SAN JUAN COUNTY PARKS

History made at Eastsound Village Green

Story and photos by Sharon Kivisto
(except where noted)

Photo contributed by Fred Klein

posted 07/11/2006
With a tight deadline and an undesireable alternative if their plan didn't work, a group of Orcas Islanders successfully designed and built a custom bandshell for Eastsound Village Green. Fred Klein dedicated the bandshell at the Historical Days Celebration Saturday, July 1, 2006. "I hope the community accepts the gift from one groupof artists to another group of performing artists. This will be a magnet for the community."

The project began when Mark Padbury found out at a Little League barbecue about the county's plans to buy a prefab building. One thing led to another and as Klein described events: "On July 7, 2005, a group of artists, including a dancer, storyteller, musicians, craftsmen, builders, contractors, engineers, architects, teachers, a blacksmith, cabinetmaker, event sponsor, woodcarver, industrial designer and community activists" The group held four meetings during the next 10 days. Architect David Kau prepared the board presentation drawings. Kaj Enderlein and Gulliver Rankin burned the midnight oil to produce material takeoff and cost estimates.

By July 21, they had a proposal ready for the Parks Board to review. The Parks Board voted yes. Parks Superintendent Dona Wuthnow said, "We all took a little risk and it worked out great."

For the next 40 days, the group met two to three times per week. David Russillo, a licensed engineer, did the structural design and certified the drawings and the calculations. Kau took care of the construction permit drawings. Chuck Greenway, an artist and general contractor, managed the construction. Libby Blackwell spearheaded the fundraising. She also kept records which showed more than 650 hours of volunteer construction labor on the bandshell in addition to the paid construction.

Erroll Speed was responsible for the the core construction team - paying wages and putting in many volunteer hours. Speed and Tim Forbes felled the cedars and carefully scribed them to the boulders. Drew Reid lifted the cedars up and down with a crane during the process. Enderlein milled the cedar siding. Jorgen Harle forged handrails. Bruce Myers donated the cast stone coping at the front of the stage. Jim Biddick handled all the project accounting.

Contributors stepping forward from the community included:

• Jeff Rodenburger and Glen Munsen - donated the granite boulders
  
  
• Mike Hayworth - directed the concrete pour along with a dozen volunteers
  
  
• Bill Wulff - donated the cedar trees
  
  
• Jack Helsell - milled our large fir beams and purlins
  
  
• Island Supply - provided materials at cost Drew Reid - donated use of his massive portable crane and his light touch
  
  
• Harvey Aldort always faithful, donated all the labor for electrical services,
  
  
• Clyde Duke - installed the metal roofing
  
  
• Eric Youngren - donated a solar photovoltaic system

While all of the focus has been concentrated on the construction, it is now turning towards fundraising, Padbury explained to the July 1 crowd. Several spots around the bandshell can be covered with placques as a motivation for people to donate. The 35-foot long ridge beam is available now. If you'd like to have it carry your name, T-shirts were sold at the Historical Days event and will be on sale at other events with proceeds going to the bandshell fund. Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to:

Orcas Open Arts/Stage on the Green
7 Windfall Lane
Eastsound, Wa 98245

Adam Farish put together the inaugural show which included the group Marmalade.

Locally crafted bandshell planned for Village Green

posted 09/30/05
Orcas Island architects, engineers, craftspersons and others worked together to design a custom bandshell for Eastsound Village Green. The county Parks Dept. was ready to move ahead with construction of a bandshell kit when approached by the group. Parks Manager Dona Wuthnow praised the work done by the volunteers. "I set some pretty specific guidelines," she said. "They met their deadline of August 31 with beautiful building plans."

The group is working to raise $30,000 to 50,000 to pay for the difference between the park's original project and the custom building. The lumber will be milled locally. Additional storage area and decorative metalwork will be added to the project if the amount raised equals $50,000.

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