Jacksonville Beach residents are complaining about City Hall's poor service.

Kenneth Amaro, WTLV 7:56 PM. EDT June 08, 2017

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. - Six years ago, Ashley Kelm moved into her Jacksonville Beach home and has enjoyed it, except for the condition of the alleyway between the homes.

"It has been a problem for four years," Kelm said.

She said that is how long she has been complaining: Four years of asking the City of Jacksonville Beach to do what it is supposed to do.

"I call at least once every two three months to see if anyone coming out," she said.

She calls to see if they're coming out to mow the city's right of way. Right now, it is so overgrown,Kelm said they're seeing vermin creep into their backyard.

"We've had rats," she said, "We found a very massive snake that doesn't belong in the area. We've had bugs and recently poison ivy coming over the fence."

The area in question is behind the homes located on 15th Avenue and 14th Avenue South in Jacksonville Beach. But she said it is bigger than that.

"If you look at the alleys on all of these streets, if it is city maintained, it is in the same situation as ours, it doesn't change," Kelm said. "It isn't street specific, this is a problem."

She wrote an email to Mayor Charlie Latham and her city councilman. Kelm wants to see her tax dollars at work.

"If we're paying to have this done, and it is not happening, lets get another company in there to fix it," she said.

We reached out to William Edwards, who is Jacksonville Beach Public Works. He was not available for comment.

"Why am I driving this? This isn't my job, I have a job," Kelm said. "I would like to be able to do my job while they do theirs and not have to help them see a problem that is very apparent throughout Jacksonville Beach."

We reached out tothe Jacksonville Beach City Hall and they sent the following response:

"In response to your inquiry about the maintenance of an alleyway along 15th Avenue South in Jacksonville Beach, we received a complaint about this alley from a resident just this morning. A staff member from our Public Works Department contacted the complainant and explained the delay in mowing alleys has been from drainage/flooding issues, crosswalks and protecting the dunes during restoration. Public Works is working on a plan to start mowing the alleys on the south end and work their way north. The complainant was thanked for her patience and she was thankful for the response. "

City Managers Office

2017 WTLV-TV

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Beaches residents fed up with city's poor maintenance of the alleyways - First Coast News

Patch.com

3 St. Pete Beaches Close Temporarily Patch.com The affected beaches are Northshore, Maximo and Lassing Park, according to a Thursday evening email from the city. The beaches will remain off limits until water samples show acceptable bacterial levels. It is unclear when retesting will take place. Fecal pollution advisory issued for Fort De Soto's north beachTampabay.com all 6 news articles »

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3 St. Pete Beaches Close Temporarily - Patch.com

The Kushner family owns a number of properties throughout Long Branch making a first family visit a possibility. Doug Hood

Bathers leave the water in Asbury Park with a thunderstom looming in this 2016 file photo.(Photo: PETER ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Buy Photo

With a sunny, warm weekend on tap, all beaches on the Jersey Shore are safe for swimming.

Test results released this morning show unhealthy levels of bacteria at two Long Branch beaches have dissipated, allowing officials to re-open both beaches today.

SUMMER: 9 Shore spots for great outdoor dining

A third beach on the Bayshorebehind the Highlands recreation center was also cleared by testing performed on Wednesday.

The tests are part of a weekly monitoring program thatis on the lookout forenterococcus, a bacteria that grows inside the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals and can be found alongside their feces.

This kind of bacteria is considered a warning sign of dangerous pathogens.

EARLIER: Two Long Branch beaches closed by bacteria

The standard for safe swimming is less than 104 colony forming units, or cfu, per 100 milliliters of water.

BARNEGAT BAY: Clean-up draws thousands of volunteers

Per NJbeaches.org, here are the beaches that tested above the safe swimming threshold on Tuesday, followed by Wednesday's test results and then this morning's in bold

Every Tuesday online,the Press and app.com will post water-quality test results from every Jersey Shore beach that exceeds federal safe swimming standards for fecal bacteria.

Looking for something to cool off this weekend? Try out these cocktail recipes:

The words summer and cocktail go hand in hand: Sipping a cold drink on a hot day is about as good as it gets. Here are five recipes to try. Sarah Griesemer | Wochit

LAST WEEK: 6 Monmouth beaches test high for bacteria

WATCH OUT: Clinging jellyfish reappear in the Shrewsbury

IN OUR SCHOOLS: NJ considers to ban on Styrofoam food containers in schools

Russ Zimmer: 732-557-5748, razimmer@app.com

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Bacteria fades in Long Branch, all beaches open - Asbury Park Press

Doug Fraser @dougfrasercct

ORLEANS The chicks are back, and many off-road vehicle trails across Cape Cod have been either fully closed or dramatically shortened.

The gate swung shut on summer at 6 a.m. Wednesday, well before it officially started, on the sandy trails leading south from Orleans' Nauset Beach.It's a rite of the start to the Cape's busiest season that many off-road enthusiasts would prefer was unnecessary.

But Orleans Natural Resources manager Nathan Sears said he hopes his staff can start escorting vehicles past plover nesting areas by July 15 under a statewide habitat conservation plan approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last year.

The plan provides protection for piping plovers, listed as a species threatened with extinction under both the federal and state endangered species laws, while allowing conditional vehicle access to beach areas.

The habitat plan option used by Orleans allows escorted convoys to proceed past up to two plover broods or nests and past up 20 unfledged least tern chicks, considered a species of special concern by the state. Sears was hoping the trail system might reopen without the need for escorts by Aug. 5.

The northern trail system, which serves only Orleans residents and taxpayers, and gives them access to the Nauset Spit, will not close until June 30, when a chick is expected to hatch near the access road. It takes 26 to 30 days for the chick to learn to fly and better be able to avoid oncoming vehicles.

Before the drive to create the statewide habitat conservation plan program, Nauset Beach was closing down for almost the entire summer year after year.

Photo Gallery: Plovers in peril

Sandy Neck Beach Park manager Nina Coleman worked out a different option under the habitat plan.

Concerned that the entirety of the trail system could be shut down with birds nesting at trail chokepoints, Coleman opted to be able to use methods to discourage nesting in certain areas, like a towed rake, allowing vehicles to carve out a wider trail, and sections of plywood placed over the sand, if necessary.

In doing so, Coleman and her staff were able to keep 1.1 miles open, after which the nesting sites were too concentrated, she said. Under the conditions of the habitat plan for Sandy Neck, her staff cannot escort vehicles except for camp owners who need to access their homes.

They were always allowed to be escorted,Coleman said.

Dennis officials said all their town's trails remain open for the time being.

All of the Cape Cod National Seashore over-sand trails are closed due to unfledged plover chicks, with the exception of two-tenths of a mile at what is known as the Pole Line ORV Access trail,North District Chief Ranger Craig Thatcher said.

Follow Doug Fraser on Twitter:@dougfrasercct.

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Most Cape beaches off limits to ORVs - Cape Cod Times (subscription)

Theres something about Seven Mile Beachthat makes you want to book a flight, stat. Maybe because it is regularly ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in all of the Caribbean.

The water has a kind of blue that most beaches could only dream of after about 25 photo-editing filters, but this beach, situated on Grand Cayman Island is the stuff dreams (and glorious Instagram accounts) were made of. (Also, did we mention that the average winter water temperate is 80 degrees?)

Another thing that makes Grand Cayman such a unique travel destination is the genuine authenticity and culture that can be seen and felt in every crevice of the island. The island has a population of about 55,000 and more than half are from Caymanian descent, which helps create the authentic culture adding to the overall experience.

What to do in Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman is one of the most sought-after diving destinations, no matter what skill level you are.

The nightlife in Grand Cayman is a tad tamer than your typical Cancun Spring Break, so plan to go all out during the day, taking advantage of the beautiful water and white sandy beaches, and opt for a more low-key night. The accessible and shallow reefs make this a great spot to take in an afternoon of snorkeling at Stingray City, so be sure to check out theWaverunner Snorkel Safari so you can get fast adventures and a snorkelers paradise in the translucent waters all in one day.

Camana Bay is also a great option for entertainment while on the island complete with shopping, dining, adventures, a movie theater and even a wine bar with state-of-the-art Napa Technology WineStations.Pretty much all of the hotels in the area offer a free shuttle to Camana Bay, so it's easy to get to.

You should also make a point to stop by Calico Jacks Bar and Grill for happy hour and hang out with a sun-kissed mix of tourists and locals.

