Daily Archives: August 24, 2023

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REGIONAL: HURRICANE SEASON

KEY FIGURES

70% CHANCE OF ABOVE-NORMAL ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON IN REVISED NOAA FORECAST.

1.5K PEOPLE SEEKING SHELTER IN BAJA CALIFORNIA AFTER TROPICAL STORM HILARY

ATLANTIC

The United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has revised its 2023 Atlantic hurricane season forecast from a 40 per cent chance of near-normal level of activity to a 70 per cent chance of an abovenormal season. The updated outlook calls for 14-21 named storms, 6-11 hurricanes, and 2-5 major hurricanes.

El Nio conditions, usually unfavourable for storm development, are likely to be offset by current atmospheric conditions, including warmer sea temperatures that drive storms. The season is underway with Emily, Gert and Franklin all currently active over the Atlantic and the Caribbean.

TROPICAL STORM FRANKLIN

Tropical Storm Franklin is expected to reach the southern coast of Hispaniola by the evening of 22 August. Tropical Storm warnings are in place in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where Franklin is anticipated to bring heavy rainfall, sustained winds of up to 85 km/h and storm surge of as much as 1 to 3 feet above ground level along the coast. The increased rainfall may result in flash and urban flooding, river overflows and mudslides through 22-23 August. A Tropical Storm watch is also in place in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

PACIFIC

Tropical Storm Hilary made landfall over Mexico's Baja California peninsula on 20 August, bringing strong winds, intense rains and waves of more than 40 feet. Hilary formed on 16 August as a tropical storm off the coast of Manzanillo, Mexico and strengthened as it moved towards the Pacific coast, prompting the Government to issue a tropical storm warning for the majority of the peninsula. By 19 August, forecasts predicted that Hilary would become a Category 4 storm, but it quickly weakened to Category 1 and then a tropical storm as it made landfall.

According to the National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC), flooding and mudslides have caused damage to infrastructure and agriculture and resulted in the closure of a section of the highway in Baja California. Preliminary reports from CNPC indicate that at least one person has died and almost 1,500 people are currently in 37 temporary shelters.

HAITI: VIOLENCE & FOOD INSECURITY

KEY FIGURES

200K PEOPLE DISPLACED IN HAITI IN JULY DUE TO VIOLENCE

Violence and insecurity continue to escalate across the Port-Au-Prince Metropolitan Area (ZMPAP) amid reports of increasing food insecurity. Between 11-15 August, violence broke out in the Decayette, Carrefour-Feuilles and Savanne Pistache neighbourhoods. At least 50 houses were set on fire, with 28 people either killed or injured, including a local municipal representative and his family. The increased violence has forced almost 5,000 people to flee from these neighbourhoods in the past week. According to the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), violence displaced almost 200,000 people in July, including 130,000 in the ZMPAP, half of them children. This violence comes as Haiti faces unprecedented humanitarian needs, with almost 5 million people, half of the population, unable to find enough to eat. Prolonged drought, followed by flooding in June, have limited spring harvests, resulting in yields below the five-year average. This harvest accounts for 60 per cent of national agricultural production, raising further concerns of food insecurity among the poorest. Six months into the year, the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan is only 26 per cent funded, which is having dire consequences for implementing assistance. Additionally, in July, WFP was forced to reduce the number of people receiving emergency food aid in Haiti by 25 per cent due to decreased funding levels.

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Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (As of 21 August 2023) - Haiti - ReliefWeb

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has recently honored the late Caribbean icon, Harry Belafonte, with a posthumous Key to the City of New York.

This gesture acknowledges Belafontes wide-ranging contributions to the worlds of music, film, theater, and television.

In addition to his celebrated entertainment career, Belafonte was an influential civil rights leader.

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He prominently participated in key events, notably the March on Washington around 60 years ago.

Mayor Adams extolled Belafontes unique ability to intertwine his art with activism, praising him for navigating racial barriers and surpassing the limits of his artistic mediums.

When daylight comes, and we can all go home, its because Harry led the way in letting the light shine through. I am honored to present Harry Belafonte, through his family, with a Key to the City of New York, Mayor Adams said.

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Born to West Indian immigrants in Harlem, New York, Belafontes artistic journey began at the American Negro Theatre.

His exceptional talent and dedication led him to achieve the coveted EGOT recognition, earning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards throughout his illustrious career.

