STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Scandinavias biggest film festival is going ahead this year despite the coronavirus pandemic, but will be hosted on an isolated island and admit only one attendee - a healthcare worker, selected from 12,000 applicants.

Swedish nurse and film fan Lisa Enroth was chosen to be the 2021 Gothenburg Film Festivals castaway who will spend a week on the remote island of Pater Noster watching film after film.

In healthcare I seem to have spent ages listening, testing and consoling. I feel like Im drained of energy, Enroth said.

Pater Noster, on the boundary of a dense archipelago offSwedens west coat, is known for its lighthouse.

The wind, the sea, the possibility of being part of a totally different kind of reality for a week all this is really attractive, said Enroth, who will keep a daily video diary that will appear on the festivals website.

The festivals CEO Mirja Wester said: It feels particularly right to be able to give this unique experience to one of the many heroes of the healthcare system who are all working so hard against COVID-19.

Reporting by Colm Fulton; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky

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Swedish film festival to screen on remote island for audience of one - Reuters

A snowboarder takes a break and soaks in the view of a snowy Hawaii atop Mauna Kea. Maui appears in the distance with the clouds. Image: Weatherboy

Not to be outdone by the incredible atmospheric river event that dumped more than 7 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada earlier this week or the potential of blizzard-like conditions in the Mid Atlantic beginning this weekend, Hawaii got in on the wintertime weather action with its own snowstorm this week.While most people dont associate the tropical paradise Hawaii is known for with snow, theyre surprised to learn that it does snow in the winter due to the elevation of these volcanic peaks. Mauna Kea is the highest of the bunch at 13,803 feet. Mauis Haleakala is much lower at 10,023 feet. Because of that difference, Hawaii Island will see snow more frequently than the lower Maui Island. Just one storm last January dropped 2-3 feet of snow on Hawaii Island and created snow drifts that were far deeper.

On Sunday, the National Weather Service in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, which is responsible for issuing forecasts and advisories for the entire Aloha State, issued a Winter Storm Watch for Hawaii Islands Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, the two highest volcanoes on the Big Island. Eventually, winter storm warning conditions appeared by Monday night, dumping more than a foot of snow some locals refer to as pineapple powder. Strong, gusty winds of more than 30 mph also whipped up the snow, creating white-out conditions in the areas being impacted by the heavy snow.

While heavy snow fell on the freezing cold higher elevations of Hawaii, soaking rains flooded portions of Hawaii, especially the eastern side of the island where bands of heavy rain marched through off the tropical Pacific. Glenwood recorded 7.82 within 24 hours while Mountain View saw 7.33; 7 fell in Kapapala Ranch while 6.99 of rain was recorded at the USGS gauge at Saddle Quarry.

While crews cleared roads of flood related debris on Tuesday, a snow removal crew got busy on Mauna Kea. While the site is visited by tourists, Hawaiian cultural practitioners, and of course, winter sports enthusiasts in the winter, the area just below the summit of Mauna Kea is home to some of the most powerful and advanced telescopes on Earth. To make sure technicians and related astronomers have access to the facilities on the mountain, crews work diligently to plow and blow the snow off the roads.

The Hawaiian landscape, dotted with telescopes of different types and sizes, saw a fresh 1-2 feet of snow this week. With the access road now plowed out, winter sports fans had a full day to play in what locals refer to as pineapple powder. #HIwx pic.twitter.com/AAVirCfcIw

the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) January 29, 2021

By Wednesday morning, most of the roads to and around the summit were clear of snow, giving members of the astronomy community the chance to drive up nearly 14,000 feet to work in the sky. However, freezing fog and light snow shower activity returned later in the day, forcing rangers that patrol the mountain to close down the access road to visitors once again.

On Thursday, with clear blue skies over Hawaiis Big Island and clear, dry roads available to the summit, the mountain was once again open to visitors.

While many visitors simply looked around in awe of the wintry beauty and were busy taking pictures and shooting video, sports enthusiasts of different skill sets took to the slopes to enjoy the snow.

