South Lake Tahoe is accepting applications for the fall 2013 Citizens Academy.

The Citizens Academy will be on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-8 from Sept. 25–Oct. 30.

The application deadline is Sept. at 5pm.

The South Lake Tahoe Citizens Academy is a free, six-session interactive course designed to provide residents with an in-depth look into municipal government, as well as, information about the services and programs of South Lake Tahoe.

More information is available online.

The annual Signature Cocktail Contest at Riva Grill in South Lake Tahoe is Sept. 12 from 5:30-8pm.

Money goes to Barton Health’s Festival of Trees & Lights.

Local bartenders will vie for best cocktail and most congenial bartender.

So far the contestants will be from Chart House, Heavenly, LewMarNel’s, MontBleu, Naked Fish and Riva Grill.

Tickets are $30 and may be purchased online.

• The San Francisco Comedy Festival will be at MontBleu in Stateline on Sept. 14 at 9pm. Tickets are $25.

• Ground breaking for the Truckee River Legacy Trail Phase 3B is Aug. 26 at 4pm. For more info, click on the flyer.

• The Strawberry Music Festival this weekend has been canceled because of the Rim Fire.

• Tahoe Donner is bringing Jerry Tindell, an accomplished horse and mule trainer, to the equestrian center Sept. 6-8 to conduct an introduction/intermediate horsemanship clinic.

• Kathy Long, the park and facilities manager for the North Tahoe Public Utility District, has retired.

The El Dorado County Teen Court program in Placerville is recruiting student participants for the fall program.

Students in grades 8-12 are invited to sign up for the Teen Court volunteer training, scheduled for Sept. 11 from 6-8pm in El Dorado County Superior Court, located at 495 Main St. in Placerville.

After completing the mandatory training, teens will serve as court personnel for real cases in which a minor has committed an offense, admitted the offense, and chosen to be judged for sentencing by his/her peers.

Teen Court hearings will begin Oct. 2 and continue through May 2014. Hearings will be on Wednesday nights; a calendar with hearing dates will be handed out to each student during the training.

For more information about Teen Court or the volunteer training, call Austin at (530) 621.6380.

Brian Zambor with the American Heart Association will be at the Sept. 24 Lake Tahoe Unified School District board meeting to recognize the schools and students who helped raise money for his organization.

Three Lake Tahoe Unified schools participated in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart program last school year and collectively raised $13,625.36. This was the third highest sum out of more than 30 districts.

The environmental magnet school, Sierra House and Tahoe Valley participated.

After an extensive process, almost as intense as Dancing with the Stars, CASA has figured out who the judges will be at Friday’s South Shore’s Best Sunset Band fundraiser.

Critically evaluating the five bands vying for the 2013 title are: Mike “Old Time Rock and Roller” Dupree, Dan “Animals” Norman, Hal “Rock King” Cole, Angela “Phestival Phiary” Phillips, and Leslie “Mistress of Musical Mischief” David. They will each rate the bands on a scale of 1 to 10.

In addition, there will be a People’s Choice Award based on the tips that the bands get from their faithful followers.

The local bands are Black Star Safari, Little Town, Deep Fried Mojo, 4 Piece Puzzle, an Cash only Band.

They are playing to raise money for CASA El Dorado.

The free event is Aug. 23 from 3-8pm. Bring money to vote on the bands, buy food and beverages, raffle tickets and for bidding on the live auction.

Counties in Nevada within the Lake Tahoe Basin will now abide by the same total maximum daily load rules that are set in California.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection has deals with Douglas and Washoe counties and the Nevada Department of Transportation.

The goal is to reduce the amount of sediment reaching Lake Tahoe.

Nevada and California local governments and state transportation agencies are responsible for controlling stormwater discharges from their respective jurisdictions.

The agreements are good through Aug. 16, 2016, though officials say it is viewed as “living commitments” that are intended to be updated on a five-year cycle.

Lake Tahoe Community College English teacher and wildflower enthusiast Lisa Berry will give a lecture and slides show about flowers on Sept. 18.

She will examine Tahoe’s unique wildflower habitats, the best specimens of 2013, and the top 25 wildflowers every local should know.

The free event is at 7pm at the college’s board room.

• Phyllis Shafer, Lake Tahoe Community College’s art department chair, is featured in Western Art and Architecture magazine.

• This is the weekly Sierraroadwork schedule for Caltrans.

• The El Dorado County Grand Jury is looking for things to investigate. Submit an idea to: Grand Jury, P.O. Box 472, Placerville, CA 95667.

• Ready for snow? Check out 12-year-old Aspen Spora of Truckee who lives and rides at Northstar. Next up, Spora will be joining the Wasatch Project snow support program, skiing Colorado and Utah during early season, then headed back to Mt. Hood for more epic jump and rail sessions.

The inaugural Kiwanis Community Fair will be Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

The idea is to create a family event to bring the community and visitors together to support the youth of the South Shore.

The Community Fair will take place in the lower parking lot of Heavenly Mountain Resort. Activities include carnival rides, craft fair booths, cooking contest, jam contest,floral displays and more.

There is no entrance fee.

The event is hosted by Kiwanis, Optimist, Boys & Girls Club, Choices for Children, Live Violence Free and Tahoe Turning Point to benefit local service clubs and nonprofits that provide services to families and children in South Lake Tahoe.

For more information and to purchase advance carnival tickets, call (530) 541.4594.