# 358 - June 12th, 2013
Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably
then I shall begin… A great sadness descended over many folks in the Valley
this past week with the tragic news of the death of 21-year old Raul Malfavon –
‘Turkey’ to his group friends, in which I would certainly include myself. A
member of the A.V.H.S. Class of 2010, Raul was a polite, smart, and always very
cheerful young man, who was very popular among all those who knew him.
Inevitably, rumors abound but suicide is reliably believed to be the cause of
death. This would be an unusual and unthinkable deed to most people in our
Mexican community, coming from a society that has relatively very low numbers
for such an act.
It
is even more confounding when it is someone who was always so positive and even-keeled.
Nevertheless, getting over a break-up with a girlfriend, a traumatic experience
that Raul was apparently having trouble dealing with, is difficult for young
people of every ethnicity; a time when the feeling that there is no point in
carrying on is overwhelming and it doesn’t matter what any family and close
friends, who know that things will get better, may say. When you’re in the kind
of mental state occupied by Raul in recent weeks then that just doesn’t seem
possible. It is so very sad… Many will miss Raul’s reliable friendship, smiling
face, and good-natured demeanor; may he find peace and light…
For
your Quotes of the Week, here are a couple that speak to the issue of suicide…
From novelist and social commentator George Sand (1804-1876), here are some
wise words that may help others, “At such times, it seems we should tear out a
single page from the book of our life and burn it, rather than throw the whole
book into the fire”… And from Brittany Snow of the young people’s suicide
prevention help group, ‘Love is Louder’, we have “Our movement is hopefully
going to bring some awareness and make some noise when it comes to teens and
young adults who are feeling suicidal or even just very sad, outcasts, or being
bullied, and really feel like they have nowhere to turn to”… (www.loveislouder.com)…
Moving
on… Last Saturday was a little on the warm side wasn’t it? I was told by
several people that it was in the low 100s where they were, and at The Nest in
the west end of the Valley we saw 98 F at 3pm. Earlier I had flown into
Boonville where there was a very sparse group of vendors who had braved the
heat to work the Farmer’s Market while quite a crowd of tourist-like visitors
were across the road at the Paysanne ice cream store – ‘good move,’ I’d say…
Other than that there were lots of cars but very few people on the streets and
even at the Drive-In there was nobody sitting outside. A lot of traffic seemed
to be heading out to the assumed cooler climes on the coast and who could blame
them, I suppose. Nevertheless, the wineries appeared to be doing brisk business
and the Farm Supply guys were working hard, loading hay and soil into the back
of trucks in the very hot sun. I would have offered to help but my old back
injury was flaring up (?)… Fortunately, up at The Nest, it finally cooled off
by about 9pm and Sunday morning turned out to be very pleasant indeed for the
Pancake breakfast at The Grange. This week is apparently going to see several
days of mid-70s temperatures, reaching the low 80s over the weekend. All very
lovely, wouldn’t you say? Weatherwisely yours, ‘The Climaturkey’…
Public
Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready… #560 – The monthly
Community Drum Session is tonight, June 12 – contact Rob 3897 or Andy 3020 for
further details – at least it’s not bagpipes! (I’m half-joking)… #561 – The
Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will return to the Valley just once in
June – and that is tomorrow, Thursday, June 13 from 2pm to 3.30pm at the A.V.
Farm Supply just north of Philo on Hwy 128. New customers and their pets are
always welcome and the vets 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... #562 – Dave Evans, hard-working owner of the Navarro
Store and impresario in the world of local live music, informs me that the Deep
End will once again be the scene for two very special live performances this
summer – on July 13 it will be Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings and then,
on August 31, electric blues harmonica great Charlie Musselwhite will make his
much anticipated return to the Valley. In the meantime, the store’s BBQ grill
will be opening up this week on Sunday, June 16 and Monday June 17 with new
cook Guy Kephart taking over from the almost but not quite irreplaceable Pablo.
Following that, Guy’s Grill will be serving some of the best bbq food around
from 11am to 3pm every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer, plus into the
night at the live shows… #563 –
The Sierra Nevada World Music Festival returns to the Valley over the weekend
of June 21-23. For details go to www.snwmf.com.
Most of you know the routine by now - great time for some; not so great for
others – that’s the A.V. way!… #564 - The Bite Hard Bicycle Road Race is on
Saturday, June 29… #565 – Later that afternoon/early evening, and surely an
event that appeals to the majority, it’s a pig roast Hawaiian-style for the
Senior Center Guest Chef Dinner prepared and presented by Chris Rossi (Rossi
Hardware), Fal Allen (A.V. Brewing), Loretta Houck (Laughing Dog Books), and
friends. This will be held outside at the senior center and tickets are
limited. Call Gina at 3069 to get yours; #566 – Finally on June 29, you can
walk down the street a short distance from the pig roast to Lauren’s Restaurant
where at 8.30pm it’s the ‘Sing-along-a-Liddy’ Community Singsong with hostess
Patty Liddy – sounds like a wonderful Valley Night Out to me!…
Finally this week comes a brief comment
from regular contributor, the often-despondent correspondent, The Old Buzzard…
“By the time you read this the name of the new High School Principal will most
likely have been announced… Claws and fingers crossed for the insightful choice
of an individual who, to parents, students and faculty alike, will provide
strong leadership; exhibit good people skills; show ability to balance ‘tough
love’ and discipline with earned praise and encouragement; demonstrate fairness
and consistency; be organized and prepared; have good listening skills; and be
a visionary in the world of modern education. This decision is going to have a
great influence on the futures of the Valley’s schoolchildren. Hopefully those
entrusted with the decision will have found such a candidate. Anything less
would be disappointing and perhaps a sign that the Apocalypse is even closer
than I thought…”
I’m
outta here!… 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 – see you soon to share a bottle
of wine?
posted by Turkey Vulture @ 8:54 AM
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