# 378 - October 30th, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… Tomorrow it’s Halloween, and as a community we have to get through another evening of ‘civil unrest’ here in the Valley. Hopefully, unless you are one of them, you will not get caught up in the annual ‘Battle on the Streets of Boonville’ between The Zombies and The Angry Villagers that will take place after dark tonight. The Villagers, with their burning torches and sharpened pitchforks, will strive to once more save the town from those walking corpses who will no doubt make things very difficult around here if they are victorious… Good luck and beware of flesh-dripping strangers…

       Homecoming festivities dominated the past week at the school and culminated at The Fairgrounds on Friday night with a tough football loss and a comfortable soccer victory against teams from Point Arena followed by the dance at the high school gym. As a curmudgeonly Turkey Vulture, being around so much joy and positive energy can be a little unsettling. However, I must say the young people I spoke to were warm and friendly, polite and sincere, and clearly loving life - as they should at that age. Hopefully they can continue to carry these qualities into adulthood. Generally speaking, avoiding jobs controlling traffic with CalTran or working at a toll booth might help!.... 

       And so, inevitably, for your Quotes of the Week, I shall continue with the topic of youth… First up we have this classic from George Bernard Shaw who famously said, “Youth is far too good to waste on children”… Fran Lebowitz humorously observed, “Remember, that as a teenager you are at the last stage of your life when you are happy to hear that the phone call is for you”… The Danish writer, Isak Dinesen, wisely said, “While we are young the idea of death or failure is intolerable to us; even the possibility of ridicule we cannot bear”… While Jacques Barzun, the French-born American historian of ideas and culture observed, perhaps with more than a grain of truth, “Americans began by loving youth, and now, out of adult self-pity, they worship it”… And finally, let’s turn to the always-perceptive Oscar Wilde who sums up by saying, “Youth smiles without any reason. It is one of its chiefest charms”…

       On to this week’s Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #767 - Veterans Day is coming up on November 11 and this will be observed here in the Valley with the annual ceremony on Sunday, November 10 at The Evergreen Cemetery on A.V. Way at 10.30am. It should be stressed that this special occasion is not a political or religious event. It does, however, offer a chance for us to show support and gratitude for both those who gave their lives or were wounded in wars of the past, and for those who have served or continue to serve so that we may have the freedoms and liberties that we continue to enjoy today… #768 - The Vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital in Ukiah will be making their monthly visit to the A.V. Farm Supply on Thursday, November 14 from 2 - 3pm. Their visit after that is planned for Thursday December 12… #769 - The Halloween Dark Carnival presentation of ‘Carnival Grimm’ is from 4-10.30 at The Shed behind the Farrer Building on Thursday, October 31 – that’s Halloween – perfect!… #770 - A celebration of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) will take place on Friday, November 1 at Paysanne Ice Cream store in Boonville from 3-6… #771 - On Saturday, November 2 at the Studio SoBo there will be a day of yoga classes, pilates and gokhale to introduce the community to the teachers and their classes; Kira Brennan, Kristen Walker, Forest DiMaggio, Abeja, and Nancy Joy will all be there. The event hopes to raise funds for more props for the studio by requesting a small donation. This special occasion is from 9am behind ‘All That Good Stuff,’ and you can always find the class schedule online at … #772 - The monthly Barn Sale is at The St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on A.V. Way just north of Boonville this coming weekend. Get some great holiday bargains from 9am to 3pm on both Saturday and Sunday, November 2 and 3… #773 - The Pop-Up Cinema series returns to Lauren’s Restaurant this Saturday, November 2, with a presentation of the documentary ‘We Steal Secrets - The Story of WikiLeaks’ by Oscar Award Winning Film Maker Alex Gibney. It is free admission and the film will be shown at 8.30pm… #774 - The Anderson Valley High School Agriculture Department and FFA are holding another Drive-Thru-Dinner and hope to repeat the success of last year’s event.  The menu includes Pulled Pork and rolls, coleslaw, potato wedges, and cookies and is sold as a Dinner-for-4 for $45. This will be prepared on Wednesday, November 6 and may be picked up from 3:30 to 5:30 at the high school parking lot. The money earned will support the many Ag Dept activities and travel to FFA events. Advanced orders only, so if you are interested please call the Ag classroom at 895-2514 or contact Beth at bswehla@avpanthers.org, on or before Friday, November 1… #775 - Upcoming November events (and beyond) - hopefully November play-offs for all three of the school’s fall sports – volleyball, soccer, and football; Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 28; and of course the annual New Year’s Eve party at Lauren’s Restaurant in Boonville…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community Lunches over the next week at the Senior Center in the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center asks for a $6 donation from Seniors and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for the lunches that are always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm… Tomorrow, Thursday, October 31, the lunch will be Joe’s Chili, Corn, Cornbread Muffins, Coleslaw, Barley Salad, Banana Pudding Squares … Then next Tuesday, November 5, the menu will feature Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, rolls, Roasted cauliflower, Quinoa Salad, and Birthday Cupcakes... Remember, all ages are welcome!... Hope to see you there… 

