# 430 - October 29th, 2014

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… After all the hullabaloo of the past few weeks regarding the trials and tribulations at the A.V. Health Center, I think we need a little ‘love’ to be spread around the Valley so let’s start this with some appropriate Quotes of the Week. There are obviously many, many comments on this topic but here are a few of my favorites…

       For the first of these I am indebted to A.V.A. regular contributor Steve Heilig, who recently signed off a message to me with ‘Yr fan’, and shared this classic remark by John Lennon (1940-1980) - "Did you heard that ‘Love Story’ movie theme saying 'Love means never having to say you're sorry'? Bollocks - love means having to say you're sorry every five minutes!"… Well, that’s Mr. Lennon for you - must have been before he met Yoko and got in touch with his sensitive side… Anyway, let’s have a far less cynical comment from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), the American poet and educator, who said, “Love gives itself; it is not bought”… And then there’s this from Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887), the American Congregationalist clergyman and social reformer known for his support of the abolition of slavery, who remarked, “I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love”... It was the long-time Poet Laureate of Great Britain, Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892), who famously said “It is better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all”… But let’s finish with a couple of more irreverent, yet perhaps equally as valid observations. First, this from Malcolm Lowry (1909–1957), the British poet and author of ‘Under the Volcano’, who insightfully remarked, “How alike are the groans of love to those of the dying”… And finally, coming full circle and returning to a more cynical view, we have this classic from Woody Allen (1935-), who wisely observed, “Sex alleviates tension. Love causes it”…

       Moving on… Here are this week’s Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #915 - Tomorrow, Thursday, October 30, the A.V. ElderHome is hosting a Community Meeting at the Senior Center at 6pm to explain future plans and to get community feedback… #916 - This weekend sees the monthly Barn Sale take place at the Big Barn on A.V. Way just north of Boonville. It’s Saturday/Sunday, November 1/2 from 10am to 3pm each day - is it too early to think about Christmas gifts?… #917 - The Mendocino Bookmobile next visits the Valley on Tuesday, November 4. They are here on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Navarro Store 9am (for 30 minutes); the Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville (Apple Hall) 2.30pm. Phone 463-4694 for further details… #918 - This Friday, October 31, sees the Dark Carnival Halloween event take place at The Grange (not at The Shed as in previous years) from 6pm to midnight. It’s titled ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ with an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme for your costumes… #919 - No more visits to the Valley by the Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital can be announced at this time. Hopefully they will be back in December…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community lunches over the next week at the Senior Center at the Veterans’ Building in Boonville… The Center asks for a $6 donation from seniors and charges $7 for Non-seniors… Tomorrow, Thursday, October 30, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Smothered Steak, Rice, Brussels sprouts, Rolls, Quinoa Salad, and Sugar Cookies for dessert … Then next Tuesday, November 4, the menu will feature Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Peas, 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 surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley, a location that sees people get together and share their thoughts about life in A.V. and where we subscribe to the Winston Churchill philosophy that “A lie will get halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put on its pants”… So I’ll put my pants on and continue…

… Update on Justin Lee Schultz and Lola - these are the names of a young man and his dog whom I mentioned in this space a couple of weeks ago as they were on their way to San Diego. You may recall the reason for my doing so was that they were on a very basic motorbike, with Lola traveling in a open crate on the back, and they had been on the road for two months since they left Nebraska!... They were inseparable and my heart was greatly warmed by the connection between ‘man and dog’ and the adventure they were having together… Anyway, Jason Lee contacted the Three-Dot and writes, “I’ve called an end to my trip down the west coast - kind of. The plan was to drive Hwy 1 all the way down Oregon and California to San Diego but my sweet little pup, who means the world to me, came with a surprise. She had puppies on the way - five of them! I changed plans and headed to my brother’s in Scottsdale, Arizona so my girl can nurse her puppies in the comfort of a stable home. Bidding on the puppies will start at $8 million a piece! Well, Lola had the pups earlier than I thought but we made it there with a whole lot of help, including a nearly 500-mile tow from my big brother across the great American desert for my motorcycle, Lola, her 5 puppies, and me!! Now I get to hang out with my brother and the lovely Heidi Helena Cada until they kick me back to the highway”… The adventure continues…

… The Oktoberfest event to benefit the Senior Center resulted in a wonderful evening spent at the Big Barn located at the A.V. Farm Supply. The sausages, sauerkraut, and warm potato salad dinner, followed by the apple/nut dessert, all washed down with fine ales in the appropriately decorated location made for a great time and those who were not there are advised not to miss out next year… ‘Well done!’ to the hard-working Senior Center Board and their team of volunteers!...

