Winemaking was not a required course for ’63s and, in fact, not even an elective, to my recollection. But that did not deter Linc Wolverton, an English major, from learning whatever he could during studies in Dijon, France, where his host family owned a vineyard that made “very good” house-made Burgundian wines, according to an article this past summer in the Oregon Wine Press. Later in the Army, Linc’s French fluency landed him again in Burgundy, another factor that induced him and wife Joan, a former Seattle Times reporter, to launch the Salishan Vineyards in La Center, Washington, in 1971. Their pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, Riesling and chenin blanc received distinguished reviews, the article noted. Joan was occupied with growing and making the wine while Linc, a University of Washington economics Ph.D., commuted to nearby Portland, Oregon. The Wolvertons paved the way for future wine growers in Washington in learning to deal with the challenges of weather and soil as well as the fallout from the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, the article notes. The Wolvertons closed the winery and retired from the business in 2006, although Linc still takes on consulting assignments.

As writer, director and cinematographer for commercials, rock videos, video games, theatrical features, adventure films and IMAX movies, you might say Peter Israelson has seen it all, but nothing may compare with his work with the great Muhammad Ali, who died last June. They spent two weeks, even roomed together, barnstorming Alaska in a shoot for Ford Motor parts. It was one of the few instances, according to Peter, that Ali had been anywhere at the time without handlers, “so Alaska on his own was jaw-dropping to Ali. He loved to play pranks, especially on me,” said Peter, who got his chance for retaliation when he hired a “giant of a man in massive fur and bloody claws” to surprise and chase Ali around the film set. “Peter, you’re a marked man now! You’re never gonna rest. I’m gonna get my revenge,” Ali warned him and for years after, he’d call Peter from airports around the world to pretend payback, “which never happened, of course,” said Peter. “When we left Alaska after the production Ali delayed our flight for hours by kissing every single baby on the 747. No one minded,” said Peter. “He was that charismatic and loving. That shoot was one of the great privileges of my life.”

Michael and Jeanne Prince participated in their 31st consecutive Prouty Century Bike Ride, July 9, to raise money for cancer research at Dartmouth’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Jeanne was diagnosed and successfully treated for Merkel cell carcinoma in 2011. Richard Enholm, Dave Schwartz and Dave’s brother-in-law, Ed Feinberg, reported a wonderful time at Buster Welch’s fishing mini at Kasba Lake in Canada’s Northwest Territories in July. Before leaving, the group gathered at the home of Buster’s son, Courtney, for a presentation on the Canadian Arctic and then adjourned for “pizza half a block away.”

—Harry Zlokower, 190 Amity St., Brooklyn, NY 11201; (917) 541-8162; harry@zlokower.com