Welcome to Tech Support, a segment where I, Dan Howley, serve as your intrepid guide through the sometimes confusing, often frustrating, world of personal technology.

Here, I answer all of your most pressing questions about the various gizmos, gadgets, and services you use in your everyday life.

Have a question of your own? Reach me on Twitter at @danielhowley or email me at dhowley@yahoofinance.com.

Now, on to your questions. This week's dilemma:

Its summertime, and if youre able to get to the beach, or just want to hangout at your backyard pool, there are plenty of gadgets that youll likely want to bring along with you. But water and sand dont really mix very well with our favorite tech toys.

Thankfully, there are still a number of speakers, headphones, and e-readers out there that can handle taking a dip, and more, and keep on ticking. These are some of the top gadgets you can take on your trip to the beach or the pool.

The UE Wonderboom 2 is a waterproof speaker than can float and withstand drops of up to 5 feet. (Image: UE)

Ultimate Ears (LOGI) Wonderboom 2 speaker costs you $99 and promises up to 13 hours of battery life from its compact design, though The Wirecutter says its more like 8 hours. Waterproof and dust proof, the circular speaker is buoyant enough to float in your pool, so you dont have to worry about taking a dive to grab it if it slips in.

UE says the Wonderboom 2 can survive drops as high as 5 feet, meaning even if it takes a tumble, itll keep rocking.

If youre looking for something more powerful, and expensive, you can also opt for the Sonos Move. Starting at $399, the Move can handle dust and mists of water, but you cant submerge it like the Wonderboom 2. But if you want impressive audio, and have the money to burn, the Move is a solid option.

Apple's AirPods Pros are both sweat and water resistant, making them great for listening while laying out in the sun. (Image: Apple)

If you just want to relax at the pool, or on the sand, and, like me, dont want everyone around you to hear your awful taste in music, youll want to get a pair of water resistant headphones. And for my money, the best pair around are Apples (AAPL) AirPods Pro. At $249, theyre a bit pricey, but the performance and sound quality are fantastic.

And if youre tired of listening to the couple 6 feet away chatting it up, you can use the Pros noise-cancelling technology to drown them out.

Its worth keeping in mind that the AirPods Pros are sweat and water resistant and not waterproof. So theyll handle your sweat from working out or hanging out in the sun, but dont douse them in water or take them swimming.

The Kindle Paperwhite can with withstand being dropped in up to 6 feet of water for an hour, and keep ticking. That's way better than your old paperback. (Image: Amazon)

Story continues

Want to relax with a good book while catching some rays, but dont want to lug around a heavy hardcover with the rest of your beach gear? Amazons (AMZN) Kindle Paperwhite is what youre looking for. Starting at $129 with 8GB of storage or $159 with 32GB of space, the Paperwhite can be used in direct sunlight thanks to its adjustable display, and it is surprisingly waterproof.

Amazon says the e-reader can last up to an hour in 6.5 feet of fresh water without calling it quits but doesnt say anything about salt water, so try to keep it on your beach blanket and out of the ocean.

The LifeProof Fre can take water, snow, and serious falls. (Image: LifeProof)

Most of todays smartphones are already waterproof, but that doesnt necessarily make them capable of surviving a drop in the sand or a dip in salt water. If youre the more adventurous type and want to use your phone in the ocean to capture underwater snaps or simply dont want to deal with sand getting into your device, you can always opt for a case like the LifeProof FR.

Available for $74.99, the FR can help your phone survive in up to 6 feet of water for an hour, withstand drops, dirt, and more. Ive used a FR case to take underwater shots in a pool, and it worked incredibly well. Taking my phone into the ocean, though, is too much of a risk for me.

The Apple Watch can function in water as deep as 150 feet, even in the ocean. (Image: Apple)

If youre the kind of person who likes to exercise at the pool or beach, we probably wouldnt be friends. But that doesnt mean you shouldnt be able to track your exercises with a waterproof smart watch. Both the Apple Watch and Fitbits (FIT) Versa 2 are waterproof and can be used to track your swim in a pool or the ocean.

The Apple Watch Series 3 starts at $199, while the Series 5 starts at $399. The Versa 2 starts at $199. The decision comes down to your personal preference for styling and functionality. Either way, youll still be able to record your aquatic workouts, while I lie out in the sun sipping my pia colada from a red Solo cup so the lifeguards dont notice.

Got a tip? Email Daniel Howley atdhowley@yahoofinance.comover via encrypted mail atdanielphowley@protonmail.com, and follow him on Twitter at@DanielHowley.

More from Dan:

Follow Yahoo Finance onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,Flipboard,SmartNews,LinkedIn,YouTube, andreddit

Read the original:

The best gadgets for the beach and pool: Tech Support - Yahoo Canada Finance

LONG BEACH, L.I. A young man drowned and five of his friends had to be rescued from dangerous rip currents on Long Island Thursday as an impending tropical storm is already causing deadly conditions in our area.

According to police, it was around 7 p.m. when the group of six young adults went swimming in the waters off Long Beach and soon had to be rescued by nearby good Samaritans.

Lifeguards and surfers in the area rushed to save the group, authorities said.

They were able to pull all six people out of the water, but sadly a 19-year-old from Queens was in cardiac arrest and later died, police said.

According to authorities, the five other swimmers were treated on the scene and released.

Officials said the current was strong near the jetty due to approaching Tropical Storm Fay.

The National Weather Service warned there is a high rip current risk in effect Friday morning through Saturday night for coastal areas of Long Island, as well as Queens and Brooklyn in the city.

Anyone who heads to beaches Friday or Saturday is advised to avoid swimming if possible and stay out of the surf if they do get into the water.

PIX11 News

The National Hurricane Center issued a Tropical Storm Warning for parts of New York and New Jersey on Thursday evening.

The entire coast from Connecticut to New Jersey is under the warning. Heavy downpours are expected Friday, along with gusts of 30 to 40 mph. Dangerous rip currents, high surf and beach erosion are expected along the coast.

Tracking Tropical Storm Fay for Friday

Read more from the original source:

Teen drowns, 5 rescued from strong currents in Long Beach - WPIX 11 New York

OLD SAYBROOK An illegal fence, the town line, the mean high water mark and the broader issue of public access to beaches and Long Island Sound were the focus of a second sit-in protest next to the town beach Thursday.

This has been a long-time problem for years that fence comes and goes but its here every year. This year it seems to have gotten bigger and its farther out, said Vicki Taccardi, who grew up in Old Saybrook.

Taccardi was one of a dozen protesters gathered inside a fence erected by the homeowner of 99 Plum Bank Road, a property that abuts the town beach.That fence blocks public access to a three-foot-wide strip of town-owned land that parallels the jetty.

The fence is located about 30 feet beyond the property line, legally determined by the mean high water mark, which changes from year to year and is now less than a foot from the foundation of the house.

The high tide mark is the public trust, its as simple as that, said Carl Fortuna, first selectman of the town, who came to the beach to meet with the group on Thursday.

Fortuna sent a letter, dated July 7, to the homeowner, Carol McCurdy, of Maplewood, N.J., stating that the town had received multiple complaints and a police investigation was underway about the snow fence on the property that poses a hazardous condition and is blocking public access to the water from Town Beach.

The high tide mark is the public trust, its as simple as that, said Carl Fortuna, first selectman of the town, who came to the beach to meet with the group on Thursday.

A property marker was found along the boundary line. The snow fence between your property and the Town Beach has shifted and/or has been moved approximately 3 feet onto Town property. Please relocate your fence onto your property, Fortuna wrote.

