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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 5, 2008

Designing For The FutureHer design for a home whose porch takes a person from toddler to elderly won Christine Sanchez third place in a continental competition for architecture and design students. Challenged to "design for a person to age in place with dignity," Sanchez incorporated a porch that wraps around the perimeter of the house and offers complete accessibility by wheelchair. A student at the University of South Florida, she drew for a waterfront site in Sarasota. "The porch begins with a ramp and evolves into a deck, walls, windows, seating, roof, and finally, ceiling," she wrote in her accompanying essay. "The user has the freedom to access and see all parts of his or her property." The Ethel Andrus Percy House of Freedom Design Competition is sponsored by AARP and the American Institute of Architecture Students. To see the winning designs, go to www.aias.org/aarp. Nurture A Growing VocationMost great ideas have a loser. Some are win-wins. Very few are win-win-wins. Falkenburg Road Jail's Horticulture Vocational Program hits a grand slam: Inmates learn landscaping; the government gets help beautifying highway medians; and the public gets to enjoy all that beautification - and buy lovingly grown plants. The next sale is from 8 a.m. to noon June 13 near the entrance of Falkenburg Road Jail, 520 N. Falkenburg Road, Brandon (Interstate 75 to State Road 60, west to Falkenburg Road and north to the jail). Bring cash or a check. Proceeds buy program supplies and seed careers: Inmates who graduate from the program earn a vocational certificate. Looks To Watch

Just as you're settling in for summer reruns, HGTV's "DesignStar" kicks off its third season.

Contestants include architects, design business owners, a furniture designer, an art teacher and a police officer. In competitive challenges, they must design solutions to all kinds of problems, then face a panel of judges including Vern Yip and Cynthia Rowley.

When only two competitors remain, the audience votes for the winner. The show premieres at 9 p.m. Sunday.

For The Lounge Lizard

If Dad's getting a new throne for Father's Day (no, we're not talking about the one in the bathroom), hit Robb & Stucky's free seminar, "The Recliner, Dad's Favorite Seat," before you shop. You'll get tips for selecting a comfortable, durable chair and covering.

It's at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Robb & Stucky in International Plaza, West Shore and Boy Scout boulevards, Tampa. Call (813) 319-6707 to reserve your seat.

Penny Carnathan

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