CLEARLAKE ?Local do-gooder Ben Finneston is at it again, building another house from the heart.
Finneston and project contributors expect to finish a two bedroom, two car garage, stick-built home for Dennis and Claudia DeMartinis within the next couple weeks.
Clearlake Building Inspector Scott Spivey said the community needs more people like Finneston.
“I think he”s an angel. Those kind of people don”t come around very often,” Spivey said. “He doesn”t do it for publicity or recognition. He”s just doing it because he”s a great guy. I wish we had more people like him in the community.”
Dennis DeMartinis called Finneston a Godsend. He said without Finneston”s help he and his wife, who are originally from Petaluma, would not be able to return to California from Nebraska where cold weather complicates his health issues.
“I need to come back to California where I don”t ache and Ben is making it possible for us to do that,” DeMartinis said. “We really want to thank him and all of his helpers. He”s a man you can depend on. He does what he says; he works with you and he”s not greedy. He just wants to help people and the community.”
Finneston is building the house according to the plans submitted by DeMartinis at a cost of $34,000 plus permit fees.
Finneston said he is making a 15 cent profit on the project; but profit is not what Finneston is after.
“People keep asking me why I keep doing these projects. I say ?why not?” It takes a couple months of my time and it helps people out,” he said. “And a lot of good people come along when you”re doing something good for someone else. There”s been terrific support for this project from local businesses and tradesmen.”
Finneston expressed much appreciation for the supported extended by local hardware and lumber retailers, Mendo Mill and Four Corners Builders Supply. He also commended Mike Huber, of Cool Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc., who installed the ventilation and heating system in the house. “Without him, I can”t get things done, like the heating system. We can”t pass inspection without Mike,” Finneston said.
Huber, who also contributed to the gift house that Finneston finished near Christmastime last year, said he supports the cause and the concept. “We support what Ben is doing so we decided to help him out again,” Huber said. “This is a good cause. It”s helps out the community, and that”s important.”
Finneston also expressed gratitude for the assistance of Dean McConnell who provided his taping skills at cost. Enterprise Overhead Door, of Sacramento, is installing the garage door at a discount, too. “They gave us the door with installation for $600,” he said. “The door is worth about $1200 alone.”
Mike Henson of Mike”s Custom Cabinets and “The Granite Guy,” Gary Rogers are also contributing to Finneston”s project again.
This is Finneston”s second goodwill house. “You just can”t give up on society. There are a lot of good people in this community,” he said. “Sometimes they just need a little bit of help.”
Finneston said he is planning a third goodwill project for another struggling couple in the Clearlake Park area.
The project will entail the removal of an outdated 1951 trailer, which will be replaced with a 24×44 square foot, stick-built home. Again, his profit on the project will be zero. He said he expects that project to be complete in time for Christmas.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
