# 336 - December 5th, 2012

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… December birthdays include distinguished Valley folks such as - Bill Holcomb, Wilma Brink, Pete Benville, and Rick Rajeski – ‘Many Happy Returns!’…

       Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready… #272 – The A.V. Unity Club’s Holiday Bazaar is this coming Saturday, Dec 8 from 10am-4pm in the Apple Hall at The Fairgrounds in Boonville. Mrs. S. Claus informs me that her husband will be stopping by to see the kids from 11am-1pm and that a great time shopping with neighbors and friends is guaranteed all day long. Admission is free... #273 - ‘Christmas at the Little Red Schoolhouse’ is a special event that is being put on by the A.V. Historical Society on Sunday, Dec 9 from 1-5pm at the A.V. Museum – which is that very same Little Red Schoolhouse. This festive occasion will feature carol singing, an Xmas tree and gift basket raffle, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, local wines, Christmas memories, and the Little Red Schoolhouse will be dressed in Christmas Cheer”!... #274 – From the event at the Museum, may I humbly suggest that perhaps you make the short drive along Hwy 128 to The Grange and enjoy The Community Holiday Dinner, also on Sunday, Dec 9, starting at 5pm… #275 – The monthly School board meeting has been postponed until Thursday, Dec 13 at 6pm for the closed session and then 7pm when it is open to the public – this would be the time to share your opinions if you want to make a difference… #276 – The A.V. Lions will be having their Xmas party at The Buckhorn on Tuesday, Dec 11 – invitation only… #277 – Even more exciting, and an event that is open to everyone, is the Christmas Bingo at the Senior Center at 7pm on Tuesday, Dec 11. This will be preceded by a dinner at 6pm… 

       Talking of which, as a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the next week at the Senior Center… For lunch, the Center asks for a $5 donation from Seniors and charges $7 for Non-Seniors. For the Tuesday night dinner it is $6 and $8 respectively… Tomorrow, Thursday, Dec 6th at 12.15pm, lunch will be Pizzas to suit everybody’s taste – Pepperoni or Vegetarian or Chicken Alfredo, served with Quinoa salad and Spinach – Strawberry salad, with Banana Split Cake for dessert. Then next Tuesday evening Dec11at 6pm Marti Titus and her crew will be serving Beef Stroganoff, Egg Noodles, Roasted vegetables, Arugula salad, Tabouleh, and Lemon-pineapple dessert. This is followed by the Bingo at 7pm…Hope to see you there…

       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 3-Dot regulars were at the four-day Redwood Classic “Best Little Basketball tournament in the World’ held last week at the high school gym in Boonville…I was there for a couple of afternoons and evenings and watched A.V. compete as hard as they could against two talented opponents who each won quite convincingly in the end… However, the A.V. boys’ intensity, effort, and determination were there for all to see and it was almost matched by my own effort to support Renée and Kevin Lee’s bbq concession that served up some delicious hot dogs and burgers, not to mention Goober’s pulled pork sandwiches on Friday evening…

… Along with a couple of other regulars, I attended the I.C.W.’s (Independent Career Women) Christmas party held at Roederer Winery last Saturday evening. Organized by Anne Fashauer, Gwen Smith, Vydell Wetzel, and Terry Ryder among others, the food and conversation were of the highest quality – as is always the case when the women are in the vast majority at an event in this Valley (which is a ‘Power Place’ for women as I’ve said many times). This opinion has nothing to do with the fact that I drank Roederer sparkling wine for four hours – not something you get to do at many events I would suggest!...

… From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series – ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’… Buzzard reports, “So now we have police peering through windows watching people singing, dancing and drinking the night away before the officers decide to arrest them for indulging in such fun. This was the case last week when the Boonville Saloon decided to host an after-hours party for five. It was past 2am and the bar was closed to the public; the drinks were not charged for; the music not loud. It was just a couple of staff members and three friends having a nice time together, affecting nobody else - but apparently that is not allowed. Along with so many other restrictive laws and regulations that affect the enjoyment of our every day lives these days, this unnecessary and overly officious ‘police action’ in downtown Boonville would seem to me to be just another sign that the Apocalypse is fast approaching. Oh, and by the way, the rumor that the bar’s liquor license had expired, something that could be checked at any time, apparently turned out not to be true…

       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. Keep on wagging that tail, Fred…

p.p.p.s. Silver Swan – please be nice to Skylark!