       Moving quickly on to a couple 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.…

… High School Principal, Ms. Aitch (Hutchings), continues to win plaudits from all walks of Valley life for her efforts to date. It cannot be easy to come to a new school, one set in so many of its ways, and try to introduce positive change, but it’s been a general thumbs up from everyone so far. While her first year here will be a learning process for her, and one in which she will no doubt be taking stock and making copious notes, folks at the Three-Dot are very encouraged and look forward to the schools future more than at any time in recent memory…

… Talk of the school turned to the need for sports' coaches for Junior High Boys basketball and Varsity Boys' baseball... Call Wanda at 895-3774 if you are interested… Time to step up and be counted…

… Every regular who was there raved about the excellent Guest Chef dinner event held to benefit the Senior Center last Friday. This was held in the unique setting of the Big Barn at the A.V. Farm Supply and what a great venue it turned out to be, thanks in no small measure to those hard-working members of the Senior Board…

       I’m outta here… 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. Skylark – read any good books lately?

p.p.p.s. Keep on humming, Hummingbird…

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

# 377 - October 23rd, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… I’ve been out of the loop a little this week which means that the column will be a short one, but still full of useful information! Here we go…

       Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #145 – The final Guest Chef Dinner of the year, with Chef Fal Allen, is on Friday, October 25. These events benefit the Senior Center and on this occasion the feast will be an Oktoberfest featuring Pork sausage, Beer-steeped Saurkraut, German-style warm Potato Salad with bacon and onions, and dessert. This takes place at the unique location of the Big Barn next to the A.V. Farm Supply on Hwy 128. Happy Hour at 5pm; dinner at 6pm. Tickets are $30 (includes $10 donation) and are available at the Senior Center, Laughing Dog Books, Rancheria Realty, and Lemons’ Market in Philo. Get yours today, they will sell out… #146 – The ‘Cops and Robbers Ball’ to benefit the A.V. Health Center is at The Grange the following evening, Saturday, October 26 from 7-11.30pm. Admission is $15 ($18 without costume). Live music, speakeasy, all-star floorshow, and a jailhouse! Proceeds benefit the Health Center… #147 - Sunday, October 27 at the Boonville Hotel – A.V. Foodshed Group Fundraiser. $75-$125 tickets with appetizers at 6pm and dinner at 7pm. Call Cindy at 895-2949 for details… #148 - The Halloween Dark Carnival presentation of ‘Carnival Grimm’ is from 4-10.30 at The Shed behind the Farrer Building on Thursday, October 31 – that’s Halloween – perfect!… #149 - A celebration of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) will take place on November 1 at Paysanne Ice Cream store in Boonville from 3-6… #150 - Finally, this week, on Saturday, November 2 at the Studio SoBo there will be a day of yoga classes, pilates and gokhale to introduce the community to the teachers and their classes; Kira Brennan, Kristen Walker, Forest DiMaggio, Abeja, and Nancy Joy will all be there. The event hopes to raise funds for more props for the studio by requesting a small donation. This special occasion is from 9am behind ‘All That Good Stuff,’ and you can always find the class schedule online at …

       As a bonus P.S.A., here is the menu for the Community Lunches and Dinners next week at the Senior Center in the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center suggests a $6 donation from Seniors for both lunches and dinners and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for lunches and $8 for the dinners… Tomorrow, Thursday, October 24, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Roasted Cod, Broccoli, Couscous, Vegetable Salad, with Lemon Chiffon Cake for dessert… Then next Tuesday evening, October 29 at 6pm, the dinner will feature Ham, Brussels Sprouts, Potluck Potatoes, Rolls, Apple Spinach Salad, Orange Gelatin, and Pumpkin Gooey Cake. This is also ‘Game Night’ so bring your favorite one along… And remember, all ages are welcome!... Hope to see you there…

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

p.p.p.p.s. Hi, George – hope you and Sheila are well…

      

# 376 - October 16th, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… And with so many to share with you this week, let’s start with the Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)…

