UNDERWATER MARVELS The waters off the village of Tangnan on Panglao Island in Bohol host a healthy marine life that allows species like whale sharks and sardines to thrive. PHOTO COURTESY OF IAN UY AND KEITH SEPE OF DIVE TA BAI

TAGBILARAN CITY Bohols charm lies in its culture, heritage and rich natural resources. Attractions are aplenty that visitors will need days to fully appreciate how this province in Central Visayas has been blessed with unique spots and warm people.

But a sampling of Bohols best can be packed in 48 hours.

For two days, tourists can visit the Chocolate Hills, interact with a tarsier, experience calm in a manmade forest, forget time while frolicking on the islands white sand beaches, and more.

There are two ways to explore Boholhire a van or go around the island on a motorcycle. But whichever way one chooses to go, or by whatever means, always start the tour in the capital city of Tagbilaran, specifically at St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral.

Built in 1595, the cathedral has retained its Baroque and Neoclassical features despite having undergone several renovations.

Tourists can also explore Spanish and American colonial houses and the Tagbilaran wharf, or visit the house of the late President Carlos P. Garcia, the countrys eighth President, right in the heart of the city.

About a five-minute drive away, in Bool district, is the Sandugo Blood Compact monument, one of the historic spots on the island. It was here where an alliance was sealed between Datu Sikatuna and Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on March 6, 1565.

Moving north, tourists can stop at Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Baclayon town, which was among the heritage churches damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in 2013.

Proceed to Loay town to visit the Clarin ancestral home. Built in 1844, it was the only wooden house that survived the burning of Bohol in 1901.

While in Loay, watch local bolo makers turn slabs of metal into tools and weapons the traditional way, without the aid of machines.

Downtime can be spent in Loboc town, the music capital of Bohol, and home of the world-famous Loboc Childrens Choir.

If they come on a Sunday, tourists will have a chance to hear the choirs angelic voices during Mass.

For P450, visitors can enjoy a buffet lunch at the Loboc floating restaurant, featuring an hourlong river cruise that skirts around small waterfalls. Singers and folk dancers entertain them during the cruise.

After Loboc, visitors can commune with nature and spend quiet time at a manmade forest between Loboc and Bilar towns.

They can also drop by Sevilla town and cross a footbridge thats not for the fainthearted. Made of woven bamboo slats and steel, Sipatan Twin Hanging Bridge is suspended over a river 25 meters (82 feet) below.

EDWIN BACASMAS

Nature trip

In Bilar town, tourists can marvel at the life stages of a butterfly, a science refresher inside Simply Butterflies Conservation Center.

Nature lovers can go bird watching or feed the long-tailed macaques inside Rajah Sikatuna National Park in Barangay Riverside.

After a long walk, they can take a dip in nearby Logarita and Duangon springs. They can also proceed to the tarsier conservation area, where they get to see the worlds smallest primate (entrance fee of P60 for regular visitors and P50 for seniors and students).

A visit to Bohol is not complete without seeing the postcard-pretty Chocolate Hills composed of 1,268 cone-shaped hills. During the dry months, the hills look like mounds of chocolates as grasses wilt and turn brown.

To get a good view of the hills, tourists can choose from among three places: Chocolate Hills Complex and Chocolate Hills Adventure Park in Carmen town, and Sagbayan Peak in Sagbayan town.

For dinner, sample organic food at Bohol Bee Farm in Dauis town.

Beaches, dive spots

Tourists can spend the next day at the beaches of Panglao Island and Dauis for swimming and water sports.

A must-try attraction is the recently discovered school of sardines in Panglao.

The sardines, locally known as malangsi, were found in the waters off Barangay Tangnan and have been attracting bigger species of fish like thresher sharks and mackerel.

For island hopping, go to the islands of Balicasag, Virgin and Pamilacan, which are close to Panglao.

Balicasag Island is one of the top diving and snorkeling destinations in the country, featuring thriving reefs and drop-off (underwater wall) up to 60 meters deep.

Virgin Island, an uninhabited islet, features a string of white sand beaches and sandbars.

Pods of dolphins can be seen in the waters off Pamilacan Island, which also hosts a Spanish watchtower and a fish sanctuary.

The towns of Loon (Cabilao Island), Bien Unido, Anda and President Carlos P. Garcia, formerly known as Pitogo) also have waters rich in marine life.

In Danao town, tourists may try the Extreme Adventure Tour at Danao Adventure Park featuring a zipline, all-terrain vehicles, rock climbing and caving adventures. The park also offers river kayaking and river trekking.

For P15, visitors can go up Laguna mountain in Barangay Concepcion to savor a view of fog-covered mountains.

There are other spots worth visiting, such as the white sand beach in Anda town, the watch tower in Maribojoc town, Inang-angan stairway in Loon town, the flying foxes on Cabgan Island in Tubigon town, and St. Nicholas Tolentino Church and Ermita Ruins (a wall of tombs arranged like a honeycomb) in Dimiao town.

But save these sites for a longer, unhurried visit to Bohol.

Itinerary

Day 1 (Bohol countryside)

Tour duration: 8 hours

Sandugo/Blood Compact site

Baclayon Church

Bolo-making in Loay

Loboc River cruise

Tarsier watching

Manmade forest

Hanging bridge

Chocolate Hills

Souvenir shops

Day 2 (Island hopping)

Wake-up call: 5:30 a.m.

Tour duration: 5 to 8 hours

Dolphin watching and island hopping: Pamilacan, Balicasag and Virgin islands

Snorkeling (Balicasag Island)

Swimming (Virgin Island)

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SACKETS HARBOR Antique fire trucks and equipment from previous decades, with some pieces that are more than 100 years old, will be on display today in a parade hosted by the Thousand Islands Hose Haulers that will run throughout the village.

Its going to give people an opportunity to see fire trucks theyve never seen before, said William M. Blunden, president of the Thousand Island Hose Haulers.

Mr. Blunden said the Sackets Harbor Fire Department will lead the parade, followed by several fire chiefs and rescue vehicles, pumpers, ladder trucks and other equipment used anytime between the mid-1800s to the late 1900s. They will travel through the business district and Main Street. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the Sackets Harbor Central School, 215 S. Broad St.

The equipment for the parade was supplied by members of the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America, or SPAAMFAA, a national organization which also has members from Canada and Europe, dedicated to preserving and restoring fire apparatus and equipment. The Thousand Islands Hose Haulers serves as the Northern New York chapter of SPAAMFAA.

Its a brotherhood ... to have them all in one place and to do a parade in Sackets is special, Sackets Harbor Mayor Vincent J. Battista said.

The parade will conclude at the polo grounds at the Madison Barracks for a muster, which Mr. Blunden compared to a car show for fire equipment, that will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mr. Blunden, who also serves as muster chairman, said visitors will have the chance to see equipment from the parade on display as well as additional motorized, horse-drawn and hand-pulled equipment. The Thousand Island Hose Haulers will also give live demonstrations of motorized pumps and hand pumps, and there will be contests and childrens activities.

Theres going to be a little something for everybody, Mr. Blunden said.

The parade and muster serve as celebrations for the last day of the SPAAMFAA National Summer Convention and Muster, which began Wednesday and predominantly took place through meetings at the Hilton Garden Inn in Watertown.

Mr. Blunden, who served with the Carthage Volunteer Fire Department for 34 years before he retired last year, said this was the first year the Thousand Islands Hose Haulers were able to host the national event and they hosted more than 300 members. The local chapter held a trip to the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, a boat cruise, a ride along the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, a wine tour and a tour of the fire stations in Watertown and Fort Drum. The event will conclude with a banquet for members tonight.

Theyre getting an opportunity to see some of the best of the north country, Mr. Blunden said. This is a huge boon for local tourism. We are just overjoyed to be a part of this.

The Thousand Islands Hose Haulers was formed 2010 with 12 members. The chapter has grown to a membership of about 45 members from Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego counties.

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Thousand Islands Hose Haulers hosts fire equipment parade and muster - WatertownDailyTimes.com

After 14 years and more than $3 billion in support from Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific partners, what chance has Solomon Islands got of lasting peace?

A boy holds a sign saying "thank you very much RAMSI" as the international mission comes to an end. Photo: RNZ/Koroi Hawkins

The true success of the Pacific region's first ever peacekeeping intervention is now being tested in the island nation as it tries to chart a course for its future, while trying to forget the ghosts of the past.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) led by Australia and New Zealand departed the country at the end of June, having spent 14 years helping to restore law and order and build up government institutions.

Has Solomon Islands made the most of RAMSI's time in the country? And, more importantly, can it make the most of the second chance given by the "blood, sweat and tears" of the men and women of 15 nations who came to help a friend in need?

'The Tensions'

More than 200 people lost their lives during the conflict in Solomon Islands. Most were civilians. Many are still missing.

This period from 1998 to 2003 is locally referred to as the 'Ethnic Tensions' or simply 'The Tensions'.

Opinions vary on the cause of the conflict and the list of contributing factors is long and complex.

Photo taken on the 20th of July 2003. A militiaman loyal to renegade warlord Harold Keke guards a church Photo: AFP PHOTO/Ben BOHANE

But in its simplest form, the Ethnic Tensions involved four broad groups: the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army (GRA), self-described freedom fighters trying to rid their lands of illegal settlers; the Malaita Eagle Force, who fancied themselves defenders of the settlers, repelling the GRA and protecting people in the capital, Honiara; parliamentarians, who probably thought of themselves as victims; and ordinary civilians, who are considered to be the real victims.

