The artisan winemaking families of Fair Play are putting on the 27th Annual Fair Play Wine Festival June 4-5 from 11am to 5pm.

The 17 participating wineries are planning festivities, including gourmet fare paired with Fair Play wines, live music, barrel tasting, art, demonstrations, wine specials, and much more.

Participating in the festival are Busby Cellars, Cantiga Wineworks, Chateau Routon, Colibri Ridge, DK Cellars, Fitzpatrick Winery, Granite Springs, Iverson Vineyards, Latcham Vineyards, Mellowood Vineyards, Mount Aukum, Oakstone, Perry Creek, Sierra Oaks, Single Leaf, Skinner Vineyards, and Toogood.

In addition to access to all of the festivities on both days, participants will receive a complimentary souvenir glass and a VINGO playing card. Prizes will be awarded for the completion of your card.

Tickets are $20 online, $15 at participating tasting rooms, and $20 at the door.

On Course Events presents BMX skills exhibition featuring 2008 Olympic BMX racing medalists Donny Robinson (bronze) and Mike Day (silver).

Along with Olympic athlete trainer Greg Romero, the riders will demonstrate what it takes to be an Olympic bike racer.

This will be May 15 at approximately 11:30am at the Y in South Lake Tahoe after the Amgen road bike racers make the first pass at highway 50 and 89.

The event is free.

The Washoe Tribe’s 21st annual Wa She Shu It Deh Native American Arts Festival is July 23-24 at the Tallac Historic Site on the South Shore

The festival features a basket weaving competition, native dancers, music, and arts and crafts.

Admission is free.

For more information, call 800.792.2746.

The Silver State National Peace Officers Museum’s Second Annual Police Memorial Week Parade in historic Virginia City is May 14 at noon.

This parade is held in honor of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty throughout history as well as for those who currently serve and have served their communities in the law enforcement profession.

The Silver State National Peace Officers Museum features historical artifacts from the law enforcement profession dating to the 1780s from all across America and is located within the 1876 Storey County Jail inside the courthouse.

The parade is in conjunction with a Restored Emergency Vehicle Show and Collectors Show which run from 9am to 4pm.

For more information, call the museum at (775) 847.7800.

Echo Summit closed at noon today. Access to the South Shore via Highway 50 is cutoff for 10 to 14 days while Caltrans replaces the rock retaining wall.

Highway 50 is open from the west to near the top of the summit so places like Echo Lakes can be accessed. It’s closed at the base of the summit in Meyers on the east side.

Highway 50 will be open with no restrictions on Memorial Day weekend.

Expect the alternate routes to add an hour of travel.

Suggested routes from the Bay Area and Central Valley are:

• From Sacramento: Exit at Power Inn Road and take Highway 16 east to Highway 49 south, at Highway 88 in Jackson, turn left (east). Take that to Highway 89 and turn left again (north), and follow it back to Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

• From Placerville: Exit at Missouri Flat Road and take Highway 49 south. Follow it to Highway 88 in Jackson and turn left (east), at Highway 89 turn left (north) and follow it back to Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

Wendy David of South Lake Tahoe said she drove between home and Placerville and back on Monday and was surprised by the amount of work that was done between 2-8pm. She said one lane of the road was torn up, as was part of the wall.

That was the first day the contractor was working on the road.

Sue Novasel, who lives at the base of the summit in Meyers, said the blasting from the project has been a bit disconcerting.

When the road does open, it will be to controlled traffic for about six weeks.

More information is online.

— Kathryn Reed

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and its partners invite residents and visitors to the first Wild Tahoe Weekend with fun, free events for the whole family.

Based at the Forest Service’s Taylor Creek Visitor Center, located three miles north of the Hwy 89/50 junction in South Lake Tahoe, this “wild weekend” offers the opportunity to experience Lake Tahoe’s natural world.

The weekend kicks off June 4 with the second annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival, sponsored by Forest Service and the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science. Learn about migratory birds and how local scientists are working to protect them.

Bring children to the special “Kids’ Zone” where they can learn to hoot like an owl, find out why birds have so many feathers, make bird “feeding sticks” out of peanut butter and birdseed and create bird nests.

