Road construction work underway in Weyburn region – Weyburn Review

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Construction work is underway on highways and roads in the Weyburn region, as well as to upgrade 445 kilometres (km) of Thin Membrane Surface (TMS) and rural highways in Saskatchewan.

In Weyburn, work at the intersection of 16th Street and Highway 39 is underway, and should be done by the end of September, along with work along Highway 35 by the livestock exchange south of Weyburn.

Along Highway 39 from Mactaggart to Lang, there are a number of projects underway, including lane widening, turning lanes, merging lanes and passing lanes.

In addition, from Weyburn to the U.S border, there will be construction of five sets of passing lanes, 35 km of resurfacing, culvert rehabilitations, installation of Intelligent Transportation Systems, shoulder widening and various intersection safety improvements.

This investment will go a long way toward our governments goal of improving 1,000 km of highways this year, and 10,000 km in 10 years as laid out by our growth plan, Highways and Infrastructure Minister Greg Ottenbreit said. Strong investments like this will assure our transportation infrastructure can support our industry and exporters for generations to come.

Construction is underway to upgrade 100 km of TMS and rural highways with innovative surface treatments on low volume highways, including:

Highway 219 south of Highway 15;

Highway 255 south of Tobin Lake; and

Highway 355 west of Spruce Home.

Crushing is also underway for future upgrades on Highway 4 from the U.S. Border to Grasslands National Park and Highway 36, north of Coronach to the U.S. Border. In addition, work has begun on design and crushing for an additional 325 km of TMS through stimulus funding.

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Road construction work underway in Weyburn region - Weyburn Review

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Scientists Have Found A Way To Erase Your Worst Fears: What If It Could Amp Up Career Success? – Forbes

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Fear can stop us in our tracks and bring our career to a screeching halt. But would you undergo a ... [+] new brain procedure to erase paralyzing fears to boost your performance?

Fear is a healthy human emotionMother Natures way of protecting us from harm and helping us survive. But in many cases such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), fears can debilitate and paralyze us from healthy functioning. But what if we could reduce or entirely erase constant, recurring maladaptive fears? You might be thinking that it sounds like science fiction. But some therapies such as EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and pharmacological treatments already disrupt and modulate traumatic experiences, allowing people to function more optimally.

Fear can stand in the way of sticking our necks out to attain success. And over time job fears can bring our career to a screeching halt. Negative self-talk and forecasting negative beliefs can get in the way and keep us stuck in stale, hopless jobs. Suppose your boss walks by your desk. You hook eye contact with her, smile, and nod. She looks straight at you, but doesnt acknowledge your presence. She might as well be staring at the wall. Oh no, you say to yourself. I must be in hot water. You shrink inside, ruminating over what you might have done to deserve this. Your heart races, and you feel shaky. Its just a few days before your performance evaluation. Sleepless nights stalk you. You toss and turn as your mind spins with worry over job security.

The day of your evaluation arrives. Your boss calls you into her office, and your stomach flip-flops. You tremble the way you did in sixth grade when you were summoned into the principals office. But, to your shock, she greets you with a smile and gives you a glowing performance evaluation. Not only are you not in hot water, she calls you a highly valued team member.

All that worry and rumination for nothing eventually takes a toll on your mental and physical health and career success. Had you thought about it, you might have realized there are a number of benign reasons your boss didnt acknowledge you when she walked by your desk. Perhaps she was distracted by her own worries, deep in thought over an upcoming meeting, or simply just didnt see you. But your hard-wired mind-reading jumped into action, focused only on the disastrous possibilities. It blew your thoughts out of proportion, sending you into spirals of rumination. And you fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

Think of all the other times you brooded for countless hours over one negative aspect of a situation when, in retrospect, there was nothing to worry about. Perhaps you even overlooked many positive elements. Your team gave you rave reviews on your presentation, but you couldnt get that one frowning face in the front row off your mind. The majority of your coworkers attended your virtual birthday celebration, but that one no-show continued to flash in your brain like a neon Failure sign. And what about all those times you wigged out about an upcoming speech, convinced you would fall flat on your face when, in fact, not only did you not fail, you were a huge successthe exact opposite of what your narrow view (scientists call it the negativity bias) predicted. Some neuroscientists suggest that 90% of our worries are false alarms that never manifest.

But what if you could wipe out negative fears that keep you from getting out of your comfort zone and boosting your performance and career? A new study, published in the journal Current Biology, describes a method of erasing recurring fears and altering how the prefrontal cortex functions so that an unpleasant event no longer induces fear. The research team, led by Sara Borgomaneri, used TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) to create magnetic fields that alter neural activity in particular areas of the brain.

The 84 healthy study participants learned an unpleasant memory, created by paring an electric shock with certain images. After learning the memory, the next day researchers presented participants with the same stimulus which had already been recorded as unpleasant. Ten minutes afterwards, the scientists placed electromagnetic coils on the heads of participants and used TMS to interfere with the participants prefrontal cortex activity.

Study participants who had their prefrontal cortex inhibited by TMS remembered the event but showed a reduced negative physiological response to the unpleasant stimulus, as indicated by their skin conductance response. In contrast, control groups that underwent TMS without the recall of an unpleasant memory showed no decrease in physiological expression of fear.

According to chief investigator, Borgomaneri, this is the first time these results have been obtained without the administration of drugs to patients, and the findings have implications for the fields of rehabilitation and clinical medicine. In the future, this procedure could alter the persistence of traumatic memories and pioneer the development of new therapies to assuage the recurrence of PTSD in patients. Its even possible that some day such a procedure could be used to reduce job stress and eliminate our fears of stretching into career unknowns and uncertainties and prevent worry from blocking our optimal performance. Until that time, though, we are left to rely on the tools at our disposal: a healthy and supportive workplace, self-help, positive thoughts, pep talks, meditation, appropriate medications and counseling.

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Scientists Have Found A Way To Erase Your Worst Fears: What If It Could Amp Up Career Success? - Forbes

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Cape Cod towns restrict beaches to only residents, close parking lots amid coronavirus – Boston Herald

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Cape Cod towns that are trying to make sure their beaches are not too crowded this summer are keeping out nonresidents and implementing new parking rules amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In Truro, for instance, the Head of the Meadow beach parking lot is closed to vehicles until late August.

This will allow for safe physical distancing for visitors at both the seashore and town managed beaches, reads the alert from the National Seashore Massachusetts. Bicyclists and pedestrians may enter.

In Mashpee, only town residents can access the communitys beaches as a result of overcrowding at Johns Pond and other town beaches.

This beach access restriction is intended to advance the interests of the aforementioned Advisories and Guidances by preventing large gatherings at and overcrowding of the Town Beaches during the COVID-19 State of Emergency, states the Board of Selectmen order. All persons authorized to access said Beaches during this temporary restriction will be expected to comply with all recommended COVID-19 safety measures, including appropriate social-distancing and wearing of face masks when social-distancing is not possible, while on the Town Beaches.

Falmouth earlier this summer reduced capacity at its beach municipal lots to 50% because of the virus. However, town officials have decided to now expand parking at the Mill Road lot on a trial basis because the Surf Drive beach has not been overcrowded, said Town Manager Julian Suso.

Were going to continue to monitor the conditions at the different beaches in town, he said.

There has been no documented evidence of the coronavirus spreading at Falmouth beaches, Suso added. Eleven town lifeguards have tested positive for the virus, which was connected to a social gathering after work hours, he said.

In Barnstable, staff at beach gates have informed beachgoers about wearing masks and staying 12 feet apart from other groups.

We havent had many issues, said Recreation Director Patti Machado. The beaches are large enough, so people can spread out.

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Cape Cod towns restrict beaches to only residents, close parking lots amid coronavirus - Boston Herald

Restricting Beach Access to Residents Only – The New York Times

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Connecticut and New York residents who dont live along the coast are likely feeling the heat more than usual this summer, as one town after another has closed off its beaches to everyone except locals.

Citing the need to prevent the spread of Covid-19, officials have instituted varying degrees of residents only policies on beaches in every coastal Fairfield County town except Greenwich, with Darien and Stamford the latest to shut off access. Some towns farther up the shoreline, including Milford, Madison and Groton, have enacted similar measures.

