# 525 - 24th August, 2016

    Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin…
    Onward… Here in Anderson Valley we arguably have more than our fair share of kind and thoughtful people. One of these is someone whom I regard as almost heroic when it comes to caring for animals in need. Upon finding a terribly abused dog a few weeks ago, one that had been seen around town for a few days, I contacted this person. Despite his busy schedule, he agreed to take the dog without hesitation. I arranged for this to happen and he picked up the dog and took him home to begin his ‘work’. He sent me regular updates on the situation over the next few days and here is a composite of those texts… “The starving dog ate 3lbs of hamburger and 4lbs of premium dog food over the first 12 hours [in controlled portions]… I have been rescuing dogs for a number of years both here and in Mexico and have never seen such bad flea infestation and skin damage. His teeth are worn down like he had spent years chewing on chains. I immediately gave him flea meds, and a bath. The bath was clearly painful for him; it took 10 minutes for the dried blood and wounds to stop running red. It will take me three more baths to get him even close to a point of normalcy and remove the caked on dead skin… We know the owner, who obviously has not cared at all for the dog. In fact it would seem he has done the opposite. This amounts to animal abuse and Deputy Waker has been informed, along with Animal Control… Once I got the wounds shaved and clean and could see the extent of the neglect, I was shocked. It is one of the worst cases I have seen. I have since discovered that the guy took this poor dog to work regularly and nobody did anything”… (Three days later)… “Dog update: all fleas and mites are dead. Skin starting to heal, but it will take awhile. Eating lots of food so should see some weight come back on soon.  Started topical antibiotics on his infected eyes and a short course of heavy oral antibiotics to speed up internal healing. I have been in touch with a senior dog rescue group that is likely going to take him - the dog is about 10 -12 years old, I would guess. Deputy Walker is being kept abreast of the situation and is ready to intervene if necessary. I cannot imagine for one second that the owner cares at all about his dog or is making any attempt to get him back”… And recently, in the past few days, the good samaritan of the A.V. pet world added, “After asking a few questions around town, I have found out that this slow-moving, sad, limping, tired, and ill-looking dog, is not twelve years old (an educated guess of mine and others), but is in fact just five years old!? I am dumbfounded” … Thank you, sir, for all the unheralded care and kindness you continue to provide for the ill-treated animals of the Valley… As for the owner(s) - may they rot in hell…

    With this in mind, here re three quotes on this important topic for your Quotes of the Week… “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ― Mahatma Gandhi… “I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being." ― Abraham Lincoln… “Compassion for animals is intimately associated with goodness of character, and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man." ― Arthur Schopenhauer…

    Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #543 - School starts today, Wednesday, August 24th…#544 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital have no more visits this month but they will be at the Anderson Valley Farm Supply on Highway 128, once again in September - I believe that will be Thursday, September 22, but I shall confirm… #545 - The Boonville Farmers’ Market continues every Saturday in the parking lot of the Boonville Hotel, 9.30am-Noon. For more information, call Cindy at 895-2949… #546 - The A.V. Lending Library run by The Unity Club currently closed until after the County Fair…  #547 - The County Dump is open from 9am-4pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Remember, no dead animals!… #548 - On Sunday, August 28 from 4-7pm, the A.V. Lions will be at it again as they work the tri-tips and chicken on the grill to raise money at the annual A.V. Ambulance benefit at the Redwood Grove in the Fairgrounds… #549 - Then six days later, from 3-6pm on Saturday, September 3rd, the A.V. Senior Center will be hosting a fundraising ribs and chicken bbq with chefs ‘Pot Licker BBQ’ (Steve and Terri Rhoades) at their location in the parking lot at the Veterans’ Hall… #550 - The next Barn Sale is not until Saturday/Sunday, September 10/11…
    As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community lunches and dinners over the next week in 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, August 25, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Balsamic Chicken, with Banana Pudding for dessert… Then, next Tuesday, September 1st, the evening meal served at 6pm, will feature Salisbury Steak with Lemon-Raspberry Cake for dessert. All meals include vegetables, salad bar, and fruit, plus milk, coffee, tea, and lemonade. What a deal - it maybe the best value for money you’ll get all week! As this is the 4th Tuesday of the month, the dinner will be followed by Bunco at 7pm… Tai Chi is now available every Tuesday at 11am, while on Thursdays at 11am it is Kathy’s Easy-stretch Yoga class. Also on Thursdays, the Active Life Club runs from 10am to 2pm and features games, crafts, and music. The Senior Center/Community Bus goes to Ukiah on Monday's and also Santa Rosa on the first Wednesday of the month. These trips fill up fast so don't forget to sign up early at 489-1175… Hopefully you will be able to attend some of these events and certainly the lunches and dinners, 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 (yet surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley, a somewhat secret location that sees people get together and share their thoughts about life in Anderson Valley and often far beyond…
… Barbara Goodell contacted me and asked me to share with my tens of thousands of readers that the documentary on the Secrets of Salsa project has been uploaded to YouTube in case you want to see it again or share the URL with friendshttp. It can be viewed at //www.secretsofsalsa.com/?page_id=4… Thank you for the information Barbara…
… School starts today and the kids are back in school, which is where they belong, and we at the Three-Dot wish each and everyone a successful year. The new year commences with two new Principals. At the High School it is Keri St Joer, whom I met briefly when I spotted him roaming the campus alone on Friday evening. His politics may not please everyone around here (but whose do in a Valley of very mixed viewpoints?) but he seems a pleasant fellow and he did chuckle at a couple of my intentionally amusing remarks. So, based on the Turkey Vulture grading system, at this point he gets a B+… At the Elementary School we have Katherine Reddick who, based on information received so far, clearly speaks her mind and in this case was brave and unique enough to do so - see http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2540667/I-felt-relief-longer-earth-Woman-58-opens-writing-scathing-obit-incredibly-awful-mom.html. Based on last year’s experiences, the big shoes of long-time Elementary School principal Donna Pierson-Pugh are not easily filled, so let’s hope Ms. Reddick is up to the task. I have not had the pleasure of meeting her so she has yet to receive a Turkey Vulture grading… I hope she can cope with the suspense…
… I find it strange, and certainly quite often frustrating, that a number of local businesses, organizations, and institutions here in the Valley employ folks who are trained (or rather not trained) to answer the phone by simply saying ‘Hello.’ Surely they should give their name and that of their place of employment - fundamental stuff one would think. Apparently not. The standards are slipping and it’s a crying shame…
    I’m outta here - I’ve got see a man about a sheep… Besides, that’s enough for now, so until we talk again – Be careful out there; if you break a leg don’t come running to me; stay out of the ditches; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; show love to your pets, they will be faithful and true to you to the last beat of their hearts, and please remember to keep your windows cracked if you leave them in your vehicle for any amount of time; think good thoughts; ‘Keep the Faith’; try to not let life get in the way of living; may your god go with you, and may your dog go with you too… Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”… Sometimes poking, often stroking, but almost always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture - saddened but ultimately comforted in the knowledge that the old hare has safely moved to his new burrow in the sky…
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse either through the Letters Page or by e-mail at
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse either through the Letters Page or by e-mail at
p.p.s. Skylark – read any good books lately?… Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? Hopefully not!… Everything cool with you, O.J.? Of course it is…

# 524 - 17th August, 2016

    Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin…
    ‘How did it come to this?’… While the diabolical terrorist attacks on innocent people which have taken place over the past year or two are still far from commonplace, their frequency has become such that I believe the reactions by many of us to such horrors are beginning, very gradually, to get increasingly numbed…Recently, in a two-week period of striking violence, two men inspired by Islamic State slit an 85-year-old French priest’s throat as he said mass. A German-Iranian teenager shot and killed nine people in a Munich mall; also in Bavaria, a failed Syrian asylum-seeker blew himself up in Ansbach, injuring 15. A disturbed man stabbed to death 19 disabled care-home residents near Tokyo.  Meanwhile, the Syrian army tightened its grip on Aleppo and dropped leaflets telling rebel fighters to surrender. More than 250,000 people live in the besieged areas and yet another humanitarian disaster is looming. A big bomb in the Kurdish-controlled Syrian city of Qamishli killed 44 people. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the blast… It all seemed to blend together and resulted in a sort of deep sigh of very sad resignation…
    Meanwhile, how will history evaluate such a period in world affairs as the last twenty years or so? Not very highly I would suggest. Things are not as calamitous worldwide as in the 1930s, which saw the Depression over here, along with the rise of fascism in Europe, Stalin’s purges in the Soviet Union, a militaristic Japan, the particularly brutal Spanish Civil War, and by 1939 a resumption of World War. Perhaps they will be viewed as being on the same level as the 1960s, which saw great upheaval and a breakdown of society’s norms, but certainly many areas of progress. The benefits of the huge leaps forward in many areas of human endeavor over the past twenty years have, in my humble opinion, been offset in equal measure, if not more, by the negative affects of globalization, the rise in terrorism, corporate greed, the ills of social media, and the ability for virtually any individual or group to grab their ‘fifteen minutes’ of fame or infamy. It is a worrying state of affairs, and who knows for how much longer the ‘madness’ will continue…

