The leading alternatives for the loop road through the South Shore as determined by attendees of two public workshops as well as next steps will be presented by the Tahoe Transportation District at an open house on Dec. 13 from 4-6pm at Harveys, Emerald Bay B Room, Stateline.

Information on the various alternatives, including goals, benefits and associated costs will be presented.

For more info, call (775) 589.5500.

With the early snow, Placer County Visitor Bureau/California Welcome Center has sno-park passes for sale along with a map and directions to the 19 sites.

The center is located at 1103 High St. in Auburn. The phone number is (530) 887.2111.

A permit is required for each vehicle parked at a sno-park site from Nov. 1 through May 30. Day Permits are $5 for a single day. Season permits are $25.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will conduct prescribed fire operations near Grand Avenue on West shore near Tahoe Pines on Dec. 5.

Crews expect to burn 1 acre, weather permitting. Operations will continue as weather and conditions allow.

Residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from this prescribed fire project area. The Forest Service strives to minimize the impacts of smoke on local communities. Smoke-sensitive residents should consider staying indoors and keeping doors, windows and outside vents closed.

To directly receive prescribed fire updates, send an email to pa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us.

Forest Service staff will post road signs around areas affected by prescribed fire, and update the local fire information line at (530) 543-2600, No. 6.

• The El Dorado County Veteran Affairs Commission is looking for veterans who reside in the Lake Tahoe Basin to serve as a commissioner or alternate commissioner. If interested, contact Judi McCallum at (530) 573.7918, (530) 621.6577 or bosfive@edcgov.us.

• Tips from FEMA: “During cold months, keep your car’s gas tank at least half full for emergencies. This should keep the fuel line from freezing.”

• Lake Tahoe Community College Connect Ed is offering Kids Winter Break Adventure Camps. More info is online.

• Vail Resorts has opened a Breeze Rentals facility store in Tahoe City.

• The Martis Valley Reservoir Community Workshop is Dec. 5 from 6-8pm at Truckee Town Hall Council Chambers, 10183 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will conduct prescribed fire operations in the Elks Point Road area of Round Hill on Dec. 5.

Crews expect to burn 1 acre, conditions permitting. In addition, operations will begin above Highway 28 near Skunk Harbor. Crews expect to burn 4 acres, conditions permitting. Operations will continue as weather and conditions allow.

Residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from these prescribed fire project areas. The Forest Service strives to minimize the impacts of smoke on local communities. Smoke-sensitive residents should consider staying indoors and keeping doors, windows and outside vents closed.

To directly receive prescribed fire updates, send an email to pa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us.

Forest Service staff will post road signs around areas affected by prescribed fire, and update the local fire information line at (530) 543-2600, No. 6.

El Dorado County has funds available as low-interest rate loans for home repairs to income-qualified homeowners in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Funding is provided through the State Community Development Block Grant Program and the county’s Housing Rehabilitation Revolving Loan Funds.

These Housing Rehabilitation loans must be used to correct health and safety issues and to meet code compliance standards. Program loan funds may be used to repair or replace roofs, foundations, plumbing, electrical, heating/air conditioning systems, termite damage and more. The home must be located in an unincorporated area of the county.

To qualify, the household income must fall at or below 80 percent of the area median, based on household size. Current annual maximum household income limits are: one person, $42,650; two persons, $48,750; three persons, $54,850; four persons, $60,900; five persons, $65,800; six persons, $70,650; seven persons, $75,550; eight persons, $80,400.

For more information, call (530) 642.4863.

• Nevada Department of Transportation is reminding political candidates and property owners that all political signs posted near state roads need to be removed by Dec. 6.

• Carson City’s annual Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights is now two days — Dec. 7 from 5:30-6:30pm and Dec. 8 from 10am-4pm. For more info, call (775) 887.1294.

• South Lake Tahoe author Suzanne Robert’s latest poetry book “Plotting Temporality” has been released. More info is online.

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

• El Dorado County Historical Museum is auctioning some vintage farm and mining supplies, rustic furniture, and memorabilia on Dec. 14 at 11am. Proceeds benefit the museum. For more info, click on flyer.

Lake Tahoe Museum’s Holiday in History is Dec. 7-9.

Calls can be made to the North Pole all three days from the South Lake Tahoe museum.

That Saturday local author Todd Bord will be signing his books from noon-2pm. The books are sold at the museum.

The museum is open that Friday from noon-8pm, on the weekend from 11am-3pm.

South Lake Tahoe and Lake Tahoe Community College Connect Community Education are sponsoring the Renovator, Repair, Painter course for local construction workers.

The Lead Safe Worker eight-hour training for Renovators, Repair and Painters is being offered at LTCC on Dec. 8 from 8am-5pm.

The cost to attend the training is $50. Up to two workers from each local company are welcome to participate.

This 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 will receive their RRP certificate.

A Spanish-language class is scheduled for Jan. 19.

To register, contact Janine Green at (530) 542.6196 or jgreen@cityofslt.us.

Lake Valley Fire Department’s Christmas engine is about drive through neighborhoods.

Here is the schedule:

Dec. 11 – Echo View Estates, Tahoe Mountain Road, Mule Deer Circle

Dec. 12 – Lake Tahoe Boulevard from Boulder Mountain Drive to Grizzly Mountain Drive

Dec. 13 – West side of North Upper Truckee from Zuni Street to Highway 50, Chiapa Drive

Dec. 14 – East side of North Upper Truckee from Grizzly Mountain to West San Bernardino Avenue

Dec. 15 – Christmas Valley from Highway 50 to Grass Lake Road

Dec. 16 – North side of Highway 50 in Meyers (lower Apache, Magnet School), behind Station 7, (Cornelian Drive, Navahoe Drive, Cheyenne Drive)

Dec. 17 – North of Pioneer Trail from Highway 50 to Elks Club (Southern Pines Drive, Tionontati Street, Meadow Vale Drive), Player Drive

Dec. 18 – Upper Apache Drive and Mandan Street

Dec. 19 – Pioneer Trail from Busch Way to Washoan Boulevard (Glen Eagles Drive, Hekpa Drive)

Dec. 20 – Pioneer Trail from Washoan Boulevard to Jicarilla Drive (Apalachee Drive, Nadowa Street, Susquehana Drive)

Dec. 21 – Kokanee Estates (Marshall Trail, High Meadow Trail)

Dec. 22 – Golden Bear Trail, Meadow View Estates (Plateau Circle, Cattleman’s Trail)

Dec. 23 – Cold Creek Trail, Del Norte Street, Black Bart from Pioneer Trail to Meadow Crest Drive.