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Hernando Today

Women Get To Work On Habitat House

Hernando Today photo by BOB EAST III

Sarah Duncan, left, watches as Ken Donovan and Tracy Welch working on the foundation of a new Habitat for Humanity house on Boca Raton Street.

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: January 8, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - A 10-member construction crew gathered on a small site off Boca Raton Street at 9 a.m. Wednesday, donned their heavy duty gloves, grabbed shovels and got down to the business of building a house.

But this wasn't just any work crew and this is not just any house.

Most of the workers are women, and the house they are building is a Habitat for Humanity residence for a couple who right now are renting a single-wide mobile home in Nobleton.

These volunteers will be on the job from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday every week until this home is finished, probably by May 10 - Mother's Day.

On this first day of building, the women were laying the foundation for the footer and marking out the spot for the porch.

Heavy rains caused a halt to the work but the crew was able to complete some of the foundation work.

Sarah Duncan, one of the project coordinators, said Habitat bought lots in this low-income section off California Street and plans on building more such homes to raise property values and restore the neighborhood.

At the same time this Women's Build project is progressing, another habitat home is being constructed farther down Boca Raton - a home that will be owned by Sue Bassa.

Bassa is using her "sweat equity" hours required by Habitat for Humanity to help with the Women's Build project.

"It's pretty awesome," Bassa says of her first home being built. "There's going to be a lot of tears the day of my (home) dedication."

Catherine Nicoletti, wife of local builder Scott Nicoletti, was one of the volunteers Wednesday.

Brandishing a shovel and anticipating more construction work as the home progresses, Nicoletti joked she may have found a new career and present competition for her husband.

"I love power tools," she joked.

Alex Quintard, the construction supervisor, trained the volunteers in the ways of drywalling, painting, landscaping and other building methods. He's on hand in case there are any problems.

And, if any heavy lifting is required, Duncan said she can get some of the guys working on the Habitat down the street to help with trusses and the like.

The home will be built using ICF construction - an interlocking polystyrene frame reinforced with steel and filled with concrete.

And even though the idea is to employ all women, men are not excluded.

Just ask Charles Overholt, who was there Wednesday helping shovel out the foundation with wife Dawn.

Charles, a retired construction worker, said he's doing it for the exercise and to help out the cause.

Charles said he doesn't mind being on the predominately female crew. And he gets to work alongside his wife, who also has a background in building.

"She's the boss," Overholt joked, pointing to his wife.

Habitat for Humanity still needs volunteers to help out. If interested, call Habitat for Humanity at 754-1159.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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