Greetings one and all. If you are sitting comfortably then I shall begin. The disturbing saga at the AV Health Center continues. In fact the whole situation has even stirred the Old Buzzard from his late summer slumbers and caused him to weigh in with some of his own comments that could certainly be added to his long list of Signs that the Apocalypse is Approaching.
Buzzard reports, “So, just over a week after the new doctor’s “Meet and Greet the Community” event, developments at the Health Center would seem to have taken on farcical proportions. Like many others, I have been inundated with a veritable surge of emails on this topic that all came from within the same group of about 80 Valley folks who make up a sincere, well-intentioned, and cohesive email assemblage whose efforts are commendable. The vast majority of this contingent appears to be in agreement with one another and claims to be acting in the best interests of the community. I am sure they genuinely believe this. I support much of what they have proposed when it comes to ‘saving the Health Center,’ but I am also aware of a number of people, in many cases those who do not easily share their thoughts in public, who are not convinced that the group is representing the community as a whole, certainly with regards to some of their ilk's more specific aims concerning the future of the current Board and other staffing issues.
Knowing and respecting a number of the Board members personally, I have to assume that there are a number of arguments that represent a different point of view. For reasons that remain unclear, we have not been presented with these. Nevertheless, there remains a significant number of Valley folks who do not agree with some of Gang of 80’s ideas. The Eighty will reasonably point out that these individuals can share their thoughts at a community meeting, but it doesn’t work like that, and in most cases these people will continue to keep their thoughts to themselves. I guess they will have to live with the consequences of their inaction. Which is unfortunate. Our community is often divided on many other Valley issues, in fact we live in a place where you can find similar numbers on both sides of most serious discussions if you delve deep enough: the wineries, the school, tourism and commerce, bike trails, and marijuana, to mention a few. Not that this is a bad thing, in fact in most cases it is quite healthy and fortunately, in my opinion, this is not the harmonious, all-for-one community that some would have you believe; it is far more stimulating than that.
But I digress. Being a former patient at the Health Center, who for numerous reasons has decided for the past few years to travel the 90 minutes to Santa Rosa for health care rather than the 15 minutes to Boonville, and who welcomed some of the changes made at the clinic in recent times (but certainly not the firing of dental clinic administrator, Kathy Corrall, who always seemed to me to be the most efficient and courteous person in the building), I believe there is another side to many of the arguments. However, while the “Gang of Eighty” has repeatedly presented articulate and well-reasoned arguments and requests, there have been very few comments from that “other side.” In fact their reticence to address so many of the issues raised thus far has been very disappointing indeed. Perhaps, given this weekend’s torrent of related activity, they are feverishly putting together their side of the debate as I write. Let’s hope so. But why haven’t they done so before now? I think we should be told. I must go. This health center fiasco is making me feel ill. Oh, the irony!”
Public Service Announcements. Calendars and pens at the ready. #240. The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be visiting the Valley just once more this month. tomorrow, Thursday, October 23 from 2-4pm at the AV Farm Supply. Unfortunately, due to staffing issues, they will NOT be making a visit to the Valley in November. #241. This Saturday, October 25, sees the end of season local potluck at 12:30pm, following the final outdoor Farmers” Market at the Boonville Hotel Parking Lot. (It’s not a courtyard). #242. And in a related event, on Sunday, October 26 it’s the Farm-to-Fork Dinner at the Boonville Hotel. a fundraiser for the AV Foodshed in celebration of Local Farmers and Local Food! This dining experience will feature food and drink sourced entirely from Anderson Valley. Appetizers at 4:30, Dinner at 5:30. $55- $125 sliding scale; includes 4-course meal, wine, beverage, tax and gratuity. Please Call 895-2210, space is limited. #243. Stone and Embers, at The Madrones, just south of Philo, will also be highlighting local ingredients on Saturday, October 25. They will be open from 12-8 that day and recommend reservations at dinnertime. #244. This year’s final Guest Chef Dinner. the series of community dinners to benefit the Senior Center, takes place on Saturday, October 25 and will be in the form of an Oktoberfest celebration to be held in the unique and appropriately decorated Barn at the AV Farm Supply, just north of Philo. Prepared by Fal Allen and Friends, there will be a Happy Hour at 5pm and Dinner will be served at 6pm. Tickets are $30 which includes the dinner, one complementary drink, and a donation to the Senior Center of $10. Only a limited number of tickets available, so get yours early. #245. The AV ElderHome is having an Open House at their newly renovated unit on Sunday, October 26 from 1-5pm at #14440-A, next to the Fairgrounds. Then on Thursday, October 30, the ElderHome is also hosting a Community Meeting at the Senior Center at 6pm to explain future plans and to get community feedback.
Here’s 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, October 23, the lunch, always served by Marti Titus and her crew at 12.15pm, will be Amish Chicken, Pasta, Carrots, Rolls, Wheat Berry Salad, and Wendy’s Oatmeal Cookies for dessert . Then at 6pm next Tuesday evening, October 28, the menu will feature Chicken Enchiladas, Corn, Black Beans, Salsa, Orange Gelatin, Tabbouleh Salad, with Apple Cake for dessert. Remember, all ages are welcome!. Hope to see you there.
Topics and Valley events under discussion this week at The Three-Dot Lounge.
…The Giants return to the World Series to face Kansas City in the best-of-seven series that started Tuesday night. By the way they find ways to win, it appears the team is one of destiny, and once more, as in their victorious postseasons in 2010 and 2012, our local community is following avidly. It’s Fall, Halloween is around the corner, and the Gigantes are in the Series. How many more reasons do you need to get your Orange and Black on?
…Elementary school Principal, Donna Pierson-Pugh stopped by the Three-Dot and shared with some regulars that “The school’s wonderful Fresh Fruits and Vegetables grant was not funded this year and our kiddos are really missing the morning ‘produce’ snack. We would love to request a donation of any surplus fruits and veggies that can be eaten raw for the elementary school children. Please contact Donna or the AVES office staff at 895-3010. Thanks for keeping our children eating those fruits and vegetables!”
I’m outta here. 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; remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; and may your god go with you. The final request: “Let us prey.” Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture. Contact me with words of support/abuse through the Letters Page or by e-mail at turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net. PS. Skylark, read any good books lately? … Keep on humming, Hummingbird. … Everything cool with you, O.J.? Of course it is.
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