Queen and Swarm of Bees Land on Towel at Cape May Beach – NBC 10 Philadelphia

Beachgoers in Cape May, New Jersey, had a close encounter with a swarm of bees and their Queen.

Dean Bloemer, of Cape May, told NBC10 he first noticed several bees swarming around a mans umbrella on the beach on Perry Street around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. He then saw an entire swarm land on a womans towel about 50 feet away from him.

At that time we turned around and a woman was saying, Oh my goodness, bees are landing on my towel, Bloemer said.

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Bloemer later found out that the swarm was following the Queen Bee that had landed on the towel. A crowd gathered to watch though they kept their distance.

"People are going crazy," Wayne Carson said. "And then they all landed on one towel and it looked like a huge beehive on one towel."

About an hour later, Allen Brown, a beekeeper by hobby, arrived and was able to safely capture the Queen and most of the bees.

"Never seen or heard of it on the beach," Brown said.

Brown put the towel and as many of the docile honey bees as possible into a box and brought them to his backyard in West Cape May. There were no reports of anyone being stung.

Brown told NBC10 the bees likely ended up on the beach while looking for a new hive.

"They land there to protect the Queen," he said. "And they're just hanging around the Queen, watching her as they send out scouts in all directions to find a new home."

Brown said the bees already seem to be adapting well to their new environment and beachgoers shouldn't worry about seeing them again.

"I believe they found a home," Brown told NBC10. "Made it easy for them."

Brown said he'll continue to try to collect the bees still lingering around the lifeguard stand at the beach if needed.

Meanwhile, those who witnessed the spectacle are still buzzing about it.

"It was like you thought the locusts were coming except they were bees," Ina Brown told NBC10. "It was one of those odd moments in time in 2020 that you experience only probably once in your lifetime."

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Queen and Swarm of Bees Land on Towel at Cape May Beach - NBC 10 Philadelphia

Sandals Plans to Develop a Beaches Resort on the Island of St. Vincent – TravelPulse

Sandals Resorts International (SRI) plans to develop a Beaches Resort in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The resort company acquired the Buccament Bay Spa and Resort, which closed in 2016. The property will be completely transformed into the fourth Beaches resort. The other Beaches Resorts are in Jamaica and Turks & Caicos.

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The minute our customers land in St. Vincent, they will be enchanted with its magnificence, said SRI Founder and Chairman Gordon Butch Stewart. The resort hugs the Caribbean Sea and is nestled within a lush mountain range and neighboring rainforest. Best of all, its only a short drive from the newly constructed Argyle International Airport.

Adam Stewart, deputy chairman of Sandals Resorts International, confirmed the news in a post on LinkedIn.

We are excited to share the news of our companys expansion to a new destination and our eighth island in the Caribbean, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Stewart wrote. Through a partnership with the government and people of this beautiful island, Sandals Resorts International will be introducing a new Beaches Resort.The company did not reveal when construction would start or when the resort could open but did say the agreement has been in the works for nearly a year. Currently, Sandals has been reopening resorts in the Caribbean in phases.

Butch Stewart said investing in St. Vincent is a natural next step for continued expansion" in the Eastern Caribbean.

Beginning with our first entry in Saint Lucia many years ago and more recently Grenada and Barbados, we are champions of growth for the Eastern Caribbean, and it has remained at the forefront of our expansion strategy, Butch Stewart said.

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Sandals Plans to Develop a Beaches Resort on the Island of St. Vincent - TravelPulse

The 2017 ‘Beaches’ and Other Misguided Remakes of ’80s Movies – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Some remakes are class acts well cast, well written, and modernized just enough to reach a new audience while still drawing in the original fanbase. Successful remakes are rare and few, for it not easy to strike the proper balance between originality and familiarity, between reference and reinvention. While the recent takes on A Star Is Born, The Jungle Book, and Dawn of the Dead got it right, the same cant be said about the remakes of classic 80s movies below.

The original Beaches starred Barbara Hershey and Bette Midler as two best friends from childhood two best friends with vastly different personalities, from different walks of life, who loved each other like sisters. One is a wealthy debutante; the other is a to-be entertainer. And, through thick and thin, sickness and health, they remain united.

RELATED: Bette Midler Net Worth and How She Makes Her Money

While the original movie was deemed melodramatic, audiences raved for Midler and Hershey. Though the script was trying a little too hard to conjure those tears, the leading actors made up for the deficit in other areas. Unfortunately, without Midler and Hershey, the movie no longer worked. The remake starring Idina Menzel and Nia Long became pure schmaltz without the sincerity and weight Hershey and Midler offered the film.

The original A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise was known for its twists and turns, as well as its tendency to veer into the campy horror direction. Robert Englund was animated and flamboyant, while Jackie Earle Haleys Krueger was purely malevolent.

RELATED: Revisiting Wes Cravens Masterpiece, A Nightmare on Elm Street

The 2010 movie focused on Kruegers darkness and sinister behavior, and abandoned the characters original duality; his twisted sense of humor and bizarre behavioral illustrations were amiss. The tendency to make all horror utterly dark is a contemporary genre trend that did not suit the source material. Thus, it failed to pay homage to the Englund-led movies, which thrived in the campy 80s space.

Red Dawn was not entirely realistic when it first premiered, but the remake was utterly out of time. When the first version came out, Reagan had recently labeled the Soviet Union an evil empire, as The Atlantic notes. Thus, placing a Cuban-Soviet invasion at the center of a narrative wasnt too far a stretch.

In the remake, North Korea invades. And, the logistics dont exactly add up. Audiences appreciated the original as it felt timely and reflective (to an extent), despite the harsh critical response. Yet, the remake was condemned by audiences and critics alike.

The original Fame tackled difficult and heavy themes, which many musicals do not dare venture into. From class issues, academic struggles, race conflicts, and more, its not just about kids trying to make it as dancers, singers, and actors. Unfortunately, thats all the remake really is. The remake completely sanitized the original, gutting its grit and leaving its sincerity and poignancy dead on arrival.

The original Conan the Barbarian features Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime; the movies got action, its got funny and memorable lines, and its got just enough story and characterization to keep it afloat. Unfortunately, the remake with Jason Mamoa focused so heavily on graphics and cinematography that the basic blocks of filmmaking didnt make the cut. The characters were bland, the story was flat, and the themes werewere there any bigger themes?

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The 2017 'Beaches' and Other Misguided Remakes of '80s Movies - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Neptune Beach Seat 3 Candidates Invited To Take Part In July 30 Virtual Forum – WJCT NEWS

Incumbent Neptune Beach City Councilor Kerry Chin is seeking reelection to Seat 3 in the August 18 primary.

Hell be facing off against Esther Byrd and John Cauley.

Beaches Watch, nonprofit, citizen-based organization, has invited the Seat 3 candidates to a virtual forum on July 30 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Related: Local, State And National 2020 Election News

At the time of this storys publication, Beaches Watch had not yet announced how the public can log in to take part in the forum. Additional details will be posted on this Beaches Watch webpage.

