Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

I'm often asked what my favorite travel destination is, and that is certainly a hard question to answer. The Italian island of Sicily is always at the top of my response, and more times than not, I always get a blank stare, especially from those who have watched too many "Godfather" movies over the years.

With a history that spans millennia, Sicilys astonishingly preserved ruins from antiquity, breathtaking landscapes and beaches, ancient cities and charming towns, a warm and gracious population, and incomparable wine and cuisine are just a few of the reasons it is among the top of my favorites list.

Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

Most travelers to Sicily either begin or end their tour in the ancient city of Palermo, the region's capital founded in 736 BC. Blessed by a perfect climate, an amazing number of ancient and historical buildings, renowned gastronomy and restaurants, a vibrant nightlife as well as an international airport, Palermo has become one of the top tourist destinations in Italy and Europe.

This photo was captured from the top of Monte Caputo in Monreale, overlooking the fertile valley below.

Photo courtesy of Tony DiBona

Speaking of Monreale, you definitely want to include a visit to this historic site during your stay in Palermo. While the towns charming streets and squares are picturesque enough, its claim to glory is its 12th century Norman-Byzantine cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Without exaggeration, the moment you walk through the portals (there is no entrance charge), you will be dazzled by the golden mosaics that line every inch of the walls of the cathedral. It ranks among the worlds most famous cathedrals for these exceptional adornments.

Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

As you stroll through the cities and villages of Sicily, you may wonder at the colorful carts you see on the streets, many of them still pulled by donkeys or mules. These hand-painted carts were introduced to the island by the ancient Greeks, and portray scenes from Sicilian history and folklore as well as geometrical designs.

If you're lucky enough to be in Sicily during a religious holiday, you'll be sure to see these carts in a procession. Otherwise, you can visit many museums in Sicily during your travels that display this art form, which has been carried down through the centuries.

Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

Italy is known for its flair for fashion, and its island of Sicily is no exception. Youll find a wide variety of shopping options across the island, from high-end boutiques featuring international designer items to local shops offering quite a variety of Italian-made clothing.

Dont forget the local markets along your travels, where you'll be sure to find souvenirs to bring home at bargain prices.

Tip: If you love 100% linen, this is the place to buy it!

Photo courtesy of Tony DiBona

If you're a lover of seafood, youll certainly be in culinary heaven during your travels through Sicily. From the best swordfish you'll ever taste in your life, to exquisite shrimp that are harvested in the deepest depths of the sea, to fresh-caught tuna that melts in your mouth, there's no shortage of delightful eats.

Vegans and carnivores neednt worry either. You can easily find a restaurant or market that offers vegetarian and vegan items, as well as delicious meat entrees, that will more than satisfy any discerning palate.

Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

The island of Sicily, due to its strategic location, was occupied by many diverse civilizations over the millennia and monuments to these cultures pepper the landscape of the entire island. Ironically, some of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world can be found in Sicily.

You can marvel at seven monumental 5th century BC Greek temples in the Valley of the Temples within the city of Agrigento, and also explore the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Selinunte.

Our favorite is the temple and theater of Segesta, one of the worlds best examples of Doric architecture, serenely nestled in the rolling countryside in the western tip of Sicily.

Photo courtesy of Tony DiBona

The best way to explore and savor Sicily is by car, and it's definitely a road trip you will never forget. You can circumnavigate the 900 miles around the island in a few days, to be sure, but youll want to take 7 days or more to truly soak in not only the historic highlights, but the life of its people.

In the smaller towns, youll be delighted to see a simple lifestyle that hasnt changed for centuries.

Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

The Roman poet Virgil cites Erice in his epic poem, "The Aeneid," so that's a big clue that this ancient hilltop town is definitely a place to visit during your tour of Sicily. Perched high on a cliff overlooking the valley of the eastern Sicilian shoreline, you'll feel as if you've gone back in time as you stroll through the town's ancient streets.

By the way, you'll be walking over cobblestones that were laid by the Romans in 100 BC!

Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

We all know that vacation travel should not be a whirlwind event, especially when you try to cram in as many cities and experiences as possible in a few days. In Sicily even in the big cities there are always opportunities to relax and savor the moment.

On a leisurely afternoon in Erice, we stopped at a local caf and were entertained by the owner (and obviously accomplished barista) as he prepared our caffe lattes in grand style. And what a moment we savored: both the delicious latte and the show.

Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

One of the most beautiful Sicilian coastal cities you can visit is Cefal, located just an hours drive east of Palermo. Youll find a lovely small city, filled with delightful shops and restaurants, but its history goes back to the 4th century BC. It was captured by the Normans in 1063.

The Norman king Roger II started construction on the truly magnificent Cefal cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage site) in 1131. For a breathtaking view of this ancient city from above, follow the path (as we did) to the top of the hill for an expansive view over this ancient town.

Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

Sicily is famous for its many desserts, the list of which is really too numerous to mention. Marzipan, confections made of ground almonds, are very popular in Sicily, as is granita, a light sorbet-like treat.

But the king of all Sicilian desserts is cannoli, which is made from freshly whipped ricotta cheese flavored with lemon and sugar, and piped into a crisp fried pastry shell. Cannoli have been exported around the world, but its a sure bet the best one you will have ever tasted is during your visit to Sicily.

Photo courtesy of Tony DiBona

As you travel through Sicily, you cant help but notice the image of a three-legged Medusa, which is not only donned on the official Sicilian flag, but is also embedded in many artifacts that can be found in Sicilian shops and markets. Actually, a variation of this symbol dates back to the 3rd century BC. The symbol depicts the three promontories of the island.

Photo courtesy of Tony DiBona

It's obvious an island would have unlimited beachfronts, which Sicily does, but some of the most pristine beaches can be found in the Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve, located a two-hour's drive west of Palermo. Azure blue waters, white sandy alcoves, and a magnificent hiking path make this a trail and beach to remember.

Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

As you travel through Sicily, youll be amazed at the photo opportunities that will greet you, especially at sunrise and sunset. Plan to make use of these photographic golden hours for the best images of the glorious scenes you'll encounter as you explore this magnificent island.

Photo courtesy of Tony DiBona

If you're a wine lover, youve come to the right place. Sicilian wines have risen in popularity over the past decade, and no wonder. Many of the grapes that produce these excellent wines have their roots, literally, in the rich lava rock that surrounds the island.

Nero dAvola is one of the most beloved red wines produced on the island, and the whites are equally as delicious. One of the most memorable whites we ever tasted originated on the slopes of Alcamo (and it cost well under $10 in the local grocery store). That being said, if you love wine-tasting, this is the place to do it.

Photo courtesy of Tony DiBona

Views on Etna, Sicilys active volcano, are visible from many areas of the island. This image, taken from the deck of an Oceania cruise ship, shows a scene of the majestic volcano hovering over the ancient town of Naxos.

Photo courtesy of Joanne DiBona

One of the most romantic small towns in Sicily is Taormina, and its easy to see why. Perched on a hilltop above the blue Ionian sea, Taorminas twisting ancient streets take you past imposing palaces, delightful shops and restaurants, and charming squares.

There's no doubt that the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient Greco-Roman theater with awe-inspiring views on Mount Etna, has propelled it to one of Sicilys most visited destinations. It's still used as a concert venue.

Photo courtesy of Tony DiBona

It's a sure bet, once you get a taste of Sicily, you will want to return again and again.

Arrivederci!

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Explore the magical island of Sicily on this virtual tour - USA Today 10Best

The UFC's stay on Fight Island is over -- at least for now -- but Saturday's main event between Robert Whittaker and Darren Till was a fitting ending to a memorable and entertaining stretch of fights.

Action throughout the 15-fight finale card will have far-reaching consequences across several divisions, most notably with Whittaker's victory over Till, which will impact the rest of the year at the top of the middleweight division once Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa fight for that title in September.

Saturday's action also had a little bit of everything, from veterans such as Fabricio Werdum knocking back Alexander Gustafsson in his heavyweight debut to newcomer Khamzat Chimaev's second dominant win in 11 days.

There's a lot to unravel, and ESPN's expert panel of Ariel Helwani, Marc Raimondi, Phil Murphy and Jeff Wagneheim breaks down all of Saturday's action, as well as the best moments on Fight Island.

Murphy: Jack Hermansson laid out his road map last week, which included him fighting the Whittaker-Till winner. I disagree. This might not be popular, but I believe Whittaker should fight for the middleweight belt next.

All fights from UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till will be available to watch on ESPN+.

Robert Whittaker vs. Darren Till Mauricio Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Fabricio Werdum vs. Alexander Gustafsson Carla Esparza vs. Marina Rodriguez Paul Craig vs. Gadzhimurad Antigulov Alex Oliveira vs. Peter Sobotta Khamzat Chimaev vs. Rhys McKee Francisco Trinaldo vs. Jai Herbert Nicolas Dalby vs. Jesse Ronson Tom Aspinall vs. Jake Collier Movsar Evloev vs. Mike Grundy Tanner Boser vs. Raphael Pessoa Bethe Correia vs. Pannie Kianzad Ramazan Emeev vs. Niklas Stolze Nathaniel Wood vs. John Castaneda

Watch the complete card on ESPN+

The champion Israel Adesanya defends against Paulo Costa in September. A Costa upset sans controversy makes this easy: Costa-Whittaker headlines any card you want for the strap. If Adesanya wins, it complicates Whittaker's next step. Aside from a few exchanges in the opening minutes, Adesanya beat Whittaker handily at UFC 243. Big picture, it's a greater evil having Whittaker in a holding pattern, picking off future challengers. You don't want to create a divisional bottleneck like Francis Ngannou and Curtis Blaydes have at heavyweight.