… The following day saw a number of 3-Dot regulars visit the ElderHome Open House in Boonville and they were very pleased to see the progress that has been made in upgrading the building. The next step is to get some local seniors living there and I am reliably informed that in the next couple of months two of the units will be occupied by such folks!...

       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; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; 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”… Sometimes poking, often stroking, but always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture - pleased in the knowledge that the old hare has returned safely to his burrow…

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… Keep on wagging that tail, Fred… Everything cool with you, O.J.? Of course it is… Carry on humming, Hummingbird…

      

# 429 - October 22nd, 2014

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… The disturbing saga at the A.V. Health Center continues. In fact the whole situation has even stirred the Old Buzzard from his late summer slumbers and caused him to weigh in with some comments that could certainly be added to his long list of ‘Signs that the Apocalypse is Approaching’…

       Buzzard reports, “So, just over a week after the new doctor’s ‘Meet and Greet the Community’ event, developments at the Health Center would seem to have taken on farcical proportions. Like many others, I have been inundated with a veritable surge of emails on this topic that all came from within the same group of about 80 Valley folks who make up a sincere, well-intentioned, and cohesive email assemblage whose efforts are commendable. The vast majority of this contingent appears to be in agreement with one another and claims to be acting in the best interests of the community. I am sure they genuinely believe this. I support much of what they have proposed when it comes to ‘saving the Health Center’ but I am also aware of some people, in many cases those who do not easily share their thoughts in public, who are not convinced that the group is representing the community as a whole, certainly with regards to some of their more specific aims concerning the future of the current Board and other staffing issues…

       Knowing and respecting a number of the Board members personally, I have to assume that there are a number of arguments that represent a different point of view. For reasons that remain unclear, we have not been presented with these. Nevertheless, there remains a significant number of Valley folks who do not agree with some of Gang of Eighty’s ideas. The Eighty will reasonably point out that these individuals can share their thoughts at a community meeting, but it doesn’t work like that, and in most cases these people will continue to keep their thoughts to themselves. I guess they will have to live with the consequences of their inaction - which is unfortunate. Our community is often divided on many other Valley issues, in fact we live in a place where you can find similar numbers on both sides of most serious discussions if you delve deep enough - the wineries, the school, tourism and commerce, bike trails, and marijuana, to mention a few. Not that this is a bad thing, in fact it most cases it is quite healthy and this is not the harmonious, all-for-one community that some would have you believe; it is far more normal than that…

       But I digress… Being a former patient at the Health Center, who for numerous reasons has decided for the past few years to travel the 90 minutes to Santa Rosa for health care rather than the 15 minutes to Boonville, and who welcomed some of the changes made at the clinic in recent times (but certainly not the firing of dental clinic administrator, Kathy Corral, who always seemed to me to be the most efficient and courteous person in the building), I believe there is another side to many of the arguments. However, while the ‘Gang of Eighty’ has repeatedly presented articulate and well-reasoned arguments and requests, there have been very few comments from that ‘other side.’ In fact their reticence to address so many of the issues raised thus far has been very disappointing indeed. Perhaps, given this weekend’s torrent of related activity, they are feverishly putting together their side of the debate as I write. Let’s hope so - but why haven’t they done so before now? I think we should be told… I must go - this health center fiasco is making me feel ill… Oh, the irony!…

       Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #240 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be visiting the Valley just once more this month - tomorrow, Thursday, October 23 from 2-4pm at the A.V. Farm Supply. Unfortunately, due to staffing issues, they will not be making a visit to the Valley in November… #241 - This Saturday, October 25, sees the end of season local potluck at 12:30pm, following the final outdoor Farmers’ Market at the Boonville Hotel Parking Lot (it’s not a courtyard)… #242 - And in a related event, on Sunday, October 26 it’s the Farm-to-Fork Dinner at the Boonville Hotel - a fundraiser for the A.V. Foodshed in celebration of Local Farmers and Local Food! This dining experience will feature food and drink sourced entirely from Anderson Valley. Appetizers at 4:30, Dinner at 5:30. $55- $125 sliding scale - includes 4 course meal, wine, beverage, tax and gratuity. Please Call 895-2210, space is limited … #243 - Stone and Embers, at The Madrones, just south of Philo, will also be highlighting local ingredients on Saturday, October 25. They will be open from 12-8 that day and recommend reservations at dinnertime… #244 - This year’s final Guest Chef Dinner - the series of community dinners to benefit the Senior Center, takes place on Saturday, October 25 and will be in the form of an Oktoberfest celebration to be held in the unique and appropriately decorated Barn at the AV Farm Supply, just north of Philo. Prepared by Fal Allen and Friends, there will be a Happy Hour at 5pm and Dinner will be served at 6pm. Tickets are $30.00, which includes the dinner, one complementary drink, and a donation to the Senior Center of $10. Only a limited number of tickets will be available, and anyone who attended last year’s sold out event will surely want to be back, so get yours early… #245 - The AV ElderHome is having an Open House at their newly renovated unit on Sunday, October 26 from 1 to 5pm - it’s #14440-A, next to the Fairground. Then on Thursday, October 30, the ElderHome is also hosting a Community Meeting at the Senior Center at 6pm to explain future plans and to get community feedback…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community lunches and dinners over the next week at the Senior Center at the Veterans’ Building in Boonville… The Center asks for 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 23, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Amish Chicken, Pasta, Carrots, Rolls, Wheat Berry Salad, and Wendy’s Oatmeal Cookies for dessert … Then at 6pm next Tuesday evening, October 28, the menu will feature Chicken Enchiladas, Corn, Black Beans, Salsa, Orange Gelatin, Tabbouleh Salad, with Apple 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 surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley, a location that sees people get together and share their thoughts about life in A.V. and where we subscribe to the Winston Churchill philosophy that “A lie will get halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put on its pants”… So I’ll put my pants on and continue…

… So the Giants return to the World Series and now face Kansas City in the best-of-seven series that started yesterday (Tuesday 21)… By the way they find ways to win, it appears the team is one of destiny, and once more, as in their victorious postseasons in 2010 and 2012, our local community is following avidly… It’s Fall, Halloween is around the corner, and the Gigantes are in the Series - how many more reasons do you need to get your Orange and Black on…

… Elementary school Principal, Donna Pierson-Pugh stopped by the Three-Dot and shared with some regulars that “The school’s wonderful Fresh Fruits and Vegetables grant was not funded this year and our kiddos are really missing the morning  "produce" snack. We would love to request a donation of any surplus fruits and veggies that can be eaten raw for the elementary school children. Please contact Donna or the AVES office staff at 895-3010. Thanks for keeping our children eating those fruits and vegetables!”…

       I’m outta here… So, until we talk again – ‘Keep the Faith’; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; 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”… Sometimes poking, often stroking, but always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture - pleased in the knowledge that the old hare has returned safely to his burrow…

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?... Keep on humming, Hummingbird… Everything cool with you, O.J.? Of course it is…

# 428 - October 15th, 2014

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… Not much to report this week, primarily because I have not been out-and-about in the Valley that much… Nevertheless, I can still give you the Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)…

       Here we go…Calendars and pens at the ready… #515 - Gardeners, Farmers and Produce Growers of all kinds, please remember Food Bank day is October 21 - always the 3rd Tuesday of every month, - as a place to donate your extra produce.  It will be greatly appreciated.  Please drop off on the Monday before (Oct 20 this month), behind the Boonville Methodist Church… #516 - The Mendocino Bookmobile next visits the Valley on Tuesday, October 21. They are here on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Navarro Store 9am (for 30 minutes); the Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; and Boonville (Apple Hall) 2.30pm. Phone 463-4694 for further details… #517 - This Saturday, October 18 at 9pm at Lauren’s Restaurant in Boonville, there’s the monthly ‘Open Mic’ hosted by John Pleasants. It is always the 3rd Saturday of each month and sign-ups to perform will begin at 8.30pm… #518 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be visiting the Valley once more this month - on Thursday, October 23 from 2-4pm at the A.V. Farm Supply... #519 - This year’s final Guest Chef Dinner - the series of community dinners to benefit the Senior Center, takes place on Saturday, October 25 and will be in the form of an Oktoberfest celebration to be held in the unique and appropriately decorated Barn at the AV Farm Supply, just north of Philo. Prepared by Fal Allen and Friends, there will be a Happy Hour at 5pm and Dinner will be served at 6pm. Tickets are $30.00, which includes the dinner, one complementary drink, and a donation to the Senior Center of $10. Only a limited number of tickets will be sold, and anyone who attended last year will surely be back, so get yours early for this very popular event… #520 - The AV ElderHome is having an Open House at their newly renovated unit Sunday, October 26th from 1 to 5pm, #14440-A, next to the Fairground. On Thursday October 30th the ElderHome is also hosting a Community Meeting at the Senior Center at 6pm to explain future plans and to get community feedback…

