Greenwood/Elk columns

March 3 ~ April 28, 1988

March 3rd

It is late Sunday afternoon and I took a quick walk around town and down to the beach to see if I could find out what was going on. Pretty peaceful out. I found pockets of town folks out visiting and enjoying the day. Paul Young was minding the Elk Store and about to close up. He told me about Barbara VanFleet. Barbara has had major surgery and is in serious condition in the hospital over in Ukiah.

Over in Huckaby's backyard I found Gerry and Mary, Bob Matson, Lori McGary and a whole passel of short people.

Bob said that all was quiet on the Fire Department front.

Mary Huckaby had just got back from a camping trip in Death Valley with the Vision Quest folks. She said she had a wonderful time, the weather was perfect, and the desert was in full bloom.

Gerry was the chief at the Greenwood Pier Saturday night and Lori told me that her sister, Carol Pierazzi was up in Oregon visiting her new granddaughter; "Just don't call Carol Grandma!".

Next I went down to the beach and found Charlie and Rosie Acker, Steve and Connie Sinclair, their short people, Ling and Lloyd, Vince and Carolyn Carleton and baby Tama, and Jane Corey.

Charlie and Steve had been out surfing, Charlie on his Oddyssea Ski and Steve on his wave ski. Charlie said there was a pretty scary break on the south side of Gunderson Rock. Besides that he was already tired 'cause he and Rosie had been to the Caspar Inn the night before for Little Charlie and the Night Cats.

Connie Sinclair said she is expecting their baby Saint Patrick's Day. She plans to dance the night away and then have the baby.

Vince and Carolyn are busy installing a new loom. Vince got a couple of old Jacquard heads, from South Carolina, that he is hoping to modify and use to control the weaving pattern of a new loom he is having built. It will use punch cards to set the pattern. There have been some stumbling blocks along the way but he thinks he will be able to pull it off. The biggest remaining question is whether he will be able to power it by foot treadle, the original Jacquard was driven by electricity or possibly steam, back in the good old days. They don't have electricity in their weaving studio.

Jane Corey was jogging back and forth the length of the beach so all I got from her was visual.

Heading back home I stopped by the Country Store and found Anita Allegeart, Patty Brady and Belvie Rooks. Anita told me that Kendrick and Isabel are off to Bali for a short vacation. After making the Valentine Day deadline for the new cottages, they deserve it. Peter Allegeart is nearing completion of a painting telling the story of the time he got scratched in the eye by their cat. It sounds pretty gruesome to me but Anita said it is turning out great.

Doug Blaine and Patty Brady have just returned from a snow shoeing trip and are planning another one. In case you don't know, Doug is a great veterinarian. I stopped by last week and he gave my dog her second set of rabies and parvo shots. Doug is real handy to have living in town if you can catch him between trips.

I didn't find out what Belvie was up to.

Peg and John Frankel are back from Costa Rica and said they loved the place.

I saw a bumper sticker.

"Gravity.

Just say no."

March 10

Happy Anniversary to me. One year of writing this column and still going strong, well, at least still going. Had a lot of stuff turned in this time so let's get right to it.

From Hildrun, an update on the Satellite Microwave TV project: According to Coast Cable in Gualala and Wander Telecommunications in San Francisco, the plan is still a definite go. The tower proposals have gone through the Coastal and County permit process. The last meeting of agencies was at the end of February. Then, some alteration work to the lines, telephones included, and all work and installation should be completed by June. (Just in time for the Super Bowl, like deVall said.) Hildrun also checked on their promise that all lines would be underground from the poles to the individual user sites at no extra cost. Slight pause...

"Oh yeah, that's right... No problem".

Hildrun will attempt to get that in writing too.

From Claire Skilton at the Greenwood School: Many, many thanks to this generous community from the students and staff at Greenwood School and from the Ad Hoc Committee. The response to our need for additional money had been heart warming. The goal we set was met and surpassed. As of March 4th a total of $850.00 has been contributed. This will allow the teachers to substantially upgrade the school's computer set-up, meet all the needs identified for this year and, in September, have money in the bank to plan an enriched new year. As much as this practical support means, it does not equal the effect of knowing that the community appreciates and supports the school. THAT is invaluable! By way of demonstrating our thanks, Greenwood School will be holding a Community Day this spring. Watch this column for details.

