Collegiate Times

It?s reality TV, minus the catfights, back stabbing and money winning. Instead of the normal money hungry ill-tempered contestants, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition provides viewers with heartwarming families who truly are in need of a makeover, but a well-deserved one. It?s a makeover that doesn?t involve a plastic surgeon, but a carpenter, and instead of a scalpel, a hammer and nails.

People originally hooked on the popular Desperate Housewives have now come to know and love the cute and quirky host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Ty Pennington. This lovable man of carpentry often adored by children and drooled over by women can be caught saving the day, along with his amazing design team, for families that are truly in need, and they?re here, in Blacksburg, helping an amazing family.

Carol Crawford-Smith, mother of two sons, Garlan 12, and Hunter 9, is a professional ballerina, known for her beautiful talent all over the United States and performing in famous shows in New York City. About five years ago, Smith was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, putting a major damper on her dancing career.

Striving to pursue her passion, Smith owns the Center of Dance, a Blacksburg ballet studio. There she teaches and instills her talent within students. Her passion and love for dance is so strong that even though she is not able to move like she used to, due to MS, she continues to teach, but from a chair.

?She comes out and she can barely walk but her spirit is so amazing and so beautiful. When you?re around her it makes you want to dance, it just makes you want to jump up. You can imagine what an amazing woman and inspiration she is. By the time she left, we were so excited to get started,? said Paige Hemmis, member of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Design Team specializing in carpentry.

Robin Grubbs and Jane Wisemen are the two people to thank for nominating the Smith family. The two women sent in a tape explaining the Smith?s situation, landing them a spot on the show.

The Team arrived Sunday morning giving the Smiths a rather surprising wakeup call to inform them they were selected from thousands of applicants to receive a home makeover. Shortly after, the family was sent on vacation to La Jolla, California to enjoy a little ?R and R? while the Team creates an entirely new home.

?I feel like I?ve known them for a long time because we researched them and of course saw their tape. So when I met them it was so wonderful to see them and I really feel with this family that we are in the right place at the right time. Carol?s disease has progressed to a point where the house is more of an enemy to her than a friend and a house shouldn?t be like that,? said Denise Cramsey, co-executive producer of the show. ?So we?re here at the right time and we?re going to give her a house that she can live in.?

This entire week, the cast will be working hand in hand with Virginia Tech students and faculty. Robert Fetzer, owner of Building Specialists in Roanoke and volunteer builder for the project, along with Paul Knox, dean of Virginia Tech?s College of Architecture and Urban Studies, came together to gather the large group of helping hands.
With demolition taking place yesterday, many were worried about the snow affecting the project.
?For someone who grew up in L.A. this (the snow) is quite a treat for us. But working in it this week is going to be a challenge; it?s going to be very, very cold. I?m the carpenter so I?m outside in the workshop this entire week,? Hemmis said.

Giving a shout out to math students, Hemmis mentioned how she noticed the Math Emporium while checking out the University Mall. ?I?m thinking the math emporium? You know, when you?re going to school you never think you?re going to ever use those math classes. I?m in a job where I use math every single day. So I commend those students who do the engineering and all of the technical aspects and the architecture and everything because we use that on a daily basis,? she said.

The Extreme Makeover process is supposed to take a total of seven days. But what some don?t know is that the actual creating and building is done within five days.

?Everyone asks us if we can get it done in seven days and how we do it, but we actually only have five days because you see the first two days we?re getting the family on vacation and we?re out here planning and demo starts on the third day. We only have five days of actual construction. Once that starts there?s no turning back, we have to really, really be organized,? Hemmis said.

Smith is known all around town for her sparkling personality and heart of gold, said Smith?s neighbor.

?You can go anywhere in town anybody that even knows her will tell you she is just one of the most fantastic people to have around,? said Roger Harless. ?Anybody that she met that knew her would do anything in the world they could for her, that?s just the way she is. She never asks for help, she has trouble accepting it, she wants to do it all on her own.?

Once a famous dancer in New York City, Smith was known for her magnificent stage presence and beautiful moves on stage. Coincidentally, Paul DiMeo, member of the Design Team specializing in carpentry, saw Smith during her early dancing years and his early carpenter years. Both aspiring to be the successful individuals they are today, DiMeo recalls what an amazing talent Smith was.

?In my office back home, which now I live in Los Angeles, is the playbill because of the way this woman filled the stage and to this day there?s a few performances that stick out in my head, one being Yule Brenner in the King and I, one being Carol Smith in Firebird, and the other being Bob Dylan,? DiMeo said.

With tears filling his eyes, ?So now to be here 20 some odd years later and watch her walk out her door after seeing the way she could fill the stage, there?s nothing like it.?

Ty Pennington, leader of the Design Team and carpenter was also touched by Smith?s story. ?She?s a pretty amazing lady, it?s devastating you know? She?s such a great motivation and has a passion for dance and she wants to teach, do anything she can,? Pennington said.

He continued, ?I see her trying to go up these stairs every day and it just takes her an hour, we?re just trying to do whatever we can to make her life a little easier. I just hope we can make her life a little bit better,?

With a march led by Ty followed by students and others alike, the demolition began with a bang. One of the biggest events to ever hit Blacksburg, it?s safe to say that by the end of the week, the Smith?s are going to be one elated family.