Greenwood/Elk columns

January 7 ~ February 25, 1993

Greenwood/Elk Column for January 7, 1993

Written by Friends of Ron

Despite the wonderfully glitzy Christmas lights a'sparkling all over town, the visual excitement of Elk is still our wild beach - all the wilder and more beautiful with December's storms thrashing about like a crazed demon lover (we have a crazed demon lover in the Elk grocery store, for purposes of comparison). High tides have swept all footprints from the sand and rearranged the driftwood into poses of careless grace, and have rolled the golden ropes of seaweed into great snarled heaps that suggest human equations such as Iraq-gate, the recession, the Savings and Loan scandals, and Leslie's battle to get all the permits to open her Irish pub by St. Patrick's Day.

The swollen lagoon, which Ron and his cronies opened to the sea some weeks ago, shortly became a fast-running stream. Mounds of sands from successive high tides forced it horizontally across the beach all the way south to the rocky cliffs, where it finally leapt happily into the ocean (it giggled - you could hear it!) The water was clear as crystal, which is not only delightful to watch, but also significant: who did not notice the brown and muddy Albion, Big River, Navarro and other local rivers? Who has not marveled at the huge plumes of dirty water that flood deep into the ocean from the mouths of these rivers? Two years ago our little Greenwood Creek was the same, sent a great mushroom cloud of muddy water into the blue Pacific - but not now. Why? It seems obvious that the lack of logging in our watershed since our "Breakfast First" demonstrations and subsequent lawsuit (still in the courts) stopped the chain saws is the reason our stream is squeaky clean, and our town water as well.

Then, of course, we had our year - end deluge which culminated on New Year's Eve with the Navarro River flooding Highway 128 and the Garcia River squooshing over Highway One - which didn't seem to worry any of the crowd at the dance at the Community Center very much, since going home wasn't high on their list of priorities anyway - and the Greenwood Creek became flooded too. The graceful arabesque to the south of the beach was abandoned, and it shooshed straight out into the ocean. And it was brownish. A flood is a flood, and banks were carried away, and mud was brought down - but not all that much, really. The bay became a bit discolored, but our town water stayed crystal clear, thanks to the endless improvements to the system by Charlie Acker and the Water Board over the past five and six years.

As for other observations, the Italian dinners now being served at the Roadhouse on Friday through Monday nights seem to be well - attended, even though these are the "slow times", which leads one to wonder about the summer weekends, when the Irish Pub will be serving fish and chips, the Roadhouse Italian, the Greenwood Pier Cafe nouveau cuisine and the Harbor House its fine dinners (guests only; some reservations possible) - are we going to become something of a dining experience? Good. It might liven up the nights a bit around here.

January 14th.

1993. I'm still practicing writing that. 1993. It takes a while to retrain myself.

So Lolli and I are back from the epic 1992 - 1993 Baja Holiday Adventure. I've had it. I am ready to settle down, plant a garden and raise a few chickens. I have had enough traveling to last me a lifetime or at least until next summer. This trip had all that I expected a good vacation to contain. Constant fiddling with the VW bus and relentless remote roads. I was raised that way. When we went on vacation Dad repaired the split radiator hose, or broken tie rod, up some endless dirt road in the badlands of South Dakota. That's just the way things are 'sposed to be when on vacation.

Well, this trip had it in spades.

We did two loops off the main, black topped, North/South Mex. 1 Highway in Baja. The first loop, from just south of Mulege, over to the Pacific coast, then up along the coast and back out at San Ignacio. Two hundred and fifty miles of boulders, sand, and washboard.

In San Ignacio we re-supplied with gas, food, and ice, then back out to the Pacific coast again for our second loop North, through the Vizcaino desert, up to Bahia Tortugas, then back out to the highway at Guerrero Negro. Three hundred miles of so of even worse washboard, sand and mud.

That's it. Piece of cake.