From Jane Matson: Another reminder from the Greenwood Civic Club to Elk residents and anyone who would care to help the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department.

Let's give all the people who generously give of their time to the Fire Department our support by contributing our cast off and white elephants to the Rummage Sale on March 26th and 27th. Sale hours are from 10 to 4 both days. Your contributions can be taken to the Oasis in Elk, Friday March 25th. Call 877-3230 for pick up if needed.

From Rosie Acker: The Greenwood Community Center Board of Directors held their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 1st.

Past President D el Wilcox nominated the new members of the board as follows: Linda Barnett - President, Del Wilcox - Vice President, Rusty Gates - Treasure, and Rosie Acker - Secretary. It was unanimous. Other board members are Belvie Rooks and Gary Hubbeling.

Looking back on the past year Del Wilcox reported on the last Great Day's financing. The Community Center realized about $4000.00 in profit which is the same as the year before. The gross income was remarkably higher than the year before but so were the expenses.

As we are reminiscing about last year's Great Day, we invite anyone who has suggestions for this year's event to share them with us.

Del also pointed out that at this time 80% of the Community Center budget is raised by the Great Day and suggests that we develop other sources of income, i.e. renting the space for classes, performances, etc. Dell keeps the schedule calendar. His phone number is 877-3204.

March 17th

At 7:30, this Saturday morning I heard a sound that sounded familiar. I looked out the window and saw my dog staring up into the sky. I stepped out and looked up also. Several "V's" of whistling Swans were flying overhead, heading north for the Arctic. Actually, they are now officially called Tundra Swans. They must have packed their bags at first light, along side the Garcia River, "Zigunruhe" running high. Zigenruhe is the phenomena where by they finally decide it is time to leave. It has to do with having stored so much fat that the pituitary gland starts secreting "Anxious Feelings". (Oh, those anxious feelings.)

My camera was at hand but I was out of film. All I could do was watch nature go about its business in an amazing way. Later in the day I saw John Frankel and asked him if he and Peg happened to see them. They did, John said he first thought it was a fire siren.

The Edisons are back in town. Bill and Lydia went to Africa to see the Gorillas. I told Bill he could have saved himself a lot of flying time by just visiting Force Ten, but he went anyway. When he got back I asked him if he found any gorillas. He said he did. The guide pointed him off into some bushes and told him he would find some there. Bill crept into the bush and saw a huge one sitting and meditating. I asked Bill if it wasn't possibly Parker Mills? No, he said it was bigger than Parker. The gorilla then got up and started walking towards him. Bill stepped aside to let him pass and the gorilla went on about its business. Bill was impressed. I still think he could have saved himself a trip. Anyway, welcome home Bill and Lydia.

It has been pointed out to me that I had a few mistakes in my column before last. It seems that Carol Pierazzi's granddaughter is actually a grandson, that she went to Washington State, not Oregon, and that her sister's name is spelt Laurie, not Loire. Other than that, I was right on.

Saint Patrick's day is just around the corner and so it the 95th Annual Saint Patrick's Corned Beef and Cabbage Feed and Dance, at the Community Center. Raffle tickets are being sold by various local folks and at the Elk Store. Dinner tickets will be sold ONLY at the door. $10.00 for dinner, $5.00 for the dance. The dinner starts at 4:00 and ends at 8:00, sharp. The dance starts at 9:00 and continues until Connie Sinclair has her baby or 1:30 in the morning, which ever comes first. Elk's own "Word of Mouth" will be playing their very danceable music, with that new sax player they have added to their group. Just try to stand still!

And don't forget to clean out the closet, do that spring house cleaning and get those odds and ends over to the Oasis, March 25th, for the Elk Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Service Rummage Sale, March 26th and 27th.

Yep, everything is gearing up, spring is in the air and officially starts March 20th. The equinox happens March 21st. That is when the earth is exactly perpendicular to the rays of the sun. Night and day will be the same length in time, proving once and for all that the earth is still flat, but has two sides.

March 24th

This weekend is the Rummage Sale at the Oasis. Both days, 10:00 until 4:00. Somehow it is more than just a rummage sale. Actually it is closer to a party. Lots of friends and food. Like Joe Bob says,

"Check it out".

A reminder too that Saturday 2:00 to 4:00 is Food Bank at the Community Center.

