Walking The War Zones of Pakistan
January 7
Ruth Anne Kocour, veteran mountaineer, photographer, artist, and author, tells of her two treks, ‘under veil,’ through tribal regions near the Afghan border, under the shadow of the Taliban and near the region now thought to be the hiding place of Osama bin Laden. No host bar at 6:30 p.m., program begins at 7. Tickets available online or at the door for $10. Children and students with I.D. are free. PlumpJack Conference Center, Squaw Valley, squawvalleyinstitute.org, 530-581-4138.
Empties for Cash
Do you have a desk drawer full of broken cell phones and empty ink jet and toner cartridges? The First Baptist Church in Tahoe City is recycling these items in an effort to raise money. They have been able to purchase vans to transport the community’s children to their after-school and preschool programs and are now working towards funding future housing for church staff. Bring items to 390 Fairway Drive, Tahoe City, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays from 8 to 11 a.m., or to The Store in the Trading Post Center Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 530-583-2925.
Attitude in the Workplace
January 9 and 16
After the hectic holiday season, we all can use a little ‘Attitude Adjustment.’ The newest Customer Service Academy Course will be targeting common attitude problems at work, how to maintain a positive attitude, using positive and negative language, turning around bad attitude-based behavior, and practicing an ‘Attitude of Gratitude.’ Register by January 4, space is limited. $90. Scholarships are available. From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sierra College, 10725 Pioneer Trail, Truckee, northlaketahoechamber.com, 530-581-8764.
Introduction to ‘The Language of the Gods
January 12 and 13
Govinda Yelagalawadi, a volunteer Sanskrit scholar from India, will teach a two-day class on Sanskrit. Participants will be introduced to reading, writing, speaking, and pronunciation. Register 8 a.m. Saturday. Classes are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. $50 cash. Profits go to a non-profit organization. Register: email Rajan Zed, rajanzed@hotmail.com. Reno Buddhist Church, 820 Plumas Street, Reno, 775-348-6603.
How to Grow a Lotus
January 11 through 13
Hailing from Los Angeles, Noah Mazé comes to Truckee for a special yoga workshop. Noah is recognized in the yoga community as one of the most advanced and proficient practitioners and teachers of Anusara Yoga and is widely sought out as a teacher’s teacher. A 3-hour session is $50, the full workshop is $140 and the workshop plus teacher’s clinic is $180. Prices go up after January 4. The ‘How To Grow a Lotus’ class is at Tahoe Yoga & Wellness Center’s Truckee location, 10770 Donner Pass Road, tahoeyoga.com, 550-8333
Films from Around the World
Nevada Museum of Art presents the Global Shorts program, taking audiences to a world where less can sometimes mean more. In various languages with English subtitles. $8, $7 for members. Dates and times vary. 160 West Liberty Street, Reno, Nevada, nevadaart.org, 775-329-3333.
KIDS
Holiday Quality Control
All Season
Decide what this holiday really means to you and how you want to spend it. Then put the magic back in Christmas and with these simple ideas:
• Slow down. Don’t be in such a hurry to get from point A to point B.
• Spend Christmas day at home, with your loved ones.
• Read holiday stories to your kids. Tell them your favorite memories.
• Make gifts together, instead of buying things.
• Pass on your family traditions.
• Play games. Make time to be a kid again.
• Take a walk or ride around your neighborhood to enjoy the magical lights and decorations.
• Take your family and friends Christmas caroling. You could even bring along a tin can and get donations for your local charity.
• Donate your time. Take a day out of the holiday season to give back to the community. Visit seniors (some don’t have family visiting for the holidays.
• Delegate tasks. Don’t take on the responsibility for making everything perfect. After making your ‘to do’ list, divide it up among family members according to age, maturity, and physical ability to get the task done.
• Ask your family to lend a hand cleaning up after the festivities are over.
• Pot-luck the meal. Ask each visitor to bring a dish, and don’t be afraid to specify what you would like each guest to bring.
• Prepare meals ahead of time so you’ll have more time to mingle and laugh with your guests, instead of missing out on all the fun.
Northstar Noel Night
December 18
Bring your family ice-skating in the Village at Northstar and enjoy skating performances, s’mores by the fire, holiday carolers, and photos with Santa Claus. Free. Skate rental $5. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. northstar@tahoe.com, 530-562-1010.
Ski for Education
On selected days, the proceeds from your lift ticket purchase, at a discounted rate, go directly to the Excellence in Education Foundation, which provides enhanced educational opportunities for our local students.
• Squaw Valley: December 16. Pre-purchase special $35 lift vouchers online at Squaw.com, 530-583-6985.
• Sugar Bowl: December 22 and March 22. Pre-purchased lift tickets are only $25 per person. Limited quantity of tickets available, Dec. 11-21 and March 10-21, at all Porter’s locations.
• Northstar-at-Tahoe: January 6. Pre-purchased lift tickets are only $25 per person. Limited quantity of tickets available, Dec. 28-Jan. 5, on a first come, first serve basis at all Porter’s locations.
Teach Your ‘Children’ Well
January 15 through February 26
Jeannie Collins Duffield is a Canine Behavior Consultant and Certified professional dog trainer with over 20 years of experience, who is offering two courses through Truckee Donner Recreation and Parks District. A well-socialized and well-mannered puppy is a joy to live with. Basic manners and common behavior problems are covered in Kindergarten Puppy Training for pups nine weeks old to five months old and their owners. Class meets from 6 to 7 p.m.
For dogs six months and older, Jeannie has Basic Companionship Dog Training. Learn cutting edge techniques to teach your dog better manners while you develop a more positive relationship with your dog. Class meets from 7 to 8 p.m.
The first two sessions of each of the classes are lectures for the trainers from 6 to 8 p.m. Do not bring your dogs. $155 for the 7-week session. Register at the community Center, 10046 Church Street, Truckee, 530-582-7720.
Fund Food for Animals
This is pretty simple. The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota to get food donated to abused and neglected animals every day. It takes about 20 seconds to go to their site and click on the purple box ‘fund food for animals.’ This doesn’t cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising. It’s also a great site to shop for pets and pet lovers and those purchases get even more food to the animals. theanimalrescuesite.com.
