Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 10,...

Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 10, 2003 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Fourth Annual Open Doors Home and Garden Tour in Huntington

Beach.

Presented by the Huntington Beach Education Foundation (HBEF) in

association with the Huntington Beach Art Center, eight beautiful

homes in the community will open their doors for public viewing. The

cost is $50 per person ($35 for HBAC or HBEF members) and includes a

gourmet buffet lunch at the Huntington Beach Art Center. Guests can

visit each home at their own pace, starting wherever they choose.

An exciting addition to this year’s event will be prize drawings.

All ticket holders are automatically entered. One prize will be

awarded each hour. Winners’ names will be posted at the HBAC on tour

day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and contacted after the event. Prizes will

include a weekend stay at the new Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa in

Huntington Beach, dinner for four at Duke’s Restaurant in Huntington

Beach and gift certificates to local department stores.

Last year, more than 500 community members viewed the homes on the

tour. Another sellout is expected this year.

Lending their creative talents to the event are interior designer

Kristen Schaffner-Irvin from Design Repertoire and graphic designer

Kim Schultz from KJ Schultz Design.

According to Schaffner-Irvin, “My clients are increasingly looking

for ways to increase their time spent outdoors. Some entertainment

areas now include outdoor sinks and refrigerators, area contrast

lighting, heaters and sound systems.”

“We are very excited to provide our community the opportunity to

view these beautiful homes,” said Donna Horn, event chair. “This year

we will be showing many unique ideas that local homeowners have

incorporated into their homes from cozy cottage to tropical resort

living.”

The Home Tour Committee is made up of parents and professionals

from the immediate community. Chair Donna Horn is with Star Real

Estate. Public relations and marketing services are being coordinated

by Tammie Beckstead from Marketing Solutions.

“The trend toward outdoor living is being seen nationwide,” said

Beckstead, whose firm provides services to several international

companies including Price Pfister, Kwikset and Master Halco.

“This year’s International Builders Show showcased an increased

amount of outdoor living products in the areas of outdoor contrast

lighting, outdoor sound systems and building materials designed to

support the growing trend.”

National companies such as Home Depot and Staples The Office

Superstore have donated cash and product to this year’s Home and

Garden Tour. Local and national businesses such as Coatings

Resources, Dukes’ Restaurant, Primary Color, Hyatt Regency Resort &

Spa, Star Real Estate, Suzanne’s Catering and 5 Points Plaza are also

event sponsors.

All profits from the day’s event will be invested in Huntington

Beach’s schools in the form of teacher grants and technology. As the

result of state budget cuts, the Huntington Beach City School

District has been forced to make $2.2 million in modifications to

balance the 2003-04 budget. This has forced the school board to make

drastic cuts that will affect daily services to our children.

“In response to the state budget cuts, our foundation has

increased our fundraising efforts significantly this year,” said

Cathy Meschuck, president, Huntington Beach Education Foundation.

“Many businesses in our community have really stepped to the plate in

support of our schools.”

The HBEF was founded in 1987 by people who are passionate about

the education of the youth in the community. The foundation’s goal is

to develop and expand a partnership among the business, parent and

educational communities to promote excellence in students’ behavior,

attitude and achievement.

The HBAC services the local and regional community with

opportunities for participation in the arts. The Art Center offers

programs in the visual performing arts, in addition to art classes

for people of all ages, including a highly popular summer art camp

for youth.

For more information on the Home and Garden Tour, to acquire

tickets, make a tax-deductible donation, or donate goods or services

to HBEF, contact Donna Horn at (714) 848-1845. Write to HBEF, 20451

Craimer Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92646.