Now back to this weekend, (last weekend). It's weird, writing this column six days before the paper comes out. I'm 'sposed to know what will happen, what has happened, but most of the time I don't even know what IS happening... Anyway...

It's Saturday afternoon and I'm getting ready for the Corned Beef and Cabbage Feed. I'm going to go to the dinner early, stay late and see if I can collect some gossip. Then I have to survive the dance, collect more observations, stagger home, enter them into the computer, print out the results and zoom off to the Beacon Office in Mendocino before the crowd shows up there for the Jesse Jackson Rally, Sunday. It's a tough assignment, but I here go...

I went to the dinner around five and hung around talking to folks. Lars and Everett Liljeberg told me about night fishing up at Usal Beach. It seems to be the equivalent to what I used to hear about up in Washington State, something called the Grunion Run. Scoop them up in a net, gobs at a time. Anyway, I guess Usal is a hot spot for that type of fishing.

Hank and Bonnie Worthington showed up. It was good to see them both again. Hank was close to death last January during a serious operation on a brain tumor but has made a remarkable recovery. Still can't use his right arm and walks with a cane but is up to his old sense of humor again.

Dean and Helen Turner told me that the Harbor House is into it's fiftieth year as a bed and breakfast establishment and they are planning a celebration for later this year.

Connie Sinclair arrived at 6:15 and told me not to worry, the band can play till quitting time, she isn't going to have her baby until Monday.

Joan and Rusty Gates told me about their daffodils. That they are out in full bloom and they have lots of varieties. They would like to raise them for a living. Also their new hot tub is in and working. They built it into the greenhouse portion of their solar powered house. They particularly enjoy it on foggy days.

I finally sat down and enjoyed the fine Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner across from Charlie and Rosie Acker. Charlie has started writing a column for the Mendocino Commentary about water. He used to write this column, did it for two years in fact. I guess once you're hooked you have to keep your hand in.

At the end of the dinner I got to talk to Mary Berry who was chairman for this Saint Patrick's Day Celebration. She and her staff did a super job but I guess, after 95 years, they have finally got it figured out. The Community Center looked great and the dinners were served on real plates with real knives, spoons and forks. Much nicer than paper and plastic.

The winners of the raffle were.

1st Prize. Cedar Chest. C. Bednash, Gualala.

2nd Prize. Coleman Ice Chest. Doris Walsh, Walnut Creek.

3rd Prize. Afghan. Mary Klaus, Vacaville.

Now to tell you what happened at the dance.

Ah! Saved by the end of the column.

March 31.

Well, as everybody knows by now, Connie Sinclair had her baby last Tuesday. In her typical fashion too. She and Steve went to the Fort Bragg pool to go swimming, Connie wanted to do her workout. Halfway through she said she felt a bit strange but after a short rest, completed her exercise. Then she decided to play a short game of basketball, explaining to her various friends on the team that she couldn't jump or shoot very well but was willing to play. Soon contractions started and she and Steve decided to head for the Fort Bragg Hospital instead of back to Elk. Because the con tractions were still five minutes apart, Steve wondered if they had time to stop and get something to eat. Connie agreed as long as it was "fast food". A quick pizza and then off to the hospital, contractions three minutes apart. Into the hospital, down the hall, into bed and presto, an 8 pound 14 ounce baby girl. Holly Sinclair is doing fine, just like mom. Piece of cake!

A bunch of us gathered for open house at Kendrick and Isabelle's new Sea Castle. A nice spread of food, Champagne, and beautiful surroundings made for a pleasant event. Both Sea Castles are nicely appointed and have a tremendous view out over the ocean, the edge only a few feet away. Up a spiral stair case in either cabin brings you to a beautiful bathtub with nothing between you and the ocean but a thin sheet of glass. What a place to soak with a friend and watch the sunset. Kendrick and Isabelle are creative people but they have really outdone themselves this time. Craft, Art and Environment all rolled into one. I wore my "Press Pass" hoping for complementary overnight lodging but they saw right through my ploy and put me to work caring trays of food and directing traffic, just like usual.

I zoomed through the tail end of the Rummage Sale. Barbara McKnight told me that they really had a good turnout, another successful event. Around a thousand dollars was generated for the purchase of respirators for the Elk Volunteer Fire Department. The rummage crew ended up shorthanded at the last minute, Jane Matson got bit in the leg by a dog and will be laid up for a couple of weeks. Joan Robison broke her foot. Dorothy Nielsen and Prue Wilcox had guests arrive, but the rest of the crew carried on and did a wonderful job. They especially want to thank the community and those out of town rummage addicts.

