Greetings one and all. If you are sitting comfortably I shall begin. I am very pleased to report that once again the ‘Dinner and Bingo Night’ at the Senior Center was a big success with 53 people in attendance! The dinner, prepared by new Senior Center cook Natalie Matson, ably assisted by Gloria Abbott and Cindi Pardini, was delicious: a sausage and spinach lasagna, salad bar, veggies, and carrot cake, all of it made from scratch with locally grown organic produce. The big bingo prizes were won by Berna Walker, Harold Perry, and the $60 top prize went to Ellen Fontaine (born Ingram). The evening was for a good cause, everyone seemed to have a fun-time, and it happens again on the second Tuesday of next month (as always), August 10th. I’ll see you there. Oh, and next time there will be beer and wine too!
Let’s get in to the Public Service Announcements, lots of them at this time of year. #63: The vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital are making visits to the Valley the next two Thursdays. I don’t know how this unusual schedule has come about, but it has, so I suggest you take advantage of it because they will not be back for another month. Anyway, they’ll be at The AV Farm Supply tomorrow (July 22nd) from 2-3:30pm and then again next week (July 29th), same time, same place. Please try to support your local Farm Supply while you’re there. #64: The annual California Wine Tasting Championships will be taking place at Greenwood Ridge Vineyards this Saturday, July 24th. Call 895-2002 for more information. #65: This Saturday is Pat Hulbert’s monthly Bake Sale at Lemons Market in Philo from 10am until everything is sold — huckleberry pies, apple pies, tarts, cakes, breads and cookies. Don’t be late! #66: The AV Lions Club Tri-Tip BBQ Dinner to benefit the AV Ambulance is this Sunday, July 25th at 4:30pm at The Fairgrounds in Boonville. Not to be missed. #67: It’s time again for you bargain hunters to get over to the Barn Sale Weekend at The St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Refectory on AV Way just north of Boonville, 9am to 3pm, on both Saturday and Sunday, July 24th/25th. Efren will be on the bbq grill and, for this month only, they have a Summer Special with every single clothing item on sale for $1! Yes, $1. #68: It’s a full moon on Sunday, July 25th. You can’t say you haven’t been warned! But meanwhile remember the wise words of Carl Sandburg, the Pulitzer prize-winning writer and poet, who said “The moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to.” And those comforting words are your Quote of the Week.
Topics under recent discussion at The Three-Dot Lounge: Yes, it’s “Moans, Groans, Good Thoughts, and Rampant Rumors” from my favorite gathering place in the Valley.
…Contrary to one strange rumor I heard at The Three-Dot over the weekend, The Buckhorn, which is to be the name of the new pub/restaurant opening in uptown Boonville in a couple of months or so, will definitely have the use of much of the beer garden space outside. I’m thinking ‘bbq and pitchers of beer’!
…The Boonville Saloon at the location formerly occupied by The Boonville Lodge in the heart of downtown could be open by the end of the month — Alcohol Beverage Control board permitting. Fingers and claws crossed.
…Not for the first time, a very lively discussion developed amongst several regulars with regards to the AV High School colors. Now while some may think this is not that important, to many who have played sports for their school, it is very significant and a source of great pride. This is why the school’s decision, taken about ten years ago based on the votes of one senior class, to go to black and gold rather than the traditional brown and gold, continues to upset many Valley folks and alumni who follow the school’s activities, particularly sports. Meanwhile, School Athletic Director Robert Pinoli tells me that the colors are actually brown, gold, and black and he has an AV letterman jacket from 1967, his freshman year, to prove it! He goes on to point out that brown was both difficult and expensive to get. This is not the case now and so the good news for the traditionalists is that both the football team (if we are to have one this season) and the baseball squad, will continue to play in the brown and gold and it’s rumored that when the soccer program gets new uniforms they too will be in the traditional colors. Ya gotta like that!
…Talking of the school, the new Principal is to be Jim Tomlin (former Vice Principal) who despite always reminding me that he is an “old man,” actually is a young man at heart and we at The Three-Dot wish him every success in his new position where his positive attitude and outlook will no doubt serve him very well.
…A number of regulars have informed me that they will be late arrivals for their Friday afternoon libations this week as they plan to be gorging themselves at the opening of the new ice cream shop due to happen on July 23rd. I told them I wouldn’t be at The Three-Dot either and to look for me at the very front of the line outside Johnny Schmitt’s latest venture in uptown Boonville!
…Finally this week, I am told that there is a new “suburb” in Boonville: the west side of Highway 128 stretching from Rossi’s Hardware store to Donald Pardini’s house, a few hundred feet to the south. As those two places are homes to dogs called Duke, this small area is now known as Dukeville! I think I like it. This, together with all the downtown and uptown stuff in the heart of the Valley, would seem to suggest we’re getting to be a virtual metropolitan area! Naah. Never!
Time to take my leave. Before I depart I just wanted to add, as I always do at this time of year, that with the hot weather now upon 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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