Dating back to 1702, the Key to the City of New York has a rich history.

Mayor Phillip French first presented it as the Freedom of the City to Viscount Edward Cornbury, who was overseeing both New York and New Jersey.

By the mid-19th century, the symbolic gesture had evolved, representing the citys invitation to guests to feel welcome and move freely.

Today, Mayor Adams emphasized that the key stands as a beloved symbol of civic recognition and gratitude, bestowed upon those whose service to the public achieves the highest standards.

Read more articles about the diaspora from Caribbean National Weekly

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New York honors Caribbean icon: Harry Belafonte receives key to the city posthumously - caribbeannationalweekly.com

Flames devoured forests and homes as dozens of wildfires raged across Greece Wednesday, leaving 20 people dead over the past three days, while major blazes burned in northwestern Turkey near the Greek border and on Tenerife in Spains Canary Islands. A major blaze on the northwestern fringe of Athens was torching homes and heading into Parnitha national park, one of the last green areas near the Greek capital. Associated Press photographer Achilleas Chiras captured the march of fire Wednesday through a forest near the village of Sykorrahi in the northeastern Evros region.

Heres what else is happening related to extreme weather and the climate right now:

In Pakistan, officials announced that rescuers have evacuated more than 100,000 people from flood-hit areas of eastern Punjab province in the past three weeks. Pakistani authorities are still struggling to overcome the damage caused by massive floods last summer that affected 33 million people and killed 1,739. They caused $30 billion in damage to the countrys economy.

In the Caribbean, Tropical Storm Franklin made landfall Wednesday on the island of Hispaniola shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti, dumping heavy rains expected to trigger landslides and flooding in both countries. Forecasters warned it could drop up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in the Dominican Republic and up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Haiti.

In southwestern Switzerland, police warned Wednesday that a heat wave has increased the risk of falling rock and ice in the Alpine region, where its been particularly deadly this year for mountaineers and hikers. Most victims have been foreigners.

A new study found climate change more than doubled chances of the hot, dry weather conditions that helped fuel unprecedented fires season in eastern Canada that drove thousands from their homes and blanketed parts of the U.S. with choking smoke. Human-caused climate change made the fire season in Quebec from May through July 50% more intense than it otherwise would have been, researchers said.

In Canada, firefighters in a scenic region of British Columbia said Wednesday that heavy rain overnight helped douse wildfires that forced the evacuation of thousands of people from the Canadian province, as the cost of the devastating fires became clearer. Officials in southern British Columbia said 174 properties were partially or totally damaged by the fires that raged for days in the Okanagan Valley threatening towns in the Kelowna area, a summer destination about 90 miles (150 kilometers) north of the U.S. border.

In Hawaii, authorities pleaded with relatives of the hundreds of people who may be missing after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century to come forward and give DNA samples. They said the low number of samples provided so far threatens to hinder efforts to identify any remains discovered in the ashes.

Climate change may force many U.S. farmers and ranchers to use irrigation at a steep cost, The Associated Press reported.

QUOTABLE:

The population of the Dominican Republic must all be right now, without exception, in their homes, the homes of friends and family, or in shelters. Juan Manuel Mndez, emergency operations director

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Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Tropical storm hits Caribbean, wildfires rage in Greece. What to know about extreme weather now - WHNT News 19

Tropical Storm Franklin has made landfall on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic, dumping heavy rains on the Caribbean nation and its neighbour on the island of Hispaniola, Haiti.

Franklin was expected to swirl above the island for most of Wednesday, with forecasters warning the storm could dump up to 250mm (10 inches) of rain, with a maximum of 380mm (15 inches) for the central region of Hispaniola.

The storm has raised concerns that deadly landslides and heavy flooding could be triggered in both countries.

The US National Hurricane Center said in an advisory on Wednesday morning that Franklin was moving northwards and was expected to cross Hispaniola throughout the day before emerging over the southwest Atlantic Ocean.

In the Caribbean, officials were most concerned about the impact in Haiti, which is vulnerable to catastrophic flooding given the countrys severe erosion.

The Haitian civil protection agency warned on Wednesday morning that the storm was expected to bring strong winds and rain to several regions across the nation.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry urged Haitians a day earlier to stock up on water, food and medication as authorities checked on some of the more than 200,000 people displaced by gang violence, with some living on the street or in makeshift shelters.