    After all that doom and gloom how about three of my favorite jokes to cheer you up?… They are oldies but still goodies… #3: ‘I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land.’ (Jon Stewart)... #2: ‘Three guys, stranded on a desert island, find a magic lantern containing a genie, who grants them each one wish. The first guy wishes he was off the island and back home. Whoosh! - he’s gone.. The second guy wishes the same. Whoosh! - he’s gone too. The third guy says "I’m so lonely. I wish my friends were back here" ‘... And #1: ‘It's Game 7 of the World Series, and a man makes his way to his seat behind home plate. He sits down, noticing that the seat next to him is empty. He leans over and asks his neighbor if someone will be sitting there. "No" says the neighbor. "The seat is empty." "This is incredible," said the man. "Who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the World Series and not use it?" The neighbor says, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Giants game we haven't been to together since we got married." "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. That's terrible... But couldn't you find someone else, a friend or relative, or even a neighbor to take the seat?" The man shakes his head. "No,” he says. “They're all at the funeral” ‘... Feeling a little better? Good...

    Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #541 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital have one more visit this month to the Anderson Valley Farm Supply on Highway 128, and that is tomorrow - Thursday, August 18, from 2pm-3.30pm… #542 - There will not be a second Barn Sale this month and so the next confirmed one will take place on the weekend of Saturday/Sunday, September 10/11, from 9am-3pm at The Big Barn next to the St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on A.V. Way just north of Boonville…  #543 - The Mendocino Bookmobile returns to the Valley next Tuesday, August 23. They are here on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Navarro Store 9am (for just 30 minutes before heading out to Comptche); the Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville (Apple Hall) 2.30pm. Phone 463-4694 for further details… #544 - The A.V Museum is open every 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 to spare on a weekend afternoon. It is not without reason that it is generally regarded as ‘The Best Little Museum in the West’… #545 - Upcoming Valley bbq’s - On Sunday, August 28 from 4-7pm, the A.V. Lions will be at it again as they work the tri-tips and chicken on the grill to raise money at the annual A.V. Ambulance benefit at the Redwood Grove in the Fairgrounds… Then six days later, from 3-6pm on Saturday, September 3rd, the A.V. Senior Center will be hosting a fundraising ribs and chicken bbq with chefs ‘Pot Licker BBQ’ (Steve and Terri Rhoades) at their location in the parking lot at the Veterans’ Hall… Sounds like good eatin’ in the Valley if you ask me…
   
