·       Smoke in the Tahoe basin and Truckee areas on July 25 is from the distant fires in Monterey County and Santa Clarita. No fires are burning locally. A strike team from Tahoe is on its way Monday to Monterey.

·       South Tahoe High School teacher Wes Berkshire if featured in an Outside magazine article about the cost of living in mountain towns.

·       Freedom from smoking classes with Barton Health are on consecutive Wednesdays from Aug. 17-Sept. 28, plus Sept. 9, from 6:30-8:30pm. Cost is $30. For more info, call 530.543.5549 or email fit@bartonhealth.org. Classes are at 1077B 4th St., South Lake Tahoe.

·       The Science of Gratitude Integrating Evolutionary, Neurobiological, and Psychological Perspectives is the subject of a lecture at Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village on Sept. 1 from 5:30-7pm. Cost is $5.

·       International Camel & Ostrich Races are in Virginia City Sept. 9-11. For more info, go online.