Monthly Archives: August 2023

As Tropical Storm Harold lashed the south Texas coast with heavy winds and rain and since has been downgraded to a depression, forecasters are still tracking Tropical Storm Franklin in the Caribbean and two other systems in the Atlantic Ocean.

One of the systems in the Atlantic had been Tropical Storm Emily earlier this week, and the second is moving west-northwest off the Cabo Verde Islands. Tropical Storm Gert has weakened into a post-tropical remnant.

Franklin will veer north toward Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and has prompted tropical storm warnings for their entire southern coasts. The National Hurricane Center also warned of potential life-threatening flooding there through Wednesday. Once Franklin is back over water, the system could become the second Atlantic hurricane of the season.

None of these systems are currently projected to head to Florida.

Harold made landfall on Padre Island, Texas, as a tropical storm Tuesday morning with winds reaching 50 mph. Heavy rain and tropical-storm-force winds battered the Texas and Mexico coast.

The storm had moved inland by Tuesday evening, 15 miles east of Laredo, moving at 21 mph in a northwesterly direction, and is expected to bring potential flash flooding and possible tornadoes.

At the time of landfall, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration measured gusts to 59 mph at Padre Island. Later, Falfurrias, Texas, 30 miles inland from the coast, recorded sustained winds of 35 mph with a gust to 60 mph.

As of 5 p.m., the hurricane center discontinued any tropical storm warnings and watches.

The system is expected to dwindle Wednesday as it moves inland over rough terrain. Still, heavy rains were forecast across South Texas through early Wednesday, as well as across portions of northern Coahuila and northern Nuevo Leon in Mexico.

The storm was forecast to produce rainfall ranging from 3 to 7 inches in parts of Texas and Mexico.

Tropical Storm Franklin

As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, Tropical Storm Franklin was located about 200 miles south-southwest of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with maximum sustained winds at 40 mph and tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 105 miles, mainly to the east of the center.

Though the storm was crawling north-northwest at 6 mph, it is expected to turn further north and then to the northeast by Thursday. Franklins center will cross Haiti and the Dominican Republic before reemerging into the southwestern Atlantic late Wednesday, the centers 8 p.m. update said.

It is not forecast to strengthen much as it moves near and over the island, the hurricane center said, though it could strengthen once it is out over the water and moves farther northeast later in the week.

Franklin likely will hit Haiti and the Dominican Republic as a tropical storm, with tropical-storm force winds continuing through Wednesday. The system could become a hurricane Sunday after it moves northeast past the island and out to sea, according to hurricane center estimates. Its eventual path during the weekend remains uncertain.

Tropical storm warnings were issued for the southern coasts of both Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with expected storm surge of 1-3 feet. A tropical storm watch was in effect for the north coast of the Dominican Republic and areas of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The system could bring up to 15 inches of rain to Haiti and the Dominican Republic and up to 6 inches to Puerto Rico, according to the latest estimates. The hurricane center warned of potential flash and urban flooding.

Post-tropical remnant Gert

Gert formed early Monday. However, by Monday evening, Gert had weakened from a tropical storm to a tropical depression, and by Tuesday morning, the system had declined to a post-tropical remnant with maintaining maximum sustained winds of 30 mph. The NHC said that the storm, which was located 230 miles east-southeast of the Caribbean, would continue to slowly drift west and weaken over the next few days.

African coastal system

The disturbance several hundred miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands off Africas west coast could become a tropical depression this weekend as it moves west-northwest to northwest across the central tropical Atlantic.

As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, it had a 10% chance of developing within 48 hours and 40% within seven days, down slightly from previous forecasts.

Remnant Emily

The former Tropical Storm Emily was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone Monday morning. Emilys remnants were over the central tropical Atlantic on Tuesday night, creating a large area of thunderstorms. Forecasters said conditions are expected to become more favorable for development in the next few days, and it could become a tropical depression or storm again later this week or over the weekend as it moves northward.

As of 8 p.m., it is had a 30% chance of developing in the next 48 hours and a 50% chance in the next seven days.