Whittaker's title shot wouldn't need to be immediate. You could run Adesanya against Jared Cannonier this winter and give Whittaker the winner, though I would argue that Cannonier offers no discernible difference in marketability than the all-Oceania rematch. Whittaker returned Saturday to the form that earned him the middleweight belt. The top-ranked contender has nothing to prove to earn it back.

Helwani: It's a tough setback for Till, who fought great, but ultimately, I think the right man won. Where does Till go from here? Well, next weekend's main event features rising star Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Derek Brunson in an interesting middleweight fight. Both are on winning streaks, though this is definitely a showcase fight for the blazing hot, undefeated Shahbazyan. If he wins, I'd do Shahbazyan vs. Till next. If Brunson wins, Brunson vs. Till works, too, but the marquee fight is Shahbazyan vs. Till. Yes, I know Till is coming off a loss, but that doesn't matter here. Either Shahbazyan takes a massive next step over a name, or Till gets back on track by stopping a hype train.

0:54

Fabricio Werdum shows no mercy as he taps out Alexander Gustafsson early in Round 1 with an armbar.

Wagenheim: There are a lot of moving parts in trying to come to grips with what's next for the former UFC heavyweight champion. He broke out of a two-fight skid, but he did it against a light heavyweight who was coming out of retirement. Werdum is 42, which isn't necessarily old in this division, but it definitely adds urgency for anyone hoping for one last title run. Most importantly, this was the final fight on the Brazilian's contract with the UFC. He likely will draw interest from other promotions, but considering that the UFC will be losing Daniel Cormier this summer, keeping Werdum in the fold seems like a good idea.

For that to make sense, though, he'd have to be booked in a fight that offers the possibility of upward mobility. I wouldn't put him in with someone high in the rankings because Werdum's recent body of work does not merit that. How about another veteran heavyweight looking for a high-profile opponent? How about a fourth go with 40-year-old Alistair Overeem, who has won three of his past four and is No. 10 in ESPN's heavyweight rankings? They tangled in 2006 (Werdum won), 2011 (Overeem won) and 2017 (Overeem again). Can Werdum tie the score in 2020?

Raimondi: That was surely not how Gustafsson saw that fight going. This was supposed to be his starting point for a run at heavyweight. Instead, he was submitted by a 42-year-old Fabricio Werdum. It isn't how he and his team drew it up, but it doesn't mean the experiment is over. Gustafsson is only 33 -- quite young for a heavyweight. Maybe someone such as Blagoy Ivanov would be a good next step. Werdum is elite on the ground. Perhaps Gustafsson just got caught. Let's see how he does against a sturdy Ivanov, who isn't as good in one category, like Werdum is. Gustafsson could use some victories to raise his confidence.

1:13

Khamzat Chimaev's TKO victory over Rhys McKee marks his second win in two different weight classes in the span of 11 days.

Raimondi: It's incredibly difficult to have two straight fights like this to start a UFC career. Chimaev is a unicorn. He's one of only two fighters in promotion history to land more than 100 strikes in his first two UFC fights and absorb only two. The other to do it? Former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. That isn't terrible company, eh? Chimaev is just 26 years old and has fewer than 10 pro fights, but it seems like he's ready for an increase in competition based on the sheer dominance of his wins. I wouldn't mind seeing Chimaev fight a name next -- not a top-10 guy at welterweight but maybe someone such as Mike Perry. That would be really interesting.

2 Related

Helwani: Chimaev is going to be a blessing and a curse for the UFC brass. It's a blessing because, well, he's incredible. He won two fights in 11 days (a UFC record) in two different weight classes (185 and 170). He outlanded his opponents a combined 192-2 in both fights. On Saturday, he outlanded Rhys Mckee 68-0. That's absurd dominance. Afterward, he said he would be willing to fight in an hour. And you know what? I believe him. We have not seen dominance such as this from a UFC rookie in quite some time, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's in welterweight title contention by this time next year. He's that darn good.

He's a curse because, well, who in the world will sign up to fight this guy? It's going to be difficult finding him opponents now. In a perfect world, I'd put him in there against a top-10 guy. But if you're a top-10 guy, why would you fight him? For the sake of this exercise, let's put politics aside. If I could book him against anyone, I'd put him in there against the winner of next week's Neil Magny vs. Geoff Neal fight. If he wins that one, give him a top-five guy. Buckle up, welterweights.

Murphy: I can't tell if I hate this or love it.

It's easy to become overeager in booking Khamzat Chimaev. The Chechen-Swede held a 192-2 total strike advantage across two weight classes just 10 days apart on Fight Island. It was stunning dominance. Welterweight seems like his path forward after his move from middleweight early last year. After lightweight, 170 might be the deepest division in the sport. With his lopsided wins, the temptation to fast-track Chimaev builds, but there are tests among unranked opposition with serious UFC experience that better reveal Chimaev's immediate ceiling. He just turned 26; there's no rush.

Surveying the names of the almost-ranked, there's one I can't get past -- and it might be too much of a jump. Gunnar Nelson has serious grappling credentials. He won silver at Mundials in 2009. His only losses in the past five years came to Gilbert Burns, Leon Edwards, Santiago Ponzinibbio and Demian Maia. If Chimaev can beat Nelson, there's no doubt that "The Wolf" is ready to climb the welterweight ladder in earnest.

Wagenheim: Fighting twice in 11 days is impressive, but it isn't as though Saturday's appearance came on the heels of a rugged night of work less than two weeks ago. In fact, that's what was so impressive about Chimaev's run on Fight Island. In his second-round finish of John Phillips in his UFC debut on July 15, he absorbed only two strikes while landing 124. On Saturday, he did even better. He finished Rhys McKee in the first round, and though he dished out "only" 68 strikes, he absorbed zero.

Before anointing Chimaev as the next welterweight champion, though, we should acknowledge that his two fights in the Octagon have not been against the stiffest competition. Phillips is 1-4 in the UFC, and McKee was making his debut with the promotion. Still, relentless wrestling and a 192-2 edge in strikes are worth celebrating. Next stop for Chimaev: a step up in competition against another 170-pounder on the rise. How about Vicente Luque, who has won seven of his past eight fights, or someone at that level?

0:21

Mauricio Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira pick up where they left off in their previous two fights as they trade punches in Round 1 of their bout at UFC Fight Night.

Helwani: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is a legend. Make no mistake about it. These are some of the great names he holds wins against: Kazushi Sakuraba, Dan Henderson, Alistair Overeem (twice), Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Guy Mezger, Kaz Nakamura (twice), Vladimir Matyushenko. That's quite the rsum. He has nothing to be ashamed of. What a great career, spanning 19 years.

That said, we have to be honest: Part of his legacy is he didn't have as good a rsum as his twin brother, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, who retired in 2015 and once held the Pride heavyweight title and the interim UFC heavyweight title. Anyone who argues that point isn't being honest. Now, I hate to bring this up on the day he seemingly announced his retirement because that doesn't seem fair and sensitive, but it's the truth. It's a legendary run, nonetheless, and arguably one half of the greatest brother tandem in MMA history.

Raimondi: It isn't an insult to say, but he'll always be linked with his twin brother, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, one of MMA's best heavyweights during his era. "Big Nog" was known for his Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He was one of the best grappling big men ever. "Little Nog," who announced his retirement Saturday, could go on the ground of course. But he was a very good southpaw boxer with sneaky power, which he showed yet again in a close loss to Mauricio Rua on Fight Island. Rogerio Nogueira's rsum, apart from his brother's, is very impressive on its own. He will more than likely join his brother in the UFC Hall of Fame one day.

Murphy: If limited to Pride years, Little Nog would be remembered for a handful of marquee wins over feared fighters. His historic upset loss to Sokoudjou would be a footnote. Nogueira's legend was built in Japan.

Anticipation followed him to the UFC in 2009, but legacy-defining results did not. Aside from a major upset of Rashad Evans at UFC 156, Nogueira won the fights he should have won and lost those he was expected to lose. In hindsight, even beating Evans did more to signal the beginning of the end for Evans than the start of a new beginning for Little Nog.

A couple career-twilight sips from the Fountain of Youth led to knockouts of Patrick Cummins and Sam Alvey, but neither comes close to supplanting the Pride accomplishments from Nogueira's late 20s. Unfortunately, contemporary mainstream fans saw only an aging veteran losing championship rounds to Father Time, not the well-rounded mixed martial artist as that very concept was in its infancy.

Wagenheim: Nogueira will always be remembered as "Little Nog" after toiling in the shadow of his twin brother, who was the first heavyweight champion in Pride and an interim UFC champ. Rogerio never wore a MMA championship belt, but he did co-author a fight of the year with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in 2005. He also owns victories over some elite competition. The 44-year-old began his pro career in 2001, so he is of a different era. His retirement fell under the radar of many newer fans, but for old-timers, the career of Nogueira is an event worth celebrating.

0:42

Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade trade vicious blows in the third and final round of their strawweight bout.

