Heard over the back fence: Cindarella to appear at library

LIQUID ADVICE: Thanks to John Chapman, I give you the following “Advice from a Lake” T-shirt statement: “Be clear – Make positive ripples – Look beneath the surface – Stay calm – Shore up friendships – Take time to reflect – Be full of life!

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CINDERELLA IS IN TOWN: Special guest appearances by Cinderella, Jasmine and Belle will take place at the Placerville Main Library, 345 Fair Lane, at 10 a.m. July 16. The 2011 Summer Read Club is designed for children, ages 0 to 12 years old. Bring your camera for pictures with royalty.

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REMEMBERING OUR WET SPRING: The following “Jumping to Confusion” appeared in my Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar: “Weather forecast by a TV station: Severe thunderstorm watch until 4:30 this afternoon. Stay inside. Do not use electrical appliances. Please stay tuned for further information.”

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EAGLE SCOUTS UNITE! The Pollock Pines National Night Out committee is seeking Eagle Scouts of all ages, including 1950s men, to help out with the flag ceremony 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug 2, at Pinewood Elementary School, 6181 Pine St., Pollock Pines. If you would like to participate, call Teresa Hague at 530-644-1174 or visit smountaingifts@yahoo.com. The flag ceremony will open the National Night Out festivities.

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CAT LOVERS MAY AGREE: John Chapman of Folsom provided the following plaque message: “Cats were once worshipped as gods. They’ve never forgotten.”

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HOP ON THE MEXICAN TRAIN: The Mexican Train Dominoes group meets on Wednesdays at 12:45 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills. The group leader is Ray Martin. For more information, call 916-358-3575.

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HIGH ACHIEVER STUDENT: Officials at Pacific University, Forest Grove, Ore., have notified us that Duncan McGregor of Cameron Park has been named to the Dean’s List after achieving a term grade point average of 3.70 and completing 12 or more graded hours. Duncan, we salute your impressive performance and wish you continued success in your bright future.

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HOLY WHAT? Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar noted the following “wrong word”: “The spacious home of Judge and Mrs. Clayton was the scene of a beautiful wedding last evening when their youngest daughter, Carol, was joined in holy deadlock by Mr. Fox.”

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FREE ICE CREAM: The Shingle Springs Community Blood Drive is scheduled for Wednesday, July 20, at the Elks Lodge, 3821 Quest Ct. (off Durock Road), Shingle Springs, from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. All donors will receive a Baskin Robbins free pint of ice cream coupon. Walk-ins are welcome. No appointments required. Bring a photo ID with you. For more information, call 1-800-995-4420, ext. 60039.

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COTTAGE GARDEN UPDATE: UCCE/El Dorado County Master Gardeners are presenting a free-to-the- public class titled “Cottage Gardening,” on Saturday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Veterans Memorial Building, 130 Placerville Drive, Placerville. Occasionally, location is subject to change. Call 530-621-5512 before going. In this class, Master Gardener Eve Keener will discuss the art of mixing fruit, vegetables, herbs and perennial and annual flowers in this informal garden style.

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SPIRITUAL WALKING: The following spiritual offering appeared in the Zen calendar: “My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of church-going.” – Aldous Huxley.

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PONDEROSA CLASS OF 1981 REUNION: The Ponderosa class of 1981 will be enjoying a reunion (30th) on Saturday, Aug. 6, starting at 6 p.m. at the Placerville Elks Lodge, 3821 Quest Court, Shingle Springs. The cost is $75 per person. A memory book is being created. For more information, visit Website pondo1981.org or e-mail pondo1981@hotmail.com. For more information, call 530-676-2190.

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WORKSHOP FOR BUSINESS OWNERS: The El Dorado County Chamber of commerce is presenting “Successful Web Presence,” an in-depth workshop series for business owners. Workshops will be on Aug. 4 and Aug. 11. Space is limited and prepayment is required by Aug. 1. The chamber member price is $25 for each class or $80 for all four classes. Nonmembers pay $35 each class or $115 for all four classes. To prepay, call 530-621-5885 or register online at eldoradocounty.org.

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A DALAI DILLY: The “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar stated the following belief: “Good human qualities — honesty, sincerity, a good heart —cannot be bought with money, nor can they be produced by machines, but only by the mind itself. We can call this the inner light, or God’s blessing, or human quality. This is the essence of mankind.”

Send your jokes and event items for Heard Over the Back Fence column to Bob Billingsley at the Mountain Democrat, PO Box 1088, Placerville 95667, or drop them off at 1360 Broadway in Placerville. You may call Bob Monday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or Wednesday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at 530-344-5036. Please submit all requests three weeks in advance to ensure there will be space available for your important announcement. First and last name of contact person are required.

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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