The fighting started with disputes over rights to settle on certain areas of land near the capital, Honiara.

First-hand accounts recorded on condition of anonymity by a truth and reconciliation commission, which was set up to look into the causes of the tensions, are harrowing. These are the words of a man who had returned to his village after a militant raid the night before.

"There I saw a man who was shot and had a knife stab wound on his body. I helped carry his body to a helicopter but unfortunately he died at the spot. Another man was lying down in the flower hedges; the militants had removed the skin of his face. His two children were given a piece of biscuit each and stood over their father's body. He was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately he died later."

And this woman described life under a warlord's rule.

"There were several of them who were raped at gunpoint, including my own daughter. We were under his rule and we did not have freedom of movement during that time."

Solomon Islands women at church: Some women are still concerned about what their future might hold. Photo: RNZ/Koroi Hawkins

It was an especially dark time for women and children, as another woman explained.

"Mothers gave birth in the middle of the bush. Some in pouring rain, some in heat, but all in fear."

The government, struggling to regain control of the situation, brokered a peace treaty disbanding both militia groups.

But most of the now "ex-militants" hung onto their weapons and Solomon Islands continued its downward spiral into complete lawlessness and chaotic violence, ruled by men with guns.

In 2003, having at first strongly opposed the idea, Australia finally agreed to lead an intervention with support from New Zealand and personnel from 13 Pacific Islands Forum countries.

Help arrives but eventually comes to an end

For Solomon Islanders weary of five years of living hell, the arrival of the RAMSI teams was the answer to their prayers.

"It has become the symbol of peace, hope and order. To all Christians in Solomon Islands RAMSI is a divine intervention," was how Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare described it.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare started his third and most recent term in the role in 2014. Photo: RNZ/Koroi Hawkins

Over the course of the next decade RAMSI helped rebuild national institutions, strengthen government processes and restart Solomon Islands' economy.

In 2013 after its 10th anniversary, all of RAMSI's state-building activities were transferred to longer-term bilateral arrangements and it became solely a policing mission.

By 2016 this had further reduced to an advisory support role to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

The mission, which cost Australia $NZ3bn, ended this year in June.

About 2000 New Zealand men and women took part in RAMSI and the government contributed $NZ150 million to its overall cost.

Around 2000 New Zealand men and women took part in RAMSI and government contributed $150 million to its $3 billion dollar bill 95 percent of which was footed by Australia. Photo: RAMSI gallery/Solomon Islands Govt

Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett said it had been an important investment.

"I think we should be really proud of that. The fact that we put so many personnel here and through the aid programme as well are investing in things that make a practical difference to the people of the Solomons.

"I am really confident... I think that the money has been well spent."

A new chapter

On the eve of RAMSI's departure Australia announced another $NZ150m in support for Solomon Islands over the next four years, $NZ80m of which will fund more than 40 Australian Federal Police officers who are staying on to continue supporting local police in advisory roles.

Australia and New Zealand have both committed extra funds to strengthen the local police force. Photo: RNZ/Koroi Hawkins

New Zealand has committed another $NZ12.5m, which will fund at least four police advisors from New Zealand, to be based in Honiara.

On top of this both Australia and New Zealand will provide ongoing bilateral aid support to Solomon Islands.

Australia's governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove, speaking on behalf of Pacific Islands Forum leaders at the RAMSI farewell celebrations at the Lawson Tama stadium in Honiara, reassured Solomon Islanders of this support.

"We the people of the participating nations stand proud of what has been achieved with the courage and the energy and the tolerance and the wisdom of Solomon Islanders. We look forward to seeing the course you chart into the future... From Australia and New Zealand to the smaller states. from north, south, east and west, we are with you."

John Bishop hails from the Western Solomons. He said he was sad to see RAMSI leave. Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins

But despite all of this support there were still mixed feelings among Solomon Islanders about RAMSI's departure.

In Chinatown, John Bishop, a visitor from the Western Province, said the mission's work would be missed.

"It makes me really sad because RAMSI has been doing a lot of work here in the Solomons. And has established a lot of things. Peace and order and people [were] starting to gain confidence when RAMSI was here," Mr Bishop said.

Anthonia Deve and her daughter Janice. Mrs Deve says its the uncertainty more than anything that troubles her about RAMSI's departure. Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins

Another citizen RNZ talked to, Anthonia Deve, who had lived through the tensions, said she was still uncertain about the future.

"Sometimes we will be thinking it will be okay, but we are not really sure. We are not really sure what will come after they are leaving the Solomon Islands, as we are the women of Solomon Islands. Because already in the past during this ethnic tension, it really hurt us, and put us in some kind of position that we [were] lost, we [were] nothing. Dying people and all this," she said.

There were some who were glad RAMSI was leaving. With a deep sense of patriotism, local resident Ellen Stennet, said she was proud that Solomon Islands was able to stand on its own.

Ellen Stennet felt very patriotic about RAMSI leaving she said she was proud Solomon Islands could finally stand on its own two feet. Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins

"If you regard this country, you name it [as] a Christian country, you stand by yourself like you are independent. And make Solomon Islands a better place. Rather than always relying on other countries. We have our government, we are independent, we educate ourselves. Let us make our country to a better living [standard] if you think you are proud of Solomon Islands," Ellen Stennet said.

Others RNZ spoke to were apathetic. One man at the central market politely explained to me that he was more concerned about selling his produce than talking about the mission leaving.

While views on RAMSI leaving varied greatly, most Solomon Islanders spoken to by RNZ said they were grateful for what the mission had done for their country.

Missed opportunities

RAMSI was never meant to solve all of Solomon Islands' problems.

Considerable gains have been made under RAMSI across all sectors of the nation, thanks to the focus on strengthening institutions such as the courts and streamlining processes like that for registering a business.

But the difficult areas, areas where RAMSI could or would not go - such as addressing the causes of the ethnic crisis, corruption and bringing about political stability - were also not addressed by the island nation while the mission was there.

And they remain the things Solomon Islands must still address, without RAMSI, if it is to move forward.

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Insight: Solomon Islands - Keeping the Peace - Radio New Zealand

This removed Lowcountry land mass impacts traffic on Savannah Highway and Main Road, reaches its southernmost point at Kiawah and Seabrook islands and takes in views across the Stono River from Charleston Municipal Golf Course and James Island County Park.

A tomato-growing belt one generation earlier, Johns Island today sprouts an oversized share of single-family homes, multifamily properties and apartment rental communities. Yet the island, one of the largest on the East Coast and comparable to Martha's Vineyard in size, still manages to cling to its secluded nature -- showcasing a tranquil countryside; narrow dirt roads; and isolated creeks tucked beyond woods, marsh and farms.

At eastern edge, Johns Island works out to a 20-minute round-trip to and from peninsula Charleston.

"The benefit of Fenwick The Preserve, it's the first thing you come to going to Johns Island (on Maybank Highway)," says Stephen Carroll, owner of Landcrafters Inc. real estate land company bankrolling the once-stalled neighborhood overlooking Penny Creek. The company recharged the neighborhood, selling homes including on the water from $775,000 to $925,000. Five houses are under construction, including a spec home under contract and a custom residence being built.

"We've got 34 more lots," he says.

Carroll views Johns Island as a steadily expanding market with no major signs at least now of waning.

"When I do MLS (Multiple Listing Service) research on Johns Island, it's usually in the top five in sales," Carroll says. The island maintains a "20-30 percent growth rate," he says. "Especially with the widening of Maybank Highway under construction now, it would alleviate (traffic)_ pressure," he says.

Figures from Charleston Trident Association of Realtors back up the contention that Johns Island is growing at a faster-than-average pace. The roughly circular shaped island posted 649 closed home sales last year to place ninth of 23 local cities, towns and geographical regions. Homes are staying on the market for 51 days, tied for seventh fastest in sale time in the Lowcountry. Further, median prices on Johns Island reached $275,000, gaining 7.2 percent from 2015 and 39.3 percent in the five-year period since 2012.

New home construction plays a big role in Johns Island's appeal as a place to live. Last year, 45.8 percent of home sales involve just--built houses, the highest rank in metro Charleston. Separately, Johns Island tallies the sixth highest single-family market share in 2015 at 88.2 percent. Most multfamily properties are rentals rather than townhomes and condos.

Johns Island homes run in price to more than $1 million, but there are value deals, agents note.

David Wertan, agent with ReMax Advanced Realty, is listing a 2,100 square foot home in Cedar Springs neighborhood near Maybank Highway and Bohicket Road for $339,900.

The four bedroom custom home is move-in ready and the builder included "tons of upgrades," he says in the listing. Other perks include upgraded floors, cabinets, lighting and trim packages; stainless steel kitchen appliances and a screened-in porch, according to Wertan.

The island on its southern edge benefits from its proximity to Kiawah and Seabrook islands. Homeowners can take advantage of resort amenities either by joining a club or paying a membership fee.

Kiawah River Estates sits three miles from the islands and close to Freshfield Village upscale shopping plaza, Toula DiGiovanni says. The Golden Bear Realty agent lists a lot for sale on Turtle Landing for $109,000.

