by Dona Wuthnow

SJC Parks &Fair Director

Ten years ago, a bit of magic happened on the Eastsound Village Green – the Stage on the Green was brought to life. A stirring synergy of community talent and creativity came together in a 20-person group that used a consensus-based process to develop an organic architectural design and a team of artists and craftsman who could construct the vision. The Stage on the Green Group (SOG) was inspired to create a truly unique performance space that reflected the community; an alternative to the prefab stage which was all that County Parks could afford on its own.

Orcas Open Arts served as the umbrella organization connecting the County and the SOG group in a public/private partnership. County resources were pooled with many cash donations, foundation grants, a Washington State Building for the Arts Foundation grant, and in-kind contributions; all organized by SOG members. This tremendous effort resulted in an award-winning performance stage with many unique and custom features, all locally designed, locally sourced, and locally constructed. It’s truly a beautiful example of what the power of community can accomplish.

Next time you visit the Green, take a closer look at the stage and the interpretive sign adjacent to it that highlights some of its important features. We hope you’ll be moved to thank those who were involved for their contributions to the movement that created a village centerpiece that will endure for years to come.

The staff at County Parks and the Parks &Recreation Commission send heartfelt gratitude to all for the efforts, big and small, that resulted in a spectacular facility:

Core Design &Finance Team: Chuck Greening, David Kau, Gulliver Rankin, Kaj Enderlein, Tim Forbes, Leslie Seaman, Libby Blackwell, Jim Biddick, Errol Speed, Mark Padbury, Fred Klein, David Rusillo, Tim White, Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, Nancy Wang, Bruce Myers, Mathew Maher, Jorgen Harle, Craig Wier, Bill Trogdon

Many individuals and businesses volunteered professional expertise, monetary donations, materials, equipment and labor toward the building construction, including: Drew Reed, Harvey Aldort, Ed LeCocq, Craig Munson, Bruce Wiscomb, Bill Wullf, Clyde Duke, Michael Brennan, Jack Helsel, Jeff Rodenberger, Rick Doty, Adam Farrish, Robert, Alex Ferdinand, Ned Kirschbaum, Ken Speck, Chris Doherty, Eric Fullerton, Philip Branch, Marta Branch, Mark Van Maren, James Talbot, Dave Haslett, David Rosebury, Craig West, Jim Rorabaugh, Bruce Myers.