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Bird’s Eye View (Mar 9, 2016)

Greetings one and all. Are you are sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin. Let’s go straight into the Public Service Announcements this week.

Calendars and pens at the ready. #547. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Fundraiser for the AV Senior Center will take place this coming Saturday, March 12th at The Fairgrounds in Boonville with a 5.30pm Happy Hour and a dinner to follow at 6.30pm that will feature Corned Beef and cabbage plus “Green” Beer, Irish Coffee, Margaritas, local wine, and soft drinks. As always, the ever-popular cake/dessert auction will be presented after the dinner. Tickets are available at the Senior Center, AV Market, and Lemons’s in Philo: $15 and $10 for Kids 10 and Under. #548. The General Knowledge and Trivia Quiz held at Lauren’s Restaurant is now on its winter/spring schedule of 7pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month. That means there will be one tomorrow, Thursday, March 10. #549. The Vets from the Mendocino Animal Hospital have just one visit this month to the AV Farm Supply on Highway 128, north of Philo on Thursday, March 24. #550. The Boonville Farmers Market continues every Saturday at its winter venue, outside The Boonville General Store, from 10am-12:30 pm. For more info call Cindy at 895-2949. #551. Need a burn permit? From 11am to 3pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays you can get one from the Firehouse in Boonville. Call 895-2020 for more information or stop by. #552. The AV Lending Library, run by The Unity Club, is open at The Fairgrounds on Tuesdays 1.30-4.30pm and Saturdays 2-4pm. #553. The County Dump is open from 9am-4pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Remember, no dead animals! The number for the Dump is 895-3569 and checking first to see that they are open is probably well worth the small effort. The Recycling Center in Boonville at The Fairgrounds parking lot is open Wednesday — Saturday, 9-4pm (489-2033). #554. The Food Bank is open on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, next Tuesday, February 16. Gardeners, farmers and produce growers of all kinds, remember to donate your extra produce. It will be greatly appreciated. Please drop off on Monday, the day before, behind the Boonville Methodist Church. If you need someone to glean your produce to take to the Food Bank, contact Valerie Kim at valerie.h.kim@gmail.com. Denisse Mattei is the Food Bank director. You can reach her at 895-3763. #555. I am led to believe that the “Second Wednesday Drumming Circle” will be taking place at The Grange tonight, Wednesday, February 10 from 7-9pm. To confirm, perhaps call Andy at 895-3020. #556. The AV Grange is having its regular second Sunday Pancake Breakfast on March 13 from 8:30-11am. Prices range from $5-10, kids through hungry folks, for a delicious, locally-sourced breakfast. Choices include pancakes (gluten free available), eggs, and bacon, with a choice of juice, tea or coffee included.

Here is the menu for the Community lunches over the next week in the Senior Center at the Veterans Building in Boonville. The Center asks for a $6 donation from seniors and charges $7 for Non-seniors. Tomorrow, Thursday, March 10, the lunch, served by Marti Titus and her crew at Noon, will be Potato-Kielbasa Skillet with Grasshopper Squares for dessert. Then, next Tuesday, March 15, the lunch will feature Beef and Broccoli with Raspberry Whip dessert for dessert. 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! Tai Chi is now available every Tuesday from 10-11am, while on Thursdays at the same time it is the water color painting class, leading into Easy-stretch Chair yoga at 11am. Hopefully you will be able to attend some of these events and certainly the lunches and dinners, and remember. ALL ages are welcome! Hope to see you there.

Topics and Valley events under discussion 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.

…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. Fortunately, for reasons unknown (common sense?), Robert Jr, a solid candidate in other circumstances, withdrew his application at the eleventh hour. The spot was therefore occupied by Ms Sanchez (AV Class of 1991), a parent of children at both the Elementary and High Schools, and someone who it is felt will make well-informed, intelligent, and forward-thinking contributions during her time on the Board. The Board thus consists of three men and two women, and features parents of children at both local schools. All positive and enlightened moves I would suggest. Congratulations, Kerri. I am sure all those involved in school affairs are collectively thanking you for taking on this important and often demanding role.

…Several Three-Dot customers concurred with the one-word comment under the picture of Donald Trump as “Uncle Sam” on last week’s cover of The Economist magazine. “Really?” As the most menacing, uncompromising, intolerant, and prejudiced of the “silly schoolboy-like” candidates in the Republican class, I imagine he will win the nomination and give Hillary a run for her money. It begs the question, “What has happened to America in the 21st century?”

…Aquarelle Cafe and Wine bar in the heart of Boonville has re-opened! Their hours of business are Friday-Monday from 5pm to 9pm each day. I believe that now makes eight options for dinner in the Valley and here they are, in geographical order from southeast to northwest along Hwy 128: In Boonville. Lauren’s Restaurant, The Buckhorn, The Boonville Hotel, Aquarelle, and The Redwood Diner. In Philo, it’s Stone and Embers and Libby’s Mexican Restaurant; and in the Deep End, The Bewildered Pig. It’s time to eat out on the “Fourteen-Mile Food and Fun Freeway.” Enjoy.

…Long-time Valley resident and Master Shepherd, Kevin Owens of Yorkville, remains in convalescence following replacement knee surgery. He called me a few days ago saying he was in lots of pain that was only partially offset by extremely powerful drugs. Those of us who have been close friends of his for many years would suggest it is just what he deserves. Kevin will continue his recovery for another couple of weeks at the Redwood Cove Healthcare Center at 1162 S. Dora Street in Ukiah where, as a member of many Valley music bands over the years, in between visits from various complete strangers plus a few friends of ill-repute he has found time to plan a series of upcoming gigs at the County’s various residential rest homes that will feature covers of Beatles and Rolling Stones classic songs. After all, Kevin reckons, these are the places where many of the original NorCal fans of those two bands now reside. To cheer him up or to bring yourself down, feel free to call him at 972-5691. Hope to see you back in the sheep pastures soon, my friend.

…So, I have heard from a somewhat reliable source (obviously not one of my highly-paid and lowly-talented investigative reporters) that the renovated Live Oak Building in downtown Boonville has managed to preserve some the old beams from the original Live Oak Garage that was built in 1926. Good news indeed. Meanwhile, among the many rumors as to what this building is to become, my most dependable source suggests the rear section will be available for community gatherings/meetings, while in the front there will be a couple of retail outlets. Whether these will be winery tasting rooms, a high-end deli, or something else remains unknown to me and many others. Perhaps I should ask the owners? “Prey” tell us, Tim and Michele.

I’m outtahere. I’ve got see a man about a sheep. So “please 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; show love to your pets, and may your god go with you. A final request, “Let us prey.” Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture. Contact me through the Letters Page or at turkeyvulture9@gmail.com. PS. Keep on wagging that tail, Fred. Hi, Silver Swan; behaving yourself? Hopefully not. Keep on peddling, Round-eyed Robin.

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