# 309 - May 30th, 2012

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin... It was good to see many of you at the Lions Club Tri-Tip and chicken BBQ that was held at the Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon to benefit the A.V. Elder Home. With Justin Reilly, Kevin Lee, Olie Erickson, and Judy Long on the grill and several other Lions Club members doing their thing under the watchful eye of Chief Lioness, Christine Clark, the event was a big success and the number of those in attendance, about eighty-five or so, exceeded that of last year. The silent auction provided a wide variety of prizes, the wine and beer flowed, and there was plenty of foot-tapping to the sounds of Dean Titus and the Coyote Cowboys. 

Talking of which, the ‘Coyotes’ never get a mention by name, except Dean of course, so let’s rectify that right now… Clearly a group of old-time Valley families is represented: on lead guitar it was Dean’s big brother, Craig Titus; on bass the one-and-only Ed Walker; on drums we had non other than Guy Pronsolino, and of course on vocals, the melodic and tuneful Susan Clark. With guest violinist/fiddler Alan Kendall and Craig’s young grandson Ky Parrish representing the next generation on silent guitar, it made for a lovely afternoon whether you were under the sun or amongst the trees with friends, family, and neighbors…

        

And so inevitably, your Quotes of the Week are on a musical theme. Here we go… It was Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) the Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright, who said, “Where there’s music there can be no evil”… And Louis Armstrong (1901-1971), the American jazz trumpeter and singer who observed, “Musicians don’t retire; they stop when there’s no more music in them”… And let’s finish with Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784), the English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and who has been described as ‘arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history’ who said “Music is the only sensual pleasure without vice”… Of course it was also Johnson who came up with one of my all-time favorite comments – “"There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn”… But I digress…

       Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready, and off we go... #103 – The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will return to the Valley tomorrow, Thursdays May 31. They will be at The A.V. Farm Supply from 2pm to 3.30pm and if you call the vets 48 hours in advance (462-8833) you can ensure that your pet’s charts are brought ‘over the hill’ and also order any medications. New customers and their pets are always welcome… #104 - The Guest Chef Dinner benefiting the Senior Center this month will feature Maple Creek Winery owner and chef, Tom Rodrigues. It’s this coming Friday, June 1st and Tom will be serving an Hawaiian-style Bar-b-q, featuring pork ribs, marinated in pineapple, mango, tamari, shallots, and garlic; chicken thighs marinated in ginger, pineapple, mango , fruit juice, citrus; a fresh green salad with lots of goodness and Hawaiian herbs; and Fresh Tropical Fruit with home made whipped cream for dessert. A complimentary glass of wine will be served and tropical attire is requested! Call 895-3609 to get tickets – there are a few tickets left at the time of writing but the event will sell out… #105 – The Skunk Train ride and bbq lunch in the woods to benefit A.V. School Sports takes place on Sunday, June 3rd. The train leaves at 11.30 from Ft Bragg. $50 of the $70 fee will be directly passed on to the sports programs!...

        

Moving quickly on to a few of the topics and Valley events 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... 

... A.V. High School counselor, and all-round voice of wisdom, Jerry Cox, is retiring when school finishes next week. He turns 87 today (May 30^th) and is ready to move on to new and fresh activities. A number of grateful 3-Dot regulars have fond memories of Jerry as a mentor and friend, not to mention the teller of many, many jokes - some of which were quite funny!... Relax and enjoy, Jerry – you deserve it…

… Another of the Valley’s ‘Old Guard’, Ross Murray, is not ready to retire quite yet, still going strong at 93 with his five-minute social commentary show on the local public radio (90.7 FM, at 6.30pm Thursdays). Ross stopped by the 3-Dot and informed me with obvious joy that his beloved wife Joyce, who has been ill in recent times, is now out of hospital and recovering at home where Ross believes she will make much better progress. He also wished to thank the many Valley folks who have expressed good wishes for Joyce’s full recovery. I know I echo the sentiments of many when I express the hope that this special couple enjoys many more years of happiness together…

... Since many of you continue to ask, here’s the latest on the impending sale of the A.V. Farm Supply… It seems that the sale is definitely going through, within a couple of weeks at this point, and long-time owners Dave and Nancy Gowan will be heading off to pastures new in Oregon. They will be leaving the Farm Supply in, what is hoped by many to be, the capable hands of Ardzrooni Vineyard Management, who assure me that they are doing their very best to ensure that the Valley will still have a go-to place for our farming needs… Keep your fingers and claws crossed – many of us will miss the store if it goes…

