The Ocracoke Control Group met at 9:00 a.m. today, July 31, 2020, to discuss the need for an evacuation order for Ocracoke Island in advance of Hurricane Isaias affecting the Eastern North Carolina area. The group has recommended that the Hyde County Board of Commissioners enact a mandatory evacuation of the island.

Based on the recommendation from the Ocracoke Control Group, The Hyde County Board of Commissioners has ordered a mandatory visitor evacuation of Ocracoke, effective at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2020. A mandatory resident and nonresident property owner evacuation of Ocracoke will be effective at 6:00 a.m., Saturday, August 1, 2020.

Ocracoke entry is currently restricted to residents, homeowners, vendors, and other essential personnel requested by Federal, State, or County officials until the evacuation orders begin. You will need an Ocracoke re-entry pass or adequate documentation on the vehicle to be allowed on any ferries inbound to Ocracoke. Once the evacuation orders are active, only emergency personnel will be allowed entry to the island.

Individuals should be aware that the sound-side ferry routes are already operating at a greatly reduced capacity due to shoaling in a key channel. It is highly recommended that you utilize the Ocracoke-Hatteras ferry route as the sound routes will reach capacity fast. Everyone should begin their evacuations as soon as possible.

The latest report from the National Weather Service has Hurricane Isaiass wind measured at 80 mph. The first impacts from this system will likely be increased swell/rip current risks beginning today and continuing through early next week. There is no major difference in the track as of yet but confidence in the track is increasing. The Storm Surge Probability estimates have not yet been issued. The current earliest time of tropical-storm-force winds is currently predicted for Sunday night.

The Hyde County Emergency Operations Center has been activated and can be reached at 252-926-3715. The Hyde County Emergency Services Department will continue to monitor the forecast for Hurricane Isaias and issue advisories as appropriate. For the most current and official information please monitor the National Hurricane Center website at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/.

FERRY SCHEDULE DURING THE EVACUATION

Per the NCDOT, the Ocracoke-Hatteras route will run its published schedule, with an additional ferry making unscheduled runs as necessary. The final departure to Hatteras will be Sunday afternoon or evening depending on conditions.

The schedule for the Pamlico Sound ferry routes will be as follows:

Friday, July 31:

Saturday, Aug. 1:

Sunday, Aug. 2:

TheOcracoke Expresspassenger ferry has suspended service until further notice.

Hurricane Isaias is approaching quickly, and has the potential to create serious flooding and storm surge on Ocracoke Island, said Ferry Division Director Harold Thomas. We hope everyone will heed the evacuation orders for their own safety.

Evacuation procedures will remain in effect for all Ocracoke-bound ferries until Hyde County emergency officials lift the evacuation orders.

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Mandatory Evacuation issued for Ocracoke Island - Island Free Press

Grand Island children are able to learn about God and engage in fun activities as part of an in-person event this week.

New Life Community Church hosted its first in-person vacation Bible school session Monday at Pier Park. The daily event continues through Friday.

Those attending Mondays session were split into four groups: crafts, Bible verse, Bible lesson and group time. After rotating through the groups, participants were served snacks.

What we do is we come together, we have songs, a skit, a Bible story and crafts, said co-coordinator Eric Miller. They are all tied together with a curriculum that was written by my wife (Tonya) that teaches the Scripture to kids. It teaches them about Jesus and shares the truth of Gods love for kids.

Miller said a question New Life was faced with a few months ago was whether to have VBS at this time. He said the church met, talked about this and decided that if the Central District Health Department was in Phase 3, the church would proceed with VBS.

We want to go to the children of our community and that is why we have VBS outside of the church. We want to take that message of hope and love to our community, he said. There are several of our church kids here and several from the community. We are excited to do that and represent Christ to our community.

This was the first VBS New Life has had in many years.

Miller said this years VBS was planned before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

He said 28 elementary-age kids attended Mondays session. A number of precautions were implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Bible verse station on the Pier Park tennis courts, a volunteer laid out Hula Hoops to help kids maintain a proper social distance.

Obviously, in a setting like this, you are not going to be 100% accurate in keeping social distancing, but we are doing our best, Miller said.

We are asking the teachers and the group leaders to wear masks any time they are within close proximity to the kids. We love the kids and want to keep them safe. But at the same time, we wanted to bring a certain level of normalcy back to our community.

Rev. Sean Amen, lead pastor at New Life, said it is imperative that the church continue to meet together and maintain its outreach to the community. VBS this week allows New Life to share the gospel with the Grand Island community and give kids a sense of normalcy.

I think our kids, in many ways, have had normal ripped away, Amen said. I even heard that language with my own kids. They make comments like Maybe after corona we can go to the zoo or do (other) things. The sense of stuff that you and I had when we were growing up has been pulled away from them. We are trying to give kids that sense of normality.

Amen said he was impressed by the turnout for the first session of VBS. About 10% of the kids were from New Life, while the remaining were from the Grand Island community.

Miller said if kids want to participate in VBS this week, they can do so by showing up at 9 a.m. at Pier Park to register. There is no cost to participate.

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WATCH NOW: New Life Community Church welcomes Grand Island children to in-person vacation Bible school - Grand Island Independent

For the first time in 300 years, the public can now explore Sipson Island.

The island, which was bought by white settlers from the native Monomoyick people in 1711, is located in the Pleasant Bay area of Cape Cod and covers 24 acres of pristine land.

It is really important for us as an organization and community to be able to communicate the importance of this indigenous history, and teach the values of those that lived on the island before 1711, Sipson Island Trust President Tasia Blough told CNN.

Visitors can only arrive on boats less than 22 feet long and enter via the eastern shore due to the islands sensitive ecosystem. Once there, day guests have the option of hiking, wandering the sandy beaches and snorkeling.

When it was for sale there were a number of conservation organizations who wanted to find a way to raise the money [to] protect it, preserve it, preserve it and make it accessible to the public, Blough told CNN.

While there are four structures on the island, three of them will be removed to create and build an open-air research and education center.

Funds are still being raised to buy the eight acres on the island that are not in the trusts name.

Continue reading here:

Island off Cape Cod opens to public for first time in 300 years - New York Post

Auckland International Airport will be separated into two zones in anticipation of a safe air corridor being formed between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

Auckland Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood said it was building new internal walls at its international terminal so it could be split into two self-contained processing zones, which would operate shortly after a travel bubble was announced.

By reconfiguring our terminal into two separate zones we are creating a safe way for people to travel to and from countries that we have formed a travel bubble with, as well as being able to safely process New Zealanders arriving from other countries, Littlewood said.

Meanwhile Kevin Ward of the New Zealand Aviation Coalition (NZAC), an industry group representing New Zealand airlines and airports, said Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown airports also had effective systems in place and were awaiting approval from government border agencies and health services.

READ MORE:* Auckland Airport busier than major aviation hubs in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong* Coronavirus: Trans-Tasman 'bubble' could ease travel restrictions

He said the New Zealand aviation sector was well advanced in its planning for non-quarantine flights from countries without community transmission of Covid-19.

Auckland Airports plan involves creating a safe area in the international terminal, dubbed Zone A, where gates 1 to 10 on its main pier to the south will be used by people travelling to and from countries with which New Zealand has formed a safe travel bubble.

