# 369 - August 28th, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… 

The A.V. Brewery’s Fal Allan, (no relation to Ken Allen, former Brewery owner and one-time Father Christmas at Macy’s), responded to my request to publish a list of the recipients of the monies dispersed by the Wee Boont Foundation (the non-profit that puts on the Boonville Beer Festival). Here they are: AV Parent/Teacher Organization; AV ElderHome; AV Lions Club; AV Education Foundation; AV High School Sports Booster Club; AV Animal Rescue; AV Senior Center; AV Historical Society; AV Fire Dept; AV Volunteer Fire Assn; AV Ambulance; Kimmies of Cody Mosh; Navarro River Resource; AV Land Trust; AV Health Center; AV Housing Authority; Emerald Earth Sanctuary; Mendocino Humane Society; Mendocino County Fairgrounds; KZYX Radio; and The Hendy Woods Park Association. The total of donations this year was $111,000!!! That’s fantastic and I suggest we all drink a few Boont Amber Ales in celebration…

         For your Quotes of the Week, the topic of philanthropy has many wonderful comments and here are just a few…”It is more blessed to give than to receive” - Acts 20:35… “Charity begins at home but should not end there” - Sir Francis Bacon… “I resolved to stop accumulating and begin the infinitely more serious and difficult task of wise distribution” - Andrew Carnegie… “It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it” - Albert Einstein… “I would rather have it said, ‘He lived usefully,’ than, ‘He died rich’.” - Benjamin Franklin… “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again”… Mohandas Gandhi… “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the creative light of altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness.  This is the judgement.  Life’s persistent and most urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’” - Martin Luther King Jr. – Excellent!..

       And while we’re talking about charities and good causes, here’s this from our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard - another in his insightful series – ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’… Buzzard comments, “With so many of our local non-profit organizations and charities deservedly benefiting from the wonderful generosity of the A.V. Brewery, I do find it quite disturbing that there was nothing donated to the impoverished ‘Save the Turkey Vultures and Old Buzzards Fund.’ Given their role as nature’s garbage collectors, a job not nearly as glamorous as people might think, and one that is entirely on a volunteer basis, this was surely an oversight. I must share with you the wise words of Turkey Vulture’s mother – ‘You will miss me when I’m gone” – and I remain confident that a significant donation will be soon on it’s way to The Nest, c/o A.V.A. Office, The Farrer Building, Boonville, CA 95415… If not, then we are certainly much closer to the Apocalypse than I had thought…

       Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready… #214 – A useful bit of information, I hope, is to know the hours of our two local post offices. Both open at 8.30am, but in Philo lunch is from 1.30pm to 2pm, and they close at 4.30pm; while in Boonville, they take a break from 12.30pm to 1.30pm, and they then close for the day at 5pm. Now you know… #215 - The next visit to the Valley by the vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital will not be until Thursday, September 12, but they will then come again the following week on September 19… #216 - The Guest Chef Dinner series, that takes place every two months to benefit the Senior Center, is coming up this week - Friday, August 30 to be precise, with Happy Hour at 5pm followed at 6pm by Chef Matt Ward’s Jambalaya on rice with southern-style Hushpuppies. Tickets will certainly sell out so call Gina at 895-3609 to reserve yours… #217 – The following evening, Saturday, Aug 31, 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 of a very special live performance when electric blues harmonica great Charlie Musselwhite will make his much anticipated return to the Valley… #218 – The wine, food, and music event, ‘Winesong,’ returns to the Valley over the weekend of September 6-8 – details to follow…#219 - On Sunday, September 8, Anderson Valley Land Trust is sponsoring its 4th annual Sustainable Discoveries that will feature visits to the Yorkville Olive Ranch; a special local food lunch in the picnic area at Meyer Family Cellars prepared by Aquarelle Restaurant; Pennyroyal Farm to see the making of the cheese and  the goats who produce the milk; and the Anderson Valley Community Farm in Boonville to experience their organic market garden, and animals. You can get more information or sign up by calling Shelly at 895-3150…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the next week at the Senior Center at the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center asks for a $6 donation from seniors and charges Non-Seniors $7 for lunches, always served at 12.15pm. Tomorrow, Thursday, August 29, Marti Titus and her crew will serve Roman Style Chicken, Pasta, Sourdough Bread, Broccoli, Faro Salad, Sundae Cone Cake. Then next Tuesday, September 3, the menu will feature Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Corn, Rolls, Quinoa Salad, and Birthday Cup Cakes… Remember, all ages are welcome!... 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 (and often Reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley where people get together and share their thoughts about life in A.V.…

