MAKEOVER HIGHLIGHTS FIFTH ANNUAL HOME TOUR

The restoration of the home was undertaken by current owners Gordon and Kathy Gregersen during 2003-2005. (Photo/ERIC VALENTINE).

LA GRANDE - An exciting and unusual Holiday Home Tour is being presented by the La Grande Rotary Club from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 9.

This self-guided car tour begins at Dr. Jim McMahan's dental office, 504 Fourth St., anytime after noon. That's where ticket holders receive a tour brochure. The tour may be taken in any order of visitation. Watch for the Rotary Home Tour signs in front of each home or business highlighted in the brochure.

One stop on the tour is the newly renovated home of Gordon and Kathy Gregersen, formerly owned by the Carl Helm family, at 1602 Second St. Don't miss the Catholic Church Parish Hall display of Nativity sets loaned from residents of Union County and the church rectory.

There are six other stops — five homes and one business open on the property of one of the homeowners.

Ticket sales will benefit the programs of the Drug Free Youth (D-FY) at La Grande Middle School, Shelter From the Storm and CASA. CASA is Court Appointed Special Advocates who are trained volunteers appointed by the court to advocate for children involved in juvenile court proceedings due to alleged parental abuse and/or neglect.

Tickets, $10, are now on sale from any Rotarian, and at Sunflower Books, Janet Hume's CPA office at 1118 J Ave. and Mountain Valley Therapy at 2519 Cove Ave. Tickets may also be purchased after noon on the day of the tour at

Dr. McMahan's office.

In 2001, Mardene Dowdy, a La Grande Rotarian and the second woman president of that club, began the committee for the first Holiday Home Tour. She worked diligently on the committee until her retirement and move to the Boise area.

Past recipients of funds raised by the tour have been the LMS Drug Free Youth every year, the building of the Pioneer Park Rotary Pavilion, Support the Troops, the local American Red Cross chapter and the Blue Mountain Humane Society.