Mother Goose on the Loose at the South Lake Tahoe branch library on Thursday through June 23 starting at 11am.

A lap sit story time for little ones up to 2 years old. “Mother Goose on the Loose” is an award winning program that combines music, movement, visual literacy and language development to help children get ready to read.

Join the Tahoe Rim Trail Association for its annual National Winter Trails Day. Participate in a day of winter recreation, presentations, and activities on Jan. 8 between 10am and 2pm. The event will be near the west end of Tahoe Meadows on the south side of Mt. Rose Highway. To participate, contact Tom at (775) 298.0238, programs@tahoerimtrail.org.

The TRTA will be offering free guided snowshoe hikes throughout the day, providing users with useful information on winter travel as well as dramatic views of Lake Tahoe. Tahoe Mountain Sports will also be on site to showcase winter recreation gear, from MSR and Kahtoola snowshoes to avalanche beacons and probes.

A presentation by the American Red Cross on winter safety and preparedness will take place at noon, along with an assortment of other talks on how to make this winter season as enjoyable as possible. For younger winter enthusiasts, there will be an ongoing snowman contest throughout the day, along with snow shelter construction and demonstrations.

Explore Tahoe will also be partnering with TRTA in hosting a guided snowshoe hike from 9am to noon to 12 at the Kingsbury North Trailhead near Heavenly Mountain Resort. Post-hike hot beverages and treats will be provided! To participate, call Lauren Tomaselli at Explore Tahoe at (530) 542.4637.

The Truckee Noon Rotary Club is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations through the end of 2010 to host the live auction at the club’s 2011 Crab & Pasta Feed.

Each year a local nonprofit group runs the live auction at the Rotary Club’s Crab & Pasta Feed. The organization selected to operate the live auction will receive all proceeds raised from the auction. Previously, groups have earned from $4,000 to $14,000 for their causes. The event will be March 19 at the new Truckee Community Recreation Center. Rotary will provide the venue, the auctioneer, and the bidding audience.

Potential candidates will be asked to present at the Rotary Club of Truckee board of directors meeting on Jan. 4 for final selection. All nonprofit groups interested in being considered must submit a letter to the Rotary Club of Truckee board by Dec. 31.

Letters should include the name of the nonprofit organization, a request for consideration, and an explanation of what the organization does for the community. The letter should also communicate to the board the organization’s capability to secure donated items and setup and run the live auction.

If your organization is interested in being considered, please email your letter to Erin Winter at erinmd@gmail.com. For additional information on the Crab & Pasta Feed call Erin at (775) 342.3692 or visit www.truckeerotary.org

Explore Tahoe Visitor Center Winter Speaker Series Kick Off is Dec. 23 at 6pm. Mark McLauglin, a  Tahoe weather historian and local author, will present “Reign of the Sierra Storm King”, a history of the most devastating storms to hit the Sierras and a look at how climate change is impacting Lake Tahoe.

A $5 donation is requested.

Refreshments will be served.

Explore Tahoe is located in the Heavenly Village next to North Face at 4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

For more information, call (530) 542.4637.

Publisher’s note: This is reprinted from the July 1973 Lake Tahoe Historical Society newsletter.

Our July program is really an exciting one!

Guest speaker will be Velma Comstock Eden, the only person alive today to have actually lived at Tallac House [‘Lucky’ Baldwin’s world-famous resort hotel that existed as Tahoe’s southwest shore between the years 1874-1925].

Lake Tahoe Historical Society

Mrs. Eden was born at Tallac in the year 1900. She spent some 13 years growing up on the grounds of Tallac while her parents, the Harry O. Comstocks, were overseeing the operation of Baldwin’s elegant 3½ story hostelry.

During these years, Tallac House was regarded as the “Summer Resort of the World”. Located in a magnificent grove of virgin pines in the vicinity of what is today the Kiva Beech Picnic Area, Tallac House catered exclusively to the fashionable summer tourist. It boasted the “finest casino in America,” as well as 8-course meals served to the music of a string orchestra, promenade walks, bridle paths, gleaming white guest cottages, a fleet of fishing boats, 45 riding horses, a boathouse and pier, splendid gardens, and a dining room that seated 100 people and had picture windows on the lake side.

