Penngrove’s Community Clubhouse celebrates 100 years
Heat, fire, smoke – earthquake!
Just as I was getting my head around the 5-year anniversary of the Tubbs fire: Earthquake! The hits just keep on happening, don’t they? Let’s all review our emergency plans and packs.
The Community Clubhouse is turning 100
There is a BIG open house planned for next March 12, 2023 to celebrate the opening day of the Penngrove Clubhouse 100 years ago (on March 10, 1923). Locals may remember the building as the Penngrove Social Welfare Club House, later simplified to Penngrove Women's Club.
It must’ve been a big day in 1923, because two other buildings opened the very same day: Penngrove Pub and the Central Commercial and Savings Bank (now known as the Bank building).
In 1963, the Clubhouse was purchased by Penngrove Social Firemen, a nonprofit since the mid 1950's. Two of their directors, Kim Hanson and Scott Finley are gathering information about the building and its uses.
Call for memorabilia: Do you have any history during these last 100 years: photos, stories, keepsakes, news articles, memories, anecdotes? All original photos and keepsakes will be returned after display at the open house. If you have things to share, or want to join the committee, please contact Kim at (707) 794-1516 or mrsjjava@hotmail.com .
Penngrove Cares and more
There’s an explosion of interest to improve and promote Penngrove. The Penngrove Cares steering committee formed last year as the ‘go-to’ place to respond to community issues such as safety, water and more. The 11-member group broke into issue teams last month, to take a deep dive into areas of concern: Downtown revitalization, led by Suzanne Tucker. This team is working to create and fund a downtown plan, using the Penngrove Main Street design guidelines, adopted by the County in 2010 (and found on the website).
Other teams are groundwater, Monty Sullivan; community safety (emergency response times, traffic, pedestrian safety), co-leaders are needed; sewer, Don Seppa; noise, Bill Theile. If you want to participate, please step forward. Contact www.penngrovecares.org.
Penngrove business owners
A group of Penngrove business owners held their first meeting last month. Goals include sharing Penngrove history, marketing and safety. They will meet at each other’s businesses to get more familiar with each business.
“Penngrove has great bones,” said Emma Mann, owner of Soap Cauldron, “and a fascinating history that should be told. We can imagine plaques that tell a building’s history, and signage appropriate to our design guidelines.”
The group is studying the 75-page booklet, “Penngrove: A Jigsaw Puzzle of Its Past and Present by Ellen M. Harris,” published in 1980. This booklet is usually available at JavAmoré Café ($10), and through the library.
Red bellied frogs
Brush was cleared from Lichau Creek, thanks to Jon Niehaus at Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA). This should help prevent flooding during the winter months when the rain comes.
Retired National Marine Fisheries biologist Stacy Li led a creek walk for Emma Mann, Martin Sessi and Elisabeth Manning. The group will do another walk with James Hansen, an environmental scientist from the State’s Fish and Wildlife office, who said “Lichau Creek likely supports several special status amphibian and reptile species including California red-legged frog, foothill yellow-legged frog, western pond turtle. It may also support steelhead. There is also a chance of special status plant species calling that area home.”