Manukau-Courier

Passengers will be directed into one of two zones depending on whether they come from a country which New Zealand has a safe travel bubble with or not.

People who have been in New Zealand for more than 14 days and are departing on international flights will also use Zone A.

Retail and food and drink options will be available in Zone A.

Zone B, will be its health management area created at gates 15 to 18 on Pier B that points to the west.

It will be used for travellers arriving from countries with which New Zealand does not have a safe travel bubble, and who are required to undergo either managed isolation or quarantine.

It will also be used for passengers transiting through Auckland Airport en route elsewhere.

Food and beverage options will be made available via vending machines.

Zone B will also feature a separate border processing facility.

Jason Dorday/Stuff

Auckland Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood says new internal walls are being built to allow for the terminal to be separated into two zones.

Littlewood said it was working through the final stages of planning with border agencies and airlines to make the separation possible.

When Zone A opened it would provide a similar experience to how people travelled through the terminal before Covid-19, he said.

The usual departure and security formalities will be in place followed by a retail and food and beverage area, with flights departing from International Pier A.

Access to International Pier B will be completely closed off to these travellers.

It will also mean we use buses and remote stands more frequently to ensure the careful separation and processing of passengers departing and arriving from different parts of the world.

Justin Tighe-Umbers, who co-chairs the NZAC, said separating travellers based on their country of origin was an important measure in the fight against Covid-19 and airlines supported the move.

Auckland Airport creating two terminals is an innovative move that will allow airlines to grow capacity as we open up safe zones with other countries.

Wellington Airport chief executive Steve Sanderson said it too was ready to handle passengers from a Pacific bubble.

All Pacific passengers could be safely processed in the main terminal buildings, fully segregated from domestic travellers using an existing movable wall and an additional path.

Our plan also enables us to quickly reinstate additional health checks for departing passengers if required, he said.

Repatriation flights from Covid-19 zones into Wellington were handled entirely on the western side of the airport, across the runway from the main terminal and passengers couldnt mingle with the public before being bussed to quarantine facilities.

We have worked on this plan with local representatives of border and security agencies over the last week and are now waiting on government approval, Sanderson said.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is not expecting air travel to return to pre-Covid-19 levels until 2024.

Continued here:

Auckland Airport to be split in two in preparation for Cook Islands bubble - Stuff.co.nz

(CNN) For even more videos from this part of the world head to Great Big Story.

For more than 30 years, Mauro Morandi has been the sole inhabitant of a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea.

He hoped to make it his life-long home, but that is now under threat.

Italy's answer to Robinson Crusoe faces eviction from the Isle of Budelli, off the coast of Sardinia, if he doesn't voluntarily leave -- which he has no intention of doing.

Local authorities are speeding up plans to restyle his ramshackle hut and turn it into an environmental observatory, putting an end to his blissful stay.

Morandi, a former teacher, arrived on the island by accident while attempting to sail from Italy to Polynesia 31 years ago. He fell in love with the pristine atoll's crystal-clear waters, coral sands and beautiful sunsets -- and decided to stay.

He took over from the previous caretaker shortly afterward and, at the age of 81, he's still there and ready to fight for his home, whatever it takes.

"I'm ready to do all I can to stay here, even if that means they'll have to drag me away. I wouldn't know where else to go live, certainly not back home in the north, nor what to do -- this is my life. I just don't see myself playing cards or bowls," Morandi tells CNN Travel in Italian.

Morandi, who has enjoyed a safe and isolated retreat during Italy's Covid-19 emergency, believes authorities will serve him his eviction notice once summer is over.

"All I ask is, if I must be sent away during the renovation works, that I can come back after and keep doing what I do each day: guard the endangered pink coral beach, keep tourists at bay, protect the nature. I fear that if I'm gone, it will be the end of Budelli too".

The island has changed ownership several times over the last few years. Since 2015, Budelli has been owned by La Maddalena's National Park, rendering Morandi's role obsolete.

The authorities say they are simply upholding the law.

"Our priority is to intervene against all illegal constructions inside the park, including Mauro's hut, a former World War II radio station which has undergone modifications which aren't in accordance with the rules. We need to set the example, protect our environment by first restoring this illegal structure ,and then move on with a new project which will likely be a scientific center for the spreading of environmental awareness," La Maddalena Park president Fabrizio Fonnesu tells CNN in Italian.

Budelli's caretaker

Budelli is known for its beautiful pink shoreline.

Courtesy Mauro Morandi

Fonnesu says there is no set date for Morandi's eventual eviction, given that it will take months before the reconstruction phase kicks off.

"Nobody wants to chase him away, but what title does he have to stay since the island is no longer private?," says Fonnesu. "If in future there is the need to have a caretaker, we could reconsider his position, but when the works will start he must leave."

The island is a pollution-free paradise with clear turquoise waters, lush wild vegetation, purplish rocks resembling natural sculptures, and healthy air. "Many people would like to be Budelli's caretaker," notes Fonnesu.

Locals complain about the romantic portrait painted of Morandi by foreign media, hailing him as a bon sauvage "hermit." In truth, says Fonnesu, he's "an illegal occupant" of Budelli.

Morandi, meanwhile, says that although the mere thought of leaving hurts him, he's more worried about the fate of the "pink atoll," so-called because of the rosy hue of its unique coral sand beach.

"Just the other day I chased away two tourists who were trespassing on the off-limits pink beach," he says. "I clean the rubbish off the sand and stop intruders from coming here to do mayhem at night. Truth is, I'm the only one who has so far taken care of Budelli, doing the surveillance task that the park authorities should do".

Morandi fears that Budelli will follow the fate of its sister-isle Spargi, where an observatory was set up in the past only to be later vandalized by visitors. He says: "They stole everything from Spargi, the new furniture and all, they plundered and destroyed the place. Will that be Budelli's future as well?"

No matter how things go, the fiery guardian will never abandon Sardinia.

Morandi could go back home to Modena for the duration of the restyle, staying temporarily with friends or relatives, but if the park authorities won't let him resume his island caretaker job he would need find a new home.

'Sardinia is my land'

Mauro Morandi has made Borelli his home for more than 30 years.

Courtesy Mauro Morandi

"I don't even want to think about it," he says. "I have no house and would need to find one here in Sardinia, in some place cheaper than La Maddalena Archipelago, where prices are way too high."

"Sardina is my land," he says. "Nature here is still alive, wild, vibrant. I need the contact with nature."

Each night he sleeps in the old stone cottage and wakes up in the morning surrounded by Mother Nature. He enjoys exploring shrubs and cliffs and talks to birds at breakfast as they fly in and out of his little kitchen window.

Left alone, he spends the day admiring the sea, inhaling the pure air, collecting wood, preparing his meals and -- of course -- posting on social networks.

Budelli is one of the most beautiful islands in the entire Mediterranean. Dating back to prehistoric times when the Earth's crust was still forming, legend says it's a shard of the mythical, lost Atlantis continent swallowed by the ocean.

But the island isn't completely immune to climate change and nature's destruction by man, says Morandi.

Not long ago a clear line of pinkish sand cut along the shore, made of bright pink, orange and salmon-tinted crushed coral, crystals, fossils and dead marine creatures, giving the shore a sparkling strawberry hue similar to that of sunset skies.

