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.

Project Grad fundraiser at Blue Agave

The North Tahoe High School Class of 2013 is pleased to announce a Project Grad fundraiser at The Blue Agave, 425 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City on Friday, March 8. The Blue Agave will graciously donate a percentage of their profits to support Project Grad. This fund helps to pay for scholarships and chaperones so all graduating seniors may enjoy a safe, sober and fun trip after graduation. Go out and support local seniors while enjoying wonderful food at community minded business .

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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.

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Workplace investigations and document retention workshop announced

Join a March Morning Meeting about “Ethics of Workplace Investigations and Document Retention Best Practices” on Friday, March 8, The Chateau at Incline Village, 955 Fairway Blvd., Incline Village, Nev., 9-11 a.m.

As a manager, it is inevitable you may need to conduct a workplace investigation. Join the discussion with Nicole Harvey of Harvey Law Firm and Cindy Davis, SPHR, chief people officer of Strategic HR Partners, LLC.

Learn about proper filing, maintenance and disposal to ensure security and privacy and reduce the possibility of exposure with Kathy Chan, vice president of San Francisco-based JMA Ventures, LLC.

Registration and snack at 8:30 a.m. Free for SHRM and SHRA members, $15 for Chamber members, $20 for non-members. Register at http://www.sierrahra.com at the Online Store. Pay through PayPal. Contact Laura Moriarty, SPHR at 530-573-0224.

Club Cosmos announces comet viewing

A comet discovered two years ago by the Near Earth Object Survey telescope, PanStarrs, has now reached close passage around the sun and should be spectacular Tuesday through Sunday. Space Science for Schools program Club Cosmos will offer free astronomical-grade telescope and binocular viewing at Sand Harbor Nevada State Park at the Boat Ramp Parking area on Tuesday, March 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Enjoy a tour of the cosmos guided by members of Space Science for Schools. Call or text for information to Paul H. Guttman, M.D., 775-720-6999 or email pguttman@ss4s.org. If the event is clouded out, it may be rescheduled for Wednesday’s sunset. Dr. Guttman will email to advise if he has your contact information.

Space Science for Schools, Inc, a 501(C)(3) Education Non-Profit Corporation, member organizations: NASA, JPL, Solar System Ambassadors, NASA, Night Sky Network, American Astronomical Society, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Space Science Institute, Tahoe CAN.

Spoken Word at the Truckee Library

As part of the Nevada County Reads and Writes program’s 2013 book selection, “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. The novel involves legal drama, music, bullying, a love story, and the realities of life as a teen with a variety of autistic impairment no doctor has been able to identify.

Arrive with a poem of your own writing, and in true slam fashion, compete for a prize of a gift certificate 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. Here are slam facts: Five-minute limit; spoken word only, no notes; judges are selected from the audience; judging is based on: how well the poem is presented, how well the poem fits the theme, and whether it fits within the time limit.

Participation is recommended for anyone over the age of 14.

Please call the Truckee Library at 530-582-7846 for further information.

Visit http://www.mynevadacounty.com/nc/library/Pages/Nevada-County-Reads-and-Writes.aspx.

American History and Politics

A discussion with Sierra College Insights

History instructor Taylor Tiraterra will present “The Use of Icons of American History in Modern America” Friday, March 8, an interactive presentation at Sierra College, Tahoe-Truckee. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments, program runs 7-8:45 p.m. Seating is limited. RSVP to 530-550-2290.

Tiraterra, a history instructor at Sierra College, has a deep appreciation for differing viewpoints of historical events. He has a Master’s with an emphasis in American History from Sacramento State and is a well-liked educator on the Tahoe-Truckee campus.

For the most up to date information on Sierra College happenings in Tahoe Truckee, visit http://www.facebook.com/SierraCollegeTahoeTruckee.

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/.

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.

Friends of Squaw Creek invites community to free biology forum

The Friends of Squaw Creek (FoSC) will offer 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, 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.

Friends of Squaw Creek (FoSC) is a grassroots organization in Squaw Valley that originated in April of 2002 in response to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listing Squaw Creek on its 303d list of impaired streams due to excessive sediment as well as community alarm perceiving reduced stream flows and loss of fish population. FoSC brings together landowners, businesses, jurisdictional agencies, and private citizens dedicated to enhancing the Squaw Creek watershed.