… Many regulars and I agreed that it was a busy Friday night in town with big crowds at the local eateries and bars… Hummingbird and I were out on Saturday too, but down in the Deep End at the recently opened Coq Au Vin – a country French cuisine restaurant at the location known as The Floodgate. Well, without wishing to slip into drooling hyperbole, I’ll just say that everything was delicious and let you discover this new treat for yourselves…

… With the first week of school underway, the word on the streets is that the new High School Principle, Michelle Hutchings, might well be just what our school needs - a person who 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 somewhat of a visionary in the world of modern education… All of us here at The Three-Dot wish her every success…

… Talking of which, the first day of school saw all the student athletes – cheerleaders, volleyball, football, and soccer - wearing their jerseys as part of a rally organized by cheerleader coach Erica Lemons and others. A very nice way to start off a year that bodes well on the playing fields and in the gymnasium, and will hopefully be matched in the world of academia too…

… Flying around the school on ‘opening day’, I was impressed by the vibrant enthusiasm shown by teachers and students alike. However, regular readers will know that I am far from prudish and yet I was nonplussed by the fact that the school dress code seems to have sunk to new depths. Hopefully, Ms. Hutchings will soon sort that out…

      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. Keep on humming, Hummingbird…

# 368 - August 21st, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… Welcome to the 300th edition of ‘A Bird’s Eye View’ since Sir Bruce’s return to the helm of the A.V.A. in July 2007… Some of you will recall that the column also ran for a period before then, from November 2004 to March 2006, when the newspaper was under the editorial leadership of David Severn… Thanks for your support – past, present, and hopefully moving forward…

      Let’s start off with the exciting news that the sheepdog trial course, the one that can be clearly viewed from Hwy 128 at its location alongside the Big Barn on A.V.Way just outside Boonville, has finally been ‘conquered.’ Since it was installed several months ago no dog had successfully finished the complete course until last week - and it took a champion to do so. With an audience of an ‘amateur’ shepherd, a beer expert, and two young working dogs, the 2012 County Fair winning pair of local Master Shepherd Kevin Owens and his wonderful ten-year old Border Collie Bren, expertly drove some ornery sheep through both sets of panels and the very difficult narrow shoot, before herding their woolly adversaries into the holding pen. It was a superb performance that drew wild applause from both of the assembled observers and gave obvious delight to Bren’s tail-wagging grandson Gel and nephew Winston! While this achievement will probably not be seen by most folks as being in the realm of Sir Edmund Hilary’s 1953 ‘conquering’ of Mount Everest, in the world of shepherds and working dogs it will certainly be viewed as somewhat comparable, and there has already been talk of a ‘Sir Kevin of Yorkville’… Update – Following their efforts in the Fair Elimination Trial a few days later, Kevin and Bren qualified for this year’s County Fair Trial, to held on Sunday, September 15, where they will defend their Championship…

       Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #390 – The next visit to the Valley by the vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital will not be until Thursday, September 12, but they will then come again the following week on September 19… #391 - The next in the series of Guest Chef Dinners, that take place every two months to benefit the Senior Center, is coming up in less than two weeks - Friday, August 30 to be precise, with Happy Hour at 5pm followed at 6pm by Chef Matt Ward’s Jambalaya on rice with Hush Puppies. Tickets will certainly sell out so call Gina at 895-3609 to reserve yours… #392 – That same weekend, on the evening of Saturday, Aug 31, 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 of a very special live performance when electric blues harmonica great Charlie Musselwhite will make his much anticipated return to the Valley. In the meantime, the store’s BBQ grill is now open with cook Guy Kephart taking over from the almost but not quite irreplaceable Pablo. Guy’s Grill will be serving some of the best bbq food around from 11am to 3pm every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer and will no doubt be doing a brisk business at the Musselwhite show… #393 – The Mendocino Bookmobile is in town next Tuesday, August 27. They are in the Valley on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville 2.30pm. Their next visit will be Tuesday, September 10… #394 – The wine, food, and music event, Winesong, returns to the Valley over the weekend of September 6-8 – details to follow… #395 – In case you need extra confirmation, or perhaps live under a rock like some of my family and friends do, The Mendocino County Fair is September 13-15…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the next week at the Senior Center at the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center asks for a $5 donation from seniors and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for lunches and for the dinners it is $6 and $8, respectively… Tomorrow, Thursday, August 22, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Parmesan Fish, Brown Rice, Broccoli, Spinach Salad, Strawberry and Shortcake Squares for dessert … Then next Tuesday August 27, in the evening at 6pm, the dinner will feature Tamale Pie, Baked Cream Corn, Tabbouleh Salad, Salsa, Black Bean Salad, with a dessert of Monkey Tail Cake. This is also ‘Game Night’ so bring your favorite one along… And remember, all ages are welcome!... 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 (and often Reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley where people get together and share their thoughts about life in A.V.…

… News of the passing of Clyde Price Jr. was met with sadness by all at The Three-Dot this week… Clyde’s forebears arrived in the Valley in the 1890s and had family links to the Browns and Studebakers, while Clyde attended the one room schoolhouses of the day with kids from the Ingram, Gowan, Clow, and Hiatt families – certainly some Valley ‘royalty’ there! Yes, Clyde was a link to the Valley’s distant and rapidly fading past and he will be missed by all who knew him and enjoyed his interesting and frequently very humorous company…

… While customers at the Three-Dot are able to dine on the finest foods available in the Valley, here at the best carrion venue for hundreds of miles, there are several other restaurant options to be had in the Valley to fit both your dining desires and budget. Now, to add to the likes of Lauren’s, The Buckhorn, Libby’s, Aquarelle, Anel’s, The Drive-In, and The Hotel, we have the French country cuisine served by the family-owned-and-operated Coq Au Vin at the former Floodgate Store on Hwy 128 in northwest A.V. Several regulars have given very positive reviews and I hope to see for myself very soon. In the meantime, the restaurant is open for dinner on Thursdays thru’ Monday from 5pm each evening and reservations are encouraged on Friday and Saturdays. Call 895-9255 to get yours…

… Opening soon – ‘Stone and Embers’ restaurant located in The Madrones complex of small businesses/tasting rooms south of Philo…

… If either of these new restaurants can titillate the palate as did the truly excellent birria (goat soup) served up by the Ferreyra family at their party last Saturday evening, then they will be doing a great job. Two Valley goats were humanely butchered by Eddie Ferreyra and cooked by his father Domingo Sr, with all the necessary fixin’s prepared by other assorted family members and friends. When accompanied by the beer, wine, and music provided by DJ Alex Favella, this must surely have been the best of a number of Valley gatherings that night. I hope so – it was the one where I spent most of my time!...

