Lake Valley Fireman’s Ball at MontBleu casino in Stateline on March 19 at 8 pm; $35.

Lake Tahoe School is partnering with UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center to host the 5th Annual Science Expo on March 19 from 4-7pm.

This year’s Expo has been designed to foster students’ excitement for and academic interest in science. There will be 20 “hands-on” physical science investigations and experiments that focus specifically on the dynamics of energy and matter.

Admission is free. This is good for elementary-age kids.

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

For more information, call Lake Tahoe School at (775) 831.5828.

There’s powder on those ski hills. Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

By Rex Norman

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is seeking public comment on a proposal that would allow planting of conifer seedlings in the Angora Fire area this spring.

An environmental assessment for comprehensive restoration of the Angora Fire area will be released by mid-March, and the agency has previously analyzed reforestation as part of this project. However, the Forest Service is seeking to expedite a decision on reforestation to allow for the planting of 745 acres, of which 450 could occur in April 2010.

Typically, forests place orders for conifer seedlings to nurseries about one and a half to two years before they expect to plant. Accordingly, the Forest Service submitted an order for planting in the Angora Fire area, which will be delivered this spring, before a decision on the larger project is signed. The Lake Tahoe Basin has a very short time frame in which soil moisture and temperature are favorable for planting.

In the previous two rounds of public participation, the public supported reforesting with a mix of native conifers — including Jeffrey pine, rust resistant sugar pine, incense cedar and red fir — as proposed by the Forest Service. In areas of the forest that burned at high severity, little to no natural regeneration of seedlings has occurred. In many areas, early planting will help prevent regrowth of less desirable species, such as white fir, as well as competition from shrubs.

The Forest Service plans to plant 200-250 trees per acre to account for seedling die-off, which is expected to be 30 to 40 percent within the first three years due to factors such as transport stress, storage conditions, planting technique, poor planting sites or lack of sufficient water and nutrients. While crews will plant trees in an even pattern, seedling mortality will eventually result in a mosaic of tree densities throughout the project area. Seedlings could incur higher mortality (50-60 percent, including natural mortality) in areas slated for removal of dead tree and surface logs to reduce future fire severity, although fuels reduction projects will be designed to minimize seedling damage.

To increase the seedlings’ chance of survival, crews will remove competing vegetation for up to 3 feet surrounding the seedling during planting and as needed during future years. The seedlings will be 1-year-old and about 6 inches high when they arrive. The Placerville Nursery supplies the seedlings, which are collected from a seed source appropriate to the elevation and site characteristics of the fire area.

This proposal includes some changes in areas proposed for planting. The Forest Service determined that 220 acres originally included in the Angora Fire Restoration proposal could be planted under an existing Urban Lot EA.

Field assessments revealed that another 270 acres were not appropriate for planting, because they are in riparian areas, the ground is unsuitable for planting, they have sufficient numbers of live trees, or they are good prospects for natural regeneration. However, 135 acres not part of the original proposal have been identified as requiring planting.

The Forest Service requests comments on the proposal by March 22, 2010. The proposal is available at the Forest Supervisor’s office at 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe or by clicking here, then clicking on the link for land and resource management and then projects. For more information, contact Rita Mustatia at (530) 543.2677.

Rex Norman works for the U.S. Forest Service.

By Kathryn Reed

I’ve always been a pretty smart shopper, now I try to avoid the grocery store.

In this economy, it’s one way to save money. After all, the federal government has issued a report saying the Consumer Price Index for all food – in the grocery store and from a restaurant – is expected to increase between 2.5 and 3.5 percent this year.

It was one thing when the grocery bill spiked as oil prices did because of transportation costs, but it didn’t drop as the price of a barrel of oil or gallon of gasoline fell.

Food prices are rising. It’s impacting the average household, which is already struggling to make ends meet, it’s affecting the farmers because their take has been reduced, it’s affecting schools because they have to pay more to feed the growing number of students on reduced or free lunch programs.

Someone’s pockets are getting line with greenbacks.

With that said, I thought I would share a few ways I’ve been frugal. It’s with leftovers. We’ve all had last night’s meal for lunch, but what about making that meal into a new one?

I realize plenty of people call leftovers “used food” and don’t want to it eat. I tend to believe these people are the ones who don’t do the cooking.

Earlier this month I sautéed some veggies I had in the house and cooked some rice. Part of the reusing entailed taking the open container of vegetable broth and using part of it to cook the rice in (with water) and part to cook the veggies in (with olive oil). I also used fresh spinach leftover from a salad as part of the veggie mix.

Tired of reheating that rice-veggie combo, I then cooked up the rest of the spinach with a red onion, and tomato that had seen better days and would never be presentable for a salad. I added the leftover sautéed veggies and rice. Then I added two cans of refried beans.

I cooked all of that until it was hot through and through. I piled a bunch of this mixture into a tortilla and had a veggie burrito. I put a little grated cheese on top, nuked it for a few seconds and put salsa on it.

When I was tired of burritos, I scrambled some eggs. I heated more tortillas, microwaved the bean mixture and pulled out the rest of the grated cheese.

I spread the beans on a heated tortilla, topped it with the eggs, sprinkled some cheese on top and then a few spoonfuls of salsa. I had my version of huevos rancheros.

Now thoroughly tired of the bean mix, I put the remainder into tortillas, wrapped them up and stuck them in the freezer. This way when I’m not in the mood to cook, I have a couple meals in the house that just need thawing and reheating.

Reusing food in this way makes leftovers seem less repetitive and it cuts down on food waste. It also keeps me out of the grocery store for a while.