Other Neptune Beach races are:

Mayor, Seat 1: Currently held by Mayor Elaine Brown. Brown has been reelected by default because she is unopposed for a second term.

Council, Seat 2: Currently held by Councilor Scott Wiley, who will have served two consecutive terms. Lauren McPhaul has been elected by default because she is running unopposed to replace Wiley.

Additional information about Neptune Beachs upcoming election is available on this city webpage.

Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.

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Neptune Beach Seat 3 Candidates Invited To Take Part In July 30 Virtual Forum - WJCT NEWS

The best of Oregons getaway ideas: Escape to beaches, vineyards, mountains – oregonlive.com

You might not be able to take a vacation now, but you can dream of one and even make plans. To inspire you, were selected a list of the best Oregon getaway ideas, from beaches and rivers to vineyards and mountains.

Before you go, check govstatus.egov.com/or-covid-19 for the most current travel recommendations and best practices to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. Also read 10 things to consider before going back outside during the coronavirus pandemic in Oregon.

The landmark Salishan Resort on 250 forested acres in Gleneden Beach has upscale guest rooms with views and even an aerial adventure course.Salishan Resort

Click here>Wild, romantic honeymoons: Start a marriage off right or rekindle your relationship. Which destination is right for you two? Youll find it on the coast or in the mountains, desert or forest. Or maybe in a lighthouse?

Sahhali Luxury Beach House is in Neskowin.Vacasa

Click here>Zen-like getaways: Oregon offers calm vacation destinations. Are you ready to relax and only hear the sounds of ocean waves, rustling leaves or chirping birds? Safely escape to a peaceful place or if youre looking for home design ideas and serene colors that promote tranquility, youll find inspiration looking at photos in this getaway gallery.

Tomahawk Island houseboat: Linger on the deck while docked at the marina on Hayden Island and take in the Columbia River or use the two kayaks and set out on an adventure.Airbnb

Click here>Oregon getaways for the whole family: Are you ready to plan for fun on the water? When you and your family feel its time to break away from home, Oregons wide open spaces and waterways will beckon. How about boarding a houseboat or yacht?

The GetMyBoat app lets you search for boat rentals, fishing charters or other water experiences in a desired location by price, type of experience and number of guests.

Sunny studio with private deck/Vacasa

Click here>10 ideal rentals in Cannon Beach: For people who dream of having a beach house, an Oregon Coast vacation rental is a sweet substitute.

In addition to hotels and B&B, Cannon Beach visitors can check into a cottage or condo, wrapped in classic cedar shingles and equipped with a kitchenette and patio, thats operated by hospitality professionals as well as homeowners with space to spare.

Airbnbs research found visitors book their Cannon Beach getaway at least two months before their trip. Nightly rentals are restricted and people devoted to special events like the crowd-pleasing Sandcastle Contest and hilarious corgi run race to reserve a place.

Chalet Log Home In The Heart Of Wine Country in CarltonVrbo

Click here>Where to stay in Willamette Valleys Wine Country: Thanksgiving weekend in Oregons wine-growing regions is an action-packed chance for Pinot noir fans to barrel taste this years vintage as flavors mature and to enjoy food pairings with bottles that have been released (and perhaps are on sale). Stay in a tiny house to vineyard villa.

Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

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Vero Beach City Council rejects more restrictive mask mandate for the public – TCPalm

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VERO BEACH Mask mandate advocates and opponents crowded City Hall Tuesday, as much as possible under social distancing guidelines.

The City Council discussed whether it shouldmandate people wear masks in public, but didn't have enough members to support the measure.

The council neededa supermajority of the five members to pass an emergency mandate, Mayor Tony Young said, but JoeGraves and Robbie Brackettopposed it.

The city currently requires people wear masks only inside city-owned facilities.

Vero Beach Mayor Tony Young(Photo: Provided by American Cancer Society)

The city needs to do something more to slow the spread of the coronavirus, said Young, who advocated for a mandate.

"We cannot do nothing," Young said. "Doing nothing is negligence."

More: Indian River County delays start of 2020-2021 school year

Joseph Graves, Vero Beach(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO FROM JOSEPH GRAVES)

Graves said there was not conclusive scientific evidence to pass a mandate. Brackett agreed, saying masks were a matter of "personal responsibility." While both said the city should encourage people to wear masks, amandate would be difficult to enforce, resulting in confrontations at stores and in public, they said.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "reviewed the latest science and affirms that cloth face coverings are a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19," the CDC website says. "There is increasing evidence that cloth face coverings help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others."

Councilman Rey Neville, who is recovering from COVID-19, had asked the council to consider a stronger mask mandate requiring the public and business employees who serve the public to wear masks. He called the two opposing votes "disappointing."

Rey Neville, Vero Beach(Photo: PHOTO SUBMITTED BY REY NEVILLE)

"What I don't want to have happen in our community is go back to anothershutdown," Neville said.

Wearing masks, along with social distancing and hand-washing, can help slow the spread of COVID-19, said Dr. Charles Callahan of Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, which currently has enough available capacity to treat patients.

If action is not taken, "we're going to be just like South Florida, and it's going to be within the next 30 days," Callahan said. "If we wait a month, we're going to be in much worse shape than we are in."

A crowd of about 50 residents gathered outside the Vero Beach City Hall on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, showing their support for or against a city mandate requiring citizens to wear face masks. With two councilmen Joe Graves and Robbie Brackett opposed to a mandate, the council opted against moving forward with drafting a proposed ordinance.(Photo: PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM)

About 50 people waving signs and flags for their position stood outside City Hall and in the building's lobby.

"I hope they vote for science, and I hope they vote for safety," said Vero Beach resident Gary Kendrick. "The numbers don't lie. It's not about politics. It's about health."

Kathy Brayton held a sign urging people to "be a good neighbor, wear a mask." It's the right thing to do, she said."How hard can it be?" she asked.

Others said mask mandates infringeon their rights.

"Freedom to me is all about choice," said Vero Beach resident Richard Allen. "If you take my choice, you take my freedom."

More: Hospital board asks County Commission to mandate masks in public

Lindsay Lacy, of Sebastian, shows her support of wearing face masks on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, in front of the City Hall in Vero Beach. The council held discussions on whether to draft a mandate, but with two councilmen - Joe Graves and Robbie Brackett - opposed to a mandate, the council opted against moving forward with drafting a proposed ordinance. (Photo: PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM)

The scene was similar to the July 14 County Commission meeting, where over 50 peopleprotested a proposed mask mandate for the public, excluding young children and those unable to wear a mask because of health conditions.

The County Commission rejected themandate 3-2, withSusan Adams and Peter O'Bryan supporting the mandate.

The county currently mandates masks only for restaurant servers and people visiting county facilities.

