All Valley Blogs

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin…Good god, it’s been hot! However, there’s no rest for the wicked so here we go…Public Service Announcements: Just one this week but it’s very important…This Saturday sees the ‘Olde Time 4th of July Celebration’ from noon to 4pm at The Fairgrounds in Boonville - $3 for Adults, Kids Free. It’s all going on – parades; hot dogs and tri-tip sandwiches; root beer floats, wine and beer; games, races, and of course, the ‘Ferocious Tug-of-War Contest’…And all to benefit the A.V. Education Foundation – yer gotta like that!…
As I flew over Boonville last Wednesday evening I was startled to observe so much activity on the fields behind the High School. On closer inspection I observed Rob and Barbara Goodell, Doug Johnson, and friends playing volleyball, the A.V. Women’s softball team practicing, the adult soccer team, La Laguneta, training hard, and, perhaps sweating more than all, the High School soccer team at their first summer practice. With Coach Tom Smith in China on vacation, I spoke with Coach Steve Sparks who informed me that the loss to graduation of many seniors from the 2008 team will result in this being a transitional year with perhaps only two seniors and one junior in the starting line-up – thus a very young and inexperienced Panther team will be on show. Still, he felt that the League title was not beyond the squad’s abilities whilst acknowledging that many of the non-league match-ups were going to be very tough. With twenty boys in attendance, at least the lack of preparation will not be the reason for any shortcoming, and the ‘doom and gloom’ crowd may yet be surprised…From there I zoomed into town. It was deserted with maybe jus five vehicles in the whole downtown area. It was a little eerie and I almost missed the hullabaloo of the previous weekend’s music festival – well, only for a second or two. That was before I regained my senses and thought ‘This Valley is an even more wonderful place on a serene summer’s evening’…
I read with interest and enjoyment the report by Steve Heilig in last week’s A.V.A. on that Sierra Nevada World Music Festival held here in Boonville. He had a very positive experience and in my own conversations with locals who were around Boonville, or who worked downtown, during the event, it seems to once more have been a success from their point of view. This gathering sees far fewer annoying incidents than witnessed at The A.V. Beer Festival but I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Heilig’s comment that it needs a more appropriate name now that it is held here in the Valley. His ‘Boonstock’ is good, and may suffice, but perhaps is not quite right. Anyway, I hope that whatever it is called, the numbers will not shrink anymore. Certainly the revelers with whom I had a few drinks with on Sunday afternoon in The Boonville Lodge will continue to attend no matter what. They love the music, they love the Valley, they even declared their love for me – and I’d like to think that their affection was not just down to the ecstasy and mushrooms…
I was once again lucky enough to attend the most recent show in the Saturday Night Live Music series at The Navarro Store. I don’t wish to harp on about this but the music is first rate every time I go and on this occasion John Nemith and his band were exceptional. With great ability on the blues harp and a soulful voice not dissimilar to a young Van Morrison (high praise indeed!), he had the crowd open-mouthed in admiration and raising the roof (if there had been one) with their applause and cheers. It was yet another great night amongst the redwoods and this weekend’s July 4th celebration down in the Deep End, featuring The Blackhorse Blues Band, will probably match it…And not just because Tommy Hopper will be responsible for, as he put it, “the watering-down of the ladies t-shirts” in that much anticipated competition. The mind boggles…
Which brings me to the Quote of the Week…I have no problem with wet t-shirt competitions and if women (and some men) feel that ‘soggy jock strap’ tournaments should be organized too then that’s fine, albeit not something I would have much interest in to be quite honest (despite being in touch with the feminine side of my brain quite often!) Nevertheless, with all this in mind, here we have some words from Katherine Mansfield, one of the world’s best-known short story writers and New Zealand’s most famous author, who commented, “How idiotic civilization is! Why be given a body if you have to keep it shut up in a case like a rare, rare fiddle?”…Tommy assures me, in an undoubted factual and non-sexist way, that he will be involved in the exposing of some fine ‘fiddles’ this weekend down Navarro way…
Well now I really think it’s time to take my leave…But before I go I’d like to pass on to you, under the heading ‘Life Lessons’, a little more advice you may find useful at some point – “The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over and over and over again that you love them.” - Not a terrible crime of course, but sometimes a little irritating…
Be careful out there, stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts, and, with the hot weather now a daily occurrence, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle – they won’t last long if you don’t…May your god go with you…Have a Happy 4th! Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture…
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin… And let’s get straight in to some important Public Service Announcements… #183 - It’s that time again – the final weekend of the month means that The Barn Sale will take place at The St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on A.V. Way just north of Boonville. It goes from 9am to 3pm on both Saturday and Sunday, June 27th and 28th – I’ll be the one evaluating the new bbq grill masters (serving 11am – 2pm) in the tried and trusted manor – by eating excessively!… #184 – Tomorrow, Thursday, June 25th, will see the monthly visit by the Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital to Dig Landscape and Garden Supplies, north of Philo on Hwy128. If you have some pet needs please go along and support this wonderful service from 2pm – 3.30pm…And finally this week, #185, a heads-up for next weekend’s Olde Time 4th July Celebration at the Fairgrounds from noon to 4pm – parades, games, music, food, drink, and a tug-of-war – what more could you possibly want?…
