Steve Coogan and Rob BrydonIllustration by Joo Fazenda

Ten years ago, the British comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon went on a culinary tour of northern England, which the director Michael Winterbottom filmed as both a BBC miniseries and a movie, called The Trip. Coogan (English, undermining) and Brydon (Welsh, eager) played themselves, only pettier, dining at Michelin-starred restaurants and competing over Michael Caine impersonations. More trips, and films, followedto Italy and Spain. The final installment, The Trip to Greece, out on demand this week, finds the duo eating their way through Lesbos, Athens, and Hydra, and it may have to substitute for your cancelled summer vacationif you dont mind tagging along with two passive-aggressive middle-aged comedians.

The other day, the pair caught up over Zoom. Both were self-isolating at home, Coogan in Sussex and Brydon in Twickenham, about fifty miles apart. (And that feels right, Brydon said.) Coogan was in his office, his hair grown to a salt-and-pepper shag, and Brydon sat in his kitchen, in front of a fridge covered with photographs. He held one up, of him with Bruce Springsteen. Rob is very keen on Bruce Springsteen, and Im happy to share that enthusiasm by proxy, Coogan said.

When we were doing The Trip to Greece, I was playing him Western Stars, the new album, in the car, Brydon said. He came to admire it. I would go so far as to say he loved it. At the end, I presented him with it in vinyl.

I have it in this very room, Coogan said. Its over there, behind something. He disappeared for a moment and returned with the album, still in plastic wrap.

Unopened, Brydon observed.

Its all about the anticipation, isnt it?

To re-create their shared dining adventures, both had received an identical delivery of Grecian snacks: pita, feta, olives, dried oregano. Brydon drank a glass of ros. He had been spending his quarantine tending to his garden and watching old movies, while Coogan had been filling his hours with Skype screenwriting sessions. Neither mans palate had suffered; Brydons wife, Clare, loves to cook, as does Coogans twenty-three-year-old daughter, also named Clare. So, for both of us, Clare is taking care of the food, and that is good, Brydon said.

Coogan winced at the slant rhyme. If my daughter wasnt here, he said, I would probably buy a very high-end precooked thing, like a fish pie, and then steam my own broccoli and pretend that Ive made a meal.

When you say steam your own broccoli, it reminds me of when we were at that beach resort in Greece, Brydon said. And that rather lugubrious-looking waiter came over and told us what he had, and at the end he said, And I have two soft lobsters.

No, he didnt, Coogan countered.He said, And I have two flat lobsters. And Rob said, Im very sorry to hear that.

Brydon wagged a finger. What I said was, Oh, Im sorry.

Thats right, Coogan conceded. It was said with sympathy. Very pure malapropistic comedy. Malapropistic? Thats got to be a word. Its timeless comedy, because it ultimately doesnt mean anything, and therefore its sort of liberating.

In Greece, they visited the Temple of Apollo at Delphi and other ruins, where Coogan expounded on Greek philosophy. I have a greater and deeper knowledge of Grease the movie than he does, Brydon said.

Id happily admit that, Coogan said, and returned his thoughts to the ancients: Aristotle, Socrates.

Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta.

Aristotle talks about striving for excellence, Coogan said. It was a noble human pursuit, just to perfect whatever it is you do.

The title song from Grease wasnt in the original stage production, Brydon offered, nibbling on feta. Frankie Valli, of course. It was written by Barry Gibb, specifically for the film.

Yeah, Coogan said. Its important in comedy not to duplicate skill sets. Did they have a favorite Greek god? Zeus, Coogan answered, because he is flawed.

Does he remind you of anyone? Brydon prodded.

Youre not going to lure me into comparing myself to a god, Coogan said. But, if you put a gun to my head and said, Which kind of god do you identify with, Steve?, Id say, Not the Christian one. Brydon was struggling with some pistachio shells. Dont your nails start to get sore pulling them apart? Coogan asked.

Its all about technique, Brydon said. Youve got to know where on the shell to apply the pressure. Its a bit like life.

So you are really into philosophy, just not Greek philosophy, Coogan said, not quite impressed. Youre into pistachio philosophy. Brydon, pleased with his progress, displayed his bowl of nuts.

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Cruise the Greek Islands with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon - The New Yorker

The state Department of Health reported three new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, all on Oahu, bringing the statewide total to 651 cases.

Two of the new cases were on Oahu and the other was on Maui, according to the department.

With the new cases, the City and County of Honolulu has now recorded 421 cases and Maui 119.

Hawaii County has now recorded 81 cases after the department said Saturday that a case was removed from the list as the result of updated testing information. All of the patients have since recovered and been released from isolation.

Kauai Countys tally remained at 20.

Ten of the total cases are Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state but reported as Hawaii cases according to guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There have been 17 coronavirus-related deaths reported in Hawaii, 11 on Oahu and six on Maui.

Of the statewide cases, 606 individuals have been released from isolation.

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No new COVID-19 cases reported on Big Island - West Hawaii Today

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

James Whitford IV, 80, Advance editor and teacher who knew Staten Island like no one else; he cared about his family and the family of Staten Island, died last Sunday at home.

Mark Pompa, 53, beloved father, husband, and brother, of Staten Island, N.Y., died on Monday, April 20, 2020 due to COVID-19.

Lt. Charles (Sunny) Nola, 91, retired from NYFD Engine 162 and took varied leadership roles in S.I. youth sports over many years, died at home on May 24, 2020 surrounded by his family.

Russell Charles Grimshaw, 91, native Islander, died peacefully at home on May 25, 2020.

James Frazier, 90, Army veteran, police sergeant, traveled far and wide in retirement, died on May 25, 2020, at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.

Dominick C. Dente, 96, WWII Navy Veteran, native Staten Islander, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died peacefully on May 27, 2020 at his home.

Ely Cohen, 88, U.S. Army veteran, educator and leader, of Willowbrook, Staten Island, New York, died May 24, 2020, at Staten Island University Hospital.

Jerry (Azaria) Capuano, 87, Navy veteran, retired NYPD detective, family man, died peacefully on May 25, 2020.

Betty Amaniera (nee Johnson), 97, native Staten Islander, died on May 11, 2020.

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Staten Island obituaries for May 31, 2020 - silive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A viral video showing an angry mob forcing a mask-less grocery store customer out of a ShopRite on the South Shore has drawn the ire of the anti-mask movement, while participants on both sides of the melee have since provided their own account of what happened.

The heated confrontation occurred nearly three weeks ago inside the Charleston location.

An Instagram user who identified herself as the woman without a mask in the video said she would have fought off the crowd, but [its] very different when youre a young woman alone, being attacked by all these grown a-- men, and mind you I had my 1-year-old daughter with me... its scary.