We are fully committed to provide safe shelter, food, clean water and medical assistance to all those who might be affected by the storm, Henry wrote on social media.

Local authorities, relief agencies and partner organisations are working hand-in-hand so that no one is left behind.

Some recalled how a powerful thunderstorm that unleashed heavy rains one day in June killed more than 40 people across Haiti.

This is not an unfamiliar reality for people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Yet, Haitians have still not caught their breath from the impact of recent flooding just two months ago, Adib Fletcher, senior regional director for Latin America at the humanitarian group Project HOPE.

As the climate crisis continues to intensify the frequency and severity of storms, both Haiti and the Dominican Republics healthcare systems urgently need additional resources to prepare for future crises in order to provide timely care, crucial in preventing outbreaks of diseases like cholera and other water-borne illnesses, Fletcher said in a statement on Tuesday.

A man takes photos with his phone as the waves caused by Tropical Storm Franklin break on the sea wall in Santo Domingo, on August 22, 2023 [Ricardo Hernandez/AP Photo]

Meanwhile, in the Dominican Republic, authorities had placed 25 provinces under a red alert for possible flooding of rivers, streams and creeks. Seven provinces were under a yellow alert.

Flooding had already been reported on Tuesday in the capital of Santo Domingo and beyond, where residents prepared for heavy rainfall.

Were scared of the river, said Doralisa Sanchez, a government employee who lives near the Ozama River that divides the capital.

Sanchez, who has had to flee her home three times during previous storms, said she hoped Franklin wouldnt force her to seek shelter and temporarily abandon her home again because she said people steal belongings left behind.

Others, like businesswoman Albita Achangel, worried they had nowhere to go if the waters started rising.

We are hoping for Gods will, she said, adding that her patio already was flooded.

The United Nations World Food Programme said it had stationed emergency response teams and food in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

It estimated that about 125,000 Dominicans in Franklins path live in overcrowded settlements that may be more vulnerable to flooding.

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Chicagoan Danielle Tubbs didnt set out to be a Caribbean cookie baker. Born to a Jamaican immigrant mother and African American father, Tubbs, 34, grew up in Miami surrounded by her grandma, aunts, and about 50 cousins.

I was definitely spoiled growing up. Every meal was a good meal, she says.

Her mom, Sora, grew up in the mountains near Kingston, Jamaica, then spent 20 years in Cleveland and learned all the soul food recipes. [At] Thanksgiving, thered be greens, but also callaloo, a traditional braise of amaranth, a leafy green native to Jamaica.

From as early as she can remember, Tubbs mom, Aunt Sybil, and grandmother each baked specialty cakes for the community. My mom would do a rum cakelike a pound cake with nuts on top and some good rum butter in there, Tubbs says, and her aunt made black cake, a smooth, dark fruit cake packed with pureed dried fruits that had been soaked in buckets with dark rum and wine for two years.

Her favorite treat, her grandmas sweet potato pudding, was made with coconut milk and ginger, plus grated Jamaican white-fleshed sweet potatoes. At holidays, she remembers, every surface in their homes busy kitchen and dining room would be covered with cake pans and mixing bowls.

They had me sifting dry ingredients and I hated it. I just wanted to be watching Nickelodeon, she says.

Tubbs didnt start baking on her own until she graduated from college with a sociology degree and moved to Chicago in 2011 to work in non-profit education. Her reluctant childhood kitchen immersion transformed into a not-so-hidden talent when her co-workers started requesting birthday cakes.

Theyd say, Hey, Danielle, so-and-so really loves peanut butter and blueberries and whatever. What can you do? Id do research and start Frankensteining [ingredients] together and it just became a fun hobby for me, she recalls.

Eventually, her vegan friend asked her to make her baking more inclusive for a variety of diets. She started experimenting and creating baked goods for more restricted diets, but everything had to pass her strict taste testhence the name of her company, Tubbys Taste. Over time she realized that cookies made the best medium for her flavor infusions, and they were also more efficient to ship. Simultaneously, she started taking entrepreneurship classes while still working full-time.