None of the systems is currently expected to reach South Florida, said National Weather Service meteorologist George Rizzuto, though such forecasts can change.

At this time were not seeing any signs that any of these are going to be able to make it all the way to us, Rizzuto said.

The National Hurricane Center has been predicting an above-normal 2023 hurricane season as a result of ongoing record-breaking sea surface temperatures that continue to fight off the tempering effects of El Nio.

While sea surface temperatures have remained hot for longer than anticipated, El Nios effects, which typically reduce hurricane chances, have emerged more slowly.

The next named storm to form would be Idalia.

The NHC, which operates under the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, has forecast 14-21 named storms, including 6-11 hurricanes, and two to five major hurricanes.

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Tropical Storm Franklin to bring possible life-threatening flooding to Caribbean - Yahoo News

Summary

Pirates of the Caribbean 6 may be happening, and here are 10 characters who really need to return for the sixth entry in Disney's beloved swashbuckling series. Although it's been over six years since the fifth film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales released, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise may not be over yet, with rumors of a sixth film making the rounds. News about Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is constantly shifting, but as of now, it seems like the film is happening. With the movie being another sequel, here are 10 characters that could have their stories continued in Pirates of the Caribbean 6.

Pirates of the Caribbean 6 will undoubtedly bring back many of the most popular characters from the previous films, expanding on their stories once again. One possible Pirates of the Caribbean 6 returning character is Jack Sparrow, with the iconic Johnny Depp character having spearheaded the franchise since the very beginning. However, due to some behind-the-scenes issues between Depp and Disney as well as the Depp v. Heard trial, it is still unknown if Jack Sparrow will be returning to the Black Pearl once again. However, there are plenty of other characters who could return even if Jack doesn't - and here are the 10 who need to return the most.

Anamaria is quite possibly the Pirates of the Caribbean character with the most potential for growth, meaning that she needs to return in Pirates of the Caribbean 6. Anamaria hasn't appeared since the first film, but Jack does make it known that the two pirates have a long history together. Anamaria is played by Zoe Saldana, who has gone on to have a prolific film career since Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, meaning that it would be a big deal to bring her back for the sixth film.

Penlope Cruz's Angelica Teach is one of the main villains in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, although it did seem as if she was set to return in the fifth film. However, she is nowhere to be seen in Dead Men Tell No Tales, but Pirates of the Caribbean 6 can redeem this mistake. Angelica was last seen being marooned with a voodoo doll of Jack Sparrow, with this magical artifact being Angelica's perfect way back into Jack Sparrow's life in the sixth film.

Henry Turner is one of the main characters in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, with him being the son of the original movie's protagonist Will Turner. Henry spent his entire life attempting to find the Trident of Poseidon in order to break his father's curse, and by the end of the fifth film, he did. However, it is doubtful that Henry Turner's pirating days are over, meaning that the sixth film could explore his further adventures alongside his father, with Henry spearheading a new generation of Pirates of the Caribbean stories.

Carina Barbossa (formerly Carina Smyth) is a brilliant scientist who is no stranger to swashbuckling and daring adventures. Carina, too, dedicated her life to finding the Trident of Poseidon, which she also accomplished in the fifth film. The end of Dead Men Tell No Tales is full of big reveals for Carina, with her learning that Captain Barbossa is her father as well as her starting a relationship with Henry Turner. Carina and Henry make a good pirating pair, meaning that they could fill the shoes of Will and Elizabeth in Pirates of the Caribbean 6.

Shansha is a mysterious character introduced in Dead Men Tell No Tales, with her being a powerful but dangerous sea witch. It is revealed that Shansha has a history with Barbossa, and while she initially seemed like she was going to be a big part of Dead Men Tell No Tales, she is barely in the film. As it turns out, the sea witch played a bigger role in the film in early drafts of the script, and although she was sidelined in the final film, Pirates of the Caribbean 6 can finally give the villain her time in the spotlight.

Pintel and Ragetti are the comedic relief in the early Pirates of the Caribbean movies, with Pintel being one of the cursed pirates on the Black Pearl. Although Pintel started out as a villain under Captain Barbossa, he later joined Jack Sparrow's crew for the rest of the original trilogy. However, Pintel disappeared after Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End with no explanation. Although he hasn't been mentioned for two movies, it'd be nice to see him come back.

