Tour homes, help charities

Today marks the start of one of two home tours to benefit local charities.
The Good Samaritan House Charity Home Tour for the Clover Area Assistance Center starts today and ends Oct. 25. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays. The home is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Lake Wylie house is in the Catawba Crest subdivision, 5904 Morning Star Road off Lake Wylie Road. Proceeds from tour ticket sales, and the sale of the furniture and art inside the house, will go to the Clover Area Assistance Center. Organizers hope to raise $50,000.

Tickets are $10 at the door and can be purchased at 15 Bi-Lo stores in York, Gaston and Mecklenburg counties where Good Samaritan House posters are displayed. Details: www.goodsamaritanhouse.com.

In the Charlotte area, the Home Builders Association of Charlotte is hosting its first Luxury Lifestyle Home Tour, which will showcase nine designer furnished homes and townhomes. Homes range cost $1 million and above.

Custom builders showcased are: Goodwin Classic Homes, Harrington and Associates, The Dowd Company, MacNeil Homes, New Tradition Homes, Simonini Builders and Andrew Roby.
The tour will be Oct. 24-25, Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 and Nov. 7-8. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and 1-6 p.m. Sundays. Discount tickets available at area Harris Teeter stores. Tickets are $10 and free for children ages 12 and younger. Tickets will not be sold in the homes. Online tickets are $15. www.hbacharlotte.com

The opening weekend gala "Puttin' on the Glitz" will be Oct. 24 at the Wachovia Atrium. The event includes music by Hipshack and food. There will be a live and silent auction. Tickets are $80 and $100.

A portion of the proceeds from the auction as well as home tour ticket sales will benefit The Levine Children's Hospital.