Near a small plowed-out parking area close to the summit, families brought their children to sled around a 20 gentle slope. Beginner skiers and snowboarders also used this bunny hill to get acclimated to sliding around in the snow and the altitude. At altitudes greater than 9,000 feet, altitude sickness could become problematic to even the most physically fit people.

About two dozen snowboarders and a few skiers took to the slopes, gliding down the snow-covered volcanic terrain around the telescopes at Mauna Keas peak on Thursday afternoon. Captain Cook, Hawaiis Tai Johnson tells us hell try to come to the peak and snowboard for the 1 or 2 big winter snowstorms that hit the area. Also an avid surfer of the Kona side surf spots, Johnson says its also possible to surf and snowboard in the same day. Its a lot to go from the beach all the way to almost 14,000 feet, which will do a number on you. He adds, But you can totally go surfing and come back here when its slushier in the evening.

There is no infrastructure to support winter sports: no restrooms, no lodge, no equipment rentals, and no lifts. Locals take pick-up trucks to the summit and give each other rides back up the snowboardable slopes.

We call it the local lift; its a free lift; its hitch-hiking with your thumb, Johnson said. And its friendly enough where everyone will give you a ride. He already enjoyed 20 rides down and up the mountain and says he can go down and up upwards of 50 times a day as long as his knees hold up.

Beyond shuttling snowboarders and skiers around the summit slopes, the pick-up trucks also come in handy to haul snow to lower elevations. Because of the high altitude, not everyone can handle the thin air where the snow falls. And with typical Hawaiian outfits consisting of slippers and shorts, many dont have any winter attire appropriate for the summit where temperatures may only top out in the 20s on snow-covered days. Because of this, many will load up their trucks with snow and haul it down to waiting friends and family in warmer locations on the island. While the temperatures was near 30 during our visit at the summit, temperatures were in the low 80s on Hawaiis sunny beaches.

In this weeks storm, both Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa were covered in snow. While the roads at the summit are improved to normal highway standards on Mauna Kea to deal with the astronomy related traffic there, the same isnt true for Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa, known as the worlds largest active volcano, is located across from Mauna Kea on Hawaiis Big Island. While its larger in volume than Mauna Kea, its a tad bit shorter, standing up at 13,678 feet compared to Mauna Keas 13,803. Because Mauna Loa is an active volcano and Mauna Kea isnt, there isnt much in the way of buildings or telescopes on it. While there are science stations and the HI-SEAS Lunar / Mars simulating lab are on Mauna Loa, a single narrow road rides up the slope and it stops short of the summit. With poor access to the snow there, it doesnt have the same draw as Mauna Kea does.

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Tropical Snowstorm Drops 12"+ on Hawaii Island - Weatherboy

Though it lies just a few miles off Englands southern coast, the curious, diamond-shaped Isle of Wight seems to exist in another era entirely. Once a beloved vacation destination for Victorian visitors, the island still reachable only by boat from the mainlandremains a British family holiday favorite that capitalizes on the kitschy seaside charm of yesteryear.

But the end of an era on the Isle of Wight is approaching. The islands train line, whose rolling stock has consisted exclusively of former London Underground carriages from the 1930s, is undergoing its biggest transformation in a generation.

Taken out of service in London in 1988, these Tube cars were moved to the Isle of Wights Island Line to see out their final days, which made them Britains oldest passenger trains in regular operation. But after 82 years of service, the time for retirement has come. In true Isle of Wight style, the decade dial is stuck somewhere in the past. From April 2021, the Island Lines vintage 1930s fleet will be replaced with new trainsformer Tube carriages from the 1980s.

The Island Line is not a museum and yet was operated by trains that are several decades older than can be found anywhere else on the network, and older even than much of the stock on many heritage railways, says Richard Long, author of Ryde Rail: A History of Tube Trains on the Isle of Wight.

The use of London Underground trains on the Isle of Wight can be traced back to a single tunnel. The island was one of the last places in the country to operate steam trains, which ran until 1967. As part of the electrification overhaul, the trackbed in a tunnel in Ryde, at the lines northern end, was raised to prevent flooding. This seemingly minor change decreased the clearance of the tunnel by 10 inches, meaning British Rails standard-size trains would no longer fit through. Seeking smaller alternatives, the government found the perfect option in a place where space is at a premium: the London Underground. The 1938 trainsClass 483 Electric Multiple Units, to give them their proper post-Underground namewere the second set of former Tube cars introduced to the Isle of Wight; the first Tube trains used on the Island from 1967 to 1992 were called Standard Stock, built in the 1920s.

