Are you renting an apartment or home in South Lake Tahoe?

Did you know there is help available for first-time home buyers who meet certain requirements?

The program is available to those who have not owned a home in the last three years, occupy the property to be purchased as their primary residence at all times, provide a down payment equal to 10 percent of the city loan, and qualifies for a first loan to purchase the home.

For details, contact Lwatson@cityofslt.us, call (530) 542.6021 or click on the flyer.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will begin prescribed fire operations on the north end of Emerald Bay today. Operations may continue through the week, weather permitting.

Residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from this prescribed fire project area. Smoke may be visible on Highway 89. 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.

Other federal, state and local fire management agencies may also be conducting prescribed fire work during this period.

Alejandro Aguirre was recently selected as the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe 2011-12 Youth of the Year.

Each Boys & Girls Club across the country selects a Youth of the Year based on the criteria of sound character, leadership, and willingness to serve. Alejandro will go on to compete at the state level.

This National Boys & Girls Club of America program awards college scholarships at each of the stages of competition. The National Youth of the Year receives a $50,000 College Scholarship. Each of the other 5 Regional Finalists receives a $10,000 College Scholarship and they all meet with the president of the United States.

Alejandro received a $50 savings bond from the local club. He competes at the state level next.

The other nominees were: Owen Slater, Michael Bergsten, Aria D’Aintree, Angela Rheault, and Jade Burgard.

The Douglas County Public Library in Zephyr Cove is presenting Saturday Stories and Crafts on Feb. 11 at 3pm.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the library. Children ages 3 and up may choose a craft to make. All supplies will be provided. Younger children should be accompanied by an adult.

Register for this program by Feb. 10 by calling (775) 588.6411.

The Avoid the 6 El Dorado County DUI Campaign is reminding football fans watching this year’s Super Bowl game with friends and family to make the right decision before kickoff and have a game plan for a designated sober driver.

Law Enforcement joins with the national “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” message from the National Football League, the California Office of Traffic Safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management Coalition.

The Avoid the 6 DUI Task Force will be deploying special roving DUI patrols on Feb. 5 in several communities throughout the area looking to stop and arrest drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs. These DUI patrols are, in addition to regularly scheduled patrol officers, all looking for the tale-tell signs of an intoxicated driver behind the wheel.

In 2010, more than 10,000 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. In Californian, this deadly crime led to 791 deaths because someone failed to designate a sober driver.

Tahoe Cross Country Ski Education Foundation is having a Full Moon Yurt Dinner Fundraiser on Feb. 3.

Douglas Dale of Wolfdale’s will be the chef for the night.

The evening adventure starts with a moonlit ski or snowshoe from the Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area to the trailside warming hut on Yellow trail where there will be fireside hot mulled wine and hot chocolate. The terrain is gentle.

Skiers return to the yinner Yurt. When the meal is complete you are within walking distance to your car. Limited tickets are available at $65 per person. This is an evening out for adults. All money raised benefits the Winter Discovery Program at Tahoe Cross Country.

Call (530) 583.5475 to make a reservation for the 6-9pm.

Friends of the Library is having a book sale Feb. 11 from 10am-3pm at the South Lake Tahoe branch library.

The library is at 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

For more information, call (530) 573.3185.

• Redevelopment is the topic of the Jan. 30 5pm South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting at Lake Tahoe Airport. Here is the special meeting agenda.

• Krys Bart, president/CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, has earned the American Association of Airport Executives’ Distinguished Service Award.

• How does the world supply food for 9 billion people? Click on this link from the Center for Investigative Reporting to learn more. It’s projected that will be the world’s population in 2050.

• Paradise Real Estate has merged with McCall Realty on the South Shore.

• Here is Caltrans’ Sierra roadwork and El Dorado-Tahoe schedules for this week.

Sessions in South Lake Tahoe is offering a free haircut-style to anyone with at least 10 inches of good hair to donate to the Locks of Love Foundation.

The foundation creates wigs for children who have lost their hair because of an illness.

The promotion is going on throughout February. It is a $45 value.

Call (530) 541.2722 to make an appointment.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will continue prescribed fire operations in various locations around the Lake Tahoe Basin on Jan. 30.

Operations may be carried out in Emerald Bay, Kingsbury Grade, Kings Beach, or the Bunker area of Tahoe City. Locations and size of the operations will depend on conditions at each site. Operations may continue through the week.

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.