As employees and shoppers berate the woman for not wearing a mask, one man calls her a dirty a-- pig, while another man off-camera is heard shouting, get the f--- out of here!

One of the shoppers in the video who was wearing a mask claimed the woman was the aggressor.

William Pellegrino, of New Jersey, who identified himself as the man in the camouflage mask, told the Advance/SILive.com the video footage was preceded by a confrontation that was not filmed.

He heard yelling and walked toward the ruckus. The video begins some time after the fight started.

Pellegrino said he wasnt certain of her motive for not wearing a mask, but that she was arguing with the crowd, saying, 'Why does it matter to any of you?'

A spokesman for ShopRite said the store contacted authorities following the incident, though it didnt appear Thursday that police had taken any action in the matter.

The spokesman said earlier this week the only exception for not wearing a mask would be a medical condition, and if customers see someone in the store without one they should contact management rather than addressing the issue themselves.

The woman did not mention in her comments if she had a medical condition, and did not respond to requests for comment.

Deputies from the New York City Office of the Sheriff distributed 3,000 masks at the FDR Boardwalk Sunday in South Beach. May 3, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon) Jason Paderon

ANTI-MASKERS ERUPT

On Instagram, dozens commended the mask-less woman for standing her ground.

Responding to the support and defending her decision to ultimately leave the store, the woman in the Instagram account said she "unfortunately was the only one speaking up...its really a joke at this point.

One version of the video posted by IG account @we_are_the_revoluti0n garnered nearly 20,000 views and hundreds of comments.

The post was captioned: When the sheep gather up and enforce mask laws.

The accounts home page shows a link to a documentary that discredits world history as its currently taught, including claims 6 million Jews did not die during the Holocaust, and Truths including The destruction of Europe and Western Civilization," and The New World Order and the Satanic Endgoal.

Many conspiracy theorists -- some who identify as truthers -- believe that information funneled from scientists and government leaders to the mainstream media, including the importance of masks, is either fake news or over exaggerated in an attempt to fool the American public for the financial and personal gain of liberal politicians and other elite members of society.

The recommendation to wear a mask comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nations director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and several other top health officials across the globe as an effective way to prevent droplets from spreading to others and therefore slowing the spread.

Some truthers and President Trump supporters cite reports that one type of N95 mask, or wearing the mask incorrectly, could harm others.

An executive order issued this week allowing businesses to refuse service to anyone without a mask came days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo addressed the issue at a press conference Monday.

FILE - In this May 21, 2020 file photo, President Donald Trump holds a face mask in his left hand as he speaks during a tour of Ford's Rawsonville Components Plant that has been converted to making personal protection and medical equipment, in Ypsilanti, Mich. From the U.S. president to the British prime minister's top aide and far beyond, leading officials around the world are refusing to wear masks or breaking confinement rules meant to protect their populations from the coronavirus and slow the pandemic. While some are punished when they're caught, or publicly repent, others shrug off the violations as if the rules don't apply to them. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)AP

TRUMP GOES MASK-LESS

As hundreds protested earlier this month for the early reopening of businesses on Staten Island, some were mask-less and congregating within inches of each other. One sign read, Masks dont work, people should.

Several protestors showed support for Trump, who continuously has appeared on television in public places within close proximity to others not wearing a mask.

Not all anti-maskers are conspiracy theorists, but many believe the governments support of the mask and inclusion of suspected COVID-19 cases in the data reported publicly is a political ploy by Democrats to make the federal government look worse in its handling of the crisis, while accusing hospitals across the U.S. of inflating numbers for additional federal funding.

Politically, they often self-identify as anti-liberal, anti-media, anti-elite and question the opinions of doctors in both science and medicine commissioned to council government leaders around the globe.

Government leaders in New York credit the masks and the shutdown with flattening the curve," as was the formula in several other nations. Officials have said the suspected COVID-19 cases based on a patients symptoms is necessary in obtaining a true picture of the impact, due to a lack of testing thats made it impossible to test anyone exhibiting symptoms.

At a press conference last month, Trump suggested New York City was padding the number of total deaths with suspected COVID-19 deaths, in an effort to obtain more federal funding than needed.

More than 100,000 people across the U.S. reportedly have died from coronavirus (COVID-19), as the World Health Organization has deemed the Americas the current epicenter of the pandemic. Most who have died were seniors, or had pre-existing conditions. Though some were not, and reports of a new illness in children which the CDC has linked to COVID-19 has raised new concerns among experts and the general public.

Hundreds gather at the old DMV parking lot in Travis for a rally to reopen New York City for business. May 16, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)

SHADES OF THE SPANISH FLU

During the Spanish Flu of 1918 and 1919 that killed 675,000 people in the U.S., local governments instructed residents to wear a mask in order to help prevent the virus spread.

While compliance was high, some complained the masks were uncomfortable, ineffective or bad for business, while public officials were seen publicly without one, according to History.com.

Mask slackers were arrested and taken to court by the hundreds; a health official shot an unmasked protester, and thousands attended meetings held by the Anti-Mask League in San Francisco, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Some public officials were among those seen publicly not wearing a mask.

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Staten Island ShopRite melee ignites feuding factions on masks in pandemic - silive.com

Homemade masks. Ventilators from Russia. Critical drugs in scarce supply. As our health care workers scramble to fight the pandemic with insufficient tools, the country has woken at last to the danger of our reliance on foreign-produced drugs and medical equipment.

The Trump administration took an initial step toward rectifying it last week. It awarded a$354 millioncontract to a Virginia company to make COVID-19 treatments on U.S. soil, leading Peter Navarro, the president's economic trade advisor, tocall itan historic turning point.

As we focus on rebuilding our formerly vibrant pharmaceutical manufacturing base, policymakers should remember the place where so much of it was once located: Puerto Rico. That began to change in 1996, when federal tax policy spurred manufacturers tomove outof Puerto Rico to foreign countries with cheap labor and low taxes, like China and India.

Puerto Rico can still offer immediate solutions to the current crisis, however, if the administration and Congress use the next relief package to create economic incentives to address two urgent needs at once: re-domesticating pharmaceutical manufacturing and stimulating the Puerto Rican economy.

Before 1996, the tax code gave makers of drugs and medical devicesfavorable treatmentfor manufacturing products in U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico. At that time, Puerto Rico was the American engine of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing. Many, if not most, domestic companies had a presence there. In an effort to curb"corporate welfare,"however, the Republican Congress passed and President Clinton signed theSmall Business Job Protection Act of 1996, which phased out the tax exemption. The results were predictable.

The manufacturersreduced or eliminatedtheir operations in Puerto Rico,movingthem to China, India and Ireland, which welcomed their presence with favorable economic policies. Puerto Rico's economy slid into a 14-year recession from which it has yet to recover. With Puerto Ricos bond rating at junk status, Congress passed aspecial lawin 2017 permitting it to file for bankruptcy, where it has remained ever since.

