Now that the holidays are over, the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department would like to remind everyone that they should be aware of the potentially explosive hazard of a dried out Christmas tree in your home.

Do not try to burn your tree in the fireplace, even if it is chopped into small pieces. Trees left next to curb on trash pick up day will be removed free of charge by the South Tahoe Refuse.

Outdoor Christmas lights look great during the holidays, but should also be removed to prevent damage from freezing weather that could cause short circuits.

Thanks for continuing to be fire safe.

— Sallie Ross-Filgo, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department

Lake Tahoe author David Antonucci presents an illustrated talk on his newest book on Lake Tahoe, “Fairest Picture: Mark Twain at Lake Tahoe” on Jan. 18 at 6pm as part of the Explore Tahoe Winter Speaker Series.

The event is at Explore Tahoe: An Urban Trailhead located at 4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

A $5 donation is requested. A $5 flat rate fee is offered in the Heavenly Village Parking Garage after 4pm.

For more information, contact Explore Tahoe at (530) 542.4637.

Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board at the Jan. 11-12 meetings in Apple Valley will consider a resolution regarding the California Tahoe Conservancy restoration project in lower Blackwood Creek.

Comments on the Blackwood Canyon proposal will be taken until Jan. 9.

Anyone with questions or wanting to discuss the project should call (530) 542.5439 or email RLarsen@waterboards.ca.gov.

With no fanfare, Lakeview Commons at El Dorado Beach is open. And based on the number of people frolicking along the expansive walkway and terraced seating during the holiday weekend, its popularity has not diminished. With the major face lift, it is likely to be even more popular than year’s past.

Gone are the fences, construction crews and machines needed to complete the multimillion dollar project in South Lake Tahoe.

Lakeview Commons in South Lake Tahoe is open. Photos/Kathryn Reed

The City Council will tour the area as part of the afternoon session of the Jan. 3 meeting.

Work continues on the boathouse, though that should be open in the summer. A fence does separate the beach and water, but that, too, will be gone by the time people want to venture into the lake.

— Kathryn Reed

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South Tahoe Refuse will recycle Christmas trees through Jan. 6.

Place the tree with the trash on the normal garbage day. All lights, tinsel and other decorations must be removed. Trees must be cut into 6-foot increments or less.

Flocked trees will not be recycled because they cannot be turned into compost.

Commercial customers may bring trees to the refuse center in South Lake Tahoe for the next two weeks at no charge.

For more information, call (530) 541.5105.

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival has chosen Shakespeare’s comedy “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” as the headlining production of its 40th anniversary season.

Tickets are on sale for the 2012 festival that will be July 13 through Aug. 26 at Sand Harbor State Park.

Two sections have been added to the amphitheater’s seating charts. Cabaret Table Seating will offer café style tables with seating for four in comfortable chairs located in the popular premium seating area.

Side Gallery seating is conveniently located just inside the gates and offers one of the most affordable ticket price points.

Tickets range from $15 to $85, are on sale now and can be purchased online.

The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District has partnered again with Incline Village General Improvement District’s Waste Not Program, to offer the annual free community Christmas Tree Chipping program.

Incline Village/Crystal Bay residents may drop off their Christmas tree anytime between Dec. 24 and Jan. 25 at Preston Field, 700 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village located off Highway 28 near Highway 431.

This Christmas Tree Recycling service helps save our natural resources, landfill space and protects the clarity of Lake Tahoe. All trees dropped off at Preston Field will be chipped and used as mulch for local erosion control projects. Residents should be aware that Christmas trees left curbside will be taken to the landfill. This program recycles an average of 14 tons of trees each year.

Remove all ornaments, tinsel, nails, wire and other items which may cause harm to the tree chipper or operator. The chipper will not accept stumps, wreaths or yard waste and is not designed to accept cut up trees, branches or bushes – only Christmas trees.

For more information, contact Rebecca Sawyer at (775) 832.1284 or go online.

More than 30 kids learned how to make a gingerbread house at the Zephyr Cove library last weekend.

Friends of the Douglas County Library put on the event.

Decorators Maddie, 8, Brennan, 5, and Sally Monroe, 3; and their friend Gracie Wolski, 9. Photo/Provided

Miss Carol helped children build gingerbread houses using graham crackers and other sweets.

After the houses were built the children were able to take them home as a decoration for the holidays.

• Mike Bradford, owner of Lakeside Inn Casino in Stateline, has been appointed to the board of directors for the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District.

• Pamela Harris, 56, of Placerville has been appointed director at the California Employment Development Department.

• Mtn. Mike’s Sports in Squaw Valley has a new website.

• El Dorado County offices will be closed Dec. 23, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

• Debbie Akin has been appointed to the El Dorado County board of education.

All post offices will be open Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The normal Saturday hours at each location will apply.

In observance of the holidays, post offices will be closed Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. With the exception of Express Mail, there will be no delivery on those days.