       Calendars and pens at the ready… #142 – The Vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital are down to one visit a month to the Valley at this point. The next two such occasions are tomorrow, October 17 and then next month on Thursday, November 14. This wonderful service takes place at the Anderson Valley Farm Supply from 2pm – 3.30pm and new customers are very welcome… #143 – A new ‘Open Mic Night’ is being introduced to the Valley. This will be at Lauren’s Restaurant, hosted by Kayla ? and Dennis Hudson, on the 3rd Saturday of each month – in this case, November 19. It is hoped that all the Valley’s talented musicians/poets etc will move out of their living rooms and share their talents with the outside world while also supporting other such artists. Come on, you know you want to… #144 - It’s that time of year – the U-Pick Pumpkins and Wagon Rides will be at Gowan’s Oak Tree and Fruit Stand on Hwy 128 from 11am to 4pm on Saturday/Sunday, October 19/20 – call 895-3353 for further details… #145 – The final Guest Chef Dinner of the year, with Chef Fal Allen, is on Friday, October 25. These events benefit the Senior Center and on this occasion the feast will be an Oktoberfest featuring Pork sausage, Beer-steeped Saurkraut, German-style warm Potato Salad with bacon and onions, and dessert. This takes place at the unique location of the Big Barn next to the A.V. Farm Supply on Hwy 128. Happy Hour at 5pm; dinner at 6pm. Tickets are $30 (includes $10 donation) and are available at the Senior Center, Laughing Dog Books, Rancheria Realty, and Lemons’ Market in Philo. Get yours today, they will sell out… #146 – The ‘Cops and Robbers Ball’ to benefit the A.V. Health Center is at The Grange the following evening, Saturday, October 26… #147 - The Halloween Dark Carnival presentation at The Shed behind the Farrer Building is at dusk on Thursday, October 31 – that’s Halloween – perfect!…

            As a bonus P.S.A., here is the menu for the Community Lunches over the next week at the Senior Center in the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center asks for a $6 donation from Seniors and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for the lunches that are always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm… Tomorrow, Thursday, October 17, the lunch will be “Cordon Blue” Chicken Casserole, Garlic Pasta, Pease, Garlic Bread, Quinoa Salad, Strawberry Crumb Bars … Then next Tuesday, October 22, the menu will feature Chicken w/ Kale, Rice, Carrots, Wheat Berry Salad, Raspberry Gelatin, Berry Cream Dessert... Remember, all ages are welcome!... Hope to see you there…

       Moving quickly on to a few of the topics and Valley news items 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.…

… Three-Dot regular, Geoff Thomas, leaves the Valley this week for Thailand where he spends six months every year recovering from the excesses he enjoys in Boonville for the other six months. Personally speaking, this is most definitely Bangkok’s gain and our loss – who else will hang out with me drinking beers and talking utter gibberish?....

… Best wishes were expressed among regulars for Sarah Larkin, musician and gardener, on a successful business venture as she takes over from the Ludwig’s at ‘The Tin Man Nursery’ and opens ‘Goodness Grows’ on Hwy 128 between Boonville and Philo…

… Questions asked at The Three-Dot this past week… When will the Valley’s liquor license issue be resolved and we can once again get a ‘proper’ drink around here? Some folks I know are quite desperate for a Tanqueray and tonic, others for a Trainwreck… Is voicemail for cell phones complicated to set up? No, I didn’t think so… Aren’t the repeated notices of the same old names in the Sheriff’s Log being booked into the County Jail getting very old? Reading about *#@?!** every few weeks really seems like a waste of perfectly good ink and in the old days they would have been burned at the stake by now… Do we have too many restaurants in the Valley?... Do we have too many winery tasting rooms? Numbers seem about right to me based on the many locals and tourists I have seen out and about in recent weeks, but now we are entering the slow time of the year so we shall see… Why has Ben Anderson left the School Board? Apparently he has tended his resignation. When elected two years ago, he enjoyed the support of many Valley folks to whom this news will no doubt be disappointing. His departure is, in my humble opinion, the school district’s loss. He has great fondness for the school and valid ideas on how things could be improved but for reasons that remain unclear at this time, even for those who regard him a friend, he felt the need to resign… Meanwhile, Erica Lemons is intending to run for re-election and with nobody stepping forward in opposition she will be back. Marti Bradford is still on the Board, as is Dick Browning; however, with Ben’s seat now available, along with that of Yadira Mendoza, who is not seeking re-election, it remains to be seen who will be appointed to these two important positions...

