Santa and Mrs. Claus will help light the Christmas tree Dec. 2 at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach.

The event at 8318 North Lake Blvd. is from 5-7pm.

The annual community event will include photos with Santa, a cookie swap, craft stations for the kids, hot cocoa, candy canes, homemade soup and more.

For more information, call (530) 546.9000.

The annual Tree of Remembrance Interfaith Ceremony hosted by Barton Hospice and Foundation is Dec. 7 from 5:30-6:30pm at Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church (2733 Lake Tahoe Blvd South Lake Tahoe).

This event gives attendees the opportunity to reflect on the memories they share and celebrate the lives of those they have lost.

Barton Hospice encourages everyone to take this opportunity to honor those they will forever cherish. Attendees will be able to say the name of the person in remembrance and light a candle in their honor. Music and song will be performed by OneVoice of Unity. Handmade porcelain ornaments, glazed with iridescent mother-of-pearl, will be available for $15 each. All proceeds will benefit Barton Hospice.

For information, call Barton Foundation at (530) 543.5614.

The Regional Plan Update Committee of the TRPA Governing Board took a step forward this week in moving toward a different permitting system at Tahoe where regulations would shift to local county or city governments.

The concept would leave local planning, zoning and development codes to each jurisdiction as long as environmental standards are followed. Large-scale projects may still fall under the permitting authority of TRPA. Details of this proposal are still under review.

The Regional Plan Update Committee endorsed the general concept for this shift and the full board will consider the change as part of the plan update process in 2012.

The TRPA Governing Board adopted an updated Code of Ordinances that has improved clarity and added user-friendly diagrams to improve the public’s understanding of Tahoe regulations.

Gail Ryan has had plenty of reason to celebrate this fall. She became the second multifamily housing property in South Lake Tahoe to be fully certified in the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program.

The program was implemented locally Oct. 11, 2010. Tim Zehring, retired 22-year veteran of the Mesa Police Department, is the founder of the International Crime Free Association.

Zehring presented Melanie Arnold, Lake Tahoe Crime Free Program’s volunteer coordinator, with the International Crime Free Association Manager of the Year award.

At the presentation in October, he said, “Melanie was told years ago that this program would never happen here in Lake Tahoe and now look where you are.”

Seven properties in South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County have been fully certified in this free program, with several more working toward full certification.

For more information, email laketahoecrimefreeprograms@msn.com or go online.

Officers from the California Highway Patrol’s Meyers’ office will be collecting turkeys on Nov. 19 in front of the Safeway Store at 1020 Johnson Blvd. from 10am-4pm.

As the turkeys are donated, they will be “stuffed” in a patrol vehicle. The donated turkeys will then be given to the South Lake Tahoe Women’s Center and the Sierra Community Church Hot Meal Program.

“There’s a definite need in our community to provide the services that these organizations provide. We’re excited to raise awareness for them and help them provide for the members of our community that truly need it. We’re hoping that everyone can come out and support them by donating a turkey,” CHP Officer Jeff Gartner said in a press release.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews are scheduled to resume prescribed fire operations in the Angora area today.

Fuels reduction crews are expected to conduct operations on a total of approximately 40 acres near Mule Deer Circle. Operations may continue through the week.

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

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, ext. 6.

• Caesars Entertainment Corp., owners of Harrah’s Lake Tahoe and Harveys, is planning to become a public company again. Expect an IPO next year. In 2008, private equity firms Apollo Management Group and Texas Pacific Group bought the Las Vegas-based company for $30.7 billion.

• More than 50 people applied for the superintendent job at Tahoe Truckee Unified School District. Nine candidates will be interviewed starting next week. Finalists will be interviewed in early December, with the appointment made in early January.

• Tahoe Maritime Museum in Homewood is having a free open house Nov. 19 from 10am-5pm.

• Kingsbury General Improvement District’s board on Nov. 15 agreed to seek a $5 million general obligation bond to pay for improvements of the water system.

• The League of California Cities appointed South Lake Tahoe City Councilwoman Angela Swanson to the Policy Committee on Transportation, Communication and Public Works as well as the Sacramento Valley Division Committee.

The National Weather Service is hosting a Weather Spotter training course at the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District on Nov. 30 from 6-7:30pm.

The training will highlight how spotters help the National Weather Service issue life saving weather warnings and includes topics such as severe thunderstorms, flash floods, winter storms, and other extreme weather.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer weather spotter is encouraged to attend.

The training will be in the Incline Station Training Room, located at 863 Tanager, Incline Village.

For more information on the class, contact Rhett Milne at the National Weather Service, (775) 673.8100, ext. 223 or Rhett.Milne@noaa.gov.

South Shore chiropractor Joshua Welch is working for food.

Safe Haven Chiropractic in Meyers is conducting a food drive now through Nov. 23 to help the community.

Welch is exchanging chiropractic care for five non-perishable food items that will be given to a local charity. Current, new or reactivating patients and families will receive a chiropractic adjustment for their donation.

This support is near and dear to Welch because during college, living on school loans and supporting a wife and three kids, he was offered help.

“You never know how much your community support means until you one day you have to take care your family but have no way to do it,” Welch said in a press release.

Call Welch at (530) 577.5433 to schedule an appointment.

Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City is hosting an evening for women to gather, connect, network, share stories, talk gear, and shop.

If you like to backcountry ski or ride, this is an opportunity to meet other women doing the same thing.

The free gathering is Nov. 30 from 6:30-8pm. It includes food, drink and prizes.

For more information, call Alpenglow Sports at (530) 583.6917.