The bigger issue of breaching the mean high water mark falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

On June 24, an inspection was conducted by Kevin Zawoy, an environmental analyst for DEEP, Christina Costa, Zoning Enforcement Officer for Old Saybrook, and Heather Stratidis, a patrolman for the Old Saybrook Police Department.

On July 8, Brian P. Thompson, the director of Land and Water Resources Division Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse for DEEP, sent McCurdy a notice of non-compliance, that referenced the June 24 inspection.

During that inspection it was determined that you have installed and/or maintained an unauthorized approximately 50 linear foot long wooden fence along the shoreline of your property. The fence is anticipated to be located waterward of the Coastal Jurisdiction Line and potentially waterward of Mean High Water blocking public access to Town Beach. Such activity appears to have been conducted without authorization required pursuant to the Connecticut General Statutes section 22a-361, he wrote.

Thompson asked for McCurdy to address the non-compliance issues before July 30 by either removing the fence or submitting a recent site survey with certain stipulations.

According to Bart Gullong, 72, a fourth-generation town resident who brought his beach chair to the sit-in, the homeowners have harangued beachgoers for decades.

When I was 10 years old walking this beach I believe it was his father who used to yell at me, he said. I was out on the flats, I was probably about 30 feet down from the fence.

But the fence raises bigger issues, Gullong said.

At the end of the day its not so much the fence as it is the attitude, he said.

Margaret Murray, a longtime Old Saybrook resident, agreed.

Its not one fence, its the attitude that the beach is owned by the homeowners, she said.

Linda Mahal, a member of Connecticut Coastal Public Access Defense, said the issue at the town beach was symbolic of a larger right to maintain public access to the waterfront below the mean high tide line.

According to Mahal, local police have interceded on behalf of the property owners to support the harassment and eviction of beachgoers on the land next to the town beach.

Were concerned that police understand the rights of the public to the waterfront to public trust land, that they will defend the rights of the public and not support the whims of the property owners. This is not just one grumpy property owner, she said.

The previous Thursday, the group held a sit-in at 99 Plum Bank Road that included crossing the illegal fence and standing or sitting on the interior beach area. The homeowner allegedly called the police three times.

Natasha Simes-Vandersloot, a town resident, said the police showed up twice and did not show up for the third call from the homeowner.

Fortuna said he had no knowledge of the police calls. Asked about the matter last week, Police Chief Michael Spera said that the matter had not come to his attention.

When asked about the prevalence of the fence problem, Zawoy said he had not dealt with any other fences this summer.

Its really an issue between the state and the town, said Fortuna. It really shouldnt be a police issue. Theyre being called to intercede in basically a civil matter, an enforcement matter for the town and the state.

The McCurdy family was not home during Thursdays sit-in and could not be reached for comment.

This story has been edited for clarity and to correct Linda Mahals connection to Connecticut Coastal Public Access Defense. Mahal is a member rather than founder of the group.

Read more:

Beach Access Activists Protest Private Fence Abutting the Old Saybrook Town Beach - CT Examiner

While some beaches across the nation were closed due to COVID-19 concerns for the Fourth of July Weekend, Wilmington-area beaches remained opened. By Friday morning, they were already drawing large crowds.

UNCW senior Gabby Kovalenko arrived at Wrightsville Beach at 9 a.m. and secured the last parking spot in an open lot.

An hour later, vehicles were lined up in front of multiple lots, waiting for an open space. Many lots were at full capacity.

Ready for full coverage of Southeastern North Carolina? Subscribe to the StarNews

Vehicles also parked along the side of the road, some with bright orange parking tickets peeking from their windshields.

By 11:45 a.m., the traffic slowly creeped its way to the beach from the bridge while Kovalenko and her friends sat on a bench outside of Zekes Beans and Bowls eating lunch. They walked there from the beach.

"Once you get a parking spot don't leave until you are ready to go home," Kovalenko said.

The UNCW senior said there was also a large crowd at Wrightsville Beach on Tuesday. Like many, she and her friends took advantage of having Friday off and headed to the beach to enjoy the bright, sunny day.

By mid-afternoon, the traffic had also become heavy at Carolina Beach.

The beach was crowded with families, spaced out from another as much as possible. Many sat underneath umbrellas while others headed out to the water.

High schooler Destiny Moore and her parents were in town visiting family for the week. She sat on one of the many swings overlooking the beach, gliding back and forth.

"Ive kept my distance from everybody," Moore said of her time on the beach.

Behind her, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk was sparse compared to the crowded beach. The line outside of Britts Donuts was only three people deep. Some individuals strolling the boardwalk or sunning themselves in the sand wore masks, while others didnt.

Hilario Pagoada, his wife and young kids made the trip from Fayetteville to enjoy the three-day weekend.

"From what I have seen, everyone is trying to keep their space, even in the water everybody is doing a good job," Pagoada said. "Its been a fun time so far."

Read more:

Crowds flock to Wilmington-area beaches for July 4th weekend - StarNewsOnline.com

CHICAGO City officials say theyre watching closely for signs beaches and pools can reopen this summer but dont plan to head to any of the citys beaches to celebrate the Fourth of July.

While announcing Chicago will move into Phase 4 of its coronavirus reopening plan Friday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said beaches will stay closed until at least Independence Day weekend.

Though indoor dining, bars and some venues will soon be able to open with reduced capacity, Arwady said there are still concerns about crowds of people without masks at city beaches.

Where we think about pools and beaches, let me just be clear that the water itself is not a concern for COVID spread, Arwady said. The risk is that individuals who breathe on each other when they are at beaches and at pools have the opportunity to spread virus.

When people are in the hot sun and swimming, face coverings are less practical but they are key to preventing virus spread in crowds, she said.

In water it is basically impossible to wear a face covering, Arwady said. At this point, basically weve talked about unless we get in a heat emergency situation, we dont have a plan to have pools open. And beaches are also not open yet. But well be watching closely.

Arwady said the city is watching how residents handle the reopening of the Lakefront Trail, which began Monday, before they decide to open beaches. When beaches do open, which would be sometime after July 4, there would need to be social distancing measures in place, Arwady said.

Playgrounds will also remain closed indefinitely due to the constant cleaning that would be required otherwise and because children cannot easily socially distance on them, officials said.

The concern there is given the congregation, given the frequency that would be needed to try to even realistically keep up with the cleaning just doesnt make sense right now, she said. I think were still a ways away from those. Playgrounds are still closed and theyre gonna be closed for the foreseeable future. Were not cleaning those playgrounds. Parents, you need to be careful and cautious.

While the city has been slightly more strict about reopening than the rest of the state, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, is on the same page about beaches, according to the Sun-Times.

I think you could do that safely, Ezike said of beaches though she said personally she wont go to one. You can get into your little spot and just be with your kids and keep everybody away. Maybe even wear a mask and be distant from other people.

For those anxious to get back in the pool or on the beach, Arwady had simple advice: Keep wearing a face covering in public and social distancing. If cases keep going down, more things will open up.

Block Club Chicagos coronavirus coverage is free for all readers. Block Club is an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom.

Subscribe to Block Club Chicago. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicagos neighborhoods.

Already subscribe?Click hereto support Block Clubwith a tax-deductible donation.

Originally posted here:

Beaches, Pools And Playgrounds Will Stay Closed Through At Least July 4, Mayor Says - Block Club Chicago

Lifeguards in Delaware have a lot of responsibilities, and COVID-19 is adding another layer to the risk they face on each beach day. Delaware News Journal

Heading to the Delaware beaches this weekend?

Here's what you need to know if you're planning on dipping your toes in the sand the weekend of June 26-28 and what the beaches look like in phase two of Gov. John Carney's reopening plan.

