Tour goes ‘country’

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, March 18, 2003

An interesting slate of activities is being planned for visitorswhen they come to Brookhaven next month for the annual Tour ofHomes, organizers said.

Rita Rich, tour chairwoman, said the event is scheduled forSaturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s theme is”Country Estates and City Elegance.”

“We’ve got mostly country homes this year,” Rich said. “We’vegot two loft apartments in downtown Brookhaven this year.”

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In the city, Shanna Callender’s and Jason McDonald’s apartmentsat 129 and 127A West Cherokee St., respectively, are on the tour.Other homes and buildings scheduled for the tour include:

* Four Cedars Country Inn on Zetus Road.

* Ronnie and Elizabeth Ross’ home in Oak Hill Estates.

* Mike and Chris Smith’s home on Highway 84.

* Robert and Shirley Stamps’ and their son Warren’s homes onRiver Road off of Hog Chain Road.

* The Brookhaven branch of the Federal Land Bank in the oldAbrams Building downtown.

* Bank of Brookhaven.

“We have some special activities that are being planned,” Richsaid.

Rich mentioned a Master Gardeners show expected to be held inLola Boling Park and a silent auction held by the arts council.

The auction will feature six adult and six children-sizedrockers that have been decorated by various artists. The rockerswill be on display in the window of Lofton’s.

“These are one-of-a-kind, original pieces of art,” Richsaid.

Also leading up to and during Tour of Homes weekend, BrookhavenLittle Theatre will premier the play “More Than Life” at the Havenon West Cherokee Street.

The play, written and directed by Brookhaven’s own CherylSproles, is scheduled for Thursday-Sunday, April 24-27. Thursday,Friday and Saturday performances will be at 7:30 p.m. and theSunday matinee at 2 p.m.

This year’s Tour of Homes represents a departure from recentyears when tour stops were all or mostly on one city street. Richcited some scheduling concerns in the change.

“We know what people want, but we have to have a street,” shesaid.

Rich said plans are under way to have the 2004 and 2005 tours onresidential city streets. This year, though, is an opportunity toshowcase some of the wonderful country homes that Lincoln Countyhas to offer, she said.

“We are bringing more in from the county for the tour, and welike to do that as well,” Rich said.