WELLS, Maine — The expansion of the Amtrak Downeaster train facilities at the Wells Transportation Center is officially underway this week The $11.8 million project involves replacing the station’s existing high-level boarding platform, building a second boarding platform on the other side of the tracks, and connecting the two with an overhead pedestrian bridge, according to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority Amtrak Downeaster trains arriving at the station from opposing directions will be able to board passengers and let them off at the same time will support an additional Downeaster train that will operate between Brunswick and Wells each morning The train’s schedule will be designed to serve commuters traveling to and from the Greater Portland Region More: Wells eyes major fee hike for hotels and campground licenses to deal with tourist impact The Amtrak Downeaster makes five round trips daily between Brunswick and transports over half a million riders every year which is creating around 80 jobs and involving about 40 suppliers Wells Select Board Chair John MacLeod III expressed excitement about the project “I think it’s great to see this investment in our public infrastructure,” MacLeod said Amtrak Downeaster trains will continue to operate throughout the construction a temporary boarding platform is being built to provide passengers with access to trains and the traffic flow within the parking lot is being adjusted for the project’s duration a freight railroad company operating in the northeast and Canada CSX completed one part of the overall project – a six-mile extension to the second track located in front of the station – last year Great Falls Construction of Gorham is building the new platform and pedestrian bridge More: Wells eyes beach parking changes for summer 2025 the executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority said her agency is delighted to be working with the construction company and is grateful for the partnership and collaboration with the town of Wells The Turnpike Authority owns the Wells station which is located directly across from Exit 19 on I-95.Once the expansion is completed the station will provide “more options for Maine residents to get back and forth to work without adding to traffic congestion,” Quinn said MacLeod said he hopes the revamped train station will help boost both the ecotourism and traditional tourism in Wells The community is home to lots of open space and offers such scenic paths as the Eastern Trail which is currently going through its own expansion through town all of which become quite busy during the summer season and into the autumn is “going to be key” to moving not just Wells “It’s good to see the railroad making a comeback,” he said WELLS, Maine — The Select Board is considering several potential changes to Wells' beach parking policies for summer 2025 which Select Board Chair John MacLeod III described as "ideas not yet set in stone," focus on the number of "beach stickers" allowed per household and a possible multi-pass that would combine two town-issued decals into one The town will hold a workshop on the proposals on Tuesday One significant proposed change involves limiting the number of beach parking stickers to two per household for year-round residents and one for non-resident taxpayers there is no limit to the number of stickers an eligible taxpayer can purchase The name and address on a resident’s vehicle registration simply need to match the name and mailing address on their tax bill some beach parking spaces are reserved for veterans in the town’s appreciation for their service to the country the Select Board will discuss requiring veterans to have a veterans license plate to park in such designated spaces The Select Board will also consider scaling back the number of mooring spaces along the eastern shore parking lot to 10 there are 30 designated spaces for those with mooring stickers 15 of those 30 are for mooring holder stickers and the remaining 15 are for taxpayers with beach stickers those with mooring-holding stickers have access to 10 of those spaces and the taxpayers can take up the remaining 20 Other proposed changes include discussing whether to do away with reserved beach parking spaces for taxpayers 10% of the spaces in each metered lot along the beach are reserved for taxpayers the board will consider creating a multi-pass that would give taxpaying residents access to both beach parking spaces and the town’s transfer station which adds to the number of decals taxpayers have on their vehicles More: Will Trump spat with Canada impact beach tourism? NH, Maine business leaders react MacLeod said local officials are making these suggestions as ways to help the town hall issue beach stickers more efficiently and to aid the Wells Police Department in enforcing parking laws MacLeod emphasized that these ideas are not settled “These are ideas that have been brought forward to be discussed,” he said MacLeod said a public hearing on the suggested measures is projected to be held on Tuesday and he encouraged residents to attend and share their thoughts and concerns the Select Board is looking to make equitable solutions to these problems.” The Select Board could approve some or all of the five measures following the public hearing and further discussion on March 18 the measures would go into effect for the coming beach season according to MacLeod is the elimination of beach sticker eligibility for non-resident taxpayers the Select Board sought to clear up any tensions or misunderstandings that recently may have taken hold in the community regarding beach parking issues Some concerns and debates on social media centered on the potential different eligibilities for beach stickers among full-year residents of Wells and non-resident taxpayers “No one on the Select Board or staff wants to pit year-round residents against non-resident taxpayers,” MacLeod said Pardue also spoke of some of the conversations taking place on social media it appears that contributors to social media platforms may be transmitting information on this matter that is not entirely accurate which is understandable given the complexity of the topic,” he said “The town will continue to keep citizens informed with accurate information on this subject through the town of Wells website.” Oarweed Restaurant to rise again: Beloved Ogunquit landmark set for 2026 comeback Plans for a new park near Palm Beach's redesigned North Fire Station are progressing after the Town Council approved conceptual design plans and accepted a private donation for its construction council members voted unanimously to authorize the town's Public Works department to move forward with final design bidding and construction phase services for the unnamed park which will be funded by an anonymous donor The donation amount is to be determined at the time of the final bid The park will be built in the right-of-way areas of the intersection of Wells Road The fire station, at 300 North County Road, is nearly ready for crews to begin moving in following a lengthy redevelopment project Wells Road will be restored to run straight and intersect with North County Road with Crescent Drive modified to intersect perpendicular to Wells Road The modification will allow for more green space on the north side of Wells Road When construction on the fire station began in 2022 the town altered the traffic pattern at the intersection of Wells Road and North County Road to allow motorists to navigate around a temporary station set up during the project The temporary station will be dismantled once the new building is complete Design plans for the new park will include landscape and hardscape elements Work will be performed at the same time as drainage improvements in the canopy area on North County Road "The fire station landscaping design will slide right into the park design which slides into the canopy," Brazil told council members "We believe this is a much better use of all of the asphalt that's sitting there right now." Design plans will go to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for review before going back to the council for final approval Council members praised conceptual design plans for the proposed park "Talk about another part of town that has too much asphalt," council member Ted Cooney said this is always where you get dumped off of that trail and then you hit too much asphalt on County (Road) here Thank you to the donor for the vision to want to do this." Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com WELLS, Maine — The Wells Select Board on Tuesday approved changes to the town’s beach parking policy including removing designated spaces for residents and limiting the number of beach parking stickers to two per household The votes for the changes – five in all – followed a public hearing at the Wells Public Library in which some taxpayers who spoke had driven to town from out of state to attend The Select Board revisits and votes on the town’s beach parking policy every year and always ahead of the coming summer season Most of the seasonal residents who spoke on Tuesday shared their love of the community and asked the Select Board to keep the town’s beach parking policy fair and equitable to seasonal and year-round residents alike Some of the speakers appeared concerned about an idea that town officials discussed earlier this year but recently took off the table: the elimination of beach sticker eligibility for non-resident taxpayers The idea generated debates and misunderstandings on social media the Select Board sought to reassure everyone that both year-round residents and taxpaying non-residents were both valued in the community Chris Baez also sought to reassure people who thought the town would still be making distinctions between year-round residents and non-resident taxpayers “Everybody that was eligible last year is eligible for a beach pass,” Baez said of the coming season More: York Beach's ViewPoint Hotel named one of Time’s 'World’s Greatest Places' in 2025 the Select Board removed designated parking spaces for taxpayers at the beach 10% of spaces in each metered lot along the beach in town had been marked for taxpayers that will give taxpaying residents access to both beach parking spaces and the town’s transfer station which has added to the number of decals taxpayers have had on their cars the board reduced the number of spots reserved for mooring holders at the eastern shore to 10 a set figure for all seven days of the week mooring pass holders can park in any space at the eastern shore if none of the reserved spots are available The change is far more cut-and-dried than the town’s 2024 beach parking policy for moorings there were 30 designated spaces for those with mooring stickers 15 of those 30 had been for mooring holder stickers and the remaining 15 had been for taxpayers with beach stickers those with mooring holding stickers had access to 10 of those spaces and the taxpayers were able to take up the remaining 20 The board also approved limiting the number of beach parking stickers to two per household or parcel the board approved a motion that would provide local veterans with a placard that will allow them to park in beach spaces that are designated for them Veterans will be able to hang the placard from the rearview mirror of their vehicles while they are parked in their spaces or perhaps just place them on their dashboards for law enforcement to see the Select Board had discussed possibly requiring veterans to have veterans’ license plates on their vehicles to park in reserved spaces if only to help law enforcement identify anyone who has not served in the military and has parked in one of the spots Wells on track: $11.8M Amtrak Downeaster expansion underway and voted for these changes based on recent suggestions made by municipal officials and law enforcement Both made the recommendations in hopes operations at Town Hall could be streamlined and made more efficient and that enforcement of beach parking rules could be improved one Select Board member said he did not feel the board had achieved those goals Board member Tim Roche apologized to the municipal officials in attendance including Police Chief Jo-Ann Putnam and Finance Director Jodie Sanborn and I don’t feel like we really saved you any time,” Roche said and I think we somewhat failed to streamline this.” 