If he's forced to leave for good, Morandi fears the pink atoll will survive only on postcards from the past.

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Paradise lost: Eviction looms for hermit living alone on Italian island - CNN

Ni Kadek Erawati, 40, used to work in a villa in her village, Tegallalang, a Balinese district famous for its Instagram-able rice terraces.

But in March, her employer asked her to take a break until further notice. Her husband is unemployed and she needs to pay school fees for three children, but the only job she could find was working on a farm.

When the Guardian visited Era, she was harvesting in a rice field with a group of farmers. Her payment each day is one bucket of unhulled rice. During the harvest she stops and complains about the heat: I have never worked in the rice field like this before. Its sweltering.

Like many of Balinese women, Era has no land. Balis patrilineal kinship system means only men inherit property.

The custom has made it easier for some of the men who have also had to return to rural areas. I Gede Tinaya, 36, was left 1.5 ha of land in Kintamani, North Bali, by his parents, so when his .15-year tour guide business collapsed due to the pandemic, he moved back to the village and started farming. He now grows red onions and has earned 60m rupiah ($US4,135) after three months.

In common with a growing number of Balinese, the pandemic has made him think more about whether he wants to return to working in the tourism industry and its reliance on foreign visitors. Some Balinese think the island would be better off developing other sectors of its economy instead.

In the past, we thought that tourism is our basic income. But I have learned that Bali is not only about tourism. The agricultural business also can provide life support only if we want to work hard and explore the real potential in our island, he says.

Many Balinese people lost their livelihoods when the island was closed to outsiders at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Home to four million people, Bali is Indonesias tourist centre, contributing 50% of the countrys income from the tourism industry or US$10bn annually. About six million travellers visited the island in 2019. The vast growth of the tourism industry has transformed it from an agricultural province to a prime holiday destination popular with travellers from the UK to Australia.

The island has been hit by intractable economic crises before, from the Bali bombings that killed 202 people in 2oo2, to the eruption of Mount Agung in 2017. But the coronavirus pandemic has rocked the tourism industry more profoundly.

The island had recorded 3,249 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 48 fatalities. Dr I Gusti Agung Ngurah Anom, chairman of Indonesia Doctors Association in Denpasar, Balis capital, has warned that the citys isolation beds are fully occupied.

According to Indonesias central bank, almost all parts of the Balinese economy have deteriorated this year, with the exception of agriculture. The sectors performance was predicted to show another improvement in the June quarter as Bali entered the harvest period.

Dwitra J Ariana, a young Balinese farmer and filmmaker, noticed that many of his neighbours who work in the city were heading back to his village in Bangli to work the land.

My wife, who recruits workers for our farm, used to find it difficult to get workers. But now, we can find many, said Dwitra, who owns Mupubati farm. He has recruited five former villa and hotel workers since the pandemic began.

He says that many Balinese had seen their home in a new light. Bali returns to zero. We have never experienced this before, and it prompted a new realisation that the island is not as fragile as people think. Even though the tourism sector has collapsed, Balinese are not going to starve.

One village that has helped people find work is Tembok. Headed by Dewa Komang Yuda Astara, Tembok developed a collective farming industry to provide a social safety net for its residents.

The village has a population of more than 7,000, and almost half of its residents used to work in the city mostly in the tourism sector. But the village has managed to re-employ many of them in jobs such as cleaning the beach, monitoring the garbage, farming, food production, health and delivery work.

The pandemic likely will not end in a short time. So, therefore, we plan to manage another two hectares to open a collective farm, Dewa said.

The provincial government has announced that Bali will reopen to international tourists in September. The island will become Jakartas pilot project to relaunch tourism with a new normal health protocol. Balis recovery is important for the national and regional tourism industry, Balis governor Wayan Koster told the media.

Many Balinese are optimistic that the island is ready to reopen. But others such as Gede questioned the plan.

In my opinion, we need to solve the Covid-19 problem first, so that we can feel secure. In the meantime, we can explore the other potential sectors, he said. He plans to have two jobs after the pandemic. I am not going to go back to work in tourism full time. Maybe 50/50. I will keep the farming job.

Era, in common with many lower-income women on the island, doesnt have much choice. She is hoping that the region will reopen soon. If I dont have money in September, I am not going to be able to celebrate [the Balinese holiday of] Galungan day. But also I am afraid of being exposed to coronavirus, she said while touching her forehead. I have a headache now.

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'Bali is not only about tourism': Covid-19 prompts rethink for island's residents - The Guardian

MIAMI (CBSMiami) An arrest has been made in a shooting at a condo on Brickell Key Island that left a man in critical condition.

The shooting happened July 30th, just before 2 p.m. at the Isola Condominium, located at 770 Claughton Island Drive.

According to police, Franco Rainuzzo, 27, drove to the condo and took an elevator up to the 15th floor. He then went to one of the units and knocked on the door.

When the man who lives there answered the door, Rainuzzo reportedly pulled a gun and shot him multiple times. He then left the condo and sped off in a newer model blue SUV, according to police.

Police say the SUV was rental. One of the women who rented it told police that she had spoken with Rainuzzo before because he lived in her condo building but she didnt know that he had taken the vehicle, according to Rainuzzos arrest report.

Rainuzzo has been arrested and charged with one count of attempted murder, one count of use of a firearm while committing a felony, and grand theft.

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Arrest Made In Brickell Key Island Condo Shooting - CBS Miami

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With many Staten Islanders confined to their homes in recent months due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the roads of Staten Island had never felt emptier.

Typically busy streets like Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue felt like ghost towns at times, with far fewer motorists making their way around the borough.

But that didnt stop the remaining Staten Island drivers from racking up tens of thousands of school zone speed camera violations.

Even during the heights of the pandemic, when New York City still had not even enter Phase 1 of reopening, more than 1,600 tickets were being issued each day.

And unsurprisingly, as the city began to open back up, with more and more residents returning to work, the daily violation rate increased on Staten Island to over 2,250 violations.

Heres a look at how the number of Staten Island school zone speed camera violations have progressed throughout New York Citys reopening.

PRIOR TO PHASE 1

With each phase of reopening lasting two weeks, the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com analyzed ticketing data from the two weeks prior to Phase 1, as well as the two weeks included in each phase.

School zone speed cameras are only operational during weekdays, meaning each phase consisted of 10 ticketing days. However, the two weeks prior to Phase 1 only included nine ticketing days due to the cameras being turned off on Memorial Day.

In the two weeks leading up to Phase 1, from May 25 to Jun. 7, the city issued 14,406 speed camera violations on Staten Island, totaling $720,300 in revenue at $50 per ticket.

Over the nine ticketing days, this means an average of 1,600.7 speed camera violations were issued per day, 66.7 per hour or 1.1 per minute, equaling roughly $80,035 per day, $3,335 per hour or $56 per minute in revenue.

PHASE 1

During Phase 1, which spanned from Jun. 8 to Jun. 21, the city issued 16,789 speed camera violations on Staten Island, totaling $839,450 in revenue.

Over the 10 ticketing days, this means an average of 1,678.9 speed camera violations were issued per day, 70 per hour or 1.2 per minute, equaling roughly $83,945 per day, $3,498 per hour or $58 per minute in revenue.