    As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community lunches over the next week in 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, August 18, at noon, Marti Titus and her crew will serve Thai Holy Basil Chicken and Coconut Cream Dessert. Following lunch, join Ken Montgomery & Friends for music & singing… Then, next Tuesday, August 23, the lunch will feature Citrus Cod, with Apple Crisp dessert after which there will be a presentation by the Savings Bank on protecting yourself from fraud and financial abuse. All meals include vegetables, salad bar, and fruit, plus milk, coffee, tea, and lemonade. What a deal - it maybe the best value for money you’ll get all week!… Tai Chi is now available every Tuesday at 11am, while on Thursdays at 11am it is Easy-stretch Yoga, as part of the Active Life Club that runs from 10am to 2pm and which also features games, crafts, and music. The Senior Center/Community Bus goes to Ukiah on Monday's and also Santa Rosa on the first Wednesday of the month. These trips fill up fast so don't forget to sign up early at 489-1175… Hopefully you will be able to attend some of these events and certainly the lunches and dinners, 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 (yet surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley, a somewhat secret location that sees people get together and share their thoughts about life in Anderson Valley and often far beyond…
… As is no doubt mentioned elsewhere in this issue, the Valley has suffered the loss of three well known residents over the past week or so - Paul Titus, Kathy Hulbert, and Loretta Houck. Each significantly contributed in their own way to the rich tapestry of Valley life and their deaths leave behind many folks whose lives have lost a unique and special person… R.I.P….
… At this time of the year, many of the ladies of the Valley choose to wear big sunglasses and large hats. I like it. However, I find it quite odd that some wave at me and then seem disappointed at my failure to recognize who they are? (Obviously many ignore me completely, or in some cases even run away as I approach them). Why, I wonder? They have covered half of their head for god’s sake! They are in a virtual disguise and I am not Sherlock Holmes! I can only suggest that to offset the disappointment of my vague response they remove the glasses, hat, or preferably both, and then they will undoubtedly receive the greeting/hug/fondle that they expect…
… City folks rarely fail to ask what is it that we find to do while living up here. Many of them think we are all sitting around waiting for them to show up and provide us with a social life. How wrong can they be? Just this last weekend we had the 70th birthday celebration of the Valley’s very vibrant ‘1946-ers’, the Airport Day in Boonville (featuring superb smoked ribs by Jay the Grillmaster and tens of flights around the Valley), and a memorial for the recently deceased Kathy Hulbert - all before 5pm on Saturday… Let’s not even begin to discuss ‘Madcap Sunday’… The Bay Area? Not bad, but a little boring at times…

    I’m outta here - I’ve got see a man about a sheep… Besides, that’s enough for now, so “please take me drunk, I’m home,” and, until we talk again – be careful out there; if you break a leg don’t come running to me; stay out of the ditches; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; show love to your pets, they will be faithful and true to you to the last beat of their hearts, and please remember to keep your windows cracked if you leave them in your vehicle for any amount of time; think good thoughts; ‘Keep the Faith’; try to not let life get in the way of living; may your god go with you, and may your dog go with you too… Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”… Sometimes poking, often stroking, but almost always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture - still wallowing in the honor of having the 2nd tallest tree (343.6 feet) in Hendy Woods named after me and my ilk…
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse either through the Letters Page or by e-mail at
p.p.s. On the sheep, Grace…  Keep on humming, Hummingbird… Missing the Venerable Pheasant…

# 523 - 10th August, 2016

    Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin…
    Is it all starting to unravel for The Donald?… Following a number of recent gaffes, Republican Meg Whitman, President and CEO of Hewlett-Packard, and a major financial contributor to the GOP, commented on Facebook that to vote Republican out of party loyalty alone "would be to endorse a candidacy that I believe has exploited anger, grievance, xenophobia and racial division”… I am sure many Trump supporters responded with, “So what’s your point?” - yes, that response might be funny were it not quite possibly true…
    Meanwhile, following Mr Trump's recent clash with the grieving parents of a U.S. Moslem soldier slain in Iraq, in which, among other blunders, he oddly likened his own “sacrifice” as a casino-builder to that of the soldier’s. His spokeswoman, Katrina Pierson, then later caused a social media storm by blaming both President Obama and Mrs. Clinton for the death of Captain Humayun Khan, citing their policies on Iraq. What utter nonsense. I guess the Trump team believe they can say anything and get away with it. If the facts are checked, Captain Khan died in 2004, when Mrs Clinton was in the US Senate and five years before Mr Obama became president… The worrying thing is, they lie and lie, then get exposed, but it does not seem to be a major scandal any more. We have become numbed to the lies, half-truths, and vague innuendos of politicians on both sides, but particularly by those of the Trumpian persuasion, who have taken it to a whole other level…