Many Long Island municipalities are also restricting access to town beaches, including Long Beach, Hempstead, Huntington and Southampton.

By shunning outsiders, towns appear to be butting up against legal mandates that require them to maintain public access. But officials argue that with state beaches operating at reduced capacity, town beaches are getting much more traffic than usual, creating a hazard for residents.

Jennings Beach in Fairfield, Conn., is open only to residents on weekends, a policy adopted in mid-July after the first selectwoman, Brenda Kupchick, received a rash of complaints that there were too many people trying to stake out a spot on the sand.

We had people parking all over the beach area, parking a mile or two away, or taking an Uber and walking on, she said. We have multiple ways to get onto our beaches, right in the middle of residential areas. People were emailing me like crazy saying it was unsafe.

Fairfield has since fenced off various entry points to Jennings and other beaches, posted police officers, and raised parking fines from $80 to $200. Up to 150 nonresident vehicles are allowed to park in the Jennings lot on weekdays for a $50 fee.

On the first Saturday the policy took effect, many residents were caught off guard when a parks and recreation worker stood on the main pathway to the beach asked them to show I.D. Most, though, expressed relief at the new requirement. Our virus numbers in Fairfield are low right now wed all like it to stay that way, said Sara Tieke, who was biking past the beach with her husband, Brad. You have to draw the line somewhere.

But civil-liberties advocates say such restrictions conflict with a 2001 state Supreme Court decision that found that the town of Greenwichs residents-only policy, which had been in place for decades, was unconstitutional. Since then, towns have opened their beaches to nonresidents, though many still effectively restrict access by limiting the number of available passes or charging hefty daily parking fees.

David McGuire, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the 2001 case, said the ACLU is concerned that the virus is being used as a justification for exclusionary beach policies that in decades past were used as a tool for racial injustice.

Im not saying thats happening now, but we cant allow the pandemic to be an excuse for unfair treatment of people, Mr. McGuire said. Capacity limits are important, but a resident-only scheme doesnt address the issue of social distancing. What they really ought to do is put a cap on how many people can be on the beach, and allow people in on a first-come-first-serve basis. That is a policy grounded in science.

Further, he said, policies that reserve the beach for residents on weekends while opening it up to nonresidents on weekdays are clearly designed to give preferential or exclusive access to residents during certain periods, which is unfair and unconstitutional.

But municipal officials do not want to have to turn away their own residents on busy weekends.

Our taxpayers pay for lifeguards, Department of Public Works employees for maintenance of the beaches, law enforcement its a lot of money, Ms. Kupchick said. To say to your residents who pay that, you cant go it doesnt seem right.

Mr. McGuire said his office will scrutinize all residents-only ordinances and their enforcement to determine if they comply with the 2001 Supreme Court decision.

In Nassau County, on Long Island, the city of Long Beach stopped selling nonresident daily beach passes on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as of July 23. The beach was getting too crowded, due in large part to overflow from Jones Beach and Robert Moses, which were reaching capacity early in the day on weekends, said Joe Brand, the citys interim parks and recreation commissioner.

We were overrun with nonresident sales on the weekends in addition to our resident clientele, Mr. Brand said.

Gate attendants and security are now posted at each beach entrance. If the beach is too crowded at any one entrance, attendants will close it and urge residents to enter at a different location.

Thats easier than telling people they cant access at all, Mr. Brand said.

At the county-run Nickerson Beach, county officials closed parking to nonresidents back in May in response to Mayor Bill de Blasios decision to keep New York City beaches closed. That policy ended once New York City opened its beaches in July.

Because city beaches hadnt been opened, we wanted to avoid people coming from the city and overcrowding, said Jordan Carmon, a spokesman for the county executive, Laura Curran. The entire point was the health and safety of residents and ensuring that county residents had access to the single county beach that they pay to maintain and operate.

Restricting public access along that shoreline could potentially violate federal policies that require communities that accept federal funds for beach restoration to maintain public access. Last year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a $130 million storm risk reduction project in Long Beach, Lido Beach and Point Lookout.

Stuart Malec, a spokesman for Representative Kathleen M. Rice, said the congresswomans district office on Long Island had inquired with the Army Corps about the restrictions. He said they received this response from the Army Corps public affairs office: Any decisions made by local health official and authorities to temporarily close or limit access to beaches due to the Covid pandemic is not expected to affect any funding decisions regarding future long-term repair assistance or renourishment actions for those projects.

Back in Connecticut, Brenden Leydon, the Stamford lawyer who brought the lawsuit challenging Greenwichs exclusionary policy 19 years ago, said the pandemic makes the issue of access more murky, but that town officials should try to approach it with flexibility.

They should perhaps take it on a day-by-day basis, lets see how its going, rather than just say the beach is closed to nonresidents until October, Mr. Leydon said. Such blanket declarations, he noted, are hard to justify when the towns are, at the same time, welcoming nonresidents to come to their restaurants for indoor dining.

Greenwich, for its part, is trying to strike a balance, making available up to 350 nonresident beach passes a day, said Fred Camillo, the first selectman. The passes are $8, and there is a $40 parking fee at Greenwich Point and Byram Park beaches.

You want to be as welcoming as you can, while being fair to the residents who are footing the bill too, Mr. Camillo said.

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Restricting Beach Access to Residents Only - The New York Times

New Coral Reef Information Signs Installed at 39 Maui Beaches – Maui Now

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Photo credit: Geoff Moore

The Maui Nui Marine Resource Council has installed new coral reef information signs at 39 Maui beaches. The signs feature large colorful photos of sea turtles, corals and marine life, and the headline, Protect Mauis Coral Reefs.

Twenty-nine of the signs are replacements for coral reef information signs created and installed about ten years ago by Project S.E.A.-Link. These signs had since become faded and weather-worn. An additional ten signs were installed at new locations, including Hookipa, Launiupoko and Polo Beach.

The signs instruct beachgoers to avoid walking or standing on coral because coral is alive and easily damaged by such actions. Other advice includes choosing sunscreen thats free of reef-harming oxybenzone and octinoxate, and protecting sea turtles and other wildlife by giving them their space.

Our goal was to use colorful eye-catching photography to attract people to the signs and then to provide friendly and compelling information about the basics of protecting the reefs while they snorkel, swim, dive, paddle or surf, said Mike Fogarty, Acting Director of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council. Were very pleased with the result and the positive reaction from the public.

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council was able to create and produce these signs with support provided by Hawaii Tourism plus assistance from Maui Visitors Bureau. The signs were designed by Geoff Moore, owner of Silver Moon Art and Design in Pia. Photographs for the sign were donated by Drew Sulock, a local nature/adventure photographer and owner of Drew Sulock Creations.

Thorne Abbott of Coastal Planners, LLC donated time to help Maui Nui Marine Resource Council with permitting requirements. The County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation also provided assistance in planning the installation of the signs at County parks.

The signs were installed by two local companies: Maui Rebuilders LLC and Maui Neon & Signs.

Im really proud to have been an ongoing part of this public awareness campaign, and to have the opportunity to update the graphics and messaging to be fresh and relevant, said Geoff Moore, who had designed both the original signs and the newly installed signs. Its important to me to inform Mauis ocean users about protecting our coral reefs. I believe this will give the animals there the best opportunity to survive amongst so many environmental challenges.

The coral reef information signs include a link to a snorkeling information page at http://www.mauireefs.org/snorkel which was created by Maui Nui Marine Resource Council and includes free downloadable fish cards, instructional videos and other information about snorkeling on Maui.

The coral reef signs help to reinforce messages that visitors will see on the window displays that Maui Nui Marine Resource Council installed at the Kahului Airport, says Fogarty. Were now planning public service announcements and social media advertising to provide additional reinforcement of these important reef conservation points.

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New Coral Reef Information Signs Installed at 39 Maui Beaches - Maui Now

Petition Created to Keep Framingham Beaches Open Beyond August 9 – framinghamsource.com

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FRAMINGHAM Today is the last day the City of Framinghams beaches are open. The City will close all its beaches at 5 p.m. August 9.

But a Framingham mom has started a petition to keep the beaches open through Labor Day, September 7.

