Heard over the back fence: Committing to the cause

VOTING CAN BE PAINFUL: Bonnie Chapman, voting inspector at Precinct 318, sent me a memo describing a young man and his mother who showed up to vote. The mother was using a pair of crutches and appeared to be experiencing a lot of pain. She had fallen out of her truck and was going to the hospital emergency room because she was pretty sure she broke her leg. Because she was sure of a long wait at the emergency room, she was afraid she wouldn’t get back to the precinct in time to vote before the polls closed. She was able to vote before she left to the emergency unit. My hat is off to this very responsible citizen. Someone needs to give this lady an award! Thank you, Bonnie, for providing this story.

BEAUTIFYING THE MATERNITY HOME: Thanks to the Sacramento Optimist Club, the final room remodel for residents at the Mother Teresa Maternity Home of El Dorado County has been completed. The room is beautiful!

DINE WITH REPUBLICAN WOMEN: The El Dorado County Republican Women, Placerville, will meet on Monday, July 2, at 10:30 a.m., at Denny’s Restaurant, 95 Fair Lane, Placerville. At 11:30 a.m., Todd White from the El Dorado Union High School District board will be the guest speaker. Please call Diane Hooper at 530-642-9764 to reserve your spot.

DEMOCRATIC WOMEN UNITE: The Democratic Women of El Dorado County meet on the first Thursday of each month at the El Dorado County Board of Education, 6767 Green Valley Road, Bldg. B-3, Placerville, at 7 p.m.

OSTOMATES UNITE: The Placerville Ostomy Association meets on the third Thursday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Marshall Cancer Resource Center, 3581 Palmer Drive, Cameron Park, Suite 202. Meetings are open to pre-surgery and post-surgery ostomates. For more information call Sherron West at 530-823-9677 or Barbara at 916-941-6942.

TIME FOR A LITTLE RELAXATION: The “Coffee, Tea and Friends” group meets in the social room of the Community Services District building, 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park. These sessions are for seniors and caregivers to create some relaxation time for them. The July 10 meeting will offer bingo games and social conversation, plus prizes. For more information call 530-677-2231.

CAMP-OUT IN CAMERON PARK: A community camp-out is scheduled from 4 p.m., Friday, July 20 to Saturday, July 21, until 9 a.m. The camp-out will be at Cameron Park Lake, 2989 Cambridge Road, Cameron Park. Bring your own camping gear. The overnight camping fee is $35 per family, up to four people, and $10 each for any additional family members. The fee includes a barbecue dinner cooked for your family, crafts, campfire songs and story telling. Also, breakfast will be served in the morning. Pre-registration is required by calling 530-677-2231.

IMPORTANT DIABETES INFORMATION: The Marshall Medical Center is sponsoring a class titled “Diabetes Education: Healthy Living Class No. 2, Carbohydrates, Food and You.” The class will be held on Tuesday, July 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Midtown Mall, 681 Main St., Placerville. Class topics will include making carbs work for you, meal planning and managing your weight. The class fee is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare with an MD referral. For more information or to register for this class call 530-672-7021.

LEMON LONGEVITY: If you read the “Who Knew” calendar, you will discover the following lemon information: “Lemons will stay fresh for up to three months if you store them in a bowl of water in the fridge. Just change the water every week. Who knew?”

POOR DECISION MAKING: Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar contains the following “Accidental Explanations:” “When I saw I could not avoid a collision, I stepped on the gas and crashed into the other car.”

BECOME A “KICKBACK ARTIST:” The “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar states the following message: “It’s helpful to remember that relaxed people can still be superachievers and, in fact, that relaxation and creativity go hand in hand.”

Bob Billingsley

Bob Billingsley writes Heard Over the Back Fence three times a week, keeping his pen on the pulse of the community. He also writes a biweekly column called Billingsley's Bullets, in which he uses “sideways” thinking to make your day a little easier to handle.

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