Danielle Tubbs. Image: Lisa Futterman

She developed a line of soft, chewy vegan cookies in flavors that reflect her Jamaican roots. Caribbean Punch, a citrusy play on the spiced hibiscus Christmas drink called sorrel, is packed with grapefruit sugar and pineapple. Taste of Paradise, a coconut, oat, and cinnamon combo, is inspired by her grandmas filling after-school oat shakes. Island Spice is deeply, satisfyingly infused with a big dose of ginger and molasses.

Tubbs quit her day job in 2018, and her other two side hustles (a nanny-share gig and a job teaching entrepreneurship to high schoolers) ended during the pandemic.

I felt like a dynamic person that didnt have a lot of dynamic things happening in her life, Tubbs says.

Now her baking side hustle has become her main source of income since the pandemic, and she employs a part-time baker to crank out the cookies. Coming from an immigrant family, this was the dream, she says. A big break came when she was featured in an article on Black-owned vegan businesses in Veg Out in September 2020. Over 500 orders poured in after the story was published.

Tubbys Taste cookies are now available at several Chicago farmers and independent markets and in the freezer section of local Marianos and Krogers stores. Given Tubbs reluctant participation in the kitchen as a child, her Miami relatives get a kick out of her successful baking venture.

They think its kind of funny, but they are also like Wow, you were really watching all that time!

Tubbs and I recently visited the Caribbean American Bakery, a Jamaican food standby in Chicagos Rogers Park, to check out their bakery case full of authentic breads, snacks and sweets. Loaves of hardough bread were stacked high behind the counter.

Hardough bread is so good, says Tubbs. I ended up having to sacrifice some of my hardough bread in elementary school becausemy mom is [the] sandwich queen. So I would show up with sandwiches on this hardough bread and [other kids] would trade me Little Debbies for halves. [Hardough bread is] very dense, but it's delicious.

Once her mom found out about the popularity of her sandwiches, she started sending two to school every day: one for Danielle, and one to share with her classmates.

Also on offer at the Caribbean American Bakery: coco bread, the soft sweet buns meant to be used as wrappers for the flaky meat patties sold at the bakery; spiced bun, a round, sweet loaf typically eaten with processed cheese from a can (available at the bakery); and bulla cake, deep brown with molasses and spice. In my family, says Tubbs, we ate bulla bread with pear; pear is what we call avocado.

Sweets include gizzada, a coconut tart, as well as sweet and chewy coconut drops and bread pudding. The shop also stocks Jamaican staples like Ting (grapefruit soda) and Kola (champagne soda), plus the Excelsior water crackers that Tubbs grew up dipping in her sweet milky tea at grandmas breakfast table.

Tubbs says bakeries like Caribbean American are common in Miamis Caribbean neighborhoods and on her ancestral island. On our Saturday afternoon visit, a steady stream of customers flowed in and out, grabbing white cardboard boxes of patties and ordering jerk dinners from the kitchen pickup window.

In Jamaica, says Tubbs, no one is making patties and bread at home. You go to the bakery, you go to the patty shop. The other day my Jamaican Uber driver told me about a snack shop and I left him so many bags of my cookies!

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Exploring Caribbean Baking in Chicago with the Baker of Jamaican ... - WTTW

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Sargassum, a brown seaweed that floods the Mexican Caribbean coast during the spring and summer months, is typically present until the fall months.

Its presence is something that many visitors would rather not deal with on their vacations because its unsightly and smells.

Fortunately, for those travelers visiting in the next several months, it wont be an issue because sargassum season is going to end early in Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean this year, according to a new report.

A recent report from the Secretariat of the Navys sargassum monitoring department shows that sargassum is disappearing earlier than usual.

In the Mexican Caribbean vacation destinations of Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel current sargassum levels are low to moderate.

And the level of sargassum in Cancun, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres is scarce to low.

Sargassum monitoring specialists are also reporting that the presence of sargassum will continue to be minimal for the remainder of the season.

Typically September is when the Mexican Caribbean starts seeing less of the annoying seaweed.

But satellite monitoring by the National Autonomous University of Mexico is showing that there are no huge masses of the seaweed out to sea at the moment.

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Sargassum in the Mexican Caribbean in recent years has been worse than it was a decade ago.

Huge masses of the seaweed have been forming in the Atlantic Ocean over the last couple of years.

It gets carried to the Mexican Caribbean by currents and washes up on the shore of the regions beautiful beaches.

The presence of sargassum on Mexican Caribbean beaches in places like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum is an eyesore for tourists visiting the region.