Located on the eighth hole of Oak Point Golf Course within Kiawah River Estates, the cul-de-sac home site includes fairway and lagoon views, sits 200 yards from Haulover Creek and is a short walk to the community dock and picnic area.

The neighborhood "has seen tremendous growth in the last couple of years as more people are retiring or choosing an easier lifestyle," DiGiovanni says.

Property owners can join the Seabrook Island Club as well as the Kiawah Island Governor's Club, giving them "full access to the amenities on both islands," she says.

The 28 home sites for sale at Kiawah River Estates range price from $77,000 to $429,000, with the higher priced lots on the creek. At least 10 new homes are being built to join 180 houses already constructed, she says.

DiGiovanni also lists a condo at Bohicket Marina Village, typically considered a Seabrook Island property but located on Johns Island.

The property on the market for $599,000 on Marsh Oak Lane in Bohicket Marina Village boasts two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, garage, carport, front and rear decks and stairs leading to the Bohicket Marina boardwalk. It's being sold furnished. Owners have access to Seabrook Island and the island's Lakehouse.

"The condos have beautiful views of the marina and the sunsets are out of this world," DiGiovanni says.

For more information and photos, go to http://www.postandcourier.com/business/real_estate/jim-parker.

Reach Jim Parker at 843-937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.

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Freshly Growing -- Once-rural Johns Island attracting house hunters to new neighborhoods, custom sites - Charleston Post Courier

Toronto Sun

Boats ready to set sail to Toronto Islands Toronto Sun Joining the group is the much smaller but equally important Ongiara, being the only one of the boats that can bring the utility vehicles needed to carry out certain work on the Toronto Islands. They all now await the summer crowds and are once ...

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Two North Carolina counties on Thursday lifted evacuation orders as of noon on Friday, allowing tens of thousands of people back to the Outer Banks a week after a power outage forced the emergency measures at the height of the summer vacation season. USA TODAY

The beach in Avon, N.C., on Hatteras Island is nearly empty, on Aug. 3, 2017.(Photo: Steve Earley/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

When aconstruction crew accidentally cut throughpower transmission cablesin North Carolina last week, the lights on Ocracoke and Hatteras islands sputtered off. So did most of a $2-million-a-day economy.

It couldnt have been at a worse time, Dare County Manager Bobby Outten said. For many of the businesses down there, they went from thriving during peak season to closed for a week.

Vacationers returnedto the two Outer Banks islands Friday after crews restored power a week after the blackout sparked a mandatory evacuation. Things could have been even worse for business:The outage was expected to last for as long as three weeks at one point.

I would expect the island to be back in full swing by the end of the weekend, Hyde County Spokesman Donnie Shumate said. Thankfully we got the evacuation order lifted a little earlier than expected.

More: Tourists evacuate Ocracoke, Hatteras as businesses take 'devastating' hit amid power outag

Now, Dare and Hyde County are taking stock of the economic damage.

Dare County officials will meetwith business and rental owners next week to calculate how much Hatteras lost, Outten said. The island usually rakes in about 17.5% of the countys $1 billion economy during the summer.

Hyde County officials kicked off Friday with a community meeting for business owners and rental offices on Ocracoke. About 100 showed up, Shumate said.

Hyde Countyis workingdirectly with PCL Construction, the company that accidentally severed the power while working on a new bridge, to reimburse businesses and the county for their losses,Shumate said. He addedhe hopes the community can steer away fromaclass-action lawsuit filed Monday.

The lawsuit, which alleges PCL was negligent when it damaged the lines, seeks compensation for more than 5,000 people.

Business owners, hourly employees and rental property owners are relieved that the island will be up and running, Joseph Sauder, a partner at McCune, Wright, Arevalo, which is representing the case, told USA TODAY. However, one completely lost week in a short seasonal business is significant.

In a statement, PCL apologized for "the inconvenience caused by the outage. The company added: We are working to provide assistance to those affected."

Dare County officials will also explorenegotiationswith PCL, Outten said.Were going to gather info and work with our people. he added. If PCL is going to resolve the damage, our people will come out better.

Meanwhile, officials on the islands are just excited to see visitors return. Shumate and Outten said they both expect to see the usual peak season crowds on Ocracoke and Hatteras by the end of the weekend.

All of our businesses will be up and will look like nothing ever happened, Outten said.

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Tourists return to Outer Banks islands, as communities measure economic damage - USA TODAY

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Rental houses and condos were expected to fill up Saturday on two North Carolina islands where a bridge construction accident cut power for a week and threatened seasonal businesses bottom lines.

The first day of the weekend is a typical starting point for weeklong rentals, and stores and restaurants were expecting brisk business. Both islands reopened to tourists Friday.

We want everyone to know that we are open for business, said Tommy Hutcherson, the owner of the Ocracoke Variety Store.

The business, which is the islands only grocery store, had its own generator to keep the doors open but saw few customers during the past week.

Were in the height of our summer season. Were just happy to see people back, Hutcherson said.

Maryland resident Colleen Sax planned to start her eight-hour drive to Hatteras Island on Saturday morning for a vacation with her husband, two adult daughters and extended family. Shes relieved after nervously monitoring updates on the situation. An initial estimate that the problem would take weeks to fix was whittled each day until officials announced visitors could return Friday.

That changed quickly. Then it was Friday. I was like: Wow!' she said.

The kitchen staff at the Back Porch Restaurant on Ocracoke Island was busy chopping vegetables and doing other prep work ahead of a Saturday reopening. Owner Daphne Bennink said generator power allowed them to save some high-priced meat and seafood, but they had to order all new fresh produce.

She said her staff also did a deep clean of the kitchen and tried to stay ready because of the uncertain timeframe for reopening.

While were used to having an evacuation, theres almost always a weather event that sort of gives us a tangible, visible timeline, she said. But because of the uncertainty about the outage, she said: Weve been perched, sort of ready.

Power was cut to the two islands early on the morning of July 27 when workers building a new bridge drove a steel casing into underground transmission lines. An estimated 50,000 tourists were ordered to leave during a make-or-break period for seasonal businesses, many of which close during the cold-weather months.

Dare County officials estimate that Hatteras Island businesses easily lost $2 million overall for each day of the outage, county spokeswoman Dorothy Hester said. She said the rough estimate is based on last years tourism figures and could change.

Meanwhile, about 100 people attended a meeting Friday for business owners to begin tallying losses on Ocracoke, which is in Hyde County. County spokesman Donnie Shumate said one restaurant owner calculated that the power outage was likely to cost the business about 11 percent of its yearly revenue. Shumate said the county attorney will be leading negotiations to recoup business losses from the company that caused the accident, PCL Construction.

The company already faces at least four lawsuits by local business owners. Separately, those who had vacations cut short or canceled are working with property owners and travel insurance underwriters to try to recoup losses.

PCL Construction spokeswoman Stephanie McCay said in an email that the company has started a claims process to offer assistance to those affected by the outage.

Visitors with upcoming vacations spent the past week closely watching updates from Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative.

Jessie-Lee Nichols, of Annapolis, Maryland, said she stayed glued to social media, following utility and county officials.

I was getting notifications and reading all of the transmission updates three and four times a day, she said.

Six adults and two children from her family are scheduled for a vacation on Ocracoke Island the second week of August. She said the adults, who paid for the vacation as a Christmas present to one another, were ecstatic to find out Thursday that power had been restored.

I posted to Facebook that the vacation was back on and tagged everyone we were going with, she said. I definitely texted my mom and my sister, and they were like: Fantastic! and Yay!'

___

Associated Press writer Jennifer Garske in Washington contributed to this report.

___

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North Carolina islands expect busy Saturday after outage - Seattle Times

High water levels in the Everglades have stranded animals on levees and tree islands, triggering emergency measures by water managers to drain flooded areas.

This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers changed its water storage rules to temporarily allow for more water to be stored in water conservation areas through the fall and into the dry season.

Related: Flood gates can now open into sparrow territory.

This is the second time this summer that the corps was forced to make emergency changes to account for the high water levels caused by heavy rainfall in early June and in recent weeks.

Heavy rain since the beginning of June have caused the water levels in the conservation areas to rise to historic levels for this time of year, the corps said in a statement.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Alligator Ron Bergeron sent a graphic letter to the corps this week describing the conditions of animals marooned on the tree islands, levees and spoil islands.

Check The Palm Beach Post radar map.

He said huddled on higher ground, their preferred food sources are limited and they must eat less nutritious food, which increases stress.

Over time, fat reserves become exhausted and malnutrition and death will occur, Bergeron said. Extended duration high water conditions also have detrimental long-term effects on the essential foraging and nesting habitats of federally-listed species such as wood storks and snail kites.

A view of tree islands free of Old World Climbing Fern in the northern boundaries of the Everglades in Palm Beach County. (Thomas Cordy / The Palm Beach Post)

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Animals marooned on Everglades tree islands are dying ... - Palm Beach Post (blog)

Customers enter the darkened Island Convenience Store in Rodanthe on Hatteras Island, N.C., on July 28. Steve Earley / AP

Kivi Leroux Miller filed a claim at the urging of her rental company, Ocracoke Island Realty, after her vacation was cut short.

"I'm trusting them because they're the ones who sold us the insurance," she said.

The travel insurance plans, marketed under the Trip Preserver brand, have a road closure provision that will likely apply, but the claims are evaluated individually, said Linda Fallon, senior vice president of Arch Insurance Group.