Delaware's beach towns are open to the public, but government and public health officials warn that everyone's help is neededto curb the spread of COVID-19.

Social distancing is encouraged in all public spaces, and people should maintain at least 6 feet of distance from people who are not members of their immediate household.

SENIOR WEEK: After positive COVID-19 cases, officials recommend teens get tested

CORONAVIRUS IN DELAWARE: Our latest coverage

As for face masks, they are still required on the boardwalk, in public spaces where social distancing is difficultand inside businesses that are open.

Face masks are recommended, but not required, on the beaches themselves, but social distancing is a requirementon the beach.

Swimming is permitted.Make sure to check in with the local lifeguards before you dive in to learn about any potential hazards in the water or on the sand.

Previous bans on out-of-state travelers and short-term rentalswerelifted in early June. Delaware's reopening plan saysleisure travel "should be avoided" at this time, but it's allowed if people and businesses can adhere to social-distancing-related recommendations, according to the state.

Hotels and other accommodations also are now accepting reservations for vacation stays, although there may be limits and restrictions in gathering areas like lobbies.

Delaware's daily DART beach bus service will move into more frequent operations starting on Monday, June 29. But this weekend people can still take advantage of the Park & Ride options in Lewes and Rehoboth to avoid heavy beach traffic south of Lewes. Face coverings are required on public transportation.

The Lewes Park & Ride is at 17616 Coastal Highway, just south of Five Points and the Rehoboth Park & Ride is off Route 1 at 20055 Shuttle Road, just north of the entrance to Rehoboth Avenue. Parking is free at both lots. Cash-only fare due on boarding for aone-way trip is $2 and an all-day daily pass is $4.20. Seven-daypasses also are available for $18 and a 30-day pass costs$65. For more information, go towww.dartfirststate.com/information/programs/beachbus/index.shtml#parkride.

DART's beach connection, which runs from Wilmington to Rehoboth Beach on weekends and holidays, does not start until Friday, July 3.

Delaware is in its second phase of reopening businesses previously restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As of June 15, businesses that were operating at 30% of fire occupancy requirements canincrease capacity to 60%, not including staff.

That means restaurants and bars can increase capacity to 60% of what's allowed by the fire marshal, but must still adhere to social distancing guidelines. Some have increased outdoor seating to try to accommodate more diners.

ON THE MENU: One restaurant explains what to expect when dine-in service reopens

As of June 22, that 60% capacity cap also applies to personal care services (such as hair and nail salons, tanning, tattoo, massage therapy services and spas)that were previously required to keep occupancy at 30%. The state is also allowing sports tournaments to resume, as of June 20, pending the approval of submitted safety plans and other requirements.

People are encouraged to call ahead for reservations, and to check on any changes in normal operating hours or other restrictions.

No announcements have been made when Delaware will enter phase three of the state's rolling reopening plan. For more details on the state's plan, go togovernor.delaware.gov/delawares-recovery.

Moving toward normalcy means that summer parking fees are also back in place. Parking permits or metered parking is in effect in all of Delaware's beach towns from Lewes to Fenwick Island.

In Rehoboth Beach, there are a few areas within the first two blocks along Rehoboth Avenue closest to the beach and boardwalk that have barricades set up so that restaurants can have expanded outdoor seating. Parking is not permitted in those areas.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

In Lewes, city officials are supporting businesses by offering free downtown parking from 9 a.m. to noon for shoppers.

Each town has different rules and rates for parking. For more information, visit an individual beach town's website or call Town Hall in the beach town you plan to visit before arriving.

Below are links to each oceanfront beach town's parking policies:

This weekend could be a picture-perfect beach weekend, with the exception of Sunday. Forecasts can change as the weekend gets closer.

The National Weather Service forecast for Saturday, June 27, inRehoboth Beach is for a mostly sunny day with a high near 87degrees.

Sunday will be partly sunny with a high near 81degrees, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. There's a 30% chance of rain during the day and into the night.

Water temperatures off the coast of Lewes are reaching the low 70s this week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Contact reporter Maddy Lauria at (302) 345-0608,mlauria@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @MaddyinMilford.

Read or Share this story: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2020/06/24/heading-delawares-beaches-heres-what-you-need-know/3241865001/

Link:

Heading to the Delaware beaches this weekend? Here are some helpful tips for your trip - The News Journal

Insider travel recommendations from local experts.

Beachgoers on June 14 in Long Branch, New Jersey. Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

New Jerseys beaches were some of the first to open to the public this summer. So, Jersey shoreward! The Strategist writer Kayla Levy spoke to regular beachgoers many of whom have frequented beaches up and down the shore for decades including a reporter who has ranked every single beach in New Jersey twice.

Pick a beach. New Jersey has 44, about half of which are in the north, meaning an under-two-hour drive from New York City. The other half (everything south of Long Beach Island) is closer to Philadelphia and can take up to three hours. Some beaches are known for crowded boardwalks and (often alcohol-fueled) local scenes (including, from north to south, Asbury Park, Seaside Heights, Atlantic City, and Wildwood); others, like northern Point Pleasant and southern Ocean City, are decidedly more family focused. There are the beaches within state parks like Island Beach State Park and Sandy Hook, both of which stop letting people in when the parking lots are full (this is often by early afternoon in Sandy Hooks case, since it is the states northernmost beach near New York). Up north, in Monmouth County, Sea Bright is known for its fishing and surfing, whereas Spring Lake is an affluent town known for its feeling of exclusivity, says Debi Unger, whos been going to the countys beaches for over 80 years.

Go south to avoid crowds. Its not entirely surprising that the further you go from the city, the fewer day-trippers, says Star-Ledger reporter Jeremy Schneider, whos twice ranked the states beaches Cape May was No. 1 in both 2018 and 19. Cape Mays appeal, says Danielle Klimashousky, a writer and lifelong beachgoer, is it usually doesnt have people who come just for the day. There are no vendors, just one guy who sells Italian ices on the beach. Also, since its on the tip of New Jersey, you can watch the sunset over the ocean.

Consider a hidden beach. The public beach in the borough of Deal is hard to find by design, meaning its less busy, Schneider says. You can enter at the W. Stanley Conover Beach Pavilion on Philips Avenue.

Check the beachs Facebook page before you get in the car. New Jersey is a home-rule state, meaning each town has a different set of restrictions, regulations, and fee structures, says communications consultant Roger Shatzkin, pointing to Ocean Grove and Asbury Park, abutting beaches where the former is dry and the latter has a bar-filled boardwalk. In order to stay up-to-date, Shatzkin gets Ocean Groves newsletter, and Felecia Stratton, a local business owner and Sea Bright resident of 30 years, says most residents get their beach news from a popular Facebook group, All About Sea Bright.

Most beaches charge $5 to $10 for a daily beach tag, though many are free for children; others, including Atlantic City and Wildwood, dont charge at all (but some free beaches dont have lifeguards, like Keansburg, or charge for parking, like Sandy Hook).

Get your beach tag ahead of time, since many season passes have sold out, and day passes are (now more than ever) a hot commodity. In Asbury Park, day passes are now sold nightly at 6:30 through the ticketing app Viply, and getting one is kind of like applying for Hamilton tickets: Youve got to put your name in right on time, and theres still a chance you wont get one, says Schneider. Many other towns sell passes via Viply though in Spring Lake, you still have to pick yours up in person at the train station.

Expect parking to be a challenge. More and more people are coming by car instead of by train, and some beachside parking lots are restricted for out-of-towners, including Point Pleasants this season. Regulars advise that you get there by 9 a.m., or if thats impossible, hunt for parking in nearby residential areas and walk a few blocks.

