Greenwood is planning a night of education and fun

HOT DOGS are on the menu at the National Night Out parties. Democrat photo by Pat Dollins

By Mike Bush
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What: National Night Out in Greenwood

Who: Greenwood Civic Organization, The Greenwood Divide and Drug Free Divide

Where: Greenwood Schoolhouse, located Greenwood Road, between Greenwood Road and Highway 193

When: Tuesday, Aug. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Cost: Admission is free

Information: Call Gail McGonigle at 530-885-6790 or e-mail gmcgonigle1@yahoo.com

A National Night Out is coming to Greenwood.

Sponsored by the Greenwood Civic Organization, The Greenwood Divide and the Drug Free Divide to have National Night Out take place Tuesday, Aug. 7 at the Greenwood Schoolhouse, between Greenwood Road and Highway 193.

It’s part of the 29th annual National Night Out celebration, a crime and drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. The annual event is held the first Tuesday of August.

The event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. and is free.

Gail McGonigle, a member of the Greenwood Civic Organization, said the planning for National Night Out started in February.

“We wanted to pull our community together,” McGonigle said. “This seemed a good way to make more people be aware of the police and fire services, and to present our local non-profit organizations, plus health and county services. Those services aren’t so visible at this end of El Dorado County.”

McGonigle is looking forward to Greenwood’s National Night Out party.

First, there will be lots of hot dogs, watermelon, chips, water and sodas that have been donated by Mar Val Supermarket.

Vendors scheduled to appear are: Cool Fitness, the Garden Club, Health Auxiliary, radio station KFOK 95.1 FM, the Divide Rotary, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Sheriff’s Team of Active Retirees, and crime scene investigators from the El Dorado County Sheriffs Department.

A treat for dog owners and lovers is the California Department Fish and Game is planning to bring one of its K-9 units to Greenwood, McGonigle said.

The Georgetown Fire and the Garden Valley Fire departments are each scheduled to bring out their fire trucks to the event, noted McGonigle.

Another treat for pet owners will be a booth managed by Hartsong Ranch, a sanctuary for disabled animals. Anyone who stops by their booth will be educated about healthy lifestyles and healthy diets for animals to avoid being placed in situations such as the animals that are housed at the ranch.

Booths for health services for people are also scheduled, as well as a table for a local pharmacist, an attorney and a couple of nurses who will have information on blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, McGonigle said.

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park will offer gold panning.

More than 20 prizes have been donated for the raffle that is scheduled to take place. Some of the prizes are farm fresh eggs, a hula hoop, a Christmas tree from Greenwood Christmas Tree Farm, a visit from Santa Claus for a Christmas party, a gym membership to Cool Fitness, a basket of tea items from High Tea Basket, a fire ring and a certified public account who will do a 2012 tax return.

Also scheduled to be raffled off is a painting from local artist Joyce Bennett, a free round of golf and lunch for two people at Solano Golf Course in El Dorado Hills, and lessons from a local musician.

The Greenwood Senior Center is going to hold a “Wii bowling” demonstration. McGonigle explained that it is a computerized game designed for seniors or people who have limited mobile abilities.

“It engages the mind as well as the body and it’s a lot of fun,” said McGonigle.

From the moment McGonigle and the local Greenwood area groups started planning the event it has been “exciting.”

“We are not following anyone’s pattern,” McGonigle said. “We went to the (National Night Out) Website and just looked what the others are doing.”

For more information contact McGonigle at 530-885-6790 or e-mail gmcgonigle1@yahoo.com.

Contact Mike Bush at 530-344-5079 or mbush@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @MBushMtDemo on Twitter.