Heard over the back fence: Earning a break

COMMUNITY CHAMPION EASES UP: After many, many years of helping those in need in our community, Bernie Dowse is easing up and helping others to take over some of his projects. He and a few friends have cut scores of firewood cords for those in need who could not afford to buy wood. He has been very active with the Salvation Army in bell ringing activities and providing financial assistance for the HELP program, which helps those in need with emergency housing and food. Yes, I could go on and on about Bernie’s acts of commission, but he is a modest man who avoids accolades. Thank you Bernie for all you have done for those in need. You deserve a nice, long rest.

HOSPICE FUNDRAISING ACTIVITY: From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., you can bring your e-waste or scrap metal to the Refuse and and Processing Center at 180 Industrial Road in Placerville, on the following dates: Scrap metal on July 7, 21, Aug. 4, 18, Sept. 1, 15, 29 and E-waste on  July 14, 28, Aug. 11, 25, Sept. 8 and 22. For more information about what items they can take or cannot take, stop by one of the thrift stores or visit snowlinehospice.org or call 530-626-1641. Profits from recycling will benefit Snowline Hospice.

FLOURISHING STUDENT: Officials at Stonehill College, Easton, Mass., have informed us that William Miller of El Dorado Hills has been placed on the dean’s list. To qualify for the dean’s list, a student must have a grade-point average of 3.50 or better. William, we salute your impressive effort and wish you continued success in college.

PARA NORMAL (GHOST) NEWS: You can explore things that go bump in the night with Amy Bruni, para normal investigator from the TV show, “Ghost Hunters.” Bruni will be at the El Dorado County Library, 345 Fair Lane, Placerville, on Saturday, July 7, at 11 a.m. For more information call 530-621-5540 or visit eldoradolibrary.org.

VERY SUCCESSFUL STUDENT: Alisa Reinhardt graduated from Ponderosa High School in 2005. In 2009, she graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor of science degree in communications and political science. Recently she earned her juris doctorate from the University of the Pacific Mc George School of Law. Alisa, we are always proud to see one of our local students succeed. Congratulations on your impressive academic achievements! All of us are looking forward to your bright future.

CLASS CANCELED: The “Diabetes Education: Healthy Living Class No. 1, Diabetes Essentials,” scheduled for Tuesday, July 10, has been cancelled. For more information call 530-672-7021.

HEALTHY COOKING WORKSHOP: Would you like to learn how to make classic global dishes? A “Farm to Table” workshop featuring Caprese salad skewers, smoky corn chowder, chicken Marsala with mushroom sauce, and summer squash ribbons with kalamata olives will be offered on Saturday, July 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. The class fee is $35 plus a supply fee of $10. The instructor will be Suzanne Griffin, certified natural chef. Registration deadline is July 13. Call 916-933-6624 to register for class and to receive information regarding a class offered on Sunday, July 22. At the conclusion of the class, students will sit down to a family-style meal.

STEAK AND FELLOWSHIP TIME: On Saturday, July 14, the Fleet Reserve Association, Branch and Unit 275, will celebrate its 33rd anniversary. No host cocktails are available at 5 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Dinner cost is $8 per person for the steak dinner and goodies. The dinner will be at the Veterans Memorial Hall on Placerville Drive in Placerville. Reservations are a must. To reserve a spot call Larry Boudreaux at 530-677-3925 or Dave Davidson at 530-644-5385 prior to Wednesday, July 11. If you are a fleet member and cannot attend, please call Clara Gemmet at 530-644-1610.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The Marshall Hospital Auxiliary will hold interviews for prospective new volunteer members. If you would like to be a volunteer at the Marshall Medical Center call Linda Militello at 530-622-4823 or Dorothy Boyd at 530-622-4422.

BEING WEIRD IS O.K.: My pal John Chapman is back in the swing of things and provided the following T-shirt philosophy: “I’m not weird … I’m a limited edition.”

STICKY DOOR ADVICE: The “Who Knew?” calendar offers the following household hint: “If your sliding glass door is sticking, simply spray the tracks with furniture polish. It will remove dirt and give the tracks the lubrication they need to keep the door moving smoothly.”

A DALAI DILLY: Look over the “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar and you will discover the following life-direction definition: “Taking refuge is not a passive act of placing ourselves in the hands of a higher power that will do everything for us, as the English word “refuge” might imply. It is an active process of putting a safe, reliable and positive direction in our life.”

I KNOW NOTHING: Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar describes the following “Disorder in the Court:” “Q. You don’t know what it was, and you don’t know what it looked like, but can you describe it? A. No.”

GET YOUR FAMILY INVOLVED: Thumbing through the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calender, I located the following suggestion: “Whether there are just two of you or 10, the idea of having a favorite family charity is to get everyone in your family involved in the selection and ongoing giving process. (If you live alone, you can do the same thing by yourself or with a friend.)”

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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