Another law passed in 2017, theTax Cuts and Jobs Act, further discouraged manufacturing on the island. Under the act, income generated from the Puerto Rican operations of U.S. companies is treated as foreign income and subjected to double taxation. The pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers that remained began to rethink their decision to stay.

Puerto Rico has been severely tested by two major hurricanes and a series of earthquakes. Now, COVID-19 has aggravated its distress, putting the island on lockdown and keeping away the tourists on which it relies. As with tourism in the rest of the United States, it will require much time to recover in Puerto Rico. There is, however, an opportunity now to revive both the Puerto Rican economy and America's capacity to manufacture medical products.

While many manufacturers have left the commonwealth, those that remain play a vital role in American's health care. According to the FDA,one in 10 pharmaceuticalsused by U.S. citizens is manufactured in Puerto Rico. The dollar value of pharmaceuticals produced in Puerto Rico, in fact,exceeds the outputof any other single state or foreign country.

The U.S. has a dire need to end its reliance on foreign-produced pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, and Puerto Rico has ready solutions. It has the manufacturing infrastructure in place; it has the ability to fire up limited and closed facilities; and it has experienced, cost-effective labor. Now, President TrumpDonald John TrumpDonald Trump and Joe Biden create different narratives for the election The hollowing out of the CDC Poll: Biden widens lead over Trump to 10 points MORE and Congress can solve two problems in one stroke. The next relief package should: one, eliminate the foreign tax treatment of manufacturing income generated in Puerto Rico; and two, re-institute the tax incentives for pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing operations located in Puerto Rico.

These policies will not cost federal and state dollars; instead, they will increase tax revenues as American companies return their operations and supply chains back to U.S. soil.

The United States must regain its competitive edge against the foreign jurisdictions that lured American pharmaceutical manufacturers away. In the long-term, that cannot be achieved through government contracts, but through economic incentives that will make manufacturers want to return. By adopting common sense measures that provide those incentives and rely upon market forces, President Trump and Congress can strengthen both the domestic pharmaceutical supply chain and Puerto Rico at once.

Luis G. Rivera Marin, J.D., is Puerto Rico's former secretary of state. He is currently the general manager of Porzio Life Sciences' Puerto Rico operations and of counsel to Porzio, Bromberg and Newman, P.C.

Christopher P. Dephillips , J.D., is the vice president and general counsel to Porzio Life Sciences. He also serves as an assemblyman for New Jersey's 40th District, one of the areas in the country hit hardest by COVID-19.

William J. Hughes, Jr., J.D., M.A., LL.M., is a principal with Porzio, Bromberg and Newman, P.C. He is a former assistant U.S. attorney and Trial Attorney for the United States Department of Justice.

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The island that can save America | TheHill - The Hill

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Members of the Class of 2020 should be allowed to graduate at outdoor ceremonies similar to their New Jersey counterparts, a city councilman says.

In a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Minority Leader Steven Matteo asked that he consider following the lead of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who announced that schools in the Garden State will be allowed to hold outdoor ceremonies beginning July 6 provided they comply with appropriate social distancing rules due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

As you know, the lives of our children have been upended, Matteo wrote. "Those who are in the Class of 2020 did not have the opportunity to participate in many of the rites of passage experienced by graduates for many decades, including attending their proms with their friends and a full in-person graduation ceremony."

Governor Murphys plan is rational, safe, and recognizes the unique position the Class of 2020 finds themselves in through no fault of their own, he added.

On behalf of the Class of 2020, I ask that you implement a plans similar to the one announced by Governor Murphy. Lets give the Class of 2020 a chance to celebrate together in a safe, socially distanced way.

New York City schools have been closed since March 16 as a result of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with all schools statewide closed since March 18.

Initially, city schools were slated to be closed until at least April 20. Several extensions were enacted at the state level before Cuomo officially announced May 1 that they would remain closed for the rest of the academic year with remote learning set to continue, shattering many graduates hopes of being together one final time.

Some schools across the borough have handed out lawn signs to acknowledge their graduates.

While there has not been a final deicision about if and when schools might be able to hold commencement ceremonies in New York state, many have opted for virtual graduations.

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Allow Staten Island students to have outdoor graduation ceremonies, city official says - SILive.com

Arne Jackson couldnt help but feel anxious as his Anytime Fitness franchise in Sidney reopened Monday morning.

The whole thing is, you want to make sure that you have done everything that you possibly can to make people feel comfortable, he said. You want to make sure that people recognize that you have taken all these precautions. But then you are always thinking, Is there something else I could have done? What kind of reception are we going to get?

RELATED: Vancouver Islands fit folks wont let social distancing keep them from their workouts

The initial demand for Jacksons gym was tentative, with just a handful of people waiting outside the doors Monday morning. But as the day progressed, Jacksons anxiety started to drop as he began to receive positive feedback.

Im glad that the B.C. government had the vision to let us open at this stage, he said. Im very appreciative of them taking that step, and judging from the members reaction of being able to come back and work out again, I think most members will feel the same way that I do.

Among those that are happy to be given the opportunity to re-open are Jims Gym and Iron Warehouse, based in the Parksville-Qualicum area. Both had to close down like everyone else for more than two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It hurt us, said Jim Miller, who is one of the owners of Jims Gym. Our expenses did not go down and we did not have any revenues. We did surive but there are other gyms that sadly are struggling to stay open. And I am sad to see that.

Meaghan Orcutt, who co-owns Iron Warehouse, also feels a lot better now that theyre open.

This is a second home for a lot of people and I know not everyone understands it but the gym is an essential service for some of us, said Orcutt.

But this feeling comes with caveats. For more than two months, the Sidney Anytime Fitness did not generate any revenue, far from ideal for any business, but even less so for a business that had only opened in the fall of 2019. Jackson was also not sure when the gym might reopen.

When the provincial government allowed gyms to reopen during this second phase of the pandemic recovery, Jackson found himself in a race against time.

So the week or week and a half prior to opening was a real panic to get all the measures in place, so that we could open for the 25th, he said.

RELATED: Fitness centres mull smaller classes, online lessons once studios are able open

For starters, a gym can only operate at 50 per cent of its maximum capacity.

Jims Gym now only allows 20 people inside every hour. To ensure the numbers are maintained, members are now asked to book their training day although drop-ins will be accepted if space is available.

To make sure that social distancing is followed, Miller said theyve moved some of the equipment out to create space that will allow members to train without compromising the social distancing protocols. The heavy equipment that are difficult to move like the threadmill have also been decommissioned to ensure appropriate physical distancing.

Its now easier for people to use the equipment without violating the one metre separation from other members, said Miller. Some weve moved to the front room where we can spread them out and some of them weve rented them out to members. It has given us more space.

