Rather than funding many smaller projects as in the past, this year Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe will distribute $28,000 to a maximum of five local nonprofit organizations. The goal of this approach is to encourage applicants to think big and create programs that impact the community.

SISLT is making significant changes to its Community Service Grants Program in 2012. The club plans to focus its efforts on identifying new, creative and innovative projects that will have a major impact on the women and/or children in its community. Only nonprofit organizations and entities with no dedicated foundation support may apply and all funds must stay within the South Shore community. Special consideration will be given to proposals for programs that address the needs of underserved populations.

In its 52-year history of service to the community, SISLT has contributed more than $2 million to local nonprofit organizations. The club instituted its current Community Service Grants Program process in 1997 as an annual, formalized means to allocate its funds throughout the community.

Applications for SISLT’s 2012 Community Service Grants will be available online Sept. 30-Nov. 21. For more information, email sisltfoundation@gmail.com.

Western Nevada College Specialty Crop Institute is offerings a QuickBooks workshop to help small farm owners learn accounting fundamentals Oct. 7-8 from 9am-4:30pm at WNC Fallon campus, 160 Campus Way.

Cost is $85 when registering before Sept. 30, and $95 after Sept. 30. Lunch is included.

Space is limited, and early enrollment is encouraged.

Participants will learn to set up and use QuickBooks software to keep track of farm finances, and generate reports and data for business planning and farm management. QuickBooks software will be used actively during the workshop, with time for questions and answers throughout, in an interactive learning environment. A QuickBooks handbook will be provided, and attendees will have the option of purchasing the software at a discounted price.

The workshop will be led by Marie Gibson, advanced QuickBooks proAdvisor, university instructor, and member of Intuit’s National Speaker/Writer Network.

For information/registration, contact Ann Louhela at (775) 351.2551 or louhelaa@wnc.edu.

Our Melting Poles: Where Life on Earth is Changing is a presentation by Professor Warwick F. Vincent from the Center for Northern Studies, Laval University, Quebec City.

The event is Sept. 15 at 6pm at Sierra Nevada College, Room 106, Incline Village. There is a no-host bar at 5:30pm.

Cost is $5.

Vincent is known internationally for his research on polar lakes, rivers and coastal seas, and the responses at the base of their food webs to environmental change.

By Carlos Alcalá, Sacramento Bee

Adam Forest works in a virtual Eden, as seems appropriate for his name.

His commute is less than a paper carrier’s toss from a log cabin house to a log cabin office, both with views of the oak woodlands along the south fork of the American River in the tiny community of Lotus, north of Placerville.

He may do his job in shorts and sandals at times, but it is not stress-free work.

His small firm, the Forest Group, does high level corporate executive recruitment around the country for companies that are household names.

If you’ve nibbled on a Clif Bar, sipped from a stainless steel Klean Kanteen or just set foot in an REI store, Forest has a hand in your world.

He has recruited directors for REI’s board and managers pulling down six figures for other outdoor recreation companies.

All from a spot along a poorly paved road, miles from any freeway, in a region of poor-to-nonexistent cellphone reception.

It began in the late 1990s.

“In my early 30s, I really had to ask myself – and this is a question I ask candidates, as well: Is my profession and my passion … are they aligned? And they weren’t,” he said.

Read the whole story

By Kathryn Reed

With something going on in nearly every corner, it was hard to know where to be in Bijou Community Park during the annual Bijou Bash on Saturday.

More than 2,000 people attended the free South Lake Tahoe event that is designed to highlight a bit of what the area is about, showcase the park and give people a chance to mingle with friends.

Derby Dames meandered about in their signature green and black get-ups before putting on a demonstration for an enthusiastic crowd.

Big and little kids have fun at the Sept. 10 Bijou Bash. Photos/Kathryn Reed

Nearby, skateboarders and BMX’ers were co-mingling as each tried to get some air on the ramps.

While it looked like Argo was taking a chunk out of South Lake Tahoe police Officer Ryan Wagoner’s arm, the protective shield prevented that from occurring. All of this was part of a demo so show what SLTPD’s K-9 unit is capable of.

Across the way a stage was set up to allow dancers, singers and karate experts to dazzle the crowd with their talents.

