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Valley People (April 5, 2023)

THE ANDERSON VALLEY is saddened at the death of long-time resident, Juan Alarcón, who died in a traffic accident Friday night on Highway 128 near Fitch Lane. 

Mr. Alarcón had been employed for many years at the Boonville Brewery. He was widely known and highly popular in the wider community for his unfailing good humor. Nothing more on the tragic loss to his family and this community has been released by the CHP.

CHP REPORT on Juan Alarcon's death:

On March 31, 2023, at about 6:30pm, the CHP responded to a solo motorcycle accident on Highway 128 west of Boonville. Based on preliminary investigation, the rider (Juan Alarcón, 46, of Boonville) was driving a 2004 Honda CBR motorcycle westbound on Highway 128 near milemarker 27.76. For unknown reasons the rider allowed his motorcycle to travel off the north edge of Highway 128. As a result the motorcycle overturned and the rider was ejected. The rider sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. At this time it is unknown if alcohol or drugs contributed to the accident. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with pertinent information is asked to contact the Ukiah CHP office at 707/467-4420.

JIM RUTHERFORD of Yorkville has died. A long-time volunteer firefighter and former Fire Marshal in Fort Bragg, Rutherford was born August 19, 1938 and died February 18, 2023 at the age of 83. A celebration of his life is set for April 14, 2023 at “high noon” at the Ukiah Elks Lodge, 1200 Hastings Road, Ukiah.

DEBRA KEIPP MEMORIAL SERVICE: A Celebration of Life for Debra Keipp will be held at 1pm on April 15 at the AV Grange in Philo. Please bring your stories to share; we will have pictures and light refreshments.

AV FFA ALL-STARS

These fantastic young men represented Anderson Valley at the North Coast Region FFA Spring meeting today at Livermore High School. They were our voting delegates. They had fun and made new friends! Great job! (Beth Swehla)

A LARGE DILAPIDATED RV has been abandoned at the foot of Holmes Ranch road near Philo for more than two weeks. Holmes Ranch residents have been calling everyone they can think of with no response so far. The CHP told one caller that they know who the owner is, but it’s the County’s responsibility to get it towed. One caller said they’d settle for the short term if someone would at least get it towed down the road a little because it blocks the view of HR residents trying to enter Highway 128 as well as the as the traffic that speeds by. Jan Wax said there’s a serious risk of an accident because of the RV. The license plate number is 4NAR0888. It apparently belongs to a local person.

Indian Creek Park is now open for the season!

Indian Creek Park is the only park in the County Parks system that allows overnight camping. It is a popular retreat for many – visitors from all over the country have enjoyed this quiet “getaway” spot only 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Besides the roomy campsites, Indian Creek Park offers running water, picnic tables, clean restrooms, campfire pits, and BBQ grills.

Indian Creek Campground's 10 sites are open currently on a “first-come first-serve” basis.

Campground rates are $25.00 per night, this fee includes 1 vehicle. For any additional vehicles there is a $2.00 fee.

Indian Creek Park is located one-half mile southeast of Philo on Highway 128 (8950 CA-128 Philo, CA 95466). It is beautifully situated in a grove of large old-growth redwoods on the south bank of Indian Creek, near its junction with the Navarro River. 

For more information, please visit https://www.mendocinocounty.org/departments/general-services/parks/mendocino-county-park-locations/indian-creek

You can reach the General Services Agency – Parks Reservations by phone at (707) 234-2875 or by email at parks_reservations@mendocinocounty.org.

AV BEERFEST EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS SOON

The best deal on tickets ends March 31st

The 25th annual legendary Boonville Beerfest is right around the corner on April 29th! Tickets are going fast, so make sure to snag one for you and yours soon. Pro tip: Do it before early bird pricing ends on March 31st for the best deal.

Tickets: https://avbc.com/boonville-beer-fest

Anderson Valley Brewing Co.

17700 Boonville Rd

Boonville

OLIVIA ALLEN: We want to thank everyone so much for all of their kindness in these months since my parents’ (Bill Allen and Nancy Macleod) accident. 

Having community to hold us, even from afar, has been invaluable. We have finally decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign to help with what insurance won’t cover of my dad’s medical expenses. After researching how much rehab facilities cost and seeing how few take insurance… Oh my! We are ending month three, and there are clearly many arduous months ahead of us. I know times are financially tight for most people, so truly any little amount helps, especially if this can reach far. Every dollar counts. If you are so inclined, please share this with your communities. 

