How a community grows and why can greatly impact the nature of that community. Changes that might go unnoticed in a large community can be game changers in a small one like ours.

There are a few changes that have taken place in Lake County over the past several years that are beginning to have a very positive impact.

Some years back, the pear industry suffered from a major depression in the market, which forced many growers to begin removing much of the older marginally productive orchards.

Agriculture was clearly in a transition period in Lake County, and while there were pressures to develop, the local bureaucracy slowed this process enough to allow the wine industry to grow and begin to flourish in the county.

Patience followed by vision allowed this to happen. During this time the industry has grown from a grower owned coop winery and a couple of small family wineries to over 40 major wineries and the establishment of Lake County as a major grape growing region.

The closing of Konocti Harbor Inn had a similar impact on entertainment in the area. Where we had a major employer and magnet for the tourist industry we suddenly had just a few school and small theater group performances and our symphony, performing in the schools and local churches.

There were the concerts in the park during the summer, but the rest of the year was pretty dry when it came to live entertainment. Live music or theater on any regular basis required a trip out of the county.

Along came Jim Soper and his support of the vision of Jillian Billester and the Lake County Arts Council to purchase the old Lakeport Theater and create a performing arts venue in Lake County and allow live entertainment to begin to grow in the county.

It didn’t happen overnight. Like the wine industry, the process of developing this has been slow, but patience has again paid off.

An ever-increasing pool of talent now has a place to perform, the community has a local venue in which to be entertained, and these changes have enriched our community.

In the mid-1970s, Mendocino College and Yuba College began offering college classes at each end of the lake. The offerings were limited but over time programs grew and the ability to attain an associate degree, without having to leave the county, was achieved.

This past year both Mendocino and Yuba expanded their facilities and made possible increased opportunities for a higher education in the county.

Now Marymount California University, in response to the vision of Kelly Cox to find a way to utilize a community landmark, will be bringing yet another positive change to our community; the ability to achieve a bachelor or even graduate degree right here in Lake County.

This too will not happen overnight. These things are what a positive community is made of: economic stability, cultural growth and educational opportunity, all enhanced by long-term vision and the patience to allow that vision to develop.

Upcoming cultural opportunities at the Soper Reese Theatre:

• Lake County Symphony’s annual Mother’s Day Concert: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12;
• Third Friday Live presents “Twice as Good” 7 p.m. May 17;
• Lake County Live: Live on stage radio broadcast on KPFZ 88.1 FM, 6 p.m. Sunday, May 26;
• CLPA Youth Symphony Concert: 3 p.m. Sunday, June 9;
• Second Tuesday Classic Movies presents “Goldfinger,” 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 11.

Tickets are available at The Travel Center in the Shoreline Shopping Center, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; the theater box office on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and two hours before show time on the day of any event. Tickets also can be purchased online at www.soperreesetheatre.com .

For all the latest in information, tickets and more go to www.soperreesetheatre.com and we’ll see you at the theater.

Kathy Windrem and Mike Adams are part of the large volunteer group that run the Soper-Reese Community Theatre in Lakeport, Calif.