Greetings one and all. If you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin. The folks who coach sports at our local schools do a fine job with little financial reward — not that they want any more, I’m sure. The stipend they receive may possibly cover the gas they use driving to and from the school each day, and some choose to donate what they receive back to the school sports booster program. Others feel they cannot afford to do this and accepting some compensation for gas is fair given the many hours they donate. Either way, the numerous benefits to the school experience enjoyed by many student athletes are a testament to the coaches’ hard work and dedication.
The time given to coaching is a significant part of anyone’s week, certainly a minimum of 20 hours in most sports, so perhaps it is not a surprise to learn that in recent weeks, after coaching changes at the high school in football, baseball, boys basketball, and volleyball over the past couple of years, two coaching positions have again become available. So, there is once again a need to find a new high school volleyball coach for the late summer when practices begin, and also, but more urgently, at the junior high school, they need a new soccer coach for their co-ed program beginning in just two months, running from mid-March to mid-May. I am aware of a couple of parents who would willingly assist the soccer program for practices and some games but neither is able to take on the role of head coach. This does not necessarily require the 20 hours that other coaching jobs do, so if you can spare a few hour a week then please contact the Athletic Director, Robert Pinoli, at the high school, 895-3496.
With sports in mind let’s refer to the following classic comments from some of the great ones for your Quotes of the Week. “There may be people who have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” — Yankee great, Derek Jeter. “Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer.” — Baseball Hall of Famer, Ted Williams. “One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than fifty preaching it.” — Legendary coach, Knute Rockne. “It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” — long-time Alabama coach, Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant. “Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.” — Football Hall of Famer, Mike Singletary. “One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.” — All-time leading NBA scorer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.” — coach/owner of the Chicago Bears, George Halas. “When you win, say nothing, when you lose, say less.” — influential football coach, Paul Brown. “What to do with a mistake: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it.” — college basketball coaching legend, Dean Smith. “It ain’t over till it’s over.” — one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, and a man of many pithy remarks, Yogi Berra. “Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding.” — inspirational college basketball coach, Jim Valvano. “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” — another legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi. And finally, a succinct comment on perhaps why sports is so important to so many people in our society, both the participants and those who watch and support: “Sports serve society by providing vivid examples of excellence.” — political commentator and serious baseball fan, George F. Will.
Public Service Announcements. #917. The Crab Feed on February 7 has sold out all 350 tickets. The waiting list has also been closed at 20 requests. #918. The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be in the Valley next Thursday, January 29. #919. The Boonville Winter Market is every Saturday, rain or shine, in front of the Boonville General Store, 10-12:30. Come on down to Boonville and either sell or buy locally grown or made food or crafts. For more info, call Cindy at 895-2949. As a special treat, Bunny Bill will once again have onion and leek starts, but whatever you do please avoid asking him to share his carrots. Somebody did this last week and you can still see the bite marks! #920. The Mendocino Bookmobile resumes visits the Valley on Tuesday, January 27. They are in the Valley on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Navarro Store 9am (for 30 minutes); the Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville (Apple Hall) 2.30pm. Phone 463-4694 for further details.
Here is the menu for the Community lunches and dinners over the next week at 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, January 22, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Vegetable Soup and Banana Split Cake for dessert. Then, next Tuesday evening, January 27 at 6pm, the dinner will feature Sesame Noodle and Chicken, with Kahlua Cake for dessert. All meals include vegetables, salad bar, and fruit, plus milk, coffee, tea, and lemonade. Hopefully you will be able to attend, and remember. ALL ages welcome! Hope to see you there.
Topics and Valley events under discussion this week at The Three-Dot Lounge. Yes it’s “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant (and surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley.
…The Crab Feed to benefit the Senior Center on Saturday was a sold out success and everybody seemed to enjoy the crab and have a good time. In our opinion, the raffle went on a little too long and perhaps if some prizes had been lumped together as extra live auction items, this would have generated more money for the Center and engaged the crowd even more, particularly with “professional” auctioneer W. Dan in attendance. Just sayin’.
…The Super Bowl will feature New England vs. Seattle, who somehow managed to beat Green Bay on Sunday when they had a season’s worth of good fortune in three minutes of play. As any self-respecting 49er fan knows, the “conceited” Seahawks are not a particularly likeable bunch, although many NFL followers would perhaps say the same about the “cheating” Patriots.
…The Elder Home complex is planning to welcome some local elderly folks in the very near future. “It’s about time,” I can hear many folks say. Well it is definitely happening and the Board should be congratulated for getting it done.
…The new “Afternoon Club” is also not too far off. This will be for elderly folks to spend a few hours at the Senior Center on Thursday afternoons so that their care-taking spouses can get a break. The Center is currently looking for an experienced person to coordinate and operate this venture and will pay $20 an hour (six or seven hours a week) to the person they hire. call 895-3609 for details if you or someone you know are interested.
I’m outtahere. I’ve got see a man about a sheep. So, until we talk again, Keep the Faith; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; and may your god go with you. A final request, “Let us prey.” Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture.
Contact me with words of support/abuse through the Letters Page or at turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net. PS. On the sheep, Grace. … Hi, George, hope you and Sheila are well. …Hi, Silver Swan. behaving yourself? Hopefully not!
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