• Senate Bill 125 would have exempted a property owner of a structure that is within a State Responsibility Area as designated by CalFire and within the boundaries of a local fire protection district from having to pay the $150 tax. But the bill by state Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Rocklin, didn’t make it out of committee on April 23.

• Sonora Pass is open for the season and Tioga Pass is projected to open May 11.

• The Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships is returning to Squaw Valley in 2014. The March 19-23 championships is likely to feature Julia Mancuso, Ted Ligety, Lindsey Vonn, Bode Miller and Mikaela Shiffrin.

• April is National 911 Education Month. Here is a 911 guide.

• Carnelian Bay, based on ZIP codes, is the least polluted in California as shown on an EPA interactive map developed by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

Do you want to take your leadership skills to the next level? Are you interested in learning more about the South Shore community?

Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the 2013-14 Leadership Lake Tahoe program. This professional development program is designed to increase knowledge and awareness of the issues and challenges facing the South Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Leadership Lake Tahoe began in 2003 with a mission of identifying and developing current and future leaders and since its inception, has graduated more than 100 community leaders.

This is an intensive, 10-month commitment. Courses are the second Wednesday of the month (September-June), from 8am-4pm. Topics to be covered include leadership development, education, government, media/communication, tourism, public safety, environment/transportation, social services/community resources, economic revitalization/redevelopment and more.

For more information and to apply, go online. The deadline for all application materials is June 14.

Teens from across the country may enter “My Epic Adventure” essay contest for a chance to receive an all expenses paid 14-day Epic Sierra Adventure.

Two winners will be chosen.

Royal Robbins is funding the prize for the American River Conservancy contest.

More information is online.

The University of the Pacific Jazz Band will be performing a free concert at South Tahoe High School on Friday afternoon.

This ensemble, under the direction of Patrick Langham the head of the Dave Brubeck Institute, is stopping off on their way to compete at the Reno Jazz Festival.

They are a top quality band playing world class jazz. Stop on by for what will be a GREAT concert.

The free concert in the student union starts at 3pm.

• Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course opens May 9.

• South Lake Tahoe Public Utility District’s board is having a public hearing on the 2013-14 budget May 2 at 6pm at 1275 Meadow Crest Drive in South Lake Tahoe.

• According to figures from Smith Travel Research, South Lake Tahoe’s hotel market came in second in California with a 17.1 percent increase in hotel room revenue from 2011 to 2012. The Santa Clara County market had the biggest increase at 20.8 percent.

• The Los Angeles Times reports that when Gov. Jerry Brown was in China, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom deputized the artichoke and avocado, respectively, as the state’s official vegetable and fruit. He also made the almond the state nut and rice the state’s official grain.

• After dominating the competition in five canoe races and winning two of three academic categories, the UNR concrete canoe team took the overall win in the annual Mid-Pac Concrete Canoe Competition on April 19-20 in San Jose.

Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club is helping seniors on April 27.

As part of the Rotary at Work Day the group will go to seniors’ homes and help them with such things as changing light bulbs, changing batteries in smoke detectors, yard work, and more.

Any senior who would appreciate such help is asked to call Dan Oaks at (775) 790.0330 or Tim Buscher at (530) 573.0575.

• El Dorado County Supervisor Ray Nutting continues to be in the news regarding his use of state money to clear his property of brush. Here is a link to the latest story, which includes Nutting on video.

• The Tahoe City Transit Center was honored this month with a prestigious 2013 Small Project Award from the American Institute of Architects.

• Expect an increase in traffic April 25 during an earthquake drill at Incline High School. Do not call 911 unnecessarily and try to avoid the area, authorities urge.

• Tahoe City Wine Walk is giving away a vacation. Click here for the details.

• The League to Save Lake Tahoe received a $60,000 Wells Fargo grant to support volunteer programs that protect water quality.

There will be a Cinco de Mayo dance on April 26 from 7:30-10pm at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center.

The dance is open to all ages. The Tahoe Dance Band will provide the music. Mexican or Western wear is encouraged.

The $10 admission fee includes appetizers, dessert, wine and other beverages. For those who aren’t 21, the cost is $5 and no wine will be served.

The center is at 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

For more info, call Arline at (530) 545.1277 or Francine at (530) 541.8380.

A pancake breakfast on June 22 will benefit youth in Lake Tahoe.

Optimist International will put on the event at Tahoe Paradise Park in Meyers from 8-11am.

For $5 people will get pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice, coffee or tee.

Tickets must be bought in advance at Eloise Automotive & Alignment, Lakeside Napa Auto Part or Fritz Wenck Dentistry.

• The 21st Valhalla Renaissance Faire is June 1-2 and June 8-9 at Camp Richardson Resort on the South Shore.

• Carolyn Meiers of the South Lake Tahoe Garden Club will present “Plan Your Garden Early and Prepare for a Growing Summer Season” on May 7 at 6:30pm at the South Lake Tahoe Library, 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd. For questions, contact Tahoe.Programs@gmail.com or (530) 573.3185. The event is free.

• Here is the El Dorado-Tahoe roadwork schedule for Caltrans for this week.

• The Tahoe Maritime Museum and Tahoe City Public Utility District are offering a youth standup paddleboard program starting June 1. For more info, call (530) 583.3440.

• Placer County Board of Supervisors will meet April 22-23 at the Granlibakken Conference Center in Tahoe City. Monday’s meeting will start at 2pm with presentations from the North Tahoe Business Association and Tahoe City Downtown Association. The supes will also hear a presentation on the Community House in Kings Beach, which is part of the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation that offers services to the community. Tuesday’s meeting begins at 9am and will include a hearing on solid waste handling services in eastern Placer County, a status report on the Tahoe Basin Community Plan Update and an update on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Regional Plan.