Update November 10th 2021: After this post due to covid spread increasing a few things changed… we went dark again. But this optimism will return!
Great news, San Lorenzo Valley! Park Hall is reopening! Here is our hopefully almost post pandemic update:
Shopfront Changes
Beth at Where the Fur Flys worked through the Pandemic, and continues to be open to attend to your pet grooming needs. You can reach her shop at (831) 336-8747 to book an appointment.
Long term Park Hall renter, Buttons of Mill Street Hairquarters, has sold her business. We will miss her friendly presence, but look forward to introducing you to our new renters soon.
Community Theater Returns to downtown Ben Lomond
We are excited to welcome back first Little People’s Repertory Theatre and then Mountain Community Theater this summer.
Community Rentals Resume
Our online calendar is up to date. While weekend rentals are limited due to use by the theater companies, we always have openings around the holiday season. You’ll also see that the weekends of August 7th and October 16th are completely free, and there will be plenty of midweek daytime availability once LPRT finishes their summer run. You can find more info on using the hall here.
Staffing Updates
During the pandemic we closed the hall completely. Park Hall is a community owned gathering space that relies on rental revenue to pay staff, and could not have survived without our volunteers. Our seven trustees continued to meet virtually monthly and attend to any building and tenant needs that could not wait. Ann Scott, Cathy Smith, Dick Mills, Lyle Troxell, Gil Sanchez, Denise Gorham, and Steve Edmonds each did their part to help Park Hall survive the closure. Thank you to our trustees for serving through fire, evacuations and pandemic.
Park Hall’s pre-pandemic team has been invited back, but due to changes in their lives over the last year they have each chosen to move on. Before we recruit replacements we’d like to celebrate their contributions:
Joel Bahu, Facilities Director
Joel was exactly who Park Hall needed to help us catch up on long deferred maintenance and spruce up the hall in time for our upcoming (2023!) 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Park Hall Trust, which left Park Hall to the people of Ben Lomond in 1923. In addition to facilities management expertise Joel brought a love for the original workmanship, the building itself, and the community it holds. During his tenure Joel fixed things as needed, but more importantly he also worked with our manager and trustees to establish, prioritize and begin work on a list of facilities maintenance and improvements. He approached every task with attention to and respect for the building’s history and was a true advocate for investing in, maintaining, and improving Park Hall. We were so grateful to have him on our team.
Wyatt Troxell, Janitor
Wyatt may have been the most efficient janitor ever, and having grown up around Park Hall as part of the LPRT and MCT communities he knows the building better than most of us ever will. We were lucky to have him help with not only cleaning, but also building walk throughs. We wish him well is all his future endeavors.
Miguel Reyna, Janitor
Miguel knows the hall well due to his roles as an MCT performer and director. While his regular work was closed due to the pandemic Miguel stepped in as our temporary janitor. His willingness to help allowed us to safely host LPRT’s modified summer 2020 program.
Jessica Bukowinski, Manager
Former Park Hall Manager, Jessica Bukowinski, has returned temporarily as our Interim Manager to help the trustees reopen and restaff the hall.
Can you or someone you know fill any of their shoes? We are seeking folks to fill the following part-time contract positions ASAP:
Park Hall Manager
Facilities Maintenance Technician
Janitor
Applicants should email resumes and cover letters to: parkhall.communitycenter@gmail.com
Please help us to spread the word about Park Hall’s reopening and these work opportunities. THANK YOU!