Check website for exact time. Tahoe Arts Project brings Nan Bostick Ragtime Piano to town. (530) 542.3632 or tahoeartsproject.org

Tahoe Arts Project brings the Missoula Children’s Theatre “Jack and the Beanstalk” to South Tahoe Middle School’s multipurpose room. (530) 542.3632 or tahoeartsproject.org

Auditions for The Missoula Children’s Theatre “Jack and the Beanstalk.” (530) 542.3632 or tahoeartsproject.org

Living Voices, a Tahoe Arts Project performance, sponsored by Robert and Anetta Chester at Edgewood Tahoe, Stateline. (530) 542.3632 or tahoeartsproject.org

Admission is free. Donations accepted for TAP projects.

GALUMPHA, physical theater-dance-comedy, at MontBleu at Stateline, $12 adults, $5 child/senior. Sponsored by Tahoe Arts Project. (530) 542.3632 or tahoeartsproject.org

A draft environmental impact statement for the reforestation of approximately 4,320 acres of Eldorado National Forest lands burned in 2004 in the Fred’s Fire near Kyburz is available for public review and comment.

The U.S. Forest Service will accept comments until Oct. 26. The DEIS and related information is available at www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado.

The Fred’s Fire resulted in adverse effects to forest resources such as high rates of soil erosion, increased sedimentation to streams, destruction of wildlife habitat, and caused extensive tree mortality.

Previous projects addressed the need for removal of the dead trees, repairing damaged roads, providing for public safety, and replanting plantations. The Fred’s Reforestation Project DEIS proposes to further the restoration of the area so seriously impacted by the Fred’s Fire.

For information regarding the project, contact Robert Carroll at (530) 647.5386 or rlcarroll@fs.fed.us.

The South Lake Tahoe community will host a “Building New Bridges” concert to raise funds and celebrate the return of Jacyee Lee Dugard Sept. 20 from 2-7pm at Horizon Casino’s Convention Center. Dugard was kidnapped from South Lake Tahoe 18 years ago and reappeared late last month in Antioch.

The benefit concert will include music from Movers, The Garcia Brothers, Big Red Band, Turquoise and more. The Movers played in a fundraiser event shortly after Dugard’s disappearance in 1991. In addition to live music, there will be food, a cash bar and silent auction items from South Lake Tahoe lodging properties, restaurants and area activities. Dugard’s stepfather, Carl Probyn, will attend the fundraiser.

Kathie Garcia, a resident since 1957, and Fionn Lambert are hosting the event.

“I’ve lived here a long time, and Jacyee’s disappearance 18 years ago had a significant impact on our community,” Garcia said in a press release. “I wanted to raise funds to help Jacyee in her recovery process and I thought a concert would be an excellent way to bring people together. I’ve reached out to the leaders in our community to participate and the response has been overwhelming — it will truly be a memorable event.”

Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe will provide information on how to fight back against a predator with streaming video of a “Fighting Chance”. Local businesses which have donated their time and services include Horizon Casino & Resort, Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance, Tahoe Beach & Ski, Soroptimist, along with the artists performing.

Tickets are $25 for adults; children 11 and under are free and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, at the door or call Horizon’s box office at (775) 588.6211. Funds raised will benefit the Jacyee Dugard Family Fund; Bank of the West, 2161 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, will accept checks as donations. For more information on how to get involved, call Kathie Garcia at (530) 542.4354.

Cyclists one day may enjoy a wider, longer Camp Rich trail. Photo/Kathryn Reed

By Kathryn Reed

The most heavily used bike trail in the Lake Tahoe Basin may undergo a face-lift in the next few years.

The U.S. Forest Service is looking at tearing up the existing route in and around Camp Richardson and possibly replacing the 8-foot wide path with asphalt 10-feet wide, plus 2-foot shoulders.

All of this and more are part of the Fallen Leaf Trail Access and Travel Management Plan. Wildlife, botanical and other surveys are being conducted as part of the necessary federal environmental review. Public comments could be sought by spring 2010. A final document is expected in winter 2010 or spring 2011, with construction to follow once funding is secured.

Boundaries of the plan are from the edge of the Angora Fire to Lake Tahoe, then from where Highway 89 is four lanes to Desolation Wilderness.

“We may re-route trails. There are a lot of user created trails, some managed trails and some roads that will be reconfigured,” explained Garrett Villanueva, assistant forest engineer. “We will be looking at the trails from the visitors center to Camp Richardson — all the trials in there including the ones that go to the beaches. We want to make those work as effectively as possible.”

The idea is make it so people can bike from one place to another and not have to drive.

Today the paved Camp Richardson path dead-ends on the north at Highway 89. Villanueva said the Forest Service has not given up on the idea of having a bike trail around Emerald Bay.

“It’s very challenging with resource issues and private property,” Villanueva said.

Another idea is to resurrect plans from the 1980s to create a loop by crossing Highway 89 and going behind the stables at Camp Rich.

The dam at Taylor Creek at the eastern edge of Fallen Leaf Lake currently requires mountain bikers to dismount unless they are adept at stairs. Villanueva said his agency is studying how to link the trails in a logical manner to the dam. Constructing a crossing that is easier to maneuver and one that looks better are part of the equation, too.

The Forest Service is looking at using native surface and pavement in the project.

A bike path along Fallen Leaf Road is being talked about that could connect with Tahoe Mountain Road. El Dorado County is responsible for maintaining (or letting it be in a state of disrepair) — not the feds.

Kim Wyatt recently launched the Bona Fide Books’ website — www.BonaFideBooks.com.

According to the website, “Bona Fide Books is a small press that seeks to publish provocative and adventurous literature. We will promote bold, unsung writers and connect them with readers. In an alleged age of declining readership, Bona Fide wants to give everyone a reason to read.”

The South Shore woman’s philosophy is the more good writing that is published the better it is for readers.

“We seek to promote bold, unsung writers and connect them with readers, and plan to publish literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in a variety of media, from monthly guerilla-style broadsheets to traditional bound books to downloadable flash fiction, serials, and guides for modern life,” the website says. “In an alleged age of declining readership, Bona Fide wants to give everyone a reason to read.”

Belly dancers from California and Nevada will be competing Sept. 26 in the inaugural “Jewel of the Sierra Belly Dancing Competition and Gala Show.” The competition and show will be at Lake Tahoe Community College’s Duke Theatre on Sept. 26 beginning at 10:30am.

Entrants may compete in four categories: Sapphire (Non-Professional), Ruby (Troupe), Emerald (Diva, over 45), and Diamond (Professional). Awards for each event will be presented by event producer Susie “Namira” Reese.

Twelve judges will be scoring each competitor based on appearance, musical interpretation, technique, use of stage, presentation, entertainment value, and personality. The entrance fee for competitors is $10 per event.

The Gala Show starts at 8pm, and will include live music by special guests Flowers of the Nile. This band plays acoustic Middle Eastern music, using Egyptian instruments and Arabic vocals.

Several vendors will be in the theater’s lobby selling costumes, music, baubles, hula hoops, and commemorative Jewel of the Sierra T-shirts and pants. For more information, go to www.namiproductions.com.