Latest news with #Castle
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Paralyzed travelers reveal just what it takes for them to hit the road
Shaun Castle cannot imagine a life without travel. 'I love seeing the world. For me, there's no bigger fear than I'm stuck at home staring at a wall,' he said. However, it's not easy as a paraplegic. 'There's no room for spontaneity. There's no room for surprises,' he said. 'Every single portion of my traveling life – and pretty much my life in general, but my traveling life especially – is planned out.' The same goes for Anne Richardson, who is quadriplegic. Both are Army veterans who were paralyzed in training exercises years ago. For Castle, it was an L4 spinal cord injury in Heidelberg, Germany, in 2003. Richardson broke her neck at C4, 5, 6 in a training exercise in Alaska in 1999. Now they both work with Paralyzed Veterans of America, which describes itself as 'the only nonprofit Veteran Service Organization dedicated solely to helping Veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), and diseases, like MS and ALS.' 'We want to enjoy things like everybody else,' said Richardson, a national vice president for PVA. PVA helped push for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which became law on July 26, 1990. Thirty-five years later, the organization says barriers still exist. Richardson and Castle shared a glimpse of the hurdles they face in travel. Hitting the road Richardson travels upwards of 25,000 miles a year, all by land. 'I can't fly. I've attempted twice,' she said. One time, her shoulder was dislocated during a transfer. The other time her wheelchair was damaged, and as she called it, 'dead on arrival.' 'I don't take any chances anymore,' she said. 'It's too dangerous for me to try to get on a plane.' Her husband, a former trucker, does all the driving. 'The first thing that we look at is the actual route. How many days is it going to take us to get there?' she said, adding that they always build in extra travel time for unexpected hiccups. She can only handle about 8 hours or 350 to 400 miles a day in their van. 'My husband starts checking the weather way out,' she said, to plan around possible delays. He also looks for construction and other issues that could impact their drive. 'Potholes and things (like that) really affect me, the bouncing and the hard hits,' she said. Those can't always be avoided, but they've found other types of workarounds. 'We haven't found family-friendly bathrooms any place that we've stopped, so I use a urinal and he empties when we're out away from folks,' Richardson said. Even when there are wheelchair-accessible stalls, she said, 'You don't know if the door or the way the toilet in the center is in the right place, where you can maneuver your chair ... things that we run into that a lot of folks don't even think about.' Taking flight Castle's biggest challenge is air travel. He travels about two weeks each month as PVA's chief operating officer. If he can drive to a destination in less than eight hours, he does so to avoid flying, but for most trips, he flies. When booking flights, he pays close attention to connections and layovers. He prefers to have about an hour and a half between flights so he can deplane, collect his things, put his equipment back together, use the restroom, rehydrate and get to the next gate with plenty of time, in case anything goes awry. 'Since I have no access to a bathroom on a plane, I have to dehydrate myself two to three days in advance because I can't risk having an accident on the plane,' he said. He packs wipes and extra clothes, just in case. He also brings his wheelchair, a seat cushion, side guards, and his adapter power device on board. According to the Department of Transportation Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights, "Priority in-cabin stowage (either a closet or a row of seats designated for seat strapping) must be available for at least one normal-sized collapsible manual wheelchair in any aircraft with 100 or more passenger seats." 'There is nothing worse for me than them accidentally checking my wheelchair all the way through because then I have to risk being on an aisle chair or risk being on an actual airport chair, hospital chair, which could be any million different ways damaged or not upkept to where the bars or the padding are gone or whatever the case may be, and it can be dangerous. I can get sores," he said. He knows people who were left in airport wheelchairs too long, who then developed pressure sores and had to be hospitalized. "That is literally life-threatening." Aisle chairs, those narrow wheelchairs with rigid backs that fit down airplane aisles, pose a different danger. 'When you get on a plane, they're not level to where the gate ... so literally they have to tip you back and you're in the hands of– it's almost like a trust fall,' he said. Richardson said she knows horror stories of people being dropped or having their wheelchairs broken. Airlines are subject to penalties for mishandling mobility devices. Still, Castle noted, it's not just damaged property: 'If something happens that damages your wheelchair, you're literally taking my legs away from me.' Getting around While getting to destinations presents a host of challenges, getting around them poses others. Cabs, rideshares, and public transportation are not always accessible. 