We decided to go with this organization because my parents won’t risk losing their MediCal this way, and all donations are tax deductible! If you have any questions about it, please reach out. Thank you so much again for all the love and support. We feel it, and so appreciate it. 

My family is finishing our third month of the worst nightmare we’ve ever had… and it’s one that doesn’t end with sunrise each morning. On December 29th, 2022, my parents’ truck went off the road near their Philo home in Northern California, and crashed into a row of trees. Thankfully my mother was largely unscathed, but my father was badly bruised, broke one clavicle, suffered a fracture to his skull and severe brain trauma.

He was airlifted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where he spent three weeks in the ICU deep in a coma from his traumatic brain injuries. It was the worst three weeks of our lives, seeing him in such a devastating state, completely unresponsive and unstable, with no idea what was going to happen. (click “see all” for the rest.) https://helphopelive.org/campaign/21595/

CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH CLASS IN BOONVILLE! The late-start levels 2 and 3

This class is a combined level 2/3 class, meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays will focus on level 2 content and Thursdays will focus on level 3 content. If you’re not sure what level is right for you, contact us (contact info below).

Time: 5:30-7:20 p.m. each night. 

Cost: For the entire cycle is $12

Teacher: Serena Acker (bio below)

Location: Tuesdays: Elementary School room 13, Thursdays: Adult School classroom

To register: This is a Mendocino College class offered in partnership with the Anderson Valley Adult School. You are welcome to register directly with the college, and please confirm your interest and participation with the AV Adult School by emailing adultschool@avpanthers.org, or calling 895-2953.It will be helpful for us to know how many people to expect. If you are not familiar with the Mendocino College registration procedure, we can help you. Registering online with the college can be tricky!

Park Arch

ELIZABETH JENSEN; Anyone local capable of designing, building and installing a new gate for our local park Arch entranceway? Here are some ideas for inspiration but the design would be custom to coordinate with the Arch style. Looking for local vendor who can provide estimate for design/materials/labor/install. Thank you!

A READER WONDERS: Did I dream that someone local is doing Uber or similar? An out of town person has asked me if it is possible to get from Deep End to Boont without a car.  

JENNIFER BIRD AT AV FARM SUPPLY: 

Please do not just show up at the AV Farm Supply with cats. The employees cannot take them in and are required to say no. You must call ahead and make arrangements with Felines of Philo first. We can’t always take the kitties but would love to help out with finding them somewhere to go or to at least get them fixed.

And to the gentleman who came into AVFS this morning after being told by his landlord he could drop them off, please contact me! (I wasn’t here and I don’t think you left a name or number!) I’m hoping they didn’t get left somewhere.

707-684-9439

THIS PERFECT DESCRIPTION of March is from Dickens' Great Expectations: “It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”

AV FARM SUPPLY IS HIRING

Office Assistant Position Available. Full or Part Time. Contact us for more info: 707/895-3884 or store@andersonvalleyfarmsupply.com

MATT BARNES: VERIZON WIRELESS SIGNAL RIDGE TOWER ISSUES 

It seems Verizon recently did an upgrade to the Signal Ridge Cell Tower from LTE to 5G. 

Like many of you who shared on Seasha Rose’s thread, you are also having issues. Personally I have line-of-sight to the tower, and I went from full bars to 2 bars with much slower internet and occasional call quality or dropped call issues. 

I filed a case with the Verizon Network Group # NRB000011184108 about the reduction in bars, call issues and internet speed we’ve been experiencing. 

They said 7-10 days before I would hear anything back. I expect this will be a blame game about how it isn’t Verizon’s fault and network traffic is up etc. when the likely truth, based on my cursory research, is this is not uncommon with LTE to 5G upgrades. I’ll stick with it until we get resolution. 

To that end…those of you who are having NEW issues, can you document in the comments the specific issues you are having so I can share with Verizon as needed? 

SCHOOL CARNIVAL THIS SATURDAY

Don't miss out on this year's Spring Carnival! There will be lots of fun activities. It may be raining so make sure to bring a raincoat, rain boots. Don't forget to bring your easter basket!

This Saturday, April 8th, 10am - 2pm, AVHS Gym/Field

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