We have a special visitor to the Valley this week, my Goddaughter, Grace Goshawk, who will be staying at The Nest and hopefully learning a thing or two about carrion and sheep stomachs from yours truly – a little bit more interesting than the usual Goshawk diet of bats, possums, and rabbits, wouldn’t you say? Anyway, unlike most Goshawks, she does not have a fierce expression on her face and is actually very friendly, so if you see us around town please give a wave – she will not peck your eyes out, I can virtually assure you…
On to the topics under discussion this week at The Three-Dot Lounge - yes it’s “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant Rumors” from my favorite bar/restaurant in the Valley at a location known only to those ‘in the know’… Reviews of the A.V. Theatre Guild’s recent production continue to be expressed around The 3-Dot and most are positive, the vast majority suggesting that Director Rod Basehore, the cast, and the crew all did a great job. However, many of those same reviewers believe that the choice of play (‘A Thurber Carnival’) was a big reason for the disappointing attendances and, for those who did make it to The Grange to see our local thespians tread the boards, the material was found to be frequently not that ‘entertaining’ - the real attraction was to witness the acting of friends and acquaintances. That’s too bad, but this kind of feedback and constructive criticism may prove to be useful and perhaps a more accessible choice of play, appealing to a wider range of people, will be shown next year – easy for me to suggest, I’m sure… Following further investigations, I have it on good authority that Dick Sands was indeed fired from his job as the driver of the Seniors’ bus after twelve years of service. He made a mistake, a serious one but one that could have been forgiven, and now he has paid a very hefty price. Perhaps there were other reasons, may be there were liability issues; may be the ‘powers-that-be’ wanted him out anyway. He says it might be a good thing for him but, having spent a little time with him since the firing, one cannot help but think that deep down he is bitterly disappointed and hurt. Meanwhile, all at The 3-Dot wish him well… And now a few “quickies’… The I.C.W. (Independent Career Women) is not a ladies drinking club – a myth that needs to be dismissed a.s.a.p. (By the way, their monthly gathering is this evening, June 24th at Frida Fox’s. Bring a bottle - - - I’m kidding!)…It is felt that Principal J.R. Collins will not be leaving the High School anytime soon…There will be at least one football team at the High School this fall…Wineries situated in the Yorkville area are not invited to the A.V. Pinot Festival…More seniors would have received scholarships at the Graduation ceremony if they had simply applied for them!… There are no sawmills in the Valley for the first time since 1860! Not a rumor, that’s a fact; and for many Valley folks a very sad state of affairs indeed…
And that leads me to The Quote of the Week…It’s from former President Ronald Reagan who somehow has had the revisionist historians applauding his term in office as one of the best ever, conveniently forgetting all the crazy stuff he did and said. For example, he was responsible for the classic, “If you’ve seen one redwood tree, you’ve seen ‘em all.” Not the brightest of fellows was he, and surely not one of the Top Ten Presidents of all-time, as some would have us believe!?
Before I go, I’d like to pass on to you, under the heading ‘Life Lessons’, a little more advice you may find useful at some point – ‘The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are
laughing WITH you.’…Does this mean that Reagan was a big drinker?
Oh, dear, have I upset somebody? - I’ll get my coat and leave shall I?… Be careful out there, stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts, and may your god go with you…Remember, it can get hot out there so please keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle….Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…     Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture…
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin…
I flew into the high school parking lot last Thursday evening just in time to see the graduating seniors, appropriately dressed (girls in white, boys in black), enter the gym and climb the steps on to the stage for their ‘big night.’ With many people taking the ‘Over three hours’ in the Over/Under ‘for entertainment purposes only’ side betting, I noted that proceedings had begun at 7.05pm… I sat down and proceeded to thoroughly enjoy the ensuing program. The event was ably hosted and perfectly paced by hosts Principal J.R. Collins and Vice Principal Jim Tomlin and featured several memorable contributions including Cassidy Hollinger’s valedictorian speech – her thoughtful words were clearly heartfelt, resulting in a few tears amongst the audience and from the speaker herself; the zealous Spanish from Kathy Cox; and the speech of school secretary Wanda Johnson who has been dealing with this class for six years and who had clearly connected with them… A real crowd-pleaser was the Class Video by senior Veronica Mendoza, particularly the section in which each class member was shown metamorphasizing from little child to young adult before the audience’s eyes – clearly someone had been paying attention in Mitch Mendoza’s film class!…