'Just because you have a minivan doesn't mean I can physically get in and out of that minivan,' Castle said. 'I have my wife – my caregiver – with me at all times, and she is a lot of the time having to deadlift me in and out of taxis and hoping that something doesn't go wrong.' He prefers renting cars. 'If it goes correctly, it's the best thing because we can show up; I know I have a safe mode of transportation,' he said. He always calls ahead to the rental car company's accessibility desk to request an automatic car with adaptive driving devices, such as a spinner knob. However, he said they aren't always available when he arrives, even though he has been assured they will be. In those cases, his wife can step in. 'If I were a disabled traveler who was by themselves, what do you do?' he asked. 'They're literally just stuck.' Traveling with disabilities: What fellow travelers should know Accessible accommodations Lodging can pose other difficulties. PVA notes that hotels built after January 26, 1993, are required to offer accessible accommodations under the ADA. However, Richardson said, "No matter where you go, one hotel room is not like another hotel room, so there's no standardization," and what's accessible for some may not work for others. 'The width or the depth of a shower, it makes a whole lot of difference (in) whether or not you can get in it, or if there's a slant ... or there's a little lip and your chair won't go over it," she said. "I can't use a bathtub. Doesn't do me any good.' She wishes a few more things could be added to the ADA. 'Without any incentives to make it better, usually the minimum is what they try to do,' she said. Some hotel chains have accessibility desks to help travelers with disabilities, but hiccups still happen. Both she and Castle have had their rooms given away to others or found the rooms don't suit their needs. At least once a trip, Richardson said she and her husband have to scramble to find alternative lodging, but they keep moving forward. 'Having the spinal cord injury, being a paraplegic, will not stop me from seeing the world, from being a part of the world,' Castle said. 'I will always travel until I can't."
CBC
17 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
'Great time to buy': Real estate sales on P.E.I. up 52% in June, setting a monthly record
Social Sharing Real estate numbers for Prince Edward Island show a major increase in June sales, breaking a monthly record, while other Canadian cities saw a downward trend. Patty Castle, owner of Power House Realty, said one reason for the increase in sales could be that homes are cheaper on P.E.I. compared to other provinces. "[It's a] great time to buy right now, lots of inventory, lots of great prices," Castle said. She said she has clients from other provinces wanting to cash in on the Island's prices. WATCH | Housing market in P.E.I. stronger than in many other parts of Canada: Housing market in P.E.I. stronger than in many other parts of Canada 4 hours ago Numbers from the Canadian Real Estate Association show a 52 per cent increase in home and commercial sales in June compared to the same month last year. National average was up just 3.5 per cent over the same timeframe. But according to MLS system, which the association uses to track sales, last month's average home price was $403,987 — an increase of nearly 7 per cent over June 2024. Castle said the average time a house will be on the market in P.E.I. is about 60 days, and houses that are still priced as high as they would have been during the COVID-19 pandemic are sitting unsold for longer periods of time. 'Lots of opportunity' Tim Jackson, president of the P.E.I. Real Estate Association, said the Island housing market is becoming more balanced, but it still leans in favour of sellers. But, he said, prospective buyers have more options than they did in previous years. "Buyers have lots of opportunity to browse the market, they don't have to jump on the property right away, and buyers are able to make an informed decision," Jackson said. While there are government programs to help with affordability and more people are looking at rural areas or mini-homes, some Islanders are still finding the market to be a challenge. Even if the prices of houses are lower, you can't even make the money for a down payment. — Susan McGuirk, P.E.I. resident Island resident Marion Miller said home prices are still too expensive for everyone, especially for younger people. She bought her home in the 1970s for $40,000, but said people now are in different circumstances. With prices of most goods going up, she said, buying a house is no longer an option for a lot of people. "I think [prices] are very inflated as they are everywhere. People can't afford it," Miller said. Susan McGuirk echoed Millers remarks about the market on the Island. "Our wages here compared to the rest of Canada are not the same at all," McGuirk said. "Even if the prices of houses are lower, you can't even make the money for a down payment." A further sign that highlights how strong the market is on P.E.I. is the number of real estate agents. There are currently around 500 working in the province — about twice as many as there were five years ago.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The artists going from queer cabaret to the Venice Biennale
