Heard over the back fence: Volunteer for Sober Grad Night

FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE:
 Reviewing the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar, I located the following accurate statement: “You’ll enjoy life more and have a better experience if you focus a greater percentage of your attention on the parts that go well instead of zeroing in on the problems and hassles.”

SOBER GRAD NIGHT MEETING: El Dorado High School’s Sober Grad Night Committee will have its first meeting 6:30 p.m. today, Sept. 10, in T83, the Art Room next to wood shop. For more information call Cindy Mosbacher at 621-4708. 

MARSHALL AUXILIARY FUNDRAISER:
 The Marshall Hospital Auxiliary will present its fundraiser, “Wine and Roses,” on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m., at 681 Main St., Placerville. Advance tickets are $25 each or $37.50 for a couple. Tickets are $30 each at the door. For tickets or more information, call 530-672-9798 or 530-676-1844 or 530-622-4422.

SHRINERS HOSPITAL SCREENING CLINIC:
 Shriners Hospitals for Children is presenting a free screening clinic on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Placerville Masonic Center, 2820 Cold Springs Rd. Shriners Hospitals provides care for: Orthopaedic Conditions, Burns, Spinal Cord Injuries, and Cleft Lip and Palate. For more information, call Michael Day at 530-622-6440 or visit day10@comcast.net. 

EARN FREE MOVIE PASS:
A community blood drive is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 16, at the parking lot of Regal Cinema, 337 Placerville Dr., Placerville, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donors will receive one free movie pass. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old and be generally healthy. There is no upper age limit.

SUGAR ALWAYS HELPS:
 The “Who Knew?” calendar offers the following household hint: “If you have ink stains on your hands from a marker or pen, try this: Just add a bit of sugar to your hands when washing with regular soap, and the granules will act as a gentle abrasive to help wash the ink away.”

SMART, SUCCESSFUL STUDENT: 
Officials from Seattle Pacific University have informed us that Amye Joy Thompson of El Dorado Hills recently graduated magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Amye, we salute your impressive academic success and look forward to your bright future. Congratulations!

CHECK OUT FAMILY TIES: 
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 1 p.m., the Roots and Gold Dust Genealogy Society will meet at the Family History Center at 3275 Cedar Ravine, Placerville. The guest speaker will be Kim von Aspern-Parker, who is affiliated with numerous genealogical societies. Her topic will be “Organizing Your Past.” Refreshments are provided, and visitors are always welcome. For more information, call Carlyn White at 530-663-0017.

AVOID THE LOCK-UP:
 Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar noted the following “Lost in Translation:” “On a Japanese elevator: Don’t jumping in elevator. If you do it, it’s gonna be stop and you must be locked up.”

DID THE BUTLER DO IT?
On Friday, Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m., the Pleasant Valley Grange will present a “Murder Mystery” dinner titled “Hibiscus and Homicide or Who Poisoned the POI.” You can enjoy an excellent luau dinner and see if you can figure out “who did it?” The cost is $30 per person, $50 per couple, and $15 per child 12 years old and under. For tickets or more information, call Lisa Blum at 530-644-8042 or visit pvgrange.org. The grange is located at 4765 Pleasant Valley Grange Rd., Placerville. 

LOCAL FILMMAKER SUCCESS:
 Spencer Bruttig, a Union Mine 2009 graduate, is attending UC Santa Barbara University. Spencer was one of 18 student movie-making candidates to attend USCB’s summer movie production class. Spencer completed his first short documentary film titled “No Otter Zone.” The film premiered at the UCSB Media Arts Center and received a standing ovation. The film has been forwarded to the Film Festival in Ojai. Congratulations, Spencer! Hope to see your name “in the lights” in the near future.

DEAL THE CARDS!
 The Gold Country Cribbers Cribbage Club meets on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. If you want to join the fall cribbage league, call Carl Backers today at 916-947-0190.

HELP IS NEEDED!
 Volunteers are needed at the Cameron Park Library. If you would like to help, call 530-621-5500 or leave your name and phone number at the front desk.

SIGN UP FOR HEAD START: 
It’s time to get your application in for “Early Head Start,” “Head Start” and “State Preschool” programs. For more information, call 530-295-2270.

A DALAI DILLY:
 The “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar contained the following quote: “We, the present generation, have to make a clear picture. We have to make some kind of preparation for a happier, friendly, peaceful next century. So that when my generation is ready to say goodbye, we can hand over to the next fresh, broad-minded generation a more hopeful world; then they can look after it themselves.”

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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