“Bijou Bash will continue to grow and has the potential to be a two-day event,” coordinator Lauren Thomaselli told Lake Tahoe News as things wound down just before the rain started to fall Saturday afternoon.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Alpine Meadows Ski Resort base lodge will host the California premiere of the Teton Gravity Research 2011 ski film “One for the Road” on Sept.23.

Doors open at 7pm, where guests can enjoy pre-show beverages at the Last Chair Bar leading up to the 8pm show.

“One for the Road” presents in HD quality the world’s most renowned and accomplished athletes who continue to challenge the definition of what is humanly possible on skis. Skiers including Sage Cattabriga–Alosa, Grete Eliassen, Dash Longe, Rachel Burks, Daron Rahlves, and many more are celebrated on the big screen while experiencing the ultimate ski road trip — immersing themselves into the culture of Japan’s powder Mecca of Hokkaido; discovering Iceland’s urban side; exploring the Balkan wonders of Macedonia and Montenegro; uncovering first descents in Pemberton, British Columbia; and hitting full-throttle lines in the perfect snow and weather of Juneau, Alaska.

Show tickets are $10.

Publisher’s note: This is one in a 12-part series running from Sept. 1-12 about how Lake Tahoe is tied to 9/11.

By Kathryn Reed

Now I understand why “Women at Ground Zero: Stories of Courage and Compassion” cannot be read all at once. It is so emotionally charged that it requires the reader to pause long enough to digest the words on the page.

But at the same it’s one of those books you don’t want to put down because it is so gripping.

Authors Susan Hagen and Mary Carouba embarked on a journey to New York City just after terrorists destroyed the Twin Towers Sept. 11, 2001. Their frustration with seeing no women rescue workers on television or in other news accounts led the Californians to search these women out.

The book is about 33 women; including three who died in the attacks. They are firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and therapists. It’s not that their stories are more important than men’s. It’s that until Hagen and Carouba came around no one was talking about the women. The media and politicians focused on the men.

But this is not a book for women. It’s for everyone who cares about what happened that day. It also puts a more human touch on the tragedy that I had not connected with before.

From Sept. 1-12, Lake Tahoe News is looking at 9/11.

For someone like myself who was out of the country at the time of attacks, the book offered insight into this event on 9/11 and the months afterward that I was not aware of.

I learned the EMTs not connected to the New York City Fire Department were not given the same benefits as those who are employees. I learned about the police department’s evidence department and the heartache of body parts coming in – like a hand with a wedding ring.

I winced as I read. Tears welled up. Anger – though I’m not entirely sure whom it was directed at – filled me. But overall I smiled when I finished the book and had a bit of time to reflect on what I had read.

The authors taking the initiative to research and write the book impressed me. But mostly I felt inspired by these women’s stories.

Hagen and Carouba were on the South Shore in September 2010 to give a talk – which was funny and poignant at the same time.

Although the book first came out in 2002, a 10th anniversary release of “Women at Ground Zero” is out. More information about the authors is on their website.

Friends of the Library is sponsoring an autumn wreath-making workshop with Anna McLeod on Oct. 1 at noon.

Bring the following supplies:

Wreath frame: sturdy wire, grapevine or straw.

2 spools florists’ green paddle wire

Wire cutters and scissors or garden clippers

2-3 grocery sacks of 6-8 inch pieces of plant materiel: sagebrush, laurel, dried leaves, etc. Any autumn foliage that will hold its leaves and shape when it dries.

Pretty things to trim your wreath: small pine cones, berries, moss, citrus twigs, straw, dried flowers, etc. Keep in mind that an outdoor wreath might attract a hungry bear.

Ribbon – at least 6 feet high quality ribbon. Wide ribbon shows up the best.

This program is best suited to teens and adults. Call (530) 573.3185 for additional information. The event is free. The library is at 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

By Rebecca Wass

Kyle Swanson, orthopedic surgeon for Barton Health’s Tahoe Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, has seen and dealt with medical and hospital conditions that few people, let alone doctors, have experienced. He has operated in gated and guarded hospitals, in places far from home and treated patients with injuries, deformities and disease – many of his colleagues could hardly imagine.