… Speaking of which, my roving reporters have informed that there were good crowds at those other events – the Quinceanera for Maggie Mendoza at the Apple Hall in Boonville, Dan and Loretta Houck’s Pool and Pond Party in the Yorkville Highlands; the ‘Joe Blow’ band’s party on A.V. Way hosted by Jill and Steve ‘It’s my party and I’ll play if I want to’ Derwinski; and ‘The Last Night of The Lodge (Saloon)’ – the other event that I attended for a final couple of tipples… They were all very enjoyable I’m sure, but did they serve Ferreyra goat soup and the wonderfully smooth La Perla de Tzitzio – mescal from Michoacán? I didn’t think so…

      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. Keep on wagging that tail, Fred…

p.p.p.s. Keep up the good work, Round-eyed Robin

# 367 - August 14th, 2013

       Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… Just stating what I thought was the obvious until a couple of recent incidents - if your dog appears to panting excessively or seems to be a little short of breath, check that the collar is not too tight! One to two fingers gap is good enough, but it is something that tends to be overlooked and should be checked periodically whatever the dog’s age. Just trying to help…

       Public Service Announcements… Calendars and pens at the ready… #389 – This Saturday, August 17 at The Fairgrounds in Boonville, will see the Sheepdog Elimination Trial that will decide the final eight dogs and their handlers that will appear at the Mendocino County Fair next month. Things get underway at 10am and all are welcome… #390 – The following day, Sunday, Aug 18, is the final Lions’ Club Tri-Tip bbq of the season. This one will benefit the A.V. Volunteer Ambulance and runs from 4pm to 7pm with The Big River Band performing… #391 - The next in the series of Guest Chef Dinners, that take place every two months to benefit the Senior Center, is coming up later in the month - Friday, August 30 to be precise, with Happy Hour at 5pm followed at 6pm by Chef Matt Ward’s Jambalaya on rice with Hush Puppies. Tickets will certainly sell out so call Gina at 895-3609 to reserve yours… #392 – In a couple of weeks, on the evening of Saturday, Aug 31, 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 of a very special live performance when electric blues harmonica great Charlie Musselwhite will make his much anticipated return to the Valley. In the meantime, the store’s BBQ grill is now open with cook Guy Kephart taking over from the almost but not quite irreplaceable Pablo. Guy’s Grill will be serving some of the best bbq food around from 11am to 3pm every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer and will no doubt be doing a brisk business at the Musselwhite show… #393 - The performance by Patty Liddy scheduled for August 17 at Lauren’s Restaurant has been postponed. This was part of Patty’s ‘Happy, Sad, Crazy, Tipsy Tour’ to benefit the Hendy Woods Community Group and it will now take place in late September, date to be confirmed…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the next week at the Senior Center in the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center asks for a $5 donation from Seniors and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for lunches… Tomorrow, Thursday, August 15, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be General Tso Chicken, Jasmine Rice, Snow Peas, Asian Slaw, Wheat Berry Salad, and Red Velvet Cake for dessert … Then next Tuesday, August 20, the menu will feature Joe’s Chili, Corn Bread Muffins, Green Beans, 3 Bean Salad, Bulgur Salad, with a dessert of All American Sundae... Remember, all ages are welcome!... 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 (and often Reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley where people get together and share their thoughts about life in A.V.…

… Lots to see over a fun and busy weekend of Airport Partying and Yorkville Wine Festival imbibing, but my favorite sight was of docent Donna Reilly watering the plants and flowers at the A.V. Museum – if only a few of the folks at the other events had gone along and visited ‘The Best Little Museum in the West’ and talked to Donna about Valley history then they would no doubt have had an even better weekend…

… Fiction - the persistent and somewhat widespread rumors that The County Fair will be closing after this year… I have it on the highest authority that these are unfounded and completely untrue…

… Fact – the A.V.H.S. soccer team has been practicing in recent weeks and this is within the rules of high school sports… Summer practices have been allowed for a number of years now and any ill-informed bozo that thinks otherwise should check the facts before writing such gibberish…

