TAHOE/TRUCKEE, Calif. – 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.

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 and get those butterflies in your stomach to fly in formation. Visit http://www.bluetahoetoastmasters.com.

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Truckee Gymnastics announces Open Gym

Truckee Gymnastics is pleased to offer Open Gym Friday, March 1, 4-6 p.m. for ages 6-teen, co-ed. All ability levels welcome, no experience necessary. Coaches will be on hand for skill advice and safety. Cost is $20 at the door. Payment holds your spot, you may pay either online or at the gym. Check, cash or e-check welcome. Paid reservations highly recommended.

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For more information contact Truckee Gymnastics located at 11410 Deerfield Drive, Bldg. A-1, Truckee by calling 530-587-7404 or visit http://www.truckeegymnastics.com.

Tom Beebe’s woodwork featured at Riverside Studios

You re invited to the opening reception for Master Woodworker Tom Beebe’s month-long exhibit at Riverside Studios. The Reception is scheduled for March 1, 4-8 p.m. at 10060 Donner Pass Road, Truckee. This First Friday event will feature a live performance from soul vocalist Kelly Ann Miller. Riverside Studios will provide refreshments and tasty snacks. Coinciding with the opening of SnowFest!, history buffs can tune in for SnowFest! facts and there will be a “Snowman Surprise” for the kids.

Positive Psychology:

Unlocking the Secrets to Optimal Well-Being

With Christopher Old, MFT, LPCC, NCC, Friday, March 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at For Goodness Sake, 10157 Donner Pass Road, Truckee. Learn practical tools to generate optimal well-being in your life.

Positive psychology is the scientific study of what goes right with people. For many years, the field of psychology was focused primarily on what goes wrong and how to alleviate these negative symptoms. Positive psychology sees symptom relief as only half of the equation. To really flourish in life we need to also know what generates well-being and creates vitality.

In this introductory workshop, look at key ways to use what science is teaching in order to go beyond just “not feeling bad.” Topics such as resilience, character strengths, positive emotion, flow, mindsets, meaning and positive relationships all play a role. Leave with concrete tools to generate optimal well-being and thrive.

This event is free. Please call 530-550-8981 to register.

First Friday at Dragonfly with Live Robot

Dragonfly Restaurant and Sushi Bar is excited to announce the kickoff of its First Friday Music Series on March 1, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. featuring a live set by local duo Live Robot.

Influenced by jazz, funk and soul, musicians Brian Hess and Steve Saturno of Live Robot create one-of-a-kind beats with Hess on saxophone and keyboard, Saturno on the drums, enhanced with electronics, loops and samples. With influence from musical greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, and even Snoop Dogg, the product is a healthy dose of hip-hop and house-esque jams that get the body moving. Visit LiveRobotMusic.com.

Dragonfly Restaurant and Sushi Bar is located upstairs at 10118 Donner Pass Road. Call 530-587-0557 for information and reservations, visit http://www.dragonflycuisine.com or “like” them on Facebook.

T Pots Pottery to hold open house

March 2, 4-8 p.m. A free experience that will introduce you to all T Pots has to offer. Go on in and get 10 percent off craft supplies and 10 percent off wheel lessons if you sign up at the open house. Have fun with small craft projects, gather information on classes, workshops, projects and more. Food and beverages served by the friendly staff at 11012 Donner Pass Road, (old Gateway Deli location). Call 530-550-7822.

Pancake Breakfast to benefit seniors

March 3, 8-11 a.m., Truckee Donner Senior Apartments at 10040 Estates Drive in Truckee. The monthly Pancake Breakfast fundraiser benefits the Senior Meals program and the Meals on Wheels in the dining room of the Truckee Donner Senior Apartments at 10040 Estates Drive in Truckee. The sponsor is the Truckee Sunrise Rotary. Open to everyone! Adults $7, children $3. Arrive early.

Strategic Planning for your Nonprofit meeting announced

Presented by Paquita Bath, Aligning Visions. Learn how to guide your organization through a strategic planning process, March 6, 9 a.m.-noon, Truckee Town Hall. Specifically the workshop will cover: Why plan?; tools for strategic planning; writing up a strategic plan; how to implement a strategic plan. Fee: $10 (take a check made out to TTCF). RSVP to coordinator@communitycollaborative.org.

Mark Estee named James Beard

Award semifinalist, Best Chef in the West

Campo’s chef/owner Mark Estee is a semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Award in the category of Best Chef: West. Estee’s company for the nomination includes 19 other noted chefs from San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, including Top Chef Masters’ contestant John Rivera Sedlar and renowned chef-owner Corey Lee.