    Onward… Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #544 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital have expressed their apologies for the late but unavoidable cancelation of their visit last week. They have one more visit this month to the Anderson Valley Farm Supply on Highway 128, and that is Thursday, August 18, from 2pm-3.30pm… #545 - The Boonville Farmers’ Market continues every Saturday in the parking lot of the Boonville Hotel, 9.30am-Noon. For more information, call Cindy at 895-2949… #546 - The A.V. Lending Library run by The Unity Club is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays at The Fairgrounds - Tuesday 1.30-4.30pm and Saturday 2-4pm… #547 - The County Dump is open from 9am-4pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Remember, no dead animals!… #548 - The Food Bank is open from 8-10am on the 3rd Tuesday of each month - which is next Tuesday, August 16. They will also be open on the Monday evening before from 4-6pm. Gardeners, farmers and produce growers of all kinds, remember to donate your extra produce and drop it off on the Monday behind the Boonville Methodist Church. If you need someone to glean your produce to take to the Food Bank, contact Valerie Kim at valerie.h.kim@gmail.com. Denisse Mattei is the Food Bank director. You can reach her at 895-3763… #549 - The Anderson Valley Grange is having its regular second Sunday Pancake Breakfast on August 14 from 8:30-11am. Prices range from $5-10 - kids through hungry folks, for a delicious, locally-sourced breakfast. Choices include pancakes (gluten free available; gluten extra is not), eggs, and bacon, with a choice of juice, tea or coffee included…

    As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community lunches over the next week in 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, August 11, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Joe's Chili, and Sopapilla Bars for dessert… Then, next Tuesday, August 16, the lunch will feature Chicken in Wine, with Elvis Presley Cake for dessert. All meals include vegetables, salad bar, and fruit, plus milk, coffee, tea, and lemonade. What a deal - it maybe the best value for money you’ll get all week! As this is the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the dinner will be followed by Bingo/Bunco at 7pm… Tai Chi is now available every Tuesday at 11am, while on Thursdays at 11am it is Easy-stretch Yoga, as part of the Active Life Club that runs from 10am to 2pm and which also features games, crafts, and music… The Senior Center/Community Bus goes to Ukiah on Monday's and also Santa Rosa on the first Wednesday of the month. These trips fill up fast so don't forget to sign up early at 489-1175… Hopefully you will be able to attend some of these events and certainly the lunches and dinners, 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 (yet surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley, a somewhat secret location that sees people get together and share their thoughts about life in Anderson Valley and often far beyond, 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, with that in mind, I shall quickly put my pants on and continue…
… A couple of regulars raved about the ‘hedonistic Sunday’ they took delight in recently - one that it would be hard not to enjoy I’m sure… When it comes to good food in the Valley on a Sunday (most days for that matter), there are a number of options of course but these two decided to start with the Brunch at The Buckhorn - Huevos Rancheros and the Country Hash and eggs, with Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas. They followed up with a couple of gin and tonics and a little baseball on the television, before crossing the street where they joined a number of the Valley’s ‘glitterati,’ all partaking in ‘Paella Sunday’ at The Boonville Hotel. It was a feast enjoyed with other small plates and glasses of ‘bubbles,’ while sitting in a lovely garden setting on a sunny afternoon… Why I wasn’t invited to take part in this unashamed pursuit of pleasure I am at a loss to explain…
… Speaking of Valley dining, and to clear up any confusion, ‘Lauren’s fries’ were only off the menu for a day or so when the fryer went down at Lauren’s Restaurant. They are certainly back now and taste as good as ever… And almost as exciting - the restaurant has installed a very efficient high-tech air-conditioning system that makes the dining experience even more enjoyable… And they have added Scrimshaw Pilsner on tap!… And they now stock the well-received Valley history book ‘Then and Now’ written by Wes Smoot and my good friend, Steve Sparks, from which all proceeds go to the A.V. Museum and Historical Society…Is there any end to the good news at Lauren and Natalie’s Place?!?…
… Last Sunday, myself, Hummingbird, and a couple of other 3-Dot regulars,attended a very enjoyable afternoon bbq at an event put on by the A.V. Fire Department so that their volunteers could meet new additions, and also the folks who work on the Volunteer Ambulance Service. This was the idea of Chief Andres Avila and was held at the lovely home and garden of ambulance volunteers Tom Elkjer and Antoinette Von Grone… This group obviously have bonded very well together and rightfully speak of themselves as a ‘family’ - we are lucky to have them… Keep up the good work, one and all!…
… A crowd in excess of fifty people enjoyed the excellent live music presented by a jazz ensemble featuring Bob Day, Nathan McMath, Erica Zissa, Laura Maione, and John Huxall at The Buckhorn on Friday evening. A decent gathering for sure, but I am convinced many more local folks would have been entertained had they been there. It is a bit of a Valley ‘disease’ - “Oh, no I missed it - I really wanted to see them. I did not know it was last Friday”… I do not know the cure…
… So that I am not accused of having favorites (although I do), I should also mention that I repeatedly hear positive comments on the other eateries in the Valley that are not mentioned here on this occasion, but which also offer an evening of delicious dining. These would be Aquarelle in Boonville, Stone and Embers and Libby’s in Philo, and The Bewildered Pig in The Deep End - each of which has satiated my culinary desires on a number of occasions, I must say…
        I’m outta here - I’ve got to see a man about a sheep… Besides, that’s enough for now, so “please take me drunk, I’m home,” and until we talk again - be careful out there; if you break a leg don’t come running to me; stay out of the ditches; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; show love to your pets, they will be faithful and true to you to the last beat of their hearts, and please remember to keep your windows cracked if you leave them in your vehicle for any amount of time; think good thoughts; ‘Keep the Faith’; try to not let life get in the way of living; may your god go with you, and may your dog go with you too… Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”… Sometimes poking, often stroking, but almost always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture - saddened but ultimately comforted in the knowledge that the old hare has safely moved to his new burrow in the sky…
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse either through the Letters Page or by e-mail at
p.p.s. Keep on wagging that tail, Fred… Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? Hopefully not!… Enjoying your vacation, Round-eyed Robin?…