Customers of another rental company, Surf or Sound Realty, had the option before their visits of buying travel insurance that was underwritten by AIG. Surf or Sound issued a statement urging its customers to file claims; AIG said it's evaluating Outer Banks claims on an individual basis and has begun paying some of them.

Andrew Vessey, who spent $2,700 on a Surf or Sound rental this week, said he's filed a claim and is waiting to hear back. The Raleigh resident started a Facebook group for similarly situated renters to vent and compare notes, and it's grown to more than 800 members. Despite frustrations, his family has "some hope with the travel insurance."

Excerpt from:

Evacuated North Carolina Islands Allowing Visitors Again After Power Back on - NBCNews.com

ByAnna Boiko-Weyrauch

August 04, 2017 | 6:55 AM

The U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean has turquoise waves that lap sandy beaches, musical tree frogs that fill the air with song and $2 billion in bond debt.

The territorial government faces persistent budget holes because of borrowing and deficit spending. Its bonds continually get low ratings, it is having trouble borrowing, and some say its on the road to a Puerto Rico-style fiscal crisis. So, its leaders are finding new ways to plug those holes and reassure the bond market.

As a result, some vacationers in the U.S. Virgin Islands will face a new $25-a-day fee for using a timeshare.

The island is always looking for revenues, like every other place, said Bureau of Internal Revenue chief counsel, Tamarah Parson-Smalls. The governor has sent down a five-year plan, and this is just one small portion of his plan to ensure that the territory is self-sufficient.But the new fees have provoked the ire of some island visitors.

Kathy Kuchinski of Florida said she and her husband were already thinking of dumping their week-long timeshare.

And then we heard about this extra tax, plus, you know, we still pay for airfare. We said, Forget it! she said.

The fee is officially called the Environmental/Infrastructure Impact Fee, but its not dedicated to the islands degraded environment, such as its coral reefs, or crumbling infrastructure. Instead, most of it goes to the governments general fund.

Advocates for the timeshare industry are suing.

Timeshare tourists have the same impact as any other tourist to the U.S. Virgin Islands, and therefore it is discriminatory to single out timeshare owners for this impact fee, saidRobert Clements, thevice president of regulatory affairs for the American Resort Development Association-Resort Owners' Coalition, which filed a lawsuit in federal court in May.

Timeshare owner Monica Richard of Massachusetts stays a week or two every year. Paying the fees an extra $175 a week will mean her family will cut back on charter boat trips and eating out at the islands fancy restaurants.

Or just spending money on island that we could use to support the local businesses and now its going to need to go to the government, Richard said.

Clements predicts the fee will ultimately cause tourism to decrease. But the government is undeterred, and has started to collect the money. The new fees are expected to net an extra $19 million a year.

Link:

Timeshare owners are suing the US Virgin Islands over new fee - Marketplace.org

PA

Instead the Chancellor vowed to recapture the spirit of the age when the UK was Argentinas primary trading partner as the nation moves to unshackling itself from the European Union (EU).

Philip Hammond's failure to mention the elephant in the room may have come as a surprise to critics keen to see Britains post-Brexit position cemented, but experts suggest sabre-tattling Argentinian officials have backed off from their desperate attempt to wrestle back control of the remote British Overseas Territory.

Ian Shields OBE, former RAF Group captain and international relations lecturer at Cambridge University, told Express.co.uk: Argentina is not going to launch an attack over the sovereignty of the islands.

Plus Britains military is rock solid.

Getty Images

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Surgeon Lt Gordon Brooks with wife Christine and 3-month-old daughter Helen. Britain went to war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982. The Atlantic Conveyor was hit by an Argentinian Exocet missile, and sank 90 miles north-east of Port Stanley

EPA

Argentina is not going to launch an attack over the sovereignty of the islands. Plus Britains military is rock solid

Ian Shields OBE

Hammonds visit was driven purely by economics. This will be about an exciting bilateral trade deal.

Although Mr Shields admitted Britains decision to leave the European Union (EU) has created uncertainty for islanders, he said Mr Hammond had no need to raise the issue of sovereignty with the Latin American country.

Since Britain voted to leave the bloc in June last year, Buenos Aires has attempted to steer the lead in the remote territory by the back door.

But Mr Shields, who spent four months serving on the islands, said: Obviously both sides know there is unfinished business, but right now they are going to agree to disagree until afterBrexit.

"They will agree to deal with it in time and kick it into the long grass for now."

GETTY

We are talking about highly skilled diplomats on both sides here. Argentina knows Britain wont change its position on its sovereignty.

Hammond is not going to change his position on the sovereignty of the islands.

The UK and Argentina have been embroiled in a long-running diplomatic spat over the Falkland Islands, which have been under British control since 1833.

Argentina's 1982 invasion sparked a war which left around 650 Argentine soldiers and 255 British dead.

GETTY

It ended with the surrender of the Argentine troops a few weeks later.

On Thursday, Mr Hammond met Argentinian President Mauricio Macri, and said: We can recapture the spirit of the age when the UK was Argentina's primary trading partner.

"The evidence of that time is still all around us: in your schools, in your railways, in your universities, in your football teams. There, I said it."

"Argentina offers several opportunities in different sectors like infrastructure, energy, communications, technology and other services. We expect the UK to expand its shares of investment and trade."

Go here to read the rest:

The real reason Hammond didn't talk about Falkland Islands on Argentina visit... - Express.co.uk

OCRACOKE, N.C. (WITN) - After a week in the dark, the power switch has finally been flipped back on to Hatteras and Ocracoke islands ahead of schedule.

That means after a week without tourists, visitors are now allowed back to the southern Outer Banks.

Several hundred vehicles were parked on the north end of the Bonner Bridge waiting for the restrictions to be lifted at noon.

Cape Hatteras Electric says crews had continued to make expedited progress on creating a new above ground transmission line this week after repairs to the underground transmission line continued to experience challenges.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division also announced they resumed normal service to the islands. Those are the Hatteras-Ocracoke, Cedar Island-Ocracoke, and Swan-Quarter Ocracoke routes.

Since Ocracoke's evacuation order last Thursday, the ferry division says ferries carried 3,783 people and 1,485 vehicles off the island.

While both evacuation orders to each island were lifted at noon, the State of Emergency will, however, remains in effect in Hyde County due to the losses sustained by Ocracoke residents and businesses.

On Friday, there will be multiple resources available to residents on Ocracoke.

The county is beginning to build a case for restitution for residents and businesses who experienced losses.

The Hyde County manager, director of planning and economic development, and the public information officer will be at the Ocracoke Community Center at 10:00 a.m. to collect information on financial losses.

Trillium Healthcare Services will also have a mobile crisis counselor at the center beginning at 10 a.m.

A number of organizations helped the island during this crisis, from donations in time, money and resources. Thursday alone, the Bread of Life food bank distributed more than 4,000 pounds of food to residents.

Previous Story

Full power has been restored to Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, according to Cape Hatteras Electric.

CHEC says temporary generator power to customers on Hatteras Island has ended and all customers have been returned to regular power.

Both Dare and Hyde counties now say travel restrictions to the two islands will be lifted at noon on Friday.

CHEC says all electricity conservation appeals for their customers have been lifted.

Last Thursday morning a contractor building the new Bonner Bridge accidentally cut an underground transmission line that provides power to the two islands.

Some 50,000 tourists were evacuated because of the power outage and new overhead power lines had to be erected to restore power.

Previous Story

Dare County says Hatteras Island will reopen to visitors at noon tomorrow, while Hyde County is meeting at 5:00 p.m. to discuss its plans for Ocracoke Island.

In a news release, Dare County Emergency Management says the county has been assured by Cape Hatteras Electric that there will be adequate and reliable power to the entire island tomorrow.

Mandatory power restrictions for Hatteras have now been lifted so that CHEC can complete safe stabilization of the power grid.

A spokesman for Hyde County says they have not made a decision yet to lift travel restrictions to Ocracoke Island. Hyde County says it is still waiting for official word from it's power company, Tideland Electric.

Hyde County and Tideland are holding a 5 p.m. conference call.

Last Thursday morning a contractor building the new Bonner Bridge accidentally cut an underground transmission line that provides power to the two islands.

Some 50,000 tourists were evacuated because of the power outage.

Crews have been working on erecting new overhead lines that connected the broken transmission cable to the electric grid on the islands.

Previous Story

Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative now says they believe they can have power back on to Hatteras and Ocracoke islands on Friday or Saturday.

Thursday night, crews were able to make more progress on the new overhead transmission line. All three cables were connected to the grid this morning.

CHEC says the next steps this afternoon will be to energize the line for several hours to test the cables. After that, the utility says it will begin to gradually introduce electrical load to the new line.

A construction company building the new Bonner Bridge accidentally damaged the line a week ago.

An estimated 50,000 tourists were evacuated from Ocracoke and Hatteras islands because of the outage while generators were brought in to supply power to permanent residents and businesses.

Previous Story

Utilities now say power could be restored to two islands on the Outer Banks as early as Saturday.

Tideland Electric and Cape Hatteras Electric announced the revised time frame Wednesday morning. Hyde County officials are cautiously optimistic that visitors could return to Ocracoke Island as early as Saturday.

Crews have been working on two solutions to repairing the underground transmission line that was cut last Thursday morning.

They now say the underground solution doesn't appear viable as water seeping into the trenches continues to be a problem.

