Beginning March 17, the Nevada Highway Patrol will be adding additional troopers to the highways to help crackdown on speeding vehicles.

The campaign, in conjunction with the Reno Police Department, Sparks Police Department, and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is funded by a grant from the Department of Public Safety/Office of Traffic Safety.

The additional staffing will continue through March 20.

In addition to speeding violations, officers will be looking for DUI drivers, as well as seat belt violations.

For years the South Tahoe High School Alumni Council has been under the wing of the Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation. The growth and enthusiasm within the alumni community during the past few years have led to the decision to create a separate nonprofit.

On March 26 alumni are being asked to be one of the inaugural signers of the Articles of Incorporation for the South Tahoe High School Alumni Foundation. As one of the inaugural signers, you will have no formal or financial responsibilities.

There will be three signing parties taking place in three cities that Saturday.

South Lake Tahoe Location 1:30-3:30pm

Grand Central Pizza & Pasta

Kings Trading Post Center (Keys and Highway 50)

2229 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 544.1308

Hosted by Brooke Laine (’82)

(530) 318.9107

Reno Location 1:30-3:30pm

Extreme Pizza

4782 Caughlin Parkway

Reno

(775) 384.1900

Hosted by Raylene Catera Jennings (’67)

(775) 815.0660

Sacramento Location 11:30am-1:30pm

Mark and Monica’s Family Pizza

4751 Manzanita Avenue

Carmichael

(916) 487.1010

Hosted by Val Walters Edwards (’66) and Dennis Edwards (’66)

(209) 957.1560.

RSVP to the host for the location you will be attending.

Low cost spaying and neutering is available in Placer County for dogs and cats ($20 for cats and $40 for dogs). Pick up a voucher at the Tahoe Vista Animal Shelter, 849 Shelter Road, Tahoe Vista (530.546.1990) or call Wylie Animal Rescue Foundation at 775.833.2319.

Options are available for people living outside Placer County. For questions or further information, call Connie at (775) 831.1730 or send email to tahoepet@yahoo.com.

On March 17, officers of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department will conduct a specialized enforcement effort focusing on motorists who violate pedestrians’ right of way in crosswalks, as well as those motorists who ignore the flashing red lights displayed on local school buses while picking up or delivering children.

Pedestrians, particularly children, pose one of the highest safety risks related to traffic safety. The spontaneity of children can be particularly unpredictable around traffic, and pedestrians are the most vulnerable to injury or death when involved in a collision with a motor vehicle.

• The 2011 Nevada State Fair has been canceled because of money issues. Only 13 percent of the fundraising goal had been met before the board made its decision this month.

• Zephyr Cove Elementary sixth-grader Aspen Kidd is going to the state National Geographic Geography Bee in Las Vegas on April 1.

• Lake Tahoe poet Brian Turner was in the top 10 for Britain’s T.S. Eliot Prize for Poetry.

• The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding, has named Marriott International as its official hotel and lodging partner.

• The BEAR League is part of an Animal Planet series starting at 10 the nights of March 17, March 24 and March 31.

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Gala is March 18 from 6:30-9:30pm at Heavenly’s California Lodge on Saddle Road in South Lake Tahoe.

The event will feature a Champagne toast, heavy gourmet hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and a cash beer and wine bar. Advance tickets are $40. They may be purchased by calling Foundation Director Aimi Xistra-Rich at 530.314.9285 or by e-mail at aimix@heavenlyfoundationteam.org.

Tickets will also be available at the door of the event for $45; however, advance purchase is recommended, as quantities are limited.

The South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission is having a public hearing on the city’s General Plan and associated environmental documents on March 24 at 3pm at the Lake Tahoe Airport.

The City Council is expected to vote on the document May 3, also at the airport. The council meeting starts at 9am, but at this time the General Plan public hearing is not set for a specific time.

Workshop — Marketing Your Nonprofit on March 31 form 9am-noon at the DWR Center-Meiling Room, 948 Incline Way Incline Village.

This workshop will focus on increasing your marketing and presentation skills with Lee Koch and Leslie Brown

Expand your skills in:

• Public speaking

• Using an elevator speech

• Developing a captivating and professional presentation style

• Generating enthusiasm for your nonprofit

• Increasing awareness of your organization.

Admission is $20.

Call or email Tahoe CAN for more information at (775) 298.0119, info@tahoecan.org.

Hundreds of brave souls with warm hearts will take the plunge in the chilly waters of the South Shore at Zephyr Cove to raise much needed funds for Special Olympics Northern California and Nevada.

The Polar Plunge on March 19 is not a swim. It’s a party. Dress up in a crazy costume, dip your big toe or your whole body and then off to the post plunge party.

2011 schedule:

10am – Registration

11:30am – costume parade and judging

Noon – Plunge

12:30pm – Post Plunge Party.

For more information, see the flyer.

Better check your clock, you may be late for wherever you are supposed to be.

Daylight-saving time begins today — which means the clocks are turned forward an hour.