Your news makesthe Sierra Sun shineContent for briefs is selected from e-mail submissions to Community Editor Amy Edgett at aedgett@sierrasun.com and occasionally the online events calendar. Visit http://www.sierrasun.com to submit events online. Please limit descriptions to 50. E-mail submissions may be 150-300 words. Items published in the print edition news space permitting.Naturally NativeA touching love story of family and culture, Naturally Native interweaves a subtle, but strong wake-up call regarding the treatment of Native people in corporate America. Naturally Native also provides some insight into tribal infrastructure and gaming issues. Follow the lives, loves, pain, joy and relationships of three sisters as they attempt to start their own business, Sept. 13, 7 p.m., Sierra Nevada College, 999 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, TCES Building, room 139. Call 775-881-7549 or visit http://www.sierranevada.edu/calender.Truckee Elementary Schoolandamp;#8217;s ParentInstitute for Quality Educationandamp;#8217;s programThe Parent Institute for Quality Educationandamp;#8217;s program, which lasts nine weeks, is free to parents. Parents who participate learn how to create a positive and lasting educational environment at home using a number of proven academic success tools. Classes are offered in English and Spanish.All parents who graduate from this nine-week program will receive a certificate entitling their children to conditional admittance to any California State University campus.First meeting is Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. at Truckee Elementary School.Please contact Eileen Driscoll, community liaison for Tahoe Truckee Unified School District at 530-582-2650, ext. 3661.Odyssey of the Mind Information meetingsOdyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solutions to competition on the local, state and world level. Student Information Night, kindergarten-12th grade students welcome, Alder Creek Middle School, Monday, Sept. 12, 6-7:30 p.m. Learn about Odyssey of the Mind 2011-12 in Tahoe Truckee. This yearandamp;#8217;s andamp;#8220;long term problemsandamp;#8221; will be presented. Team building strategies : Getting your team together. Bring your friends. Check it out. English speakers and English Language learners welcome. Coach Training for adults, Monday, Oct. 3, 5-8 p.m., Alder Creek Middle School, mandatory for all coaches), learn how coaches support student teams, parents and teachers all adults who would like to know more are welcome. Child care provided if requested (must RSVP so food and supplies may be planned)For both events please RSVP to Leisa Peterson at 530-448-1558 or ntt.parentadvocacy@yahoo.com.Have you ever wanted to make a difference in someoneandamp;#8217;s life?How about making a difference in an entire familyandamp;#8217;s life? On Friday, Sept. 9 starting at 4 p.m. at the basketball court in Truckee Pines Apartments, right next to Truckee Regional Park, the Diaz family is holding a benefit for Rafael Diazandamp;#8217;s mother, Isaura Munoz and his son, Christian Diaz. Isaura has Type 2 Diabetes and has had two stokes. The last one left her paralyzed. The family found out two-year-old Christian had a brain tumor and later the doctors told them it was brain cancer. He and his mother are now at the Standford Childrenandamp;#8217;s Hospital in San Francisco. Because Rafael himself has Type 2 Diabetes, he hasnandamp;#8217;t been able to work as much.At the benefit, there will be food for sale, activities and a raffle andamp;#8212; all proceeds going to the family.Protection Districtandamp;#8217;sFire Station 95 open houseTruckee Fire Protection Districtandamp;#8217;s addition and modernization of itandamp;#8217;s Glenshire, Station 95, Fire Station was completed this past March.The fire crews have moved back into their permanent station, 10900 Manchester Blvd. adjacent to Glenshire Elementary School and are now settled in. The firefighters at Station 95 are excited and pleased to invite the community they serve to drop by Saturday, Sept. 10, noon-4 p.m. to tour the completed facility. Tour the station, talk to the crews, and enjoy a hot dog and a cold drink.Dog Day in the ParkNorth Tahoe Regional Park, Tahoe Vista. Sept. 10, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Four-legged and two-legged family and friends are invited to join W.A.R.F. for Dog Day in the Park; a fundraiser for the Tahoe Vista Animal Shelter which serves North Lake Tahoe and areas of Truckee within Placer County. Pre-event tickets are $10 which include seven carnival tickets with cost of barbecue. Tickets can be purchased on line at http://www.tahoewarf.com. Raffle tickets are $5 or three for $10. You need not be present to win and all prizes are valued at $50 or more. Raffle tickets can be purchased at Scraps andamp; Taneva Auto Parts, Kings Beach; Postal Express, Postal Annex and Rainbow Printing, Incline Village; Tahoe City Pet Station; Truckee Pet Station, Mail Boxes Etc. For ticket information call 546-4770 or e-mail Pam at cpberger@sbcglobal.net. This event features a barbecue, $6 rabies vaccines, licensing, $20 micro-chipping, a dog-themed carnival (dunk the dog catcher), cat and dog adoption, a raffle and a fun dog show contest. Entry fee for dog show is $5. Help raise 10,000 bones ($) and fulfill the wish list: astroturf, kitty condos, free standing kennels, crates for training and continuing education.W.A.R.F is a 501c non-profit organizations. All donations are 100 percent tax deductible.9/11 Sunday CommemorationJoin in honoring members of the Squaw Valley Fire Department, l0 a.m., at Squaw Valley Chapel, United Church of Christ, 444 Squaw Peak Road, Olympic Valley, our own local heroes. Worship and celebration.English and Western Schooling Horse ShowJoin Truckee Donner Horsemen for an English and Western Schooling Horse Show Sunday, Sept. 11 at McIver Arena, Truckee. English classes in the morning and Western classes after lunch. Find details at http://www.tdhorsemen.org.Tahoe Donner Green Club Programandamp;#8220;Geothermal Heat Pumps: Renewable Heating andamp; Cooling for Your Truckee Home,andamp;#8221; to be presented by Matt Miller, president of GBL Geothermal, Reno, Nev. Meet at the Tahoe Donner Club House Wednesday, Sept. 14 for refreshments at 6:30 p.m. with program beginning at 7 p.m.Did you know you can use the ground on your own property to completely heat, cool, and provide hot water to your home? Instead of burning fuel to heat your home, a Geothermal Heat Pump moves heat energy from the ground into your home in the winter providing you with a renewable way to heat a home or building of any size. In the summer the process reverses and heat in your home is moved to the ground. Matt Miller will describe how to use the dirt under your feet to save on future energy bills and make the Tahoe Donner area more sustainable and energy independent. Please RSVP to tahoedonnergreenclub@gmail.com. Visit http://www.tdgreen.org.