The other fix, building new overhead lines to connect to existing overhead service, is proceeding. Wednesday afternoon, Cape Hatteras Electric reported that crews were installing the second of three cables needed.

Both utilities says the restoration time frame includes the testing process that must be done before the line line is energized.

A construction company building the new Bonner Bridge accidentally damaged the line.

An estimated 50,000 tourists were evacuated from Ocracoke and Hatteras islands last week.

Previous Story

Residents on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands continue to be without power after a PCL Construction crew accidentally severed an underground power cable last Thursday.

Representatives from the Hyde County Department of Social Services will stay on the island Wednesday to meet with residents affected at the Ocracoke Community Center from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Residents will be able to apply for social services programs and provide information about their current situation.

This comes after a number of citizens at the local disaster recovery center said there were still a number unmet needs for families and local businesses.

A food bank is also stepping in to help residents who have been without power for the last six days.

The Bread of Life Food Bank will be open at the Ocracoke Assembly of God Church on Lighthouse Road from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, or until supplies run out.

Cape Hatteras Electric Officials say they hope to have all power restored on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands sometime between Saturday and Monday.

Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative says crews have made great progress Tuesday and now estimate power will be restored quicker than earlier estimates. Their new time frame is four to six days.

Underground transmission repairs have had significant challenges with water continuing to seep in. However, crews continue to use a hydro-vacuum truck along with a well and pump system.

As for the above ground repairs, all of the poles are in place and anchored. Crews are beginning to install the three-phase line Tuesday night.

Now a specialized team are preparing for the intricate process of connecting the new overhead cables in two places. They'll have to be connected to the existing underground lines just before where they were severed, and they'll also have to be connected to the existing overhead lines that run the length of Hatteras Island.

Previous Story

Utilities that serve two crippled islands on the Outer Banks say they have narrowed the time frame to get power restored.

A contractor building the new Bonner Bridge cut into the underground transmission lines that serve Hatteras and Ocracoke islands on Thursday morning.

Cape Hatteras Electric and Tideland Electric now both say full power to the islands should be within six to ten days.

Crews are working on two fixes. One is to repair the existing underground cables, while a second is to build new overhead lines.

The utilities say water continues to be a problem as crews dig deeper to reach the final cable that's damaged. A well was built and a pump installed last night and Tuesday crews reached that third cable. Repairs could begin Wednesday morning..

On the overhead project, all of the poles have been set. The next step is to start installing cables for the 115 KV service.

Both islands are under mandatory evacuation orders for tourists and non-residents until power is restored.

Generators continue to provide full-time residents with electricity.

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OBX OUTAGE: Ocracoke & Hatteras islands now open for business - WITN

Rising sea levels are slowly turning sinking islands into a reality, and to combat that, Tamil Nadu has come up with a novel idea to protect those islands sinking near the Gulf of Mannar deploying artificial reefs.

Indiscriminate coral mining and destructive fishing practices over the past few decades have resulted in two of the islands getting fully submerged while Vaan one of the 21 islands in the Gulf of Mannar, and a marine biodiversity park was on the verge of submergence in 2015. Its area went down from 16 hectares in 1986 to two hectares in 2014.

Between December 2015 and August 2016, the area of Vaan went up by 2.24 hectares in low tide and 1.8 hectares during mean tide. The restoration of Vaan is funded by the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change at a cost of Rs 25 crore.

A first in India to rescue and restore sinking islands, deployment of artificial reefs parallel to the sinking island in the seaward side lessens the effect of currents and waves, thereby increasing fish habitats and protecting their diversity. Natural corals attach themselves to artificial reefs over time and the process of regeneration takes over.

Owing to the success in Vaan, Tamil Nadu has approached the Green Climate Fund for additional funding of Rs 100 crore to undertake the restoration of two more islands.

Based on wave dynamic and bathymetry studies conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT M), the design of artificial reefs and locations for deployment were finalised. The concrete reefs have been deployed 250 metres from the island in a semi-circular constellation. In the first two phases, 4,600 modules have been deployed in eight months. With additional funding, the plan is to take the total number of artificial reefs to 10,000 in two layers.

Read more here:

Saving Sinking Islands: Tamil Nadu Deploys Artificial Reefs In A First For India - Swarajya

Despite its many crises in the past few years, tourism is booming in Greece. Most travellers, however, still rarely venture beyond the more famous islands and a little exploration is all that is needed to take you to some lesser-known gems. Here are 20 of our favourites.

All accommodation prices are for a double room in low season and include breakfast, unless stated otherwise. In most Greek tavernas you can eat and drink well for 15-20pp, but if a place is more expensive, I have indicated this.

NORTH-EAST AEGEAN

Mainly visited by Greeks, its size and large population mean that Lemnos (aka Limnos) avoids becoming simply a tourist destination. The capital, Myrina, is a working fishing port and you will still see fishermen mending their nets by the harbourside. Its low coast has several great beaches. What to do Perched on a headland above the capital is a large, 13th-century Venetian castle, now inhabited by wild deer. The spectacular view stretches as far as the monks republic of Mount Athos on the mainland. Where to stay The Arxontiko (70, ) was Lemnos first hotel and is still one of its best, mixing a traditional guesthouse with modern boutique style. It is in the centre of Myrina, but on a quiet side street and a short walk to the beach. Where to eat Grammofono (on Facebook), on the main square by a taxi rank, is not in the best location, but this little meze bar takes its food seriously and is great value. Try a seafood pikilia, or mixed plate calamari, shrimps, mussels and various small fried fish. There is often live music in the evenings.

The island owes its existence to Icaruss plunge into the sea after the wax of his wings melted. Ill-fated people have been visiting ever since it was a place of exile for left-wingers during the civil war and the Colonels dictatorship. Dont let this put you off; the locals revel in their quirky reputation and the varied landscape rewards exploration. What to do Talking of quirky, how about bathing in radioactive hot springs? Apparently, this is actually beneficial to the health researchers are exploring whether this is the reason for the islanders legendary longevity and can be experienced at several bathhouses. Where to stay Toxotis Villas (from 110) is a group of seven gorgeous villas, which combine a fantastic location with luxury, privacy and a traditional style. Where to eat Theas Inn is a proper Greek taverna in the pretty village of Nas, focusing on local food, including meat and vegetables from the owners organic farm.

Nestled between two prongs of the Halkidiki peninsula, this small island has great sandy beaches and is a welcome relief from some of the bigger resorts on the mainland. Most visitors are Greek and it retains an authentic atmosphere. What to do Boat trips around Mount Athos can be arranged, which is the closest most of us will get to this male-only monks republic. It is well worth having a peek the cliff-hanging monasteries are spectacular. Where to stay If you are young and/or adventurous it is perfectly possible to bring a tent over to Greece and camp nights are warm, campsites are well-equipped, and most sites are right on the beach. Try Alikes Camping (pitches from 5 per tent, plus 5 each per adult). Where to eat Tzanis is a seafood taverna right by the water. The clams are particularly good.

IONIAN

This small island consists of only three villages and a population of just over 1,000. Just across from popular Lefkada, its not usually considered a destination in its own right, and is mainly visited on day trips. Staying on the island means you can explore its many hidden coves at your leisure. What to do There is much debate as to which beach is Meganisis best. Most can only be reached by foot or by boat, so it will take you a while to review them all. Limonari, with its isolated clean sands, would be in most peoples top five. Where to stay Tucked away in the winding alleys of Spartochori, The Teachers House (studio from 65, family apartment from 100) has been expertly renovated, and split into a studio and two apartments that share a small pool. The contemporary interior design gives a light and airy feel. Where to eat Lakis Taverna is a solid, family taverna at the heart of the village. Its Greek Night on Thursdays is great fun, but may not be everyones shot of tsipouro.

CYCLADES

Paros is well known, but relatively few make it to the island opposite. For those in the know, including a fair few celebrities, Antiparos provides a relaxing haven in this often busy group of islands. What to do The large cave in the centre of the island is awe-inspiring, but be warned, there are lots of steps. Where to stay On its own sandy and sheltered cove, Beach House (80) is a stylish little hotel, with good-value small rooms for couples, but try to splash out for their larger rooms, including family suites. It also has a great restaurant, lots of family-friendly beach activities and a massage service. Where to eat Two good signs to look for when hunting down a seafood taverna are octopus hanging out to dry outside, and the ability to toss your olive stones and fishbones straight into the sea from your table. Captain Pipinos is a win on both counts.

Its proximity to Athens, fabulous beaches and famous thermal springs mean that this island gets rammed with visitors mainly Greek in August. Come out of season, however, and it can be perfect. What to do Take a sea taxi to Kolona, a narrow strip of sand connecting to a small island. The two bays on either side have azure water which is rarely without a few yachts at anchor. Where to stay Due to its popularity, Kythnos is not the cheapest, but Xenonas Afroditi (70) is a more reasonable option in the spa town of Loutra. And it is exactly what you expect from a Greek hotel: whitewashed, simple rooms, and by the beach. Where to eat Chartino Karavi (+30 22 8103 3004) is a reliable little tavern on the backstreets of Dryopida, a pretty inland settlement. When its not too hot there is a footpath that winds the 2km up to here from the islands capital, Hora.

