Please find details for the 7 candidates below:
Jeff Bisgrove - Born and raised in the country south of Chicago; Found the Island March 1998, bought my lot and then built house in 1999; Moved here full time in 2006; Raised my older daughters here that are now ages 27 and 25. Currently now raising my 2 younger daughters.
This Island is my full time home and the home of my family. I bought my lot here for over 18 years ago and built my home in 1999. Its my full time home, 50 weeks per year. This Island means more than most would know and is very dear to my heart. The Island has that feeling as family, and it is, its my Island Family. It’s really is a great place to live life here on the Island.
Just a few of my thoughts, I like to see happen on our Island would be……a major beautification project to both ferry landings main land and Island side. I believe it’s the 1st thing you see when you arrive to our beautiful place and should be beautiful and something people remember.
I would like to see more social events, fund raisers, dinner under the stars, fishing tournaments, dances, beach parties, pig roast, etc. All of these events were here before 2004 and would be nice to see things like this again.
I would also like to see about securing land for a park on the beach or channel or even a dry lot. We could use a club house, pavilion for PIE events, meetings, events and to use for PIE members. It would be paid for by fund raisers and maintained by volunteers.
This Island is my full time home and the home of my family. I bought my lot here for over 18 years ago and built my home in 1999. Its my full time home, 50 weeks per year. This Island means more than most would know and is very dear to my heart. The Island has that feeling as family, and it is, its my Island Family. It’s really is a great place to live life here on the Island.
Just a few of my thoughts, I like to see happen on our Island would be……a major beautification project to both ferry landings main land and Island side. I believe it’s the 1st thing you see when you arrive to our beautiful place and should be beautiful and something people remember.
I would like to see more social events, fund raisers, dinner under the stars, fishing tournaments, dances, beach parties, pig roast, etc. All of these events were here before 2004 and would be nice to see things like this again.
I would also like to see about securing land for a park on the beach or channel or even a dry lot. We could use a club house, pavilion for PIE events, meetings, events and to use for PIE members. It would be paid for by fund raisers and maintained by volunteers.
Candyce Cohen - My husband David and I stumbled on Palm Island in the summer of 1990 and bought an Island House unit before the year was out. We both worked crazy hours in Tampa/St. Pete and made our way to the island most weekends to decompress. Our first island outing was a FART party to support the volunteer Island Fire and Rescue Team where we met many locals dedicated to saving our paradise. Many may remember my parents, Nancy and Blackie Hunt, who became full-time islanders in 1991. We followed soon thereafter and became full-time islanders in the early 1996 and were blessed to have so many years with my parents before they passed. My mom loved walking the beach, her orchids and bridge with the girls, my dad loved telling tall tales at Rum Bay.
David and I met in New College and married long ago. We ended up working together a dozen years which is quite an accomplishment itself, but we are both sworn to secrecy about what that is really like! It did allow us to travel together across 6 continents for our work in financial technologies, but the island has always been our favorite place in the world - even in the summer! In addition to our day to day work, we are both very active in fundraising for the Light of Day Foundation, a charity organized to use the awesome power of music to raise money and awareness for the fight against Parkinson’s and related diseases. A few years ago, we began hosting some of our favorite NY and NJ musicians for a Parkinson’s Concert, Light of Day Palm Island, to share our love of music and to help raise funds to fight this terrible disease. The concert has become one of those very special evenings on the island and it usually gets more than a few of us dancing. In our “spare” time, I love island sunsets, tending to my orchids, live music, collecting bling from half marathons, scuba diving and baking.
I always thought my unpredictable work travel schedule would prohibit me from doing more with PIE, but today’s technology allows participation with the monthly board and committee meetings from any location. It’s about time I did more to help protect, preserve and prioritize this little piece of paradise I’ve called home the last twenty-odd years! My concerns and interests range from the administrative and accounting oversight on costs allocated to our MSBU/MSTU (I serve on the Barrier Islands Fire Service Unit advisory board) to addressing the issues with postal code verifications required by the Patriot Act which cause chaos for islanders who try to use many computer-based systems from Rocket Mortgage and Zillow to your insurance underwriters. As a director, I hope to use my computer “geekiness” to help the island face the changes that we can’t avoid with the least disruption to our peaceful, native island lifestyle.