Helwani: There are so many to choose from here; it was a really fun 15 days for the UFC. In the end, I'm going with Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade, which won fight of the night at UFC 251. There were so many questions surrounding Namajunas' form -- both mentally and physically -- since the last time we last saw her, and she seemingly put all those doubts to rest in the first round. Her striking was beautiful and on point. But hey, Andrade was game, too, with improved head movement, and she came on very strong in the third after breaking Namajunas' nose. One wonders what would have happened had it been a five-round fight, but it wasn't, as Namajunas did enough to win two rounds to one. Regardless, it stood out to me as the best fight of the month.

Murphy: The best fight of the UFC's two-week Abu Dhabi residency provided objective entertainment in the moment, significant divisional impact in the immediate future and set up an anticipated trilogy in the coming years, one without an expiration date.

Rose Namajunas' edging out Jessica Andrade by split decision at UFC 251 offered all that. It was Thug Rose's first appearance since her title reign abruptly ended via Andrade's slam at UFC 237. The opening exchanges on July 11 proved that Rose's time away imparted the ever desired "rest without rust." A strong finish by Andrade generated enough scoring doubt for drama but not enough for debate that overshadowed the result.

After 15 minutes of crisp boxing, neither fighters' stock dropped in the aftermath. Both remain necessary members of any strawweight contender conversation, and it would be outright robbery if a future trilogy bout fails to materialize. Their sequel was the perfect promotional storm.

Wagenheim: Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade 2 was not a main event or even a co-main. There were three championship fights at UFC 251, and this was not one of them. But the pair of former strawweight champs put on a show that in some ways resembled their first meeting but had the added ingredient of a momentum shift. Namajunas once again looked sharp in controlling the standup, but while the first fight ended abruptly with Andrade's slam, this time Andrade withstood the best that Namajunas could throw at her, then turned things around with a big punch and takedown. Namajunas, her left eye nearly swollen shut, had to hang on to the end. It was an excellent bout, fought at a high level.

Raimondi: If we're talking about the most evenly matched and well-fought battle at the highest level of a division, I'd say Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade from UFC 251 was the top of the food chain. There were many good fights this month. A very fun one that stands out was the debuting Mounir Lazzez's win over Abdul Razak Alhassan from July 15. That was back-and-forth, as both guys landed big shots, and Lazzez earned some style points. But Namajunas vs. Andrade was an incredible display of mixed martial arts. It was violent, technical, tactical and had swings of momentum -- everything you'd want to see in an MMA fight. What a year it has been for the women's strawweight division, which also boasts the best fight of 2020, for my money, in Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk from UFC 249 in March.

0:44

Deiveson Figueiredo punishes Joseph Benavidez, stopping him in Round 1 to capture the UFC flyweight title.

Raimondi: Deiveson Figueiredo. Look back at the long, impressive career of Joseph Benavidez. He has been one of the best fighters at flyweight (and bantamweight before that) for the better part of a decade. No one has knocked him down three times and finished him in the first round. It's hard enough looking good against Benavidez; Figueiredo was a destroyer. Benavidez had never before been submitted. Figueiredo choked him out. On top of that, flyweight is not known for fighters who have major power. Figueiredo checks that box in a big way, and it seems like he has given the division new life. He is supremely exciting to watch and should give the 125-pound weight class -- which was once on the UFC chopping block -- a much-needed rejuvenation.

Murphy: If I separate recency bias -- the surprising newcomers -- from the equation and look purely at in-Octagon performance, welterweight champion Kamaru Usman remains the most impressive Fight Island participant. It's a short list of pound-for-pound fighters with a better UFC rsum than the Nigerian Nightmare.

Usman moved to 12-0 in one of the UFC's deepest weight classes, and none was terribly close. That includes the five-round beatdown of 2019 Fighter of the Year Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251. Usman's opponent changed on six days' notice, and so did his game plan. It did not faze the champion at all.

We become desensitized to greatness. We expect this from Usman. But for me, it's every bit as impressive -- the most impressive, in fact -- when his skill is visibly a cut above that of the other 101 fighters who made the walk to the Octagon on Fight Island.

Wagenheim: I'm tempted to go with Kamaru Usman because fight IQ is my favorite martial art, and fighting doesn't get much smarter than what the welterweight champion did to totally neutralize Jorge Masvidal. Sure, fans would have enjoyed watching "Gamebred" in a toe-to-toe slugfest, but that would not have been a brainy strategy for Usman, would it? With a title belt at stake, the 170-pound king put on a performance worthy of a throne.

But there was an even better championship-level performance on Fight Island, and it was turned in by Deiveson Figueiredo. He had a lot to prove after missing weight prior to his first fight with Joseph Benavidez and then winning controversially following a clash of heads. This time, there were no asterisks attached to Figueiredo's thoroughly dominant first-round submission win. He now owns the flyweight title vacated by Henry Cejudo, and he poses a scary challenge for any 125-pounder who steps in the cage with him.

Helwani: There is only one suitable answer here, and it's the new UFC flyweight champion (and the former sushi chef and hair stylist) Deiveson Figueiredo. What a coming-out party for the Brazilian. Imagine how he felt in February when he beat Joseph Benavidez but didn't get the belt that would change his life because he missed weight the day before, Then he had to beat the same guy several months later and had to hear over and over again how he was a dirty fighter because he head-butted Benavidez in their first fight, when in reality it was Benavidez who initiated the contact. Figueiredo put all that noise to rest with a virtuoso performance last weekend. He was even more dominant and impressive than the first time around. I'm curious to see what the Deiveson Figueiredo era looks like at 125. He might be the hardest-hitting flyweight we've ever seen in the UFC.

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Fight Island debate -- Should the UFC fast-track Khamzat Chimaev's development? - ESPN

Dear Editor:

On Sunday, July 19, 2020, during a special meeting of the Negro Island Property Owners Association, the owners, listed below, unanimously voted to change the name of the island. The new name is Oak Island.

The 15-acre island is located at the mouth of Linekin Bay and just west of Ocean Point. There are currently five cottages on the island. While Negro Island appears on charts as far back as the mid 1700s, over the years, we have been increasingly uncomfortable with the name.

The new name is in recognition of the large number of oak trees on the island, and one in particular that is a significant landmark when seen at a distance. We embrace the new name as a symbol of strength, endurance and serenity.

John and Sarah Giles

Stuart and Bonnie Bennett

Neil and Maggie Newton

Scott and Catherine Stecher

David and Kristin Brett

Graham and Alison Bennett

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Negro Island is now Oak Island - Boothbay Register

WATERTOWN For months, city officials have waited for a team of landscape engineers from Ohio to put together their ideas on how to redevelop Sewalls Island.

They will soon find out as the consultants, MKSK Studios, Ohio, are finishing up those efforts and will present their report to City Council during a work session on Aug. 10.

Were very excited to see what theyve done, said Jennifer Voss, the senior planner in the city Planning Department.

The folks at MKSK also were given the task about redeveloping the nearby Factory Square neighborhood, once the hub of the citys manufacturing district a century ago.

To get to this point, a long-awaited $1.5 million environmental cleanup of Sewalls Island was finally completed last year before any kind of development could proceed.

Since last winter, the Planning Department has worked closely with the consultant, but the coronavirus made it a little more difficult to get input from the public on what it would like to see on the island, once the home of the massive Black Clawson Co.

In January, the consultants gathered with about 10 interested residents to get some of their ideas. Those in attendance envisioned hiking and biking trails and some green space.

The consultants were going to come back in March and June to discuss their findings but the pandemic prevented them from returning. Instead, a public survey was completed.

With the pandemic still going on, the consultants will make their Aug. 10 presentation virtually through a Zoom meeting.

Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero thinks the island has potential to be a focal point of the city once again.

Its going to be nice to see what theyve come up with, she said.

The city owns 18.6 acres of the 28.7-acre island property on the Black River, about 10 acres of which can be developed.

About 5.6 acres of the island can be designated only for park development after 2 feet of new soil was deposited there during the cleanup, while another section can be developed for commercial purposes after a foot of topsoil was added.

Theres been talk about making improvements to a pair of railroad bridges for pedestrian and bike use on the island and connect them with other city trails.

Over the years, the former Black Clawson site has been the source of complaints because of its unsightly condition, with piles of debris, parts of the building foundation and a long section of chain-link fencing that fronts Pearl Street visible.

The city obtained the property through back taxes from Black Clawson, which closed its foundry in 1991. The massive complex was destroyed in a fire in 1999.

The buildings were demolished in 2001, leaving remnants of concrete foundations that cover about 25 percent of the reusable site. Soil contaminants remain underneath.

The Factory Square area of downtown contains a series of industrial buildings along the river, some commercial businesses and a small park, where the city had once planned to create a dog park. For years, its been a goal of city officials to spruce up the neighborhood.

Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners operates a hydroelectric plant on the island. That section of the island was not part of the remediation project.