Sidney Anytime Fitness measures include large Plexiglas dividers that separate pieces of equipment as well as create physical barriers in parts of the business. Signs urging users to maintain their physical distance and follow hygiene protocols appear throughout the business, and users must also come prepared to work out right away as the business is trying to minimize the use of the change room area.

The whole idea is to minimize how long people are in the gym, said Jackson.

The entire gym is also subject to a rigorous cleaning regime that uses disinfectant shown to kill the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as specialized equipment with which staff can reach every nook and cranny of equipment. Users must also undergo a tutorial and receive personalized cleaning supplies as they enter the facility.

In short, a lot of measures are in place and Jackson thinks they will be here for a while.

Those measures are going to continue, so its impacting us from a cost perspective, with additional staff, additional cleaning supplies, hand sanititizers, just the awareness programs it all costs money, he said.

RELATED: Stay fit, not sick: Experts encourages gym-goers to flex their cleanliness

Jackson said the long-term consequences of the lockdown on his business remain to be determined. We dont know how many members will want to continue to freeze their accounts, he said. For our members, we just froze their accounts, so that there is no payment taken out.

He added that for any members not ready to return, the business will continue to freeze their account. No one has to pay if they are not going to come back, he said.

If most clients retain their membership, two months of down time is bad but wont impact the business in the long-run. Jackson said he expects additional changes to the way in which gyms operate during the next phase of the restart.

But whether or not, we can go back to the way it was before may not happen until there is a vaccine, he said. That is a question even the provincial government would have to think about.

Jackson said the long-term impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the fitness industry depends on whether the novel virus that has caused the pandemic returns in the fall.

That is what everybody is thinking, he said. Come this fall, are we in for another round. I think that will have a major impact on all businesses, not just gyms, if that happens.

Jackson said the current pandemic figures for British Columbia generally and Vancouver Island specifically give him comfort. I think that peoples fears will subside if the numbers dont come back through the summer months. I think people will gain confidence and if that happens, if the numbers stay low, [gyms] are going to be OK.

Orcutt said making sure that members are comfortable coming back to the gym is her objective.

Our mental health is very important during this time so I needed to make sure people felt safe and comfortable coming back to their gym, said Orcutt, who added that since theyve opened everyone has been respectful and following social distancing protocols.

People are just happy to be back in the gym, she said.

RELATED: COVID-19s collateral damage will be our mental health

Anytime client Misha Sood certainly is. For Sood, Mondays reopening brought a sigh of relief.

I was so happy, she said. I was craving for it to be back and I feel safe.

Sood welcomed the various measures in place as something that not only benefits users like herself, but also others in the gym, including staff.

Im in the love with the staff, she said.

For more news from the Island and beyond delivered directly to your email inbox, click here.

wolfgang.depner@peninsulanewsreview.com

Coronavirus

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Long wait to reopen is over for Vancouver Island gyms Vancouver Island Free Daily - vancouverislandfreedaily.com

The massive red cedar stood nearly 200 feet tall, buttressed by an enormous tangle of roots. Canada's gnarliest tree, the sign posted on the viewing platform told me. It was hard to argue. The knotted burls gave it an eerily human look, straight out of Walt Disney's Fantasia. It was my first time as a tree tourist, but here on the southwestern side of Vancouver Island, old-growth forests are the main attraction.

I was with my husband, Jean-Franois, in Port Renfrew, the aptly named Tall Tree Capital of Canada and the second stop on our four-day road trip following the Pacific Marine Circle Route. The loop opened up more than a decade ago, when a former logging road was paved, linking the east and west sides of southern Vancouver Island. As a new resident of Canada living deep in the interior, I hadn't yet spent any time on the island. Jean-Franois, who lived here years ago, couldn't believe how remote the region still felt given its proximity to Victoria, British Columbia's pretty capital city and our road trip's start and end point. We could have easily driven the 180-mile route in a single day, but we stretched it out to linger in groves of ancient trees, check out the emerging wine scene, and maybe, if we were lucky, spot a black bear foraging on the beach at low tide.

Our journey had begun the day before, in sleepy Cowichan Bay, deep in the wine country about an hour north of Victoria. The word cowichan, or quw'utsun', in the First Nations Coast Salish language, means land warmed by the sun, an appropriate description of the vineyards and orchards we rolled past. Along an empty eight-mile stretch of road between Cowichan Bay and Mill Bay, where the inky-blue Salish Sea is the backdrop, Jean-Franois and I stopped and sipped at a few wineries. During a dinner of local mussels served in the restored farmhouse at Unsworth Vineyards, our server explained what makes the region's wines unique. The focus is on unorthodox blends and newer varietals, he said, developed for a coastal climate. Wine traditionalists might raise an eyebrow, but one sip of Allegro, a bright white, had me convinced.

The regions playful sea lions

Alana Paterson

The next day we drove inland. When we turned onto the one-time logging road, we immediately lost cell service, as if this stretch of the route demanded an analog-age attention span. Cruising through backcountry, we saw trees in every stage of development: feathery new growth, packed stands of second growth vying for sun, and at least one ancient treea marvelous Sitka spruce as wide as a Volkswagen Beetle. We pulled off to see Big Lonely Doug, the second-largest Douglas fir in Canada. As the sole survivor in an otherwise clear-cut plateau, Doug appeared even taller than its 230 feet. The sight of this lone giant in an expanse of stumps was heartbreaking.

After arriving in Port Renfrew, we settled into our cozy cottage at Snuggery Cove. We strolled along the dock to the local pub, where we watched bald eagles and harbor seals from the patio over pints of blond ale. When we set out the next morning, we were looking forward to checking out the seashore where the road begins its loop back toward Victoria. There are dozens of beaches along the 34 miles before our next stop, near the town of Shirley. We pulled over at one and headed down a pathway through a grove of old-growth trees draped in moss to the sand. Shoes in hand, we traced the shoreline to a cove to watch the windsurfers.

The island is home to some of the worlds tallest trees.

Jessica Sample

On the third morning we woke in the outskirts of metropolitan Victoria. We silenced our phones, which had sprung back to life, as we wound along the hiking trails at Point No Point Resort, the trills of golden-crowned kinglets as our playlist. We lingered over veggie-stuffed omelets at Shirley Delicious, a farm-to-table caf inside an A-frame cabin. The older gentleman and his wife seated beside us turned out to be Ken and Charlotte Greenwood, owners of Livin' the Dream Farm, whose jaunty rainbow-colored sign we'd spied earlier on the road. Ken told us they had moved here four years ago, founding a 10-acre homestead where three generations of Greenwoods now live and work. Are they living the dream? Absolutely, Ken said. It's even better than we imagined.