… The ‘Potluck Season’ is underway – you know, a period of Valley gatherings where guests are invited to “Come to our house and bring something to eat and/or drink.” Having attended many of these gatherings I can say, somewhat knowledgeably, that a few people will bring very little and eat a lot, and others will bring plenty and eat their fair share… Of course, some folks think it refers to something else entirely and come because they think that with a bit of ‘luck’ they’ll get some ‘pot’. If this happens, these folks do tend to then eat quite a lot…        

Well now I think it’s time to take my leave - I’ll get my coat and leave shall I?... Until we talk again - ‘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 <turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net>

p.p.s. On the sheep, Grace...

p.p.p.s. How was dinner at Lauren’s last night, Skylark?

# 308 - May 23rd, 2012

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin... Over the past week or so you may have heard the screams and cries of anguish as many of the Valley’s sheep received their annual ‘haircut’, courtesy of shearer Matt Gilbert. Those sounds were from Matt, not the sheep, as he wrestled with some of the Valley’s more cantankerous characters in the Valley’s pastures. He sheared a total of close to three hundred sheep and has the bruises to prove it. It’s very hard work indeed and I cannot imagine how tough this job was before the invention of the electric shears, when Valley folks would use very basic clipping shears, powered only by hand, and a strong will to get the job done!… 

       So, with this in mind, for your Quotes of the Week, let’s have a few comments on the topic of ‘Work’ … First it’s these words from American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963), which self-employed Matt might now be thinking, “By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get to be a boss and work twelve hours a day”… And here’s something from the recently deceased hair guru, Vidal Sassoon (1928-2012), who wisely said “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary”… Of course, some may adhere to this theory espoused by the French writer, The Marquis de Vauvenargues (1715-1747) who suggested, “The fruit derived from labor is the sweetest of all pleasures”… And we’ll finish with this pithy comment from Voltaire (1694- 1778), the French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher, famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and separation of church and state, who summed up the thoughts of many when he said, “Work spares us from three great evils - boredom, vice, and need”… 

       Moving on… Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready... #74 – The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will return to the Valley on the final two Thursdays of this month, May 24 and 31. They will be at The A.V. Farm Supply from 2pm to 3.30pm on both days and if you call the vets 48 hours in advance (462-8833) you can ensure that your pet’s charts are brought ‘over the hill’ and also order any medications. New customers and their pets are always welcome… #75 – The Memorial Day Weekend Flea Market will take place in the Senior Center parking lot from May 25-28… #76 – The 10th Annual A.V. Art Guild Studio Tour will run from May 26-28. Check out www.andersonvalley-artguild.org for further details… #77 – The Coyote Cowboys will be playing on Sunday, May 27 in the Redwood Grove at the Fairgrounds for the Lion's Club Annual Chicken and TriTip Barbecue to benefit the Anderson Valley ElderHome. From 4:30 to 6:30, come, enjoy, feast, and have some fun with the Silent Auction! … #78 – On May 29, the A.V. Chorus Group will perform at 7pm at the Senior Center following the 6pm evening meal of Chicken Enchilada, Beans & Rice, Corn Salad Salsa,  Green Salad, Fruit Salad, Quinoa Salad, Triple Lemon Pie… #79 – A few days later, on Friday May 1, it’s time for the monthly Guest Chef Dinner at the Senior Center, with guest chef Tom Rodrigues of Maple Creek Winery presenting an Hawaiian BBQ … #80 – And that same weekend, on Sunday, May 3, sees a special A.V. High School Sports Booster’s Skunk Train Ride and BBQ. Call school Athletic Director, Robert Pinoli at 895-3496 for further details…

       Moving quickly on to a few of the topics and Valley events 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...

