Check out Woodcentral as well.
Like most who use a dedicated newsreader, I find the web forums to be a comparative PITA. I suspect that a Google groups user would not feel much of a convenience loss. I don't know how the transition would be for someone like you who uses a mail client for newsgroups.
The content at both Sawmill Creek and Woodcentral is much richer than here, but I still follow all three. (I'm more interested in neander work and turning, and both forums have very active dedicated sections.)