Bird’s Eye View (Jun 1, 2016)

Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin. President Obama recently became the first sitting president to visit Hiroshima since America dropped an atom bomb on the city in August 1945. Mr. Obama did not apologize for it, nor for the bombing of Nagasaki three days later. Nor should he. The decisions to drop the bombs were arguably among the most difficult ever made in warfare. There are very persuasive arguments on both sides but ultimately, by doing so, the losses were in tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands had the war continued. In Japan, Obama struck a careful balance in his remarks: between empathy for the victims, his own aspirations for a nuke-free world, and a tacit acknowledgement that the bombings helped curtail the war’s mass slaughter in Asia and the Pacific. Next up: will Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, visit Pearl Harbor?! I just cannot imagine Donald Trump coping in any dignified way with all of this. Speaking of whom, with the Republican nomination for president wrapped up, Trump was considering a debate with Bernie Sanders until it was decided by his advisors to be the wrong thing to do. Unlike many of Trumps appearances in the last several months, I would have tuned in for that.

Public Service Announcements. #557. The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital visit AV Farm Supply on Highway 128, north of Philo tomorrow, Thursday, June 2 from 2-3.30pm. Best to turn up around 3pm, you will be seen. New customers and their pets are always welcome; call 462-8833 and they’ll bring your pet’s charts with them. The only other visit this month is Thursday, June 16. #558. Due to illness this weekend’s Barn Sale has been cancelled. There will be one such event this month: Saturday/Sunday, June 18/19, from 9am-3pm at The Big Barn next to the St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on AV Way just north of Boonville. Moving forward, the Barn Sale is hopefully going to take place on the first and third weekend of each month through the summer. #559. The Boonville Farmers Market continues every Saturday in the parking lot of the Boonville Hotel, 9.30am-Noon. More info: Cindy at 895-2949. #560. If you need a Burn Permit, the AV Fire Department is no longer offering them; CalFire’s prison-like station south of Boonville, now does however. #561. The AV Lending Library run by The Unity Club is open Tuesdays and Saturdays at The Fairgrounds. Tuesday 1.30-4.30pm and Saturday 2-4pm. #562. The County Dump is open from 9am-4pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Remember, no dead animals! #563. I am led to believe that the “Second Wednesday Drumming Circle” will be taking place at The Grange on Wednesday, May 11, from 7-9pm. To confirm, perhaps call Andy at 895-3020.

Here is the menu for next week’s Community lunches at the Senior Center at the Vets Building in Boonville. The Center asks for a $6 from seniors and $7 for Non-seniors. Tomorrow, Thursday, June 2, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Meat Loaf, Mashed potatoes & gravy, with Birthday Cupcakes. Then, next Tuesday, June 7, lunch will feature BBQ Hamburgers, and Banana Split Cake for dessert. All meals include vegetables, salad bar, and fruit, plus milk, coffee, tea, and lemonade. What a deal, maybe the best $7 you’ll spend all week! Tai Chi is available Tuesdays at 11am. Thursdays is Easy-stretch Yoga, also at 11am, part of the Active Life Club from 10am to 2pm and including games, crafts, and music. Remember, ALL ages are welcome! Hope to see you there.

Topics and Valley events this week at The Three-Dot Lounge— “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant (yet surprisingly reliable) Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley,.

…Winery Tasting Room Update. There are 26 winery tasting rooms currently open to the public in the AV appellation, plus three more in the Yorkville Highlands. Seven more wineries can be visited by appointment only. Zina-Hyde Cunningham, Londer, Breggo, Jim Ball, Standish, Claudia Springs, Rayes Hill, and Esterlina? All eight of these have closed in the last few years.

…And talking of wineries, the annual AV Pinot Festival was a day for the wineries to “give back” to their admirers in the form of open houses on the Sunday afternoon of the festival. The events on Friday and Saturday, too expensive for many folks at prices ranging from $100 to $140, had all sold out so that left the rest of us with a chance to “seize the day” and have a hedonistic, even decadent, Sunday afternoon of fine wine and delicious food offerings. I visited several wineries and this year’s award for best pairing has resulted in a tie. The previous year’s winner, grilled lamb chops with rosemary cooked by Kurt Morse, and served delightfully and generously by Marcia M, was excellent once again and when paired with Balo’s 2012 Estate Pinot it was hard to beat. However, on this occasion it was certainly equaled by the pulled pork sliders paired with the 2012 Classic Pinot at Brutocao. Honorable Mention goes to the Tacos Al Pastor at Toulouse paired with their 2013 Pinot Noir and the wood-fired oven-baked pizza by Corey Morse and Diana Charles, paired with the 2013 Pinot Gris, also at Balo. One thing that stood out was the small percentage of attendees who were locals, perhaps 20%. Obviously many wine-loving locals in the Valley were working the Festival, but I was still surprised at the lack of Valley folks who did not come out to enjoy the hospitality of our wineries. As a result I had more than my fair share. I felt it would have been rude not to.

…Inquiring Minds want to Know. Is there a Winery in the Valley without an “Award-winning Pinot Noir” presented from somewhere or another? Why do the Lions Club Fundraisers held in the Redwood Grove at The Fairgrounds for various well-deserving local organizations start at 4.30pm on a Sunday afternoon?. Why are there so many women-only groups in the Valley compared with the number that are enjoyed exclusively by men?

…Meanwhile, 3-Dot regulars recently discussed what phrases could be deemed “Most often heard in the Valley.” These made the final selections. “We’ve always done it that way.” “Yes, I know that, but he is very nice.” “She’s going out with who!?” “Sorry I’m late, but I was — (fill in blanks with an excuse that is difficult to disprove).” “Isn’t it time for a safety meeting?” “I think you should —— “ (fill in blank with something you have already decided not to do). “Tri-tip? Again?” “I don’t watch television.” “I’m a musician.” “I’ve been here for sixty years and I’m still not a local.”

…From our 3-Dot regular, The Old Buzzard, comes another in his insightful series, “Signs that the Apocalypse is Approaching.” Buzzard reports, “It was unanimously agreed among 3-Dot regulars that the recent auction of the gun that was used to shoot unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin was another example of the shameless and sickening way that some people in this country think and act. As a result of the auction, the owner of the gun, George Zimmerman, who fired the shot but was acquitted of Martin’s murder, received $250,000. The pistol sells new for about $350. Apart from those in the 3-Dot, the sale of the gun drew criticism from many, many others, all decrying Zimmerman for seeking to profit from the killing. Gun rights advocates say he was exercising his legal rights under US law. True, but it’s a particularly shameful act. If this whole episode is not one of the more obvious signs that the Apocalypse is approaching I don’t know what is.”

Couldn’t agree more, Buzzard. I’m outtahere. I’ve got see a man about a sheep. So “please take me drunk, I’m home.” Until we talk again, Be careful out there; if you break a leg don’t come running to me; stay out of the ditches; be wary of strangers with more dogs than teeth; show love to your pets, they will be faithful and true to you to the last beat of their hearts, and please remember to keep your windows cracked if you leave them in your vehicle for any amount of time; think good thoughts; Keep the Faith; and may your god go with you. A 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.