Once we reached Victoria we delayed reentry by spending the afternoon aboard a catamaran with Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Tours. Sea lions lounged on rocks and humpback whales breached the protected waters of Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. Later, in a hotel room overlooking the harbor, Jean-Franois and I sipped a local gin and enjoyed the view. In the morning we'd board the ferry for the mainland, but I wasn't sure we were ready. We still hadn't seen a black bear.

Mark Nerys

Getting here

If you're flying into Vancouver International Airport, rent a car and drive 18 miles south to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal; it's a 90-minute sail to Victoria. If you're landing at Sea-Tac, take the scenic three-hour passenger ferry ride from Pier 69 in Seattle to Victoria and rent a car there.

Where to stay

Bookend your road trip at the Fairmont Empress hotel in Victoria (the top-floor rooms have prime harbor views). Borrow a hotel bike to explore Beacon Hill Park and pedal past what was once the world's tallest totem pole. Doubles from $268; fairmont.com

Tack-on activities

Catch a ferry from Victoria to nearby Salt Spring Island in Canada's Gulf Islands; the crossing takes around 40 minutes. Or, for a thrill, take a seaplane from Victoria's Inner Harbor to Seattle's Lake Union on Kenmore Air; from there, they'll shuttle you to Sea-Tac.

This article appeared in the May/June 2020 issue of Cond Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.

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A Vancouver Island Road Trip of Crisp Wines and Gigantic Trees - Cond Nast Traveler

Two up-Island towns are in the midst of planning for the inevitable influx of people traveling to the Vineyard during the summer.

Aquinnah officials are concerned with the enforcement of mask wearing and social distancing on town beaches.

During a selectmens meeting Wednesday, Police Chief Randhi Belain said that the maximum fine currently allowed by Massachusetts general law for not wearing a face covering is $300, but the town could come up with a fine structure for first and subsequent offenses. Belain said the board of health would have to issue guidance in order for police to take that stance.

We are really not looking to do that. If someone refuses to wear a mask, we want to provide them with education, Belain said.

Although town administrator Jeff Madison said an official bylaw regarding enforcement would have to be passed at town meeting and approved by the Attorney General, board of health chair Jim Glavin said the board has unique abilities that basically sidestep all other processes.

I dont think anyone wants to run around issuing tickets, Glavin said, adding that he said he and the rest of the board would work on guidance for the police department.

Another far-reaching issue that selectmen discussed related to the public restrooms available near the Aquinnah Cliffs.

Whether or not to have an attendant at the bathrooms was of particular concern. Madison said that the bathrooms would need to be cleaned around three times a day, and there would need to be signage outside warning people to dispose of personal protective equipment properly, and use facilities at their own discretion.

We want to limit the liability of the town if someone does go in there and is sick, Madison said.

Highway superintendent Jay Smalley said, Its going to be a different type of summer, and suggested having an attendant at the restrooms all day. I can see gloves and stuff all over the floor, he said.

Along with the restrooms is the issue of parking at the municipal lot, which serves as the towns largest revenue generator.

Selectmen tentatively decided to station a parking attendant at the lot with a card reader who will sell day passes for $30 a day, and the limit would be 40 cars. The lot would be open from 9 am to 6 pm. Selectman Gary Haley was adamantly opposed to selling passes for $30, and called it price gouging and highway robbery.

Haley said a price that is too high would dissuade folks from coming to the Vineyard, which would choke the towns finances even more.

Selectman also decided to tentatively schedule a town meeting for June 23 at the fire station, starting at noon.

Chilmark is also considering many logistical issues related to the arrival of summer residents and visitors, such as parking at the Menemsha lot, and how to deal with curbside pickup at food establishments.

Board of health chair Katie Carroll said she has been meeting with food establishments, and said they are in pretty good shape in regard to the coming months.

The big question is crowd control. How will we manage folks standing and waiting to pick up orders? Where will cars be staged for curbside food service? Carroll asked.

Board of health agent Matt Poole said it has become apparent to the board that orchestrating the flow of restaurant customers and traffic in Menemsha will necessitate a different approach by the town.

The whole tradition of getting some takeout food and watching the sunset is something we should be thinking about here in May, Poole said.

Carroll said it would be prudent to designate parking spots specifically for live parking, where people could park temporarily to pick up their food order.

In regards to curbside service, if you are not comfortable picking up your order, the establishment can bring your order to you. Its an option, Carroll said.

Selectmen chair Warren Doty raised the issue of parking in Menemsha, especially during sunset hours.

Town administrator Tim Carroll proposed cutting the parking spaces in Menemsha in half, so instead of 74 spaces, there would be only 37.

Police Chief Jonathan Klaren said he would come up with a plan for the parking spaces that will be open, and decide which ones will be 30-minute spaces, which ones will be hour spaces, and which ones would be live parking for food pickup.

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Up-Island towns uneasy about summer influx - Martha's Vineyard Times

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The Rock Island County Health Department reported the 19th death of a resident due to COVID-19 during Thursdays press briefing.

The patient was a woman in her 90s who had been hospitalized.

We are saddened to report that another member of our community has died from this virus, said Nita Ludwig, administrator of the Rock Island County Health Department. We urge the public to keep doing their part to reduce the spread of the virus by observing Gov. (J.B.) Pritzkers stay-at-home order and washing their hands frequently. Our most vulnerable residents need your help.

In addition, the health department reported three new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 598. Currently, 11 patients are hospitalized.

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 3,239 new cases of COVID-19 in the state Thursday, including 138 additional deaths.

Illinois reported a total of 87,937 cases, including 3,928 deaths, throughout 99 counties. According to Thursdays press release, within the past 24 hours laboratories reported 22,678 specimens tested for a total of 512,037. The statewide seven-day rolling positivity rate is 17%.

Scott County reported two new COVID-19 cases, raising its total to 293. The countys death toll remained at eight.

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Rock Island County reports another COVID-19 death - Quad City Times

It would be nice if we could go to some other country until this is over," said Brendan Gilroy, a 58-year-old construction worker who has been off the job for two months. I guess we just have to make the best of it."

Gilroy sat with his back to the granite fort, an Australian labradoodle at his feet and Logan Airport across the water in front of him. Normally a hive of activity, the airport was eerily quiet this recent afternoon, its runways nearly empty as only a few planes taxied onto them or brought passengers from elsewhere.

Overhead, the roar of jet engines was absent, and the only barrier to a conversation at normal volume was a brisk wind off the harbor.

That wind swept across the empty parking lot in front of Sullivans, the Castle Island seafood and snack shack that has been shuttered through the lockdown. A locked grate, more suited for the dead of winter, barred the entrance where a long queue would snake outside in happier days.

Rest assured, a notice read. "When the time is right, we will be here to provide the comfort beach food that our family has provided to your family for close to 70 years.