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Ideas for Sewall's Island redevelopment soon will be unveiled - NNY360

Stranded on a tiny Italian island, a cancer researcher grew increasingly alarmed to hear that one, and then three more visitors had fallen ill with COVID-19.Paola Muti braced for a rapid spread of the coronavirus to the 800 closely-knit islanders, many of whom she knows well. Her mother was born on Giglio Island and she often stays at the family home with its charming view of the sea through the parlors windows.But days passed and none of Giglios islanders developed any COVID-19 symptoms even though the conditions seemed favorable for the disease to spread like wildfire.The Gigliesi, as the residents are known, socialize in the steep alleys near the port or on the granite steps that serve as narrow streets in the hilltop Castle neighborhood, with densely packed homes built against the remnants of a fortress erected centuries ago to protect against pirates. Dr. Armando Schiaffino, the islands sole physician for around 40 years, shared Mutis worry that there would be a local outbreak.Every time an ordinary childhood illness, like scarlet fever, measles or chicken pox strikes, within a very few days practically all get infected on Giglio, he said in an interview in his office near the port.Muti, a breast cancer researcher at the University of Milan where she is an epidemiology professor, decided to try to find out why it wasnt happening this time.Were residents perhaps infected but didnt show symptoms? Was it something genetic? Something else? Or just plain luck?Dr. Schiaffino came to me and told me, Hey, look, Paola, this is incredible. In this full pandemic, with all the cases that came to the island, nobody is sick. So I said to myself: Right, here we can do a study, no? I am here, Muti said.Related video: Hawaii discussing concept of tourists abiding by geofence while in quarantine By then, Muti was trapped on the island by Italys strict lockdown rules. What was especially puzzling to her was that many of the islanders had had close contact with the visitors.Giglios first known COVID-19 case was a man in his 60s who arrived on Feb. 18 a couple of days before Italys first native case would be diagnosed in the north. The man came to Giglio for a relatives funeral, and had been coughing all the way though the service, Muti said.The virus is mainly spread through droplets when someone coughs, sneezes or talks. The man headed back on the ferry the same day to the mainland and died three weeks later in a hospital.On March 5, four days before the national lockdown was declared, three more visitors came from the mainland and would test positive on the island. One of them was a German man from northern Italy, the initial epicenter of Europes outbreak. He socialized for several days with longtime friends in Giglio, including in public eateries. After a week, due to a bad cough, he was tested on the island and the result was positive. He self-isolated in a house on Giglio.There were other known cases, including an islander who had lived in Australia for two years before slipping back onto Giglio in mid-March during lockdown to see his parents. Three days after arriving on Giglio, he developed a mild fever and tested positive, Muti said. He self-isolated at his parents home.No other case has surfaced on Giglio, including since lockdown was lifted in early June, and tourists from throughout Italy have been arriving.Giglio is part of Tuscany, and its health office quickly sent over kits to test for antibodies to see if others may have had COVID-19. In late April, just before the first lockdown travel restrictions would be eased, the islanders had their blood tested, lining up outside the islands school and doctors office.Of the 800 or so year-round residents, 723 volunteered to be tested.We all wanted to do it, to be tranquil about any possible infection, but also to help science, said Simone Madaro, who had been working at the cemetery while the infected man had gathered with fellow mourners.The Rev. Lorenzo Pasquotti, the priest who conducted the service for around 50 mourners, and who himself was tested recalled: After the funeral, there were greetings, hugging and kissing, as is the custom. Then came the procession to the cemetery, where there were more hugs and kisses.Of the islanders tested, only one was found to have antibodies, an elderly Gigliese man who had sailed on the same ferry to the island with the German visitor, Muti said.Intrigued about why the virus didnt seem to interact with the islands native population, Muti hadnt reached any conclusions by the time she was preparing to leave the island this month. She plans to write up up her study for eventual publication.Its possible, Muti guessed, that islanders werent exposed to enough COVID-19 to get infected.That possibility was also voiced by Massimo Andreoni, head of infectious diseases at Romes Tor Vergata hospital. He noted some patients are simply less capable of spreading the disease for reasons that are still unclear.Chance might have played a role, said Daniel Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London. It could be something more or less trivial nobody got infected because through good luck there was little contact, he said in an email exchange.Or, Altmann also noted that it could be something important and exotic, such as a genetic variant common among the islands population.With many of the Gigliesi intermarrying through generations, Muti would like to do a genetic study someday if she could obtain funding.Giglio lies in pristine waters in a protected regional marine sanctuary, and the islanders voice relief that they live in a natural environment they like to think is good for health, whatever Mutis study might determine.As an island, as the environment goes, were OK, no? said Domenico Pignatelli, as the elderly man kept company with friends in chairs placed on a stony street atop Giglio.

Stranded on a tiny Italian island, a cancer researcher grew increasingly alarmed to hear that one, and then three more visitors had fallen ill with COVID-19.

Paola Muti braced for a rapid spread of the coronavirus to the 800 closely-knit islanders, many of whom she knows well. Her mother was born on Giglio Island and she often stays at the family home with its charming view of the sea through the parlors windows.

But days passed and none of Giglios islanders developed any COVID-19 symptoms even though the conditions seemed favorable for the disease to spread like wildfire.

The Gigliesi, as the residents are known, socialize in the steep alleys near the port or on the granite steps that serve as narrow streets in the hilltop Castle neighborhood, with densely packed homes built against the remnants of a fortress erected centuries ago to protect against pirates.

Dr. Armando Schiaffino, the islands sole physician for around 40 years, shared Mutis worry that there would be a local outbreak.

Every time an ordinary childhood illness, like scarlet fever, measles or chicken pox strikes, within a very few days practically all get infected on Giglio, he said in an interview in his office near the port.

Muti, a breast cancer researcher at the University of Milan where she is an epidemiology professor, decided to try to find out why it wasnt happening this time.

Were residents perhaps infected but didnt show symptoms? Was it something genetic? Something else? Or just plain luck?

Dr. Schiaffino came to me and told me, Hey, look, Paola, this is incredible. In this full pandemic, with all the cases that came to the island, nobody is sick. So I said to myself: Right, here we can do a study, no? I am here, Muti said.

Related video: Hawaii discussing concept of tourists abiding by geofence while in quarantine

By then, Muti was trapped on the island by Italys strict lockdown rules. What was especially puzzling to her was that many of the islanders had had close contact with the visitors.

Giglios first known COVID-19 case was a man in his 60s who arrived on Feb. 18 a couple of days before Italys first native case would be diagnosed in the north. The man came to Giglio for a relatives funeral, and had been coughing all the way though the service, Muti said.

The virus is mainly spread through droplets when someone coughs, sneezes or talks. The man headed back on the ferry the same day to the mainland and died three weeks later in a hospital.

On March 5, four days before the national lockdown was declared, three more visitors came from the mainland and would test positive on the island. One of them was a German man from northern Italy, the initial epicenter of Europes outbreak. He socialized for several days with longtime friends in Giglio, including in public eateries. After a week, due to a bad cough, he was tested on the island and the result was positive. He self-isolated in a house on Giglio.

There were other known cases, including an islander who had lived in Australia for two years before slipping back onto Giglio in mid-March during lockdown to see his parents. Three days after arriving on Giglio, he developed a mild fever and tested positive, Muti said. He self-isolated at his parents home.

No other case has surfaced on Giglio, including since lockdown was lifted in early June, and tourists from throughout Italy have been arriving.

Giglio is part of Tuscany, and its health office quickly sent over kits to test for antibodies to see if others may have had COVID-19. In late April, just before the first lockdown travel restrictions would be eased, the islanders had their blood tested, lining up outside the islands school and doctors office.

Of the 800 or so year-round residents, 723 volunteered to be tested.

We all wanted to do it, to be tranquil about any possible infection, but also to help science, said Simone Madaro, who had been working at the cemetery while the infected man had gathered with fellow mourners.

The Rev. Lorenzo Pasquotti, the priest who conducted the service for around 50 mourners, and who himself was tested recalled: After the funeral, there were greetings, hugging and kissing, as is the custom. Then came the procession to the cemetery, where there were more hugs and kisses.

Of the islanders tested, only one was found to have antibodies, an elderly Gigliese man who had sailed on the same ferry to the island with the German visitor, Muti said.

Intrigued about why the virus didnt seem to interact with the islands native population, Muti hadnt reached any conclusions by the time she was preparing to leave the island this month. She plans to write up up her study for eventual publication.

Its possible, Muti guessed, that islanders werent exposed to enough COVID-19 to get infected.

That possibility was also voiced by Massimo Andreoni, head of infectious diseases at Romes Tor Vergata hospital. He noted some patients are simply less capable of spreading the disease for reasons that are still unclear.

Chance might have played a role, said Daniel Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London. It could be something more or less trivial nobody got infected because through good luck there was little contact, he said in an email exchange.

Or, Altmann also noted that it could be something important and exotic, such as a genetic variant common among the islands population.

With many of the Gigliesi intermarrying through generations, Muti would like to do a genetic study someday if she could obtain funding.

Giglio lies in pristine waters in a protected regional marine sanctuary, and the islanders voice relief that they live in a natural environment they like to think is good for health, whatever Mutis study might determine.

As an island, as the environment goes, were OK, no? said Domenico Pignatelli, as the elderly man kept company with friends in chairs placed on a stony street atop Giglio.

Excerpt from:

Is it luck? Genetics? An Italian island has been spared from coronavirus outbreak - KCRA Sacramento

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Mayor Bill de Blasio was at it again last week, making Staten Island feel like its not part of New York City. At least not a valued part.

How many times have we felt that way since de Blasio became mayor in 2014?

This time it had to do with funding for New York City Housing Authority community centers.