Serifoss main town, Hora, is one of the most picturesque in Greece, its whitewashed cubes clinging to the side of a mountain. Its aspect is one reason so many artists choose to settle on the island. What to do Livadi, the port town, is a pleasing throwback to what the Greek islands used to be like. Its heart is the grandly named Yacht Club, in fact an old-style kafenion. It is the ideal place to sip a Greek coffee and chat to the locals. Where to stay Apanemia (40) is an old-fashioned rooms-only place in Hora. Its nothing fancy, but clean, well-cared for and at the centre of this lovely town. Where to eat To get the most out of Serifos you need to hire a car and explore youll certainly need one if you want one of the islands best food experiences. Aloni taverna could trade on its great views, but its local food is also excellent try the slow-cooked goat, or mastelo saganaki, a fried goats cheese similar to halloumi.

This is another island that, while relatively unknown to Brits, is an achingly trendy destination for the Greek set. It can get crowded, but the atmosphere is authentic and it has a culinary reputation one of the first famous Greek chefs, Nicholas Tselementes, came from here, and it still attracts the foodies. What to do Sifnos has a fantastically well-maintained and mapped selection of hiking trails to suit all levels of fitness. An excellent guidebook is available locally. Where to stay The main town, Apollonia, is where the trendy go to see and be seen, wandering up and down the Steno, its buzzing, narrow main street. Surprisingly close to this, but hidden in their own peaceful olive grove, are the Eleonas apartments and studios (65). Where to eat Rambagas is the smart spot to experience local food mixed with the latest on-point experiments. Start with a sea-bass tartare in traditional lemon and oil sauce, and end with chilled melon soup for dessert. The setting, just off the Steno, is gorgeous too.

Folegandros has similarly dramatic cliffs and hillsides to the magnificent volcanic landscape of Santorini, and is far less visited. What to do The main town, another Hora, perches on the cliffs, and wandering around its pedestrianised centre from square to square beneath the bougainvillea is what Greek dreams are made of. Where to stay Everything about the chic Anemi Hotel (from 153) is blindingly white, from the walls to the decor. But it is also surprisingly family friendly, with babysitting, a playground and even a kids cinema. The adults will be kept happy by one of the best bar/restaurants on the island. Where to eat Some dishes at Blue Cuisine sound a little over the top (deconstructed Greek salad with feta sushi?), but the local ingredients, including cheeses and cured meat from the surrounding islands, are superb.

This dramatic island does have good beaches, but is better known for its hiking and diving (French film The Big Blue was shot here). What to do The extraordinary whitewashed monastery of Hozoviotissa, which dates back to the 11th century, clings to the cliffs of the dramatic south coast. It is well worth a stiff climb up many stairs to reach it (but if youre not modestly dressed the monks will send you straight back down). Where to stay Decorated in classic white and blue, Emprostiada (from 50) is a comfortable guesthouse at the edge of the islands main town (inevitably named Hora). Out of season, the rooms are a real bargain. Where to eat The green tables and chairs of Tranzistoraki fill a little side-alley in the main town. The cute setting is matched by some interesting local food and a good selection of meze.

Actually made up of three islands, although only one is inhabited, Koufonisia is increasingly a destination for Greeks, including many who camp on the amazing beaches here during the summer, inspiring a laid-back 1960s vibe. The locals take it in their stride, and many of the 400 or so still fish for a living. What to do Take a boat ride to the other two islands. Kato Koufonisi has the best beaches, and dramatic Keros was where many of the finest early Cycladic statuettes were discovered now to be viewed in Athens, these inspired artists such as Picasso and Brancusi. Where to stay Those who like living in the round will love Windmill Villa (295, breakfast not included, sleeps 4), an expertly renovated windmill in an idyllic location. Its a little cramped on the inside, but its charm is hard to resist. If your budget doesnt stretch to that, Michalis Little Houses near the port has simple two- and three-bed rooms with bay views from 75. Where to eat Given that Mixalios Grill House (on Facebook) doubles up as the islands butcher, it is unsurprising that meat is the order of the day. Try the goat.

With a population of around 250, this island rightly describes itself as a small paradise and the atmosphere is suitably chilled out. The only settlement is a one-kilometre walk above the little port, but most hotels will meet you off the ferry. What to do Beaches, and walking to them, are pretty much the only activity on the island; but locals claim to have 18 of them hidden away, so theres plenty to keep you occupied. There is a boat tour as well, for the lazy. Where to stay Meltemi (50) has simple rooms set in a nice garden, and a friendly atmosphere. Where to eat Deli Restaurant and Bar has a cool bar downstairs, and chic restaurant upstairs and a surprisingly sophisticated take on Greek food for such a small island.

DODECANESE

Along with some of the larger Dodecanese, Tilos is greener and more lush than many Greek islands, and is renowned for its wildlife, from flowers to birds. Its gentle landscape rewards hiking, and it offers small villages and unexploited beaches. What to do If you want to get away from the beaches, the ruined medieval capital of the island, Mikro Horio, is a fascinating place to explore, and a not unreasonable hike up into the hills above Livadia, the port. Where to stay Friendly, family-run Eleni Beach Hotel (90) has whitewashed, simple rooms and its own beach. Where to eat Everything about Tilos seems to belong to a Greece of 20 years ago, and Omonoia cafe doesnt seem to have changed in those years. Its gigantes (giant beans) are particularly famous.

Halki is one of those islands you fall for instantly. Arriving in its main town and port of Emborio, you immediately notice the many 19th-century mansions that bear testament to the islands history as a thriving fishing and merchant capital. Its sleepy atmosphere makes exploring a delight. What to do The interior of the island is capped by a castle built by the Knights of St John, which perches above the ruined remains of Horio, once the capital. Where to stay Halki doesnt have many hotels. Try the Captains House (50, +30 69 3251 1762) or villa options with Nissia Holidays. Where to eat Pondamos is perhaps Halkis best beach, and the fish at Nicks Taverna makes a trip here doubly worthwhile. If you have lunch, they may well let you use their beach chairs and umbrellas free.

Those who know their Bible will tell you that it was on Patmos that St John wrote the Book of Revelations. Thus the island gets many visitors some of them genuine pilgrims, and many just curious tourists from huge cruise ships. Few stay, however, and fewer still venture further than the central monasteries a shame, as the island abounds in good beaches, and the interior is a rural idyll. What to do You must walk up from the port to see the monasteries. One contains the cave where St John received his visions, and the top one is impressively fortified against pirates. Where to stay It is much more atmospheric to stay in the old town surrounding the monasteries than down in the port. Although not cheap, the five rooms at Archontariki (200) have the air of an authentic village house, rather than a hotel. A cheaper alternative, but near the port, are the Kalderimi Studios (from 50). Where to eat There are a few options in town, and plenty more down at the port, including some fine dining, but its worth going out to Lambi beach, where the pebbles are backed by the traditional Lambi Taverna (+30 22470 31490). A great spot with food to match.

Despite being the second largest of the Dodecanese smaller than Rhodes and bigger than Kos Karpathos has been inexplicably neglected by tourists. Admittedly Pigadia, its main town and port, is not as immediately pretty as some, but stay awhile and its old-fashioned atmosphere grows on you. From here, hire a car and explore the islands low-key resorts and rugged interior. What to do Visit the village of Olympos, high in the mountains, where the women dress in traditional costume and back alleys wind past pastel houses to amazing views. Where to stay The perfect little resort of Lefkos boasts a sandy sweep of beach and several relaxed places to stay and eat. Le Grand Bleu (60) is one of the most comfortable. Where to eat Back in Pigadia, Ellinikon is an old-school taverna. Feel free to look into the various pots that will be bubbling, and discuss todays specials.

Essentially little more than a mountain rising out of the sea by the island of Kalymnos, and reached from there by a 10-minute boat ride, Telendoss chief attraction is its complete lack of cars, or indeed roads. Most people visit just for a day trip, but its a perfect place to chill out for longer the three beaches and six tavernas (all excellent) will keep you occupied. What to do Despite its diminutive proportions, there is plenty to explore on the island, with various small ruins to find of a Roman town, a castle, a couple of early Christian basilicas, etc. There is also a burgeoning rock-climbing scene. Where to stay George and Poppi are justifiably proud of On The Rocks (studios from 40, rooms from 50), which includes a taverna and a few simple rooms. And they are a mine of local information. Where to eat All the tavernas are a good bet. Zorbas is fish based, generally caught earlier on that day by the owner, who often takes guests out with him on his boat.

Locals will tell you this small island (just 8km long) got its name because this is where the beautiful nymph Calypso detained Odysseus, delaying his trip home to Ithaka, and his wife Penelope, by several years. It is certainly a good place to while away some time. The one village settlement is pretty and there are some great beaches to explore. What to do Perhaps the best of the beaches is Hohlakoura, with its bright white pebbles and interesting rock formations. Its a little difficult to get to, with the only road being a bit rough, so there are boat trips instead. Where to stay Just a short walk from the town, Nefeli (studios from 60, apartments from 75) is a classy boutique hotel set above its own strip of sandy beach. Nice and peaceful, but near enough to the centre of things. Where to eat Pefko taverna has an enviable location right on the sea, and the food matches the view. Nikos, the owner, is from one of the oldest families on the island, and is sure to come over to your table for a chat.

