The North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Human Resources Association are offering “The Generations and Sexual Harassment” workshop June 23 from 9-11a, at the Cedar House Sport Hotel, 10918 Brockway Road in Truckee.

The workshop, required as per California’s AB1825, brings businesses into compliance regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. The topic is presented in an engaging and provocative way, from the perspective of generations working side-by-side.

The speaker is Laura Moriarty, president of Tahoe Training Partners.

Registration is $50 for North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and SHRA members and $60 for non-members. Seating is limited.

To register and for more information about the workshop, call Moriarty at (530) 573.0224 or Kym Fabel at (530) 581.8764. Attendees can also register online at www.sierrahra.com.

By Sam McManis, Sacramento Bee

If the Sierra Nevada were a character in a book, it would be the tall, dashing stranger who’s easy on the eyes but has a malevolent streak. It would be just as likely to kill you as kiss you, as apt to make you curse its power as worship its looks.

Such a dichotomy is what has made the Sierra – that gorgeous, dangerous wonder running 430 miles down California’s spine – an irresistible subject for storytellers from early American Indians to Gold Rush chroniclers to the beat poets to environmentalists and an array of novelists.

A wide range of poetry and prose about the range has been collected in “The Illuminated Landscape: A Sierra Nevada Anthology” (Heyday Books, $19.95, 447 pages), edited by Gary Noy, director of the Sierra College Center for Sierra Nevada Studies, and Sierra historian Rick Heide.

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North Lake Tahoe takes its music outdoors with a variety of concerts and festivals – all part of the destination’s new High Notes – North Tahoe’s Summerlong Music Series through August.

There will be free music outdoors every day but Mondays.

Sundays rock out at Tahoe City’s Commons Beach, which kicks off June 20 with four local bands. It’s Blues Tuesdays at the Village at Squaw Valley, starting July 6 with Earl Thomas, and live music Wednesdays at the Truckee Regional Park, starting June 16, and Thursdays on Commercial Row June 17. Kings Beach is lakeside Fridays starting July 2 with The Blues Monsters, then Tahoe City Saturdays for Heritage Plaza’s Unplugged, which will begin June 26. The Village at Northstar also does a variety of live music on weekends.

There are also a number of ticketed musical events throughout the region. In addition to its popular Shakespeare on the Beach, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival provides a Monday and Friday night music series, which is at Sand Harbor Beach State Recreation Area just outside Incline Village.

The Reno Philharmonic will perform Broadway on the Beach July 12 and Orgone plugging funk, soul and Afro beats Aug. 20. Sugaray lights us the stage with blues and souls July 16 and Aug/ 9, with Paul Thorn performing southern rock Aug. 2.

The Village at Northstar presents the Beerfest & Bluegrass Festival July 10 with tastings from 25 breweries for guests ages 21-plus, and live music from three premier bluegrass bands – Mud Thump, The Brothers Comatose and the Dixie Bee-Liners.

Right on the Truckee River, River Ranch Lodge has its 18th Annual Under the Stars Concert Series with reggae, bluegrass, funk and rock, also for adults, beginning June 24.

The Lake Tahoe Music Festival is set for July 22 to Aug/ 7, ranging from Broadway to classical to rock to jazz and big band swing. This year, the festival is taking its Orchestra Night on a swingin’ ride…straight to the “sing era” of the 40s and 50s with Simply Sinatra, starring vocalist Steve Lippia, who will be belting out tunes including “My Way,” “New York New York” and “Mack the Knife” July 29 at Old Greenwood. Combining R&B, jazz and pop sounds, Natalie Cole, a nine-time Grammy Award-winner, is an unstoppable force in music and will perform Aug. 5 at Northstar-at-Tahoe. The festival’s first country concert stars country legend Wynonna at Northstar July 31.

Wanderlust returns to Squaw Valley July 29 to Aug. 1 with yoga, music and nature at the festival’s forefront. The music is a mix of styles and genres ranging from indie rock to electronic to alternative world to kirtan. The lineup includes The Brazilian Girls, whose latest album was nominated for a Grammy, as well as MC Yogi, who combines his loves of yoga with hip-hop music. MC Yogi made history when he released his video “Vote for Hope” in support of President Obama. Through an incredible grassroots network, the video reached more than a million people in less than three weeks leading up to Election Day.

The Crystal Bay Club offers a host of free concerts throughout the week, as well as ticketed bands from the Bay Area.

For information on any event, call 877.949.3296 or click here.

Gov. Jim Gibbons and Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki are resurrecting the Nevada Commission on Tourism’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism after a two-year hiatus.

“It was a difficult decision to put the conference on hold, but the economy and strained budgets required NCOT to do so,” Krolicki, NCOT chair, said in a statement. “The conference has become a staple of learning and networking for Nevada’s tourism industry, and it’s with great pleasure we can resume this valuable program.”

The conference will be at the Peppermill Resort Casino in Reno Dec. 7-8. It will focus heavily on analyzing current travel trends in order to understand economically induced changes to who is traveling, how they’re traveling and how to reach them. The registration fee will also be significantly reduced from previous years to reflect the shorter, yet high-caliber schedule.