Travel pro tip for carry-on items: The TSA folks at Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) are painfully tough. They are major sticklers on one small Ziploc bag and you will be stopped, so pack cautiously. Even if you got into the country with it in your carry-on, odds are you wont be able to leave with it.

A $50 million panoramic view

The newly renovatedWestin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spais the biggest and most expansive beachfront hotel, with a $50 million panoramic view from the newlobby and the largest fresh water pool in Grand Cayman, with an energized swim up bar to keep the vacation vibes going. Check out the resorts fresh new look and indulge yourself in the islands culture in a beach side cabana, awaverunneradventure, snorkeling expedition, a diving tour or something more.

Crystal clear waters aside, it also offers great dining at The Beach House, a AAA Four Diamond restaurant, as well as classic and unique cocktails at the resorts Catboat lobby bar, perfectly setup with a beachfront view. While youre at the resort, don't miss the Beach Side BBQ on Friday nights. Its an intimate yet casual dining experienceyou guessed it on the beach. No need for shoes, but you will need reservations.

The bartenders are about as friendly and inventive as one could hope for, and make the perfect resource for all things related to the island, whether you are on the hunt for nightlife entertainment (like atCamanaBay), diving tips or other beach activities.

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Grand Cayman getaway: Beautiful beaches, spectacular diving in the Caribbean - CultureMap Houston

San Clementes marine safety chief, Bill Humphreys, describes for the City Council how the citys drone can help spot sharks. (Photo by Fred Swegles, Orange County Register/SCNG)

This photo taken by San Clemente lifeguards drone, dubbed Pelican 1, shows a shark on May 21 about half a piers distance offshore, north of Mariposa Point, officials said. (Photo by Fred Swegles, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dr. Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, addresses San Clementes City Council about recent increases in shark sightings off the coast. (Photo by Fred Swegles; Orange County Register/SCNG)

Marine Safety Chief Bill Humphreys provides tips on avoiding sharks at a June 6 San Clemente City Council meeting. (Photo by Fred Swegles; Orange County Register/SCNG)

When San Clementes summer junior lifeguard program begins on Monday, June 12, it will be different from past years, in deference to the sudden presence of swarms of great white sharks off the coast.

Since May, weve have over 100 sightings of sharks and this isnt just due to more people on stand-up paddleboards or more drones, San Clementes marine safety chief, Bill Humphreys, said Tuesday, June 6 during a presentation to the City Council. Theres more sharks. Until a couple of years ago, I had never seen a white shark from lifeguarding. (Then) the first time I saw one, I walked out on the pier and I saw three. Its a new situation for us.

The parents of 260 boys and girls enrolled in the current session of junior lifeguards have been notified that the program will go on and that safety will be the No. 1 priority.

It can still be fun, Humphreys said. It can still be very educational. You can learn beach and ocean safety, although we may modify some programs or activities. Its going to depend upon the conditions. For next week, for example, weve had some shark sightings and shark activity, so were not going to do some of the long-distance activities that we would normally do.

The chief addressed these scenarios during thepresentation.

Next week, he said, when junior lifeguards normally would hold a distance swim test for prospective captains and lieutenants, we are going to hold the swim test at the Ole Hanson pool. No sense in sending a bunch of kids out to the end of the pier strung out a long distance.

If the city has a shark sighting, junior lifeguards will be confined to beach activities or classroom instruction, the chief said.

The public, he said, should look to see if lifeguards are flying a yellow or red warning flag at the beach, then ask a lifeguard why it is not green. It may be surf conditions or it may be a shark sighting.

Before going to the beach, hear the citys beach, weather and surf report at 949-492-1011. Alerts are on on weather boards posted at the pier entrance and on towers up and down the beach, also on shark-sighting signs or on the citys homepage at san-clemente.org, using a link in the lower right corner to live beach camera, surf and weather.

Lifeguards now have a drone to hover offshore, looking for sharks. Humphreys said lifeguards also will do morning and ongoing patrols for sharks, observing from towers and on the pier.

Lifeguards maintain contact with other lifeguard agencies and with the Sheriffs Department, which has helicopters fly the coast and a Harbor Patrol boat out of Dana Point Harbor. Lifeguards can also contact with commercial fishermen, Humphreys said.

We are asking the public, if you see something, to notify lifeguards, he said. We end up getting a lot of reports late in the day someone saw a shark in the morning or the next day. There is not a lot we can do about it. The sooner you can report it to us, the more help it can be for everybody.

Reach city lifeguards at 949-361-8219.

Lifeguards also are discouraging chumming by fishermen off the pier, are considering a ban on fishing behaviors that attract sharks and are coordinating beach-closure policies with neighboring lifeguard jurisdictions.

What we dont want to have is one beach closed and the next beach open, giving mixed messages, Humphreys said.

Tom Gudauskas, a San Clemente resident with a degree in marine science from UCLA and father of pro surfers Dane, Patrick and Tanner Gudauskas, attended the council meeting to ask if the city and other coastal cities might ask the California Division of Fish and Wildlife to lift a moratorium on fishing for great white sharks, a protected species.

My love for marine life is spiritual, Gudauskas said, and I do believe in observation, conservation and our human nature to control our environment. I think the short-term solution to the protection and safety of all our beachgoers is to open the moratorium on fishing the great white sharks and reduce their presence in our area.

Gudauskas said the shark presence already has resulted in near-death attacks at San Onofre and at Corona del Mar within the last year and economic impacts including cancellation of a local surf school, cancellations of reservations at a San Clemente surf lodging and reduced orders for new surfboards.

And of course the Hurley Pro is coming to town and who knows what the decisions will be to run or to not run the event, Gudauskas said. When lives are at risk and economic forces collide with Mother Nature, we know those are difficult situations. Im just trying to open the conversation.

Humphreys said the city is assisting the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beachs shark-tagging efforts, acquiring buoys that will help track sharks.

Dr. Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab, told the City Council that the San Clemente offshore area has long been a nursery habitat for young great whites. He also mentioned Huntington Beach, Santa Monica Bay and Ventura as hot spots. The pattern that we see is that theyll find a beach, theyll be at that beach for a few weeks to a few months and theyll move between beaches, he said.

Asked if a burgeoning sea lion population might account for more shark sightings, Lowe said that legislation protecting marine mammals including seals and sea lions has brought a major recovery to those populations, which had been endangered. They are food for great whites. But he said they mostly populate the channel islands.

Mayor Kathy Ward thanked Lowe for working with the city and thanked lifeguards for increased efforts to keep people safe. She pledged the councils help if lifeguards need more equipment.

Keep in mind, we dont currently have a hospital, the mayor said.

TIPS FOR BEACH SWIMMERS

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Sharks bring changes to San Clemente beaches this summer - OCRegister

SIESTA KEY, Fla. (AP) The sand on Siesta Beach on Floridas Gulf Coast is as fine as powdered sugar, a pure, sparkling white and soft as a kittens fur all because its comprised of 99 percent pure crushed quartz.

For that reason, and many others, it was selected this year as the best beach in America by a professor whos made a career ranking and studying beaches around the United States.

The sand is outstanding, said Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach, a professor at Miamis Florida International University. Every time I go there, Ive got to take a bag home with me. Its almost sacrilegious to walk on it with shoes on.

Other beaches that made the list this year, in order of ranking, are: Kapalua Bay Beach in Maui, Hawaii; Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina; Grayton Beach State Park on the Florida Panhandle; Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York; Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod in Massachusetts; Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida; Hapuna Beach State Park, Big Island, Hawaii; Coronado Beach in San Diego, California; and Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

On a recent workday, Siesta Beach was packed with people, even though it wasnt particularly sunny. The turquoise water was still gorgeous, the sand still fine. The beach is about 200-300 feet (60-90 meters) wide in some places, which means people can stretch out and not feel crowded. The beach was last years runner up and one of three in Florida on this years top 10 list.

Its nice and clean, thats what I look for, said Jamie Gaskin, a 59-year-old retiree from Lakeland, Florida, who was scoping out the beach for a family Memorial Day party. She especially liked the two-story pavilion, which boasts a snack bar and restrooms. Its only two years old and even offers sweet crepes for breakfast and tapas dishes in the early evening.

Theres plenty of tables to barbecue and to hang out. And the restrooms were nice and clean. Id definitely recommend this, she said.