They will be working with Mount Stuart House, the neo-gothic mansion house on the Isle of Bute, on a show inspired by queer histories, Scottish heritage and the Filipino roots of Bugarin. Read more: Their project, which will feature elements of performance and moving image, was chosen to represent Scotland following an open call for proposals earlier this year. It is expected to to explore 'complex emotional legacies' of shame, pride and celebration through the sound and costumes of a parade. Artists Angel John Castle and Davide Bugarin with Mount Stuart Trust curator Morven Gregor. (Image: Neil Hanna) The pair have pledged to "trouble easy narratives on the contested ground of identity today" in a show that will transform a yet-to-be announced Venice venue with "spatial and drag-inflected interventions." Bugarin and Castle have both performed as their drag alter egos 'Hairy Teddy Bear' and 'Pollyfilla' at queer cabaret nights staged under the banner of Pollyanna, an arts company created by Castle in 2015. More than 250 artists have since performed across 75 shows, many of which were staged at the Paradise Palms bar in Edinburgh. The work of Bugarin and Castle, which has combined elements of cabaret, theatre and film, has previously explored the histories of performance, queerness, colonisation and gentrification. They have been showcased recently at the Fruitmarket and City Art Centre in [[Edinburgh]], the Tate Modern in London, the Microscope Gallery in New York, the Kriittinen Gallery in Finland and the Pineapple Lab, in Manila, in the Philippines. Mount Stuart House, the ancestral home of the Crichton-Stuart family, dates back to the late 19th century and is home to one of Britain's biggest private art collections. The house was opened to the public for the first time in 1995 and has been playing host to annual visual art exhibitions since 2001. Artists who have previously worked with the Mount Stuart Trust, which manages the mansion house and its cultural programme, include Kate Whiteford, Thomas Joshua Cooper, Christine Borland, Langlands & Bell, Anya Gallaccio, Nathan Coley, Lee Mingwei, Lucy Skaer, Kate Davis, Lorna Macintyre, Steven Claydon and Whitney McVeigh. Scotland has not been represented at the Venice Biennale since 2022, when Glasgow-based artist Alberta Whittle attracted more than 35,000 visitors to her solo show. Scotland's future participation in the event, which dates back to 2003, was put under review two years ago amid concerns over how it could be funded in future. However it was announced earlier this year that Scotland would have an official presence at the 2026 event after the review found 'overwhelming support' for it to continue. Creative Scotland, British Council and the National Galleries Scotland are sharing the £470,000 costs involved in making Bugarin and Castle's show, and showing it in Venice between May and November next year. However it is hoped further funding can be secured to allow the show to tour around Scotland following a planned run at Mount Stuart House in 2027. Morven Gregor, curator at the Mount Stuart Trust, said: 'We are excited to curate the work of Bugarin and Castle, extending our shared commitment through the opportunities presented by the Scotland and Venice project to bring this ambitious work of performance and moving image to life and to reach our audiences on the west coast of Scotland and internationally. 'We look forward to celebrating the return of Scotland to Venice with our communities across Scotland and beyond, and, as ever, recognise the positive impact of working in collaboration with key partners in the cultural sector.' Bugarin and Castle said: 'We first met performing in the mess and noise of queer cabaret in Edinburgh. 'A decade later, that spirit still drives our practice. We're thrilled to show new work together in Venice, transforming the venue with spatial and drag-inflected interventions that confront questions of gendered performance and colonial sound control, rooted in our lived experience. 'We aim to trouble easy narratives on the contested ground of identity today.' Emma Nicolson, head of visual arts at Creative Scotland, said: 'We are thrilled to support the Mount Stuart Trust, and Bugarin and Castle, as they lead Scotland's return to Venice with a commission that speaks powerfully to the rich and diverse contemporary art practice that we have in Scotland. 'This project is bold, visually compelling and emotionally layered and stands as a testament to the varied and ambitious artistic voices in Scotland, rooted in place, conceptually bold, and internationally relevant. 'We are excited to see how this work will evolve in Venice and ripple back across communities and venues throughout Scotland and beyond.'