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Portland’s East End beach closed over contamination fears – Press Herald

Portland officials closed the East End Beach on Sunday after being notified by the Portland Water District of a malfunction that occurred at the nearby East End Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Jessica Grondin, spokeswoman for the city of Portland, said the popular beach will remain closed until test results prove that the water conditions are safe for swimmers.

The closure took place after a Central Maine Power line that feeds electricity to the plant shut off around 8:15 a.m. Sunday, according to Scott Firmin, director of the wastewater treatment plant. Further complicating the power outage was a backup generator at the plant that failed to generate power.

As a result, an undetermined amount of wastewater discharge left the plant and entered Casco Bay, but was not completely disinfected, Firmin said. Power was restored around 2:30 p.m. and a rented portable generator was brought in as a safety precaution.

Our disinfection system was interrupted and out of an abundance of caution I made a call to the city and notified them, Firmin said Sunday night.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection was also notified. Firmin said he must file a report with the DEP explaining what happened at the plant by Friday. He said the decision to reopen East End Beach will be up to the city after test results are analyzed.

The Portland Water District owns and operates the treatment plant, which serves 60,000 people and handles an average of 20 million gallons of water each day. The water district says its facility, located just to the west of the Interstate 295 bridge between East Deering and Munjoy Hill, is the states largest.

Sundays beach closure represents the second time in two years that malfunctions at the treatment plan have forced the city to shut down East End Beach.

On July 26, 2018, the city temporarily closed East End Beach because a disinfection tank was not put back on line after being cleaned and a second tank was overwhelmed by high flows caused by heavy overnight rains. When the tank overflowed, about 1.69 million gallons of partially treated wastewater spilled, flowing down an embankment and entering Casco Bay west of East End Beach and the boat launch.

The 2018 event also washed out the section of the Eastern Promenade Trail that abuts the treatment plant. The Portland Water District blamed the spill on human error. Repairs to the walking trail and treatment facility cost between $30,000 and $50,000.

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City of Framingham Opened Waushakum Beach July 1, But Swimmers Still Prohibited – framinghamsource.com

FRAMINGHAM On July 1, the City of Framingham opened its three beaches. The problem is since July 1, swimmers have been prohibited in the water at Lake Waushakum beach every day since it opened, including today, July 21.

The beach is open and people have been visiting since we provided lifeguards, however, the Health Department has not allowed swimming until the water quality testing results are within the range according to the State Health Departments guidelines, said Framingham Parks & Recreation Director James Synder.

Waushakum Beach hasnt been able to open this season, due to a chronic water quality issue, said Framingham Health Director Sam Wong.

Residents in the Coburnville-Tripoli Neighborhood are frustrated that the can not swim at the city beach. For the first time in decades, the beach is free, but no one is allowed in the water to wade or swim due to the water quality.

I agree that it is disappointing to restrict access to the water for Framingham residents for any reason, said Synder.

As required by the State Health Department, the City tests the water quality at all the beaches in preparation for opening day. They are testing for bacteria and E. coli.

After that, we are required to test weekly if the water quality passes or retest within a day if the water quality test fails. In this case, the water was tested in the last week in June and was within acceptable limits, so we prepared for opening. The results from the next water quality test did not pass, so we were required to prohibit swimming until it did pass, said Synder.

Framingham Health Director Sam Wong provided the news outlet with the test results.

Ive created this table below for you in regards to beach water quality testing forE. colibacteria at that beach, said Wong.

The standard for a single sample is 235 CFU/100mL or less, and a geometric mean of the 5 most recent sample result at 126 or lower. As of the last lab result, Wausahkum Beach has not been able to meet this state standard, said Wong. A new sample has been collected yesterday (July 20) and we are waiting for the result. For Waushakum Beach to achieve the state standard, this weeks result needs to be 11 or less. A result of 12 or higher will produce a geomean higher than 126, explained Wong.

As you can see in the State Minimum Standards for Bathing Beaches, the State Health Department refers to the geomean of the last five water sample results to determine if a beach may allow swimming again. To date, Waushakum Beach water quality results indicate that even though Waushakum has passed the last water test, water sample levels were not within the geomean of the last five samples and therefore swimming is still prohibited. We will continue to test each time we do not pass and will notify the public once it does, said Synder.

All of our beaches are natural bodies of water that will experience water quality fluctuations. This may be due to an extreme rain event that brings water from the neighborhood to the outfalls near the beach which includes oil, fertilizer, goose droppings and other contaminants that will impact the quality of the water. Waushakum is particularly impacted because of its small size and shallow depth, said Synder.

The 1600+ water quality number is unusually high nearly 7 times higher than allowed.

SOURCE asked the City if they were investigating why it was so high, and if there was a possibility of illegal dumping.

We dont normally investigated high bacteria count at a beach, unless it is consistently high for an extended period of time (a few weeks or multiple failed test results over the entire beach season), said Health Director Sam Wong.

We do not have cameras in this location and did not receive any complaints of illegal dumping, said Synder.

It is not unusual to have a high bacteria count after heavy rainstorms (6/29), especially for a small pond. We did not see a high count after those three days. The level seems to be going back to normal range now. Obviously, we will continue to monitor the situation, said Wong.

We have seen elevated numbers in the past after a heavy rain or at the end of the season when the water is shallow and warm.There was a significant rain storm in late June that may have resulted in the original high number and contributed to the problem, said Synder.

The area around the beach are densely populated, and we have not received any complaint on illegal dumping. An one-time illegal dumping is almost impossible to catch, unless someone witness that in the neighborhood. If we are seeing high bacteria count more frequently, that may indicate an ongoing issue worth further investigation, said Wong.

The Waushakum neighborhood has formed an Waushakum Pond Association to advise the abutters to not permit chemicals from your lawn into the water as well as other ways to preserve the beauty of this pond. The recent numbers are within the State limits but the geomean of the last five tests is preventing access to the water, said Synder.

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Photos By SOURCE intern Kayleigh OConnor, a Framingham High student

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Unless youre a resident, dont expect to park at Gloucester beaches this weekend – Boston.com

North Shore beachgoers be warned: Unless youre a Gloucester resident, youre not going to snag a parking spot at any of the citys beaches this weekend.

After complaints of excessive traffic clogging up roadways last weekend, city officials have decided to bar non-residents from entering the lots on Saturday and Sunday.

Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken says the jams created by sun- and wave-seeking visitors is a common problem for the coastal city every summer. Closing the parking lots to non-residents is the last thing we want to do, the mayor said, but the situation has intensified this year.

Cooped-up Bay Staters, after months of hunkering down during the coronavirus pandemic and with limited travel options available, have been drawn to local beaches even more so than usual in hopes of spending a day out of the house, officials say.

More people are understandably looking to get outside after staying home for months to reduce risk of exposure to the virus, but that has meant traffic is worse and it isnt a sustainable situation for our residents, Romeo Theken said in a statement.

