Local folk music guitarist, songwriter and vocalist George Bidderman, also known as “George Mann” has been a long-time performer at the Corning Center on East First Street in Corning where he plays his favorite folks songs, from Bob Dylan to Pete Seger, Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez and more. Residents sing along with George and the residents can’t help but smile and sing along each time George visits. The COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020 and 2021 and while the nursing home was shit down, the Recreation Department at Corning Center headed by Megan Wright had George play virtually way to the residents. While it may not be a live show, it wasn’t far from it. Residents were able to watch and hear George via Skype over an iPad that the facility provided to the residents and George never missed a beat. The virtual concerts were like the “up close and personal” shows where the residents felt they were getting their own personal musical performance, but there’s nothing like a real live show and George promised that would happen again after restrictions were lifted. Nevertheless, George was so thankful to Corning Center through the many weeks and months of the pandemic while he was able to continue to play, he decided to donate his guitar on June 2, 2021 to the residents there for them to learn how to play.