American Dream comes true for new city resident
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Sept. 20, 2006

Thanks to a nationally syndicated TV show, plus a large group of family, friends and new neighbors, a worker at one of North Olmsted’s more popular restaurants just got a much shorter trip to work.

Rachel Evtimov, who works at Arturo’s Restaurant and Lounge, found out Sunday why her family and friends had been acting “kind of odd” the last few days when she was taken to her new home on Angela Drive. Evtimov was given the home by the syndicated TV show “HomeTeam,” which purchased the home and then got it furnished with new appliances and furniture while show workers and a group of volunteer workers from the area renovated the home over several days. Evtimov, who has been living in an apartment in Avon, said she’s going to be busy arranging the move-in for herself, her 3-year-old twins, Jenette and John, with boyfriend John Ferrell also having to make preparations to move in.

“I’m grateful so many people have so much confidence in me to do things right and who care enough about me to do something like this,” Evtimov said. “This is just so wonderful.”

Prior to her arrival Sunday afternoon with her father, Bob “Smitty” Smith, the show workers and area volunteers were working furiously to put the finishing touches on the home before her father brought her there.

“They’ve been acting kind of odd for about a week,” Evtimov said. “I knew something was up because of that, but I couldn’t tell what.”

Ferrell said it’s been a challenge to get it done.

“It was hard keeping it from her,” Ferrell said. “A lot of people care about her.”

Even though she had sent an application in to the “HomeTeam” for the show, she said she had talked to one person, sent in an e-mail and then given up when she hadn’t heard from them for several weeks.

“I didn’t think it was happening and just figured that somebody must need it more than I did,” Evtimov said. “I couldn’t believe it when we pulled up here and then went inside.”

However, Troy McClain, the “HomeTeam” show narrator, said her application had in fact been accepted.

“She’s got a great story,” McClain said. “She’s a hard-working mother of two and everybody likes her.”

McClain, who some people might remember as a “Rags to Riches” guy who appeared on “The Apprentice” TV show with Donald Trump, said Evtimov’s story is just what “HomeTeam” looks for.

“It’s the American dream for so many people,” McClain said. “We set it up for first-time homebuyers who work hard and embody that dream. The show is like the old-fashioned barn-raising where building or renovating the home becomes a rallying point for friends, family and neighbors to get this done for them.”

The show, which will air in November on Mansfield TV station WMFD (Channel 68), follows the family getting the home around in daily lives, while also chronicling the saga of the home going up.

“Her family was a big part of this,” McClain said.

Evtimov’s father “Smitty,” as well as her brother Adam Smith and his wife, Lisa, helped get the application and work on the home.

“She deserves it, she’s been working hard at getting herself together and doing things right for herself and her family,” said Smitty.

“She’s a great mom and wants to do good things for her kids and to make that good life for her and her family,” Adam Smith said.

Lisa said it’s been great being a part of it.

“We just love her,” Lisa said. “She’s just good to be around. We’ve all learned a lot being a part of this.”

Lisa said that at first, she was like a lot of  wives and wasn’t sure of his sister.

“We kind of hated each other at first, but then we both had kids and basically grew up,” Lisa said. “We had to take care of each other and our families so we started getting along. Now we do whatever we can for each other.”

Both Smitty and Adam have experience which aided the project.

Smitty worked many years for Berman Moving and Storage, and Adam works for Fridrich Moving and Storage. Both are longtime area businesses.

“We know a little bit about moving things around and getting homes and furniture ready,” Smitty said.

Adam said it was pretty hectic for several days.

“Everybody has been busy painting, fixing things, getting furniture moved,” Adam said. “It was crazy (Saturday) when they showed up with the furniture and put everything out on the lawn and we had to get it in and arranged. In addition to the show, we had a lot of help from friends and neighbors.”

Two of those friends include Pam Chesar, a secretary for the North Olmsted City Police, and her husband, John, an auxiliary officer who also knows Rachel from working at Arturo’s.

“There were a lot of people working hard on this,” John Chesar said. “We talked about it at Arturo’s and wanted to help get this done. I told Pam, and she wanted to help too.”

For Pam, the project even developed into a personal challenge of sorts.

“We’ve been here every day, doing all sorts of things,” Pam said. “I’m afraid of heights but I was even working up on the roof to help get things done.”

For Evtimov, that personal touch from family and friends makes it even more special.

“I’ve always known North Olmsted had good people, but now I’m moving in and just can’t thank people enough for this,” she said.