photography by Ted Dayton

Martin Avila and Fredye Gonzales are celebrating their 20th holiday season together. And, as is standard practice for the community-minded couple, they're spreading the joy to others. This year, their five-bedroom Spanish Hacienda home will serve as an exquisitely-festive destination for Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital's Holiday Home Tour.

"When you are able to do something to help, it's a great feeling. If more people did that, the world would be a better place. Something so small can be so big to another. We're very proud to support this season's Home Tour," says the couple.




Love this Look
"Dark wood is a very desirable flooring choice. I happen to feel it is quite versatile, whether your home displays a traditional, transitional, contemporary or modern flair.

Your darker woods that have multiple colors within them, like the flooring pictured here, would be a wise choice and tend to blend well with most existing furnishings, cabinetry, staircases, etc. They will be your most transitional option over time. The new black onyx colors are beautiful but do show dust and scratches more than others; they will require more up keep. These floors may be a bit more on the trendy side and might not be as transitional over time. This should be a consideration when purchasing such a large ticket item." ~ Dawn Rudio, designer and owner of Rudio Designz; 799-5868






Holiday Home Tour Offers a Wonderland of Holiday Decors at Fabulous Estates
For one day only, four fabulous estates will open their doors and welcome the community to tour a magnificent display of holiday splendor on Saturday, December 3. Every year generous homeowners throughout the Santa Clarita Valley share their homes to benefit Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital's new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), scheduled for completion in late December.

What's on this year's tour? According to planners, this season's "over the top" expectation-smashing displays include antique dolls and toys; a room dedicated to Winnie the Pooh; Department 56 village scenes; unique ornament collections and eye-popping lights.

Special presale ticket price for the December 3 Holiday Home Tour is $25. The tour is open to guests ages 12 and over, and guests are requested to wear flat shoes. For those who wish to view the festive homes during evening hours, when the holiday lights and decorations are most dazzling, the Home Tour Preview Gala, held on Friday, December 2, offers attendees a chance to tour the homes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and then enjoy a delectable buffet dinner at TPC from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Ticket prices for the preview Gala are $100.

In addition to the holiday-decorated homes, the Home Tour Boutique will delight shoppers with unique gifts from more than 40 vendors. Hart Park, adjacent to William S. Hart Park at 24151 Newhall Avenue in Newhall, will serve as a new venue for this year's free Home Tour Boutique from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3; 253-8051
www.henrymayogiving.com