Representatives from 19 organizations with a broad array of interests will gather in Sacramento today for the 7th Annual Sierra Day in the Capital. The message they’ll bring to legislators and staff members is about the importance of the Sierra Nevada Region to the entire state.

Organizations representing cattlemen, businesses, water resources, land trusts, and other groups will walk the halls and attend meetings in the Capitol. Accompanying Sierra Day this year will be a Sierra photo gallery with works by professional photographers from throughout the region, as well as the unveiling of a permanent window box display showing the Sierra as the source for 65 percent of the state’s water. Both displays are located in the hallway outside the governor’s office.

Participating organizations include the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Sierra Fund, Bear-Yuba Partnership, California Cattlemen’s Association, California Forestry Association, California Rangeland Trust, California Ski Industry Association, CalTrout, Mountain Counties Water Resources Association, Northern Sierra Partnership, Pacific Forest Trust, Planning and Conservation League, Regional Council of Rural Counties, Sierra Business Council, Sierra-Cascade Land Trust Council, Sierra Environmental Water Caucus, Sierra Nevada Alliance, Southern Sierra Partnership, and The Trust for Public Land.

Spring Choir Concert featuring the Blue Ribbon Choir, Tahoe Belles, South Tahoe High School Choir and Tahoe Community Choir on April 23 from 7-8pm at St. Theresa main sanctuary in South Lake Tahoe.

Donation of $5 is requested.

Proceeds will benefit two traveling competitions.

For information, call Paul Kushner at (530) 541.4111.

Unity at the Lake is having a murder-mystery fundraiser on May 14 from 6-9pm at Embassy Suites in South Lake Tahoe. Click on Unity for more details.

By Kathryn Reed

ZEPHYR COVE — Financial issues dominated Tuesday’s agenda for the Douglas County School District board of trustees.

The board on a 6-0 vote (Keith Roman was absent) agreed on a contract with the various unions that includes this school year and 2010-11. No raises will be given, but no one will be laid off because of budget cuts either. That was a critical agreement.

However, layoffs will occur because of declining enrollment. Those cuts should be finalized by the end of the month. Most likely three or four teachers will lose their jobs and possibly one classified position will be cut.

Susan Lacey, president of the Douglas County Professional Educators Association, said the dreary financial situation in the state led her group, the bus drivers, and support staff organization to settle now.

“We thought it would be better to get things wrapped up,” Lacey told Lake Tahoe News. “We thought it better not to continue with language issues (in the contract) and just get the salary wrapped up.”

The union had its eye on Washoe County where cuts have been harsh as well as Clark County because it may re-open labor negotiations.

No one is getting a raise. However, the district is funding the step increase (an automatic raise for teachers based on years of service) even though the state is not reimbursing it for this expense. The district is also funding a 0.5 percent increase to the Public Employee Retirement System for the two-year period.

The money for this is coming from a reduction in insurance costs. Employees don’t pay a penny for their health insurance – it’s call covered by the district, which is self-insured. The district is going to pay close to $90 less per month for a total of $575/month for each of the nearly 900 insured employees. The savings will pay for the other items.

“That freed up money to deal with budget cuts,” Assistant Superintendent Rich Alexander said.

Employees will not see a change in their health care plans.

“We have a budget for this year and next that keeps us solvent,” Alexander said.

With Nevada looking to make further cuts to education, the future is murky for the state’s school districts.

Also on the agenda Tuesday was a revision of the qualified school construction bond language that then affected Ameresco’s energy savings contract.

The board expects to have a public hearing May 19 on the 2010-11 budget.

It’s another beautiful day to ski in Lake Tahoe. Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

Two men with long ties to the South Shore have died in the past few days – Jon Springmeyer and Ron Bricker.

Mr. Springmeyer, the son of Marjorie Springmeyer and the late Buzz Springmeyer, was an attorney in Carson City. He died of cancer.

Mr. Bricker moved to South Lake Tahoe in 1987. One of his jobs has been the webmaster for his sister Deb Howard’s real estate company. He also managed the Royal Tahoe Vacation Club in Stateline. He died of a heart attack.

• Adults ages 19-plus can ski or ride for $59 at Kirkwood Mountain Resort until it closes April 25. Sugar Bowl’s 2010-11 season passes are on sale starting at $299.

• South Tahoe Public Utility District board President Dale Rise will be arraigned May 11 on charges stemming from a September incident at his home when he allegedly grabbed a police officer’s Taser.

