Your news makes the Sierra Sun shineContent 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 online. Please limit descriptions to 50 words. E-mail submissions may be 150-300 words. Items published in the print edition news space permitting.College essay assistance at Clever MindsWriting the personal statement for college entrance requires time and effort. Itandamp;#8217;s not just a one and done draft situation. Considerable time needs to be put forth brainstorming, drafting, editing and revising. Essay writing is not just critical for college applications but itandamp;#8217;s an important life-long skill. Knowing the basics will help you get into college but it will also improve your success once youandamp;#8217;re there and even thereafter.If a student feels unsure of where to start or how to make their essay stand out from the others, Clever Minds provides this help. A teacher will work individually with students to ensure their essay takes a creative and non-cookie cutter approach to showing college admissions counselors the personal side of prospective students. Get ahead of the game! Donandamp;#8217;t wait until Nov. 29 to get started.Call Clever Minds, A Learning Center at 530-582-1707 or e-mail vicki@cleverminds.org. To the communityPlease join Plumas Bank for a VIP open house reception to welcome David Kaiser senior vice president, commercial loan office to the Plumas Bank Tahoe/Truckee lending team Wednesday, Sept. 28, 5-7 p.m., at the Plumas Bank Office, 243 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City. Please RSVP to 530-581-2857, ext. 1000.Tickets on sale now for Passport to DiningThe seventh annual Passport to Dining will be held Thursday, Oct. 6, 6-9 p.m., at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 day of the event. Tickets include tasters from more than 25 local restaurants, breweries and wineries, live entertainment, silent auction, and a commemorative glass. Buy tickets at the NTBA office. Call 530-546-9000.Boo!Have you heard about the Lilliputian who arrived in Truckee by train but was never seen again? Do you know Truckee boasted more saloons per .10 of a mile than nearly any other small town in the West? Have you heard about the historic gems on and off Commercial Row and the scars left by raging fires and tragic mishaps on the rails?Truckee evokes ghosts from the past and shares attention-grabbing legends during the third annual Historical Haunted Tour Thursday, Oct. 20 and Friday, Oct. 21. Begin at Moodyandamp;#8217;s with a glass of wine and experience downtown like never before.Tour organizers are also offering an enhanced Halloween experience for any attendee who shows up in costume. Prizes will be awarded across fun and feisty categories each evening. Online tickets are on sale now and benefit the Truckee Donner Historical Society and Trails and Vistas. For more information, call 530-305-4231 or visit http://www.truckeehistorytour.org.Stomp Out HungerSierra Senior Services is holding the 2nd Annual Stomp Out Hunger Grape Stomp, Sept. 30 in conjunction with the 8th Annual Truckee Wine, Walk and Shop pitting teams against each other to raise money for the local Meals on Wheels and Senior Nutrition programs. Teams of four compete and positions include: Stomper, inside a wine barrel; Strainer, to keep the juice flowing; Plunger Person, controls the dowel and Container Holder. The competition will take place at the Truckee River Winery on Brockway Road, 4-7 p.m. Participation fee is $150 per team which includes complimentary wine tastings, a glass of wine, visits to the food buffet and a chance to compete and win prizes. Call Sierra Senior Services at 530-550-7600 or visit http://www.sierraseniors.org for information on how to become a sponsor or participant.Dog Training ClassesSign up now for upcoming dog training classes at the Savvy Dog Training and Education Center. Find more information about all classes at http://www.thesavvydog.net or call 530-448-9808. Instructor Carla Brown, CPDT-KA is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator for the AKC. The Savvy Dog Training and Education Center is located at 11448 Deerfield Drive, C-1 in the Deerfield Plaza by Truckee Bagel in Truckee. Holiday Wish Box needs volunteersGrant $25 holiday wishes for tenants at the Truckee Donner Senior Apartments this season. Contact Clarence – AS2 at 530-587-5152 or xmas.wish@hotmail.com. Clarence is having his halo polished before the holiday season, so deadline is running early. Wish list needs to be filled by Nov. 1 to put smiles on senior faces this Christmas.Childrenandamp;#8217;s Youth ChorusTahoe Music Institute presents the Childrenandamp;#8217;s Youth Chorus, Mondays, 4-5 p.m., beginning Oct. 3. This is a performance-based course designed for students ages 8-12, focusing on the fundamental skills and vocal techniques needed to perform in a vocal ensemble. Students will perform a variety of music at the end of the class session. No experience is necessary. If youandamp;#8217;d like to enroll your child in the Childrenandamp;#8217;s Youth Chorus please contact Shauna Gilberti Righellis at 530-581-0618 or shauna@tahoemusicinstitute.com.Visit http://www.tahoemusicinstitute.com for more information.Parents for Public SchoolsThe Odyssey of the Mind andamp;#8212; Coach