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Dialogue Magazine

Ricky Joe: Your Personal Chef of Cooks Comfort Cuisine
by Empish J. Thomas
Dialogue Magazine
August 2005 Issue

Meatloaf served with homemade buttermilk mashed potatoes and blanched green beans with crumbled bacon. Or what about Shepard’s Pie made with ground lamb, various vegetables & thick beef sauce simmering under a layer of creamy mashed potatoes. Couscous and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers prepared with red bell peppers, couscous and quinoa in a delicious tomato sauce; or Grandma’s Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken & Egg Noodle Soup prepared with rich broth, vegetables and egg noodles; serve with sides of corn and mashed potatoes.

Fruit Platter
No, this is not a dinner menu at a local restaurant or the highlights from a cooking show on the Food Network Channel. But these mouth-watering meals are some of Ricky Joe’s, personal chef, favorites to prepare for his clients.

Located in Portland, Oregon, he specializes in Pennsylvania Dutch, Amish and Southern cuisine. “I really love to cook home-style comfort meals and many ethnic dishes,” said Joe, who has been a personal chef and owner of Cooks Comfort Cuisine for the past year. “The main thing is that I cook the comfort foods my clients enjoy and I serve them family style. I put all the love and passion that I have in my meals and if my clients can feel just a little of my love for what I am doing that will make me happy.”
Zucchini Carrot Bread
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JOEY STUCKEY: Georgia’s Official Ambassador of Music
by Empish J. Thomas
Dialogue Magazine
September/October 2006 Issue

Joey Stuckey, 30, was born with music in his veins. Inheriting a love of music from his father, who played in country bands as a teen; and his mother, who introduced him to spiritual and classical musical styles, Stuckey has been constantly surrounded by methodic melodies. Thus, their influence inspired him to make music is ultimate career choice. “My home environment has always been spiritual, peaceful and loving,” he said. “I have found music as a healing power, and it has been a positive influence on me.” In 2003 Stuckey endured medical complications causing him to use a wheelchair temporarily; and it was the soothing sounds of music that has helped in his continuous recovery. “When I wake up I feel pretty rotten and music is what helps me to feel better,” said Stuckey. “It gets the day started and is a big part of my morning regimen. Music gets me focus in the right direction.”
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Teaching the Importance of Independent Living Skills, Volunteerism and Advocacy Doug Hall, Senior Rehabilitation Specialist
by Empish J. Thomas
Dialogue Magazine
March/April 2008 Issue

Instructor, advocate and volunteer are all words that accurately describe Doug Hall, 60, a senior rehabilitation specialist at the Orientation and Adjustment Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Center is located on one of the largest blind service campuses in the country, boasting about 6 organizations that train and assist disabled people with independent living skills. Some of the agencies are the Center for the Visually Impaired, the Braille and Talking Book Library, the State Division of Blind Services, Easter Seals, the Lions Club and a host of others. In addition to these organizations, Hall notes an added feature that fosters independency is the training apartments. “These dorms and apartments are ideal places for learning independent living skills,” he said. “Students live there for about 3 weeks living on their own.”
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