The Sunchaser Challenge, a sporting event from sunrise to sunset that features orienteering, running, mountain biking, road biking and kayaking, is headed to north Lake Tahoe.

The North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus and Chamber of Commerce secured the multi-discipline adventure challenge set for May 22 at Northstar-at-Tahoe in Truckee.

The challenge will be in four time zones across the United States, including Lake Saranac in New York, Lake Geneva in Wisconsin and Lake Havasu in Arizona in addition to North Lake Tahoe, as part of Endangered Species Day.

According to race officials, approximately 1,000 competitors are expected to participate in each of the four event venues. Registration is now open for individuals and teams of two to five racers.

The North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus and Chamber of Commerce are working in partnership with Wild Ones Promotions at the local level to bring access to sites for competitors to undertake the competition disciplines, secure various permissions needed for facilities and logistics, as well as coordinate safety components associated with servicing the participating athletes.

El Dorado County sheriff’s candidates will congregate in El Dorado Hills on April 20 at 7pm in the El Dorado Hills Community Services District Pavillion, 1021 Harvard Way.

Candidates are: John D’Agostini, district attorney’s investigator; Larry Hennick, retired sheriff’s sergeant; Ernie Hillman, retired sheriff’s captain; Bob Luca, retired chief of the California Bureau of Investigation; George Nielsen, Placerville police chief; and Craig Therkildsen, El Dorado County sheriff’s captain.

Written questions from the audience will be asked. A member of the League of Women Voters will moderate.

Celebrate Mother Earth at the South Lake Tahoe Earth Day Festival on April 17 from 10am to 5pm at Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe.

The South Shore Earth Day Festival recognizes, celebrates, and promotes the region’s unique beauty and educates the public on local environmental issues. Learn about ways to counteract global climate change through recycling and composting, alternative energy, water conservation, forest health, sustainability, and reducing our ecological footprint. Earth Day is one of the largest public environmental events of the year in the Lake Tahoe area and is a zero waste, volunteer-run, and nonprofit event.

Earth Day Schedule

10:00–10:45 Mojo Green Project

11–11:15 Washoe Earth Day Opening Ceremony

11:15–12:15 The Big Nasty

12:30–12:45 Kids’ Eco-Costume Parade

12:45–1:45 The Pine Needles

2– 2:15 Alternative Transportation/Small Prize Raffle Drawing

2:15–3:15 Patafunk

3:15–3:30 Big Prize Raffle Drawing

3:30–5 Big Light

There will be live music all day.

The Earth Day Raffle is an integral part to supporting each year’s event made possible by generous donations from the Tahoe community. Take an alternative form of transportation (bike, walk, etc.) to South Shore Earth Day this year and get a free raffle ticket to be entered into a special drawing.

A best management practices workshop for contractors will be April 16 from 8am-4:30pm at Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe.

Learn how to install BMPs for single family residences. Licensed contractors who pass the course will have their businesses listed in the 2010 BMP Installation Service Providers List, distributed by the BMP Retrofit partners to homeowners.

For registration information, contact the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension at (775) 832.4150 or visit www.trpa.org.

Lake Tahoe Eco-Symposium at The Resort at Squaw Creek on April 23 from 9am-5pm.

What: Electronic Waste Management; free public disposal/recycling of e-waste.

When: June 5, Aug. 28, Aug. 29 9am-3pm

Where: South Lake Tahoe Middle School,2940 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe

Information: 866.335.3373 or www.noewaste.com

A best management practices workshop for contractors will be April 16 from 8am-4:30pm at Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe.

Learn how to install BMPs for single family residences. Licensed contractors who pass the course will have their businesses listed in the 2010 BMP Installation Service Providers List, distributed by the BMP Retrofit partners to homeowners.

For registration information, contact the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension at (775) 832.4150 or visit www.trpa.org.

Although the Sierra Nevada is a North American butterfly diversity “hotspot,” the Tahoe basin isn’t. But that doesn’t mean you can’t attract a fascinating array of butterflies to your garden.

This talk will cover the species you are most likely to see, and touch on the rich fauna that you can access easily within just a few miles of thebBasin.

Arthur M. Shapiro is a distinguished professor of Evolution and Ecology at UC Davis, where he has been on the faculty since 1971. His research focuses on the ecology and biogeography of butterflies, and he is the author of about 300 scientific papers as well as “Field Guide to the Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions” (UC Press, 2007).

Prior to the program, join the North Lake Tahoe Demonstration Garden for a Green Thumb garden tour from 4:45 to 5:30pm outside in the Demonstration Garden’s butterfly garden.

Date: Aug. 5

Time: 4:45pm garden tour outside in Demonstration Garden.

5:30pm No-Host Bar.

Program begins promptly at 6pm.

Cost: $5 donation requested.

Location: Assembly Room, Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village (on the campus of Sierra Nevada College).

An evening filled with 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 cost is only $30; all tax deductible.

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