With bright bauxite-red livery, metal- and teak-trimmed interiors and manual tip-out windows, the 1938 carriages were classic Art Deco. But soon style would be swapped for stamina.

The 38 Stock is the last train that you might describe as pretty inside, says Chris Nix, Assistant Director for Collections and Engagement at the London Transport Museum. Im going to get hate mail for saying that. After this generation of Tube trains, he says, a lot of the fixtures and fittings become more functional and are designed to stand up to abuse rather than being attractive.

Before arriving on the Isle of Wight, the Class 483s were refurbished and stripped of some of their original ornate features to make them more durable. But if you missed the chance to ride in one of the 1930s carriages on the Isle of Wight, the London Transport Museum is home to the best remaining example, acquired with the original Art Deco fixtures in situ, including waxy wooden floors, brooding forest-green interiors, ventilation grilles with swirling loops around a London Underground bullseye roundel, and shovel glass lamps, so named for the shape of the light cover. The Museum also has a four-car set at its depot in Acton, west London, which occasionally runs on heritage outings.

Some of the 38 Stock thats pulled from the Isle of Wights line could end up on the scrap heap. Others may join a heritage railway line northeast of London. And one will join the museum of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, the islands only other train service.

We expect that it will be a popular addition, and that, in time, our visitors will be able to enjoy traveling aboard a 483 on the Island once again, says Steve Backhouse, general manager of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. The unit will spend most of its time as a museum exhibit; however, we hope that it can run on the line during special events.

The Isle of Wight hasnt had any brand new trains since the 1800s, but thanks to a 26 million ($36 million) investment, former Tube trains from the late 1970s and early 1980s will soon arrive on the Island Line. Vivarail, a British company that designs and manufactures trains, has refurbished the carriages to make them more than just hand-me-downs. The updated D Stock will bring in free wi-fi, USB charging and, most importantly, a more reliable service.

Its sad to see the 38s go, but you can see that they are really tired now, and bless them, they need to be retired, Nix says. Its sweet that three generations of Tube trains have gone on their holidays and will see out their retirement running on the Isle of Wight.

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London's Retired Tube Trains Live on an Island - Atlas Obscura

After serving on the Mercer Island Planning Commission for the last four years, Ted Weinberg will put his hat in the ring for city council Position 4 in the November 2021 general election.

According to city site, positions 4, 2 and 6 are all subject to election in 2021. Those positions are currently held by Lisa Anderl, Salim Nice and Mayor Benson Wong, respectively.

Im running because I want to give back to the community that I love, and its given me so much over the years, said longtime Island resident Weinberg, 52, who added that hes open minded and enjoys listening to people and crafting legislation that is in the best interest of the Island.

Weinberg, whose family moved to the Island from Seattle when he was 12, noted that two of the main city issues at the forefront of his mind are fixing the underlying structural imbalance of the budget and maintaining funding for the vital mental health counselors at the schools.

During his time on the Planning Commission, Weinberg and his fellow members have helped the city work through complicated issues, including the comprehensive plan, the critical areas ordinance and the shoreline master plan, according to a press release.

While sitting on the Planning Commission, Weinberg has listened empathetically to each speaker.

Theyve got their own unique perspective in the issue that were discussing at Planning Commission that particular day. (It) affects their life in some way, either in a positive or a negative way, and they really want us to know, he said.

Mercer Island High School 1986 graduate Weinberg, who holds degrees in business from the University of Washington and architecture from the University of Virginia, has spent the last four years working as the portfolio manager for the city of Seattle Information Technology department. Weinberg and his wife have a passion for volunteering, and he serves on the boards of the Mercer Island Sister City Association and the Friends of Seward Park.

After living in Bellevue for three years during part of his 15-year career at Microsoft, Weinberg moved back to the Island in 1993 with his wife. The couple has a 26-year-old daughter and a 22-year-old son.