PHASE 2

During Phase 2, which stretched from Jun. 22 to Jul. 5, the city issued 15,845 speed camera violations on Staten Island, totaling $792,250 in revenue.

Over 10 ticketing days, this means an average of 1584.5 speed camera violations were issued per day, 66 per hour or 1.1 per minute, equaling roughly $79,225 per day, $3,301 per hour or $55 per minute in revenue.

PHASE 3

During Phase 3, which began on Jul. 6 and ended Jul. 19, the city issued 22,514 speed camera violations on Staten Island, totaling $1,125,700 in revenue.

Over 10 ticketing days, this means an average of 2,251.2 speed camera violations were issued per day, 93.8 per hour or 1.6 per minute, equaling roughly $112,570 per day, $4,690 per hour or $78 per minute in revenue.

SHOULD THEY BE ON ANYWAY?

With schools closed since March as a result of the ongoing pandemic, some have argued that the speed cameras, which are intended to bolster safety within school zones, should be turned off all together.

In late March, Councilman Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island) penned a letter to DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg requesting that the citys speed cameras be shut down while school is out of session.

With schools closed for the foreseeable future, speed cameras should be turned off. Failure to do so confirms the suspicions of so many New Yorkers that the speed camera program exists for the sole purpose of revenue generation, rather than public safety, Matteo wrote.

The installation of new cameras should also be halted during this time of public emergency, he added.

The councilman argued that it is unjust to issue violations at a time when drivers may be rushing to address the health of loved ones or stocking up on necessary supplies.

Issuing summonses to New Yorkers for going 36 miles per hour on empty and deserted roads when school is not in session, some of whom are trying to care for elderly family members or out purchasing basic survival necessities for their families, is simply beyond the pale, he wrote.

In response to the letter, the DOT claimed that the cameras are required to operate by law, noting that while classes are canceled, some schools remain open to serve meals.

The law states the cameras must be on year-round from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., Monday - Friday. While schools have been shut down due to COVID-19, they are still serving meals to children, and kids may still be in the street, according to a DOT spokesperson.

The purpose of the speed camera program is to deter speeding. Even with less cars on the road and school currently not in session, drivers should to continue to follow the speed limit, the spokesperson continued.

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Speed cameras: Did reopening affect the number of violations on Staten Island? - SILive.com

Greetings from Disneys Animal Kingdom! Were over in Discovery Island, where the popular Island Mercantile store is set to reopen today at 1 pm. This is the first time the store will be open since the Walt Disney World theme parks closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Island Mercantile is a particularly large store, with multiple exits and entrances which allow guests to exit to different parts of the area surrounding Discovery Island. Under new health and safety restrictions, a one-way system has been implemented at the store, with the only way in now at the entrance located near the Lion King photo op.

Leading up to the store, floor markers have been placed to show guests where to queue in the event that the shop has reached capacity and guests have to wait outside.

Upon entering the store, guests are met with clear signage encouraging them to maintain a physical distance between themselves and others.

Island Mercantile is a great place to pick up some wild Animal Kingdom-themed merchandise. Have you seen this latest collection of park-specific merchandise, which we found earlier this week?

Signage is clearly displayed all throughout the store.

Hand sanitizer dispensers are also available for guests to use.

Tucked away in a corner, the Rookery has reopened, where guests are able to adopt shoulder Banshees, usually found in Pandora The World of Avatar. Here, plexiglas screens have been mounted to the register, to protect the Cast Member behind it. Floor markers and clear signage reinforce proper health and safety rules for guests to adhere to as they wait.

The main register in Island Mercantile, however, is located right in the center of the store.

Floor markers can be seen leading up to the circular register, advising guests of where they should wait. Each operating desk has been numbered to make directing guests easier.

Some registers have been closed to allow for better social distancing, and more plexiglas dividers have been mounted on this desk to protect the cast members serving at the tills.

Whilst only one door is operating as an entrance, guests can opt to use any of the exits as they leave the store. For convenience, more hand sanitizer is available at these exits, too.

You can check out our Complete Guide to the Reopening of Disneys Animal Kingdom here, including all you need to know about the updated park policies, procedures, and new health and safety measures that have been implemented since the parks reopening.

Related

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PHOTOS: Island Mercantile Reopens at Disney's Animal Kingdom with One Entrance, Social Distancing, and Other Health and Safety Measures - wdwnt.com

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WKBW) Some people who live on Grand Island want their opinions to be heard about an Amazon warehouse that may be on the way there.

CRED4GI wants a series of public hearings to be held so they can have their say about the warehouse coming to their backyard.

They plan to protest Monday evening at the Grand Island Town Hall prior to the vote on rezoning an area to fit the warehouse.

They say the warehouse just doesn't fit in at their home.

"We don't believe that a massive, one of the world's largest warehouses being built on this island is a good idea," said CRED4GI spokesperson Cathy Reyhill. "We don't believe that's responsible it does not fit the character of the island we have."

The group is also calling for an independent environmental impact study on how the warehouse would effect Grand Island.

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Group protesting potential of Amazon warehouse coming to Grand Island - WKBW-TV

Of the Island's 10 Most Popular Touristic Activities, Whale Watching Ranks First

TAIWAN / ACCESSWIRE / August 3, 2020 / Turtle Island is a turtle-shaped island off the coast of Yilan County's Toucheng Township. In view of its abundant natural attractions, on August 1, 2000 the government ended military control and opened the island for tourism. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the opening of Turtle Island to tourism, the Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration (hereinafter referred to as the "Administration Office") of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau arranged a very special event that included historic photos and many special invitees. The invitation list included well-known entertainer Ms. Tsai Gui. In Chinese, "gui" means "turtle." Others who share this word were also in attendance. Former Turtle Island residents were very special guests, including former teachers, students, officers and soldiers on the island. They expressed warm gratitude and shared their nostalgia for the place they left 20 years ago. Recognition was given for the contributions all had made to Turtle Island and its tourism development. Making the event even more warm and special, the Administration Office, the Yilan Hotel Association and Yilan Agape Welfare invited 25 children and their relatives from one-parent or poor families to the event. The gathering was filled with a joyful and warm atmosphere.

Lin Chia-lung, Minister of Transportation & Communications, landed on Turtle Island, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the island's opening to tourism. (The photo was provided via the Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration.)

Six visitors with names containing "turtle" gathered happily with Minister Lin on the island.

The celebrations began with the gathering of a fleet of twelve whale watching boats at Wushi Port. Amid a fanfare of wind instruments, the boats grandly sailed towards Turtle Island. They first stopped at Putuo Rock, and then moved on to the island's old settlement. The arrival of the boats was celebrated with the rhythmic beating of welcoming drums. Following a special invitation from the Administration Office, Ms. Pei Chih-wei, the winner of 6 gold medals in global pastry contests, presented a fondant cake in the shape of Turtle Island. It was 120cm in diameter and 50cm high. The number "20" was then jointly planted on 401 Peak by Minister of Transportation & Communications Lin Chia-lung, Director-General of the Tourism Bureau Chang Shi-chung, and Yilan County Magistrate Lin Tzu-miao. The number 20, when said as the two numbers "2" and "0," sounds like "love you" in Mandarin. The number thus also represented love and affection for ecology and the nation's hopes for growing success in Turtle Island's tourism efforts.

