Check out these valuable fire preparation tips taking place July 3-11, during Wildfire Awareness Week. And attend the free Lake Tahoe Basin Wildland-Urban Interface Summit on Friday, July 9 from 9am to 5pm at Harvey’s.

Wildfire Awareness Week is being held to encourage all Lake Tahoe Basin residents to “BE EMBER PREPARED!” and help protect our homes and communities from the embers that cause destruction of many homes during wildfires.

Wildfire Awareness Week is sponsored by fire service professionals, the Nevada Fire Safe Council, University of Nevada and University of California Cooperative Extensions, and other interested organizations to promote wildfire and ember awareness.

Click here for the complete details of each of the following events.

• Jul 04 – Glenbrook Community Picnic
• Jul 04 – Meeks Bay Fire District’s Pancake Breakfast
• Jul 05 – Wildfire Awareness Week film festival Explore Tahoe, 4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe
• Jul 06 – Fire Management in Washoe Meadows State Park, Meyers, CA
• Jul 06 – Forest Fuels Reduction Field Trip 925 Country Club Drive (Tahoe Cross Country Ski Center), Tahoe City
• Jul 06 – Wildfire Awareness Week film festival Explore Tahoe, 4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA
• Jul 07 – South Shore Conservation Block Party at Miller’s Outpost at the Y, South Lake Tahoe, CA
• Jul 07 – Wildfire Awareness Week film festival Explore Tahoe, 4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA
• Jul 08 – Firewise Landscaping Class, Lake Tahoe Community College Demonstration Garden
• Jul 08 – Wildfire Awareness in the Garden North Lake Tahoe Demonstration Garden at Sierra Nevada College, Tahoe Blvd. & Country Club, Incline Village, NV
• Jul 08 – Wildfire Awareness Week film festival Explore Tahoe, 4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA
• Jul 08 – Fire Station Open House Lake Valley Fire Station 7, 2211 Keetak St., Meyers, CA
• Jul 09 – Wildfire Summit Harvey’s Casino, Stateline, NV
• Jul 09 – Wildfire Awareness Week film festival Explore Tahoe, 4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA
• Jul 10 – Tahoe Fish Hatchery Grand Opening celebration Tahoe City Field Station (fish hatchery), Tahoe City, CA
• Jul 10 -  North Tahoe Fire District’s Free Yard Waste Drop Off Day Homewood’s South Lodge (Ski Bowl Way), Tahoe City Cross Country Center (925 Country Club Drive), North Tahoe Regional Park, Tahoe Vista
• Jul 11 – Tahoe Paradise Fire Safe Chapter Neighborhood BBQ 768 Cayuga Street, South Lake Tahoe, CA
• Jul 11 -  Free Chipping Day North Mandan Firesafe Chapter, South Lake Tahoe, CA
• Jul 11 -Tahoe Douglas Fire Station Open House and Fuels Reduction Project Tour Tahoe Douglas Fire Station #4, 875 Hwy 50 in Zephyr Cove, NV

Meet the man, I mean bear…Smokey Bear, at the Heavenly Village, Thursday and Friday from 11am to 1pm.

Film topics include forest management, wildfire, environment, wildlife, Smokey Bear and practical tips to prepare our property to withstand fires.

July 5: “The Greatest Good” A US Forest Service Centennial Film.

Featuring short stories on Women Smoke Jumpers, Hotshots, Aerial Attacks, Smokey Bear and more.

July 6: “2007 Angora Fire” Slideshow Presentation. A front line account of Lake Tahoe’s most devastating fire that burned over 200 homes in a matter of hours.

July 7: “Forests with a Future” A US Forest Service Film featuring protecting old growth trees, wildlife and communities in the Sierra Nevada.

July 8:  “Remembering Lil Smokey” Slideshow Presentation.

Lil’ Smokey, a frightened, singed and badly dehydrated bear cub, was saved from the hot ashes of the Moon Fire at Mt. Shasta on July 17, 2008 by Firefighter Adam Deem.

The 8.5-pound animal was suffering from serious burns to all four paws and crying for its missing mother. The cub, which also had an eye injury, was taken to a wildlife rescue shelter in Rancho Cordova, then transported to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) where he was rehabilitated. Li’l Smokey was released back to the wild near Mt. Shasta in February 2009.

July 9: “Living with Fire in the Lake Tahoe Basin” by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension – A practical guide to preparing your property to withstand fire.

Explore Tahoe – An Urban Trailhead
4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd in the Heavenly Village in South Shore
(530) 542-4637

Public transportation is highly encouraged. For route info and times, please click here or call (530) 541-7149.

Explore Tahoe – An Urban Trailhead

Explore Tahoe – An Urban Trailhead is a Visitor Center featuring informal presentations and interactive exhibits about the geology, wildlife, and cultural heritage of Lake Tahoe, as well as outdoor recreational and cultural activities available in South Lake Tahoe.  Located in the transportation hub at the Heavenly Village, Explore Tahoe staff can help plan excursions throughout south shore utilizing mass transit to help reduce emissions and protect Lake Tahoe’s natural resources.

