# 322 - August 29th, 2012

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin... Is there a tastier and more succulent whole bbq’d chicken in the Valley than that served by Ricardo from his outdoor grill at the Drive-In on weekends? I didn’t think so, but I thought I’d ask…

         ”The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” was a phrase coined by Fanny Fern (1811-1872), the American newspaper columnist, humorist, novelist, and author of children's stories. Many loved ones of mine would no doubt agree… But Ricardo’s chicken is perhaps best summed up by these words from Virginia Woolf (1882-1941), the English writer regarded as one of the foremost modernist literary figures of the twentieth century, who knowingly commented, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well” - I think ‘Ginny’ must have been at the Drive-In recently… Moving on…

       Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready... #131 - It’s the final live music show of the year at the Navarro Store with world-renowned electric blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite performing this coming Saturday September 1 at 5pm, with support bands on stage beginning at 3pm. As always, Pablo will be ‘putting the meat to the heat’ on the grill and one cannot help but think this is going to be one of those magical Valley nights… #132 – The annual Labor Day Flea Market takes place at the Senior Center parking lot over the long weekend of Fri – Mon, Aug 31 – Sept 2. With lots of bargains and Shirley Hulbert carrying on the family tradition of serving up a tasty sausage and gravy breakfast from 8am to 11am and the snack bar open until 5pm each day, I imagine many of you will be there. And call 895-3682 if you’d like a space to sell your wares… #133 – The monthly Barn Sale on A.V. Way just north of Boonville, has moved to the first weekend of the month, Saturday/Sunday, Sept 1 & 2. Lots of bargains can be found, particularly if you’re looking for furniture or school clothes, and each day goes from 9am to 3pm… #134 – The Yorkville Ice Cream Social, always a wonderful afternoon, is this coming Sunday, Sept 2... #135 - School starts on Tuesday, September 4… #136 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital continue to make regular visits to the Valley and they return here twice in the month of September. Those dates are Thursdays, Sept 6 and 20, when they will be at The A.V. Farm Supply from 2pm to 3.30pm. If you are a previous client you can call them 48 hours in advance (462-8833) to ensure that your pet’s charts are brought ‘over the hill’ and also order any medications your pet might need. New customers and their pets are always welcome… #137 - An early heads-up for a benefit dinner that Libby's Restaurant in Philo is having for the Elder Home on Sunday, September 30. There will be two seatings, at 5:00 and 7:00 pm, each serving a three-course meal, with tickets going for $30 per person, drinks to be purchased separately. Seating limited so pre-purchase your ticket at Libby's, All That Good Stuff, Lemon's Market in Philo, or call the EH at 895-3889…

       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...

... It would appear that there are simply not enough firefighters for all the fires that burning. Volunteers are desperately needed to begin training a.s.a.p. Call Colin Wilson at 895-2020 for details. It’s a noble cause if ever there was one…

… One Valley wine-owner always gives a case of wine to every Valley fundraising event, and when attending in person, he makes sure a couple of hundred dollars finds its way from his wallet to the donation jar. He does this very surreptitiously so I do not wish to give out his name, suffice it to say that it is greatly appreciated by many and I find that his off-dry Riesling goes extremely well with a Thai chicken curry…

… The adult soccer league’s big game, El Classico de Michoacan, featuring our two best local teams, took place in front of a crowd of over 150 people in Boonville last Sunday afternoon. After this fierce rivalry saw five red cards handed out by an overly officious referee, the game ended in a 3-0 victory for Valladolid over rivals La Lagunetta, so-named after the rural town in the state of Michoacan that is the home of the majority of the Valley’s Mexican population. Valladolid, the team of the Ferreyra family and friends, who hail primarily from Michoacan’s major city, Morelia, deserved their win, which has resulted in the two teams now tied at the top of the league standings with a couple of months to go…

... From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series - ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’... Buzzard reports, “I could go on and on about all that is wrong with the world, and I often do, but this week how about something a little different – some actual classified ads that will not appear in this newspaper elsewhere…

- Free Fox Terrier - 8 years old, Hateful little bastard. Bites…

- Free puppies – Mother is a Kennel Club registered German Shepherd; father is a Super Dog, able to leap tall fences with ease…

- Cows and calves for sale: Never bred. Also 1 gay bull for sale.
”

       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; please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; 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. On the sheep, Grace...

