# 536 - 9th November, 2016

    Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin…
    By the time you read this column the result of the election will be known. I hope that this particular 87 year-old English woman’s concerns about a Trump presidency did not come to fruition - “I can't believe what has happened in America. It was such a wonderful and enlightened country. Now their leader might be that terrible man Trump.. He is such a bully, such a racist; he seems to be a hateful man. And the things he has said about women!? Besides, how can he be trusted with those horrible little eyes? And he is the choice to lead such a great country! Out of all of the millions of good Americans he is the one chosen to be their leader! I just can’t believe it…” Thanks for your input, Mum!… p.s. Growing up in the U.K. in the early 1960s, my own first insight to America was at the age of six when I was shocked at seeing my Mum in tears upon hearing the news that President Kennedy had been assassinated. I imagine she would not have the same reaction if a similar fate were to befall Mr. Trump. Just sayin’…   
    The special Veterans Day event held annually at Evergreen Cemetery on Anderson Valley Way will take place this coming Friday, November 11 at 10.45am.  There will be a minutes silence at 11am to commemorate the end of World War I, “The War to end all Wars” (oh that it had been so), which came to pass at the ‘Eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month’ of 1918. In terms of taking a deep breath and thinking about what really matters, in my humble opinion, this is one of the more important community gatherings of the year so please think seriously about attending. It is hoped that this special occasion is not an overtly political, militaristic, 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.
   
    Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #543 - This Friday, November 11, as just mentioned above, it is Veterans Day, and in recognition of that Mary Pafard will have a restorative yoga class from 4-5:30pm at the Studio SoBo in Boonville, with all donations going to the Veterans… #544 - The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital have no more visits to the Valley this month. However, they will be here twice next month - Thursdays, December 1 and 15… #545 - The always-fun General Knowledge and Trivia Quiz held at Lauren’s Restaurant continues on its winter/spring schedule of 7pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month - that means there will be one tomorrow, Thursday, November 10th… #546 - The Mendocino Bookmobile returns to the Valley next Tuesday, November 15. 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… #547 - 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’… #548 - And finally, Catlyn Gilman invites you to attend the Blackbird Farm Fall Festival located in Philo. Catlyn writes, “The festival will be on November 18 from 3-6pm and is free to the public. Our students will be leading games and activities that showcase the unique character of Blackbird Farms.  Handmade food and treats will provided. We would be honored with your presence. No RSVP required, but if you have any questions, feel free to give me a call or send an email. Office: (707)895-3660 / Cell: (530)933-7468”…    
    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, November 10, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be  Beef Stroganoff, followed by Banana Pudding. After lunch, join Ken Montgomery & Friends for music & singing… Then, next Tuesday, November 15, the lunch will feature Roasted Chicken & Winter Vegetables, with Blackberry Pie Bars 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!… 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…
… Restaurant Report for evening dining options here in the Valley - featuring ‘The Tasty 8’… For the first time, Lauren’s Restaurant is to continue their summer lunch hours of Thursday thru’ Sunday, 11.30am-2.30pm through the winter months, along with their regular dinner hours of course… Stone and Embers’ has reopened and is serving their wood-fired pizzas and salad plates from Friday thru’ Tuesday, noon-6pm… Folks are flocking to Libby’s Restaurant to get their final taste of the delicious food before Libby, Jose, and family close the door for the final time on December 10… The Bewildered Pig’s are presenting their Sunday brunch on the first Sunday only, but starting on November 23 they will feature a Mexican Night on Wednesdays… Aquarelle Cafe and Wine Bar is suggesting that you contact them for your holiday plans. Call 895-2767… The Boonville Hotel, serving dinner Thursday thru’ Monday, is now offering a cassoulet as a very tempting option on Sunday evenings… People continue to rave about the ‘Valley’s best-kept food secret’ - the freshly baked doughnuts at The Redwood Drive-In. I guess it’s a secret no more… And finally, The Buckhorn, where discussions continue, the doors remain closed, and the possibility of enjoying a draft Guinness and spicy wings with friends during the upcoming holiday season remains in limbo…
… The normally sure-footed Hummingbird slipped and fell outside the Boonville Post Office last week. Immediately, two sprightly folks came to the rescue and provided her with assistance and kind words of support. She has some aches and pains and a few nasty bruises but apart from a little enduring embarrassment she is recovering quickly. You may know the two ‘angels of mercy’ - it was non other than local octogenarians Donald Pardini and Berna Walker… Hummingbird, who is originally from Detroit, noticed that Donald was wearing a Detroit Tigers baseball hat on that features the ornate ‘D.’ She said “So you support the Tigers?”… “Err, no,” he replied, “The ‘D’ stands for Donald”… Ya gotta like that!…
… Talking of seniors, on behalf of the Senior Center Board in appreciation of the recent successful fundraiser in The Barn at the A.V. Farm Supply, Executive Director Gina Pardini writes, “In addition to the wonderful article in last week’s paper the Senior Center would like to announce that the Octoberfest will be an annual event thanks to the continuing generous donation of "the barn" at the Anderson Valley Farm Supply property by Ardzrooni Vineyard Management. A special thanks to Marcia Martinez for the wonderful desserts the last two years, Dennis Hudson for his ever creative lighting designs and the Production Crew at Golden Eye Winery for the delivery and use of their tables. We hope to see you all there next year, bring your beer steins!”…
… The A.V.High School Boys’ soccer season came to a very sad end last Saturday… Coach Steve Sparks reports, “The suspension of nine players, including six starters, for drinking alcohol on the school bus when returning from the final regular season game a few days earlier, proved too big a mountain to climb for the remaining squad members and, despite an extremely valiant effort we lost 0-2 in the quarter-final to Calistoga, a team A.V. full strength team had beaten just two weeks earlier. Needless to say the remaining players, particularly the seniors, and coaches were hugely disappointed that the dreams of a postseason Championship victory had been brought to such a terribly unsatisfactory conclusion after five months of work…”

        Sorry to hear that, Steve… I’m outta here - I’ve got see a man about a sheep… 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.p.s. Keep on wagging that tail, Fred… Hi, Silver Swan – behaving yourself? Hopefully not!… Keep up the good work, Round-eyed Robin…