David and I met in New College and married long ago. We ended up working together a dozen years which is quite an accomplishment itself, but we are both sworn to secrecy about what that is really like! It did allow us to travel together across 6 continents for our work in financial technologies, but the island has always been our favorite place in the world - even in the summer! In addition to our day to day work, we are both very active in fundraising for the Light of Day Foundation, a charity organized to use the awesome power of music to raise money and awareness for the fight against Parkinson’s and related diseases. A few years ago, we began hosting some of our favorite NY and NJ musicians for a Parkinson’s Concert, Light of Day Palm Island, to share our love of music and to help raise funds to fight this terrible disease. The concert has become one of those very special evenings on the island and it usually gets more than a few of us dancing. In our “spare” time, I love island sunsets, tending to my orchids, live music, collecting bling from half marathons, scuba diving and baking.
I always thought my unpredictable work travel schedule would prohibit me from doing more with PIE, but today’s technology allows participation with the monthly board and committee meetings from any location. It’s about time I did more to help protect, preserve and prioritize this little piece of paradise I’ve called home the last twenty-odd years! My concerns and interests range from the administrative and accounting oversight on costs allocated to our MSBU/MSTU (I serve on the Barrier Islands Fire Service Unit advisory board) to addressing the issues with postal code verifications required by the Patriot Act which cause chaos for islanders who try to use many computer-based systems from Rocket Mortgage and Zillow to your insurance underwriters. As a director, I hope to use my computer “geekiness” to help the island face the changes that we can’t avoid with the least disruption to our peaceful, native island lifestyle.
Pat Gordon - I am a genuine Florida native, living here on Don Pedro full-time since 1998. I have served on the PIE board for 17 years as Secretary, President, and Treasurer. I have been a member of the Sea Turtle Patrol for 19 years as well as the Gopher Tortoise Team since its inception. Hobbies and interests include tennis, reading, Bridge, island landscaping, and rescue of injured critters. I support maintaining a clean environment while living the island life style we currently enjoy…it is why we all live here!
Cori Palmere - I had a rewarding 25 year career in elementary education in Michigan with special training and emphasis in Gifted and Talented Services. During this time I lead many academic and social committees and served on district-wide boards including curriculum council and long range planning. A fellow teacher invited me to join a group that rented one of the “browns” on Don Pedro for spring break in the early 1990’s. The island’s spell had me that first trip and I have been back each year since. My husband and I bought our beach house here two years ago. We also have a home in New Jersey where we spend summers and the winter holidays with family and friends. Some interests of mine include acting with the Royal Palm Players on Boca Grande and Lemon Bay Playhouse in Englewood, playing tennis, traveling, quilting and riding around the island on my bicycle. As a P.I.E board member I will work to preserve what is special about our island and collaborate with P.I.E. members to address challenges of the future.
Meryl Shaffer - I have been a resident of Don Pedro Island since 2000. In 2003, I began publishing "Spindrift -- the Island Times," which became the official printed newsletter of PIE for 3 consecutive years. I have been a volunteer in the community as part of the Turtle Patrol, a member of the Island Advisory Committee and served on the PIE Board from 2004-2007. Upon returning to the Board in 2012, I served as Vice President of the Board and designed the first update for the PIE website which was launched in 2013. I remained the "PIE Webmistress" through 2015 handling email correspondence to keep PIE in touch with members and Island homeowners. I love the Island and enjoy contributing to the community in any way I can.
David J Witters - Full-time island resident since 2005. 3 kids Brittany, Peri and Johnny. Married to Kerri Stulce, son Kameron(also a full time resident). Kerri is an island yoga teacher.
30 plus years general contracting state certified since 1987
20 Plus years state certified pool contractor
Self employed owner of Witters Contracting Feb 92-Present
Penn State Graduate 1985
Architectural Engineering Degree
Skills: Construction, construction management, contractors, residential homes, renovations,strategic planning, business development. Animal and Island lover.
30 plus years general contracting state certified since 1987
20 Plus years state certified pool contractor
Self employed owner of Witters Contracting Feb 92-Present
Penn State Graduate 1985
Architectural Engineering Degree
Skills: Construction, construction management, contractors, residential homes, renovations,strategic planning, business development. Animal and Island lover.
Lindsay Yates - After many years of searching for “Old Florida” and thinking that it no longer existed, my husband Jon Goranson and I discovered this wonderful island in the late 1990s and purchased a vacation home in 2001. We were able to make the transition to full-time residency in 2008, leaving behind 40 long, cold winters (and cold springs and cold falls) in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I have been fortunate to be able to continue working as an accountant for my long-time Colorado employer, a company with diverse interests in mining, ranching and land development. On the island I am currently on the Sea Turtle Patrol and the Roads and Bridges Committee. I am interested in preserving and protecting the natural island environment. I have long been a supporter of PIE, have been a volunteer worker for many PIE functions, and look forward to having an opportunity to work on advancing the common interests of the island residents by serving on the PIE board.