Typically, the City of Framingham beaches are open from the third week in June through the third week of August.

This year, the beaches were only open from July 1 through August 9.

Typical the Citys beaches are open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. but this year, the beaches were open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

We are asking for the beaches of the City of Framingham, MA to remain open until Labor Day. Now more than ever we need access to local recreation. Beaches are one of the few places we can go to remain local while on a tight budget to stay cool during this very hot summer, and while maintaining strict social distancing. An extra two weeks of beach time is all the difference, especially since school has a delayed opening and will be remote, wrote Kat Suwalski, a Framingham resident.

Budget funding appears adequate, given that thenew fiscal year has just started July 1, stated the petition. We implore you to consider the effect this pandemic has had on local families unable to take advantage of all the normal recreational activities available under normal circumstances.

The 11-member City Council voted unanimously in June a resolution to have the Citys beaches be free this year. The Spicer administration agreed and for the first time in more than a decade, the Citys beaches were free to residents.

The City staffs three beaches with lifeguards from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Lake Waushakum, learned Pond Beach, and Saxonville beach.

***

Editors Note: In full transparency, the editor of SOURCE has signed the petition. The editor has been a resident of Framingham since 2000.

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Petition Created to Keep Framingham Beaches Open Beyond August 9 - framinghamsource.com

First Sea Turtles Of The Year Hatch On Pensacola Beach – NorthEscambia.com

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Pensacola Beach saw its first sea turtle hatch of the season Sunday night. Approximately 129 loggerhead hatchlings emerged on the county-patrolled portion of Pensacola Beach and made their way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Sea turtles nest May through October along the Gulf Coast and nests incubate for around 60 days. Once the sun sets, hatchlings emerge all at once and make their way to the Gulf of Mexico. They will spend their first few days in a swimming frenzy to escape the many predators found in nearshore waters. Safer in the open ocean, they will use floating mats of algae to hide and feed until they are big enough to return to nearshore areas.

Sea turtle hatchlings face many threats long before they reach the water. Bright lights from homes, flashlights and cars can lead hatchlings away from the Gulf and into danger. Nearly 60% of hatchlings will be disorientated before reaching the Gulf of Mexico.

Forgotten furniture, toys, sandcastles, and holes can trap hatchlings, causing injury, starvation, and dehydration. Food and other waste left on the beach attracts gulls, crows, stray dogs, and coyotes who also prey on hatchling turtles.

Escambia County recommends the following to protect sea turtles:

If you see a nest hatching or encounter hatchlings turtles on the beach, stay a respectful distance away and call Escambia County Marine Resources at 850- 426-1257.

Written by William Reynolds Filed Under TOP STORIES

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First Sea Turtles Of The Year Hatch On Pensacola Beach - NorthEscambia.com

HPD issues hundreds of citations on first day of beach closure – KHON2

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HONOLULU (KHON2) Beaches and parks across Oahu closed for the second time on Saturday.

[Hawaiis Breaking NewsDownload the FREE KHON2 app for iOS or Android]

Under Mayor Kirk Caldwells new order, no one is allowed to walk, stand, or lay out on the beach. People can fish below the high-water mark and people can go into the ocean for activities like surfing, swimming, and diving.

The closure is to prevent people from gathering in large groups, which was seen at many beaches across Oahu last weekend.

Even though beaches, parks, and all parking lots were closed, hundreds of people still drove up to places like North Shore on Saturday.

I think its ridiculous theres so many cars parked up and down Kamehameha Highway, as you can see its packed. It looks like any other summer day or when we were opened to tourists, said North Shore resident Tristan Bates.

Theres people all over the rocks, theres people just leisurely hanging out and it seems like theres people from everywhere, he continued.

Honolulu police officers were out in full force across the island issuing citations and making sure people were not walking on the sand.

One North Shore resident said she went to Ke Iki beach to jump in, but because the waves were a little big, she said she walked further down the beach to find a safe zone to enter the water.

And two HPD officers on ATVs surrounded me and informed me, Youre not to walk on the beach, so when I explained to them I was looking for a safe place to jump in, and they said Well do it, jump in now and leave, explained Kristina Marquez.

The new restrictions are a disappointment for many people.

Its really disappointing that the beaches are closed, said Honolulu resident Courtney Khan. Especially at the end of summer and when school has just been delayed.

North Shore businesses hope the new closure wont have affect business.

Now that they have closed the beaches well see if it makes a difference because a lot of people go to the beach and they stop here on the way or on the way back, but we today we are pretty busy, explained Cholos owner Nancy Selemi.

HPD said they handed out 220 citations on Saturday to people either at beaches, parks, or who were in large gatherings. HPD said those who received a citation will have to appear in court.

HPDs hotline will be activated at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9.

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HPD issues hundreds of citations on first day of beach closure - KHON2

Puerto Peasco bets on heavy restrictions in bid to reactivate tourist economy – AZCentral

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PUERTO PEASCO, MexicoThe sun shines brightly as it rises over the Sea of Cortez.

The intense summer heat draws beads of sweat on Magdalena Reyes Villalba's forehead.

It's still early in the morning. There are hardly any tourists yet along the Malecn, the pier at the heart of Puerto Peasco.

But Reyes Villalba is hard at work, hanging colorful garments over the sidewalk outside her booth, where she has been selling clothes, jewelry and other trinkets for more than 15 years.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made this year especially tough. The city locked down to curb the spread of the virus during what is normally the busiest timeof the year. The projected economic losses are staggering.

Tourism officials in Puerto Peasco said visitors to the beach-side community brought in nearly $100 million to the local economy last year. But because of the new coronavirus, this year's estimates barely top $35 million.

"In my case, (the booth) is my only source of income," Reyes Villalba said."We have a family, so it was really difficult. But it still is difficult because we haven't seen the number of tourists that we had hoped."

Puerto Peasco, more commonly known as Rocky Point in Arizona, is trying to orchestrate a delicate balancebetween managing the impacts of the global pandemic and drawing visitors to its cash-strapped businesses.

Nearly 85 percent of the businessesare dependent on tourists, the overwhelming majority from Arizona.

On Aug. 1, the local government reopened the expansive beaches lining the city's coastline as part of the latest phase in its reopening strategy. The move came nearly six weeks after the city began welcoming visitors again.

"I think this is a good time to come visit us because Peasco remains a destination that has abided by safety protocols, that has abided by prevention efforts, and has maintained confirmed cases low," Mayor Kiko Munro said.

Since June 17, more than 33,000 people have visited Rocky Point, he added. That's a small fraction of the number the city normally drawsduring the summer.

All visitors, and the businesses that cater to them, must follow strict guidelines, even at the newly reopened beaches, or risk a hefty price. The rules include wearing masks at all times, doing regular temperature checksand sanitizing frequently.

Beach-goers will encounter additional restrictions. The city has designated access points to beaches, where they can ensure that visitors are complying with their guidelines. The city limited the hours the beaches are open. Police and federal officers enforce social distancing.

"We'll have to see if this experiment will work. We'll have to see if more people don't get sick," saidGerman Palacio. "I do hope that it works."

He owns The Point, a restaurantat the Malecn overlooking the stretch of resorts along the popular Sandy Beach.

Oswaldo Luna, left, and Ramn Vaca, employees at The Point, prepare to open the restaurant for the day. The owner estimates business has decreased by as much as 80% because of the COVID-19 pandemic.(Photo: Rafael Carranza/The Republic)

A lot is at stake for local businesses. After shutting down for three of the busiest months, owners are eager to make some money, and they understand the reopened beaches could draw even more people to the city, and to their shops.

"We've already lost the entire year. There no way to make up for that," Palacio said."Right now, we're just staying open so that our employees can make some money, and us too. But it won't be a short-term recovery."

COVID-19 remains a big concern. While the state of Sonora reports relatively few confirmed cases and deaths inPuerto Peasco, local doctors said the numbers are much higher.

Nonetheless, there appears to be a consensus among businesses and government officials to reopen as safely as possible, in hopes of luring more visitors, the economic lifeline to the city.

The local government in Puerto Peasco set up "sanitation tunnels" outside key points throughout the city, such as the state-run General Hospital, to fight COVID-19.(Photo: Rafael Carranza/The Republic)

One of the tools city officials rolled out early on is a "sanitationfilter," a checkpoint to the north of the city that all visitors must drive through.