More folks are taking day trips to take advantage of the warm weather without going far from home, according to Karin Carroll, the citys public health director.

However, its critical we ensure there is plenty of space for social distancing on the beach and that residents can go about their daily lives, Carroll said in a statement.

Additionally, officials have their eyes on the tides.

In its press release, the city referenced early high tides for Saturday and Sunday, expected at 10:21 a.m. and 11:07 a.m., respectively, as indicated by U.S. Harbors.

At those times, the beach area for visitors will be significantly reduced especially at Good Harbor and Half Moon beaches which brings a challenge for ensuring social distancing measures are followed, according to officials.

Those looking to drop down a towel or set up some chairs are asked to keep at least 12 feet away from the nearest cohorts of their fellow beachgoers, among other guidance visitors are asked to follow.

The release also noted that a portion of Good Harbor Beach is already roped off as conservation space for piping plovers.

Therefore, the city is closing parking lots including at Good Harbor Beach, Stage Fort Park, and Wingaersheek Beach to non-residents this weekend. Extra staffers will be patrolling the lots to keep an eye out for any out-of-towners trying to skirt the rules.

City residents will have to show a 2020 or a 2019 beach sticker to gain entry to the parking lots. Residents who are still waiting to receive their sticker for this season can show a license and registration containing a Gloucester address, officials said.

Gloucesters public beaches are currently open to a limited number of non-residents, and visitors to the area will still be permitted to park at public beach parking lots in Gloucester on weekdays, for the time being, the release says.

Whether non-residents will be able to park in the lots for the weekend of July 25 and 26 will be announced next week. Officials say this weeks announcement is the first in a series of measures that will be put in place to address beach parking and traffic issues.

Parking updates will be provided on the Gloucester Beaches Facebook page, officials said.

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Unless youre a resident, dont expect to park at Gloucester beaches this weekend - Boston.com

Palm Beach County nonprofit says COVID-19 pandemic leaving thousands of families on verge of homelessness – WPTV.com

LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the number of families living in financial fear continues to grow. In January, WPTV first introduced you to Carmen Fusco and her two children, who were struggling to make ends meet.

A couple months later, COVID-19 would make living paycheck to paycheck a reality for thousands of people living in Palm Beach County.

Now, as Fusco sits in her new home in Lake Worth Beach and watches her children, Kyla, 6, and Jacob, 4, play with their bin of toys, the noise of it is music to her ears.

"My first month and second month, I was just waking up like, 'Thank you God, we're not in the park,'" Fusco said.

When Fusco spoke with WPTV in January, she had just gotten into the Adopt-A-Family program and was living in a shelter. She said she was working 50 hours a week and making $12 an hour. She said her lowest point was sleeping in the park with Kyla and Jacob.

A couple months later, Fusco began working two jobs and, with help from the Adopt-A-Family organization, she was able to get her own apartment in Lake Worth Beach.

"I was like, 'OK, we can make it. We're actually going somewhere,'" she said. "We have our own place."

Then the COVID-19 pandemic got worse.

"There's a two-hour, three-hour layover for every train, every bus," Fusco explained.

Just this week, she said, she was laid off from both jobs.

"Pretty much since that day forward, I've been constantly on the hunt for more work, putting in applications," Fusco said. "Not stopping."

"Once COVID hit, we started to see a big need for homeless prevention, so families that were housed that suddenly became at risk for losing their housing," Adopt-A-Family CEO Matt Constantine said.

Since March 1, Constantine said, they've received a little more than 2,000 phone calls from families in need of homeless prevention. He said they are serving close to twice as many families compared to 2019 and have provided rental assistance to 112 families.

"Now it's really become almost like triage," he said. "We're really trying to put out the fires that are in front of us and really be there for the community and address the need that we see."

When WPTV spoke with Constantine in January, he said all 130 of their affordable housing units were full, with a long waiting list. That's still the case. However, now they're adding 14 new units of affordable housing to the mix.

"We celebrate 14 units," he said. "That's a huge victory."

But, Constantine said, as the COVID-19 crisis continues, for every victorious moment, there are still severe challenges.

"That despite every family's best efforts, bad things have happened," Constantine explained. "We've lost folks that are a part of the families we've served. We've watched as so many of the families that have worked their entire lives have had to pick up the phone and call us and they're not accustomed to this. It's a lot to take in at once, but the piece that always sticks with me is, despite someone's best efforts, that through no fault of their own, that so many folks are sort of ending up in this hole."

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Palm Beach County nonprofit says COVID-19 pandemic leaving thousands of families on verge of homelessness - WPTV.com

Crowds On Beaches A Concern For Falmouth Officials – CapeNews.net

Although Falmouth beaches were not as crowded last weekend as they were on the Fourth of July weekend, town officials are still concerned about the lack of social distancing and people not wearing masks.

Suffice it to say, everyone was pretty shocked by what we saw, particularly at our beaches, with Falmouth Heights Beach as one notable standout among a lot of crowded beaches, select board chairwoman Megan E. English Braga said at the board meeting on Monday, July 13. A lot of people were concerned, and they have raised those concerns with us.

Acting Beach Superintendent Margaret G. Clayton said Falmouth Heights Beach was the only beach where the crowd size became unsafe. She said there were issues at other beaches, including people not wearing masks in the parking lot or bathrooms.

At Old Silver, I might be the only person of 20-plus walking on the bridge between the public side and resident side wearing a mask, Ms. Clayton said. In terms of compliance, it is hard to judge, but that is where we want the public to engage.

She is working with the town department of public works to put additional signage at the beaches to remind people to wear a mask. The signs will also state no alcohol or ball playing is allowed on the beach.

Were trying to put those in problem locations, Chapoquoit, Old Silver, Goodwill and The Heights, she said.

Partying was also a problem on the Fourth of July. Police Chief Edward A. Dunne said the department broke up two large parties that were advertised on social media.

They were really there to party, Chief Dunne said. They werent there to go to the beach and go swimming or anything like that. They were there to party. We made them all aware of the bylaw regarding alcohol and had it all poured out. Once it was all poured out, they didnt want to hang around.

Ms. English Braga also noted the really huge party that took place on Black Beach on the Fourth of July, with more than 400 people crowding the West Falmouth beach. She asked if there continued to be problems with late-night partying at the beaches.

Not this weekend, we didnt have the problem like we did on the Fourth, Chief Dunne said. There might have been a small party up on New Silver Beach, but it was nowhere near the weekend of the Fourth of July.

As of the July 11 weekend, he hired a second seasonal officer to patrol the beaches. The officers requested to search coolers, making those who brought alcohol either pour it out or bring it to their cars.

The two officers who were up there ended up pouring out several cans of beer, but it was nowhere near the Fourth of July, nowhere close, Chief Dunne said.

However, police were still active at the beaches last weekend.