... At the time of writing, The Boonville Lodge may have re-opened! If it hasn’t, I am reliably informed that it is about to…

... Rumors continue to swirl about Ardzrooni Vineyard Management’s purchase of The A.V. Farm Supply and any plans they hopefully have to maintain much of the same ‘stuff’. Many of us have taken for granted all that the Farm Supply has provided for so long, courtesy of Dave and Nancy Gowan, who are headed for Oregon and pastures new. Hopefully the new folks will continue the good work and provide the Valley with its many farming needs…

... From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series - ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’... Buzzard reports, “This comes from a recent column by sportswriter and socio-political commentator, Dave Zirin – ‘48,000 security forces. 13,500 troops. Surface to air missiles stationed on top of residential apartment buildings. A sonic weapon that disperses crowds by creating "head splitting pain." Unmanned drones peering down from the skies. A safe-zone, cordoned off by an 11 mile, electrified fence, ringed with trained agents and 55 teams of attack dogs… One would be forgiven for thinking that these were the counter-insurgency tactics used by U.S. army bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, but instead of being used in a war zone or the theater of occupation, they in fact make up the very visible security apparatus in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics. There is no reason that the Olympics have to be this way. There is no reason that an international celebration of sports – particularly sports more diverse than this country’s high-carb diet of football, baseball, basketball, and more football – can’t take place without drones and aircraft carriers. There is no reason athletes from across the globe can’t join together and showcase their physical potential. But the Olympics aren’t about sport any more than the Iraq War was about democracy’... And this is as big a sign that the Apocalypse is just beyond the horizon as anything I can think of. At least The Boonville Lodge is re-opening so we still have hope”…

       Well now I think it’s time to take my leave… Until we talk again - ‘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 <turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net>

p.p.s. R.I.P. George – say ‘Hi’ to Sheila from me…

# 307 - May 16th, 2012

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin... Let’s start with this update - The monthly Barn Sale on A.V. Way normally takes place on the final weekend of each month but due to this being Memorial Day Weekend in May, the Sale is a week earlier – on Sat/Sun, May 19/20. Apart from all of the usual deals, organizer Gloria Ross will be serving her ‘world famous’ pulled pork sandwiches and potato salad on the Saturday with the usual bbq taking place on the Sunday. Sound like a plan?...

       And so, perhaps inevitably, your Quotes of the Week are all concerned with my third favorite animal – the pig… “Think P.I.G. - that’s my motto. P stands for Persistence, I stands for Integrity, and G stands for Guts. These are the ingredients for a successful business and a successful life” from American businesswoman and inspirational speaker, Linda Chandler… Then let’s go to “The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed” from former tennis star Martina Navratilova… I like this from Albert Einstein -  “Well-being and happiness never appeared to me as an absolute aim. I am even inclined to compare such moral aims to the ambitions of a pig”… Next up it’s “I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig - you get dirty; and besides, the pig likes it” from the Irish playwright and author, George Bernard Shaw. And finally this proverb and its wise and hopeful thought - “Even a blind pig finds an acorn every once in awhile”… Now go eat some pork at the Barn Sale!...

       Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready... #72 - Grange Groove has returned to, where else, The Grange, on Hwy 128. It’s always the 3rd Friday of the month, in this case May 18th, and the ‘free-dance for all’ runs from 8pm on. This month it features dancing and gyrating to the sounds played by D.J. Stevie D, whose actual grown-up name is Steve Derwinski. (So now it’s Derwinski the D.J.? Who knew?) Anyway, it’s an evening of family fun that is drug and alcohol free (and yet I’m sure it’s still lots of fun! - I’m kidding!)… #73 – The annual Pinot Festival takes place this weekend from May 18th thru 20th… #74 – The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will return to the Valley twice more this month - Thursdays, May 24th and 31st. They will be at the A.V. Farm Supply on Hwy 128 from 2-3.30pm on each occasion but have asked me to inform you that you do not have to arrive early and then wait a long time - everyone showing up at anytime before 3.30pm will be seen. And if you call 48 hours (462-8833) in advance you can ensure that your pet’s medical charts are brought over and you can also order any meds that may be needed… #75 – The Guest Chef Dinner benefiting the Senior Center this month will feature Maple Creek Winery owner and chef, Tom Rodrigues. It’s on Friday, June 1st and Tom will be serving an Hawaiian-style Bar-b-q, featuring pork ribs, marinated in pineapple, mango, tamari, shallots, and garlic; chicken thighs marinated in ginger, pineapple, mango , fruit juice, citrus; a fresh green salad with lots of goodness and Hawaiian herbs; and Fresh Tropical Fruit with home made whipped cream for dessert. And tropical attire is requested! Call 895-3609 to get tickets – this event will sell out…

       Moving quickly on to a few of the topics and Valley events 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...