       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community lunches over the next week at the Senior Center at the Veterans’ Building in Boonville… The Center asks for a $6 donation from seniors and charges $7 for Non-seniors… Tomorrow, Thursday, October 16, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm will be Sausage Skillet, Noodles, Roasted Vegetables, Bulgur Salad, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars for dessert… Then next Tuesday, October 21, the menu will feature Lasagna, Peas, Garlic Bread, Farro Salad, and Better Cake for dessert... Remember, all ages are welcome!... Hope to see you there…

       That’s all for this week so I’m outta here… So, until we talk again – ‘Keep the Faith’; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; 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”… Sometimes poking, often stroking, but always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture - and thinking you should now that we Turkey Vultures are monogamous and mate for life and sometimes, to prove our loyalty, we like to indulge in an ‘erotic’ display dance on our nesting grounds…

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… Greetings, George – hope you and Sheila are well… Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? Hopefully not!

# 427 - October 8th, 2014

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… I have been a little remiss by not always including the various A.V. Foodshed events in the column so here are some for the month of October… This Friday, October 10, Fri Oct 10 - Paysanne Ice Cream in Boonville offers a free small coffee with any local crepe; the Buckhorn, Boonville features some local food dinners on the menu; and there is an AV Community Farm Benefit at 18500 Lambert Lane from 5pm-midnight… Lauren’s Restaurant and Mosswood Market have a number of local food specials throughout the month and the A.V. Framer’s Market continues on Saturday mornings in the Boonville Hotel parking lot from 10am-12.30pm, although they will move across the street to the Boonville General Store from November 1 for the winter months… That’ll do for now…

       And now for the rest of the Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #559 - Bill Harper, the President/Supreme Leader of our local Lions’ Club branch, writes to inform me and readers that “The Anderson Valley Lions Club with be conducting free eye screenings at the Adult School located to the left of the Elementary School on the following dates and times: Monday, Oct 13 at 7:30 to 11:30 am, 1 to 4 pm, and 7:30 to 8:30 pm; and also Wednesday, Oct 15th from 7:30 to 11:00 am and 5:30 to 8:30 pm. If you want to make an appointment call Community Health Corps members Matthew Tunzi (831-809-6462) or Brooke Angel (619-846-0167). The children at the Elementary School will be screened separately so adults/parents and high school students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity while they can”… #560 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be visiting the Valley on two occasions this month, the first of which is tomorrow - Thursday, October 9. As always, the venue is the A.V. Farm Supply but their hours have been extended - they will now be there from 2-4pm and new customers are always welcome. Their next visit is in two week’s time on Thursday, October 23… #561 - The Anderson Valley Grange is having its regular second Sunday Local Organic Pancake and Egg Breakfast on October 12, 8:30-11 at The Grange. Breakfast ranges from $5-10 with Mendocino Grain Project wheat and local bacon and eggs. Gluten free is also available… #562 - This year’s final Guest Chef Dinner, the series of community dinners to benefit the Senior Center takes place on Saturday, October 25 and will be in the form of an Oktoberfest celebration to be held in the unique and appropriately decorated Barn at the AV Farm Supply, just north of Philo. Prepared by Fal Allen and Friends, there will be a Happy Hour at 5pm and Dinner will be served at 6pm. Tickets are $30.00, which includes the dinner, one complementary drink, and a donation to the Senior Center of $10. Only a limited number of tickets will be sold, and anyone who attended last year will surely be back, so get yours early for this very popular event… #563 - I believe there may be a drumming circle night at The Grange this evening - Wednesday, October 8 from 7pm-9pm. Contact Rob 895-3897 or Andy 895-3020 for further details…