Deployed to Afghanistan in 2005, just after completing the San Francisco Orthopedic Residency Program at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Swanson spent six months at Bagram Air Base. There he treated Afghan civilians, army, national police and U.S. military personnel.

“When it’s an American soldier, the intensity level increases dramatically,” he said. “So our goal is to stabilize them and get them out of there and transfer them out as quickly as possible … most were transported to Landstulh, Germany, from both the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters.”

Swanson recalls when they had 10 critical patients at once and he had treated an Afghan general that was injured in crossfire with the Taliban.

Kyle Swanson will be on a panel at Lake Tahoe Community College on Sept. 11 at 2:45pm. This community commemoration of 9/11 begins at 2pm.

“We donate our time and technology when we cross seas and as these patients had very little money, the general felt like he should pay me in some way, so he gave me an Afghan rug that was in his family for generations …,” he said.

They never turned anybody away.

“It didn’t matter who they were,” Swanson said. “It was very gratifying because the local civilians just loved that we were there. They were receiving treatment that was not available to them. The medical care in their major cities is probably about 100 years behind.”

Besides providing emergency treatment, Swanson and a fellow orthopedic surgeon held a civilian clinic twice a week where they took care of all kinds of orthopedic conditions.

“These are people who have never had health care their whole lives, so you would see things you never saw in the United States for the most part,” he said. “A lot of limb deformities and infections.

“Many of the injuries we saw were from landmines. When the Russians pulled out of Afghanistan they left “one land mind behind for every man, woman and child,” he said. “There are approximately 25 million land mines in Afghanistan today.”

Along with medical care, the Army provided everything from education to nutritional food to toys.

“A lot of the military families would send toys over to the kids,” Swanson said. “It was great to see the smiles on their faces. It makes you feel really privileged to live in this country.”

Lake Tahoe doctor Kyle Swanson spent time in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army. Photo/Provided

“I went right after my residency and its something you literally get thrown into. Initially it’s very overwhelming and nothing can prepare you for the injuries you see. You have to rely on your training and apply it.”

Swanson believes his experience in Afghanistan made him a better surgeon.

“Going overseas and treating people in underserved areas reaffirms the reasons one goes into medicine. I hope to be able to volunteer my services again sometime in the future since my experience was so rewarding both personally and professionally. “

Rebecca Wass is the communications specialist for Barton Health.

By Kathryn Reed

All things Tahoe is what Bijou Bash is all about. And it’s free.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bring money. You might want to buy a Lake Tahoe News T-shirt, or tri-tip or a beer or all of the above.

Bijou Bash 2011 is Sept. 10 from 11am-4pm in South Lake Tahoe. Photo/LTN 2010

New this year is a beer garden, with some of the proceeds going to South Lake Tahoe to defray the cost of putting on the annual event.

Bijou Bash in its current incarnation is in year three with the Sept. 10 event from 11am-4pm at Bijou Community Park. It was first put on at the park in the 1990s before going away for quite a while. Almost 40 vendors have signed up for this year’s event.

Nearly 3,000 people attended the 2010 Bijou Bash.

Besides all of the booths to visit, nonstop entertainment is part of the fun. The Derby Dames will demonstrate their prowess at 2:30pm.

BMX’ers will be showing off what they can on two wheels. And skateboarders will try to prove four wheels are better.

For those bringing their four-legged family members, the inaugural doggie parade through the park starts at 12:30pm. Costumes are optional.

Find out how to play disc golf with a skills session on Hole 4.

A street hockey clinic of sorts will be put on by the new operators of the city-owned ice rink.

Throughout the day South Tahoe’s public safety officials will let little and big kids see what it’s like to sit behind the wheel of a fire engine or maybe turn on the lights of a police car.

If you need a little exercise before buying up the various food items, then be part of the Tahoe Mountain Milers Running Club’s free poker fun run/walk. Five stations are on the nearly 2-mile course. Registration starts at 9:45am and race is at 11am.

If watching the action is more to your liking, a Zumba dance demo starts at 11am. That stage will have performances throughout the day from various local groups.

Parking will be at Lake Tahoe Community College. A shuttle will be running between the lot and the event venue. Parking for cyclists is at Bijou Park.

The schedule is subject to change, so it’s best to be at the Bijou Bash all day to avoid missing any of the fun.