Money lined up to repair beaches, but not until next year

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TREASURE ISLAND (FOX 13) -

Pinellas beaches shredded by last summer's Tropical Storm Debby will be repaired, but not until sometime next fall or winter.

That leaves properties on two beaches on Treasure Island and two in St. Pete Beach exposed to this year's potential ravages.

"Just look at what Tropical Storm Debby did," said Treasure Island Mayor Bob Minning, pointing to a stretch of Sunset Beach. "It took out 100-some-odd feet of beach."

One beachfront home's irrigation system sticks out of the side of an escarpment.

"There is more to erode but the sacrificial portion of it now is no longer the public beach, it's going to be the private property, and it's going to extend into backyards," Minning commented.

The state budget finalized last week includes funding to match local and federal contributions toward renourishment projects. It will cost roughly $12 million to rebuild Sunset and Sunrise Beaches on Treasure Island, and $6 million to renourish Upham and Pass-A-Grille Beaches in St. Pete Beach.

The work will begin on Treasure Island, possibly by September, according county coastal engineer Andy Squires.

The plan includes renourishing the beach behind Caddy's, a popular beach bar on Treasure Island. The state of Florida and Caddy's owner Tony Amico are in court again in an ownership dispute.

Several years ago, Amico claimed his beach is private, alleging the jetty at John's Pass interrupted the natural southward flow of migrating sand, causing his land to be inundated.

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Money lined up to repair beaches, but not until next year

Must-visit white unspoiled beaches in Luzon

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PICTURE-PERFECT. Calaguas beauty is the real thing raw and unedited, but bursting with color. Photo by Amer Amor

MANILA, Philippines - Want your own piece of paradise this summer? Travel far to these beaches where the crowds are thin to non-existent, the waters crystal clear, and the sands bright white. Be prepared for some roughing it and some camping if you want to stay overnight.

Here are some of Luzons best pristine and white beaches, in no particular order:

1. Calaguas Islands, Vinzons, Camarines Norte

SPELLBINDING SUNSET. At the end of the day, Calaguas palette of blue, green, and white gives way to reds and oranges. Photo by Amer Amor

Long stretches of white sand, and waters so clear and blue that they look Photoshopped thats Calaguas. With powdery fine sand like Boracays minus the crowds, it is the kind of private paradise youll want to keep all to yourself, as travel blogger and Bicol local Amer Amor found out. He even claims the sand there is finer than Boracays, one reason why Calaguas made it on top of his list.

This beach is so postcard-perfect that, as Amer points out, Its that one destination that will have everybody asking, Where on earth did you take that picture?

If youre coming from Manila, the journey to this group of islands can be long and rough, with a 7- to 8-hours bus ride to Daet, Camarines Norte, and a two-hours boat ride to the islands.

But travelers like Amer swear that the long trip is more than worth it.

Here are video clips of Calaguas and the boat ride getting there:

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Must-visit white unspoiled beaches in Luzon

Langbroek opens Mackay Northern Beaches State High School

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Topics: john-paul langbroek, northern beaches state high school, opening, politicians

THE new high school at Mackay's Northern Beaches is an example of how the State Government plans to redirect funds from smaller schools to growing areas.

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek was in Mackay yesterday to officially open the $45million Mackay Northern Beaches State High School.

This opening comes as nine schools across the state face the chopping block.

"The $45million that has come from the government to build this school is an example of where we sometimes have to take revenue from other sources to put into building new schools or improving old ones," Mr Langbroek said.

The Minister said that, like any business, the government needed to look at its assets.

"We need to obviously plan where we've got great growth," he said.

"We need to look at other schools where enrolments might be declining."

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Langbroek opens Mackay Northern Beaches State High School

French Muslims turn to modern astronomy to determine start of Ramadan

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PARIS - France's Muslim leaders have agreed to end almost 1,400 years of Islamic tradition and use modern astronomy to determine the start of the holy month of Ramadan and other Islamic holidays.

The French Muslim Council (CFCM) voted on Thursday to start using astronomical calculations to set the date rather than relying on the naked eye to sight the new crescent moon.

Ramadan traditionally begins the morning after the sighting, which has in the past been delayed by a day or even two by weather.

Council President Mohammad Moussaoui said the old method played havoc with French Muslims' schedules for work, school and festivities. France's five million Muslims are the largest Islamic minority in Europe.

"Now all this will be simplified," he said, and promptly announced the Ramadan fast would begin on July 9 this year.

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French Muslims turn to modern astronomy to determine start of Ramadan

Brian’s Oldest Surviving 3D Paper Model ("Cricket" car from "Artificial Intelligence") – Video

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Brian #39;s Oldest Surviving 3D Paper Model ("Cricket" car from "Artificial Intelligence")
I #39;ve been doing 3D paper model cars since I was a kid, even way before I had a computer. People always trip out when they see my creations and tell me how ta...

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Brian's Oldest Surviving 3D Paper Model ("Cricket" car from "Artificial Intelligence") - Video