Posts published by “Turkey Vulture”

As the school closes for a week, it’s always a pleasure to see some of our local schoolteachers enjoying an end-of-quarter drink or two at The Buckhorn as they were last Friday afternoon. Some odd-ball and narrow-minded folks may think this inappropriate but they would be wrong. I would much prefer it if my children were taught by a socially-comfortable person who can enjoy a beer or a glass of wine with co-workers to celebrate Spring Break, like a “normal” person, rather than by someone who disapproves of such behavior or who frowns upon those that do.

They’re back! No, I’m not referring to the helicopter-like sound pollution of the frost protection fans used by certain Valley wineries; not yet anyway. I’m referring to the beautiful sight of blossoms on the apple trees; the delightful vistas of buttercups and daisies scattered around the hillsides; the heart-warming glimpses of lambs prancing in the pastures; and the comforting sound of the metal bats of the high school baseball team crushing balls into outfields and beyond. One and all are just some of the gloriously bucolic sights and sounds of the Valley in springtime.

It’s St Patrick’s Day tomorrow, Thursday, March 17, and as someone who has had many, many years of experience in the bar/pub world, both as a host and customer, I feel that the Valley is a good place to be at such times. There will no doubt be a pleasant evening of imbibing to be had at The Buckhorn and perhaps some special “Irish” food items available at restaurants around the Valley, but it will be a relatively civilized affair.

Many Valley folks heaved sighs of relief and welcomed last Friday’s appointment of Kerri Sanchez to the AV School Board, which now returns to its full quota of five trustees. Until her application was made, there had been concerns that Robert Pinoli Jr, son of high school Athletic Director and current de facto Vice Principal, Robert Sr, would be installed unopposed and thus open up a can of worms and inevitable conflicts of interest.

Welcome to the 500th Turkey Vulture column! You’re welcome! Ha! Ha! There have actually been 432 of these compilations of “wise words, good thoughts and curmudgeonly moans and groans” since July 2007, which saw the beginning of the current “reign” of AVA Supremo, Bruce Anderson, who had previously owned and edited “America’s Last Newspaper” from January 1984 until the summer of 2004.