TRPA putting on a party, giving out awards

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is hosting its second annual Community Appreciation Day and Lake Spirit Awards on Sept. 27 from 4–7pm at its offices at 128 Market St., Stateline.

This year’s theme is Making Progress and will focus on the Regional Plan update and the fifth anniversary of the Angora Fire.

Partners include the Tahoe Science Consortium which will donate a display of Angora Fire photos and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District which will provide a ladder and squad truck, an interactive ember house, along with a booth on Living With Fire and creating defensible space.

The family event will include live music, a free barbecue dinner, activities for kids, an ice cream social hosted by members of TRPA’s Governing Board and Advisory Planning Commission, and demonstration booths explaining the Regional Plan update and TRPA’s mission, as well as a TRPA boat where children can conduct mock inspections for aquatic invasive species with staff from the Tahoe Resource Conservation District.

The event will also include announcing the winners of the Lake Spirit Awards honoring real people making real progress at protecting Lake Tahoe. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate members of the community who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to protect the beauty and clarity of the Lake.

This year TRPA is adding an extra category to the Lake Spirit Awards contest. One category will be for everyday citizens, and the other will be for agency and environmental science representatives. Nominations for the Lake Spirit Awards can be made online through Sept. 16.