The checkpointaims to keep out visitors infected with COVID-19.

It's manned by Mexican National Guard troops, local police and tourism officials.

Since June, they've processed more than 13,000 vehicles carrying U.S. and Mexican visitors, according to the city.

When a driver approaches, one of the tourism officials asks them where they are staying, and logs that information. All visitors are required to have an existing reservation.

Every fifth car is chosen to undergo a rapid antibody test. Local paramedics will prick their finger, draw a drop of blood and wait just minutes for the results. Those who test negative can proceed. Anyone who tests positive is turned away.

"The police and National Guard work together to make sure that the person takes off," said Rafael Mendivil, Puerto Peasco's tourism director.

Since the beaches reopenedAug. 1, officials administered more than 150 tests. At least six of them were positive, including several Arizona visitors. They turned back the six vehicles.

Even some visitors are notconvinced about the city's strategy. George McBride, a Cave Creek resident, owns a condo in Puerto Peasco and is a Mexican permanent resident. He visits often and said the procedures are annoying, but that he understood why they are in place.

"The face mask makes a difference," he said, as he was waiting for the results of his test, which came back negative."If they're going to catch someone with the disease, one in five cars ... I'm not sure how effective that will be. This disease is going to spread."

Other visitors welcomed the additional screenings and safety guidelines in Puerto Peasco.Chad Jordan drove fromGilbert with his family to spend a few days at the beach.

They waited in the car at the checkpoint as a Red Cross paramedic administered the antibody test. As he waited for the results, which also came back negative, he explained that they aretaking their own precautions, such as staying at a houseinstead of a hotel, in order to avoid large crowds.

"We've got three little kids and plane ticketsand everything else is always a longprocess to plan, so withouthaving a lot of uncertainty to be able to make the drive and come to the beach is important to us, and we are definitelylooking forwardto it," he said.

As Puerto Peasco prepared to reopen beaches, tourism and elected officials worked with Mexican federal officials and local committees to drawup new rules for beachgoers.

Therules are an extension of the guidelines the city has had in place since it began to ease itslockdown in June.

"The world is changing and will be changed from now on. And tourism has alsochanged. Tourismwon't be the same," said Hector Vsquez del Mercado, the president of the Puerto Peasco Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Under theplan, access tothe city's beaches is restricted. They established designated public access points and closed off all others.

For example, La Cholla and Hermosa beaches each have a single access point.Police set up controls to limit the number of people, to randomly administer tests and take temperatures. Everyone is then funneled through a "sanitationtunnel," spraying disinfectant, to get to the beach.

At Sandy Beach, each of the resorts is responsible for limiting the number of its guests in concession areas.

Recreational activities are allowed only from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with two additional hours designated for exercise in the morning.

Masks can be taken off at the beach, but social distancing guidelines are enforced.

Beach vendors must allow following certain rules. Tents or umbrellas must be spaced out about nine feet away from each other, and they must provide trash bags or bins to discard food or any other items beachgoers touch.

The city and tourism officials posted the full guidelines, including maps with access points, to their website.

"For all the peoplethat cometo Peasco, the security that we can offer them is proportional to how well they follow these rules," Vasquez del Mercadosaid. "Why? Becauseit's notjusta city effort, it's an effort by tourist and the city."

The Mexican Navy and federal harbor master officers will enforce these regulations. Officers and soldiers patrol the beach areas on all-terrain vehicles, especially after closing time.

Anyone caught violating rules can be fined between $100 to $120.

Ivan Mungua Felix, a doctor in Puerto Peasco, recovered from COVID-19 and has been tracking cases throughout the city.(Photo: Rafael Carranza/The Republic)

One of Puerto Peasco's main selling points to draw visitors, and to push for a faster reopening strategy, is the number of reported COVID-19 cases in the city.

As of Thursday night, the Sonora Health Ministry reported 87 confirmed cases and 12 deaths.

But those numbers are a drastic undercountof what's happening on the ground, according to Ivn Mungua Felix,a private physicianin Puerto Peasco and a member of the mayor's pandemic response task force.

He created an unofficialmap to track infections in the city. It shows more than 270 infections in the city, more than three times the official numbers. He said there are about 300 more cases he hasn't added to the map. In all, he estimates there are about 500 unofficial cases.

"I'm gathering this information from all logbooks from the busiest labs in the city, and from other fellow doctors," he said. "When I started mapping it out I saw that our number is much more different than what government officials reported."

Mungua Felix started tracking casesafter catching COVID-19 himself. He said public hospitals in the cityare full and don't have tests. They havebeen sending infected patients to biggercities given a lack of funding from the state and federal government.

That's how he believes he caught the virus, from an untested family member of an infected patient sent to Nogales.

Mungua Felix was hospitalized for 27 days, in serious condition. He credited his recovery to his brother, who isalso a doctor, and a medical team that flew in from Mexico City to treat him.

When his condition improved, he resumed his private practice, doing virtual appointments instead. But Mungua Felix also continued tracking cases. His map assigns a color to each neighborhood to assess the risk.

It shows that the areas most visited by tourists, such as the Malecn and resorts, are in green, the safest level, while high transit neighborhoods away from the beaches are in red, indicating the greatest risk.

"Businesses and hotels there are enforcing measures like tests, temperature checks, scanners, all these measures and they've been able to quickly detect and treat cases," he said, citing it as an example that the city's safety measures are working.

The problem, he said, has beenresistance in inland neighborhoods to the safety protocolsand growing fatiguewithmasks and socialdistancing.

Mungua Felix said he tried reporting the cases to state and federal officials to adjust their numbers. They wouldn't accept them because they did not come from within their own labs or hospitals, he said.

"That's why I developed that map, because the (federal) government is not doing things well, and the state government isn't, either, because they depend on what the federal government sends them, and ultimately, they're the ones in charge," he said.

Munro, Puerto Peasco's mayor, acknowledged the official case countis based onwhat the state and federal government reported.

He saidthe city has stepped into help residents. In addition to the call center, they offer free testing and even free medicationto treat the symptoms of those who test positive.

"What is most concerningisn't the confirmed cases, but the mortalityrate, which is at around 10 percent," he said."That is very worrying," especially for residents who have underlying health conditions, he added.

Munro urged residents at higher risk to stay home, and asked everyone, including visitors,to continue following the safety protocols, especially the use of masks.

Several tourists walk through the Malecn in Puerto Peasco on Aug. 6, 2020. The city has reopened its beaches after five months due to COVID-19.(Photo: Rafael Carranza/The Republic)

Many businesses and residents have praised Munro for the steps he has taken to curb the spread of the viruswhile allowing the local economy to open up. There are still some critics, but their concernslargely are muted against the potential economic impact brought by visitors.

"We hope that the infection rates don't go up so Peasco can remain open," saidCasandra Flores Ros, a vendor at Playa Hermosa.

Her family set up tents along the beach, spaced out as required under the new guidelines. But business so far has been slow to pick up.

She and her family were out of work for nearly five months, until the beaches reopened earlier this month.

"We also have a booth to sell artwork, but because of the pandemic, we had to close that down. We literallyhad to live off of our savings," she said.

Palacio, the restaurant owner at the Malecn, said he's been disappointed by the lack of assistance from the federal government. They have been paying taxes,bills, and other business costs,but without any income.

I have to go and work because it's our daily bread

"We applied for help with the state, but we didn't get anything. It seems the federal government doesn't care to help small and midsize business owners," he said.

For now, Palacio is looking ahead. Even thoughthis year's losses are difficult to overcome, he doesn't plan on shutting down his restaurant.

As Reyes Villalba finished hanging clothes at her booth in the Malecn, she talked about her concerns.Until there's a vaccine, she and her family will be continually exposed to the virus.

At the same time, she believes she has little choice in the matter.

"I have to go and work because it's our daily bread," she said. "The fear is there, the fear that I will be infected. But we have to be here."

Have any news tips or story ideas about the U.S.-Mexico border? Reach the reporter at rafael.carranza@arizonarepublic.com, or follow him on Twitter at @RafaelCarranza.

