Caroline Beteta, CEO of Visit California and chairwoman of Brand USA, left, along with Denise Pirrotti Hummell, CEO and founder of Universal Consensus, talk April 18 at Harveys in Stateline about Tahoe can do better to attract the international traveler.

Buds on vines are starting to pop out throughout the Sierra foothills in anticipation of the next crop. Passport weekend continues April 20-21 in El Dorado County. More info is online.

Kathy Hardy, forest supervisor of the Eldorado National Forest, talks about forest health on April 10 at the Soroptimist International South Lake Tahoe meeting.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White on April 6 at Heavenly Mountain Resort during the High Roller Hold ‘Em big air competition. Video shot by Bob Sweatt of South Lake Tahoe.

Frank Gehrke with the Department of Water Resources talks March 28 about whether the lack of snow this winter will bring a greater threat for wildfires this summer in California.

Aaron Hugehes of Manteca defended his taco eating contest title at Sierra-at-Tahoe on March 24 by being the fastest to wolf down five spicy tacos.

Brave “swimmers” plunged into the bitter cold water of Lake Tahoe at Zephyr Cove on March 23 in the annual Polar Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics. The outside and water temps were about the same — 41 degrees. This video shot by Bill Kingman shows the fifth of five groups of participants.

Sho Kashima began skiing when he was 4 when his dad was hired at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Growing up, Kashima idolized 1998 Olympic moguls champion Jonny Moseley, and it was Moseley’s gold in Nagano that inspired him to compete in the Olympics. He also looked up to U.S. moguls skiers Travis Cabral (ninth in at the 2006 Torino Games), Travis Ramos and Chris Hernandez, all of whom have roots in Lake Tahoe. Kashima was 12 when he first started skiing moguls with the Heavenly Team, and continued skiing with them till the age of 19 when he qualified for, and joined, the U.S. Ski Team. He’ll be competing at Heavenly in the U.S. Freestyle Championships March 29-31.

John Hitchcock, planner with South Lake Tahoe, talks March 20 about the plans for the Stateline-tourist core area.

Freshmen in South Tahoe High School’s AVID program practice their parts for the Drug Store Project. Teacher Julia Russell plays the part of the police officer. Drug Store Project is April 2 at Lake Tahoe Community College.