Content for briefs is selected from e-mail submissions to Community Editor Amy Edgett at aedgett@sierrasun.com.

Hot stuff: Soup & Chili Showdown

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It’s time for a warm evening with friends, neighbors, and the Tahoe City Recreation Department. Culinary talents will be shown off at the Soup & Chili Showdown Friday, March 15 at Rideout Community Center, 6-8 p.m. This year’s event will feature a variety of different categories in both the soup and chili division, along with raffle prizes. For more information contact the Tahoe City Recreation office at 530-583-3440.

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Make a lucky charm at free art class

Join a free kids art class, Sunday, March 17, 2-3 p.m. at Artisans Market Place, 10382 Donner Pass Road (the blue Victorian near Burger Me!). Artist Patty Lassaline will offer a class for ages 8 and up, making a lucky shamrock charm for a pendant or key chain. Kids, come in and make one for yourself, or for a lucky friend. This is a walk-in class and all materials are included.

North Tahoe Little League Sponsorships

Consider sponsoring a North Tahoe Little League team this season through your business. Team sponsor ($350) puts your business name on team uniforms, your name and logo on a banner at your chosen ballfield, and a photo plaque of your team. Field sponsor ($150) has a banner with your business name/logo at your chosen ballfield. Family sponsor ($100) has your family name on a banner with other family sponsors at each ballfield. Also, raffle prize donations to the Annual 2 Bills Golf Tourney proceeds go to NTLL. Contact Mark Sura, NTLL sponsor coordinator at 530-546-7875 or club-bigblue@hotmail.com. Play ball!

Preview A+ Preschool

The A+ Preschool Program is holding two drop-in preview days for parents of preschoolers Monday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 20, 9:30-11 a.m. Observe class programs and learn about the benefits of enrolling your child. You will also be able to pick up fall 2013-2014 registration packets.

A+ is an educational preschool for children 3 and 4 years of age to prepare children for kindergarten. A+ is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. throughout the school year with flexible scheduling options. Summer preschool program also available.

For more information call Director Nell Jackson at 530-583-1534 or visit http://www.tahoeministries.com. A+ is fully licensed by the State of California (313 609 613).

Truckee Tahoe Republican Women meeting announced

Rosie’s Cafe, 571 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, March 19, 11:15 a.m. Truckee Tahoe Republican Women Federated general monthly luncheon meeting. Cost is $20. Guest speaker is former Nevada County Superior Court Judge Anders Holmer. All interested Republican women are welcome. Email cherylastull@sbcglobal.net or call 530- 587-2042 for information.

Attend the Mountain Area Preservation Project mixer

Join MAP’s first project mixer on Thursday March 21, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the newly renovated Truckee Hotel, in the Moody’s Parlor located in historic downtown Truckee. This will be the first of four project mixers for members of the community to learn about Mountain Area Preservation, their work and some past conservation successes. There will also be a small presentation on their current project: Canyon Springs. Light appetizers and a no host cash bar. For more information on Canyon Springs or Project Mixers contact Alexis at 530-582-6751 or alexis@mapf.org.

An Evening with Mark McLaughlin – Embracing Lake Tahoe’s History

Mark McLaughlin will present an illustrated slide show on the history of Tahoe City at the Tahoe City Golf Course on Sunday, March 24 at 6 p.m. Mark will showcase tales of excitement, including early logging, railroad and steamship era, a missed Olympic bid, and important early pioneers. Since its first settlement in the mid-19th century, Tahoe City has been a hub of commerce and a center of recreation for the Tahoe-Truckee region. As the historic gateway to Big Blue, this vital community has long been a visitor destination. For nearly a century, the Lake Tahoe Ski Club has produced outstanding athletes and champions, and today’s residents and businesses strive to maintain that same high standard. Cost is $10 for one drink and tasty appetizers served at the “Meet & Greet,” 6-7 p.m. Presentation begins at 7:05 p.m. RSVP to Jeff at 530-583-1516, ext. 2, call Don at 530-583-8496, or email spiderhay@me.com for information.

Toastmasters in Tahoe City

Fridays, 7 a.m., 380 N. Lake Blvd., North Tahoe Arts building, Tahoe City. Learn how to think on your feet and express yourself in front of group. Get those butterflies in your stomach to fly in formation. Visit http://www.bluetahoetoastmasters.com.

Lake of the Sky Garden Club grants available

Lake of the Sky Garden Club has grant funds available for community-related garden projects in the North Lake Tahoe area. To obtain an application call Emily Hatch, 530-582-8487, or email her at jimxem@sbcglobal.net. Applications must be received by April 1, 2013.

Lake of the Sky Garden Club is a nonprofit organization and member of National Garden Clubs, Inc., Pacific Region, and California Garden Clubs, Inc., Golden Foothills District. The club’s goals are to promote an interest in gardening, with particular emphasis on the problems at high altitude, to support charitable, educational, and scientific works, as well as to initiate and participate in beautification and developmental gardening projects in the North Lake Tahoe region.

Money for these grants comes from the club’s annual garden tour. On Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Lake of the Sky Garden Club will host their 25th annual garden tour, the Incline Village Garden Tour. Proceeds from this tour will fund scholarships to encourage study in landscaping, horticulture, forestry or environmental science and up to $6,000 in grants to local community projects.

Past recipients have included Thunderbird Lodge, Tahoe City Historical Society, Watson Cabin, Gatekeeper’s Museum, Girl Scouts, Project MANA, as well as local schools and libraries. Tickets for this year’s garden tour will be available at local Truckee/Tahoe nurseries after June 15.

The club generally meets on the last Monday of the month from March through October. For a meeting schedule and more information, go to http://www.lake-of-the-sky.org.