       And as a special service, here are some standout events over the next few months… The annual Halloween Dark Carnival presentation at The Shed behind the Farrer Building; a Veterans Day Observation service on Sunday, November 9 at the Evergreen Cemetery; hopefully November play-offs for all three of the school’s fall sport’s teams – volleyball, soccer, and football; Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 27; Christmas Day is once again on December 25 - a Thursday; 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 over the next week at the Senior Center in the Veterans Hall in Boonville… The Center asks for 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 9, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Oven Fried Fish & Potatoes, Cabbage Apple Slaw, Butternut Squash, Freekah Salad, Tater Sauce, and Monkey Tail Cake for dessert… Then, next Tuesday evening, September 9 at 6pm, the dinner will feature Chicken Gloria, Brown Rice, Cauliflower, Cherry Gelatin, Broccoli Salad, and Banana Pudding for dessert. As this is the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the dinner 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… 

       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 surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley, a location that sees people get together and share their thoughts about life in A.V.… 

… A couple of regulars inform me that this coming Sunday (October 12) will be a special locals’ night at Coq au Vin Restaurant at the Floodgate. They will be closed on their usual locals’ night of Monday (Oct 13) for this week only, although there has been some talk of Sunday becoming the regular night for such evenings…

… Talking of special evenings, I was honored to be one of the guests at the ‘exclusive’ celebration of Carolyn Eigenman’s 80th Birthday held at the Buckhorn last Saturday evening. A wonderful time was held by one and all with Carolyn’s family there in force along with many local friends. It was an open bar, with a secret code of ‘1934’ - Carolyn’s birth year, to get complimentary drinks all evening from barman Dan. The delicious prime rib dinner was prepared by Jared Titus and the crew, and served by hard-working waitress Amy who must have been up and down the stairs nearly fifty times!... A good job by one and all, and a special thank you to Carolyn for ‘doing it right’ - by inviting friends and providing them with fine food and drink. A class act that is not always the case anymore…

… And on a final note with regards to good times… I have had more of those at one particular place than at any other - The Mad Dog in the Fog pub in San Francisco on Haight Street at Fillmore - a place that will be 25 years old this coming Saturday… Thanks for the memories…

       Well now I think it’s time to take my leave, as I do have to see a man about a sheep… So, until we talk again – ‘Keep the Faith’; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; 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”… Sometimes poking, often stroking, but always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture - hope you enjoyed the read and who knows, you might miss me when you’re gone (?)…

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… Is that ‘lafter’ I hear, Carroll?... Keep up the good work, Round-eyed Robin…

# 426 - October 1st, 2014

Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… I have often thought that telling ourselves and each other what a wonderful community we have here in the Valley is something that is certainly true but, if repeated over and over, perhaps a little too self-congratulatory, and almost smug in my humble, and some might say, curmudgeonly opinion. I feel that simply knowing it, enjoying it, feeding off it, and adding to it, without frequently ‘shouting it from the rooftops’, no matter how true it may be, is a more agreeable way to enjoy and celebrate this undoubted gift we as a community possess - but that’s me, go figure...

       And yet, when it directly affects me or my loved ones, as it did last week, I find myself casting such a reserved and dignified reaction aside and yelling this out loud myself!… The episode that provoked such an outburst occurred when Hummingbird was flying along Hwy 128 when she suddenly experienced a flat wing and had to pull over into The Grange parking lot. She made the necessary phone call to V.A.I.N. (Vulture Assistance In-flight Network - think ‘AAA for Turkey Vultures’) and waited. Over the next fifteen minutes no fewer than three offers of assistance to fix the problem had been made by passers-by - Fire Chief Andres Avila, Eddie Slotte, and Christine Clark with daughter-in-law Christy. Fantastic! How good is that? Hummingbird thanked them profusely and explained that help was on the way, but nonetheless she was extremely grateful for these caring folks’ offers and I was moved to go to the rooftop and shout “WHAT A GREAT COMMUNITY WE HAVE HERE IN ANDERSON VALLEY!”… Ooops…