... The A.V. Farm Supply, as owned by Dave and Nancy Gowan, will be gone within a month. Last I heard there were still some positive developments on the possibility that the new owners, who are to be the locally-based Ardzrooni Vineyard Management, will to some degree keep the current operation as it is, while also ‘doing their own thing’… Along with many other Valley folks, I certainly hope they manage to be successful at doing both...

… Good reports on the 1st Annual Fish and Chips dinner to benefit Youth Footballers who next season will be playing on the new High School J.V. team. Around $1700 in profit was raised and this should go a long way in covering the new helmets and uniforms that the newly formed team will need…

… The 16th Annual A.V. Beer Festival – same as always… Great fun for many; excessive drinking for some; ridiculous stupidity by a few. For some of us it was a case of ‘done it, seen it, enough is enough’…

… Members of the A.V. Unity Club stopped by at The 3-Dot last week and reminded us that they meet at The Fairgrounds at 1.30pm on the first Thursday of the month. Dessert and tea or coffee is served to accompany the business meeting and a guest speaker or some form of entertainment. I informed them that I’d be there and then read in their leaflet that ‘all ladies in the community are welcome.’ I fully understand. A male in the room would create a different ‘vibe’ – just as a woman in attendance at the local Gentlemen’s Military History Book Club would. Some things should not be messed with simply to address political correctness and surely there is nothing wrong with that… 

       Well now I think it’s time to take my leave. So until we talk again - ‘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 <turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net>

p.p.s. On the sheep, Grace...

p.p.p.s. Despite what many of you may think, it’s not all glamour being a Turkey Vulture, but I must say we do get many compliments. My favorite, that has no doubt been mentioned here before, comes from no less an ‘expert’ than the naturalist of Evolution fame, Charles Darwin, who said about us Turkey Vultures, “A disgusting bird whose bald scarlet head is formed to wallow in putridity” – Thank you, Charles, you’re very kind…

# 306 - May 9th, 2012

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin... Here’s this month’s birthday boys and girls from among the Senior Center regulars: Joan Spear, Judy Basehore, Jim Lindsey – ‘Many Happy Returns’ to each of them!...

 

       This coming Sunday, as I hope you all know, it’s ‘Mother’s Day’ - a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. Originally, in the 1870’s, it was a call for women to join in support of disarmament and it did not really become a celebration of motherhood until it was made an official national holiday (2nd Sunday of May) when President Woodrow Wilson made it such in 1914. The holiday eventually became so highly commercialized that many, including its founder, Anna Jarvis, considered it a "Hallmark holiday", i.e. one with an overwhelming commercial purpose, but, for all that, it does give us an opportunity to sit back and think about how appreciative we should be of our mothers - after all, where would we be without them?

       Anyway, for your Quotes of the Week, here are some words of wisdom on the subject… Let’s begin with a Jewish proverb that goes, “God could not be everywhere, so therefore he made mothers”… And another proverb – from Spain – “An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest”… From Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), the American abolitionist and author of ‘Uncle Tom's Cabin’ comes the observation, “Most mothers are instinctive philosophers”… And from Honore de Balzac (1799-1850), the French novelist and playwright we have “The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness”… It was Florida Scott-Maxwell (1883-1979), a playwright, author and psychologist who said, “No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement” – I imagine quite a few of the Valley’s Mom’s were in her thoughts at the time she said that!... And finally, from the British actress and director, Janet Suzman (1936-?), comes a comment that might be appropriate around here, “Motherhood is the most emotional experience of one’s life. One joins a kind of women’s mafia”… And there’s nothing wrong with that!... 

       Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready... #73 – As mentioned last week, this summer sees a new time for the weekly gathering of the Boonville Farmer’s Market in the parking lot of The Boonville Hotel: it’s from 10am to 12.30pm… #74 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will return to the Valley on three occasions this month – tomorrow, Thursday, May 10th and again on the 24th and 31st. They will be at the A.V. Farm Supply from 2-3.30pm on each occasion but have asked me to inform you that you do not have to arrive early and then wait a long time - everyone showing up at anytime before 3.30pm will be seen... #75 – There will be a fundraiser for A.V. Youth Football in the form of a Fish and Chips Dinner at the Senior Center on Friday, May 11th from 6 to 9pm. You get one free beer too!... #76 – The 16th Annual Beer Festival is this Saturday, May 12th from 1pm to 5pm. Enjoy a drink or ten, and then let someone else drive you home!... #77 – The next meeting of the A.V. School Board is at 7pm on Monday, May 14th at the Career/Family Resource Center at the High School. If you want to see if the board members are doing what they claimed they would do at election time, then come along – all are welcome… #78 –And finally this week, you should be aware that the next Barn Sale is not on the last weekend of the month as is usually the case. That will be Memorial Day Weekend so the good deals and fun of the Barn Sale on A.V. Way are on Sat/Sun, May 19/20 instead. Oh, and in case you need further temptation, on the Saturday, Gloria Ross will be serving her ‘world famous’ pulled pork sandwiches and potato salad; then on Sunday it’s bbq burgers and hot dogs!…

