Perfect Photo Suite 6 Available Now

onOne Software, Inc., a leading developer of solutions for professional and advanced amateur photographers, today announced availability of Perfect Photo Suite 6. Giving photographers intuitive tools that work where they do, Perfect Photo Suite 6 offers solutions for photographic effects, portrait retouching, creating and working with multilayered files, replacing unwanted backgrounds, image resizing, depth of field control, and edge effects, in one affordable package.

Perfect Photo Suite 6 introduces four new products—Perfect Portrait 1, Perfect Layers 2, Perfect Effects 3, and Perfect Mask 5 to favorites Perfect Resize 7, FocalPoint 2, and PhotoFrame 4.6, and integrates them via a Suite menu bar that allows photographers to move effortlessly between them.

Perfect Photo Suite 6 continues to work as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and now also as a completely standalone application. This additional functionality means that all products in the Suite can be used together within Adobe Lightroom and Apple Aperture without relying on a separate host application as was previously required. Perfect Photo Suite 6 will continue to include full support for Photoshop CS5 and CS4 with many of the products now functioning as Smart Filters.

“Over the last few years, we’ve heard how photographers are changing the way they work while understanding their continued need for tools that help them solve common photography problems,” said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. “With the release of the completely new products Perfect Portrait, Perfect Effects, Perfect Mask and the update to Perfect Layers,

Perfect Photo Suite 6 offers tools focused on photography that are not only intuitive to use but integrate seamlessly into their workflow, so photographers can realize their photographic vision.”

“With this latest upgrade, I truly feel like onOne Software has taken post processing to the next level,” wrote Colby Brown, a professional landscape, travel and humanitarian photographer who teaches photography workshops and has been an instructor for National Geographic, on his website. “I can honestly tell you that I was blown away by what I saw. I am so excited about many of the new features that I have already began to re-imagine my workflow when it comes to processing my images.”

“This, it’s fair to say, is not a simple upgrade. Many of the component parts of the Suite have undergone a total rewrite, new features have been added by the bucket load and the look and feel is now slicker and much more modern,” said U.K. based commercial photographer Andy Kruczek. “The new features and layout make for an incredibly powerful set of tools. So powerful in fact, that I found myself questioning the need for Photoshop at all.”

Perfect Photo Suite 6 includes full versions of the following onOne Software products:

Perfect Effects 3 - Perfect Effects 3 builds on the popularity of PhotoTools to provide a faster and more powerful way to create images with impact. Perfect Effects includes a complete library of professional photographic effects that can be previewed, live and full screen, on an image before being applied. Perfect Effects now includes more manual control and blending options that provide even more control over how effects are combined and applied.

Perfect Portrait 1 - Perfect Portrait 1 is a completely new product that offers the latest innovations in portrait retouching for photographers. Photographers can now focus on the art of portrait creation because the most time consuming retouching tasks have been automated in Perfect Portrait. Perfect Portrait automatically finds faces, eyes and mouths in images so that photographers can get directly to the work of retouching and enhancing an image. Improving skin texture and color, removing blemishes and enhancing features like eyes, lips and teeth have never been easier.

Perfect Layers 2 - Perfect Layers 2 allows photographers to combine photos for endless creative options. Create and edit multi-layered files with Perfect Layers directly from Lightroom and Aperture, or as a standalone application. Perfect Layers files are saved in the PSD file format and can be edited in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements later. Perfect Layers is the heart of the new Perfect Photo Suite 6.

Perfect Mask 5 - Perfect Mask 5 is the next generation of Mask Pro, the leading software for background replacement. Perfect Mask takes the core strengths of Mask Pro to another level, by automating many common masking tasks with incredible accuracy. Perfect Mask’s new masking technology makes selecting subjects and isolating backgrounds surprisingly easy. With Automatic Background Removal, an initial mask is made on the image and can then be fine-tuned using the Erase and Refine Tools. With these new features, high quality masks can be created in just a few clicks. Perfect Mask makes masking tough subjects like hair and glass on complex backgrounds easy.

Perfect Resize 7 - Perfect Resize 7, powered by Genuine Fractals, is the industry standard for image resizing. It is renowned across the photographic and printing industries for its ability to increase image size well over 1000% without the loss of sharpness or detail that is normally expected. The patented, fractal based interpolation algorithms work like nothing else and the results speak for themselves.

