The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is looking for volunteers to assist during the annual kokanee salmon run in October. Prospective volunteers can submit a resume and learn more at an informative session on Sept. 21 at 6:30pm at the Forest Supervisor’s Office in South Lake Tahoe.

Volunteers will answer visitor questions and lead conservation education programs for kids. The Forest Service is asking for volunteers to commit to a minimum of six hours or more per week through the month of October. Training will take place the week of Sept. 26.

The Forest Supervisor’s Office is located at 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe. For more information, contact Jean Norman at (530) 543.2673 or email jdnorman@fs.fed.us.

NV Energy is accepting solar energy rebate applications from Sept. 16-28.

Rebates for projects range from $1.70 per watt for residential customers and up to $4.70 per watt for schools and public buildings.

A lottery will be conducted Sept. 30.

Applications are available online.

Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation is accepting applications for enrichment grants.

The foundation has changed the period for acceptance of grant applications to twice a year. Grant applications for the fall are due Oct. 7, while spring applications are due March 3.

Last year the grants funded anti-bullying programs, enrichment clubs, Mad Science Program, music visiting professors, outdoor winter education, Sphere of Influence, and Teen Truth Anti-Bullying Programs for a total of $35,530.

The primary source of funds comes from the annual Food Fest, which will be Oct. 8 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe in Stateline from 6:30-10pm. Tickets are $35 and are available at all schools and the district office.

Grant applications are available on the website.

Lake Tahoe News will be at Bijou Bash on Saturday.

The 11am-4pm event at Bijou Community Park in South Lake Tahoe is free – geared toward families, locals and those who want to spend time seeing friends.

Swing by and say hi to the folks of LTN.

• Nevada magazine will host the International Regional Magazine Association conference Sept. 9-12 at Reno’s Peppermill Resort Spa Casino. In addition to their time spent in Reno, some of the more than 70 conference attendees will tour South Lake Tahoe the afternoon of Sept. 9.

• A University of Nebraska-Lincoln entrepreneur report has Nevada going from the seventh best state nationally for entrepreneurs in 2008 to 47th in 2010.

• State Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, said about the newest version of Senate Bill x17, which amends the fire tax, “This is just as illegal as the first fire tax but this time they’ve taken off the gloves and really socked it to rural Californians. This is clearly double taxation and it is being dumped on the backs of the people when the state has 12-percent unemployment and families are struggling just to make ends meet. I will fight this in every way possible — as a legislator and as a private citizen — and want everyone who might get stuck paying this phony fee to get in the arena and fight it too.”

• The third annual Bicycle Achievement Award nominations are open until Oct. 15 for the categories of: Individual, Business, Agency and Organization. Nominations must include a biography and detailed description of the advancement of bicycling. Send to BikeTahoe@aol.com.

• ResorTime.com has revealed its top 10 destinations for timeshare condo rentals, with Lake Tahoe No. 10. Carlsbad-Oceanside is at the top of the list.

On Sept. 10, South Lake Tahoe AAUW invites potential members to the first general meeting of the program year at 10am at the Aspen Room of Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe.

Speakers will be three local middle school girls who attended Tech Trek Science and Math Camp at UC Davis this summer. The Tech Trek program is based on research which identifies key experiences necessary in developing interest in science, technology, engineering and math programs.

The local branch’s biennial home tour provides the funding to send the girls. A potluck brunch will be served.

To confirm your attendance or find out more, email slocumsrus@msn.com or call (530) 541.2799.

On Sept. 11 from 11am-4pm, the Horizon Casino-Resort in conjunction with JRW Group Entertainment will host a community event with 100 percent of the proceeds to be donated to the Tahoe Douglas Bomb Squad.

Admission is free.

Members of the bomb squad will put on a demonstration, along with K-9 units.

The event on the south end of the Stateline property will include entertainment, a barbecue and more.

The barbecue costs money. Tickets are available at:

Horizon Main Cashier or Gift Shop

Douglas County sheriff’s Stateline substation (Monday-Thursday, 8am-5pm)

Tahoe Douglas Round Hill Station (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm)

KTHO at Ski Run Marina (Monday-Friday 9am-4pm)

Cost before the event is:

• $15 – includes barbecue, commemorative T-shirt and $5 free slot play

• $25 – includes barbecue, T-shirt, $5 free slot play and two tickets to the Bethany Owen show.

Prices are more at the event.

• Squaw Valley has entered a partnership with Snow Park Technologies with the intention of placing the resort’s terrain parks and half-pipe among the top in North America within the next few years.

• The Tahoe Expo is Sept. 10.

• A group of Incline Village residents is posting photos on Facebook of businesses with dumpsters that are accessible to bears. Do a search on Lake Tahoe Wall of Shame on FB to see what they have to say.

• A tourist thinks he found the Virgin Mary in Lake Tahoe. Click here for that story.

• Vail-based Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals is on Inc. magazine’s 500/5000 list of fastest growing private companies in the United States. The 13-year-old concierge and real estate services company plans to expand into Lake Tahoe in 2012.

Overcome the challenges of planting and growing bulb flowers in Lake Tahoe. Local gardener Kathy Campion will discuss the many types of hardy, spring blooming bulbs available, planting times and techniques, companion plants, and the never-ending battle with bulb eating animals.

The talk is Sept. 27 at 2:30pm at the South Lake Tahoe branch library, 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd.

Gardening and sustainability presentations, live music, crafts for kids and adults, games, a local artisan market, dancing, storytellers, pony rides, local food vendors and a pumpkin patch are all part of the 5th annual Autumn Fest.

Tahoe RCD is putting on the free event at the Lake Tahoe Community College Demonstration Garden in South Lake Tahoe on Sept. 25 from 11am-3pm.

Autumn Fest is the primary fundraiser for the garden.

For more information, contact Kirsten at (530) 543.1501, ext. 127, or klindquist@tahoercd.org, or go online.