Heard over the back fence: Health expo Wednesday

DO NOT INTERRUPT PEOPLE: 
When you survey the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar, you will find the following suggestion: “When you breathe before you speak, you’ll be pleasantly amazed at the softer reactions and looks of surprise as you let others completely finish their thought before you begin yours. You will feel a sense of relief coming from the person to whom you are speaking—- and a much calmer, less rushed feeling between the two of you.”

FREE HEALTH AND WELLNESS EXPO:
A free Health and Wellness Expo is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Cameron Park Community Center, 2502 Country Club Dr. There will be wellness exhibitors, vendors and other activities to help you live a healthy and active life. For more information, call 530-677-2231. 

HONOR OUR TROOPS FUNDRAISER: 
The “Honor Our Troops Fundraiser” spaghetti feed is scheduled for Oct. 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Fireman’s Memorial Hall, 501 Pleasant Valley Rd., behind the Diamond Springs Fire Station. Adult tickets are $7. Children tickets are $5. Beer or wine drinks are $3. You can enjoy your spaghetti at the table, or a drive-through spaghetti dinner is also available. There will be live music and a raffle drawing. You may call Cyndi Romano at 916-207-4194 for ticket locations, or you can buy your ticket at the door. All proceeds fund the care packages sent to the soldiers in the war zones who are from El Dorado County or have family members in our county.

ART FILM SERIES HAS ARRIVED: 
The Fall 2012 Art Film Series is scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. only. The following movies are scheduled at the Regal Stadium 8 Theater, 337 Placerville Drive. Following are the titles of the series: 10-9 and 10-10 – Safety Not Guaranteed; 10-16 and 10-17 – Beasts of the Southern Wild; 10-23 and 10-24 – Farewell My Queen; 10-30 and 10-31 – Searching for Sugarman; 11-6 and 11-7 – Robot & Frank. For more information about the movies, visit the Regal box office for a flier or call 530-621-9853.

AIR-DRY YOUR TOOTHBRUSH:
 The “Who Knew?” calendar offered the following toothbrush advice: “Never cover your toothbrush between uses. Allowing the brush to air-dry is better than creating a closed, moist environment for bacteria to grow. You should also keep your toothbrush at least six feet away from your toilet, to keep it safely away from any bacteria that can become airborne when you flush.”

HUGE AUTUMN AUCTION:
 The “Big Autumn Auction” to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Dorado County is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m., at the campus of Blue Shield in El Dorado Hills. The El Dorado High School Culinary Arts program will prepare a gourmet dinner and dessert, which will be served with local wines. Entertainment will be offered by singer Melissa Lingo. Kassidy, daughter of mentor Kevin Brown, will play the harp. Dave Bender from KOVR Channel 13 will be the MC for the evening. Tickets are $45 per person or $80 per couple. To RSVP, please contact 530-626-1222; visit website at mentors4youth.org or email jodie@metors4youth.org.

HOLIDAY COOKING CLASSES:
A class titled “Easy Entertaining” is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. You will learn how to create delicious holiday dishes. This class will include holiday appetizers (Cheddar, beet and apple tartlets, spinach and artichoke puff pastry pinwheels, veggie pot stickers, prosciutto, arugula and fig roll-ups, and Parmesan crisps bowls with field greens. The class fee is $35 plus a $10 supply fee. Participants will sit down to a family-style meal at the conclusion of the class. Suzanne Griffin is the instructor. Call 916-358-3575 before Oct. 19 to reserve your spot.

COURT CONFUSION:
 Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar notes the following “Disorder in the Court:” “Q. She had three children, right? A. Yes. Q. How many were boys? A. None.
Q. Were there any girls?”

NUTTING NEWS AHEAD:
 The Sons in Retirement group has scheduled their monthly luncheon/business meeting for Thursday, Oct. 11, at the 50 Grand Steakhouse, 6401 Pony Express Trail, Pollock Pines. The guest speaker will be county Supervisor Ray Nutting. Social fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m., and lunch will be served at noon. For more information, call 530-644-3809 or 530-644-1405.

FRITZ ENGEL HONORED:
 “Honorary Member” status is granted to longtime Rotary members who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary service to Rotary. The Cameron Park Rotary unanimously voted recently to grant “Honorary Member” status to Fritz Engel shortly before he passed away. Fritz is already sorely missed by members, friends, relatives and countless others. Thank you, Fritz, for always helping those in need.

A DALAI DILLY: 
The “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar has the following comment regarding controlling desires: “Desire generated by afflictive emotions creates a lot of trouble, whereas reasoned desire can lead to liberation and omniscience. To sustain our lives day by day we must control desires motivated by unreasoned afflictive emotions”

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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