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Puerto Peasco bets on heavy restrictions in bid to reactivate tourist economy - AZCentral

Thousands of Palestinians enter Israel, head to beaches; soldiers turn blind eye – The Times of Israel

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Thousands of Palestinians have been illegally entering Israel to go to the beaches for the past week, with authorities making no effort to stop them, according to Hebrew-language reports.

Some believe it is a form of nose-thumbing by Israel after the Palestinian Authority stopped all its coordination with the Jewish state in late May including coordinating permits for Palestinians to enter Israel in protest of Israels yet-unfulfilled plan to annex parts of the West Bank.

The Haaretz daily reported Monday that the new method of entering Israel through holes in the border fence began last week, at the end of the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha.

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After initial attempts to cross into Israel were met with no response by the military, word spread quickly across the West Bank. Palestinians have short vacations for families, complete with transportation services to the several crossing points and from there to various Israeli cities using Arab Israeli drivers, the report said.

My kids have never seen the ocean, Siham, a mother of five, told Haaretz. For them, its like they arrived at the most important attraction in the world. Touching the salty water and playing in the sand is the best, cheapest attraction I can offer my children.

Most of the Palestinian families have been going to Jaffa, the report said, although others have gone to Herzliya, Haifa, Netanya, and other cities.

Typically, the families come with backpacks, food, and inflatable water toys. They pay between 20 and 35 shekels ($6-$10) for transportation, Channel 13 reported on Saturday.

Illustrative: Palestinians illegally cross the border fence into Israel on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Hebron, August 6, 2019. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90/File)

Despite the potential security risk and the danger of coronavirus infection, Israeli authorities fully aware of the phenomenon have not taken action against it.

The soldiers just dont care. They couldve stopped it in an instant, one Palestinian man told Haaretz.

Aref Shaaban from Jenin, who has organized transportation to Jaffa and Herzliya, said that, in many cases, the troops even helped the Palestinians cross into Israel.

The soldiers saw they were families with beach balls and food bags, not grenades, he said.

Another Palestinian visitor told Haaretz that military jeeps turned on their headlights in the evening to help direct the families back to the hole in the fence on their way back.

Many were quoted saying that at no point did they feel threatened not at the crossing point, nor in the Israeli cities.

The Israel Defense Forces declined to comment.

A resident of the Nablus area who helped organize the transportation said the move was not coordinated with the Palestinian Authority (PA) or with Israel, and that it was seen as undermining the PA.

The Palestinian government is imposing [coronavirus] lockdowns and Israel probably wanted to accept thousands of Palestinians and show the PA that it doesnt control anything, he told Haaretz.

An unnamed PA official was quoted by the newspaper as saying Israel wants to prove to us that with or without coordination, they let the civilian population in.

Additionally, instead of Palestinians vacationing in the West Bank and paying money there, they preferred for the money to be in Israel, even if its not big sums.

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Thousands of Palestinians enter Israel, head to beaches; soldiers turn blind eye - The Times of Israel

More Cape towns imposing tougher restrictions to limit beach crowds – Boston.com

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The Associated Press

August 11, 2020 | 8:31 AM

BOSTON (AP) Cape Cod towns are imposing tougher restrictions to limit beach crowds and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The Cape Cod Times reports a number of towns are taking steps to limit capacity at beach parking lots or restrict certain beaches to residents only.

In Mashpee, the local Board of Selectmen voted Monday to continue a temporary, residents-only restriction until Gov. Charlie Baker lifts his state of emergency order.

Sandwich and Barnstable have also taken steps to restrict beach access to residents only, and Yarmouth officials on Tuesday are considering doing the same.

Falmouth, meanwhile, has expanded parking lot capacity for town residents only at a number of its popular beaches, and the parking lot at the federally-managed Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro has been restricted to bicyclists and pedestrians only as of Saturday.

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More Cape towns imposing tougher restrictions to limit beach crowds - Boston.com

Algae bloom at Virginia Beach Oceanfront resulting in foul smell and discolored water – WAVY.com

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) An algae bloom at several spots at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront is resulting discolored and foul-smelling water.

According to an algal bloom surveillance map from the Virginia Department of Health, there are currently four spots at the Oceanfront where the algae bloom was reported.

According to a spokesperson with VDHs Waterborne Hazards Program, the bloom is an alga that commonly blooms at this time of year in Virginia known as Margalefidinium polykrikoidies.

Margalefidinium polykrikoidies is not harmful to humans, but may cause fish kills due to the low oxygen which may result from bacterial decomposition, the spokesperson says.

For the past two weeks, officials have been recovering reports of the bloom. Of the four reported algae bloom spots at the Oceanfront, the highest concentration of Margalefidinium polykrikoidies was recorded at the 1st Street jetty with 6,990 cells/ml.

Another VDH official tells 10 On Your Side this is the same type non-toxic algae reported at Norfolk beaches at East Ocean View Beach and the area of the Chesapeake Bay by Bay Point Drive.

Marget Smigo, who is VDHs waterborne hazards coordinator, says while the algae are not harmful to people, they still advise the public that When in doubt, stay out of water that is discolored, has an odor or dead animals present.

Chris Moore, who is a senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, says the algae bloom can negatively impact the local economy.

The unfortunate thing about these algae is it can impact our local economy, our local shellfish farmers, our folks out fishing and things like that because they do negatively affect fish and oyster populations, he said.

Moore believes the numerous 90-degree days, warmer water temperatures and changes in water salinity have made way for the recent algae blooms. Nutrients from fertilizer and water runoffs can increase blooms, which Moore says hes seen more of over the last 10 years.

Theyre kind of sitting there waiting for the right water temperatures and the right salinity. Then these algae bloom. When we think of a bloom with plants, thats a good thing, he said. In the case of algae, its a bad thing. The algae pop up, as youve seen, become very visible at times.

While these blooms are the result of Mother Nature, Moore says we can do things to decrease the frequency of them to improve water quality in Virginia.

Reducing the amount of fertilizer we put on our lawns, reducing the amount of waste from our wastewater treatment plants and factories, things like that. Continuing to fund the best agricultural management practices that help reduce the amount of pollution that runs off farm fields and things like that, he said.

While groups like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will work to improve water quality to prevent the smell in the future, those working down at Oceanfront say the blooms are a good lesson for them.

Tom Gill, with the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service, says they started getting complaints about the smell Thursday.

It was worth investigating. It was worth keeping our people safe. If theres something wrong with the water, our people need to know as much as anyone else, he said. We followed up. The city is on top of it. The state seems to be on top of it. It was one negative in the world of positives down here at the beach and Oceanfront.

Gill says theyve dealt with blooms before, but not the extent of what they witnessed on Thursday and Friday.

He credits his team with doing a great job of not just handling the bloom issue but also addressing COVID-19 concerns. He says theyre at the Oceanfront to help in any way.

If you come down to the beach and have a question and are not sure about whats going on, go ask the lifeguard and ask them about it. If theres no lifeguard, you probably shouldnt be on that beach, he said.

Officials encourage residents to report a bloom or suspected health effects from a bloom by contacting the Virginia HAB Hotline at 1-888-238-6154.

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Algae bloom at Virginia Beach Oceanfront resulting in foul smell and discolored water - WAVY.com

Spectacle Island is open, boasting unobstructed views and quiet beaches – The Boston Globe

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While many local beaches are overcrowded, Spectacle Island remains an underutilized gem during the coronavirus pandemic. Just a 30-minute trip on a Boston Harbor Cruises boat from Long Wharf, the uncrowded beach with Boston skyline views awaits. Although the visitor center and concession stand remain closed during the pandemic, changing rooms, restrooms, and outdoor showers are still available. Visitors must bring their own food and water or buy them on the ferry, and carry out all trash.

Thirty-four islands comprise the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, but only Spectacle Island is accessible by BHC ferry during the pandemic. After remaining closed for the first part of the season, the island opened on July 1. The islands proximity to Boston meant it was always in use, but it didnt become a park until 2006. Dirt excavated during the Big Dig was used to cover parts of the island, which had served as a garbage dump for decades.

