businesses can still require masking on their own, Hochul said. (Patch)
2. The Shelter Island Reporter stated that the East Hampton Airport is still set to reopen on March 4, despite a warning from the Federal Aviation Administration that the process could take up to two years. “We have relied on FAA oversight at East Hampton Airport as we were required to do for decades. There’s never been a suggestion from the FAA that East Hampton Airport was unsafe, that the airspace is unsafe, that the procedures are unsafe or that the town’s privately contracted air control tower is unsafe. Just the opposite is true,” East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said. (Shelter Island Reporter)
3. Under the recently enacted, Democratic-led redistricting plan, some East End residents will have their New York State representatives replaced next year. Dan's Papers reported, the First Assembly District, which currently covers the South Fork, Shelter Island and stretches west to Shirley, under the revision ends in Westhampton and includes most of the North Fork. The Second Assembly District that has covered the Town of Southold instead stops at the Riverhead town line and pushes south into northern communities in the Town of Southampton. And the First Senate District that covers the entire East End pushes further west to Old Field on the North Shore and shrinks eastward from Bellport to Westhampton on the South Shore — assuming the plan survives legal challenges. (Dan's Papers)
4. In East Hampton we know the name “Ina Garten,” who is also known as the Barefoot Contessa. But there are 10 things I bet most don't know, like her show is not filmed in a studio, Ina Garten never wanted a cooking show and where the name Barefoot Contessa came from. Read on to find other tidbits that you never knew about the Barefoot Contessa. (Taste of Home)

Today's East Hampton Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013)

Today in East Hampton:

• YA Winter Food Drive — East Hampton Library. (All Day)
• Young Adult Winter Reading Challenge. (All Day)
• Totally Tots — East Hampton Library. (9:30 a.m.)
• Staying Safe on Our Streets: East Hampton. (2 p.m.)
• Community Service: Battle of the Books Meeting. (4:30 p.m.)
• Film Shul: "It’s Good to Be Mel Brooks." (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• East Hampton Little League: "Reminder: The deadline is only a few weeks away (Feb. 28). Check if off your 'To Do' List Register now! Go here to register your kids today! You also can register to be a coach or umpire at the same time." (Facebook)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, East Hampton North: "Reopening for the year — Prix fixe menu coming up." (Nextdoor)
• Lisa, Neighbor: "Amagansett Room Rental (one person only). Charming private room in a classic Amagansett farmhouse. Fully furnished bedroom with twin bed, large closet, two windows. Shared bathroom is kept clean with shower. Fully equipped kitchen." (Patch)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services — (Visit website)
• D&J Concepts — (Visit Website)
• White Glove Medicine — (Visit website)
• Add your business here.

Events:

• American Legion Live Music Fundraiser with Butterfly Cody. 51655 Main Road, Southold. (Feb. 11)
• Valentine's Day Dinner at Union Sushi & Steak. Union Sushi & Steak, 40 Bowden Square, Southampton. (Feb. 12)
• Sales & Business Development in the COVID-19 Era. On The Docks, 177 Meeting House Creek Road, Aquebogue. (Feb. 16)
• WEBINAR: Medicare Outlook — What You Need to Know to Enroll. (Feb. 23)
• Add your event.

Job listings:

• Irrigation Positions. (Details)
• Butchers, Store Mgrs., Cooks, Counter help. (Details)
• Add your job listing.

Loving the East Hampton Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe.
• Get your local business listed in front of readers.
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at diane.witek@patch.com.

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday off right! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with another update.

— Diane Witek

About me: Impassioned Writer, Website Designer, Social Media Marketer and newly proclaimed Baker. Lover of nature and animals of all kinds.