Tahoe Regional Young Professionals’ next gathering is Feb. 13 at Hard Rock Café inside Harveys in Stateline from 7–10pm.

The February mixer will include $5 vodka drink specials and appetizer platters.

Admission is free for TRYP members and $5 for non-members. Annual TRYP memberships cost $40.

Key membership benefits and resources include: professional development opportunities; networking/mingling with more than 250 young professionals from across the region through Mixers and “FUN”draisers; leadership experience and opportunities to give back to an array of charities.

Sign up at the next event or email TahoeTRYP@gmail.com for additional membership information.

Placer County Department of Public Works is hosting an open house on Feb. 19 at 5:30pm at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach to provide an update on the Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement project. The presentation begins at 6pm.

The project’s final design, right-of-way acquisition process, parking replacement plan, traffic management plan, project funding and construction schedule will be presented followed by a question and answer session.

Translation services will be provided.

For more info, go online.

• Shell has returned to the South Shore with the gas station next to Scusa in South Lake Tahoe becoming a Shell. The company had left after the MTBE debacle.

•A survey by the U.S. Travel Association has found that 72 percent of respondents believe traveling inspires romance.

•Kirkwood Mountain Resort hosts the Swatch Freeride World Tour, which combines the Freeskiing World Tour and North Face Masters of Snowboarding to create one unified global championship series, Feb. 27-March 3. Sierra-at-Tahoe hosts a USASA halfpipe competition March 3. Heavenly Mountain Resort hosts the U.S. Freestyle Championships March 29-31.

•Scott Vandover, Justin Reddig, Kyle Fine and Paul Apple have joined the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection

Linda Mendizabal of South Lake Tahoe will soon have a copy of “Get Out of My Crotch” because she is the winner of Lake Tahoe News‘ contest.

“Get Out of My Crotch” is a collection of essays from 21 writers about issues pertaining to women.

The book was published by Cherry Bomb Books, an imprint of Bona Fide Books in Meyers.

For those wanting to buy a copy, you may do so online.

California is missing its two representatives on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board.

Mara Bresnick, who was the California Assembly Speaker appointee, gave notice just before the January meeting. Byron Sher, California Senate Rules Committee appointee, left just after the Regional Plan was adopted in December.

Mara Bresnick

Those two were the most vocal against the updated Regional Plan.

“Loose predictions are that it would be two or three months out, but it could take longer,” a TRPA official told Lake Tahoe News of when the seats may be filled.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

The League to Save Lake Tahoe’s second annual Fat Tuesday Masquerade Ball fundraiser is Feb. 12.

Doors open at 9pm, with music starting at 10pm at the American Legion Hall, 2748 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Last dance is at 1:30am.

Admission is $10, however anyone arriving wearing a Mardi Gras mask will be admitted for $5. Ten percent of the proceeds benefit the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

For more information, contact leslie@keeptahoeblue.org or (530) 541.5388.

A Meyers community meeting is set for Feb. 13 at 6:30pm at the new California Conservation Corps Dining Hall at 1949 Apache Ave. in Meyers.

At the meeting there will be an interactive community exercise about what neighborhoods to include in the greater Meyers residential area, a presentation on the Meyers Community Plan and a review of the visionary maps for recreation, transportation and more.

For more information, contact El Dorado County Supervisor Norma Santiago at bosfive@edcgov.us or (530) 621.6577.

• Curtis Fong, who provides Lake Tahoe News’ daily ski report, is on a quest to ski 51 resorts this year to mark his 51st year of skiing. Follow his adventure online.

• Autumn Garcia has joined Gateway Urgent Care in Truckee as a physician assistant.

• Kid-O-Rama returns to Squaw Valley Feb. 15-23.

• Tod Young was sworn in Feb. 1 as a District Court judge in Douglas County. Gov. Brian Sandoval appointed him to fill the two years of Judge David Gamble’s 6-year term.

• The Wanderlust Festival is coming to Squaw Valley July 18-21.

El Dorado County is looking for residents to participate in the 2013 Citizens Academy.

The academy is a way to learn the many facets of the sheriff’s office.

By the end of the academy, citizens will have developed a better understanding of the guidelines under which an officer functions and why officers handle situations the way they do. Also discussed is the role of law enforcement and how members of the community can come together to address serious crime and social issues.

The academy is offered periodically and continues for 14 weeks. The class runs one night each week, (typically Tuesdays) from 6-9pm. The next academy is scheduled to begin March 19 and will end June 25. The academy is in Placerville.

For general academy questions, contact Sgt. Jeff Leikauf (530) 621.7400, ext.8211 or leikaufj@edso.org. For questions regarding the application process contact Teresa Wren at (530) 621.6533 or wrent@edso.org.

How often do you stop and reflect about your eating regimes? Do they foster your athletic goals? Are you ready to mix up your routine in activity and nutrition?

Registered dietitian Jill Whisler and exercise physiologist Wendy Buchanan will talk about the top 10 nutrition and exercise tips for peak performance and health.

The two are from the Tahoe Center for Health and Sports Performance.

The talk is March 5 at Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village.

The no-host bar opens at 5:30pm, with the presentation at 6pm. Cost is $5.