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Spectacle Island is open, boasting unobstructed views and quiet beaches - The Boston Globe

Several Cape Cod beaches temporarily closed following great white shark sightings – The Boston Globe

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Some beaches on Cape Cod temporarily closed to swimmers Thursday following great white shark sightings, officials said.

The town of Truro confirmed a sighting at Head of the Meadow Beach at 11:50 a.m. in a brief statement posted to its website.

The sharks direction of travel is unknown, the statement said. Due to this sighting, Head of the Meadow Beach and Coast Guard Beach, Truro, will continue to be closed to swimming until 12:50 pm. After one hour, without any other sightings, the beach will reopen to swimming.

The Truro Recreation Department confirmed via Facebook around 1 p.m. that the beaches had reopened for swimmers.

Be Shark Smart People!the department said in the Facebook posting.

The nonprofit Atlantic White Shark Conservancy told the Globe Thursday that a research boat was on the water off the Cape, and that the pilot is spotting sharks. One shark tagged so far.

The @MA_Sharks Twitter feed, which is manned by John Chisholm, a shark researcher who works with the states Division of Marine Fisheries to identify great whites and other sharks, said additional Cape beaches also closed due to the sighting.

The beach closings he cited were Nauset in Orleans, Newcomb Hollow, and Lecount Hollow (also known as Maguire Landing) in Wellfleet, as well as Head of the Meadow and Coast Guard.

Please follow be #SharkSmart and follow shark safety guidelines, Chisholm tweeted.

In Wellfleet, Suzanne Grout Thomas, the towns director of community services, confirmed via e-mail around 4:25 p.m. that the towns local beaches were open.

They were never closed, just the water closed to swimming and yes, they are all open, she wrote.

Thomas said in a follow-up message that the beaches had reopened for swimming.

Thursdays Cape sightings came after Julie Dimperio Holowach, a 63-year-old seasonal resident of Harpswell, Maine, was killed late last month by a great white while swimming off of Bailey Island in what officials said was that states first fatal shark attack on record.

Steve Annear of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.

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Several Cape Cod beaches temporarily closed following great white shark sightings - The Boston Globe

10 of the best beach and coast activities around the UK – The Guardian

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Rock climbing, Dorset

The Jurassic Coast looks thrillingly different when viewed from a rock face on the Isle of Portland. Connected to the mainland via Chesil Beach, this limestone peninsula is laced with climbing routes, from beginner-friendly to challenging. The old railway cuttings on the east coast feature climbs for all levels, while Blacknor cliff on the west has easier routes for those new to the activity. Participants learn key skills, including how to belay safely, from Rob Kennard, who has decades of teaching experience and good knowledge of the local geology. Half-day taster session from 22pp (for a group of seven or eight; 27pp for four; 75 for one), portland-climbing.co.uk

Wild-food chef Chris Bax and plant expert Rose Bax uncover the edible treasures of Robin Hoods Bay on the fringes of the North York Moors. At low tide, the couple take visitors out to explore rock pools and discover varieties of sea vegetables and shellfish then teach them how to prepare these goodies before everyone sits down to an alfresco lunch made using local and foraged ingredients: expect dulse seaweed quiche, hogweed salad and sea buckthorn cheesecake. The calories can be walked off with a stroll around the bays leafy pathways, where there are more edible plants. Maximum 14 people, lunch provided, 10am-4pm, 95pp, tastethewild.co.uk

A coasteering adventure near the Giants Causeway sees visitors leap, scramble and swim along this stunning coast. Wearing helmets, wetsuits and buoyancy aids, participants explore the limestone caves, basalt columns and turquoise water. Glimpse castles at the edge of cliffs (Dunluce, Dunseverick, Kenbane are all in the area) and face their fears with a cliff jump (optional). As well as testing your limits, it offers a close-up look at this geologically diverse coastline. Three hours, equipment provided, 40pp, causewaycoasteering.com

On Scotlands west coast, Oban is home to superb diving opportunities, thanks to the nearby Gulf Stream and unpolluted waters of the Firth of Lorne. There are options to suit all levels, from scenic dives around shallow wrecks, to drift-dives with tidal flows and deep drop offs. An experienced Padi instructor guides beginners in the shallow waters of Gallanach Bay. Under the water, walls are covered in anemones and conger eels dart past. Otters and seals can also be seen. Try-a-dive, two hours, 89pp, puffin.org.uk

Consistent, intermediate-friendly waves break along the wide, sandy beach at Polzeath while beginners can practise getting to their feet on their board in the white water. The best way to learn quickly is in a small group. George Stoy specialises in private coaching and his school has been designated a centre of excellence by Surfing England. As well as adults, children as young as four can take lessons. Two-hour lesson for one person from 100, georgessurfschool.com

A kayak is one of the best ways to explore south Devons remote coves and caves, spotting seals along the way. Setting off from the harbour at Dartmouth, paddlers glide past the castles that guard the estuary entrance and past cliffs and into the open sea. From here theres a choice: north towards Brixham or south towards Torcross, either way stopping to explore caverns, fish for mackerel, and swim. Half-day guided trips 49 adults, 35 children, seakayakdevon.co.uk

Just off the coast of Selsey, eight miles south of Chichester, lie two designated marine conservation zones with an abundance of sea life. A new marine life walk, led by an SSI marine ecology instructor, gives an insight into what lies beneath the surface. The 90-minute stroll around Selsey Bill, the lifeboat station and east and west beaches, includes wading in the shallows and learning where to discover the marine life on our shores. 5.30pm-7pm, next available dates 19 and 21 August, 15pp (book in advance as numbers are limited), mulberrydivers.co.uk

The wide, sandy bays of Gorleston-on-Sea are great for exploring at a leisurely pace on a paddleboard. Visitors can rent a board and set off on their own, or book a lesson to learn the paddling techniques. The school also runs Ripperz Club, a sea-education club for children every Saturday during the summer. This hour covers sea safety and safe swimming, and gives children the chance to try activities, such as paddleboarding, bodyboarding and surfing. Half-day paddleboard hire 25, full day 35. Two-hour lessons 25pp. Ripperz Club Saturdays 9am-10am or 10am-11am, 5 a child, boardinskool.com

The fascinating history of these chalk cliffs can be traced on a guided coastal walk from Cuckmere Haven to Eastbourne, an area once popular with smugglers. The walk crosses the undulating Seven Sisters, with a guide telling stories that date back to the Domesday Book. The route takes in Birling Gap with its coastguard cottages, and the lighthouses of Belle Tout and Beachy Head. Walkers can see how the diverse natural habitat changes from forest to seashore. The walk includes a locally sourced picnic with wine tasting, taken overlooking the Sussex coast and South Downs national park. Eight miles, starting at 10am, 75pp including food and wine, patadventures.com

On a guided fishing trip in north Pembrokeshire, Padrig Rees takes visitors out to catch their own mackerel supper. Focusing on the Ramsey Sound and Whitesands Bay area, its ideal for angling novices and with a focus on sustainability fish are only caught if they are in season and an appropriate size. Theres a lesson on how to prepare the fish for cooking, too. More experienced anglers can join a three-hour deep-sea fishing trip to the outlying Bishops and Clerks islands, with the chance of catching pollock. Mackerel fishing 1 hours, 20pp, maximum 12 people. Deep-sea fishing, three hours, 30pp, maximum 10, fishing-pembrokeshire.co.uk

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10 of the best beach and coast activities around the UK - The Guardian

Travel/Beach Restrictions: Heres what you need to know for RI, Mass. – WWLP.com

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In a typical summer, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are popular tourist destinations, and a big reason for that is their miles of beautiful coastline and beaches.

But this year, due to the ongoing pandemic, both states have a number of restrictions in place in order to reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Heres a breakdown of the rules and regulations currently in place in both states:

Rhode Island

When Phase 3 began at the end of June, Gov. Gina Raimondo put new travel restrictions in place, which included a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone coming into Rhode Island from a state with a positivity rate of 5% or higher. A running list of those states can be found here, which is updated weekly and currently consists of 32 states and Puerto Rico.

Anyone who can show theyve tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours is exempt. Travelers, even if asymptomatic, can sign up for a free test here.

If you get tested after entering Rhode Island, the state asks that you quarantine until you receive your results.

