BabyGirl
03-15-2005, 01:47 AM
Showplace Brings Cheers And Tears
ST. PETERSBURG - It took half a day of setup and practice runs on Sunday by the television crew of ``Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.''
But on cue, design team leader Ty Pennington issued the order: ``Bus driver, move the bus.''
The giant brown bus rolled forward and revealed the dream house for James Dolan and his family.
They had emerged seconds earlier from a limousine to the cheers of family and about 3,000 spectators. An upscale, 3,500-square-foot house had replaced their nearly 40-year- old ranch style house in less than a week.
``Oh, my God,'' said Chrissy Dolan, as she embraced her husband, James.
``This is an awesome house,'' said their son, Charlie, 12.
By then the crowds of well- wishers and fans of the show had stared for hours at the house that Lexington Homes had built in three days and seven hours.
They had cheered every sighting of Pennington and on cue whooped it up as camera crews recorded the moments.
Anyone entering the filming zone was issued a T-shirt and ball cap with logos for Lexington Homes and the ``Extreme Makeover'' show.
A stand-in family had arrived at one point to rehearse the arrival of the real Dolans.
``Surreal'' and ``emotional'' were words that co-mingled when people described what unfolded on 99th Way North. The neighborhood of mostly 1960s ranch-style homes was invaded more than a week ago by the reality television show and New Port Richey building company Lexington Homes.
The Dolans were chosen for the extreme makeover nearly three months after a gunman rushed into a St. Petersburg RadioShack and killed an employee, Joana Cruz, and a customer, Kenneth Powell.
James Dolan, a store manager-in-training, survived but was blinded by a gunshot to the head.
Several members of Cruz's family came to the house's unveiling and wore T-shirts with her picture and the words, ``In loving memory.'' Her mother, Nancy Cruz, dabbed tears from her eyes as she remembered her daughter's smile.
``She wanted to do so much for me and her family.''
With a warm embrace, Cathey Dolan, James' mother, said her family remembers the Cruzes in their prayers.
At a news conference today, information will be released about donations to help the Cruz family, and Powell's children.
For the past week, thousands of contractors and volunteers labored night and day to build a home that is user- friendly for James Dolan. Special features include an easy- to-navigate floor plan, textured wallpaper and fixtures that work on voice-command.
``I feel like a proud parent,'' said Craig Gallagher, president of Lexington Homes. ``We've never come close to anything like this.''
The show told Gallagher the house had to be finished in four days and nine hours. His company set a record for builders that have appeared on the show, Gallagher said.
``We smoked it,'' he said.
Hundreds of people trekked to 99th Way North to share the experience.
Friends Lora Roney, 22, and Kristin Childress, 21, drove from Orlando Thursday to see how one of their favorite shows is filmed.
They went to work on Friday as volunteers, helping to make beds or sweep out closets. Sunday they cooled off under umbrellas as they waited for the Dolans' arrival.
``At first it was exciting to see Ty,'' Childress said. ``Now I'm excited to see the family.''
Sunday night the Dolans settled in to their new life.
``What's important is the kids are coming home and they will take this house and turn it into a home,'' Cathey Dolan said.
ST. PETERSBURG - It took half a day of setup and practice runs on Sunday by the television crew of ``Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.''
But on cue, design team leader Ty Pennington issued the order: ``Bus driver, move the bus.''
The giant brown bus rolled forward and revealed the dream house for James Dolan and his family.
They had emerged seconds earlier from a limousine to the cheers of family and about 3,000 spectators. An upscale, 3,500-square-foot house had replaced their nearly 40-year- old ranch style house in less than a week.
``Oh, my God,'' said Chrissy Dolan, as she embraced her husband, James.
``This is an awesome house,'' said their son, Charlie, 12.
By then the crowds of well- wishers and fans of the show had stared for hours at the house that Lexington Homes had built in three days and seven hours.
They had cheered every sighting of Pennington and on cue whooped it up as camera crews recorded the moments.
Anyone entering the filming zone was issued a T-shirt and ball cap with logos for Lexington Homes and the ``Extreme Makeover'' show.
A stand-in family had arrived at one point to rehearse the arrival of the real Dolans.
``Surreal'' and ``emotional'' were words that co-mingled when people described what unfolded on 99th Way North. The neighborhood of mostly 1960s ranch-style homes was invaded more than a week ago by the reality television show and New Port Richey building company Lexington Homes.
The Dolans were chosen for the extreme makeover nearly three months after a gunman rushed into a St. Petersburg RadioShack and killed an employee, Joana Cruz, and a customer, Kenneth Powell.
James Dolan, a store manager-in-training, survived but was blinded by a gunshot to the head.
Several members of Cruz's family came to the house's unveiling and wore T-shirts with her picture and the words, ``In loving memory.'' Her mother, Nancy Cruz, dabbed tears from her eyes as she remembered her daughter's smile.
``She wanted to do so much for me and her family.''
With a warm embrace, Cathey Dolan, James' mother, said her family remembers the Cruzes in their prayers.
At a news conference today, information will be released about donations to help the Cruz family, and Powell's children.
For the past week, thousands of contractors and volunteers labored night and day to build a home that is user- friendly for James Dolan. Special features include an easy- to-navigate floor plan, textured wallpaper and fixtures that work on voice-command.
``I feel like a proud parent,'' said Craig Gallagher, president of Lexington Homes. ``We've never come close to anything like this.''
The show told Gallagher the house had to be finished in four days and nine hours. His company set a record for builders that have appeared on the show, Gallagher said.
``We smoked it,'' he said.
Hundreds of people trekked to 99th Way North to share the experience.
Friends Lora Roney, 22, and Kristin Childress, 21, drove from Orlando Thursday to see how one of their favorite shows is filmed.
They went to work on Friday as volunteers, helping to make beds or sweep out closets. Sunday they cooled off under umbrellas as they waited for the Dolans' arrival.
``At first it was exciting to see Ty,'' Childress said. ``Now I'm excited to see the family.''
Sunday night the Dolans settled in to their new life.
``What's important is the kids are coming home and they will take this house and turn it into a home,'' Cathey Dolan said.