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 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.Shop Local Contest winds up Jan. 11Did you pick up a Shop Local Contest Card and start shopping? For every $25 spent at participating retailers, you’ll receive a sticker for your contest card. Every purchase gets you closer to winning. Contest Cards are available at participating retailers in Tahoe City, Kings Beach, Incline Village and new this year, Village at Northstar and Village at Squaw. Participating retailers are listed online at http://www.ShopLocalNorthTahoe.com.Turn in your contest cards by Jan. 11 at the locations listed on the card and you will be entered into the drawing. Contest cards with 13 stickers or more will be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing. Non-winning contest cards from the Grand Prize drawing and all other contest cards with three or more stickers are eligible to win additional prizes. Drawing winners will be contacted and announced in January 2013.For more information visit http://www.ShopLocalNorthTahoe.com or call 530-581-8727.Auburn Ski Club announces 2013 Biathlon programAuburn Ski Club will again offer cross country skiers the opportunity to learn about and participate in the Olympic sport of biathlon. Hosted at the club’s Donner Summit training center, this sport combines cross-country skiing and marksmanship on a 50-meter range. The ASC Biathlon program is directed by Glenn Jobe, member of the 1980 US Olympic Biathlon team.There will be novice clinics offered at 10 a.m. on Jan. 5, Feb. 23, and April 21. Skiers will learn the basics of rifle safety, shooting and biathlon range procedure. Biathlon rifles and ammunition are provided.Experienced biathlon skiers can gain US Biathlon Association Red Book certification on Jan. 5, and April 21. Skiers must have their own biathlon rifle to become Red Book certified.On Feb. 24 Auburn Ski Club will host the annual 10th Mountain Division Biathlon held in honor of World War II ski troops. Skiers who have participated in the clinics and certifications can put their skills to the test in the competition.For more information and to register for the clinics and competitions visit http://auburnskiclub.com/nordic/biathlon.North Tahoe Visitor Center to kick off First FridaysRescheduled from Jan. 4 to Jan 9The North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association will kick off its free Friday Fridays “Getting to Know the Basin Better” Wednesday, Jan. 9 rescheduled from Jan. 4, with the Sierra Avalanche Center, 5:30-7 p.m., at the North Lake Tahoe Visitors Center, 100 North Lake Blvd. in Tahoe City.The Sierra Avalanche Center will discuss how they evaluate avalanche danger, how to use their website to assist those planning to ski and board in the backcountry and how the public can support the center’s efforts.It’s all part of First Fridays, the first Friday of each month, that profiles speakers knowledgeable about the Lake Tahoe Basin. Mark your calendar for Friday, Feb. 1, the most romantic month of the year, when Lake Tahoe writer Mark McLaughlin weaves tales of love about the Sierra Nevada.To learn more about First Fridays or for additional information, contact North Lake Tahoe Visitors Center Manager Kym Fabel at 530-581-6900.For more information about the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association, visit http://www.nltra.org.Parents’ Night OutParents’ Night Out will be held Friday, Jan. 4, 6-10 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Tahoe City. PNO will be held the first Friday night of each month during the school year. Children ages birth-12 years of age are welcome. A donation of $10 per child per evening is requested. Activities include: Bible story, craft, music, and a movie. Please feed your children dinner before bringing them. This is a drop-in program and no pre-registration is necessary. The church is located at 390 Fairway Drive in Tahoe City. For more information call 530-583-1534. Star Gazing Snowshoe TourNorthstar Cross Country, Telemark & Snowshoe Center Jan. 5, 5 p.m. Take advantage of the dark skies in Tahoe this winter with star guide and poet Tony Berendsen during Star Gazing Snowshoe Tours at Northstar California. Call 1-866-466-6784 or visit http://www.northstarattahoe.com.2013 economic forecast slatedfor Good Morning TruckeeFiscal cliff? Economic growth? Recession? Global influences on the economy? Start 2013 off with a solid economic forecast from the well-respected and always interesting Thomas R. Harris, professor, Department of Economics at the University of Nevada, Reno Jan. 8.Good Morning Truckee is open to the public – everyone is invited second Tuesdays at Truckee Tahoe Airport from 7-8:30 a.m. Price at the door for general public is $10; Truckee Donner Chamber members $8 and includes a continental breakfast.Good Morning Truckee is presented by the Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce in partnership with sponsors Tri Counties Bank, The Office BOSS, Sierra Sun, 101.5FM Truckee Tahoe Radio, Truckee Tahoe Airport District, and the Town of Truckee. