Since its construction, Kingston’s Village Green Community Center has been a welcoming hub of the community. Soon, there will be a new, warm feeling at the center. A ceremony will be held in the lobby at 4 p.m. Oct. 22 to dedicate a newly constructed fireplace and light the first fire. The public is invited.

When the community center was constructed seven years ago, a lobby fireplace was on the wish list. Unfortunately, to stay on budget, the original Village Green Foundation Board of Directors had to make the decision to eliminate some amenities. The fireplace had to go.

Jon Sole was on that original board and, sadly, he passed away in 2020. His family has now stepped forward with a generous donation to pay for construction of the fireplace.

After learning of the gift from Jon’s family, the Village Green Foundation enlisted the help of local building contractor Rick Lanning of Homeland Construction and his team. Rick has long been a Village Green supporter and took on the challenge to make the fireplace special. His team found old-growth cedar boards in a barn that were made into the mantel and paneling. They then supplied real cut stone for the facing. The new fireplace is a work of art that will greet your senses and make you feel at home when you walk in the door.

The fireplace will be dedicated in memory of Sole and to his lifelong commitment to community service. During the 20 years he was a Kingston resident, Jon not only contributed to the construction of the Village Green Community Center and its grounds, but he was also an active member of Kingston-North Kitsap Rotary and a volunteer for many other community projects.

Prior to moving to Kingston, he was an active member of Kiwanis for many years in his hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska. We think he would be honored and pleased to have his name associated with this beautiful new addition to the community.

Meanwhile, Patricia Sekor’s artworks, crafted with a variety of media ranging from watercolor to pen-and-ink, are available to view through the end of October in the Grand Hallway Gallery at the center.

You can find out what’s happening at the center at www.tinyurl.com/VillageGreenCalendar.