For this reason, officials make a major effort to try to control it and keep it off of the beaches as much as possible.

Sargassum barriers and sargassum collection are the main methods of minimizing the effects of sargassum, but more efficient methods are being researched.

The only real way to avoid sargassum in Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean is to visit outside of sargassum season.

There are also certain areas that receive less sargassum than others, like Isla Mujeres Playa Norte.

Aside from going somewhere that gets less sargassum, youll want to visit between the months of September/ October and May, typically.

When the beaches are filled with sargassum in Mexican Caribbean vacation destinations, fortunately, there is somewhere else to take a dip and cool off.

Cenotes are naturally formed swimming holes that form by limestone caves collapsing in.

They fill with rain and underground water to make beautiful swimming holes, and there are hundreds of them in the Mexican Caribbean.

Cancun and most other Mexican Caribbean vacation destinations have plenty of things to do if sargassum makes the beaches undesirable during your vacation.

There are archaeological sites to explore, jungles filled with adventure, underground rivers, underwater marine parks, adventure parks, and so much more.

While the Mexican Caribbean is known for its beaches, there is much more to explore.

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The Caribbean seems to be everyones go-to sunny getaway. With its white sands bounded by rows upon rows of palm trees, crystal-clear oceans, and warmer culture and environment, its no surprise it leads booking trends among North Americans.

Despite often being treated as a single entity, it is incredibly diverse, comprising at least thirteen sovereign countries and many other autonomous territories of larger states. There are so many islands, each one of them incredibly unique, that you may find it hard to pick a single destination.

Well, youre in luck.

If youre still undecided as to where you should jet off in the tropical sea for your long-awaited yearly break, this Caribbean destination in particular was named the best island to visit within the basin:

The Dominican Republic has been proclaimed the Best Caribbean Island in the world at Global Travelers reader-voted Leisure Lifestyle Awards.

In its 11th year, the prestigious award ranks the very best in the world in terms of both leisure and lifestyle travel, recognizing destinations, hotels, airlines, airports, cruises, and many more sectors of the travel industry for their excellence.

For the third year in a row, the small Hispanic nation brought home the coveted award, beating fierce competitors like Jamaica, the Dutch territories of Aruba and Curacao, Cuba, Barbados, and numerous other popular Caribbean hotspots to the number one spot.

In total, the Caribbean is made up of over 700 islands, though only 100 or so are permanently inhabited, making this a big win for the Dominican Republic, commonly shortened to just DR.

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Though it is an island destination, the DR does not hold sovereignty over the whole of the territory of the island it (partially) occupies.

It is located on the Eastern half of the historic island of Hispaniola, settled by the Spanish upon their initial incursions across the Atlantic.

Conflicts between European powers, who were constantly at war to establish dominance in the Caribbean, resulted in Hispaniola being split between Spanish and French colonies, which upon their independence, became the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Haiti occupies the other half of Hispaniola, and its the only country to share a land border with the DR, though they couldnt be further apart in terms of human development, social issues, and infrastructure.

While Haiti has been faced with a humanitarian crisis for over a decade now, which very few tourists would dare venture into, its more well-off neighbor has consistently kept its status as a major tourist destination in the Caribbean, as well as a rising global hub.

Home to one of the most popular resort towns in the region, the paradisaical Punta Cana, and some of the oldest European settlements in the New World, including the bustling capital of Santo Domingo, it is not only packed with swimming sites and unspoiled beaches: it brims with culture.

There is something for everybody here.

If its beaches and utter relaxation youre after, there is an extensive list of all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana, where your only concern will be ensuring youve applied enough sunscreen ahead of your sunbathing session at the propertys private sandy stretch.

From Melia to Iberostar and Marriots signature AC Hotel, the options are endless, and it can be hard to choose the perfect resort for your sunny break, but in this article, we give you 5 reasons why this marvelous, incredibly well-equipped luxury haven might be the right pick.

Puerto Plata is yet another popular resort area, celebrated for its turquoise waters and busy nightlife, while La Romana is a strong favorite among travelers looking to slow down and truly unwind without the jungle parties and busy club scene.

These are only some of the DRs countless paradisaical hotspots, though.