      

# 321 - August 22nd, 2012

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin... No doubt the road works on Hwy 128 between Boonville and Con Creek have been a topic of conversation for many of you over the past week or so. Irritating though they inevitably are, I’m sure, like the occasion last year when work was being done from Philo to Mill Creek by Nash Mill Road, the end result will be appreciated and no doubt Valley folks will have a far more comfortable drive than that which they currently endure. However, one inexplicably annoying result has been the hold-ups on Mountain View Road by the high school. This has been as a result of the failure to have two-lane traffic approaching Hwy 128, with both a left and right turn lane on to the main road. People have been forced to wait through four or five of their ‘turns’ as they wait behind traffic alternatively going one way or the other. As is my civic duty, I stopped and asked a foreman on the working crew about somebody perhaps thinking about solving this unnecessary delay for many local folks.  He shrugged, told me that it wasn’t his job, and that I’d have to deal with it. For some reason I expected just such a response. And that’s a shame…

       With this miserable bastard in mind, how about a couple of relevant Quotes of the Week?... First let’s have the classic proverb “Civility costs nothing”… Next up how about this from Francis Bacon (1561–1626) the English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist and author, who wisely pointed out, “If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world” – probably asking a lot in this case… And finally this inevitable comment from Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) about workers in general, and perhaps this guy in particular – “Work is the curse of the drinking classes”…

       Moving on… Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready... #266 – The next Guest Chef Dinner to benefit the Senior Center will take place there this coming Friday, Aug 24 when the guest chef will be Star White from Pennyroyal Cheese. Your $30 ticket includes a $10 donation to the Center, a three-course dinner, and a complimentary glass of wine or beer, with further wine and beer available at the bar. For more details call 895-3609. At noon on Monday there were only 8 tickets left!... #267 – The Valley’s biggest adult soccer match of the year, El Classico de Michoacan, takes place this Sunday Aug 26 at noon. This match-up between the Valley’s two top teams, Valladolid and La Lagunetta, features many A.V. High School alumni, and perhaps a few who will feature in the upcoming season at the school. Come and watch some high quality soccer/futbol and perhaps see some ‘fireworks’ as this high intensity rivalry unfolds at Tom Smith Field behind the school… On the dining front, it’s #268 – The Boonville Hotel continues to serve up fresh shucked oysters, sangria and small plates at 4pm on Sunday afternoons, and #269 – at The Buckhorn tonight, August 22, Maple Creek Winery’s Tom Rodrigues joins restaurant owner Tom Towey to serve sushi from 5pm to 9pm… Finally this week, #270 – just around the corner it’s the final live music show of the year at the Navarro Store with world-renowned electric blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite performing on Saturday September 1st at 5pm, with support bands on stage beginning at 3pm. As always, Pablo will be ‘putting the meat to the heat’ on the grill and one cannot help but think this is going to be one of those magical Valley nights…

       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...