Avoid boardwalks, except Atlantic Citys. The Asbury Park boardwalk is insane, says Klimashousky, who went there on a recent Saturday and says it was crowded despite distancing measures. But Atlantic City has more year-round residents than other towns and attracts an older, retired crowd, says Kennedy Bennett, whose family owns a condo there. Ive never really seen it get crazy crowded like Ocean City or Wildwood.

Pick up food from a restaurant thats been operating throughout the pandemic, like Marucas Tomato Pies in Seaside Heights, which has been serving contactless-pickup pies since March. Domenic Maruca, one of the owners, says social distancing is second nature. We put markings with tape on the boardwalk now, and customers are aware of what they need to do.

Stay late (or leave early) to beat traffic. By one or after 8 p.m., says Stephen Casner, a 30-year Sea Bright beachgoer who likes to stay late to get ice cream at Gracie and the Dudes and watch the sun set over the Shrewsbury River.

*This article appears in the June 22, 2020, issue ofNew York Magazine. Subscribe Now!

See original here:

The Urbanists Guide to the Beaches of New Jersey - New York Magazine

The giant jellyfish, which is the largest species of the marine invertebrates, have been seen off the coast of Maine, along Cape Cod, and in Rhode Island, Doller added.

In New England waters, a typical lions mane jellyfish has a translucent, saucer-shaped bell that measures about 10 to 12 inches wide, with tentacles trailing up to 20 feet long.

But even larger specimens have been washing up on local shores lately. Some have bells that measure several feet wide with tentacles of up to 40 to 50 feet, he said.

Their tentacles are so long that they could be 10 to 20 feet away from you and still sting you, he said.

After months of being cooped up with few places to go, residents eager to enjoy the pleasures of summer have yet another concern: encountering the otherworldly visitors at their favorite beach.

Theyre considered one of the more stingy jellyfish, Doller said. They can really sting you, even if theyre washed up on the beach.

Their sting is painful but not usually fatal. It typically causes a burning sensation that can be treated with vinegar, which helps neutralize the sting.

Lions mane jellyfish sightings have been reported throughout Hingham Harbor and at beaches in Scituate. The jellies, which pulse balletically through the shallow waters, have also been seen off Nahant.

One unlucky Hingham resident was recently stung by one, and experienced something similar to a brief electric shock followed by a stinging sensation, according to the Hingham harbormaster. She treated it with a jellyfish sting kit and vinegar.

On June 17, the Duxbury Police Department tweeted out a stark warning to beachgoers.

BE ADVISED: We are seeing a large amount of Lions Mane Jellyfish in the water, both ocean and bay and some are washing up, Duxbury police tweeted. DO NOT TOUCH THEM. If you happen to come in contact with one, please alert a lifeguard or a Beach Ranger.

Its not clear why there seem to be more of the jellyfish in local waters.

Its the question everyones asking, and we dont really know the answer right now, said Doller.

It could be the currents, the weather, or an increase of food in the water, he said.

We just dont know, he said.

Keith Ellenbogen, an underwater photographer and MIT Sea Grant visiting artist, received an Ernest F. Hollings Ocean Awareness Award to capture images of marine life within Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. He has also noticed more lions mane jellyfish in the water.

Theyre large ... and they have this red and yellow hue to them, he said. Theyre absolutely beautiful animals.

Ellenbogen said one of the things that amazes him is how some species of fish take shelter in the jellyfishs stinging tentacles. He has photographed juvenile haddock swimming alongside the tentacles of a lions mane jellyfish, using them for protection.

Anne Smrcina, the education and outreach coordinator at the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, said she was at Scituate Harbor on Wednesday and counted a dozen lions mane jellyfish right around the sanctuary dock.

Theyre amazingly beautiful creatures, and theyre an important part of the food web, she said.

Smrcina said as the number of sightings has increased, people should be aware.

Its more than weve seen in the past, she said. Theyre out there.

Emily Sweeney can be reached at emily.sweeney@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @emilysweeney.

Excerpt from:

Giant stinging jellyfish are appearing in greater numbers on Mass. beaches, but no one seems to know why - The Boston Globe

EMPIRE, MICH. -- Dog owners can attest: There are few things better than seeing your pup happily frolicking on a beach.

But at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, that frolicking can be at odds with other creatures -- humans and otherwise.

Over the past decade, the park has implemented various guidelines for pets on the lakeshore before settling on the current rules: Leashed pups are allowed in much of the park, with a few exceptions, a list of which can be accessed on the parks website.

The rules are in place to protect visitors as well as park wildlife, including the endangered piping plover, which returns to the region each spring to nest on beaches. Sleeping Bear Dunes provides habitat for anywhere from one-third to half of all nesting Great Lakes piping plovers, of which there are only about 70 pairs.

To keep everyone safe, its key that dogs arent just kept to the approved beaches, but that they remain leashed, said Tom Ulrich, the parks deputy superintendent.

A leashed dog seldom gets a chance to harass wildlife -- as long as someones holding the other end of the leash, Ulrich said.

To help spread the word about proper dog handling at Sleeping Bear, a Bark Ranger program places volunteer dogs and their humans on beaches and trails for monitoring and to educate visitors about the guidelines.

With some beaches less accessible due to high water levels on Lake Michigan this year, heres a refresher on all the beaches where visitors can and cant bring their dogs, which must stay on a six-foot leash at all times.

Leashed pets allowed:

From Platte River Campground/Railroad Grade trail north to Peterson Road

From Esch Road north to the Lakeshore boundary (south of Empire)

From Peterson Road south to Old Railroad Grade Trail/Platte Campground Trail

From the Lakeshore boundary north of Empire to just south of the North Bar Lake stream outlet

From the Maritime Museum east (but not on the Maritime Museum grounds) to the Lakeshore boundary (west of Glen Arbor)

From the Lakeshore boundary north of Glen Arbor around Pyramid Point to CR 669

From CR 651 north to the Lakeshore northern boundary

Glen Lake Picnic Area

A map shows where pets are and aren't allowed in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. | Courtesy NPS

No pets allowed:

The Dune Climb

Maritime Museum grounds

North Bar Lake

Platte Point Beach

White Pine and Valley View backcountry campsites

All group campsites

North and South Manitou Island (this includes all pets, including hunting dogs). Trained aid dogs accompanying the blind or hearing impaired are permitted.

Any other areas where NO PETS signs are posted after a determination by the Superintendent that a specific conflict exists requiring such a closure.

More information on pet rules and safety within the park, as well as a map, can be found on the Sleeping Bear Dunes website.

RELATED:

First endangered piping plover couple of season makes nest at Sleeping Bear Dunes

High lake levels flood beaches, campgrounds at Sleeping Bear Dunes

Visit link:

These are all the dog-friendly beaches in Sleeping Bear Dunes - MLive.com

Theres no immediate end in sight to the June gloom thats lingered along the San Diego County coastline this week.

The National Weather Service says the sun wont peak through the clouds at local beaches until late Friday -- if at all. Saturday isnt looking much better. Then things could get worse.

A deeper, stronger trough of low pressure dives down from Canada into the western US this weekend, the weather service says in an advisory. This will deepen the marine layer, bring cooler weather to all areas Sunday and Monday, produce some drizzle or even light showers west of the mountains Monday morning, and generate strong and gusty winds late Sunday in the mountains and deserts.

The trough is unseasonably deep for late June, so temperatures will dive 10-20 degrees or so from Saturday to Monday. High temps inland will be 10-20 degrees below average, locally more.

