Here is the schedule for the Lake Valley Fire Christmas engine:

Dec. 11 – Echo View Estates, Tahoe Mountain Road, Mule Deer Circle

Dec. 12 – Lake Tahoe Blvd from Boulder Mountain Drive to Grizzly Mountain Drive

Dec. 13 – West side of North Upper Truckee from Zuni Street Highway 50, Chiapa Drive

Dec. 14 – East side of North Upper Truckee from Grizzly Mountain to West San Bernardino Avenue

Dec. 15 – Christmas Valley from Highway 50 to Grass Lake Road

Dec. 16 –North side of Highway 50 in Meyers (lower Apache, Magnet School), behind Station 7 (Cornelian Drive, Navahoe Drive, Cheyenne Drive)

Dec. 17 – North of Pioneer Trail from Highway 50 to Elks Club (Southern Pines Drive, Tionontati Street, Meadow Vale Drive), Player Drive

Dec. 18 – Upper Apache Drive and Mandan Street

Dec. 19 – Pioneer Trail from Busch Way to Washoan Boulevard(Glen Eagles Drive, Hekpa Drive)

Dec. 20 – Pioneer Trail from Washoan Bouleard to Jicarilla Drive (Apalachee Drive, Nadowa Street, Susquehana Drive)

Dec. 21 – Kokanee Estates (Marshall Trail, High Meadow Trail)

Dec. 22 – Golden Bear Trail, Meadow View Estates (Plateau Circle, Cattleman’s Trail)

Dec. 23 – Cold Creek Trail, Del Norte Street, Black Bart from Pioneer Trail to Meadow Crest Drive.

Not everyone considers the holidays a time to celebrate, but rather an opportunity to commit crimes, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department. Busy parking lots and hurried shoppers are just two factors working in favor of criminals.

Here are tips to reduce the risk of becoming a victim:

• Do not leave wrapped presents or new purchases clearly visible in your parked car while shopping. Avoid doing all your shopping at once.
• If possible, do your shopping during the day and avoid peak shopping times.
• Only carry a small purse or wallet, instead of a large bag.
• After opening your presents, do not pile up empty gift boxes from your new computer, DVD, TV etc., on the street for trash pick up. Break boxes down or cut them up to conceal the items.
• Drop off mail at your closest post office if you are mailing money, checks, or gift cards. Pick up your mail promptly and report any suspicious activity immediately to the Sheriff Office or your local Police Department.
• Suspend your mail and paper delivery or have a neighbor pick up these items and ask them to watch your house while you are gone. If you live in the county, contact the El Dorado County Sheriff’s STARS at 530.621.7545 to schedule vacation house checks any time of the year. If you live within the city of Placerville,  contact Placerville Police SHIELD at 530.642.5210.
• Lock your doors and windows when you leave your house.
• Be prepared for winter weather at home and while driving.

Online safety tips:

• Never use your credit card online on a website that doesn’t have an SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption.
• No one needs your Social Security number or birth date for a transaction.
• Check your online bank statements regularly — don’t wait until the end of the month. If you see something suspicious, contact your bank immediately.
• Never give anyone your credit card information via email and ensure your computer is up-to-date with current firewalls, updates and anti-virus software.
• Trust your instincts. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

• A hotline (530.542.6001) has been established to record information and/or concerns regarding the Dec. 29-31 SnowGlobe music festival in South Lake Tahoe.

• Two hundred children were treated to a holiday shopping spree Dec. 2 during the 12th annual Shop with the Sheriff at the Damonte Walmart Superstore in Reno. Thanks to an annual donation from the Washoe County Honorary Deputy Sheriff’s Association, each child had a chance to do some holiday shopping for themselves and their family.

• The Tahoe Rim Trail Association is offering guided educational and historical winter treks this winter. For more info, go online.

• Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe has joined with SLATE Art Consulting to feature a rotating exhibition of Northern California artists’ work throughout the hotel’s lobby and public areas now through 2015.

• Lake of the Sky Outfitters will be showing the award winning film “Chasing Ice” Dec. 4 at 7pm for free at Unity of the Lake, 1195 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

Highway 89-Fanny Bridge will be the focus of a Dec. 4 meeting.

There will be an overview and update on the environmental document, design elements, and next steps for this revitalization project in Tahoe City.

The meeting is being hosted by the Tahoe Transportation District at Granlibakken Resort from 5-6:30pm.