This weekend, while we didnt have the issues of crowding like we did on the Fourth of July, I had to call the [police] all the time on Sunday for illegal queue lines and live parking forming, because every lot in town was full by 10 AM on Sunday, Ms. Clayton said.

The parking lots are available, but at 50 percent capacity. When the parking attendants leave in the afternoon, Ms. English Braga said, beachgoers attempt to use every inch of parking available.

I have noticed, as soon as the parking attendants are gone, and I know there is not much we can do about this, it is a free-for-all, with people parking every which way to fit their cars in, she said.

Board member Douglas H. Jones asked if the town could extend parking attendant hours from 3:30 PM to 5 PM.

I think that does maintain better control of the lots, Mr. Jones said.

Ms. Clayton said parking attendant hours were extended on the Fourth of July, so it is doable.

It is a possibility, but the staff being there will just enforce the sticker-only or the daily fee, she said. They wont necessarily be able to enforce the crowds or the noncompliance.

Mr. Jones asked about the possibility of opening up additional parking spaces at the Surf Drive Beach and Mill Road parking lots.

Mill Road, because it is a smaller lot, seems to have a longer line to get in than when it was fully opened, he said. I guess I am more concerned about that existing because that beach, when Ive been there, has not been overcrowded on the sand. I feel Surf Drive is the same way.

Noting the beach department tracks when parking lots fill up, Ms. Clayton described Mill Road as a very popular place.

Mill Road fills as often as The Heights or Wood Neck or Old Silver or Megansett, but the density of the sand there, it would be hard to know if opening more spaces would change the number of the people, because it is also our closest beach to the bike path for access, so we do see bikers who leave their bikes on the rack there and go across, she said.

The department will take steps to determine how many parking spaces the beaches can support safely by using a figure of 144 square feet of beach space per party. In addition, beach staff will tape measure social distancing compliance three times per day at all beaches going forward.

We will have a little bit better data available the next time we have this conversation, Assistant Town Manager Peter Johnson-Staub said.

Health Agent Scott McGann said his concern is the social distancing of people on the beaches, not of cars in beach parking lots.

In terms of the parking lot, if you can fit them, you can fit them, I just dont know if you can fit them in terms of beach space, Mr. McGann said.

Board of health chairwoman Diana Molloy asked if reduced parking is accomplishing the goal of encouraging social distancing at the beach.

I dont think it is doing what we intended or hoped it would do, decreasing the volume, Ms. Molloy said. It just feels like it is still crowded.

She said her bigger concern is people not wearing masks.

Letting our guard down, I think that is the biggest concern, she said. We are seeing it all over the country, and things are cropping back up because you get that false sense of security because you get really good numbers and think there is not a lot of COVID down here.

Mr. McGann said there were no new cases of COVID-19 in Falmouth this week, the sixth consecutive week with fewer than five cases in town. If cases spike, he said, the town is much better prepared for it now than at the start of the pandemic.

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Crowds On Beaches A Concern For Falmouth Officials - CapeNews.net

Grand Haven beach closed while rescuers search for Lake Michigan drowning victim – MLive.com

GRAND HAVEN, MI The Grand Haven State Park beach is closed Monday, July 20, while rescuers try to find the body of a teen presumed down in Lake Michigan.

Access to the beach and day-use parking lot is temporarily closed.

A 14-year-old Grand Rapids boy was last seen Sunday, July 19, swimming near the swim buoys at the state park.

Grand Haven Department of Public Safety responded to a 3:40 p.m. report of a missing swimmer. Beachgoers formed a human chain but could not find the victim.

Rescuers searched nearly five hours before halting the search. Police planned to search the beach overnight before Ottawa County sheriffs and state police dive teams resume the search Monday morning.

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids had warned of hazardous swimming conditions with high waves and strong currents. The night before the teen went missing, several people were swept off the south pier but were recovered or reached safety on their own.

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Several people swept off Grand Haven pier, prompting temporary closure

14-year-old boy presumed drowned in Lake Michigan

10-month-old dies after being backed over in yard

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Grand Haven beach closed while rescuers search for Lake Michigan drowning victim - MLive.com

Massa Investment buys Paris Theater in Miami Beach for $13M – The Real Deal

Paris Theater, Mathieu Massa (Credit: Google Maps)

UPDATED, July 21, 5:20 p.m.: Massa Investment Group bought the Paris Theater on Miami Beachs Washington Avenue for $13 million.

Miami-based Massa Investment Group, led by Mathieu Massa, bought the 25,589-square-foot building at 550 Washington Avenue for $508 per square foot, records show. Big Time Productions, led by Eugene Rodriguez, sold the property.

The building sold at a sharp discount from its $23 million listing price in 2015. The Art Deco-style building was built in 1945. Under different owners, the property had been used as an adult movie house, a nightclub, and a photography and film studio, according to the Miami Herald.

It had a capacity to hold 1,200 patrons, and could be used for any type of event, including theatrical productions, launch parties and dances. A liquor store, Surf Liquors, sits next to the Paris Theater.

Massa Investment Group secured a $15.2 million loan from IberiaBank to acquire the property, records show.

Big Time Productions paid $975,000 for the building in 1992, records show.

Massa Investment Group specializes in private equity, real estate construction and hospitality, according to its website.

Massas plans for the site are unclear, and he was unavailable for comment.

Massa also owns Mr. Hospitality, which runs Baoli Miami, Marion in Brickell and El Tucan. Hes an heir to a family that founded a large tire company in Europe which eventually sold to Continental Tire of Germany in 2011, according to Massa Investments website.

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Massa Investment buys Paris Theater in Miami Beach for $13M - The Real Deal

July 21, 2020 lake test results: Lance Park beach at caution – West of the I

Jul 21st, 2020by Darren Hillock.

Lance Park beach on Lake Mary in Twin Lakes is under a swim caution after testing showed elevated levels of E.coli there.

The State Department of Health recommends posting warnings at beaches when the test results indicate a E.coli level of 235/100mL or more and closing a beach when test results exceed E.coli 1000/100mL.

The test result from Monday that resulted in the caution at Lance Park on Lake Mary was 272 E.coli/100 mL.

Other results from Monday as reported by the Kenosha County Division of Health (except where noted) are:

Salem LakesSilver Lake County Park beach 4 E.coli/100 mL; Silver Lake DeWitt Park 41 E.coli/100mL; Lake Shangri-la 220th Ct. 10 E.coli/100 mL; Center Lake 71 E.coli/100 mL; Camp Lake: 15 E.coli/100 mL; Hooker Lake Boat Launch 219 E.coli/100 mL; Rock Lake 1 E.coli/100mL.

Paddock Lake Old Settlers County Park 91 E.coli/10; Hoag Park 162 E.coli/100 mL; North Shore Association 142 E.coli/100 mL; PHLA beach 38 E.coli/100mL. PHLA Diving Board 11 E.coli/100 mL.

Wheatland Lilly Lake <1 E.coli/100 mL.