What I love most about Mercer Island is intelligent, dedicated and compassionate people, and its quiet, safe and beautiful neighborhoods, he said.

In consideration of how we voice our opinions in the modern world, weve closed comments on our websites. We value the opinions of our readers and we encourage you to keep the conversation going.

Please feel free to share your story tips by emailing editor@mi-reporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.mi-reporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (Well only publish your name and hometown.) We reserve the right to edit letters, but if you keep yours to 300 words or less, we wont ask you to shorten it.

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Weinberg will run for Mercer Island City Council in next election - Mercer Island Reporter

Scorseses 2010 adaptation of the bestselling psychological thriller Shutter Island changed the original novels ending; we discuss how (and why).

Martin Scorseses 2010 adaptation of Dennis Lehanes bestselling psychological thriller Shutter Island changed the original novels ending, but how did the movie alter the ending and why was the change made? Released in 2003, Mystic River writer Dennis Lehanes Shutter Island is a chilling mystery with a bombshell final twist that re-contextualizes the entire preceding narrative.

The story of a US Marshall sent to investigate the treatment of criminally insane patients in the titular offshore institution, Shutter Island is a paranoid and claustrophobic story of a troubled antihero trying to uncover the truth no matter how disturbing it is. And by the time US Marshall Teddy Daniels does uncover the terrible truth behind the eponymous island, the revelation is one that casts the novels entire story in a new light.

Related: Martin Scorsese Has Two Cameos In Taxi Driver: Where to Spot

In 2010 a movie adaptation of Shutter Island was released starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Teddy and directed by Cape Fear helmer Martin Scorsese. The movie adaptation received rave reviews but changed the ending of the novel in one small but notable way. Lehanes original novel ends with the reveal that (spoilers, obviously) Teddy isnt actually investigating Shutter Island, hes a patient in the facility who was sent there after murdering his wife and children. His shattered psyche has been unable to deal with this reality, but the institutions staff go along with his delusional belief that he is investigating the island in the hopes of helping him deal with and eventually accept the trauma. However, by the novels end, Teddys condition hasnt improved despite these attempts, leading the institution to lobotomize him. In the movie, however, it is heavily implied that DiCaprio's Teddy does know the truth but hes choosing to be lobotomized as he cant face the guilt of what hes done.

The change comes down to a single line that touches on a recurring theme of both Lehanes writing and Scorseses film making: Catholic guilt. Like the lawbreakers and lawmakers who crop up in Scorseses filmography and Lehanes bibliography, Teddy is shaken by the reality of what hes done and cant contend with the thought that he is capable of such amoral evil. This inability to face the reality of his moral failings forms the bedrock of his persistent delusion that he is simply a US Marshall sent on an assignment. However, in the closing scene of Shutter Islands movie adaptation, Teddy asks his partner (actually a psychiatric doctorwho is goingalong with his delusion, played by a haunted, sad-eyedMark Ruffalo), whether hed prefer to live as a monster, or die as a good man?

This question is at the heart of Shutter Islands movie ending, whichunlike the novel heavily implies that Teddy is aware he murdered his wife and children and is intentionally choosing a lobotomy over living with that reality. The question leaves his partner shook and disturbed, as does Teddys failure to answer to the name Teddy (which further reinforces the implication that he knows this isnt his real name). The movie closes on a shot of the lighthouse where the lobotomies take place, implying that Teddy chose the procedure over living with the guilt of his actions. In contrast, unlike Scorsese's movie,thebook doesnt include the final conversation, meaning theres no real reason to think that the novels Teddy is hiding his awareness of his actions. In the original Shutter Island source novel, Teddy explicitly accepts that he murdered his wife and children, drops the delusion, and voluntarily submits to a lobotomy.

More: Which Martin Scorsese Film Has The Most F-Bombs?

Thor 4 First Set Photos Reveal Chris Hemsworth's Love & Thunder Costume

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Shutter Island: How & Why The Movie Changed The Book's Ending - Screen Rant

If you're looking for a lush and expensive getaway distanced from other people, Waldorf Astoria's latest private island offering may be the perfect place for you.

