Heard over the back fence: Happy New Year!

NEW BOSS: 
John Chapman dropped off the following T-shirt observation: “RETIRED. Under New Management! See Spouse for Details.”

A BRAND NEW YEAR: 
Happy New Year! Monika and I wish you good health, good friends, interesting conversations, and a ton of love for 2013.

READER’S DELIGHT: 
Used books are for sale on the first Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Placerville Main Library, 345 Fair Lane (in the back parking lot), Placerville. Please note that books are now priced by the bag or individually.

HOW ABOUT UKE FUN?
A class titled “Got Uke?” is scheduled on Mondays, 2 to 2:45 p.m., at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. This class is designed for those who already play the ukulele to some degree. You can improve your playing skills and add songs to your repertoire. The class fee is $36. Lew Johnson is the instructor. For more information and to reserve your spot, call 916-358-3575.

HOW TO SPOT A GREAT DANCER:
 Because of Clara Neilsen’s magnanimous gesture, we offer the following quote from the “Live and Learn and Pass It On” book: “I’ve learned that men who wear bow ties are usually great dancers.”— Age 34.

STAY BALANCED — TWO DAYS A WEEK:
A class titled “Senior Tai Chi – Moving for Better Balance” is offered on Monday and Wednesday, 11:15 to 12:15 p.m., at the Placerville Senior Center, 937 Spring St. A suggested donation of $3 per class is appreciated, but not mandatory. To register for this class or for more information, call 530-621-6251.

FIRST THOUGHT FOR 2013:
The following John Wayne quote is offered to get you started in 2013: “Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.” — John Wayne. 

BUCKLE UP THE KIDS:
 The Placerville Main Library has a notice titled “Important Changes in Car Safety Seat Law.” Details are offered on laws related to children 8 and under and laws for children 8 or older. I suggest you pick up this safety belt information and save yourself from paying a $475 fine.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: 
The Alzheimer’s Association Support Group meets every third Tuesday, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Moni Gilmore El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. This free group is designed for families, friends and caregivers of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s or a related disorder. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call 916-358-3575.

GARDENING TIPS FOR JANUARY:
 The Front Yard Nursery newsletter offers the following gardening tips for January:
-” Move living Christmas trees outdoors. Take them from house to patio to planting site gradually, allowing them to re-acclimate to the cold.
- Prop discarded cut Christmas trees near a bird feeder as a staging area for small birds.
- Shop for bareroot fruit and shade trees, berries, vegetables, and ornamentals.
- Buy vegetable and flower seeds at the nursery for your spring garden. Sow indoors for an early start.
- Apply 2nd dormant spray to fruit trees if you missed December.
- Prune fruit trees as needed. After pruning, clean up old leaves and debris to prevent spread of disease. Do not prune spring blooming shrubs until after they bloom.
WINTER FRUIT TREE & GRAPE PRUNING AND CARE CLINIC:
(Free) 10 a.m. on the following Saturdays and Mondays: Jan. 12 and 14; 19 and 21, 26 and 28; and Feb. 2 and 4.”

AARP DRIVER CLASS:
AARP “Mature Driver Classes” are scheduled for Tuesdays, Jan. 22 and 29, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. You must attend both classes to qualify for your certificate. The class fee is $12 for AARP members or $14 for non-members. The instructor is Lee Gardner. No testing is required for these classes. To register, call 916-358-3575. Your check payment holds your spot.

BELGIAN CHOCOLATE DELIGHT:
 How about a gift of homemade goodies as a special present for someone? A “Truffles Workshop” is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 25, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. Please bring an $8 supply fee when you register at the Senior Center. The registration deadline is Jan. 18. Karen Moore is the class instructor. The class fee is $25. In this class you will make fancy truffles, using fine Belgian chocolate. For more information and to register, call 916-358-3575.

CONFUSING CONTRADICTION: 
Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar presents the following “Jumping to Confusions:” “I have nothing to say, and I’m going to say it just once.”

BREAKFAST WITH OUR VETERANS: 
Our veterans continue to offer a tasty breakfast for a very reasonable price. Breakfast includes juice, coffee, eggs, bacon and biscuits and gravy, too! Breakfast is available on the first, second and third Sunday of the month from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building, off Placerville Drive, adjacent to the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. All proceeds go toward veterans’ charities.

MULES AND WILDFLOWERS:
 All West Tours is offering a day trip on April 23 to Eleven Roses Ranch, which includes the following amenities: “All West Transportation (bus); tour of Eleven Roses Ranch; Wildflower Wagon Ride; Chuckwagon tri-tip barbecue Lunch; glass of Lake County wine; driver rratuity.” There will be a rest stop at Granzella’s restaurant in Williams en route to the ranch. The price is $105 per person. These All West Tours sell out very quickly. Reserve your spot today by calling Star Walker at 530-621-6255.

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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