Except the best weather was during the first loop, days up to ninety degrees, seventy five at night. Beautiful sunsets, dolphins, whales, golden eagles, coyote sings at night, swimming in the warm Pacific.

The second loop consisted of worse washboard, second gear and sometimes first gear, creeping along at ten miles per hour, gradually deeper sandy roads, then rain sprinkles and muddy roads, to finally roads washing away. Ignition troubles, front suspension troubles, flat tire, and a cracked engine case, oil dribbling out at an alarming rate.

The final run from L.A. to Mendocino had me stopping and adding a quart of oil every one hundred miles. We finally bought a case of oil in Bakersfield to see us home. We limped up the Comptche Ukiah Road, to Lolli's house, on two cylinders. I must admit I had forgot all about Albion until I had to run past that little village on two misfiring cylinders and suddenly remembered that if I broke down there I might be bludgeoned to death while trying to seek help. The irony of traveling 3,535 miles only to die just short of my door step. But we make it. I must admit, the ol' VW bus has never stranded us. It has always made it home.

So yes, I'm in shock. Shock from this totally consuming vacation where something was going on all the time, either the overwhelming beauty of the fresh watered desert, the seemingly impossible mud holes, the gradually deteriorating engine. Constantly something. Probably the greatest vacation I have ever been on.

Lolli sure enjoyed it. While I was going nuts over all the possible things that could go wrong, and did go wrong, she serenely read four books and collected probably fifty pounds worth of sea shells. She had a great time.

But now, it's over. Back to reality. Back to the nine to five or what I have left of a nine to five. I have a few odd jobs to do. Lolli is suddenly up to her neck with the College of the Redwoods hurdles and roadblocks, trying to make a living. Life on the coast.

And now to sort out the mail, Christmas cards, and junk mail, bills, a nice thick booklet from the IRS!

Sort out the answering machine. Bob, looking for his part time gas pump jockey. Who? Me?

Bill Edison, (three times). "Ron! Buddy! Where are you? Please call! I have hot news!

Erna, Mistress of the Post, calling to ask me to put in my column the sad news that someone has been tampering with the mail. Yes, they opened some of the combination locks and either took mail or just pushed it inside onto the floor.

Erna doesn't want to make a big deal out of it and has put a notice on the front door saying to the effect that messing with the mail is a Federal Offense and if it continues the front door will have to be locked from five in the evening until eight in the morning and weekends. Very inconvenient for the majority of us folks who like to stop by and pick up our mail on our own terms. We all hope it was a one time prank.

And so. Back home. Back in Greenwood/Elk.

I hear the New Year's Eve Party at the Community Center was a success for those hardy enough to venture out in foul weather. I noticed the sign while coming up the South Navarro grade, "The North Greenwood Association" has adopted a portion of highway one, and also the refurbished sign at the Catholic Cemetery that Norman deVall took upon himself to take over to Ukiah and have a professional sign shop restore to its original condition.

Home again. Glad to be back.

January 21,

Well, I'm catching back up on things around town. I guess I'll give you all a bit of an overview.

Lolli came down Friday night for Italian dinner at the "Roadhouse Cafe' Nighttime", " a Restaurant Somewhere in Elk".

I have been very quiet about this recent development because I don't want the place to get too popular, sort of keep it to myself and local "insiders", not get it cranked up to where I won't be able to sit and enjoy a leisurely dinner, read a book, play a game of chess, that sort of thing.

So we had a candlelit dinner with Belvie Rooks, talked with the chef, Jim Muto and his wife Mary, visited with the other locals. Perfect.

Saturday morning we joined Vince and Carolyn Carleton, their children Tama and Alex, plus Eduardo Smissen, at the Roadhouse for breakfast and then a walking tour of the town. It was an unexpectedly beautiful sunny day.

First a tour of Eduardo's art studio, then over to Gary Moran to see Clown Soup Production Headquarters. Back into town to ponder the meaning of the "For Sale" sign on the Elk Store.

I later called Paul Young to confirm this unfortunate news.