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Minister Lin pointed out that the competitiveness of tourism is important to national competitiveness. Although the pandemic has hurt Taiwan's tourism industry, the government has provided support via stages 1.0-3.0 of relief programs. These include safe-tourism efforts as well as "local-feature" tourism programs. In August, relief project 3.0 will be launched to provide further help. He added that Taiwan is endowed with beautiful mountain ranges and abundant ecological resources. In the future, the government will continue to combine ecology and tourism to add more depth and value to Taiwan tourism. He hoped that Turtle Island tourism will attain an international level and enjoy another fruitful 20 years.

Director-General Chang emphasized that the Administration Office had now managed the island for 20 years, during which they had enjoyed much success in maintaining island's natural ecology and landscape, while at the same time allowing visitors to enjoy the island's unique features. Strict controls over visitor numbers, including no more than 1,800 per day, have been an important part of preserving the island's environment. As a result, Turtle Island provides a high quality and beautiful destination for visitors. He added that northeast Taiwan offers many attractions for tourists, in addition to Turtle Island and its Peak 401 Trail. These include the Caoling Trail, the Sandiao Cape Lighthouse Trail, the Bitou Cape Trail, the Fulong Beach Sand Sculpting Festival, the Caoling Tunnel Circular Cycling Route, the Zhuangwei Coastal Cycling Trail and the Zhuangwei Dune Visitor Center. The above attractions all provide wonderful experiences and sights between the mountains and the sea.

According to Mr. Chien Ming-yi, Chief of Staff of the Yilan Whale Watching Association, their members' business declined by about 90% when tourism to the island reopened in March amid the worsening pandemic. Fortunately, the government stepped in with a relief program as well as targeted efforts such as "safe tourism," a travel voucher program and creative marketing efforts from old friends at the Administration Office. Based on data from Klook, in June whale watching off Turtle Island was Taiwan's most popular event-type tourism product. At present, the boats are almost fully booked. This in turn has supported very important peripheral businesses such as food and beverage and other tourism related activities.

Ms. Tsai Gui said that while sailing around Turtle Island she was awed by the magic of Mother Nature. She said that as soon as she stepped onto the island, she was facing a hill that resembled a reclining pregnant woman and another that resembled a pug-like dog. Her attention was also riveted by the crystal-clear Turtle Tail Lake and magnificent coastal views. She emphasized that we are all very lucky to have this emerald in the sea, and she hoped that everyone will treasure this island and visit it.

Mr. Wu Guixiong, an elderly resident of the island, served as a host and guided Ms. Tsai Gui (whose real name is Tsai Xigui) and a group of others who shared the name "Gui" around the island to enjoy its beautiful scenery. "Traditional buildings on Turtle Island were built with what we call turtle-egg pebbles,'" said Mr. Wu. He added that in earlier times, while he was primarily a fisherman, he and others on the island also farmed sweet potatoes, which they substituted for rice in some recipes. The fishing boats stayed home in autumn and winter, and in order to fill some of the idle time, residents held kite flying contests using 72-angle kites developed by their predecessors on the island. Now, seeing visitors coming to this island on this occasion, he was touched and delighted.

The Administration Office highlighted that Turtle Island has a distinctive undersea hot spring and volcanic landscape. Of the world's 79 species of whales and dolphins, approximately 27 have been observed in Taiwan's seas and 17 near Turtle Island. The island is closed to the public from December to February to protect its ecology. At other times, visitors are limited to 1,800 per day. Wednesdays are restricted to academic research and a maximum of 500 visitors. Only 100 visitors per day are permitted to ascend 401 Peak, the island's highest peak. Reservations are required for both whales watching and trips to Turtle Island. For details, contact the Yilan Whale Watching Association at 03-977-0606 or the Administration Office via its website (https://www.necoast-nsa.gov.tw/index.aspx?l=2) or its Facebook page.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic pain is one of the most common reasons adults seek medical care. In addition to restricting mobility and daily activities, chronic pain has been linked to dependence on opioids, anxiety and depression, and poor perceived health or reduced quality of life.

This past week, the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for the Grand Island Physical Therapy Pain and Spine Center at 1300 S. Locust St.

The clinic opened in March and focuses on chronic pain, back pain and many other orthopedic conditions.

Chronic pain is a problem in Grand Island and throughout the United States. According to CDC reports, it has been linked to numerous physical and mental conditions and contributes to high health care costs and lost productivity. A limited number of studies, the CDC said, estimate the prevalence of chronic pain ranges from 11% to 40%.

Physical therapist Justin Kral of Grand Island Physical Therapys Balance Mobility Aquatic Therapy Center has relocated to its pain and spine center. Kral is certified in postural restoration and has 16 years of clinical outpatient experience, orthopedic rehabilitation, and multiple manual therapy techniques for joint and myofascial mobilization.

Kral received his doctorate in physical therapy from Creighton University in Omaha, where he graduated in 2004. He has been employed by Grand Island Physical Therapy for seven years and is one of fewer than 200 certified postural restoration therapists.

Postural restoration is a form of physical therapy treatment that encompasses the entire body. The main focus of the treatment is identifying and correcting common postural patterns found in the human body. As a postural restoration physical therapist, Kral is trained to recognize, assess and treat biomechanical asymmetries that develop due to restricted motion in the body. Postural restoration is an effective treatment approach for most musculoskeletal problems typically seen in physical therapy.

It is a type of specific therapy that is designed to work for people who have had problems for years and years, he said. They had a knee or back surgery and they are still struggling with the pain after traditional therapy.

In 2016, the CDC estimated 20.4% of U.S. adults had chronic pain and 8% had high-impact chronic pain.

Kral said over the years he has had enough interaction with patients and physicians to where they came up with the idea for the Grand Island Physical Therapy Pain and Spine Center.

We wanted a smaller clinic that was designed to be a pain and spine clinic so we could address people who are suffering from more chronic pain issues, he said. The design behind the clinic was to do a smaller and quieter clinic because if you suffer from pain, you dont want to be in a busy or loud environment. A lot of time, people who deal with pain dont want to be around other people.

Kral said the clinic is a certified postural restoration clinic.

He described postural restoration as addressing how a person holds themselves in space.

Everybody thinks that good posture is that rigid, barrel-chested, stick your chest out, and be upright and tall, but that is just a form of posture, Kral said. How you sit in a chair or at a computer is a form of posture. My job, if you have chronic back pain, is to figure out what a person does during their day and then try to figure out ways to get you out of the bad habits that you formed and get your body strengthened and to balance everything out.

He said people are not designed to be sedentary, but are meant to get up and sit down and to walk and stand and to squat to allow their bodies to work well. Bad postural habits due to working conditions can throw a persons posture out of balance and cause pain and discomfort.

Kral said the human body is not symmetrical. These asymmetries influence the way you stand, sit, walk and even breathe.

People develop a dominant hand and a dominant leg, causing bodies to develop patterns of limited motion to accommodate. This limited motion can cause imbalances in strength and chronic pain may develop.

It is kind of like looking at a car out of alignment, he said. You can put a new tire on your car, but the alignment is still off and the tire eventually starts to wear out.

