U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews began limited prescribed fire operations in the Angora area today. Scheduled operations were delayed a day due to weather. Crews conducted a test ignition this morning and weather conditions today will determine the size of the project. Operations will not take place over the weekend.

Residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from this prescribed fire project area. Smoke may be visible on Highway 89 near the Camp Richardson-Pope Beach 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.

• Tahoe Pipe Club is looking for the best video of a flowing priority outfall pipe from this weekend’s storm. The list and map of the priority outfall pipes are online.  All entries will receive a Tahoe Pipe Club sticker and the winner will receive a T-shirt. Send videos to pipeclub@live.com.

• Tahoe City’s Alpenglow Sports has a new owner – Brendan Madigan. Madigan started working at Alpenglow in 2003 and has been in management since 2007. Donald Fyfe opened the store 32 years ago and has owned it until now.

• Starting this semester UNR is offering an online graduate certificate in renewable energy.

• Shannon McIsaac has been hired by Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce as membership services director.

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District is hosting a Community Blood Drive on Feb. 3 from 8am to 3pm at the main fire station located at 875 Tanager St., Incline Village.

To make an appointment, call (775) 831.0351, ext. zero.

• Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce members raised more than $2,000 for Christmas Cheer at the Jan. 12 mixer at Riva Grill.

• Shannon Beets has been promoted to executive vice president and provost of Sierra Nevada College. Beets had been VP of Institutional Effectiveness.

• South Tahoe Public Utility District is having a board workshop about water rates on Jan. 24 from noon-2pm at the district office, 1275 Meadow Crest Drive, South Lake Tahoe.

• Lake Tahoe is listed by the New York Times as one of the top 45 places to visit in 2012.

• Placer County Board of Supervisors chose Jennifer Montgomery to serve as chair and Jim Holmes to be vice chair for this year.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will resume prescribed fire operations in the Angora area on Jan. 19.

Fuels management crews will begin work in small sections of the unit near the north end of Tahoe Mountain. The project area is approximately 123 acres. Operations will continue through the weekend.

In addition, operations may begin this weekend in Ward Canyon, weather permitting.

Residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from these prescribed fire project areas. Smoke may be visible on Highway 89 near the Camp Richardson/Pope Beach areas and Highway 89 on the West Shore near Sunnyside.

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.

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is hosting two public workshops to help orient customers to the reorganization of TRPA’s Code of Ordinances, which go into effect on March 1.

These workshops are designed to help property owners considering home or building improvement projects, along with planners, consultants, contractors, and land-use attorneys.

The workshops are:

Jan. 26, 6-7:30pm, TRPA Conference Room, 128 Market St., Stateline.

Feb. 2, 6-7:30, Donald W. Reynolds Community Nonprofit Center, 948 Incline Way, Incline Village.

Topics to be covered in the workshops include comparisons of the old and newly reorganized code, tips on how to quickly find information, and updates on the e code changes in progress.

For additional information, call Kristi Boosman at (775) 589.5230 or email kboosman@trpa.org.

The Rotary Club of South Lake Tahoe is seeking art to be donated for a fundraiser to take place on Feb. 10 at Inn by the Lake.

One-hundred percent of the funds raised will go back into the community in the form of student scholarships.

The Rotary is collecting original fine art, limited edition prints, photographs, sculpture, fine jewelry, oil and acrylic paintings, watercolors, and ceramics. Framed art and unframed art that is in condition to be shown for auction will be accepted.

The deadline for donations is Feb. 3.

For more information, contact Pat Baginski at (530) 308.2504 or patchtahoe@gmail.com.

Blood drive officials are asking people to give a pint before the first punt. That’s because the blood drive is Super Bowl Sunday.

It is at Kahle Community Center in Stateline on Feb. 5 from 11am-4pm.

More information is on the flyer.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will begin prescribed fire operations in the McKinney-Rubicon Bay area Jan. 18. Fuels management crews will complete 1 to 3 acres and operations may continue through Jan. 19.

Residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from this prescribed fire project area and 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.

With snow on the way, fewer bus riders on the South Shore will have to endure the elements.

Four bus shelters went up in the past month in South Lake Tahoe, with plans for three more to be erected early this year.

Three shelters are on Highway 50, one near the intersection of Pioneer Trail; two serving the east and westbound stops near Wildwood Avenue; the fourth is on Ski Run Boulevard near Paradise Avenue.

The others will be put in the Carson Valley side of Kingsbury Grade.

Tahoe Transportation District has scheduled installation of additional shelters along various routes for the next three years.