The luxury hotel chain already has a nearby $1,700-a-night resort in the Maldives that was launched in 2019, but if you're looking for more exclusivity and luxury, head to its latest Ithaafushi private island instead.

Here, social distancing should be no problem, especially since you and whoever you travel with will be the only guests on the island (accompanied by a personal concierge team, of course).

Read more: Wealthy parents are investing in high-end, 'backyard' camp experiences and private excursions to give their kids a taste of summer in light of COVID-19

"We have launched the private island for discerning travelers during this time when we know that safety and security are a top priority amongst the evolving needs of travellers," Etienne Dalancon, general manager at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, told Insider in an email interview. "The Ithaafushi private island offers a high level of exclusivity and natural social distancing. "

Excerpt from:

Waldorf Astoria's Ithaafushi private island in the Maldives for $75,000 - Business Insider - Business Insider

A motorcyclist lost his life Sunday in a three-vehicle crash on the Big Island.

An unidentified 67-year-old man died following the collision on Sunday afternoon, which took place at the intersection of Honomu Road.

Police responding to the 1:35 pm traffic collision determined that a 2018 Toyota Corolla four-door sedan traveling north on Highway 19 failed to yield to oncoming traffic and attempted a left turn onto Honomu Road, striking a 1973 BMW motorcycle that was traveling south on Highway 19.

Following the collision, the 2018 Toyota Corolla spun out striking a 2006 Honda Pilot, which was stopped at the Honomu Road intersection and waiting to turn right onto Highway 19.

The motorcycle operator was unresponsive at the scene and transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 4:24 pm. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The driver of the Honda Pilot, a 39-year-old man from Kona, and his three passengers, a 35-year-old woman, a 13-year-old boy, and an 11-year-old girl, all from Kona, were not injured in the crash.

The driver of the Toyota Corolla, a 59-year-old man from Honomu, was transported to Hilo Medical Center with abrasions and later released. He was then arrested for negligent homicide in the second degree and released pending further investigation.

Police investigating the traffic collision have determined that inattention to driving and failure to yield were major contributors to the crash. Alcohol and/or drugs are not considered factors at this time.

This is the third fatal traffic collision in 2021 compared to three fatal traffic collisions during this same time period last year.

The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit is conducting this investigation and is asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has information to contact Officer Erhard Autrata at (808) 961-2329 or via email [emailprotected].

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Three-Car Collision Leaves One Dead on Big Island - Big Island Now

Church bells chime and children play freely in the square named after the late actor Massimo Troisi. A restaurant serves fresh fish to the smattering of customers eating outside, and fishermen mend their nets. With clear blue skies, it seems like a typical afternoon in mid-summer.

But this is late January in Corricella, a 17th-century port in Procida, and the scene pretty much sums up the pace of life on what is the smallest and least known island in the bay of Naples.

Parts of Troisis 1994 Oscar-winning Il Postino were filmed in Corricella, and the area shot to fame again a few years later as the fictional village of Mongibello in The Talented Mr Ripley. Both films helped raise Procidas profile, but not enough to keep the majority of visitors from overlooking it in favour of the glamorous Capri or Ischia, popular for its natural hot springs.

Now the colourful Mediterranean island has been thrust back into the limelight after recently winning the coveted accolade of Italys Capital of Culture for 2022, fending off competition from nine other candidates. It is the first time that the title has ever been granted to an island.

The prize was a moment of celebration among the islands 10,000 inhabitants and gave a glimmer of hope for the future amid Italys ongoing struggles with the coronavirus pandemic. Giuseppe Conte, the countrys caretaker prime minister, said: Lets get ready to visit Procida, while culture minister Dario Franceschini said the island would accompany us in the year of rebirth.

But some residents, wary of the pre-Covid mass tourism that has blighted so many other cultural treasures in Italy, say a balance must be struck between developing the island and maintaining its cherished characteristics.

Its a good thing for the island and important for the generation who will come after us, said fisherman Francesco Scotto. But we need to be cautious. Tourism is OK but if it becomes too frenetic, like Capri or Ischia, we risk losing our traditions.

