On Sunday morning, Pauni, her eight children and one nephew enthusiastically welcomed the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" design team headed by celebrity Ty Pennington. Then the family waved goodbye to the camera crews and headed off on a cruise to the Virgin Islands that will give Cache Valley crews just one week to build them a new home.
The Pauni family was chosen out of hundreds of applicants by "Home Edition" because its members have endured "great loss" since husband/father Danny Pauni died of a heart attack in May 2004, according to an ABC press release from Draper-based Politis Communications.
"When Janet and Danny left the island of Tonga in 1991, it was to give their family a better life and a better education," according to the release. "With no life insurance policy and the sole provider gone, this tight-knit family has been struggling both emotionally and financially as a result."
Logan resident Jon Eccles set out to fetch his newspaper Sunday morning and was greeted by nearly 40 friendly strangers in his front yard. Being a good neighbor to the Paunis has always been a pleasure, Eccles said, and this week will be no different in spite of the fact that his neighborhood has been transformed into a production set.
With a temporary outdoor cafeteria set up in the lot next to his home and demolition of the Pauni house across the street scheduled for midday Tuesday, Eccles said he expects things to get more uncomfortable before they get better.
"I knew it was coming. It'll be a little bit of an inconvenience, but I think it's a great blessing for the family and I'm sure it's going to help them," Eccles said. "These guys ("Extreme Makeover") do a great job and it's a great opportunity for them to come to Cache Valley and help someone out in our community."
The atmosphere was surprisingly tranquil Sunday afternoon. Crews calmly mingled, ate catered food and used handheld radios to organize lighting and other details on the set and construction site.
Throughout the day, security guards enforced strict barricades for several blocks around the Pauni home at 1085 N. 400 East. Local police officers turned away hundreds of would-be spectators throughout the day, enforcing a "no trespassing" zone.
The project will rely on local businesses such as Burton Hardware and Lumber, LeÂGrand Johnson Construction and Kartchner Homes for labor and supplies, but organizers say donations and volunteers still are needed for the Pauni family. For more information, go online to www.kartchnerhomes.com and follow the "Extreme Makeover" link or call 435-770-7411.
abrunson@sltrib.com
