SAGE Volunteers Help Paint Historic Adventist Village

[Key Guy]

From the Battle Creek Enquirer, Michigan

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20090519/NEWS01/905190311/1002/NEWS01/Making+quick+work

Quote:

A man stood atop a tall ladder, which leaned against an old white house. He slowly swung his arm across the weathered walls, spraying white paint.

The man is in his early 70s. The house is more than 150 years old.

The man is Mike Altman. He's one of nine volunteers who have traveled from the Seattle area to help complete a desperately needed renovation to the Historic Adventist Village.

The volunteers, members of the Seventh-day Adventist group Seniors in Action for God with Excellence, or SAGE, have painted 10 village buildings in eight days, said Robert Grady, SAGE's president.

"The interesting thing is that we average about 70 years old, but we are able to do an incredible amount of work," Grady said.

The village includes authentically restored and replica meeting houses and buildings located near and along Van Buren Street. Some date back to the 1850s. The village holds great significance to the SDA religion because it was once home to James and Ellen White, the latter of which penned numerous writings about the SDA faith and is credited with helping spread the religion.

Several of the buildings received their first facelift in years this week. The painting was an act of charity that was tantamount to a rescue effort.

"For two of the buildings, there was a citation from the city to either tear it down or paint it," Grady said. "They are just appreciative to have us here because this work has been needed."

The building Altman was mending was certainly in need of assistance. Its paint was neither aesthetic nor effective, clinging uselessly to the gray wood of the building in fist-sized flakes.

"I believe it's a worthwhile project," Altman said. "They were having a hard time coming up with the money to do this, and we were able to help them out."

Grady said the volunteers personally funded the trip.

"This is a part of our Adventist heritage," Grady said. "I've taken a keen interest in it, and so have our people. They are all interested in seeing this village developed."

Village Director Garth Stoltz said he was amazed at how quickly the volunteers worked.

"By the time I got the lid off the jar of paint, they would be done with a house," Stoltz said.

The SAGE volunteers were almost done Monday. Grady said they would take a break Tuesday, and expected to complete their painting by Thursday.

(photo online)