"Yep. Been on the market for a while now. There are a couple of folks interested but you know how that goes. I'll come down and run it, if I have to, but I rather sell it."

On up the street to find Del Wilcox hacking away at the hedge in front of his house..."Have to make room for the bag."

What?

"Yep, gonna have the house bagged, termites, you know."

Next, to say "Hi" and "Welcome" to Bruce and Linda Wolf, new owners of the former Doug Blaine - Patty Brady home. Bruce is an exceptional commercial artist and has already been tapped to do the '93 Mendocino Music Festival poster. He showed us some he did for the Tahoe Music Festival - beautiful.

Over to Kendrick's Kompound to see Anita Allegeart at the Garden Shoppe and Kate Dougherty in the Country Store. Anita pointed out Alf and Roul. They are still here and now one of them is sitting on eggs! If you are new to this column, last year there was a wedding at Kendrick's and the bride and groom released a pair of white doves at the culmination of their vows. The wedding couple returned to wherever but Alf and Roul stayed on. They like it here and why not? Kendrick doesn't even charge them rent.

Next stop at Leslie Lawson's to see how the brew pub is coming along. Leslie gave us the grand tour and told us the latest ETA (estimated time of arrival) is the day AFTER the big Saint Paddy's Centennial hoopla here in Greenwood/Elk, March 13th! One of the latest obstacles is Cal Trans fifty foot set back from the highway center line requirement, just in case they decide to put a four lane through town! Of course that would slice off the front of almost every house and business in town but then you know how bureaucratic requirements are.

Let's see.

Bob and Becky Matson have gone to Santa Cruze for the weekend to see about enrolling Becky in college. This is Becky's senior year in high school.

Kendrick is going off to Hawaii for a week.

Parker Mills is going to Massachusetts for a month of meditation, and...

Anne Daniels handed me this note:

"As a local historian, I have been asked why there are going to be commemorative plaques dedicated to the late Flora Buchanan and Walter Matson, presented at the Saint Patrick's 100th celebration, and hung in the Community Center, March 13th?

Well, in the early 1900's, when Walter and Flora were growing up, our village had a town hall managed by the Greenwood Civic Club. It was established in 1917. The building stood across from the post office and town meetings were held in the hall. Some activities did take place in the old silent movie hall, now the Oasis, but that was not the town hall.

During the late 1920's, the company store, located just north of the post office, burned to the ground and so the Greenwood Civic Club was forced to leave the premises so the store could move there and continue business.

Walter had a dream. When he moved back to our town with his lovely wife, Nora, and three children, he purchased the Elk Store. As and aside, the Elk Store was once Flora Buchanan's ice cream parlor and candy store. Walter remembered the Saint Patrick's dances given yearly by the Catholics. He remembered the good times, the town meetings, the three act plays given on the stage of the Civic Club. He remembered the private parties and a place to have them. He remembered Gus Ehlner dancing with graceful partners, Gus went periodically to San Francisco to learn all the new dance steps.

It still bothered Walter that there was no town hall or public meeting place. Flora Buchanan also sensed this need and gave the present property site to the water district to house a town hall and fire house. She and Walter had plans drawn up and filed. Beams were purchased, the ground heavily rocked. Daniels and Ross Lumber Company offered to provide the lumber.

Read the rest of the account in Walter Matson's book, "Town with Two Names." It tells of the long struggle to make his dream a reality.

Remember Walter and Flora with a plaque? Why, Indeed?"

And finally, this just in from Baby Doc Edison:

"Don't forget the Annual Town Meeting, January 26th, 7:30, at the Greenwood/Elk Community Center.

There will be champagne.

There will be the "Thousand Points of Light Awards".

A report from John Terwilliger about his attending Clinton's inauguration.

Election of new blood to the Community Center Board.

Huzzahs for the retiring Board.

Current events up date.

CSD and Fire Department Reports.

Crying chill-dren.