'It's been a hell of a run': Fat Tomato Grill owner passing the torch to Wells family but the storm definitely left its mark on the Space Coast In addition to the threat of storm surge and powerful winds Hurricane Milton spawned several tropical tornadoes Vero Beach and parts of the Treasure Coast of Florida (Indian River County Lucie County and Martin County) had significant damage from tornadoes Florida residents were still without power as Hurricane Milton whipped through Lucie County)Reporters and photojournalists from FLORIDA TODAY captured the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Milton in Brevard County home to the Cocoa Beach Pier and NASA's Kennedy Space Center ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Here's a roundup of Hurricane Milton damage in Brevard County These photos and roundups from FLORIDA TODAY journalists first appeared in a live blog covering Hurricane Milton's arrival here The information below tells the story of Hurricane Milton's impact on the Space Coast the rural parts of the county north of Cocoa were quiet the afternoon of Thursday Wind and water-logged soil toppled some trees but the water didn't appear to reach any homes horses and goats splashed happily in the puddles as homeowners began raking leaves and dragging fallen branches to the road North Indian River Drive between City Point Road and Blacks Road in Cocoa will be closed to through traffic due to flooding from Hurricane Milton The road will reopen when the roadway is deemed safe to travel Access to residential driveways will be maintained at all times Traffic control signs will be installed to assist the motoring public A detour route will be in place during the road closure please contact Brevard County Traffic Operations Program Office at 321-633-2077 Cocoa Mayor Mike Blake said in a late-morning update that there were powerlines down in some places around the city and asked people to stay off the roads until they could be cleared "I would like for all residents to avoid roadways while they are being inspected for damage to ensure the safety of our employees Blake said as of Thursday morning there had been no reported issues with the City of Cocoa water which serves about 90,000 customers in Central and North Brevard Customers at the Lake Poinsett Lodge in the flood-prone neighborhoods around Lake Poinsett west of Cocoa were doing well Thursday."Better now the bar's open!" one patron said happily with a gesture toward the darkened barroom.Owner Michelle Miles said this was the first storm where the bar had lost power in recent memory but that didn't stop a handful of regulars from taking advantage of the breezy Thursday afternoon.Flooding was minimal in the area around the lake Some roads and front yards were under about three inches of water which often overflows after storms."It takes a few days though Maybe a week before the water level would peak she said.There was no damage to the bar or her home in Cocoa A palm tree near the bar snapped and tumbled under the wind After conducting a field survey, National Weather Service meteorologists have confirmed that Hurricane Milton spawned an EF1 tornado that struck Cocoa Beach businesses and homes Wednesday evening Packing winds of roughly 85 mph to 95 mph, the barrier-island twister ripped much of the roof off the Wells Fargo branch at North Atlantic Avenue and South Banana River Boulevard exposing a skeleton of wooden rafters and shoving pink insulation into the parking lot Six to eight buildings in the Publix-anchored Banana River Square plaza sustained moderate-to-major roof damage The nearby SuperCuts building sustained damages Windows shattered at Health First AdventHealth Centra Care And Cocoa Beach Mayor Keith Capizzi who lives nearby posted a video to Facebook showing trees knocked over in his yard debris and roofing damage to neighborhood properties Tornadoes are rated on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with EF0 representing the weakest tornados and EF5 the most powerful The EF1 tornado's radar signature indicates it formed between 5:50 p.m After Milton churned across the Space Coast and winds dissipated survey crews from the National Weather Service station in Melbourne toured the damage scene Thursday afternoon Law said the airborne circulation began as a waterspout out in the Atlantic Ocean before spinning onshore they have found that it moved (west-northwest) along South Banana River Boulevard they believe that the system then exited land out into the Banana River There's some additional damage to homes around that particular street," Law said "They have no evidence that it made it over the Banana River into Merritt Island," he said Croix avenue took shelter in a closet during the tornado Drone footage captures the aftermath of a Hurricane Milton tornado in Cocoa Beach was closed to through traffic due to flooding from Hurricane Milton Melbourne Orlando International Airport now has a 30-foot hole in the roof because of Hurricane Milton Hours after Hurricane Milton's landfall in Siesta Key the storm's winds caused part of the skylight at the Melbourne airport to come crashing down Executive director Greg Donovan said the hole in the roof is about 30-feet by 40-feet wide The section was near the terminal and had been cordoned off before part of the roof came crashing down Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey said the city appears to have avoided major damage from Hurricane Milton it appears Melbourne was only slightly impacted from Hurricane Milton," Alfrey said "There are reports of power outages (including myself) Alfrey credits work the city has done to shore up its infrastructure coupled with the cleaning of storm drains before the hurricane Among the things Alfrey noted during his drive through the city Thursday morning were numerous damaged business signs and some boats submerged in local waterways "My thoughts and prayers go out to those severely impacted throughout Florida," Alfrey added Rockledge Drive between McIver Lane to US 1 Major roadways and most side streets in Rockledge were clear of debris Thursday afternoon A line was down at the corner of Barton Boulevard and Baldwin Street where a tree snapped and took out the sign for Community Discount Pharmacy "I don't know if it was struck by lightning or what," he said He said there was no damage or flooding inside the shop and his home and family in Orlando were safe prepared our community for what we thought would be much worse than we received We are extremely thankful and even though we have residents without power − we know FPL is doing their best to get it restored Our staff was amazing throughout the storm and our thoughts and prayers are with the west coast of Florida and others who were affected by Milton.” was closed to through traffic due to downed power lines and trees from Hurricane Milton Titusville police announced the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S 1 (North Washington Ave) were closed and blocked near the Norwood Avenue intersection because of downed power lines Northbound traffic could detour via eastbound Garden Street while southbound traffic can detour via Norwood Avenue The streets were somewhat quiet Thursday morning but plenty of people were getting on with their regular activities A handful of people were out jogging when FLORIDA TODAY checked out the area Common sights observed in Hurricane Milton’s aftermath included trees snapped in two Flooding appeared worse in north Rockledge The Wawa on Stadium Parkway and Viera Boulevard is already reopened West Melbourne City crews were evaluating and cleaning up "minor storm damage" Thursday afternoon which put the heavy rain north of West Melbourne," the memo said The memo reported trees and fences down in some parts of the city advising residents that the building department will be driving the streets to document damage through Friday No significant damage was reported in West Melbourne as of Thursday morning The city saw some trees and powerlines down but the damage from the storm wasn't significant and was not causing traffic to be rerouted in any area a house fire broke out off South Drive around 9:38 a.m likely due to a generator being placed too closer to some shrubs While the fire initially caused traffic to be diverted Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Located along 50 miles of coastline in York and Cumberland counties the refuge consists of 11 divisions between Kittery and Cape Elizabeth The proximity of the refuge to the coast and its location between the eastern deciduous forest and the boreal forest creates a composition of plants and animals not found elsewhere in Maine Major habitat types present on the refuge include forested upland and the distinctive rocky coast.AnnouncementsRachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge is seeking public review and comment on a Draft Compatibility Determination for Research and Surveys.   Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will accept comments received or postmarked on or before May 10 The Service prepares Compatibility Determinations to ensure that public and economic uses of national wildlife refuges do not interfere with or detract from the purposes for which each refuge was established Compatibility Determinations also describe how these uses would contribute towards achieving refuge purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System Comments or requests for additional information may be made by email to elizabeth_evans@fws.gov or U.S All comments received from individuals become part of the official public record The Service’s practice is to make comments including names and home addresses of respondents available for public review during regular business hours Individual respondents can request that we withhold their home address from the record which we will honor to the extent allowable by law If you wish to have your name and/or address withheld you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments -Attachment- Draft Compatibility Determination for Research and Surveys, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge 🌿✨ Exciting Update on Our Multipurpose Facility ✨🌿Service to open new Office and Visitor Center in Kennebunk 👋 Visitor Entrance: Get ready to be warmly welcomed by our friendly staff and volunteers you can also participate in our Junior Ranger Program designed to inspire and educate the next generation of conservationists 🖼️ Exhibit Hall: Step into an immersive experience that celebrates our natural world! Visitors will journey through exhibits featuring Rachel Carson, stroll through a forest, explore a salt marsh salt marsh Salt marshes are found in tidal areas near the coast, where freshwater mixes with saltwater. Learn more about salt marsh 🛍️ Friends Nature Store: We’re proud to announce that the Friends of Rachel Carson NWR will host a nature store This initiative will support visitor engagement and conservation efforts providing you with unique finds that celebrate our environment 🏫 Multipurpose Room: This space will be a hub for environmental education and conservation planning bringing together community members to collaborate and learn 🌲 Sense of Wonder Trail: We're particularly excited about this accessible community trail project this trail will feature nature play elements We can’t wait to share more updates as we continue our journey Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge Berwick-York Focus Area Offer Hunting Opportunities  Rachel Carson NWR and Great Thicket NWR are seeking public review and comment on its Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) for hunting The refuges will eliminate use of lead ammunition for all hunting starting September 1 over the next 3 years we will provide outreach and education opportunities for hunters to learn about lead impacts and available alternatives We will initially encourage the voluntary use of non-lead ammunition for hunting Please note that we have not made any significant changes to the previous September 2022 hunting plan -- there are no new changes to species The Supplemental EA is focused on the further analysis of potential impacts of lead ammunition and utilizes the latest research and best available science where applicable The updated information provides another opportunity for public review and comment; however much of the written text transferred from the 2022 plan remains unchanged Draft documents are available online here:…Final Hunt Plan 2023-2024 Earn one of three junior ranger badges by completing the level of engagement that you choose.  Meet Rachel Carson past the saltmarsh and end at the sea.  Explore animal tracks and bird calls as well as the Junior Duck Stamp Program Bring your book to the visitor center where a ranger will issue you a badge Download your guide!  