Here are the projected high temperatures:San Diego: 72 on Friday and Saturday, 69 on Sunday, 68 on Monday. The average high is 71.Oceanside: 70 on Friday, 71 on Saturday, 69 on Sunday, 68 on Monday.Ramona: 86 on Friday, 84 on Saturday, 76 on Sunday, 72 on Monday.Escondido: 80 on Friday, 79 on Saturday, 73 on Sunday, 71 on Monday.Alpine: 79 on Friday, 77 on Saturday, 69 on Sunday, 65 on MondayImperial Beach: 69 on Friday and Saturday, 68 on Sunday, 67 on MondayJulian: 80 on Friday, 79 on Saturday, 69 on Sunday, 61 on Monday. El Cajon: 81 on Friday, 79 on Saturday, 74 on Sunday, 72 on Monday

Ocean temp: The sea surface temperature at Scripps Pier in La Jolla reached 69 on Thursday. The seasonal range is 62-68.

Some good news: Forecaster Mark Moede says the long-term forecast appears to show good weather for the Fourth of July.

See the original post:

'June gloom' will continue to loom at San Diego beaches - The San Diego Union-Tribune

The Cape Cod National Seashore is limiting services this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Brian Carlstrom, superintendent of the Cape Cod National Seashore, announced the changes on Wednesday ahead of the seashores official opening date of July 2. The seashore is comprised of six beaches: Coast Guard Beach, Head of the Meadow Beach, Herring Cove Beach, Marconi Beach, Nauset Light Beach, and Race Point Beach.

Visitor centers will be closed, according to Carlstrom, but rangers will still provide information and orientation services outside on center grounds. There will be no programming, and historic buildings will be closed as well.

Due to staffing reductions, two beaches will not have lifeguards this summer: Herring Cove Beach and Head of the Meadow Beach. The other four beaches Coast Guard, Marconi, Nauset Light, and Race Point will staff lifeguards from July 2 through Labor Day. All beaches will offer bathroom facilities that will be sanitized on a regular basis, but there will be no public showers.

Visitors will pay fees starting July 2 at the four beaches with lifeguards and also at the Herring Cove entrance gate. Fees will not be collected at Head of the Meadow Beach this season.

Beachgoers should follow the states rules and regulations for beaches outlined by Gov. Charlie Baker, according to Carlstrom, which includes crowd size, masks, activities, and social distancing.

This is clearly a summer like no other, said Carlstrom in a press release. This is the first time in history that Cape Cod National Seashore will operate during a global pandemic. Even in these unusual times, we will provide public access and do our best to educate the public about how to safely recreate during the pandemic, while reminding them of regular safety precautions they need to take when visiting the wild and wonderful beaches on the Outer Cape.

Sign up and receive coronavirus news and breaking updates, from our newsroom to your inbox.

Read this article:

Heres how Cape Cod National Seashore beaches will change this summer due to COVID-19 - Boston.com

Summer has officially begun, bringing sunshine, seasonal cuisine and a hankering to get to the beach.

Perhaps this year more than ever, people are craving some time by the water. After being cooped up inside for months due to COVID-19 lockdowns, many are seeking the freedom and fresh air of the outdoors.

Beaches will have the same travel boom that campsites and national parks will experience from coronavirus, Konrad Waliszewski, co-founder and CEO of the travel app TripScout, told HuffPost. Travelers are getting increasingly anxious for outdoor activities that are socially distant by nature, and were already seeing people flock to drivable beach destinations.

But beach days require more consideration in these pandemic times.

Every activity outside your home these days carries some level of risk, said Angela Fusaro, an emergency medicine physician and co-founder of the telemedicine provider Physician 360. The good news is we believe that outside spaces like beaches are generally safer than indoors, where air lingers and cant circulate. And you can be smart and take steps to minimize the risk for you and your family.

So what are those steps? Read on for advice from health and travel experts.

Consider The Location

Public health experts continue to advise against nonessential travel, as the threat of coronavirus has hardly disappeared. So if you want to go to the beach, its best to keep it local. Deciding whether to make the drive to your local beach should depend on the COVID-19 situation in your community and the number of people flocking to the shore.

Understanding local risk is important, Fusaro said. There are many states where beaches are crowded with people from all over the country, or where infection rates are rapidly accelerating. These would be beaches to avoid.

Everyone plays a part in protecting the heath of their communities, and this applies to beaches as well.

How the beaches of our COVID-19 summer will look depends largely on the publics perception of how safe the beach is, and, of course, their commitment to keeping the beach and each other safe, said travel host Anthony Melchiorri. Its a new kind of social contract that really requires willing compliance from everyone.

Assess Your Personal Risk

As with other activities outside the home, your own health status should be a major factor in deciding whether to go to the beach. Consider how likely it is that you or those in your household would require hospitalization if exposed to the coronavirus.

You should understand your personal risk factors if you become infected and the risk factors of people you interact with regularly, Fusaro noted. This could include family members or co-workers with asthma, obesity or those who are over the age of 50. With each of these decisions, it is important to consider personal and societal responsibility.

The guidelines for keeping yourself safe at the beach are the same as other public places, including maintaining at least 6 feet of distance ideally more from anyone not in your isolation group.

- Angela Fusaro, emergency medicine physician

Keep Your Distance

Many beaches that are fairly wide and offer ample room are naturally set up for socially distancing practices, said budget travel expert Lindsay Myers. This makes the beach an enticing place to stay safe and enjoy being outdoors. There is enough room on the beach for a family to sit, lay out and enjoy without coming into direct contact with other beach dwellers.

If you decide to go to the beach, limit your group to the people you already interact with on a daily basis, and try to keep your distance from others. Try to go at a less busy time of day or to a less crowded area.

Based on what we know today about the transmission of the virus in the air between people, any close contact carries some level of risk, Fusaro explained. So the guidelines for keeping yourself safe at the beach are the same as other public places, including maintaining at least 6 feet of distance ideally more from anyone not in your isolation group. This includes when youre in the water!

She also suggested beachgoers avoid sitting directly downwind from other groups because evidence suggests moving air can carry virus-laden droplets.

I see people staying farther away from others while on the beach. People are going to walk those extra few minutes to be a bit more secluded, Myers said.

I think most people will self-enforce the 6-foot rule, and hotels and resorts will definitely be ensuring that guests are not comingling, said Frank Cavella, the director of sales and marketing at the Conrad Fort Lauderdale in Florida. At our beach, we are setting up chairs with at least 6 feet in between (from other groups of guests).

Its best to avoid closely confined areas, like public bathrooms and eateries, or at least keep your distance as much as possible in those spaces. And as always, wash or sanitize your hands frequently.

Saowakhon Brown via Getty Images

Wear A Mask

Face masks play a significant role in curbing the transmission of the coronavirus, so its important to wear one in places where you cant maintain at least 6 feet of distance from people outside your group.

There are already mask mandates in place at some beaches, at least in areas with shops and restaurants.

Visitors will also be required to wear a face-covering while walking to and from their vehicle, at snack bars and restrooms, said Kathryn Farrington, vice president of marketing at Rhode Islands Discover Newport.

We are encouraging masks, although its not a requirement if sunbathing or exercising on the beach, Cavella said.

Bring Your Own Food

The number of people who can dine at beachside restaurants will likely be restricted, and many people may feel safer avoiding those spaces.

Bring your own snacks and drinks, Fusaro advised. And even take all your own toys, chairs and supplies, if possible.

Farrington noted that Newport will be imposing restrictions on beachgoers

If you use the picnic tables, you are asked to use your own wipes to wipe down the tables before use and to bring your own table covering to be mindful of those around you, she said. Also at Second Beach, you must carry in and carry out your own trash.

Pay Attention To Capacity Limits

Some beaches are imposing capacity limits as a way to prevent crowding and enforce social distancing.

