Tips for picking a Christmas tree: Select a fresh tree with good color and firm, flexible needles that do not easily pull from the branches.

Place the tree in plain water immediately after recutting the trunk at least one-half inch above the old cut. The container you use for your tree should hold 2 to 4 quarts of water.

The longer you wait to place your tree in water, the greater the chances are that it will lose the required moisture content to keep it fresh through the holiday season.

Never place your tree on a wooden stand.

Locate the tree away from sources of heat. Avoid placing the tree near heaters, wood stoves, fireplaces, large appliances, such as TVs, and direct sunlight.

Be careful not to block a door or other exit with the tree or rearranged furniture.

Use mini-lights on your tree and never place candles on or near your tree. Remove your Christmas tree as soon as possible after the holiday.

Never burn your Christmas tree or wrapping paper in the fireplace. The rapid burning and excessive heat can damage the firebox and chimney creating a serious fire hazard.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department wants to wish everyone a fun and safe holiday season.

— Sallie Ross-Filgo, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that can accumulate in a home and can cause serious health problems. Eric Matus will present an overview of radon, where it’s found, how to test for it and what to do if your home has a radon problem.

Free test kits will be offered to Nevada residents.

The talk is Jan. 28 from 5:30-7pm at the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village.

Cost is $5.

• Nov. 30 is Small Business Saturday. The first five businesses that have not previously advertised with Lake Tahoe News that sign a six-month or longer contract will receive 25 percent discount. Offer expires Dec. 6. Email info@LakeTahoeNews.net with Ad Special in the subject line to get started.

• Mount Rose has joined the list of Tahoe area resorts that are now open.

• Truckee is banning plastic bags at grocery stores beginning Christmas Day. The law will be enforced starting June 1, 2014.

• The Accommodation Station in South Lake Tahoe is now called Lake Tahoe Lodging Company.

Sugar Bowl Resort will host the Backcountry Ball on Dec. 13.

It is an evening of food, drink and music benefiting the Sierra Avalanche Center. It will feature a presentation by legendary big mountain snowboarder Jeremy Jones.

The event will be at Sugar Bowl Resort’s Mt. Judah Lodge from 5-10pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, and are available online.

The event includes a pasta buffet dinner and live music by the Sierra Drifters.

Vendors will be showcasing the latest backcountry gear.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport now offers the “pre-check” screening program.

To use it, people must be a U.S. citizen and in a frequent-flier program for Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United or US Airways.

The Transportation Security Administration program allows pre-approved fliers to keep their shoes on, as well as light outerwear and belts. Laptops can stay in their cases.

Truckee is looking for people who want to be on the Trails & Bikeways Master Plan Update Stakeholder Committee.

The committee is an advisory group helping to develop the master plan update. It will be a six to eight month process that includes six to 10 meetings.

The first meeting is set of Dec. 11 at 6pm at town hall.

The deadline to apply for the committee is Dec. 6 at 5pm. For info, contact Jenna Endres at (530) 582.2922 or jendres@townoftruckee.com.

• South Lake Tahoe is moving forward with the Harrison Avenue project. Bid documents have been released. The deadline to submit a bid is Jan. 6.

• Placer County has selected Jeffrey Brown, the head of Nevada County’s health agency, to take over as director of the Placer County Health and Human Services Department.

• On Dec. 12 at 10am registration will open for the 2014 Tour of the California Alps Death Ride online.

• South Tahoe Refuse will be collecting non-perishable food items on its regular garbage days Dec. 9-13. Food will be given to local charities.

• Squaw Valley opens Nov. 27 with six lifts.

The Abbi Agency, a Reno-based public relations and digital engagement firm, has established a 10-year scholarship fund for Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism and Center for Advanced Media Studies Strategic Communications students at UNR.

This is the first time in the school’s history, part-time students are eligible to apply.

Abbi Whitaker graduated from the Reynolds School of Journalism.

“Most of our team members attended the Reynolds School,” Whitaker said in a statement. “I think it’s important that all the marketing, advertising and PR agencies in town support students. They are our future employees.”

The first Strategic Communications Scholarship will be awarded in the fall 2014.

• South Lake Tahoe has removed the parking kiosks on Venice Drive so snowplows won’t destroy them. The city says it always anticipated doing this, saying the couple hours to do so is cheaper than replacing them. When the snow flies it will be evaluated how snow removal operations around other kiosks work. On Venice there is a rolling curb instead of right-angle curb.

• Sierra Nevada College’s visiting professor and writer in residence, Patricia Smith, won the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize. The prize, given by the Academy of American Poets to Smith for her latest book of poetry, “Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah,” is one of the most prestigious poetry prizes in the United States.

• Tahoe Donner’s Light up the Night event is Nov. 30 from 5-8 p.m. at the Lodge Restaurant & Pub.

• Sierra Sotheby’s is collecting food for Lake Tahoe’s Project MANA through Dec. 2. Donations may be dropped off at the Incline Village, Squaw Valley and Zephyr Cove offices.

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

South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County and Douglas County are hosting two community workshops to discuss the role outdoor recreation plays in enhancing community livability and tourism on the South Shore.

This is an opportunity for residents to share their insights about parks, recreation, trails, events and programs in an attempt to improve recreation opportunities.

The first workshop is Dec. 11 from 6:30-8:30pm at South Tahoe High School’s Student Union. A second workshop is Dec. 12 from 6:30-8:30pm at Kahle Community Center in Stateline.

Feedback from these workshops will be used to develop recommendations for two recreation plans for the South Shore which include the Parks, Trails and Recreation Master Plan for South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County and the Tahoe Basin Recreation and Tourism Plan for Douglas County.

Anyone 15 and older is invited to participate and share ideas.

For more information, contact Tracy Franklin at (530) 542.6093 or go online.