Siesta Beach is on a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, and is located just southwest of downtown Sarasota. The water is placid on most days Leatherman says you can measure the waves in inches and is shallow and safe for swimming, with no sharp drop-offs. Added bonuses include lots of parking, a trolley service to and from the islands adorable downtown area and plenty of lifeguards. The beach also has natural dunes, which is a bit rare for Florida, and the fine sand is excellent for building sand castles.

I look for kind of a balance between nature and a developed environment, said Leatherman, who lives on the other side of the state, closer to Miami Beach. Fourteen million people go to Miami Beach every year. Theres just too many people there. I think a lot of people are looking for more of a getaway.

Leatherman, who is director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University, uses about 50 criteria to assess and rank beaches across the country. In recent years, he has given extra points to beaches that prohibit smoking, saying cigarette butts are not only environmentally damaging, but can ruin the experience for beach-goers. Safety and environmental management are other major factors, he said.

Hes rated beaches since 1991.

The Maui beach that came in at No. 2 on the list, Kapalua Bay Beach, is smaller than Siesta Beach. Its crescent-shaped and flanked by palm trees. Unlike lots of Hawaii beaches, there arent many waves at Kapalua, he said, making it perfect for safe swimming.

The coral reefs almost go right to the beach. There are tropical fish swimming all around.

The third beach on the list, Ocracoke, is unique in both history and location. Leatherman points out that it was once the pirate Blackbeards old haunt. And its only accessible by a state ferry.

The only negative I have, it seems like too many cars, he said. I wish they would turn car ferries to pedestrian ferries.

Leatherman says he tries to select locations that are a bit off the beaten path, yet immensely rewarding once visitors arrive. Siesta Beach, he points out, is an outstanding place to watch the sun dip below the Gulf horizon one more reason why it made the top of this years list.

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Best Beaches | ACCENT | greenevillesun.com - Greeneville Sun

Injured great white shark struggles in shallow water off Baja California, Mexico. Photo: Courtesy of Dale Pearson

Solitude along the Sea of Cortez shoreline was shattered recently when a 15-foot great white shark began to thrash violently in the shallows.

Dale Pearson, who owns a house in the Baja California community of Puertecitos, thought at first that a pilot whale was trying to strand, or that an extremely large hammerhead shark had come in to hunt at midday on May 27.

Pearson and a friend hurried to the water for a closer look, while the commotion also captured the attention of Mexican fishermen camped on the beach.

When they realized it was a full-grown great white shark, they guessed it had become trapped in a net. But they soon realized it had been struck by a boat propellor, behind its dorsal fin, and was seriously wounded.

Pearson, a dive operator who resides in Alpine, Calif., captured extensive video, but the footage is so riddled with expletives that we chose merely to publish screen shots from the encounter. (Those who wish to view the video can click on this link.)

The shark, too injured to hunt for sea lions, was foraging on stingrays (typical prey for juvenile white sharks).

Ive done several expeditions for work on TV programs with white sharks; those were always operations where I was expecting to see such an animal, Pearson, who also co-owns a California winery, told GrindTV. But to see one in front of your house in the middle of the day, in three feet of water, completely floored me.

RELATED: Close encounters galore as great white shark tour debuts off SoCal; photos, video

It seemed at times that the shark would die, as it rested on sandbars for long periods. But in each case the shark would ultimately spring to life.

Michael Domeier, who runs the Marine Conservation Science Institute, saw the video and immediately thought of the great white sharks he has tagged at Guadalupe Island, west of Baja California.

We are always nervous about our Guadalupe White Sharks during the pupping season. Our big pregnant females pup both in the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific side of Baja, Domeier wrote on Facebook. The Sea of Cortez is loaded with gill nets; typically the shark can break through it, but occasionally they get so entangled that they die. We agree with person who took this video, in that the injuries from the boat propeller would likely not kill the shark they are exceptionally tough with incredible healing ability.

Adding to the chaos, Pearson and his friend were stung by stingrays as they ventured close to the shark.Pearson said he spotted the shark roaming the coastline over the next two days, and expected the predator to survive.

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Chaos ensues as massive great white shark nearly beaches itself ... - GrindTV

Doug Fraser @dougfrasercct

EASTHAM They started washing ashore in April.

Big birds, with wingspans approaching six feet and heavy, durable bodies topped with a formidable beak.

Spectacular hunters, working big schools of herring and mackerel, northern gannets spend most of their life far out to sea and nest up north in Quebec and Newfoundland. The only time they are ever seen onshore around Cape Cod is during a major storm when flocks huddle out of the wind on the flats of Cape Cod Bay.

So, when Stephanie Ellis, the executive director of Wild Care, the animal rehabilitation center in Eastham, and Zachary Mertz, executive director of The Cape Wildlife Center veterinary hospital in Barnstable, saw gannets brought into their facilities, sometimes two to four a day, over the past couple of months, they knew something extraordinary was happening.

I love those birds, said Ellis.They are so strong and fierce.

Their big webbed feet are used to propel the birds through the water after spectacular dives on folded wings from upward of 130 feet in the air, down as deep as 72 feet below the surface. As elegant as they are in the air and water, they are not built for walking on land.

But the birds had far worse problems than tripping over two oversize feet, according toEllis, Mertz and their staffs.

They were unable to hold their head up, they had tremors and were unable to control their body movements, Ellis said. To us, that usually suggests a toxin or trauma.

Birds with a long-term illness or injury often stop feeding and are emaciated when they are recovered. But these gannets were within a normal weight range and their blood work appeared normal, Ellis said.

What this tells us is that whatever is happening to them is hitting them quickly, she said. Domoic acid and saxotoxin, both biotoxins created by algae, have caused neurological disorders and have been known to kill seals, sea lions and even whales who are feeding on fish that have been eating the algae.

Whatever it is, it's been deadly, killing 16 of the 21 gannets that Wild Care worked on.

The staff vet and myself have been in the field for many years. This is the first time we have seen gannets affected by this, Mertz said. We are sort of figuring out if this is disease-based or toxicosis, diet-based.

The sentiment out there is that this may be a virus passed bird to bird or by ticks or fleas (at nesting sites,) Mertz said.

Necropsies have thus far been inconclusive.

The Cape Wildlife Center is affiliated with New England Wildlife Center and the regional facility has been reporting sick and dying gannets washing onto beaches in Duxbury, Hingham and Cohasset, covering 60 to 70 miles of coastline, Mertz said.

But the bulk of affected animals have come ashore on the Atlantic side of the Outer Cape towns of Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet and Eastham, Mertz and Ellis said.

U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife technician Ryan Bevilacqua said his agency sent tissue, blood and other samples taken from dead birds to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia veterinary medicine program. Analysis has ruled out avian flu, Bevilacqua said. He estimated as many as 100 northern gannets have been affected. Thats not going to impact the population which is believed to be stable at nearly 130,000 individuals.

Wild Care has five gannets in its care, four of which survived the mysterious ailment. Nursing such large animals back to health is labor intensive and expensive, Ellis said, especially at a busy time of year with young injured and abandoned animals and birds coming in. Both facilities have more than 100 patients now.

Rehabilitators first get fluids back into the birds to help flush out toxins if they are present. They then get an easy-to-digest formula mixed from a powder. Next comes a nutritional slurry, a seabird milkshake with the powder and vitamins blended with mackerel, herring or capelin.

It does not smell good, Ellis said.

They are then fed fish, which they swallow whole. Rehabilitators place them in pools to encourage them to preen and spread the oil that helps waterproof them against the icy North Atlantic.

They need to be 101 percent waterproof, Ellis said. It is one of the most critical things for us in assessing their readiness for release.

Then, its time to load them on a boat and return them to sea

It saddens me, because they should be farther north and breeding, Ellis said. It is my favorite bird because they are so sexy, absolutely stunning. They tuck their wings and dive like a torpedo. They are completely built for a lifestyle in the water.

Follow Doug Fraser on Twitter:@dougfrasercct.

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Seabirds washing up and dying on Cape Cod beaches - Cape Cod Times (subscription)

June 6, 2017 10:38 PM By Tony Lopez

RIO VISTA (CBS13) Few remember D-Day like Rio Vista resident Henry Hank Tussy. The 92-year-old World War II veteran survived that fateful day and tells CBS13 News the images will never leave him.

I can remember bodies flying up in the airpieces of body and stuffso close that you can feel it you can feel it in your face and stuff, Tussy said.

Tussy was 19 years old when he stormed the beaches of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. He was a captain of a Higgins Boat, used to transport men to the shores. Hank quickly realized this would be a mission of survival.

