Heard over the back fence: Get SPEAR fundraiser tickets at Mountain Democrat office

THE MAGIC OF LOVE:
 If you leaf through the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar, you will discover the following belief: “Something magical happens to your life when nothing is seen as more important than love. “Small stuff” is kept in its proper perspective and consciousness opens to the beauty and joy of life. Our day-to-day living begins to take on an extraordinary quality, and we begin to experience what’s truly most important in life.”

SPEAR FUNDRAISER:
SPEAR (Suicide Prevention Education Action Resources) is presenting a “Wine and Olive Oil Tasting Event” fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel, 4360 Town Center Dr., El Dorado Hills. In addition to the wine and olive oil tasting, your ticket includes appetizers, desserts, fancy chocolates, and live music. Tickets are $20 in advance ($35 per couple) or $25 at the door per person. Proceeds to help kids in our community who may be at risk. Contact person is Vivian Figuera at 530-676-2119. The following locations have tickets for sale. The Mountain Democrat, Placerville – We Olive Oil, 1000 White Rock Rd., El Dorado Hills 916-933-1650 in the Montano Shopping Center – Mechanics Bank, Town Center Dr., El Dorado Hills – 3 Brothers Restaurant, Coach Lane, Cameron Park.

TOUR OF WAKAMATSU PROPERTY: 
On Aug. 18, you can join docents for a tour of the Wakamatsu property. American River Conservancy will show you the way from 9 to 11 a.m. Call 530-621-1224 for meeting location and other information regarding tickets. 

NEW BABY INFORMATION:
A class titled “Baby Basics” is being offered on Wednesday, Aug. 22, from 7 to 9 p.m., in Placerville. Class topics will include newborn characteristics, physical and emotional needs of the baby, and health and safety skills. This class is designed for parents and grandparents. The class fee is $25. First 5 El Dorado offers a generous scholarship to assist with the class fee. For exact location information and to register for this class, call 530-626-2990.

LINT REMOVAL SUGGESTION: 
The “Who Knew?” calendar presents the following household hint: “If you have a Velcro hair roller you no longer use, repurpose it as a lint roller! It’s perfect for rolling over sweaters and other clothes to pick up any stray pet hair or pills.”

USED BOOKS FOR SALE:
 On Saturday, Aug. 25, the used books sale at the El Dorado Hills Library will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

KEEP A SHARP BRAIN:
A new class titled “Train Your Brain” is scheduled for the third Friday of the month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. The drop-in fee is $5. You will be taught new strategies to keep your brain sharp. Also, the latest research in neuroscience will be discussed. Exercises and games to challenge you mentally will be offered. The instructor will be Judy Bakke. Call 916-358-3575 to reserve your spot.

MARRIED OR NOT? 
Look through the Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar, and you will discover the following “Jumping to Confusions:” “Every single man in that room was married.”

DONATE YOUR BOOKS, PLEASE:
 The Cameron Park Library, 2500 Country Club Drive, needs your donation of gently used books for their monthly book sale, the Honor Table book sale, and for the library. Especially needed are best sellers, well-known authors, and all paperbacks, especially Westerns. Books may be brought to the book sale or dropped off at the front desk of the library. And we thank you.

FREE AFTERNOON MOVIE:
 On Monday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m., the movie “Big Miracle” will be shown at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. The movie is described as follows: “After small-town Alaska journalist Adam Carlsom writes about three whales trapped in the Arctic Circle, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. team up to rescue them in this tale inspired by true events.”

SCHEDULE YOUR VENDOR SPACE:
 The Cameron Park Community Services District’s “Grill’n and Chill’n” event will be held at Cameron Park Lake on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This event will include amateur and specialty barbecue competition. If you would like to be a competitor or a vendor, call 530-677-2231.

NEW ENERGY FOR LIONS CLUB:
 Mother Lode Lions Club is very happy to announce the following new officers and directors for 2012/2013: President Becky Farrel-Bell; Treasurer Shawna Sheffield.

LOVE AT THE SUMMIT: 
Monika and I are very happy to announce that our son, Mark Billingsley, asked Denise Kucharek to marry him, and she said “YES!” The proposal took place on June 22, at the summit, after they completed a hike to 9,000-foot-level. Our entire family is celebrating!

A DALAI DILLY:
 Moving through the “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar, I came across the following definition of an altruistic person: “The truly altruistic person is moved by the suffering of each and every sentient being and wishes to join them with happiness and its causes and to free them from suffering and its causes.”

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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