       With this in mind, here are some appropriate Quotes of the Week that concern themselves with public office, ones that may have even crossed Ben’s mind in recent weeks… Did he have a problem with the message contained in this comment by none other than Thomas Jefferson who remarked, “When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as a public property”… Perhaps Ben would regard his tenure rather like Golda Meir (the former leader of Israel), who said, “It’s no accident many accuse me of conducting public affairs with my heart instead of my head. Well, what if I do?... Those who don’t know how to weep with their whole heart, don’t know how to laugh either”… Or maybe he concurred with the words of Aristotle, who wisely observed, “It is not easy for a person to do any great harm when his tenure of office is short, whereas long possession begets tyranny”… Whatever led to Ben’s decision, we at The Three-Dot wish him well…. 

       From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series – ‘Signs that the Apocalypse is Approaching’… Buzzard reports, “This is an easy one, I know, but the shut down of the government is surely a huge sign that we are on the outskirts of Armageddon, and that when we get there the Apocalypse will be waiting for us. Obviously all is lost, the end is near, the fat lady is on the final chorus, doomsday is virtually upon us, and we are so far up s*** creek that even several huge paddles couldn’t help us… In the meantime, ‘Have a nice day’…”

       Oh, dear, I think I’ve said enough – I’ll get my coat and 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. Is that ‘lafter’ I hear, Carroll?...

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

# 375 - October 9th, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… Belated but still important are birthday wishes that are sent to Valley folks - Bobbie Tucker, Jo Gowan, and Sheri Hansen…

       Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #379 – For those so inclined, the monthly Community Drum Session is this evening Wednesday, October 9 at The Grange – contact Rob 3897 or Andy 3020 for further details… #380 – This weekend (Oct 11-14) sees the retirement party at Claudia Springs Winery for Bob and Claudia. Lots of bargains will be available and on Saturday, October 12 there is will be a food and music too from noon to 4pm… #381 – The weekly Boonville Farmers’ Market continues this Saturday morning at the Boonville Hotel Parking Lot. It goes from 10am to 12.30pm and this week’s live music is provided by the Free Marketeers… #382 - It’s that time of year already – the U-Pick Pumpkins and Wagon Rides will be at Gowan’s Oak Tree and Fruit Stand on Hwy 128 from 11am to 4pm on Saturday/Sunday, October 12/13 – call 895-3353 for further details…  #383 – The next visit to the Valley by the vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital will be Thursday, October 17 – unfortunately, due to staffing issues, this will be their only visit of the month… #384 – The quarterly (?) visit to the Valley by the County Haz-Mat vehicle will be on Friday/Saturday, October 12/13, at the County Fairgrounds. I urge you take the opportunity to get rid of your nasty rubbish as these guys will take virtually anything that you cannot take to the County Dump, including batteries and toxic materials, but not dead animals – leave them to my relatives and me! Call 895-3011 for further details… #385 - The local food Pancake Breakfast returns to The Grange on Sunday, October 13 from 8.30-11am… Upcoming events for your calendars include a Guest Chef Dinner at the unusual location of the Big Barn next to the A.V. Farm Supply. This will benefit the Sr. Center and takes place on Friday, October 25; a ‘Cops and Robbers Ball’ at The Grange the next evening, Saturday, Oct 26; the Halloween Dark Carnival presentation at The Shed behind the Farrer Building; a Veterans Day Observation service on Monday, November 11 at the Evergreen Cemetery; hopefully November play-offs for all three of the school’s fall sports – volleyball, soccer, and football; Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 28; and of course the annual New Year’s Eve party at Lauren’s Restaurant in Boonville…

       As a bonus P.S.A., here is the menu for the Community Lunches at the Senior Center in the Veterans Hall in Boonville over the next week… The Center asks for a $6 donation from Seniors and charges $7 for Non-Seniors… Tomorrow, Thursday, October 10, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Broccoli Beef, Noodles, Asian Slaw, Wheat Berry Salad, and Mississippi Mud Cake for dessert … Then next Tuesday, October 15, the menu will feature Pork with Peppers, Rice, Cauliflower, Tabbouleh Salad, with Dark Chocolate Cake for 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. This week it was some Valley statistics that were the talking point among the regulars…

… There were 30 winery tasting-rooms open in the Valley this past weekend – now you know…

… 34 raspberry picking tourists were spotted on the side of Hwy 128 in the month of September. 8 of them were also surrounded by poison oak – I wonder how that turned out…

… 17 cyclists spotted on Hwy 128 in the month of September…

… 26 lawyers/accountants spotted in the Valley on new Harley Davidson motor bikes over the first weekend of October– the males of the species trying to look menacing, which was hard to pull off for those with man-purses…

