Heard over the back fence: Programs that can help

DUAL RECOVERY PROGRAM: The mission of the DRA (Dual Recovery Anonymous) program is to help one another to achieve dual recovery and to prevent relapse. A dual disorder occurs when a person is affected by both chemical dependency and an emotional or psychiatric illness. DRA is a peer-driven, non-professional self-help program and is not affiliated with any other self-help organization or Twelve Step program. There are no charges, dues or fees for DRA membership. DRA meets every Tuesday, from noon to 12:45 p.m. at the Cold Springs Community Church, 2600 Cold Springs Road, Room 219, Placerville. For more information call 530-626-7939 or 530-391-5490.

ARE YOU FEELING BLUE? If you are 55 years or older and often feel grief, lonely/isolated, often tired, sad and blue, stressed about issues of growing older, you may want to call Senior Peer Counseling at 530-621-6304 and schedule a free counseling session with them.

REMEMBERING KAY KIRKLAND: How about some great waffles for a great cause? The Kay Kirkland Memorial Waffle Brunch is scheduled for Sunday, June 24, from 8 to 11:30 a.m., at the El Dorado Community Hall, 6139 Pleasant Valley Road, El Dorado. The cost is $8 per person. Children 12 and under pay $4. Kay is described as an “Earth-Based Angel.” She gave everything she had to help others. Proceeds will be donated to local people who are experiencing unusual and difficult hardships. Bring the whole family and a neighbor, too.

TAKE A DIP! The Community Center and Aquatic Center, 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park, is open with the new slide available. For more information regarding pool hours or season passes, call 530-677-2231.

PUPPETS AT THE LIBRARY: Magical Moonshine Puppets will present a show for the entire family on Wednesday, June 27, at 10:30 a.m., at the Cameron Park Library, 2500 Cameron Park Drive. For more information call 530-621-5500.

MILITARY MEETING AND DINNER: Fleet Reserve Association, “Hangtown” Branch 275, will meet on Wednesday, June 27, at the Veterans Memorial Building, 130 Placerville Drive. Social hour starts at 6 p.m. A pasta dinner will be served from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by a general business meeting at 7:30 p.m. Honored guest will be West Coast Regional President, Shipmate Rick Fetro, Branch 101. All enlisted personnel, active duty or retired and all veterans who have served in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard for any length of time and received an honorable discharge are eligible for membership in the Fleet Reserve Association. For information phone Dave Davidson at 530-644-5385, or e-mail williamdavidson06@comcast.net.

BREWFEST ON MAIN STREET: CORRECTION: I should have double-checked the “Brewfest on Main Street” date as I received it. The date for the Brewfest is Saturday, June 30, not Sunday. Please note the following information:
Main Street, Placerville, will be closed to accommodate the Belltower Brewfest on Saturday, June 30, 6 to 9 p.m. Thirty-five different craft brews will be available for sampling. Entertainment will feature three live bands. Tickets are limited. If you are 21 years old or older, you can purchase the $30 tickets in Placerville at: River City Bank, Tony Matthews, Placerville Brewing Co. or online at placervilledowntown.com.

UNITED DEMOCRATS’ MEETING: The United Democrats of El Dorado County continue to meet at noon on the fourth Thursday of each month at Denny’s Restaurant, 99 Fair Lane, Placerville. The next meeting will be on Thursday, June 28 to discuss the results of the June 5th primary.

PHOTOGRAPHING FRIENDS AND FAMILY: A new class titled “Photographing Friends and Family” is scheduled for Friday, July 6, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. Participants will learn the basics of photographing human subjects. A point and shoot camera is fine for this workshop, but basic camera knowledge is necessary. The class fee is $29. Bob Gouine is the instructor. Call 916-358-3575 to reserve a spot.

LEARN HOW TO DRAW: A class titled “Let’s Draw” is scheduled on Tuesdays, July 10 through July 31, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. The instructor is Mary Weatherwax. The class fee is $40. Please bring a $20 supply fee to the instructor at the first class. Registration deadline is 1 week prior to the first class. You will learn the use of drawing materials and techniques that you can use in daily life. To reserve your spot, call 916-358-3575.

TEDDY BEARS NEEDED: Family Connections El Dorado has scheduled their annual “Teddy Bears Picnic” for Sept. 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Rainbow Orchards, 2569 Larsen Dr., Camino. They need 800 new or gently used teddy bears to ensure that every child at the picnic receives a teddy bear. You can drop off your donated teddy bear at Family Connections El Dorado, 2860 Smith Flat School Road, Placerville. For more information call 530-326-5164, ext. 10, or e-mail dianne@familyconnected.org.

ARE YOU REALLY READY TO QUIT? Marshall Medical Center is offering smoking cessation classes. The classes are for seven weeks. For a class schedule and to register for the classes call 530-626-2990.

CLASS OF 1982 REUNION PARTY: The 30-year class reunion for the El Dorado High School is in the early stages of planning. Set aside the date of the reunion party. Plan to be there for the 1982 class reunion on Saturday, July 21. More details are to follow soon.

FEAR HOLDS YOU BACK: The “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar noted the following comment regarding fear: “When you take a close, honest look at every fearful thought, there are threads of similarity. All of them are explanations or rationalizations for why something shouldn’t or can’t work. They are usually justifications for quitting or for not getting started. They hold you back, not some but all of the time.”

NOT ALL WISHES ARE FULFILLED: Editor Mike Raffety provided the “Springs of Wisdom” book, which offered the following observation: “It is not good for all your wishes to be fulfilled: Through sickness you recognize the value of health, through evil the valve of good, through hunger satisfaction, through exertion the valve of rest.” — Heraclitus

A DALAI DILLY: Strolling through the “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar, I located the following mind-over-matter statement: “All of us have experienced that when we are mentally happy, physical discomfort is okay, but when we are mentally unhappy, then physical comfort cannot give us happiness. Mental happiness can subdue physical pains. So there is no point in neglecting taking care of our mind.”

LET THE JURY DECIDE: Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar noted the following “Accidental Explanation:” “The pedestrian had no idea which direction to run, so I ran over him.”

MUSTY ODOR NEUTRALIZED: Thumb through the “Who Knew?” calendar, and you will find the following household hint: “Does your basement smell like, well, a basement? Try this: Cut an onion in half, and put it on a plate where you smell the mildew. Chemicals in the onion will neutralize any musty odors.”

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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