Kral said treatment programs are designed to address specific asymmetries and restore more symmetrical, efficient motion. Central to treatment is breathing education. For example, patients will often breathe shallowly or more into one lung. Poor breathing not only greatly affects body system function from a medical standpoint, but also limits proper rib cage and spine movement.

Each patient is given an individualized treatment program allowing the patient to practice and learn techniques in the home. As patients improve with these techniques, he said, they will often experience greater freedom of movement, improved performance and decreased pain.

Kral said chronic pain isnt limited to a certain age as he has treated both young people and older people at the clinic.

What we do is try to look at things a little differently and try to focus on a little different approach, especially if traditional means have not been successful, he said. It is more of a holistic and systemic approach as we look at the whole body.

The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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New Grand Island clinic focuses on chronic pain, spine therapy - Grand Island Independent

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the coronavirus (COVID-19) tore through New York City, Family Justice Centers (FJC) across all five boroughs saw increases of new clients, data provided to the Advance/SILive.com shows.

The centers, which provide comprehensive criminal justice, civil, legal and social services free of charge to victims of domestic violence, elder abuse and sex trafficking, closed in-person assistance as a result of the virus in mid-March moving to a virtual and remote model.

Between April 1 and July 24, new client visits to the citys five FJCs increased 14.3%, rising from 2,924 new clients during that period in 2019 to 3,344 this year.

On Staten Island, the last borough to receive a FJC after the facility opened in St. George in 2016, new client visits increased by 11.6% from 301 new clients in 2019 to 336 in 2020.

Survivors need us now more than ever in these extraordinary times, and our top priority remains to ensure continuity of services and unwavering support, said Cecile Noel, the commissioner of the Mayors Office to End Domestic and Gender Based Violence (ENDGBV). Our centers continue to provide crucial crisis support and advocacy by connecting survivors to immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, legal consultations, and more.

COVID-19 puts into sharp focus the vulnerabilities that many people in our city face every day, especially gender-based violence survivors; and it highlights the barriers and challenges that we know keep people from seeking help and finding safety. The city is here for survivors during this crisis and beyond, and will continue to work to identify best practices and innovative approaches to enhance its services, Noel said.

When the facilities shut down to in-person consultations, experts were concerned that quarantine could force survivors of domestic violence one of the groups served by the centers to spend more time confined with their abusers.

The majority of the five FJCs visits in 2019 were connected to safety planning, city data showed, which involves individualized preparation of physical and emotional needs for clients of the centers.

During an initial meeting (which was in person prior to the coronavirus outbreak), clients are screened for their immediate needs before they are connected to one of the service providers at the FJC.

All of them are expected and need to do what we call safety planning, which is really talking to the survivor about their physical and emotional safety, said ENDGBV Assistant Commissioner of Family Justice Center Operations & Programming Jennifer DeCarli, who oversees the citys five FJCs.

The centers, which provide comprehensive criminal justice, civil, legal and social services free of charge to victims of domestic violence, elder abuse and sex trafficking, closed in-person assistance as a result of the virus in mid-March moving to a virtual and remote model. (Staten Island Advance/Amanda Steen)Staff-Shot

That planning can range from placement in an emergency shelter to being connected to a counselor, DeCarli said, but the coronavirus has caused that planning to be altered significantly.

Its a lot of creative safety planning, she said of the way organizations like Safe Horizon have had to adjust their services. Weve been doing a lot of training with advocates on safety planning and providing services virtually because, as you can imagine, its different to provide services over the phone than to do that in person.

Because of quarantine measures put in place during the early weeks of the pandemic, survivors had to find intuitive ways to reach out to the services provided by the citys FJCs going in the bathroom and turning on the water during a conversation, or taking their dog for a walk to have a safe space to speak to advocates, DeCarli said.

By early April, Safe Horizon also created a safe chat feature that enabled domestic violence survivors to discretely text chat with the organization over the phone or on a computer.

While the virus wrought challenges against providing survivors with services, DeCarli said the outbreak challenged us to think about ways that we can provide these services that are even more survivor-centered, adding that some of the virtual services which appear to have been effective could be carried over after restrictions are eased.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON STATEN ISLAND

A report by the Citizens Committee for Children (CCC) of New York published in 2018 showed that the intimate partner domestic violence rate on the North Shore of Staten Island where the boroughs FJC is located is twice the citywide rate and seventh highest in the city.

The rate of child abuse or neglect is higher than the citywide rate; and though the foster care placement rate has decreased slightly since 2015, when it was the highest in the city, it is still twice the citywide rate, the report said.

NYPD data from 2019 showed the jurisdiction of the NYPDs 120th Precinct in St. George had 57 chronic domestic violence offenders, the third highest in all of New York City, though down from 66 in 2018.

The NYPD defines a chronic domestic violence offender as someone who is arrested for a domestic violence offense three times within an 18-month span.

The CCC report recommended a series of measures to curtail the higher-than-average domestic violence rates, including hiring community advocates who live in North Shore neighborhoods to provide information, make referrals and help residents navigate issues to their resolution.

Additionally, the CCC suggested programs and workshops for both caregivers and young people to strengthen family relationships and communication be created, along with preventive services aimed at reducing domestic violence and outreach to victims of domestic violence that prioritize safety and anonymity.

During an interview with the Advance/SILive.com in February, Awali Samara, the director of Safe Horizon, said that while Staten Island had heightened domestic violence numbers on the North Shore, she did not think the issue was unique to Staten Island, bur rather reflective of under-resourced areas in New York City.

Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Family Justice Center in St. George in this 2015 file photo. (Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimo)Staff-Shot

When asked what additional resources could provide, Samara said that more counseling programs, more ability to do outreach could help curtail the higher-than-normal levels of domestic violence.

Safe Horizon does not receive all of its funding from the Mayors Office to ENDGBV, but rather also from other sources, including fundraising, agency financial records show.

The Mayors Office to ENDGBV said it does not anticipate any programmatic cuts to the citys FJCs during the 2021 fiscal year.

Amy, a Staten Islander who utilizes the boroughs FJC and wished to omit her last name for privacy concerns, said she receives domestic violence counseling from the center but says the services offered are very limited.

Amy said that counseling survivors of domestic violence is helpful; however, believes that if you dont address the source of the problem youre not going to get far, adding that services should place a far-firmer focus on the abuser.

Youre at the mercy of your abuser, Amy said. They have all the power.

While saying that the counseling she received has been more effective since the FJC opened, her experience of abuse which has stretched into legal litigation has spanned for nearly a decade and has been extremely difficult.

Ive learned nobodys going to help you besides yourself, she told the Advance/SILive.com, saying that the process of taking the legal route against her abuser has been both fiscally and emotionally draining.

Things will get better, she said, but it just takes too long.

Overall, the Mayors Office to ENDGBV said its client feedback through its FJC client satisfaction survey has been overwhelmingly positive. Out of 43 survey responses, 97% respondents would recommend using Staten Island FJC services, the agency said.

EVE PROGRAM SEES SUCCESS ON ISLAND

District Attorney Michael E. McMahon has been a fervent supporter of Staten Island receiving a community justice center, which would feature a problem-solving court, offering alternatives to incarceration and a chance for those with low-level criminal cases to get their lives on track.

While a community justice center is not yet slated for Staten Island, the Staten Island FJC which is located in the same building as McMahons office works closely with the district attorney through ENDGBVs Early Victim Engagement (EVE) program.