Ragetti is another one of the most popular pirates from the original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, with him being the sidekick of Pintel. Much like Pintel, Ragetti was a Black Pearl crew member before joining Jack Sparrow's gang in the second and third films. However, Ragetti too disappeared after At World's End, and if Pintel returns, Ragetti probably will too.

Will Turner is one of the main characters of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and while he was absent from the fourth film, he returned in Dead Men Tell No Tales. The film sets up a much bigger role for Will Turner in the franchise's future, with Will Turner's Flying Dutchman curse being broken at the end of the film. Because of this, he is able to reunite with his son Henry and partner Elizabeth, meaning that he can make his true return as the protagonist of the franchise in Pirates of the Caribbean 6.

Elizabeth Swann is another one of the main characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, with her leaving with Will at the end of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Although Elizabeth did return in Dead Men Tell No Tales, her appearance was much more brief than that of Will's. However, now that she is reunited with Will and Henry, she too can have a bigger role in the upcoming sixth film.

The most likely villain to return in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is Davy Jones, the arch-nemesis of Will Turner. Dead Men Tell No Tales' post-credits scene sees Will have a nightmare of Davy Jones, although it may be more than a dream, as wet barnacles can be seen on Turner's floor. Although Davy Jones died in the third film, it's possible that the breaking of all the sea's curses in Dead Men Tell No Tales caused Davy Jones to return somehow. Davy Jones is by far the most popular villain in the franchise, meaning that his grand return in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 is pretty likely.

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10 Pirates Of The Caribbean Characters Who Need To Return In POTC 6 - Screen Rant

Actor Johnny Depp has had a long career as a character actor. But despite his long resume, his name will likely always be synonymous with his tenure playing Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. That property began with 2003s Curse of the Black Pearl, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. Pirates turned 20 this year, and one star looked back at filming with Depp. Lets break it all down.

Johnny Depps performance as Jack Sparrow has been universally acclaimed, although studio execs thought he was actually drunk when filming Curse of the Black Pearl. That first movie featured an ensemble cast including Zoe Saldaa and actor Vince Lozano who played the pirate Jacoby. He recently spoke to MovieWeb about his experience on the movie, and working with the Edward Scissorhands actor. As he put it,

Hanging out with [other] pirates, telling stories, building some camaraderie, making jokes on each other of course. Hanging out with Geoffrey Rush, talking about acting, life; same thing with Johnny Depp. Asking him, 'How did you come up with this character? 'He would tell me stories about how he did it, jumping into a pool, coming out cold and thinking about how British musician Keith Richards moved his body. Johnny is one of the best people youll ever meet.

There you have it. While Saldaa has been open about struggles filming the first Pirates flick, that experience seemingly wasnt universal. It sounds like Vince Lozano had a great time bringing the movie to life, and getting to bond with his co-stars including Geoffrey Rush and (of course) Johnny Depp himself.

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These comments about Depps character are sure to go viral, especially given how many headlines hes been making over the last few years. Johnny Depps legal battle against Amber Heard has in some ways dwarfed his long resume, partly because fans were able to watch them face off in court via television. There are a number of allegations about the 60 year-old actor, although Lozano thinks hes one of the best people that one could ever meet.

Despite these headlines and controversies, Johnny Depp still has a strong contingent of loyal fans. Some of those fans have been petitioning to see him return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, although theres been no indication that Disney is planning to move forward with him. Although the House of Mouse was reportedly developing a few Pirates projects, one of which might be starring Margot Robbie.

Following the defamation verdict, Depp has been keeping busy as both a musician and filmmaker. His first post-trial movie recently premiered, and hes also directing a movie with Al Pacino. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

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Pirates Of The Caribbean Turned 20 This Year, And One Star Looked Back At Filming With Johnny Depp - CinemaBlend

Attachments

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.

Continued here:

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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Latest Caribbean and Latin America News - News Americas News Network - Black Immigrant Daily News

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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