At long last, a public facility on time and under
budget
Guerneville celebrated a milestone this week when new downtown
public rest rooms were dedicated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony that
drew an enthusiastic crowd of nearly 50 people.
“We’re here today to celebrate an accomplishment,” said John
Haig, manager of the Russian River Redevelopment Project that paid
for the approximately $150,000 facility.
The flood-proof and vandal-resident solid concrete building came
in far below its original budget of more than $300,000, said
Haig.
The festivities included the Russian River Choir singing an
original musical tribute to Lenny Weinstein, the long-time River
resident who began lobbying the River Redevelopment Project for
town rest rooms nearly nine years ago.
“He noted the discomfort of the folks who had to run for it,”
went one verse of the song written by Guerneville resident Wally
Kass. “To relieve a desperate need and his efforts did
succeed!”
The rest room has already been dubbed the Weinstein Relief
Center and Weinstein was on hand Monday to greet the crowd and cut
the green ribbon around the new facility on First Street in front
of the Guerneville Veterans Auditorium.
“One person doesn’t stand alone. This is an honor for me, but we
couldn’t have done it without all of us,” said Weinstein. “We’re
really all the same and this building can vouch for that.”
The audience included seven members of the River Choir, several
dogs, the owner of McT’s Bullpen, the bar across the street, who
had opposed the rest room location and waved a raspy noise maker
during the ceremony, and former 5th District Supervisor Ernie
Carpenter, whom Weinstein had personally invited.
“There’s no way in heck I would pass up the dedication of this
or any other toilet in Guerneville,” said Carpenter. “I think it’s
a great thing.”
“It’s wonderful,” said Guerneville resident Alby Kass.
“Who knew that a toilet could inspire such goodwill?” said a man
in the audience.
Current 5th District Supervisor Efren Carrillo praised
Weinstein, the River Redevelopment Project and the County General
Services Department which did the actual site work with help from
Caryl Hart of the County Parks Department.
As a County Supervisor, “I go to a lot of ribbon cuttings,” said
Carrillo. “This is the first one in the county for a rest-room
facility.”
