Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board’s staff is hosting a forum to receive input from agencies, land managers, and interested parties regarding beavers, beaver habitat modifications, and beaver management in the greater Lake Tahoe-Truckee area.

Many people have an interest in beavers because of the critical role they play in natural ecosystems. Unfortunately, the habitat beavers create can often cause conflicts with our existing or planned land use.

The Water Board regulates the discharge of waste to water; beaver management may result in such discharges. We are conducting this forum to provide a means for interested parties to voice their concerns, identify issues, and gain an understanding of applicable regulations pertaining to the management of beavers.

Invited agency representatives and others are encouraged to briefly present information concerning their area of interest or jurisdiction, followed by opportunities for questions and group interactions.

The forum will be April 19 from 1:30–3:30pm at 971 Silver Dollar Ave., South Lake Tahoe.

If you have questions, call (530) 542.5464.

Learn about Court Appointed Special Advocates and Foster Family Services in South Lake Tahoe on April 13.

The free meeting begins at 10:20am in the Aspen Room at Lake Tahoe Community College, 1 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe.

Every year hundreds of children from the Tahoe area are removed from their homes due to abuse. In fall 2012, 290 children from El Dorado County needed foster care and there were only eight families at the lake to help.

Speakers are Megan Ciampa, director of Foster Family Services, and Amanda Morozumi with CASA.

• The Lake Tahoe Community College Writers’ Series celebrates National Poetry Month April 12 at 7pm in the LTCC Library. Three award-winning poets — Kelle Groom, Lexa Hillyer and Krista Lukas — will read from their works, engage the audience with a Q&A, and sign books. The event is free. Books will be available for purchase.

• Although it received bi-partisan support, state Sen. Ted Gaines’ bill to repeal the fire fee failed April 9 in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water.

• The 23rd annual Lake Cushing Crossing (aka pond skimming) is April 13 at 1pm at Squaw Valley.

• An open house to celebrate the life of Bob Bender will be April 13 at 1pm at 2136 Shawnee in South Lake Tahoe. Mr. Bender died March 8.

• The U.S. Postal Service’s plan to cut Saturday delivery in August has been delayed because of Congress.

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation will host the 12th annual Grapes and Gates wine tasting event on May 8 at Edgewood Tahoe’s North Room beginning at 6pm.

This year’s event will feature tastings from local restaurants Café Fiore, Cork and More, Latin Soul, Naked Fish and MacDuffs. Tastings will be offered by more than 12 wineries: Caymus Winery, Silver Oak Winery, Rombauer Winery, Vine Cliff, Jeremy Wine Co., Red Poets & Skyhawk Lane, Toasted Head, C.G. Di Arie, Renwood, Un Po’ Pazzo Italian wines, Silkwood and Southern Wine and Spirits. Dance to the music of the David Patrone Jazz Band, enjoy Alpen Sierra coffee and Sugar Pine Bakery desserts.

The evening’s highlight will be the award presented by Bill Killebrew to Dick and Nancy Gardner for their continued dedication to providing youth in the region the opportunity to participate in snowsports. The ceremony will begin at 7:15pm.

Tickets are limited and may be purchased online or by calling Foundation director Aimi Xistra-Rich at (530) 314.9285. Tickets are $75, $65 for foundation alumni. Proceeds benefit the Heavenly Foundation’s Scholarship Program.

Denise Jolly

The Tahoe Slam at Sierra Nevada College is April 26 at 7pm.

It will be hosted by poetry slam champion Denise Jolly.

In addition to the cash prize purse, the winner of the competition is crowned Tahoe Slam Champion of the Year. Contestants will be limited to the first 10 people to sign up prior to the event. Sign ups begin at 6:30pm in Patterson Hall. Competitors should bring at least two poems in preparation for advancing on to the second round.

South Lake Tahoe’s Lead Safe Tahoe program has partnered with Lake Tahoe Community College to offer a Renovator, Repair, Painter course in English and Spanish.

The one-day class explains how to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s RRP rule. Subjects covered include: health effects, regulations, lead safe work practices, containment, cleaning and record keeping.

After passing an end-of-class exam, students receive RRP initial training certificates.

An English-language class is being offered April 19. A Spanish-language class is being offered April 20.

Classes will be at Lake Tahoe Community College at a discounted rate of $50.

Additional workshop fees are paid for by South Lake Tahoe grant funding. Scholarships covering the entire cost of the course are available for full-time city residents who meet HUD low income requirements.

Preregistration and prepayment are required and space is limited. Call (530) 542.6011 to register for the April 19 class and (530) 542.7417 for the April 20 class.

On April 27 from 10am-2pm the South Lake Tahoe Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its sixth opportunity in three years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring medications for disposal to Safeway at 1020 Johnson Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last September, people throughout the country turned in 244 tons of prescription drugs at more than 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. In its five previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over 2 million pounds — over a thousand tons — of pills.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Squaw Valley and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association welcome brides-to-be to the Lake Tahoe Wedding Faire at Squaw Valley on April 13 from noon-4pm.

The event will host a range of bakeries, florists, musicians, photographers, venues, event coordinators and wedding rentals.

In addition to vendors, the Wedding Faire will feature a raffle with some great prizes.

Interested brides-to-be may register for the event online. Admission is free and the first 100 people to register online will receive a complimentary glass of Champagne upon arrival.

Karen Bender of South Lake Tahoe is headed to Truckee next month to see the production of “Best of Broadway”.

She correctly guessed that Lake Tahoe News Publisher Kathryn Reed’s favorite musical is “Sound of Music”.

If you want to see one of the shows put on by the Truckee High School Drama Club, performances are at 7pm on May 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 and there is a special Mother’s Day matinee at 2pm on May 12.

• Here are some closing dates for Tahoe area ski resorts: Diamond Peak and Homewood Mountain Resort – April 7; Northstar, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Sugar Bowl, Boreal and Soda Springs – April 14.

• The South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation Commission now meets the second Tuesday of every month at 3:30pm in the Cedar Room at the Recreation Complex located at 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd. The public is welcome to attend.

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

• Powerball comes to California on April 8.

• Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe has agreed to commit $25,000 to the Sierra House Garden Dome project. The dome proponents have 18 months to figure out how to get the project done before the service club gives the money to another group.