The James Beard Awards recognize excellence across the food industry, including chefs, restaurateurs, cookbook authors and food journalists across North America. They are considered the highest honor for food and beverage professionals.

Estee credits his continued success to his superb Campo team, including Chef Arturo Moscoso.

The list will be narrowed down to finalists and winners will be announced at the James Beard Awards dinner on Friday, May 3 in New York City. Tickets are available to the public and go on sale March 18.

For more visit http://www.jamesbeard.org.

Alpenglow Sports named

Snow Sports Retailer of the Year

During the SIA Snow Show in Denver SnowSports Industries America (SIA) honored retailers and reps from around the United States and Canada with the 2012 SIA SnowSports Retailer and Rep of the Year Awards, including Tahoe City’s own Alpenglow Sports. Reps and retailers were acknowledged for consistently making an impact in the snow sports industry, including contributions to its growth, their promotional and marketing techniques and success in the ski, snowboard, tele, cross country and/or snowshoe categories.

Alpenglow Sports, established in 1979, specializes in backcountry and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, trail running, backpacking, hiking, camping, and the mountain lifestyle. After working at Alpenglow for nearly 10 years under the original owner Don Fyfe’s tutelage, Madigan took over the reins of one of California’s most core mountain shops.

Paint the Bear

The BEAR League, a nonprofit organization which helps to educate how to live with bears, will again going to host the “Paint the Bear” event for SnowFest! in the Corison Loft at the North Tahoe Arts Center after the parade on Saturday, March 2. The BEAR League and North Tahoe Arts have worked together on this event for the past seven years. There will be a BEAR League exhibit with bear art and photography by Ted Guzzi, Katherine Anglin, and Alice Shaw running through the month of March. An oil painting of Sunny, the Homewood bear, will be also on display. The “Paint the Bear” event is for budding artists of all ages who will be able to paint a wooden bear and take it home, open until 1:30 p.m. This event is being held at the North Tahoe Arts Center, 380 North Lake Blvd. in Tahoe City. For information call 530-581-2787.

Aloha Tuesday to benefit SOS Outreach

Jake’s On The Lake in Tahoe City is hosting Aloha Tuesday, a Hawaiian themed apres ski party March 5 starting at 4:30 p.m. Happy hour food and drinks are offered until 6:30 p.m. and specials on Mai Tais and Hawaiian pu-pu menu is offered until 8 p.m. –

Purchase raffle tickets to directly support SOS Outreach and a chance to win Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows ski resorts lift tickets, gear, and other cool prizes from sponsors like Breeze Ski Shop, Mountain Hardware, and many others. You don’t need to be present to win, but you must stop by to purchase your raffle tickets.

Jake’s On The Lake is located at 780 North Lake Blvd. inside the Boatworks Mall. –

Meet our Four-Legged Heroes of Winter

The Squaw/Alpine Rescue Dogs

Thursday, March 7, 5-7 p.m., North Lake Tahoe Visitor Center, 100 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City. Free event with Craig Noble and Furry Friends.

The North Lake Tahoe Visitor Information Center is looking forward to a woofing and tail-wagging good time when the Squaw/Alpine Rescue dogs visit. Learn from handlers how they train these life savers and how to support their efforts. “A Day in Your Life” photographer Donna Reid will be there to take portraits of you and the canines. A portion of the photo proceeds will be donated to the Search and Rescue foundation. Beer will be provided by Mellow Fellow GastroPub and cookies for furry friends will be provided by Scrap’s Dog Bakery. The featured artist for this event is Keoki Gallery with his famous Dog Rescue Pictures.

Visit GoTahoeNorth.com for information.

Get your Mother Son Laser Tag tickets

For the second year in a row the Tahoe City Parks and Recreation Department brings you and evening of Mother-Son Laser Tag at Rideout Community Center, Friday, March 8, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Due to the popularity of the event, when you purchase tickets be sure to select Session A, 5:30-7 p.m. or Session B, 7:30-9 p.m. Younger ones are encouraged to sign up for Session A and the older kids for B (6 and below, 7 and up). Feel free to sign siblings up for different sessions but please specify when purchasing tickets. There will be plenty of other games and activities while not in the laser tag arena.

Tickets are $25 per duo and $5 for each additional son. Get your tickets before it sells out at the Rideout Community Center or the TCPUD Administrative Building next to the new fire station in Tahoe City. You may also purchase tickets by calling 530-583-3440.