Remember if you print to set your printer to "print two sided and flip on short edge" Coastal Maine is a destination for both national and international visitors Visitors are drawn to the area's beaches Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge offers an alternative for those seeking solitude and a connection with nature.  While our main purpose is to protect wildlife and natural resources the refuge offers a variety of ways for the public to experience and appreciate its protected public lands including three main nature trails and many wildlife observation stations featuring every habitat type found on the refuge and other recreational opportunities at the refuge We also gratefully accept land donations when they contribute to refuge purposes.If you would like to talk about the benefits of protecting your land and integrating it into the National Wildlife Refuge System please reach out to me by phone or e-mail using my contact information below I have attached links describing the work of the Rachel Carson NWR and our Realty Division for your review on the second page of this letter Karl Stromayer, Refuge ManagerPhone: 207-206-6735Email: Karl_Stromayer@fws.gov Original Letter and Links  There are so many ways to get involved at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge Some activities may involve tasks such as winter rabbit tracking Share your knowledge of the natural world by performing surveys or lend a hand at our visitor center by helping orient visitors to the area. We also host several volunteer days throughout the year that will appeal to anyone who would like to get their hands dirty This is a great opportunity to learn about the refuge what we do to protect wildlife and their habitat to sign up for the volunteer email list and learn more about the refuge.  Image DetailsRefuge staff conserves and restores habitats to benefit a diversity of wildlife. We focus on the highest priority lands; salt marshes and thickets. These areas are home to many animals we work closely with our conservation partners and communities plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people by Ariana St Pierre WELLS (WGME) -- A massive buoy has washed up on Wells Beach Police say high tides caused by recent snow melting after last week's powerful nor'easter caused an important harbor buoy in Wells Harbor to break loose Boaters are asked to use caution when entering Wells Harbor The buoy washed up on the beach on the southside of the jetty sometime this week There is no time frame yet on when the buoy will be removed from the beach I thought we needed a train stop on the Treasure Coast After taking my first trip on the new high-speed passenger train service to the Orlando airport Riding Brightline from West Palm Beach to Orlando and back in October was the second time I’ve ever taken a train I remembered riding Amtrak’s Downeaster for almost two hours from Wells As someone who loves driving and seeing the landscape I saw a different view that can’t be seen from the roadways The best part of my Brightline ride was going through untouched natural preserved lands especially Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound Savannas Preserve State Park in Jensen Beach and Port St “Incredible,” I couldn’t help but say aloud looking out the window and seeing a landscape I thought I knew so well from a new perspective I was nervous the night before and the day of my trip even though it was just to check out the service for work I rode “premium” or first class ($149) to Orlando and “smart” or coach ($89) back to West Palm Beach The main difference between premium and smart was the food which was free for the former but not for the latter I found my seat and showed my ticket on my phone I had a fold-down tray table and lights overhead and much bigger bathrooms than an airplane It even felt and looked like the inside of an airplane Soon after we left the West Palm Beach station I had just stuffed my face in the premium lounge and the attendant said she would come by again when the train passed through Port St staring out the window as the train picked up speed The reality of riding on these historic tracks through my native hometown hit me emotionally and I recognized the vast scrub forest of Jonathan Dickinson from my time hiking and mountain biking the state park trails The landscape quickly changed to an old fishing village I referred to the map on my phone and saw I was in Port Salerno I felt the brakes before it slowed over the Stuart train bridge I felt like I was swaying as we crossed the St The ride took me through unfamiliar and unseen parts of my hometown sometimes with a view of the Indian River Lagoon I couldn’t help but FaceTime my mom as we rode through Fort Pierce and we shouted with glee at different landmarks: “Orange Avenue!” “South Bridge!” “Avenue D!” “North Bridge!” The most interesting part was going through the Florida East Coast Railway railyard since there’s no public access road through it After we left Vero Beach and passed the Roseland bridge over the St I expected the train to take off like a bullet especially after we made it through the Space Coast if Brightline did top 100 mph through the vacant swampland along State Road 528 We slowly pulled into the new Terminal C at the Orlando International Airport The trip wasn’t without annoying passengers One woman behind me had her phone read her a news article One man had an entire conversation on speakerphone each car designed for 60 passengers had only 10 but I had someone next to me when I rode smart just a few minutes from a Brightline train station He told me we could spread out in the car after we started moving he took the train the night before the meeting he’s not going to need to take the train more than once a quarter I looked at the Brightline map to see where I had traveled It looked strange to have several stops in South Florida empty stretch from West Palm Beach to Orlando I remembered Amtrak’s Downeaster had several stops it makes sense to have at least one or two more stops between West Palm Beach and Orlando they would fit on the Treasure Coast and close to Cocoa before the train makes a 90-degree turn Brightline CEO Michael Reininger told TCPalm a Treasure Coast station is the company’s next focus A lawsuit settlement agreement has Brightline committed to building a station in either St Lucie or Martin within the next five years I look forward to the day I can ride Brightline to and from the Treasure Coast — instead of just through it I know they are out there but seeing them still freaks me out and sends shivers down my spine.  Steve Brettell has a whale of a tale to tell about seeing a shark tearing up a whale carcass off Drake’s Island in Wells, Maine Friday morning and he has the pictures to prove it according to nbcboston.com Sharks eat like I do.  Like they have never seen a meal before.  When Steve Brettell who ran a fishing charter for 30 years got a call from a friend about sharks feeding off a whale carcass he had to see it.  When he arrived there was only one shark but Steve still staying about a half an hour watching the wonders of nature.  I mean how many times are you going to see that?  I am anxious to hear what type of shark it was.  So far the theories are in was a great white or a porbeagle Bretell tells nbcboston.com “I was there about a half-hour.  He just circled he’d come up and take a bite.  It was fun to watch.  He was a big guy.”  I’m sure it was fascinating to watch – from a boat It’s all fun and games until the whale carcass washes up on the beach.  The carcass washed ashore at Mother’s Beach in Kennebunk on Friday afternoon on a packed beach.  That’s one way to clear a beach crowd.  Hopefully that carcass kept the sharks filled for a while and they will stay offshore The Shark Feeding Frenzy\nRead More I know they are out there but seeing them still freaks me out and sends shivers down my spine.  Steve Brettell has a whale of a tale to tell about seeing a shark tearing up a whale carcass off Drake’s Island in Wells, Maine Friday morning and he has the pictures to prove it according to nbcboston.com Maine — The town of Wells is one of only two beaches in Maine taking part in a sun protection study where free sunscreen is being offered to beachgoers IMPACT Melanoma and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health are conducting the Centers for Disease Control funded study free community sunscreen dispensers will be installed at two Maine beaches and six neighborhoods in Boston and Cambridge “As many of us look forward to a summer of fun it can be easy to overlook the application of sunscreen,” said Wells Town Manager Michael Pardue students will survey teenagers at the beach about sun protection practices and their choice to use the free sunscreen dispenser or not IMPACT Melanoma will provide an education booth/table near the dispenser to provide education and prevention resources partnering with IMPACT Melanoma and the Harvard T.H is working to remind our residents and visitors of the importance of applying sunscreen before partaking in outdoor summer fun,” said Pardue “Applying sunscreen as a skin protectant can aid in reducing the risk of skin cancer The free dispensers will be available in Wells for the week beginning July 29 and can be found by the lifeguard stand near the jetty People of all ages are welcome to use the dispenser and a special effort will be made to encourage use by teens with teen-designed signage and messages atop the dispensers “The Wells community is so proud to be given this opportunity to show our youth the value of protecting yourself from the harmful effects of the sun on our skin,” said Wells Fire Chief Mark Dupuis “This should enlighten the next generation about the damage the sun can cause before they get older and give them a chance to correct any possible habits that they might establish without this program.” WELLS — The third annual Wells Beach Cleanup went off without a hitch on Saturday More than 250 volunteers heeded the call to help with the cleanup about one third of which were folks that weren’t even Wells residents they gathered approximately 900 pounds of garbage “I’m humbled by the amazing turnout,” said Saundra Skoczen the Wells Police Dispatcher who organized the effort volunteers gathered at the Wells Activity Center and charts on which to record the types of trash being gathered to create a record for future analysis and comparison The crowd was treated to free donuts from Congdon’s and free cookies from the 1690 House as well as representatives from co-sponsoring organizations the Blue Ocean Society and the Wells Piping Plover Program all offered suggestions and guidance to the volunteers individuals were organized into teams according the area they wished to work on: Drake’s Island Susan and I had planned to participate weeks in advance but I’ll admit that things looked pretty bleak when I woke up that morning hardly conducive to collecting trash in a bag walking along the beach hour approached and we headed to the Activity Center I wondered if the rain had scared people away as people started to arrive in droves: individuals the center was abuzz with conversation and activity the crowd had swelled to over 200 people (there would be 266 in total once the sign-in sheets were finally tallied) Susan and I joined the Crescent Beach contingent once again given that it’s the area closest to where we live We assembled at the parking lot on Webhannet Drive By then the rain and mist had been replaced by a stiff westerly wind and sun There was a family of five that set off to canvass the beach area Susan and I and two others focused on the parking lot and two more headed down to comb the rocky area around the point there and in front of the Wells Beach Lobster Pound I’ve been amazed at some of the things I’ve found This year’s prize was a rusted tail pipe that It was in the shrubs at the rear of the Crescent Beach lot I’ve no idea how it got there but it wasn’t there last year when I did this Other items I gathered were more pedestrian: cigarette butts (lots and lots of these) and what I judged to be a casing from a bullet of some sort We had no trouble filling our bags in the 90 minutes or so that we were working We deposited everything at the station set up in the Casino Square parking lot I later learned from Skoczen that 907 pounds of trash was removed from our beaches that morning Congratulations to Skoczen and the Wells Police Department for their leadership in this effort to the