November is anniversary month for Sierra Community Theatre, and a celebration of a year of successful operation is slated for Sunday, Nov. 17.
The public is invited to come at 4 pm for a showing of “Twister,” the 1996 movie with scenes shot in Greene County. Admission is free in thanks for the tremendous community support over this past year. Reservations via Facebook or by phone are recommended.
For more information, please see the website: www.sierracommunitytheatre.org or Facebook page: www.facebook.com/sierracommunitytheatre or call the theatre at (515) 386-3176.
It was during the summer of 2012 that Chris Henning, Jim Rose, Lisa Jaskey, Tom Wind, Jim North, Jim Groves, Sandy Groves, Mike Piepel, Andrew Woodley and AJ Sorenson, under the leadership of Jim Daubendiek, joined in the effort to save the Sierra from closing.
“In one short year, we’ve made so much progress,” said Wind, secretary of the board. “We’ve accepted ownership of the building from Fridley Theatres, started our 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Sierra Community Theatre, and upgraded projection and sound equipment. Community financing made the installation of digital and 3-D projection and a state of the art sound system equipment possible. Home State Bank provided bridge financing and thanks to the generosity of so many in our community, the capital campaign ‘See You at the Movies’ raised the needed funds to make the Sierra a truly first class community theater.”
Some organizations earmarked donations: Beta Tau Delta donated funds for the highly luminous screen; Rotary chose to invest its donation in presentation equipment for use in business meeting rooms in the lower level. Others like Kiwanis, Greene County and Home State Bank, chose to give their funds to the general campaign. Jefferson Telephone Company Charitable Trust and Greene County Community Foundation donations and grants were used to make much needed repairs to the roof, marquee and exterior of the historic 1884 building.
All in all, donations, pledges and grants by many people, organizations and businesses have raised nearly $200,000. The generous donors to the “See You at the Movies” capital campaign will be recognized and feted at an invitation-only event on Sunday, beginning with an early showing of “Twister,” followed by the unveiling of the donor board and a reception in the lower level.