You cant imagine 9,500 killed on that one day, on a stretch of beach about 4, 4-and-a-half miles long, he said. He goes to describe the waters around his boat, saying The beach water was redwashing up on the beach the wavesit was more red than it was blue.

Hank Tussy ended up making countless trips from the shores of Omaha Beach to the Hospital Ships out at sea.

Of the 24 boats in his squadron, his was the only one to make it back.

But the Rio Vista veteran doesnt consider himself a hero, telling us, The heroes are the ones that were left over there that died there on that beach, to me, they are the heroes.

Tony Lopez has been a proud member of the CBS13 news team for nearly a decade, now. Hired to launch Sacramentos only local news at 4 p.m., he continues to bring viewers their first afternoon news of the day, including breaking news at it...

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Rio Vista Man Stormed The Beaches Of Normandy In D-Day Invasion - CBS Sacramento

Dean Vanlandingham, 96, of Fort McCoy, landed on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944; Harold Stephens, 92, of Ocala, landed on Utah Beach four days later. They were among the Allied troops, including American soldiers who stormed the beaches in Normandy in northern France in what has been called the beginning of the end of WW II.

Today marks the 73rd anniversary of D-Day, or the first day of the massive World War II invasion of Normandy, which gained a foothold for Allied forces in France.

Dean Vanlandingham, 96, of Fort McCoy, landed on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944; Harold Stephens, 92, of Ocala, landed on Utah Beach four days later.

According to history.com: "The battle began on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of Frances Normandy region. The invasion was one of the largest amphibious military assaults in history and required extensive planning. Prior to D-Day, the Allies conducted a large-scale deception campaign designed to mislead the Germans about the intended invasion target. By late August 1944, all of northern France had been liberated, and by the following spring the Allies had defeated the Germans. The Normandy landings have been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe."

In spite of German fortifications, establishing a beachhead at Normandy was needed to allow Allied forces to march across Europe to Berlin, Germany, to defeat Hitler and the Nazi regime.

According to the article "D-Day" on http://www.history.com, Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander during the war, gave the order to start the invasion, known as Operation Overlord, on June 5, 1944, but weather caused a 24-hour delay. He called the Battle of Normandy, which lasted from June to August 1944, the start of a "Great Crusade."

Eisenhower was so concerned about the outcome of the invasion attempt, however, that he wrote a note on June 5, 1944, taking all responsibility if the invasion failed, according to "General Dwight D. Eisenhower launches Operation Overlord," also on History.com

The first amphibious assault on beaches code named Utah, Omaha and Gold, which stretch for about 50 miles in Normandy, began at 6:30 a.m. after paratroopers and glider troops had begun securing locations behind enemy lines, the "D-Day" article states.

By the end of June 6, 1944, more than 4,000 Allied soldiers had died. By June 11, the beachhead was secured and 326,000 soldiers had landed, along with 50,000 vehicles and 100,000 tons of equipment, the article notes.

Dean VanLandingham, 96, a resident of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Veterans Village in Fort McCoy, is a native of Scott, Ohio. He moved to Plymouth, Michigan, as a youth. He earned the Eagle Scout rank at age 17 and was attending college and had worked in a steel mill before he enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941.

He was 23 when he went ashore at Utah Beach from an LST (landing ship tank) later in the day June 6, 1944.

"I was scared to beat hell," he said. "Most soldiers were 18 to 25 years old and most of us didn't have any idea what would happen."

When the bullets started flying and guys started dropping, soldiers became scared, except for a few "crazies (that) it didn't bother," he said.

He described the terrain at Utah Beach as "hilly" and opposition when he landed as "moderate," with "machine gun, rifle and some artillery" fire.

VanLandingham said after three days the Allies were able to position some artillery and prior to that the assault had relied on support from the guns on Allied ships offshore.

He said the goal was to crack the German Siegfried Line of defense as his outfit moved forward through Metz, France, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge near Bastogne.

He was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions related to overtaking a large group of German soldiers and knocking out enemy tanks by directing the movement of armored tank destroyers.

He recalled hearing the Nazi V-1s, or "buzz bombs," going overhead with a "putt-putt" sound on their way to crashing and exploding.

According to the Smithsonian Institute website, https://airandspace.si.edu, about 20,000 of the V-1s or "Vengeance Weapon One" pilot-less missiles, which could travel about 150 miles and carried a 1-ton high-explosive warhead, were launched mostly at London and Antwep.

VanLandingham was wounded and knocked unconscious for about a half an hour on Jan., 20, 1945, near the Luxemburg border by shrapnel from an artillery shell that exploded nearby.

During the war, he received three Purple Heart Awards for his wounds and four battle stars.

Following the war, VanLandingham returned to school, married and fathered two sons. He and his wife, Mary, moved to Mount Dora in 1960, where he worked as a consultant for several publishers. Mary died in 2006, after 59 years of marriage.

Gary VanLandingham, 60, a professor at Florida State University in Tallahassee, said his father did not speak much of his involvement in D-Day until the last five years. He said his father likely was minutes behind the initial attack.

"He felt like he was just doing his job and the invasion was something that needed to be done. He may not have been very happy to be there, but he did it for the other guys," Gary Van Landingham said, adding that his father didn't feel his act was "heroism."

Harold Stephens, 92, of Ocala, landed on Utah Beach on June 10, 1944.

Stephens, a native of Jellico, Tennessee, had dropped out of school to work in a grocery store because his father passed away when he was 7 and he was helping his mother support a family of four children. He was drafted in 1943, at age 18.

As D-Day approached, Stephens was stationed at Birmingham, England, "waterproofing vehicles" and then was sent to Torquay, near the English Channel, to board an LST wearing his equipment, canteen and mess kit and carrying his rifle.

On Utah Beach, he said, he had to watch for enemy "bombings, (aircraft) strafing and booby traps."

Stephens said he was assigned to Gen. Omar Bradley's 1st Army and traveled inland to Saint Lo, France, and then was assigned to Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army. He went through Belgium and Luxembourg and eventually "stood where Hitler once spoke" in Nuremberg, Germany.

Stephens said D-Day should be remembered.

Other locals also said that D-Day is a significant part of American history.

Diana Atkins, 42, said she intends to teach her children, Andrew, 10, and Isabel, 8, about D-Day at the appropriate time because it is "very important."

Daniel Brewer, 11, the son of Rick and Carrie Brewer, has been taught about World War II by his parents, who have studied the history of the war. Daniel, who will enter sixth grade next school year, is familiar with the Battle of Normandy and D-Day.

Daniel and fellow students Rishit Shaquib and Joseph Lavdas made a "brief history" of World War II, with graphics and animation, that earned a first place award and "Best of Show 3-5" in the recent 16th annual Marion County Public Schools Student Media Festival.

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Local veterans recall D-Day battle on beaches in France - Ocala

On June 6, 1944, the world was forever changed.

World War II had already been raging around the globe for four years when the planning for Operation Neptune -- what we now know as "D-Day" -- began in 1943.

SEE ALSO: Tense photos capture the atmosphere as New Yorkers wait for news on D-Day

Operation Neptune was part of the larger Operation Overlord, the Allies' undertaking to invade Western Europe and free the nations from the control of Nazi Germany.

After intense and successful deception of the Axis forces, both operations began on Tuesday, June 6, 1944, with the storming of France's Normandy shore.

