Walkathon in Woodforest Raises Nearly $20,000 for Children’s Miracle Network

RE/MAX Hometown’s recent Walk for A Miracle 5K, held in Woodforest, raised nearly $20,000 as crowds of participants spent an early Saturday supporting a good cause.

Under the Children’s Miracle Network fundraising umbrella, the walkathon raised money specifically for Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, which has the nation’s largest pediatric cancer and hematology program. It was held Saturday, Nov. 7, in Woodforest, a 3,000-acre master-planned community in South Montgomery County.

The Elite Choir from Montgomery Intermediate School performed for the crowd before supporters ran and walked the tree-lined streets in Woodforest. Also on hand was Rylee Dean, a local recipient of the Children’s Miracle Network who was treated for a tumor at Texas Children’s Medical Center.


Participants in RE/MAX Hometown’s Walk for a Miracle 5K event raised nearly $20,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network. Woodforest hosted the event, which was held Nov. 7.





Young songbirds from Montgomery Intermediate’s Elite Choir performed in front of the Woodforest Welcome Lodge at RE/MAX Hometown’s recent Walk for A Miracle 5K, which raised nearly $20,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network.




Proof that miracles really can happen, young Rylee Dean, pictured with, from left Leslie Sullivan with RE/MAX Hometown, Norma Dean and Caren Sloane, also with RE/MAX Hometown, made an appearance at RE/MAX Hometown’s recent Walk for A Miracle event, which raised funds for the Children’s Miracle Network. Diagnosed with a dangerous tumor, Rylee and her family sought help from the Children’s Miracle Network and Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. She is now doing fine.

Sara Susanka to Speak at the TimberCreek Zero Energy House

Her “build better not bigger” approach started a home design revolution. Susanka’s “Not So Big” book series is built on the concept of making homes better for owners and better for the environment.

Meet Susanka and tour the Timbercreek Zero Energy House Nov. 12 and 13. Learn more about her visionary approach and see it in action. The Timbercreek Zero Energy House is a project by the award-winning team of architect William Peck, AIA, William Peck & Assoc., Inc., and builder Chris Miles of GreenCraft Builders, LLC. The team is well known for the highly acclaimed 2007 Bannister High Performance House, and the 2009 Colleyville Eco House.

Susanka’s seminar at the Timbercreek Zero Energy House in Lewisville will be 5:30-6:30p.m. Nov. 12 followed by a book signing and from 9:30-11:00a.m. Nov. 13. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance. Visit www.timbercreekzeroenergyhouse.com to learn more and to register. (Books will be available for purchase on-site.)

Green Built Texas Presents Project Zero: Two Days of Building Science Training for One Low Price

Project Zero is a two-day educational opportunity and trade fair for all home building industry professionals to learn both basic and advanced building science principles through classroom training along with onsite demonstrations at a net zero energy home in Lewisville Nov. 18-19.

On-site demonstrations and product exhibitors will provide practical strategies to enhance the energy efficiency, water-efficiency and moisture management of any home. Attendees will also see the advanced techniques and products that go into the construction of a net zero energy home that generates more electricity than it uses.

Day 1: Wed., Nov. 18: Building Science Training Seminar featuring Justin Wilson (seating is limited to the first 150 RSVPs)

Registration: 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Session: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Breakfast and lunch included)
Topics covered include:
•Building science principles
•Water management and building durability
•Energy efficiency – thermal envelope and HVAC improvements
•Indoor environmental quality
•Material and resource use

Location: Lewisville Hilton Convention Center
785 SH 121 Bypass, Lewisville, TX

Day 2: Thur., Nov. 19: Hands-on Training and Trade Fair at the TimberCreek Zero Energy House with special guest, ENERGY STAR National Director, Sam Rashkin.

Registration/Check-in: Begins at 9 a.m.

Session: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Texas BBQ lunch included)
Demonstration seminars will focus on the following topics:
•Plumbing and efficient hot water delivery
•Solar water heating
•Renewable energy including the latest in solar panel technology and design
•Outdoor irrigation and rainwater harvesting
•Proper HVAC sizing and duct installation
•What builders need to know about home energy ratings and testing

Location: Parking at West Side Baptist Church, 900 W. Bellaire, Lewisville (shuttle runs around the clock and will drive you to the house)

Admission to BOTH sessions is only $50 (or $35 for each individual day). Prices are based on online reservation and payment. Additional fees for walk-ins apply.

Visit the official Project Zero web site at www.GreenBuiltTexas.com/ProjectZero

Avalonpark Texas L.P. to Develop 120-Acre Community in Dripping Springs near Austin

Avalonpark Texas L.P., a Texas Joint Venture operation of Florida developer Avalon Park Group in Orlando, announced it plans to develop a 120-acre community on the Howard Ranch property in Dripping Springs near Austin.

Ross Halle, vice president of architecture and town planner at Avalon Park Group, said the development firm is currently negotiating with the City of Dripping Springs the establishment of a Planned Development District.

Halle said Avalonpark Texas L.P. plans to develop an assisted living and nursing facility, 100 multi-family units, including rental apartments, town homes and villas, 250 single-family homes and 55 estate home sites at Howard Ranch along with 50,000 square feet of commercial space and a church facility.

Cheldan Homes joins ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Cheldan Homes joined ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition this past summer to build a home for Dallas Police Officer, Carlton Marshall and his family. The episode aired on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. central time.

