A record 750 people toured five homes beautifully decorated for Christmas during the 2012 Sugar Plum Tour.
Steve Williams chaired the annual benefit for the Gay Community Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation. Williams said a record $72,000 was raised during the event Sunday afternoon, which will be used for community projects.
Lisa Nielsen and Ronda Spencer enjoyed the family history in the home of Jennifer and Jim Cauffield. “Every day was an adventure with my mother,” Jennifer explained as she regaled guests with tales of Regina Smith Gregory. Her daughter Karadyn Cauffield showed the candy store her grandmother had created in the solarium.
Georgia and John Stathopoulos distributed gift copies of The Night Before Christmas to guests.
“Do you have dances in here?” asked Dr. Ernie Stone as he toured Shane Seymour and Wendy Grugle’s English Manor-style home. They actually park their cars in a garage outfitted as a ballroom with a marble floor and chandeliers. In the kitchen, their daughter Caroline left a note for Santa asking for her namesake American Girl doll. Tracy Peltz enjoyed the tour with Debbie Shuler, Carol Sterrett and Kathleen LeMar.
Greg Thomas directed guests to the home of Dr. Robert and June Netzley. Toby Gorant and Dick and Pat Kemph liked the cluster of Christmas trees and the handmade family ornaments. Matt Tidrow and Brighid Hillmuth, volunteer coordinators, made sure the tour kept moving.
Sue Price and Ron Bishop have been renovating their 1876 farmhouse for 17 years. They credited Janet Clover and Robin House with helping plan a primitive Christmas at their home, which featured a surprise visit from Santa Claus, portrayed by Summit County Executive Russ Pry.
Darren Mauch and Kent Kinzer spent 10 years stripping all of the oak woodwork in their 1913 stucco Arts and Crafts-style home. Their love of Christmas was evident in the 18 decorated trees both inside and outside the house.
Tia Stathopoulos Butterworth and Roberta DeBarr co-chaired the patrons party at the home of Shelly and Mark Allio in Bath. Shelly spent six weeks putting up Christmas décor. Her sister-in-law, artist Lisa Valenza, painted interesting touches throughout the home.
Eric Jones, who has procured the homes for all 11 years of the Sugar Plum Tour, said, “work begins on next year’s tour tomorrow,” as he enjoyed the patrons party with Thomas Hawn, Shirley Workman, David Jesse, Eric and Marlene Czetli, Clay and Nancy Rhinehart, Larry Pentecost, Patty Deal, John Messina, Holli Matlak, Cameron Elliott, Scott Ferrall, John Grafton, Kathy Petranko, and Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands and her husband, Ralph Streza.