Our most popular public beaches are open in Newport and Middletown while other, smaller beaches are limiting access to only residents and, again, with a limited capacity, Farrington noted for example. She added that beach parking lots have strict hours and have reduced the number of cars permitted to 33% capacity for now.

Some beaches have explored using reservation systems. Travel host Samantha Brown said she applauds this idea.

A reservation tells me I can come, she explained. If a beach is on a first-come, first-served basis, we dont need the disappointment of arriving at the beach with my kids only to be told its full. If no reservations are available, I would most likely choose to do something else. I see a lot of playing with the hose at home in my future for this summer!

Each category of beach has its own rules, so its imperative to check their websites for the most up-to-date restrictions.

- Samantha Brown, travel host

It may be difficult to enforce reservations or capacity limits at certain beaches, but those are likely the ones where such restrictions may not be necessary.

In the Caribbean, we have so much beach in relation to the number of people using them, so that ratio means people will never overpopulate the beach, said Rich Cortese, Aimbridge Hospitality senior vice president of development and operations for Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico.

Compare Your Options

Its important to assess the risk factors of your options when choosing a beach to visit.

Private beaches or state park beaches with significantly fewer people could be much safer, Fusaro said.

Myers echoed that, noting private beaches are better able to control numbers than many public beaches. Still, that doesnt mean private beaches at resorts, for instance, are inherently safer than public sites.

It will be important to know how that resort is implementing the rules so that their guests have fun but can also stay safe, Brown said. No two beaches will be alike, even in the same state. After all, there are city beaches, state beaches, even beaches at national parks. Each category of beach has its own rules, so its imperative to check their websites for the most up-to-date restrictions.

It may also be helpful to read recent reviews or social media posts for different locations to get a sense of safety.

Practice General Beach Safety

I would be remiss if I didnt at least mention that all the beach risks that existed before COVID-19 are still present now, Fusaro said. Dont get so caught up with protecting yourself against coronavirus that you overlook general water and sun safety.

Avoidable injuries or illnesses are not ideal in the age of the pandemic, as unnecessary hospital visits can increase your chance of exposure to the virus.

Take A Test

If you believe you may have been exposed to the coronavirus, its important to get tested. Fortunately, COVID-19 testing is becoming more widely available.

Some people are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, so its important to isolate people who test positive to reduce the spread, even if they dont have symptoms, Fusaro noted. Once you have been out in a group setting or around lots of people, consider getting a COVID-19 test three to seven days later, just to make sure you have not contracted the virus and are asymptomatic. This is an easy way to protect those you love, finding out early if you should isolate yourself.

Ultimately, its up to everyone to do their part to keep beaches as safe as possible for visitors.

If we all stay safe and follow regulations, we can all enjoy the beaches for the summer, Myers said. The beach always brings some fun with family and friends. We are all in this together, and lets bring some summer fun back in our lives. We can all be a collective unit and have some fun at the beach.

Experts are still learning about the novel coronavirus. The information in this story is what was known or available as of press time, but its possible guidance around COVID-19 could change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.

View post:

What You Should Know About Going To The Beach This Summer - HuffPost

A 20-year-old man was arrested Friday on suspicion of being involved in a November shooting that left two men injured in West Long Beach, authorities said.

Calvin Johnson III was taken into custody by Long Beach officers about 2 p.m. Friday on suspicion of attempted murder and was being held in jail on more than $5 million bail.

Johnson lives in Las Vegas, Nev., according to the Departments arrest records.

The incident was being investigated as gang-related.

Long Beach police were called to the 2800 block of Santa Fe Avenue about 5:45 p.m., Nov. 22 after an argument between two groups of people led to a shooting that left two men with gunshot wounds to their lower bodies, police said.

One victim was found at the scene and the second was found a block away, police said.

A group of men, including the suspect, was walking on Santa Fe Avenue when another group of men confronted them, leading to the shooting, police said.

In January, a Los Angeles man was taken into custody on suspicion of being involved in the same incident. Isiah Jordan Nichols was also named a suspect in another shooting that injured two other men in June 2019.

View post:

Long Beach police arrest man on suspicion of West Long Beach shooting that left 2 injured - Long Beach Press Telegram

ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. (WNCT) As Governor Coopers face mask mandate takes effect, business owners are taking different approaches for how theyll handle the new requirement.

Some Atlantic Beach businesses are offering full service whether customers are wearing a face covering or not, others are putting limits on what theyre offering customers without a mask.

Taylor Thomas has taken every precaution possible to ensure people are staying safe when stepping onto her restaurant, the Shark Shack.

Around the to-go restaurant, markers have been placed to determine the six-foot distance between people. Tables have been spaced out to allow for social distance. A sign also notifies people which menus have been touched and which ones are clean for use.

Thomas said these precautions are enough and as long as people are respecting each others distance and being conscientious where theyre standing or who theyre speaking to she has no requirements for customers to wear a mask.

Jean Wilkerson, the owner of Zazzy Kids, is letting people shop no matter what. Private showings are available for customers exempted from the mandate.

I have had several grandmothers who didnt want to wear the mask, and whether theyre couldnt breathe, or had trouble seeing or whatever, which can be a hazard, now Ill just offer them private showing hours, said Wilkerson.

Otherwise, upon entering her store, customers will notice a sign that reads to knock before entering, wear a face mask, and one group in at a time.

But you will be turned away at Edgewater Linen and Interior if you dont wear a face covering.

I have a handful of people who have tried to give me a hard time, or try to make it a political thing or express their opinion. Ive asked to keep it to themselves. I respect their opinion but this is my store and these are my customers and 98 percent of them appreciate it, said Patti Norris, owner of Edgewater Linen and Interior.

Norris only allows two to four people in at a time, and each person gets a spritz of hand sanitizer.

The pandemic is still be felt at retails stores like Noriss, but other owner say the mask mandate wont be a problem for customers.

The executive order state face masks are required in places where social distancing is not possible.

Part of the executive order states if a customer is part of the exception to the rule, businesses may choose to offer services like curbside or home deliveries.

Originally posted here:

Atlantic Beach businesses adjust to face mask mandate - WNCT

'); } else { $(".fotorama-caption").addClass("remove_caption"); } }) .fotorama();

KINGSTON, Jamaica Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, is urging beach and river-goers this weekend to observe the health protocols established to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The minister also reminded operators of these venues that they are obligated to enforce the protocols without exception.

I spoke in Parliament earlier this week about the behaviour that we are seeing. The entire Government is very concerned that there is widespread disregard for the health protocols, especially social distancing, wearing of masks, no sports and no beach or river parties. It is also very clear that many operators of the establishments are simply not enforcing the protocols. Things cannot continue like this, McKenzie said.

The minister said a protocols compliance assessment of how operators and patrons have used the beaches and rivers is now being done to determine whether the conditional opening of these spaces will be extended.

This weekend, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and other agencies will be monitoring activities to encourage and to enforce compliance. At this time when we are making steady progress in fighting the spread of COVID-19, we cannot allow irresponsible behaviour to cause a huge spike in infections, and undue pressure on our health care system. The reckless behaviour at the beaches and rivers is dangerous, and unfair to everyone who looks out for himself as well as his neighbour, the minister continued.

The requirements are not hard. Wear a mask. Stay six feet apart. No more than 10 people at any part of the river or beach. Sanitise. I am asking for a dramatic improvement in conduct by our beach and river-goers this weekend, he said.

Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at http://bit.ly/epaperlive

Read this article:

Local gov't minister begs beach, river-goers to observe COVID-19 rules this weekend - Jamaica Observer

Several waterspouts were spotted in the Gulf of Mexico off Alabama and Florida beaches on Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile.