Plus the ever exciting reports from Del Wilcox and Charlie Acker.

Please attend. It only hurts for a little while.

January 28th.

The continuation of the origin of the Greenwood/Elk Community Center, by Anne Daniels:

One may ask, how was this building first financed? Cash donations were generous. Judge Gibson used to toss in a hundred dollars from time to time and also told people of the need for funds. He was very persuasive.

But the lowly abalone contributed a great deal. During the good tides when ab hunters perched on the bluffs and wanted to cross private lands, there were these people to greet them and tell them of the town's need for a firehouse and town hall. There was Charlie Nonella, Walter Matson, Jonah Stefani and others at appointed hour of favorable tide. Donations were very generous. The ab hunters were happy and the sums rose to build our meeting place.

Evelyn and Jim Vickers had abalone feeds which were well-attended. They put out a substantial dinner and made a goodly amount for the building treasury.

Volunteer labor would have put up the center long before it became an actuality, but Warren Daniels passed away, the mill operations went downhill and was finally shut down. Volunteer men who had jobs at the sawmill moved away to get work and there was no one to do the labor.

Hank Worthington, a young man who had been in the Merchant Marine Service, arrived here and established himself in the electrical business. Hank got a few people interested in getting the walls up. Then Federal funds came through and the rest is history.

If it hadn't been for Flora's land-giving and Walter's vision and drive, there probably wouldn't be a Community Center.

My deadline arrives before the town meeting, so let's talk about water.

Our town water system is checked daily for turbidity content, the amount of Ozone and Chlorine that is added to the water, and the number of gallons used by the town. Charlie Acker, Peter Talbert and I do these daily checks on a rotating basis.

Here is the typical routine. First a bottle of water is taken from a town tap; I usually get one from the sink faucet in the Roadhouse Cafe. Next stop is under the Highway One bridge to get a bottle of water from Greenwood Creek. Then up to the tanks and treatment plant on the hill south of town. A bottle of water is taken from the water coming up from the well, just before it goes into the 18,000 gallon Ozone contact tank. A final sample of water is taken as it leaves the treatment plant and filter system, on its way into the town's 84,000 gallon main tank.

These four bottles of water are then tested, one by one, for turbidity.

Turbidity is the amount of stuff in the water that decreases the clarity. I checked a cup of coffee one time, it gave a reading of 17.00 in the turbidity meter. The water distributed into town should be kept to a reading of 0.50 or less.

The average turbidity readings for the month of November, at the tail end of the drought were: Greenwood Creek .38, Well 1.18, Filter 0.40, and the water in town 0.46.

The average readings for the month of December were: Greenwood Creek 18.07, Well 2.75, Filter 0.86, and town 0.51.

As of January 22nd, the readings averaged: Greenwood Creek 29.02, Well 5.12, Filter 3.96, and Town 2.28.

It has been real interesting to enter the daily readings into my computer and then convert them to graphs. When there was a large rain there would be a "spike" in the graph for the creek reading, followed a day later by a spike in the well. Then the filter reading would rise and about a day later, the town reading would increase; the delay caused by the 84,000 gallon holding tank. It takes a while for that quantity of water to become turbid, and it takes a while for it to clear back up.

During the most recent rains, the water in the creek rose up to the base of both wells and Charlie Acker shut them off. We coasted for a day on the town supply. At that time, the creek had a reading of over 1000.00 on the turbidity meter; that is as high as the meter will read, in fact.

We have added more activated charcoal to the filter, and we have reduced the flow rate through the filter in an attempt to reduce the amount of turbidity going into the main tank. Also, the filter system is backwashed every other day to help produce cleaner water. Ozone and Chlorine has also been increased to insure that even though the water is now carrying more clay particles than normal, there is no bacteria getting into our water. it is safe but somewhat cloudy.

One cypress tree blew over by well number two and missed the electrical box and pump motor by a foot! Also, there is a huge log jam just below the wells, west of the bridge. Enough firewood for the town for three years, but it is on State Park property.

