ANGELO PRONSOLINO TURNS 100
We will be celebrating Angelo Pronsolino's 100 birthday June 15. Angelo moved to Signal Ridge Road in 1922 where his parents established a ranch and home. Angelo has never left, other than his service in the U.S. Army during WW2. I thought you may want to know about this momentous event. (George Owens)
Caption: Angelo Pronsolino, [unidentified], John Childers, Donald Pardini, George Wilcox
ERNIE PARDINI: "Happy birthday Angelo [Pronsolino, left]. An inspiration to us all. By the way, that's my dad, 2nd from right. Played center field."
YORKVILLE’S NEW FIRE STATION. Due to the large efforts of the Yorkville Community Benefits Association (YCBA), Scott Hulbert, and the whole community, Yorkville's replacement fire station started construction yesterday! The existing station is very small and is limited to two apparatus that barely fit. The new station will remain on the same property as it always has but will now be large enough to house a new water tender and a wildland engine along with the existing structure engine and quick attack. Take a look next time you are driving through Yorkville!
THE BOONVILLE GYM was ceremonially arrayed in flowers and balloons when I arrived early evening to dispense scholarships on behalf of my nephew, a graduate of Anderson Valley High School, class of '87, and a man with high and fond regards for his alma mater, expressed last night to the tune of mucho dinero. Greeted at the door by the lean, fit there's-no-such-thing-as-a-former Marine, Patrick Ford, commander of the local American Legion, Ford's military bearing nearly inspired me to snap off a salute in greeting, but since we were both long out of uniform I continued my slovenly civilian shuffle to my seat, soon joined by some twenty locals also bearing scholarships. If there's a public school anywhere that gives young people more of a cash headstart in higher learning, I don't think it's in Mendocino County.
A STRONG BELIEVER in getting on and getting off before all possibility of narcotizing my trapped audience, I was the final presenter of a long 90 minutes of prior donors. “The Anderson-Miner family,” I said to the mostly Spanish-speaking audience, “is pleased to again help the sons and daughters of our friends and neighbors continue their formal education. Our awards come with books authored by your benefactor each, perhaps, of use to a young person wishing to escape the chamber of unknowing.” (Hell, I had to say something, and that's what popped into my hazy head.)
WITH HIGH SCHOOL principal Jim Snyder passing me the books and the magic envelopes, I sang out the names of the recipients, hoping not to have mangled too many of them.
ONE YEAR, people at the awards ceremony shouted out, “How much? How much is each one worth?” That was before the donor realized that his checks were being diverted to non-scholarly purposes, but it was quite a wowzer of an evening with the final award of forty grand bringing eliciting startled gasps, and the teen recipient in disbelieving sobs. Ever since, when it was my turn to do the family awards, I've tried to rattle them off without much ado, leaving the ado to the prior speakers.
AMONG the out-of-town presenters were Kalilah Ford-Thomas, a colonel in the Marine Corps, daughter of Sherri Ford whom many of us remember fondly. Khalilah flew in from the East Coast to honor the memory of her mother.
AND SHARON SHAPIRO attended with her son Ben and granddaughter Abby. Ben remembered his father, Mike Shapiro, the man who, you might say, was the founder of modern Anderson Valley, as he brokered The Valley's conversion to wine and tourism from logging, sheep and apples. I spent hours in losing arguments with Mr. Shapiro about the transition, but the generosity of his family lives on in impressive annual scholarships.
TUESDAY NIGHT'S DONORS:
James Snyder Career Pathway Awards; Nadia Berrigan, Visual and Digital Arts Pathway; Beth Swehla, Agriscience Pathway Awards; Ann Panttaja & Ruby Suarez, Math Recognition; Nat Corey-Moran, Mendocino Community Foundation; Susan McClure, AVCSEA; Alice Bonner, Unity Club; Eric Bloyd, Lions Club; Patrick Ford, American Legion; Andy Jones, AV Grange Dusenberry Memorial; James Snyder, Yorkville Scholarship; Sandy Mailliard, AV Firefighters Association; Ben & Abby Shapiro, Michael L. Shapiro Memorial; Cathleen Michaels, AV Arts; Khalilah Thomas, Cheri Fish Memorial; James Snyder, Independent Career Women; Shauna Espinoza, AV Boosters; Mayte Guerrero, William Sterling Memorial; James Snyder, Nor Cal Scholarship Foundation; Cindy Novella & Linnea Totten, AV Education Foundation; Bruce Anderson, Robert Mailer Anderson Scholarships
A PAIR of organizational wizards risked the geriatric clutter of the Boonville newspaper office last week to talk about the many advantages of the Anderson Valley Village, our very own mutual aid society for older people gestating inside the larger community of Anderson Valley.
