Ukiah Daily Journal from Ukiah, California • Page 3

LIFE IN MENDOCINO COUNTY This summer won't be at the beach BY FAE WOODWARD "Everytime it rains it rains pennies from Heaven," croons the voice on the old celuloid record. (Beware if you are familiar with this tune, the crooner, or if you know what a celuloid record is. You're fast becoming ancient history.) The sentiment is oh so true. Unless it rains in August or September in time to cause mildew among the grape crops. Then the pennies begin to shrivel for the growers.

Rainfall in Mendocino County has always been one of its outstanding qualities, lauded by Aurelius O. Carpenter in "Mendocino and Lake counties biographies," published in 1914. "Mendocino rainfall is ever abundant," he wrote. "It has never fallen less than 19.98 inches in the season. From that to 60.48 inches." He says he quotes for Ukiah from "Government Standard." According to Carpenter, rainfall has been as high as 100 inches in some parts of the county.

"The average is 35 inches," he stated. "These are light winter rains followed by abundant spring rains." He wrote: "During the winter of 1913-14, as of Jan. 31, rainfall measured 41.38 inches." Carpenter, who came to Mendocino County before the turn of the century, made his home first in Potter Valley. Later he came to Ukiah, becoming a local businessman. He was a photographer as well as author and publisher.

He probably is remembered best as the father of artist Grace Carpenter Hudson. Crops in his time, nurtured by the plentiful rainfall, included almonds, apples, peaches, pears and plums, hay and wheat. He wrote: "Peaches and almonds sometimes failed because of spring frosts." Even these prospered in what he referred to as thermal belts. "They (these belts) are in nearly every locality where they give annual crops," he stated. "Except in some of the higher valleys and even these have their thermal lines to be observed in planting." His statements about the county sound almost like a chamber of commerce commercial.

"There never has been a failure of crops, every year yielding from moderate to abundant," he wrote, adding never better than the year when Napa farmers came into Potter Valley and paid 3 cents (a pound) for seed and hauled it home by the wagonload over 80 miles of rough mountain roads." The rainfall tables, although they don't always seem to agree, do bear out what Carpenter had to say. The schedule of rainfall in the Department of Agriculture Climate Summary of 1963, indicates the highest rainfall was in 1908-09 61.77 inches. The rain gauge at the Ukiah Fire Department registered 57.39 inches. There have been a few light years, in which rainfall fell below Carpenter's total. They were in 1882-83 (probably while he was still in Potter Valley), 1922-23 and 1923-24.

Rainfall in 1882-83 was 18.62 inches, according to the Department of Agriculture. If our rainfall is keeping its average, why then are we expecting a drought? What is causing drought conditions? Are there too many umbrellas? The song says: "You'll find your fortune falling all over town. Make sure that your umbrella's upside down." How many umbrellas are pit against the rain today as compared to Carpenter's day? What was Ukiah's population in 1914? Was it 1000, 2000, or even 3000? Since the '70s, when the population was 10,000, another 5,000 umbrellas or more have been added. History shows Mother Nature is doing her job, there are just more and more of those umbrellas being turned upside down. In 1977, the California Water Resources Center recommended sudsing before you shower, running the dishwasher only when it has a full load, and using a suds- saver washing machine.

Local Ukiah High School and Mendocino College students participating In the Amlgos de las Americas program this summer Include (from left) Tona Glnochlo, Sarah MonPere, Brian Kilkenny, Lindsay Leland, Jason Llljengren and Janlne Sandier on a cot like that which they will sleep on this summer. Some volunteers are leaving this week for various Central and South American countries to participate In community health programs. By EMILY VIGLIELMO Feature editor Tona Ginochio stared at the cot that she will sleeping on for most of the summer in Costa Rica. "I'm going to miss my water bed," the Ukiah High School junior said. Tona is a member of the group Amigos de las Americas that will be going to various Central and South American countries this summer.