Oh yes, How many gallons a day do we average in this little town?

17,545 gallons. 158 gallons per person (111 persons), but less if you include dogs, cats, plants, tourists, leaks, car washing, and what have you.

Finally, your roving reporter has just learned that Mike Keopf has an overdue book from the Fort Bragg library. The Poems of Dylan Thomas.

Mike? Mike?

February 11th.

Local artist, writer, and KZYX disc jockey, Eduardo Smissen, took his tape recorder over to the Greenwood Elementary School last week and recorded fifteen of so of the children reading poems and stories for an upcoming segment of the Rubber Biscuit Program on KZYX. We will be able to hear the results Saturday morning, February 13th at 10 AM. Tune in 90.7 FM.

Once again, the Greenwood Civic Club 7th Annual Rummage Sale will be March 6th and 7th at the Greenwood Community Center form 10 until 4. Food will be served. For early pick-up call Lorraine at 877-3295.

A note from 65 year old Baby Doc Impeached Edison:

One piece of history Anne Daniels left out in her saga of the Community Center.

After Hank Worthington and crew failed to get the walls up, several town meetings were held in the Methodist Church with John Frankel and Ruth Noel acting as cheer leaders. As a result, numerous "new-comers" (called hippies in those days) came down from the Ridge to help in the building of the Community Center.

This took many people many weekends to get this original building completed. It was a very happy community endeavor. Old and new gave time and effort to make Flora and Walter's dream come true, proving once again that Elk is a very special community indeed.

Now, with our new addition we have ample space for new imaginative programs for one and all. Walter, Flora, John and Ruth must be smiling.

The American Academy of Arts and Letters was started in New York 100 years ago by six famous artists and writers, including among them Mark Twain. Over the years this group has grown into a prestigious body of artists, writers, composers, and critics who, every year, ask various museums around the nation to send in ten names each for consideration for their upcoming annual artists show. From all these selected artist, only thirty are picked to present their work. This year, one of the artists chosen is none other than Peter Allegeart of Greenwood/Elk!

I talked to Peter and he told me, yeah, he and Anita are going to be heading to the Big Apple to attend opening night, March 1st. Four of his painting have been selected.

I asked which ones.

"Well, let's see. The '4th of July Weekend', the one with the Owl carrying the frog over the Navarro River. The wide one I painted called 'The Long Perilous Journey', you know, of the beetle crossing the road. The 'Lizards Sunning', is the third one and finally, 'The Collision', the one about the crash of the Wonder Bread truck and the motor home on Highway One, where the tourist is golf clothes is beating the crap out of Wonder Bob."

It looks like our local boy is going to become an overnight success after only twenty five years of constant painting. Congratulations, Peter.

You can read more about the American Academy of Arts and Letters in last year's November issue of the Smithsonian Magazine.

February 18th.

They're Back!

At 4:15 PM, Friday, February 12th, while pumping gas I saw my first set of two-inch-long red nails, moussed hair and gold Visa card. The next day, a twenty-five mile per hour drive to Fort Bragg, behind a Mercedes, two BMW's, a Lexus, and a motor home confirmed my suspicions. The tourist infestation has started.

Come to the Seventh Annual Rummage Sale at the Greenwood/Elk Community Center and find treasures for your home and garden. This year, the Greenwood Civic Club is offering an even greater melange of useful items, everything from silk flowers to farm tools. The sale will be held on Saturday, March 6, and Sunday, March 7, from 10AM to 4PM. Come to browse or buy. You can also purchase both hot and cold foods and various drinks on the days of the sale. The proceeds from this event will be used to benefit the entire Greenwood/Elk community: college scholarship, children's programs, fire and ambulance departments, etc. The Civic Club will greatly appreciate all donations. This is the perfect time to reorganize your garage and closets, clean out cabinets, basements, and attics. Let the rummage sale be the harbinger of Spring. Drop off all usable items at the Community Center in Greenwood/Elk on Friday, March 5, between 10AM and 4PM.

