The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency and Hope House Foundation recently hosted friends and donors at the dedication of energy-saving renovations of Hope House, a transitional home in Lake Norman that serves homeless women and children.

The housing agency made the gift in honor of the late William "Bill" Lackey Jr., of Cornelius, who served on its board of directors. After Lackey died last December, the self-supporting housing agency financed the Hope House renovations as a way to honor him in the community where he and his wife lived, worked and volunteered.

Following an energy assessment audit for Hope House, the renovation included upgrading the heating and air conditioning systems and thoroughly insulating the 4,000-square-foot facility that houses homeless women and children.

"There is no better way to celebrate Bill's life — and our agency's mission — than by strengthening this non-profit home that serves his community so uniquely in providing transitional housing," said Sam Ewell Jr., chairman of the board of the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. "Not only will these energy improvements make Hope House more comfortable for its residents, but it will make the house more economical to operate going forward, continuing its mission in years to come.

"Bill devoted his life to family, friends, faith, the real estate profession and volunteerism in helping others," he continued. "I know he would approve of this project wholeheartedly."

Lackey's widow, Barbara, has served as a trained volunteer resident advisor at Hope House since from its opening in January 2010.

According to Dr. Lee Beth Lindquist, the physician who founded and serves as Hope House's chairperson, the facility will be tracking its energy savings in 2012 for the N.C. Housing Finance Agency.

In a special presentation to incorporate the time spent rehabilitating the energy systems and insulation at Hope House, a clock was given to Lindquist by Ewell to hang in the entry to Hope House to celebrate Lackey's life.

Organizations affiliated with the energy efficiency project were Advanced Energy, which conducted the energy assessment; S. A. Sloop, installers of the HVAC systems; The Austin Company, in charge of insulation; Lake Norman Flooring, which carpeted stairs; and Cox Door Company, which provided an energy-efficient garage door.

The Hope House Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization created to serve the growing needs of homeless women and women with children in the Lake Norman area by providing services and support in a comfortable suburban home environment in Huntersville. To qualify, residents must be carefully screened to live at Hope House and are expected to be responsible for household chores and to fulfill personal goals set by their case managers and staff to be able to transition from Hope House in six months into more permanent, affordable housing.

As a transitional home, Hope House provides access to a variety of services to enable these temporarily displaced women to become productive and self-sufficient. To learn more about Hope House and become a friend to its mission, visit www.hopehousefoundation.org.

DCP production will focus on the deaf

Davidson Community Players will hold open auditions for its February 2012 production of Mark Medoff's Children of a Lesser God. Winner of the Tony Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award as best play of the season, the Davidson production will be directed by Sam Parker, an accomplished director/actor/author and a child of deaf parents.

Parker is also Associate Clinical Professor at UNC-Greensboro. Consulting on the production will be Julianne Gold Brunson who originated the role of Lydia in Children of a Lesser God on Broadway and went on to play the role of Sarah. Brunson received her doctorate in clinical psychology from UNCG and has worked as an advocate for the hearing impaired through numerous organizations in the Charlotte area as well as in the Northeast.

Auditions for adult actors and actresses will be held on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 5 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. at Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour St. in Davidson. Actors need attend only one session, but should plan to arrive as close to the audition start time as possible and stay for about two hours.

The audition will consist of group theatre exercises and readings from the script. A one minute monologue is welcomed but not required. Hopefuls should bring a recent picture, list of experience (if any) and list of conflicts for the January-March, 2012 time period. The production will open Feb. 23, and will run through March 11. Rehearsals will begin in January, three to five evenings a week, and will include some weekend rehearsals. The final schedule will be based on the availability of those cast. Rehearsals and performances will take place at Armour Street Theatre.

Roles are available for at least two deaf or hearing impaired actresses and one deaf or hearing-impaired actor plus two hearing actresses and two hearing actors. Davidson Community Players is committed to casting a deaf actress in the role of Sarah. All roles are available and will be cast color-blind.

A character breakdown includes:

• James Leeds, 30s, hearing, signs fluently, teacher in a deaf school.

• Sarah, late 20s-early 30s, deaf, does not speak, signs fluently, works at the school.

• Orin, 20s, hard of hearing, speaks and signs fluently, a student activist.

• Lydia, late teens to early 20s, hard of hearing, speaks and signs fluently, a student.

• Mr. Franklin, 40s-50s, hearing, some signing, the head of the deaf school.

• Mrs. Norman, 50s, hearing, no signing, Sarah's mother.

• Edna Klein, late 20s-early 30s, hearing, no signing. A lawyer, she should be attractive enough to make Sarah feel competitive

• Davidson Community Players is committed to engaging the deaf community in all facets of this production. Additional opportunities are available for back stage work (costumes, set painting, props), rehearsal support and as ushers for the production. For more information, contact Melissa Ohlman-Roberge at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 704-892-7953.

Letters and cocoa for kids and Santa

Through Wednesday, Dec. 14, children can bring their letters to Santa to Santa's Mailbox at the Cornelius Arts Center. From there, the letters will be sent on an express journey to the North Pole. Letters should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so Santa can write back.

The Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture Department will also hold its annual Cocoa with Santa event on Friday, Dec. 9, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Cornelius Arts Center, 19725 Oak Street. Parents may drop in with children ages 4 and younger for a visit with Santa and a cup of hot cocoa. Children can participate in holiday-themed activities and spend time with Santa in a fun and relaxing environment. Photo opportunities are available the free event. For more information, call 704-896-8823 or visit www.corneliuspr.org.

PARC, HPRD join for special program

Cornelius PARC and Huntersville Parks & Recreation will partner for their annual Special Needs Holiday Program for families Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Community Room at Cornelius Town Hall. Those of all ages with a special need are invited to participate, as well as all family members who would like to attend. Activities include crafts, games, light snacks and more.

Registration is $10 per family for residents of Cornelius or Huntersville, $15 per family for all others. Register online at www.corneliuspr.org by Tuesday, Dec. 6,. For more information about this or other Special Needs programs, contact Trina Roeder at 704-892-6031, ext. 162, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Our Towns' 'Miracle' to benefit Ada Jenkins

Our Towns Cinema in Davidson will hold a special series of screenings of the holiday classic, Miracle on 34th Street, in December with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Ada Jenkins Center of Davidson. Between Friday, Dec. 9, and Thursday, Dec. 15, $1 from each $7.50 ticket purchased for the film will be donated to the center.

Screenings will be daily at 1:30, 4:30 and 7 p.m., with 9:15 screenings on Friday and Saturday only. Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce members are invited to a special kickoff event Thursday, Dec. 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the theater, located at 227 Griffith St. in the Sadler Square Shopping Center. Advance tickets are available by calling 704-237-3238.

Christmas returns to downtown H'ville

A Huntersville Christmas, presented by Priority Honda, will return to downtown Huntersville Saturday, Dec. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. The Huntersville Parks and Recreation Department will transform downtown Huntersville into a winter wonderland complete with a snow slide for the family, sponsored by CMC Huntersville.

Other activities planned for younger kids are pony rides, clown bounce, a carousel, ferris wheel, train rides, rapid slide, swing ride and a hay ride. For older children and teens, there will be a rock climbing wall and bonfire at the caboose next to the Huntersville Farmer's Market shelter.

Crafts will be organized by Discovery Place KIDS! at Huntersville Town Center, along with a coloring contest. At Huntersville Volunteer Fire Department Station No. 1, children can meet Santa, watch and participate with jugglers, write letters to Santa, and have their faces painted. Also at the fire station, Bill Turner, author of The Christmas That Almost Wasn't, will hold a book signing.

Mrs. Claus will read aloud popular holiday stories at the Huntersville Police Department. A magic show will be performed at 6 and 7 p.m. at Huntersville Town Hall and Radio Disney will also be on site with a live radio remote. Youth group members of Huntersville Presbyterian Church will perform a live nativity on the church lawn, with show times at 5:30, 6:15, and 7 p.m.

There will be a variety of acts performing on stage in between the fire station and the Town Center parking garage with performances by the Huntersville Elementary School Chorus, Blythe Elementary School Chorus, Torrence Creek Show Biz Kidz and Independence Hill Baptist Church. Between those shows, Terpsichore's Dance Centre will perform various dance routines. Wrapping up the evening on stage will be teen band Elia, performing at 7:10 p.m.

The Huntersville Farmers Market will be open, featuring local businesses and craft booths. Downtown restaurants such as Lupie's and Café 100 will be open for dinner. Also available will be hot dogs, nachos, pretzels and more offered by vendors throughout the event area.

A Huntersville Christmas has once again partnered with Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen in Huntersville. Attendees are encouraged to bring a small donation of canned broths, canned fruit, canned vegetables or gallon-size tea bags to donate to the soup kitchen. No outdated items can be accepted.

Decorated donation boxes will be at several locations throughout the event site. The Huntersville Police Department will also accept donations of new, unwrapped toys as part of its annual toy drive for underprivileged children. Toys may be dropped of at the police department on Gilead Road.

Parking is available at Huntersville Elementary School, Huntersville Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church of Huntersville, Huntersville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and the parking deck at the Town Center, accessed only off the Gilead Road entrance. Motorists through the downtown area should be aware of detours. Highway 115 will be blocked from Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road to Gilead Road, and on Huntersville-Concord Road from Highway 115 to Main Street beginning at 3 p.m.

Sponsors are Priority Honda, CMC Huntersville, Lake Norman Citizen, The Herald Weekly, Discovery Place KIDS, Radio Disney, Tom Johnson Camping Center, Guignard Properties, ElectriCities, Brian's Dog House Grill, Huntersville Eye Care Center, Ballas Chiropractic, Presbyterian Hospital, Blue Harbor Bank, The Learning Experience, Terpsichore's Dance Centre and Marc Allen Orthodontics.

Cornelius PARC holds holiday party

The Cornelius Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture (PARC) Department will present its annual Holiday Celebration Saturday, Dec. 3, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave. The free party begins immediately following the North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade, and features music, family-friendly activities and a visit from Santa. Activities include holiday-themed crafts, community performances, a magic show and more. Free photo opportunities with Santa will also be available.

This event is supported by media sponsor the Lake Norman Citizen and contributing sponsor MI-Connection. For more information, call 704-892-6031, ext. 160, or visit www.corneliuspr.org.