Twin Lakes Lance Park on Lake Mary 272 E.coli/100 mL.

Randall (as reported by town of Randall) Powers Lake beach 33 E.coli/100 mL.

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July 21, 2020 lake test results: Lance Park beach at caution - West of the I

Endless dunes and beach cabanas thats summer on Belgiums coast – The Guardian

Desperate for crashing waves on a beautiful sandy shore but keen to avoid a beach packed with boozy post-lockdown holidaymakers Ive opted for a road trip along Belgiums North Sea coast, which stretches for 40 miles between the French and Dutch borders. There are 15 resorts dotted along the dunes that line the entire coast, and as Belgium has been out of confinement since 8 June, everything has pretty much reopened. I can choose between campsites, B&Bs and classic hotels, enjoy a traditional Belgian beer in a cosy, pub-like estaminet or sit outdoors at a sunny beach cabana, ordering at the bar. Restaurants have also reopened, and the only reason to book is to ensure a table, capacity having been reduced to ensure social distancing.

While it is easy to drive here from the UK, via the Eurotunnel or the ferry to Calais or Dunkirk, I am embarking on a different kind of road trip, jumping on the Eurostar to Brussels, followed by a local train to Ostend, where right outside the station, De Kusttram, the Coastal Tram (1.80 a ride, 7.50 for a day ticket) is waiting to whisk me off to my first stop, De Panne. Close to the French border, this is the starting point of the worlds longest tramline, which hugs the coast up to Knokke-Heist near the Dutch border, with 67 beach stops along the way.

After checking in at De Pannes family-run Hotel Cajou (doubles120 B&B), I forgo the tempting beach just across the road and head to Westhoek nature reserve on the edge of town. Travel brochures describing the reserves dunes as a Little Sahara had caught my attention, and on a sunny July morning I discover a landscape of peaked dunes stretching as far as the eye can see.

During an hour-long ramble I meet just one man, walking his dog. The reserve is free to enter, there are no boundaries or rangers, and several paths lined with thick heathland gorse and a kaleidoscope of sea lavender, wild thyme, evening primrose and pansy of the dunes, criss-cross the rolling dunes.

Walking back into town I pass the Sportstrand, a kilometre-wide beach where people are racing up and down on high-speed sand yachts basically go-carts with sails a sport invented here in De Panne. In town the weekly Saturday market is in full swing. As in every Belgian coastal resort, pedestrians follow one-way signs on the pavement to avoid close contact but I, of course, dont know about this and feel like Jacques Tati in the 1971 film Traffic until locals politely ask me to cross the road.

At the entrance to the market, friendly young volunteers in bright yellow Summer Safe 2020 T-shirts, squirt gel on our hands as we patiently line up, most of us wearing masks voluntarily. (Recent laws made face coverings compulsory in shops and museums.) I buy provisions for a lunchtime picnic local cheeses and home-cured ham and salami and walk over to the beach.

With brightly striped windbreakers and retro bathing huts, it resembles a Victorian seaside postcard, with rented sunbeds and deckchairs laid out to ensure each group has their own bubble. Families are having all the usual fun: building sand castles, playing beach tennis, paddling, swimming, and wind- and kite-surfing. There are signs everywhere warning people to respect distances and of a possible 250 fine but the police presence is minimal and three constables patrolling the boardwalk I speak to are confident they could even cope with an invasion of partying bank holidaymakers. I notice that we are also being monitored from above, with helicopters checking crowd levels.

Back at the hotel restaurant, over a dinner of plump moules marinires and crispy frites, owner Bruno Dequeecker says, We are delighted to see people coming back, especially foreigners who are discovering our coast for the first time, but we are by no means fully booked. I expect a quiet summer.

This section of the Belgian coast is not strong on campsites, but there are some delightful B&Bs, especially in the neighbouring town of Koksijde, where I discover the romantic Loxley (doubles 125 B&B), a half-timbered 1930s cottage where owners Anne and Koen also run a bistro and bar in the garden.

The next day I trundle along to and Ostend, the midpoint of the Belgian coast and its largest city. I disembark to explore for a couple of hours but the boardwalk and beach are packed, so I head into town. Ostend has become something of an avant-garde cultural hub in recent years, and while everyone is at the beach, the museums (advance booking necessary) are forgotten by visitors, including both the contemporary Mu.ZEE and the new interactive James Ensor House, showcasing the work of the Ostend painter and printmaker. I go for a rooftop aperitif cocktail at the desperately hip Grote Post, the majestic former post office and modernist masterpiece, before sitting down to a plate of Ostends speciality shrimp croquettes at Caf Botteltje, where the beer list runs to some 300 varieties.

I then put on my mask (obligatory on public transport) and pick up my faithful tram again, direction Bredene-aan-Zee. Bredene and neighbouring De Haan stand out from other Belgian resorts as neither were afflicted by the 1970s building boom of concrete holiday apartments. Bredene may be the coasts best-kept secret: there are no buildings at all along its seafront, just a protected dune reserve, pristine beaches and a couple of casual bars perfect for a sunset cocktail. The modern town lies inland on the other side of the main road, where some 28 campsites offer self-catering chalets, caravans and tents.

Prices are reasonable at the friendly Veld & Duin (pitches from 20, chalets, apartments or caravans sleeping 2-6 from 550 a week in summer or 100 for two nights off-peak) run by a brother and sister team, Els and Stefaan Casier. You cant miss the campsite as it has an upturned caravan outside the entrance, actually an art installation.

There are six beaches at Bredene one used to be nudist but has been reserved for day-trippers this summer and electronic roadside panels indicate whether beaches are empty, filling up or already at capacity. This efficient Crowd Barometer operates all along the coast and can also be checked online .

The next tram stop is the belle-poque De Haan (or as French-speaking Belgians call it, Le Coq-sur-Mer), which resembles a dolls house village of ornate red-roofed villas, many converted into elegant B&Bs such as La Tourelle (doubles from 120 B&B). Pleasures are simple here, from waffles and gelato to renting pedal karts and a round of mini golf. This is where I meet Andrew James, a British businessman living in Brussels, and here with his wife Petra and young son Philip. For us, it was natural to book our holiday in De Haan. Weve already been twice before: it is great for families, the common sense choice after lockdown. In fact, when we get back to Brussels we will voluntarily self-isolate for 14 days by working at home, and many Belgian friends intend to do the same thing.

At the busy Jeannine tearoom, a big sign announces: We are so happy to see you again. It is in English because it is the international language of tourism, says Paul, a young masked waiter. We are already seeing a lot of foreign travellers arriving.

In between De Haan and chic Knokke-Heist is the retro resort of Blankenberge. With its art deco pier, surf club and kitsch amusements including the 1933 funny-bike Lustige Velodrome the town revels in its role as the noisy neighbour.