The EVE program provides information to survivors of intimate partner violence at the time of a defendants arraignment, providing victims with information about the case, the defendants release status the existence of an order of protection and advising about services and safety planning, according to the New York City Criminal Justice Agency.

Established on Staten Island in July 2018, the EVE program has successfully contacted 1,408 unique clients in order to inform them of the next steps in the criminal justice process and connect them to the community-based services provided at the Staten Island FJC, according to data provided to the Advance/SILive.com.

A 2013 evaluation by the NYC Mayors Office of Criminal Justice found that the implementation of the EVE Program increased the conviction rate in cases of intimate partner violence prosecuted in Brooklyn by nine percentage points (23.6% vs. 32.6%), attributing the increase to a a higher rate of witness participation in the prosecution among EVE clients.

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NEWBURY Although a firm date has yet to be announced, Mad Marthas, a popular Plum Island eatery, will reopen in the next couple of weeks, according to co-ownerKendall Bowie.

Youll see us down on the island flipping eggs, Bowie said one afternoon last week.

Mad Marthas, which opened in September 2011, is owned and operated by Bowie and Kyree Gerson. It has been the go-to place for breakfast and brunch on Plum Island yet, attracting diners from across the region.

During the busiest parts of the morning and early afternoon, it is not uncommon to seemany people waiting outside for a table.

In March,the Northern Boulevard eatery, along with every restaurant in the state, was forced to close to reduce the spread of COVID-19. In the months that followed, Mad Marthas staff has been updating customers on its Facebook page about plans to reopen.

Bowie said she and Gerson have beenworking diligently to plan a safe reopening for customers and the diners 11 employees. Doing that has led to several rounds of discussionsaimed atadhering to state and local mandates while not losing the Mad Marthas experience.

Rumors of its demise were fueled bya For Sale sign planted just outside the front door.

According to the real estate website Zillow,51 Northern Blvd., No. 3, has been on the market for 426 days and is listed at$259,900. It is by far the least expensive property available on Plum Island with the next least expensive property, a two-bedroom, one-bath cottage at 25 Northern Blvd., listed for $420,000.

Bowie said she and Gerson have been interested in the Mad Marthas space, listed as a 520-square-foot commercial space, for years. It is one of three units inside the building, the other two being condominiums, all owned by a Newburyport-based couple.

Mad Marthas was last assessed at $114,700. When added together, the spaces werelast assessedat$400,600, according to the towns online assessors database.

We have tried to buy the building many times, thats theNo. 1 question (we get), Bowie said.

Complicating matters for potential buyers is that the space is listed as commercial property, meaning that it is ineligible for residential loans.

It also means that the owner would need toreceive approval from the town to change the space from commercial to residential. Those are significant hurdles for those not interested in maintaining a business there, according to listing agentDon Notargiacomo of Coldwell Banker Realty.

Other downsides include the lack of deeded parking and the need for flood insurance. All in all, its a property with a lot of little issues that have scared off many.

Theprice is reflective of what it needs,Notargiacomo said.

Notargiacomo said he has had the space under agreement twice only for the buyers to back out before pulling the trigger. Hes also received interest from a Rockport resident interested in converting the space into a bakery.

Imreally so surprised that I havent sold that property, the activity is crazy,Notargiacomo said.

Bowie said she and Gerson arent contemplating shutting down the business permanently and advised people not to lookat the For Sale sign.

We have no intention of going anywhere, Bowie said.

Staff writer Dave Rogers can be reached at drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter@drogers41008

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Mad Martha's owners to reopen Plum Island eatery soon - The Daily News of Newburyport

VANCOUVER -- Lightning has sparked nearly two dozen wildfires across Southern British Columbia this weekend, including two on Vancouver Island.

As of Sunday afternoon, there were 37 active fires in the province, according to the province's online wildfire dashboard. Twenty-three of those fires were caused by lightning.

While there are currently no wildfires of note in B.C., according to the BC Wildfire Service, crews across the province are working to ensure it stays that way.

In the Interior, ground crews and air support are responding to four fires that are visible from the Revelstoke area, all of which are located either on or near Mount Begbie, according to an online update from the Southeast Fire Centre on Sunday.

The largest of these fires is estimated at 0.1 hectares in size.

Both air and ground crews are also working on the Burton Creek fire, which is located approximately 35 kilometres south of Nakusp and is also about 0.1 hectares in size.

Crews in the Southeast Fire Centre were strategically placed on standby in anticipation of the possibility of thunderstorms involving minimal rain this weekend, the centre said.

On Vancouver Island, two new fires were sparked during recent thunderstorms, as was one fire on Quadra Island, according to the Coastal Fire Centre.

The most concerning blazes are burning about 45 kilometres southwest of Nanaimo on Green Mountain, which is home to a small population of endangered Vancouver Island Marmots.

The larger of the two fires is about 15 hectares in size, according to Coastal Fire Centre, which tells CTV News Vancouver Island crews are making good progress in fighting the flames.

A total of 45 crew members and four helicopters are responding to the Green Mountain blaze.

With firefighters working hard to control the lightning-sparked fires around B.C., fire officials are asking the public to stay vigilant and be responsible with any campfires this weekend.

"We certainly continue to ask the public to be very careful when they're out in our wonderful forests and practice good safety around open fire," said Dorothe Jakobsen, fire information officer for Coastal Fire Centre.

Good safety practices include keeping campfires no larger than half a metre in any dimension, keeping a fuel break around all campfires and having water and a shovel handy.

Never leave a campfire unattended, and always ensure that the ashes are cool to the touch before leaving a fire, Jakobsen said.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air-quality advisories, visit the BC Wildfire Service website.

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Wildfire crews dealing with lightning-sparked fires on Vancouver Island - CTV News VI

NANAIMO (NEWS 1130) Its been said that women have always been an equal part of the past, they just havent been a part of history. The author of a new book is doing her part to change that.

We dont always hear about women as much, so I just sort of wanted to showcase some women who are from here, had lived here for a long time, and just wanted to tell their story, explains first-time author Haley Healey.

Healey says she was inspired to write On Their Own Terms: True Stories of Trailblazing Women of Vancouver Island after learning the story of backcountry gardener, wilderness entrepreneur, and cougar bounty hunter Ada Anna Rae-Arthur, also known as Cougar Annie, during a recent visit to Tofino.

It just got me wondering if there were more women who had done pretty amazing things and when I started researching I found more and I wanted to share them.

Perhaps the most famous of the 17 women she writes about in the book is Emily Carr. As Healey explains, there are still new things we can learn about the beloved West Coast artist.

I was surprised to learn that she raised sheepdogs in her yard to support her art. She also had, like, a boarding house, she says. People may have heard of the boarding house, but I think fewer people had heard of her raising sheepdogs!

Healey hopes people are just as inspired by these capsule biographies as she was to write them.

I would love for people to feel inspired too and to maybe feel like they can tackle things that maybe they thought they couldnt before by seeing some of the really difficult hardships and thing that these women went through and still managed to thrive.

On Their Own Terms: True Stories of Trailblazing Women of Vancouver Island is available from Heritage House Publishing. A sequel, entitled Flourishing and Free: More Stories of Trailblazing Women of Vancouver Island, is due next year.