LAUREN KEATING and Anica Williams are putting us older people in touch with others of comparable years and experience, however varied our experience may be, by providing not only community, but much practical assistance for people of a certain age, of whom there are many in the Anderson Valley.
IN ADDITION to help with rides and errands, The Village also maintains a roster of younger people with practical skills like tech help and in-home repairs.
WE ALL KNOW and admire Lauren, an organizational prodigy of D-Day logistical gifts, and we’re getting to know Anica, a native daughter of Elk appropriated to coordinate The Village’s growing community. For a person who works at this formidable task only a few hours a week, Anica manages not only to get the practicalities done she does it with an optimistic, smiling charm that makes organizing a village of, uh, independent elders look easy.
WHAT’S THE DIFF between the Senior Center and The Village? Lauren clarifies that “We’re complementary organizations, not competitors. We’ll be sharing the same site at the Senior Center and there is a lot of crossover members of both, of course, but our aim is to reduce the isolation many older people find themselves in to create a community of people whose age has left them feeling stranded in a society that does tend to isolate older people. A lot of people misunderstand what we’re about; we’re not hospice but a community that offers a variety of practical assistance to our members.”
VEERING from the abstract to the specific, Lauren adds, “By the way, the senior lunch is a bargain many people are unaware of at $6 for seniors, $7 non-seniors. Lunch at noon sharp. I was there for lunch the other day [Tuesdays and Thursdays] when they served 11 people to sit down meals with 20 meals to go. People are still nervous about covid so they get the to-go lunch.”
(THE Senior Center is a crucial local community service overseen by yet another super-capable woman, Renee Lee. If the Anderson Valley declares itself a matriarchy, we are fortunate indeed in our matriarchs.)
ANICA CLARIFIES, “At present there are 64 Villagers and 42 noble souls signed up to volunteer as helpers. We are gaining new members faster than we’re gaining new volunteers. People can be both.”
LAUREN SUGGESTS, “People say, ‘I’ve heard about you guys but I don’t need support yet.’ Don’t wait until you do need support. I get that you might feel and be entirely independent, but it’s never too early to join a congenial group of neighbors you may not have known. And it’s a good thing that the kids of parents who remain at home in The Valley and want to stay here see that their elders can remain in place right here with an active community in support.”
WHICH is the Anderson Valley Village.
AS post-covid life returns to the Anderson Valley, it’s a testament to the patient enthusiasm of these two ladies that even two years of zoom gatherings has not dampened enthusiasm for The Village, a very large village stretching from Yorkville to Navarro, west up Greenwood and Mountain View, and all points in between.
ALL THIS and in person dinners coming up in July at the Senior Center.
INTERESTED? Call Anica at 707 684-9829 or email her at andersonvalleyvillage@gmail.com
AV VILLAGE UPDATE
We currently have a record 64 members (49 memberships) and 42 trained volunteers ready to lend a hand!
We are deeply saddened to have lost Cherry Green, among other beloved valley residents!
The Volunteer Appreciation Party was a blast! Especially since we got to honor some of our more active volunteers with certificates of appreciation, including Mary O'Brien (pictured above), Ellen Fontaine and Jeanne Collins! Thank you to all our volunteers – every little bit counts! Please consider “paying it forward” and become a volunteer – you can decide how and how often you would like to volunteer – our next volunteer training is Sunday June 12th – right before our monthly gathering at the Senior Center
YORKVILLE FLEA MARKET
I would like to host another community flea market at the Yorkville Market on the 4th of July Weekend. I am thinking Friday or Saturday (or both?) to capitalize on the weekend traffic out to the coast, from 10-3 or in that general range.
