Greetings one and all. If you are sitting comfortably I shall begin. Due to unforeseen circumstances I was unable to attend The Olde Time 4th of July Celebration but Hummingbird was there, in Stars and Stripes t-shirt and Lions Club apron, serving up some delicious tri-tip sandwiches along with many others from the always-giving AV Lions. The bad news, at least for Poleekos (Philo folks) and Deep Enders (Navarro dwellers), was that for the first time in nine years, the Men’s Tug-of-War was won by The Boonts (Boonville ‘city slickers’) and High Rollers (Yorkville mountain people). To add insult to injury the city slicker chicks and mountain girls also won the Women’s event! I suppose it was their turn, and more importantly, perhaps, was that the community as a whole had a wonderful afternoon. Thanks to all the organizers who gave their time and efforts in true AV style.
With this in mind, for the Quote of the Week, I offer these words from Morgan Scott Peck, an American psychiatrist and best-selling author, best known for his first book, ‘The Road Less Traveled,’ who wrote “There can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community.” Sounds like he may have been on that victorious tug-of-war team!
Public Service Announcements. #162: The live music in the Deep End resumes this coming weekend on Friday (9th) evening at the Navarro Store with the wonderful Blues guitarist Walter Trout. #163: the annual Boonville Art Walk will take place on Saturday, July 10th and you are encouraged to take a stroll around town from 3-6pm admiring the many exhibitions. #164: Laughing Dog Books in downtown Boonville has the paintings of young Hannah Newcomer (daughter of Shelly and Jay) on display throughout the month of July. Opening hours are Friday thru’ Monday, 9am to 7pm each day. Buy a book, admire some art. What’s not to like? #165: Last, but no means least, it’s time to remind you of next week’s Bingo and Dinner Night (July 13th) held on the second Tuesday of every month at the Veterans Building in Boonville to benefit the Senior Center. Dinner will be served at 6pm with Bingo to follow at about 7pm. It’s a great Valley night out, starting with Gloria’s salad bar, followed by a tasty dinner, freshly prepared by Natalie Matson, and featuring spinach and sausage lasagna with zucchini and real garlic bread, with homemade carrot cake for dessert; not to mention lots of prizes to be won at bingo, and you don’t have to be a senior to enjoy it all. Everyone is welcome! ($7 for dinner; $5 suggested donation by seniors.)
Topics this week at The Three-Dot Lounge — “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley.
…It’s almost a done deal at The Buckhorn Building! Former Boonville Lodge owner, Tom Towey has just about reached an agreement with landlords Gary and Ginny Island to open a pub/restaurant in the space that has been empty since Feb. 2008. More details to follow as I get them, but Tom has indicated that the pub will have a similar menu to that he offered at The Lodge, with a broad selection of draft beers and Valley wines, plenty of outside seating as well as the newly renovated restaurant and bar space inside, and his wonderful Brunch that was so popular down the road served at the weekend. It all sounds good to me.
…It has come to my attention that the recently formed ‘Gentlemen Only Book Reading Organization (GOBRO) — Military History Section’ in the Valley has been criticized in some female quarters for not allowing women members. The group apparently consists of eight gentlemen, with membership closed at this point. So let me understand this: we have the Independent Career Women (ICW) for women only; the Sassy Ladies — for ladies only; the Women’s Dinner Group — for women only; the Unity Club — not officially for women only but when I last checked a few months ago there were no men involved; the 'Girls Night Out' evening at Lauren's Restaurant, for 'girls' only; and two very successful and long-standing book clubs that to my knowledge are for women only. These are no doubt all very lovely gatherings. I think it's great to have these women's fellowships with shared interests and aims, and long may every one of them continue. So why the criticism of this new gentlemen's group on grounds of sexism? This group is not sexist; it’s simply a group of men getting together to discuss military history with other men. A healthy thing for one and all, I would venture to suggest. Nothing more, nothing less. Isn’t it time for some of those around here who take political correctness to it’s narrow-minded extremes to realize that their stance is frequently a restriction on truth, free speech, and thought, and that they have become a vigilante force that imposes its views while accusing others of intolerance if you don’t agree with everything they say. Get over it and form your own book club, I say!
…One regular echoed the sentiments of many others with a mini-rant about the parking of visitors in downtown Boonville. Through the summer months it is true that we have many people pulling in and parking at 90 degrees to the sidewalk, not parallel, as is the custom around here outside our stores and businesses. Along with many others he has even seen locals commit this ‘crime’! Come on folks, we can’t be doing that. We have our ways, they work, let’s not forget where we are.
Time to take my leave. Meanwhile, with the hot weather now with us, please remember to keep your windows cracked if you have pets in your vehicle. Otherwise, be careful out there; stay out of the ditches; think good thoughts; and may your god go with you. One final request: “Let us prey.” Poking and stroking egos wherever necessary and, as always, humbly yours, Turkey Vulture. PS. Keep the Faith. PPS. Contact me with words of support/abuse either through the Letters Page or by e-mail at turkeyvulture1@earthlink.net.
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