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Alongside the Allied military on D-Day

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U.S. troops wade ashore from a Coast Guard landing craft at Omaha Beach during the Normandy D-Day landings near Vierville sur Mer, France, on June 6, 1944 in this handout photo provided by the US National Archives. On June 6, 1944, allied soldiers descended on the beaches of Normandy for D-Day - an operation that turned the tide of the Second World War against the Nazis, marking the beginning of the end of the conflict. REUTERS/Robert F. Sargent/US National Archives/Handout via Reuters

FRANCE - JUNE 01: A Convoy Of American Soldiers In A Military Barge On The Point Of Landing On The French Beaches Of Normandy Between June 6, 1944 And July 15, 1944. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

6th June 1944: American troops come ashore at Omaha Beach in a life-raft after their Landing Craft Vehicle-Personnel had been sunk off the Beachhead. (Photo by Weintraub/MPI/Getty Images)

U.S. reinforcements land on Omaha beach during the Normandy D-Day landings near Vierville sur Mer, France, on June 6, 1944 in this handout photo provided by the US National Archives. On June 6, 1944, allied soldiers descended on the beaches of Normandy for D-Day - an operation that turned the tide of the Second World War against the Nazis, marking the beginning of the end of the conflict. REUTERS/Cpt Herman Wall/US National Archives/Handout via Reuters

World War II, More and more German prisoners are gathered together on Utah Beach after the allied Normandy landings, Around June 6, 1944. (Photo by Photo12/UIG/Getty Images)

Omaha Beach landings, D-Day, the Normandy Invasion, June 6, 1944. (Photo by CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

Hundreds of American paratroopers drop into Normandy, France on or near D-Day, June 6, 1944. Their landing, part of an all-out Allied assault from air and sea, was the beginning of a sweep through Europe that would finally defeat Nazi Germany. (Photo by Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

A British ship launching a depth bomb to hit German submarines off the coast of Normandy. Normandy, 6th June 1944 (Photo by Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

A group of U.S. wounded soldiers sheltering behind a wall after the Normandy landing on the beach called Omaha Beach in code. Normandy, 6 June 1944 (Photo by Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

World War II, US soldiers on a Normandy Beach, June 6, 1944 (D)-Day. (Photo by: Photo12/UIG via Getty Images)

FRANCE - JUNE 01: World War II. Normandy landings. American soldiers helped by their companions after the wreck of their boat at their arrival at Utah-Beach (Manche), June 6 1944. (Photo by Roger Viollet/Getty Images)

FRANCE - JUNE 01: Troops And Boats Arriving On A Beach Of Normandy On June 6, 1944, Or In The Days Which Followed. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

American soldiers go ashore during the Normandy landings. landing operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 (termed D-Day) of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

FRANCE - JUNE 01: American Troops Landed On The Beaches Of Normandy From June 6 To July 15, 1944, In Order To Liberate France From German Occupation. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

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The weather on D-Day was less than ideal, but the Allies were relying on very specific tides and moon phases, a perfect mix of circumstances which prevented them from postponing the attack.

Roughly 50 miles of the Normandy shore were targeted. The coast was broken up into five sectors, codenamed Omaha, Utah, Juno, Gold and Sword, which were attacked by 156,000 troops led by future President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Casualties were highest at Omaha beach, and 4,414 Allied soldiers were confirmed dead in total.

Operation Neptune ended as a decisive victory, as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and the rest of the Allies established five new beachheads on the Normandy shore.

The Normandy landings remain the largest seaborne invasion in history, and many believe the operation signified the beginning of the end of World War II.

More from AOL.com: Pink planes and painted cows: The weird side of World War II A picture and its story: Photographing carnage in Kabul When refugees fled war-torn Europe for havens in the Middle East

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Looking back at the beaches of Normandy on D-Day: June 6, 1944 - AOL

Israel is perhaps best knownand deservedly sofor its holy sites, but its standing as a stellar beach destination often goes unsung. With coastline bordering the Mediterranean, the Dead Sea, the Red Sea, and the Sea of Galilee, and everything from world-class scuba diving to ancient ruins to explore, the beaches of the Land of Milk and Honey have something for every type of sand lover. Here are the must-visit spots for a day (or a few) in the sun:

Tel Aviv The White Citys perpetual sunshine draws people to its 13 beaches, which rest on a nine-mile stretch of Mediterranean seashore. A casual, walking city with sycamore-lined streets and clusters of Bauhaus architecture, beach life in Tel Aviv is part of the culture. Life happens outside in Tel Aviv, in the cafs and on the streets, said Ofra Ganor, owner of seaside restaurant Manta Ray at Alma Beach. The connection to the sea is part of our daily life.

Mezze at Manta Ray Photo: Courtesy of Avi Ganor

Beachgoers traipse from sand to street, popping into restaurants with indelible views of the Mediterranean, such as Manta Ray, known for its mezze and fashionable crowd; chef Meir Adonis internationally renowned Israeli-Moroccan restaurant, Lumina , overlooking the Tel Aviv Marina; Cassis , a Mediterranean restaurant in the millennia-old port city of Jaffa; and Fortuna Del Mar for rustic fare in a more removed setting in the northern part of Tel Aviv.

Hilton Beach is the LGBT communitys second home and where Israels Pride parade starts and ends. A special light system at the beach also allows for surfers to ride waves late into the evening. The neighboring Nordau Beach is frequented by Tel Avivs more religious residents and segregated by gender during the week. Windsurfers and kitesurfers hang out at Aviv Beach for the perfect wind conditions. A promenade runs along Tel Avivs coastline where people jog, bike, and work out at outdoor gyms in the sand; there are several public beach libraries along the coast; and free Wi-Fi is available just about everywhere. The beach belongs to everybody, Ganor explained. We have a big mix of people in Tel Aviv: Jews, Arabs, surfers, yogis. Its about peace here.

Tel Avivs larger hotels, such as the Carlton with its rooftop bar; the David Intercontinental ; and the Shalom , preside over the sea. Smaller boutique hotels, like the Montefiore , the Norman , and the Rothschild , are tucked into the bustling city and are about a 10-minute stroll to the beach.

Alma Beach in Tel Aviv Photo: Courtesy of Avi Ganor

Old City Acre Old City Acre, pronounced akko, is a charmingly small, walled 18th-century former fortress and one of the oldest cities in the world (the area has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, and there are also remains from a Crusader town). Its 2 hours north of Tel Aviv, and travelers can rent or hire a car to make the drive up the Mediterranean or take the train for about $5 each way.

Beachgoers sunbathe beside ancient ruins and purple wildflowers, but be sure to bring your essentials, as there are no shops on the beach. Tourist boats at Acre Harbor grant visitors panoramic views of Old City Acre from the sea. For lunch, swing by Uri Buri , a famed restaurant nestled in a 400-year-old stone house with spectacular views of waves crashing into the fortress walls. Just steps from the beach, the Efendi Hotel is a masterfully restored structure made of two ancient palaces and is itself worth the trip to Acre.

Efendi Hotel Photo: Courtesy of Asaf Pinchuk

Caesarea Herod the Great built this port town in 25 B.C. and many ancient remains can still be seen. Aqueduct Beach, also known as Arches Beach, is the site of an impressive Roman-era aqueduct and provides sunbathers an opportunity to swim and lounge beside the ruins. Just south of Aqueduct Beach is the Old Port of Caesarea, where a small hub of art galleries, shops, and restaurants line the harbor.

Housed in a structure more than 2,000 years old is Helena , where esteemed chef Amos Sion uses local ingredients to create inspired Mediterranean dishes. The calamari swam right there, just a few hours ago, Sion said, pointing to the sea outside panoramic windows and referring to the star of his calamari a la plancha dish, served on zaatar leaves with chickpeas and labaneh cheese.

Behind Helena is Old Caesarea Diving Center , where divers can experience the port ruins from underwater. Also in the Old Port of Caesarea is the Roman Theatre of Caesarea, an ancient amphitheater right on the Mediterranean that is still used today to host live concerts for big-name artists such as Bjrk and the Pixies.

There arent any beachside hotels in Caesarea, so many travelers simply make this a day trip from Tel Aviva 45-minute car ride south.

Ein Bokek The best way to enjoy the Dead Sea is to spend the day (or a night or two) in Ein Bokek, the seas four-mile Israeli shoreline (it also borders Palestine and Jordan). For thousands of years, people have traversed the mountainous desert to reach the Dead Sea to float in its salty water (it is almost 10 times as salty as the ocean) and rub some of the mineral-rich mud on their skin. For those wanting to spend the night, book a room with views overlooking the Dead Sea and Jordans immense mountains in the distance. Hod Hamidbar , Daniel Dead Sea Hotel , and Isrotel Dead Sea Hotel and Spa are all good options.

Isrotel Hotel Photo: Courtesy of Isrotel Hotel

Eilat Only from Eilat, Israels southernmost point, can beachgoers see Jordan to the east and Egypt to the west: a striking view. The northern area of Eilat hosts seaside resorts, including the Royal Beach hotel , a boardwalk with shops and nightclubs, and Eilats hottest restaurant at the moment, Leviathan, Hebrew for whale, which overlooks the Eilat Lagoon at Herods seaside hotel.

In-the-know adventurers head to Eilats southern side, an oasis for kiteboarders, snorkelers, and scuba divers who want to experience one of the worlds northernmost coral reefs. At Coral Beach, amateurs and pros alike rent gear and take lessons at Surf Center Eilat , before swimming out to explore the coral reef. Aqua-Sport Red Sea Diving Center offers boat rides for scuba divers and snorkelers to more obscure locations on the Red Sea.

