Cinco de Mayo fun

This coming weekend is Cinco de Mayo, one of my favorite holidays.

You can have some fun and help raise money for the Carson Tahoe Cancer Center. I had lunch last week with an amazing lady who has made a major difference in improving our community, Pam Graber the fund coordinator of Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare Foundation.

This weekend, you can check out some of Pam's great efforts at Glen Eagles Restaurant with some of our local celebrity doctors who will be filling in as waiters, bartenders, chefs and hostesses to raise money for Carson Tahoe Cancer Center. All the proceeds from your tips, silent auction and raffle will go to assist the new center.

I also have a inside tip that there will be piñatas filled with prizes, and you can also buy a chance to win a brand new Lexus, courtesy of Lexus of Reno. Wow!

So come check out some of our favorite local docs, such as Dr. Ed Rose serving drinks and Dr. Jeffery Upton balancing a tray. Come give them a little razzing for all the shots you've taken, plus some big tips to help an outstanding cause.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

WHAT: Celebrity Docs at Glen Eagles to benefit Carson Tahoe Cancer Center

WHEN: 5 p.m. to close on Cinco de Mayo, May 5

WHERE: Glen Eagles Restaurant, reservations are strongly recommended.

PRIZES: Silent auction items are highly coveted! E.g., executive physicals, chest CT, vasectomy, laser procedures, plus numerous vacations stays, golf, wine, the usual etc.

What docs will be there? Chapman, Colgan, Cunningham, Elliott, Gardner, Gentner, Giron, Hayes, Kelly, Lacey, Lagios, Lambert, Meadors, Miercort, McAninch, Nixon, O'Shaughnessy, Rose, Song, Stoloff, Sutton, Tillitt, Upton, Weed.

Contact: Pam Graber 886-7371

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After a night of margaritas, we have the golf tournament with the proceeds going to another community service: the Community Counseling Center.

The two gentlemen who put this one on, Charlie Abowd and Jerry Massad, are not only famous in the kitchen but also on the greens. This annual golf tournament supports outpatient substance-abuse counseling, domestic violence programs, detoxification services, residential services, transitional services, drug testing, youth programs, couples and marriage counseling, anger management groups and an array of other services to help families or individuals get the treatment they need.

Come join Mary, Jerry and Charlie and make a difference.

Annual Cracker Box/Adele's Golf Tournament

WHERE: Eagle Valley Golf Course

WHEN: May 6

CONTACT: Mary Bryan at 882-3945

• • •

I received an e-mail this week from Patrick Gaskill, district manager of Waddell and Reed. They are supporting a USO drive called Operation Care Package.

The care packages are becoming more scrutinized due to the security issues and the safety concerns for our troops, so through this program you can directly sponsor any service member deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and other overseas locations.

These care packages will include prepaid international phone cards, snacks, sunscreen, disposable cameras, toiletries, compact discs and other items requested by servicemen and women. You can check out the Web site listed below.

Come bring the children 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 12. There will be activities for kids and free hot dogs and sodas for all. I found out Mr. Waddell and Mr. Reed wanted to donate to this program to celebrate their upcoming birthdays. Having served themselves they thought giving back to our men and women fighting overseas was the best gift of all. Happy birthday to you both, and thanks for such a great idea!

Operation USO Care Packages

WHERE: Waddell and Reed, the North Town Plaza, corner of North Carson Street and College Parkway

WHEN: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 12

COST: You can sponsor a care package for just $25 and send with it a personal message of support and thanks to a service member

CONTACT: Patrick Gaskill, district manager at 841-4033

Next Week: It's almost summer, so what's out and about for the children?

• To have your information included, contact Kim Riggs at kimriggs@att.net.