Sipping a beer at Salito Beach bar, Cline Claeys, the towns tourism director, tells me: I like to think we are a family-orientated, democratic resort where everybody is welcome. And while some of our neighbours are trying to discourage day-trippers that is not the spirit here in Blankenberge. Just look around: on one of the sunniest days of the year there are no huge crowds, kids are having fun in the playground, people are enjoying a cold beer or spritz, but no binge drinking.

I quickly pass through Knokke, the St-Tropez of the coast with its Ferraris and Porche SUVs and Hermes and Louis Vuitton boutiques. Beyond the exclusive villas, almost on the Dutch border, is the Belgian coasts final hidden secret, Het Zwin (entrance 10), a stunning wetland and bird reserve inspired by the philosophy of the UKs Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust founder, Peter Scott.

It is a total contrast to Westhoek, where I started my trip. Numbers are limited and visitors must book a 30-minute time slot during which to enter, but can then stay all day. As I follow the trail through the freshwater marshlands I pass numerous lookout spots equipped with high-powered telescopes for birdwatching, and helpful guides everywhere. This is a popular migratory stop-off for spoonbills, avocets, geese and terns, as well as a dozen families of storks perched on high poles.

Then I reach the grassy tidal mudflats, whose changing landscape ebbs and flows with the North Sea, where many visitors don wellies or go barefoot across the inlet. The only company here is the grazing Highland cattle, sheep and wild goats, and the distant worries of lockdown life seem to be from another world.

This trip was supported by Visit Flanders. For further information see belgiancoast.co.uk

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Endless dunes and beach cabanas thats summer on Belgiums coast - The Guardian

Long Beach issues curfew on beaches, boardwalks; non-resident passes limited to weekdays only – WPIX 11 New York

LONG BEACH, N.Y. Authorities in Nassau County are cracking down on Long Beach following a rowdy weekend of hundreds of beachgoers who weren't following pandemic rules.

Some residents said the crowds were young adults who were drinking and gathering in large crowds.

A curfew has been set for the beaches on Long Beach. Beaches will now close at 8:00 p.m., and the boardwalk will shut down an hour later, at 9:00 pm., according to police.

The curfew begins on Thursday.

The city is also limiting the sale of non-resident daily passes to weekdays only.

Meaning, if you don't live on Long Beach, you won't be able to come to the beach on the weekend.

Riptides owner Brian Braddish said people need to follow the rules or everyone, including his business, will be penalized.

Closing the boardwalk at 9:00 would be a good thing because theres been issues, and police presence is a good thing. Not having out-of-town residents here is going to hurt my business and hurt the revenue for Long Beach, said Braddish.

The measures are in place to keep the people safe.

The new hours will last until further notice.

The City Council is expected to discuss more about the new hours Tuesday night.

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Long Beach issues curfew on beaches, boardwalks; non-resident passes limited to weekdays only - WPIX 11 New York

Vacationers Enjoy Beaches in Blazing Temps – OCNJ Daily

By MADDY VITALE

A furnace or a stove were some of the descriptors for the scorching air as temperatures soared into the high 90s at the shore Monday afternoon.

George Groves, of Bensalem, Pa., simply put it like this, hot, as he swooshed and coasted on his skim board alongside his son, Jeff, and his 17-year-old grandson, John, along the waters edge on the 34th Street Beach.

The family of 14 rented homes for the week in Ocean City and spent their Monday enjoying the 75-degree ocean temps and some breezes.

Its a really hot day at the beach, but in the water its great, George Groves said.

Like the Groves crew, other beachgoers clung to the shore line, just above where their beach gear would get soaked, for some relief from the sweltering heat.

Stephanie Sokorai, of Shamong, N.J., her five children, her sister, Jennifer Cipparone, and her three children, took to the ocean without hesitation.

We have been coming down to Ocean City for vacation for 16 years, Stephanie noted.

But Monday was memorable for high temps, she acknowledged.

And being near or in the water was the only smart thing to do, she said.

Sokorai summed up the feeling of being on the beach as opposed to being near the water.

A drastic difference. The heat is oppressive on the beach, she said.

Sokorais 14-year-old son, Declan, added to his mothers thoughts of the benefit of being near the ocean. The water feels cool, he said.

While vacationers took to the water to find relief, dipped their toes in or dove in, or sat near the ocean, others, like mother and daughter duo, Pat Shakin and Beth Vandusen, both of Egg Harbor Township, sat in the middle of the beach.

But they came prepared.

Sitting under a blue, flowered cabana that seemed to give just the right amount of protection from the blazing heat, the two, who have a summer home in Ocean City, noted that there was a cool breeze blowing perfectly under the cabana.

Its very breezy. It is very nice, Shakin said.

Vandusen added, We always bring it, but dont always put it up. But on a day like today, it went up.

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Vacationers Enjoy Beaches in Blazing Temps - OCNJ Daily

Summer Beach Project Adds Sand in OC | Government – Cape May County Herald

OCEAN CITY At the north end of Ocean Citys Boardwalk, a small crowd gathered July 17 in the shadow of the Ocean City Beach Patrol headquarters to watch a beach be built.

Federal beach replenishment projects have become routine in the city since the first one, in the 1990s, which drew far larger crowds to watch the then-unusual project progress.

A large ocean-going dredge pumps water and sand from the shoals of the nearby inlet onto the beach, where crews use heavy equipment to shape a beach.

Before that first project, high tides slipped under the boardwalk daily, with little beach in the citys downtown.

Under a 50-year commitment, as part of that first project, the Army Corps of Engineers returned with a contracted dredging company several times to rebuild the beaches as they erode. The projects usually take place in the winter. This years project was set for spring, but repairs to the dredge delayed the start of the project until this month.

No one is happy about the work taking place during an already difficult summer, Mayor Jay Gillian told Ocean City Council, business leaders and others leading up to the work, but the city cant pass up the needed project, worth millions of dollars.

We need it, he told the council during a June meeting, held remotely. Weve gotten some emails about why do we do it in the summertime. We do it whenever we can when somebodys paying about 90% of it.

The dredge, owned by contractor Great Lakes Dredge, is now just outside the Great Egg Harbor Inlet, with steel pipes running along the beach. Orange netting and dune fencing blocks access to the project area, while piled sand allows beachgoers to cross the thick metal pipes through which the sand and water flow.

Visitors stop to watch a beach replenishment project underway, in Ocean City, adding sand to north end beaches. Officials usually try to avoid summer projects, but the Ocean City mayor said the project was needed, and this was when it could be accomplished.

According to the Army Corps of Engineers, the latest phase of the project will add sand from Morningside Road south to 13th Street, and then sand will be added between Morningside and Seaview roads.

The project area closes about 1,000 feet of beach at a time, with access preserved north and south of the project area.

The city has not heard any complaints about the work so far, said Ocean City spokesman Doug Bergen in a recent interview. He said the erosion in the project area is obvious so most visitors and residents can see the need for the work.

The project has not reached the busiest beaches along the Boardwalk, where hotels and businesses already report a difficult summer due to the pandemic. In other years, some visitors complained about the noise and disruption of the project on their block.

