The 2010 Charity Raffle Quilt will be unveiled at the Fabrics Unlimited’s 3rd Annual Open House and Quilt Show on July 17 from 10am-5pm.

The shop is located off Kingsbury Grade at 155 Shady Lane in Stateline.

Raffle proceeds benefit the Lake Tahoe Humane Society and S.P.C.A. The winning ticket will be drawn in September.

An original design by Sheri Lilienthal, the quilt is king size and features a happy plump cat in the center. The eight women of the Thursday Therapy Quilters group spent more than three months working on individual 12-inch blocks.

Information is available at (775) 588.3211.

Sugar Bowl Resort is hosting Saturday dinners this summer at its exclusive Lake Mary Cabin. On July 17 from 5:30-9pm, 5 percent of the gross earnings will go to the Truckee Donner Land Trust.

Enjoy French inspired California cuisine and spacious, patio-style dining with views of Lake Mary, the Palisades and Mt. Disney.

For reservations, call (530) 426.7002.

• The Melissa Lanitis Gregory Poetry Prize through Bona Fide Books in Meyers is open through Aug. 31. Click here for details.

• Traveling on the North Shore just got easier. The Tahoe Trolleys is free from 7pm to midnight. It takes riders from Squaw Valley to Incline Village with pick-ups along the way. There’s the free Northstar Night Rider Shuttle from Northstar to Crystal Bay, as well as the Blue Warrior Water Shuttle. Click to www.GoTahoeNorth.com for more information.

• Follow Tahoe City endurance swimmer Karen Rogers on Facebook or via her website. She is trying to secure a boat so she can attempt the Pacific Ocean swim later this month.

• The U.S. Postal Service wants to raise the price of a stamp two cents to 46 cents starting Jan. 2. The last increase was about two years ago.

• Tahoe Youth & Family Services needs host home families. These families house youth from two days to two months. For information, call (530) 541.2445.

• Preferred Timeshare Resales has moved back into the Ski Run Center in South Tahoe.

• Lisa Granahan, formerly the assistant to Douglas County’s manager, is now the economic vitality manager. For more information of the county’s economic vitality efforts, visit the county’s website.

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a red flag warning for Reno, Carson City, Minden and the surrounding foothills for July 12 from 3-9pm.

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions will occur.

Winds will be from west at 15 to 25mph, with gusts as high as 35mph. Humidity levels will drop to 10-15 percent.

The combination of dry fuels, gusty winds and low humidity will create critical fire weather conditions.

Tahoe Youth & Family Services recently received a $25,000 grant from Sierra Health Foundation through its Responsive Grants Program. This grant will provide counseling services for young children and will help expand the popular Little Latinas Program.

The grant was one of 21 awarded by the Sacramento-based private philanthropy, which promotes improved health and quality of life for the people of Northern California. Sierra Health Foundation awarded a total of $506,469 to support projects that improve health and quality of life in the first 2010 Responsive Grants Program funding cycle.

Through the Responsive Grants Program, Sierra Health Foundation asks nonprofit organizations and public agencies how they can promote and improve health in their communities. Since launching the program in 2008, Sierra Health Foundation has awarded more than $2.7 million to provide support for 94 programs and projects.

Additional tickets in all price ranges are now availability for the Elton John show on July 25 at the 2010 Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series at Harveys Outdoor Arena in Stateline.

Tickets are $95.50, $150.50, $175.50 and $235.50, plus applicable service charges, and can be purchased via www.ticketmaster.com or www.apeconcerts.com. Showtime is 8pm.

Candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council may take out forms starting July 12.

Documents must be returned by Aug. 6. However, if an incumbent does not run, the deadline is extended to Aug. 11.

Three seats are up in November. Councilman Bill Crawford has said he does not intend to run, Councilman Jerry Birdwell wants to see who his competition might be, and Mayor Kathay Lovell wants a third term.

Interested candidates may pick up paperwork at 3368 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Ste. 8, South Lake Tahoe or at the city clerk’s office at Lake Tahoe Airport.

South Lake Tahoe voters will also be voting on a city treasurer. Suzie Alessi, city clerk, is up for re-election.

Other area races include: Placer County board of education, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District board, Lake Valley Fire Protection District board, and Tahoe City Public Utility District board.

Click on offices for more information about open seats on the California side of the lake.

Click on candidates to get information about Douglas County.

– Compiled by Kathryn Reed

As part of it ChamberEDucation workshop series, the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, along with the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation, is hosting an “Establishing Your Business’ Value” seminar July 14 from 4-5pm at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Non-Profit Center, Meiling Room, 948 Incline Way in Incline Village.

The seminar will focus on an overview of the key principals associated with determining a business’ value. It will identify what buyers are looking for as well as an explanation of the mysterious term known as a “Business Multiple.” The presentation will be based on anecdotal experiences, empirical data and real life examples.

Broker and owner Brad Bottoset of the Liberty Group of Nevada LLC will be speaking.

This seminar is open to the public at no cost. To reserve your space and for more information, call (775) 298.0184 or email leannek@parasol.org.

• NBC Sports, the American Century Championship and World Golf Tour, have created a virtual experience that allows gamers to play the back nine at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course through July 31. Click here.

• Want to see some pretty pictures of Lake Tahoe? Click on this link to CNN.

• Ready to take advantage of California travel deals – including Lake Tahoe? Claim your free copy of the Sunset Travel Guide, California Travel Deals 2010 here.

• The Truckee Donner Land Trust acquired more than 4,000 acres north of Truckee in conservation easement from Sierra Pacific Industries.

• The SnowBomb card, which offers deals to Lake Tahoe, went on sale this month.

Nearly all wildfires in the Tahoe Basin are human caused.

With a little help from Smokey Bear, locals and visitors learned about fire safety and prevention during Wildfire Awareness Week at Explore Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe this week.

Smokey Bear makes a visit to South Lake Tahoe. Photo/Jose Gomez/USFS