# 522 - 3rd August, 2016

    Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin…
    ‘How did it come to this?’… According to polls,  a total of some 20% of the electorate, comprising voters from all sides of the political spectrum, are expressing the view that they do not like either presidential candidate. As a result, folks are theorizing that the election in November will actually come down to a choice between the lesser of two ‘evils.’ Has it ever been this bad? The percentage number of eligible voters who have turned out on election day has been below 50% on only two previous occasions - 1920 and 1924, with each of these coming in at around 49%… Unfortunately, given the choices this year, and the resulting disillusionment amongst many voters of both parties, we could see large numbers of folks deciding to not vote for either of the two main candidates thus leading to perhaps the lowest turnout ever… I sincerely hope this is not the case and that the people of this country get out on election day and seize their right to vote. Given that so many people around the world do not possess such freedom and power, it would almost seem like a crime not to…
    Meanwhile, following the recent political conventions, which I must say contrasted greatly in terms of quality, it is apparent that one party has chosen a leader who is talking of creating a country in which folks turn against each other, and which turns away from the rest of the world. Who does he think he is? Surely the spirit and greatness of this country has never been based on following some self-declared savior promising that he alone can restore order as long as we do things his way. Does this country really want to be ‘ruled’ by an ill-informed, bigoted, and egomaniacal dictator?… The other party, whose convention witnessed some particularly good speeches, has chosen someone who ‘ticks many of the right boxes’ required to meet the needs for a civilized, open, and successful nation, but who, I must say, is certainly no ‘angel’… It seems almost unavoidable at this point that the election will result in a victory for the candidate who is not the most popular, but the one slightly less detested…

