Heard over the back fence: Craft Fair on Main Street

LIFE CAN BE A POLKA:
 If you review the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar, you will discover the following suggestion: “If you spend less time running away from problems and trying to rid yourself of them — and more time accepting problems as an inevitable, natural, even important part of life — you will soon discover that life can be more of a dance and less of a battle.”

HUGE CRAFT FAIR:
 Main Street, Placerville, will be closed on Aug. 12 to accommodate the annual Craft Fair from 8 to 3 p.m. There will be over 10 Artisans showing their wares. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call 530-672-3436.

FUNNY STORIES AT THE LIBRARY:
 Juvenile fiction books, to tickle your funny bone, are available at the libraries. These books are listed in a library pamphlet titled, “Funny Stories.” Book titles include “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” and “Everything on a Waffle.”

COMPUTER LESSONS FOR SENIORS:
 The “Computer User Group” meets on the second Monday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. If you have a laptop, bring it with you. Class advisers are Jenny Figueroa, Wayne Shannon, and Vic Varma. Call 916-358-3575 to reserve your spot.

SAVING MONEY WITH WATER: 
The “Who Knew?” calendar offers the following hint to save money: “Here’s a quick and easy way to halve the amount you spend on your shampoo: Just use half the shampoo! Fill a bottle with half water and half shampoo and you’ll have plenty of suds to get the job done at half the cost.”

GET OUT THE NEEDLES: 
Do you like to knit, or would you like to learn how to knit? The El Dorado Hills “Nite Knitters” meet on the second Monday of each month, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. Drop-ins are welcome. No prior experience in knitting is necessary. The group leader is Leal Thompson.

SOMEBODY REALLY BLEW THIS ONE: 
Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar noted the following “Wrong Word:” “Choice of dressing: Italian, ranch, blew cheese.”

CAR AND MOTORCYCLE SHOW: 
On Saturday, Aug. 18, the Placerville Elks Lodge will present the sixth annual “Show and Shine Car and Motorcycle Show,” at the Elks Lodge, 3821 Quest Ct., Shingle Springs. Gates open at 8 a.m. The car show is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you want to enter your 1972 or prior car or race bikes, cruisers/choppers, prior 1980s, the entry fee is $15. There will also be food, music, raffle prizes, and a 50/50 drawing. Proceeds will benefit Elks’ community charities. For more information, call Gene Sorensen at 530-677-3259 or Dave Stackpole at 530-672-9322.

PUTTING AT THE PALMS:
 The Mother Lode Lions’ annual putting party was sponsored by Mark and Annie Schmidt on July 15, at the Flamingo Palms golf course. Lion Chris Didlot won the contest with the lowest score, and her husband, Jerry, had the highest score. I was last year’s champion, and this year I was beat by almost everyone, including my wife, Monika. It’s going to be a long year for Jerry and me!

WILL ROGERS SPEAKS OUT:
 Janet Rogers of Placerville provided the following Will Rogers quote: “If we could just send the same bunch of men and women to Washington for the good of the nation, and not for political reasons, we could have the most perfect government in the world.”

GAMBLER’S DELIGHT:
A South Lake Tahoe bus trip to Harrah’s and Harvey’s casinos is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 26. The bus departs at 9:15 a.m. from Raley’s parking lot in El Dorado Hills and returns at 7 p.m. The cost is $37 per person. You will receive a $20 gaming voucher and a $7 lunch voucher with your Harrah’s/Harvey’s Total Rewards Player’s card. To register for this trip, call 916-933-6624 or visit edhcsd.org. You must register by Aug. 21.

OOOOOOLAAAAA-LAAA!
 The French Connection is a social club that meets on the first Friday of the month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. At the meetings, you will practice the French language, recall your heritage, sing French songs, eat French food, and go on outings that feature French history. Club leaders are Terry Provenza 916-941-9342 and Ellen Weinbaum. Drop-ins are welcome.

VOLUNTEER COUNSELORS NEEDED:
HICAP Services of Northern California is seeking volunteer counselors who will help people understand Medicare. Volunteers typically volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per month. A comprehensive training and mentoring program is provided for volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, contact: Susan Billings, Assistant Program Manager HICAP Services of Northern California at 916-375-3761 or sbillings@hicapservices.net.

A DALAI DILLY:
A review of the “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar reveals the following definition: “What is endeavor? It is finding joy in doing what is good.”

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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