Dolphin Reef Photo: Courtesy of Eva Fedderly

Mosh Beach (pronounced moosh), the relaxed locals spot, has a small but lively scene. Enjoy a nourishing vegetarian Mediterranean lunch on the sand at Mosh, which also has a bar where tanned local bartenders serve up fresh cocktails and fruit smoothies. At Eilats Dolphin Reef , an ecological attraction and dolphin oasis, guests pay a day rate to sun on the private beach; wander the tree houses; and swim with dolphins, which come and go as they please. Three relaxation pools of salt water, freshwater, and water akin to the Dead Sea are surrounded by lush botanical gardens.

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A Guide to Israel's Stunning Beaches - Vogue.com

Bob Marchio, For The Hanover Evening Sun 12:12 p.m. ET June 6, 2017

With warmer weather coming, here are five things to do at Codorus State Park to take advantage of the warmer months. Ty Lohr, The Evening Sun

While the horseshoe crab may look menacing, they are actually very gentle creatures and do not bite.(Photo: zTONY, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Visitors to the Maryland and New Jersey beaches during the month of June can expect to witness an event officials say has been taking place for at least 350 million years the annual migration of horseshoe crabs.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is asking beachgoers to help the creatures as they emerge from the Atlantic Ocean for their annual spawning pilgrimage. The event is believed to be the largest spawning event of horseshow crabs in the world.

READ:Some fishing hot spots are close to home

READ:Outdoors: Crabbing season is here (column)

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To ensure the horseshoe crab has a chance of survival, visitors can do their part in helping protect this valuable species. Anyone who spots a horseshoe crab flipped on its back is asked to gently flip the crab over so it can return to the wild. The best practice for flipping over a horseshoe crab is to pick the crab by its sides, not by its tail. While the horseshoe crab may look menacing, they are actually very gentle creatures and do not bite.

This ancient species isnt the most nimble creature, and their short legs dont do the best job of helping them right themselves, DNR biologist Steve Doctor, who conducts an annual survey of horseshoe crabs, said in a department news release.

READ:East Berlin man saving the world one worm at a time

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The species is important to the ecosystem. Horseshoe crab eggs are a vital source of food for millions of fauna, including migrating shore birds, blue crabs, white perch and striped bass. Also, adult horseshoe crab blood has been found to be a vital resource in medical products and research.

Anyone who spots a horseshoe crab flipped on its back is asked to gently flip the crab over so it can return to the wild.(Photo: waholmes, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The largest numbers of horseshoe crabs can likely be found on or around the full moon, which takes place Friday (June 9), or the new moon June 23. During this spawning period, an individual horseshoe crab could lay nearly 20,000 eggs on the beaches and shores.

BASS SEASON The promise of warmer and longer days has Pennsylvania anglers gearing up for the opening of a new bass season across the state on Saturday, June 17.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass, both species of black bass, are second only to trout in popularity among Pennsylvania anglers, says John Arway, executive director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Arway reports that a large turnout is expected.

One of the main reasons bass is popular is because the Commonwealth has so many fantastic spots for anglers to catch smallmouth and largemouth bass, from creeks and rivers to large ponds and lakes, Arway said in an agency report. Our Commonwealth has over 86,000 miles of streams and rivers to fish and more than 4,000 lakes and reservoirs, most which contain bass.

READ:Trout stocking schedule set for York, Adams

READ:Petition circulates to save Hanover-area dam

READ:Outdoors: Codorus Creek project receives funding

State parks are great family-friendly places to fish, particularly if you have young kids, he said. And this year the start of bass season falls on Fathers Day weekend. I cant think of a better way for grandfathers and fathers to spend their weekend than outside fishing with their sons, daughters and grandkids.

In most waters during bass season, anglers can keep a daily limit of six bass, which must be at least 12 inches in length. There are also lakes and rivers managed with higher length limits and lower creel limits. Anglers can consult the Summary of Fishing Regulations for more specific information.

Arway added that another option is to practice voluntary catch and release which provides another angler the opportunity to enjoy the same experience that you had catching that lunker bass!

READ:Lake Pinchot to welcome Family Fishing Festival

READ: Five Hanover-area places to fish not affected by Conewago Creek contamination

The PFBC reminds anglers that catch and immediate release no harvest regulations apply to smallmouth and largemouth bass on the lower sections of the Susquehanna River (below Sunbury) and Juniata River (below Port Royal) and into the rivers tributaries to points one-half river-mile upstream from the confluence.

Bob Marchio is outdoor writer for The Hanover Evening Sun. He may be reached at: bmarchio@embarqmail.com.

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Outdoors: Md., NJ beaches host ancient event - The Evening Sun

Watch the video about to find out when the state tests nearly all New Jersey public beaches for the presence of a dangerous bacteria. Wochit | Russ Zimmer

Swimmers play in the surf in Point Pleasant Beach in this file photo from 2016.(Photo: P Ackerman/Staff Photographer)Buy Photo

Water at two public beaches in Long Branch tested high for a bacteria known to be a red flag for the presence of pathogens that could putswimmers at risk of illness.

Another beach in Highlands, which isn't open to swimmers, was measured at nearly 9 times thethreshold for recreational use.

No beach in Ocean County tested above the safe swimming standard, continuing the county's nearly perfect run of water quality early in the season.

But a troubling trend continues forMonmouth County, which has struggled with bacteria issues so far.

In Ocean County, three non-ocean beaches failed tests on May 15, the only time so far since testing began last month that high bacteria counts have been an issue south of the Manasquan Inlet.

However, Monmouth County has now had 31such failures, half of which have been on oceanfront beaches, which is unusual in New Jersey.

LAST WEEK: 6 Monmouth beaches test high for bacteria

MORE: Bacteria levels subside, Spring Lake beach reopens

The tests are part of a weekly monitoring program thatis on the lookout forenterococcus, a bacteria that grows inside the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals and can be found alongside their feces. This kind of bacteria is considered a warning sign of dangerous pathogens.

Swallowing any contaminated water could result in cramps and diarrhea from gastrointestinal illnesses, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The standard for safe swimming is less than 104 colony forming units, or cfu, per 100 milliliters of water.

Per NJbeaches.org, here are the beaches that tested above the safe swimming threshold:

These beacheswere scheduled to be tested again Tuesday, and every day after that, until they are measured back at safe levels. Results will be released Wednesday morning on APP.com.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Offshore drilling would begin with a literal bang

In New Jersey, rainfall is closely linked to high bacteria levels. Bacteria counts tend to spike following precipitation, and then moderate as the rainwater is dispersed into the river, bay or ocean.

There was light rain across the region on Monday, with most Monmouthlocations receiving between a tenth and a half inch of precipitation, according to Rutgers University's NJ Weather and Climate Network.

Every Tuesday online,the Press and app.com will post water-quality test results from every Jersey Shore beach that exceeds federal safe swimming standards for fecal bacteria.

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Beach report: Bacteria high in Long Branch - Asbury Park Press

If you leave the bustling bright lights and crowded city of Paris and take the train a few hours northwest youll arrive in Normandy. This seemingly quaint seaside area is truly alive and rich with history and beauty.

The city of Caen is where youll arrive, and a very provincial, old-style, village town will greet you. Towering cathedrals lined with stained glass and little cafes are everywhere you turn. The city is set on a series of canals that leak into the ocean so that the fisherman can come and go with their fresh catches. It is an incredible sea-to-table set up. Fish come in early in the morning and only have to travel a mile or less to the surrounding restaurants. Normandy is famous for its mussels, seafood paella and whole fish plates. Normandy also has its name on the map to the equestrian world after hosting the World Equestrian Games in 2014. The gorgeous scenery behind the horses and riders truly made the WEG memorable.

However, Normandy is most famous for the D-Day beaches where France was liberated from German occupation on June 6, 1944. Termed Operation Neptune, the allied invasion was also the largest seaborne invasion of its kind. Most people are probably familiar with Omaha Beach from their high school history class, but many people dont know that there were actually 6 beaches that made up the D-Day invasion. While Omaha Beach houses the piece of art that was given in memorial of those who lost their lives, you cant leave Normandy without seeing Utah, Pointe du Hoc, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beaches as well.

