JAMESVILLE, N.C. -- Jeff Cooper and his family deserve some good news -- and on Friday, March 6, they got it when they opened the door of their northeastern North Carolina home to find Ty Pennington on the other side.
Pennington, design team leader for the hit ABC Network TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and his team are building the Coopers a new home -- and a new life -- in partnership with Edenton Builders, Inc. and thousands of volunteers from northeastern North Carolina.
This year, the series is searching for special heroes in everyday life, sifting through tens of thousands of nominations from neighborhoods all over the country. They found Jeff Cooper, his wife Clara and children Windy and Aaron in Jamesville, a small town in North Carolina's historic Albemarle region. Jeff was a combat medic with the U. S. Army in the Gulf War -- Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm -- in the early 1990s. He came home from combat highly decorated for his service -- and tragically suffering from Gulf War Syndrome. Now confined to a wheelchair, Jeff has serious immune disorders and multiple sclerosis. Despite his constant pain over the years, Jeff has an impressive record of advocacy for fellow veterans. He lobbied the North Carolina General Assembly for a special license plate honoring Gulf War Veterans and has spoken strongly for the rights of the disabled.
Jeff is not the only Cooper facing tough challenges. Their young son Aaron was gravely injured when he was run over by a garbage truck two years ago. Using his medic's skills, Jeff was able to save Aaron's life, but the boy lost most of his right arm and has survived several surgeries since.
Despite difficulties that would crush many families, the Coopers have remained upbeat and happy in their devotion to each other and to their important work. The leaking, decaying double-wide trailer that has been their home hasn't made their lives any easier. With bad wiring, a sinking roof and a rotting ramp, it is ill-equipped for disabled family members and uncomfortable for everyone.
By the time the Coopers return Friday, March 13, from a vacation in Washington, D. C., that trailer will be gone -- replaced by a custom-designed home built by the "Extreme Team," local builder John Norris' team from Edenton Builders, Inc., and more than a thousand volunteers. The local architect is Jonathan White of Beacon Architecture in Kitty Hawk, N.C. The design team for this episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will feature team leader Ty Pennington and designers Michael Moloney, Paige Hemmis and Ed Sanders.
The Alamance-Caswell Home Builders Association will host its six annual Carpenters Cup Challenge, Saturday, March 21, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The carpentry competition involves local high schools helping to raise much-needed funds for their carpentry programs. Each school has a team of students, a local builder and a carpentry teacher who will build five storage buildings on Saturday in the Home Builders Association parking lot at 2450 Hanford Road in Burlington.
Buildings are 10' X 12' and will be sold prior to the event on a first-come basis for $1,600 (free delivery within Alamance County). If you are interested in purchasing a building, please contact Susan Black at the Home Builders Association at (336)227-1336. There are three buildings still available.
The North Carolina Housing Hall of Fame Board of Governors is seeking nominations for the North Carolina Housing Hall of Fame. The primary purpose of the NCHHF is to honor men and women who have made significant and lasting contributions to housing in North Carolina, the building industry and to the North Carolina Home Builders Association. Nominees do not have to be active or a member of the North Carolina Home Builders Association.
If you know of an individual who has excelled in making a significant and lasting contribution to the building industry, please complete the nomination form and return it to the NCHBA office at the address below. All nominations must be postmarked by April 15, 2009.
The inductee(s) will be announced at the June 2009 NCHBA 2nd Quarter Board of Directors meeting. The induction ceremony will take place during the Installation Dinner at the 2009 NCHBA 4th Quarter Meetings on December 8, 2009.
Induction into the NCHFF is a prestigious honor. All nominations will be carefully screened and given thorough consideration by the NCHHF Board of Governors. If you have any questions, please contact Erin Jones at NCHBA at 1-800-662-7129 or by e-mail at .
North Carolina Home Builders Association
Attn: Erin Jones
P.O. Box 99090
Raleigh, NC 27624
The North Carolina Home Builders Association invites you to join us at the annual Builders Classic Golf Tournament April 17 at Whispering Pines Country Club. All proceeds go to the North Carolina Home Builders Educational & Charitable Foundation Inc., a program that awards scholarships to college students majoring in a construction-related field at a two-year or four-year college.
The tournament promises to be an exciting event, with players having the opportunity to network with other industry professionals as they contribute to a worthy cause. The 18-hole course offers large greens and rolling fairways lined with pines and strategically-placed bunkers. Check-in is at 8 a.m., with a 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament is Captain's Choice format. The cost is $85 per person or $340 per team, and includes green fees, cart fee, beverages, Thursday evening dinner and lunch Friday. To register or for more information view, the Builders Classic Golf Tournament Flyer.
