Knowing the importance of educating buyers and sellers, the South Tahoe Association of Realtors has created an education program where members learn about the complex codes and regulations pertaining to a real estate transaction in the Lake Tahoe Basin and are then able to pass along this valuable information and resources to clients.

Every year, representatives from the various agencies meet with agents to discuss these policies and regulations.

To earn the Tahoe Area Governmental Agencies Certification agents must take a test specific to each agency. To earn the certification, the Realtor must pass with a minimum score of 80 percent.

The agencies involved with the 2010 program were TRPA, South Tahoe Refuse, South Tahoe Public Utility District, South Lake Tahoe Building Department, California Tahoe Conservancy and U.S. Forest Service.

Click on list to see which Realtors on the South Shore passed the test and the years it is valid

• Tahoe City Olympian Shannon Bahrke married Matthew Happe in October in Hawaii.

• Northstar-at-Tahoe again made the Top 50 list of best tennis resorts in the country. The results are published in the November issue of Tennis magazine. The Truckee resort is also ranked No. 4 in the budget conscious list.

• A blurb about South Tahoe’s 968 Park Hotel is in the latest issue of Ski magazine.

• Californian’s needing help with medical bills may want to check out this website.

• The Kelly Blue Book for healthcare helps people figure out what a procedure should cost before the bill arrives and helps patients negotiate fees upfront.

• Uncorked Squaw Valley recently opened a second wine bar in Tahoe City.

South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County salary information were a little late in getting posted to the state website, but the figures are there now.

The California controller’s office in an attempt to be transparent and in the wake of the Bell scandal in Southern California asked all cities and counties to provide salary information.

Go to the website to access the salary by position for most California cities and counties.

— Kathryn Reed

• Tim Jitloff of Reno made his 2011 World Cup debut wearing a helmet in support of October being breast cancer awareness month. Jitloff’s mother is in remission.

• Mike Bridges, one-time beverage manager at Sahara Tahoe and High Sierra, has died of leukemia. Domenic Mazzetta, general manager of Harveys when the bomb went off, has also died.

• The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California elected its first female leader — Wanda Batchelor. She beat out Chairman Waldo Walker and Vernon Wyatt.

• The South Lake Tahoe Redevelopment Agency, aka City Council, is having a public hearing Nov. 16 at 9am to discuss redrawing the lines of Redevelopment Area 2 to match what staff agreed to with El Dorado County. The meeting is at Lake Tahoe Airport.

• Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, received an A grade for the fourth year in a row from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association for the 2010 legislative season.

• The El Dorado Community Foundation 2011 grant applications are open and available at the foundation’s website. The deadline to apply is 5pm Nov. 15.

• A change implemented by City Manager Tony O’Rourke – no department heads at South Tahoe council meetings unless an agenda item is related to their department.

• Sierra House Elementary School’s annual Harvest Festival is Oct. 30 from noon-3pm. Costumes optional at the South Tahoe school on Pioneer Trail.

Truckee River Winery is having a pumpkin carving contest Oct. 30 from noon-4pm.

There will be an adult and child division.

Pumpkins will be provided for contestants, and carvers can take their pumpkins home. We will also have candy and treats for kids and adults.

RSVP: Must call ahead so there is a pumpkin waiting for you. (530) 587.4626

• Military veterans and those on active duty can eat free at Applebee’s on Nov. 11. You must provide proof of service. For more information, go online.

• Mammoth is installing landing pads at its terrain parks.

• On Nov. 10 the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Advisory Planning Commission is scheduled to have a public hearing regarding the final EIS for the Boulder Bay Community Enhancement Program project. The meeting at the Stateline office is set to begin at 9:30am.

• Alpine Meadows Ski Resort and Homewood Mountain Resort have named Kevin Mitchell regional director of snow sports and resort services.

• Fred Findlen has been named general manager at the Hyatt in Incline.

• South Lake Tahoe City Council is scheduled to have a public hearing on the General Plan on Nov. 2. Meeting starts at 9am at Lake Tahoe Airport.

• Women undergoing chemo may receive monthly house cleaning free for four months through Cleaning for a Reason. For more information, visit the website.

• Tahoe Tot Spot is having a Halloween bash. Click on flyer for the details.

Tangled Roots Writing is hosting a series of creative writing workshops in downtown Truckee this fall.

Each workshop is different:

Oct. 30 10am–1pm “Inspiration”

Nov. 13 1-4 pm “Feedback”

Dec. 11th 10am–1pm “Publishing”

Connect with a writing community, generate new material, work on a piece in progress, play with language and meaning, and develop a writing practice in a supportive creative environment.

Cost is $35 per day or $30 each for two or more sessions.

Contact Karen Terrey at (530) 386.3901 or tangledrootswriting@gmail.com for more information.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will resume prescribed fire operations on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe in the McKinney/Rubicon area Oct. 27.

Weather permitting, fuels crews will conduct operations on 70 acres and expect to continue through the week.

Because of the large number of acres associated with the project, as with the projects last week, residents and visitors may see a significant amount of smoke rising from the project area.

Forest Service prescribed fire managers plan these larger burns based on predicted weather that allows for good dispersion of smoke.

Tahoe Maritime Museum becomes a haunted museum Oct. 30 from 2-4pm. Costumes encouraged.

Dress up the family to celebrate Halloween at the Haunted Museum. Hear the tales of Tahoe, make crafts, play games and win treats.

Free for children under 12 and museum members. Museum admission is $5 for adults.

The museum is at 5205 West Lake Blvd. in Homewood.

The North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Human Resources Association are offering Tricks for Trainers: How To Give It So They Get It presentation Nov. 5 from 8am to 12:30pm at the Resort at Squaw Creek, 400 Squaw Creek Road in Olympic Valley.

Attendees will learn how to design and deliver training sessions in a low-pressure and encouraging environment. They’ll also take way accelerated learning techniques that are easy to incorporate, which will improve the structure of their next workshop. Give It So They Get It also offers dozens of tips used by professional trainers.

The speakers are Laura Moriarty and Melinda Stearns, founders of the Tahoe Training Partners, seasoned human resources executives, nationally known corporate trainers and frequent presenters of SHRA workshops.

Early bird registration (before Oct. 29) is $59 for North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and SHRA members and $69 for non-members. Last-minute registration (after Oct. 29) is $69 for North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and SHRA members and $79 for non-members. Seating is limited.

To register and for more information about the workshop, call Moriarty at (530) 573.0224 or North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce Manager Kym Fabel at (530) 581.8764. Attendees may also register online.