THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

WPCNR LETTER TICKER. October 30. 2022:

November 8, 2022, is a very important Election Day. As president of the League of Women Voters ofWestchester County, I would like to reassure voters that New York State elections are secure and reliable. New York’s election process is administered by a bipartisan team of election workers. Workers representing both major parties oversee ballot counting, a common practice nationwide to provide checks and balances in the election process. Election administrators, board employees, and election inspectors/poll workers are required to be residents of your county. The people who run our elections are not strangers. They are members of our communities – neighbors, friends, and family.

Every step of our election process is monitored and secured from the voter registration process to the post-election audit. The voter registration process in New York State ensures that only those meeting state eligibility requirements are able to vote, and it helps keep track of who has cast a ballot. Registered voters can vote early in person, or on Election Day in person, or by absentee ballot. All absentee ballots must be returned by mail, or in person during early voting or on Election Day at any poll location in our county, or at the Westchester Board of Elections in White Plains. Secured drop boxes are posted at every poll location, and are monitored by trained election inspectors.

Ballots are submitted to election machines that have been pre-approved by the NYS Board of Elections. Each piece of election equipment is tested before being used on election day and all voting machines are barred from connecting to the internet. Finally, all county boards of elections must conduct post-election audits to further verify results.

Whichever way you choose to vote this year, know that by doing so you are making democracy work.

Kathy Meany, President

League of Women Voters of Westchester County

WPCNR CORONA VIRUS Surveillance. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. October 27, 2022:

The Westchester County Department of Health is offering Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for children ages 5-11 starting tomorrow Friday, October 28.

Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD, said: “I encourage parents to schedule their children’s boosters as soon as possible. We anticipate an uptick in COVID-19 cases after Halloween and through the upcoming holidays, just as we experienced the past few years. These boosters will extend your family’s protection against serious COVID-19 symptoms, and help you avoid exposing more vulnerable family and friends.”

Flu season is here, and families can also schedule flu vaccines at the same time at the Health Department Clinic in White Plains.

The Westchester County Health Department will offer both the flu vaccine and pediatric COVID-19 bivalent boosters by appointment, as follows:

·         Fridays, Nov. 3 and 18, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at 134 Court Street, White Plains

·         Thursday, Nov. 3, Yonkers Riverfront Library, 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

·         Monday, Nov. 14, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 134 Court Street, White Plains

·         December Friday appointments will be added later, so please check back.

Amler added: “Combining vaccines is safe and it is more convenient to schedule both at the same time. Children often receive multiple shots at once, and you are much less likely to skip a vaccine if both are given together. Vaccines for flu and COVID-19 offer the best protection we have to fight these diseases, so the sooner you get vaccinated, the better.” 

Go to www.westchestergov.com/health to book your vaccine visit.

In the U.S., flu activity is usually highest between December and February, but can last into May. One flu vaccine now provides protection all season long and can prevent illness or reduce the severity of flu symptoms. The vaccine becomes fully effective after about two weeks.