This unique home was built within 6 days during the extreme heat that hit the DFW area over the summer. With temperatures ranging from 107 degrees to 110 degrees every day, the Cheldan team of builders did not stop for a moment while they continued 24/7 over the span of six days to construct this spectacular home for the Marshall Family. Plumbers, painters, electricians, sheet rockers, framers and many more all collaborated in an amazing team effort to complete the impeccable construction of a 4,080 square foot home. Every single person participating in this amazing community effort joined together with tremendous determination, collaboration and heartfelt ambition to complete the project in record time.

About two years ago, Carlton was shot in the neck while serving a narcotics search warrant. Severe spinal cord damage was immediate, followed by hearing loss and a stroke. Today, rehabilitation has restored some of Carlton's mobility, but he is still primarily confined to a wheelchair. Health issues also affected the Marshalls' young daughter, Jessica, who began having seizures about a month after Carlton was so severely wounded. The Marshall family, which also includes a young son, Joseph, had to cope with these health problems in a house where snakes had infested the walls, attic, wiring and plumbing. Furthermore, the foundation of the house was sinking, and the septic system backed up on their lawn. Despite their myriad of difficulties, Carlton and his wife Susan's big hearts remained open to others as supporters of the nonprofit program TROT, Therapeutic Riding of Texas. The Marshall’s hoped to modify their horse barn and stables to host TROT sessions, which would also be helpful to Carlton.

The Cheldan Homes team of builders addressed all of the challenges that the Marshall family faced and built a beautiful home that solved all the rampant structural and accessibility issues, while also enabling the Marshall family to continue their long-time volunteer work with horseback riding therapy for children and adults with mental and physical challenges.

Country Music sensation Trace Adkins is the celebrity volunteer for this build. The design team for this episode will feature team leader Ty Pennington and designers Paul DiMeo, Tracy Hutson and Ed Sanders.

Cheldan Homes was started in 1995 by Joey and Kayemille Goss and built three homes in its first year of business. Today, Cheldan Homes builds in Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston and is ranked as the 6th largest builder in Fort Worth, a Top Twenty Builder in the DFW metroplex, and the 230th largest builder in the U.S. This year, the Cheldan Team of forty employees will build 250 homes for buyers in over 20 new home communities. In 14 years, Cheldan Homes has built over 2,500 homes for Texas families, and last year, Cheldan's homeowners gave them a 96% approval rating for their experience with the new home sales, construction, closing and warranty processes.

www.extremecheldan.com / www.cheldanblog.com / www.cheldanhomes.com

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It is executive-produced by Anthony Dominici. David Goldberg is Chairman, Endemol North America. The series is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.

July Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data Released

Warm Air Furnaces
U.S. factory shipments of gas-fired, warm-air furnaces in July totaled 161,301 a 13.8 percent drop compared with the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, gas furnace shipments totaled 1,056,915, a 14.8 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

Warm Air Furnaces July 09
Oil-fired, warm-air furnaces for the same month totaled 3,057, a 11.2 percent increase compared with July 2008 totals. Oil furnace shipments for the year-to-date totaled 21,526 a 18.1 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

Storage Water Heaters
Residential electric water heater shipments for July totaled 283,854, an 18.5 percent drop from the same month a year ago. Residential gas water heater shipments totaled 269,335, a 10.6 percent decrease compared with shipments for the same month last year. For the year-to-date, about 2,183,800 residential gas water heaters have been shipped, about 11.3 percent drop compared with the same period a year ago. For the year-to-date, about 2,209,732 residential electric storage water heaters have been shipped, a 13.9 percent drop compared to the same period last year.

Storage Water Heaters July 09
Commercial gas water heater shipments for July totaled 5,523, dropping 13.5 drop percent compared with the same month last year, while commercial electric water heater shipments totaled 4,555 a 17.1 percent drop compared with the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, commercial electric water heater shipments totaled, 33,870, 18.4 percent behind total shipments of this product during the same period last year (41,523). Commercial gas water heater shipments (45,854) for the year-to-date are down 16.7 percent, compared with the same period a year ago (55,055).

Central Air Conditioners and Air-Source Heat Pumps
Combined U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for July totaled 568,197, down 16.1 percent compared with the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, combined shipments totaled 3,353,331, down 17.7 percent compared with the same period last year.

Combined July 09
Heat pump shipments for July totaled 1,073,924, up 14.6 percent from the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, heat pump shipments totaled 687,744, a 12.6 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

New Acme Pocket Guide Released

The 2009 Edition of Acme Brick’s Pocket Guide to Quality Brick Construction now available.

In 1984 Acme Brick Company introduced its first edition of the Pocket Guide to Quality Brick Construction. Since then, over 25,000 copies of the 127-page reference book have been distributed to individuals in the construction industry across America.

It’s all here: brick size and weight information, mortar cost calculation, cold weather masonry requirements, brick wall properties, flashing and weep hole details, etc. For those wondering how brick size effects wall costs--there are wall costs per square foot based on three different brick sizes.

This is a detailed, authoritative reference manual for anyone dealing with masonry, prepared by America’s largest, U.S. owned brick company. Acme Brick was established in 1891 and celebrated its 118th birthday, April 17, 2009.

The Acme Pocket Guide is free from: Marketing Department, Acme Brick Company, P O Box 425, Fort Worth, TX 76101, call 1-800-792-1234 or visit brick.com./lit.htm.