·      Snow is unstable in many parts of the Sierra, with a skier getting caught in an avalanche at Elephant’s Back. Check out this from the Sierra Avalanche Center.

·      WinterWondergrass will be at Squaw Valley April 1-3. Details are online.

·      Veterans in California may ask for the word “veteran” to be on a driver’s license or ID card.

·      Here are the El Dorado-Tahoe and Sierra roadwork schedules for next week.

·      Badger Pass Ski Area in Yosemite National Park is offering free skiing to fourth-grade students who complete and present their Every Kid in a Park pass.

El Dorado County board of education is having a special meeting Nov. 16 at 9am.

The closed session item is anticipated litigation.

The open session agenda item, which will follow, is county superintendent status. Superintendent Jeremy Meyers has been arrested twice on driving under the influence charges in a five-month period.

The board meets at 6767 Green Valley Road in Placerville.

·      There will be an open house from 3-6pm at the Rise Designs studio (1808 Santa Fe Road, No. 4, Meyers) Unit 4 on Nov. 19 to celebrate eight years in business.

·       Leanne Wagoner is now the administrator for the Douglas County Court Appointed Special Advocates. Most recently she was Barton Health’s community relations manager.

·       Veterans, service members, and their loved ones who are in a crisis situation may call 800.273.8255, ext. 1 or send a text message to 838255 to receive free, confidential support 24 hours a day even if they are not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care.

·       Kiwanis Club of Tahoe Sierra will be collecting coats for kids. For more info, email Marie Foster at mizmarie@charter.net.

·       Warren Miller’s “Chasing Shadows” will be shown at Squaw Valley on Nov. 27 and Nov. 28 at 7:30pm. For more info, go online.

·      In addition to the historic Thunderbird boat getting new engines, the bottom of the watercraft is being refurbished this winter with the anticipation of the watercraft plying the waters of Lake Tahoe in spring 2016.

·       968 Park Hotel in South Lake is having a craft beer tasting Nov. 14 at 5pm paired with a show by the Connor Party. Both events are free. Anderson Valley Brewing Company is the featured brewery.

·      The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection is seeking public comment on its draft status report on the quality of Nevada’s rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs. The draft is online. Public comments will be accepted until 5pm Nov. 25.

·      The 2016 Nevada Water Resources Association scholarship applications are available. Qualified students must be pursuing a degree in water resources. Application deadline is Dec. 4.

Truckee Donner Public Utility District will swap out old, incandescent holiday lights for free energy efficient LED holiday lights.

The program begins Nov. 25 at 8am and will continue during regular business hours at the TDPUD office located at 11570 Donner Pass Road.

Customers are asked to bring in a copy of their current TDPUD electric bill along with up to three strands of old incandescent holiday lights. The TDPUD will replace them with  up to 60 feet of warm white or multicolor LED lights.

These energy-efficient holiday lights can save between 80-98 percent on energy costs versus the old-style incandescent lights.

While in the office, eligible customers can also receive other free light bulbs (CFLs, 7 types) and information on the district’s energy and water savings programs. This program is only available while supplies last.

·      Tahoe Regional Young Professionals is having two mixers this month. TRYP is teaming up with the Hard Rock Cafe this month for Imagine There’s No Hunger – an effort to understand and raise funds to fight poverty. The event is Nov. 11 from 6-9pm at the Hard Rock Cafe inside Harveys. The other mixer is Nov. 17 from 5:30-8pm at Elevate Blue in Incline Village. Cost is $10 for each one, and free to members.

·      Western Nevada College Specialty Crop Institute offers a Growing Greens in Hoop Houses workshop Dec. 5, 9am-2:30pm at UNR’s Knudtsen Resource Center. Cost is $25 before Nov. 28, and $35 afterward. Lunch is included, and seating is limited. Online registration is available.

·       The deadline to comment on the proposed residential development in Martis Valley has been extended to 5pm Dec. 22. Comments should be emailed to cdraecs@placer.ca.gov. There will be a public hearing Nov. 19 at 10am at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach.

·       South Tahoe Public Utility District exceeded the state’s mandated 20 percent water conservation goal. June saw a 24 percent reduction, July 27 percent and August 21 percent.

At Barton Foundation’s annual Philanthropy Day celebration on Nov. 6 area nonprofits were awarded $35,550.

The projects and programs being highlighted represent the community’s most pressing health needs, including mental health, substance abuse, and access to care. Many projects and programs focused on prevention and education. Projects include counseling services, dental assistance, drug prevention programs, healthy activities and mentor programs for at-risk youth, a teen support group, safe lock boxes for prescription drugs, and support for family members and caregivers affected by loved ones with mental illness.

Organizations receiving grants include Drug Store Project,  A Balanced Life, Live Violence Free, National Alliance on Mental Illness, SOS Outreach, South Lake Tahoe Police Activities League, South Tahoe Drug Free Coalition, Tahoe Magic, Tahoe Turning Point, and Tahoe Youth & Family Services.

Paul Friederici, owner of at Alpine Carpet One in South Lake Tahoe, is being honored on Veterans Day by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, an organization begun in memory of a fallen Sept. 11 firefighter.

Building for America’s Bravest program builds hi-tech “smart homes” for service members returning from war who have been catastrophically injured.

Alpine Carpet One has committed to providing flooring materials and installation for some of these “smart homes.” Carpet One Floor & Home, parent company of the South Lake Tahoe store, has provided materials for 46 homes. The goal is to collect a donation of $10—or more—from each customer, to ultimately build at least two more “smart homes.”

Members of the Fire Department of New York City — acting on their own initiative, as ambassadors of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation—will present a specially-designed shadowbox containing hallowed 9/11 steel from Ground Zero to Alpine Carpet One.

·      The Bona Fide Print Club and Book Arts Club in Meyers have new techniques to share. Bring your own tools or use the club’s. Creative sessions are on second and fourth Sundays and third Mondays. The next date is Nov. 16 from 6-9pm. Cost is $10. Go online for more info.

·      Concerts at Commons Beach has applied for a $25,000 Levitt AMP Matching Funds Grant for Tahoe City’s free 12-week summer music series. Online voting goes until Nov. 30.

·      The 17th annual Tahoe Cross Country ski swap is Nov. 14 from 10am-3pm at 925 Country Club Drive, Tahoe City. A percentage of each sale will benefit the center’s nonprofit programs.

·      Paul Raymore is now marketing manager for Diamond Peak Ski Resort and the Incline Village General Improvement District.

·       Bill Cottrill is now general manager of Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel in South Lake Tahoe.

·      Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Area’s inaugural Winter Festival is Jan. 24. Discounted trail passes will be $10 each and $15 rentals will be available, including free lessons, tours and ski equipment demonstrations. Festival-goers may also enjoy live music and a barbecue.

·       Here are the El Dorado-Tahoe and Sierra roadwork schedules from Caltrans for the week.

·       The Placer County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 3 approved amendments to the county’s flood management policies to bring the county into compliance with state law requiring increased flood protection for urban areas.