PhotoFrame 4 - Add the perfect finishing touch to images and layouts with PhotoFrame 4.6. With over one thousand design elements like film edges, borders, textures, backgrounds and adornments, PhotoFrame even has complete layouts where users can simply drop an image in and they are done. It is the easiest and fastest way to add an authentic darkroom touch with a film edge or to create beautiful albums or scrapbook pages.

FocalPoint 2 - Like bringing the camera lens inside the computer, FocalPoint 2 gives photographers the best way to add the most realistic depth of field and selective focus control to any image after it is photographed. Photographers now have an incredible flexibility and control over the look of the blur with FocalPoint’s new blur algorithm, FocusBrush, Lens Presets and multiple FocusBug features.

Availability: NOW

Our Fall Adventure

We have begun to pack to go back on the road. We will be staying at a Corp of Engineers park near Atlanta for a week then will go to Dillard for Mother's 50th HS Reunion. After that we plan to travel the smokies to capture the fall colors.

I found a song that I have adopted as my theme song.

Back On The Road, Oh Canada Here We Come

We left the Bar Harbor area last weekend, Destination Canada! We dropped the jacks in a quaint little campground Sunset Point in Lubec, Maine where we were met by a wonderful workcamper named Cindy who checked us in and made us feel welcome.  Every site is right on the Ocean and happens to be the eastern most campground in the United States.

Lubec is a fishing village that once thrived on the Herring industry. The last packing house was shut down by the government in 1991. Another example of the government getting involved in something it should support not attack.

Lubec’s connection to the sea and its close proximity to the Canadian Maritimes have shaped its destiny from trade and fishing in the early years, through the prosperous years of herring processing, and into the present with aquaculture and tourism. From its earliest settlement the town has maintained ties of family, friendship and commerce with New Brunswick.

Lubec’s connection to the sea also offered ideal conditions for the rise of ship-building, with 20 vessels launched from town shipyards between 1804 and 1830. The first schooner, Hope, was built in North Lubec by Captain George W. Allan. The growth of this industry brought increased prosperity to area farmers, who harvested the timber, and to blacksmiths, carpenters, ship-chandlers and other suppliers of materials needed to construct the yards and vessels.


In the wake of the sardine industry’s demise those fishermen who remained turned to the lobster, scallop, shellfish and urchin fishery. Salmon aquaculture has also grown in Lubec and Campobello waters. Gathering balsam fir tips for the manufacture of Christmas wreaths, cutting fire wood and raking blueberries offers seasonal employment.

Growth in the tourism industry provides opportunity for future economic development. The opening of the Roosevelt International Bridge linking Lubec and Campobello in 1962, as well as the establishment of West Quoddy State Park and other conservation areas have contributed to an increasing number of visitors to Lubec, lured by the area’s natural beauty and recreational opportunities. Many of these people have purchased second homes here, established businesses, or become residents of the town.

Passamaquoddy Indian (Peskěděmakâdi 'plenty of pollock.') A small tribe belonging to the Abnaki confederacy, but speaking nearly the same dialect as the Malecite.

Above is a demonstration from the Peace Pipe Celebration.

In 2011 Lubec is celebrating its bicentennial, marking 200 years of existence on the easternmost edge of America. The town has watched its fortunes, much as the Fundy tides, rise and fall as the abundance of herring and demand for sardines disappeared. Throughout its history Lubec’s citizens have; through hard work, resilience, ingenuity and neighborliness; met the challenges posed by geographic isolation, a sometimes harsh environment, and the vagaries of a fisheries-based economy. These strengths should sustain the town as it welcomes its third century.


Today most of the industry has to do with fishing. It appears that the locals are trying to stick with their gem near the sea and create an economic recovery.

A Call For Donations

Nothing ever goes as planned, at least in my world. We have experienced a few financial surprises that were not budgeted. As most of you know this trip is partially to check off a life long dream my parents had to travel after retirement. After my father died in 1999 it did not look like Mom would be able to do it. Then in 2006 she suffered a massive stroke that left her paralyzed on her right side and unable to have conversation due to expressive aphasia. Well the fighting spirit inside her said we can still do this, so I set off to make it happen. A few conversions for access and we are on our way. We budgeted for fuel before it went over $3.00 per gallon so we modified the trip to shorten it. We joined the camping clubs and budgeted according to the directories. Let me just put it this way, don't believe everything you read in those books.

My goal is to do some Landscape Photography and Nature Photography and post some tutorials for your enjoyment and photography education.

