Greetings one and all. Sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin.
Labor Day weekend is virtually upon us and while it’s not the “Mother of All Holidays” (that is obviously Thanksgiving), it is still a pretty good one as we celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labor Day has its origins in the labor union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest – seems about fair, although personally I continue to question the eight hours for work part. To me it also means that the kids are back in school where they belong and up here at The Nest it signifies a weekend overflowing with the old classics. fried chicken, hamburgers, corn dogs, coleslaw, potato salad, lemonade, corn on the cob, baked beans and sliced tomatoes. Finish up with sliced watermelon, apple pie, and freshly churned ice cream. Oh, and a few sips of beer and wine too of course. it would be un-workmanlike not to. Enjoy your weekend!
Public Service Announcements. #862. The wonderful electric blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite returns to the Valley this Saturday, September 5 when he plays at The Navarro Amphitheater at 6pm. We do not get enough quality music around here so it’s a chance to see and hear one of the greats on our doorstep. The opening act at 3pm is the always entertaining Black Horse Blues Band and with BBQ Grill Master Guy Kephart putting the heat to the meat all afternoon, it is destined to be a tremendous afternoon in the Deep End. Hope to see you there. #863. The 25th Annual Yorkville Ice Cream Social takes place on Labor Day. Monday, September 7. The party kicks off at noon and runs until 5pm. All proceeds go to support the Yorkville Volunteer Fire Station, maintain the Community Center building and provide scholarships for our high schools seniors and regular attendees will know it’s one of the best Valley events of the year and not to be missed. #864. The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital will be visiting the Valley on two occasions this next month. That’s Thursdays, September 10 and 24 at the Anderson Valley Farm Supply on Highway 128, north of Philo from 2pm until 3.30pm. #865. The Barn Sale returns on the first weekend of the month. That’s this coming Saturday and Sunday, September 5 and 6 from 9am-3pm at The Big Barn next to the St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on AV Way just north of Boonville . #866. The Mendocino Bookmobile returns to the Valley on Tuesday, September 8. They are here on alternate Tuesdays for 45 minutes at each of these places and times: Navarro Store 9am (for just 30 minutes); the Floodgate 12.30pm; Philo 1.30pm; Boonville (Apple Hall) 2.30pm. Phone 463-4694 for further details. #867. The A.V Museum is open every Saturday and Sunday, from 1pm-4pm. Situated in The Little Red Schoolhouse next to the Elementary School on AV Way, this is a perfect thing to do in the Valley when you have a couple of hours spare on a weekend afternoon. It is not without reason that it is generally regarded as “The Best Little Museum in the West.”
Here is 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, September 3, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Lime Cilantro Chicken with Buried Treasure Cake for dessert. Then, next Tuesday evening, September 8 at 6pm, the dinner will feature a Rosemary Pork Dinner and Carmel Apple Cake for dessert. As this is the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the dinner will be followed by Bingo at 7pm. All meals include vegetables, salad bar, and fruit, plus milk, coffee, tea, and lemonade. What a deal. it maybe the best $7 you’ll spend all week! Hopefully you will be able to attend, and remember – ALL ages welcome! See you there.
Topics and Valley events at The Three-Dot Lounge, Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant (yet surprisingly reliable) Rumors from my favorite gathering place in the Valley,
…It just seems somehow wrong to mention the recent passing of Donna Reilly at this point in the column but many Three-Dot regulars wanted me too. Surely a woman of her standing should lead off the newspaper’s front page! However, Donna was never one to grasp the limelight despite the fact that she was one of our more deserving residents of such acclaim, and I’m sure a mention here in the Three-Dot report would have suited her down-to-earth side. I say this because having had many interesting and informative conversations with her I would suggest she was one of our most discerning citizens on many levels. She was an erudite, charming, wise, knowledgeable, no-nonsense woman with great integrity and class; a person who had an inherent and profound sense of right and wrong, and one who took responsibility for her actions and was always prepared to be accountable for her comments and reactions. I also found her to be kind, thoughtful, and supportive, and even when correcting me for my inevitable indiscretions and faux pas, she did it in a calm, warm, and comforting way. Yes, Donna Reilly was certainly “old school,” in all the good ways, and it is a sad state of affairs that we don’t have more of her kind on the horizon and heading this way. She will be missed.
…Such folks would surely not let the recent events surrounding the Valley’s soccer scene develop. AV High School Boys Soccer Coach, Steve Sparks, now in his 13th season with the program, dropped in at the Three-Dot to share this unfortunate development. “A couple of months ago, the three adult soccer league teams in the Valley, each featuring many former high school soccer players, were banned from playing the remainder of their home games here at the high school field. This comes as a result of a fight that one of the teams was responsible for during one of their Sunday matches at the school field, and which led to some unruly behavior and the police being called. That particular team should quite rightly be punished in some way, preferably by deducting points, suspending guilty players, and, as in most leagues, some fines being levied. However, the other two teams were not involved and to impose this punitive penalty seems very harsh, particularly on them, with all three teams now having to travel all over the region every single Sunday to play their matches. The decision to ban the teams has resulted in effects far more widespread in the community that just among the soccer players, and possibly will have greater repercussions than the folks who have made the decision actually realize at this time. It is most certainly not “just a game of soccer.” The Mexican community makes up more than 50% of the Valley population and almost the entire rosters of all three teams. One of their big passions, and an intrinsic part of their communal life, in fact the tie that binds many of them together, is watching soccer being played by their loved ones and friends every Sunday here at the school field. Parents, children, grandparents, brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, all come out for the community event as these matches are not just about the soccer, or fútbol as the Mexicans call it. These gatherings are an integral part of the Mexican culture, the depth and complexity of which many Valley folks, through no fault of their own, are generally unaware of. I would suggest that those involved in making the decision are among that sector of our residents. I have spoken to many people in our Valley’s Mexicans community since the decision was made and it is clear that this issue, and its ramifications, have created some bad feelings and ill-will and, while the decision, guided by law enforcement, is understandable up to a point, perhaps, with more forethought, alternative resolutions might have been considered and less divisive actions taken. They still can be.
…Talking of disappointment, several Three-Dot regulars inform me that they are feeling somewhat disgruntled that the AV Farm Supply is without alfalfa hay once again. They hope the store stocks up soon so that this most desirable of livestock food can be bought locally, not just for the convenience but also to support an important local business. Going “over the hill” to Ukiah to get this feed is not a desirable alternative on any level.
I’m outtahere — got see a man about a sheep. So, “take me drunk, I’m home.” Until we talk again, Keep the Faith; be careful out there; if you break a leg don’t come running to me; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle; and may your god go with you. Oh, and of course, one final request, Let us prey. Sometimes poking, often stroking, but almost always humbly yours, Turkey Vulture. Contact me through the Letters Page or at turkeyvulture9@gmail.com. PS. Missing the Venerable Pheasant everyday. On the sheep, Grace. Keep on humming, Hummingbird.
Be First to Comment