Content for briefs is selected from e-mail submissions to Community Editor Amy Edgett at aedgett@sierrasun.com. Visit http://www.sierrasun.com to submit events for the online calendar. Please limit descriptions to 50 words. E-mail for print submissions may be 150-300 words. Items published in the print edition news space permitting.

Volunteers still needed for Science Expo

Volunteers are needed for this year’s Science Expo, which will take place March 18, 19, 20, and 21, Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, Nev. The theme of this year’s expo is physical science, featuring dozens of activities, demonstrations, and exhibits. Volunteers will be needed to run the many activity stations during the expo, so volunteer participation is vital.

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The event is broken up into nine two-hour sessions on each of the four days. Training is provided and no science experience is required. Check out the activities at the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences in Incline Village, Nev. training event March 13, 6:30 p.m.

If you would like to volunteer contact volunteer coordinator Hannah Leigh, at hkleigh@ucdavis.edu or 775-881-7560, ext. 7474, or reserve your shift at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054BABAE2AA75-science.

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Truckee Library to host Poetry Slam

As part of the Nevada County Reads and Writes program’s 2013 book selection, the young adult novel “Marcelo in the Real World” by Francisco X. Stork, the Truckee Library will host its first-ever Poetry Slam on Friday, March 15, at 7 p.m. Come with a poem of your own writing, and in true slam fashion, compete for gift certificate prize from Bookshelf at Hooligan Rocks and a cash prize. Entrants will place their names in a hat to enter the competition.

The theme of the Slam is “Coming of Age.” A poetry slam is the competitive art of performance poetry, with a dual emphasis on writing and on how the writing is presented. Participation is recommended for anyone over the age of 14. Please call the Truckee Library at 530-582-7846 for further information.

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.

Beginning Guitar for adults announced

The Tahoe Music Institute is currently registering adult students for a beginning/early intermediate guitar class. The class, taught by Kerry Andras, is focused on learning the basics of playing guitar and covers topics such as tuning, chords, strumming, chord progressions, music theory, singing, folk and campfire songs. Classes meet Wednesday nights, 6-7 p.m. at the Tahoe Music Institute located at 2810 Lake Forest Road in Tahoe City. Call Shauna at 530-581-0618 or email shauna@tahoemusicinstitute.com for details or to register.

Tahoe-Truckee Flyfishers to meet

As part of the Tahoe-Truckee Fly Fishers’ ongoing programs welcoming both novice and newly arrived fly anglers; a presentation entitled “Fly Fishing Opportunities in the Truckee Area” will be featured after a brief meeting. The speaker is Frank R. Pisciotta, the acknowledged fly fishing “Dean of Guides” in the Tahoe area. The talk and digital images will focus on “Truckee Tips,” essentially facts, gleaned from Frank’s extensive fly fishing experience in the Truckee area. He built his first home in Truckee in 1979 and been guiding exclusively here since 1984. On March 21, 6:30 p.m., Truckee Community Recreation Center, 8924 Donner Pass Road, Truckee. Visit http://www.ttff.net for more information about the group.

Exploring the Creative Process

What do you do to get creative? Do you wait for muses to deliver your inspiration (otherwise called procrastination)? Through fun writing prompts, lively discussions, and in-depth readings, this playful and productive class will open your mind to new approaches to your own creative process. Experiment with catalysts for inspiration from the Surrealists and Oulipo to art and cross-genre works. This class is for all levels. Karen Terrey has an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. She teaches English as an Adjunct Professor at Lake Tahoe Community College, and works as a writing coach in Truckee through her business Tangled Roots Writing. Her poems are published in various journals, including Sierra Nevada Review, Rhino, Meadow, Edge, WordRiot, Puerto Del Sol, and Wild Apples.

Class to be held Thursdays, 6-8:30 p.m.; four sessions, April 4-25. Tuition: $89. Instructor: Karen Terrey, MFA Location: Sierra College, Truckee Campus. Call 916-781-6280 or email: ghage@sierracollege.edu to sign up. Contact Terrey at 530-386-3901.

Ski and ride for $35 or less to benefit local schools

Downhill resort tickets may be pre-purchased the week prior to the designated dates at Porters Sports in Truckee and Tahoe Dave’s in Tahoe City, Truckee and Kings Beach. Cross-country resort tickets may be purchased the week prior to the designated dates at Paco’s in Truckee and Alpenglow in Tahoe City. A limited number of tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis and will not be available at the resorts the day of the event. Check and cash are accepted at all store outlets and credit cards are accepted at Tahoe Dave’s outlets. Tickets are not refundable.

Tahoe Donner Ski Area, $25 lift ticket valid any one day, Sugar Bowl, $35 lift ticket valid any one day, March 23-29; Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, $35 lift ticket valid any one day at either resort from April 7 through end of season.

