What can we do as a family and community to maintain the spirit of sharing and giving year round?The Family Resource Center of Truckee would like to extend an open invitation to all families of the Truckee Tahoe Community in joining us the second Friday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for Family Fun Night. This special evening provides a a hot, healthy and delicious meal, fun board games for all, and the energy-producing sport of dodge ball for those who wish to melt away the extra calories. This months meal is sponsored by Tacos Jalisco.This is a great opportunity for those feeling the economic pinch and wanting to spend quality time with family and friends. Everything is free, though donations are graciously accepted. Anyone who is in the giving mood may wish to sponsor one of our Family Fun Nights. These nights allow for social interaction and a stress release from the daily grind of work and bills. For further information or to make an advance reservation please call 587-2513. Sierra Mountain Community Education Center, behind the Truckee Fire station, Friday, Feb. 13. Schedule of events: 5:30 to 6 p.m., dinner; 6 to 7:30 p.m., board games and dodge ball; 7:30 p.m. door prize. Sponsored by Family Resource Center of Truckee.

Registration for the 33rd annual Great Ski Race is open and can be found at the race Web site, http://www.thegreatskirace.com. The Great Ski Race, scheduled for Sunday, March 1, is the main fundraising event for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team, a non-profit all volunteer organization. The race covers 30 kilometers, beginning at the Tahoe Cross Country Center in Tahoe City and ending at the Cottonwood Restaurant in Truckee. Cost is $45, or $65 if registering on race day. The entry fee buys a pre-race package, a T-shirt, refreshments and a hot lunch, a chance to win one of numerous prizes, and live music and dancing at the finish. For more information, contact Pam at 546-7393 or visit http://www.thegreatskirace.com. Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue is also seeking additional volunteers from the community. If interesting in volunteering, contact Chris McConnell at 546-4235 or mcspeed@gmail.com.

Are you an experienced cross-country skier or snowshoer? Would you like to share your love of the sport with blind and visually impaired skiers? Attend a a free guide training clinic sponsored by Sierra Regional Ski for Light (SRSFL) in which you will learn how to guide a blind or visually impaired skier by describing the trail and terrain and offering pointers on technique. SRSFL offers single-day ski trips and a three-day ski program in which guides and blind skiers ski in pairs. The guide training is in two parts: Part I (classroom) and Part II (on the snow). Part I is offered in two locations: Sacramento and Truckee. You must attend either one of the Part I clinics to participate in Part II. PART I, Feb. 17, from 7 to 9 p.m., Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento. Classroom training and videos to learn sensitivity awareness, guiding techniques and terminology. PART I, Feb. 20, from 7 to 9 p.m., Northwoods Clubhouse, Tahoe Donner, Truckee.PART II, Feb. 21, 2009 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tahoe Donner Cross Country, Truckee. This is a day to practice on the snow the guiding techniques.Contact Vicki Post, Guide Training Coordinator at (415) 928-2711 or e-mail vickipost@earthlink.net. Or Bruce Gordon, Guide Coordinator (775) 831-4168 brucegordon@charter.net.Sierra Regional Ski For Light is an all-volunteer non-profit 501(c)(3)corporation.

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Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort invites strong beginner and intermediate skiers who would like to develop skate skiing skills to participate in a free 90-minute skate skiing clinic on Feb. 5 at noon. Trail passes will be sold to participants for $15, a $10 discount. For those who dont have equipment, rentals will be provided at 50 percent discount. Call 426-3871 to reserve a space.

Experience the Tahoe Rim Trail on a free guided snowshoe trek Saturday, Feb. 7. This Saturday, join TRTA hike leaders on an eight-mile, moderate snowshoe trek to Martis Peak, off of HWY 267. Please sign up in advance, and bring your own snowshoes. Join us for free guided snowshoe treks every Saturday through the end of March. Discover the great fitness and social benefits of the easy-to-learn sport of snowshoeing.For more information or to sign-up for this event, call the TRTA office at (775) 298-0012.For more information about the Tahoe Rim Trail Association visit http://www.tahoerimtrail.org. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association, founded in 1981, is a non-profit organization, which works to enhance, expand and promote the Tahoe Rim Trail system, practice and encourage stewardship, and provide assess to the beauty of the Lake Tahoe region. The association works in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and Nevada State Parks.

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Residents living in and around the Tahoe Donner Association community can be screened to reduce their risk of having a stroke. The complete screening package now includes a new Heart Rhythm screening, checking for irregular heartbeat, which is a major risk factor for stroke.Tahoe Donner Association is pleased to host this event presented by Life Line Screening on Feb. 18 at the Northwoods Clubhouse. Appointments will begin at 9 a.m.A stroke, also known as a brain attack, is ranked as the third leading killer in the world. Screenings are fast, painless and affordable. They help identify potential health problems such as blocked arteries and irregular heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysms and hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease. A bone density screening to assess osteoporosis risk is also offered and is appropriate for both men and women.Register for a Wellness Package with Heart Rhythm for $149 by calling (888) 653-6441. All five screenings take 60 to 90 minutes to complete. Life Line Screening was established in 1993, and has since become the nations leading provider of community-based preventive screenings. Renown Health is the sponsor. Pre-registration is required.

Tahoe City Friends of the Library are holding a two-day used book sale Saturday Feb. 14 and Sunday Feb. 15, 2009 by the movie theatres at the Cobblestone. A wide variety of used books, audio books, and movies will be on sale at cheap prices. Proceeds will be used to provide programs and purchase new books for the library. If you have items to donate please drop them off the morning of the sale at the Cobblestone. Volunteers are needed to work during the sale and can sign up at the library. For more info call 583-3382.