To add to the competitive spirit of this year’s NCHBECF Golf Tournament, Bonded Builders Home Warranty is offering an incentive to those who recruit new members through the Spirit of Membership program. If any member at the tournament brings a new member paid application to the tournament, the recruiting member will receive a $35 gas card. If the applicant plays in the tournament, both get a $35 gas card. The new member may be a builder, associate or affiliate member. Click here for more information on the Spirit of Membership program offered by Bonded Builders.
For more information on the scholarship eligibility and to receive a packet of information, visit the NCHBA Web site at www.nchba.com.
The North Carolina Home Builders Educational & Charitable Foundation, Inc. is now accepting nominations and applications for its college scholarships. The foundation awards scholarships based on a combination of need and merit to four-year college students entering their junior or senior year and technical school students entering their second year who have declared their major in a construction related field.
To be eligible a student must meet the following criteria:
Applicants must be nominated by a NCHBA member firm.
Nominees shall be immediate family members - related by blood, (i.e. children, step-children or grandchildren). Students related by marriage, (i.e. son-in-law, daughter-in-law, etc.) shall not be eligible.
Immediate family members of any current trustee of the NCHB Educational & Charitable Foundation, Inc. shall not be eligible.
Awards are for one year, but scholarship winners may submit a renewal application and be considered for renewal if they make satisfactory progress in their studies.
Only full-time students will be considered. NCHBA defines a full-time student as one taking a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
The deadline for entries is April 30, 2009. For a nomination form or an application packet, contact NCHBA at (800) 662-7129; (919) 676-9090 or e-mail: . Mail completed applications to: North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA), P. O. Box 99090, Raleigh, NC 27624.
The Region VIII meeting that was postponed due to inclement weather is rescheduled for March 12. Contact Regional Vice President Darrel Hamilton at
if you plan to attend. The meeting will be held at Rock Barn Golf and Spa, 3791 Clubhouse Dr., Conover, NC, 28613.
The Greensboro Builders Association is conducting a NAHB Verifier Training Seminar in Greensboro March 24 in conjunction with Don Carr at the NAHB Research Center. This class will cover the new ANSI National Green Building Standard. Approved or prospective verifiers must register online with NAHB by March 17; however, any HBA members that just want to AUDIT the class should use the registration form and register through GBA.
NAHB Legislative Day is scheduled for March 24. With so much happening on the legislative levels, participation is even more important this year.
Two "Green Building for Building Professionals" and "Business Management for Building Professionals" classes are currently scheduled. The Hickory & Catawba Valley Home Builders Association is offering the classes March 30-31 and April 1 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center. See flyer for cost, registration information and other information.
The High Country Home Builders Association is offering the classes April 1-2 and April 3 at the Builders Plaza in Boone. See flyer for cost, registration form and other information.
Teleconference offers details of new tax credit
A free teleconference on marketing the new home buyer tax credit will be offered by NAHB beginning at 2 p.m. EST on Monday, March 16. Featured speakers will include NAHB President and CEO Jerry Howard; Rob Dietz, NAHB's director of tax issues; Gaye Orr, MIRM, CMP, of Coldwell Banker Advantage New Homes; and residential development strategist Dan Levitan, MIRM, CMP, of Levitan and Associates. Dial in to hear an overview of the recently enacted federal stimulus package and its housing provisions, including a detailed breakdown of the $8,000 tax credit and its eligibility requirements, and to hear from the experts on how best to market the credit to prospective buyers.
To participate: You'll need to pre-register by visiting this Web site and entering Conference ID# 428766. Please note: you will receive a unique pin number for the audio conference. Don't forget to write down the pin you're assigned since you will need it to join the call at 2:00 p.m. on March 16. Contact: Blake Smith at x8583.
T. Boone Pickens To Speak At NAHB National Green Building Conference Financier and alternative energy advocate T. Boone Pickens will speak at the 11th Annual NAHB National Green Building Conference, which will be held in Dallas May 8-10.
Presented by the National Association of Home Builders, the conference is the largest event of its kind focusing on the residential green building market. Pickens will address the award nominees, local and national association leaders and other attendees at the 2009 NAHB National Green Building Awards Dinner, which takes place Friday evening, May 8.
Pickens is expected to speak about environmental initiatives that can help conserve energy, water and other natural resources and the important role that the home building industry continues to play in mainstreaming new technologies. Click here for the entire article.