       Moving quickly on to a few of the topics and Valley events 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...

... In my humble opinion, and those of a few other regulars too, those wonderful eggs provided by the hard-working chickens at the High School Ag Dept are as tasty as any in the Valley. Apart from the shape, there is little comparison with those you get from the supermarkets! Call teacher Beth Swehla at the school to make sure she is there and has some available – 895-3496. You will be glad you did…

... Following last week’s meeting at the high school, attended by Principal Jim Tomlin, Athletic Director Robert Pinoli, High School Soccer Coach Steve Sparks, School Board member Ben Anderson, school groundsman, Mike Foucault, and representatives of the three adult soccer teams who call the Valley home – Roque Guerrero, Vidal Ferreyra, and Ysidro Pandilla, it was agreed to allow the teams to play their home games on Sunday’s at Tom Smith Field in return for a team fee ($400 each) and assurances that the field would be maintained and school rules regarding alcohol adhered to. The meeting ended with handshakes all round and hopefully it was the ‘beginning of a beautiful friendship’…

… I was pleased to be invited to the A.V. Theatre Guild’s after-show party that followed the final night of their splendid production of ‘Cocktails for Mimi’ presented at The Grange over the last two weekends. The champagne flowed, the euphoria of success was palpable, and the cast’s potluck was plentiful and delicious. Many cast members praised the job done by Director Marcus Magadeleno and expressed their desire to work with him again next year. I agreed with everyone and everything that was said – it was that kind of night… 

... From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series - ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’... Buzzard reports, “In Afghanistan in recent times, apart from the obvious stuff that makes it into the main headlines, eight people have been killed by two bombs at a dog fight in the volatile southern Afghan province of Kandahar. Dog-fighting competitions remain a popular pastime in Afghanistan for some ungodly reason. A year or so ago, at least sixty-five people were killed by a suicide bomb at a dog-fight, also in Kandahar. Meanwhile, a few weeks ago, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a buzkashi match in northern Afghanistan, killing at least three people. Buzkashi is a precursor of the modern game of polo, although with a difference – it is played with the body of a headless goat that is filled with sand. Nothing wrong with that of course, although the continuing suicide bombing is obviously deeply wrong… For centuries it has been clear that this is a country that wants and needs to be left alone, to practice its own customs, to enjoy its own culture – even if this means that unmarried men and women should never be alone in the same room (if that happens they must ensure a door is left open), and men and women should never touch one another under any circumstances in public. Fine. Good. Enjoy. So to lose one more life in a vain attempt to change things there is not only a clear sign of the approach of the Apocalypse, but for the loved ones of the deceased, it is the Apocalypse…                     

       I’m outta here… Until we talk again - ‘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 <turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net>

p.p.s. Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? Hopefully not!

p.p.p.s. Hope you’re doing well, Jamal…

# 305 - May 2nd, 2012

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin... There were attendances of about 100 people at The Grange on both Friday and Saturday for the A.V. Theatre Guild’s production of ‘Cocktails with Mimi’ and having attended on both evenings I know they were delighted to be there. Director Marcus Magdalena has put together a fine cast and crew, including four or five standout performances among a group of talented local thespians, and with the final two shows taking place this coming weekend (see P.S.A.’s below) it would be a shame if you missed it on seeing what has become one of the more entertaining and enjoyable annual events on the Valley’s calendar. Trust me on this; you can thank me later… (I should mention that the irony of not having any alcohol for sale at an event called ‘Cocktails with Mimi’ was not lost on some of us. Perhaps some people brought their own beer/wine to sip in the parking lot. I couldn’t possibly comment)…

Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready... #113 – As mentioned above, the annual A.V. Theatre Guild production is presenting its second and final weekend of performances this week. ‘Cocktails with Mimi’ is ‘a comedy for all ages’ and will be presented on Friday and Saturday May 4th/5th at The Grange with a curtain at 7pm both nights. Alicia’s tacos will be available before the show and during the intermission but you’ll have to bring your own cookies!… #114 – The Boonville Farmer’s Market Opening Day, featuring the Spring Plant Sale, is on Saturday, May 5th from 10am to 12.30pm in the parking lot at The Boonville Hotel… #115 – The Annual Boontling Classic 5K Footrace is on Sunday May 6th at 10am. Sign up on the day between 8.30am and 9.30am. For further details call Flick at 895-2701 or Bruce at 895-895-3589… #116 – The revitalization of A.V. Youth Soccer continues this week with sign-ups at the A.V. Elementary School on Sunday 6th from noon to 2pm... #117 – The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital return to the Valley on three occasions in May. These will be from 2pm to 3.30pm on Thursdays, May 10th, 24th, and 31st. If you call the vets 48 hours in advance (462-8833) you can ensure that your pet’s charts are brought ‘over the hill’ and also order any medications. New customers and their pets are always welcome… #118 – The 16th Annual Anderson Valley Beer Festival is just over a week away – May 12th from 1pm to 5pm at The Fairgrounds in Boonville…

Moving quickly on to a few of the topics and Valley events 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... … I had a delicious sirloin sandwich at Lauren’s Restaurant this past week and I thought you should know. Served with her ‘Valley’s Best’ fries, it was, as you can no doubt imagine, positively orgasmic… ... While the regulars praised the Theatre Guild play at The Grange last week, it was nevertheless suggested by several of them that an ‘event’ such as this should have some snacks (cookies, brownies, etc) available before the show and during intermission. While I find them delicious (and had two plus a tomale), as did several others, it was pointed out that not everyone wants the tacos served up by Alicia. I’m just passing on the thoughts and comments of the people – it’s my job… ... Although numbers were perhaps down on previous years, the Unity Club’s Wild Flower event, run by their Garden Section, was still regarded as a success this past weekend and the regulars I spoke with certainly enjoyed themselves. I did too. Talking to members of this splendid organization of women is always fun and informative and, while my own membership remains in infinite limbo, they remain one of my favorite Valley groups – despite the fact that they didn’t save me any of the chicken salad sandwiches which was one of the main reasons I attended!... ... From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series - ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’... Buzzard reports, “The A.V. Farm Supply has accepted an offer-to-buy and is now in escrow to be sold! According to long-time owner (38 years, no less!) Dave Gowan, it remains unclear if the new owners will offer the same kind of farm supply business that many Valley folks have relied upon for such a long time. No hay and feed, no pet supplies, no gardening equipment, no knowledgeable advice on all things connected with farming, and no vet visits for your pets!!! All of which, if not continued, is bad news for the Valley, I must say. Dave and wife Nancy cannot be blamed for moving on of course – their efforts in serving the Valley over so many years are to be commended, but the loss of this institution, along with several other fairly recent changes to the Valley’s social, economic, and commercial fabric, not to mention the nation’s general malaise, all point to the likelihood that the Apocalypse continues to approach… Meanwhile, until it arrives, enjoy your loved ones and support your local businesses!!! …

Finally, and perhaps inevitably, your Quotes of the Week will refer to farmers and farming… Let’s start with this observation from President Kennedy who said, “The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways”… Then we have this from Bharati Mukherjee (1940 - ?) the award-winning Indian-born American writer, currently a professor in the department of English at the University of California, Berkeley - “A farmer is dependent on too many things outside his control; it makes for modesty”… And from S.J. Perelman (1904 - 1979), the American humorist, author, and screenwriter (who must have visited the Valley at some point), we have these wise words, “A farm is an irregular patch of nettles containing a fool and his wife who didn’t know enough to stay in the city”… And finally, from Daniel Webster (1782 - 1852) the American statesman, senator from Massachusetts, and Secretary of State under three Presidents, who observed, “When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers therefore are the founders of human civilization”… Let’s just hope they are able to find somewhere local to get their supplies!...

Well now I think it’s time to take my leave… So, until we talk again - ‘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 p.p.s. On the sheep, Grace...