"The Easter Seals Crossroads (ESC) 21st Annual Holiday Home Tour opens their doors on Saturday and Sunday, November 15-16, 2008, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Five historical Meridian-Kessler residences will be decorated for the holidays by accomplished floral designers. Proceeds from the tour will benefit ESC programs for children with disabilities and special needs.

Tour home addresses and their floral designers, respectively, are: 5639 Washington Boulevard (Sheri Hilton of The Frugal Decorator), 5617 North Meridian Street (Missy Cheshire of Palm Court Designs), 5124 North Pennsylvania Street (John Hinger of John Hinger Style), 4810 North Meridian Street (David Strohmeyer and Eileen Bridgetts of McNamara Florist) and 3925 North Pennsylvania Street (Angie Kenley of Bokay Florist).

Advance sale tickets are $15 at www.eastersealscrossroads.org or at select Marsh and O'Malia's supermarkets. More Holiday Home Tour information is available by calling (317) 466-2002. Tickets are $20 during tour days and are available at each of the homes. Tour sponsors include Century 21 Realty Group 1, Eli Lilly and Company and Indianapolis Woman Magazine.

Marsha Langdon said, "There will be five homes on the tour. Two homes are owned by sisters who live in the 5600 block of North Washington Boulevard and the 4800 block of North Meridian Street. Each home added a large addition. The tour draws a lot of people from the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood. People visit from out of state as well," she noted.

"We will also be using a sixth home, the Governor's Residence, located at 4750 North Meridian Street. Valentino's Caffé will be open in the Hoosier Hospitality Room there serving light snacks, sandwiches and soups," she added. Langdon has been affiliated with the tour many years and currently serves on its Home Selection Committee.

Valentino's Caffé provides specialty catering services, corporate lunches/events and mobile espresso services. For more information, please call (317) 251-9351.

Artwork created by talented Easter Seals Crossroads consumers will be available for sale, along with the 19th edition of the Collector's Holiday Ornament Series. It features a gold-on-brass Lucas Oil Stadium ornament.

"The Holiday Home Tour was founded by and has been produced by the Crossroads Guild for the past 20 years. They are a volunteer group that supports the not-for-profit disability services agency, Easter Seals Crossroads. Through the years the Crossroads Guild has donated the proceeds raised by the Holiday Home Tour to specifically support the children's disability services and programs provided by Easter Seals Crossroads," said Candace Morrison, their Director of Marketing and Communications. "This past January, Crossroads Guild membership voted to no longer continue their involvement with the Holiday Home Tour. At this juncture, the executive leadership of Easter Seals Crossroads determined that we would bring the Tour "in-house" and produce it as an agency fundraiser. So, even though this is the 21st year for the Tour, this is actually the first year that the agency has overseen its facilitation," she mentioned.

According to their website, www.crossroads.easterseals.org, the local agency was founded in 1936 as Crossroads Rehabilitation Center (CRC). It was the vision of Mrs. William E. Gavin and Mrs. P. R. Mallory. Learning about a club of a dozen disabled teenagers, they assisted them in various activities, which included selling handicrafts. Whether helping someone improve their physical mobility, return to work or simply gain greater independence for everyday living, Crossroads has played a key role in people's lives for over 70 years.

"Through the years, our programs and services have expanded to include people of all ages and with all types of disabilities. CRC became an Easter Seals affiliate in 1940. In the mid-1990s, the agency decided to change its name to incorporate our affiliation with the National Easter Seals Organization. Because of this, we became Easter Seals Crossroads," Morrison explained.

The 21st Annual Easter Seals Crossroads Holiday Home Tour provides a unique look into historical homes with their holiday inspired decorations. In addition, tour-goers benefit Easter Seals Crossroads' ongoing mission by helping individuals improve their quality of life in and around Central Indiana.