Heard over the back fence: Staying young

BOB BILLINGSLEY

DAVEY RIDES AGAIN: For the past 35 consecutive years, Davey “Doc” Wiser has been a member of the famous Wagon Train that travels from Zephyr Cove, Nev., to Placerville. This year he was the oldest traveler. He also participated in the Studebaker Wheelbarrow Races and the Pony Express Ride. OK, Davey, what’s the secret for not acting your age?

NEW ROTARIAN ENERGY: Cameron Park Rotarians are very pleased to welcome new member Gail Lohmann. Gail, this very busy, community-oriented Rotary Club will keep you busy, doing good work for those in need. Welcome aboard!

ELKS IN ACTION: The Placerville Elks Lodge No. 1712, newsletter notes that Darleen Chambers and her group, “Sewing for Vets,” recently held a yard sale and raised $1,500 to purchase supplies to create wonderful items for our heroic, disabled veterans. Thank you, members of the “Sewing for Vets” group.

WELCOME ABOARD, WENDY! I attended the “open house” to welcome Wendy Goossen, new Cancer Services Director. I am pleased to report that she is intelligent, attractive and charming.

BREWFEST ON MAIN STREET: I should have double-checked the Belltower Brewfest date as I received it. The date for the Brewfest is Saturday, June 30, not Sunday. Please note the following information:
Main Street in 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.

HELP WANTED: The Mother Teresa Maternity Home of El Dorado County needs some help with the following projects:
•” We have a natural spring in our yard that could use an additional drain.
• Above the spring is a slope that needs to be further developed by adding plants and pulling weeds.
• There are a few large piles of branches that need to be hauled off to the dump.
• The planter boxes in the front of the home could use additional soil and some new flowers planted.”
If you are interested in helping with any of the projects call Joni at 530-295-8006.

MOUSE ATTACK AND INJURY: After entering the hot tub at the Four Season Lodge, El Dorado Hills, Nora Rosenthal, and her friend spotted a mouse floating in the water. Nora noticed that the mouse appeared to be in critical condition. Being the nice person she is, she scooped up some water in her hands to rescue the mouse and get him out of the hot tub. The mouse promptly rewarded her good deed by biting her on the finger. Nora had to go to the hospital Nora is doing fine now. Nora, thank you for your good intentions.

13-HOUR 4TH OF JULY PARTY: The “Patriots Party in the Plaza” will take place at the Pony Express Plaza, at the corner of Sly Park Road and Pony Express Trail, Pollock Pines. This holiday party is scheduled for the Fourth of July. A pancake breakfast will be served at the old fire house, starting at 7 a.m., followed by a giant craft show from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the El Dorado Savings parking lot. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a carnival festival at the Community Church, which includes bounce houses. From noon to 1 p.m., the annual Fourth of July Parade will travel down Pony Express Trail, followed by hot dogs, root beer floats, and parade trophies from noon to 3 p.m. Starting at 5 p.m., you can listen and dance to live music at the Pony Express Plaza. Come on up to Pollock Pines!

DAY TRIP TO CASINO: Hop on the bus to travel to Jackson Rancheria Casino in Jackson. The day trip is scheduled for Friday, July 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $10 per person. You receive a $20 free play refund when you arrive. This trip is a fundraiser for SPEAR (Suicide Prevention Education Action Resources). To reserve your spot and other information call Vivian Figueira at 530-676-2119

FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS: Marshall Medical Center’s Diabetes and Nutrition Education Program is offering free health screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar and body composition at the following locations: Tuesday, July 17, 3581 Palmer Drive, Suite 600, Conference Room, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Tuesday, July 24, 1095 Marshall Way, Quartz Room, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Refreshments will be served, and there will be raffle prizes, too. For more information, call Lisa Hartley at 530-672-7021 or e-mail lhartley@marshallmedical.org.

NEED STRONG GUYS: The Cameron Park Library needs some guy volunteers to help set up and put away the books and tables for the used book sales. Guy helpers are needed monthly, Friday afternoons before the book sale and Saturdays, the day of the book sale, at 7:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. Males from high school age to social security age are needed. If you would like to volunteer, please call 530-621-5500 or leave your name and phone number at the front desk of the library.

TAKE CHANCES: Mitzi Stockel of Somerset saw the following sign at the Marshall Hospital lab: “Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, let go of what you cannot change, take chances, give everything and have no regrets, life is too short to be anything but happy!!!”

SHE IS CORRECT: In Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar you will find the following “Sportspeak:” “If I had not lost, I would have won.”  — Serena Williams

A DALAI DILLY: The “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar notes the following interesting definition of compassion: “Pure compassion is not biased or partial; it is thoroughly imbued with equanimity and encompasses both friend and foe.”

STRAW HAT ADVICE: Reviewing the “Who Knew?” calendar resulted in noticing the following household hint: “Keep your straw hat looking like new with hair spray. Spray evenly over the entire hat, then rub your hand gently over it to push in any fraying ends. The hair spray will keep them all in place, and your hat will look shinier than ever before!”

QUIETNESS PROVIDES ANSWERS: Paging through the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar, I found the following thought: “Reflection is simply a matter of getting out of your own way. It’s about quieting down your mind so that answers can rise within the quietness.”

HOW TO CREATE LOVE: Editor Mike Raffety gave me the “Springs of Greek Wisdom” book, which provided the following love comment: “I will reveal to you a love potion, without medicine, without herbs, without any witch’s magic; if you want to be loved, then LOVE.” — Hecaton of Rhodes

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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