Penngrove Station By Lyndi Brown - January 2020
Penngrove Social Firemen’s Holiday Lights Parade was over the top! A huge thank you to Kim Hanson (PSF Board member and owner of JavAmore Cafe) for organizing this amazing spectacle. There was even a Grinch. Don't miss it next year! The 55 entries outdid themselves. There was an influx of huge trucks, and a combine. Someone found a set of keys near the SMART tracks and turned them into Burr Wilson (parade monitor). Kim's daughter posted it on FB and someone saw it, who in turn relayed to her friend who'd lost her keys. Talk about a needle in a haystack. Penngrove Market had everyone clamoring for hot chocolate. There were Shout-out of thanks to Sonoma County Supervisor Rabbitt, and the county Public Works staff for pulling together with staging this informal parade. It was an exciting evening for many hundreds of residents, visitors, and their little ones (who saw Santa Claus). Do not miss it in 2020!
SPEAKING OF SMART
Last month I gave an update on the Quad gate installation, and now that they’re working, be aware of changed conditions. The arms at Woodward Ave. and Main are gone, thank goodness! Many a vehicle got a roof–bashing while waiting to turn onto Main Street. Now, arms block off the tracks on Main St., in both directions. What hasn’t changed: speed limit is still 25 mph. Thank you, locals and pass-through drivers for slowing it down through our little ‘burg.
A big thank you to Supervisor David Rabbitt, for his advocacy to upgrade the rail crossing. Thanks for your help, Senator Mike Thompson, who was actively in our corner. The fact is that the safety improvements came from the ad hoc group called the "Citizen's Organization Of Penngrove" or "COOP-ers" — a group of opposites in many ways that became a strong unit that was not to be denied. We locals had to be vocal, creative, and down-right pains in the a** and push the rock of Sisyphus along an uphill track. Act locally!
NEW BUILD IN TOWN
You’ll see chain-link fencing around the lot next to Penngrove Pub on Main Street, soon to be a two-story building. It will have retail commercial (non-food) on the first floor and a residence on the second floor, with on-site parking for both uses, and a private deck for the residence. The owner is physicist Dr. Singh Himansu of Canon Manor, and the architect is Brent Russell of Petaluma. The project is within the boundaries of the Penngrove Area Plan, is subject to the Main Street Design Guidelines, and required a use permit and Design Review Committee review for consistency with the Main Street Design Guidelines.
COMING EVENTS
Jan. 11 –The Italian Night benefit dinner is generating a lot of buzz. Penngrove Social Firemen will serve up the beloved Little Hills chicken recipe, a famous dish from Petaluma’s defunct old-time Petaluma Little Hills restaurant. The hallowed spot was at 108 Petaluma Blvd. North, near Western Ave. (present-day Vicky’s Secret shop). You can tell who’s old-time from tantalized taste bud memories that linger all over town. The menu also includes pork scaloppini, ravioli, salad, French bread plus a healthy serving of accordion music by Tony Mustaro. The $25 tickets sell out, so buy them in advance from JavAmore Café or online from https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4478386.
Ticket info: Kim Hanson, (707) 794-1516.
Social hour is at 5:30 pm; dinner is served at 7:00 pm at Penngrove Community Clubhouse, 385 Woodward Ave. Proceeds benefit improvements for the non-profit’s Penngrove Park and Clubhouse. Both properties are enjoyed by our community for celebrations and events.
Jan 25 – Crab Feed for Rancho Adobe Firefighters Assoc. at 6pm at Penngrove Community Clubhouse. $60 per person. All you can eat crab, salad and bread. No pasta fillers. Drinks, music, and dance. A few tickets are still available at the RAFD station, Penngrove.
Mark your calendar for Feb. 15 – Crab Feed presented by Penngrove Social Firemen, $50.
