I'm a former social worker, rehabilitation counselor, mental health counselor and long term care administrator who has lived in Sarasota County for the past 25 years. I have developed wheelchair accessible homes and am heavily involved in promoting Elder Cohousing in Florida and Puerto Rico. I currently work part time as a counselor with developmentally disabled clients who are in need of supported living and supported employment services. Most recently, I have completed a Community Entrepreneur Oppportunity program sponsored by the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County and presented by Karen Magee & Associates. I will soon be completing the Leadership Institute program sponsored by the Suncoast Community Foundation of Venice and conducted by the Fanning Institute of the University of Georgia. I see myself as a community activist specializing in issues of senior housing, universal design, cohousing, and co-ownership. I live in Venice in a wheelchair accessible cottage that I designed and built for my 87 y/o maternal aunt. It was a kind and gentle environment for an elderly lady, and I'm sure that it helped delay her institutionalization by five years. I took great staisfaction to be able to give back to someone who had been so meaningful and generous in my life.

Interests:

I'm basically a beach bum who takes time out for work and causes. I had served as vice-chairman of the Venice City Council's former Accessibility Advisory Committee, and I currently serve on the Sarasota County Commission's Seniors Advisory Council where I head the Council's ad hoc committee to develop a "Universal Design" point rating system for the County similar to what is availabe for "Green Building" incentives. I also serve on SCOPE's "Aging: The Possibilities" committee. I volunteer in Senior Friendship Centers' "Friendship At Home" program and take a 93 y/o gentleman out for weekly, wheelchair adventures on the North Jetty at Nokomis Beach and the City Pier by Sharkey's Restaurant as well as for grocery shopping. I am under consideration for appoinment to the City of Sarasota's Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board as well as to the City of Venice's Lifestyles Committee.

Music:

I'm a jass, rock & roll, blues, and classical music fan. I haven't been able to warm up to either blue grass or rap, but then, I sometimes have my moments.

Movies:

I'm big on artsy flicks and don't mind subtitles. I missed Horace Hears A Who, and I probalby won't get around to WALL*E before it ends its first run. However that gives me a great opportunity to share the DVD's with my 3 y/o grandson when he visits. Fortunately, my ex-wife and her husband moved to Sarasota a few years ago, and my son gets the "two birds with one stone" advantage when he comes for a visit. Hopefully, he and his family will return to Sarasota in the not too distant future, and the long ago, boy/cook at the Bijou Cafe can return to the community as the Executive Chef that he's become.

Books:

I'm way too much into technology and research, but I have enjoyed personal growth topics like those presented by the Dalai Lama.

Television:

History Channel, Animal Channel, Discovery Travel (especially Anthony Bourdain's cooking & adventures), old movies on Video On Demand and Turner Classic Movies, PBS, and some cartoons for he who reads the funny papers every day.