The adjacent playground was unused, not a single child clambering about while parents rested on the benches. Near the playsets, stacks of overturned hulls from the Harry McDonough Sailing Center waited to be launched in better times.

Still, a small but steady stream of people walked around Pleasure Bay. They included Marie Morris and Maura Hanrahan, masked 30-something friends who decided to stroll clockwise on the loop, flouting the orders from two large digital signs that pointed visitors in the opposite direction.

Id rather do this than sit inside the house, said Hanrahan, who lives in Lowell.

Mike Doucet can relate. The 62-year-old Lexington man, known as Kiter Mike, was not letting the coronavirus keep him from his sport.

The sport is kite-surfing, and Doucet was zipping around Pleasure Bay, rising dozens of feet in the air and splashing back in the water with a yelp of joy that, for a moment anyway, seemed to signal all was well with the world.

Doucet and a few buddies in wet suits gathered on the beach near Day Boulevard, which has been closed to cars on the ocean side of Marine Park. One friend is originally from Morocco, another from Ukraine, a third from France, They joked with each other, gauged the changes in the wind, and rode a breeze that blew from 15 to 25 miles per hour.

They did not wear masks. They also didnt get closer than 6 feet to anyone.

Youre social distancing anyway because youre out on the water and away from each other, Doucet said. You get in your car, you get your suit on, and you get in the water. Afterward, you get in your car and go home.

Doucet, who sells seafood, said kite-surfing has helped fill the empty spaces in his schedule.

I still wake up at 4 a.m. without an alarm clock, said Doucet, shrugging as he stood in the sand. "So youre up, you make coffee, and theres not so many things you can do around the house. This is a godsend.

Gary Pikovskay, 41, a native of Ukraine, beamed as he prepared to take to the water for the first time in more than two months. Pikovskay had been quarantined in his Cambridge home, but with a broken leg, not because of the pandemic.

This is my first day outside since I had surgery, Pikovskay said. The whole virus thing has kind of passed me by. In a way, its good timing.

Good timing, however, does not extend to other parts of the groups routine: the hot dogs, fries, and Cokes at Sullivans. The stop afterward at Santarpios across the water in East Boston. And the camaraderie over a post-surfing beer, Doucet said.

Its all about adaptation in the age of the coronavirus.

At the far end of the beach, Giovanni Sambotti prepared to pack up his windsurfing equipment as a spitting rain fell. The 47-year-old from Cambridge had been surfing for only the second time this spring. In any other year, Sambotti said, he would be out three to four times a week.

Sambotti said he is not afraid of contracting the virus, but wants to do his part to keep others safe.

Still, the change in routine has been difficult. Sambotti held his sail, admired its sleek lines, and smiled slightly.

This," he said, is my psychologist.

Brian MacQuarrie can be reached at brian.macquarrie@globe.com.

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Kite-surfing and social distancing, but no Sullivans at Castle Island - The Boston Globe

LIHUE Kauai beaches are reopening on Friday, according to a Wednesday announcement by Mayor Derek Kawakami, who has also announced an extension of the mandatory quarantine for incoming travelers through June 30th.

Kawakami announced Emergency Rule 8, reopening beaches and 9, extending the quarantine, on Wednesday.

Under the new rules, individuals and families are allowed to use the beaches more casually and people can sunbathe, sit on the sand and eat on the beach and people are allowed to be on the beach/sand area from a half hour before sunlight to a half hour after sunset.

But, people can only congregate in groups of 10 or less and have to be part of the same household. Social distancing requirements must be followed for all people on the beach who arent part of the same household.

Beaches or sand area may only be used a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset, unless a person is engaged in shoreline fishing or permitted outdoor exercise, and all the rules in Governor Iges Safer At Home order are still in effect.

Lihue resident, Nannie Apalla is ready for some beach time.

I think its good news, we can spend some time outdoors, to get some fresh air with our families in a different setting instead of indoors, said Apalla. That has been the top of conversations, and we ask what are some alternatives for ourselves to stay mentally healthy?

She continues: Most of us are anxious for long periods of times staying in one place or being in a space for a long period of time takes a toll. I also think we should follow the rules so we can move forward and we dont want to ruin it for others, all it takes is one person to ruin it for all of us.

Apalla said she thinks the Mayor Kawakami and his team are doing their due diligence and she is confident in his leadership.

The new beach rules have also gotten cautious approval from public health officials like Kauai District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman, who reiterated safety precautions on Wednesday.

The last couple of months have been very hard on our residents, and the Mayors new rule allowing safe beach activities is welcome. I emphasize the word safe, Berreman said Wednesday.

She continued: Visits to the beach need to have a new normal: only gathering with members of our immediate household; not gathering in groups of more than 10 people; not sharing potluck food and drinks; and keeping a distance of 6 feet from people who are not part of our immediate household. Within those safe practices, a day at the beach will be a welcome change for many of us.

Even though Emergency Rule No. 8 reopens the beaches and relaxes restrictions, Kawakami said hes not encouraging people to hold potlucks or barbecue on the beach.

A county spokesperson clarified that part of the rule on Wednesday, saying As we know that sharing food with people you dont live with increases risk of spreading the virus.

Additionally, Mayor Kawakami announced Emergency Rule 9 Wednesday, which extends the mandatory quarantine for incoming travelers through June 30.

According to the county, those traveling for health care purposes, as long as they wear appropriate protective gear and keep social distance, are exempt from the quarantine. Those traveling to perform critical infrastructure work, as identified in the Governors proclamation, are still subject to the quarantine, but are allowed to break quarantine only to perform those essential work functions.

We have taken temporary control over the coronavirus with our aggressive restrictions, and we feel we can begin to ease them in a responsible manner, said Mayor Kawakami. That said, the risk of the virus returning is most clearly associated with incoming travelers, whether residents or visitors, so we feel it is necessary to extend the mandatory quarantine.

In order for us to continue to reopen our businesses and activities while keeping each other safe, we all must exercise self-discipline to follow CDC guidelines of social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands and cleaning surfaces often, urged Mayor Kawakami.

As a reminder, all individuals in the State of Hawaii are subject to Governor Iges emergency proclamations and Safer at Home order.

View the Gov. Iges proclamations and the Mayor Kawakamis emergency rules: http://www.kauai.gov/COVID-19.

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A grand opening - Thegardenisland.com

BURKESVILLE, Ky. (WTVQ) Kentucky native and country music star Tyler Booth is doing a virtual concert Friday to help raise money for the popular Trooper Island Summer Camp for underprivileged children.

Kentucky State Police camp organizers continue to look for options for holding the camp this summer but whatever the options, funds will be needed.

Tyler Booths virtual concert will streamed live on the Kentucky State Police Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/KentuckyStatePolice/

The concert is 7 p.m. eastern time Friday.