… Warning – Be very aware of Valley folks who have more dogs than teeth…

… From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series – ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’… Buzzard reports, “The Boonville Saloon, or as it has been more commonly known for most of the last 100-plus years, The Boonville Lodge, closes its doors permanently this coming Saturday for the third time in the last six years or so (although there is a very slim but unlikely chance they may hang on until the end of the month when the lease actually expires)…. Being more of a beer and wine Vulture, I rarely imbibe the ‘hard stuff’ and cocktails myself but, in my humble opinion, a community should have a place to enjoy these sorts of alcoholic beverages, and this is an unfortunate development. Owners Marcia and Shelly, who have put in so much hard work over the last couple of years, feel unable to carry on given the new rent increase imposed by landlord Dave Johnson, who is not of this community nor even this County – Sonoma in fact. Johnson recently evicted long-time tenant Amy Bloyd from the property behind the Lodge and long-time readers may recall that he is the same mercenary landlord whose ridiculous rental demands drove Tom Towey to close his Boonville Lodge Bar and Grill a few years ago. At that time, certain Valley folks talked of dealing with the ‘Johnson Problem’ in the traditional way, but somehow he escaped the fate of being fed to the pigs on Peachland Road… Anyway, as a result of these recent developments, the bar will soon be making a final ‘last call’ and the all-important liquor license will be up for sale. In a worse case scenario, if the license were sold to someone outside the Valley, this would mean that for the first time in over one hundred years ‘real’ alcohol will not be available in Boonville and we would have lost a veritable Valley institution. With such licenses hard to come by, hopefully someone here can step in and buy this license and either sign an equitable rental deal with Johnson at the current spot or look for a different location in the Valley. Otherwise, in the very near future, folks will no longer get to go out locally and enjoy the company of friends while sipping a martini, a fine single-malt whisky, a ‘Cosmo’, a Vodka cranberry, or even a Trainwreck – some of which are very civilized things to do. Without such an option the Apocalypse has surely moved a little closer”…

       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?

# 366 - August 7th, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… There are a number of things going on in the Valley in the next week or so and therefore I thought we should start with the P.S.A.’s… Glad you agree…

       Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #381 – The next visit to the Valley by the vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital is tomorrow, Thursday, August 8 – unfortunately, due to staffing issues, this will be their only visit of the month but they will be back twice in September (12 and 19)… #382 - On Saturday morning, August 10 at the StudioSoBo, behind All That Good Stuff, there will be a Yoga Benefit with classes by Mary Paffard: 8:30-9:30 active asana, 9:30-10:30 gentle asana and 11:00-11:30 Meditation. From 11:30-12:30 Abeja will have a Primal Posture introduction. No need to register. Donations will go towards bolsters and chairs for the studio. Check it out and also the regularly scheduled classes at thestudiosobo.com… #383 – The annual Yorkville Highlands Wine Festival takes place on Saturday, Aug 10 at Yorkville Cellars on Hwy 128 opposite the post office. The event, benefiting the Yorkville Volunteer Fire Department, runs from noon to 5pm and will feature bbq, music, silent auction, games, and the always popular grape-stomp… #384 - Also on that very busy Saturday, August 10, it’s time again for the Annual Airport Day! This takes place at the airport in Boonville from noon onwards, with free plane rides over the Valley in the afternoon and a potluck dinner starting at 5pm… #385 - The local food Pancake Breakfast returns to The Grange on Sunday August 11 from 8.30-11am… #386 – The Mendocino Bookmobile is in town next Tuesday, August 13. They are in the Valley on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville 2.30pm. Next visit will be Tuesday, August 27… #387 – In downtown Boonville, Aquarelle Restaurant and Wine Bar is now presenting Taco Tuesdays from 4-7pm as chef Christina serves up a variety of ‘some of the finest tacos north of Baja’… #388 - The much-anticipated August 17 gig by Patty Liddy at Lauren’s Restaurant has been postponed. This was part of Patty’s ‘Happy, Sad, Crazy, Tipsy Tour’ to benefit the Hendy Woods Community Group and it will now take place in September or October – I shall keep you informed…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the next week at the Senior Center… For lunches, the Center asks for a $5 donation from Seniors and charges $7 for Non-Seniors, and $6 and $8 respectively for the evening meals. Tomorrow, August 8, the lunch, served at 12.15pm, will be ‘Breakfast for Lunch’: Breakfast Strata, Sausage, Hash Browns, Spinach Salad, and Cinnamon Roll Cake for dessert… And then next Tuesday evening, August 13, at 6pm, Chef Marti Titus and her crew will be serving a dinner featuring Salisbury Steak, Noodles, Zucchini, Orange Gelatin, Quinoa Salad, with Strawberry Chiffon dessert - a feast that will be followed by Bingo at 7pm… Hopefully you will be able to attend, and remember – ALL ages are welcome!…

       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 (and often Reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley where people get together and share their thoughts about life in A.V….