Adults can find out how proper feeding and landscaping can attract desirable bird species, and learn from Cabela’s about binoculars and spotting scopes to make bird watching more enjoyable. Visitors of all ages can learn through talks about owls and migration, including a presentation by a falconer with live birds of prey.

Bird walks will take place every hour from 10:30am until 1:30pm at Taylor Creek. Bird walks are also scheduled for other locations around the lake. All walks are free, but space for the off-site walks is limited and preregistration is required.

To register, call Will Richardson at (530) 587.6895 or email will@tinsweb.org. To join a walk at Taylor Creek, just show up.

June 5 will mark the debut of the Festival of Native Species. Events will include planting native Tahoe yellow cress, a native fish release, a play and parade by the Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School, nature walks, games and crafts.

Events both days will run from 10am-4pm. Food will be available for purchase.

For a complete list of activities (all free), go online.

By Kathryn Reed

BlueGo, the South Shore bus system, is going to have a new operator this summer.

The current operator has told Tahoe Transportation District officials it will not be bidding on the route. Request for proposals are being solicited, with the closing date May 18.

TTD, which oversees the bus operation, entered into the $23,460 monthly contract with TRC Consultants last fall. The contract expires June 30.

TRC Consultants was originally hired by South Tahoe Area Transit Authority to run the buses after MV Transportation was fired by the now-bankrupt STATA board. TRC uses the name BlueGo Transit Management Inc. for its South Shore operation. The company is based in Florida.

The TTD board wants to have an operator on board so the transition is seamless. However, TTD Executive Director Carl Hasty told Lake Tahoe News if a viable operator could not be secured by the end of June “we would run it.”

The preliminary start list for the 2011 Amgen Tour de California has been announced. Rosters may change before the start of the race Sunday.

More than 140 riders from 18 elite cycling teams are set to compete in the sixth-annual Amgen Tour of California, which kicks off May 15 in Lake Tahoe. The race will cover nearly 800 miles of picturesque California roadways and highways from May 15–22.

The race, which has become the largest cycling event in America, will feature riders from around the world, including competitors from Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden.

The field will include riders from well-known teams such as Team RadioShack, HTC-Highroad, Saxo Bank Sungard, Leopard Trek and Team Garmin-Cervelo, who all will be competing to take the title in the overall team competition. Some of the notable riders planned to start the race include:

Tour de France Overall Podium Finishers

* Andy Schleck (LUX), Leopard Trek; second 2009

* Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack; third 2007

Tour de France Stage Winners

* George Hincapie (USA), BMC Racing Team (4)

* Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team RadioShack (2)

* David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Transitions (1)

* Thor Hushovd (NOR), Team Garmin-Cervelo (8)

* Oscar Freire (ESP), Rabobank Cycling Team (4)

* Andy Schleck (LUX), Leopard Trek (2)

* Kurt-Asle Arvesen (NOR), Sky Procycling (1)

* Linus Gerdemann (GER), Leopard Trek (1)

* Rubens Bertogliati (SUI), Team Type 1 – sanofi-aventis (1)

* Haimar Zubeldia (ESP), Team Radio Shack (1)

* Baden Cooke (AUS), Saxo Bank Sungard (1)

World Champions

* Thor Hushovd (NOR), Team Garmin-Cervelo

* Taylor Phinney (USA), BMC Racing Team

* Michael Matthews (AUS), Rabobank Cycling Team

* Lars Boom (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team

* Matthew Goss (AUS), HTC-Highroad

* Oscar Freire (ESP), Rabobank Cycling Team

* Danny Pate (USA), HTC-Highroad

Current National Champions (by country)

* Andy Schleck (LUX), Leopard Trek, Time Trial

* Thor Hushovd (NOR), Team Garmin-Cervelo, Road

* Taylor Phinney (USA), BMC Racing Team, Time Trial

* Gustav Larsson (SWE), Saxo Bank Sungard, Time Trial

* Rubens Bertogliati (SUI), Team Type 1 – sanofi-aventis, Time Trial

* Svein Tuft (CAN), Team Spidertech Powered by C10, Time Trial

* Will Routley (CAN), Team Spidertech Powered by C10, Road

American Stage Race Champions

* Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack), 2007-2009 Amgen Tour of California, 2010 Tour of Utah

* David Zabriskie (Team Garmin-Cervelo), 2009 Tour of Missouri

* Jeff Louder (BMC Racing Team), 2008 Tour of Utah

* Christian Vandevelde (Team Garmin-Cervelo), 2008 Tour of Missouri

* George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team), 2007 Tour of Missouri

* Chris Horner (Team RadioShack), 2003 Tour de Georgia

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 18 professional cycling teams. (Due to operational issues, previously announced Columbian-based Movistar Team will not be participating in the race.)