Public school to open in Squaw Valley for athletes

Squaw Valley Preparatory (SVP), a California public charter school, will open its doors to students grades seventh-10th for the 2013/14 school year, adding 11th grade in 2014 and 12th in 2015. This transformative education choice is a result of a joint effort between Squaw Valley Ski Team (SVST) and Squaw Education Foundation, a nonprofit California corporation, and will build upon the successful structure and academic achievement of Creekside Charter School in Tahoe City. SVP is designed to complement world-class athletic and performance training with college preparation, including honors and advanced placement (AP) courses.

Enrollment for Squaw Valley Preparatory will open on March 24, 6 p.m. with an Information Night at the Olympic Valley Lodge, 1901 Chamonix Place, Olympic Valley. Prospective parents and students are urged to attend. Students residing in Placer County or adjacent counties are eligible to submit a request for admission to SVP, available March 24. Requests for admission received by April 18 will be included in SVP’s enrollment lottery to be held on April 19, with 2013/14 admission notifications posted on April 22. Creekside Charter School, a kindergarten-sixth-grade California public charter school in Tahoe City will partner with SVP and SVST to support companion training for its athletes enrolled in grades fourth through sixth, with winter training shuttle service between Squaw Valley and the school. Information and requests for admission are available at http://www.squaw.org.

Annual Science Expo to be family fun

Family Science Expo, open to the public on March 20, 4-6 p.m. at Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, Nev. UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), together with Tahoe Expedition Academy, other community partners, and with sponsorship from the Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline, will host the eighth annual Science Expo March 18-21, for regional students.

The Science Expo is open to the general public on the evening of Wednesday, March 20 for children of all ages together with their families. Ice cream will be provided by Susie Scoops of Incline Village. Admission is free.

The event will feature dozens of hands-on, interactive science experiments, activities and demonstrations emphasizing physical science concepts such as physical and chemical properties of matter, density, energy, electricity, magnetism, light, and sound.

To volunteer, contact UC Davis TERC AmeriCorps member Hannah Leigh at 775-881-7560, ext. 7474 or hkleigh@ucdavis.edu. All volunteers will be trained and will have all activity materials required for their 2-3 hour shift. A science background is not necessary.

For more information or directions call 775-881-7566, or visit http://terc.ucdavis.edu/calendar/.

Donner Memorial State Park grooming trails

Donner Memorial State Park is grooming their 2 1/2 mile Lakeshore/China Cove trail for cross-country skiing. The cost is $8 per vehicle, which includes entrance to the Emigrant Trail Museum, depicting the area’s history including Native Americans, the Donner Party, and builders of the transcontinental railroad. A variety of souvenirs, postcards, posters, books and maps about human and natural history are for sale. Maps of cross-country and snowshoeing trails are also available. Donner Memorial State Park is about two miles west of downtown Truckee on Donner Pass Road. Visit http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=503.

Olympic Valley Winter Trail access announced

Walk, jog, skate and bike on the Squaw Valley multi-use path. Squaw Valley Public Service District will once again provide snow removal and maintenance services on the county’s trail between Squaw Creek Road and the Village.

The District encourages everyone to use the path and visit each end of the Valley for shopping, dining and views from the Resort at Squaw Creek to the Village and all points between.

The project is provided by a combination of funds including Transient Occupancy Tax revenue granted to the District by the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association (NLTRA) and Placer County, as well as contributions from the Squaw Valley Business and the Squaw Valley Property Owners Associations.

Pedestrian points of access are located along the trail as well as either end. Be careful to avoid slip hazards and snow removal equipment. Pack out trash and bring baggies to collect, and pack out, dog waste.

The District thanks the NLTRA, Squaw Valley Municipal Advisory Council, Squaw Valley Business Association, Property Owners Association and Placer County.

For more information visit the Squaw Valley Public Service District website at http://www.svpsd.org or call 530-583-4692.

Volunteer with Disabled Sports

Disabled Sports USA Far West is looking for event support volunteers for the 2013 Winter season in the Truckee/Tahoe area.

They are gearing up for the upcoming “Ability BASH” fundraiser on April 6 at the Olympic Village Lodge in Squaw Valley. The BASH is a banquet honoring 25 Wounded Warriors disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan who participate in a week-long winter sports camp with Disabled Sports.

Disabled Sports is in need of people to help with pre-event preparations and also people to help with event execution on the day and/or night of the BASH.

Please contact mary@disabledsports.net and also go to http://www.disabledsports.net to fill out a volunteer profile if you are interested in being an event volunteer for Disabled Sports.