Last Tuesday, de Blasio said that $22 million shifted from the NYPD would go to NYCHA centers in every borough.

Except, it turns out, on Staten Island.

City Hall at first had no explanation for the oversight. Later, the mayors office said that the funding was allocated based on vacant or shuttered NYCHA centers in need of renovation.

That took care of facilities in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. And a center in Queens was given expense money for programming.

City Halls justification changed nothing: It was a four-borough effort in a five-borough city.

All this is happening while a planned $5.7 million renovation to a community center in Mariners Harbor remains stuck in limbo.

Its the second time lately that the Island was left out of a City Hall initiative. De Blasio also neglected to include Staten Island in his cool streets plan, which added spray caps to hydrants around the city in an order to help New Yorkers beat the heat.

Streets on Staten Island were included only after the Advance highlighted the oversight.

Do the maps used by City Hall include all five boroughs? For an avowedly political animal, de Blasio can be positively clueless when it comes to simple political optics.

City Hall couldnt find an Island community center that needed some upgrading? He didnt think we needed any cool streets here? Just how do these decisions get made?

Sadly, were getting used to this kind of dismissive treatment during the coronavirus pandemic.

Back in April, as the worst of the pandemic was taking hold here, we learned that Staten Island would receive none of the military medical personnel sent to the city by the federal government.

De Blasio had asked the Trump administration for doctors, nurses and other medical personnel to help us deal with the growing virus problem.

But the personnel that the feds sent were ticketed for city Health + Hospitals facilities. Staten Island is the only borough without an H+H hospital, so we received none of those resources.

We were also left wanting when the city sent more of its own resources to stressed H+H hospitals. City hospitals got more beds, more personnel, and free COVID testing for staff.

But, again, Staten Island received nothing because we dont have a city hospital here.

You see how that keeps snowballing?

De Blasio and the city Department of Transportation also used the cover of the pandemic to cut back on overnight Staten Island Ferry service, even though service every 30 minutes is mandated by city law.

The schedule has been beefed up recently as the city has come back to life, but heres no telling when the full schedule will be returned to us. The city also took away lower-level boarding of the boats during the pandemic, even though that can cause more crowding when loading the boats.

If you didnt know any better, youd think that the city was using the pandemic to give the Island a final kiss-off. Although, yes, de Blasio did close streets to traffic here so that pedestrians and cyclists could use the roads. And we did get some personal protective equipment from the city. And the mayor did come here to help paint a Black Lives Matter tribute on the street near the 120th Precinct stationhouse.

So de Blasio does have his priorities. Its just that Staten Island isnt often among them.

Read the rest here:

Another Staten Island slight from de Blasio (opinion) - SILive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The following is a roundup of obituaries published on SILive.com. Viewing times and guestbooks can be found here.

Joan A. Conanan (nee Driscoll), 75, of Travis, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2020. Mrs. Conanan was born and raised in Brooklyn and graduated from Bay Ridge High School. She relocated to Staten Island in 1970, settling in Travis.

Victor DeMarco, 73, passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at Carmel Richmond Nursing Home at the age of 73. He was a Staten Island native, a loving husband, and the best father a son could ask for.

Joanne Naomi Fendt, 80, of Venice, Fla., a devoted wife and mother; operated Florida resort and marina, died July 16, 2020. Joanne was born in 1939 in Hoboken, N.J., and grew up in South Beach, Staten Island, N.Y. She was a graduate of New Dorp High School and Indiana University.

Kevin McPadden, 62, a proud native Staten Islander who was a beloved husband, stepfather, grandfather, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2020. Kevin is a graduate of New Dorp High School, where he won MVP in Track and Field in 1972 for the 880 yards long distance run.

Mildred Wells died peacefully on July 19, 2020, in her home in Boynton Beach, Fla., at age 94. Mildred retired as a physical education teacher in the mid-80s. The schools that she taught at included I.S. 24, I.S. 27 and P.S. 45 on Staten Island, N.Y. Following her retirement, Mildred volunteered to provide help to victims of rape.

More:

Staten Island obituaries for July 26, 2020 - SILive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The following is a roundup of obituaries published onSILive.com. Viewing times and guestbooks can be foundhere.

Hector Reyes, 70, who loved playing sports and was a member of the Staten Island touch tackle league, and had retired from Resurrection Cemetery after 25 years, died July 10, 2020.

Agnes M. Tarasovis, 95, a Staten Island resident since 1930 who was a bookkeeper for Triangle Plumbing & Heating Supply Co. for 33 years and volunteered for many years with Pax Christi Hospice, died July 25, 2020.

YESTERDAYS OBITUARIES

Joan A. Conanan(nee Driscoll), 75, of Travis, passed away peacefully on July 23, 2020. Mrs. Conanan was born and raised in Brooklyn and graduated from Bay Ridge High School. She relocated to Staten Island in 1970, settling in Travis.

Victor DeMarco, 73, passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at Carmel Richmond Nursing Home at the age of 73. He was a Staten Island native, a loving husband, and the best father a son could ask for.

Joanne Naomi Fendt, 80, of Venice, Fla., a devoted wife and mother, who operated a Florida resort and marina, died July 16, 2020. Joanne was born in 1939 in Hoboken, N.J., and grew up in South Beach, Staten Island. She was a graduate of New Dorp High School and Indiana University.

Kevin McPadden, 62, a proud native Staten Islander who was a beloved husband, stepfather, grandfather, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2020. Kevin was a graduate of New Dorp High School, where he won MVP in Track and Field in 1972 for the 880-yard long distance run.

Mildred Wellsdied peacefully on July 19, 2020, in her home in Boynton Beach, Fla., at age 94. Mildred retired as a physical education teacher in the mid-80s. The schools where she taught included I.S. 24, I.S. 27 and P.S. 45 on Staten Island. Following her retirement, Mildred volunteered to provide help to victims of rape.

Read more:

Staten Island obituaries for July 27, 2020 - SILive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac, this single-family home is located at 15 Elizabeth Court in Tottenville, as listed on SILive.com

It is priced at $1,998,000.

Features include vacation, oasis-style backyard with saltwater in-ground pool, elevator access on three floors, and a six-car garage, according to the listing on Staten Island Multiple Listing Service at SIBOR.com.

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom home has more than 8,000 square feet of interior space, as listed.

Jorge Mendoza of United National Realty is the listing agent.

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Staten Island Home of the Week: Builders own, elevator access on three floors, Tottenville, $2M - SILive.com

A loud, expletive-filled argument reportedly took place on Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom this afternoon. Guests reported hearing the altercation from several locations in the theme park.

According to an update shared on a Walt Disney World Annual Passholders group on Facebook, Guests reported that a loud altercation took place on Tom Sawyer Island, which is located in the center of the Rivers of America near Frontierland in Magic Kingdom park.

The Facebook post said that a male Guest was heard repeatedly shouting expletives. Other Guests noted that the mans voice was so loud that his foul language could be heard from several locations throughout the park, including the entrance of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in Adventureland, Liberty Tree Tavern in Liberty Square, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in Frontierland.

Related: List of Outdoor Activities at Magic Kingdom

Guests reported on social media that Cast Members gathered on the main land and waited for Magic Kingdom security to arrive on the scene. According to the original post on Facebook, Disney staff dealt with the situation as soon as possible.

At the time of this articles publication, it is not known what happened to the Guest who was reportedly involved in the altercation. It also has not been reported whether the incident ever turned physical or if it was only a verbal dispute. One witness reported that the altercation at one point involved the male Guest screaming in a womans face.

It is important to note that even though Walt Disney World is the Most Magical Place on Earth, it is not immune to real-world issues. Altercations involving Guests are not uncommon. However, Disney Cast Members and security officials are at the theme parks in order to maintain a safe, happy, and healthy environment as much as possible.

If you ever witness activity like this or you are uncomfortable or concerned when visiting one of the Disney Parks, be sure to find the nearest Cast Member or report your issue with Guest Relations, located in each of the Disney Parks.

We will update Inside the Magic as more information regarding this incident becomes available.

See the original post here:

Tom Sawyer Island Altercation Heard Across Magic Kingdom - Inside the Magic

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Firefighters battle 91 acre wildfire on Sauvie Island - KPTV.com

Beginning this weekend, beach parking is restricted at Plum Island due to concerns about overcrowding during the coronavirus pandemic.

Newburyport Mayor Donna D. Holaday announced Wednesday that the Plum Island Point Public Lot is now reserved for residents every weekend through Labor Day. Residents with an active city of Newburyport resident parking pass, city yard waste sticker, or Plum Island Parking Lot 2020 sticker can park in the lot on weekends at a discounted resident rate of $12 per day.

In addition, parking will not be allowed on Northern Boulevard, parking rules on all streets off Northern Boulevard will be strictly enforced, and violators will be ticketed and towed, Holaday said.

With summer in full swing, its understandable that more people are looking to enjoy the outdoors during this beautiful time of year, Holaday said in a statement. However, its important to remember that we must still be following the necessary guidelines to prevent any further spread of COVID-19. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

To reduce traffic congestion and improve public safety, between July 25 and Sept. 6 the paved area at the entrance of the public lot will be designated a turn-around area, electronic signs warning that the beach lot is open only to residents will be placed on Northern Boulevard at 51st Street and on the Plum Island Turnpike, and No Parking, No Beach Access signs will be placed on the ocean side streets off Northern Boulevard.

