Heard over the back fence: Cowboy shindig Saturday at Rainbow Orchards

COWBOYS AND CORNBREAD: 
Don’t forget the Cowboys and Cornbread Festival scheduled for July 21, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Rainbow Orchards, 2569 Lassen Drive, Camino. The cost is only $7 for a carload. This fun event will feature the Hangtown Harmonica Championship, a chili cook-off, cowboy poetry, live music by the Dan May Band, a kiddy corral, a horseshoe tournament, a chuck wagon barbecue and margaritaville.

PONDEROSA HIGH SCHOOL 40TH REUNION: 
The Ponderosa High School Class of 1972 (40-year) reunion will be held on Saturday, July 28, at 4 p.m., at the Shingle Springs Community Center, 4440 South Shingle Rd., Shingle Springs. Beverages are BYOB. Tri-Tip or chicken dinner begins at 4 p.m. Admission price is $25 per person until July 27. At the door tickets are $30. For more information, call Colleen Fitzpatrick at 916-333-4547. To purchase tickets, make check payable to “PHS 72 Reunion” and mail to Aimee Vukovich, PO Box 632, Placerville 95667. Also, let Aimee know your name used in high school and your phone number. 

ERASER SOLUTION:
A glance at the “Who Knew?” calendar resulted in the following finding: “If your electronic gadget starts to lose its juice, try this trick before you buy new batteries: Take the batteries out and rub their contacts with a pencil eraser. This will remove small particles of dust and dirt that keep the energy flowing. Put the batteries back in and you’ll be surprised how much longer they last!”

BEAUTIFYING THE LIBRARY:
 Lajunta Inman and Ken Inman are on the Board of the Pollock Pines Friends of the Library. They are also active members of the Dogwood Garden Club’s gardening team. The Dogwood Garden Club recently made a substantial clean-up effort at the library. After the Dogwood Club’s clean-up effort, Lajunta and Ken spent several days landscaping the library, planting plants and ferns, as well as updating and repairing the sprinkler system and added new drip and soaker hoses. A huge thank you to everyone who helped beautify the Pollock Pines Library!

FAINT PRAISE:
 Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar noted the following “Holy Blunder:” “Mr. Peabody was elected and has accepted the position of church warden. We could not get a better man.”

KEEP ON MOVING!
A new class titled “Why Exercise? Motion Is Lotion,” is being offered on Friday, Aug. 10, at 10:30 a.m., at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. The instructor will be Carolyn Mohlstrom, D.C. You will learn about the positive effects of physical activity and how to incorporate exercise into your daily schedule. Call 916-358-3575 to reserve your spot.

50s DANCE TIME!
 Mother Lode Lions Club is hosting a “Fabulous Fifties Dance Party” on Saturday, Aug. 11, from 6 to 10 p.m., at the Mother Lode Lions Hall, corner of Missouri Flat Rd. and Pleasant Valley Rd., Diamond Springs. Total ticket cost is $12 and includes the dance, hamburger or hot dog dinner and an ice cream sundae. The public is warmly invited to attend. Tickets will also be sold at the door. To purchase or reserve your tickets or for more information, call Shirley at 530-677-4218.

THE STORK IS COMING:
A class titled “Childbirth Education” is scheduled for Saturday, July 28, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in Placerville. This class will focus on the stages of labor, medical options and pain management. The class fee is $60. First 5 El Dorado offers a generous scholarship to assist with class tuition. Bring snacks, drinks and your lunch for the short break. For location information or to register for this class, call 530-626-2990.

DIGITAL CAMERA INSTRUCTIONS: 
Learn how to operate your digital camera on Friday, Aug. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. No prior experience with a digital camera is necessary. The class fee is $29. Bob Gouine is the instructor.

NEIL IS THE ONE: 
The Mother Lode Lions Club is very pleased to announce that Lion member Neil Pfafman has been selected as “Lion of the Year.” Neil has been a very active, productive Lion member and officer for many years. He has also devoted thousands of hours to numerous community projects, helping those in need. Congratulations, Neil, on receiving this very well deserved award!

LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERTS: 
Sierra Wildlife certainly appreciates their rescuers of orphaned or injured wild mammals and birds. They do recommend that rescuers please do not attempt to rehabilitate a wild animal yourself. They note that it takes special training to ensure success. If you discover an orphaned or injured wild mammal or bird, call SWR immediately at 530-621-4661 to reach an experienced rehabber. Through July call 530-621-2026 if you find an orphaned or injured nestling or fledgling bird, and the Baby Bird Nursery will gladly care for it.

A DALAI DILLY:
A gander at the “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar revealed the following statement: “Like investing a fortune to obtain something insignificant, the use of the human brain to achieve something of little import is very sad.”

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. First and last name of contact person are required. Phone 530-344-5036. Follow @BBillingsleyMtDemo on Twitter.

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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