Kay Curtis won the logo contest for Tony Mitsak's new children's book store at the former Confetti location in Mendocino. Tony told me over three hundred names and around one hundred logos were turned in for consideration. Kay's whimsical juggler with a arch of blocks spelling out the store's new name, "Bookwinkle's" is the end result. Kay's style is perfect for this new Children's book store. Congratulations Kay.

Judy Hale will be showing her pastel paintings at the Bay Gallery in Mendocino. The opening, this Friday, will be from 6 until 8. The show will run from April 1st until the 25th. Judy, who has lived in Elk for several years is low key and quiet but her art is not. Come be surprised.

April 7th

Baseball season is up on us again and little league practice has started in Manchester. Players from Elk and Manchester make up a major league team with players from Elk, Manchester and Point Arena. The minor league team is for first time players between the ages of 8 and 11 and coached by Ed Bird. Minor league games will be using a pitching machine to give younger players a hand in improving their batting skills. Games start around the end of April. There will be a game schedule posted at the Elk Store. Generous support has come from the Elk Garage and the Elk Store. Any other support from local businesses will be greatly appreciated. Call Ed Bird at 877-3246.

Abalone season is happening again and the Ab divers are lined up about seven bellies deep along the shore. I hope those unfamiliar with our coastline are careful because it is also kelp mating season and the rouge bull kelp are lurking about everywhere in the briny deep.

Ramone told me about a diving incident that happened several years ago involving a rogue bull kelp and a rotund Ab diver from Geyserville. I can't go into the details because this is a family newspaper.

I also hope every Ab diver knows about Oil Lease Sale 91 and the prospects for their happy hunting grounds.

My friend Sandy Glickfeld's cat, "Moosely", ran away from home several months ago. She looked everywhere and called all the neighbors to no avail. Then, about three weeks ago he showed up, ears full of mites and all tore up like he had been in a series of fights. She took him to the vet and had the damage repaired. The bill was rather steep but it was great to have him back though he didn't seem to be his old self but, considering what he had been through, who could blame him. Then, last week Moosely showed up... The real Moosely. Fit as a fiddle. The impostor is now called "Sigmund Fraud".

I attended Judy Hale's opening at the Bay Window Gallery in Mendocino April 1st. A beautiful show, nicely hung. There was a fair turnout. Judy and Joss were quite frazzled from the last moment push to cut all the mats and frame everything.

Art Shows are funny business. It requires huge expenditures of time and money with no guarantee of return. No wonder so many people chose the military industrial complex instead. There, all the money is received up front with the hope that there will be no "show" in the future.

Sorry Judy, I got sidetracked. Judy's pastels will be at the Bay Window Gallery until the end of this month. Stop in.

Curt Berry passed away April 1st. He was born on the Ed Berry Ranch where the Greenwood Vineyards are now located. Curt was an excellent millwright at various saw mills over the years, working quite a few years at the Philo Mill. Curt Married Mary Valenti and his brother married Mary's sister Jenny. Curt is survived by his wife and their three children, Marilyn, Curtis Junior, Raymond and seven grandchildren.

April 14th

Out of town.

April 21st

You may or may not have noticed I wasn't around weekend before last. My cousin, who lives in Venice, California, and a group of his friends were going out to Joshua Tree for a star party. Lolli and I were invited. Since my birthday was also occurring that weekend, we decided to go for it.

We left Thursday morning, drove down highway 101 to Paso Robles, across to Bakersfield and spent the night in Tehachapi. Continuing on the next morning we saw thousands of windmills as we approached Mojave. Then, at a place called Four Corners, I spotted a strange looking complex out across the desert floor. We drove down to have a look. It turned out to be a huge solar power plant which uses sun light to heat oil, make steam and turn generators. They are cranking out 150 megawatts of power. I told the gate guard I was a writer for the Mendocino Beacon and would they send me some information.

"Where's Mendocino?"

Joshua Tree was beautiful, perfect weather and lots of cactus and desert plants blooming. The Venice group was interesting. Everyone brought firewood and Lolli and I had brought splits of cypress, bull pine and redwood. The Venice group brought broken up furniture, old painted fencing and trimmings from some condo construction site.