... Following my enquiry a couple of weeks ago as to why the Gowan’s have what would seem to some folks to be inefficient overhead sprinklers and then turn them on at the hottest part of the day, I received a call from River Rat. ‘The Beast’, as he also sometimes known, explained that the Gowan’s, and before them their relatives the Studebaker’s, have been farming that orchard alongside Hwy 128 for over 150 years and know what they are doing. He explained that the regular watering is done early in the day but then they have to use such sprinklers, and do so at those times, because otherwise the apples would burn and scar and be no good for sale as fresh fruit. They’d then have to be processed in some way and their value would be a lot less. ‘It’s a matter of their livelihood and they have always done it’, River Rat explained, ‘People want to point fingers because they now see less water in the rivers and creeks. We have the same amount of water, it’s just that the Valley is no longer a place needing it just for the apples, the wineries and marijuana growers are using it too”…

… Zooming up and down the Valley as I do, I spotted quite a scene at the school playing fields last Wednesday. Soccer and football practices were taking place and with 26 kids at the soccer field with coach Steve Sparks and 22 ‘next door’ at the football practice field with coaches John Toohey and Todd Capuzelo, not to mention a few on the girls soccer team who had practiced earlier with coach Cesar Maldonado and the volleyball girls inside the gym with coach Flick McDonald. In fact I’d say that almost half the student body was out in force preparing for what will quite possibly be another successful season for Fall Sports…

… Talking of which, a couple of 3-Dot regulars reminded me that school is late starting this year – after the Labor Day Weekend on Tuesday, September 4, in fact. That will give them plenty of time to complete their summer projects for the school, I would assume. An assumption based on the assumption that they were given such projects in the first place (?)…

… I have often praised a number of the music presenters on KZYX & Z – Fred Wooley, Jimmy Humble, Diane Herring to name a few who consistently produce good shows with competent presentation, but I have also being someone who has on occasion pointed out some poor quality music programs broadcast by our local public radio station - the one on Christmas morning 2011 coming immediately to mind. This past Saturday evening fortunately witnessed one of the former kind and the old reggae and soul played by the clear-speaking, erudite, and professional D.J. Jammy was enjoyed by quite a few of us as we sat around sipping a beer or two at The Nest. Check Jammy out on alternate Saturday nights at 10pm – trust me on this; you can thank me later... 

       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; please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; 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. Skylark – read any good books lately?

# 320 - August 15th, 2012

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin... Apologies for my tardiness in sharing with you the list of August Birthdays for our Valley Seniors, but here it finally is - Kay Clark, Donna Reilly, Joe Hansen, Mark Fontaine, and Ellen Fontaine. Many Happy Returns to you all!

         This is going to have to be a brief but informative column on this occasion. Even Turkey Vultures suffer from heat exhaustion, and I don’t think many of you are aware of just how hot the inside of a skunk’s carcass is on day when Valley temperatures top 100 degrees, as they did last Saturday afternoon on Mountain View Rd near to the school playing fields where a few of my brethren and I struggled to devour such a creature in the midday sun. Anyway, I was stuffed and the heat had an adverse affect on me for a few days, so as a result this column will be relatively short…

       Let’s start with a couple of very applicable Quotes of the Week… This one from Charles Dudley Warner (1829 – 1900), the American essayist, novelist, and friend of Mark Twain, who very wisely pointed out, “Everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it”… And as for Jane Austen (1775 – 1817), the English novelist whose works of romantic fiction have earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature and whose realism and biting social commentary have gained her historical importance among scholars and critics, apart from all that, she also came up with a perfect summing up on how I felt with my head deep inside a skunk’s stomach on a hot afternoon in the Valley, when she said, “What dreadfully hot weather we’re having. It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.” It is almost as if she was right there next to me!

       Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready... #352 – The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital continue to make regular visits to the Valley and they return here tomorrow, Thursday, August 16. They will be at The A.V. Farm Supply from 2pm to 3.30pm and if you call them 48 hours in advance (462-8833) you can ensure that your pet’s charts are brought ‘over the hill’ and also order any medications your pet might need. New customers and their pets are always welcome… #353 – It’s the 3rd Friday of the month so that means the Grange Groove is back! Coming to The Grange on Hwy 128, at 8pm on Friday Aug 17 are the sounds of D.J. Mika Love Jive and his ‘eclectic dance wave mix’ so I urge you to get your dancing shoes on and join the crowd for a fun night out … #354 – The annual A.V. Lions’ Tri-tip bbq at Fairgrounds to benefit A.V. Ambulance is from4.30pm to 7pm on Sunday, Aug 19… #355 – The next Guest Chef Dinner to benefit the Senior Center will take place there on Friday, Aug 24 when the guest chef will be Star White from Pennyroyal Cheese. Your $30 ticket includes a $10 donation to the Center, a three-course dinner, and a complimentary glass of wine or beer, with further wine and beer available at the bar. For more details call 895-3609…