Starting on Sunday, anyone from those states who checks in at a hotel or rental property will need to sign a certificate of compliance stating they have had a negative test result or intend to quarantine.

The following people are also exempt from the restrictions, according to Raimondos office:

As of August 4, Rhode Islanders are no longer exempt from the travel orders in place in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey due to increases in the states positive test rate and cases per 100,000.

Massachusetts

Beginning August 1, anyone entering Massachusetts (visitors and returning residents alike) from a state considered high-risk for COVID-19 has to fill out a travel form and self-quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative test result.

Those found to be in violation of the order could be fined $500 per day.

There are exemptions, which include people traveling from one of six lower-risk states most of New England, New York, New Jersey and Hawaii along with people commuting to work or school, people receiving specialized medical treatment, and military personnel.

However, workers or students who travel out-of-state for personal or leisure reasons cannot rely on that exemption, according to Massachusetts officials.

Rhode Island was removed from that list on Tuesday, August 4, due to increases in the states positive test rate and cases per 100,000.

To be considered lower-risk, a states average daily cases must be below six per 100,000 people and the positive test rate has to be below 5%. The Mass. Department of Public Health will continue to update the list based on public health data.

VisitMass.govor text MATraveler to 888-777 for more information.

Rhode Island

The parking lots at state beaches are currently limited to 75% capacity with the exception of Misquamicut and Scarborough, which are capped at 25% due to recurring reports of overcrowding.

Real-time parking information is posted on RIParks.com.

Related: Ocean, Bay & Beach Forecast and other Resources

Beachgoers must maintain at least six feet of distance from other household groups, which should be limited to 15 people.

Visitors should also have a face covering handy and wear it when in the vicinity of others, such as in the restrooms or at the snack bar.

And if you feel sick stay home.

Massachusetts

All state beaches are open to the public but may have reduced parking areas to limit crowds.

Beach blanket groups should be no larger than 10 people and spaced at least 12 feet apart, while visitors are required to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between other beachgoers.

Picnic areas should be closed if adequate social distancing cannot be maintained, and shuttle services to the beach may operate at 50% capacity.

Face coverings are required but should not be worn while swimming.

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Travel/Beach Restrictions: Heres what you need to know for RI, Mass. - WWLP.com

Death in paradise: the aftermath of nuclear testing in Australia and Oceania – DiEM25

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The United States of America is the first nuclear power and the only one to have used its weapons for a military purpose. During World War 2 in 1945, two Japanese cities were bombed by US nuclear bombs (Hiroshima on August 6th and Nagasaki August 9th ). The devastating result was approximately 225,000 people either dead or wounded. The number of deaths in Hiroshima and Nagasaki due to exposure to lethal radiation is still being discussed, but it is certainly in the thousands.

However, even though nuclear weapons were never used again for military purposes, nuclear testing took (and continues to take) a toll on thousands of lives in Australia and Oceania.

The United States conducted about 1,054 nuclear tests from 1945 to 1992, and 105 of them (1945-1962) were made at Pacific Test Sites (Marshall Islands, Kiribati) causing the contamination of huge areas controlled by US troops. In the Pacific, this caused rising numbers of cancer and birth defects, especially on the Marshall Islands where 67 tests were made and many Marshallese were forced to leave their homes in contaminated areas.

France has made over 193 nuclear tests in the Pacific between 1960 and 1996, mostly on Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls that belong to French Polynesia, as well as 17 tests in Algerian Sahara. Tahiti, the most populated island of French Polynesia, was exposed to 500times the maximum accepted levels of radiation. The impact has spread as far as to the tourist island of Bora Bora.

Civilians and the military participating in nuclear tests (more than 100,000 of them) have experienced diarrhea, skin injuries, blindness, and cancer. Their children have additionally suffered from birth defects.

From 1953 to 1963, there were over 20 bigger and smaller British A- bomb tests in Emu Farm, and the Maralinga and Montebello Islands of Australia. Overall, over 1200 peoples were exposed to radiation in the country, most of them Anangu people living in the Maralinga area. The UK has also made nuclear tests on overseas territories such as the Malden Islands and Christmas Island ( the present Republic of Kiribati).

There are two answers. One is that loss of loved ones, of the way you live your life, of the nature that surrounds you, the loss of home cannot be repaid or replaced with anything else. The other is that aforementioned governments did little.

The US has awarded more than $63 million to Marshallese with radiogenic illnesses despite the fact that the Tribunal only has $45.75 million to award for both health and land claims. France is still avoiding paying reparations to Tahitians.

As for the joint venture of the UK and Australia, the truth is that tests were approved and conducted in the first place because British officials were misinforming Australians. The Maralinga Tjarutja (Council) of Anangu people has a compensation settlement with the Australian government, and they are receiving $13.5 million.

75 years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we must ask ourselves: Why are we so callous about many Hiroshimas and Nagasakis that happened over the following decades? Did we let them happen just because they took place in far-off islands in the Pacific or in the Australian desert?

This means that the governments of the US, UK, France and Australia must pay just reparations to the affected countries and regions. Progressives of the world must act united against the threat of nuclear holocaust and create a political climate in which it would be possible to take action on an international level in order to ban the production, storage and use of nuclear weapons.

This can be done if nuclear powers, followed by all member states, sign the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Aleksandar Novakovi is a historian and dramatist. He is a member of DSC Belgrade 1 and the thematic DSC Peace and International Policy 1

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Death in paradise: the aftermath of nuclear testing in Australia and Oceania - DiEM25

The Impact of Geography on our Worldview – Observatory of Educational Innovation

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There are manyvideoson the internet making fun of people in the United States for their ignorance about geography. There is even atrendon the Tik Tok application about this. But how much is due to an educational problem and how much because of the way geography was taught? What impact can this subject have on a person's worldview?

Much of the problem arises because United States citizens do not recognize America as a continent, which annoys Latin Americans (and rightly so). However, this confusion is due to the way they are taught geography. Like people in other countries such as Australia and England, they believe that there are seven continents, namely, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. In contrast, countries like Mexico are taught that there are five: Africa, Europe, Asia, America, and Oceania/Australia. In Japan, people learn that there are six continents: Africa, Antarctica, Australia/Oceania, Eurasia, North America, and South America.

How the world's division is presented is an essential part of how knowledge of the world is organized. The fact that there are so many differences explains the discontent surrounding the subject.

Even the Olympic Games'logoincludes five interconnected rings representingfive inhabited continents, but which are these, and why is there no universal agreement about what are the continents?

What is a continent, and how is it divided?

To understand why there are so many discrepancies in the number of continents, we must understand what the word "continent" means.

The American Institute of Geosciencesdefines a continent as "one of the planet's main landmasses, including the drylands and continental platforms." Other Anglo-Saxonpagesdefine it as "a large uninterrupted landmass surrounded by water." Even the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) describes it the same way, "Every one of the large tracts of land separated by the oceans." According to this second definition, North and South America should be one continent, just like Eurasia.

Geopolitics is one factor influencing the number of continents, depending on the source and the country. For example, all models consider Africa a continent. Europe and Asia are one sizeable continental mass. They can be taken as two continents, even while77%of Russia is in Asia and is a transcontinental country partly in Europe.

Another model divides the land masses according to thetectonicplates. There are 15 tectonic plates, of which seven have about ten million square miles and correspond approximately to the continents' shapes above them, following the model of seven continents.

Continents or cultural regions? Physical vs. cultural geography.

Although these classifications are somewhat arbitrary and debatable, it is essential to have a designation of the world by zones that serve as a starting point for more information, such as what the countries are like, their cultures, art, food, ethnicity, and businesses, etc. These aspects tend to make people generalize the attributes of people in the continents, for example, to believe that all of South America speaks Spanish, including Brazil, which does not.

Other examples may be to say "Asian food," rather than Japanese or Chinese, or to describe "African music" or "European art." These generalizations even apply to people, describing someone with almond-shaped eyes as having Asiatic features without considering that India is also in Asia. The people there generally do not have almond-shaped eyes.

One way to see the world is byregion, something that geographers do to facilitate their studies. In this model, there are eight regions, namely, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, Europe, North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and Australia and Oceania.