Hopefully the ground war, just north of town, will soon be negotiated to a cease fire. Almost every weekend, as we look forward to a few days off to tend the garden, catch up on the wood pile, and other outdoor occupations, and as the tourists unpack their bags for a quiet weekend at the favorite local B&B, the peace and quiet is shattered by the bang of some big bore rifle, interspersed with the rat-a-tat-tat of "almost" full automatic gunfire. After putting up with this for more than a year, the attitude that "the boys are just having fun" is starting to wear a bit thin.

I was asked to review one of the only two advanced copies of the "Centennial History of St. Patrick's Celebrations in Greenwood 1893-1993", published by the Elk Altar Society. Nobody told me it was a big secret, and I inadvertently showed a few folks. They were immensely excited by it and wanted one, too. Soon the phone was ringing.

"How did Ron Bloomquist get his hands on that book?"

Uh, oh.

Why am I always getting in trouble? Even my sister sends me a nasty note about some Christmas party she was having and while back, which I just happened to forget about. So anyway, back to the book.

It's wonderful.

There. How's that? And there were only one thousand printed. How about that? And I predict they will be sold out before the five hundredth plate of corned beef and cabbage hits the counter during this year's one hundredth annual party bash, March 13th.

The book is hot! Over one hundred and seventy never-before-published photos. One hundred and ten pages of pure enjoyment, starting with the first celebration and going on, year by year, all the way up to the present.

The book committee, Mary Valenti Berry, Denise Pacheo, Anne Walker Daniels, Sharon McMaster Mitchell, Joan Baldecchi Valenti, Alvin Fisher, acting president, and Lee Friberg, editor, have performed a miracle. Just wait till you see it, or, for only a buck, I'll give you a peek! (Just kidding. Geez! Ain't nobody got a sense of humor anymore?

The book will be on sale soon and cost $15.00. Once you see it I gar-un-tee you won't be able to get your money out fast enough.

And finally. It was just learned that the Redwood Empire Mission, on behalf of the United Methodist Church, has shined on all local attempts to set up a non-profit organization to retain our Historic Methodist Community Church. The offer put together by a local committee to keep the church, and to continue its function as a place of worship and community service, was ignored. They went ahead and put it on the market, in effect forcing the local group to buy back what was already paid for, over the years, in time, energy and donations. It is now up for sale for $170,000. A hasty meeting of concerned citizens was called and, as they say, it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings. Greenwood/Elk is an amazing place. Stayed tuned.

February 25th.

I just finished my first tour of Jury duty in Ukiah. I didn't get my letter written quick enough to beg off so, at the last minute, I roar off to Ukiah, polishing my excuses; I can't afford it, too far to drive, Bob needs me at the gas station, etc., but no. Just like joining the Navy, you can't take a peek and then beg off. Once your head is in the noose, you better have a pretty darn good excuse. By the time they got around to me, after listening to the hardships of the rest of my group, and their variety of excuses, to no advantage, I finally resigned myself and sat there, mute as a church mouse. Oh well, maybe they will throw me out during the selection process, because of my looks, because I'm a Beacon columnist, because I live in Greenwood/Elk.

So there we were, thirty jury candidates and my name is called first. Then we are down to twenty-four. Then the Prosecutor and the defense lawyer get a whack at us. Half of the first twelve are tossed out, but I'm still sitting there. Maybe if I pick my nose, read an Anderson Valley Advertiser, do something weird. And then, that's it. I'm one of the twelve. My half a day trip to Ukiah becomes, ultimately, three days.

In time, after all the selection process, presentation by the prosecutor, presentation by the defense, witnesses, evidence, final statements, rebuttal, admonitions by the judge, we finally head off to the jury room to figure it out. Three hours later, it's over. Guilty on all counts.