       Well now I think it’s time to take my leave – this skunk us taking days to digest… So, until we talk again - ‘Keep the Faith’; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; 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. Hi, George – hope you and Sheila are well…

      

# 319 - August 8th, 2012

Greetings! If you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin... It was a very fond farewell party at the Philo Post Office last Tuesday as Post Master Joe Dresch called it a day and retired gracefully after serving our community for many, many years. Friends/customers – for they were often one and the same for Joe - came and went all day long with many hugs and handshakes exchanged and even a few $1 bills jokingly thrown into a collection jar for the ‘poor man’s’ dotage! With Pat Hulbert on the cake and cookies stand, also serving up ‘real’ apple juice from Gowan’s, and Ann Carr and Sheila Hibbs keeping an eye on post office business, Joe shared a number of memories and the fact that even though he was very much looking forward to the future, he would miss the job and the many people who had become ‘like family.’ Good luck and best wishes, Joe, from one and all! 

         Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready... #233 – Jay Watkins provides the live music at the weekly Boonville Farmers’ Market on Saturday, August 11 from 10am to 12.30pm… #234 – The annual high school soccer/futbol Alumni Tournament is at 2pm this Saturday, Aug 11 at Tom Smith Field behind the high school and will feature teams made up of alumni (1995 – 2012) and the upcoming seasons’ varsity team… #235 – It’s that time again – the Annual Airport Day is also this Saturday, from noon onwards, with free plane rides over the Valley in the afternoon and a pot luck dinner at 5pm… #236 – The Vets will return to the Valley to see and treat your pets at the Farm Supply on Thursday, Aug 16 from 2pm to 3.30pm… #237 – The next Guest Chef Dinner to benefit the Senior Center will take place there on Friday, Aug 24 when the guest chef is Starr from Navarro Vineyards/Pennyroyal Cheese. The menu will be a lite summer feast, starting with a summer salad with a cheese tart; on to a stuffed chicken breast with a lychee pesto stuffing
; and finishing with a goat cheese cheesecake!

 Each course with have Pennyroyal farms cheese in it and there will be some in-between course surprises too!
 Your $30 ticket includes a $10 donation to the Center and a complimentary glass of wine with further wine and beer available at the bar. For more details call 895-3609… #238 – An early heads-up for a benefit dinner that Libby's Restaurant in Philo is having for the ElderHome on Sunday, September 30 – definitely one for your calendar...

       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...

… Many regulars attended the wonderful celebration in honor of the 90^th Birthday of Paul Titus on the green behind the Apple Hall at the Fairgrounds last Saturday afternoon. I counted 178 people in attendance at one point as the delicious meal was served. With bbq’d chicken and tri-tip, Caesar salad, beans, a selection of side dishes, a fruit medley, and of course Birthday cake on the menu; live music provided by Paul’s sons, Craig and Dean, and their Coyote Cowboy friends; and many Valley folks who have known Paul since his arrival in the Valley in the 1950’s plus their younger generations in attendance, it was a really special Valley occasion. Perhaps it was best summed up by Deanna Parrish, who made her modest grandfather faintly blush by telling him, “This is wonderful – you are such a popular guy!’ Of that there is no doubt – ‘Many Happy Returns, Paul’…

