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Colonie [NY] woman 'Extreme Makeover' winner (freepers at work)
The Saratogian ^ | 03/23/2007 | BARBARA LOMBARDO

Posted on 03/23/2007 5:27:52 AM PDT by xcamel

The TV show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will be making a dream come true for a local single mom and her four sons, thanks in part two donations from two local companies - Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa and Furniture Theatre in Malta.

Debbie Oatman-Gaitan answered her door at 23 Fairway Lane in Colonie Thursday to discover she had been selected to receive a free new home.

Demolition of her existing house is to begin Saturday. The new house, which will be near the Town of Colonie golf course, is scheduled to be ready on Thursday. Yes, a new house, built and furnished in about 100 hours. The makeover is made possible with sizeable local donations and hundreds of volunteers, many from area businesses and organizations. If you'd like to help, go to www.amedorehomes.com and click on the "volunteer" tab. Amedore Homes Inc., a home builder in Albany, will construct the house with materials donated by Curtis Lumber Co. Inc. in Ballston Spa. Curtis Lumber is also accepting donations for the family at all of its 22 stores, the locations of which can be found at www.curtislumber.com.

"When George Amedore approached me about this project, I was very happy to partner with them and help provide full material and logistical support," said Jay Curtis, president of Curtis Lumber.

Tom and Ed Caro of Saratoga Springs, brothers and co-owners of the Furniture Theatre (and the drive-in movie theater behind it), were also quick to jump on board when a producer approached them.

Members of the show's design team came to the store Tuesday to pick out furnishings. The donations will include a living room, dining room, and bedroom sets. "They were looking at a contemporary Adirondacks style," said Ed Caro. "We are very excited about this," said Mirna Caro, Tom's wife.

So is Debbie Oatman, a 49-year-old single parent and student at the College of St. Rose. Her biological son, Scout, is an elementary school student. Her three older sons, D.J., Kevin and Brian, who range in age from 14 to 20, are adopted, with multiple disabilities, according to a press release from Curtis Lumber.

This will be the first house in upstate New York courtesy of Ty Pennington and his design team from the TV show, which airs at 8 p.m. Sundays on WTEN Channel 10.


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: goodworks; home; makeover
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That would be my company in charge of material and logistics :-)
1 posted on 03/23/2007 5:27:57 AM PDT by xcamel
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To: xcamel

I don't get it - why was this woman selected for this?


2 posted on 03/23/2007 5:31:03 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: xcamel

Hmm. would YOU want to live in a house that required all of 100 HOURS to build?

not this guy!


3 posted on 03/23/2007 5:32:19 AM PDT by camle (keep your mind open and somebody will fill it full of something for you)
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To: xcamel

Powder..patch..Ball FIRE!

Too bad I'm not close enough or I'd switch my trade to your stores....

This is my favorite show on tv right now.


4 posted on 03/23/2007 5:33:41 AM PDT by BallandPowder
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To: xcamel

Good for you, x.

I watch some of these programs and they have done alot of good for some people in really tough situations.

It would be great to have some behind the scenes accounts about how difficult is this, how is it put together, should you be so inclined.

A hearty slap on the back to you.


5 posted on 03/23/2007 5:34:43 AM PDT by Bahbah (Regev, Goldwasser & Shalit, we are praying for you.)
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To: xcamel

My husband and I always watch this show and it usually leaves me in tears. It's good to know someone who's getting involved in the process!


6 posted on 03/23/2007 5:34:52 AM PDT by arizonarachel (Lord, thank you for this miracle!)
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To: xcamel

Congratulations.

What an honor.

And what an opportunity to help someone who must need assitance - without the government, the IRS, or a socialist ordering you to do it.

I am certain that your business will be rewarded 100X in great PR and increased "love" from your customers.

This show is the one show we watch every week.


7 posted on 03/23/2007 5:35:31 AM PDT by Jonathan
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To: xcamel

good on you!


8 posted on 03/23/2007 5:36:42 AM PDT by xsmommy
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To: camle

They are installing a new manufactured home across the street from me. It arrived in two sections on trailers, and they drove it past my window yesterday. The tie back curtains and blinds are preinstalled at the factory. wild!


9 posted on 03/23/2007 5:37:08 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
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To: camle
They built a home in Louisiana not too long before Katrina hit. They took the lady back to her house (she was one of the smart ones and got out of Dodge before it hit). As they are riding down her street, houses are demolished left and right, but hers was still standing. It was amazing. There was some water damage, but that's about it.

Oh, that and I just love Ty, so I'd stay anywhere he touched! LOL

10 posted on 03/23/2007 5:37:42 AM PDT by Dooderbutt (It's God's job to judge the terrorists. It's our job to arrange the meeting.)
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To: ned13

Hometown ping.


11 posted on 03/23/2007 5:37:50 AM PDT by sauropod ("An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools." Ernest Hemingway)
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To: xcamel

Good job.


12 posted on 03/23/2007 5:38:00 AM PDT by SouthTexas (Man made global warming is a man made LIE!)
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To: xcamel

Good for you! Will you be on-site during construction or do you have other duties?


13 posted on 03/23/2007 5:39:58 AM PDT by rabidralph
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To: xcamel

Central NY hats off!

Heard about it last night on WGY.

Keep us up on the build.


14 posted on 03/23/2007 5:41:35 AM PDT by Wilum (Never loaded a nuke I didn't like)
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To: xcamel
Congrats!

Yes, a new house, built and furnished in about 100 hours.

Jeez. What kind of space-age drywall mud and paint are you using? Most times I've had that kind of work done, it took ten days, easy.

15 posted on 03/23/2007 5:41:36 AM PDT by CholeraJoe (Hajjis HATE the waterboard! It can turn a clam into a canary so fast Harry Potter would be jealous.)
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To: Izzy Dunne

Her three older sons, D.J., Kevin and Brian, who range in age from 14 to 20, are adopted, with multiple disabilities.

It was in the article.


16 posted on 03/23/2007 5:41:41 AM PDT by alisasny (<hangs head in shame over prior tagline abuse : ()
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To: xcamel

Good on ya, man!


17 posted on 03/23/2007 5:44:18 AM PDT by Fierce Allegiance (There are 2 types of Rudy fans - the uninformed or anti-conservative TROLLS who do not belong on FR)
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To: xcamel

Right on. Are you going to be on the show?


18 posted on 03/23/2007 5:47:03 AM PDT by randog (What the...?!)
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To: ClaireSolt

I've seen prefabs. some of them are right nice. AND lest we forget - XCAMEL is doing a very GOOD thing for the lady.

for what I need, it isn't appropriate because mine is non-standard and it'll be a challenge to whomever gets the contract.


19 posted on 03/23/2007 5:47:14 AM PDT by camle (keep your mind open and somebody will fill it full of something for you)
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To: xcamel
Great job!

Having just built a house for my mother, with an estimated half of the material being personally hauled by my sister, my husband, and myself in our various vehicles, hat's off to anyone who can do it that quickly. It took us about a year and a half.

This show built a house between here and Birmingham for a couple with several children. I personally liked one they built for a returning serviceman.

20 posted on 03/23/2007 5:48:07 AM PDT by Tuscaloosa Goldfinch (If MY people who are called by MY name -- the ball's in our court, folks.)
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