Forecasters were urging mariners and beachgoers to stay alert:

Waterspouts have been seen off Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Perdido Key among other areas, according to the weather service.

Waterspouts will be possible through early afternoon. The weather service issued a marine weather statement just before 11:30 a.m. and said offshore areas from Pensacola, Fla., to Pascagoula, Miss., could potentially see them.

Forecasters added that waterspouts can easily outrun boats and create dangerous waves and boaters should seek safe harbor immediately if one is spotted nearby.

Forecasters said a land breeze was the culprit behind the waterspouts. A land breeze is basically a sea breeze that reverses course and pushes back over the water.

Showers produced by the land breeze can form waterspouts over the warm Gulf waters. The waterspouts are generally on the weak side.

The weather service said waterspouts will be possible through the mid-morning hours.

The summer months, June, July and August, when the Gulf waters are at their warmest, can make for prime conditions for waterspouts, according to the weather service.

Unlike tornadoes, waterspouts typically develop closer to the surface of the water and reach upward.

A typical waterspout will have winds of 30-40 mph.

Excerpt from:

Multiple waterspouts spotted off Alabama and Florida beaches on Sunday - AL.com

Lifeguards in Delaware have a lot of responsibilities, and COVID-19 is adding another layer to the risk they face on each beach day. Delaware News Journal

Heading to the Delaware beaches this weekend?

Here's what you need to know if you're planning on dipping your toes in the sand the weekend of June 19-21 and what the beaches look like in phase two of Gov. John Carney's reopening plan.

Delaware's beach towns are open to the public, but government and public health officials still have some suggestions to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Social distancing is encouraged in all public spaces, and people should maintain at least 6 feet of distance from people who are not members of their immediate household.

A sign sits on the entryway to a crowded Bethany Beach on a warm breezy Wednesday, June 10. Masks are required on the boardwalk but not the beach.(Photo: Jenna Miller/Delaware News Journal)

As for face masks, they are still required on the boardwalk, in public spaces where social distancing is difficultand inside businesses that are open. Face masks are recommended, but not required, on the beaches themselves, but social distancing is a requirementon the beach.

Swimming also is permitted, but there has been an increased risk of dangerous rip currents this week.

Make sure to check in with the local lifeguards before you dive in to learn about any potential hazards in the water or on the sand.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Previous bans on out-of-state travelers and short-term rentals have been lifted. Delaware's reopening plan saysleisure travel "should be avoided" at this time, but it's allowed if people and businesses can adhere to social-distancing-related recommendations, according to the state.

Hotels and other accommodations also are now accepting reservations for vacation stays.

Delaware is in its second phase of reopening businesses previously restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

As of June 15, businesses that were operating at 30% of fire occupancy requirements canincrease capacity to 60%, not including staff.

However, exercise facilities and personal care services such as hair care, tanning, tattoo, massage therapy services, nail care and spas are to remain at 30% of fire occupancy requirements.

RELATED: One restaurant explains what to expect when dine-in service reopens

That means restaurants and bars can increase capacity to 60% of what's allowed by the fire marshal, but must still adhere to social distancing guidelines. Some have increased outdoor seating to try to accommodate more diners.

Moving toward normalcy means that summer parking fees are also back in place. Parking permits or metered parking is in effect in all of Delaware's beach towns from Lewes to Fenwick Island.

In Rehoboth Beach, there are a few areas within the first two blocks along Rehoboth Avenue closest to the beach and boardwalk that have barricades set up so that restaurants can have expanded outdoor seating. Parking is not permitted in those areas.

Some of the barricades that were used to create a pedestrian walkway so merchants could do business on the sidewalk because of the COVID-19 pandemic were being removed in downtown Rehoboth Beach by city crews on Wednesday morning. Some will still remain where restaurants have permission to set up on the sidewalk.(Photo: Chuck Snyder/Special to the Delaware News Journal)

Each town has different rules and rates for parking. For more information, visit an individual beach town's website or call Town Hall in the beach town you plan to visit before arriving.

Below are links to each oceanfront town's parking policies:

This weekend isn't looking like the most perfect beach weekend weather-wise, but forecasts can change.

Lifeguards watch over a crowded Bethany Beach on a warm breezy Wednesday, June 10. They've been trained to work in teams for rescues, wearing masks and gloves when possible due to coronavirus.(Photo: Jenna Miller/Delaware News Journal)

The National Weather Service forecast for Friday, June 19, inRehoboth Beach showed a 20% chance of showers witha high of 75degrees.

A chance of rain lingers into Saturday, which will start off with fog followed bya 50% chance of rain in the afternoonand a high of 76. There's a chance of heavy rain after 2 p.m. and thunderstorms are possible in the evening.

Sunday could see a high of 75 degrees, with a 30% chance of rain.

Water temperatures off the coast of Lewes are reaching the mid- to high-60s this week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Contact reporter Maddy Lauria at (302) 345-0608,mlauria@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @MaddyinMilford.

Read or Share this story: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2020/06/19/heading-delaware-beaches-weekend-here-few-tips/3193060001/

Follow this link:

Heading to the Delaware beaches this weekend? Here's some things you might need to know - The News Journal

After many months of discussion, the Southern Shores Town Council unanimously decided to pursue a beach nourishment project at their meeting on June 16.

This will be the first time the town engages in such a project; they will join their neighbors, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk and Duck in a nourishment project for the year 2022.

After Ken Wilson with Coastal Protection Engineering joined the meeting via zoom on Tuesday, the council inquired about several aspects of the proposal with their chosen beach engineering firm.

Wilson was ready and willing to help and move forward with plans, if the board so chose: If you ask us a fair question, we are going to give you a fair answer.

Mayor Pro Tem Elizabeth Morey was hesitant to approve before having the towns new town manager involved, which would not be until mid-July.

Postponing means cost implication on other towns, Wilson offered.

After many residents voiced their thoughts at public comment, it seemed the town as a whole was split between wanting beach nourishment and not being in favor of the project. Some still had questions about tax rates and lengths.

The council agreed that education on the matter was needed, and felt that providing that information via their newsletter, website and other social platforms would help the community better understand the logistics of the project and what it would entail.

Ultimately, the five members of council agreed it was time for a decision. Some sand is better than no sand, and thats kind of the tipping point in my opinion, said councilman Matt Neal.

Councilman Leo Holland concurred: We have to ask ourselves why people come here; its the beaches. If you look at the beaches as an expense, then you dont do anything, but I look at it as an asset and I think we need to look after it.

Neal motioned to pursue a beach nourishment project and all were on board. I would love to see the beach stay the way it is . . . but Im not willing to give up beachfront homes because thats 25% of our tax base; that would be shooting ourselves in the foot, I think, said Morey in the discussion that followed. Unanimously, council approved the motion.

Other business addressed concerns brought forth at public comment regarding the unexpected traffic that has occurred in the town over the last two weekends.

Mayor Tom Bennett relayed to his council members and the public that he had spent some time working on a solution. He mused whether it was worth it to close access to S. Dogwood Trail from eastbound traffic on US 158.

He admitted that in the past, I have not been an advocate for closing our roads, but the traffic has caused a stir within the town.

After receiving North Carolina Department of Transportations blessing, meeting with officials in Kitty Hawk and seeking guidance from the town attorney, Bennett asked council if closing the road for two more weekends, in addition to their previously agreed upon No Left Turn weekends, was appropriate.

The council voted for a budget amendment to put $7400 towards hiring a contractor to oversee the No Left Turn events scheduled in June. The road closure will be in place July 4 and 5, July 25 and 26, and August 1 and 2 as well.