Training Workshop (for adults only), will be held at Alder Creek Middle School Library, Monday, Oct. 3, 5-8 p.m., food will be served so please RSVP to ntt.parentadvocacy@yahoo.com. Join them if you are interested in coaching a team, using these strategies in your classroom or learning about how to use OOTM at home with your children. The class is free with no obligation to coach. Learn more at http://www.odysseyofthemind.com. The College and Career Night at Truckee High School Cafeteria is slated for Monday, Oct. 10, 6-8 p.m. Find out more about colleges, universities, vocational schools, and the military in California, Montana, Idaho, Nevada and more.Truckee River DayItandamp;#8217;s that time of the year again. Grab those gloves, shovels and boots and bring the family and friends out to help restore the Truckee River. The 16th annual Truckee River Day is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 16.Volunteers will have their choice of half or full-day restoration projects with different levels of difficulty. There will be 13 projects including re-vegetation to further restoration at Perazzo Meadows, plantings to restore the former Town Corporation Yard, and surveying for fish habitat in the Little Truckee River. A celebration at the River Fair will follow the projects, 1-4 p.m. at Granite Flat Campground and will include food, live entertainment, fun environmental activities for youths and adults with the annual fish release at 3 p.m. Everyone is invited to the fair even if youandamp;#8217;re not participating in restoration projects.To participate visit http://www.TruckeeRiverWC.org or call 530-550-8760. The deadline for registration is Friday, Oct. 7.Bowl for Kidsandamp;#8217; SakeHelp support Big Brothers Big Sistersandamp;#8217; mentoring programs in the Truckee-Tahoe region and have a blast Oct. 8 at Bowl For Kidsandamp;#8217; Sake 2011. Bring a team of friends and make a big difference in the lives of at-risk children. With a Rock andamp;#8216;nandamp;#8217; Roll Bowling theme, the wit and wisdom of emcee extraordinaire Jim Simon (accompanied REO Speedwagon founder and Big Brothers Big Sisters Board President Alan Gratzer) and the opportunity to raise much-needed funding for Big Brothers Big Sisters local programs. Help us match more at-risk kids with mentors. Big Brothers Big Sisters will also draw winners for raffle prizes including a 2011-12 Unfiltered Alpine Meadows/Homewood/Kirkwood season pass; a weekandamp;#8217;s lodging in Kona, Hawaii and two tickets to Jazz Fest in New Orleans next year. Tickets are $5 and proceeds from all sales goes directly to BBBS programs. Tickets available at the Pour House, 10075 Jibboom St., Truckee and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Truckee office, 10075 Levon Ave., Ste. 105.For more information on how to form a bowling team or become a lane sponsor visit http://www.BigsOfNC.org or call 530-587-7717.TNT Class reunion scheduledTNT reunion for classes 1973, 74 and 75 at Ferrariandamp;#8217;s Crown Resort, barbecue at the Crown Resort Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m., bring your own drinks, cost to be announced that night. Beach gathering at the Crown Oct. 8. Dinner at Jasonandamp;#8217;s Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m. RSVP with Kelli Frazier Oandamp;#8217;Meehan by Oct. 1 at kpomeehan@bigpond.com. Room reservations at 530-546-3388.Jellybeans starts in OctoberJellybeans is a beginning preschool experience for toddlers and parents, Thursdays, 9:15-10:45 a.m., beginning Oct. 6. Tuition is $40 per month. Classes will focus on art, science, stories, music, movement, multicultural and more, developmentally appropriate for toddlers.This is a great time for younger children in our families to have preschool with Mom, Dad or other adult. This time will help make younger siblings or others hoping to attend Church of the Mountain school comfortable. E-mail COMPreschool@clearwire.net.Church of the Mountains Preschool is a nonprofit preschool located at 10079 Church St. in downtown Truckee.Share your time and talentsThe Retired andamp; Senior Volunteer Program has been in Nevada County for more than 25 years and provides one-on-one volunteer placement, tailored to your interests and schedule. RSVP invites everyone to share their time and talents with Nevada County nonprofits, public agencies and schools. You can make a difference by volunteering in your community. For persons 55 and over, accident, liability and excess auto insurance are provided and limited mileage reimbursement is available. RSVP is sponsored locally by the Area 4 Agency on Aging and is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service.Available volunteer opportunities: The Truckee Family Resource Center promotes social and economic success in the community by providing education, mobilizing resources and advocating for change.Receptionist help is needed Thursdays and Fridays. Duties include answering phones, direct calls to appropriate staff, and direct walk-in clients. Some computer skills are needed. Spanish bilingual is helpful. Minimum two-hour shift, once a week Thursdays or Fridays. Hours are 1:30-5 p.m.This is an opportunity to assist with a vital community resource in Truckee. Please call RSVP at 530-271-0255 for more information.