We need your help to make this happen. Any amount will be deeply appreciated. If you would like to be mentioned as a supporter let me know and I will be glad to include you in the blog. See the DONATE button at the top right of this blog.

Thanks again for your support!!

Helen and Robert Wicker

Over The Hills and Through The Adirondacks

We traveled across the state through some beautiful areas. We decided to call it a day near Lake George and found an independent campground that had so much hospitality that others should visit them and see how it is done. The Riverside Pines Campgrounds is truly Adirondack Camping at it's best. The Host Joe and Barbara Bravata have a daughter Jess that checked us in and really made us feel welcome. She had such a great personality and charm. She made us a cheeseburger that Five Guys would be jealous of. We hated to leave the next morning.

As we traveled yesterday morning we found out we were in the middle of Americade Bike Weekat Lake George. We saw many bikes on the highways.

We stopped at a roadside foodstand named Roxie's which had the best fries. We had the Michigan Dog that was like a hot dog with a chili sauce that was nice and spicy.

We blasted through Vermont and stayed at Crazy Horse Campground near Littleton, NH and will roll into Bar Harbor tonight. Till then we are on the road.

Living In The Round

We met some new friends from Aro that were spectacular. They are a couple really nice gals that have built a house that makes me jealous. Joann and Aro are standing in front of the window of truth. This house is built from straw and clay. The energy efficiency  is incredible. They are using solar hot water.

We also visited the property where the Three Sisters Farm once was. The farm was an organic CSA in Ithaca. I hope someday they are able to open the farm again.

After touring around Ithaca we headed back to the festival for a little dancing. Mom was having a blast.

Finally We Arrive In Ithaca, NY

First time I have visited the upstate other than a training class at Kodak in Rochester a few years ago. All I can say is AWEWSOME!! What a great little city. Hippies, Cornell Ornithology Lab, and fabulous friends, who needs more. Our week started with an incredible parade. I think I saw a sample of everything Ithaca. There were even a few Tibetan Monks who walked in the parade to represent their cause. Belly Dancers and Farms were represented also.

Mom really enjoyed the parade and it shows.

The next day we ventured out for a full day of events. The Cornell Lab, The Ithaca Farmers Market, and The Festival.



Mom dances with our friend Aro Veno.



Headed North and Sharing Excitement With Friends

As our journey extends north we add our memories to the blog. We headed out of Virginia, destination Pennsylvania. Our wheels stopped in Carlisle, Pa where we were able to see (Barry) one of our friends that I will be photographing his wedding in July. While we were in the area we journeyed out to see our cousins near Downingtown. First stop was at Rob's where we caught up from the couple years since we have been together. We had lunch and then followed him to Iron Horse Farm (http://www.ironhorsefarmpa.com/) which is owned by our cousin Paul Hellhake and his wife Anne. What a cool farm they are building. We can't wait to see it grow.



Cousins Anne and Paul Hellhake with Mom.

Kyley is the daughter of Paul and Anne and is a girl of many talents. She is the owner of Studio 3 which is a frame shop in Downingtown, PA. She is also an animal trainer. Her Pony (Minnow) is a painter and we have one of his paintings in our home. He is in the photo below with Ammo the Dachshund the other part of the Dog and Pony Show. Her website is interesting http://www.paintingpony.com/ 

When we left the farm we decided to take the long way home and adventured into Amish country in Lancaster, PA. It is simply amazing how these people can stick to the simple life. I wonder if they have any stress? We came across a few scenes that were worthy of pulling over.


By morning we were back on the road. After a quick visit with our friend Barry who we met him and his future(July 23rd) Bride Donna through our friend Kathie Frank. We were now on our way to northern PA for the night. We found a great little campground in a town I have never heard of Hop Bottom, PA. The Shore Forest Campground is a real charm and the Host were very nice. The next day we headed for Ithaca, NY.

Our Journey Begins May 16, 2011

We have set out on our journey. The travel began on May 16th when we drove to Jacksonville for a short layover if you would. We met up with a childhood friend (David Baird) who is a RV Mechanic who did a run through before we got to far out on the road. We really appreciated what he did to set our minds at ease that we are starting out with everything working proper. We also met up for a brief visit with another friend(Tammy Soest) that I have worked with most of my career. We Boon-docked our first night in the parking lot of Wal Mart on San Jose Blvd.

