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.$2.3 million for Tahoe Centerto fund 3-D public educationMembers of the public will be able to visually immerse themselves in two of the best-known lakes in the United States, thanks to a $2.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to UC Davisandamp;#8217; Tahoe Environmental Research Center.The three-year grant will be used to develop three-dimensional visualization technology to enhance public understanding and stewardship of freshwater lake ecosystems and earth-science processes. The project will directly reach some 400,000 visitors to Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada, and Lake Champlain in Vermont and New York.The projectandamp;#8217;s collaborators hope it will serve as a global prototype for lake and watershed education.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 Sept. 14 for refreshments at 6:30 p.m. with program beginning at 7 p.m.Did you know that no matter where you live, 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 we can use the dirt right under our feet to save on future energy bills as well as help make the Tahoe Donner area more sustainable and energy independent. Visit http://www.tdgreen.org.Experts andamp; Insights Upcoming EventsThe Psychology of Humor IIFriday, Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m., Dr. Kim Bateman, Dean, Tahoe-Truckee Campus, Sierra College. As Mark Twain remarked, andamp;#8220;The secret source of humor itself is not joy but sorrow. There is no humor in heaven.andamp;#8221; Comedy can be viewed as a diagnostic tool for the investigation of enduring questions about the human condition. Humor has a critical purpose (Whatandamp;#8217;s wrong? What needs to be expressed?). Humor has a cohesive function (Weandamp;#8217;re in this together), as well as a divisive effect (Youandamp;#8217;re not us). And, it serves as a coping function (Weandamp;#8217;ll make it through). Dr. Bateman will take an entertaining, multi-media approach to laughing and leave the audience with new thoughts and many smiles.Experts andamp; Insights is a monthly lecture/discussion program in the Sierra College Dean’s Lecture Series. Held at Sierra College, Truckee. Doors open at 7 p.m. for coffee and socializing. Reservations requested, up to four seats at 530-550-2290. No charge.Immaculee Ilibagiza to speakFor Goodness Sake is bringing Immaculee Ilibagiza back to Tahoe. Her talk will focus on her experience during the Rwandan Holocaust and forgiveness. She will also give an update on Rwanda, the work she does with her Left to Tell Charitable Fund, which directly benefits the children orphaned by the genocide, and her personal development. She will speak Saturday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m., at the Truckee Community Recreational Center, 8924 Donner Pass Road, Truckee. Tickets cost $30 for adults and discounts for students and children. Call 530-550-8981. Visit http://www.sierrasun.com for full story.2011 Great Sierra River CleanupClean-up sites will be at various lake and stream-side locations around Lake Tahoe, Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-noon at locations all around the lake. Every year volunteers from around the lake scavenge the stream banks and shores to pick up golf balls, broken bottles, appliances and more in an effort to clean up our precious local waterways. This Great Sierra River Cleanup is the largest cleanup effort in the Sierra Nevada. The event is taking place throughout the Sierra region which in turn is part of the California-wide Coastal Cleanup Day. This is one of the largest volunteer events in the state: 4,500 volunteers from around the Sierra went out last year to pick up more than 150 tons of trash. Schools, churches and other groups are encouraged to participate. There will be a volunteer appreciation party afterward at Regan Beach including a pizza lunch. Volunteers can pre-register at: http://j.mp/gsrc2011 or call 530-544-4210.International Peace Day Save the date for the Tahoe communityandamp;#8217;s International Peace Day celebration at the Truckee Regional Park Sept. 21, 4-8 p.m. The free event will include live music and dance performances, hands-on creative activities and space for local businesses and organizations to share information about what peace means to them. To volunteer on the peace day committee call 530-550-8981 to find out how you can support and be part of the Peace One Day celebration. For more information, visit http://www.peaceoneday.org and http://www.goodnesssake.org.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.Call to artists for OctoberNorth Tahoe ARTS is issuing a Call to Artists for October. Participate in a Fall/Autumn exhibit; the show will focus on the cornucopia of beauty, food, and activities during this time of year. The exhibit is supported by a talk on choosing and using fall vegetables, recipes and includes a fall hike. The deadline for submission Sept. 16 by 2 p.m. Art drop off: Oct. 3 during gallery hours.Opening reception will be held Oct. 7, 5-7 p.m. Eligibility requirements: Art will be juried. Art must be original produced solely by the artist. All work can be replaced when sold. Gallery fee will be split between participants. The more the merrier. Download an application from http://www.northtahoearts.com, visit North Tahoe ARTS, 380 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City or call 530-581-2787.Call to artists and craftersBe in the Victorian Holiday Faire, November and December at North Tahoe Arts. The theme is a Victorian Faire. Seeking arts and crafts, jewelry, fine art, ceramics and wood, gift items, fabric art or fabric accessories and clothes, ornaments, cards, soaps, oil/essences, candles, teas, salts etc. This show will run for two months in the Main Gallery and one month in the Corrison Loft Gallery. NTA will host a bake sale with a percentage of proceeds going to Project MANA, also traditional holiday music at both Opening Receptions. Deadline for November only, Oct. 7. Deadline for December only, Nov 11. Deadline for both Oct 7. Opening receptions Nov. 4 and Dec. 2. Please call or email for further information 530-581-2787, info@northtahoearts.com. You may download a generic application http://www.northtahoearts.com. North Tahoe Arts, 380 N. Lake Blvd., P.O. Box 6354, Tahoe City, CA 96145.