1) TEAM RADIOSHACK (USA)

* Levi Leipheimer (USA)

* Matthew Busche (USA)

* Chris Horner (USA)

* Markel Irizar (KAZ)

* Jason McCartney (USA)

* Dmtiriy Muravyev (KAZ)

* Ben King (USA)

* Haimar Zubeldia (ESP)

2) TEAM GARMIN-CERVELO (USA)

* David Zabriskie (USA)

* Thomas Danielson (USA)

* Ryder Hesjedal (CAN)

* Thor Hushovd (NOR)

* Daniel Martin (IRE)

* Andrew Talansky (USA)

* Johan Van Summeren (BEL)

* Christian Vandevelde (USA)

3) HTC-HIGHROAD (USA)

* Tejay Van Garderen (USA)

* Bernhard Eisel (AUT)

* Matthew Goss (AUS)

* Bert Grabsch (GER)

* Leigh Howard (AUS)

* Danny Pate (USA)

* Martin Velits (SVK)

* Peter Velits (SVK)

4) SKY PROCYCLING (GBR)

* Kurt-Asle Arvesen (NOR)

* Alex Dowsett (GBR)

* Christopher Froome (GBR)

* Mathew Hayman (AUS)

* Greg Henderson (NZL)

* Jeremy Hunt (GBR)

* Ian Stannard (GBR)

* Ben Swift (GBR)

5) BMC RACING TEAM (USA)

* George Hincapie (USA)

* Yannick Eijssen (BEL)

* Brent Bookwalter (USA)

* Chris Butler (USA)

* Jeff Louder (USA)

* Steve Morabito (SUI)

* Taylor Phinney (USA)

* Tim Roe (AUS)

6) LEOPARD TREK (LUX)

* Andy Schleck (LUX)

* Stefan Denifl (AUT)

* Martin Mortensen (DEN)

* Jakob Fuglsang (DEN)

* Linus Gerdemann (GER)

* Anders Lund (DEN)

* Martin Pedersen (DEN)

* Jens Voigt (GER)

7) LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE (ITA)

* Peter Sagan (SYK)

* Damiano Caruso (ITA)

* Timothy Duggan (USA)

* Edward King (USA)

* Daniel Oss (ITA)

* Simone Ponzi (ITA)

* Elia Viviani (ITA)

* Cameron Wurf (AUS)

8. SAXO BANK SUNGARD (DEN)

* Gustav Larsson (SWE)

* Baden Cooke (AUS)

* Juan Jose Haedo (ARG)

* Lucas Sebastian Haedo (ARG)

* Rafal Majka (POL)

* Nick Nuyens (BEL)

* Jonas Aaen Jorgensen (DEN)

* Brian Vandborg (DEN)

9) RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM (NED)

* Oscar Freire (ESP)

* Lars Boom (NED)

* Coen Vermeltfoort (NED)

* Paul Martens (GER)

* Michael Matthews (AUS)

* Grischa Niermann (GER)

* Laurens Ten Dam (DEN)

* Maarten Tjallingii (NED)

10) UNITEDHEALTHCARE PRO CYCLING (USA)

* Rory Sutherland (AUS)

* Robert Forster (GER)

* Christopher Jones (USA)

* Christian Meier (CAN)

* Karl Menzies (AUS)

* Andrew Pinfold (CAN)

* Charles Wegelius (GBR)

* Bradley White (USA)

11) TEAM TYPE 1 – sanofi-aventis (USA)

* Rubens Bertogliati (SUI)

* Laszlo Bodrogi (FRA)

* Daniele Callegarin (ITA)

* Alexander Efimkin (RUS)

* Aldo Ino Ilesic (SLO)

* Valeriy Kobzarenko (UKR)