Towards the end of the event came the presentations of the financial awards given very generously by many local sponsors and donors such as The Lions Club, The A.V. Grange, The Chamber of Commerce, P-FLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), The Unity Club, The Kay and Shirley Hiatt Award, The Philo Methodist Church, American Legion, etc., etc., totaling approximately $20,000. The awards culminated in the ten awards donated to his alma mater by writer/filmmaker/philanthropist Robert Mailer Anderson, represented on this occasion (he was attending the New York premiere of his film ‘Pig Hunt’) by his cousin and current high school baseball coach, Ben Anderson. These ten sponsorships totaled a jaw-dropping $145,000 including a fantastic $72,000 (4 years at $18,000 a year) awarded to Miriam Barragan, who will be attending U.C. Northridge to study sign language…The event climaxed with the students receiving their diplomas as Principal Collins informed us of what each planned to do in the future. It was one of the best graduations I have attended (a far cry from the 3 1/2 hour marathon in 105 degrees of a few years ago) and, when it finished at 9.15pm (a big win for those predicting Under three hours), I’m sure the more than six hundred people in attendance felt it had been a most enjoyable and special evening. I spoke to J.R. afterwards and he felt the Class of 2009 had been a very good group, a collection of motivated students that genuinely cared for each other, and one that he felt would do very well in the pursuit of their individual goals… Many congratulations to the Seniors on their achievements so far – now comes the difficult part! Sincere best wishes to one and all…
Following this brief report on such a memorable occasion, for the Quote of the Week I have come up with some words from Virginia Gildersleeve (October 3, 1877 – July 7, 1965), an American academic, the sole female US delegate to the San Francisco United Nations Charter Conference in April 1945, and founder of the International Federation of University Women. She wisely said, “The ability to think straight, some knowledge of the past, some vision of the future, some urge to fit service into the well-being of the community – these are the most vital things that education must try to produce.” Based on the Class of 2009, I would venture to say that A.V.H.S. has performed its function of educating very well indeed…
Moving on to a far less dignified affair…As I sat on the deck up at The Nest on Saturday afternoon, I found myself nibbling on a delicious medley of triple cream Cambozola, a little smoked gouda, some very tasty unripened goat cheese with fine herbs, and a smidgeon of aged cow-chego cheese, along with some prosciutto, salami, fresh melon, and savory crackers. As I sipped from my glass, I thought to myself, ‘this sparkling wine and guava nectar mix is an absolutely perfect pairing with this collection of hors’d-oevres.’ (Regular readers may be pleased to know that yes, the word orgasmic did cross my mind too)…It was only noon and such decadence is something I rarely indulge in at such an hour - and that’s why I share this with you as The Wine/Food Pairing of the Week!…
And obviously it’s now straight on to The Whine of the Week… Actually, it’s not so much a whine as a big disappointment, shared by many others I’m sure, as a local tradition disappears. One of my favorite Valley events over the years has been the annual Woolgrowers Fair, Sheep Dog Trial, and Bar-B-Q with its array of wool exhibits, the excellent lamb bar-b-q, sheep dog trial, and various other presentations. Based on attendance I know I am not alone in thinking this to be a great day out in the Valley. A couple of years ago I heard that the long-time organizers were finding it increasingly more difficult to do each year and were thinking of stepping down. If other people did not step up then the event would be cancelled. Last year there were rumors it would not take place but it was still on right up until the lightning fires hit the Valley and the event had to be cancelled. This year it’s simply not happening – the Community Newsletter is incorrect with its July 26th announcement of the event. I have spoken to some of those close to the event and it appears that a new crop of organizers is needed to resurrect this wonderful tradition but so far nobody had stepped up. Perhaps people do not know about this situation and so I thought I’d mention it here. If ‘The Woolgrowers’ is to return for 2010 a new committee will probably have to be formed, ideally from those amongst the old-timers who can still lend a hand in some way plus an influx from the ‘new shepherds’ in the Valley. If anyone has some thoughts on this please get in touch (e-mail at the bottom), and perhaps something can be done to bring this unique event back for the enjoyment of many people in the Valley and beyond…
Public Service Announcements… The Sierra Nevada Music Festival arrives in town this weekend and no doubt there will be some late night reggae and strange perfumes permeating the Valley air for its duration – please tolerate and/or enjoy…The Boonville Farmers Market is at its usual time and place this Saturday (9.45am to Noon, Hotel Parking Lot, June 20th) but to spice it up a little there is to be a special solstice celebration and yer gotta like that…Live Music at The Navarro Store this Saturday evening at 7pm featuring the blues harmonica of John Nemith and his Band, and a whole lot more…And finally, another reminder that you can do a whole bunch of less interesting things than to visit The A.V Museum. It’s at The Little Red Schoolhouse next to the Elementary School on Hwy 128, and is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm…
Before I go, I’d like to pass on to you, under the heading Life ‘Lessons’, a little more advice you may find useful at some point – ‘the consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing’…. Enough of this - I’m outta here!…Be careful out there; think good thoughts; and, with the hot weather now with us, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle…May your god go with you…And of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture.
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net
p.p.s. R.I.P. Ruth…What a great run - at fifteen years old surely one of the oldest sheep in the Valley, and certainly one of the loudest when hungry!