Dear residents of the city of South Lake Tahoe:

Some residents may be concerned about adverse immigration consequences resulting from their response to the 2010 Census. This letter confirms that there cannot be adverse immigration consequences because under the law, responses cannot be shared with immigration enforcement agencies. However, if residents do not respond there could be adverse financial consequences to the city in regards to federal funding. The city encourages all residents to return Census information.

South Lake Tahoe residents are now receiving their Census questionnaires in the mail or by hand delivery, marking the beginning of the Census 2010. The questionnaire asks 10, quick questions, including the name and age of the residents at each South Lake Tahoe residence. Completing the questionnaire should take less than ten minutes. The Census does not include any questions about immigration status. Disclosing personal information like names and addresses to the Census Bureau has triggered fear among some citizens that such disclosure could lead to negative immigration consequences, including harassment, incarceration or even deportation.

However, please be advised that Federal law provides otherwise. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share any person’s questionnaire responses with anyone, including with law enforcement agencies and Customs and Border Patrol. Disclosure of confidential Census information is a federal crime that carries penalties including possible imprisonment. Each resident of South Lake Tahoe who responds to the Census may rest assured that their answers cannot be used for immigration purposes.

I encourage every resident of South Lake Tahoe to respond and return the Census questionnaire as soon as possible. The consequences of declining to respond could be devastating to the already financially strapped city. Federal and state agencies use Census data in deciding how to allocate funds for government programs. In addition, the Census is used to draw federal, state and local electoral districts. Failure of residents to respond results in an “under-count.” Consequences of an under-count can cost the city tens of millions of dollars, and make it more difficult to provide vital services like health care, housing and public safety. If all residents are not fully counted by the Census, the city will receive less than our share of public services and could wield less than our proportionate share of electoral power. These costs are too serious to ignore. The City implores each and every resident to respond and return 2010 Census questionnaire.

Very truly yours,

Patrick Enright, city attorney city of South Lake Tahoe

By Brenda Knox

On a sunny bluebird ski day we gathered around my iPhone at the top of Grandview to check out where we wanted to ski after lunch. My iPhone had a good connection and it was fun to peruse the Sierra-at-Tahoe map from the iTrail application.

I’m finding that my iPhone applications work extremely well inside and in great weather. But out in the elements and the storms, my iPhone never leaves my inside jacket pocket. With thousands of ski applications out there for the iPhone, my mission to see if the applications were worthwhile, practical, or even useful to a recreational skier/rider began.

Brenda Knox takes notes on her iPhone. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Overall, I found the ski report applications and trail map applications impractical while actually on the slopes. I did enjoy looking through the various reports in the morning from the comfort of my home with a cappuccino in hand. Although, several inconsistencies existed between the snow levels out my window and what was being reported.

One morning looking out the window at several inches of new snow I wondered how many inches my favorite resorts had received. Using the iSki application I looked up Heavenly, Sierra, Kirkwood and Homewood. Heavenly and Sierra were reporting zero inches, even though my Heavenly email stated 10 inches. Kirkwood and Homewood information had not been updated in several days. I’m not sure what process the resorts participate in to keep their information updated, but it obviously was not reflecting actual snow activity on this day.

Another issue is connectivity. I had varying degrees of success getting a good strong signal at the resorts. Grandview at the top of Sierra was good. East Peak Lodge is my favorite resting location at Heavenly, but has zero service for my iPhone. I connected at the California Lodge and Gunbarrel Grill last week and showed off the iTrail map to friends.

On the slopes, the iPhone is better built to listen to music or to brag to your friends about all the powder you’re enjoying. I don’t go anywhere without my iPhone, but keep it safely tucked away in inclement weather. It’s pretty much impossible to use with gloves on, so I do my information gathering on it while at home. My favorite ski apps are iSki and the REI snow report.

Brenda Knox is a gadget girl who mostly lives in South Lake Tahoe.

Kathay Lovell

• South Lake Tahoe Mayor Kathay Lovell was a guest of Maria Shriver, California’s first lady, on March 4 at a women’s conference celebrating Women’s History Month.

• Stateline kids Drue and Logan Chapman have lead roles in the play “Really Rosie” at Carson City’s Brewerey Arts Center. Dates-times are: March 27 at 7pm, April 1 at 7pm and April 3 at 2pm.

• South Tahoe High School grad Jon Scott Ashjian is challenging Harry Reid for his Senate seat in Nevada.

• Brooke Williamson and Brian Switzer of Simplicity Salon in South Lake Tahoe are offering the Brazilian Blowout – a professional smoothing treatment that improves the health of hair. (530) 543.0868

• Edible Reno-Tahoe magazine hit newsstands March 6.

The Douglas County Public Library Lake Tahoe branch presents Saturday Stories and Crafts on March 27 at 1pm. Miss Carol will read Easter stories. Children ages 3 and up will make a craft; young children should be accompanied by an adult. Sign-up by March 26.

The Lake Tahoe branch of the Douglas County Public Library is located at 233 Warrior Way in Zephyr Cove.

For more information call (775) 588.6411.

The Douglas County Public Library Lake Tahoe branch presents Saturday Stories and Crafts on March 27 at 1pm. Miss Carol will read Easter stories. Children ages 3 and up will make a craft; young children should be accompanied by an adult. Sign-up by March 26.

The Lake Tahoe branch of the Douglas County Public Library is located at 233 Warrior Way in Zephyr Cove.

For more information call (775) 588.6411 or visit www.douglas.lib.nv.us.