Proceeds go directly to the Excellence in Education Foundation. For more information and updates, visit http://www.exined.org.

Friends of Squaw Creek to hold biology forum 

The Friends of Squaw Creek (FoSC) organization is offering a free forum, open to the public, about the biology of Squaw Creek, March 28, 6 p.m. at the Squaw Valley Public Services District meeting room at 305 Squaw Valley Road. Join fisheries biologist Ian Chan; Northern California Field Director for Trout Unlimited David Lass, and principal of Sound Watershed Mike Liquori for discussion on Squaw Creek’s historic and current status, along with opportunities for future environmental improvements. There will be a public question and answer session. 

Ian Chan, local fisheries biologist, working for Garcia and Associates, performed a fisheries assessment of Squaw Creek in 2011 as part of the proposed Village development baseline analysis. He also conducted the 2010 and 2012 benthic macroinvertebrate bioassessment  for Squaw Creek’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) calculation on behalf of Placer County. He will  present historical information regarding the Squaw Creek fishery as well as an  overview of recent data representing the current status of aquatic resources in Squaw Creek.

David Lass, Northern California Field Director for Trout Unlimited, also assessed Squaw Creek using the Meadow Restoration Fish Analysis Tool (MRFAT). He will present the results of his study and help us look to future opportunities to improve the fish habitat of Squaw Creek

Mike Liquori, principal of Sound Watershed, has been studying Squaw Creek since 2005. He is currently working under a State Water Board grant with Placer County advancing restoration concepts for Squaw Creek from the confluence through the meadow.  He will share his experience and ideas that will guide improvements for a healthier creek.

Potluck Poetry at Kindred

March 26, 6:30-8 p.m., Kindred Art & Folk Institute, 10015 Palisades Dr. Ste. A4, Truckee. Bring your body, mind, soul, poetry, prose, words and a potluck dish to share. An evening of good and new friends, food, inspiration, movement and play. All ages welcome and encouraged! Email gaiaelaon@gmail.com or visit http://www.facebook.com/events/206001719532009/.

Trout Unlimited Announces Youth Trout Camp

Trout Unlimited of California has announced its second annual Sierra Trout Camp July 6-7, 2013 at the UC Berkeley Sagehen Creek Field Station.

The camp is designed to give kids an awareness, appreciation and understanding of the importance of our nation’s aquatic resources with an emphasis on conservation, protection and restoration of cold water ecosystems.

Sierra Trout Camp is designed to give kids an awareness, appreciation and understanding of the importance of our nation’s aquatic resources with an emphasis on conservation, protection and restoration of cold water ecosystems. Participants will learn how to fish and tie their own flies. They will also learn about stream ecology, cutthroat trout restoration, stream physics and chemistry, fishing etiquette and aquatic entomology.

Girls and boys 9 to 11 years of age are eligible to apply. Trout Unlimited will accept a total of 15 participants. Applications are now being accepted and must be submitted no later than April 31, 2013. For more information, contact Adam Butler with Trout Unlimited at 760-920-8667 or at abutler@tu.org.

Citizen Police Academy to begin March 26

The Truckee Police Department is pleased to announce the return of the Citizen Police Academy. The Citizen Police Academy provides community members with an inside look at the Truckee Police Department. This eight-week academy is designed to provide citizens with an overview of the police department’s functions and operational procedures.

The first class begins Tuesday, March 26, and will meet in the evening from 6-9 p.m. for eight consecutive weeks. Citizens interested in the Citizen Police Academy must be at least 16 years of age, have no prior felony or serious misdemeanor convictions and live in the town of Truckee (Parent/guardian approval needed if under 18 years of age).

Truckee PD welcomes you to share an insight into the activity and issues within the community and the complexity of law enforcement demands to satisfy those issues. To apply, pick up a brochure at the front desk of the Truckee Police Department or call Officer Lisa Madden at 530-550-2330.

Dining for Schools a yummy prospect

Several North Tahoe and Truckee restaurants honor Excellence in Education’s Dining for Schools cards during the extended period through March 28 including Dining Room at the Lodge at Sugar Bowl, Graham’s at Squaw Valley, Jake’s on the Lake, Pizza on the Hill, Rainbow Lodge, Rosie’s Café, Rocker@Squaw, Sandy’s Pub at Squaw Creek, Six Peaks Grille at Squaw Creek, Sunnyside, Summit Restaurant at Soda Springs, The Lodge at Tahoe Donner, The Soule Domain and West Shore Café.

Dining for Schools cards are good for 50 percent off entrees, cost $50 each and entitle the purchaser to unlimited use April 7 through June 13, 2013 and the extended period. Purchase one at Porters Sports Truckee, Save Mart (Truckee and Tahoe City) and Safeway (Truckee and Kings Beach), Mountain Hardware and http://www.ExinEd.org. Call 530-550-7984 or visit http://www.ExinEd.org for inquiries.