sponsoring organizations (the Blue Ocean Society and the Wells Piping Plover Program) and to the 266 folks who devoted a Saturday morning to making Wells’ beaches cleaner and safer Amtrak is running a sweet deal this year on the Downeaster and you and a friend can visit Maine's coolest town for just $30 roundtrip per person Find out how to score this steal down below you can easily spend a delightful weekend here Amtrak Downeaster roundtrip tickets are $30 You’ll take the Downeaster Amtrak from North Station all the way to Portland – a 2.5-hour trip through beautiful New England or any station between Brunswick and Boston In order to qualify for the $30 roundtrip deal Downeaster tickets from Boston to Maine must be purchased at least 3 days in advance Take the train to Well and you’ll be only five miles from what Real Simple called the best vacation destination of the year Read more about this sweet deal and book your trip at the Amtrak Downeaster’s website using code v232 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page OGUNQUIT, Maine — The holiday spirit will be celebrated in Ogunquit during the Chamber of Commerce’s 38th annual Christmas by the Sea celebration Friday night’s events kick off with the lighting of Footbridge Beach Bridge and the Ogunquit dory at 4:30 p.m. There will be caroling and s’mores in Perkins Cove at 5 p.m., sponsored by Ogunquit Rotary and Ogunquit Parks & Recreation Santa will arrive for pictures at 5:45 p.m., with the tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Other events that night include the Atlantic Harmonies Choir concert at the Baptist Church at 7 p.m. and the downtown tree lighting at Veteran’s Park at 8:15 p.m. Discover Ogunquit: Chamber unveils new tech-savvy welcome center Visitors and residents alike will have a wide variety of happenings from which to choose on Saturday.Signature events include the annual Christmas Parade presented by the town of Ogunquit at 3 p.m., the bonfire on the beach at 4 p.m., and fireworks at Main Beach at 4:45 p.m., sponsored by The Front Porch Piano Bar & Restaurant Other Saturday activities include shopping along the Ogunquit craft fair trail, with locations upstairs and downstairs at the Dunaway Center and at the adjacent fire station from 9:30 a.m Santa will be stopping to visit folks at the firehouse, La Pizzeria, Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Beachmere Inn and other locations throughout town – and he will be in the parade Saturday’s festivities conclude with a barbershop choir concert, Seacoast Men of Harmony York's viral Realtor: How Mitchell Tebo is shaking up southern Maine real estate On Sunday, festivities move a bit north of town as Ogunquit helps celebrate the holidays at the Wells Christmas Parade at 2 p.m Area businesses with a variety of holiday events “This is such a joyful event in the town of Ogunquit," said Alice Pearce, executive director of the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce "Guests return year after year and compliment us on the warm welcome and community spirit they feel when they celebrate the holidays in Ogunquit We believe that’s why Ogunquit was once again 2 on Travel + Leisure’s list of the 25 Best Christmas Towns in the U.S.!” and at participating businesses throughout Ogunquit The Ogunquit Chamber would like to thank the 2024 sponsors of Christmas by the Sea who make the event possible: fireworks sponsor The Front Porch Piano Bar & Restaurant; premier sponsors Village Food Market and Spoiled Rotten Ogunquit; associate sponsor InnSeason Resorts-The Falls at Ogunquit; and supporting sponsors Aland Realty The Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce fosters and promotes business enhances economic and community development and serves as a catalyst for improving the overall quality of life in the Ogunquit area More than 300 businesses in the region are members of the Ogunquit Chamber WELLS — Interim Public Works Director Carol Murray will be spending the summer and into the fall working in town to ensure that roads are being repaired and public works projects continue to move forward Murray spent 30 years working for New Hampshire’s Department of Transportation and has spent the past 10 years working as an interim public works professional through Municipal Resources The town of Wells hired Murray as its interim public works director after the previous director left after only six weeks on the job Murray said that several projects are in the works for the short term The two largest projects involve Furbish Road and Webhannet Drive which was damaged during the March storms Furbish Road is currently closed due to the ongoing repairs Over the next two weeks a new culvert will be placed in the road The new culvert will have a better elevation allowing for easier fish access and it will be widened for pedestrian use The paving work on Webhannet Drive cannot be completed until repair work on the sea wall is complete May 1 was their first day cleaning up the beaches “The beach has changed dramatically over the winter,” said Paula Green who works for the Wells Public Works Department the area they were working on was the Eastern Shore near Atlantic Avenue and it typically has fluffy sand Due to the severe storms experienced in southern Maine in March emergency repairs have been necessary in Wells Town Manager Jonathan Carter said $298,890 in emergency funds is required for road repairs and sea wall repair and replacement Carter said $158,890 is for road repair and $140,000 for the Webhannet sea wall repair and replacement Selectmen approved funding the emergency repairs Carter also went through the warrant articles appearing in the upcoming June 12 town meeting A copy of the warrants has been mailed to every resident in Wells Carter broke down each warrant article starting with town salaries a large portion of the increase is due to the end of the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund so the salaries of the employees at the transfer station and the transportation center are now being included in the municipal government budget Operating expenses are up 23.91 percent and much of this is due to the ending of the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund “we have seen an increase in our benefit and insurance line but the bulk of the 23 percent is the new debt that we’re paying for the proposed public safety fire substation That amounts to 12.5 percent of that amount.” Other warrant articles include a proposed purchase by the town for open space as recommended by the Wells Conservation Commission The 70 acre parcel is being called The Hobb’s Brook Project at a cost of $185,000 It is located on the Merriland River and scientists from Maine’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife consider it to be valuable for wildlife The parcel also holds recreational value with public access available from a trailhead on Meetinghouse Road * Wells Emergency Management Services (WEMS) was recognized for its service A letter was read thanking WEMS for coming out several times and helping a resident with a family medical issue Cinndi Davidson spoke during the comments open to the public about a situation that occurred last week during a volunteer lunch at a local church a woman volunteering during the lunch fell and broke her ankle Davidson said that members of WEMS and the police department happened to be volunteering as well and they responded immediately “I just want to let the residents know how lucky we are,” Davidson said * Carter stated that the Wells Public Library will be closing from May 14-19 in order to allow the staff time to move the stacks of books in preparation for the grand opening of the library expansion * Carter introduced the town's new Human Resources Director Martha Sumner Sumner previously worked as a benefits administrator at G.H as well as working for the city of Biddeford and Cumberland County Robert Foley presented Maine Game Warden Eric Blanchard with the 2017 Maine Game Warden of the Year award Blanchard lives in Wells and is an active member of the community He is often found in the Wells community giving presentations at local schools and being active at other locations in town including the dog park Blanchard was part of the popular show on Animal Planet called North Woods Law “He does a great job and it is a great honor for him The renewed agreement with Amplify Energy could keep the pipeline responsible for the spill in operation through 2040 A little more than a year before an underwater pipeline leaked 144,480 gallons of crude oil, tarring Southern California beaches and killing fish and wildlife, the city of Long Beach signed a lease with Houston-based Amplify Energy that could extend the pipeline’s life through 2040 is paying the Port of Long Beach $84,449.83 a year for 37,430 square feet of property according to a lease agreement signed on June 17 The Port’s fund is distinct from the city’s general fund The lease was approved by the Port’s five commissioners who have full decision-making authority on Port matters and are appointed by the city’s mayor and city council The land at the Port of Long Beach was first leased by the city to Shell Oil Company and is currently leased to Amplify Energy through subsidiary San Pedro Bay Pipeline oil company The rigs are operated by another subsidiary Amplify Energy is the company responsible for the oil leak It is part of a unified command — including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the United States Coast Guard — responding to the spill At a press conference hosted by the unified command on Monday, Amplify Energy CEO Martyn Willsher said the company hadn’t noticed the leak until Saturday. State records show the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported the presence of oil to EPA’s National Response Center early Saturday morning and that other reports had come in on Friday The U.S. Coast Guard’s criminal division is investigating whether the company failed to notice a drop in pressure that would have immediately alerted it to a leak, the Los Angeles Times reported “I think there’s a good argument here that there has been such an environmental disaster coupled with our current climate emergency that there are reasons of public safety and public trust to not continue with producing oil from these platforms,” Sakashita tells Capital & Main A spokesperson for the Port of Long Beach declined to make available for comment Mario Cordero the executive director for the Port of Long Beach who signed the pump station lease adding that the city would wait for results from the ongoing investigation before making any changes to the lease A voicemail to Amplify Energy’s corporate office wasn’t returned The renewed lease between Long Beach and Amplify Energy was part of an agreement to settle disagreements over the city’s new international bridge Amplify Energy said it didn’t have full access to the area covered by the lease and that some parts of the facility incurred minor damage his administration has issued 138 such permits Western Program Coordinator for the FracTracker Alliance “This is a red flag for the risks of future oil spills in California,” Ferrar said Amplify Energy CEO Willsher said the company was overseeing development projects at the Beta Field that included two sidetracks of existing wells that were expected to produce hydrocarbons by the end of the year can be a way of increasing production from poorly producing wells Amplify Energy’s oil and gas assets generated a total of $200.9 million in revenue in 2020, according to an SEC filing This included revenues from active wells on company platforms in the Beta Field; the company also has operations in Oklahoma Fifteen percent of its proven oil reserves are off the coast of California The company has no registered lobbyists in California and is reportedly not part of the Western States Petroleum Association but it has a robust lobbying presence in Washington Federal disclosures show Amplify Energy paid $610,000 to Capitol Hill Consulting Group for lobbying work from 2019 through the third quarter of 2020; the listed reason is “Working with [U.S Department of the Interior] and Congress on specific royalty rates and decommissioning funds.” Capitol Hill Consulting Group didn’t return a phone call or an email asking for further information Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story failed to clarify that lease agreements with the Port of Long Beach are paid to a fund separate from the general fund for the city of Long Beach A Mother’s Battle to Protect Her Son’s Care USC