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Tennis fans call for BBC to axe commentator after Wimbledon final
Viewers took to social media as the men's singles final was broadcast on Sunday. The BBC has faced calls to remove one of its Wimbledon commentators after a slew of complaints were posted on social media. Former British No. 1 player Andrew Castle was commentating on the men's singles final between Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, July 13. The 61-year-old has regularly featured in the broadcaster's Wimbledon coverage, having appeared as a player in the 1980s, WalesOnline reports. The pre-match build-up and analysis for the clash featured insights from former players Tim Henman, Todd Woodbridge, John McEnroe and Pat Cash, alongside host Clare Balding. However, the handover to the commentary team saw Castle take over, prompting a flood of posts online. One viewer complained: "Why oh why do the BBC put Andrew Castle on lead commentary for the Men's Singles final every year, he's terrible. My ears have already start to bleed." Another agreed: "Massive build up to this #WimbledonFinal and then BBC put Andrew Castle on commentary. Way to kill the match for me before it even starts." A third commented: "Wow Andrew Castle is so bad he is already trending internationally," noted a fan. "Heart sinks when I hear the words '... and your commentator is Andrew Castle'. Ruins enjoyment of every match. @BBCSport needs to cut the chord." Another added: "Andrew Castle being given such an important role in this final after all of the complaints about him in the semi is embarrassing. He really adds zilch to the commentary booth." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Castle's role at Wimbledon had already been discussed during this year's tournament, particularly after 1992 champion Andre Agassi joined the commentary team for the semi-final match between Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz of the USA. The change saw several positive reactions from fans who preferred his views over Castle's. Australian player Nick Kyrgios, known for being outspoken, appeared to share the same opinion. In 2024, he took issue with comments made by Castle on-air about Fritz and Alexander Zverev, claiming they were disrespectful. This year's BBC TV coverage saw a stellar team of pundits assembled, with Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Tracy Austin, and Annabel Croft also providing discussion, joined by other commentators including Andrew Cotter, Jo Durie, Anne Keothavong and Nick Mullins. A further line-up of experts on BBC Radio 5 Live featured Marion Bartoli, Kim Clijsters, Laura Robson, Greg Rusedski, Naomi Broady, Daniela Hantuchova, and Leon Smith.
Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
BBC viewers all make the same complaint about Alcaraz vs Sinner Wimbledon final
The men's singles final at Wimbledon between world No.1 Jannik Sinner and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is a big even on BBC One, but the broadcaster received many complaints The BBC have been urged to drop Andrew Castle from their Wimbledon commentary team after receiving a torrent of complaints on social media. Castle has long been a key member of the broadcaster's Wimbledon coverage and is commentating on the men's singles final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday. Castle, 61, reached the second round at Wimbledon in 1986 and 1987 when he was Britain's No.1. He reached the final of the Australian Open mixed doubles in 1987, but is now better known as a broadcaster, having become a fixture on the BBC's Wimbledon coverage. BBC One's build-up to the Sinner vs Alcaraz match involved insight from Tim Henman, Todd Woodbridge, John McEnroe and Pat Cash, with Clare Balding presenting. But when the time came to go to the commentary box, it was Castle leading things, prompting his name to go viral on X. "Why oh why do the BBC put Andrew Castle on lead commentary for the Men's Singles final every year, he's terrible. My ears have already start to bleed," one comment read. Another added: "Massive build up to this #WimbledonFinal and then BBC put Andrew Castle on commentary. Way to kill the match for me before it even starts." "Wow Andrew Castle is so bad he is already trending internationally," one fan wrote. "Heart sinks when I hear the words '... and your commentator is Andrew Castle'. Ruins enjoyment of every match. @BBCSport needs to cut the chord," another pleaded. Another post read: "Andrew Castle being given such an important role in this final after all of the complaints about him in the semi is embarrassing. He really adds zilch to the commentary booth." It isn't the first time that Castle has trended during the two weeks of Wimbledon, with the appearance of Andre Agassi in the commentary box having an unintended consequence. The former Wimbledon champion joined the BBC team for the semi-final between Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz, sparking lots of positive reviews from tennis fans, but also some highlighting how much better he is than Castle. It is likely an opinion that Nick Kyrgios agrees with, having clashed with the British commentator during his stint with the broadcaster in 2024. Kyrgios accused Castle of being disrespectful for his comments about big-servers Fritz and Alexander Zverev while commentating. The BBC have used the likes of McEnroe, Henman, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Cash, Tracy Austin and Annabel Croft as pundits this year, with Castle, Andrew Cotter, Jo Durie, Anne Keothavong, Nick Mullins and Woodbridge among the commentators. Meanwhile, Marion Bartoli, Kim Clijsters, Laura Robson, Greg Rusedski, Naomi Broady, Daniela Hantuchova and Leon Smith have been used as pundits on BBC Radio 5 Live.