… A number of regulars were in attendance at The Grange on Friday evening for the northern California premier of ‘Goodbye World’, the movie filmed in the Valley during the summer of 2012, the proceeds of which went to the A.V. Education Foundation. A crowd of perhaps 150, satiated by some excellent ‘small plate’ hors d’oeuvres, wine, and beer during the hour-and-a-half social beforehand, were very ready to applaud the sight of all things A.V. – from the spotting of a familiar building to the ‘actors’ from our community who either spoke or were spotted in the background of various scenes - a fun time was no doubt had by all… Local actors Robbie Penn-Depp and Daniel Day Langevin gave award-winning performances, while Andy De Niro’s portrayal of a densely bearded oddball character hanging around in a threatening manner outside Lemons’ Market was very believable indeed. As for the film itself, director Denis Hennelly told me that he hopes for distribution in cinemas in early 2014 and that reviews have been mixed so far. I can see that. I thought some scenes worked well, others didn’t; some characters were well-defined and interesting, others clichéd and one-dimensional… Overall? I think Gene Siskel would have smiled and said ‘Thumbs up’ while Roger Ebert would have shook his head and said ‘Thumbs down’… For an evening out in the Valley, it was certainly entertaining, the hospitality from the Education Foundation folks and their volunteer helpers was wonderful, the Valley looked almost as good on the screen as in real life, and now we’ll wait and see how the movie does out there in the ‘real world’…

… Congratulations on the 20th Anniversary of their lives and times in Anderson Valley to the Cheesecake Consortium - a unique group, many of whom I personally know to be very fine folks who have contributed significantly to their adopted community… ‘Well done, one and all!’ - Dick Browning, Sophie Otis, Dave and Helen Papke, Gaile Wakeman, Jill and Daniel Myers, Marco Heithaus, Frank Sclafani and Donald Cremers, Bobbie Fisch and Bill Johnston…

… Where have all of the Valley’s Giants’ fans gone? This was a question being discussed at the Three-Dot last week as a number of those folks seem to have mislaid their Giants’ caps and t-shirts over the past couple of months as the ‘Orange and Black Fever’ of recent seasons seems to have significantly subsided. Granted, in June and July the team’s record was a dismal 18-34 – a .346 winning percentage that is ‘bettered’ only by the hapless Houston Astros (36-71 and .336) over the season, but support for one’s team is not conditional on results, and through thick and thin the colors must be worn… I recall a kind of sad pride in having a season ticket as I watched the 1985 Giants team put fans through a 100-loss season - many of those defeats occurring at a very chilly and windswept Candlestick Park. However, in the following seasons it all came good thanks to manager Roger Craig, Will ‘The Natural’ Clark, and the rest of the ‘Humm Babies’… You just can’t win all the time, so get your caps back on, dig out the t-shirts, and show some Gigante Pride – they will be back…

… With the addition of Harmonique wines, replacing Londer winery in the annex at John Hanes’ Fine Art Gallery in downtown Boonville, there are now 31 tasting rooms in the Valley… Not that there is anything wrong with that… I really don’t know what to think, which is rare, but I thought you should know - whatever your feelings/thoughts may be…