Those centuries-old traditions are closely tied to the ocean. Scotto is among the many islanders who would be at sea for months on end, working in commercial shipping or, in more recent decades, in the cruise ship trade.

Whoever works at sea always has a desire to return to Procida, said Scotto, who was born and raised on the island. It is here we find tranquility.

Luigi Esposito, who runs a furniture restoration shop, said many seafarers have long resisted tourism. They would come home and want peace, not to see crowds of people, he said, while describing Procida as a magnet you never want to leave.

The community is close, like one family, he added. But Procida is also an island that needs to progress with balance and care.

Raimondo Ambrosino, the mayor of Procida, said the island is ready for the challenge as leaders work up a rich calendar of events for 2022 that will draw on its history, art, music, food, architecture and natural beauty.

Procida is just 4km-wide and made up of pastel-coloured houses, several beaches and narrow alleyways that wind through the main town. Overlooking Corricella harbour is the old walled town of Terra Murata, home to a disused prison that until 1988 hosted some of Italys most violent criminals. Guided tours of the prison began in 2016, and leaders are now trying to establish how to make best use of the vast building.

Procida is also home to a maritime academy, attracting students from beyond the island.

A key element of the islands winning bid was its development of slow tourism, Ambrosino said.

The island gets busy in the summer, especially with Neapolitans, but the visitor numbers have so far been sustainable. Ambrosino expects this to continue as foreign visitors return after the pandemic.

Procida is not an amusement park, he said. You wont find nightclubs or big luxury hotels with spas. What you will find is a particular experience people dont come here to be entertained but to get to know the community and its traditions.

In Corricella, Giuseppina Nasti is clearing tables at La Locanda del Postino, a restaurant that in its previous life was the storage space used to create the bar and restaurant in Il Postino. Procida is part of the Campania region, which is currently under yellow zone Covid restrictions, allowing bars and restaurants to open until 6pm.

My dad travelled all over by sea and used to say that Procida was the most beautiful place in the world, Nasti said. When he retired, he didnt want to leave again. Procida is much more authentic than Capri or Ischia.

Ambrosino doesnt believe that Procidas recent victory will diminish that authenticity.

There is a risk that the island could change, but its also true that for centuries its had a strong maritime identity its difficult to imagine that this would suddenly be turned upside down by the fame, he said.

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The little island of Procida prepares to shine as Italys Capital of Culture - The Guardian

Focused on a traditional career in medicine since he could walk, Dr. Bryan Cooper had his a-ha moment while working as a hospital corpsman in the Navy. There he experienced firsthand the power a nursing career holds, an experience that demonstrated the humanity in medicine and set the precedent for his practice.

The concept wasnt new to Dr. Cooper, who grew up seeing his grandparents both chiropractors treating several generations of patient families. That experience, paired with his own, has informed his own practice at Camano Island Health System.

In my practice, Ive taken a different approach to medicine because I want to be able to build partnerships with my patients its enormously rewarding to be able to get to know and grow with them. Locally owned and operated, weve brought a mom-and-pop feel to our practice which isnt something youre likely to find elsewhere, Dr. Cooper explains.

By educating and empowering patients and their families, the practice is bringing everyone in the community a means of pursuing optimal health.

Who they are:

Camano Island Health System is a doctorate-level, nurse practitioner-led healthcare organization that serves the Camano Island community with high-quality health services.

Caring for the whole person and using an integrated approach underscores their work, allowing them to provide exceptional care.

By combining complimentary types of treatment, such as family practice, psychiatry, acupuncture and massage in a respectful environment, it allows fellow practitioners to work together for the betterment of the patient.

This comprehensive approach prevents duplicate or contradictory messaging and also presents the patient with a full range of care options. It also provides a bigger pool of resources beneficial for patient safety, as all treatment methods are explored comprehensively.

In a profession that changes daily as we discover new things and studies are released, its important to always be able to learn and adapt to the changing environment, and having this interactive approach affords us this, Dr. Cooper says.

Core services offered at CIHS include:

Through comprehensive, integrative, quality health services, Camano Island Health System is helping meet the needs of the Camano Island communities.

To learn more, visit them online at camanoislandhealth.com. You can also head to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to stay up to date on all their latest happenings.

