• Frommer’s says the Ritz-Carlton at Northstar is one of the 10 best “ski lodges” in the country.

• Lack of snow is forcing Northstar to push back its opening date. The Truckee resort was going to open Nov. 22. Now the opening date is unknown. Kirkwood was also supposed to open Friday but is in a wait-and-see mode.

• Lake Tahoe Museum will be open Dec. 7 from 11am-7pm and Dec. 8 from 11am-3pm with music, refreshments, calls to the North Pole, tours of the 1930’s cabin, and books and gifts for sale. The museum is at 3058 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

• Barton Memorial Hospital’s actual 50th birthday is Nov. 23.

• The U.S. Postal Service has issued the Harry Potter limited-edition forever stamp.

The Nevada Division of State Parks has approximately $214,000 in grant funds available for motorized recreational trails projects.

These funds from the Recreational Trails Program of the Federal Highway Administration are for motorized projects only. Applications are due Jan. 31 by 5pm.

Federal, state, city and county governments, special governmental districts, trail organizations and private individuals are potentially eligible for the grants.

Application packages are available online.

For further information or questions, contact Jenny Scanland at (775) 684.2787 or jscanland@parks.state.nv.gov.

Zawadisha Fund, a Tahoe-based nonprofit, is teaming up with Bona Fide Books to offer an opportunity to shop locally while having a global impact.

The 3rd annual Zawadisha Holiday Bazaar on is Dec. 7 from 10am-3pm at Bona Fide Books,1069 Magua St. in Meyers.

Items for sale will include housewares, linens and bags from Kenya, wellness and beauty products, jewelry, , locally published books, knitted and crocheted hairpieces, toys and more.

Zawadisha arms women with access to capital and the life-saving tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty.

Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra and South Lake Tahoe are accepting applications for Women’s Opportunity, Violet Richardson and Ruby Awards.

The Women’s Opportunity Award is bestowed upon women in the community who provide primary financial support for their families, and who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or undergraduate degree program. The local winners will each receive $2,000 and are eligible to compete at the region and national competitions.

The Violet Richardson Award is recognition for young women ages 14-17 engaged in volunteer action within our community or schools. The award is given to young women whose activities make the community and world a better place. This monetary award of $100 goes to eligible young women who have a passion for volunteerism which support women and/or youth in some capacity. There are no restrictions on the type of activity.

The Ruby Award honors women who have worked to improve the lives of women and/or youth through their professional and/or volunteer work. Awardees will receive a $150 donation for the nonprofit organization of their choice.

Applications are available online at SITS or SISLT. Applications are due by 5pm Dec. 1.

For more info, contact Sandy Williams at kesan7@sbcglobal.net or (530) 541.2844 or Pam Barrett at zippygirl1@att.net or (530) 545.3388.

The El Dorado Community Foundation received 72 requests for grant funding from South Lake Tahoe.

The South Lake Tahoe Endowment consists of the Joan Rochelle Fund and the South Lake Tahoe Area Fund.

The recipients are:

South Tahoe Middle School, South Tahoe High School, Sierra House, Tahoe Valley Elementary, Bijou Community School, Tahoe Youth & Family Services, Tahoe Arts Project, H.E.R.O., Lake Tahoe Historical Society, Choices for Children, Between Horses & Humans, Live Violence Free, South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center, Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation, Heavenly Ski & Snowboard Foundation, Lake Tahoe Reading Council, Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe, American Youth Soccer Organization, Loyal Order of the Moose, Marine Research & Education Inc., Lake Tahoe Shining Stars and Sierra Tahoe Children’s Theater.

They will share $69,881.

Soroptimist International Tahoe Sierra is celebrating the season with local vendors and artisans.

In the loft at Blue Angel Cafe in South Lake Tahoe there will be gifts available for purchase that range form beauty products to jewelery to apparel to spices to books.

The event is Dec. 3 from 4-8pm.

There will also be food, wine and music.

Tahoe Production House is hosting Real Audio Workshops Audio 101 Class.

The three-day workshop is Dec. 9-11 from 10am-6pm each day.

Topics will include how the ear perceives sound, acoustics, and sound travel. It also includes hands-on learning of setting up a sound system with speakers, basic connections, equalization, mixing and routing of signals, as well as power management.

The workshop is at TPH, 2291 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

The cost is $315, with pre-registration required. (Lunch is included.)

Email info@tahoeproductionhouse.com for more information or for an application.

Documentary filmmaker Bill George will present his 30-minute film on the Transcontinental Railroad from Sacramento to Donner Summit on Nov. 22 at 6:30 p.m.

The presentation will be on the second floor of the Bernhard Museum Winery, 291 Auburn Folsom Road, Auburn. George will follow up with a brief presentation on the history of the railroad and the making of the film.

For more information about the free program, call (530) 889.6500.

Gingerbread creators being sought for the 6th annual May Arboretum Society’s Gingerbread Festival.

This contest is open to all – from amateur to architect. Simply design and make your own gingerbread creation that reflects a holiday theme. The edible artwork will be put on display for at a community festival.

Ribbons and prizes will be awarded in four categories: Adults (age 16 and older), Families (primary creator under 16), Professional (baker, caterer, culinary students), and Open (non-house creations). Entries will be judged for overall appearance, originality, creativity, and craftsmanship.

Proceeds benefit the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

The entry form is due Dec. 11. It costs $10 to enter. The contest is Dec. 14 at Wilbur D. May Museum, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park 1595 N. Sierra St., Reno.

The Incline Village Crystal Bay Historical Society will be having another History Happy Hours on Nov. 21.

The history of Tahoe snowboarding will be presented by Mike Hatchett of Standard Films.

This event will be at Sierra Nevada College, in the Tahoe Center for Environmental Studies in Incline village. Doors open at 7pm, presentation begins at 7:30pm.

The cost is $5.