… General Knowledge and Trivia Quiz update – Once again, The Bar Team won the weekly event held at 7pm every Thursday at Lauren’s Restaurant in Boonville…. This was their fourth victory in seven weeks - a new record!… Featuring Fred Wooley, Jeff Thomas, Willie Housley, Nickie of Sheep Dung Estates, and part-time players Hugh Scaramella and Danny the Scientist, on this occasion they beat out, among others, ‘Drama Club’, ‘The Mexican Cheese Puffs’, and the superbly named ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Kim Jong Un’…

… Zooming above the Valley and seeing tourists picking blackberries alongside Hwy 128 always makes me think that in a few hours these naive folks will be suffering from severe cases of a poison oak rash. However, when the pickers are long-time Valley dwellers, Mike and Karen Crutcher, as they were last Saturday afternoon, one has to re-think this assumption. A couple of days later I checked out their ‘secret’ spot, one that turned out to be where the poison oak is absent and the berries plentiful. I’d like to share the whereabouts of this perfect picking patch but, when it comes to food, sharing is not in a Turkey Vulture’s D.N.A….

… As I flew over the Deep End one morning last week, I decided to stop for a cup of the delicious Thanksgiving coffee available at the Navarro Store. To my surprise, Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman had had a similar idea and we sat down outside and chatted for a time – he likes to get input from Turkey Vultures. After twenty minutes or so storeowner Dave Evans and Valley raconteur/musician Billy Owens, who was helping wife Wanda with her newspaper round, joined us. Following a good session of banter and stories, I had to leave and took off for the coast, but as I flew away I turned round and saw the three of them doubled-up in laughter. What a heart-warming sight it was - Mendocino characters from very different walks of life, thoroughly enjoying each other’s company… Three very wise monkeys indeed!...

… From our 3-Dot regular, The Curmudgeonly Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series - ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’... Buzzard reports, “If you look really closely, you will notice that Rhys Winery of Santa Cruz, who have completely changed the landscape alongside Hwy 128 just south of Navarro with the many acres of vines they have planted over the past year or so, have actually missed a small ten square yards of hillside in which they surely could have squeezed a few more vines. Discovering that they already have five vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains, many, many miles from here, I thought they were just here to make even more money but seeing them miss that little spot makes me think that perhaps they are not as greedy as I assumed?... Oh, dear, I suppose I have now opened myself up to accusations of hypocrisy. What can I say? I like wine and the locally-owned wineries being here, but like many Valley folks who also like a little tipple now and again, I cannot help but think we have enough vines at this point, and surely we don’t need any more owned by people from Santa Cruz or wherever. How many $millions do they really need to make? As a result, for your Quote(s) of the Week let’s have a couple on the subject of hypocrisy. What about the proverb – “all are not saints that go to church”… Or, perhaps more accurately in my case, these words from Greek philosopher and tragedy writer, Euripides, “Often a noble face hides filthy ways” – yer gotta like that! 

       I guess I’ll get my coat and leave... Until we talk again - ‘Keep the Faith’; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; 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. You will be missed by many, Jamal…

# 318 - August 1st, 2012

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin... A significant event this coming weekend in the Valley is the celebration of Paul Titus’ 90th Birthday. Paul informed me that he is now the youngster of the family – he has a sister who is 92 and a brother who is 99! The three of them are the last of thirteen siblings born into a family that originally homesteaded on Mountain View Road almost one hundred years ago. Paul, wife Vera, and their family, have lived in the Valley since the mid-fifties and it is that family and their friends who are putting on the party on Saturday Aug 4 from 1pm at the Fairgrounds in Boonville. It will be an afternoon of bar-b-que and music with a performance by The Coyote Cowboys featuring Paul’s two sons, Craig and Dean, who tell me that all friends of their father are welcome. I hope to see you there…

       Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready... #129 – The Boonville Farmers’ Market makes its weekly appearance once again on Saturday, Aug 4 with all the usual local fruit and vegetable produce plus live music provided by Michael and Leslie Hubbert… #130 – The Yorkville Highlands Wine Festival is also Saturday, Aug 4, taking place at Yorkville Cellars on Hwy 128. Tastings, bar-b-que, music, silent auction – all starting at noon and going to 5pm to benefit the Yorkville Volunteer Fire Department… #131 – The monthly Barn Sale on A.V. Way just north of Boonville, has moved to the first weekend of the month, Saturday/Sunday, Aug 4 & 5. Lots of bargains can be found and each day goes from 9am to 3pm… #132 – The annual A.V. High School Soccer Alumni Game is at Tom Smith Field behind the school at 2pm on Aug 11… #133 – That same day sees the ‘Airport’ Party happening nearby on Airport Drive from noon onwards. Apart form the airplane rides and communal gathering, it’s a pot luck so remember to take something along to share – and more than a couple of sticks of celery and stale bread, please!... #134 – The County Bookmobile will be in the Valley on these upcoming days - August 14 & 28; September 11 & 25; October 9 & 23. These are alternate Tuesdays and the times at various locations are: 9:00 to 9:30 - Navarro Store; 1:00 to 1:45 - Floodgate Store Parking Lot; 2:00 to 2:45 – Philo; and 3:00 to 3:45 – Boonville Apple Building. Now you know, so mark it on your calendar and experience the joy of reading a good book!... 

       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...

... For many years, late night revelers around these parts have been aware that the C.H.P. officers finish their shifts along Hwy 128 in the Valley at 10pm. I am not suggesting they drive slightly above speed limits after that time but perhaps some do and perhaps others accidentally forget to put on their seat belts or switch off their high beams in towns. Accidents are very rare after that time and knowing when the C.H.P. were around didn’t really affected people’s habits - until perhaps now. Apparently officers have been working longer hours and have been spotted lurking as late as 10.45pm at the gas station in downtown Philo (speed limit 30mph). While I do not expect this news to effect anyone’s driving, I just thought you should be told…

… Regulars once again got into the ‘Valley Wineries’ discussion this past week and specifically how many winery tasting rooms were currently open in the Valley between Yorkville and Navarro. After enjoying a bottle or two of rather nice Zinfandel from Brutocao Cellars, our wine-saturated analysis brought us to the grand total of twenty-seven, yes, 27! We also believe four more could be on the way, two of which are pretty certain to open in the near future. Some people might think that was more than enough… Next up - how many actual wineries are there?...

… Can anyone tell me, and also the many people who have expressed surprise/concern, why Gowan’s water their apple trees alongside Hwy 128 by their Oak Tree Stand during the hottest part of the day and use what are, according to some experts, very inefficient overhead sprinklers? I am not an expert, far from it in fact, but some people who are, do not have an explanation… Maybe somebody can enlighten us all?...

... Personally, I thought the $25 per day entrance fee for last weekend’s ‘Really Quite Difficult Living Fair’ (or something like that) was probably about right. In fact, given the amount of information and insights to be gained, some folks might even have viewed it as a bargain. However, several people in the Valley commented to me and to others that this was too much to spend on just getting into the event, before things have been bought, or refreshments paid for, or potluck items accounted for. The event was perhaps not aimed at such folks and apparently the attendance was good overall with many people coming from out of town. Nevertheless, given all of the events that take place in the Valley during the summer, people from certain sections of Valley folks felt, and I assume many others did too because those that speak up are just a fraction of those who also agree, that it was just not affordable for them at this time. That’s too bad… Just passing this input on to those who decide such things…

… And finally this week, with all of these fundraisers to benefit our many local organizations and charities, I find it quite disturbing that there has yet to be one that donates money to the ‘Save the Turkey Vulture Fund.’ Given our role as nature’s garbage collectors, a job not nearly as glamorous as you might think, this lack of support is just not good enough. I can only share with you the wise words of my mother – ‘You will miss me when I’m gone”… p.s. Send you contributions to The Nest, c/o A.V.A. Office, The Farrer Building, Boonville, CA 95415…

       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; please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; 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. On the sheep, Grace...