… From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series – ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’… Buzzard reports, “One positive result from the public meeting held last week at The Fairgrounds to discuss the effects on the Valley, good and bad, of the annual Sierra Nevada World Music Fair, is that local businesses will in future have help in controlling the ‘nightmarish’ parking situation in downtown Boonville over the event’s three days… As for actually providing a boost in restaurant and bar sales, as promised several years ago by Festival owners when they originally approached the Valley as a venue for their event, I’m afraid that with so many food and drink vendors now present within the confines of the Festival that was a promise that disappeared after the first couple of years and is not going to be revived any time soon... The decision to not give free passes to those Boonville folks who are significantly impacted by the event’s noise and the ‘unsocial behavior’ of a small number of the visitors would also seem to be a move that is not going endear the Festival to some… Nevertheless, the fact that many local people thoroughly enjoy having such an event to attend ‘right on their doorstep’ is clearly a huge plus point in support of its continuance, not to mention the approximate $50,000 it provides to the economically-challenged County Fair… Two more events of a similar magnitude at some point during the year are seen by the Fair Board as a excellent way to ‘Save the Fair’ but this may be viewed by many folks, particularly those who enjoy the bucolic bubble in which we exist just as it is, as a clear sign that the Apocalypse is even closer than was previously 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 – behaving yourself? Hopefully not!

p.p.p.s. Everything cool with you, O.J.? Of course it is…

# 365 - July 31st, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… So there is a new Royal Baby! An event that was part historical ‘happening’, part nativity play, part soap opera, and one that was greeted with hearty congratulations from leading politicians and dignitaries the world over, including Iran, Russia, Scottish nationalists, and royal-watching Valley folks. With all of the hullabaloo surrounding the birth of Prince George Alexander Louis, third in line to the British throne, as someone with ‘special connections’ to The Palace, I feel the need to actually put into perspective what this means.

       Elizabeth II is moving steadfastly towards the ‘record’ held by Queen Victoria (63 years on the throne), which ‘Liz’ will reach in 2017, after her 90th birthday. At that point, the first in line, Prince Charles, will have been waiting for his ‘promotion’, to Charles III, far longer than any previous heir in history – a mark he actually passes in a few weeks’ time. Charles is currently aged 64, so his son, Prince William, second in line, will probably be well in his late-50s when he gets to sit on the throne, around 2040, as William V. Therefore, barring disease, accident, or another ill-judged attempt to rule the ‘Empire’ without Parliament (Charles I was beheaded for such an egregious error in 1649), the royal baby may finally be crowned George VII sometime around 2070, when he is in his mid-fifties. You will be pleased to know that I have already started on plans for a party to celebrate George’s Royal Accession, a spectacular affair to which all regular readers are invited…

       On an almost as important issue, President of the Anderson Valley Historical Society, Sheri Hansen, writes, ‘Our local museum gem known as The Little Red Schoolhouse will no longer be open on Fridays due to a shortage of available docents. We are hoping this is a temporary situation. If you know anyone that can work a 3-hour docent shift once a month, please call Bob & Sandra Nimmons 895-9020’

       The A.V. Historical Museum at The Little Red Schoolhouse opposite the Elementary School on A.V. Way, is now open on just Saturday, and Sunday afternoons from 1pm to 4pm. I encourage local folks to check it out. It really is very impressive and I guarantee you will learn something you didn’t know about the Valley if you do. You might even feel like offering a little of your time to help on those Fridays once a month. As I’ve said before, and I haven’t heard differently from anyone, it’s the best little museum in the West and it is a crying shame that its hours of operation have been cut back...

       That provides a decent segue to the fact that Volunteerism seems to be a frequent topic of discussion in these parts. So, for your Quote of the Week, here are some fine examples of what some wise people have said about this worthy pastime… From Margaret Mead (1902-1978), the cultural anthropologist, we have, “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”… And there is this simple but insightful thought from Lily Tomlin (1939-?), the American actress, comedian, writer, and producer – “I always wondered why somebody didn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody”… Muhammad Ali (1942-?), generally considered among the greatest heavyweights in the sport's history and highly regarded by many for his thoughts on religious freedom and racial, provides us with, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth"… And the observation "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve” comes from Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), the philosopher, physician, and Nobel Peace Prize Winner… Finally, I leave it with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) – ‘Mahatma’ to most of us, to sum it all up with his comment, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”…

       Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #379 – Remember when the movie crews came to the Valley last summer? Well the ‘fruits of their labors’ are now complete and we get the chance to see the ‘world premier’ of ‘Goodbye World’, presented as a fundraiser for the A.V. Education Foundation. This event is this coming Friday, August 2 at The Grange on Hwy 128. Doors open at 5.30pm for a social hour featuring a variety of small plates along with beer, wine, and soft drinks. The movie is shown at 7pm with a Q & A afterwards (about 8.30pm) with the film’s director, Denis Henley. Tickets are $15 per adult and $7 for children 17 and under and are available at Laughing Dog Bookstore, All That Good Stuff, and Lemon's Market.  Funds raised from the event will help support the Education Foundation's three primary activities: Summer Internships, Scholarships and Grants… #380 – The monthly Barn Sale returns on Sat/Sun, Aug 3 and 4, at The Big Barn on A.V. Way just north of Boonville, and runs from 10am to 3pm each day… #381 – The next visit to the Valley by the vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital is next week, Thursday, August 8 – unfortunately, due to staffing issues, this will be their only visit of the month… #382 - On Saturday morning, August 10 at the StudioSoBo, behind All That Good Stuff, there will be a Yoga Benefit with classes by Mary Paffard: 8:30-9:30 active asana,  9:30-10:30 gentle asana and 11:00-11:30 Meditation. From 11:30-12:30 Abeja will have a Primal Posture introduction. No need to register. Donations will go towards bolsters and chairs for the studio. Check it out and also the regularly scheduled classes at thestudiosobo.com… #383 – The annual Yorkville Highlands Wine Festival takes place on Saturday, Aug 10 at Yorkville Cellars on Hwy 128 opposite the post office. The event benefits the Yorkville Volunteer Fire Department and runs from noon to 5pm, featuring bbq, music, silent auction, games, and the always popular grape-stomp… #384 - And also on that very busy Saturday, August 10, it’s that time again – the Annual Airport Day! This takes place at the airport in Boonville from noon onwards, with free plane rides over the Valley in the afternoon and a pot luck dinner at 5pm…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the next week at the Senior Center in the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center asks for a $5 donation from Seniors and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for lunches… Tomorrow, Thursday, August 1, the lunch, always served at 12.15pm, will be Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Peas, Rolls, Quinoa Salad, Birthday Cup Cakes … Then next Tuesday, August 6, the lunch served by Marti Titus and her crew will be Sausage Skillet, Noodles, Carrots, Apple Spinach Salad, Bulgur Salad, No Melt Sundae Dessert... Remember, all ages are welcome!... 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 (and often Reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley where people get together and share their thoughts about life in A.V.…

… Several regulars commented that KZYX & Z local public radio did a splendid job on Sunday afternoon of informing listeners about the smoke that was permeating the Valley. To their credit, led by Rich Culbertson, staff regularly interrupted the station’s live broadcast of the Newport Folk Festival to tell us that the smoke was not a local issue and was in fact coming to us from the fires in Oregon. This no doubt eased the concerns of many Valley folks and was much appreciated by many I know…

… Meanwhile, surely that relatively short period of smokiness does not mean that we will be getting smoky 2013 varietals from our wineries – as with those ‘interesting’ 2008’s that were produced?...

… If you want to learn a little more about the Valley’s history, whom do you ask? Well, after visiting the museum of course, your next move would be to talk to any of these Valley ‘experts’ – Donald Pardini, Eileen Pronsolino, Pat Hulbert, or Wes Smoot. There are a few others perhaps equally as knowledgeable but this group would be a great place to start…

… Nothing this week from our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard. He was at St Mary’s Hospital, London, for the royal birth and hasn’t been since he went off into the night to celebrate with the baby’s carousing uncle, Prince Harry…

       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. Keep on wagging that tail, Fred…

p.p.p.s. Thanks for the correspondence, Round-eyed Robin…