Before venturing out onto the ice this winter, stop to consider whether or not it will support your weight. If there’s any doubt, you should keep your pets, children, and yourself away from the ice.

We would also advise everyone involved in heavy snow shoveling activities to take regular breaks and drink plenty of fluids. Watch out for signs of frostbite and hypothermia and avoid any alcohol consumption when engaging in outdoor activities.

We at the city of South Lake Tahoe Fire Department want you to have a fun and safe winter season.

— Sallie Ross-Filgo, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department

Members of the Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls Club Builder’s Club raised $100 to donate to the organization BADRAP.

Builder’s Club is a leadership program for middle school students which meets at the Boys & Girls Club main site every Monday at 3:30pm. The program is a collaborative partnership with the Kiwanis Club of the Sierra, Kiwanis International, and the Boys & Girls Club of America, and provides youth with leadership skills through service. Participants elect officers, learn how to conduct meetings, and identify needs for community service.

Club members identified an issue several months ago that they were passionate about through BADRAP. BADRAP began as a resource for pit bulls and their people in the Bay Area in 1999 and has grown to a national sensation providing information, training, disaster relief and animal welfare program models to help dogs everywhere.

This project is one of the many ways the Boys & Girls Club is having a lasting impact on its 870 members.

The Builder’s Club will host an open house March 12 from 6-8pm at the club’s main site, 1100 Lyons Ave., South Lake Tahoe The public is welcome and a free dinner will be provided.

Kiwanis Sunrisers’ annual crab feed is March 9 at 6pm at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.

There are limited number of the $38 tickets.

For more information, click on the flyer or call (530) 541.5900.

A campaign has recently been launched by several nonprofits and foundations called the Tahoe Truckee Reads Campaign. This is a call to action to improve reading proficiency for all children by third grade. Currently, two-thirds of the students in the U.S. and 47 percent of children at Tahoe Truckee Unified School District are not reading at the expected proficiency levels by the end of the third grade, and among low-income children, this drops to 24 percent.

Research shows that up to third grade, kids are learning to read and after third grade, kids have to “read to learn.”

Third-grade reading proficiency is a key indicator of school success. To address this, the Tahoe Truckee Reads Campaign has been launched, with a focus on what can be done before children get to school, in preschool and from kindergarten through third grade, as well as during summer vacation to reduce summer learning loss.

A planning meeting is set for March 1 at Truckee Elementary School, 5-7pm, and translation services will be provided. RSVP to Laura Abbey Brown at exed@ttcf.net.

The Mental Health Division of the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency in South Lake Tahoe has a new home.

The Mental Health Division moved to the El Dorado County Government Center, 1360 Johnson Blvd., Ste. 103. Staff is sharing space with the Public Health Division. The new telephone number is (530) 573.7970.

In addition to the Johnson Boulevard facility, Mental Health Division staff will operate an afternoon program several times each week, called The Wellness Center, at the senior center at 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

The 6th annual Champions for Children event is April 25 in Placerville and April 26 in South Lake Tahoe.

Both events start at 9am, with a noon lunch to follow.

This year’s them is “Making Your Organization Parent and Family Friendly – Strategies for Effective Parent Engagement” with Joni Samples as presenter.

This professional development opportunity is designed to help people develop tools and strategies for effective parent engagement in community based organizations, schools and agencies.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Blakemore at (530) 295.2312.

AARP tax aide is a free volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service offered to all taxpayers who are low- and middle-income,with special attention to those 60 and older.

The help is available at South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd., on Friday and Saturdays through April 14 from 9am-1pm, and on Thursdays through April 12 from 2-6pm.

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

• Phase I of Lake Tahoe Books and Art – the bookstore located in the Village Center in South Lake Tahoe – comes to an end March 4.

• Truckee has been named one of the world’s best ski destinations by the editors of National Geographic Adventure.

• Tanner Tingey of Fresno, who owns a second home near Tahoe City, and Tahoe City landscaper Trent Udlock must pay the TRPA a $20,000 fine for chopping down five trees without a permit.

• El Dorado County Auditor Joe Harn is not releasing money to Garden Valley Fire District. Find out why in this letter. This is the district that just signed a 10-year, $1 million no-out-clause contract with its chief.

•  There is an open house for internal medicine and pediatric physician Allison Steinmetz on Feb. 28 from 4-6pm at 1090 3rd St., South Lake Tahoe.

Tonight’s chat at Sierra Nevada College with Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Joanne Marchetta has been canceled because of weather.

• Chickenfoot, led by Sammy Hagar, will play May 4-5 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe South Shore Room.

• Beginning March 1, orthopedic surgeon Robert Rupp with Tahoe Orthopedics & Sports Medicine will begin seeing patients at 925 Tahoe Blvd., Stes. 105 and 106, Incline Village. He will continue to see patients at his Zephyr Cove and Carson City offices.

• The El Dorado Community Foundation’s board officers are: President John Black, Vice President Paul Zappettini, Secretary Charlie Stephens and Treasurer Chris Reeg. Maureen Carter is the past president.

• Paradise and McCall real estate companies are not merging after all.

• Truckee has launched a private social network for neighborhoods that allows residents to communicate online in a private, secure website to build stronger communities. More information is online.