… 153 soccer-loving Valley folks were in attendance at last Sunday’s El Classico 2 at Tom Smith Field in Boonville. The match was the second leg of the Ukiah Adult Soccer League’s postseason semi-final and featured the two local teams – Valladolid and La Laguneta. Valla came out on top and now advance to the final this coming Sunday morning in Ukiah when they will be going for their fifth title in succession as they face Milan from Lakeport…

… 33 players for the weekly General Knowledge and Trivia Quiz at Lauren’s Restaurant on Thursday evening – won by the ‘Witches Sticklers’ that included Anne Fashauer, Robyn Spector, John McCallister, Susan Robinson, Len Feinstein and Mark Scaramella – yes, that Mark Scaramella of A.V.A. fame – he’s actually much smarter than he may sometimes appear…

       Oops, 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. On the sheep, Grace…

# 374 - October 2nd, 2013

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… Lots and lots of frogs are out in this weather so inevitably I have been very busy eating them and as a result have had little time for the column this week. My apologies, but at least I have the Public Service Announcements with information about upcoming events, not to mention that I think you will agree that ‘Time’ – its use and waste, does provide an excellent topic for your Quotes of the Week….

       Here we go with some wise words from Hector Berlioz (1803-1869), the French Romantic composer, who opined, “Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils” – and our high school kids think they have it tough?!... Then there is this from Coco Chanel, (1883-1971), the French fashion designer who clearly hasn’t enjoyed my baby-back ribs in a sweet bbq sauce – “There is a time for work. And there is a time for love. That leaves no other time”… And this from Golda Meir, (1898-1978), the former Prime Minister of Israel, who wisely observed, “I must govern the clock, not be governed by it”… A personal favorite is from Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ – “I have wasted time and now doth time waste me”… And let’s get all philosophical with this very obvious but necessary comment by Arthur Schopenhauer, (1788-1860) the  German philosopher, who said, “Time is that thing in which all things must pass away”… But for the final contribution, we turn to Pericles, (495-429 BC), the most prominent and influential Greek statesman, orator and general of Athens during the Golden Age, who cannily observed, “Wait for that wisest of all counselors, Time”…

         Onward… Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #380 – The monthly Barn Sale returns on Saturday/Sunday, October 5/6 at The Big Barn on A.V. Way just north of Boonville, and runs from 10am to 3pm each day… #381 – Leslie and Michael Hubbert present the live music this coming Saturday (Oct 5) at the weekly Boonville Farmer’s Market. The market takes place in the Boonville Hotel parking lot and runs from 10am to 12.30pm… #382 – For those so inclined, the monthly Community Drum Session is next Wednesday, October 9 at The Grange – contact Rob 3897 or Andy 3020 for further details… #383 – The next visit to the Valley by the vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital will be Thursday, October 17 – unfortunately, due to staffing issues, this will be their only visit of the month… #384 – The quarterly (?) visit to the Valley by the County Haz Mat vehicles will be on Friday/Saturday, October 11/12, at the County Fairgrounds. I urge you take the opportunity to get rid of your nasty rubbish as these guys will take virtually anything that you cannot take to the County Dump, including batteries and toxic materials, but not dead animals – leave them to me and my relatives! Call 895-3011 for further details… Upcoming events for your calendars include a Guest Chef Dinner at the unusual location of the Big Barn next to the A.V. Farm Supply. This will benefit the Sr Center and takes place on Friday, October 25; the Halloween Dark Carnival presentation at The Shed behind the Farrer Building; a Veterans Day Observation service on Monday, November 11 at the Evergreen Cemetery; hopefully November play-offs for all three of the school’s fall sports – volleyball, soccer, and football; Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 28; a ‘Cops and Robbers Ball at The Grange at a date I am not aware of yet; and of course the annual New Year’s Eve party at Lauren’s Restaurant in Boonville…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community Lunches and Dinners next week at the Senior Center in the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center suggests a $6 donation from Seniors for both the lunches and dinners and charges $7 for Non-Seniors for lunches and $8 for the dinners… … Tomorrow, Thursday, October 3, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Sausage Rigatoni w/ Vodka Sauce, Green Beans, Ferro Salad, Garlic Bread, and Triple Lemon Dessert… Then next Tuesday, October 8, for the 6pm dinner, the menu will feature Rosemary Pork Roast, twice Baked Potatoes, Carrots, Gravy Rolls, Apple Salad, Apple Sauce, and Carrot Cake for dessert... As this is the 2nd Tuesday, this feast will be followed by Bingo at 7pm… Hopefully you will be able to attend, and remember – ALL ages are welcome!… Hope to see you there…

       Well now I think it’s time to take my leave, I hear the frogs croaking… 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. Hi, George – hope you and Sheila are well…

p.p.p.s. Keep on humming, Hummingbird…