Follows Amazon and Musk’s SpaceX in Calling Labor Board Unconstitutional Democratic and Republican Lawmakers Work to Undermine Voter-Backed Wage and Sick Leave Laws  ‘Jackie Robinson Would Be Outraged’ — Author Peter Dreier on the Dodgers’ Visit With Donald Trump A Majority of Californians Support Affordable Health Care for Undocumented Immigrants California Showdown Over Medicaid as GOP Approves Massive Cuts Soccer-Loving Father of Four Caught Up in El Cajon Immigration Raid California State University’s Financial Aid Students Learn Chaos 101 There are a couple of places in Maine where you can actually ride the rails powered by you and your bud(s). There's a place in Central Maine between Waterville and Belfast called B&ML Rail Cyclers That's Belfast and Moosehead Lake Rail Cyclers and it's in Thorndike It's the best bargain at only $23 a seat You can ride along the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad Tracks getting a unique and different perspective of the wildlife and nature It's not hard, it's quiet and oops, you get a little exercise in too! According to B&ML Railcycles Railcycles are basically a tandem single speed pedal bike built specifically for the rails Then if you head south you have the option of a two or four-seat rail bike at Revolution Rail Company The Maine station is located in Kennebunkport This one is a bit pricier at $100 for 4 and $60 for two They work with the Seashore Trolley Museum the world’s first electric trolley museum The ride is a 3.5-mile stretch on a historic railroad You can learn about the area and then grab some lobster in beautiful downtown Kennebunkport You also get admission to the Seashore Trolley Museum with your railbike ticket through the end of July Try something new this summer and see Maine in a whole new way Whether it's in the heart of the woods or down in coastal Kennebunkport - what fun Have you done this?\nRead More There are a couple of places in Maine where you can actually ride the rails powered by you and your bud(s). There's a place in Central Maine between Waterville and Belfast called B&ML Rail Cyclers It's not hard, it's quiet and oops, you get a little exercise in too! According to B&ML Railcycles Then if you head south you have the option of a two or four-seat rail bike at Revolution Rail Company From the so-called Tower of Hope to a facade designed to look like a synagogue here are a handful of spots where black gold is being pumped to the surface what looks like a windowless beige office building along Pico in the Mid-Wilshire neighborhood hides 52 oil and gas wells owned by Sentinel Peak Resources A derrick on tracks moves from well head to well head within the roofless structure 2. Beverly Center Tucked on the western side of the Beverly Center this Sentinel Peak Resources rig peeks out from behind tall walls and foliage barely visible to passersby on San Vicente From the top of the mall’s parking garage you can scope the site’s full expanse which includes 54 wells that tap into the Salt Lake and Beverly Hills oil fields and produce tens of thousands of barrels of black gold every year 3. Tower of HopeThe 165-foot derrick at Beverly Hills High was dubbed the “Tower of Hope” in 2000 and clad in a vinyl sound-absorbing sheath festooned with flowers painted by hospitalized children Lawsuits claiming chemicals associated with the rig caused cancer were either dismissed or settled the decades-old drilling site was shut down in July 2017 4. Cardiff TowerThe Pico-Robertson neighborhood has been a Jewish enclave since the end of World War II so it makes sense that then-owner Occidental Petroleum disguised this drilling site at Pico and Cardiff as a synagogue in 1966 the pseudo-shul (now the property of Pacific Coast Energy) is home to 40 wells which are accessed by a movable derrick that taps the same oil field as the Tower of Hope RELATED: Above the Surface and Below, L.A. Is Still an Oil Town Stay on top of the latest in L.A. food and culture. Sign up for our newsletters today. Thelma Golden will celebrate Lauren Halsey and U.K.-based singer Griff will take the stage featured A-list designers and Otis College standouts who earned scholarships for innovation in Fashion Design lawyers say Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe showed injuries consistent with a dog attack and plan to present a case against Chloe a German Shepherd who was re-homed by the owner's of the house where the cop's body was found in a snowbank Magazine’s takeaways on five notable topics from President Donald Trump’s first 100 days of his second term consumers are stocking up on household items and bites from THEBlvd and Hinoki & the Bird The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train embodies all of these things with a 1,000-foot train covered in LED lights raising money and awareness for local food banks across the nation and in Canada The train is back on tour after taking a two-year break due to the pandemic but we are all happy to see it back on the rails The 1,000-foot train is strikingly beautiful covered in thousands of LED lights that make it the most epic train ever What could put you in the holiday spirit more than a light show on a train This is a seriously the most beautiful train to ever hit the rails; don't worry the train will launch with shows in Jackman spreading holiday spirit and raising money for food banks The shows are free to attend but guests are encouraged to bring cash or donations to the food banks in the surrounding communities We're Back! Holiday Train 2022 from Canadian Pacific on Vimeo This is what the holiday season is all about; coming together to give to others and gaze at gorgeous light shows. This just takes it to a whole new level since it's a freaking train Gallery Credit: Meghan Morrison This train is seriously EPIC.\nRead More The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train embodies all of these things with a 1,000-foot train covered in LED lights raising money We're Back! Holiday Train 2022 from Canadian Pacific on Vimeo The towns of Ogunquit and Wells continued to clean up this week after the Patriot's Day Nor'easter The storm had particularly devastating impact on beach and oceanfront areas in both towns damage was not entirely limited to the coast the Coles Hill Road culvert was severely damaged again this year by the swollen Merriland River once again the Towne Lyne Motel was damaged by the flooding Ogunquit River "We have over $1 million in damage," said Wells Fire Chief Dan Moore "There's the Coles Hill Road culvert again And the sea wall damage is close to $500,000." damage estimates have grown above those originally made "We sent a $225,000 estimate to FEMA last week," said Town Manager Phil Clark who returned from extended medical leave just in time for the storm There's a lot of damage to the bridge in Perkins Cove and the bridge near Wharf Lane on Beach Street lost about 40 feet." One of the businesses there that was most affected was Barnacle Billy's "In 1978 we had a terrible storm," said Billy Tower we kept three hatches there to open in case of another storm "We opened them at high tide on Monday and the dining room flooded It shot in like a geyser all over the walls We couldn't remove the stain so we had to paint over it The Norseman there received some minor damage "The water hit the doors in the beach store," said Larry Littlefield of the resort The town has been out there cleaning up and doing a great job." They were scoured out by a storm for the third straight year "The beach has been cut back by about 30 feet over the last few years," Clark said so that will have an impact on what we do with the fence." Clark noted also that the cross-overs at the dunes were hanging 5 feet in the air "I don't know what we'll do with them," he said He estimated that replacing the snow fence there would probably cost $30,000 Luke and Brandee Doane once again faced the need to clean up their lower level The damage was not as bad as last year though "We had 3 feet of water instead of 7," she said "We lost eight rooms and all the furniture so we didn't lose the furnace or the washers and driers." Doane said the problem was the Route 1 Bridge "The state needs to fix that bridge," she said "With so much building [going on] behind us The river now stays 2 feet higher than it's supposed to There's lots of sand and gravel there from when Route 1 fell in last year there was much activity along the beach as people cleaned up debris that had been deposited on their land and attended to water damage to the exterior and interior of their homes One distinctive sight was homes with the siding ripped away on the lowest levels of the building testament that the damage came from surging water rather than wind The sea wall on Webhannet Drive took another hit "The road itself in many places will have to be rebuilt," said Town Manager Jane Duncan "One hundred feet of sea wall needs repair immediately." That area of the road there is down to one lane with Jersey barriers blocking access to a telephone pole that was severely undermined when the asphalt around it washed out The Coles Hill Road culvert is a sore subject with Wells officials "We thought it was a temporary repair last year at $40,000," Duncan said noting that the town argued with FEMA for a more permanent solution The gravel on the down side of the river went out We'd like to get it open for the weekend from a public safety standpoint." Just 90 minutes north of Boston are 21 idyllic whitewashed Maine cottages set on a sprawling 12-acre lawn that'll make you feel like you're spending the summer on Cousins Beach If you’ve ever dreamed of having a summer house like on the silver screen the quaint cottages at The Dunes on the Waterfront feel like they were built for a New England storybook a stay at one of the Dunes’ 21 cottages will have you living the lifestyle of a main character from “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” set in the fictional New England landscape of Cousins Beach From hospitality that makes you feel like you’ve summered in Ogunquit for a lifetime, to being a footbridge or kayak away from one of America’s top 25 beaches The Dunes on the Waterfront is the quintessential New England summer destination The picturesque landscape and white seashell pathways of The Dunes on the Waterfront will instantly make anyone fall in love with Maine The resort offers ultra plush beds and Le Labo products to fresh pastries and a large jug of fresh coffee magically appearing at your cottage patio each morning by 8:30 AM and a daily list of recommended activities that give this elevated resort a quaint New England energy The resort’s first season following a hefty $10 million renovation kicks off this summer Each of the 21 cottages has a unique layout and name to match the theme Captain’s Quarter’s or Lookout The reimagined cottages have a fresh new look Windows and sliding doors offer panoramic waterfront views and ample sunlight After over 90 years of repeat visits (originally operated and owned by the Perkins family since 1935) but were decorated to look new but feel lived-in The interior decorating team traveled to Hudson Maine gathering nautical antiques to accessorize each cottage differently Cottage walls are decorated by pieces from local artists a cozy white brick fireplace offers space to warm up after a long beach day and a complimentary stocked mini fridge quenches post-sun thirst It’s the kind of cottage you could spend all day in Le Labo bath and body products will leave you smelling like luxury as you relax into the plush beds The cottage exteriors are as comfortable as their interiors Relax on the screened-in porch or enjoy the Adirondacks adjacent to each cottage The 12-acres now include a heated waterfront pool ranging from depths of 9 inches to 5 feet each prepped with a buttery soft yellow and white striped towel and two outdoor showers The pool overlooks the saltwater dunes and gorgeous landscape of the property brimming with flower boxes and willowy trees Perhaps one of the most exciting navigations at The Dunes on the Waterfront is the handful of adventurous ways to travel to the beach Cross the dunes and you’re just a quick trip from one of Ogunquit’s best beaches Get there by taking one of the resorts complimentary kayaks Cross the dunes from the resort dock to the wooden footbridge surrounded by aromatic Rosa Rugosa You can also easily cross over by foot during low tide and watch baby crabs and clam shells floating around the sand en route Beach chairs are available for guests at request take the boats for a ride up and down