Heard over the back fence: Hobo stew night in El Dorado

15 MINUTES OF CHARM: 
Clara Neilsen of Placerville provided the following quote from the book “Live and Learn and Pass It On:” “I’ve learned that you can get by on charm for about 15 minutes. After that, you’d better know something.” — Age 46.

HOBO STEW PARTY: 
On Saturday, Oct. 20, a “Hobo Stew Party” is scheduled at the El Dorado Community Hall, 6139 Pleasant Valley Rd., El Dorado. Social hour starts at 5 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 per adult. Kids, 10 years old and under, are admitted free. If you bring a crock pot of stew to share, your dinner is free. There will be a raffle, and you can dance while the live band plays from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to dress as a hobo, but it is not mandatory. Please bring clean, useable clothing to contribute to the hall’s clothing drive. 

WILDLIFE IN YOUR YARD: 
Sierra Wildlife Rescue has scheduled a class titled “Creating Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard” for Oct. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m., at SWR’s Wildlife Center, 3030 Newtown Rd., Placerville. To reserve your spot, call 530-621-2650 or visit bsb@d-web.com.

PROBLEMS CHALLENGE YOU: 
The “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar offers the following thought: “Perhaps the most basic principle of spiritual life is that our problems are the best places to practice keeping our hearts open.”

DANCING IN THE PINES:
 A “Wild West Barn Dance and Dinner” is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20, from 4 to 8 p.m., at the Community Center, 2675 Sanders Dr., Pollock Pines. Tickets are $29 per person or $55 per couple. Please RSVP or buy tickets in advance, by calling 530-644-4959 or stop by the Community Center. Proceeds will help provide meals in Pollock Pines during the holiday season.

NO NAME MOVIE:
 On Saturday, Oct. 20, a film will be shown at the El Dorado County Library, 345 Fair Lane, Placerville. The library’s licensing agreement does not allow disclosing the title of the PG film. The film is a recent blockbuster, pitting a team of superheroes against the forces of darkness. For more information regarding this free event, call 530-621-5540 or visit eldoradolibrary.org. The movie starts at 2 p.m.

CHAMPAGNE AND CARD PLAYING:
 The “Monday Club” is holding its annual “President’s Bridge Party” champagne luncheon at Cold Springs Country Club on Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. The cost is $15 per person. No bridge partner is needed. For more information, call 530-626-3589 or 530-622-9894.

UNSCHEDULED MEETING:  L
Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar contains the following “Accidental Explanation:” “She suddenly saw me, lost her head, and we met.”

DEALING WITH DEBT: 
El Dorado County Senior Legal Services is presenting a seminar titled “Dealing with Debt: When You Really Can’t Pay Your Bills.” The seminar will be on Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Placerville Senior Center dining hall at 937 Spring St. This free seminar may save you money and reduce the stress in your life.

PAJAMA FUN:
 On Wednesdays, “PJ Storytime”is presented at the Placerville Main Library, 345 Fair Lane, at 6:30 p.m. for children, ages 3 to 5 years old and their adults. The next session will be on Oct. 24. For more information, call 530-621-5547.

SOUP, LAUGHS AND HUGS:
 Are you a caregiver for a family member who has Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s? Jeanie Redmond’s “Souper Group” is your chance to take a break, share thoughts, and meet other caregivers, while you enjoy great soup, hugs and laughs. The next “Souper Group” meeting will be on Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. To reserve your spot and to receive location information, call 530-622-3806. Meeting the charming Jeanie is worth the trip.

FUN PUN FOR TODAY:
 Thanks to Carlyn White, we offer the following “Your Laugh for Today:” “I stayed up all night and then it dawned on me.”

REPUBLICAN WOMEN UNIFY:
 On Nov. 5, the El Dorado County Republican Women, Placerville, will meet at the Golden Waffle Cafe, 1449 Broadway, Placerville, at 10:30 a.m. Congressman Tom McClintock will be the guest speaker. To reserve your spot, call 530-676-3788.

CASINO NIGHT FUNDRAISER:
 The Placerville Rotary Club Casino Night is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 10, from 6 to 10 p.m., at the new American Legion Hall, 4561 Greenstone Rd., Placerville. Tickets are $50 each and include first $50 of gaming chips and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are available at Thompson’s Toyota, Sierra Gold Graphics, Steve Stymeist Auto Body and Paint, Mountain Democrat, Terrie Prod’hon, CPA, and Calif. Overhead Door. Proceeds will benefit New Morning Youth and Family Services, Lilliput and CASA. 

A DALAI DILLY:
A glance at the “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar reveals the following compassion definition: “Compassion is of little value if it remains an idea. It must become our attitude toward others, reflected in all our thoughts and actions.”

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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