The free virtual concert will honor of National Police Week with any proceeds benefiting Trooper Island Camp.

Located on Dale Hollow Lake, the camp is designed for children ages 10-12 years of age who are disadvantaged and otherwise could not afford to attend a summer camp.

It is an opportunity for youth and troopers to develop lifelong relationships while experiencing swimming, boating, fishing and other camp activities together.

The camp runs on donations and, during a normal summer, more than 700 kids participate.

Camp Director, Master Trooper Jonathan Biven, says more than 60 campers who have attended the camp in the past have worked their way into the uniform he has on today.

Were the earliest recruiting tool that police agencies have because were already instilling in their minds what it makes to be a good citizen as well as not having that fear of the police, Trooper Biven says.

Camp typically begins around Memorial Day. This year, that wont be possible according to Trooper Biven because of the coronavirus. But he says they are considering several options, including holding the camp later this summer if restrictions are lifted or possibly having a virtual camp.

Trooper Biven says whatever happens there will be a Trooper Island Camp because they know how important it can be for these kids.

Just to see the smiles on the kids faces. You know that these kids truly live in some of them live in really bad conditions and you know I worry about what are they going to eat this summer. Some of these kids, the only time in the summertime they get three meals a day is the five days they spend down here and thats heartbreaking to know that might not happen this summer.

You can visit the Kentucky State Police website for updates.

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Booth doing 'virtual' concert to raise Trooper Island funds - WTVQ

MIAMI (CBSMiami) A top Cuban official has accused the United States of committing acts of terrorism against Cuba, after the Trump administration said it had put the island nation back on the list of countries that do not cooperate fully with its efforts to counter terrorism.

The State Department justified the move by Cubas refusal of Colombias request to extradite leaders of the ELN rebel group after it claimed responsibility for an attack at a Bogota police academy in January 2019 that killed 22.

The leaders of the National Liberation Army, the largest active guerrilla group in Colombia, travelled to Havana as part of peace negotiations that collapsed last year after the car bomb attack.

Cuba has said it must respect the protocols of the talks it had been hosting, which provide guarantees for guerrilla leaders to return to mountainous or jungle areas of Colombia with security from military attack for an agreed period.

Cuba has received broad plaudits in the past for hosting the successful peace talks between the Colombian government and the former FARC rebel army.

The Cuban Foreign Ministrys general director for U.S. affairs, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, said on Twitter that Cuba had long been a victim of terrorist acts committed by the US government or with its complicity.

Cuba has designated the gun attack on its embassy in Washington two weeks ago, in which no one was hurt, as a terrorist attack.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a Reuters query on whether its move was a preliminary step toward returning Cuba to the list of state sponsors of terrorism (SSOT), a designation that carries tougher penalties.

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Top Cuban Official Accuses America Of Committing Acts Of Terrorism Against Island Nation - CBS Miami

In 1988, my family and I were honored when New York City named the new womens jail on Rikers Island for my grandmother, Rose M. Singer, a longtime jail reform activist. The Rose M. Singer Center was supposed to be a beacon to the world, a place where women caught up in the criminal justice system would be treated humanely and kept safe.

The jail has not lived up to that vision, however. Instead, it has devolved into a torture chamber, where women are routinely abused, housed in unsanitary conditions, and denied medical and mental health services. They are treated as less than human, not as our grandmothers, mothers, daughters and sisters.

The conditions at the jail are an affront to the good name and legacy of my grandmother, who fought tirelessly for criminal justice reform. I applaud the mayor and the City Council for voting to close Rikers Island, which includes Rosies, as it is commonly known, but this will not take place until 2026. Women should not be forced to live in these abject conditions for a day longer.

Covid-19 has made the release of women who pose no threat to society even more urgent. Right now, as the virus continues to sweep through the city, we are witnessing the virus ferocity in close-packed jails and prisons, with at least 1,200 reported cases of Covid-19 among inmates and officers in city jails as of late April. Social distancing is next to impossible in crowded detention centers.

Pregnant women should be diverted into specialized facilities. Even with the city budget deficit, deepened by the coronavirus, such alternative programs should not be cut.

The Singer Center was designed to reflect the work of my grandmother who served for decades on the Board of Correction, a watchdog group, and was an ardent activist for jail reform. It is always a tragedy when women must be detained. But it was my grandmothers wish to provide these women with an environment conducive to their returning as productive and responsible members of society. The city has failed in that.

As now operated, the Singer Center does not offer women and gender-nonconforming New Yorkers the safety and dignity they deserve. I am sure my grandmother, who died in 1991, would not want her name associated with such a place. I call on the Department of Correction to immediately ensure the health and well-being of every woman held on Rikers Island. Do not tarnish my grandmothers good name any longer.

Suzanne Singer is rabbi at Temple Beth El in Riverside, Calif.

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The Womens Jail at Rikers Island Is Named for My Grandmother. She Would Not Be Proud. - The New York Times

Love Island winner Finley Tapp has created a Scottish lockdown survival kit while isolating to partner Paige Turley.

The champ travelled to Scotland to be with his girlfriend after winning the top spot together on the hit ITV show.

But as the coronavirus pandemic broke out the 20-year-old is now stuck here in isolation having never visited before.

Now he is embracing the culture after launching his 'Lockdown in Scotland starter pack'.

The stereotypical list included what he considered to be essentials including Irn Bru, 'Bam Tunes', Haggis, and Scottish Banter on twitter.

The post raked in 4.8 thousand likes with fans quick to reply to the reality TV star wth a few items he left off.

One person said:"Missed the buckfast laddie."

The Daily Record has launched ourNHSHeroescampaign to thank the remarkable NHS staff who are on the front lines of this coronavirus emergency.

These amazing people place our health above their own and we are inviting the public to pledge their support by placing a heart on their location in the UK.

Please join us in showing these people our gratitude as we navigate this difficult time.

To pledge your support, just:

* Go to http://www.thanksamillionnhs.co.uk/

* Add your postcode to put a heart on the map and show your support for the heroes of the NHS

* Share the page to encourage others to show their support

Someone else replied: "Missed the square sausage mate."

Meanwhile others added: "You've been converted.

"You have now come to the dark side. Well done."

While others commented: "Living the dream!"

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Love Island's Finley Tapp creates Scottish lockdown survival kit while isolating with Paige Turley - Daily Record

The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation has launched a special Give GIPS Week, coinciding with the last official week of school this year, to invite community members to express appreciation for, and solidarity with, the teachers and staff of the Grand Island Public Schools.

Give GIPS Week started Thursday and goes through May 21.

The enormity of the effort to move school to a virtual environment with little training or warning, all while continuing to support students has been nothing short of amazing, GIPS said in a press release. Teachers and staff of the Grand Island Public Schools rose up and with determined spirit, delivered a continued curriculum to keep students connected, learning and even eating.