In downtown Caen there is a beautiful World War II museum that talks about the invasion, the airmen who were on the attack, and artifacts from that day. Overhead there are several German and Allied Force airplanes as well. Most of the tours to the beaches depart from and finish here. While the museum offers some less lengthy tours to the beaches in vans, getting a private tour is worth the time and money. A private driving tour is a great way to learn about the details of the invasion, ask questions, and get to see all of the beaches!

The tour can last anywhere from 2-6 hours depending on how much you want to see. Remember to take into account that the drive itself is stunning and there are bunkers and machine guns still standing just as they were left in the fields overlooking the beaches. These are also a good thing to stop and see because it gives you the perspective of the invasion from the German side.

Currently you can walk freely wherever you want on the beaches, in the battlefields, into the bunkers, etc. You can touch everything and really get up close and personal to the front lines. While the beaches are simply that beaches take some time to look at the coast, the scenery, and take in what happened on D-Day. Two parts of the tour are extremely humbling. One is a large stone obelisk that stands watch over Omaha Beach symbolizing a beacon of hope for the Allied Forces.

At the end of the tour you can stop by the Normandy American Cemetery and walk amongst the headstones of the fallen allies. The stones are all simple white crosses etched with names lined for what feels like miles. Some have flowers, wreaths, candles, and other gifts adorning them, and the some have never been visited.

This is the end of your driving tour of the D-Day Beaches and surrounding coast. If you are a history buff or even if you just love seeing beautiful coastline, this trip has something for everyone. Be sure to take at least 2 hours to visit the WWII museum and really see all the stories and history within its walls. At the end of the day be sure and try the delicious seafood Normandy has to offer!

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Normandy: The D-Day Beaches - Kentucky Kernel

by: Action News Jax Updated: Jun 6, 2017 - 7:16 AM

The second phase of restoring area coastlines begins Tuesday as crews head out to plant more than half a million plants and vegetation to build up the dunes.

The Army Corps of Engineers announced last week they finished the first part of the beach re-nourishment project to replace sand eroded in the storm.

RELATED: Army Corps of Engineers can fix Hurricane Matthew dune damage, if city of Jacksonville pays

The goal of the project is to help reduce any coastal damage from storms or hurricanes.

After hurricane Matthew tore through the dunes, Duval County has been preparing for potential hurricanes during the 2017 season, which started June 1.

Last week contractors finished dredge work to restore protection features.

The project started in mid-September, but when hurricane Matthew hit in October it put a hold on the project and created additional work.

Close to 3 billion pounds of sand was dredged and used to rebuild the beach and dunes, and the 600,000 native dune plants such as sea oats and railroad vine will help reinforce the work from phase one of the project.

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Thousands of residents and businesses in Duval County benefit from this shore project because storm events erode the beach rather than destroying coastal infrastructure.

Coastal communities with engineered beaches have historically fared much better than other communities as proven by numerous studies.

Crews will be planting vegetation through mid-August on the Neptune, Atlantic and Jacksonville beaches.

2017 Cox Media Group.

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Jacksonville beaches begin new phase for renourishment - ActionNewsJax.com

The return of Twin Peaks onShowtime continued tonight. For the shows fifth episode, Alex Zhang Hungtai of Dirty Beaches/Last Lizardmade an appearance. His cameo was as a member of the band Trouble, which performsat the Roadhouse near the end of the new episode. Other members of the band include David Lynchs son, Riley Lynch, and longtime Lynch engineer Dean Hurley. Listen to Troubles song Snake Eyes below. Last month saw Hungtai release new music as a member of a new trio, Love Theme. Hulu subscribers can find the new episode here.

Elsewhere in the episode are Naomi Watts, Jim Belushi, and Amanda Seyfried. Thus far, the revived series has featured a bizarre appearance from Michael Cera and some episode-ending performances from Chromatics, Au Revoir Simone, and the Cactus Blossoms. Chromatics played their song, Shadow, which will appear on one of twoforthcoming soundtracks. Watch theirnew music videofor the song here, and if you havent caught up with the show since it returned, check out the first two episodes.

Follow all of Pitchforks Twin Peaks coverage here, and check out 10 Songs That Sample Twin Peaks Well and The Musical Legacy of Twin Peaks on the Pitch.

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Alex Zhang Hungtai (Dirty Beaches, Last Lizard) Appears on Twin Peaks - Pitchfork

Being named one of the top 10 beaches in the United States is an accolade any destination would be happy to accept as the summer travel season officially kicks off in the U.S.

Dr. Beach released his annual ranking of Americas top 10 beacheslast week and it included some familiar names such as Floridas Siesta Beach, which ranked number one for the second time since 2011, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts Coast Guard Beach.

Many beaches that have earned spots on Dr. Beachs ranking attribute that distinction in part to increased visitation to the beach and surrounding community. Top-ranked beaches also typically have investment and infrastructure projects in the works that add or improve amenities and help protect the beaches environments and wildlife.

Siesta Beach, for example, recently completed $21.5 million in renovations which included adding more parking, a playground and picnic area.

But with more publicity and higher foot traffic, beach management and tourism boards are balancing how to maintain their high standards and visitor experience while mitigating environmental impact and educating visitors on how to keep beaches clean.

Many locals who live in destinations with popular beaches also arent pleased with more visitors, even if it benefits their communities. I get emails from people in Sarasota unhappy about the list, said Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach. I get hundreds of emails from people concerned about the rankings. Yes, it does increase the number of people who come and that does make some local people unhappy.

Siesta Beach has grown its staff and resources since it appeared on Dr. Beachs 2011 ranking, said Carolyn Brown, general manager of parks and recreation for Sarasota County.

As we move into the July 4 holiday, were preparing our staff to let visitors know that they should leave no trace, said Brown. We always tell visitors to clean up after themselves. Its a challenge during holidays but were doing our best to educate the public.

But many travelers probably dont know the meat of what it means to be the number one beach and dont consider that its tied to the beachs environmental efforts, said Erin Duggan, vice president of Visit Sarasota County. But when they hear Dr. Beach I think they do recognize his credentials, said Duggan. I think it intrigues them if theyve never been.

The ranking is considered one of the most prestigious U.S. beach rankings as Leatherman considers some 650 public beaches across the U.S. Hes done the ranking for more than 25 years and judges beaches on 50 criteria ranging from how warm their waters are to how much parking is available to what color the sand is.

Dr. Beach, however, isnt the only beach ranking of interest as some beaches that make the list also cite TripAdvisor, for example, as a driver of visitation because those reviews and rankings come directly from travelers.

Siesta Beach wasalso voted the top U.S. beach in 2015 and 2017 on TripAdvisor.

While many destinations invest their own time and money into maintaining their beaches, Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod in Massachusetts is maintained by the National Park Service. Our number one issue that weve been working on for many years is wastewater infrastructure because the Cape doesnt really have much of that, said Wendy Northcross, CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

Were acutely aware of those kinds of impacts. I think if we were open year-round I think you might see other overt efforts to try to pace visitation but we dont enjoy it, she said.

U.S. beaches, however, are typically cleaner and more environmentally friendly than beaches in Southeast Asia or Latin America, for example, said Leatherman. The U.S. has really high water quality standards and worldwide, I think water quality has gone down a bit, he said.

Some beaches try to hide data and have the improper development of waste water management. There are a lot of development in some parts of the world that have decreased water quality and Spanish beaches are one example of this.

Leatherman has been to all 650 public beaches in the U.S. and limits his ranking to American beaches because he hasnt been to all of the worlds beaches.

A professor and director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University, Leatherman has penned more than 200 academic journal articles and has edited or written more than a dozen books about beaches. His rankings have appeared annually since 1991.

He said hes never found a perfect beach but has found a lot of great ones. While aesthetics are part of the ranking, Leathermans ranking is more concentrated with the environmental health of the beach and quality of amenities.

Some people dont like to see buildings when theyre on a beach but others want to stay on a beach and have those creature comforts close by, said Leatherman. Even with Siesta, I gave them a total score of 241 of 250 and the criteria is set up with rating the resources and what people expect.

Duggan said Visit Sarasota County lets Dr. Beachs ranking speak for itself but does capitalize on it.

Last week we immediatlywe created a little video about Siesta Beach on our Facebook page, said Duggan. Most of our marketing campaigns are also about beaches and theyve always been the primary focus of our campaigns.

The Eastham, Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, which helps promote Coast Guard Beach, consistently makes Dr. Beachs ranking each year and puts up posters in its information booths to let visitors know that the beach has made the list, said Jim Russo, executive director of the Eastham Chamber of Commerce.

