The Avoid the 6 El Dorado County DUI Campaign is reminding football fans watching this year’s Super Bowl game with friends and family to make the right decision before kickoff and have a game plan for a designated sober driver.

Law Enforcement joins with the national “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” message from the National Football League, the California Office of Traffic Safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management Coalition.

The Avoid the 6 DUI Task Force will be deploying special roving DUI patrols on Feb. 5 in several communities throughout the area looking to stop and arrest drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs. These DUI patrols are, in addition to regularly scheduled patrol officers, all looking for the tale-tell signs of an intoxicated driver behind the wheel.

In 2010, more than 10,000 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. In Californian, this deadly crime led to 791 deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver.

The 7th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival returns to MontBleu in Stateline on March 9 at 7pm.

With a growing public awareness for the environment, the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival producers say the aim is to increase awareness through inspiring and educational films, which hopefully will motivate people to go out and make a difference in their community and around the world.

Hosted by the Sierra Nevada Alliance, Patagonia, and the South Lake Tahoe Earth Day Committee, the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival combines award winning environmental and adventure films with the energy of local activism.

For tickets, call (530) 542.4546, ext. 305.

The Humane Society of the United States offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for shooting a bolt (arrow) into the head of a cat on the evening of Dec. 20 in the 500 block of Sunlight Drive in Diamond Springs.

The Humane Society of the Sierra Foothills has also added $3,000 to the reward.

“Our officers have been investigating the case, but we have not come up with any solid leads yet,” Henry Brzezinski, chief of El Dorado County Animal Services, said in a press release.. “At this point, we believe this was an intentional act and we want to find out who is responsible. Studies show that people who commit acts of animal cruelty are more likely to also commit violent crimes against people.”

The cat that was shot with the crossbow, a 4-year-old male Tabby named Taz, received emergency veterinary treatment following the incident and is doing well, according to Brzezinski.

Animal Services is asking for assistance from the community to help in the investigation by calling (530) 621.5795.

Lake Tahoe News on Tuesday received four awards from the North American Travel Journalists Association.

The 2011 NATJA Awards Competition, now in its 20th year, honors the “best of the best” of travel writing, photography and promotion that cover all aspects of the travel industry worldwide.

“This year’s entries were outstanding, both in quality of the journalism, excellence and range of coverage,” Helen Hernandez, CEO of the organization, said in a statement. “The number of entries continues to grow. The creativity is reflective of the vibrancy of the travel journalists’ community. This year’s entry pool is an indicative of the economic recovery and its positive effect on the travel industry.”

Pandas in China earned Lake Tahoe News a first place travel writing award. Photo/Kathryn Reed

One first place (Gold) winner is chosen in each of the 59 categories along with 2nd (Silver) and 3rd place (Bronze) runners up.

Lake Tahoe News submitted five entries for the online division and won in four of those categories.

The winners are:

• Eco, Environmental or Special Purpose Travel:

Gold: Kathryn Reed, Taking a walk on the wild side with panda paradise

• Sports and Recreation:

Silver: Susan Wood, Pedaling back in time through the hills of Vermont

• Resorts:

Silver: Susan Wood, Woodstock Inn – a landmark for the season and the ages

• Intergenerational and Family Travel:

Bronze: Kathryn Reed, South Dakota, a land of family history.

“Being recognized by your peers is always a humbling experience,” Lake Tahoe News Publisher Kathryn Reed said. “For Lake Tahoe News to do so well in its first competition is extremely gratifying. We know Lake Tahoe is a wonderful place to live, work and play, but we will continue to share with our readers the other magnificent places the world has to offer and hope that you enjoy reading those articles as much as we enjoy bringing them to you.”

The mission of NATJA is to foster high quality journalism by supporting the professional development of its members, providing exceptional benefits and valuable resources, honoring the excellence of journalism throughout the world, and promoting travel and leisure activities to the public at large.

The Kings Beach Snowfest Parade is March 10 from 11:30am-12:30pm.

The North Tahoe Business Association hosts this annual fun-filled event featuring entertaining entries from many local community and nonprofit organizations.