    Onward… Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #539 - Local guys, Bob Day and Nathan McMath, are two members of the five-piece jazz combo that will be performing at The Buckhorn on Friday, August 5 at 7.30pm. There’s no cover charge to be entertained by this top quality live band and obviously all the food and drink you may wish to enjoy is available from the bar or in the beer garden. Ya gotta like that… #540 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital have two visits this month to the Anderson Valley Farm Supply on Highway 128, north of Philo, on March 24. These will be on the first and third Thursday from 2pm-3.30pm so that means the first of these is tomorrow, August 4, with the second visit on Aug 18… #541 - This coming Saturday, August 6, sees The Subdudes make what has become an almost annual return to the stage at the Navarro General Store amphitheater. This year they will have Mendocino’s Gene Parsons (formerly of the Byrds) and David Hayes (Van Morrison regular) in support… #542 - The only confirmed Barn Sale so far this month will take place this coming weekend, Saturday/Sunday, August 6/7, from 9am-3pm at The Big Barn next to the St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on A.V. Way just north of Boonville. The Barn Sale hopes to be open on the first and third weekend of each month but I will try to confirm this as we go…  #543 - The Mendocino Bookmobile returns to the Valley next Tuesday, August 9. They are here on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Navarro Store 9am (for just 30 minutes before heading out to Comptche); the Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville (Apple Hall) 2.30pm. Phone 463-4694 for further details… #544 - The A.V Museum is open every 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 to spare on a weekend afternoon. It is not without reason that it is generally regarded as ‘The Best Little Museum in the West’… #545 - The 17th annual Boonville Aviation Knowledge and Folklore Convention, aka Airport Day, takes place over the weekend of August 12/13. This will feature a Friday evening Happy Hour gathering at the A.V. Brewery Visitor Center with festivities on Saturday beginning at noon, culminating in a pot luck dinner (drinks provided) at 5pm. For additional information, contact Cindy or Kirk Wilder at 895-2949…
        As a bonus P.S.A. here is the menu for the Community lunches and dinners over the next week in 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, August 4, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Chicken Bleu Casserole with Birthday Cupcakes. This will be followed at 1pm by music and singing led by Ken Montgomery and Friends… Then, next Tuesday, August 9, the evening meal served at 6pm, will feature Pork Normandy and Cranberry/Orange Pound Cake for dessert. All meals include vegetables, salad bar, and fruit, plus milk, coffee, tea, and lemonade. What a deal - it maybe the best value for money you’ll get all week!… As this is the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the dinner will be followed by Bingo at 7pm… Tai Chi is now available every Tuesday at 11am, while on Thursdays at 11am it is Easy-stretch Yoga, as part of the Active Life Club that runs from 10am to 2pm and which also features games, crafts, and music. The Senior Center/Community Bus goes to Ukiah on Monday's and also Santa Rosa on the first Wednesday of the month. These trips fill up fast so don't forget to sign up early at 489-1175… Hopefully you will be able to attend some of these events and certainly the lunches and dinners, 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 (yet surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley, a somewhat secret location that sees people get together and share their thoughts about life in Anderson Valley and often far beyond…
… The new Principals for our local high/junior high school and elementary schools will be up for confirmation by the School Board in the very near future… They have been selected by School Superintendent, Michelle Hutchins, and they are: Mr. Keri St Joer at the High School and Ms. Katherine Reddick at the Elementary… Along with many other folks, I believe that both should live in our community and be seen in and around the Valley, not to mention meet all the other qualities that we need in the leaders at our schools, as mentioned here a few weeks ago - ‘strong leadership; good people skills; the ability to balance ‘tough love’ and discipline with earned praise and encouragement; to demonstrate fairness and consistency; to be organized and prepared; have good listening skills; and be visionaries and open to change in the world of modern education’…
… Several regulars also pointed out that as summer progresses, one should be aware of those peculiar folks, unable to get rid of the vast crops of squash/zucchini that they have inexplicably grown, who, in your absence, sneak up to your parked vehicle and put bags of these things into your trunk or on your back seat… It is not the worst thing that can happen to you, and I am not really complaining, but it does feel a little odd when it occurs; not unlike that feeling you get when your underwear draw has obviously been tampered with - I think you know what I mean…
… I was unable to attend the July 4th celebrations a few weeks ago but did hear about the performance of Alan “The Clucker’ Thomas, the judge (and three-time winner prior to that) of the annual Chicken-Clucking Competition. Alan’s talent in this ‘sport’ is something that has been applauded in this column before, but this year, at the end of the competition and with his judging duties completed, he took things to a new level when he stood in the middle of the Redwood Grove at The Fairgrounds and actually laid an egg. Some people were shocked. Several folks wanted to check his nether regions. One person fainted; one or two offered to pay to see him lay another one. One middle-aged gentleman went home crying – with joy or in grief, nobody could tell. Did Alan go too far? His brother, Geoff, tells me that with the advancing years, Alan now actually thinks he is a chicken. I suggested to Geoff that perhaps he should gently inform Alan that he really isn’t. Geoff said he had thought about breaking this earth-shattering news to his brother, but is reluctant to do so because they do need the eggs…
        I’m outta here - I’ve got see a man about a sheep… Besides, that’s enough for now, so “please take me drunk, I’m home,” and until we talk again:- Be careful out there; if you break a leg don’t come running to me; stay out of the ditches; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; show love to your pets, they will be faithful and true to you to the last beat of their hearts, and please remember to keep your windows cracked if you leave them in your vehicle for any amount of time; think good thoughts; ‘Keep the Faith’; try to not let life get in the way of living; may your god go with you, and may your dog go with you too… Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”… Sometimes poking, often stroking, but almost always 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
p.p.s. Keep on humming, Hummingbird… Missing the Venerable Pheasant… On the sheep, Grace…