A fascinating woman with a tremendous storehouse of memories, Mrs. Eden has a quite a story to tell about the day of elegant, leisure living at Tahoe’s southwest shore.

Be shore and bring your friends! This will be a one-and-only-opportunity to hear the first-hand story of Baldwin’s legendary Tallac House.

Complementing Mrs. Eden’s talk will be numerous extra-large historical photographs. A social hour and refreshments will follow her presentation.

The Red Hut Lake Tahoe will host a Burger Night fundraiser to benefit the Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation on Dec. 15 from 5-7:30pm at the Ski Run Boulevard location.

Open exclusively for this event, the Red Hut will be serving up combos that include a burger, homemade chips and a fountain soda for a $10 donation to the foundation. Ice cream treats and shakes will be $1 off. Proceeds will benefit the foundation scholarship fund.

There are 500 tickets for this week’s Red Hut Burger Night which will enable the foundation to receive a $5,000 donation. Tickets are available at the foundation building Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 4pm or by calling (530) 314.9285.

In the spirit of the holidays the Après Wine Co. will also host a Wine Down fundraiser event to support the foundation on the same day from 11am to 10pm. The Après Wine Co. is located in the Ski Run Center across from the Red Hut. Mention you support the foundation when making a purchase; 10 percent of purchases will be donated back to the foundation.

Lake Valley Fire Protection District announces the 2010 schedule for the Santa Claus engine:

Dec. 15: Angora Highlands, Lake Tahoe Blvd between Boulder Mountain and North Upper Truckee, and North Upper Truckee to Grizzly Mountain – including the Mt. Rainier neighborhoods.

Dec. 16: North Upper Truckee from Grizzly Mountain to Highway 50.

Dec. 17: Christmas Valley.

Dec. 18: Lower Apache (Meyers area north of Highway 50), Cornelian and Navahoe (behind Station 7 in Meyers).

Dec. 19: Upper Apache (Player Court to Ottawa Drive) and Mandan.

Dec. 20: North side of Pioneer Trail from Highway 50 in Meyers to Elks Club.

Dec. 21: Pioneer Trail from Busch Way to Jicarilla Drive.

Dec. 22: Golden Bear, Marshall Trail.

Dec. 23: Fair Meadows, Cold Creek Trail, Black Bart.

For questions, contact Leona Allen at (530) 577.3737.

Get on the slopes today before the storm rolls in on Tuesday.

Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

By Kathryn Reed

A few dishes I know how to make by memory, though this actually means it’s never made the same way twice. Such is the case with the tortilla black bean casserole.

I just made it. And then I thought I would go see what I do differently from the recipe. That’s always an interesting revelation.

I have not been putting cumin in my mixture. I must remember to remedy that next time I make the recipe. And I seldom put in tomatoes because I put in more picante sauce than the recipe calls for.

Unfortunately, I don’t remember where I originally got the recipe. Maybe I have adjusted it enough to call it my own creation.

What I like about this medley of food is the spiciness can be adjusted depending on who else is at the table, it feeds a lot of people and it tastes even better the next day. Plus, it freezes well for leftovers down the road. Even better, it’s easy and fast to make.

The cheese can be whatever you like. If you have bigger tortillas, just wing it. When I have fresh cilantro I throw it into the mix or on top or serve on the side – or all of the above. Sour cream and avocado go with most any Mexican dish.

For a complete meal I like to serve it with Spanish rice and a green salad.

Tortilla Black Bean Casserole

1 medium-large onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 16oz. jar picante sauce

2 cloves (at least) garlic, minced

2 tsp ground cumin

2 15 oz. cans black beans, drained

12 6-inch tortillas

2 C (at least) Monterey jack cheese, grated

1 can diced green chilies

In large skillet, combine onion and green pepper. Sauté until onion is transparent. Add garlic, cumin and picante sauce. Bring to boil, reduce heat. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir in beans and green chilies.

In 9×13 pan spread 1/3 of bean mixture, top with tortillas, overlapping as necessary, then half of the cheese, more beans, tortillas, beans and cheese.

Bake in 350-degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until heated through.

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