Earlier this month, the city of Gloucester closed the parking lotsat Stage Fort Park, Good Harbor Beach,and Wingaersheek Beach to non-residents after complaints of excessive traffic, illegal parking, and littering, and concerns over social distancing due to COVID-19. Beginning this weekend, the lots will open again in a limited capacity.

Sign up and receive coronavirus news and breaking updates, from our newsroom to your inbox.

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Plum Island parking closed to nonresidents every weekend through Labor Day - Boston.com

As construction continues on the newest addition to Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure, weve been keeping an eye out for any changes. As we check in on the latest updates to Velocicoaster, we can see some new additions to the show buildings as well as more details added to the rock structure.

Two rectangular structures have been added along the top of the show building near the lagoon.

Theyre partially wrapped in what appears to be a white plastic wrap, and we can even make out the letters N on one side and E on the other. We can assume that these are directional markings to indicate North and East.

There seems to be a lot of activity taking place lately down near the lagoon area. We can see a lot of changes to the landscape already as the ground is leveled and adjusted to make room for the new coaster.

More of the show building has been enclosed in a brown, crate-like design. Strips of metal have been added to two sections of the brown building.

We can just see the top of a smaller structure between the rock work and the large, brown building.

This small section of rock work looks nearly complete, with its new textured design and cool, gray stone coloring. Were eager to see what else starts to develop in this area.

Thats all for this update, but construction is constantly happening around here, so be sure to stay tuned to Universal Parks New Today for more updates on Velocicoaster!

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PHOTOS: Jurassic Park "Velocicoaster" Construction Update at Islands of Adventure as Rock Work Gets Detailed and Show Building Painting...

When a survey of marine habitats on and around Plum Island was completed last September, one of the many remarkable discoveries was the abundance of birds on the 822-acre island east of Orient Point.

In all, those who conducted the survey found, the island is home to 227 bird species, nearly a quarter of all bird species in the United States and Canada stretching all the way to the Artic.

When you think of something thats so small and yet it has such high diversity, you wonder why, and were beginning to learn that its a combination of many elements, said Louise Harrison, New York natural areas coordinator for Save the Sound. Its the clean waters that are coming in from the Atlantic Ocean. Its the estuarine waters leaving Long Island Sound and the Peconic Estuary and the mixing that goes on between the Peconic Estuary and Long Island Sound, the high oxygen level coming in from the Atlantic Ocean, and the lack of disturbance.

Most of Plum Island has been allowed to be without much disturbance for the last 70 years, ever since the Army left in the early 1950s. Its a place where wildlife has returned, and the fact that its there in such diversity is fabulous, she told The Suffolk Times in May.

Save the Sound and The Nature Conservancy have authored a report on the island and its future, called Envision Plum Island, which they unveiled at a virtual press conference on Wednesday that was attended virtually speaking by 100 individuals.

Elected officials at all levels of government and two states coming together in a bipartisan effort should be a message to Washington that stopping the sale of this gem is a top priority

The goal of the report, and the work of both groups over the past few years, is to get the federal government to stop its plans to auction off the island after the Plum Island Animal Disease Center moves to Manhattan, Kansas.

The island is extraordinary, Ms. Harrison said after the press conference. We want to do all that we can to see it stays the way it is.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture came to the island in the early 1950s to conduct critically needed research into animal diseases that could wipe out entire species. Research into these diseases was developed at the research facility, which occupies the western-most end of the island. The vaccine for hoof and mouth disease capable of wiping out cattle was developed at the Plum Island facility by world-class veterinarians.

Prior to the research facility coming to the island, it was home to military posts and training facilities. Fort Terry was built on the island during the Spanish-American War in the late 19th century. The islands strategic importance can be seen in the simple fact that it sits at the mouth to Long Island Sound. Forts were also built on Fishers Island and Great Gull Island.

Among the many stakeholders and officials who attended Wednesdays press conference were both U.S. senators from Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, along with 1st District congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been a vocal supporter of preservation.

Both New York senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, praised the report as charting a path for the islands preservation. In a statement, Mr. Zeldin said he was honored to serve with other state and regional political figures focused on the islands preservation.

The federal government put the island up for auction more than a decade ago. The island is now under the Department of Homeland Security. Those who supported the sale said the proceeds would go to the new lab in Kansas, but that was later changed. The new lab is expected to open in 2023.

Southold Town has been adamantly opposed to the sale of the island and, in 2013, moved to create a zoning for the island that officials hoped would scare off any potential developers. The new zoning divided the island into a research district and a conservation district all in an attempt to keep this largely untouched island as it is, forever.

Supervisor Scott Russell, in an email Friday, said the preservation of the island is vitally important to the town, but also the entire region.

Over 100 people participated in the press conference, each deeply committed to the protection and preservation of Plum Island, which underscores how important this effort is, he said. Elected officials at all levels of government and two states coming together in a bipartisan effort should be a message to Washington that stopping the sale of this gem is a top priority.

Representative Lee Zeldin, who has been battling in the trenches with us from the beginning, has clearly gotten the attention of Congress. This plan, created with the leadership of our own Louise Harrison, envisions a future for Plum Island that is comprehensive, sweeping in its scope and, once implemented, will ensure our treasured asset will remain that way for generations.

In a release, Envision Plum Island speaks of the island as home to nationally significant natural and cultural resources, including lands traditionally used by Indigenous people. Other rarities on the island are the decommissioned Army post, and 500 plant and animal species. The group said any sale to a developer would cause irreversible harm to wildlife, including seals and endangered roseate terns, and threaten Native American artifacts and important, historical buildings.

The Envision report speaks to creating sanctuaries for wildlife, preservation of Fort Terry and the historic Plum Island Lighthouse, along with research and educational facilities.

We believe there are some structures that are unique to America, Ms. Harrison said.

What comes next?

Congress has suspended the marketing for the sale of the island until the end of September. But, if that is lifted, the federal government could once again resume advertising the island to potential buyers.

We think congress should repeal the legislation that says the island should be put up for public sale, Ms. Harrison said. It could then be offered to other agencies or the states as park land. We would certainly favor that. But we have to get it off the auction block.

As for islands uniqueness, Southold Town historian Amy Folk summed it up this way: Today it is one of the few areas left where one can truly see what Long Island used to look like before the immense development of the suburbs took over the length and breadth of Long Island.

Link:

'Envision Plum Island' report spurs renewed call for preservation - Riverhead News Review

On 19 July 2013 the Australian government announced that those who arrived by boat seeking safety would never reach the mainland. The effect of this policy is beyond description and I am still haunted by the memories of the time myself and hundreds of others were held captive on Manus Island.

The concept of a system ruining peoples lives is not easy to understand. It is complex, destructive and manipulative and every aspect is highly politicised. It is a form of systematic torture, the scars of which are not obvious, but they are real and will affect a person for the rest of his or her life.

Over time, we questioned many of the decisions made and the waste which was so obvious. No books were allowed, but cigarettes were supplied; staff lost their jobs as a result of bringing reading material to refugees; food was thrown out while hungry local children drooled at the fence. We were surrounded by security guards watching our every move. I could go on and on, but the thoughts stir too many emotions as all these frustrations became torture when lived day after day.

I am free today but overwhelmed with guilt. My struggle came to an end in June 2018 when the United States offered me liberty and changed my stateless life in a way that I cant put into words. I never dreamed that I would find my new home in this part of the world.

Being able to speak the language shaped my new life on so many levels. Although I had never had the opportunity to gain an education, I obtained my high school equivalency diploma in less than a year, something I never imagined would be possible. Now, I am completing my second semester at Truman College.

Life feels real and I can see a bright future ahead; however, my free life feels constrained in some ways. It seems those of us who have resettled in the US and other countries feel the same way because we all left someone very close to us behind. I think and rethink before I publish a photo of myself as it may cause my refugee brothers and sisters to feel even more hopeless. They didnt do anything wrong to be left behind but fate took us to different places.

It is hard for us to feel completely free while this year will mark eight years in detention for those who are still suffering in Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Australia, and whose future is still unknown. I want to move on, thrive, and forgive the Australian government for everything it inflicted on me for five years, but I just dont know when I can do that as it has separated the family I made during my incarceration on Manus Island. It continues to play politics with their fragile lives.

While most of us are reliving old memories during this pandemic, we are fortunate to have control over our lives, have the meals we want, and live in a safe home without constantly being watched. It is not easy for us to see our refugee brothers and sisters are being held in confined areas with no space to maintain social distancing. It does break our hearts and it is like we are suffering too because of all we have suffered together our experiences are real, our brotherhood and sisterhood are real.

Shamindan Kanapadhi, a Sri Lankan refugee living in Port Moresby, recently wrote a Facebook post which has reminded me of the powerlessness and hopelessness that I used to feel every day on Manus. He wrote: Life is sustained by hope, the hope of future prospects and dreams being fulfilled. Every night as you go to sleep, you are sustained by the hope that the next morning when you wake all your problems will be solved. Hope allows us to keep striving. But sadly, when your hope is shattered by unexpected incidents, you are left with an unbearable pain and a disheartening situation.

His words shattered my heart, as I cant bring an end to this crisis. Australias offshore refugee policy has been criticised internally and globally. However, refugees are still locked up, now for nearly a decade. How could we let this happen to our fellow human beings? Where is our humanity? I dont sleep in peace. But I survived.