Leros has everything going for it. It is big enough to explore and there are plenty of whitewashed villages and enchanting coves. Fortunately, it has escaped the large-scale development of some islands, and the resorts are low key and charming. What to do The islands main town of Platanos is just 10 minutes walk above the port, and is well worth exploring, with its backstreets peppered with large mansions, now often in disrepair. Above the town is a row of picturesque windmills and an imposing fortress. Where to stay The long, sandy beach and blue waters of Alinda make one of the islands most appealing mini-resorts. A few minutes walk from the beach is Archontiko Angelou (50), a gorgeously restored 19th-century villa, which is like stepping back in time. Where to eat The cove of Dio Liskaria is tucked away at the north end of Alinda, and is the best place to swim on the island. Luckily the food at Vareladiko is pretty good too.

ARGO-SARONIC

Only a short hop from Athens, this little island is to be avoided in high season (July and especially August, when all of Greece is on holiday), but in the quieter months is a fantastic place to visit, especially in combination with a city break in the capital. It is also not far from the famous ancient ruins of the Peloponnese. What to do Chilling out is the order of the day, but kayaks are available to hire and a circuit of the island is possible if you are particularly energetic. Where to stay Rosys Little Village (doubles from 68) feels more like a community of friends than an impersonal hotel. Perched above the sea, on multiple levels, it has its own swimming platforms and sandy beach. Where to eat A string of restaurants and small hotels lead out of Skala, the islands bustling main port. Gistri, a fish taverna, has a great location by the pebble beach, and reliable food.

GETTING THERE

These lesser-known islands are surprisingly easy to get to. Some of the larger ones have airports and can be reached by charter flights in season, as well as scheduled airlines (such as easyJet, Ryanair and BA), and domestic flights from Athens and Thessaloniki. All of the islands can be reached by ferry from Athens port of Piraeus (although Lemnos, for instance, is a 20-hour ride). Most islands are within two hours ferry ride of a hub island. Arriving by ferry at an island is the best way to start to get to know the place, and by ferry you could combine two or three islands in one trip proper, old-school island-hopping.

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20 Greek islands you may not have heard of - The Guardian

You can't beat an island holiday for sheer escapism. Knowing you're surrounded by open water fosters a sense of complete removal from the daily grind of commuting, spam emails and overpriced coffee. But which country has the most islands on Earth? And of those islands, which is the perfect place to relax? Read on...

How many? Ordnance Survey has mapped 6,289 UK islands, mostly in Scotland. The British Isles (including Ireland) has 6,806.

Which should I visit? You can't beat Skye, reckons Nick Crane. "There are sights on Skye you will see nowhere else in Britain," he says. "Up in the north, the road between Staffin and Uig squirms above the 250m contour past the pinnacles and cliffs of Quiraing, with its alien place-names such as The Needle, The Prison and The Table. Over on the west coast, on the moor beyond Talisker, there's a mountain walled with polygonal columns of solidified lava as strange as the Giant's Causeway. Then there are the Black Cuillins, the most ferocious range of peaks in Britain."

How many? 6,852, of which 430 are inhabited. The Japanese archipelago stretches for 1,869 miles, around the same distance as the US east coast.

Which should I visit? We've written about Japan's weird and wonderful islands before. There's Naoshima, home to a growing number of outdoor art projects; the Yaeyama Islands, which look like they've been lifted from the Caribbean; or how about the spooky abandoned island of Gunkanjima, which appeared in Skyfall.

How many? 7,641, according to the most recent estimate from the countrys National Mapping and Resource Information Authority. That was an increase on a previous estimate of 7,107. They are clustered into the three major island groups:Luzon,Visayas, andMindanao.

Which should I visit? Our expertSteve Lunt advises a trip toPalawan. He writes: "Think of The Beach with Leo, and you'll know roughly what to expect from these islands prehistoric charms. Whether selling cars or beaches, pristine is chronically over-used but in Palawan, the superlative often truly applies. Jagged limestone cliffs rise like ossified Gothic cathedrals, towering over misty lagoons; countless white-sand beaches fringe these mysterious islands. Mostly untroubled by humans, wildlife dominates the environment."

How many? 8,222, according to official statistics. Most of them (3,747) are in Western Australia, followed by Queensland (1,955), Tasmania (1,000), Northern Territory (887) and South Australia (346). The largest, excluding Tasmania (and Australia itself) is Melville Island, just north of Darwin.

Which should I visit?Kangaroo Island, according to Kate Humble. "Its renowned for its wildlife and nature reserves, my two loves," she says. "You can hire a bike and explore anywhere on the island, or take one of the many walking trails. It has lots of small farms and artisanal producers selling lavender, sheeps milk, ice cream and honey.There are magnificent views from the coastline, including sea lions and these amazing rock formations called the Remarkable Rocks. And, unsurprisingly, youll see kangaroos everywhere, bouncing around. The island is dotted with lots of lakes and forests filled with koalas and rare birds."

How many? 18,307, according to a 2002 survey by the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (the CIA World Factbook seems to think its 17,508, however, while a more recent survey, by a different agency, put the figure at 13,466).

Which should I visit? Bali is beautiful, but gets a little busy. So head instead for Sumba. Telegraph Travel's Natalie Paris writes: "Surfers were the lucky few to make it out to this remote outpost, an hours flight from Bali. That was until Nihiwatu opened - a luxury resort that takes the best of the islands fascinating tribal and animalistic culture and accommodates guest in lodges built like Sumbanese houses, with distinctive, tall thatched roofs that poke up above the treetops like witches hats."

How many? At least 30,000. The exact number is not known, but Georgian Bay contains the worlds largest freshwater archipelago, known as Thirty Thousand Islands. The Saint Lawrence River, meanwhile, which makes up part of the Canada-US border, contains an archipelago of 1,864. The Canadian Gazetteer Atlas records the names of 1,016 individual islands, along with 129 island groups, of which around 250 are inhabited.

Which should I visit? Kathy Arnold's pick of the county's best islands should have you covered. How about Cape Breton Island, on Nova Scotias northern tip, and home to the Cabot Trail, one of the worlds great scenic drives.

How many? More than 50,000, stretching from Svalbard, deep inside the Arctic Circle, to Bouvet Island, one of the most remote on Earth, and inhabited only by birds and seals, in the South Atlantic.

Which should I visit? The Lofoten Islands. There are beautiful beaches, like Utakleiv, pictured below, as well as stunning mountains and fjords. And despite its Arctic Circle location, the Gulf Stream means temperatures sometimes reach 20C in summer.

How many? 179,584, according to its tourist board, including 98,050 on the countrys 188,000 lakes.

Which should I visit? Theland Islands belong to Finland and are a good bet if you want to escape the Sturm und Drang. Paul Miles, who visited in 2012, wrote: "It was a week of Blyton-esque adventures outings in our own little motorboat, horse riding along flowery lanes, playing on a sandy beach, kayaking between low, bare skerries, spotting sea eagles and fishing for pike with a local fisherman."

How many? 267,570, according to Statistics Swedens 2013 Islands in Sweden report. Just 984 are inhabited. The number, curiously, appears to be growing, its 2001 report listed 221,800. Either way, it makes Sweden the world's island capital.

Which should I visit?Marstrand. Most go there to sail, swim, enjoy the seafood and wander along the harbour front admiring the yachts and the traditional wooden houses. For gorgeous views of the whole island and beyond, it is also worth climbing to the top of the Carlsten fortress.

The Bahamas:3,200

Chile: 2,324

Greece: up to 1,600

Thailand: 1,430

Croatia: 1,200

Maldives: 1,192

Estonia: 900

New Zealand: 600

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The countries with the most islands (and the idyllic ones you must visit) - Telegraph.co.uk

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced it plans to turn a huge part of its pristine Red Sea coastline into a semi-autonomous luxury beach resort.

The 50 islands and 180km (110 miles) stretch of coastline - amounting to an area the size of Belgium - will be developed to home luxury hotels and other necessary infrastructure which will exist under laws on par with international standards in an effort to draw tourists to the country, the government said Tuesday.

The plans are part ofVision 2030, Saudi Arabias long-term blueprint for weaning itself off its reliance on oil revenue. It involves investments to the tune of $20m (15.6m) including a shot in the arm for the kingdoms nascent tourism industry.

Trump 'de-emphasises human rights' in Saudi Arabia speech: "We are not here to lecture"

While 18 million people visited Saudi Arabia from abroad in 2016, almost all foreigners came on pilgrimage to Mecca, rather than to spend time and money soaking up the countrys other sights.

Although the Kingdom is home to many archaeological sites, pristine beaches and excellent diving, it is not a holiday destination like Egypts Red Sea resorts or the city of Petra in Jordan. It currently does not offer tourist visas, making visiting difficult.

Conservative social rules, a lack of alcohol and restrictive dress codes coupled with blazing desert heat arent the usual ingredients Western holidaymakers look for.

Forms of recreation such as theatre and cinemas are banned, and despite tentative efforts at reform, Saudi Arabia is still widely criticised for its institutionalised discrimination against women.

It is not clear whether western women - or local women - will be allowed to don bikinis or other clothing which does not fit the kingdom's strict dress codes while visiting the resorts, or travel without the presence of a male guardian.

The Kingdoms authorities say the new tourist zone will not necessarily be subject to the laws in place in the rest of the country, although there are no details on how the semi-autonomous area will function yet.

The governmentis working on introducing tourist visas to make it easier for foreigners to visit. It is hoped one million people a year - a combined domestic and international total - will stay at the new Red Sea destinationsby 2035.