Originally posted here:

Practitioner shares passion for integrative healthcare with Camano Island | HeraldNet.com - The Daily Herald

By Scott Brinton and Mike Smollins

A massive nor'easter out of the west swept across Long Island early Monday, and prognosticators say it could drop up to a foot or more of snow across the area by Tuesday, with wind gusts expected to reach 30 to perhaps as high as 60 miles per hour.

Oceanside and Island Park were two areas hit hard by the storm. Both of the school districts closed ahead of the winter blast on Sunday and announced Monday that they would also be closed on Tuesday. Messages stated that the Oceanside and Island Park school district websites would update residents on more closures or potential re-openings for later in the week.

Nassau County and town officials urged people to stay off the roads during the storm if they could. Road conditions were already "treacherous" by Monday morning.

"Wind is going to play a signifcant role in this storm," said County Executive Laura Curranduring a news conference Sunday. "We're talking about blizzard-like conditions .... It's going to be heavy, wet snow with a lot of wind."

The biggest snow fall will come between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. Monday. The South Shore is expected to be "most vulnerable," the county executive said.

"As the day goes on, conditions are going to get more dangerous for driving," Curran said.

Two to five inches were expected to fall by the time of the morning commute at 9 a.m., and snow was expected to accumulate throughout the day after that.

For your hyperlocal forecast by zip code, seethe National Weather Service here.

Power outages were expected. To report one, go toPSEGliny.com.

Expect delays and service disruptions on the Long Island Rail Road and NICE Bus.

Link:

Oceanside, Island Park hit with massive nor'easter - liherald.com

Scandinavias biggest film festival is going ahead this year despite the coronavirus pandemic, but will be hosted on an isolated island and admit only one attendee a healthcare worker, who has been selected from 12,000 applicants.

Lisa Enroth, a Swedish nurse and film fan, was chosen to be the 2021 Gothenburg film festivals castaway who will spend a week on the remote island of Pater Noster watching film after film.

In healthcare I seem to have spent ages listening, testing and consoling. I feel like Im drained of energy, Enroth said.

Pater Noster, on the boundary of a dense archipelago off Swedens west coast, is known for its lighthouse.

The wind, the sea, the possibility of being part of a totally different kind of reality for a week all this is really attractive, said Enroth, who will keep a daily video diary that will appear on the festivals website.

The festivals chief executive, Mirja Wester, said: It feels particularly right to be able to give this unique experience to one of the many heroes of the healthcare system who are all working so hard against Covid-19.

Read the rest here:

Swedish nurse to be sole attendee of film festival on remote island - The Guardian

A lake house in the Pacific Northwest has received a complete overhaul by American studio Graham Baba Architects, creating a "quiet refuge" that prioritises views of the water.

The Lakeside Residence is nestled into a sloped site on Mercer Island, surrounded by a freshwater lake just east of Seattle.

The project involved the full revamp of a 1960s beachfront cabin that underwent a series of piecemeal renovations over the decades.

"By the time our client acquired the house, its design integrity had long ceased to exist," said Seattle firm Graham Baba Architects.

"The forested property, however, was ideally suited to the creation of a quiet refuge with direct connections to nature."

The building was stripped down to its studs, and the interior layout was completely rearranged. A key goal for the design team was to provide a strong visual connection to the lake, which the original dwelling lacked.

The architects sought to make the most of a somewhat challenging site, which slopes down toward Lake Washington. The terrain drops a total of 60 feet (18 metres).

Great attention was placed on the entry procession, which begins with a driveway that winds through the woods and arrives at a carport located uphill from the house.

A walkway travels down through intimate gardens and terminates at the home's entrance, which is marked with a double-height glass wall. Glimpses of the lake can be seen through the glazed aperture.

"The passage from street to house is conceived as a journey, where work and public life gives way to nature and private reflection," the team said.

Roughly rectangular in plan, the home is clad in dark-stained cedar that provides "subtle dimension and shadow effects."

In certain parts of the exterior, the team incorporated Corten steel siding to help articulate the home's massing.