       And for a couple of related Quotes of the Week, let’s go first with this beauty from M. Scott Peck (1936-2005), the American psychiatrist and best-selling author, best known for his first book, The Road Less Traveled (1978), who commented, “There can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community without vulnerability; there can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community”… And secondly, here’s some wisdom from Cesar Chavez (1927-1993), the famous and influential labor leader and civil rights activist, who observed, “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own”…

       Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #916 - This weekend sees the monthly Barn Sale take place at the Big Barn on A.V. Way just north of Boonville. It’s Saturday/Sunday, October 4/5 from 10am to 3pm each day - is it too early to think about Christmas gifts?… #917 - The Mendocino Bookmobile next visits the Valley on Tuesday, October 7. They are here on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Navarro Store 9am (for 30 minutes); the Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville (Apple Hall) 2.30pm. Phone 463-4694 for further details… #918 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be visiting the Valley twice this month. Their first visit is Thursday, October 9 and they will return two weeks after that, on Thursday, October 23. As always, the venue is the A.V. Farm Supply but their hours have been extended - they will now be there from 2-4pm. New customers are always welcome and for those who have been before you can call 462-8833 and the vets will bring your pet’s charts with them - making this an even better service than it already is!… #919 - Here’s an early-ish heads-up for this year’s final Guest Chef Dinner, the series of community dinners to benefit the Senior Center. This takes place on Saturday, October 25 and will be in the form of an Oktoberfest event that be held in the unique and appropriately decorated Barn at the AV Farm Supply, just north of Philo. Prepared by Fal Allen and Friends, there will be a Happy Hour at 5pm and Dinner will be served at 6pm. Tickets ate $30.00, which includes the dinner, one complementary drink, and a donation to the Senior Center. Only a limited number of tickets will be sold, and anyone who attended last year will surely be back, so get yours early for this very popular event. They are available at the AV Senior Center, Lemons, and AV Market, and from Chris Rossi at Rossi Hardware. For full menu and information call the AV Senior Center 895-3609…
       As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community lunches over the next week for the Senior Center at the Veterans’ Building in Boonville… The Center asks for a $6 donation from seniors and charges $7 for Non-seniors… Tomorrow, Thursday, October 2, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Meatloaf, Mashed potatoes with gravy, Brussels sprouts, Rolls, Barley salad, and Birthday Cup Cakes for dessert… Then next Tuesday, October 7, the menu will feature Garlic Parmesan Chicken with Spinach, Pasta, Garlic bread, Quinoa salad, with Kahlua 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 surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley, a location that sees people get together and share their thoughts about life in A.V. and where we subscribe to the Winston Churchill philosophy that “A lie will get halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put on its pants”… So I’ll put my pants on and continue…

… Justin Lee Schultz and Lola - these are the names of a young man and his dog who stopped by the Three-Dot last week on their way to San Diego. No big deal you may think - except they were on a very basic motorbike, with Lola traveling in a open crate on the back, and they had been on the road for two months since they left Nebraska!... They were inseparable and my heart was greatly warmed by the connection between ‘man and dog’ and the adventure they were having together. It was a beautiful thing to behold and surely one of the reasons we were all put here in the first place…

… Regulars this week took some time to discuss the news that California has become the first U.S. state to require students on state-funded campuses to have clear, active consent before all sexual activity - the ‘Yes means Yes’ law. The legislation stipulates that voluntary agreement, rather than lack of resistance, defines consent and that silence, or a lack of resistance, do not constitute consent. Under the bill, someone who is drunk, drugged, unconscious or asleep cannot grant consent… Of course there are dissenters, including The National Coalition For Men who condemned the bill as "misandric" (man-hating), saying, among other things that it "will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in law suits and sets the stage for ruining innocent lives"… Hmmm… Deal with it, I say…

… The Germans have made their fair share of serious mistakes for sure, and I’m not just talking about the particularly unflattering lederhosen (leather breeches) that many insist on wearing, but at this time of year they get it right - it’s October, and for many of my close acquaintances that means the time for the wonderful German combo of beer and sausages… I just thought you should know - do join me…

       I’m outta here… So, until we talk again – ‘Keep the Faith’; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; 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”… Sometimes poking, often stroking, but always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture - pleased in the knowledge that the old hare has returned safely to his burrow…

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… Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself - even on your birthday?? Hopefully not! Many Happy Returns!… Bobwhite Quail - keep up the knitting!