Ogunquit and explore the sanctuaries of Beach Plum Farm The Dunes houses a fleet of turquoise cruiser bikes endless exploration Twice a week The Dunes on the Waterfront offers waterfront yoga on the lawn The same spot is perfect for watching the sunrise or making s’mores by the outdoor firepit which is lit every night at 6:30 PM with s’mores kits on standby for roasting The Lodge at The Dunes on the Waterfront is the main access point for added amenities and an opportunity to meet your neighbors Visit The Lodge for complimentary bottled waters While The Dunes on the Waterfront doesn’t have a restaurant, the property has a footpath directly connected to the historic Ogunquit Lobster Pound where lobster lovers can pick their own lobster and dine on fresh-caught seafood Make sure to show your Dunes key for free deep dish blueberry pie on the resort The Dunes on the Waterfront is directly across Footbridge Beach named one of the best beaches in the country At low tide it offers 3-miles of clean sand The dunes double as a calm saltwater pool ideal for swimming You’ll find them right at the footsteps of the resort traveling all the way down to Main Beach Marginal Way is a stunning 82-foot elevated cliff walk stemming from downtown Ogunquit to Perkins Cove The entire 2.4-mile path overlooks the Atlantic with dozens of wooden benches amongst the roses to relax on Enjoy the fresh scents of salt air and Rosa Rugosa on this path and finish by admiring the boats and enjoying some seafood at Perkin’s Cove Bostonians ranked the lobster in Ogunquit as some of the best in all of New England Barnacle Billy’s in Perkins Cove and Beach Plum Farm Takeout serve delicious lobster and steamer clams downtown Ogunquit offers great souvenir shopping enjoy some of the best lobster and steamers at The Lobster House Loveshack Juicery which is steps from Main Beach a visit to Treehouse Taqueria for dinner followed by The Front Porch Piano Bar for live music is essential Cottage occupancy ranges from two up to four guests. Reserve your cottage at The Dunes on the Waterfront Ogunquit is a quick 90-minute trip from Boston via I-95 North Guests have complimentary parking at each cottage No car, no problem! Take the Downeaster train from North Station to the Wells it’s just a 15-minute Lyft or Uber to the resort Learn more and reserve your stay at The Dunes. Find The Dunes on the Waterfront at 518 Main Street in Ogunquit, Maine booking now through October 28, 2024 Print Why are there oil pumpjacks laboring away along the La Cienega shortcut through Baldwin Hills to LAX was an oil derrick pumping vigorously on the grounds of Beverly Hills High School Would Manhattan allow an oil rig right outside Grand Central Station Would Paris permit a derrick to go bob-bobbing along behind the Eiffel Tower how many barrels a day are we talking about Hollywood is more dazzling, aerospace more thrilling, but it’s oil — noisome, filthy crude oil – that for more than 120 years has helped to make Los Angeles an unlikely petro-capital, and to make Angelenos rich. By 1926, when crabby Baltimore journalist H. L. Mencken complained that L.A. “stank of orange blossoms,” it also stank of oil. At the La Brea tarpits (whose Anglo-Spanish name sticky face tens of thousands of years ago a black quicksand deathtrap where the Chumash cannily and carefully harvested tar to caulk their tomol When the Spanish arrived in the summer of 1769 wrote that his party christened them “the tar volcanoes.” brother of the last governor of Mexican California distilled oil seeping from his land into kerosene for his lamps The first real oil well was drilled during the Civil War, but industrial demand just wasn’t there for it to catch on. Finally, on Nov. 4, 1892, a down-on-his-luck newcomer named Edward L. Doheny sharpened a eucalyptus log like a No. 2 pencil and went chonking away at the Echo Park earth and struck oil (The Doheny story too went on — on to riches Among the millions who came to Southern California dreaming of backyard orange trees as far west as the waters off Venice Beach It was as if “The Beverly Hillbillies” had brought their Texas tea with them Signal Hill, which flows with oil to this day, had so many derricks that a Depression-era WPA guide to Los Angeles said it resembled “an aroused porcupine.” And recently, a USGS study suggested that the killer 1933 Long Beach quake may have been caused by deep drilling down the coast in Huntington Beach this tempting bonanza made for schemes and scams The most brazen was the Julian oil scandal a stock-manipulation Ponzi scheme that fleeced tens of thousands of Angelenos out of more than $100 million One accused crook was shot dead in court by a man who had lost his life savings Los Angeles’ district attorney went to San Quentin for taking bribes tried to pull another fast one in Oklahoma planted in parking lots and business districts and neighborhoods disguised as stylish towers or nondescript office buildings or with all their dipping-duck unsightliness right out there still milking maybe 100 million barrels a year out of the ground generating what it’s always been about — money and jobs California L.A. is a place like no other. You’ve got questions. Patt Morrison probably has answers and can definitely find out. If all this has got you thinking about sticking an auger into your yard and hoping for a gusher, it might not even be yours. Deeds and mineral rights are such a patchwork that sometimes you own only what’s as far down as the iceplant roots, and sometimes the mineral rights even stayed with some previous owner. So that’s why you see them, those oil rigs on the shortcut through the hills to the airport. The Inglewood oil field is the biggest urban oilfield in the country, 97 years old and likely to reach 100 and then some. As for drilling for oil in Paris — that was the premise of a 1943 play called “The Madwoman of Chaillot.” Katharine Hepburn stars as the lady trying to foil the oil. Los Angeles is a big, complicated place. Patt Morrison explaining how it works, its history and its culture in Explaining L.A. on latimes.com. Patt Morrison is a writer and columnist for the Los Angeles Times, where as a member of two reporting teams, she has a share of two Pulitzer Prizes. Her public broadcast programs have earned her six Emmys, her two non-fiction books were bestsellers and Pink’s, the Hollywood hot dog stand, named its veggie dog after her. Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Maine is known for a lot of things, among them is unique restaurants and lots of them. This hidden gem nestled in the heart of Ellsworth on Main St might be worth the trip from wherever you are right now The bar itself is an actual 1930s train dining car and it’s located inside the pub About 30 minutes northwest of Bar Harbor, locals and visitors have been coming back to Finn’s Irish Pub since they opened their doors back in 2012 for their mouth-watering traditional Irish dishes like the shepherd’s pie Finn’s is a charming establishment that offers an authentic taste of Ireland without ever leaving the state They are also known for their large selection of Irish whiskeys and draught beers which pair perfectly with their hearty meals.  guests are greeted by the aroma of comfort food and depending on the day along with the Irish memorabilia and decorations is sure to set the perfect Irish dining experience to unwind and enjoy a nice meal or a few beverages.  they also often host live entertainment from traditional Irish music to local bands allowing guests the true sounds of Ireland.  Gallery Credit: Megan Gallery Credit: DJ Fred Maine is known for a lot of things, among them is unique restaurants and lots of them. This hidden gem nestled in the heart of Ellsworth on Main St. might be worth the trip from wherever you are right now.\n Maine is known for a lot of things, among them is unique restaurants and lots of them. This hidden gem nestled in the heart of Ellsworth on Main St. might be worth the trip from wherever you are right now. The bar itself is an actual 1930s train dining car and it’s located inside the pub. View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Christian Huninghake Phc (@jameshuninghake) About 30 minutes northwest of Bar Harbor, locals and visitors have been coming back to Finn’s Irish Pub since they opened their doors back in 2012 for their mouth-watering traditional Irish dishes like the shepherd’s pie ☘️ It's time to grow the team...we have a month under our belt and we are ready to add some really great talent..Looking.. ☘️ It brings the Finn’s Team great joy to say💚📣.."With the luck of the Irish🍀🇮🇪"..Finn’s will officially reopen on.. Maine — Four New Hampshire suspects were taken into custody Monday in Wells and were later implicated in an attempted purse snatching in York Beach earlier in the afternoon The four are charged with robbing the Chases Country Store on Route 109 in Wells Immediately after that robbery as Wells police broadcast a description of the silver sedan at the scene York police noticed similarities with the earlier York incident Arrested on robbery charges in connection with the Chases robbery are Jeremy Jewell The situation in York unfolded around 1:30 p.m A 68-year-old woman was walking in the vicinity of the Sun & Surf Restaurant when she was approached from behind by someone who tried to grab her purse “She was thrown to the ground but was able to hold on to her purse,” said Sgt She also screamed loudly and the assailant fled getting into a nearby silver sedan and taking off toward Short Sands Beach Footage of the snatching was captured on the Anchorage Inn video surveillance camera Police immediately spread out in the vicinity but were unable to find the car Wells police were responding to the store robbery The suspects and vehicle description were broadcast over police radio and there were some immediate similarities to the York robbery Wells police immediately took Jewell into custody at the scene and had detained two of the three females inside a silver Nissan similar to the vehicle seen in York Shortly afterward the remaining female was arrested at the Wells Amtrak station All four were booked at the Wells police station on Class A robbery charges in connection with the Wells incident According to a press release by York police three of the people were also identified as suspects in the York incident It was unclear Monday night if they face identical or different charges other than “some scrapes and bruises,” the victim of the purse snatching in York is fine “It was a pretty brazen thing to do in the middle of the day with people around,” he said Police are asking anyone who might have been a witness to the incident to call the station at (207) 363-4444 now known as Country Meadows Apartments on Route 109 in Wells received worldwide publicity with its first patient in 1909 Cook claimed to have been the first to stand at the axis of Earth's rotation on April 21 Forced to winter in an underground den at Cape Sparbo Five days after Cook announced his accomplishment Mainer Robert Peary reported that he had been the first to reach the geographic North Pole on April 6 Peary launched an all out assault on Cook's veracity Cook defended himself with allegations that Peary had stolen his notes from an associate The controversy was good for newspaper sales The New York Herald paid Cook $3,000 for a written account of his expedition to be printed it in 12 segments under the headline "Conquest of the Pole." The New York Times supported Peary's claims and printed every disparaging remark he made about his rival Cook's proofs were to be examined by scientists at the University of Copenhagen for authenticity during December of 1909 Planting conflicting reports of his whereabouts Cook slipped off to Wells Depot Maine becoming the first patient of the newly opened Pine Tree Sanitarium Deeds recorded at the York County Court House in Alfred indicate that Eva Pitt of Boston purchased the old George Hatch homestead on Sanford Road Thomas Smith Pitt opened the Pine Tree Sanitarium for business in November of 1909 Seeing the name of their new sanitarium appear in newspapers worldwide as the reputed hiding place of elusive explorer Dr They certainly intended to protect the privacy of their patients All their ads promised they would but when a reporter for the Portsmouth Daily Herald appeared at her door on November 30 1909 Eva Pitt could not bring herself to discourage him entirely "I'm not saying that he hasn't been here" she said "They'll have hard work to find him as we are well fitted here to take care of just such