Large stretches of glass lend a sense of transparency to the dwelling and usher in ample daylight. On west-facing windows, sunshades and fins help mitigate direct sun exposure. Roof plantings atop the house help the building blend with its verdant setting.

Within the residence which has two levels and a basement one finds rooms awash in neutral colours and earthy materials. Many of the spaces are oriented to provide expansive vistas of the water.

The ground floor contains the entrance, a galley kitchen with a breakfast nook, an open-plan living and dining area, and a guest room.

Rooms are fitted with contemporary decor that is both streamlined and comfy. In the main living space, bi-fold doors lead to a patio that pushes out toward the water.

The second floor holds a generous master suite and two bedrooms for children. Special features in the master suite include a Japanese soaking tub and sliding pocket doors with leather panelling.

"Concealed doors and integrated handrails reinforce the minimal aesthetic without sacrificing rich materiality," the team said.

A variety of spaces are located in the home's lowest level, including a den, playroom, exercise room and wine cellar.

"Previously closed off from the waterfront, the basement now opens directly to the waterfront, enabling activities to flow from inside to outside," the architects said.

Throughout the dwelling, the team aimed for "crisp and spare detailing." Warm materials, such as fumed white oak, are paired with industrial finishes like polished concrete and blackened steel. No detail was overlooked.

"Everything from door pulls to sink faucet levers were meticulously designed, detailed and fabricated," the team said.

Founded in 2006, Graham Baba Architects has completed a number of distinctive projects in the Pacific Northwest, ranging from a moody speakeasy at Amazon's Seattle campus to the rural headquarters for the Washington Fruit and Produce Company.

The firm also designed a Seattle cannabis dispensary that features dark metal cladding, wooden decor and glass vitrines.

Photography is by Kevin Scott.

Project credits:

Architect: Graham Baba ArchitectsArchitecture team: Brett Baba, design principal; Francesco Borghesi and Noreen Shinohara; project teamInteriors: Terry HunzikerCivil engineer: CPLStructural engineer: Carissa FarkasGeotechnical engineer: Geotech ConsultantsLandscape architecture: Rich Haag and Associates, Anne James Landscape ArchitectLighting design: Brian HoodContractor: Lockhart Suver

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Washington home by Graham Baba embraces its forested island setting - Dezeen

A 30-year-old Rock Island woman faces felony charges after a Bettendorf bar fight left three people injured.

Rebecka Castaneda-Valadez faces three counts of assault while displaying a weapon and three counts of willful injury, all felonies.

The fight happened shortly before 2 a.m. Jan. 10 at the Central Avenue Tap, 2604 Central Ave., the arrest affidavit says. Castaneda-Valadezs sister and her sisters boyfriend got into an argument, which led to a fight.

Castaneda-Valadez, without apparent provocation, grabbed a glass beer bottle and struck the bar owner in the back of the head with it, breaking the bottle.

After that, Castaneda-Valadez cut another victim with the bottle while the second victim tried to break up the fight, the affidavit says.

A third victim was fighting with the defendants sister and also was cut with the bottle by Castaneda-Valadez.

The three victims were transported to different hospitals with these injuries:

Victim one: A large cut to the back of the head that was bleeding profusely from being struck by the beer bottle.

Victim two: A large cut underneath her right eye and a large deep cut over her right eye. Both injuries were bleeding profusely when police officers arrived. She advised an officer she would need surgery in Iowa City for the wound above her right eye.

Victim three: A large, deep cut to her left ring finger, swelling above her left eye and had a small cut on the left side of her back. The cut to the victims finger and her back had been bleeding when Bettendorf police arrived.

Witnesses identified Castaneda-Valadez as the person who had struck and cut all three victims, who independently identified her from a photo lineup.

Witnesses also identified a codefendant, Sean Wren, 31, as being involved in the fight, too. The third victim said he struck her multiple times in the face while Castaneda-Valadez assaulted her.

Castaneda-Valadez, arrested on a warrant, was released on bond after being held 33 minutes Saturday night in Scott County Jail. She is scheduled to appear Feb. 15 and again Feb. 19 in Scott County Court.

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Rock Island woman faces felony charges after 3 injured in Bettendorf bar fight - WHBF - OurQuadCities.com