With 1,288 km of coastline, there are both areas with a fast-developing resort zone, known for their lively social scene and wide availability of services, and completely pristine, remote coastal strips where the only sounds are that of exotic birds chirping in nature, the ruffling of the palms against the wind, and the crashing of the waves.

Beyond the beaches, the DR is a country replete with Spanish-era landmarks that have stood the test of time and are scattered around the Western portion of the island it controls.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the capital of Santo Domingo has a beautiful colonial core where the colorful Spanish facades, Baroque churches, and Neo-Gothic monuments have been preserved.

The walls of Santo Domingo are not to be missed either; recognized by UNESCO as the oldest European fortification in the Americas, it was built in the early 16th century by Spanish colonizers.

The landmark Ozama Fortress, where Christopher Columbus himself was imprisoned once, is part of the complex and its open to visitors. Comprised of smaller turrets, a high tower, and defensive ramparts, it looks like any average European castle.

A majority of the 16th-century Spanish structures is concentrated in Santo Domingo, but other impressive Spanish structures can be found in Puerto Plata (Fortaleza de San Felipe), the Altos de Chavon, where tourists can explore the replica of a Mediterranean village, and Santiago de los Caballeros (Fortaleza San Luis).

Is the DR your dream destination?

Youre in luck, as this year, several new nonstop flight routes leaving from the U.S. have been announced, bringing you closer to the Old World charm of Santo Domingo and Punta Canas postcard-ready beach huts.

Learn more about them here.

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This Paradise Island Was Named Best In The Caribbean This Year - Travel Off Path

Television personality Helen Ketchum once famously said Grandmothers are voices of the past and role models of the present. Grandmothers open the doors to the future.

For Lauren Billys Shady, 35, a two-time Olympic eventer who represents Puerto Rico, those words couldnt be truer. California-born and raised, Shady was competing in her first Fdration Equestre Internationale event at Twin Rivers Ranch (California) in 2009 when she found herself stabled across the aisle from Mark Watring, an Olympic show jumper and winner of the individual gold medals at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games (El Salvador) and the 2003 Pan American Games (Dominican Republic) and 2006 CACG (Colombia). Watring, who was born in Puerto Rico, had represented both the U.S. and Puerto Rican equestrian teams in international competition.

Shadys grandmother Maria Latoni, now 92, was on hand that fateful weekend to watch Shady compete and fortuitously became the impetus for Shadys switch to competing for Puerto Rico.

Latoni was one of nine children born and raised in Bayamn, a city outside San Juan, Puerto Rico. Shady encouraged her grandmother to introduce herself to Watring, and during their subsequent conversations, Watring suggested that Latoni encourage Shady to compete for Puerto Rico, as was her birthright because of her grandmothers heritage.

Fast forward 14 years, and earlier this summer Shady and Can Be Sweet, an 11-year-old German Sport Horse gelding she owns with the Can Be Sweet Syndicate LLC, won the first-ever gold medal in eventing for Puerto Rico at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games. Most sports were held in San Salvador (El Salvador) but due to a lack of equestrian facilities, riding events were moved to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) and held June 24-July 4 at the Centro Ecuestre Palmarejo. Shady and Charlie decisively won the event, a CCI2*-L, with a final score of 35.2. Luis Ariel Santiago Franco (53.5) and Fernando Parroquin Delfin (55.5), both representing Mexico, finished second and third, respectively.

Shady is a two-time Olympian, having competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics (Brazil) and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (Japan) aboardCastle Larchfield Purdy, her now-21-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. Retired from upper-level competition, Purdy now is teaching Shadys 17-year-old student Nadia Vogt about eventing.

At the recent Woodside Summer Horse Trials, held Aug. 11-13 in Woodside, California, Purdy and Vogt won the events inaugural modified division while Charlie and Shady topped the open intermediate. Vogt was the only rider in her division to carry finish on her dressage score (29.5), which she credited to Purdya horse who, in his 21 years, has survived colic surgery, battled inflammatory airway disease and evacuated (twice) with the rest of Shadys animals and family during the 2020 California wildfires.

He definitely saves you a lot, and he knows what hes doing, said Vogt, who just started her senior year of high school. He brings me so much joy when I sit on his back every day and hes just a big joy to ride. Lauren definitely has him really well-trained, and Im so glad Lauren gave me the opportunity to ride him. He loves what hes doing, still. I dont think he knows his age. Hes just excited to work every day.

