VISTA — Vista Community Clinic (VCC) hosts the 28th Annual Holiday Homes Tour to lend a helping hand to children via the Kare for Kids Fund.
A long-cherished seasonal tradition for many North County residents, the Holiday Homes Tour allows guests to walk through four marvelous Vista houses, as well as to pay a visit to the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe, the city’s birthplace.
Each year Vista Community Clinic selects four homes for this winter holiday event, opting for candidates possessing plentiful parking space for visitors and striking architecture different from the previous ones. 2014’s lineup includes the following residences: “Thoroughly Modern,” “Mediterranean Jewel,” “Villa Del Vino,” and “An Ode to Italy.”
“We’ve pretty much done a great job of picking four homes that are architecturally different on the outside as well as on the inside,” says Betsy Heightman, VCC’s chief development officer. “And let me add, too, that the homeowners are fantastic.”
Thanks to the cooperation from Suzie Goebel-McGehee & Genesee de Rijka, Beppie Mostert & Elizabeth Gane (assistant), Keely Brewer, and Sandra Kelly, this year’s tour promises to captivate its guests with a combination of cheerful holiday spirit and incredible home designs. And each home has its own share of beautiful elements, both on the outside and on the inside.
Patty and Dave Sliney’s “An Ode to Italy” is a symphonic portrait in and of itself, its five-section garden carefully composed and its worldly art and antiques timelessly connected. Many of these wonderful items were once Patty’s grandmother’s, who collected them during her days as an Italian prima ballerina.
There’s no question that June and Toby Dunn have a mutual appreciation for wine, food, and travel; the “Villa Del Vino” is a perfect reflection of their unified taste. Whether it’s the 2,000-bottle wine cellar or antique European furnishings, the magnificence of the couple’s elegance is unmistakable.
As for Michelle and Keith Berman’s “Mediterranean Jewel,” the real treat is not the arched windows or even the 11-foot eating island, but the original Disney artwork adorning their walls. These belong to Walter Peregoy, Michelle’s grandfather and a living Disney Hall of Fame artist who contributed to animated classics such as “101 Dalmatians” and “Lady and the Tramp.”
Then there’s the contemporary abode, “Thoroughly Modern,” inhabited by Jazzercise founder/CEO Judi Sheppard Missett as well as her husband Jack. With custom-designed metal sculptures, a wood-floored dance studio, and Andy Warhol’s pop art, only one word can describe this modern residence: incredible.
And of course the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe can’t be ignored, as it represents a rich history dating back to the mid-1800s. This historic dwelling has accommodated various owners from different walks of life, and its reputation as one of the best-preserved examples of early Californian housing is well-deserved.
Complementing the 28th Annual Holiday Homes Tour is an artisans’ bazaar showcasing a colorful array of jewelry, accessories, and home décor. Guests will also have the opportunity to win gift baskets, and, should they get hungry, an on-site gourmet food truck offers breakfast and lunch meals for purchase. After the main event’s conclusion, the participants can enjoy hors d’oeuvres and wine on Main Street’s Art Beat, a Vista downtown art gallery.
But what truly instills a sense of purpose and fulfillment in the Holiday Homes Tour is the fact that it raises awareness of Vista Community Clinic’s Kare for Kids Fund, which provides quality medical services to North County’s underprivileged youngsters.
Proceeds from the event’s ticket sales, raffle prizes and sponsorships will be donated to the fund.
“There are so many patients that are being served by the work that we do here at the clinic,” Heightman remarks. “These funds historically go to support our Kare for Kids Fund.”
It is because of the Kare for Kids Fund that tens of thousands of North County children receive excellent preventive medical care, upholding VCC’s vow to always do its best to help. Those who can’t afford the services need not worry about costs, as the fund itself takes care of them. Much of Kare for Kids’ success comes from the Holiday Homes Tour, which serves as a major fundraiser.
The 28th Annual Holiday Homes Tour takes place Dec. 7, and will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets cost $20 for an advance purchase, and $25 on the day of the actual event. In order to buy tickets for the tour, call (760) 631-5000, ext. 1139.
