Highlands United Methodist Church in Bella Vista is making a few changes for its 23rd annual homes tour.
“This year we’re going outside of the Highlands area,” said Katy Henkel, chairman of the Highlands Home Tour.
For the past 22 years, the tour has included homes only in the Highlands area of Bella Vista. This year, two of the five homes on the tour are near the Bella Vista Village Country Club, Henkel said.
“We’re trying to generatesome new interest. After 22 years, people may think there’s nothing else to see,” she said. “But now we have new things and we want people to be sure and get in on it.”
The homes on the tour, chosen because “they have something interesting to offer,” Henkel said, include features such as:
An Ireland-theme guest bath and Paris-theme master bath at 24 Ledbetter Lane, the home of Lila and Jack Cleary.
A collection of quartz, geodes and a 3 million-yearold bug inside 17 Leawood Lane, the home of KathyWine and Danny Willeford.
A collection of antiques, original paintings by the homeowners and a Christmas-theme guest room at 14 Salen Lane, the home of Jeri Meyer.
A picture signed by Bruce Willis, Russian tapestries and a carousel horse at 75 Dogwood Drive, the home of Todd Pratt.
A display of Mason Vista dishes, Custard glassware and an organ from 1899 inside 9 Kipling Circle, the home Jeanne and Larry Stokebrand.
At each home, visitors can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a $200 giftcard. The cost is $1 each or $5 for six.
Another new thing the church is doing in conjunction with the tour is adding an antiques and collectibles sale at the church during the home tour. The success of last year’s antiques appraisal led to the addition of the sale, Henkel said. The church will accept donations of antiques for the sale Aug. 3-14 at the church. Donations are tax-deductible.
Ken Warner, a certified appraiser, will appraise antiques for the public.
The cost is $5 per item, with a three-item limit per person.
A classic car show also will take place at the church during the home tour. Last year’s car show included more than 20, and Henkel said she expects more this year. Prizes in a variety of categories will be awarded. Entry fee is a free-will off ering.
Henkel, who has helped with the home tour for the last few years, said many people like to visit a few homes, stop by for a snack and to check out the cars and antiques and then finish the tour of homes. The homes can be viewed in any order.
All the money generated from the events of the day will benefit local missions, she said. In the past, the church has supported Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity Apostles Build and Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter. The church has donated more than $265,000 in the last 22 years, Henkel said.
“It’s a worthwhile cause,” Henkel said. “We encourage everyone at the church to get involved. And people do.”
Volunteers from the church, wearing red shirts, will help at the church and at each of the homes on the tour. At the end of the day, all of the volunteers will celebrate with a relaxeddinner at the church, Henkel said.
“It’s fun working on aproject that so many people are involved in,” Henkel said.
Religion, Pages 8 on 07/20/2013