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin…First let’s offer a big welcome back to the Valley to Natalie and Clay Matson, son Spike, and not to forget niece Breanne, who will soon rejoin them. The Matsons, who lived in the Valley for several years until recently, were up in northeastern Washington State (“almost Canada!”) for the past few months dealing with various family matters. Many of you know them well and therefore will no doubt be disappointed to learn that Natalie has no plans to re-open the One Horse Espresso stand of which she was the very welcoming owner/operator for the past couple of years. Clay, meanwhile, has no plans to return to the A.V. Brewery where he masterfully dealt with the shire horses and Ken Allen’s miserly Christmas Bonus, but they do intend to make their stay permanent and have already got the ‘feelers’ out for work and have been spotted doing what I believe they do best – socializing at Valley events…
Talking of Valley events, I attended the ‘Thurber Carnival’ presentation by the Anderson Valley Theatre Guild last Friday evening and clearly those involved had put in lots of time and hard work to pull off the fourteen scenes/skits on offer to their supportive audience. While this year’s ‘Vulture Oscar’ goes to Barbara Lamb for her excellent performances in a couple of the skits, I have followed the progress of many of the Guild actors, under the directorship and teachings of Rod Basehore, from their beginnings four years ago and have to say that each of them has made great strides forward in terms of their acting prowess…Overall the crowd numbers were somewhat disappointing and, in my humble opinion, some of the material was uneven, but there is no doubt in my mind that the Valley is better off for having this resident acting company and Rod, very ably assisted by wife Judy, and all the cast and crew should be heartily applauded for their efforts…
Their recent show has prompted me to put forward for the Quote of the Week these words of encouragement and advice for all thespians from the great actor, Spencer Tracy, “Just learn your lines and don’t bump into the furniture”…Can’t argue with that, eh, Rod!…
Public Service Announcements…#117 - The annual Sierra Nevada Music Festival comes to town in a couple of weeks time (June 19th – 21st), as will the several thousand people planning to attend. The Valley seems to greet this occasion with mixed feelings but I have to say the vast majority of ‘guests’ do behave themselves although they may not remember that they did…#118 - A far more local event I want to once again remind you of is the weekly Boonville Farmer’s Market held at The Boonville Hotel’s parking lot every Saturday morning from 9.45am to noon…More P.S.A.’s next week…
On Saturday evening I found myself flying down in the Deep End and lo and behold there was a crowd of people in front of the stage at The Navarro Store - it was live music time! Owner Dave Evans is certainly pulling in some excellent performers and he informed me that he was hoping for the season’s largest crowd to date to show up on this occasion…. Following the excellent opening act from The Black Horse Blues Band, John Lee Hooker Jr. took to the stage with his seven-piece band – guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and brass section (trumpet, trombone, and sax) and proceeded to put on a superb show – perhaps the best I’ve seen so far at these Saturday night affairs. He is a great entertainer/performer and several songs had the dance floor full and the crowd cheering for more. With Les Tarr doing the M.C. duties in his inimitable style, Steve Rand getting the sound just right, and Pablo on the grill, it couldn’t have been much better. My favorite number was the tribute song to his late father called ‘Do-Daddy’ – “coz he always did what he said he would do.” Unfortunately there were only about a hundred people in attendance – a nice crowd but for such an event I was expecting twice that. Oh, well, everyone else simply missed out on a wonderful evening. I bet if I asked a large number of people in the Valley if they liked live music the majority would say, “Sure, I do – I love it.” Really? Similarly if I asked what would be their idea of a great night out in the Valley, many would say – “Well, I’d have a top quality live band playing under the redwoods on a pleasant Valley evening, with the sun slowly going down as a full moon rises above the trees. The music would be free, apart from any donation people might wish to give, and there’d be a bbq, affordable beer, dancing, familiar faces, and a wonderful atmosphere providing fun for all.”…Too bad so many of them missed such a night, but then perhaps I shouldn’t be that surprised – there can be a lot of ‘talking without the walking’ around here and those couches can be very comfortable. See you next time?!?…
On to the topics under discussion this week at The Five-Dot Lounge….. (Five dots….. – geddit?)….. Yes, it’s time for “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant Rumors” from my favorite bar/restaurant in the Valley at a location known only to ‘those in the know’….. Apparently, according to the film buffs in The 5-Dot, Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese will be directing a biopic on the life of Frank Sinatra. I have been a Frank fan forever and a Scorsese fan since his ‘Mean Streets’ of 1973, with his later efforts, ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘Raging Bull’, two of the best films I’ve ever seen. One wiseacre commented, “Now this will finally give Scorsese the chance to make a film about gangsters and casinos!”….. Longtime driver of the Seniors’ Bus, Dick Sand, may have made a slight error last week when he locked the bus up for the night with one senior still on board. We at The 5-Dot think this is a mistake anyone could make (well quite a few people anyway), and it was soon rectified, so surely his lob is not in jeopardy. It would be a cruel act to deprive Dick of his most loyal following and surely the seniors would miss his lively banter and jokes, even if they have heard them many times before…Although I could not attend, I have received some very positive reports from The 5-Dot regulars on the performance by the new volunteer grill cooks at the bbq held at the last Barn Sale. With Bill Holcomb(urger) retired from the grill they had some big shoes to fill but apparently they did a splendid job and I will most certainly be there to test them out at the next one – which is June 27th/28th, I believe….. There’s a very popular Valley Event taking place tomorrow evening (June 11th) – one that attracts people from all walks of Valley life. Yes, it’s Graduation Day at A.V. High School and a surely a memorable occasion for many Valley folks. Nevertheless, some cynical regulars at The 5-Dot Lounge, whilst planning to attend themselves to support their loved ones, have organized an over/under on the actual length of the event and have it set at three hours long. I love this ceremony and personally know many of the graduating seniors and their proud families, but I also know that due to the bi-lingual presentation (an interesting and controversial discussion for another time perhaps) it frequently goes very long. Therefore, even though I’m sure the over/under ‘gambling’ is ‘for entertainment purposes only’, if I did have a spare $20 I’d put it on the Over (trust me on this – you can thank me later)…..