After the parade there are Snowfest activities and events.

For more information, call (530) 546.9000.

Tahoe Cross Country Ski Education Foundation is having a Full Moon Yurt Dinner Fundraiser on Feb. 3.

Douglas Dale of Wolfdale’s will be the chef for the night.

The evening adventure starts with a moonlit ski or snowshoe from the Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area to the trailside warming hut on Yellow trail where there will be fireside hot mulled wine and hot chocolate. The terrain is gentle.

Skiers return to the yinner Yurt. When the meal is complete you are within walking distance to your car. Limited tickets are available at $65 per person. This is an evening out for adults. All money raised benefits the Winter Discovery Program at Tahoe Cross Country.

Call (530) 583.5475 to make a reservation for the 6-9pm.

Sugar Bowl Resort will host its annual Environmental Awareness Day on Feb. 4.

A vendor village on the Judah Lodge deck will showcase local environmental organization’s services and programs, offering tips and ideas on how to live a greener lifestyle. Sugar Bowl will provide insight and details on the resort’s programs and policies in place for its extensive environmental stewardship efforts.

Businesses slated to participate include the Sierra Green Builder’s Association, Sierra Nevada Journeys, Envirolution, 3 Degrees and the Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships.

Sugar Bowl will match dollars on all Ski Green Tags purchased on Environmental Awareness Day as a charitable donation supporting Ski Green’s efforts. The tags are available for purchase at all resort ticket outlets for $2 a day or $20 for the season, with proceeds helping to offset carbon footprints emitted while traveling to and from the resort.

Lisa Phenix will provide music from 2-5pm.

For more information, go online.

Experience the swing and rhythm of the 1940s on Feb. 10 from 7-9:30pm when the North Tahoe High School jazz band takes to Tahoe City’s Granlibakken ballroom stage.

The ’40s Night brings to life an era when all of America was listening and dancing to the same music: Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey, to name a few.

This homage to “the greatest generation” is also a key fundraiser for the NTHS Jazz Band’s goodwill tour in March. Under the direction of Dean Nordby, this band plans to perform at a variety of schools, hospitals and senior centers in San Diego.

Attendees are encouraged to don 1940s garb or at the very least bring a swingin’ attitude.

Tickets are $20 per person and include appetizers and a no host bar. Buy tickets from any NTHS jazz band member or at the door.

For more information, call (530) 581.1669.

Volatile oil prices. Looming climate change. Worldwide economic and political unrest. Worsening traffic congestion. Crisis in transportation financing.

All of that will be discussed Feb. 23 at the Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability lecture.

The 6pm event is at the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village.

Facing the consequences brought about by uncontrolled growth and neglected carbon awareness, America’s ongoing love affair with the car will continue to cause widespread environmental impacts and global conflicts over oil supply, according to the college. These challenges and their solutions are the ongoing focus of research by the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis. For over two decades, understanding the challenges and solutions have been the nexus of institute’s work.

Dan Sperling and Tom Turrentine will present their insight of current strategies and research, and promulgate their views of the rapidly evolving transportation and energy solutions of the future. The duo will unveil how new technologies will allow consumers to access a suite of transportation and energy applications, ranging from dynamic real-time ride sharing applications, to programs that help consumers conserve energy in their cars and homes. As tomorrow’s advanced transportation technologies rapidly unfolds, will Lake Tahoe’s environmentally sensitive communities be ready to drive to a sustainable future?

A No-host bar begins at 5:30pm. A $10 donation is suggested.

For additional information, call (775) 881.7566 or email tercinfo@ucdavis.edu.

Kirsten Duane is today’s Random Acts of Kindness winner.

She spent the weekend at the hospital with a friend who broke her leg after slipping on ice, then opened her home for a birthday bash for another friend since friend A was no longer capable of being the hostess.

Kirsten will be receiving a gift basket from Heart Rock Herb & Spice Co.

Today is the final day to participate in Lake Tahoe News’ Random Acts of Kindness promotion. It’s about being kind — random or otherwise. Tell us what you have seen, what has happened to you or what you have done.

All previous posts may be found at the top of the page under the Random Acts of Kindness category.