It’s free for kids (and parents too!)

Starting at 10am, children ages pre-school though 12 will enjoy an interactive nature and music presentation learning about bears, coyotes and geese in their natural habitat. It’s a free event and parental supervision is necessary. Krissi harmonizes a true to life tale of living in the mountains close to nature alongside wild animals.

Krissi was inspired to create her sing along book after a bear walked 10 feet from her young son’s lemonade stand in their front yard. As a teacher and songwriter, Krissi understands that music is a powerful teaching tool that allows children to creatively express themselves while learning words.

Click here to see the entire 2010 Valhalla Arts, Music and Theatre schedule.

The Valhalla Arts, Music & Theatre Festival takes place at the Tallac Historic Site located 2 miles north of the Y in South Lake Tahoe on Hwy 89.

BMX riding!

Now there’s a track in South Lake Tahoe where you can ride and practice.

The BMX track is located at 1100 Lyons Ave. at the corner of Rufus Allen Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe.  For track conditions, call the Track hotline at 530-542-9337.

The Track is open to practice on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:30pm all summer long.

Races are held Thursday evenings starting at 5:30pm.

Cost for practice is $1.00 per rider. Race fee is $10 per rider.

Note: South Lake Tahoe BMX is sanctioned by the American Bicycle Association. Free trial memberships are available on site and immediately activated. The track is open to riders of all ages and abilities including mountain bikes! Safety gear is required and all bicycles must pass safety inspection prior to riding.

Spectators are invited to check out the action at no charge. Ride BMX! It’s part of Tahoe bike culture.

Their rhythm and blues will transport you to the swamps of the Louisiana bayou. You can almost hear the crawfish fryin’ and smell the gumbo cookin’. Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! (That’s Cajun for let the good times roll.)

The Bayou Boys come from the Sacramento Delta area, and have a spirited tribe of followers who love to move and groove to Zydeco music.  Grab your dancing shoes and head to the Tallac Historic Site for an unforgettable evening of fun.

The Bayou Boys

Friday, July 9 at 7:00pm

Valhalla Boathouse Theatre
Tallac Historic Site

Tickets: $15 adults, $5 children, 12 and under

Click here to purchase your tickets online and to see the entire summer schedule, or call 530-541-4975 to order tickets by phone or you can buy tickets at the door.

The Valhalla Arts, Music & Theatre Festival takes place at the Tallac Historic Site located 2 miles north of the Y in South Lake Tahoe on Hwy 89.

The dance is free form movement, expression and moving meditation, working to make a conscious connection with your mind, body, spirit and the heartbeat of mother earth and the elements of the Tahoe basin.

The dances take place July 5, 12 and 19 from 6pm to 7:30pm and are free, although donations are accepted.

“My classes have morphed from teaching traditional fitness classes to working with movement/meditation and dance energy,” Thennes said. “It’s one thing to talk about mind/body/spirit connection and another to dance it,” she continued.

Thennes works with the elements, energies, rhythms and animals that surround the Tahoe basin and has experience in classical ballet, West African dance and free form dance meditation.

Ann’s innate sense of rhythm allows her to connect easily with the cycles, rhythms, energies and elements of her natural surroundings. Her spiritually inspired pieces include decorative gourds, Heart Blessing and Spirit Bowls using animal totems and Goddess art. She often uses objects from nature to adorn her gourds, like bones or antlers, leather, stones or beads.

When she is not working on her art or holding a women’s dance retreat, she is probably teaching an aerobic dance or Heart Rhythms class at the Lake Tahoe Community College or Marcia Sarosik’s Dance Studio.

Heart Rhythms is set to all types of music – world, rock, soul, rhythm and blues – to help students understand world cultures through music and dance.

“There are ancient energies in all of us. Dance brings that energy to the surface and gives it a voice in our life. The dance is free form movement, expression and moving meditation to an image, intention, metaphor or ritual focus. The dance helps us explore the wholeness of who we are and the many blessings we receive from the lake and mountains.” – Ann

“Doing these retreats has added a wonderful element to my life. I love working with the energies, elements and animals of Tahoe.” states Ann. “We live in such a special, magical place.”

To sign up for her retreats or to find her art, please contact Ann at (530) 542-9553 or via email at mtngypsy@sbcglobal.net

On July 10 and 11,  local and regional artists will showcase their talent and works of art to benefit the Tahoe Arts Project (TAP) which brings cultural performing arts to South Lake Tahoe school children and the community.

You’ll be surprised by the creative mix of art such as paintings by Denise Mancour, Dolores Manning, Kit Night and Louise Howes; jewelry by Molly Bennett and Heather & Hillary, woodwork by Jeffrey Nelson, glass by Cindy McQuade, ceramics by Francis Rider, and photography by Dirk Yuricich and Eric Jarvis. You’ll also want to visit the booth with artwork from Lake Tahoe Community College art students, and meet local author Todd Borg who will introduce his newest Owen McKenna mystery, Tahoe Heat.