And now, as I write this, Friday afternoon, fresh back from Ukiah, the wind starts picking up. The power starts to flicker, I pull the wall plug and revert to battery power on my lap-top computer. I look out the window and the spray from the ocean is blasting up over the cliff and against the windows. Limbs and pine cones start coming down continuously. I shut off the computer and grab the video camera and, even though the battery light is blinking, I start shooting out the window.

Twenty foot long limbs are crashing down on top of my bus, I notice the roof of the water tower is missing. A huge cypress tree splits down the middle and falls over across the trunk of my Ford Falcon, only ten feet from my head! The battery goes dead on the video camera and I hit the floor, the next tree might hit me.

I can't go outside and make a run for it, the floor is the only safe place to ride it out. The salt spray, rain, and crash of limbs are like going through a berserk car wash. I'm under the bed and my dog is trying to get under me!

Finally, about twenty minutes later it starts to abate. I go outside and take a look around, keeping an upward eye for "widow-makers", the wind is still strong but not as wild as it had been.

My bus is buried under limbs, the Ford sags under the weight of the tree limb. The shed roof tore loose and flipped completely over the garage and is lying in the drive way. A ten by twenty foot patch of shingles are missing from the house I caretake. More huge limbs litter the yard and driveway. Trees are on the ground just past the house.

I decide to walk into town and see how everyone else has faired. Between the Catholic Church and the Greenwood Elementary School a huge cypress has split and dropped across Highway One. Six cars are waiting to go south and four cars waiting to go north while two guys hack away with an axe.

The Keehn house has an uprooted cypress leaning against the second story. I later discover the tree punched a hole in the roof and knocked in a skylight or two.

I arrive in town and find Donny Daniels, Joan and Rusty Gates, Gerry and Mary Huckaby, and a few other folks scrambling around to cover up the interior of the Elk Garage office and shop space, with plastic sheeting, over a third of the whole south side roof has been torn off, rolled into a ball and tossed into the alley against a car, taking out both driver side windows. Meanwhile, back in the garage, the rain is pouring in.

I help out a little bit and then head back home.

My power line is down, phone line down, and the water main broken. I saw the limbs off my bus, clear a path out of the drive way and go to Peter and Anita Allegaert's for the dinner party they planned. Come hell or high water, let's party! Sure enough, a cabin full of folks, eating and talking, just like nothing happened, almost. Some folks had damage, others, just a wild ride through the storm.

Saturday, everyone is out fixing stuff. Chain saws whining all over town, Bob Matson is surprised to find a volunteer crew of about ten show up to help put the roof back on the garage. I fix my water line and power line, even though the power is still off in the Greenwood Elk area. Then started cutting up the downed trees. Ramone showed up with his big saw and cut the tree off the back of the Ford. My whimpy saw had too short of a bar. Lolli gets busy clearing brush and limbs.

The Elk garage and Elk Market are closed, no power, but I hear that Jim Muto will open the restaurant for Italian dinner in the evening.

Lolli and I show up around six and sure enough, dinner is ready. Candles all over the place, a fire in the Franklin stove, flashlights mounted on each end of the cooking range. Jessie McGary, the dishwasher, is boiling water on the propane range to keep up with the dirty dishes, a candle beside his sink.

Bob Matson treated the roofing crew to dinner and the rest of the restaurant was full with the raucous camaraderie of survivors of the biggest wind storm to hit town in memory.

The power came back on around eight thirty in the evening, but not in the restaurant, Jim decided to leave it off and continue on with our joyful sail into the candle lit dark, like a happy ship of fools, alive, full, and happy.

My phone will be out until Tuesday sometime but I hear that Ted Galletti's barn went down. I understand there are trees down all over the surrounding hills. Smashed houses, blown out windows, damaged cars. What a storm, but, like they always say, It could have been worse.

Mary Berry just notified me that the Saint Patrick's Centennial book is now for sale. Contact Mary at 877-3433 or Anne Daniels at 877-3370.

Rummage Sale, Saint Paddy's 100th. Life goes on.

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