We caught up with Shady after shed spent a day training at the 10-acre Carmel Valley, California, farm she shares with her husband, Jeff Shady, a home health physical therapist and semipro obstacle course racer. The couples Castillo Farm is named in honor of Purdy, as castillo means castle in Spanish.

You and Charlie won the first-ever gold medal in eventing for Puerto Rico at the recent CACG. What a huge accomplishment. Is it tough always competing as an individual instead of on a team?

Ive always been a team of one, so I dont notice the difference. I will say it poses its own challenges. My team is about the people that Ive put around me to help support me and my horses as we get to the top. I really lean on those people heavily. I think about my competitions really singularly, which has its benefits. I dont spend a lot of time looking around at what other people are doing. Im there to do my personal best. I do get support from [the Puerto Rican] Olympic Committee and federation during championships, and of course the syndicates that own my horses.

Lets talk about Charlie. Hes so handsome and in all the pictures online, hes got his ears up and looks ready for anything. Whats he like?

That horse likes to win. Sometimes I call him Grandpa in the barn because hes sort of a cautious, slow-moving guy, and hes so kind to people. Hes a barn favorite, but when you ride him he can turn it on. Hes keen to the jumps and fun to ride in a competition setting because he can really turn it on and be showy. Hes a little bit of spice and a little bit of sweet.

Are he and your former Olympic mount, Purdy, similar?

He could not be more opposite from Purdy except that he has a really big stride. Hes very light on his feet and can be a bit sharp, and hes just totally the opposite in terms of the ride. When I first got him, I went to get on for the first time. I should have longed him, but I didnt really think about it. I threw my leg over him at the mounting block, and he bucked me off without even taking a stride. But he had walked up to the mounting block like a grandpa.

Whats the story behind his name? Does he have moments where hes not sweet?

Ive understood that maybe thats true, but I havent experienced it. I got him in February 2017, as he was coming 5, from the Bavarian State Stud. Theyd kept him as a stud because of his bloodline, and I guess he could be pretty devilish. Once they castrated him, they figured out he could be sweet, too.

It sounds like he was pretty sweet indeed at the CACG. Can you take me through your rounds?

Charlie is quite good on the flat and really capable. I school fourth-level dressage with him, so when we had to do our dressage test, I knew we could lay it out. As we [headed into the dressage stadium] he grew a head taller than he is. He just rose up for that test. It was amazing. He was the best version of any horse Ive ever ridden. When he turned it on for dressage, I got excited because I knew we could play. Cross-country was interesting. It was a new course and the night before, there was a lot of rain. There was a low spot on the course, so Fence 3 and another were in standing water. The time was incredibly difficult to make because of the heaviness of the ground. I just went out and rode carefully. He lost a shoe at Fence 12 of 20-odd fences, but he really kept it together and stayed organized, and despite the fact that he lost a shoe, he jumped quite well.

Wow. And he was OK for stadium after all that?

He was fine. He jumped a really clean round, a beautiful round. And then when we got to the finish flags, all those things that were important to that day just flooded me. There were members of the dressage and show-jumping teams there to support me, so for the first time at a championship, I felt like I did have a team, and its something Ill never forget. And my grandmother was there. She watched me win gold. That was another reason it was so powerful and so cool. I think, in the moment, I was really just focused on doing my job and doing the best I could. When I reflect back on it, its such an honor. Im so proud of Charlie and his performance, and my performance, too. The fact that it rewarded us with a historical moment for our Olympic committee and federation just feels so sweet.

Was it your grandmother who got you into riding?

No. There isnt really a history of horses in my family. Both of my parents are doctors. I dont have a personal history with horses. Ive just always loved them. Id dress up my couch like a horse and sit on it, and sit on my dog and hope hed stand up, like a horse. My great-grandfather was a doctor for the coal mines, and hed ride from mine to mine on horseback, jumping the fences along the way. But I dont really know where my [passion] came from. Its really just a part of who I was meant to be.

One of your students is now riding Purdy, and they finished in first place in the modified division at Woodside. How did that feel?

It was very nerve-wracking because I want her to have as much fun as I had on him. That horse is just such a blessing. Its nerve-wracking but so rewarding to see him so happy and sharing what I got to experience with him with others. Hes pretty amazing. He loves going to competitions. He would load himself up in the trailer and go if he could.