Just past the heavy equipment moving sand on the beach, lifeguards were on duty, and families played in the waves on an overcast morning.

According to the Army Corps posted timeline, the project will be completed by August. This is the ninth project pumping sand onto city beaches since the first one started, in October 1992.

The city has been emailing regular updates on the project for those who have signed up, including which beaches will be closed and how far the beach building progressed. According to the most recent update, the project will add 1.6 million cubic yards of sand to more than two miles of city beaches.

The contractor also will stockpile sand so the city can rebuild areas of dune to create an uninterrupted line across the length of the project area, reads a statement posted at ocnj.us/projectUpdate.

Beach replenishments for Strathmere and Sea Isle City were also completed, as part of the first phase of this project.

The total cost for this portion of the work is estimated at $16 million, with the cost divided between the federal government and the state, with the city contributing to the states costs. The city will be responsible for 12.5% of the total cost.

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Summer Beach Project Adds Sand in OC | Government - Cape May County Herald

Long Branch beach badges being resold by people leaving as access closed due to overcrowding – NJ.com

People hoping to get on Long Branch beaches that were shut down due to crowding have resorted to purchasing badges from people headed home for the day, according to witnesses.

The badges are being sold at cost $7 by beachgoers as they depart, people in Long Branch told NJ Advance Media.

On Friday, officials said to expect beaches to close earlier and more frequently to allow visitors space to social distance. Then on Saturday, the city began charging to get on the beach at Plaza Court, Pullman Avenue, Park Avenue and Takanassee, which had been closed previously.

A few miles south, daily beach badge sales in Belmar were also suspended around 1 p.m. due to big crowds. Belmar officials previously said theyd limit daily sales to 7,500 per day.

Long Branch police couldnt immediately be reached.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Long Branch beach badges being resold by people leaving as access closed due to overcrowding - NJ.com

Rise in coronavirus cases in Virginia fueled by spike near its beaches – Richmond.com

Virginias eastern region, outlined by the states beaches, has seen an explosive spread of the coronavirus in recent weeks as trends for the rest of the state have seen slight upticks.

But as a slew of states to the south face devastating spikes in cases and new lockdowns, Virginias localized surge has prompted questions about how the state will avoid following suit.

State officials say the answer may lie in a regional approach to examining trends and levying public restrictions that they hope could stem surges early without reversing the states reopening.

That could mean more restrictions in eastern Virginia, where daily cases surged from an average of less than 100 a day to more than 400 a day in the past few weeks.

Virginia as a whole remains in the third and most relaxed phase of its reopening what may become the new normal until there is a vaccine or effective treatment, Gov. Ralph Northam suggested last week. There are no plans for a Phase Four.

Stricter restrictions and enforcement loom, however, if the trend of new cases doesnt hold flat.

I would do it regionally, if we make that decision. When all of this started, we made guidelines statewide, that was to flatten the curve, Northam said Tuesday in a briefing with reporters. Now its about mitigation, and depending on where thats needed, well direct those changes.

The Northam administration had in the spring rejected a regional approach to reopening, eventually relenting in the face of disparate trends in Northern Virginia and elsewhere. Now, with more testing, data and a better understanding of the virus, state and local health officials said breaking the state into five regions may be the right compromise between making blanket statewide rules or applying restrictions by locality.

The eastern region, which includes all of Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore and more, has become the epicenter of the viruss surge in Virginia in recent weeks. There, health officials say, summer socializing coupled with the flouting of social distancing restrictions has disrupted a declining number of daily new cases.

The region has seen a precipitous increase in new cases that began over the last week of June. On June 26, the area matched its previous record for new cases reported in a day with 157, previously set on April 30. Over the last week, the seven-day average of new cases has continued to rise to more than 400 cases a day.

Part of the increase in new cases could be chalked up to increases in testing statewide, but not all. The region saw its peak on Wednesday at 526 cases, more than half of the 972 reported statewide.

Trends for hospitalizations have also risen in the region in recent days. Trends for deaths at the regional level remain steady in the eastern district and others. (The New York Times, citing its own analysis, reported Friday that additional testing in the U.S. may mean a bigger lag between a diagnosis, and hospitalizations and deaths.)

Todd Wagner, a health director in the eastern region, said the areas beaches and connected attractions have created an environment ripe for new cases, particularly among young people.

In his particular health district, Western Tidewater, which includes Suffolk and Southampton, Wagner said many outbreaks have been traced back to house parties and private social gatherings where one infected individual infected a broader group. Nearby outbreaks in the region could contribute to the frequency of those clusters, he said.

Wagner said his district fields visits by people traveling to and from the Outer Banks in North Carolina, another popular beach destination.

Theres a natural move toward the beach that happens every year in the summertime. When you go to the beach, theres closer proximity among people, than say, if you go to the mountains and hills of western Virginia, Wagner said.

You have whole rows of restaurants and bars. They dont have as much of that in the western part of the state, he added. Any time you have a setting like that, if restrictions arent properly followed, youve got a natural breeding ground for viral transmission.

The central region, which is anchored in the Richmond metro area, has seen an uptick in new cases this month. But the number of cases remains far below the areas peak in late May, when the area saw 279 cases reported in one day. The regions seven-day average of new cases was at 139 on Friday.

In the northern region, which includes Northern Virginia and is the smallest geographic region, new case trends have held steady and far below the regions explosive peak in late May. The areas seven-day average of new cases was 165 on Friday, compared to its peak of 685 cases on May 31.

The northwest region of the state which borders Hanover, reaches up to the border with West Virginia and down through Charlottesville has seen a slight uptick in cases over the past three weeks. Fridays seven-day average of new cases was 105 cases.

In the southwest region, which includes Roanoke down to Wise County, cases have been rising over the last week after an initial rise and fall at the end of June. The seven-day average of new cases was 98 on Friday.

All are trends officials continue to watch, said Stephens and Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky.

Yarmosky did not rule out the possibility of future statewide restrictions, but said that better data will allow state and local officials to use target approaches to respond to surges. The shift is happening as localities debate the reopening of their schools in the fall.

Now that we have increased our capacity, the commonwealth has more options to deploy targeted mitigation strategies, she said, citing the work to contain outbreaks in poultry plants and stricter enforcement of restrictions at beach-area restaurants.

While this situation continues to be fluid and quickly changing, a regional mitigation approach gives us increased flexibility to address specific problems as they arrive.

Nicole Riley, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, which represents many small businesses in the state, said the organization supports targeted enforcement and restrictions that allow as many businesses as possible to stay open.

We feel that the governor is now open to regionalism in a way, and at the end of the day, if thats the system we need for Virginias economy to be open, we support it, Riley said. But, with the caveat, that state government and localities still follow a transparent process.

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Rise in coronavirus cases in Virginia fueled by spike near its beaches - Richmond.com