Heard over the back fence: Take a gift tag in Pollock Pines

BUMPER STICKER OF THE WEEK: 
”Anyone, except me, can be a safe driver.”

HELPING FAMILIES IN NEED:
 “The Christmas Family” program in Pollock Pines has placed needy families’ requests on Christmas trees in Safeway and CVS stores in Pollock Pines. Please take a tag and return gifts for needy families to Safeway and CVS by Sunday, Dec. 16. Thank you.

CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON IN THE PINES:
 Sons in Retirement (SIR) will have their Christmas luncheon (party) on Thursday, Dec. 13 (not 14th), at 50 Grand Steakhouse, 6401 Pony Express Trail, Pollock Pines. Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m., and lunch will be served at noon. If you bring a gift, you will receive a gift. Santa will be there to make sure Ron de Pass behaves himself! SIR is open to all men, retired or semi-retired. For more information, call 530-644-3809 or 530-644-1405.

WHOA, HORSEY!
 Wouldn’t it be fun to ride around the Town Center shopping area, El Dorado Hills, in a horse-drawn carriage? You can enjoy the ride on Dec. 14, 15, 21, and 22, from 6 to 9 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters and Hands 4 Hope. For more information, visit eldoradohillstowncenter.com.

DON’T BREAK THE GLASS!
 The “Who Knew?”calendar offers the following household hint: “If humidity has sealed your window shut, here’s how to get it open again: Hold a block of wood up against the frame, and tap it gently a few times with a hammer. Then move to a different place on the frame until you’ve tapped all around the edges. You should now be able to easily pull it up.”

12-12-12- BIRTHDAY: 
Karen Ko Koda informs us that her daughter, Gwendolyn, will be 12 years old on 12-12-12 (today). Karen also stated “12-12-12 is the last repetitive date we will ever see.” Happy birthday, Gwendolyn!

LOOK BACK AND SMILE:
 Clara Neilsen provided the following “Familiar Reminders” message: “Look Back and Smile at Perils Past.” — Sir Walter Scott.

SANTA VISIT FOR LITTLE ONES:
A  “Holiday Storytime” for children, ages 1 week to 5 years old, is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 14, at 10:30 a.m., at the Placerville Main Library, 345 Fair Lane. There will be stories, craft activities, and a special visit with Santa! Bring your camera and invite a friend.

CHANGE THE “G” TO “B”: 
Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar noted the following “Wholly Holy Blooper:” “Next Sunday is the family hayride and bonfire at the Taylor’s. Bring your own hot dogs and guns.”

CANTARE WINTER CONCERT:
 On Sunday, Dec. 16, the Cantare Winter Concert, “The Night Before Christmas,” will be presented at 4 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene, 6040 Mother Lode Dr., Placerville. For more information, visit www.CantareChorale.com.

JOURNALISTIC FUN: 
The “Grands and the Greats Gazette” is a newsletter that highlights grandparent stories, photos, jokes, questions, answers and more. The group that creates this newsletter meets on the third Friday of each month at 1 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. Drop-ins are welcome! Program leaders are Terry Provenza and Flora La Force. For more information, call 916-358-3575.

IMPROVE YOUR ART SKILLS:
 The El Dorado Arts Association has meetings on the second Monday of each month at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane, at 6 p.m. Monthly art demonstrations and activities for artists are provided. Visitors are always welcome! For more information, call 916-358-3575.‘

SADNESS AT AGE 9:
The book “Live and Learn and Pass It On” was given to me by Clara Neilsen. In this book, people ages 5 to 95 offer life lessons, such as the following: “I’ve learned that it makes me sad when I’m the last one chosen for a team.” — Age 9.

STAR IS BACK!
 Hurray! Star Walker is back working in the Senior Activities Program at the Placerville Senior Center. Star informs us that the following 2013 trips will be available:
”BLACK HAWK MUSEUM: Wednesday – Jan. 9 – $89 per person. Tour the Black Hawk Museum in Walnut Creek. The museum houses around 90 classic cars. Lunch at Massimo Ristorante. This would be a great gift for that car enthusiast in your life!
IMAX THEATER: Thursday – Jan. 24 – $60 per person. Lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory, 2 Movie Showings — “Born to be Wild” and “To the Arctic.” Complimentary popcorn and soda at the movies. What a wonderful way to spend a chilly January day.
SAN FRANCISCO FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW: Thursday, March 21, $69 per person, 29 acres of gorgeous gardens. 200 exhibitors and much much more. A must to that garden lover or gardener!”
For more information, call Star at 530-621-6255. Also, call Star to reserve your spot on any of these trips.

CHILDREN PhD’s: Look at the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar, and you will find the following observation: “Regardless of their ages, our children are our best teachers. They have the capacity to teach us some of the most important lessons in all of life — things like patience, unconditional love, mutual respect, creative problem-solving, accepting the inevitability of change, and taking life as it comes.”

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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