As in years past, I will set up tables with some shade for those of who are interested in participating. You would bring any household items that you wish to sell, new or used, handmade crafts or art, and set them up for sale in your designated space. You would also be responsible for bringing a cash box and your own change to manage your sales. The table fee is $20, and if you want you can share the space with another community member. You would need to take with you any remaining items after the event is over.
Since the Market is closed, this event will take place outside.
Please let me know if you are interested and if you have a preference on which days and times to hold the event.
I know it’s less than a month away so if I could have confirmation from those interested in participating by the 15th it will give me enough time to plan.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Lisa at Yorkville Market <yorkvillemarket@gmail.com>
ALL IN 1 TREE AND TIMBER Inc is back in the valley available for your tree work needs, fully licensed and insured w/workman's comp. All pricing depending upon project specifications. For further information or any questions please message us here or call 707-272-7387. Thank you and have a great day. (Highly recommended by the ava. This guy gets it done fast at a reasonable price.)
PIC N PAY/DOWNTOWN BOONVILLE
Jesse B says turn the Pic 'N Pay lot into… Hopefully, Someone's Smart Enough, To Turn It Into Boonville's First Tiny House Village.
THE GOOD NEWS is that a local family is in the long process to purchase the Pic ’N Pay lot, but I don’t think we have enough short people to populate tiny houses.
LAST WEEK a posse of homophobes has paused in Mendocino and Fort Bragg to shout abuse at and about same-sexers. No ID yet. Speculation, ranges from a splinter “Christian” group unclear on JC's message, or, simply a neighborhood band of Mendo yobbos. That the phobes have limited themselves to sneak attacks rather than risk the wrath of pre-alerted, Mendolib doesn't say much about their cojones…
AV SMALL ENGINE REPAIR SERVICE
Hello everyone. I am starting the small engine repair to its full capacity. I am ready to take all the machines you guys need fixed. I took a little time off because I had to apply for scholarships and colleges and do my senior project and I am finally done with it. If you need a machine fixed, call me or shoot me a text. My phone number is (707) 684-6449. I have put business cards in most stores in the valley and I have a ton if anyone is interested. Thank you for your time and I hope seeing you soon!
Daniel Garibay
YORKVILLE’S NEW FIRE STATION
Due to the large efforts of the Yorkville Community Benefits Association (YCBA), Scott Hulbert, and the whole community, Yorkville's replacement fire station started construction yesterday! The existing station is very small and is limited to two apparatus that barely fit. The new station will remain on the same property as it always has but will now be large enough to house a new water tender and a wildland engine along with the existing structure engine and quick attack. Take a look next time you are driving through Yorkville!
(AV Fire Department Presser)
MONITORING WORK AT FAULKNER PARK
Monday, June 13, contractors for PG&E will be conducting work under their Routine Maintenance Program (NOT the Enhanced Program, which is still on Pause). PG&E submitted to the County and gained approval for this tree trimming and cutting at Faulkner Park.
Most of it seems to be non-controversial. However, they are planning to cut the dead top off one old growth tree next to the line, and limb up another. Limbing up should not be a problem if done properly. Cutting the dead top is probably ill-advised, but is not likely to harm the tree’s overall health if done reasonably. The sign at the bottom of Mountain View Road advises travel delays on Monday. We don’t know whether this means equipment or simply halting traffic when something could fall on the roadway.
Because there has been so much confusion, including about this Routine Maintenance project, we want to make sure the crew does only the work it is supposed to and does not stray into harming any old growth tree. So we hope to be out there monitoring the work.
(Friends of Faulkner Park)
FAULKNER PARK: Am on site this morning [Monday] at Faulkner Park. Am happy to see a County rep and several people from PG&E along with the contractors, Family Tree. Everybody is on the same page about the work. All cut material will be removed. FoFP will be monitoring throughout the day. Now if we could just get PG&E to commit to keeping all the old redwoods safe forever! (Kathy Bailey)
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