Oh, dear, have I upset somebody? - I’ll get my coat and leave shall I?… But first a little advice you may find useful at some point - the consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people…
I’m outta here!…Be careful out there; think good thoughts; and, with the hot weather now with us, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle…May your god go with you…And of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture.
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin…I have been ‘on assignment’ in the Bay Area for the past few days and as a result this week’s column will have to be very brief. Humble apologies to all who care…Nevertheless, I will obviously still perform my civic duty and inform you of the important stuff. Here we go…
Public Service Announcements for the upcoming week…This Friday and Saturday, June 5th and 6th, will see the final two presentations of the A.V. Theatre Guild’s 2009 production at The Grange. It’s ‘A Thurber Carnival’ featuring the works of James Thurber in several skits under the direction of the inimitable Rod Basehore. Both shows are at 7pm and I urge you to support the Guild’s efforts to bring even more culture to the Valley…And here are a few more reminders of ongoing Valley events and services…Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday thru’ the summer, The A.V Museum is open from 1pm to 4pm at the Little Red Schoolhouse on Hwy 128 next to the Elementary School… Every Tuesday and Thursday the Senior Center in Boonville is open for lunch at 12.30pm…And finally, every Tuesday/Wednesday/ Saturday/Sunday, The County Dump, a couple of miles out of Boonville on Mountain View Road, is open from 9am – 4pm each day – remember, No Dead Animals!…
Be careful out there; think good thoughts; stay out of the ditches; and, with the hot weather now with us, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle…May your god go with you…Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture.
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin…First I want to send my very best wishes to Bridget Reilly, Laddie Kalinowski, their lovely daughter, Quinn, and loyal dog, Jake, who next week are leaving the Valley, where they have made their home for several years, and are moving back east to be closer to their families both in Ohio and New Jersey. Many of you may know them as they have been very popular on the Valley’s social scene – they like a ‘good drink’ - and have thrown numerous wonderful parties and social gatherings during their stay here. Laddie has been a Valley electrician, working with Bryan Wyant for much of the time, whilst Bridget has been at Meyer Family Cellars in recent years. The gain of Quinn’s grandparents’ uncles’, aunts’, and cousins’ will certainly be many Valley folks’ loss. Hummingbird and I will both miss their kindness, generosity, humor, sense of what is right and wrong, social awareness and skills, and a special friendship very much indeed. May peace and happiness be with them…
With this in mind I have no choice but to make the Quote of the Week these wise words from St. Thomas Aquinas who said, “Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.”…I would only add another relevant phrase which I cannot attribute to anyone but it’s very appropriate in light of the fact that Bridget and Laddie often provided us with some wonderful goodies – “In the cookies of life, friends are the chocolate chips”…
On Saturday night I headed down to the Navarro Store for the Hansen and Raitt show, the latest in the summer-long Live Music series held in the Deep End. There was a crowd of over one hundred people and it was certainly the best atmosphere of the series so far. These events attract all sorts of Valley folks, from representatives of The Old Families (Pardini, Pronsolino, Hulbert, Gowan, etc), to the Veteran Hippies (Captain Rainbow, Buckhorn Bob, Dee Dee, and friends), to Winery folks (Bob Klindt of Claudia Springs, Jill Derwinski of Brutocao, Sharon Sullivan of Roederer), to several Rancho Navarrians, a smattering of Valley-Dwelling Urban Refugees; a few bedazzled Brightlighters, and of course the Deep Enders themselves, led by the King of Dance, Tommy Hopper. Set amongst the towering redwoods and with Pablo on the bbq grill, the excellent music was actually just one of many reasons to make me think, “It doesn’t get much better than this”…
Sunday afternoon came around all too quickly and I had barely recovered from the previous evening’s activities when I found myself at the Lion’s Club Tri-Tip BBQ to benefit the ElderHome in Boonville. It was held in the lovely Redwood Grove at The Fairgrounds and once again a good turnout of Valley folk was in attendance, although it was not as busy as last year…With Grill Masters, Olie Erickson, Justin Clarke, and Kevin Lee, taking care of the important business, the Lions Club Crew serving up the fixings, and the Bowman Family on the beer and wine bar, the event was a success and I can only point out that this was certainly a case of “snooze you loose” for those who missed it…
Not much room or time this week but we must squeeze in some important Public Service Announcements for the upcoming week…Tonight, May 27th, it’s the monthly gathering of the Independent Career Women (I.C.W.) and if this is the first you’ve heard about it then you’re too late to sign up on this occasion. I did not receive an invite once again and I really must check in with Postmaster Joe in Philo as to why it failed to arrive… Then tomorrow, Thursday 28th, the Anderson Valley Lyme Group will show a new documentary film on lyme disease at 6:30 p.m. in the Live Oak Building in Boonville. Free admission and very informative.!!… This coming Friday and Saturday, May 29th and 30th (also on June 5th and 6th), the A.V. Theatre Guild will be presenting their 2009 production at The Grange. It’s ‘A Thurber Carnival’ featuring the works of James Thurber in several skits under the direction of the inimitable Rod Basehore. All shows are at 7pm and I urge you to support the Guild’s efforts to bring even more culture to the Valley…Finally, on Saturday and Sunday, 9am – 3pm each day, it’s this month’s Barn Sale under the expert stewardship of Gloria Ross at The St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on A.V. Way just north of Boonville. There are lots of bargains to be had and whilst there are no more Holcomburgers these days (Bill has “retired’) there will be a guest grill chef serving food from 11am to 2pm each day…
I should go now – I’ve got to see a man about a sheep…Be careful out there; think good thoughts; stay out of the ditches; and, with the hot weather now with us, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle…May your god go with you…Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture.
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net