9th Annual Lake Tahoe Arts Festival
sponsored by the Tahoe Arts Project

July 10 and 11, 2010

Saturday 10-5
Sunday 10-4

Outdoors at the South Tahoe Middle School
2940 Lake Tahoe Blvd. in the middle of town

FREE ADMISSION!

Besides meeting the local artists and seeing a few in action, there will be food, entertainment, raffle prizes, and children’s activities including live performances by by local performers.

For more information, please visit www.tahoeartsproject.org.  Booths are still available. Contact Peggy at (530) 542-3632 or tahoearts@aol.com for more info.

About the Tahoe Arts Project

“Provide cultural enrichment and diversity for the community through the arts and education with particular focus on our youth.”  TAP mission statement.

Due to Lake Tahoe’s physical isolation in the Sierra Nevada mountains, exposure to professional performing artists is limited. Tahoe Arts Project (“TAP”) was established in 1987 by a group of parents, professional musicians and teachers to fill this void.

TAP’s primary focus for the past twenty-two years has been the production of in-school residencies. TAP’s artists-in-schools programs meet the need for high quality fine arts activities for the region’s children. TAP also produces a public performance series for the enjoyment of our community. TAP’s programs include acclaimed performing artists from various genres and cultures and has been nationally recognized as a role model for other arts-in-education organizations.

TAP reaches over 5,000 students, in grades Kindergarten through 12th, within 10 schools in El Dorado, Douglas, and Alpine counties of California and Nevada. The artists whom students meet through the TAP programs serve as role models that demonstrate the values of self-discipline and the pursuit of excellence. Current research validates TAP’s philosophy that these experiences also help students develop their own creative and problem solving abilities, foster intellectual development and success in all academic areas.

Featured art: North of Cave Rock by Louise Howes.

The event is the LTCC Foundation’s biggest fundraiser, and they know how to do it in style.

Guests enjoy award-winning wines, microbrews, locally prepared hors d’oeuvres and desserts, and entertainment by college students throughout the evening.

Rhythms and Wine, and Microbrew Too!

Saturday, July 10th
6pm to 9pm

Outdoors in the Entrance Courtyard
Lake Tahoe Community College
One College Drive, South Lake Tahoe

Tickets $60 in advance, or $65 at the door

Afternoon cocktail attire is suggested.

Vintner’s will be in attendance from Amador Vintner’s Association, El Dorado Winery Association as well as Livermore and the San Francisco Bay Area. Microbrew will be served from Brewery at the Lake and Doppelgangers along with food provided by: Cilantros, Claire’s Cuisine, Divided Sky, Doppelgangers, El Dorado County Jail culinary arts program, Fasta Pasta, Sushi Pier, Tahoe Cakes by Grace and Thai One On.

Enjoy jazz and acoustic music and dancing performed by LTCC students and faculty. Proceeds will benefit the foundation’s unrestricted annual fund.

Tickets are $60 each or $65 at the door. Please contact the LTCC foundation office: 541-4660 x245 or email: guttry@ltcc.edu

Featured art:

Top: Amador Vintner’s Association

Bottom: Old Oak Tree, California Winery by Shelley Hocknell Zentner, LTCC art instructor

Get free advice from the experts at the Kayak Tahoe Demo Day on Sunday, July 11, from 10am to 2pm.

Here’s your chance to learn about the latest boating technology, try out different boats and pick the experts’ brains about paddling equipment. And you can check out the newest stand up paddle boards.

The Kayak Tahoe staff will be on the beach at Timber Cove Marina to help you demo as many boats as you can handle and answer any question you can think of. And the best part about it – It’s FREE!

Demo Day Dates for Summer 2010:  July 11, and August 29

10am to 2pm

For more info, call Kayak Tahoe at 544-2011 or visit www.kayaktahoe.com

Kayak Tahoe
On the Water at Timber Cove Marina
South Lake Tahoe
across from Safeway behind Timber Cove Lodge
3411 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

The audience laughs and then the actors do it again, and the audience laughs again…you get the picture. And so it will go during a night of improvisation theater with Tahoe Improv Players at the Tallac Historic Site on Tuesday, July 13, at 7:30pm.

The Tahoe Improv Players, the longest running comedy show in Lake Tahoe, return to their favorite theater for the 16th summer.

As always, their show is fast paced, unique, funny and fun for all ages. Skits n’ bits are made up on the spot from themes suggested by the audience. Described by the North-Tahoe Truckee Newspaper as “Mensa on Acid.”

Tahoe Improv Players

Tuesday, July 13 at 7:30pm

Valhalla Grand Hall
Tallac Historic Site

Tickets: $10 adults, $5 children

The Improv Players will play once again on August 10.

Click here to purchase your tickets online and to see the entire summer schedule, or call 530-541-4975 to order tickets by phone or buy tickets at the door.

The Valhalla Arts, Music & Theatre Festival takes place at the Tallac Historic Site located 2 miles north of the Y in South Lake Tahoe on Hwy 89.