By Bonnie J. Gordon

Eight Los Alamos families are working hard to prepare for Los Alamos Home Tour 2012. The families will open their homes to visitors 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. 

The event will benefit the Family Strengths Network (FSN.) Tickets are $20 in advance and may be purchased CB FOX, Otowi Station, Los Alamos Medical Center Gift Shop and the Reel Deal Theater.

On the day of the tour, tickets may be purchased at 9 a.m. in front of Ruby K’s for $25.

Homes on the tour include new homes, remodeled homes and a historic home on Bathtub Row.

“The idea of the Home Tour is to show off the homes of Los Alamos,” said event chair Yelena  Gurvits. “We’ve survived two fires and the town has gotten back on its feet. When I was approached by Susan Mack, the director of FSN, the only option was to say yes. Volunteering is time-consuming, but it’s so rewarding to see the results. I’d like to thank the members of the board, Mary Anne Beard of Mary Deal Realty, Carmen Sandofur, Kendra Henning of ReMax, Devorah Gavron of Los Alamos Properties, Wendy Schmidt, Jackie Yang and Jody Benson. It was the enthusiasm of these wonderful volunteers that made this event a reality.”

“We’d like to extend a special thanks to the homeowners for their willingness to open their homes for the tour,” Gurvits said. “The board also wishes to thank the sponsors Los Alamos National Bank, LAMC, ReMax, Mary Deal realty and realtors Pearl White and Devorah Gavron.”

Through its work, Family Strengths Network improves the quality of family life for generations. FSN provides educational and fun activities to all types of families, parents, teens and children.

Each year, FSN receives thousands of visits. Hundreds of parents, children and teens take FSN classes.

FSN is home to the Family Resource Center. The Center’s drop-in programs are a perfect opportunity for parents to socialize with other parents. The Resource Center received 4,000 visits last year. The living room setting and play area are a great place to hang out, and the Center offers a host of activities.

FSN has a Toy Library that contains 400 toys for children up to five years of age available for check out. The Beth Ladino Family Resource Library contains 1,200 books on a wide range of family-related topics available to the public.

In addition, FSN’s public school program, WHO (We Help Ourselves) brings age-appropriate lessons on topics such as stranger danger, home-alone safety, and sexual harassment to first, third, fifth and eighth graders.

Here’s just a sample of what visitors will see on the Home Tour:

At 1675 Los Pueblos, visitors will see a home designed with distinction and executed to perfection. The home features an exceptional combination of sophisticated elegance on a site providing dramatic vistas. A grand staircase and stylish ironwork throughout are only two of the features of this home. Courtesy photo

1910 Los Pueblos is the location of an award winning new home that is efficient and friendly to both the homeowner and environment. From sandstone to copper, to Brazilian pau lope wood, to color entrained plaster, the home is infused with a palette of materials and color that bring the outdoors in. Courtesy photo

The home at 908 Tewa Loop was remodeled with two main things in mind. The owners wanted it to look like the house was always deigned this way and carry the new accents throughout the entire house. They moved the pitch of the roof, to keep the house symmetrical, which also gives them storage in the additions’ attic. They remodeled the kitchen and bathroom and carried everything from the hand brocaded texture on the ceiling to the slate rock work into every room. Courtesy photo

The historic home at 1300 Bathtub Row was designed by New Mexico architect John Gaw Meem, and was completed in 1932. In the Manhattan Project era, the building was used for temporary housing for visiting scientists and military officers. Residents included the famous Danish physicist Neils Bohr. After the war, Norris and Lois Bradbury lived in the home. The house is built of a relatively hard tuff volcanic rock with wood and some log details. The floors are of oak throughout. The current homeowners have restored much, including garden bed renovation, fence and gate reconstruction, kitchen gardens and a courtyard with fountain. The property has been designated a wildlife habitat. Courtesy photo

In White Rock, visitors to 113 La Senda will find a home located on 2.7 acres. Every room has a stellar view of the mountains and access to a 78-foot portal. The main entrance opens into an oasis-like courtyard, complete with water feature. As they enter the living room, visitors will find a two-sided fireplace dividing the living and dining rooms, both of which have 20-foot beamed ceilings. Courtesy photo

There are three other homes on the tour, so prepare to be surprised!

“Donations to non-profit organizations have fallen off in recent years,” Gurvits said. “We in Los Alamos are fortunate to be able to afford a small donation so FSN can continue to bring their services to families.”

Not only are Home Tour participants helping a good cause, they’re in for a great time visiting eight beautiful Los Alamos homes.