We left Tuesday after lunch heading for Camden, South Carolina. A former customer, Burt Morris,  who was a buyer for Discount Drug Mart in Ohio is now working for Petsmart in Columbia, SC. and is living in Camden. He lives in a little cottage(4000 sq ft.) on the historic Kamschatka property. The house was built James Chesnut, Jr., United States Senator from South Carolina, 1859-1861, and afterward an Aide to Jefferson Davis and a Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army and just as famous the wife of  James Chesnut, Jr. MARY BOYKIN CHESNUT, author of A DIARY FROM DIXIE, as written by MARY BOYKIN CHESNUT.

 

After the Civil War the house was sold to William F. Buckley, Sr. who used it as a summer home and had the six cottages built around the home for his children. 

Mom bribing one of the Judges for the 24 Hour of LeMons

During our stay we noticed something was being set up in town. We set out to find out what it was. To our amazement it was the "24hrs of LeMons" which was run that weekend.

We also drove to my fathers home town of Sanford, NC to visit my great-aunt Sally Mayfield who will be 94 in a few months. It was great to see her since it had been about 7-8 yrs since I had seen her. We also saw another friend and one of my photography mentors Danny Batchelor and his wife Trish in Southern Pines near Pinehurst, NC.

Our Friend and Host, Burt Morris.

We set up camp near the cottage where Burt is living and spent a week until the sub 100 degree days sent us packing for cooler weather.

Since Charles Kuralt was from Charlotte we thought it would be proper to stay a night or two near there. We found a spot available at the KOA in Statesville, NC where we also met some great friends. We were able to sit and share stories with Inge, Susie and Rudy who are full timers at the camp. We hated to leave there as the hospitality was so good. We pulled out Friday morning and headed for Virginia. We set down the jacks around 8pm in Harrisonburg, VA at a very nice KOA Park the Shenandoah Valley KOA. I finally have wireless and have set up the computer to catch up on the blog. As of this writing we are now up to date and plan to head for Harrisburg, PA in the morning. I have been able to organize today so more photos will also appear in the future.

Here are a few random photos from the trip:

This Georgian Mansion overlooking the original town of Camden was originally built 1777-1780 by Joseph Kershaw. A wealthy merchant and leader of the town, Kershaw modeled his home after the William Washington house in Charleston. The home later served as a Confederate Supply Depot before being burned in 1865 and was not rebuilt until 1974-1977.

The Tomb of the Youngest Confederate Soldier. 

The Camden area is full of Revolutionary and Civil War History. To the left is the tomb of Richard Kirkland who joined the CSA at age 13.
Civil War Confederate Army Officer. After a frontal charge on December 13, 1862 at Fredericksburg, Virginia, thousands of men from the armed forces of Union General Ambrose Everett Burnside’s Army of the Potomac lay dead and dying on the ice-covered slope of Marye’s Heights. The pleas for water from the wounded men echoed for all to perceive. However, no one from either side dared to render aid for fear of them becoming a target as Union and Confederate marksmen were willing and able to fell anyone who entered this killing ground. To the conscious ears of Richard Rowland Kirkland, a Confederate soldier of the Second South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, the cries of the battle casualties became unbearable. He sought and gained the hesitant permission of his superior, Joseph Brevard Kershaw, to leave his position with the optimism of rendering aid to the battle sufferers. After gathering canteens, Kirkland leaped over the wall and entered this “no mans land”. At the outset, the federal frontline took shots at him but quickly ceased fire when it became evident what his purposes were. Zigzagging between the wounded and dying, Kirkland gave water to the thirsty, care to the wounded and provided warmth for the cold. Accounts have the wounded federal infantrymen raising their arms to attract his notice. For ninety minutes, he continued this meandering of aid to the enemy and when he returned to his station, the two opposing armies unleashed a shout of approval to show their respect and admiration for his compassion. His humanitarian deeds earned him the title “The Angel of Marye’s Heights”. Kirkland survived the battle of Fredericksburg and would come through the violent fighting at the Peach Orchard and the Wheatfield during the Pennsylvania battle of Gettysburg yet would not survive the war. At the forefront of the advancing Confederates, he was charging up Snodgrass Hill during the battle of Chickamauga on September 20, 1863 when a rifle ball pierced his chest. Brushing away aid, he knew the wound was mortal, “No, I am done for. You can do me no good. Save yourselves and tell Pa good-bye and I died right. I did my duty. I died at my post.”


Below are Cannons left by the British.

The Tomb of Mary Todd Lincoln's Brother and CSA Surgeon.

Dr. Todd was brother in law to President Lincoln.
Served as a CSA Surgeon. Married to Martha Lyles of
Camden. An unreconstructed rebel!!

