Sprinkle or Shower? Efficient Irrigation is the subject of an Aug. 5 talk at Lake Tahoe Community College’s demonstration garden.

This 5:30pm talk will focus on setting up and maintaining an irrigation system for most efficient use.

Green Thumb is a series of talks and demonstrations on gardening in Tahoe, presented by the Lake Tahoe Master Gardeners. All lectures are free and open to the public.

The Placer County Sheriff Office’s search and rescue teams have started their annual telemarketing fundraising drive throughout the county, beginning in Lake Tahoe.

This year, search and rescue is hoping to purchase mobile communications equipment for the Lake Tahoe area. Search and rescue volunteers donate thousands of hours each year to locate lost hikers, skiers and anyone else who may need assistance in Placer County’s thousands of acres of wilderness.

Telephone solicitors will be calling Placer County residents to ask for donations. Anyone wishing to make a donation will be sent a pre-addressed envelope. Callers will not ask for credit card information. Donations should only be sent to the following addresses: P.O. Box 4150, Auburn, CA 95604 or P.O. Box 1710, Tahoe City, CA 96145.

During recent fundraising efforts, another company calling themselves “Search and Rescue Charities” led some donors to believe that they were donating to Placer County. This is not the case and anyone interested in donating to the local search and rescue efforts needs to make sure they are giving to “Placer County Search and Rescue.”

For further information, Katrina Kane at (530) 889.7846.

The Fall Festival and Chili Cook Off in South Lake Tahoe is Sept. 14 from 10am to 4pm.

The event is free. It will include door prizes, vendors, food, games, giveaways, and authors signing books.

Buy a bowl and vote for your favorite Tahoe chili.

The festival is at the South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation complex, 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office is looking for people to participate in the Citizens Law Enforcement Academy.

The 17-week academy begins Aug. 27.

Each week participants learn about a different aspect of the department.

Classes are Tuesdays from 6-9pm in Placerville.

Applications are available online.

Aug. 4 from 10am-4pm is the annual open house at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.

This is the one opportunity of the year the public is allowed to pass beyond the fenced area to see the cages and animals that are in rehabilitation.

Retail wear is available to buy.

LTWC is at 1485 Cherry Hills Circle off of Elks Club Drive on the South Shore of El Dorado County.

Arson killed more than 800 people in 2012 and was the largest single cause of fire damage to property.

Of all the fire damage to schools, arson or other suspicious fires cause almost 75 percent. Many of these fires are started by people under the age of 18.

The key to stopping “young fire-setters” is to find them and help them early. Anyone who knows of a person setting fires should report the activity to the fire or Police department.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department urges everyone to be especially careful and alert during this period of dry weather.

— Sallie Ross-Filgo, SLTFD

• Lake Valley Fire’s Battalion Chief Andrew Kaufer has retired. Taking his place is David Hekhuis, who has spent the last 23 years at Tahoe Douglas Fire.

• Don “the Baker” Ewing is recovering well after his recent surgery and hopes to return to full-time work soon. Cakes by the Lake has remained opened for business as usual during his absence.

• A slew of enviro groups, led by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, want people to take this survey.

• Moody’s Investors Service has given Douglas County its third highest bond rating of Aa2 or very strong.

• Paul Reese, who founded the Lake Tahoe 72-miler and Clarksburg Country Run, was inducted into the Sacramento Running Association’s inaugural hall of fame class. Reese died in 2004.

Lake Tahoe Community College is creating its vision of what its future could look like. To do this, officials are asking for the community’s input.

On Sept. 20 at 10am on the college campus there will be a visioning session. It is open to everyone.

RSVP to Julie Booth at Booth@ltcc.edu, or call (530) 541.4660, ext. 210.

The Aug. 8 sunset cruise on the Woodwind II sailboat out of Zephyr Cove will raise money for the Sugar Pine Foundation.

Tickets are $51 per person and may be purchased online or call (650) 814.9565.

Check in time is 6:30pm and the boat leaves from Zephyr Cove beach at 7pm.

EDAWN — Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada — is looking for nominations for the Existing Industry Awards.

Individuals, companies and community partners that have demonstrated solid growth and expansion, job creation and increased capital expenditure will be considered.

The deadline is Aug. 23 at 5pm. Awards will be given out Oct. 3 at the Peppermill in Reno.

For more inf, contact Nancy McCormick at (775) 829.3719 or mccormick@edawn.org.