Greetings one and all - if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin…Well, that was a couple of uncomfortably hot days over this past weekend wasn’t it? I can’t complain other than to say that everyone talks about this but nobody does anything about it!…One thing it does mean is that the females of the species certainly look very ‘healthy’ in their skimpy summer outfits and that is surely a good thing for the observant male. It also leads me to offer you the first Quote of the Week from another observer of the human condition, incomparable English novelist Jane Austen, who commented, “What dreadfully hot weather we’ve had. It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.” Wallowing around naked at The Nest, I couldn’t have put it better myself…
In light of the upcoming Memorial Day (Monday, May 25th), we should most certainly have a pertinent Quote of the Week to honor those who have given their lives for the benefit of others and the world in which we live. I can think of few better to provide some wise words on this than American philosopher, mythologist, and commentator on the human experience, Joseph Campbell, who said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”…Sincere appreciation to them all – we shall remember…
On to the topics under discussion this week at The Five-Dot Lounge….. (5-Dots – geddit?)….. Yes, it’s time for “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant Rumors” from my favorite bar/restaurant in the Valley….. The continuing ‘significant’ C.H.P. presence in the Valley is certainly on people’s minds with further tickets being given out to locals for not wearing their seat belts. This is certainly very odd and unfortunate. For every good deed that new sheriff Craig Walker is credited with, I hear about a negative one committed by the Chippies. I remember when the cops were there to ‘protect and serve’, give out directions, and help old ladies cross the road - or was that in a past life?….. It’s 4pm on Saturday and with The Pinot Festival going on as I write, one can only hope that not everyone in attendance is as drunk as the BMW Convertible driver and his disheveled blonde companion who staggered out of Golden Eye Winery to their car parked on Hwy 128 an hour or so ago. They were nearly run over as I drove past and then gave the finger to the person who used his horn to warn them away from the road. Obviously some Pinot sippers are as capable of getting as obnoxiously drunk as some of the beer guzzlers at the previous week’s Beer Fest. As regular readers will attest, I like a beer and a glass of wine as much as anyone, but if it affected me like it does some of these bozos then I would most certainly stay at home and stagger around the pastures abusing the sheep – verbally only, of course….. Some people here at The 5-Dot are concerned that the Saturday Night Live Music series at The Navarro Store attracts some ‘undesirables’ – not true I can assure them. Sure, some people get a little inebriated but it doesn’t really affect anyone else, and if it ever does, you can be sure that host Dave Evans and his ‘security staff’ will see to it that these miscreants are dealt with ‘in the usual way’…..
Hummingbird and I were very pleased to attend the surprise birthday party organized by Diana, Holly, and Suzie Charles for their mother JoAnne, held at Mom’s lovely home just north of Philo last Saturday afternoon. The party was, miraculously for this Valley, kept a secret from JoAnne until she arrived home to find so many friends and family gathered to celebrate with her. Wonderful food and wine added to this special occasion and with The Boonville Lodge’s Tom Towey providing the late night fun with the bar’s Karaoke machine it was a party to remember. My personal highlight, apart from the delicious chicken provided by Corey Morse, was the sight of Bill Teague’s twin daughters, Chelsea and Heather, singing an Avril Levigne song which left their proud father with a tear in his eye – great stuff…
On Sunday afternoon, it was the turn of Alan ‘Meat’ Thomas to celebrate his birthday with a party at his Bay Creek Farm on Ornbaun Road in Boonville. Obviously at such an event, the meat on the bbq was going to be of the highest quality and Alan and his lovely wife Torrey Douglass didn’t disappoint…The lamb ribs and pork roast were the highlights along with Hummingbird’s potato/egg salad (perhaps I am biased?) and Wes Drumheller’s delicious strawberry-based dessert…The homemade porter beer by Dan Houck went down well too on what was a lovely, albeit very hot, afternoon in the Valley…
Now, as is customary in this space, here are a few Public Service Announcements for the upcoming week…Tomorrow, Thursday 21st, at 2pm will see the Vets from Mendocino Animal Hospital making their monthly visit to the Valley. You can sign up earlier and the vets are here until 3.30pm. It’s a very convenient service to all Valley pet owners and I urge you to support this if your pet has any needs at this time. (Their next visit will be June 25th)…As mentioned above, this coming Monday is Memorial Day and the annual Senior Center Flea Market will be taking place from Friday thru’ Monday…Also this weekend is the Open Studio Tour in which local artists welcome guests to visit their studios – call Nancy or Bill at 895-3134 for details…Finally, on Sunday 24th, it’s The Lions Club’s tri-tip bbq to benefit the Elder Home. It is at the Fairgrounds from 4pm – 7.30pm and I’d rather kiss a wild hog’s snout than miss this one – you’d be wise to do the same…
I should go now – I’ve got to see a man about a sheep…Be careful out there; think good thoughts; stay out of the ditches; and, with the hot weather now with us, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle…May your god go with you…Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture.
p.s. You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net
p.p.s. How are you Silver Swan and Ducklips? It’s been too long…