cases." Sightings of Dr Cook were also reported in Philadelphia and in New York Just as attention to the Wells sanitarium was dying down and other hiding places were being suggested by the press a New York Times reporter tracked Dr Pitt down at the train station in Boston on Dec Cook is at the Pine Tree suffering from nervous breakdown not a news-distributing bureau and I am tired of being pursued by reporters." Wells Depot citizens also had their say in the papers With a population of about 200 people and one road in and out of the village strangers in town were rarely missed telegraph operator and Boston and Maine Railroad employee recognized the explorer when he got off the train at Wells Beach from the pictures in the newspaper Cook hired Earl York to drive him to the sanitarium Earl tried to engage him in conversation but the doctor hid his identity under a large fur overcoat watched the carriage pass his house and discharge its passenger at Pine Tree "The patient has a room on the second floor and he went to bed at 9 o'clock" said Caine who spent the evening of November 29 at the sanitarium Cook was discredited and Peary was celebrated as a hero Cook fled the country in shame but the controversy about who first set foot at the North Pole rages on to this day Pitt and his wife Eva made national news again in 1919 when they testified at the murder trial of the Reverend Henry Hall The minister was accused of pushing his wife off the railroad bridge at Wells Depot and into the Little River The Pitts ran the sanitarium until 1932 when another news report put them out of business Pitt was one of only eight physicians in the country reported by the Federal Trade Commission to have treated patients with experimental Radium Water The resulting radiation poisoning proved deadly for one unfortunate Pittsburgh man and the careers of seven physicians To learn more about the North Pole Controversy and Radium Water go to www.mykennebunks.com/sanitarium.htm Sharon Cummins is an historical research professional in Southern Maine She can be reached by email at sharonlynn@roadrunner.com As drivers cross into Maine from New Hampshire on I-95 and continue north on the Maine Turnpike they may notice a very out-of-place thing very close to the highway just before the Kennebunk service plaza A cemetery sits just a mere three feet from the shoulder of the highway it was there long before the Maine Turnpike According to an article from the Associated Press The Mitchell-Hatch Cemetery has been in that spot since 1819 At the time the first person was buried there there was no Maine Turnpike because there were no automobiles And there still weren't when the last burial occurred in 1883 The land the highway sits on today was likely owned by the family who built the cemetery to lay their loved ones to rest nearby as you can see in this satellite photo from Google Maps Note just how close the cemetery is to the highway The highway wasn't always this close to the cemetery but when the Maine Turnpike expanded to three lanes in the early 2000s from Kittery to Portland the highway suddenly got really close to the burial site Turnpike authorities thought they may have to move the cemetery they were able to build the third lane coming just three feet from the edge of the burial site The Turnpike Authority took the time to protect and restore the cemetery by replacing some posts sealing headstones to make them weather and element-proof and building a fence that keeps the snow and debris from the plows away from the cemetery but their legacy remains and is protected today The next time you're heading north on the Maine Turnpike keep an eye out on your right for the Mitchell-Hatch Cemetery Your eyes aren't deceiving you. There's a cemetery that sits just a mere three feet from the shoulder of the highway.\nRead More The cemetery is not easily accessible, as there is no road to it, as you can see in this satellite photo from Google Maps. Note just how close the cemetery is to the highway. The highway wasn't always this close to the cemetery. It had always been visible from the road, but when the Maine Turnpike expanded to three lanes in the early 2000s from Kittery to Portland, the highway suddenly got really close to the burial site. At one point, Turnpike authorities thought they may have to move the cemetery, and no one wanted that to happen. Luckily, when the expansion reached the cemetery, they were able to build the third lane coming just three feet from the edge of the burial site. The Turnpike Authority took the time to protect and restore the cemetery by replacing some posts, sealing headstones to make them weather and element-proof, and building a fence that keeps the snow and debris from the plows away from the cemetery. The Mitchell-Hatch family is long gone, but their legacy remains and is protected today. The next time you're heading north on the Maine Turnpike, keep an eye out on your right for the Mitchell-Hatch Cemetery. highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016 where her love for travel and storytelling converges and time with her family.\r\n\r\nFor questions Share Link6 Incredible Maine Day Trips You Can Take By TrainExplore the best train rides in Maine We scoured the state for the best day trips in Maine There are lots of options for adventure in Maine A train ride is one of the best ways to relax AND get somewhere new From conventional passenger trains to scenic here are some of the best train trips in Maine Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum / FacebookThe Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad is dedicated to sharing the history of Maine’s two-foot gauge railroad leisurely train ride in Maine along the waterfront It lasts about 35 minutes and travels three miles round-trip along the Eastern Prom Learn more about the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum Downeast Scenic Railroad / FacebookThis beautiful train system is dedicated to preserving the railroad history of the Downeast area visitors can take part in a variety of station-focused events including the popular "touch a train." But the real fun is in the train rides that leave from the station and head to surrounding areas Enjoy fall foliage tours in the autumn and fun leisure rides throughout the summer It is one of the best places for train rides near me in Maine Read more about the Downeast Scenic Railroad Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad / FacebookThe Brooks Preservation Society is a non-profit preservation organization dedicated to preserving railroad history in Waldo County Thirty-three miles of the former Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad is leased from the Maine Department of Transportation Train excursions are typically offered May through October and include several train trips in Maine focused on foliage Read further on about Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad Seashore Trolley Museum / FacebookThe Seashore Trolley Museum is the largest electric railway museum in the world and now has a collection that includes vehicles from almost every state that has or had a streetcar system This is more than just a place to visit - there are interactive events and exhibits for visitors to enjoy While train rides here are not an every day occurrence show up during a holiday or during the summer and you'll likely have the chance to see the equipment in action Learn more about visiting the Seashore Trolley Museum This Amtrak connection will take you from Boston all the way to Brunswick Choose from many awesome train rides in Maine Learn more about riding the Amtrak Downeaster Have you ever enjoyed any of these train rides in Maine Did we miss any of your favorite Maine train rides These train trips in Maine aren't the only option for adventure in Vacationland. Check out these incredible day trips in Maine. Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe... Enjoy your own private fishing pond and then head to one of Missouri's underrated fishing spots with a stay at this cozy cabin. Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox! Brevard County is waking up Thursday to extreme winds vast power outages and flooding throughout the Space Coast courtesy of Hurricane Milton A probable tornado touched down in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday The storm was a Category 1 when it reached Brevard in the early hours Thursday headed through Cape Canaveral to the Atlantic. It made landfall at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday near Siesta Key as a powerful Category 3 hurricane Brevard County was downgraded to a tropical storm warning The night was a rough one for Brevard County beginning Wednesday evening when a possible tornado blew through Cocoa Beach destroying several homes and buildings a Supercuts was destroyed and the mayor's home also sustained damage Investigators from the National Weather Service need to conduct an investigation before it is officially ruled a tornado Reports of flooding came in from across the county A hotel in Grant flooded and had to be evacuated Streets were underwater from Satellite Beach to Rockledge Rainfall in northern Brevard was projected to be so significant that a fourth shelter was opened Milton was about 200 miles east northeast of Cape Canaveral It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and was moving east northeast at 21 mph The eye of the storm passed somewhere between Titusville and Kennedy Space Center early Thursday morning Brevard continued to get pounded by the backside of the storm hours after "We’ll still see tropical storm to hurricane gusts throughout the morning," Brendan Schaper meteorologist at the National Weather Center in Melbourne said early Thursday morning "Eventually by tonight we'll see a decrease in winds." FLORIDA TODAY has a team of reporters and photographers roaming the county to survey damage the rural parts of the county north of Cocoa were quiet Thursday afternoon North Indian River Drive between City Point Road and Blacks Road in Cocoa will be closed to through traffic due to flooding from Hurricane Milton please contact Brevard County Traffic Operations Program A line was down at the corner of Barton and Baldwin Street We are extremely thankful and even though we have residents without power- we know FPL is doing their best to get it restored will be closed to through traffic due to downed power lines and trees from Hurricane Milton 1 (North Washington Ave) are closed and blocked near the Norwood Avenue intersection because of downed power lines Northbound traffic can detour via eastbound Garden Street Brevard County announced that all its storm shelters were now closed Surfers rode the waves off Brevard County's beaches Thursday despite a warning from the National Weather Service about "dangerous strong "Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water," according to the message from the NWS Some beachgoers walked with large trash bags picking up debris littering the sand following Hurricane Milton 3:05 p.m.: Port Canaveral undergoing assessment after Hurricane MiltonPort Canaveral is undergoing an assessment of its shipping channel for debris and shoaling as a preliminary step for possible resumption of cruise and cargo operations The port's waterside operations cannot resume without that assessment and subsequent approval from the U.S These cruise ship schedules have been impacted at Port Canaveral: The port's Jetty Park campgrounds and boat ramps remain closed although the port's Cove district was experiencing power outages Thursday afternoon Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando will reopen Friday after being closed two days for Hurricane Milton Waste Management will collect carted garbage carted recycle and carted/containerized yard waste only for those residents with regular Friday service  No loose vegetative debris or bulky waste will be collected on Friday Commercial service will follow its normal schedule Thursday residential garbage customers will be serviced Monday Thursday residential recycle and carted/containerized yard waste customers will be serviced Thursday Residents can go to www.WMFloridaStorm.com for real-time service updates County and municipal officials are conducting damage assessments to determine if storm debris contractors will collect large The county will provide an update when these decisions are finalized With schools being canceled around the county and Hurricane Milton walloping the state of Florida no football games will be played Friday night Week 8 football games will be