# 268 - July 20th, 2011

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin...Let’s start with a couple of very different events that I attended on my travels through the Valley last Saturday evening. First there was a very ‘nice’ soiree at The Madrones – formerly Taylor-Roberts, and now the wine ‘mall’ just south of Philo. ‘Mall’ is a little unfair perhaps, it is a very pleasant set-up there, with four small winery tasting rooms and a ‘lifestyle’ shop called ‘Sun and Cricket’, although I know some old-timers think the buildings are an eyesore and inappropriate here in the Valley – but you can’t please everyone, as we all know. Anyway, It was Bink Winery’s open house and a crowd of about sixty wine-sippers and pizza nibblers had assembled. I would guess that I normally know at least 80% of the guests from different walks of Valley life at local events, but on this occasion I knew maybe 20%. There were some Valley winery people but the majority were not ‘from these parts’ and probably wouldn’t have known a Turkey Vulture even if I had defecated on my own feet – something we like to do to keep cool on such humid evenings. That is fine of course, it was a very pleasant crowd, Jim Roberts was a most gracious host and almost convinced me that the businesses were four small local wineries, and the Bink Rosé Lumineux was perfect with the savory thin crust pizza... But by 6.30pm it was time to move on...
I headed into Boonville and joined a very different crowd of one hundred-plus gathered at the Apple Hall for the Pop Warner Football Fundraiser. Most of the ‘obvious suspects’ were there, the majority being A.V. High School graduates at some point in time, and the delicious tri-tip dinner was efficiently served by the next generation of young footballers – all very polite and eager to work. The beer and wine selection was good, the prices reasonable, the raffle a success, and I believe over $1500 was raised by the community for the kids’ sport. I say ‘the community’ but I could not help but wonder about the absence of any schoolteachers. I know this was not school sports but these kids attend the school and I would have thought there might have been somebody there from that group. Just observing and sharing... Anyway, with Dean Titus and the Coyote Cowboys providing the music, the presence of current N.F.L. player and former A.V. standout, Martin Tevasu (N.Y. Jets), providing a bonus for the aspiring young footballers, and virtually everybody there knowing everybody else, the event was thoroughly enjoyable and a real Valley affair. Many thanks should go out to all those who worked so hard to put it on, led by Tony and Melanie Pardini, with lots of help from Ernie Pardini, Jessica Johnson, Erica Lemons, Ginger Johnston, Reba Pardini and Fernando Alvarez, and the guys on the grill who did an excellent job – Steve Rhodes, Bobby Mayberry, Gary Abbott, and Goober Johnston, the Lions Club bar staff of Will Housley and Kevin Lee, Scott and Saffron Fraser who secured the beer and wine donations, not to mention the other food contributors, including Shauna Espinoza and Bronwen Hanes with their wonderful pasta salad. I’ve no doubt forgotten somebody so apologies to them...
Public Service Announcements… #314 - The vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be in the Valley on two occasions this month; each time at the usual venue - The Farm Supply, north of Philo on Hwy 128, from 2pm until 3.30pm. The first of these visits is tomorrow, Thursday July 21st, and they will return once more next week, on the 28th... #315 – The ‘Not-so-Simple Living Fair’ celebrating and sharing rural skills with various workshops, demonstrations, discussions, and food takes place at The Fairgrounds over this next weekend - July 22nd-24th. The website with all the details and schedule is at http://notsosimple.info, or call 684-0028... #316 – A very special evening is planned to benefit the Senior Center on Friday, July 29th at 7pm. This is the first in a series of Guest Chef Dinners and Tom Rodrigues of Maple Creek Winery in Yorkville will be serving a rotisserie-style Roast Pork dinner with some fresh and delicious side dishes, using local ingredients, plus dessert and wine. Seating will be limited to sixty guests, so call the Senior Center (895-3609) for further details or get your tickets from Laughing Dog Books in Boonville...
Moving quickly on to a couple of the topics under discussion this week at The Three-Dot Lounge - yes it’s “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley where people gather and share their thoughts about Valley life...
... Even though it’s still July, practices have already started for the fall sports at the high school. Football Coach John Toohey has over twenty players in his squad at this point and there are high hopes for a successful season in the newly-formed Eight-Man League, while Boys Soccer Coach Steve Sparks tells me that there were twenty guys at the team’s first practice last week, including eight returning starters from last season’s Championship-winning team. In the meantime there will be a benefit at The Grange on August 20th to raise money for both of these sports and also the under-funded but much appreciated Cheerleading Squad, coached by Kerri Sanchez, Jennifer Espinoza, and Kelly Andersen – more details to follow...
... Several regulars stopped by at The Three-Dot after watching the Women’s World Cup Soccer final at The Buckhorn in Boonville. They said that the U.S. should have had the game won by halftime but the resilient Japanese women held on and finally won on penalty kicks at the end of regulation and extra-time. I saw some highlights and the standard of penalty-taking by the U.S. women was very poor indeed. Perhaps the excellent coach I kept hearing about should have had her players practicing that aspect of the game a little more?.. Having made that rather unfair remark, I should say that this remains a very unsatisfactory way to end a soccer match – particularly a final, and yet after decades of discussion a better method has still not been found. It’s like a Super Bowl tie being settled on a series of field goals or the World Series on a home run derby – not acceptable...
... Talking of unacceptable situations, a few days ago my friend and fellow A.V.A. contributor, Steve Sparks, drowned his sorrows at The 3-Dot with a bottle of Jameson’s’ Irish whiskey upon finding out he would not be returning as the Exhibitor for the ‘Animal Husbandry – Sheep-herding section’ at this weekend’s ‘Not-So-Simple Living Fair’. Apparently this decision had nothing to do with last year’s ‘incident’, the committee having simply decided to go with an ‘expert’ to take his place, albeit it someone from outside the Valley. Sparks does not accept this explanation. “Last year I managed to lose the entire flock of sheep and it took over an hour to recover them but surely that small incident should not count against me”, spluttered the clearly disturbed amateur shepherd, as he opened his second bottle. “Corporal Raindrop, Rob Google, the Bates Apple Motel kid, and their assorted committee members can all kiss my pimply ass.” Shortly after this diatribe, Deputy Walker escorted a tearful Sparks from the premises...
I’m outta here... With the hot weather almost with us, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; children too I suppose.. Otherwise, ‘Keep the Faith’; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; and may your god go with you… Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”… Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture...
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse either through the Letters Page or by e-mail at