Smith: For sale, the heart of old Guerneville

It pains Clare Harris to talk much about his decision to put up for sale Johnson’s Beach, the famously folksy riverfront fun spot just downstream of the old green bridge.

“I’m 94,” Clare said from the beach’s working museum of a snack shack, though in fact he’s 93 until September. “How long can I last?”

Johnson’s Beach and Resort opened in Guerneville in 1918. Clare and his late brother, Herbert, in 1967 became just its third owners.

Kin help to operate and keep up the beach, site of the Vineman Triathlon and The Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival, and the cabins, camping areas, launderette, restrooms and all.

Keegan & Coppin Co. has listed the nearly 11 acres for $2.8 million. Clare would like most to sell it to someone seeking to keep things the same, or as close as possible.

In a perfect world, he’d stay on a while in the snack bar.

MONTE RIO ROCKS on Thursday night, when some seriously talented entertainers venture from the Bohemian Grove for the 103rd variety show in that river town.

It benefits Monte Rio Fire Services, St. Catherine’s Church and Monte Rio School Foundation. Tickets are online at brownpapertickets.com.

Arrive at the town amphitheater by about 7 a.m. Thursday, and you may catch river-area celeb Luis Penaloza, the pastor at St. Catherine’s.

Long grateful to the Bohemian Club for the show, Father Luis thinks it’s time he come greet and lend a hand to those who sacrifice sleep and comfort to rise early and set their lawn chairs up close to the stage.

THE PRESIDENT may pass Susan Moore the butter on Wednesday.

The luncheon with President Obama is at a home in Silicon Valley. Congressman Mike Thompson will accompany Moore, the Santa Rosa activist/networking phenom who uses persuasion and an impressive Rolodex to marshal support for myriad causes.

She thinks her invitation grew chiefly from her work to grow the local chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and to rally resolve to require background checks for prospective gun buyers and outlaw personal ownership of assault rifles.

In August, Moore will host at her home a brunch organized by Thompson and Rep. Jared Huffman. They asked her help to raise campaign money for Rep. Elizabeth Esty, whose Connecticut district includes bullet-shattered Newtown.

Moore has some planning to do for her brunch, but today she’s thinking about Wednesday. Should the opportunity arise, she said, she’ll praise the president and Rep. Thompson for what they’re doing to enact “reasonable gun controls.”

“They are un-ambivalent about this,” Moore said. “I would like to thank them.”

If time allows a cellphone shot of the three of them, that will be frosting on the cake.

(Chris Smith is at 521-5211 or chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.)