Amigos is a national program based out of Texas. It was started by a Baptist youth group in Houston, Tex. in 1965, according to Dr. Marvin Trotter, an emergency physician at the Ukiah Valley Medical Center, who went on the program. The high school Spanish students will work with local doctors and government officials in rural areas within the different nations to help with vaccination and other medical programs.

There are five Ukiah High School students in the summer program and one Mendocino College student. Members of the group will be traveling to Costa Rica, Paraguay and Ecuador. According to Darwin Richardson, a counselor at Ukiah High School, the students will receive 5 credits for their international experience that ranges from 6 to 8 weeks. Some of the students will be leaving this week and others will be leaving in July. Trotter experienced the program himself.

The Redwood Valley resident went to Guatemala, Honduras and Paraguay during the summers of 1968 through 1972. "You can't go on the program and no completely change your perspective on things," Trotter said. The living conditions in the See AMIGOS, Page 8 A survivor of school of hard knocks' By CAROLE HESTER Correspondent This week's cook 85 years young was a Grand Champion bronc and bull-riding star of rodeos in his heyday. Known as "Buck Hensley," he competed hi the rodeo circuit for about 20 years, bringing home a silver buckle, silver spurs and some ribbons, trophies and cash. Charles Hensley, now of Ukiah, was born in Cloverdale.

His grandfather was one of the early settlers of Mendocino County and had property by Mendocino College, appropriately called Hensley Creek. "Granddad used to say that 'there would never be a day when buffalo and elk wouldn't run free in this because both were so plentiful here during his lifetime." Hensley's father and grandfather used to cut tan oak, used to tan hides. Then Hensley's dad was a rancher and sheep shearer in Cloverdale. All six boys worked at home on the ranch, which was about nine miles west of Cloverdale. Hensley and his father would follow the sheep from ranch to ranch, shearing their way through several counties.

He's always had an interest in horses. "When I was a little guy at home, I spent my time watching the horses and practiced horseback riding while ranching. When I was older, I did both for awhile rodeo and ranched because I'd have to Community news AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY JAIL-A-THON The American Cancer Society sponsors a mock jail-a-thon benefit 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Friday at Ken Fowler Auto Center, 2150 N.

State St. It involves mock arrests of willing individuals who must post bail to be released. There will be another jail-a-thon in Fort Bragg. The goal is to raise $1 million for cancer education programs. Call 462-7642.

GIVING AND RECEIVING SEMINAR There will be a seminar entitled "Giving and Receiving Are the Same" sponsored by the Center for Tools for Attitudinal Healing at 6 p.m. today at the Science of the Mind Center, 741 S. Oak St. The fee is $15. Call 468-5545.

NEUROINTEGRATION WORKSHOP A discussion entitled "Enhancing Brain Functions with Vitamins and Nutritional Substances" will be presented 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at 461 N. State St. Call 462-6684.

work the sheep in order to have enough money to ride in rodeo competitions." Most city dudes think cowboys sit around campfires for their meals. He remembers occasionally sitting around campfires, when working ranches, but mostly ranch owners fed the hands when they worked. While in rodeo competitions, meals would mostly be at restaurants. Hensley is basically a quiet, shy man with a wide smile and penchant for teasing. He loves telling rodeo stories and has many friends from his ranching days.

One myth set to rest by this former cowboy was the one about the storytelling cowboy. With an impish grin, Hensley said, "Cowboys don't talk. They aren't too good at telling stories." To help earn money to ride in the next rodeo, Hensley would sometimes be part of the crew that would take down the rodeo equipment, transport it to the next competition location, and help set it up. "This meant hauling all our own stuff plus the rodeo stuff, like the wild horses, stalls, etc. The rodeos couldn't hire too many of the cowboys because the cowboys weren't always dependable.

There's lots of ups and downs in rodeo competition. You take the breaks that come, whether it's broken bones, or los- ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER SUPPORT GROUP The Willits area support group will meet at 7 p.m. today at 1450 S. Main St. Call 459-4214.

AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYER SEMINAR The Ukiah office of the Employment Development Department and the Mendocino County Farm Bureau will sponsor an agricultural employer seminar 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday at the Leon Hooper conference room, 303 Talmage Road. Call FARMERS MARKET There will be cooking demonstrations and a native plant sale at this week's Kelseyville farmers market at 9,10 and 11 a.m. Saturday at the Konocti Winery, Highway 29, in Kelseyville.

Call 279-0662. SIERRA CLUB HIKE There will be a hike sponsored by the Sierra Club to Boggs Mountain State Forest leaving Ukiah at 8:30 a.m. Saturday from the Yokayo ing and having no win money. Sometimes the cowboys would take time off to work ranches, rounding up cattle, to earn money for the next rodeo compeition." When asked, "What do you think about while you're on top of a 2,000 pound bucking bull" he responded cryptically, "staying on as good as you Hensley married his wife, Alice, in 1941 when he was 32. The couple had four children, two girls and two boys.

Their oldest son was 35 when he died of melanoma, after making it safely through Vietnam. Hensley admits he prefers simple fare when it comes to meals. A basic steak or eggs with bacon or sausage are his favorites. Although he's not much of a sweet eater, he's submitted two cake recipes, because they aren't too sweet. Campbell Soup Salad Dressing 1 can Campbell tomato soup tsp.

garlic powder tsp. salt tsp. paprika tsp. pepper 1 tsp. minced onion 1 tsp.

prepared mustard 1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce cup sugar cup cider vinegar cups salad oil Blend all ingredients to vinegar See COOK, Page 8 Bowl. Call 468-9032. BARBECUE The Redwood Valley Calpella Volunteer Firemen's beef barbecue will happen 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday at the firehouse. There will be entertainment by Les Boek, Ed Reinhart, David Raitt and the New Mendocino Allstars. Tickets are $10 general and $5 for children under 12. CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION BENEFIT There will be a benefit dinner and auction for the Mendo-Lake chapter of the California Waterfowl Association at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Ukiah Elks Lodge, 1200 Hastings Road.

Tickets are $50 per person and $75 per couple which includes one membership in CWA. Call 462-2423. BUDDHISM LECTURE There will be a talk called "Buddhism in Action" at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Willits Environmental Center at 316 S. Main St.

in Willits. Call 459-6619. Cirole Daily Journal Charles Hensley displays his working rodeo spurs, his silver spurs and belt buckle won In his rodeo days. SUN HOUSE GUILD will be an annual membership meeting and volunteer of the year luncheon for the Sun House Guild Board of Trustees at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 20 at the Grace Hudson Museum meeting room.

The fee is $7.50. Call 462-3370. HOME BUYERS' SEMINAR Selzer Realty will sponsor a first time home buyers' seminar 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 21 at 350 E. Gobbi St.

Call 462-6514. POMOLITA ATHLETIC BOOSTERS There will be a meeting of the Pomolita Athletic Boosters at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 22 at a private home. Call 462-8056 after 6 p.m. WOMEN'S FOUNDATION WORKSHOP There will be a series of skills building workshops entitled "Bringing Women's Issues into Focus" and "Fundraising" from 9:15 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 22 at the Grace Hudson Museum, 431 S. Main St. The event is sponsored by Women's Foundation. Call 462-3370.

MUSICAL STORYTIME The Ukiah Library will sponsor a musical storytime with June Crabtree at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 22 at the Ukiah Library, Perkins and Main streets. Call 463-4153. CLASS OF 1974 REUNION The Ukiah High School class of 1974 will hold its 20th reunion on Saturday, July 23. The class is searching for some members.

If you know the whereabouts of a missing classmate, call Alice Bergman Langton at 462-1133 or Mary Strickland Parker at 468-7438 REDWOOD VALLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL REUNION A class reunion is being planned for the Redwood Valley Grammar School for the classes of 1939 to 1945. Those interested in helping form a reunion committee may contact: Redwood Valley Grammar School Reunion, 401 School Way, Redwood Valley, CA. 95470..