Drawn by the perfect weather and the prospect of good food, plus the desire to help support the larger community, several hundred people gathered at the historic Pleasant Hill - Rocky School last Saturday evening to enjoy the Smorgasbord, the annual benefit dinner hosted by members of the Pleasant Hill - Rocky Community Club. James Sultemeier, club president, reported that the event was “definitely our best ever,” raising almost $5,000.

“On behalf of the officers and members,” Sultemeier added, “I want to thank everyone who participated in any way. Some cleaned the building, organized the serving tables, and arranged the seating. Others prepared and brought the food, and still others served and cleaned up afterwards. A number of people who were unable to attend made cash donations prior to the event. And of course we want to thank all those who came Saturday evening to support our fundraiser. We also appreciate the press coverage provided by the Johnson City Record-Courier and the Blanco County News. As a small group, we couldn’t put on an event like this without the generous support of a great many people.”

Sultemeier noted in particular the early help provided by Dale Jones and others who mowed and trimmed the school grounds and the area nearby. Also coming in for special praise were the members of the Early Bird 4-H Club and their leader, Debbie Sultemeier, who assisted by serving the tea, coffee, and water and helping with the clean-up.

Everyone enjoyed the delicious food. As it always is, Ronnie Weiershausen’s barbecue was a big crowd pleaser, as was Melvin Sultemeier’s. Everyone seemed to find something special to compliment, and nobody left hungry. Ham and turkey were popular, of course, and in addition to vegetables, salads and side dishes of all kinds, and loaves of homemade bread, there were the desserts of every description, including the ever-popular pecan, pumpkin, cherry, chess, and buttermilk pies, plus some new ones, like pumpkin cheesecake. Many guests lingered over tea or coffee to visit with neighbors and friends or the hunters who dropped by after sunset, many still in their game uniforms.

Gene Yentzen was on hand to sell raffle tickets for the three guns being offered by the Johnson City Lions Club. (If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, go by the Johnson City Bank to see the guns and help the Lions raise money for their projects.)

The Pleasant Hill Club has hosted a benefit dinner every year since 1958, with the date set to coincide with the opening of deer season. The site of the dinner is the old school building, which is located about 7 miles west of Johnson City, just off U.S. Highway 290 West, on CR 205 (Rocky Road). Membership in the club is free. All area residents are invited to become members, and visitors are always welcome.

The next quarterly meeting will be in January, time and date to be announced later. At that meeting, members will be deciding how to distribute the money raised at the Smorgasbord. In the past, the club has made donations to the North Blanco County EMS, the Blanco and Johnson City libraries, the Johnson City and Stonewall volunteer fire departments, the Blanco County Youth Council, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Hill Country Memorial Hospital Wellness Center, and other such organizations.

For more information, contact James Sultemeier (868-7323); Dorothy Uecker, vice president (868-7585); or Milton Hawkins, secretary/treasurer (868-9075).