Patio dedication set at Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County

Randy Schnabel and his wife, Shirley Dean Schnabel, have both passed on, but their legacy will carry on.

"They were interested in preserving our history because their own family play's a big part in that," said Julie Stark, director of the Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County.

A dedication ceremony and ribbon-cutting for the new Schnabel and Dean Patio will be held today at the museum's Ettl Hall in Yuba City. The ceremony is, co-hosted by the Sutter Buttes Garden Club and the museum.

The Schnabels were involved with the Sutter County Historical Society in the 1950s and active with the museum for more than 40 years, Stark said.

Stark asked project chairwoman Kay Matsumura, a member of the garden club, if the organization would consider taking on a project for the grassy area next to Ettl Hall. The garden club came up with a design and found funding through the Schnabels' children.

The donation also helped pay for the patio and surrounding fence.

There are crape myrtles, star jasmine and camellias near a fountain that sits under a plaque and arch next to two trellises.

"I'm very grateful to all the people who donated their time, effort and money," Matsumura said.

The stamped concrete patio sits next to Ettl Hall and is surrounded by a variety of plants and trees that the garden club will maintain.

The patio will only be accessible to people renting or attending a function at Ettl Hall.

Howard Anthony, with the garden club, was busy installing the fountain on Thursday.

"It is very gratifying to see the patio complete," he said.

Anthony remembers taking a social studies class from Randy Schnabel at Marysville High in the 1950s.

"This is really close to my heart and I'm honored to be part of designing it and seeing it through," he said.

Anthony remembered Randy Schnabel as an outgoing and sociable and said that Shirley Dean Schnabel was still riding horses when she was 90 years old.

Ettl Hall, a county facility completed in December 2011, has had few renters.

CONTACT David Bitton at dbitton@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4796. Find him on Facebook at /ADdbitton or on Twitter at @ADdbitton.

Sutter hopes to see more rentals at hall

Ettl Hall has a meeting capacity of 269 and a dining capacity of 125.

Starting price for the rent is $550 per day.

County spokesman Chuck Smith said the space can be used for weddings, receptions and community meetings.

Bob Starr, Sutter County's deputy director for general services, said now that the patio is complete, they hope to book more events.

Two weddings and the Sutter High School junior prom are scheduled, Starr said.

"I'd love to see three or four paid events per month," Starr said.

For more information about renting the hall, call 822-7473.