# 107 - April 23rd, 2008

Greetings one and all…Is anyone around here getting any sleep these days? Me neither; which brings me straight into my Whine of the Week…With frosts occurring virtually every night (according to some old timers it hasn’t been this bad since the Spring of 1969), those very loud whirring vineyard fans, which are used to prevent temperatures slipping too low and damage to the crops resulting, have been turned on virtually every night for what seems like weeks now. Those of us not too far from The Valley floor are experiencing what it must be like to have several helicopters hovering above one’s Nest every night. There is probably no equitable solution – the wineries are hardly likely to turn the fans off out of the kindness of their hearts are they? However, a few gift bottles of wine dropped off at the door of those kept awake would be nice. Perhaps I could then drink a few and go into a very deep sleep. What a thoughtful gesture that would be…Oh, look, there’s a pig flying over the Roederer vineyard!...
Meanwhile, I wonder what exactly the law is on this? After all, if somebody were shooting off guns, riding loud motorcycles, or shouting and screaming outside your house then surely some ordinance would be enforced to stop this sort of unsocial behavior. The wineries and their obnoxious fans are affecting many people whom I have spoken with and nothing is being done about it? I think we should be told why…
On to a far more pleasant topic – ironically, it’s The Wine of the Week…I have been wanting for some time to taste the 2005 Primitivo, an Italian grape blend from Brutacao Winery just north of Philo on Hwy 128. Then last weekend I finally opened a bottle Hummingbird had brought to The Nest and paired it with my own ‘specialty’ - chicken cacciatore. It was a good move. Following aromas of ripe plums, the tart cherry flavor with spicy undertones worked very well with the chicken and veggies in pasta sauces– so well that we decided to open a second bottle! For a taste of Italy I highly recommend this well-priced wine ($20) with your next pasta dish. Trust me on this; you’ll thank me later…
My trusted roving reporter, Bald Eagle, informs me that our very own County Dump on Mountain View Rd – one of my favorite all-time hangouts – may well be closed on Tuesdays if new budget proposals are passed. That would leave us with just weekends and Wednesdays and that is simply not enough in my experience. Furthermore, the whole industry in these parts may be privatized with, apparently, severe price increases being the result, if Ft Bragg is anything to go by. Obviously none of this is acceptable and when I next speak to Dump Guy Bill I imagine he will be most displeased and that’s someone we need to keep happy and employed…
What’s this Valley Community Plan I have been reading about? Actually, perhaps the question should be, “what are the credentials of those who are behind this plan to allow them to decide what is best for the rest of us”?...I have no doubt that there are several good ideas being discussed within the Plan but nobody has asked anyone that I know for their opinion. Once again, one wonders whether we should have an elected Mayor who would then be responsible to push forward such ideas with the backing of the majority. Who would you vote for?...Our Very Own Uncle Sam (Bruce H)? Lauren or Libby (of Restaurant fame)? Coach Dany Kuny? The A.V.A.’s Bruce Anderson? Wayne “Let’s have a Community Christmas Tree” Hiatt?......Ken Allen?? Dick Cheney??....Turkey Vulture even? – you’re too kind…
Good news – the Vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital in Ukiah will be in town at Dig Landscape and Garden Supplies (formerly The A.V. Farm Supply) on Thursday, April 24th from 2pm until 3.30pm…It’s the usual first come first served situation and there is a sign-up sheet to help with this. The vets are some of the best I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with, so I hope this service will continue, with perhaps a regular and reliable schedule in the future…
“Helpful” of Hopland, my new #1 fan, has surfaced again this week with two, yes, two pieces of useful advice…Here we go…”Dear Mr. Vulture, I hope you are well. I have been a little sick of late but as I sweated it out in my bed I did a lot of thinking and wanted to pass on to your readers a couple of pieces of wise advice I came up with. Firstly, to those amongst you who are slovenly homeowners, always keep a few 'Get Well Soon' cards on view. When unexpected visitors arrive you can tell them that you have not been well and that's why the house is untidy…And secondly, to those of you intending to attend a funeral sometime soon, make sure you read the dress code instructions on funeral invitations very carefully. Somber, whilst being just a couple of letters different to sombrero, is a world apart in tone when dressing for funerals – I speak from experience…I hope I have been of some assistance…Best wishes, “Helpful”…Seems like he is fully recovered, wouldn’t you say?
There are a few events in Boonville to add to your social calendar for this weekend. On both Saturday and Sunday we have the annual Wildflower Show at The Fairgrounds and the monthly Barn Sale just north of town. whilst at the school just down the road, there is a Junior High School Soccer tournament on Saturday (26th). I look forward to seeing you at some if not all of these events. Nature, bargains and burgers, plus some school sports – it doesn’t get much better than that!...
There’s no time or space for The A.V. Valley Quiz this week – my apologies to those amongst you who have e-mailed and informed me that you enjoy the weekly ‘teasers’. Perhaps some readers would like to submit questions for upcoming weeks? You’re very welcome to do so – see my e-mail address below…
Anyway, that’s all for now…Be careful out there, stay out of the ditches, think good thoughts, and may your god go with you…Oh, and of course, one last thing, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture…
You can contact me with words of support/abuse, and those Valley Quiz questions, by e-mail at