The project intends to improve the safety of vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist mobility at the Tahoe City Y, increase emergency access and egress; resolve structural integrity of 86-year-old Fanny Bridge; assist in alleviating traffic back-ups; and create a vibrant and walkable commercial area.

The design is scheduled to be complete in September 2015. Construction could begin in May 2016.

Specific questions, inquiries and suggestions may be directed to Margaret Skillicorn at suggestions@fannybridge.org or 775.846.2381.

Santa will be at the South Lake Tahoe Pet Station Dec. 7 and Dec. 13.

Pictures with pets is a fundraiser for Animal Coalition of Tahoe. All proceeds will support ACT’s spay-neuter program and the animal shelter in Meyers.

The photo studio will be upstairs at Pet Station near the dog wash. Do not bring pets other than dogs.

Photos will be taken from noon-3pm each day.

Pet Station is at 2205 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department will continue the holiday tradition of driving through neighborhoods and passing out candy canes to youngsters. The engine leaves station 2 at 5pm nightly.

Here is the schedule:

Dec. 10 Tahoe Keys and Venice
Dec. 11 Glenwood
Dec. 12 Tahoe Keys and state streets
Dec. 13 South Y and Tata Lane
Dec. 14 Barton and Tahoe Island
Dec. 15 Al Tahoe Boulevard
Dec. 16 Springwood and Bijou Pines
Dec. 17 Main areas and Highway 50
Dec. 18 Stateline and hotels
Dec. 19 Ski Run Boulevard
Dec. 20 Heavenly Valley
Dec. 21 Gardner Mountain
Dec. 22 Sierra Tract
Dec. 23 Stateline and Pioneer Trail
Dec. 24 Lake Tahoe Boulevard.

• Tapping Tuesday will focus on clearing and balancing the throat chakra with emotional freedom technique. This is good for people dealing with a difficulty expressing emotions, especially grief or sadness. The free class (donations accepted) is Dec. 2 form 6-7pm at Rejuvenate Spa (behind Nephele’s restaurant on Ski Run Boulevard).

• Capital City Community Band will commemorate the anniversary of Pearl Harbor with a free concert Dec. 7 at 3pm at the Carson City Community Center.

• Nevada Artists Association is having a special meeting for the election of NAA board members on Dec. 6 at 10am a the Brewery Arts Center, 449 West King St., Carson City.

• Homewood Mountain Resort is planning to open Dec. 12. Santa will be on the slopes Dec. 20.

• Wilbur D. May Museum in Reno’s Art Angels workshop is a free watercolor class for kids 6-12. It is Dec. 13 from 9:30-11:30am. Register by calling 775.785.5961.

Each year the Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe coordinates the Coats for Kids project. This year more than 500 new winter coats were distributed to youth throughout South Lake Tahoe.

Teachers communicate with parents, families, and youth-serving agencies to identify the youth. Volunteers from the three Kiwanis Clubs, Optimist, Tahoe Turning Point, California Conservation Corps and businesses work throughout the year to raise the funds necessary to purchase the coats. The coats are then distributed at each of the schools, where each child gets to choose the coat they would like.

To learn more about how to donate to Coats for Kids, go online.

The 6-foot, 5-inch Alexander C. Cushing was a Harvard-educated, World War II Navy veteran and Wall Street lawyer.

Nov. 28 would have been Cushing’s 101st birthday. He lived to 92.

He left his mark on Lake Tahoe when he almost single-handedly brought the 1960 Winter Olympics to Squaw Valley, which at the time was a no-nothing resort that he owned.

Note that the Time magazine cover fro 1959 refers to him as Alec. However, he went by Alex.

— Bill Kingman

The Tahoe Fire & Fuels team is offering a variety of fire recommendations.

Embers, often concealed in what appears to be cold ashes, can remain hot enough to kindle a fire for several days.

To safely dispose of ashes, fire officials offer these tips:

• Never store ashes in bags or boxes.

• Place discarded ashes in a heavy metal container, douse with water, and cover with fitted metal lid.

• Store the container outside, away from structures, decks, fences, wood piles or other combustible materials.

• Never use a vacuum cleaner to pick up ashes.

• Contact your local trash collection agency for their disposal recommendations after ashes have cooled and embers are out.

General fire safety tips:

• Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom. Test them at least once a month.

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from space heaters and other heat sources.

• Never leave the kitchen when something is cooking.

• Keep candles and matches out of the reach of children.

• Extinguish all fires, even candles, when you leave the room or go to sleep.

• Remember to call 911 for all fires, no matter how small.