Heard over the back fence: Help restore the Bayley House

BECOMING A PATIENT PERSON:
 Check out the “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar and you will discover the following patience description: “Patience is one of those special qualities where success feeds on itself. Once you reach little milestones — five minutes of patience — you’ll begin to see that you do, indeed, have the capacity to be patient, even for longer periods of time. Over time, you may even become a patient person.”

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SAVE THE BAILEY HOUSE: Phase I of stabilizing the Bayley House in Pilot Hill has been completed to prevent further deterioration. For Phase II, the board of directors is seeking volunteers to assist with fundraising events or volunteers to serve on the board of directors. If you would like to help, contact Aloha Adams at 530-887-8848 or e-mail adams2810@global.net or call Bill Bennett at 530-823-7079 or e-mail bbennett@geiconsultants.com.

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FREE WEDNESDAY MOVIES: 
Movie matinees are offered on Wednesdays at the Cameron Park Library, 2500 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park. Stop by at 1:30 p.m. and enjoy the free show. For more information, call 530-621-5500.

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GREAT LISTENER DOGS: 
Cameron Park Library, 2500 Country Club Dr., Cameron Park, has a “Paws for Reading” program, where beginning and reluctant children readers read to very patient, attentive dogs at the library. You can register your child for a 15-minute reading slot, between 4 and 5 p.m. on Feb. 28. Call 530-621-5500 for more information or to register.

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WRINKLE-PROOF SUGGESTION:
 The “Who Knew?” calendar offers the following “wrinkles” suggestion: “You have a decorative silk scarf you love, but every time you take it out of the closet it has a million wrinkles. To never have to iron it again, just wrap it around a paper towel tube before storing.”

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ALUMNI FUN:
 On March 11, the El Dorado Union High School Alumni Association will hold their 32nd annual luncheon at the new American Legion Hall on Greenstone Road. For more information and exact address information or to reserve your spot, call Susan (Frizzell) Meyer at 530-622-5881.

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SAVING BABY BIRDS: 
Would you enjoy rescuing baby birds who have been injured or fallen out of their nests? Sierra Wildlife Rescue is offering a class titled “Introduction to the Baby Bird Nursery” for prospective baby bird nursery volunteers. The class is scheduled for March 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, at SWR’s Wildlife Center, 3030 Newtown Rd., Placerville. Because parking is limited, please call Barbara Barker at 530-621-2650 to reserve your spot. Classes are free to SWR members. A $5 donation is requested from the general public.

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IMPROVE YOUR COMPUTER SKILLS: 
The Senior Computer Center at the Placerville Senior Center has free classes available for seniors. To receive a class schedule, call 530-621-6208.

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SUSHI CREATIONS: 
Would you like to learn how to make Sushi Rice, California inside/out Roll, Philly Roll and Nigiri? A class titled “Sushi Making 101″ will provide demonstration and hands-on practicing to help you create Sushi. You need to bring a long, sharp knife, a cutting board and a $15 material fee, payable to the instructor, Karen Nickey. The class is scheduled for Saturday, March 3, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The class will be at the GSD gym, kitchen, corner of El Dorado Hills Boulevard and 1021 Harvard Way. The class fee is $49.

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CONFUSING MEDICAL TALK: 
If you review Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar, you will discover the following “Medical-Speak:” “The patient left the hospital feeling much better except for her original complaints.”

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SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: The El Dorado West Republican Women Federated are seeking applicants for their scholarship program. Students from the Western Slope, including all high schools, charter schools, religious schools and home schooled are eligible for the scholarships. Applications can be obtained from school counselors. For more information, call 530-677-2408. Applications must be submitted by March 15.

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ALZHEIMER’S COMFORT GROUP:
 Elder Options Inc. provides a free Alzheimer’s Support Group on the third Monday of each month, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., at 82 Main St., Placerville. This group is designed for caregivers dealing with dementia. For more information, call 530-626-6939 or 916-391-8083.

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NEW NEEDLE ARTIST: The Placerville Gold Country Chapter of the American Sewing Guild is very pleased to welcome new member Susan Van Atta.

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GRANDPARENTS UNITE:
 The Grands and the Greats Gazette newsletter is produced by grandparents who enjoy sharing grand-parenting stories, jokes, and trials and tribulations, which result in the bimonthly newsletter. This group meets on the third Friday of each month at 1 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. Drop-ins and new members are always welcome. For more information, call 916-358-3575.

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A DALAI DILLY:
 The “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar provides the following thought: “Knowledge alone cannot provide the happiness that springs from inner development that is not reliant on external factors.”

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 in Placerville. You may call Bob Monday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or Wednesday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at 530-344-5036. Please submit all requests three weeks in advance to ensure there will be space available for your important announcement. First and last name of contact person are required.

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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