• Squaw Valley ski patrol offers a free avalanche awareness and companion rescue workshop twice a month to anyone who is interested in polishing their skills or learning for the first time. Next session is Jan. 15 from 5:30-7pm at the Ski Patrol Locker Room (between Squaw Kids and the Far East chairlift). For info, call ski patrol at (530) 452.7260.

• Interested in curling? The Lake Tahoe Epic Curling club is based in Nevada but plays at the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena. More info is online.

• Did you attend SnowGlobe and leave any items behind? A lost and found has been setup at the South Lake Tahoe Police Department located at 1352 Johnson Blvd. or contact the non-emergency line at (530) 542.6100.

• Nevada magazine, the official state tourism publication, has partnered with Reno-based Nevada Matters Media to host a weekly radio show. It can be heard Sundays at 6pm on 99.1 FM as well as various times Monday through Saturday on 101.3 FM.

• The ski industry’s National Safety Awareness Week is Jan. 19-27.

A memorial fund in Alyssa Byrne’s name has been set up with the Lake Tahoe Community College Foundation to assist her family.

Byrne, a 19-year-old Petaluma resident, attended the three-day SnowGlobe music festival Dec. 29-31 on the college campus in South Lake Tahoe. She died of what is believed to be hypothermia on the last night of the festival.

Anyone who would like to support the Byrne family may make a gift to this fund by contacting the Lake Tahoe Community College Foundation at (530) 541.4660, ext. 245.

If your home heater goes out during a winter storm, keep warm by closing off the rooms you don’t need. Use only safe sources of heat like wood or UL-approved indoor fuel burning stoves.

Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing and wear a wool cap because a lot of your body heat is lost through your head.

Sleep under several lightweight blankets instead of a single heavy one.

Eat quick-energy foods like granola, peanut butter, and raisins so your body produces its own heat.

— Sallie Ross-Filgo, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District is hosting a community blood drive on Feb. 8 from 9am-4pm at the main fire station located at 875 Tanager St. in Incline Village.

Food and beverages will be provided courtesy of the Hyatt Regency Resort and U-Bake Pizza.

To make an appointment, call (775) 831-0351, ext. zero.

• January is National Learn to Ski and Ride month.

• Calling, downloading apps and surfing the web on the Verizon Wireless network is easier and faster for residents and travelers in El Dorado County thanks to a new cell site in Placerville. The site improves wireless coverage and capacity along Highway 49, Bar Crest Road, Wallace Road, Gold Hill Road and Lotus Road.

• For the second year in a row Sugar Bowl Ski Resort has received a “Best of Weddings” award by the Knot, the nation’s most visited wedding planning website.

• Swedish Olympic skier and former World Cup champion Jesper Rönnbäck knows being in the elements is hard the face. That’s why he created Recipe for Men, a line of skin care products for men.

• What was the world searching for in 2012? Google tells us in this video.

Winter Trails Day on the South Shore will include a guided snowshoe hike featuring wildlife habitat and forest health, the watershed and water quality impacts, and historic aspects of Camp Richardson and the surrounding area.

All snowshoers should meet at Camp Richardson adjacent to the Winter Sports Center located on Highway 89. The trek is easy to moderate and appropriate for adults and children 10 and older.

The event is Jan. 12 at 10am.

For more info, call (530) 542.6056.

• Lake Tahoe is currently ranked as the snowiest region in the country.

• Here is an application for the South Lake Tahoe City Council vacancy.

• On Dec. 28, Squaw Valley celebrated the grand opening of the resort’s newest chairlift, Big Blue Express, with a $5,000 contribution to the Tahoe Fund.

• Three members of the North Tahoe Public Utility District board of directors began new four-year terms in December. Phil Thompson replaced Frank Mooney who had chosen not to run after 25 years of service. Incumbent John Bergmann and Tim Ferrell retained their seats. S. Lane Lewis is president of the board, with Bergmann as VP and Sue Daniels secretary.

• Mt. Rose ski resort is having a Bavarian Fest on Jan. 5 from 10:30am to 2pm at the Winters Creek Lodge.

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association’s sixth annual National Winter Trails Day extravaganza is Jan. 12 from 10am-3pm.

Participants may register for a snowshoe hike, learn about snow core sampling, receive helpful winter safety information, demo gear, craft their own snow shelter and be a potential raffle prize winner.

The festivities will be in Tahoe Meadows just off Mount Rose Highway.

To participate, contact Hayley at (775) 298.0238 or programs@tahoerimtrail.org.

Free guided snowshoe hikes from Tahoe Meadows to the Tahoe Meadows Overlook and surrounding areas will take place throughout the day. Each hike has its own theme and guest interpreter.

The Nevada Highway Patrol is implementing an alert system using Facebook, Twitter and Nixle.

Nixle’s technology has been referred to as the “best of breed” for authorized users and ensures credibility of information delivered to the residents and visitors to Nevada, according to the NHP.

Go online to sign up for Nevada Highway Patrol alerts using Nixle.

• January is Train Your Dog Month.

• Campo Mammoth is chef Mark Estee’s lastest project. The chef-owner of Campo Reno has partnered with Levy Restaurants, which owns Spiaggia in Chicago, to open the Mammoth eatery.

• Want to join a community book club on the South Shore? More info is online.

• Friends of the West Shore has become an independent nonprofit corporation and therefore no longer needs to be sponsored by Sierra Nevada Alliance.

• Here is the El Dorado-Tahoe roadwork schedule from Caltrans.