# 450 - 18th March, 2015

        Greetings one and all – if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… Several regulars at the 3-Dot and myself wish to pass on our congratulations to owner Tom Towey on the 4th Anniversary of his Buckhorn restaurant and pub in the heart of Boonville. Recalling those months in late 2010 and early 2011, I remember well Tom’s perseverance as he fought through the ridiculous red tape and mind-boggling bureaucracy that Mendocino County provides as obstacles for anyone who is planning to open a pub/restaurant. One would like to think the local government would try to help such endeavors instead of doing their best to prevent such small businesses opening and being successful. It’s actually quite disgraceful what happened, but the bastards were finally beaten down and a much-needed establishment was opened that has added to the enjoyment of an afternoon or evening out in Boonville… Twenty-plus local people are employed, the menu is wide-ranging, the beer, wine, and liquor selection is second to none in the county, and the place looks great! It provides what every the community needs - a fine drinking and eating establishment at which to spend time with family and friends. Oh, and I should add - it’s the only place in the Valley to get ‘proper’ drinks like martini’s, Bloody Mary’s, and fine whiskey, etc, and it’s also the only place that serves Huevos Rancheros - which they do during the 10am-4pm brunch hours at weekends. Try it - you can thank me later…

       For your Quote of the Week, I feel it is perfectly appropriate to give you the wise words of the British social commentator and writer, Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) – “Nothing has been yet contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.” I would venture to say that this is as true today as on the occasion he originally made this very astute observation... And let’s have a second quote in a similar vein, with a bit of Irish logic to contemplate as you toast a ‘Happy St. Patrick’s to one and all’ and ‘Well done, Tom!” - these are the thoughtful words of Irish ‘philosopher’ Brian O'Rourke who sagely observed, “When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep.  When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let's all get drunk and go to heaven!”... Hard to argue with that…

       Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #678 - An early heads-up for the inaugural Goat Fest and Wildflower Show on Saturday, April 25. Although it cannot replace the wonderful but sadly demised Woolgrowers’ Fair of many year’s standing, this new event has great potential to become a Valley staple in its own right. If you are interested in being a vendor, presenter, or volunteer contact ‘The Goat Man’ Jim Devine at 496-8725 or avgoats@gmail.com… #679 - The Mendocino Bookmobile returns to the Valley on Tuesday, March 24. They are here on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Navarro Store 9am (for just 30 minutes); the Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville (Apple Hall) 2.30pm. Phone 463-4694 for further details… #680 - Need a burn permit? You can get one from the Firehouse in Boonville. Call 895-2020 for details or stop by - you will be efficiently served with a smile - trust me on this… #681 - The A.V Museum continues its winter/spring hours of Saturday and Sunday, from 1pm-4pm. Situated in The Little Red Schoolhouse next to the Elementary School on A.V. Way, this is a perfect thing to do in the Valley when you have a couple of hours spare on a weekend afternoon. It is not without reason that it is generally regarded as ‘The Best Little Museum in the West’… #682 - As previously mentioned, the Vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital will not be making a visit to the Valley until Thursday, March 26. Thankfully, they do plan to be here twice in April… #683 - The monthly ‘Open Mic’ night at Lauren’s restaurant in Boonville resumes this Saturday, March 21 at 9pm (sign up at 8.30pm). All are welcome - musicians, singers, poets, writers, impressionists, magicians, comedians, actors, fire-eaters, pole dancers, sword swallowers, ventriloquists, raconteurs, exotic dancers, animal callers, etc. No clowns - apparently they would scare any kids who might be there, and no mimes, please - they scare pretty much everyone else!…

       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, March 19, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew promptly at Noon, will be Beef and broccoli, rice, Asian slaw, Thai barley salad, and Mango cake for dessert. Then, next Tuesday March 24, the lunch will feature Fish and chips, broccoli, cornbread, Quinoa salad, and Lemon bars for dessert. All meals include vegetables, salad bar, and fruit, plus milk, coffee, tea, and lemonade. 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 Anderson Valley and not far beyond…

… The Afternoon Club, based at the Senior Center in Boonville is up and running! This will be for elderly folks to spend a few hours at the Center on Thursday afternoons so that their care-taking spouses can get a break. Set up under the auspices of the A.V. Senior Center and the local Senior Assistance Network (S.A.N.), the Director of this program is Sony Hatcher and I am sure we all wish her every success with this important venture. For further information call Sony at 489-1367 or email her at sonyhatcher@yahoo.com…

… 3-Dot regular Bunny Bill stopped by to celebrate the performances of his produce at the Citrus Fair held recently in Cloverdale. These were his awards:- First Place and Best of Division for limes; First Place for lemons; First Place for Mandarin Orange; a poor Second Place for Kaffir Limes; and a miserable Third Place for grapefruit - something he clearly needs to work on… With all the victories he inevitably collected The Big One - the Sweepstakes Ribbon for the most ribbons won at the show… Well done, that man!...

… Many regulars attended the St Patrick’s Dinner at the Apple Hall on Saturday evening to benefit the Senior Center and it was generally agreed that it was arguably their best so far. The corned beef and cabbage was very good indeed and the Irish coffees were expertly made by Fal Allen, who also did a W Dan-esque job on the cake auction that saw a number of bids topping $100!... The rest of the Senior Centre Board were there working hard, along with their volunteer crew, all making sure the whole event ran smoothly. This is a Board that when it talks the talk, it always follows up by walking the walk, as they continue to emphasize what a big difference just a few folks can make for so many…

… Just to continue banging the same old drum… With the frost season expected any day now, many regulars at the 3-Dot are wondering who they can turn to with grievances about the almost inevitable impending situation of frost protection fans keeping large numbers of the community awake at night? Well, apart from calling the phone numbers given out here last week, in order to bring such issues to the county government’s attention then I imagine one’s local County Supervisor would be the person to contact. Dan Hamburg is his name for those of us living in the Valley, and hopefully he will be around here sometime before he next intends to run for office - which, as he was just re-elected unopposed, will be 2018 at the earliest (if he decides to run as a virtual septuagenarian). In the meantime, you can reach him to ask for his support and stand up for your rights via his email Dan@votehamburg5.org, or website at www.votehamburg5.org or by calling him at 707-467-0329, day or night, although if you do so when the fans are going full blast at 4am it might mean he does something about the problem… I’m just sayin’, Dan… How are you? Come over and see us some time… Just follow Hwy 253 to its western end you’ll be here… I’m just half-jokingly pulling your plonker! Ha! Ha! Ha!... 

       Well now I think it’s time to take my leave… Besides I’ve got 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 almost 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… Hello, George – hope you and Sheila are well… Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? I don’t think you were last night!!!