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Meet Cougar Annie and the trailblazing women of Vancouver Island - News 1130

NEWBURYPORT (CBS) Three people were rescued Wednesday afternoon in the area of Plum Island after they were swimming off a sand bar in the Merrimack River.

The three adults were in an area they shouldnt have been swimming in when they became distressed, the harbormaster said.

A husband and wife went onto the sandbar at low tide to enjoy the view of the Merrimack meeting the ocean.

The danger is going out at low tide and then losing context of when the tides coming in, said Bill Hickey, of Newburyport.

The tidal shift swallows much of the sandbar, leaving people blocked in by the swift current, where a misstep can put someone in over their head.

Although at low tide it seems safe, its just simply not safe with the current, so its just not a place that you want to swim, said Jennifer Charos, of Plum Island.

Just before 3:30 p.m., 911 callers reported a couple struggling in the channel. A Good Samaritan who jumped in to help also ended up in distress. The harbormaster rescued two of the people and the Coast Guard saved the third.

The current will take you away, Hickey said.

The three were brought to the dock for medical evaluations, and one was transported to the hospital.

There were no lifeguards on duty because of COVID-19.

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Some businesses in the North Shore Marketplace in Haleiwa, Hi., are boarded up and closed in anticipation of Hurricane Douglas on Sunday. AP photo

The Associated Press

HONOLULU Hurricane Douglas came within razor thin distance of the Hawaiian Islands but spared the state the worst of the strong winds, storm surge and flooding officials had warned about.

Meteorologists cautioned the hurricanes path could shift slightly and Douglas could still unload its destructive power on the islands of Oahu and Kauai.

Its still not out of the realm of possibilities. So we want people to really remain vigilant and stay prepared, at least for tonight, Eric Lau, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu said Sunday.

Late Sunday, Douglas was 65 miles northeast of Honolulu. It had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, making it a Category 1 hurricane.

Kalama Parks tennis courts are closed due to approaching Hurricane Douglas on Saturday afternoon in Kihei. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Heavy rain and wind gusts battered Maui during the morning, downing a small tree on the Hana Highway.

Gentle rain fell and blustery winds swayed trees on Oahu, home to the states biggest city, Honolulu. Sand and debris washed ashore on a two-lane coastal road.

Despite the dangers, surfers rode waves and residents took selfies at a lookout point next to the ocean.

Lau said Douglas would have been a lot worse had its track been 20 or 30 miles to the south.

One reason is that this path put Douglas to the north of the state and not directly over the islands. Another is that this path mostly put the island chain near the southwest quadrant of the storm, which is often less destructive than the northeast and the right side of a hurricanes eye, Lau said.

We were really playing with a really fine line, a razor thin line between what weve experienced today compared to what we could have experienced, he said.

Duke Stevens, who lives in Hana on Mauis eastern tip, said by early afternoon there was no longer any wind and the light rain that fell persistently through the night had subsided.

Ive seen a lot worse, said Stevens, who has lived on Maui since 1987.

Antonia Hall of Kihei said the storm avoided her area, although she and others were prepared for the worst.

Maui has skirted so many hurricanes, she said. This is just kind of something we go through here.

She brought her porch furniture inside, bought nonperishable food and filled her bathtub for an emergency water supply. Hall also made an early recording of her weekly podcast and gave it to a friend in case she was unable to broadcast from home.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell urged residents to take the threat seriously, saying Oahu has repeatedly gotten lucky in recent years as hurricanes bearing down on the island have ultimately fizzled out or veered away. But he cautioned that were not always going to be lucky.

Were going to be seeing strong winds and storm surge on parts of the island where roads are very close to the water, where homes are very close to the water. It could be a life threatening event, he said. We dont want to see anyone get hurt or worse.

About 300 people evacuated to the Hawaii Convention Center on the edge of Waikiki. On Maui, 22 people were at five shelters around the island.

Evacuees were told to bring masks and hand sanitizer along with the usual emergency supplies of food and water. People will have to wear face coverings to be admitted, and will have to wear them unless they are eating, drinking or sleeping.

State health department officials contacted each of the 625 people who were currently in isolation or quarantine as of Friday because they are either COVID-19 positive or have been in contact with someone who is. Every one of those indicated they would shelter-in-place and not seek refuge at a hurricane shelter.

Hawaii has some of the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the nation, but COVID-19 numbers have been rising in recent weeks. For three consecutive days through Saturday, Hawaii reported record highs of newly confirmed cases.

President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration for Hawaii because of the hurricane, directing federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts.

Hawaiian Airlines canceled all Sunday flights between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland and also between the islands.

Rainfall was expected to be between 5 to 15 inches.

Oahu and Kauai were all under a hurricane warning. A warning for Maui and a hurricane watch for the Big Island were canceled.

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Hurricane Douglas was within 'razor thin' distance of the islands | News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News

At one point, the Island of Many Names earned the nickname Hog Island, as noted in Along Grand Traverse Shore, by M.E.C. Bates and M.K. Buck. Buck wrote, Years ago, because of the many hogs left there during the summer to be fattened on mast (the fruit of certain forest trees), it was called Hog Island, but I am glad to say that this was never anything but a nickname.

Cindee wrote that early residents claim it was first named Eagle Island after a pair of bald eagles who made their nest there. The island changed hands several times before it was conveyed to Frederick Hall in December 1872. Hall named it Marion Island after his only daughter. Marion Hall Fowler kept the island many years after the death of her father before selling it to Henry Ford for $100,000 (with the intention that it would be preserved and not exploited). The island was then called Ford Island for a short time.

The island changed hands several times again before landing with its present ownerGrand Traverse County. By the time Cindees article was published in 1981, the name had reverted back to Marion Island.

Today, we call it Power Island, and were thankful that some things havent changedlike the 200 wooded acres, 5 miles of trails and some of the best camping around.

See the rest here:

The Many Names of Grand Traverse Bay's Power Island - MyNorth.com

This is such ruff news.

A German shepherd in Staten Island who was the first dog to test positive for the coronavirus has died, the first fatality of its kind, according to a report on Wednesday.

Seven-year-old Buddy began experiencing issues with his breathing in mid-April, not long after his owner, Robert Mahoney, contracted COVID-19, National Geographic reported.

From April 21 to May 15, the pooch continued to lose weight and became increasingly lethargic.

His owners took him toveterinarians who gave him medication, but were doubtful he had the virus.

He was finally tested May 15, a month after his symptoms emerged, at Bay Street Animal Hospital in Rosebank.

His test came back positive, and the results were later confirmed by the New York City Department of Health, according to the magazine.

Buddy died on July 11.

Medical records reviewed by the mag indicate that the pup likely also had lymphoma, a type of cancer.

According to National Geographic: Its unclear whether cancer made him more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus, or if the virus made him ill, or if it was just a case of coincidental timing.

Buddy was one of fewer than 25 pets in the country who have tested positive for the virus.

You tell people that your dog was positive, and they look at you [as if you have] ten heads, one of his owners, Allison Mahoney, told the mag.

[Buddy] was the love of our lives.He brought joy to everybody. I cant wrap my head around it.

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Staten Island dog, first to test positive for COVID-19 in US, dies - New York Post