Construction at the Red Sea site will begin in autumn 2019 and be completed by the end of 2022, state news agency SPA said. The Kingdoms Public Investment Fund will provide the initial funding before international bodies are invited to invest.

Up to 35,000 jobs will be created by the project, which is eventually projected to generate 15 billion riyals (3bn) a year.

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Saudi Arabia to turn 50 Red Sea islands into luxury tourism resorts 'not subject to conservative kingdom's rules' - The Independent

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Sonoma County wants your feedback on Santa Rosa building planned for housing

Roseland annexation clears latest hurdle

Suspected prowler arrested in Rohnert Park

Horse racing is struggling at the Sonoma County Fair amid a nationwide industry decline

Climate group sees end to gas-powered cars in Sonoma County

Mendocino County Sheriff: Child, 2, tied to tree without food, water

JULIE JOHNSON

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | August 2, 2017, 8:19AM

| Updated 7 hours ago.

An 18-year-old man visiting California from the Virgin Islands was identified as the person killed Tuesday night in a rollover crash that injured three others in southern Mendocino County, according to the CHP.

James Zion, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene. He and Yirakmeal Henry, 18, also from the Virgin Islands, were not wearing seat belts when the SUV they were riding in crashed at about 6 p.m. on the highway about five miles north of Cloverdale, near Geysers Road, according to a CHP report.

They were heading north in a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero driven by Shakela Hill, 24, of Ukiah when she lost control of the vehicle for unknown reasons, the report said. The vehicle overturned, careening across the highway and eventually coming to rest on its side on the southbound shoulder.

Both men were ejected from the vehicle. With major injuries, Hill was trapped and freed by firefighters. Another passenger, Lynesia Richards, 18, of Ukiah, also had major injuries and was able to free herself.

Henry, Richards and Hill were taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

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Crash north of Cloverdale kills Virgin Islands man - Santa Rosa Press Democrat

So far this summer, 230 kids from Arlington have set sail on free Tall Ships Cruises and free day trips to the Boston Harbor Islands.

The trips are part of Save the Harbor/Save the Bays free All Access Boston Harbor program.

The program, which provides free access to the Boston Harbor Islands to more than 100 area youth and community groups, features environmental exploration, historical sea chanteys and art on the shore, as well as fishing, crabbing, swimming and storytelling by the sea.

Save the Harbors free Youth Environmental Education Programs are the cornerstone of our work to Share the Harbor with young people and their families and create a new generation of environmental stewards, said Chris Mancini, Save the Harbors vice president of operations and programs. This season we expect to serve 30,000 youth and teens ages 7-17 at eight program sites, on 28 free island excursions and at 20 free beach events from Nahant to Nantasket.

All Access trips begin at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion where the group learns the history of Boston Harbor and the harbor cleanup with an interactive presentation from Save the Harbors maritime historian David Coffin. Save the Harbors summer youth staff of teachers, college assistants and high school students then bring the kids aboard Bay State Cruise Companys Provincetown II to set sail to the Harbor Islands where each group enjoys a picnic lunch before exploring the island.

What a great way to spend a summer day, said Save the Harbors spokesman Bruce Berman. We believe that every child and family deserves the opportunity to enjoy these spectacular urban natural resources, and are doing our best to make it happen.

The Boston Harbor Islands serve as educational and recreational resources for youth development and community groups from around the region. On Spectacle Island, Save the Harbors educators teach kids to fish for flounder, skates and the occasional striped bass from the pier, and help them explore the shore looking for sea glass and historic artifacts from Spectacles Treasure Beach.

On Georges Island, youth and teens explore the maze of passageways at Fort Warren, a historical landmark used for coastal defense during the Civil War, where they may even catch a glimpse of the famous ghost of the Lady in Black. The docks on the island offer fishing spots while the parade ground is a great space for sports and games.

At Save the Harbor/Save the Bay we are particularly proud to serve as the BostonHarbor Connection for a generation of young people, said Save the Harbor/Save the Bay President, Patricia Foley. The best way we know to save the harbor is to share it with the regions kids and families.

Save the Harbor/Save the Bays free youth and beach programs have introduced more than 160,000 young people to Boston Harbor and the islands since they began in 2002.

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a nonprofit public-interest environmental advocacy organization for Boston Harbor, whose mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, the Boston Harbor Islands, the regions beaches and the marine environment and share them with the public for everyone to enjoy.

For more information: http://savetheharbor.org.

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Arlington youth visit Boston Harbor Islands - News - The Arlington ... - Wicked Local Arlington

VIDEO: Vacationers from Ocracoke,...

EMERALD ISLE, Carteret County - Jennifer Corbin and her family are enjoying some home cooking away from home.

They traveled from the Midwest expecting to vacation in the Outer Banks. Instead, they are at a rental home in Emerald Isle.

Did you ever think at this point in your vacation that you would be in Emerald Isle?

"No, we we're supposed to be in Waves, North Carolina," said Corbin.

She and her family are one of many tourists who were forced to change their plans when the Hatteras and Ocracoke island areas lost power last week. Luckily for them, they were able to find an alternative place to stay. With that being said, they've fallen into the same predicament as many others with a company called Surf or Sound Realty.

"We ended up getting a email from the realty company saying there has been a mandatory evacuation and, by the way, you are entitled to zero refunds because our policy is no refunds," Corbin said.

A Facebook page has since been made with more than 800 members all concerned about not being refunded.

"We spent over $6,000 dollars in Waves," Corbin said. "I paid for that back in February, and then so this home we spent another $4,000 to rent this and not everybody can do that. Really, for the people who had to completely cancel and have lost all their money and we don't know if we are going to get it back."

Corbin said like so many others, she'll probably have to take legal action.

"We realize that we are probably going to have to give legal counsel and get somebody involved that way because we've gotten no information from anybody else saying they will be understanding and try to work with us," Corbin said.

Surf or Sound Realty has responded to many people on the Facebook page asking for time to figure out what their next will be. The company said it will contact guests through email with updates. That even applies to people with rental insurance who say they are experiencing the same problem.

Other tourists have been having similar problems with other realty companies. Read this story from WTVD on what actions you can take.

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Vacationers from Ocracoke, Hatteras islands having trouble getting money back - WCTI12.com

A study to examine a wide-ranging ban on the use of take-out containers, plastic cups and single-use straws was approved unanimously by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, but not before several people spoke out in opposition to the idea.

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said that polystyrene, a synthetic material, is used in a variety of food service ware and is so light that it often blows out of overflowing trash receptacles and ends up in our rivers, streams, and the ocean, where it breaks down into small pieces and can harm human health as well as threaten our ecosystem and wildlife.

Kuehl held up a large photograph of a trash island, that showed mounds of plastic items that clogged up a shoreline. Polystyrene is different than Styrofoam.

This is what the trash looks like in the ocean,said Kuehl, who co-authored the motion with Supervisor Janice Hahn to have county departments to assemble a feasibility study.

A proposed ban had been brought up before in 2011, when the countys Department of Public Works explored the feasibility of using other products. The report concluded that there were viable alternatives, without a high cost to businesses. But the Board held back on a vote, pending a state bill that at the time would have banned polystyrene containers across California. That legislation didnt move forward and a similar state bill introduced recently also died.

Kuehl noted that 110 municipalities across the Golden State, including Pasadena, Calabasas, Hermosa Beach and West Hollywood, adopted ordinances prohibiting or restricting polystyrene containers and other ware. She said since the county last studied the issue, there are new technologies and products that are environmentally friendly, biodegradable and cost-effective.

But while members of organizations such as Heal the Bay, the Surfrider Foundation, and a local chapter of the Sierra Club all applauded the countys efforts, representatives of other organizations such as Valley Industry Commerce Association, BizFed, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, and the California Grocers Association spoke out against the idea, saying that there were too many misconceptions about polystyrene.

Adena Tessler, a spokeswoman for the California Restaurant Association, asked the board to take into consideration what a proposed ban would mean to small family owned restaurants. Family restaurants in L.A. County are currently struggling to adjust to the minimum wage hike, she said, adding that new products out there wont reduce landfill waste.

Anne Nguyen, with the Dart Container Corporation, said the company hires 650 Californians and a ban would threaten employment. The company, she said wants to work to improve its products, but the alternatives to polystyrene cant be recycled.

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Polystyrene, some who spoke out noted, is only recyclable if there is no food waste on it.

Manhattan Beach Mayor David Lesser said family owned restaurants had adjusted fine and found alternatives when his city adopted a ban in 2013.

Nearly 90 percent of our merchants are in compliance, David Lesser. Its viewed as a success.

Hahn said she wanted the feasibility study to include voices from business owners as well, but she has noticed the plastic waste along the coastal areas of her district.

I have many beaches in the district I represent, she said. A lot of this (polystyrene) ends up in our beaches and threatens are beautiful ecosystems.

County departments are expected to present a feasibility study in 120 days.

Kuehl also introduced a motion that members of the Board also passed that looks into whether all new construction, building additions or major roof replacements in the unincorporated areas of the county can use cool roof materials to help manage heat that is both absorbed inside the structures and in the atmosphere. The City of Los Angeles passed a similar ordinance in 2014. County departments will return with a report on cool roofs in 120 days.

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Fed up with 'trash islands,' LA County leaders consider ban on some food containers - LA Daily News