With more than 540,000 Nevadans already registered to participate in the annual statewide public earthquake drill, the Great Nevada Shakeout is hoping to up that total by another 100,000 residents.

The Great Nevada ShakeOut is a simple, coordinated “drop, cover and hold on” exercise. It is Oct. 20 at 10:20am.

Last year, more than 560,000 Nevadans participated.

To register as an individual, business, school or government agency or organization, go online.

·       Many El Dorado County wineries are offering Nevada residents deals Oct. 28-31 in celebration of Nevada Day.

·       Washoe County sheriff’s employees will be wearing pink this month to bring awareness to breast cancer.

·       El Dorado County is having a workshop Oct. 10 from 6:30-8pm to discuss traffic level of service and the county’s travel demand model. The meeting will be at the El Dorado Hills Fire Station 85, 1050 Wilson Blvd., El Dorado Hills.

·       Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee is having an open house Oct. 6, 4-7pm. People may tour facilities that were paid for through the Measure C general obligation bond.

·       Here is the Sierra roadwork schedule for the week from Caltrans.

A free medication take-back event will take place Oct. 22 from 9am-noon in Tahoe City. It is hosted by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with Tahoe-Truckee Future Without Drug Dependence.

Pills should be emptied from bottles into plastic bags and then sealed. Liquids may be dropped off in original bottles. personal information should be removed or crossed out with a permanent marker.

Unacceptable items include sharps and lancets, medical waste, illicit drugs, aerosols and hydrogen peroxide.

In April, Placer County collected 5,700 pounds of medications at the take-back event. This was a 58 percent increase from what was collected at the April 2015 event.

It’s Fan Appreciation Day on Oct. 7 at Lake Tahoe Community College.

The Coyote soccer teams will face conference rivals Lassen Community College at 2pm (women) and 4pm (men). Snacks, beverages, games, prizes, and free Coyote swag will be plentiful.

This is an opportunity to see the new field and root for the home team.

After the games, next door to the physical education building’s gymnasium, where all are welcome to a Latino Heritage Celebration from 6-8pm.

Both events are free.

·       Candidates for the 4th Congressional District – which includes the California side of Lake Tahoe – will debate Oct. 4 at 7am at the Auburn City Council chambers. Republican Tom McClintock is being challenged by Democrat Bob Derlet.

·       California’s controller has updated the Government Compensation in California website to include 2015 self-reported data for community college districts, fairs and expositions, and First 5 commissions — a total of 142,209 positions and just more $4.05 billion in wages.

·       Teresa McClung recently accepted the position of deputy forest supervisor of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

·       The League to Save Lake Tahoe is hosting A Dark and Stormy Lake Tahoe Trivia Night on Oct. 12. Trivia will start at 7:30pm at Sidellis Brewery, 3350 Shady Way, South Lake Tahoe. For more information and to RSVP, go online.

·       Zumba classes are now taught at the South Lake Tahoe Rec Center. Details are online.

The South Lake Tahoe Endowment, which operates under the umbrella of the El Dorado Community Foundation, is accepting grant applications.

In 2015, the South Lake Tahoe Endowment cabinet made the decision to open the process to the entire nonprofit community. Some much-needed services were made possible as a result of that grant cycle, including the opening of the warm room in winter 2015-16.

Requests for proposals will be accepted from all nonprofits located in the Lake Tahoe basin that offer programs or services to the residents of South Lake Tahoe, including enhanced educational experiences for youth from local schools.

Application forms are interactive online forms with separate applications for school grant application (up to $1,000) and community grant application ($5,000 maximum). The deadline to apply is Oct. 15 at 5pm.

·       Lake Tahoe Marathon week is Oct. 6-9. Details are online.

·       El Dorado County Undersheriff Randy Peshon was reappointed to the Judicial Council Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee.

·       More than 180 Heavenly Mountain Resort employees volunteered at Douglas County’s Kahle Park on Sept. 17 and Sept. 20. Volunteers laid 1,000 gallons of slurry seal on Kahle Park’s pathways, completed a block retaining wall and slope stabilization project, covered more than 1 acre with groundcover, removed dangerous trees from under a power line, and completed an entryway beautification project.

·       The Bureau of Land Management Carson City District Office, the Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Nevada Division of Forestry in conjunction with Nevada State Parks are lifting fire restrictions Sept. 30. Campfires still require a campfire permit on the Carson & Bridgeport Ranger Districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

·       Brittani Curtis has joined Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce as the communications and marketing coordinator.

Placer County plans to remove about 1,800 hazardous trees that could damage or destroy county infrastructure.

Supervisors approved the $3.1 million project. The plan is to seek reimbursement through the California Disaster Assistance Act. This would be for 75 percent of the total expenditure.

The state has identified 10 counties that have been hard hit by tree mortality, with Placer being one of them.

The focus will be on trees that threaten roads, evacuation corridors, and other county infrastructure.

Animal Coalition of Tahoe’s 12th annual Mutt Strut Poker Run will be Oct. 9.

The family-friendly event involves a little exercise with your pooch, poker, and an opportunity to win prizes.

The Mutt Strut will begin at the corner of Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue in South Lake Tahoe, with registration from 11-11:30am. Participants will pick playing cards at stops along a 1-mile route, hoping for the best poker hands.

The fun continues after the walk with a party at Timber Cove Beach featuring music, raffle drawings, and contests such as best trick, hot dog eating, and musical sit.

Poker hands may be purchased on site for $10 each, or three hands for $25. Those who purchase hands before Oct. 9 receive a free Mutt Strut T-shirt. Purchases may be made in advance at Pet Station (2205 Lake Tahoe Blvd.) or Bonanza Boot and Leather store located at the Chateau Shopping Center.

·       The 2017 Tahoe Tennis Classic at Zephyr Cove Tennis Club will be July 27-30.

·       Sierra-at-Tahoe is installing four Vapur hydration stations on the mountain.

·       There will be a town hall meeting Sept. 29 headed by the Keep Squaw True group regarding the proposed development of Squaw Valley. It will be from 6-8pm at Fairway Community Center, 330 Fairway Drive, Tahoe City.

·       Sierra Nevada Alliance is leading a hike Oct. 15 at 10am along Sagehen Creek Trail in Tahoe City to see the fall colors and learn about local ecology. Cost is $20 in advance and $25 that day. For more info, email info@sierranevadaalliance.org.

·       The California avalanche workshop is a preseason gathering to share knowledge, learn from the pros, and network. It’s Oct. 15 at 9am in the theater at Lake Tahoe Community College. For more info or to buy the $20 tickets, email reichel@ltcc.edu.