In addition, GIPS teachers and staff continued to reach into their own pocketbooks and, since April 21, they have given more than $80,000 to ensure the GIPS Foundation can continue to invest in the success of our students in the year ahead. The message was, I give hope, I give GIPS. We are Better, Stronger Together.

For one week only, the GIPS Foundation is extending this campaign out to the community. Donors can give at gipsfoundation.org.

All levels of giving are accepted during Give GIPS Week. Those who give $60 or more are eligible for the same T-shirt as GIPS staff with the I give hope message.

The public is invited to share their solidarity, and appreciation by making a gift either online or by mail: GIPS Foundation, P.O. Box 4904, Grand Island, NE 68802.

For more information, call Traci Skalberg, GIPS Foundation executive director, at (308) 379-5571.

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Grand Island Public Schools Foundation launching Give GIPS Week - Grand Island Independent

Sarpy County District Court Judge Nathan B. Cox recently issued an order determining the City of Bellevues attempt to annex properties north of Normandy Hills Sanitary and Improvement District owned by Frank Krejci and Darling International is unlawful.

This ruling throws a wrench in city plans to annex SIDs Normandy Hills and Cedar View because the land now wont be adjacent or contiguous to the citys corporate boundaries.

City Attorney Bree Robbins on Thursday said the city was still reviewing Coxs order and had no comment; however, during a previous interview with The Leader, Robbins said if Cox ruled in favor of the plaintiffs she would recommend the Bellevue City Council doesnt try to annex Normandy Hills and Cedar View.

"The Court finds that Bellevues Ordinance No. 3948 illegally annexed the Darling Property and the Krejci Property, which is not contiguous with nor adjacent to the City of Bellevue, is neither urban nor suburban in character, and includes a substantial portion of agricultural lands which are rural in character, Cox wrote in his May 8 ruling.

Defendant Bellevue cannot be permitted to engage in what is essentially island annexation, creating separate, non-contiguous, and disconnected areas of the City of Bellevue.

In December 2019, a bench trial was held determining whether the Krejci and Darling properties were able to be annexed into the citys corporate limits. Both Normandy Hills and Cedar View were part of a package consisting of nine sanitary and improvement districts and five additional miscellaneous plots.

In August 2019, the Planning Commission unanimously voted in favor of annexing Normandy Hills and Cedar View, as well as Phases 3 and 4 of Sunrise, Spring Creek, Colonial Pointe, Lakewood Villages, Pipers Glen, Orchard Valley and Kennedy Town Center. All but the Normandy Hills and Cedar View are now part of Bellevue.

Robbins in a previous interview said city officials would need to decide whether to take the case to the Nebraska Court of Appeals if the District Court ruled against the city.

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District Court judge: City of Bellevue cannot engage in 'island annexation' - Omaha World-Herald

Visitors to the Padre Island National Seashore in Texas are discovering blue dragons during their trips, and though it may not be the flying, fire-breathing creatures their name may suggest, it's still "a rare find," the park says.

Hunter Lane, a 7-year-old from Mesa, Arizona, found four dragons within a few minutes on May 2 while vacationing with his parents. His father, Trey Lane, told CNN he's been vacationing at the seashore for 30 years, and he's never seen one.

"Hunter loves sea creatures and thought he had found a blue button jellyfish," Trey said. "After they picked it up in a beach toy he proclaimed to me that he had discovered a new species!"

But even though the creatures aren't nearly as large as dragons, they pack a mean punch. Blue dragons eat Portuguese man o' wars, which look like large jellyfishes, and store stinging cells from their prey to use for the future, according to Oceana. So, when humans touch these little slugs, it can release the stinging cells and create a sting that can hurt more than a man o' war's.

"So, if you see a dragon in the park, be amazed as they are a rare find, but also keep your distance!" warns the national seashore.

Recently, many visitors to the seashore have seen the dragons, Jamie Kennedy, a spokeswoman for the park told CNN. She said the surge could be the result of a group washing up on the shore. However, in her two years of working at the national seashore, Kennedy said she hasn't heard of anyone seeing them until now.

Excerpt from:

Rare blue dragons are washing up on the Padre Island National Seashore - CNN

Drive-through testing for COVID-19 antibodies, which started last week on the Big Island, is apparently the first of its kind available in Hawaii.

The presence of antibodies, or proteins that help fight off infections, can be detected with a simple blood test and can determine if an individual previously had COVID-19.

Premier Medical Group and Hawaii County began the antibody testings at a COVID-19 drive-through screening and testing clinic Wednesday in Hilo. The antibody testing took place again Friday in Waimea.

Kaohimanu Dang Akiona, a physician with Premier Medical, said the antibody test is intended for those who had a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, those with close contact with a positive case, and those at higher risk of being exposed, like first responders and other essential workers.

In the coming weeks, Akiona said the goal is to refine the testing and share the results with the larger medical community and state leadership.

We all know its a good idea, she said. I want to give (people) a concrete example of how we did it. I think its harder to ignore the utility of the test if we can show that we did it, that its possible.

COVID-19 wont just go away, said Akiona, who added much remains unknown about the nature of the disease. But antibody tests help officials know how many people have been exposed to the virus so far and is one of the tools that will help the state safely reopen.

Identifying those who test positive for the antibodies also might help in the development of future treatments.

According to Akiona, the antibody tests also are very accurate.

On Wednesday, 38 tests were performed, and although all the results werent available, no positive results had been detected by noon Friday, she said.

We just need to show people it can be done and hope more people can join us and help, she said of the screening and testing efforts.

Additional COVID-19 screenings and tests, as well as the antibody tests, were conducted Saturday at Kamehameha Park in North Kohala. More will be done from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

There will be a $43 out-of-pocket cost to individuals whose medical insurance will not cover the antibody test.

The standard COVID-19 screening and testing, however, is free, but individuals must meet the criteria established by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the states COVID-19 Response Task Force to be tested.

Clinicians on site will make the determination about who will be tested.

Those who visit the screening sites will be asked to show photo identification, and people should bring their own pens and health insurance cards.

Weve expanded pretty much around the entire island, Garrett Kim, Hawaii Fire Departments representative on the countys COVID-19 task force, said of the drive-through testing clinics. We were concerned we werent getting a good picture of what was really happening in our community.

The drive-through testing sites are a collaboration between the county and other testing providers, including Premier Medical.

Akiona said the clinics have performed about 3,000 tests, but have screened close to 10,000 people since the first clinic was held in late March.

We cant fight it as a task force unless we know where it is, Kim said. This testing will give us insight where it is in our community so we can allocate our resources and mitigate any outbreaks as soon as possible.

Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

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Antibody testing begins on the Big Island - West Hawaii Today