In the evening, the city folk talk around the fire was about security fence designs, whether it was legal to have broken glass imbedded in the mortar along the top of a concrete block wall. Was concertina wire more effective. One woman in our group had been stabbed in the neck twice during the second attempted robbery of her apartment. Lolli and I felt like visitor's from another planet. Come to think of it. We are!

The star watching was great and this time my cousin had a new filter for his scope so we could observe sun spots. We charted them on paper and checked the changes from time to time. The first day we counted ten and the second day eighteen. Some spots had split in half or into small clusters of spots.

As it turned out, after seeing solar powered generators and sun spots, Lolli gave me a solar powered shower for my birthday. It is a five gallon plastic bag, clear on one side, black on the other. Fill it, hang it in the sun for a few hours and presto, hot water. It has a hose with a on/off valve and a small shower head attached. We tried it out and it worked great. No more spit baths out of a small enamel pan.

We headed back to our planet Monday morning. It turned out to be hot, hot, hot all the way from Bakersfield up to the turn off for Livermore. Much hotter than the desert was. Round trip, 1,400 miles. Too much but okay once I forget, which shouldn't take more than a couple of years.

Checking around Elk to see if I missed anything I found that the weather had been hot and the ocean flat. We got back in time for fog, fog, fog which, after our solar weekend, was just fine.

The only news I heard about was something I don't want to get into. The pros and cons of forming a Community Services District. For some reason passions run high on this one and I like the folks on all sides of this issue, so will stand back until the dust settles.

This is your gutless reporter signing off.

Next week: My dog and I hike up Greenwood Creek.

April 28th.

Up the creek without a paddle, or a map or really any knowledge at all. Oh, I've talked to Powder and LeAnn different times about Greenwood Creek. They walk down it all the time when they come to town. They told me about a slide area that is tough to get past and about an old trestle bridge and about a cabin that is in perfect shape.

I know the creek is the town's watershed, that it comes down the valley between Greenwood Ridge and Clift Ridge. I want to see what kind of shape it is in and maybe see some evidence of the old logging days.

I pack a light lunch, well, okay, a Snickers Bar, a book of matches, a pocket knife, my note pad and my camera. It is a beautiful early morning for a little jaunt up the creek to see what's what.

Much later in the afternoon I stagger out of the poison oak at the five mile marker on Greenwood Road. Sore, tired and, let's say, more informed.

I discover that Powder and LeAnn truly are wood spirits and don't leave a trail. Neither does Mark Daniels when he steelhead fishes. They must float through the air from rock to rock. I find myself crashing through the nettles and poison oak like a displaced couch potato from Yuba City.

There is no trail. If there is one I can't find it, but also there is no trash, no cigarette butts, no beer cans, no plastic. Just a beautiful little stream of clear water roiling over moss covered boulders, then fanning out over stretches of gravel. Nobody here but me and my dog.

Every now and then a logging road parallels the creek for a ways and I walk along it but then it rises up and away into the woods and I have to return to boulder hopping and crashing through the brush.

My dog has the right idea and I finally take note. Just get wet. When the steam meanders from one side to the other, wade across. Travel becomes easier thought I dislike walking in shoes full of water.

Every now and then the stream turns a corner and greets me with a new combination of sunlight, green moss and sparkling water, much better than any landscaper could ever dream up. I turn another corner and face an area logged right down to the bank with busted snags and slash lying every which way. Fortunately, this isn 't often the case. Overall our stream seems healthy, serene, timeless.

But time was running out for this reporter. My cerebral experience is being dampened by soggy socks and a growing desire for dinner, something less adventuresome than steamed nettles and barbecuing the state mollusk.

Up and out. Easier said than done. Various old logging roads cross to the left and right but to where and how far?

Greenwood Road has to be somewhere along the top. I am curious to see the mile marker sign, see how far up stream my dog and I have traveled. Nothing between us and the top except a hard climb and thickets of poison oak.

Arriving back in town, there, sitting on the front porch of the Oasis, are the two magic wood elves, Powder and LeAnn. I only have three questions.

Where is the Trail.

Where is the trestle bridge and,

where is that cabin they told me about.

Next week: Greenwood Creek. The adventure continues.

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