Stars at the Ridgetop

Tonight we went to Stars at the Ridgetop at a private amphitheater out of town. It was a benefit for the Nevada County Land Trust, a land conservation group.

We saw Richie Havens and

Dr John and his band the lower 911's from New Orleans. The music totally rocked.

We sat with the Gradhandts. They are moving to Boise Wednesday. Too Bad.

The inimitable William.

In the bus line to return we saw Dr. Scott Kellerman and Carol. They are back from Africa for a vacation. Their work in Uganda has progressed over the years from a mobile clinic to a 60 bed hospital growing to 100 and two 500 student schools. He said the average patient stay is 1 1/2 days. It is all infectious diseases. Youngsters come in in a coma from malaria and wake up and leave the next day. He said the average age in Uganda is 14. He noted that the only black faces at the concert were Richie Havens and 2 members of Dr. John's band. Too much whiteness and oldness in Nevada County.
We were also reminded of all the money lost and wasted in Louisiana and the little that has been spent on rebuilding. Most of the poor and vulnerable are still in a sad state in New Orleans.