The minister for home affairs, Peter Dutton, has no plan to release the refugees. Instead he continues to punish the innocent by trying to remove the only lifeline they have telephones. It is another political strategy to keep the public and media occupied talking about phones instead of thinking about refugees release. I never thought Australia would treat refugees the way it does.

It is high time the Australian government put an end to this systematic torture before it is too late. Thirteen refugees have already lost their lives as a consequence of the offshore detention regime. I urge those in power to let all our souls heal and contribute to this world.

More:

I left Manus Island but it's hard to feel free while my refugee brothers and sisters are still detained - The Guardian

According to the States police, Elizabeth McDougall was last seen in the area of Route de la Hougue Bie in St Martin at around 5pm on Sunday (26 July). She was wearing a green-coloured parka jacket.

The Channel Islands Air Search aircraft which is equipped with a high-powered night vision infra-red camera was seen making several low passes over the search area.

In a statement, a spokesperson for CIAS, said: 'At 1.02am on Monday 27 July, CIAS were alerted to a missing person last seen at La Route de La Hougue Bie, Jersey.

'Arriving on scene at 2.09am and using the Wescam [infra-red camera], the crew saturated the areas of Queen's Valley and identified various heat sources which were discounted as domestic animals. The weather was clear and using the camera, visibility was excellent from 2,000 feet.

'Police were asked to check a heat source in a field near Rue du Rue [in St Martin] but this was discounted. The search area widened and the surrounding roads and fields were checked with no trace of the missing person.

'Air Search 1 was stood down at 4.16am, landing in Guernsey [CIAS' base] at 4.23am.'

Anyone who has seen Elizabeth or knows her whereabouts is urged to contact the States police by calling 612612 and selecting option 2.

More here:

Missing person search underway in the east of the Island - Jersey Evening Post

Residents of Qeshm Island in southern Iran reported the sound of an explosion just after 10 p.m. on Saturday. It caused concern because the electricity went off. Officials claimed there was an earthquake, but many did not believe them.Rumors pointed to other possibilities. Qeshm is known for fishing and tourism. It is a long island off the important Port of Bandar Abbas. Illicit oil trading takes place off some of the islands between Iran and the Gulf.The tanker Gulf Sky, at the center of an international case involving Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps front companies, was anchored off the island in mid-July after allegedly being hijacked from near the UAE. It is also of strategic value because the IRGC has a naval base on the island.In this context, some social-media accounts and local Arabic and Persian media outlets claimed there had been a mysterious explosion. This would be in line with another dozen such explosions that have impacted Iran since late June.One destroyed a surface-to-surface missile facility at Khojir; another harmed centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear-enrichment facility. This has left many Iranians on edge over concerns they may be targeted by cyberattacks or other acts the government is not admitting to.There are other controversies related to Qeshm. Fishermen want more support, and some believe the island will form part of a free-trade zone nexus, along with Kish Island, and that China will have a growing role there. Iran is not for sale, say some nationalist and populist social-media accounts, challenging Chinas alleged upcoming role.Fishermen held a meeting on Friday about facing issues in transporting their catch. Could an explosion be some sort of sabotage? People say it could be human error or an IRGC secret maneuver.The fishermen said they were told not to go out fishing on Saturday and link this to the supposed explosion. There are questions over whether it might be linked to ammunition storage on the island.In the absence of any real evidence that something happened at Qeshm Island, the incident will likely come and go without further details. What it does show is how Iran has been jarred by all the recent explosions and how locals are quick to report any rumors of what they think is another incident.

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Was there another mysterious explosion on Irans Qeshm Island? - The Jerusalem Post

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Heres a look at the top criminal-justice headlines from around the borough over the past week:

MAN, 35, DEAD AFTER WEST BRIGHTON STREET-CORNER SHOOTING

The NYPD responds to a shooting on Castleton Avenue and Barker Street in West Brighton on Wednesday, July 22, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)

A 35-year-old man was gunned down on a West Brighton corner Wednesday morning.

Barry Moultrie, was fatally shot at about 11:25 a.m. at Castleton Avenue and Barker Street when a verbal disagreement escalated into violence, a source said.

Moultrie was found by officers on the scene with a gunshot wound to his torso. He was initially transported to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries.

Click here for the full story.

MAN, 25, KILLED IN MARINERS HARBOR DELI SHOOTING

Caution tape remains around the Holland Deli on Richmond Terrace on Thursday, July 23, 2020, a day after Kaseem Scott, 25, was fatally shot at that store. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

A 25-year-old man died after being shot inside a deli on Richmond Terrace in Mariners Harbor Wednesday night, and the suspect remains at large, police said.

Kaseem Scott of Mariners Harbor died at Richmond University Medical Center, according to a statement from the NYPD.

Police responded around 9:30 p.m. to a 911 call of a male shot inside of Holland Deli at 3400 Richmond Terrace, according to the police statement. Officers found Scott suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Click here for the story.

MALE, 18, SHOT IN GROIN EARLY SUNDAY MORNING IN CASTLETON CORNERS

Police responded to a report of a man shot early Sunday morning near the intersection of Westwood Avenue and Todt Hill Road in Castleton Corners. (Google Maps)

An 18-year-old male was shot early Sunday morning in Castleton Corners by an unknown suspect, according to an NYPD spokesman.

The victim, who sustained a gunshot wound to the groin, was transported in stable condition to Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, police said.

Police responded to a 911 call just before 4 a.m. for a report of a shooting near the intersection of Westwood Avenue and Todt Hill Road.

Click here for the story.

COPS: WOMAN KILLED TRYING TO CROSS SIE IN HIT-RUN

Police are investigating a crash on the Staten Island Expressway near Richmond Road on Friday morning. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

A 28-year-old woman was struck and killed by a suspected hit-and-run driver while she was trying to cross the Staten Island Expressway early on Friday morning, according to police.

Police responded to a 911 call of a crash involving a pedestrian on the New Jersey-bound expressway in the vicinity of Richmond Road, according to a statement from the NYPD.

The incident was reported at 3:11 a.m.

Click here for the story.

S.I. MAN ALLEGEDLY IMPERSONATED EMS OFFICER

Robert Schnepf, who is facing charges related to impersonating an EMT officer, is pictured in an undated photo. (Courtesy:FDNY)

Officials with the FDNY say a Staten Island man posed as an EMS lieutenant in an effort to swindle local businesses.

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro announced last Friday that fire marshals arrested 45-year-old Robert Schnepf for his alleged scheme impersonating Lt. Hart.

Schnepf swindled multiple Staten Island businesses out of money, goods and services while allegedly wearing a fake uniform and flashing a fake badge, according to an FDNY media release.

Click here for more details.

CHARGES UPPED VS. MAN IN CRASH WITH WOMAN ON HOOD

Tierra Eddy, 29, known affectionately as "Tee-Tee," was killed early Sunday morning in what police are calling a vehicular assault following a domestic incident with her boyfriend. (Submitted)

A Brooklyn man was indicted Monday on murder and other charges stemming from the death of his girlfriend who was killed when he allegedly was drunk and crashed his car into a West Brighton home while she was on the vehicles hood.

Jahfare Ford, 26, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in state Supreme Court, St. George, in connection with the March 14 incident that claimed the life of Tierra Eddy, 29.

Eddy was killed two months after she and Ford had held a funeral service for their baby girl who died in the womb, the victims mother previously told the Advance.

Click here for the story.

ELECTRONICS STOLEN IN BURGLARY AT ST. CLARES SCHOOL

Police are seen going inside the Lindenwood Road entrance to St. Clare's School in Great Kills following the report of a burglary on Tuesday, July 21, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/Maura Grunlund)

Police are investigating a burglary at St. Clares School in Great Kills where four males were seen fleeing in a car.

The burglary occurred between 10:40 and 11:18 p.m. on Monday at the school at 151 Lindenwood Road and the incident was reported on Tuesday, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPD.

The four unknown individuals broke the glass panel of a door to enter the location and removed electronics worth about $400, the police spokeswoman said.

Click here for more details.

MAN ACCUSED OF FIRING GUN INSIDE CAR; ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE

A man from Mariners Harbor was trying to commit murder when he fired a gun inside a car in Stapleton, authorities allege.

Destin Burks, of Brabrant Street in the Mariners Harbor Houses, stands accused in the incident that occurred on July 15 at about 2:35 a.m. on the 100 block of Broad Street.

The suspect, with intent to cause the death of another, fired a gun multiple times into an occupied, black Toyota sedan, according to the criminal complaint.

Click here for the full story.

See the rest here:

2 murders, S.I. Expressway hit-run top Staten Island crime news this week - SILive.com

Island-wide COVID-19 testing is not on the cards, according to the director of public health.

Simon Bryant, director of public health, told a meeting last week that Island-wide testing would not be helpful as it would pick up false positives.

At a meeting of the Isle of Wight Councils Health and Wellbeing Board, concerns were raised by 1 parish councillor about those who may have COVID-19 and are potentially spreading the virus but not realising it as they are showing no symptoms.

Councillor Bob Blezzard, a member of Lake Parish Council and representative of the Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils, said:

This seems to me to be a problematic area. Is there a way [testing] could be rolled out to everyone on the Island?

