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THE TOUR WILL GO ON

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Judy Seckler

GLENWOOD -- The holiday season is steeped in tradition, and thanks to

some concerned parents, one Glendale tradition is returning.

The Hoover Tour of Homes was canceled last year following controversy

and hard work that proved too much for organizers. After 41 years, the

event was called off because organizers said it was too much effort for

the amount of money it raised.

With a new season, those willing to take on the task stepped forward.

At the Nahigian home, the garland, the tinsel and the ornaments are

just coming out of their boxes for the city’s Hoover Tour of Homes 2000.

The homeowners, Richard and Eileen Nahigian, are one of three couples

who have agreed to open their home for the Glendale holiday tradition.

The other couples in this year’s tour are Jeff and Ellice Sines, and

LeRoy and Pam Smith.

The tour is will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 9. The advance ticket price

is $10 per person, and tickets will be $12 at the door.

The Nahigians have been asked every year to participate in the tour

for the 23 years they’ve lived in their spacious Glendale home.

Busy raising her three children -- Jolie, Natalie and Nicolas --

Eileen, a full-time mom, never said yes, until now.

“The right letter said the right thing,” Nahigian explained.

Realizing for the first time the event was not a “showoffy thing,” but

a way to provide needed scholarships for Hoover High students, the

Nahigians readily agreed to the event.

Although, the couple has sent their children to private schools out of

the area, they understand the importance of “doing something for the

community.” The Nahigians have enjoyed raising their family in a

community “that doesn’t have the trendiness of the west side” and where

there is “a sense of family.”

Their home, dramatically set back from the street, is easily

recognizable by its circular brick drive way and rolling lawn. Although

palatial from the outside, the interiors exude a warmth and coziness

throughout the 4,300-square-foot home in the 600 block of Cumberland

Road, which has nine rooms and four baths plus an attached guest house

sitting on two-thirds of an acre.

Each room has personal touches that reflect a close-knit family and

the couple’s relaxed taste. The leisurely remodel of the home includes a

high-beamed ceiling in the living room, hand-painted floral designs on

the tile work in many of the bathrooms, a wood-paneled family room with

plush couches and custom built-ins, a red dining room with a crystal

chandelier, Oriental rug and vase and a mirror with an antique

wood-carved frame, a breakfast nook with custom built-in cabinets and

French doors that open on to an outdoor brick patio and pool and French

limestone floors that lead into the kitchen.

“I love to cook,” said Nahigian, who redid the kitchen in 1991 to

support her culinary habit. The white marble counter tops contrast

elegantly against the English pine cabinets and pewter fixtures.

This year’s tour is a return to good will with a theme to match --

“Peace on Earth.” Last year’s tour canceled, with many pointing to a

backlash of residents angry over the inclusion of the El Tovar mansion on

the 1997 tour.

The El Tovar mansion was built despite being in violation of numerous

city codes. In addition, the home’s architectural style sets it apart

from other residences in the neighborhood. The home has become a rallying

cry for many in town citing problems with variances and developments.

WHERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE 2000 TOUR OF HOMES:

* Hoover High School, 651 Glenwood Road; 242-6801.

* Toll Middle School, 700 Glenwood Road; 244-8414.

* Keppel Elementary School, 730 Glenwood Road; 244-2113.

* Balboa Elementary School, 1844 Bel Aire Drive; 244-1801.

* Beverly Ann Flowers, 1150 N. Brand Blvd.; 246-1753.

* Kenneth Village Florist, 1040 W. Kenneth Road; 242-7272.

* Emma Bloomfelds, 1407 W. Kenneth Road; 545-0332.

* Foothill Gift Shop, 1405 W. Kenneth Road; 242-6620.

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