Philip Bouchard, educator, writer, and software designer, writes that if the world were divided into cultural regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, South Asia (consisting of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh), and the Middle East (from Morocco to parts of Afghanistan); it would be easier to sort the world and categorize the countries by culture.

America's case is more complicated. According to Bouchard, several people in the United States draw the line between North and South America at the southern extremity of Mexico. They do not include the countries of Central America in North America; yet, it is part of their standard geographical definition. If America were to be divided by cultural regions, the Central American countries are part of Latin America. The rest would be Anglo-America, composed of the United States and Canada.

Then there would be the following regions:

Europe

Middle East

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Asia

Oriental Asia or East Asia

Anglo-America

Latin America

To reach his conclusion, Bouchard focused on the following three concepts:

1) Each defined region must occupy a contiguous area of land.

2) Each region should be home to hundreds of millions of people.

3) A flat (non-hierarchical) model like this works best when the whole is divided into about seven parts, although it may have plus or minus one or two.

The above criteria, however, do not include Australia or island nations. If the adjoining land area requirement were removed, for example, Australia could be grouped with Anglo-America and England. The writer concludes by saying that traditional models based on physical geography are not ideal for learning about cultural geography. Understanding this concept helps to understand the world better and the ability to absorb details more quickly and have more accurate cultural generalizations.

The other side of geography: the maps

Learning geography goes beyond cultural regions or defining continents. Reading a map also has a significant impact on the way the world is observed. Plans are a teaching tool that are visual representations that shape the way the planet is understood.

Maps represent information, but their interpretation varies greatly depending on the context and the type. As on continents, there are different versions of plans, and they have different impacts on how people see the world.

Harley and Woodwarddescribethem, saying, "Maps are graphical representations that facilitate a spatial understanding of things, concepts, conditions, processes or events in the human world."

There are physical maps that show details and identify physical characteristics like rivers and mountains, and geographic ones that demonstrate landmasses. Political maps focus on dividing territories into concepts such as local authorities, states, and countries. Others are divided by language to highlight dialects in a physical area or country, and weather maps show things like sun, clouds, rain, and much more.

Historically, geographic maps have served to illustrate different points in time and the priorities of the creators, such as including a larger or smaller country. The HistorianDirk Raatdescribes how the Old World peoples, "the medieval Europeans and their New World counterparts organized space according to philosophical and religious principles." This means that the maps represent more than the landmasses. They include how people see themselves and their beliefs concerning the land they occupy, demonstrating that the maps have an inherently social and political weight.

The geographic maps are distorted.

In 1569, Gerhardus Mercator, a European cartographer, created a world map that remains popular today, theMercator Projection. It has straight lines that represent constant directions on the surface of the earth, helping to navigate but not to visualize the sizes of the masses.

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The Impact of Geography on our Worldview - Observatory of Educational Innovation

Wini credits basketball as part of success – FIBA

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HONIARA (Solomon Islands) - Lysa Wini is trailblazing a path for women in the Solomon Islands with her burgeoning career and she credits her basketball experience as one of the keys to her success.

Wini, currently a consultant for the Sky Islands Coordinator for Islands and a Ph.D. Researcher for One Ocean Hub of Strathclyde University in Glasgow shared that her passion for basketball is a driving force in her growth as a person and as a professional.

"I have played basketball since I was young and it has always been my passion. The sport of basketball has given me so much that's why I will always be grateful and put effort into giving back to the game," said Wini, who represented the Solomon Islands in international competitions from 1999 to 2015.

Photo: 2016 FIBA Oceania Women's Empowerment Program participants

After retiring from international competition in 2015, Wini assumed the Secretary position for the Solomon Islands Basketball Federation and joined the FIBA Oceania Women's Empowerment Program in 2016.

"The Women's Empowerment program by FIBA Oceania was a life-changing experience for me. At that point, I was at the crossroads of my life trying to find myself because I have been playing basketball my whole life. The group of women I was able to interact with taught lessons that gave me the confidence I needed to grow and be confident with my capabilities," shared Wini, who has a postgraduate certificate in Diplomacy & International Affairs from the University of the South Pacific.

"The stories shared by the participants and mentors certainly did the right job in empowering the women in the program and has inspired me to push forward and be bold with my dreams and ideas," she added.

Since 2018, Wini has traveled all over the world as a speaker or a panelist in conferences including the 2018 European Society for Oceanists Conference in the United Kingdom, 2018 World Oceans Explorers Club in the United States of America, 2018 UN Nippon Foundation Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Kenya and the 2019 Preparatory Phase of the UN Decade of Ocean Science in Denmark.

Photo:D-fenders Team Building Activity - Hike at Barana Nature Park

Wini, a mother to two kids shared the context of basketball's male-dominated culture in their country and how she believes that the sport can be a good platform to promote equality with their ability to play the sport.

"Solomon Islands basketball is male-dominated society but having the experience of playing in the national team, I was able to command respect from other players because I can what they do," Wini said. "

It's given me the confidence to interact with people both on and off the court." she added

Photo: Wini coaching the U19 Women's team in FIBA U19 Ocean Championship in Fiji 2014

The former coach of the Solomon Islands U19 Women's team has repeatedly attributed her success to her experience with basketball and hopes to provide the same chance for young girls in the Solomon Islands through the D-Fenders youth program,which she started with Debbie Sade, Willie Sade, and Kellington Simeon

"The D-Fenders program invites youth players to have an opportunity to play under the club and also for us to provide mentorship to young kids. I want to be able to empower kids at a young age and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams if they believe in themselves," Wini said.

"We started this in 2008 and have continued to volunteer our efforts for the program to be able to provide a safe space for learning for our youth. It's been a great journey and I will continue to help out as much as I can," she added.

FIBA

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Wini credits basketball as part of success - FIBA

COVID-19 infections breach 20 million mark: Pace of pandemic stabilising but where are the world’s hotspots? – Times Now

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The world has now recorded over 20 million cases of COVID-19.  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

Over six months from when the first case of COVID-19 was detected at a seafood market in the city of Wuhan, China, the total number of infections across the world has now breached 20 million, marking yet another grim milestone in the story of the pandemic. It will also be only a matter of days now before the number of fatalities caused by the virus exceeds 750,000.

That being said, the World Health Organisation's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has typically been less than optimistic in his assessment of the pandemic in the past, issued a rare statement of encouragement saying, there are green shoots of hope and that it's never too late to turn the outbreak around.

The numbers seem to validate the WHO chief's statement. Although cases continue to rise, the rate at which they are trending upward has appeared to stabilise. Since mid-July, roughly one million cases are being recorded daily.

It took 94 days for the first one million infections to be registered, and 86 days on from that landmark, the ten million mark was reached. Over the last month and a half, the numer of COVID-19 infections has doubled.

A substantial contribution to the rise in infections in recent days has come from Latin America and the Carribean. This is currently the worst-affected region recording over 56 lakh cases and more than 220,000 deaths. 576,583 infections have been recorded in the last seven days alone.

Asia follows closely behind with 495,663 infections over the same period. Canada and the United States with 379,017 infections, Europe with 153, 879, Africa with 89,644, the Middle East with 74,588 and Oceania with 3,372 make up the rest.

Although the infection is spreading more rapidly in Asia, Canada and the United States, the second worst-affected region, has registered over 51 lakh infections and 172,300 deaths. The death rate has slowed significantly in the United States but it is Africa with 23,582 deaths that is the least affected region.

More than half of all cases in Oceania have originated in South Africa which has risen up the ladder in recent weeks to become the fifth worst-affected country, behind the United States, Brazil, India and Russia.

Despite global rates stabilising, there isn't much reason for cheer in India. The subcontinent recorded the highest number of fresh cases globally over the last seven days with more than 402,000 ahead of even the United States that continues to be, by far, the worst affected nation. The US recorded 376,471 infections over the last week, ahead of Brazil (301,745), Colombia (69.830) and Peru (49,174).

It is important to note though that the testing rate of a country has a direct and pronounced relationship with the number of infections recorded in a country. Several countries do not have the requisite resources to carry out widespread testing, and currently only use tests in conjunction with contact-tracing exercises.

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COVID-19 infections breach 20 million mark: Pace of pandemic stabilising but where are the world's hotspots? - Times Now