* Jure Kocjan (SLO)

* Javier Megias Leal (KAZ)

12) TEAM NETAPP (GER)

* Jesus Del Nero Montes (SPA)

* Jan Barta (CZE)

* Timon Seubert (GER)

* Andreas Dietziker (SUI)

* Alexander Gottfried (GER)

* Bartosz Huzarski (POL)

* Leopold Konig (CZE)

* Andreas Schillinger (GER)

13) TEAM SPIDERTECH POWERED BY C10 (CAN)

* Svein Tuft (CAN)

* Ryan Anderson (CAN)

* Zachary Bell (CAN)

* Lucas Euser (USA)

* Martin Gilbert (CAN)

* Kevin Lacombe (CAN)

* Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA)

* Will Routley (CAN)

14) BISSELL PRO CYCLING (USA)

* Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA)

* Chris Baldwin (USA)

* Rob Britton (CAN)

* Andy Jacques-Maynes (USA)

* Paul Mach (USA)

* Frank Pipp (USA)

* Jay Thomson (RSA)

* Jeremy Vennell (NZL)

15) JAMIS-SUTTER HOME (USA)

* Luis Romero Amaran (CUB)

* Alejandro Alberto Borrajo (ARG)

* Anibal Andres Borraio (ARG)

* James Driscoll (USA)

* Tom Zirbel (USA)

* Andy Guptill (USA)

* Jose Fernando Antogna (ARG)

* Tyler Wren (USA)

16) JELLY BELLY CYCLING TEAM p/b KENDA (USA)

* Bernard Van Ulden (USA)

* Alex Hagman (USA)

* Nic Hamlton (CAN)

* Ken Hanson (USA)

* Sergio Hernandez (USA)

* Alastair Loutit (AUS)

* Sean Mazich (USA)

* Jeremy Powers (USA)

17) KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES–OPTUMHEALTH (USA)

* Andrew Bajadali (USA)

* Jesse Anthony (USA)

* Dan Bowman (USA)

* Alexander Candelario (USA)

* Michael Creed (USA)

* Jason Donald (USA)

* Michael Friedman (USA)

* Reid Mumford (USA)

18.) KENDA/5-HOUR ENERGY PRO CYCLING Powered by Geargrinder (USA)

* Benjamin Day (AUS)

* Luca Damiani (ITA)

* Phillip Gaimon (USA)

* Chad Hartley (USA)

* Roman Kilun (USA)

* Shawn Milne (USA)

* Jacob Rytlewski (USA)

* James Stemper (USA)

The 2010 Amgen Tour of California reigning champion, Michael Rogers, will not be participating in the race this year due to a serious illness.

Children experience more stress today than ever before, living in a world that often seems to move at a dizzying pace. Does your child experience:

*fears

*shyness

*test anxiety

*difficulty dealing with change

*sadness

*negative effects from being bullied.

If you answered yes, then consider learning practical coping strategies and the method Emotional Freedom Technique.

The class will cover:

*how EFT works

*the best language to use with children

*when to use EFT

*using EFT when everything is going great – to make things even greater

*using EFT with children of all ages.

Two workshops are offered May 22 — 9am-noon and 1-4pm.

Both are Balance Body Fitness Studio, 276 Kingsbury Grade, Ste. 107 (next to the 7-Eleven), Stateline.

Cost is $20 per person or $30 per family (two adult family members). It includes a workbook.

Register by going online or call Balance Fitness (775) 580.7267.

Pre-registration ends May 20 at 5pm. If space is available, registrations will be taken at the door.

Free childcare available on site as this is a workshop for adults only.

The workshop will be taught by South Shore mind-body therapist Rosemary Manning.

Setting Boundaries and Strengthening Self-Esteem and Confidence is a class facilitated by Dana McKnight Flentroy on June 13 from 5:30-8:30pm.

Research has provided insight to a child’s development and the influence of positive parenting, particularly for children with early “rough” starts.

The class will draw from the curriculum of Love & Logic, Positive Parenting and Beyond Consequences.

The class is at Lake Tahoe Community College,1 College Drive, Aspen Room, South Lake Tahoe.

RSVP to Dana at (530) 541.4660 x528 or mcknight@ltcc.edu.