played at different times over the course of the rest of the month for Brevard County teams Week 8 games will resume as early as Monday with Heritage set to host its game against Ft Merritt Island will go to Eau Gallie for a Monday night game Find the schedule for games here. Brevard County Government offices will reopen and resume normal operations effective Friday County offices closed Wednesday and Thursday to prepare and coordinate response efforts for Hurricane Milton  Also resuming Friday are Space Coast Area Transit services Solid Waste landfills – Central Disposal Facility in Cocoa and Titusville/Mockingbird Transfer Station – will reopen at 7:30 a.m For individuals seeking emergency medical attention enter through the main Emergency Department entrance Other Parrish facilities plan to resume normal operations Friday Parrish Healthcare Center Titus Landing and the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation Office "There were no disruptions to customers during the storm," said Cheryl Mall "There is a water main break on Burns Boulevard near Francis Joseph Jr The water crew is still in process of isolating the main It should be repaired today as long as parts are available There have been no interruptions to sewer service there were power disruptions at some lift stations Crews were deployed to send portable generators to the stations until power is restored There was no interruption to wastewater service," she said County officials are asking if your home or property suffered damage from Hurricane Milton to complete a damage report. The report is not an application for assistance It will help Brevard County Emergency Management make decisions that will best serve the community during recover efforts A lockdown has been lifted at Holmes Regional Palm Bay and Viera Hospitals as of 11:30 a.m Cape Canaveral Hospital remained closed until safety assessments are complete It's anticipated all outpatient services will reopen by noon Friday Health First evacuated 28 patients from Cape Canaveral Hospital prior to Hurricane Milton on Tuesday afternoon 12 p.m.: Restaurants/Publix open in Brevard after Hurricane MiltonRestaurants in Brevard County started opening Thursday now that Hurricane Milton has passed Here's a list of where you can get food. Publix locations are opening Thursday by 3 p.m. “Just left the EOC and did my tour of our city I think we are blessed here as we have normal post hurricane flooding,” Titusville Mayor Dan Diesel said in a text message And it appears that Daytona got 15 inches (north of the eye can get that)." Titusville police also tweeted post-storm information for residents “We are receiving multiple calls asking how community members can help with storm recovery the weather permitting and during daylight hours the best way to help is to assist with clearing roadway debris within your neighborhood so first responders and city restoration and recovery crews can navigate through neighborhood streets stay away from down powerlines and standing water as there may be unseen hazards below the surface Do NOT attempt to clear major roadways or highways "I’ve just completed preliminary inspection of our most narrow beaches in the South Beaches and Mid Reach," said Mike McGarry Brevard County's beach renourishment coordinator said about 10:30 a.m we have fared very well with erosion limited to the eastern beach where it can largely recover naturally Wind and seas will remain high much of day so he planned to complete another inspection after today's 2 p.m "Just because skies are clear, doesn’t mean the hazards have ended! Strong wind gusts across east central Florida and flooding concerns near and north of the 1-4 corridor continue, there are also a number of beach hazards present. If possible, avoid venturing outside,” according to a statement by the National Weather Service in Melbourne. Isolated showers and storms are possible throughout the day Wind gusts could be up to 50 to 70-plus mph in some spots Rockledge was "doing pretty well" Thursday morning Deputy Police Chief Donna Seyferth said."We're still assessing for power outages so we would rather people not be out driving around doing the looky-loo thing," Seyferth said.She said there were some lines down around the city but it wasn't immediately clear if they were power lines She advised residents to stay off the roads to avoid hazards but said the status could evolve throughout the day as city workers took stock of any damage Walker said shelters may be consolidated over the next day as many head for home after Milton's exit Thursday there were no reported sewage spills associated with Hurricane Milton in Brevard County a subcontractor bored through a 6-inch sewer main in Palm Bay according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection City utility staff were able to stop the spill Cocoa Mayor Mike Blake said Thursday morning there were some power outages flooding around the city and other minor issues our city police officers are out there canvassing the city and myself the city manager and our team are working together to find and address any problems," Blake said In a morning press briefing broadcast from the Emergency Operations Center in Rockledge Sheriff Wayne Ivey and emergency management director John Scott said the storm had left over 92,000 homes without power Despite street flooding and some damage to buildings "Our big concern of having tornados and that became a reality when one touched down in Cocoa Beach," Ivey said There was no loss of life and nobody injured as a result of that tornado Scott said there was between 6-9 inches of rain around the county Sheriff Ivey said he and members of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office would be heading to Hillsborough County to help with hurricane response closer to its greatest impact is reporting that more than 1.6 million customer accounts in its service territory experienced power outages from Hurricane Milton or more than one out of every three customers A number of counties in FPL's service territory had more than 50% of customers affected by outages FPL deployed a workforce of nearly 17,000 to help restore power including mutual assistance from other companies from 40 states across the United States A total of 554 people and 65 pets used Brevard County four shelters during Hurricane Milton The county will begin consolidating shelters later this morning as damage from the storm is assessed Parrish Medical Center in Titusville in recovery phase following Hurricane Milton The hospital is in partial lockdown "until further notice." That means public access to the hospital will be limited to persons requiring emergency medical attention All entrances into the hospital will be locked with the exception of the Emergency Department general visiting hours are expected to resume after thecity officials have issued the 'all clear,'" according to a press release from Parrish 8:48: Live damage report throughout BrevardKeep track of storm damage in Brevard County and throughout Florida with this website. Hurricane Milton resulted in many traffic lights at intersections being non-operational If you are driving (after conditions become safe to travel) and you reach an intersection with a non-operational light courtesy of an advisory from the city of Cocoa: There were no reports of flooding in Lamplighter Village a spokesperson for the county said Thursday morning the county has undertaken a variety of flood mitigation projects with Lamplighter Village being an area of focus with its tendency to flood during major storms Four new four-foot diameter pipes were installed under Interstate 95 with an additional pipe under Eau Gallie Boulevard The county also constructed new channels and improved existing channels increased culvert sizes upstream and downstream of the neighborhood and installed several gates to reduce the amount of water able to flow east from the St The National Weather Service in Melbourne, in its local storm reports is continuing to report high winds along the Space Coast this morning Space Force wind sensor three miles southeast of Kennedy Space Center registered a wind gust coming from the north of 87 mph at 6:50 a.m One caveat is that the sensor elevation is 54 feet high Space Force wind sensor located two miles west-southwest of Playalinda Beach registered an even-higher gust — 92 mph At Melbourne Orlando International Airport a wind reading at around the same time showed sustained winds of 43 mph with gusts of 78 mph Though Titusville City Hall officials have yet to fan out and fully assess potential damages from Hurricane Milton Mayor Dan Diesel is optimistic that his city escaped significant damages “In my communication with city today this morning I think it's going to be one of our typical hurricanes with the downed power lines in some places Diesel chatted with FLORIDA TODAY while driving to Titusville’s emergency operations center at the fire department headquarters He said the back end of Milton brought the fiercest winds just before sunrise – and “my power made it until the ninth inning” before his home lost electricity City spokesperson Amy Matthews said she did not have specific information available yet on Titusville storm damages but personnel were heading out after the winds died down Wondering when Publix will reopen after Hurricane Milton The company set up this website to check on your local Publix location. Palm Bay Police were assessing the city's roads early Thursday morning, where "numerous" traffic lights were out, according to a post on their Facebook page. They urged residents to stay off roads until the storm has completely passed The traffic lights not working just after 5:30 a.m according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the level at which major flooding is expected NOAA says flood impacts will include water covering State Road 46 making it likely impassable near Jungle Road and Prevatt Road "Standing water on secondary roads near the river deepens to more than three feet in some areas," NOAA's National Water Prediction Service's website says "Flooding becomes more significant to structures and marinas from above Lake Harney to the Lake Jesup area." The city of Melbourne is advising Space Coast residents to conserve water wherever possible to prevent sewage overflows:  Melbourne Orlando International Airport now has a 30-foot hole in the roof due to Hurricane Milton. The storm's strong winds and powerful force left a hole in the roof about 30 feet by 40 feet executive director of Melbourne Orlando International Airport come down in the center of the terminal," Donovan said "The large section crashed down causing a very big gap The other fortunate element in this is it's been really dry since that initial wave so we haven't had a lot of water intrusion The focus right now is mobilizing crews to get up there to patch that up and to limit the amount of damage and water intrusion into the building." The city of Cocoa issued a flood alert for the following areas due to heavy rain from Hurricane Milton: 1151 Indian River Drive to Dixon BoulevardClearlake Road from Lake Drive to State Road 520Corner of Riveredge Boulevard and Harrison Street"Do not drive or walk through flood waters as it is very hazardous," the city advised The city of Melbourne is urging people to stay off the roads as city crews begin damage assessments.  "We urge everyone stay off the roads until public safety officials deem it is safe to travel," the city's website says Please keep roadways clear to allow crews to restore services as quickly as possible." Brevard County officials opened a fourth shelter late Wednesday at the Port St The shelter was activated from a stand-by list "out of an abundance of caution." It's open to the general public as well as pets Nearly 200 people filled Brevard's three other shelters Wednesday Space Coast Area Transit will provide transportation to the shelters for registered special needs clients To request transportation to a special needs shelter call 2-1-1 Residents going to shelters will need to take their own supplies It's also recommended to bring any needed medications personal hygiene items and entertainment items There were 85,430 power outages reported in Brevard (24.1% of total accounts) shortly after 6 a.m A flash flood warning was issued for northwestern Brevard County until 9 a.m Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area Between 4 and 7 inches of rain have fallen Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible in the warned area She can be reached at MSpitzer@Floridatoday.com.