Whats the future hold for you and Charlie? Are you looking to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris or do you have your eye on something else?

Ill be staying in California for the fall. Ill do the Galway Downs CCI3*-L with Charlie [in November], and then I have a few horses moving up from novice to training. Long term, Im going to sit out Paris and focus on getting a lot better so I can be competitive. I want to focus on my strength and being ready for Los Angeles [the 2028 Summer Olympics] with more than one horse.

When youre not riding, whats your favorite thing to do?

I love to cook. Or Im going somewhere to eat fun food or dinner, or Im with the dogs or one of our five cats. My friends and I have a group called The Supper Club, and we pretend were opening a restaurant. Im always trying to challenge myself to try something new in the kitchenexcept baking; Im definitely not a baker. Im just not good at it. [My baked goods] might look pretty but they dont taste good.

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Ringside Chat: With A New Horse, Caribbean Games Gold Medalist ... - The Chronicle of the Horse

We Zoomed in with Sylvia Lawrence, the mom of the Lawrence Family. The whole gang has appeared on camera, in print and TV ads, including a huge spot for Royal Caribbean, which they booked on Casting Networks.

She took the time out of her busy day to chat about the business, advise real families signing up on Casting Networks and share her tips on auditioning with your own family for commercials.

I just read the notice, and I was obsessed with it. I was like that is so our family. Because it was travel, I put it on the calendar, along with the shoot dates, travel dates, callback dates and when the audition was due, and I knew our agent would submit us for it. The audition deadline was approaching, and it was in person, so I knew when it was.

I called her and said I was hoping we would audition for this, and we havent gotten it, and she reached out to them.

Yup. So, we went up to LA twice (once for the audition and once for the callback). We live in San Diego. I knew we would get it when we walked out of the room.

My son started when he was five, and hes 13 now, and Id say within the first or second year, our agents started submitting us as a family. I remember my husband was like, Did I ask to do this?

Its been so much fun. I mean, we love it, of course, even my husband.

Oh! I learned about Casting Networks from my agent, and now we have six different accounts! So, there are five family members, plus we have a family account.

I love when they use real families in casting. I think that its if its something you like doing, theres a lot of stuff for families. I think that keeping the pictures current is important. We try to update our family photos often, and I think having a family account and other pictures is super important, too.

We have pictures with James and I and Grayson, or just James and I, or just the kids. There are just different aspects of the real family that theyre looking for sometimes. When youre not actors, I think the best thing for commercial and print work is to be yourself and to do what you do.

It was perfect for our family. We love to travel. We all have our passports, and I remember before they booked us, they kept sending photos of these extreme water slides to our agent, and then she would say, they want to make sure youre OK with this, and were like, yes, that looks so fun! They asked if we got motion sickness because we were flown from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale to Miami for a couple of days for the fitting, and then from there, out of Fort Lauderdale, we did take a tiny plane to a tiny island in the Bahamas, so for someone who doesnt like that kind of stuff it would be scary.

I couldnt have planned a vacation that fun. Every single day someone [was] doing my hair, my makeup, feeding my children, riding water slides. Im just thankful that we got to experience something like that.

We just did a family one, including my mom, for Coca-Cola!

It is important to sign up for notifications even if you have an agent because we would have never gotten that job. You know, she submitted us, and for whatever reason, they didnt pick us, but I was looking at it and knowing that our family would be a good fit for that. I think self-submissions are important, too, because maybe your agent didnt submit you, or maybe theres something that they dont know about you, so I think it is important to take charge and partner with your agent and just read the stuff out there.

Also, dont be afraid to dance and have fun in an audition. We have booked several family projects that involved dancing as part of the audition, and we are not good dancers.

If the client wanted everyone to be an actor, they would not cast real families. The real family roles are about your connection to each other, your personality and your ability to have fun. And when you can truly have fun in your audition, there are amazing places you will explore and wonderful people you will connect with in this industry.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Casting directors use Casting Networks every day to discover a family like yours. Sign up or log in today to get one step closer to your next role.

Did you book a role through Casting Networks? Tell us about it for a chance to be featured in an upcoming article.

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Success Story: The Lawrence Family on Booking Royal Caribbean - Casting Networks

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Road closures announced for Caribbean Vibes this Saturday, Aug. 26 - The Baytown Sun