Greetings one and all - I have finally returned to The Valley from the real world and so if you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin…I was in Europe on my travels and found the alcohol consumption over there to be truly ‘over-the-top’. Morning, noon, and night those people are guzzling beer and sipping wine. I frequently found myself joining them – it would have been rude not to, don’t you think? Anyway, based on this experience I am convinced that they adhere to the philosophy of American comedian, Steven Wright, who wisely noted, “24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence?  I think not.”…
Moving on…And one final word on the Beer Festival…It was a very pleasant surprise to witness the non-confrontational behavior of the Sheriff’s department over the weekend, particularly in downtown Boonville. They were there offering help if necessary but generally went with the flow and several local business owners have commented positively about this…Unfortunately the C.H.P. have not been so amenable of late. They seem to be are everywhere these days and whilst some would say ‘they are just doing their job’ I can only wonder why they have to pull over so many sober locals who are driving short distances and who sometimes forget to wear their seat belts. This is illegal of course but surely law enforcement’s time could be better spent and I know of many Valley residents who are, shall we say, ‘suspicious’ of the department’s motives…Meanwhile, the ‘Emil Rossi is Innocent’ campaign is well underway and has the support of many…
On my return I decided to fly up and down the Valley to make sure that everything was still ‘running smoothly’ and that all of the carrion had been dealt with in my absence – you’ll be pleased to know that all was well. In Boonville on Saturday morning, the Junior High soccer kids were involved in a three-team tournament at Tom Smith Field alongside the High School, whilst The Farmers Market in the parking lot of the Boonville Hotel was busy, as was the ‘good shepherd’ in the field alongside The Big Barn just north of town. He was working three dogs on the dozen sheep – surely man and dogs must have ‘won’ that one?…In downtown Philo, outside Lemons Market, there was a bake sale to benefit the nearby Methodist Church. They had nearly sold out when I bought the last two bags of cookies and then I ventured inside paid the very friendly staff for my ‘Brownie Mountain’ Ice Cream. They warmly welcomed me back. Following a brief chat with Johnnie Pinoli at his fence alongside the Post Office, I visited Dig Landscape and Garden Supply where the always-delightful Karen Katz offered a lovely smile and another ‘welcome home’…What a nice afternoon, and the day got even better because then it was off to the first night of the 2009 Live Music in Navarro series that will run all summer long. This is something I urge everyone to attend at some point – trust me on this – you can thank me later…
For the opening night, ‘Impresario’ and Navarro Store owner, Dave Evans, had booked the Black Horse Blues Band to open for Willie G and the G-Spots – good move, Dave, I must say…I arrived towards the end of the opening set but clearly those in attendance had had a good time. After buying some Pacifico beers from the store and ordering a burger and potato salad from the excellent Pablo on the grill, I sat down to enjoy the blues/soul/funk sounds of Willie G. What a great show! The band, and particularly the horn section, was top quality, and with Willie a commanding presence on stage, the audience had a marvelous time. Many people hit the dance floor led by the irrepressible Tommy Hopper, who had clearly honed some new moves over the winter months to add to his repertoire. Unfortunately one member of the audience had a bad fall and was taken ill in the intermission and the emergency services had to be called. This led to an early end to the gig but the spirits of the crowd were not unduly dampened and undoubtedly it’s going to be a great summer down in The Deep End – and yer gotta like that!
Now, as is customary in this space, here are a few Public Service Announcements…This coming weekend sees the annual Pinot Festival - Friday 15th – Sunday 17th at wineries throughout the Valley with the main event at Golden Eye Winery on Saturday…Of course the Boonville Farmers’ Market continues each Saturday in Boonville from 9.45am to noon (details Cindy at 895-2949)…The grandly named ‘Philo Yacht Club’ is holding its ‘Regatta’ this Saturday at noon under the Hendy Woods bridge on the Navarro River – contact Commander D for details at 895-2813…And finally a reminder that throughout the summer the A.V. Museum is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm – you can’t beat a little Valley History I always say…
I should go now – I’ve got to see a man about a sheep…Be careful out there; think good thoughts; stay out of the ditches; and with the hot weather just around the corner please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle…May your god go with you…Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture.
You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net
p.s. It’s not all glamour being a Turkey Vulture but we do get many compliments. This is one I have shared before but as I’ve just returned I thought it warrants repeating once again. It’s certainly one of my favorites and comes from no less an ‘expert’ than Charles Darwin who said about us Turkey Vultures, “A disgusting bird whose bald scarlet head is formed to wallow in putridity” – Thank you, Mr. D, very kind of you to say so…

