Start Smart is aimed at helping newly licensed and future licensed teenage drivers become aware of the responsibilities that accompany the privilege of being a licensed California driver. The program was created in an effort to preemptively reduce the incidence of teen injuries and deaths resulting from motor vehicle collisions.

Teen drivers and their parents/guardians are invited to attend and participate in a Start Smart class. Recent statistics have shown that in California teenage drivers are injured and are dying in automobile accidents at an alarming rate.

Through candid conversations, officers in attendance will address these facts and provide examples of driving tendencies that put young drivers at risk. This program will help attendees understand that driving is serious and a poor choice behind the wheel of a car can put a person’s life and the lives of others in jeopardy.

The next class is Feb. 9 at 6pm at the South Tahoe High School Library. All classes are free and last approximately two hours.

To reserve a space in this Start Smart Class, contact the California Highway Patrol at (530) 577.1001.

Snow is in the forecast through the weekend for the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The best chance will be Friday – 80 percent likelihood, according to the National Weather Service.

Flurries started falling on the South Shore in the late afternoon Tuesday, with big flakes reported on the West Shore. An inch is expected to accumulate overnight.

Anthony Clark sits in the snow waiting for a bus as flurries fall Feb. 2 in South Lake Tahoe. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Even though snow is forecasted, not much is supposed to come of the storm system that is passing through. This is because daytime temperatures are expected to be in the high 30s to low 40s.

Roads are apt to be slick, with possible black ice as the temperature goes below freezing overnight.

Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe made a $5,000 donation to the Haiti Earthquake Response Fund to aid the victims of the Haiti earthquake. The rounded amount donated represents $10 per Mt. Rose employee on the 2009-10 payroll.

The devastating earthquakes that hit Haiti in January have resulted in more than 150,000 deaths, untold casualties and severe infrastructure damage. The first 7.0 earthquake was the worst in the region in more than 200 years.

The Mt. Rose donation was made to OXFAM International. Oxfam delivers immediate life-saving assistance to people affected by natural disasters or conflict and helps to build their resilience to future disasters. Oxfam has flown in more than 60 tons of emergency supplies and equipment, including clean water, buckets, water treatment kits, shelters and sanitation tools as part of the Haiti Earthquake Response. Oxfam has reached 85,000 people across seven sites and are working to expand that to 110,000. With water trucks arriving daily now, the focus is on preventing the spread of waterborne disease.

Mt. Rose is hoping to show support for those affected by this disaster with this donation and inspire other businesses to do the same. To make a donation, text “Haiti” to the number 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross.

By USSA

PARK CITY -– Final tallies revealed Tuesday that the alpine athlete race bibs from the 70th Hahnenkamm men’s downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria and the women’s super G in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy raised over $90,000 in online auctions for the earthquake relief effort in Haiti.

The highest earner was Hahnenkamm winner Didier Cuche of Switzerland, whose signed bib was purchased for $16,209. Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) earned top dollar amongst Americans with $2,504 raised for Haiti for his bib. Ted Ligety’s (Park City, UT) bib also did well going for $1075.

Newly named 2010 World Cup super G champion Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) claimed the top spot amongst women’s bibs closing out at just over $4,000. Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA), who spearheaded the project for the women’s World Cup tour, reported that half of the bibs where purchased by fans from the United States with the other half spread across Austria, Italy, Germany, Belgium, France and Switzerland with all the proceeds going to the American Red Cross.

Douglas County School District’s next Superintendent Public Forum is Feb. 3 at Whittell High School at 6:30 pm.

Lake of the Sky Garden Club in Incline Village has money for community related garden projects. Call Lorrie Moore at (530) 587.6980 or email her at lorriemoore@att.net to obtain an application. Apps are due April 15.

Nevada came in 50th for the quality of its K-12 system, according to Education Week magazine. Nevada is 48th in the country when it comes to education spending.

Avalanche dogs from Squaw Valley are headed to the Vancouver Olympics.

4 Seasons Soup and Salad Cafe is opening Feb. 8 in South Lake Tahoe on Highway 50 where Wide Awake Conscious Café was.

South Lake Tahoe US Bank branch recently gave $7,500 to the Tahoe Tallac Association. In 2009, TTA received more than $13,000 in support from US Bank.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will conduct prescribed fire operations on the North and East shores of Lake Tahoe beginning Feb. 2 as weather and staffing allow. The operations are not expected to last more than one day and will take place on two small units, one located in the Roundhill Pines Resort and the other in the Kings Beach area.

Residents and travelers can expect to see smoke from prescribed fire project areas.

Other fire protection agencies, state and local, may also be conducting prescribed fire operations during this period.

Caregiving is a difficult and often challenging role that one can undertake, and taking the opportunity to share information and feel connected to others who are providing care is a vital step to perform this task to the best of your ability.

Take the opportunity on Feb. 11 from 5:30-7:30pm at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, 3050 Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe to become connected and rejuvenated in this support group.

Refreshments will be served.

Free respite care is available to qualified caregivers. Pre-authorization is required for respite services.

For more information, contact Penny with the Alzheimer’s Association at (530) 541.2304 or the Family Caregiver Support Program at (530) 621.6251 or (530) 621.6151.

On Feb. 4 www.7×7.com will have a party for the launch of the Stoli Winter Cocktails at PlumpJack Cafe at Squaw. There will be complimentary bites and Stoli cocktails. The party is from 4-6pm and there will be a photographer and a photo booth.

In addition to the complimentary Stoli cocktails, PlumpJack will be collecting donations for a pediatric hospital in Haiti. It is run by www.artistsforpeaceandjustice.com.

RSVP is required for the event by emailing events@7×7.com.

Zephyr Heights is looking for homeowners interested in serving on the Zephyr Heights General Improvement District board.

To be on the Nevada board requires a modest time commitment focused on utilizing public tax dollars efficiently for neighborhood road improvement, area beautification, and the like.

A stipend of $100/month is available.

It is a non-partisan position.

For more information, contact ZHGID board Chairman Guy Moss at (775)588.3025.

Deadline to file is March 12.

New Wave Enviro Products is now the exclusive provider of stainless steel water bottles for the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding.

The U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding logos will be available on all of New Wave Enviro Products stainless steel bottles starting in February.