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.Good Morning Truckee is a community forum presented by the Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce to provide timely and relevant information on a variety of topics and create a networking opportunityFor information contact the Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce at 530-587-8808 or e-mail info@truckee.com.Tahoe Backcountry WomenThe group’s mission is to share stories, experiences, and education about backcountry skiing and boarding. Women of all ages and abilities are welcome, Wednesday, Jan. 9, Alpenglow Sports, Tahoe City, 6:30-8:30 p.m. The topic is Avalanche Safety – The Human Factors. Megan Michelson will share her first-hand experiences from last year’s Steven’s Pass avalanche. Megan wrote about this tragedy in Outside Magazine. Read the article, Tunnel Vision on her website by going to: meganmichelson.comAfter sharing her experiences on Steven’s Pass, Megan will lead a discussion about the human factors of avalanche safety, an ever-growing field of study. What is human nature when traveling in groups? How does group mentality contribute to, or hinder safety? Does gender play a role? Discuss rules of thumb to follow when traveling with groups for winter backcountry. Enjoy wine, snacks, and raffle prizes, as well as 20 percent off everything in the shop (excluding skis, boots, bindings, beacons, skins and poles). Email whitney@alpenglowsports.com or call Alpenglow Sports at 530-583-6917 for information. Find Tahoe Backcountry Women on Facebook!”An Artisan January”North Tahoe Arts invites you to join in celebrating the beginning of a new year here at Lake Tahoe. Let the snow fall.Artisan Shop artists who live and work in the region and guests will exhibit a special selection of work in the Main Gallery during January that reflects the natural beauty of the Lake Tahoe area. Stop by North Tahoe Arts, 380 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, call 530-581-ARTS or email info@northtahoearts.com for information.Calling fiber and textile artistsThe Truckee Public Arts Commission’s winter exhibit at the TDRPD’s Community Recreation Center will feature fiber and textile media. Artists of all ages will be considered for display. Quilters are also encouraged to apply. Submissions due Jan. 16, 2012. Guidelines and entry forms are available in the “Latest News” section at http://www.tdrpd.com. An opening reception will be held on Feb. 1, 5-7 p.m. at Community Recreation Center.12th Annual Truckee Bingo Nightand Spaghetti DinnerCelebrate with Sierra Senior Services at the 12th Annual Truckee Bingo Night and Spaghetti Dinner – a perfect evening out for the family. This event benefits Truckee and North Tahoe area seniors, homebound, and disabled adults who rely on freshly cooked meals seven days a week provided by the area’s Meals on Wheels volunteers.Join the fun-filled social event Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Truckee Community Recreation Center. Tickets are $20 each in advance. A no-host bar opens at 5 p.m. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. Enjoy a delicious Italian feast with dessert and coffee.After dinner, bingo balls are poppin’ 7-9 p.m. with 10 games for $10, followed by a $10 blackout game. Raffle prizes and a silent auction keep the evening stirring. Raffle prizes include a Calistoga Spa Package, Southwest Airlines tickets (two). Cost is $10 each or three for $20.Tickets will be available online Jan. 4 at http://www.sierraseniors.org or at Sierra Senior Services, Plumas Bank and at the Community Recreation Center.For more information, call 530-550-7600.Project MANA announces Stone SoupJoin this season’s Stone Soup, a weekly soup night in Truckee where everyone is invited to celebrate food, live music and community. Soup is prepared and served each Sunday evening from Jan. 6 to March 10, 5-7 p.m. at the Community Arts Center, 10046 Church St. in downtown Truckee. Take your own bowl and spoon and enjoy delicious soup and a good time. Donations are requested but not required.This year Project MANA is spearheading efforts to find different groups of volunteers from the community to get involved in Stone Soup. If you or your organization is interested in preparing soup or volunteering on Sundays, contact Project MANA at 775-298-0008.Turtleneck TuesdaysVillage Ice Skating RinkEnjoy your favorite grooves from the 70s and 80s while you skate ’round the 9,000-square-foot rink at Northstar California for Turtleneck Tuesdays every Tuesday evening through March 19, 6-9 p.m. Take advantage of the outdoor fire pits and enjoy a drink and s’mores from the Cabana Bars. On Jan. 15, Feb. 12, and March 15 a face painter will be on site 6-8 p.m. Face painting is complimentary. It’s free to skate with rentals available for $10 a pair.Volunteer with Disabled SportsDisabled 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.Volunteer for youth outreach programSOS OUTREACH is looking for positive young adults to be Sherpas (youth mentors) and program coordinators for the winter season. SOS Outreach is an outdoor adventure based youth development organization. Their goal is to help build character, self-esteem, and leadership skills in at-risk youth through outdoor adventure sports. They provide multi-day programs that incorporate a set of core values (courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom, and compassion).SOS Sherpas are mentors who work closely with SOS youth for at least one season in the University program. Sherpas support their youth through five ride days and various service learning components and life skills workshops. Sherpas typically work 10-15 hours per month through early May. SOS is capable of compensating Sherpas with season passes or more, depending on their experience and commitment.SOS program coordinators serve as an extension of full time staff and oversee five-day Learn To Ride or Learn to Ski programs. Sessions typically take place over the course of five, 8-hour, consecutive weekend days, and consists of roughly 40 hours of work per session. Compensation varies.Visit http://www.sosoutreach.org. Fill out an application online by clicking on register for winter and selecting the volunteer application or email epopp@sosoutreach.org.