Greetings one and all. If you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin. Labor Day weekend is virtually upon us and while it’s not the ‘Mother of All Holidays’ — that is obviously Thanksgiving — it is still a pretty good one as we celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labor Day has its origins in the labor union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest — seems about fair, although personally I continue to question the eight hours for work part. To me it also means that the kids are back in school where they belong and up here at The Nest it signifies a weekend overflowing with the old classics: fried chicken, hamburgers, corn dogs, coleslaw, potato salad, lemonade, corn on the cob, baked beans and sliced tomatoes. Finish up with sliced watermelon, apple pie, and freshly churned ice cream. Oh, and a few sips of beer and wine, of course. It would be un-workmanlike not to.
So inevitably, for your Quote of the Week, I offer these words about “work” from French writer, historian, philosopher, and wit, Voltaire, who said, “Work spares us from three great evils — boredom, vice, and need.” That’s all very well but, in my humble opinion, Oscar Wilde was far more perceptive with his remark, “Work is the curse of the drinking classes.” Enjoy your weekend!
Public Service Announcements. #78: It’s the Yorkville Ice Cream Social, Barbecue and Book Sale! On Monday, Sept 5th, Labor Day, from 10-4 at the Yorkville Community Center. Over 4500 high quality Used Books for sale at 50¢ an inch! This includes many children's and young adult books, fiction, non-fiction, whatever your reading preferences may be. They will have a treasure tent with antique books, coffee table books and brand new best sellers as well as CDs and DVDs with nothing over $5. The main event for some will be, of course, the Ice Cream and BBQ oysters and the now famous ‘Cake Walk’! Best of all, proceeds benefit the Fire Department and Scholarship Fund. And now let’s catch up on some of the events/services that happen every month. Every Tuesday 1.30-4.30pm and Saturday 2-4pm it’s the AV Lending Library run by The Unity Club at The Fairgrounds. Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, The AV Museum at the Little Red Schoolhouse building is open from 1-4pm. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, The County Dump is open from 9am-4pm. And finally, every 1st and 3rd Tuesday and every Thursday it’s the Senior Center Lunch at 12:15pm; on the 2nd Tuesday it’s Dinner and Bingo night at 6pm; and on the last (4th or 5th) Tuesday it’s dinner at 6pm.
Topics under discussion this week at The Three-Dot Lounge: yes it’s “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley.
…So the ‘powers-that-be’ have decided that this year’s Homecoming sports events are to take place at the County Fair. Girls soccer (3pm), Boys Soccer (5pm) and Football (7pm) will take place as usual on that Friday/Fair Day, but the teams also normally get to have an evening dedicated to Homecoming alone, at which money is raised for these financially struggling sports programs. Now that the games are at the Fair the money will not be forthcoming. Why was this done? Is any money going to be donated by the Fair to the school sports? I think we should be told.
…Meanwhile, on that same topic, boys soccer coach and AVA contributor Steve Sparks popped in to the 3-Dot and informed me that the Fundraiser for Fall Sports, held a week or so ago at The Grange, raised over $2600 for soccer (boys and girls), football, volleyball, and cheerleading. He thanks the community for their support, the many volunteers for their wonderful efforts, and particularly the organizing committee he worked with: Palma Toohey, Renée Lee, Jennifer Espinoza, and Kerri Sanchez. Someone suggested that these guys should run for Fair Board. Who would vote against them?
…Talking of Boards, having being informed that none of the candidates in the upcoming School Board election will be allowed to hold their events at The 3-Dot due to the very strict entry requirements, Ben Anderson decided to begin his campaign in earnest with a “meet and greet” last Sunday evening at The Buckhorn, Boonville. It was a well-attended event with people from many different Valley walks of life who no doubt enjoyed the delicious hors d’ouevres and who created a very positive feeling throughout the evening. Ben, along with incumbents Martha ‘Marti’ Bradford and Richard ‘Dick’ Browning, and new candidates Ernie Pardini and Don Harris, are the five folks seeking the three positions available. For providing the spicy wings alone, surely Ben is the current front-runner.
…Last Friday saw the second in the series of Guest Chef Dinners to benefit the Senior Center. And what a delicious feast it was! Chef Diana Charles, with great assistance from family members, served up a wonderful chicken marsala with abundant Italian salad and garlic bread, and an outstanding blackberry cobbler and ice cream for dessert. Special mention should go to Bill Teague for his all-dayer on the chopping and dicing for which he received his official journeyman credentials in those trades, not to mention his top class job on the washing up. Somebody suggested that perhaps he should quit his day job. Next Guest Chef Dinner will be on September 30th, the last Friday as usual, with Chef Corey Morse.
Time to take my leave. With the hot weather still with us, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; children too I suppose. Otherwise, Keep the Faith; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; and may your god go with you. One final request, “Let us prey.” Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture. PS. Contact me with words of support/abuse through the Letters Page or at turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net.
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