The 2010 Governor’s Conference on Tourism is partnering with UNR, which is having a conference Dec. 8-10 on social media marketing. The Reynold’s School of Journalism, College of Business and Extended Studies program are hosting the SM@RT conference (Social Media at Reno-Tahoe) and will help develop and promote the Governor’s Conference on Tourism.

For more information on the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, visit www.TravelNevada.biz.

Nominate your favorite destinations, restaurants, scenic views, lakes, hiking trails, and other special places of interest to be included in National Geographic Society’s interactive map guide geotourism” website now through August.

The National Geographic Society has partnered with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Sierra Business Council, and residents to capture the history and heritage of the Sierra Nevada region in order to create the website and webmap featuring unique destinations.

Geotourism is defined places that sustain or enhance the region’s environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.

The Tahoe Emigrant Corridor includes the counties of Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Washoe, Douglas, and Carson City. Log on to www.SierraNevadaGeotourism.org to nominate a destination.

A Geocouncil will oversee the Sierra Nevada Geotourism Project.

Thrill-seekers are in for a treat this summer at the El Dorado County Fair in Placerville. If you love to spin, tilt, and twirl you can do so to your heart’s content for just $25 any day and all day of the fair’s four-day run June 17-20.

Entrance Fees & Parking

Entrance fees for the Fair, which have not increased since 2003, will remain the same. Regular admission tickets for persons 13 years and older are $8, ages 7 to 12 years are $6, seniors 60 years and older are $6, children 6 and younger and military personnel in uniform are free every day.

Free parking and free shuttle service is available from the Library/Government Center, Missouri Flat Road Park & Ride, and the Walmart Park & Ride. On grounds parking is $5 per vehicle.

Pre-Sale Tickets and Packages

In addition to the $25 pre-sale carnival wristband, you can save $1 off admission by purchasing tickets in advance. A season pass purchased in advance will gain you entrance to the fair each day, Thursday through Sunday for a cost of $18 regular admission or $15 for those 7 to 12 years, and seniors ages 60 and older. Families and other groups may want to consider the Gold Discovery package. This $40 pre-sale package includes four one-day tickets (valid any day) and 20 coupons for carnival rides — that’s a 50 percent savings compared to the cost of purchasing ride coupons during the fari.

Special Admission Days

June 17

Kid’s Day

12 and younger free until 6:30pm

Senior Day

60 and older free until 4pm plus free carnival rides for seniors

Gates open noon–11pm • Carnival open noon-midnight

Buildings and exhibits close at 10pm

June 18

Teen Day

Ages 13-19 free until 4pm

Gate Opens noon–11pm • Carnival open noon-midnight

Buildings and exhibits close at midnight

June 19

Gates Open 10am–11pm • Carnival open noon-midnight

Buildings and Exhibits close at midnight

Livestock Auction

Free to buyers (between 8-10am)

Destruction Derby

$15 adults and $9 children (includes fair admission)

June 20

Gates open 10am-10pm • Carnival open noon – 10pm

Buildings and exhibits close at 10pm

Father’s Day

$35 – two general admission tickets, one youth admission ticket, and one unlimited ride wristband valid noon-10pm (pre-sale only, must be picked up at fair office)

How to Purchase

Pre-sale tickets, wristbands, and packages may be purchased in person at the fair office, Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm at 100 Placerville Drive in Placerville or online at www.eldoradocountyfair.org.

The Barton Foundation’s annual children’s bereavement camp, Camp Sunrise, is Aug. 27-29 at Galilee Camp & Conference Center in Glenbrook.

Camp Sunrise is designed for children ages 7-14 who have experienced the death of a family member. These children receive grief education and support from trained councelors and social workers, and they work through any bereavement issues they may have. The weekend experience leaves them with a more positive outlook for the future.

Volunteers are needed for the camp weekend, especially male volunteers. To inquire about volunteering, contact Robert Orr at (530) 543.6334.

Camp Sunrise is founded on the understanding that every child deserves the opportunity to grieve in a safe, supportive and understanding environment. The camp will be held at Galilee Camp & Conference Center, beginning late Friday afternoon and ending midday on Sunday.

Residents of the South Lake Tahoe, Minden, Gardnerville and the Carson Valley/City areas may apply to attend. There is no cost to attend, however registration ends June 21.

For more information or to register, call the Barton Foundation at (530) 543.5909, or visit www.bartonhealth.org/events.

Westface Financial, an independent financial planning company in Truckee, is offering a free College Planning Relief workshop June 15 at 6pm at the Truckee Community Arts Center.

Presented by Beatrice Schultz, a licensed College Planning Relief specialist and co-founder of Westface Financial, the workshop will educate parents on how to be efficient with their money while sending a child to college.

Most parents qualify for more financial aid than they think. This workshop provides parents with specific steps they can take right now to assure they don’t overpay for college, that they clearly understand the process, and maximize their aid qualification.

Attendees of the workshop will:

• Learn specific tactics to making college more affordable

• Better understand the total cost of college and how to prepare

• Know what steps to take right now to maximize aid qualification

• Understand the Public vs. Private school comparison and myths surrounding each

• Discover best practices on school selection

The one-hour workshop is free, but reservations are required. Students are also encouraged to attend. To reserve a seat, call (530) 725.8599 or sign up at www.westfacecollegeplanning.com.

