Heard over the back fence: Find those long lost relatives

LOWER YOUR VOICE: 
Reviewing the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar, the following suggestion was found: “If you make a gentle effort to speak a little more softly, you might discover some surprising, almost instant, changes in the feelings around your home. You, for example, will feel calmer and less stressed. As you quiet down your voice, you will actually relax the rest of your body, as well as your mind.”

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WHO ARE YOUR RELATIVES?
 The El Dorado Hills Genealogical Society has “mentor sessions”on the first Tuesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m.., at the El Dorado Hills Library, to teach you one-on-one how to research your family background. also on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, at the library, from 6:15 to 8 p.m. there are meetings with speakers. For more information, email EDHGS@yahoo.com.

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REPUBLICAN GATHERING:
On April 2, Monday, at 10:30 a.m., the El Dorado County Republican Women will have their meeting at Denny’s Diner, 99 Fair Lane, Placerville. The guest speakers will be for District 2, Ray Nutting and George Turnboo and for District 3, Allen Amaro. Enjoy lunch and the speakers!

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STATIC CLING: The “Who Knew?” calendar offers the following recommendation for picking up pet hair: “Shedding season is upon us! If you don’t have a lint roller and just realized your couch is absolutely covered in pet hair, use a clean, dry kitchen sponge instead. Just run it slowly across the couch and the fur will cling to it! You can also use a pair of rubber gloves, too.”

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STORYTIME FUN: 
The “Let’s Read Together Storytime” program is for children, ages 3 to 5 years old and their adults. The book for Saturday, April 14, at 10:30 a.m., is “The Small, Small Pond” by Denise Fleming. Each family receives a free copy of the featured book. Crafts activities will also be available. Drive out to the Cameron Park Library at 2500 Country Club Drive and join the fun!

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BACK UP OUR VETERANS:
 Our veterans continue to offer a tasty breakfast, including biscuits and gravy, on the first, second and third Sunday of each month, from 7 to 11 a.m., at the Veterans Memorial Building, off Placerville Drive next to the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. Adults pay $5, and kids pay $2. All proceeds go toward maintenance of the Veterans Memorial Building. Support our veterans while you satisfy your appetite.

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FUN FOR THE LITTLE ONES:
 “Storytime” is a fun program for children, ages 3 to 5 years old. The fun takes place on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., at the Cameron Park Library, 2500 Country Club Drive. There will be stories, books and lots of craft activities. Bring a friend!

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UKULELE FUN! 
Classes titled “Let’s Uke” are available and no experience is necessary. Bring your “uke” if you have one. If not, you can pick up an information sheet to purchase a “uke” (about $30) and the book for the class (about $10) at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 999 Lassen Lane. Classes will be on Mondays, April 23 to May 14, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. The instructor is Lew Johnson. Call 916-933-6624 to register. The class fee is $36.

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SKINNED ALIVE:
 Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar presented the following “Lost in Translation:” “In the window of a Swedish furrier: Fur coats made for ladies from their own skin.”

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THRIFTY ENJOYMENT:
 The El Dorado County Main Library’s Friends of the Library, Placerville, continue to sell used books on the first Saturday of each month. You an buy a grocery bag full of used books, games, puzzles, etc, for $5. If you bring your own reusable, cloth bag, you pay only $4. Drive into the parking lot in back of the library, 345 Fair Lane, Placerville.

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MOTHER GOOSE RIDES AGAIN:
 The award-winning program “Mother Goose on the Loose” is a lap-sit storytime for little ones, ages 1 week to 2 years old. This program combines music movement, visual literacy and language development to help children get ready to read. The fun takes place on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. at the Cameron Park Library, 2500 Country Club Drive.

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OOOO-LAAA-LAAA!
 The French Connection is a social club that meets on the first Friday of each month, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 999 Lassen Lane. You can practice the French language, recall your heritage, sing French songs, eat French food, share recipes and go on outings that feature French history. The club leaders are Terry Provenza and Ellen Weinbaum. For more information, call 916-941-9342. Visitors are welcome.

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A DALAI DILLY:
A peep at the “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar revealed the following valuable advice: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

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.

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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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