The Tahoe-Reno region has a proud history of producing world-class athletes, including dozens of Olympians, Paralympians, coaches and sports pioneers. The Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition will honor these sports figures by inducting them into the Reno Tahoe International Sports Hall of Fame.

Inductees include:

· Wayne Adams: The Reno native won three consecutive Nevada State Amateur Golf Championships (1947-49).

· Shannon Bahrke: Born in Reno and raised in Tahoe City, she is the only U.S. women to win multiple Olympic freestyle skiing medals.

· Shawn Estes: The Douglas High graduate was the 11th player selected in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft by the Seattle Mariners. Shawn made his biggest splash in the majors after being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 1995.

· Joe Sellers: The longtime high school coach, administrator and athletic director served in various roles at three area high schools (Hug, Wooster and Bishop Manogue).

The event is Nov.17 at the Atlantis Casino in Reno. Reserve tickets by calling (775) 622.1889.

Tahoe Arts Project is putting on a Holiday Art Festival on Dec. 8 at St. Theresa’s Grace Hall in South Lake Tahoe.

The Festival will take place from noon-4pm. It will include art and craft booths, food, wine, hot chocolate, music, dance and a visit from Santa.

This is a family event.

Twenty-five 10×10 spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis. Application deadline is Nov. 20. Applications are available by calling (530) 542.3632.

TAP is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide cultural enrichment and diversity for the community through the arts and education with particular focus on our youth. TAP has been bringing professional performing arts of various cultures into S. Lake Tahoe schools and the community for 26 years. All proceeds from the festival will go toward these programs.

The North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association in partnership with the Truckee/North Tahoe Transportation Management Association is hosting the 2012 Transit Summit on Oct. 26 from 8am-3pm at the Truckee Tahoe Airport

The keynote speaker is Walter Kieser of EPS, with offices in California and Colorado, who brings 35 years of land planning and urban economic experience.

A discussion panel will address “The State of Transportation in the North Lake Tahoe Region” and will include representatives from Placer County, Washoe County, Truckee/North Tahoe Transportation Management Association, Truckee Tomorrow, as well as local ski areas.

The lunch panel will present “The Challenges of Moving People in a Resort Community” and will include Transit Manager Lynn Rumbaugh of Aspen, Colorado; Public Works Director Kent Cashell of Park City, Utah; and Assistant County Manager Thad Noll of Summit County, Colo. After lunch, Kieser will facilitate a discussion among attendees about developing a transit vision and identifying next steps.

The 2012 Transit Summit is free and open to the public. Lunch is $10/person. RSVP to Jessica Walker at (530) 581.8727.

By Northern Nevada News Bureau

CARSON CITY – Nevada retailers are expected to add more than 4,000 seasonal positions through December, the Retail Association of Nevada said Thursday.

The estimate is based on an assumption that hiring in 2012 will be comparable to last year, when the state added 4,100 retail positions between September and December for a 3.2 percent increase in total employment in the sector.

During the past five years, the Nevada retail sector grew by an average of 3.9 percent during the same time frame. Should conditions prevail that are more in line with the longer-run historical average, the state will see a gain in retail positions closer to 5,000. Based on company announcements and news accounts thus far, it is likely that 2012 hiring levels will fall somewhere between the two, RAN said in a news release.

Competition for available positions is expected to be as tough as it was during the last several holiday seasons, the association reported. Currently, there are 164,100 unemployed Nevadans, down only slightly from levels reported around this time in 2011. Seasonal hiring will provide modest and short-term relief.

Thus far, several national retailers with locations in Nevada have publicly announced major seasonal hiring plans. Actual hiring activity may vary from estimates depending on individual store needs:

– Amazon – 1,250 estimated seasonal hires at the fulfillment center in Fernley;

– Macy’s/Bloomingdales – 900 estimated seasonal hires statewide;

– Target – 900 estimated seasonal hires statewide;

– Wal-Mart – 500 estimated seasonal hires statewide;

– Kohl’s Department Stores – 490 estimated seasonal hires statewide;

– Toys ‘R’ Us – 250 estimated seasonal hires at the McCarran Distribution Center for store distribution, e-commerce in Reno and seasonal store positions statewide;

– Best Buy – 150 estimated seasonal hires statewide.

Nationally, holiday hiring is expected to reach 700,000 in 2012, an increase of 6 percent compared to the 660,000 reported in 2011.

South Lake Tahoe wants every business on Highway 50 to be part of Light up South Lake Tahoe.

The city wants to partner with businesses located along Highway 50 from Stateline to the Y and provide a “buy one, get one free” on holiday lights.

“We are purchasing 50 foot white light strings in bulk and asking local business owners to contribute $12 to decorate their store fronts with these white lights,” the city said in a press release.

On Nov. 24, the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department will have its fire truck decorated with white holiday lights and will begin its procession at 6pm. As the fire truck passes each business that business will turn its lights on. The festivities will conclude at the Y with the annual tree lighting, along with hot cocoa and cookies.

To become part of this holiday event, contact Tina Shannon at (530) 542.6016 or tshannon@cityofslt.us.

To the community,

On Aug. 6, Barton Auxiliary members worked side-by-side with Bread & Broth volunteers to provide a hot, nutritionally balanced meal to many less fortunate members of the South Lake Tahoe community.

Nora Jones, the evening’s B&B volunteer coordinator, commented that the Barton Auxiliary sponsorship crew was a “wonderful group of women and were very hard workers.”

Although Bread & Broth has a regular volunteer crew for each Monday, B&B encourages Adopt A Day sponsors to provide a crew of up to five people to assist in the setup, serving and cleanup of the meal. The Auxiliary has been sponsoring an Adopt a Day of Nourishment and providing a volunteer crew for several years.

Bread & Broth is very thankful for the contribution of their time and monetary Adopt A Day donation so that this meal could be provided. The generosity of members of our community enable Bread & Broth to continue its mission of feeding the hungry of South Lake Tahoe.

For more B&B program information, please contact Carol Gerard at (530) 542.2876 or carolsgerard@aol.com.

Bread & Broth

The Douglas County Public Library in Minden and Zephyr Cove will be closed Oct. 26-27 for Nevada Day.

The Minden Library will reopen Oct. 29 at 10am. The Zephyr Cove Library will resume its normal schedule Oct. 31 at 11am.

Updated Oct. 21 — This event has been canceled.

Small World is sponsoring a meet and greet with the five South Lake Tahoe City Council candidates on Oct. 22.

It will be at 6:30pm at 2191 Shasta Court.

Four of five candidates have confirmed.

There will be about a 45-minute segment for questions from Small World members and other attendees.

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation is accepting registrations for the 201213 competitive and development ski and snowboard programs.

The foundation has something for all ages and levels of skiers and riders.

The development programs run Dec. 1 through March 31.

For more information, e-mail aimix@heavenlyfoundationteam.org or call (530) 541.7354.

A $50 million guaranteed loan from the federal government to Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District will help ensure the mountain community and ski resort have more reliable power.

KMPUD in 2011 acquired Mountain Utilities, which had supplied the power to this resort area. KMPUD is separate from the ski resort, but supplies the electricity and water.

“Funds will be used to build or improve 40 miles of distribution and transmission line and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $200,000 in smart grid projects,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.

Kirkwood residents and businesses have long had trouble with keeping the lights on and paying reasonable rates because the enclave has been off the grid. Diesel generators power the community now.

What the loan will do is allow KMPUD to build and operate a 34.5-kilovolt power line that ties into PG&E lines.

Neither Michael Sharp, general manager of KMPUD, nor Casey Blann, general manager of the ski resort, returned calls.

 — Lake Tahoe News staff report