I drove across the country last summer. After flying to New York (that’s a whole story in itself) and then at the last minute I decided to drive back. I rented a car and drove the 4500 miles over about four weeks.

What a cool trip. I hadn’t done a first class road trip in a long time. The year before I took the train to Michigan and discovered the fantastic fresh water lakes and beaches.

On each trip I started looking for tank towers. On the train I couldn’t spot a one from Reno to Chicago. They still have the old ones on the tops of buildings in New York but there was not a one visible on my drive back.

I have not found a suitable answer for this yet. Shouldn’t there be one or two old farms left with tank towers like in California? How else could they have had water pressure in the house?

b.

A favorite place in Anderson Valley is the Apple Farm. Owned by the Schmidts’ of “French Laundry” fame, it is a real treat to visit. I like to just walk around there before buying some of their delicious fresh apple cider.

It took me awhile to appreciate the place. I remembered the location from my high school days and it didn’t seem very inviting. Too cold in the winter I thought, and too close to the public access river.

Well, now I take that back. The Schmidts little farm has some of the mildest weather every time I visit, summer or winter. And the public beach is well away from the farm.

The Schmidts’ have fixed the place up enormously judging by the main house and it’s cooking class kitchen. They also have cabins that they rent. But it is the fine detail and care with which they have done these things that I admire.

The little accents the Schmidt’s have added are deceptively subtle and seemingly modest. There is a chandelier with candles hanging from a tree over a garden table. A church window at each end of the raised garden beds. Elegantly simple door pulls on small out-buildings. All unremarkable and with an almost homemade look, yet together they provide a thoughtful answer to creating a sense of place.

It is unpretentious and artfully done. It also doesn’t look like someone just threw a lot of money at it either. Which brings up the fact that having gone on last years’ garden tour I can attest that most of the newer places being built in the Valley, while expensive, are for the most part being tastefully done.

Which is saying a lot about who is moving here. Don’t try and find tasteful in most of the other wine areas such as the Napa Valley.

Recently, I went to visit a film director who lives in Saint Helena. Driving up into the hills outside of the town center I missed his turnoff and drove past several nearby properties. One was right out of “Gone With The Wind” and aesthetically didn’t belong in its setting.

For the most part, that is still not a problem in Anderson Valley.

b.