Come follow us as we are "On The Road"

As a child I always enjoyed the CBS weekly report of Charles Kuralt "On The Road". Charles Kuralt Should Be Remembered. He gave us stories of hope and of unheralded heroes. His more than 600 episodes of "On the Road," filed from every state in America, punctuated the daily barrage of riots, wars and demonstrations on the nightly news. "Two-minute cease-fires," Time magazine called them. We should remember Charles Kuralt for his rich, mahogany voice and slow talking that brought us the relaxed pace of "Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt." And for his seven best-selling books. So many stories. So many memories. I do miss Kuralt.  But he was just one man “doing journalism” the way he thought it should be done.   

Being so inspired when we decided to complete a task on mothers bucket list by setting out on a journey in our motor-home to see the country as her and my father had planned all their life for their retirement years. As some may know my father Robert Wicker Sr. was taken from us a short 6 yrs after retirement and they were not able to ever take that trip. After Mother had her stroke in 2006 I decided when she was ready I was going to do everything possible for her to complete her wish. We are now on that journey and we are going to document our travel through our blog and hope we can make it at least half as good as Charles would report. Come follow us as we are on the road...

Day 4 The Midnight Oil Running Low

With more than 100 businesses represented on the site during the week, we were late into Day 4 and were in desperate need of framers. Although many framers gave their time, nobody gave like Mike Toner from Florida Carpentry of Brevard. Mike was still going strong late into the night and had been framing and supervising his personal crew of seven for over 30 hours. With the strong dedication of skilled labor and the many volunteers, the project is staying close to the deadlines.

The night included a tweet-up with around fifty busy tweeters sending live progress out to their tweeps. You can follow the project at #emhe.

This project could not happen without the many sponsors and local restaurants that have given from their heart and the community appreciates everything you do.

Eduardo, Michael and Paige (Designers from EM:HE) made a brief appearance from their busy schedule last night offering  a quick update.

There are still opportunities for skilled labor so if you are sitting home this week, why not reach out and support the community.

The public can go to the site to watch the construction. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today through Friday, shuttles will take spectators from the Cocoa landfill off Adamson Road to the construction site.

"Extreme things happening today," show designer Eduardo Xol said. "I can't really talk about them, we're going to save them for the show, but if people come out here personally, they're going to get to see them first-hand."

Day 3 And The Mud Is Firm And The Team, Incredible!

By 3pm Day 3 the blocks were near completion.

LifeStyle Homes strength is really in their people; very nice people, and very talented, too. Their core values are based on honesty, strong work ethics and just treating people right from their customers to their crew.

These values at LifeStyle Homes started with its founders, John Luhn and Larry Hufford. They were raised in small town America, they were taught these beliefs early in life.

Times have changed, and LifeStyle Homes has grown, adding team members, developing new communities , creating better home designs, and helping hundreds of homeowners achieve The American Dream. What hasn't changed are the components of the original vision that started the business back in 1984:

•Treat people with honesty

•Deliver an excellent product

•Maintain a strong work ethic

•Love what you do



Larry Hufford and Jake Luhn



It shows this week in their dedication on the Extreme Makeover Home Edition Space Coast project. With the long hours that are being put in things are really running smooth and you can see the love that Jake Luhn has for his people and his company. Jake replaced his father in the management of the company after he passed a few years back and today Jake and Larry carry the values that started the company.

From their early days growing up in rural America and their core values it only makes sense that they are doing the good deed of building a home for a worthy family. The Hurstons have given from their heart so many times that it is good to see things come to them in return.

Lifestyle Homes, the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew, thousands of volunteers from within the Space Coast community and beyond, are preparing a home and giving back to the family that’s given so much.

The progress is incredible. To think that on Saturday afternoon their house was intact with a yard full of trees and today the new home is almost ready for trusses. Interior framing should start this evening and the Friday deadline looks very promising.



William and Laurie Arbaugh sign the
Scrapbook which will go to the
Hurston Family.



There is a scrapbook that is in front of the ClearChannel Radios onsite broadcast booth. Stop by and sign a piece of Space Coast History as it will be given to the Hurston family upon their return. You can go to ClearChannel stations Live Web Cam by clicking the 99.3 logo at the top right of this page. Stayed tuned here for the progress being made overnight.

Demo Day on the" Extreme" Set

CANAVERAL GROVES —It was cranes crushing Joe and Cindy Hurston's home to rubble within 15 minutes during the first day of construction for the latest project of ABC television's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Space Coast"

The Hurston family will be back in their home by Friday.

