Community Center gears up to build new kitchen

The infamous “construction-permit-waiting-period” belongs in a time-space continuum all its own, as anyone who’s ever done a remodel well knows. The Sonoma Community Center’s (SCC) new kitchen is now stuck in that limbo but Jack Lundgren, board president, is hopeful that construction will start no later than Sept. 1. In the meantime, he and a dedicated group of volunteers are doing what they can to keep the ball rolling.
“We’re doing some things that don’t require permitting like painting and trim work to get a jump on things,” said Lundgren. “Our subcontractors are lined up and we’ve ordered our equipment so as soon as we get our permits, we can really plow into things.”
A couple of the companies slated to work on the project include Peterson Mechanical for the hood work and Sonoma Custom Tile for the floor. Lundgren worked with local chef John McReynolds to get some good deals on a new refrigerator with shiny stain steel front, a commercial dishwasher, and a new three-compartment professional sink. New tables and chairs are also on order.
Lundgren, who is the man in charge of construction, says that the new kitchen will cost roughly $125,000. The Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley has donated $50,000 to fund the project and an SCC fundraiser in June raised another $40,000.
“We have $90,000 in hand and are trying to see how much we can get done using volunteer labor,” said Lundgren.
The SCC is shooting for an open house on Oct. 10 to show off the new kitchen. A proposed barbeque feast and yard sale will help raise more money to offset the cost of the new kitchen.