Being able to market yourself as a top beach destination and tag on Dr. Beachs credentials doesnt hurt from a public relations perspective. But many destinations also realize that managing the environmental impact from an influx of visitors becomes increasingly difficult when they make these rankings as visitors often leave behind more than their footprints.

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Dr. Beach Top 10 List Is Great for Tourism -- Sometimes Too Great - Skift

Hurricane season started on June 1. Here are some recommendations to have with you to stay safe. Oscar Santiago Torres/ Naples Daily News

Coquina rock reinforces the dunes and new northbound A1A lane in front of the Island Grille and the neighboring Topaz Motel along Flagler Beach on Thursday, June 1, 2017. In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew washed away the earth below A1A, which collapsed and has since been rebuilt.(Photo: MALCOLM DENEMARK/FLORIDA TODAY)

When Hurricane Matthew charged up Florida's east coast in October, beach advocates said, it delivered a message along with its damage.

Healthy beaches that were managed and renourished were better able to weather the storm and limit coastal damage landward of the dunes. Beaches that were not rebuilt and left to erode were no match for Matthew.

Eight months later, at the start of another hurricane season, some Florida beaches that bore the brunt of Matthew and earlier storms last year remain unrepaired, leaving beach towns vulnerable again.

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Most of the $15.8 million in emergency dune repair money that Gov. Rick Scott sent to Flagler, St. Johns, Volusia and Brevard counties after Matthew remains unspent. Projects have struggled to get local matching dollars and environmental permits.

An additional $13.3 million to be split between Flagler and St. Johns counties for storm repair is included in the new state budget Scott approved only days ago.

"Are we prepared? The answer is no," said Flagler County Administrator Craig Coffey.

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Communities on Florida's Gulf coast also are not ready for the pounding of stormsthis hurricane season, which started Thursday and will runthrough November.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an above-normal season is likely, with 11-17 named storms. Of those, five to nine could be hurricanes, and two to four could grow into major hurricanes with winds of at least 111 mph.

It doesn't necessarily take a big, bad hurricane to doserious damage.

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Last year, early season Tropical Storm Colin brushed past Manasota Key in Charlotte County, but its storm surge undermined condo foundations, splintered walkovers and left a few homestoo unsafe to live in.

A year later, Charlotte County has developed a $21 million beach restoration plan but has only started the cumbersome permitting process and still has no plan for how to pay for it.

"We're just one large storm away from some major issues," said Manasota Key condo owner Damian Ochab.

A few storms after Colin, Hurricane Hermine took a similar path through the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall in the Panhandle, not far from Alligator Point.

The small rural town south of Tallahassee had given up on attempts to restore its eroded beach, and Hermine made the townpay, tearing out the coastroad that was the only way out for hundreds of residents.

Scott stood among the jumbled pieces of torn-up asphalt and told residents he would help, but Alan Pierce is still waiting.

"Nothing came of that," said Pierce, former Franklin County administrator and now a consultant to the county.

The county paid to build a one-way limestone road where the two-land paved highway was, but Pierce is still waiting to hear from the Federal Emergency Management Agencyabout the county's $3.5 million request for a long-term fix.

And without an additional $8 million to build a beach along a mile-stretch of coastline, the Gulf of Mexico will be lapping beneath even a fixed road.

"It's a total nightmare right now," Pierce said.

In Flagler, Matthew'ssurge ate away the earth below A1A, which collapsed and has since been rebuilt. Sand filled swimming pools until only the tops of their shiny stair railings poked out. Water flowed through neighborhoods for days and flooded homes up to 3 feet deep.

In this October 2016 file photo, a section of State Road A1A sits badly damaged by erosion after Hurricane Matthew passed the east coast of Florida. The section of road had been previously undermined and recently Flagler County officials had began a beach renourishment process.(Photo: David Albers/Naples Daily News)

And it could happen again.

"That's the threat staring at them now," Coffey said.

Of the four counties to get a piece of Scott's emergency money after Matthew, only Brevard has put sand on the beach.

That countyhad a project ready to go to build bigger and better dunes along 9 miles of coast for about $4 million, saidcountybeach project coordinator Mike McGarry.

Brevard is in line for almost $3 million in emergency state money, but the county still is waiting to see how much FEMAmight kick in.

Matthew washed away sand from other Brevard beaches, too, including a stretch that is waiting for money from the Army Corps of Engineers.

"We're not as strong as we were a year ago, but we're not in a perilous situation," McGarry said.

Ryan Golobiecki, on a school trip from Iowa, takes the path next to a damaged walkover at Ormond Beach on Thursday, June 1, 2017. In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew damaged many of the dune walkovers in Ormond Beach, some of which have not been replaced and force people to walk on the dunes to access the beach.(Photo: MALCOLM DENEMARK/FLORIDA TODAY)

The same can't be said about other Florida beaches in the lingering aftermath of Matthew.

"We are very worried that our beaches are vulnerable to another hit," said St. John County public works director Neal Shinkre. "I don't think they can absorb it. We're very concerned about it to be sure, to say the least."

The county has piggybacked onto other agencies' projects to use sand dredged from channels and inlets to shore up the beach, but another 1 million cubic yards of sand still is needed, Shinkre said.

St. Johnsis proposingto tax beachfront property owners to come up with local money to meet required matches for state and federal support.

But until the county knows how much FEMA will pitch in, the size of the local match cannot be determined, Shinkre said. Yet to be determined is how the $13.3 million in the state budget will be split with Flagler.

While the county waits, almost $3.8 million in emergency Matthew money Scott sent to St. Johnsremains unspent.

"Our plan is not to spend the money bit by bit," he said. "A lot of things are not done yet."

As for dune repair money in Volusia, FEMA approved "little to none," because the shoreline already is armored, said Joe Nolin, thecounty's project manager.

He said natural shoreline wasn't eroded enough, nor were structures at enough risk of future storms, to meet federal requirements for money.

Nolin said the county wants to use the $3.7 million in emergency money from Scott to match federal dollars, so the county has not spent the state money.

The Florida Department of Transportation builtsome emergency berms along stretches of beach where A1A was repaired, but FEMA disqualified the county's request for money to shore up the state-owned coastal highway with rebuilt dunes, Nolin said.

"We're not in the best shape we can be, but we're keeping our fingers crossed," Nolin said.

Money is only part of Flagler County's storm recovery troubles.

Bids for afirst phase of a dune restoration project came back over budget, and without assurances of help from FEMA, the county could not move forward, said Coffer, the county administrator.

The county is looking for ways to cut costs, including using a closer inland sand source, but also faces permitting hurdles because of sea turtle season.

Coffey guesses the earliest sand could be placed on the beach would be late July or early August, two months into storm season.

"Our residents are very nervous about this stuff," Coffey said. "And you're just fighting an uphill battle when folks don't seem to have the same sense of urgency that people's lives and homes are in danger."

Dump truck drivers delivered an estimated 750,000 cubic yards of sand to Broward County beaches as part of the largest truck haul beach renourishment in Florida's history. David Albers/Naples Daily News

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After a 10-year hurricane drought in Florida, residents and officials are experiencing the pitfalls of failing to renourish beaches to protect against the forces of Mother Nature. David Albers/Naples Daily News

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Join the Daily News and our panel of experts for a discussion about the future of Florida's famous beaches, proposals to change how beaches are managed and ways to keep the states' shores healthy.

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Beach erosion in Cape San Blas is threatening the economy of the rural Florida Panhandle county. David Albers/Naples Daily News

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Alligator Point resident Bert Boldt watched his property erode away as he struggled to rebuild after Hurricane Dennis. David Albers/Naples Daily News

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Wave attenuation devices, or WADs, manufactured by Living Shoreline Solutions are hollow concrete pyramids that the company's CEO says "kill wave energy to stop erosion." David Albers/Naples Daily News

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Trucks use Alico Road and Corkscrew road to access mines for the Collier County beach nourishment project

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Dump trucks supply sand for largest truck haul beach renourishment in Florida's history

Erosion threatening Florida's beaches

Shrinking Shores public forum

Beach erosion threatens the economy of Cape San Blas

Alligator Point resident watched his property erode away

Wave attenuation devices, or WADs, attempt to u0022killu0022 erosion energy

Estero residents concerned about sand trucks

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Florida beaches damaged by 2016 storms not ready to weather this ... - Naples Daily News