At the Beach .... With Calvin !
Fort Lauderdale Beach is a special place! ..... Known the world over!
And if you've been to the beach in the last few years, there are some things you know.
You know the wave wall, you know the five-star resorts, you know the giant dactilifera palms ......and you know .........
CALVIN
Calvin has become one of the beaches self- made attractions. Seems everyone has a Calvin story. People say he can cause a lot of trouble. I decided to go down the beach to see what makes Calvin tick.
First, we all suspect that Calvin is homeless, though he wouldn't confirm that. You'll usually find him lounging on the wave wall, somewhere across from the Elbo Room. What I do know for sure is that he's a giant man with a giant grin and a giant tale to tell as long as you'll listen.
Here's how my interview with Calvin went:
.............................................................................
Tim: Hey Calvin, would you talk to me for a few minutes ( I handed Calvin a couple of bucks)
Calvin: not for that I won't, how about fifty bucks.
Tim: can't do that Calvin, what else will seal the deal?
Calvin: low cut army boots, size fourteen ...... WIDE ( he says to punctuate) .. and no new ones, I want them already broke in.
Tim: deal, ....now tell me about yourself
Clavin : Calvin Williams, Marine, 53 years old, live right here on the beach, never going anywhere. I own the Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel, right there, and I love Brittany Spears and Lady Gaga!
Tim: Are you doin' alright .... health OK? ...gettin' plenty to eat?
Calvin: health is great, love my York Peppermint Patties and Hooter's Fried Chicken
Tim: Can I take a couple of pictures? Calvin gives me one of his goofiest looks.
Calvin: how's that? ( I tell him he cracks me up!)
[ According to a retired Police Sergeant that worked the beach area a few years back, Calvin is fine as long as he's "on his meds". The Sergeant recalled a sand beach brawl a few of his colleagues had with Calvin a few years back.
"Calvin was off his meds and getting abusive to the tourists. Two Officers tried to take him off the sand, but got caught under his giant frame ( the seargent is laughing wildly at this point). From then on, we'd get him off the beach if we had to, but by bribing him with his favorite - Mcmuffins!"]
Tim: Calvin, you're quite a cut-up, anything else you'd like to add?
Calvin: yea, tell everybody I'm a beach boy, a beach bum, and a walrus ( he erupts in laughter !)
Tim: OK buddy, hope everything works out for you - ( I say as I head off)
Calvin: don't forget my boots, ( he yells after me)
..............................................................................
......... Calvin seems in his own world, but appears to like it there. I hope he's OK, hope he stays on his meds... hope everything works out for him....
I'm off to the thrift stores...... size fourteen low cut army boots, WIDE !!!
And if you've been to the beach in the last few years, there are some things you know.
You know the wave wall, you know the five-star resorts, you know the giant dactilifera palms ......and you know .........
CALVIN
Calvin has become one of the beaches self- made attractions. Seems everyone has a Calvin story. People say he can cause a lot of trouble. I decided to go down the beach to see what makes Calvin tick.
First, we all suspect that Calvin is homeless, though he wouldn't confirm that. You'll usually find him lounging on the wave wall, somewhere across from the Elbo Room. What I do know for sure is that he's a giant man with a giant grin and a giant tale to tell as long as you'll listen.
Here's how my interview with Calvin went:
.............................................................................
Tim: Hey Calvin, would you talk to me for a few minutes ( I handed Calvin a couple of bucks)
Calvin: not for that I won't, how about fifty bucks.
Tim: can't do that Calvin, what else will seal the deal?
Calvin: low cut army boots, size fourteen ...... WIDE ( he says to punctuate) .. and no new ones, I want them already broke in.
Tim: deal, ....now tell me about yourself
Clavin : Calvin Williams, Marine, 53 years old, live right here on the beach, never going anywhere. I own the Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel, right there, and I love Brittany Spears and Lady Gaga!
Tim: Are you doin' alright .... health OK? ...gettin' plenty to eat?
Calvin: health is great, love my York Peppermint Patties and Hooter's Fried Chicken
Tim: Can I take a couple of pictures? Calvin gives me one of his goofiest looks.
Calvin: how's that? ( I tell him he cracks me up!)
[ According to a retired Police Sergeant that worked the beach area a few years back, Calvin is fine as long as he's "on his meds". The Sergeant recalled a sand beach brawl a few of his colleagues had with Calvin a few years back.
"Calvin was off his meds and getting abusive to the tourists. Two Officers tried to take him off the sand, but got caught under his giant frame ( the seargent is laughing wildly at this point). From then on, we'd get him off the beach if we had to, but by bribing him with his favorite - Mcmuffins!"]
Tim: Calvin, you're quite a cut-up, anything else you'd like to add?
Calvin: yea, tell everybody I'm a beach boy, a beach bum, and a walrus ( he erupts in laughter !)
Tim: OK buddy, hope everything works out for you - ( I say as I head off)
Calvin: don't forget my boots, ( he yells after me)
..............................................................................
......... Calvin seems in his own world, but appears to like it there. I hope he's OK, hope he stays on his meds... hope everything works out for him....
I'm off to the thrift stores...... size fourteen low cut army boots, WIDE !!!
I didn't really "get" this blog entry, but now I'm curious to know if that's a wristband on Calvin, or a gold bracelet.
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Thank You Tim I am learning more about our City and the people that are living on the street and beaches and I believe it is very helpful. and Tim you are the type that faces the issues like (Homeless)and try's to make a differance I wish we had more leaders that make the same efforts.
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You're a good soul, Tim.
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Tim,
I see from your blog that you're really into the Visioning outreach concept.
What is Calvin's Vision? Same as "Crazy Joe's"?
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Calvin is a danger to himself and others. He is not homeless, but lives in an assisted living facility that exercises zero control over him. He routinely fall off his meds. and becomes a chronic problem causing the police and fire departments to have to continually respond to complaints regarding him, costing the tax payers of Ft. Lauderdale thousands of dollars each year, not to mention tying up Emergency service assets and resources for nonsense. He has been baker acted multiple times, yet the mental health system continually releases him after he gets back on his meds.
Tim, unfortunately your light hearted blog regarding this individual is off the mark. He is a menace and is bleeding Ft. Lauderdale tax payers.
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well it seems in Ft. Lauderdale under Adderley's watch you have your choice, "Calvin" or a "child killer" living in the park..pick your poison..
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Calvin,you are so attractive!
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