GRAPES aren't the only crop gathered early this year. Outdoor marijuana is also about a month earlier than usual, which probably accounts for the local influx of young people to work as pot trimmers. I don't know if I believe the pot farmer who told me Monday that experienced trimmers can make $600 a day. A day? “Yeah,” my informant said, “and $200 a day if he just sits around most of the time smoking product and drinking margaritas.”
THE POT GUY said lots of Mendo growers continue to have big probs with the broadmite, also known as the russet mite, an almost invisible pest that destroys marijuana plants. “And you've got the Hoyle Gang out there, too,” the pot guy added, the ref being to the legendary cop, Peter Hoyle, the main guy on the County's pot raid team.
HAD TO LOOK TWICE at the Philo guy with the dotted line tattooed across his throat with the inscription, “Cut here.”
COACH DAN KUNY'S football Panthers travel to Potter Valley this Friday night for a league game with Potter's Bearcats. JV's at 5:30, varsity at 7:30. Potter Valley's field is on the banks of the upper-upper Russian River, and is one of the more beautifully situated football fields you'll see anywhere.
AND THERE was an unintentionally hilarious confrontation at Lemons Market the other day between a combative liberal and a hill muffin on whose dust-encrusted pick-up someone had finger-scrawled un-PC slurs. The truck's owner was unaware of the insults festooning his vehicle, and was nonplussed when a furiously righteous woman rushed up to him and peppered him with high-decibel corrections. Finally noting the provocative insults inscribed on his truck, the unrepentant guy laughed, driving off with a merry, out-the-window, “Go back to Oakland and stay there!”
LAST WEEK, Anderson Valley School Superintendent Michelle Hutchins, in her first public statement as Superintendent, told Anderson Valley that one of her top priorities was healthy food: “During my two-year tenure as the High School Principal, one of the most consistent requests for review and change from parents is what we feed our children through our Cafeteria service and to offer more choices. We spent many hours reviewing the food options offered, the nutritional value of our food, the vendors providing our food, and what it costs. Our long-term vision is to offer healthier, locally grown food provided by local farmers. This will be a multi-phased approach to getting there and we are happy to announce that we have put the first phase of this vision in place. Beginning this week, we changed the menus to provide healthier choices. Breakfast: The children are being offered healthy cereal options with creative packaging. The cereals are whole grain, low sugar, individually packaged with familiar names such as Cheerios, Fruit Loops, Cocoa Puffs. They are also being offered Greek yogurt, granola and fresh fruit each morning. Lunch: In addition to a hot lunch option previously provided, we now have vegetarian and gluten-free meals. Students are also offered yogurt and fresh fruit with their lunch. Again, it’s about having more healthy options. Super Snack: At the end of each school day, all children will be offered a super snack that contains a protein, whole grain, fruit and vegetable. We are very excited about these healthier menu changes. As for the next phase of this project, we are beginning conversations with local farmers and putting the processes in place to continue marching toward our vision for locally grown food in our Cafeteria service and will update the parents and community as we implement the next phase. Stay tuned.”
MOST PEOPLE were with Ms. Hutchins right up to where she described “Cheerios, Fruit Loops, and Cocoa Puffs” as “whole grain, low sugar.” Fruit Loops as school food won’t go over well with a lot of Anderson Valley parents no matter how they’re described.
AND, SURE ENOUGH, here came the reports from several parents who said that they were unhappy that their kids were offered “Pop-Tarts” or some negative food value morsel like Pop Tarts. In an area where lots of people back the eat healthy, eat local food movement, packaged food “options” aren't considered options. At least two callers have told us that Ms. Hutchins and the school district are paying a food consultant from the Central Valley some pretty big bucks for these “healthier menu changes.” “How about oatmeal, toast made of good bread and an apple?” asked one annoyed parent. “Is that so hard?” Meetings are being held with and without Ms. Hutchins to redefine healthy food.
WE UNDERSTAND that the menu changes may have more to do with maximizing federal food reimbursements, food storage problems at the cafeteria and inconsistent quality in last year’s school food. The food issue is front and center on Thursday evening’s school board meeting agenda. They may also stem from resentment from some sectors that Ms. Hutchins got the superintendent's job over long-time elementary principal, Donna Pierson-Pugh. Pierson-Pugh got the grant for the prior food program which, by all accounts, including mine, was much healthier. The dissident reasoning goes, “This never would have happened if Donna was here.” I say give the new kid time to work it all out.
FALL CLASSES start this month at the Studio SoBo behind All That Good Stuff. Continuing yoga classes with Kristen and Forest, and Qigong and Tai Chi with Linda. Jeannie Eliades starts a new yoga class on Tuesday mornings for persons wanting to start yoga and for those looking for a gentle, calm class. Madeline Hurst will be subbing for Cyd's Sunday classes, active yoga and yoga for teens. Forest will be subbing for Kira's Thursday class in September and October. Check out the schedule in this paper. We will be publishing the schedule monthly in the first issue. More information is available at thestudiosobo.com. (—Anne Bennett)
SHAUNA ESPINOZA WRITES: Mendo Mill is doing a “bucket sale” on Saturday. The promo said that customers can buy a bucket for $5, get 20% off everything they put in the bucket and then $10 is donated to the high school sports program of our choice. I've already asked them for a flier, and they responded back saying they would post one on their Facebook page in the morning. I'm hoping we can mention it in the paper this week, the more money for our program the better! Thanks!
THIS WEEK AT BLUE MEADOW FARM
Peppers are turning….
- Heirloom, Early Girl, Paste and Cherry Tomatoes
- Corno di Toro, Gypsy & Bell Mild/Sweet Peppers
- Padron, Jalapeno, Anaheim, Poblano Peppers
- Nadia, Rosa Bianca & Asian Eggplant
- Zucchini & Patty Pan Squash
- Ambrosia Melons, Cucumbers
- Basil, Chard, Kale, Purslane
- Sunflowers & Zinnias
Blue Meadow Farm, 3301 Holmes Ranch Rd, Philo 707-895-2071
BOONVILLE COMES HOME! AVHS Class Reunion Update - August 29 - (3) Weeks From Today! Three weeks from today! Thanks to all who have responded to the invitation to date... if you have not yet, please do so at your earliest convenience to assist us with the food preparation ~(https://www.facebook.com/events/954648764598484/).
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