• Standard and Poors upgraded South Lake Tahoe’ Redevelopment Agency’s bond rating from BBB-minus to BBB-plus.

• IVGID candidates’ forum is on May 3 from 6-8:30pm at The Chateau in Incline Village.

• Spend $30 on wine, beer, cordials and appetizers to benefit Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe on May 11 from 7-9pm at Edgewood Tahoe in Stateline.

• The North Tahoe Business Association is creating the Great Tahoe to Truckee Xtreme Clean on June 5 in an attempt to beautify the area from Incline Village to Tahoe City and into Truckee before the summer crowds arrive.

• Rotary Club of South Lake Tahoe is hosting its 12th annual car raffle. This fundraiser offers a chance to win one of three automobiles or $25,000 cash as the grand prize. Second prize is $1,000 cash. For information, contact Dick Derby at (530) 543.5841 or dderby@bartonhealth.org.

Oscar winning screenwriter of “American Beauty” Alan Ball has created a stage play called “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” that will run in South Lake Tahoe from April 29-May 9.

Directed by Dave Hamilton, the play kicks off the Valhalla Arts and Music Festival. The cast is full of local Tahoe folks like Briana Biller; Stephanie Grigsby; Ginger Davis; Meg Peart; Michelle Hirschfield and Matt Ault.

Briana Biller; Stephanie Grigsby; Ginger Davis; Meg Peart; Michelle Hirschfield

During an ostentatious wedding in Tennessee, five reluctant, identically clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom, each with their own reason to avoid the proceedings below. As the afternoon wears on, these five different women joyously discover a common bond in this funny stage-play, an irreverent and touching celebration of the women’s spirit.

Show dates and times are: April 29, 7:30pm; April 30, 7:30pm; May 1, 7:30pm; May 6 at 7:30pm; May 7, 7:30pm; May 8, 7:30pm; and May 9, 2pm.

Ticket prices (except for opening night) are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. (Due to language and adult situations this play is not recommended for children under 17.) Tickets may be purchased at www.valhallatahoe.com or call (530) 541.4975. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

On opening night April 29 Apres Wine Company will host a special wine tasting at the Valhalla Grand Hall. Ticket prices for opening night will include the wine tasting at $28 per person and $50 per couple. Wine tasting starts at 6pm, followed by the show at 7:30pm.

The Tahoe Tallac Historic Site is located at 1 Valhalla Road, Highway 89, South Lake Tahoe.

For the full schedule, call (530) 541.4975 or go to www.valhallatahoe.com.

CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, is hosting its fourth annual South Lake Tahoe fundraiser on May 1 at 7pm at the Marcus Ashley Fine Art Gallery called, An Evening of Opulence.

Cuisine is by The Cork & More, desserts by Katie Cakes, wines by Madrona Vineyards, FOLIO Wine Partners and Crystal Basin Cellars.

This gala will offer an evening of live entertainment, fine art, plus a live and silent auction led by George Alm.

Tickets are $75 a person, with all of the proceeds going to support local children.

CASA El Dorado, a nonprofit organization, recruits, trains, and matches volunteer advocates with children that are part of the court system as a result of abuse or neglect. CASA volunteers are appointed directly by a judge and attend each court hearing, advocating for the best interests of the child.

CASA is a national organization serving in counties throughout the United States.

CASA El Dorado has served more than 400 children in the last 12 months, speaking up as a voice for children in court and in life.

Call Laurie at (530) 622-9882 for tickets.

To contractors,

I’m so glad to be able to finally release the 8-hour (1 day) Training Program we told you about. Working out the logistics took a few weeks longer than expected.

Lake Tahoe Community College is set to offer the training to all of you who expressed interest in getting some work out of the $1.5 million grant we received to conduct Lead Based Paint remediation for 100 local homes during the next 2.5 years.

For the first 40 spots, the grant will cover the cost of the training except for $50 (for the 8-hour course). Completion of the course will allow you to receive your EPA and HUD certifications for Lead Safe Workers. Call now to reserve your spot, or send in the registration form. After the first 40 spots are filled, participants can still get training, it will cost them between $75-$100.

Other training: You’ll see on the flyer the Supervisor training (1-week) course is being offered to up to 10 General Contractors – you must have a GC license to get this training. The grant will cover the registration (about $900) for the course. You’d need to cover any hotel/personal expenses (the training is in Richmond).

Read the flyer and give us a call for more questions.

Thank you for your patience. We expect to have some work for you on these 100 small projects come this summer — June–July.

Nancy Kerry, South Lake Tahoe Redevelopment & Housing Manager