The unanimously agreed upon motion included a resolution to notify local authorities of the events.

In a continued discussion from their previous meeting, councilman Jim Conners elected to withdraw a motion he had made to re-hire Anlauf and Deel as the town engineer. In follow-up, he motioned to retain Anlauf and Deel Engineering to serve as the town engineer for two years, commencing July 1, 2020, and initiate a contract that could be extended one or more additional years by the town manager with council approval.

Neal and Morey, who had wanted to wait for the new town manager to come on board before making a decision, sided with the majority and favored the motion. It passed 5-0.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Kill Devil Hills adopts $19 million budget for 2020-21

Cooper vetoes second reopen bill, this one for N.C. gyms, bars

Original post:

Southern Shores votes to pursue beach nourishment project; "No Left Turn" weekends set - The Coastland Times - The Coastland Times

I wish people would please stop drinking the Kool-Aid and scaring everyone. I just returned from a week in Sandestin and beautiful Miramar Beach in Florida There were tens of thousands of happy people of all ages having a great time swimming, sunning, pooling, shopping and eating and almost no one was wearing a mask or social distancing except a few restaurant employees. I mean the pool, entire beach and the first few hundred yards of ocean were so packed you could hardly walk.

Millions of people from all over the world reside in and visit Florida annually, particularly the elderly. If you believe and trust your government, Florida should be the hot bed epicenter of COVID-19. And yet your chances of dying of this flu are actually 0.02 percent based on current coronavirus deaths and population. Your chances of dying are higher in an automobile accident on the trip down there.

If you cant trust the government over war, elections, medical care, policing, financial well-being and numerous other issues then why on earth would you start now. We may never have a vaccine and the great flu of 1918 disappeared on its own as all viruses mutate. Please go to Florida or just get out of your shell and you will see how ridiculous this whole scare tactic really is. Businesses need our money and so do their employees. The more people get out and socialize the faster this flu will disappear and football can get back to normal.

Brian Watson

Originally posted here:

Beaches Are Packed In Florida And Everyone's Happy - The Chattanoogan

Sandy Beach, a stretch of hotels and condos popular with Arizona visitors in Puerto Peasco, Sonora, is completely empty on April 9, 2020. The city closed the beaches, despite it being the peak of tourism season, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.(Photo: Courtesy of Hector Vasquez del Mercado)

TUCSON The popular Mexican resort city of Puerto Peasco began welcoming back tourists earlier this week, as the city beginsto emerge from a nearly three-month lockdown due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

However, the area's main attraction, its miles-long sandy beaches, will remain closed to the public as health officials in the Mexican state of Sonoraand in Arizona where most of the visitors to Peasco come from continue to grapplewith rising numbers of infections.

Nonetheless, other activitiessuch as fishing, off-roading and using the pool areas of hotels and resorts will resume, with restrictions allowing for social distancing. City officials said that if cases in the city remain low, the beaches couldreopen by the start of July.

"We decided to plan a gradual reopening, orderly obviously, but with the premise of finding what has become a verycomplexbalance between public health and economic health," Puerto PeascoMayorKiko Munro told The Arizona Republic.

Nearly 80% percent of businesses in the city commonly known as Rocky Point toArizonans are dependent on the roughly 2 million visitors each year, according to the city's tourism officials.

Unlike the U.S., the federal government in Mexico did not offer stimulus packages or any other support to private businesses affected by the pandemic and the economic shutdown. That created pressure on the local government to take action.

Munro'splan to reopen Peasco has five phases. The first two allowed some of those businesses and restaurants to open their doors in order to establish and solidify safety guidelines, such as constant cleaning of common areas and mandating the use of masks in public for employees and customers.

As part of its third phase, the city began welcoming visitors from Arizona and other parts of Mexico on Wednesday. Munro marked the occasion with a special ceremony, and some resorts in the cityeven greeted the first visitors with mariachi bands.

Munro said the beaches in Rocky Point could reopen as early as July 1. That's when the city will roll outthe fourth phase of its reopening plan. But the decision lies in the hands of the federal government in Mexico City, which will make that determination based on the number of COVID-19 casesnationwide.

"We're ready to open them safely," he said. "We're just waiting for the official authorization from the government in charge of that matter."

When visitors make their way to Peasco in the coming weeks, they'll havetofollow stringent guidelinesto accessthe city's extensive network of beach-side resorts and hotels. Theirexperience also will be different because of the measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"We want to be very insistent about this point here in Peasco. We do want peopleto visit us, but when you visit us, please follow our guidelines, because that's how we'll maintain the number of infections to manageable levels," said Hector Vasquez del Mercado, the president of the Puerto PeascoConvention and Visitor's Bureau.

To date, Puerto Peasco has been spared the large outbreaks of COVID-19 that haveplagued other cities in northern Mexico and in Arizona. The city has reported only 13 cases in the past three months and one death from the virus.

Elected and tourism officials in Puerto Peasco, or Rocky Point, unveiled protocols for tourists as the popular beach-side city reopens to visitors.(Photo: Puerto Peasco Convention and Visitors Bureau)

At the onset of the pandemic, Munro locked down the city to all outsidevisitors to contain the virus. Local police blocked access and strictlyenforced a federal shutdown at the beaches.

They also set up a checkpoint to the north of the city atMexican Federal Highway 8, the road that connectsRocky Pointto the Arizona border. As the only point of access into Peasco,only homeowners and residents were allowed in.

The checkpoint will play a crucial role for all visitors. Munro said soldiers andRed Cross workerswill check the temperatures of all visitors and residents before entering the city. If someone shows above-normal body temperatures, they'll be given the option to take a rapid-detection test on site.

"If the test comes back positive, then we'll ask that person to return to where they came from, taking the necessary measures so they don't spread the virus along the way," Munro said."But if it's negative, we'll allow them access into the city."

Furthermore, only visitors with hotel reservations will be allowed past the checkpoint, Vasquez del Mercado said.

As part of the reopening guidelines, none of the hotels in the city will accept same-day reservations. So they all need to made at least two days in advance, and visitors will be required to show proof at the checkpoint.As a secondary layer of protection, the hotels open to guests will also be required to check temperatures during check-in.

Additional regulations that hotels and resorts must follow include blocking rooms for 24 hours after a reservation has ended to allow forthorough cleaning. Vasquez del Mercado, said they're also limiting occupancy to 70% for resorts and 40% for hotels.

"This weekend we're expecting a 25% occupancy, and for the following weekend no more than 40%," he added.

To help visitors plan their trip to Puerto Peasco, the city government and the visitor's bureau posted English and Spanish-language versions of their "Entry Protocols for Tourists"to their websites. They explain the policies all visitors must follow, and it lists certified hotels and businesses abiding by the city's COVID-19 guidelines.

In addition, the city government created an online map that allows visitors to see the locations in the city that have recorded positive cases.

But as the number of confirmed cases in Arizona continues to set records, the mayor ofPuerto Peasco said they're well positionedto respond to any outbreaks in the city arising from their efforts to reopen.

In the past three months, local and state officials have provided ventilators to local hospitals, and they've have also donated protective equipment to healthcare workers, Munro said.

The local government has also worked with hospitals tocreate a mobile health unit that can respond quickly to any outbreaks within the city. He added that the plan to reopen was designed to be flexible.

"In the event that we have an outbreak that we realizewe cannot control as a city, the plan allows us to close out the current phase we're in and go back to earlier phases."

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.

Support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/border-issues/2020/06/20/rocky-point-beaches-closed-but-mexico-city-has-reopened-tourists/3216074001/

View original post here:

Rocky Point reopens to tourists amid COVID-19 pandemic, but its beaches are still closed - AZCentral