By William Albright, Truckee Times

Tahoe City photographer Steve Lapkin has spent most of his life fascinated by boats and water, and that fascination has paid off with two prize-winning entries in Sailing World magazines’s winter photo contest.

Steve Lapkin's award-winning photograph.

Sailing World is a seasonal publication that focuses on the sport of sailing with an emphasis on performance sailing. The contest drew more than 500 submissions with racing images from around the world. Lapkin’s photos took first and third place.

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By Kathryn Reed

Warren Miller, at 81, was clearly the oldest person at the party. Put him on skis and age would not be a factor.

Miller is on the South Shore this weekend for the X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival, which features the top international films on wakeboarding, surfing, mountain biking, skateboarding, snowboarding and skiing. The man who is credited as the founder of action sports movies will receive a lifetime achievement award Saturday at MontBleu in Stateline.

Filmmaker Warren Miller will receive a lifetime achievement award in Tahoe on Saturday. Photo/Kathryn Reed

On Thursday night Miller was poolside at 968 Park Hotel mingling with professional athletes, media and invited guests.

It’s that voice of his that still resonates after all of these years. It’s not much different in person than it is on film.

What is different now is that the man who started extreme ski films, and one could easily argue the founder of any type of extreme athletic movie, isn’t really in the business. Time Warner bought his company five years ago.

He’s in town to inspire the young filmmakers following in his footsteps more than six decades after he started his career.

Brain Wimmer, director and founder of the film festival, was on hand as well. He told stories of meeting locals and talking about what he wanted to do. They all said Todd Offenbacher already does that with the Tahoe Adventure Film Festival. Offenbacher, who has recently moved back to the South Shore from the North Shore, was at Thursday’s gig in complete support of this festival.

Though not a founder of the festival, Solomon Aflalo is now part owner of it. He is also the principle owner of 968 Park Hotel.

“I’m interested in action sports and to promote young people,” Aflalo said.

His main job in Agoura Hills is insurance. He insures many of the extreme athletes.

Miller and many of the athletes on the big screen this weekend are staying at 968 Park.

X-Dance Film Festival started in 2001 and coincides with the Sundance Film Festival each year. The winners are premiering in Tahoe.

Event Schedule:

July 11:

Doors open at 4pm, with films starting at 5pm. The after party is inside Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Vex Nightclub. The following films will be shown at MontBleu Theatre:

• “Signatures” —Winner of Emerging Filmmaker and Best Cinematography artful and mesmerizing film pays homage to the beauty of winter and riding in Hokkaido, Japan. This Zen journey inspires reflection and thought with its stunning images and smart narrative.

• “Fiberglass and Megapixels” — Winner of Best Editing a smart and engaging film follows the North Shore’s winter surfing scene and the photographers and cinematographers who compete for the perfect shot.

• “Zen and Zero” — Winner of Best Director and Best Story is a philosophical and comedic film that tracts five landlocked Austrians as they journey on a surf trip from L.A. to Costa Rica while and investigating the myth of the surfer dude.

• “BMX Bandits” — Winner of Best Short Film brings to life an animated music video following a boy and his BMX bike.

• “Skating Through The Ashes” — Winner of Best Story, a gritty documentary tells the tale of a group of hardcore pool skaters in the Berkeley Hills after the infamous 1991 fires.

• “Parks Bonifay Documentary” — Winner of Best Biography, an in-depth compelling documentary spotlights wakeboard master, Parks Bonifay, who set his first world record waterskiing at age six months and stands today was the most decorated progressive wakeboarder.

June 12:

Doors open at 4:30pm, with films starting at 5:30pm. Live music from Shwayze begins at 9pm and keeps the night rocking at Opal Ultra Lounge at MontBleu. The after party continues at Blu Nightclub with Pop Fiction. The following films will be shown at MontBleu Theatre:

• “The Drifter” — Winner of Best Soundtrack, Best Director and star Rob Machado took Athlete of the Year, this brilliant film by Taylor Steele follows surfer Rob Machado to the far reaches of Indonesia on a soul-searching surf odyssey.

• “Second Nature” — Winner of Best Short Film, this highly entertaining and uber creative film that follows Noah Sakamoto and Patrick Rizzo and J.M Duran as they fly down the mountain roads of the High Sierra on skateboards at crazy speeds in blue suits.

• “Mount St. Elias” — Winner of Best Film and Best Adventure Film, tells the story of ski alpinist Axel Naglich’s attempt to climb and then complete the longest ski descent ever from the peak of Alaska’s Mount St. Elias to sea level. The gripping story, tension-filled journey and gorgeous cinematography, leaves audiences spellbound.

Individual screenings are $8 per film. Friday all-day pass includes wristbands to the nightclub is $25. Saturday all-day pass $35 includes Shwayze concert is $35. All Access two-night ticket includes all screenings, Vex Nightclub After Party on Friday, and Shwayze Concert and Opal Ultra Lounge After Party on Saturday is $51.

For more information and tickets click here.