Greetings one and all. If you are sitting comfortably, I shall begin. Let me begin by informing you of some phone numbers that may well play small but significant parts in our lives over the next year or so. First, here is the number to call if you wish to express comments or make complaints about the noise pollution from the frost protection fans that many, but not all, of our local wineries have been guilty of causing in recent times. 901-7441. The wineries, to their credit, have set this up, so please call and, following your torrent of abuse, leave your physical address so that they can monitor where the problems lie and perhaps, when the cow has jumped over the moon, they will do something about them. Secondly, the current plan to fix the unfinished section of Highway 128, between Peachland Road and The Grange, sees it being completed by 2015! However, if you join the folks who have already called to complain about this ridiculous situation, maybe it can be done sooner. Call the very helpful Jeff Tyrell at the State Senate District Representative’s office. 468-8914. Furthermore, here is the number for Kathy King of CalTrans claims department who should be contacted if you incur damages to windshields etc. while driving along that particular section: 445-6594.
Public Service Announcements. Calendars and pens at the ready. #312. The Valley’s Annual Pinot Festival is this coming this weekend. Friday to Sunday, May 16-18. Depending on your mindset, I hope to see you out and about either sipping wine or selectively protesting frost protection fans at the guilty party’s events. Or both. Suffice it to say, I shall not be sipping at one particularly winery, one that shall be remain nameless because Golden Buttocks may get upset if I do. #313. Saturday, May 17 sees the Open Mic night at Lauren’s Restaurant in Boonville. It’s always on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 9pm. #314. The Mendocino Bookmobile is in town next Tuesday, May 20. They are in the Valley on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Navarro Store 9am; the Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville (Apple Hall) 2.30pm. Their next visit will be Tuesday, June 3. Phone 463-4694 for further details. #315. The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be visiting the Valley next week on Thursday, May 22. Next month, their visits here will be on Thursdays, June 5 and 26. #316. The AV High School branch of the FFA is holding its next Drive-Thru Dinner on May 22nd. The meal includes tri-tip, baked potatoes, rolls, green salad, and watermelon. Tickets are $50 for a dinner for four or $25 for a dinner for two. You can call the School Ag Dept at 895-2514 to reserve your ticket. #317. Over Memorial Day weekend. May 23 to 26, the annual Flea Market & Indoor Craft Fair runs each day from 9am-4pm at the Anderson Valley Senior Center-Veterans Building in Boonville. There is a snack bar and breakfast will be served from 9-11am every morning. #318. The 12th Annual Open Art Studio Tour is another event that takes place over the Memorial Day weekend. May 24-26. Self-guided tour guides are available at many locations in the Valley. #319. The Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, May 25, will see the AV Lion’s Club presenting their delicious Chicken and Tri Tip Barbecue at the Redwood Grove in the Fairgrounds to benefit the Anderson Valley ElderHome! Serving starts at 4:30 and festivities continue until 7:30. Along with the always-excellent Silent Auction and music by DJ Pete, new this year will be the “Grab Bag Tables” (whatever they may be?). Advance purchase tickets are $15 at Lemon’s and All That Good Stuff. Seniors (62+) and children (12-) are $12. At the door they will be $18 and $15. Children under 6 are free. Hhere is the menu for the Community lunches over the next week at the Senior Center at the Veterans Hall in Boonville. The Center asks for a $6 donation from Seniors and charges $7 for Non-Seniors. Tomorrow, Thursday, May 15, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Beef Stir Fry, Jasmine Rice, Snow Peas, Quinoa Salad, Asian Slaw, and Strawberry Short Cake for dessert. Then next Tuesday, May 20, the menu will feature Citrus Cod, Couscous, Broccoli, Quinoa Salad, with a Peach Cobbler for “afters.” Remember, all ages are welcome!. Hope to see you there.
Topics and Valley events under discussion this week at The Three-Dot Lounge — “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant (and surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley.
…The Theatre Guild returned under the renewed directorial leadership of Rod Basehore with their recent presentation at The Grange and did a wonderful job. Many Three-Dot regulars attended and were thoroughly entertained. It was funny, fast-paced, unlike some previous productions, had a good plot, and featured a number of splendid performances. Florianne Weyrich, Danny Mandelbaum, and Ray Langevin being the standouts in the opinion of us folks up at The Nest. Well done, one and all!
…Regulars were busy calculating that Valley Tasting Room #29 (yes, we have 28 at the moment) will be making its debut this weekend as part of the 17th Annual Pinot Festival. The appropriately named Domaine Anderson (trademark by the big boys at Roederer Winery) will open its doors at the location that was formerly the home of Jim Ball Winery and will host just one of the many winery open house events on Sunday, May 18, the concluding day of the weekend-long Festival.
I’m outta here. Until we talk again. Keep the Faith; be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; and may your god go with you. A final request, “Let us prey.” Poking and stroking but humbly yours, Turkey Vulture, pleased in the knowledge that the old hare has returned safely to his burrow. Contact me with words of support/abuse through the Letters Page or at turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net. PS. Keep on wagging that tail, Fred. … Is that “lafter” I hear, Carroll? … Keep up the good work, Round-eyed Robin.
Turkey Vulture’s screed:
“First, here is the number to call if you wish to express comments or make complaints about the noise pollution from the frost protection fans that many, but not all, of our local wineries have been guilty of causing in recent times. 901-7441.
The wineries, to their credit, have set this up, so please call and, following your torrent of abuse, leave your physical address so that they can monitor where the problems lie and perhaps, when the cow has jumped over the moon, they will do something about them.”
+ + +
In response: That phone number is the trap that leaves no legal record nor recourse. Being a good neighbor, it would be nice to call.
But if you do not follow up with recordable retrievable verified complaints to authorities of record, germane to public nuisances and noise ordinances, then you may be simply bleating in the wind until the legal precedent is set.
Then it could happen to have the phone number disconnected in 3 years, grandfathered in by a steep burden to provide evidence, with all records destroyed on their end of their phone line, and not retrievable for equitable justice fair hearing in court of law.