# 556 - 29th March, 2017

   
    Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin…
    Let’s begin with the Turkey Vulture’s update on ‘Evening Dining in the Valley’… In geographical order, as you travel through the Valley on Highway 128, here is the latest on ‘The Big Eight Eateries’… Lauren’s Restaurant (895-3869) continues with their regular hours of lunch on Thursday-Sunday, 11.30am-2.30pm, and dinner on Tuesday-Saturday, 5-9pm… Lizbby’s, the new Mexican Restaurant in downtown Boonville, is open every day except Tuesdays, serving breakfast (on Saturday and Sunday) and lunch from 10am-3pm and dinner from 5-8pm… The Buckhorn’s planned re-opening on Monday April 3, has been pushed back a week to April 10 - no surprise there, that’s often how these things go when dealing with government agencies. Let’s just hope that it isn’t delayed any further - a person could die of draft Guinness withdrawal around here… The Boonville Hotel continues with their family-style, prix fixe menu served Friday thru’ Sunday… With the owners seemingly busy around the premises, Aquarelle Cafe and Wine Bar is looking at re-opening very shortly, with a new menu to accompany their new hours of operation - again, hopefully they will fill us in on the details… The Redwood Drive-In just keeps on doing what they do, with reliable hours - don't forget to try the donuts!… Stone and Embers has moved to spring hours that see them open from Noon to 8pm Friday-Sunday and Noon to 4pm on Monday and Tuesday… The Bewildered Pig! has announced that their experiment with a Mexican night has come to an end and they will now be offering their whole dinner menu on Wednesdays, although they will continue to feature a ‘South of the Border’ dish too. They are open Wednesday-Sunday, 5:30-9pm… And that’s it for now… Join us again next week for another culinary cruise along the Dining Highway… Meanwhile, I encourage you all to eat, drink, and be merry…

    Onward!… Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.’s)… Calendars and pens at the ready… #543 - This Friday, March 31, sees a special opportunity for pet lovers of the Valley. Sponsored by the A.V. Animal Rescue, there will be a low-cost ’Care-a-Van’ spay, neuter, and vaccine clinic held at The Grange in Philo beginning at 10am. Call 888-7698 for an appointment for spay and neuter surgeries; $10-$13 for vaccinations - no appointment needed. Do yourself and your pet a favor and take advantage of this rare occasion here in the Valley… #544 - Staying with the topic of your pets, the Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be here at The Farm Supply twice next month - Thursdays 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!… #545 - I believe that the Mendocino Bookmobile returns to the Valley next Tuesday, April 4. Phone 463-4694 for confirmation. They are usually 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.… #546 - The A.V Museum has reopened after the winter break. They are open every Saturday and Sunday from 1pm-4pm. Situated in The Little Red Schoolhouse next to the Elementary School on A.V. Way, visiting the Museum 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’… #547 - Following it’s own winter break, the monthly Barn Sale resumes this coming Saturday/Sunday, April 1/2 from 9am-3pm at The Big Barn next to the St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on A.V. Way, just north of Boonville…
    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 and charges $7 for Non-seniors… Tomorrow, Thursday, March 30, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Chicken Lo Mein with Poppy Seed cake for dessert… Then, next Tuesday, April 4, the lunch will feature Meat Loaf and Mashed potatoes followed by Strawberry Shortcake 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!… Starting next Tuesday, April 4, an exciting new activity will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-9.45am when the Center offers ‘Young at Heart Exercise’ with Linda Boudoures and Karen DeFalco… Tai Chi is 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…
… Several 3-Dot regulars have been discussing the planned staffing changes at our local schools that are known by some to be either definitely taking place, or are in the works… With our Superintendent (Michelle Hutchins) and both principals (Katherine Reddick and Keri St Joer) all relatively new to the Valley, one hopes that they fully understand that we expect prompt and full disclosure of all matters regarding these institutions to be shared with the community at all times… Just sayin’…
… Natalie’s Sunday Supper at Lauren's Restaurant on Sunday evening was once again a lovely event. With dimmed lighting and soft music in the background, the fish and chips, Shepherd’s pie, Fried chicken, and several other home-style comfort foods were a big success with the customers who had high praise for this unique Valley dining experience that currently only happens on the last Sunday of each month… I suggest you mark the next one on your calendar for Sunday, April 30th…
… This week’s most irritating phrase according to the regulars here at the 3-Dot is “They have a gluten free option which is awesome” - how mindless is that little combo of words?… Runner-up was “I know he is always late or likely to let you down completely, but he is a nice guy” - no, he is actually a dumbass…
... Another topic under discussion at the 3-Dot this past week was ‘Jobs we would hate to do’ and I surprised some regulars with my choice of air steward. Having spent time on many long haul flights I am convinced that this line of work is not at all the glamorous occupation that it’s frequently depicted as. You are dealing with a grumpy and frequently overly demanding public and basically you are a waiter/waitress in a very cramped restaurant serving quite poor food. So job seekers, trust me on this, don't apply – you can thank me later…
… From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series – ‘The Approach of the Apocalypse’… Buzzard reports, “I feel I must respond to a letter I received a few weeks ago regarding my critical remarks about those who attend charity events and bring their own food. The author of the note defended his/her actions and stated that I was part of a ‘group of people who look down on brown-baggers, seeing them as some sort of cheapskates’. Err, when people attend charity functions with their own food then yes I do, and why would I think otherwise? Please don’t tell me that a $2 taco or $1 cookie is too expensive for anyone. It is not. With quality food and drink on sale for very reasonable prices at virtually all of the charity events around here, and every penny of profit going to local charities, calling them ‘cheapskates’ is being very polite I’d say. In fact ‘Tight-fisted, cheap bastards’ is more along the lines of what I really think. (I’d use the word ‘niggardly’ but that would be far too controversial for those unfamiliar with the word and who are not inclined to look it up in a dictionary)…”
   
    Oh, dear, has Buzzard upset somebody? Oh well, he and I are outta here - we’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. Hi, George – hope you and Sheila are well… Is that ‘lafter’ I hear, Carroll?… Bobwhite Quail - keep up the knitting!