We were used as a guinea pig for the NHS Track and Traceappcould we not be used as a guinea pig for wider testing?

However, Mr Bryant said he would not recommend asymptomatic testing tests for those who are showing no signs of the virus for the whole Island as it would not be cost-effective. He said:

We are doing asymptomatic testing in particular settings where we know the spread is much more devastating in care homes and other places.

If we have an outbreak (two or more cases in the same area), we do test other people to see if they have got it and we will pick up asymptomatic cases in that sense.

We also have to remember, the Island has a very low prevalence of infection so it is not effective to do testing because we will start to pick up false positives which isnt helpful.

Mr Bryant mentioned a pilot trial in Southampton which conducts weekly surveillance of people by doing spit tests and suggested nationally there may be more pilots such as that.

On the Isle of Wight, 421 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in all settings hospitals, care homes, drive-through centres and more but Mr Bryant says there had been no new cases in the last 7 days.

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ISLAND-WIDE TESTING FOR COVID-19 NOT ON THE CARDS OFFICIALS CONFIRM - Island Echo

Suppose you were a TV film-maker adapting a niche fantasy fiction book series or video game that features a monster-hunter beset by wolves, vampires and assorted nasties. Eastern Europe is lined up to supply the forests and castles. But where should you go to find the wildest, most primitive locations?

The answer, the producers of cult series The Witcher decided last year, was the popular holiday island of Gran Canaria. On the face of it, that might sound to you like a mad choice. After all, you wouldnt expect to stumble across medieval warriors, bards or princesses in the burger bars and infinity pools of the commercialised south.

But, visiting the island shortly after filming ended, I soon discovered that behind and beyond its coastal tourist resorts Gran Canaria harbours an amazingly diverse and evocative volcanic landscape. Rich in history and mystery, its tantalisingly lost in time. If youre looking ahead to snatching some Canarian sunshine post-lockdown, and plan to self-cater or are doubtful about spending too many days cooped up in a big hotel complex, its a perfect place to explore. Especially if you happen to be a film buff.

Gran Canaria has attracted scores of film-makers over the decades. Its photogenic in its own right, of course, but its also a location scouts dream when it comes to evoking alternative time-zones, countries or cultures. The film crews for The Witcher rolled up in March 2019. Inspired by news of the shoot, I hit the movie trail a month later on a mission to experience the islands chameleon magic at first-hand.

I awarded myself an A-listers head start, and began my adventure in the souths super-glamorous Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia, an exclusive garden enclave with just 54 rooms. (Previous guests include Bruce Springsteen, the manager confided to me proudly. Oh and your Mary Berry, he added. Though presumably not travelling together, I reflected. Now, that would have made a film-and-a-half.)

Just an hour into my visit and 330 yards from the hotel grounds I found myself on the western edge of one of Gran Canarias most-photographed marvels. The magnificent shifting dunes of Maspalomas are one-and-a-half square miles of undulating golden sand whipped into drifts and ridges by winnowing winds. A huddle of bored camels had been assembled to offer rides to tourists, but the dunes are easily walkable and I trekked happily inland into silence. With only blue skies and shimmering sands for company, it was mesmerisingly surreal like stepping into a melting Salvador Dali painting.

A dramatic pursuit across the Maspalomas dunes was one of the earliest scenes filmed for The Witcher. But the most distinctive filming locations of the nine-day shoot drew on landscapes that are still imbued with the spirit of Gran Canarias aboriginal settlers, a race of cave-dwellers who are thought to have arrived in the Canary Islands from the Berber regions of North Africa over 2,000 years ago.

In the north-west of the island, the remains of ancient burial sites and troglodyte villages still linger around the town of Galdr (a former capital) and rural Agaete. I spent a heady morning soaking up the scent of thick curtains of pinewoods in the Tamadaba massif (another filming location), before repairing to the areas wild and rocky beaches the antithesis of the well-manicured south. In the pleasantly scruffy fishing village of Sardina del Norte I sipped a bracing cortado coffee that was intermittently doused in sea-spray as breakers slapped over the jetty. A marmalade cat had sensibly taken up residence beneath a half-upturned boat.

The following day, I headed for the core of the island, its heritage heartland of sharp-toothed volcanoes and knife-edge ravines with walls still studded with cave-houses. Unmissably dominant are the islands twin symbols the majestic volcanic chimney Roque Nublo (Cloud Rock) and the aboriginals sacred mountain, Roque Bentayga. The drive was breathtaking, as the road spiralled upwards from the yellow-broom slopes of Barranco de Fataga into what felt like a petrified forest of tree and stone.

Misty layers of rock formations were massed against the horizon like jigsaw pieces. I pulled up at a pleasant picnic area, drowsy with birds and bees. A group of birdwatchers with binoculars were heading up the mountain footpath, clutching leaflets depicting the islands rare blue chaffinch. Above them, 90 minutes away on foot, rust-red Roque Nublo was wreathed in swirling cloud. Sometimes it was visible, sometimes it vanished. I was well and truly bewitched.

Then it was time for something completely different a visit to the islands capital. Cosmopolitan Las Palmas definitely isnt monster-slayer territory. But its no stranger to film crews, and I was ready now for a bit of clean-cut nostalgia courtesy of 1964s Wonderful Life (starring Cliff Richard and the Shadows). Although most of this musical romp was shot in the south, the opening scenes were filmed in Las Palmass Puerto de la Luz, so thats where I headed first. Strolling along the quayside where our heroes pursued a tartan-clad Susan Hampshire, I was struck by how similar parts of the palm-studded waterfront still looked to the 1960s footage.

The port was proving to be an unexpected delight. I lingered over a bowl of albndigas (spicy meatballs) at one of the tapas bars in the atmospheric fin-de-sicle Mercado del Puerto, a bustling wrought-iron market hall piled high with traffic-light peppers and papayas the size of rugby balls. Buzzing with chattering locals on lunch-breaks from nearby office blocks, their jackets and ties heaped on stools, it felt wonderfully non-touristy.

Just minutes away from the market hall were the ritzy caf-lined promenades of Playas de las Canteras, the two miles of buttery town beach that are Las Palmass equivalent of Copacabana. When Gregory Peck filmed scenes for Moby Dick (1956) here, he and director John Huston stayed at the nearby Santa Catalina Hotel, the citys most famous celebrity hideaway now recently reopened after a years closure for refurbishment.

But I wasnt on a whale trail right now. Instead, I wandered south to the jewel in Las Palmass crown the narrow cobbled alleyways and hidden courtyards of its old quarter, Vegueta, and the gracious neoclassical squares and buildings of adjacent Triana. Steeped in history, Veguetas balconied houses have provided the backdrop for many a period movie. In May 2016, Triana even switched continents. Its main square, Plaza de Cairasco, was covered in sand, and became Casablanca in the Second World War for the Hollywood thriller Allied, starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard.

Vegueta was enchanting. I spent an absorbing couple of hours exploring art galleries, Santa Ana cathedral and the fine colonial mansion, Casa de Coln, that houses a museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus. Yet it was the little mysteries and surprises that fascinated me the most. Near the Guiniguada theatre, on the corner of Calle la Pelota, I came across a fairy-tale three-storey house turreted with enclosed balconies of glass and wrought iron. It looked as though there could be a story behind it and sure enough, I discovered that there was.

In 1889, deeply depressed by the death of his mother and fearing he might never write music again, the composer Camille Saint-Sans fled life in the Parisian spotlight to hide away for the winter in Las Palmas. He registered at a hotel under a pseudonym. One evening, walking out in the streets of Vegueta with a music teacher hed met, he heard the strains of his own Danse Macabre drifting from a window. It turned out that the talented pianist was 19 year-old Candelaria Navarro Sigala, his new friends pupil. Hearing her play, Saint-Sans was inspired to write again and he dedicated his new composition, Valse Canariote, to her.

The house that I was gazing at was built for Candelaria in 1901, after her marriage. By then, Saint-Sans had become a firm family friend. Candelaria played her grand piano there until her death in 1945, and for some years the composer continued to visit her. I pictured him, an honoured guest sitting at one of those exquisite birdcage windows while his muse played on, older but still beautiful to him. Someone should make a film about it.

Linda Cookson travelled as the guest of Sovereign Luxury Travel (01293 832459; sovereign.com) which will offer seven nights in the Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia from 1,599pp, B&B, after the hotel reopens on Sept 12. Prices are based on two sharing, including flights from Gatwick (with security fast passes and access to No1 Lounge) and private resort transfers. For July or August breaks with Sovereign, seven nights B&B in a different five-star hotel starts at 899pp, including flights and private transfers.

Airlines have resumed flights to Gran Canaria from UK airports. Given the current uncertainties, check cancellation policies of airlines and operators you book with to make sure you are happy with how flexible they are about last-minute changes.

Gran Canarias airport is 11 miles south of Las Palmas and around 16 miles north of the main resorts of the south. Bus lines 60 and 90 go north from the airport to Las Palmas (20 mins/2); lines 66 and 90 head south to main resorts and Maspalomas (40 mins/3.50).

Local car hire specialists Cicar (cicar.com) and Cabrera Medina (cabreramedina.com) offer seven days hire from around 95.

The rest is here:

The otherworldy Spanish island that's a hit with movie buffs - Telegraph.co.uk