Michael McGovern, 6, left, and his brother Nicky, 5, play ball at Camp Richardson Resort Sunday Sept. 6, 2009 with cousin Stephanie Hinds, 21, of San Diego. Photos/Lisa J. Tolda

Labor Day is often about playing and not laboring. Be sure to visit the gallery page to see an array of photos of people playing at Lake Tahoe this Labor Day weekend. If you are wondering how the summer tourism season has been for the Lake Tahoe Basin, then read all about it on these pages on Tuesday.

View the Labor Day 2009 Gallery

No monster plans are on the books this building season, but Heavenly does want to make some changes to the mountain before the snow flies.

Heavenly wants to install an underground water supply line from the California Reservoir Dam pump house to the existing snowmaking infrastructure on Orion’s trail; install electrical power and fan gun connections on Upper California Trail to improve snowmaking; remove and restore the tubing area, surface life and beginners’ ski and snowboard school by relocating them next to the Big Easy chairlift; and then create snowmaking capability in this area.

“We believe the proposed capital improvements are consistent with Heavenly’s approved Master Plan. We expect to make a decision on the project within a few weeks after the close of the comment period,”said Cheva Heck, USFS spokesperson.

As part of its Chamber EDucation program, the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Sierra Economic Development Corporation is hosting a “Grow the Green by Going Green” workshop Sept. 7 from noon to 1:30pm at the Tahoe City Public Utility District Boardroom, 221 Fairway Drive in Tahoe City. Deadline to register is Sept. 5.

Attendees will learn about what it means to be green and how to grow your business by being green. They’ll also explore green marketing techniques, including sustainability efforts and cost-effective social media to target new and existing customers. The class takeaway is a basic toolkit of checklists and resources to get started.

The cost is $55/person (payable in advance by mail or credit card), and participants need to bring their own lunch. To register, call the Sierra Economic Development Corporation at (530) 823.4703 or email info@sedcorp.biz.

This class will also be repeated Oct. 20 at Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort in Tahoe Vista.