"It really didn't take much to take it down, and it's weird to see a closet door here, a bedroom door there," a neighbor said. "I'm shocked that in a week, there'll be a house standing there."

A day before, the Hurstons had been ambushed by the show's hosts and sent on a family vacation to San Diego without computers and phones during the build.

Joe Hurston runs the nonprofit organization Air Mobile Disaster Relief Ministries. He's made about 20 trips to Haiti to deliver over 600 portable water purifiers, along with purifiers to 38 countries.

Cindy, and three children who still live at home have traveled with him.

Jake Luhn,  CEO of LifeStyle Homes, said anywhere from 3,000 to 4,000 volunteers will assist in the construction of a net-zero energy home, which will feature a 9.6 kilowatt PV solar panel array to be installed by PowerShift Solar of Melbourne.

Over an annual time period, the family will not have an energy bill.

"That means they're going to be able to take the money they would've spent on an electric bill and put it toward their charity work," Luhn said.

Emil Gumieny, a LifeStyle Homes contractor whose family runs East Coast Irrigation and Landscape LLC, jumped at the chance to volunteer since a large part of his company's well-drilling work involves treating water to make it potable for homes.

"The thing about water, just because it's clear, doesn't make it safe to drink," said Gumieny. "It's so important to have fresh water, and in the United States we have regulations, but a lot of foreign countries don't. So they depend on the Hurstons and people like them to provide that."

Tasks scheduled for overnight included laying sewer lines, performing termite treatment and land grading -- "everything you have to do before you lay down a foundation," media coordinator William Arbaugh said.

Brevard County inspectors are onsite 24 hours a day to prevent delays, he said.

What you see on TV is sometimes different from real life.

The neighborhood is full of volunteers, production crew, law enforcement and media.  ClearChannel Radio’s Program Director Ken Holiday from Lite Rock 99.3 is broadcasting live from 6 am to 6 pm throughout the build.

Watch The Demolition from Day 1

Video Courtesay of Lite Rock 99.3 FM. Also tune in to the
Live Remote Web Cam CLICK HERE

The Space Coast Finalist, The Hurston Family

While the Hurston family was on a charitable relief effort, a pipe burst in an upstairs bathroom, destroying much of their home and personal belongings due to the extensive, undetected flooding. With little money from the insurance company to repair water damage, the Hurstons have been essentially homeless for now over a year. Yet, the Hurstons’ desire to help others has not changed because of their misfortune.

Joe’s piloting skills and Cindy’s nursing skills have helped others during twenty-five years of international relief work. They have instilled in their children the joy and reward of helping others in the local, national and global communities. As a result, the Hurston family truly works together, sacrificing personal time, comfort and safety, to lend a helping hand to local, national and global communities in numerous charitable missions. Juliet, their oldest daughter, rallies her friends to get involved in many of the community projects she spearheads as well.

Their passion is to “provide clean water to a thirsty world.” To support that effort, the Hurstons established “AirMobile Disaster Relief,” a 501(c)(3) non-profit business. Through donations, they manufacture the “Voyager,” a portable water purifier. To support their family, Joe has a toner cartridge refilling company, and Cindy has a small café.
The Hurstons recognize the importance of clean water for healthy and successful survival of a culture. A mission dear to their heart is delivering and installing water purification devices to disaster-ravaged parts of the world. To date, the Hurstons have delivered and installed approximately 660 water purification devices in 38 countries, literally saving thousands of lives.
The Hurstons also use their resources to transport rescue personnel, supplies and administer life-saving aid in U. S. disasters as well. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Joe found himself in the bittersweet position of providing aid to his hometown, New Orleans. Embodying the phrase “Service with a smile,” the Hurstons have taken in individuals who are in need in their own community — people who are down on their luck and people in recovery from drugs or alcohol. Every Sunday, the family visits an inpatient psychiatric hospital, helping to encourage teens struggling with various issues.
Putting their needs aside, the family continues to help others while they are in desperate need of repairs to their own home. Additionally, the money they need to repair to their donated disaster-relief plane, threaten to hamper their relief efforts.
Courtesy of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition show, the Hurstons are off on a family vacation at an undisclosed location. Meanwhile, Lifestyle Homes, the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew, thousands of volunteers from within the Space Coast community and beyond, will prepare to launch a mission: giving back to the family that’s given so much.