# 553 - 8th March, 2017

   Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin… First, I must point out that almost everything below is true, probably around 99% in fact. However, the whole truth is withheld because, as a wise Valley man known as Deekin' once said, “If I told you the whole truth then you’d be as smart as me”… I like your thinkin,’ Deekin’…

    First up this week - ‘This Trump Thing,’ or as it had been known for nearly 250 years up until now - The U.S. Presidency… To lose one close aide because of undeclared conversations with the Russian ambassador might be regarded as misfortune. To lose two would be careless, and in some minds, downright disgraceful. That is why Jeff Sessions, America’s attorney-general, probably won’t resign or be sacked—despite having misled Congress during confirmation hearings when he said plainly that he had not communicated with “the Russians” during the campaign. He has recused himself from an investigation into links between the Trump team and Russia, while maintaining that the answers he gave the Senate were “honest and correct as I understood at the time”. No one should expect a special prosecutor to be appointed to look into it. There is one person with the authority to launch such an investigation into the attorney-general: the attorney-general. His meetings with the ambassador may not have been untoward. But forgetting about them in a confirmation hearing was. In more normal times he would have gone already…

    Let’s move on with The Turkey Vulture’s ‘Evening Dining in the Valley Bulletin’… In geographical order, as you travel along on Highway 128, here are some fundamentals on a few of ‘The Tasty Eight’ that make up this culinary cruise through the Valley… Lauren’s Restaurant offers lunch from 11.30am-2.30pm on Thursday thru’ Sunday, and dinner from 5-9pm Tuesday - Saturday… Up next, also in downtown Boonville, we have Lizbby’s, the new Mexican Restaurant which is open every day except Tuesdays, serving breakfast (on Saturday and Sunday) and lunch from 10am-3pm and dinner from 5-8pm. I have been once and thoroughly enjoyed the Carnitas Plate but I am aware that a number of vocals have been disappointed to discover that there has been a shortage of Mexican offerings on the breakfast menu, in particular the Huevos Rancheros that many of us crave. Claws crossed that this is a temporary oversight… Staying in Boonville for two more eateries, currently not open… The Buckhorn is planning for a Monday, April 3 re-opening under its new ownership… And Aquarelle Cafe and Wine Bar is looking at an early April re-opening under the same, very relaxed ownership as before their extended trip to Baja! HaHa!… Stone and Embers has once again re-joined the Valley’s Evening Dining ‘team,’ with hours that see them open from Noon to 8pm Friday-Sunday and Noon to 4pm on Monday and Tuesday… The Bewildered Pig! down in the Deep End, is open Wednesday - Sunday, 5:30-9pm… And that’s the end of our journey along The Dining Highway for this week… Eat, drink, and be merry…
    Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #542 - The annual St Patrick’s Day Dinner to benefit the Senior Center will take place on Saturday, March 18 at the Apple Hall in the Fairgrounds in Boonville… #543 - 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 16 and 23. They will be also be here twice next month - April 13 and 20. New customers and their pets are always welcome and previous visitors should be aware that they 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!… #544 - The ‘Preparation for the Rest of Our Lives’ group meets this coming Sunday afternoon, March 12, at Lauren’s Restaurant in Boonville, beginning at 4pm… #545 - The Boonville Farmers’ Market continues with its Winter location and hours at The Boonville General Store, on Saturdays from 11am-1pm. For more info, call Cindy at 895-2949… #546 - Need a burn permit? From 11am-3pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays you can get one from the Firehouse in Boonville. Call 895-2020 for more information or stop by and you will be efficiently served with a smile - trust me on this… #547 - The A.V. Lending Library run by The Unity Club is open Tuesdays from 1.30-4.30pm and Saturdays 2-4pm at The Fairgrounds in Boonville… #548 - The County Dump is open from 9am-4pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Dump Executive Director, Mike Mannix, rewards good customers with a star but will be very harsh with anyone thinking they can leave dead animals!…- #549 - The Anderson Valley Grange is having its regular second Sunday Pancake Breakfast on March 12 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… #550 - And finally this week, here is a message from Kathleen Michaels, teacher at the local high school, “We are excited to invite you to join us for the opening reception for the exhibit of the Anderson Valley High School Photography Class ‘Finding Our Voice PhotoVoice Project’ on Wednesday, March 15, 3.45-4.45pm at Lauren’s restaurant where you will have an opportunity to view student photograph collections and artist statements/storylines from the project, as well as a presentation of the project by Photography Class students with healthy, light refreshments provided by Pennyroyal Farm”…
    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, March 9, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Minestrone Soup followed by Strawberry Yogurt Cake… Then, next Tuesday, March 14, the evening meal served at 6pm, will feature a Roast Beef dinner and then Bayou Brownies 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 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…
… Not much happening this past week at the Three-Dot with many regulars deciding to stay at home… However, I did bump into a few of them and we shared a few very brief thoughts and insights… The annual Variety Show was just that - quite a variety (and that comment covers both the type of acts and their quality)… We all agreed - enough with the rain… We desperately need a pub/bar in town after six months without one… Is the local school district doing ok - I hear rumblings of discontent?… Obviously there is lots of water at this time, but I still would like to know - are any wineries taking water out of the creeks and rivers? I think we should be told… What I am told is that several ducks (?) have been spotted swimming in the huge pond (known amongst the regulars as ‘Bill Hill’s Hole’) next to the Balo Barn besides Highway 128, opposite Breggo Cellars, a couple of miles north of Boonville. I could not help myself from commenting that I hoped they had not mistakenly eaten any of the six-legged frogs that have apparently been spotted in the vicinity of that vast water hole and several other locations around the Valley. One of the regulars replied that the ducks could not have eaten any such frogs because there’s been no harmful pesticides sprayed anywhere around here that may result in such mutant creatures being formed. I felt I couldn’t possibly comment any further…
… From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series – ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’… Buzzard reports, “I have nothing of interest to anyone to say at this point, so I will say nothing”… Why can’t more folks be like that?…

    Such creatures as those frogs mentioned above may be ugly and deformed to us, but as French philosopher Voltaire wisely pointed out, if you were to ask a male frog what beauty is “he will answer that it is a female with two great round eyes coming out of her little head, a large, wide, flat mouth, an extended belly, and a wrinkly brown back.” In other words, ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder’ – and that is your Quote of the Week. (Voltaire didn’t mention the six legs, you’ll notice)...

    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; 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…