African American
TWINSBURG, Ohio
United States
Currently, a nine (9) year garden professional at the Macedonia, Ohio Home Depot. Former garden & landscape instructor Kent State University. Horticulturist for the Anheuser-Busch Corporation at Sea World of Ohio. Clubhouse gardener for the American Golf Corpoation for three (3) golf courses. National, state and local awards in horticulture and floral design. Worked with the staffs of Busch Gardens and Cypress Gardens.
My hometown is Canton, Ohio, the home of the Professional Football Hall of Fame
"Hand-in-hand with nature is my motto!
About Me
Interests:
I was born and raised in football country, Canton, Ohio. I love football. I also like watching basketball. I love the hometown teams, the Browns and Cavs. I love listening to classical music and jazz.I still hold a F.C.C.radio telephone operator's license as a professional broadcastor. (Nick name on the radio "Black Velvet") I am also an interpreter of the deaf. I taught sign language for 8 years at a local university. I interpret for all of the deaf and hard of hearing customers who need assistance in the Home Depot where I work as a garden professional. My volunteer work is almost always tied into gardening projects. I love to teach other people gardening techniques. I lecture a great deal and give workshops, clinics and classes related to gardening. There is no difference in my work and my pleasure. My work is gardening and indeed it is also my pleasure. I am a real "Garden Nut" !My Photos (6)
My Videos (0)
My Journals (9)
Journal #9
April 14, 2008
In is always nice for someone to report something positive about you. Of late, I have had a great deal of interest in my AARP Dream Job projects. I have been very fortunate to have the news print media interested in my progress in obtaining my heirloom seed company.
Positive feedback in the form of e-mails, newspaper articles, magazine articles, cards and letters wishing me well in my efforts is very encouraging to say the least. I have also had positive feedback from customers who see me at the store where I am a garden professional. I have even had strangers say that they have read about me, or seen something about me on the internet, or in the news media and they have wished me well.
It all has had a profound effect upon me.
A wonderful reporter from the Akron Beacon Jounal has interviewed me proclaiming:” Area gardener wins dream job.” This article appeared in the business section of the Beacon Journal on Saturday, March 15, 2008.
In the May 1, 2008 edition of our city’s weekly newspaper, the Twinsburg Bulletin, the reporter stated:” Flowers will still grow” The article praised me for pursuing my dream job after age 50 years plus. The article also stated how I would utilize the help of local people in our community to help me fulfill my dream job. Twinsburg’s other weekly newspaper, the Twinsburg Sun, plans to conduct an interview this week for their paper.
On Monday May 12, 2008, the Ohio state branch of the AARP graciously agreed to do an article about me in the upcoming June issue of the AARP Ohio newsletter. A very nice photographer traveled up from the state capitol of Columbus, Ohio to photograph me and several of my growers for the news magazine.
In mid February, a reporter from a new national magazine called “Nature’s Garden” conducted an interview with me. Nature’s Garden magazine is a Better Homes and Garden magazine. The reporter was interested in my African American collection of heirloom seeds and plants. The featured article will appear sometime next year. The magazine wants photos of my garden and plants for the article. These photos will be taken close to harvest time when the readers can see all of my plants growing in the garden.
On April 21, 2008, I received a lovely note from the AARP Ohio State Director congratulating me for my accomplishment as a Dream Job winner .I was told the AARP
Ohio branch is very proud of me and everyone at the state office is watching with excitement to see my dream fulfilled.
On April 29, 2008, I received another note from the AARP Ohio State office thanking me for my volunteer service to my community. It is always nice to be recognized for your volunteer service.
I consider myself extremely blessed that people are out there cheering me on to success. It means a great deal to me to have others applaud my efforts and encourage me to reach out and fulfill my dream job.
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