THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511170679
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
A gingerbread house spelled trouble for Hansel and Gretel.
But the Tidewater Builders Association's annual scholarship house has spelled opportunity for deserving area high school students for three decades.
On Monday the city schools' all city clarinet ensemble from the gifted and talented program played music from the musical version of ``Hansel and Gretel'' as the TBA and Creative Homes Ltd., this year's builder, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the 30th scholarship house since the program's inception in 1966. Proceeds from the net profit from the sale of the houses go into a scholarship fund managed by TBA's Scholarship Foundation.
``Our organization is celebrating 30 years of this program providing scholarships,'' said Steve Magula, president of Creative Homes Ltd. ``We can look back with pride but we are also celebrating the future. This is a celebration of our commitment to continue this worthwhile program. I'm proud and happy to take part in it.''
Magula said through TBA's scholarship program hundreds of thousands of dollars have been given to students to help them continue their education.
Noting that his work for this year's scholarship program is almost done, Magula announced that next year's scholarship house will be built by Benchmark Building Corp. of Chesapeake.
TBA's Scholarship Foundation has provided scholarships to more than 165 students since its inception. In 1995 alone it awarded $42,650 to area students. Scholarship officials won't know how much this year's sale will add to the fund until all the bills are paid.
Dr. James L. Pughsley, interim school superintendent for Virginia Beach, praised the program and its objectives. Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, who followed Pughsley at the podium, proclaimed it TBA Scholarship House Day in honor of the occasion.
The ribbon cutting became a five-person affair, with the cutting done by Magula, Oberndorf and Pughsley. Standing on the porch with them, looking on, were Joseph C. Addington Jr., chairman of TBA'S scholarship foundation, and TBA past president and master of ceremonies Richard L. ``Tuck'' Bowie. After the cutting, as the ensemble led by Jo Marie Leland struck up yet another tune, those present were invited to tour the house and sample refreshments.
Magula described the house, which sold for $199,000, as ``transitional,'' with four bedrooms and a large room over the garage that could be a fifth. It contains, he said, a lot of extra features, because of donations by vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors to the scholarship house program. It features large windows and light colored carpets, walls and appliances. Wide hallways and spacious interconnected rooms contribute to a sense of openness throughout the house.
Located at the corner of Highgate Greens and Upper Greens Drive, the house is the first to be completed and will be the first occupied in the new development of Highgate Greens, off of Princess Anne Road just south of Three Oaks.
Breck Wood, chairman of the board for William E. Wood and Associates, is working with Jim Arnold to develop the section's 174 lots. Work on the development began six months ago and will take about two years to complete.
Magula, whose company is based in Virginia Beach, has been a builder since 1976. He has owned his own company since 1981. His two daughters work with him. Edie Magula is office manager and Maureen Magula merchandises the company's model interiors. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Proceeds from the sale of this house go into a scholarship fund
managed by TBA's Scholarship Foundation.
by CNB