Kids
The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
Through September 1
Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center invites audiences to climb aboard a magical cardboard rocket with two young adventurers to experience a breathtaking, up-close look at each of our solar system’s planets in a full-dome digital star show. Discover the secret to making this seemingly impossible trip to the edges of the universe and back, and gain a new sense of wonder about space along the way. Recommended for children in grades 1 through 4, but fun for all ages. Shows Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. with additional weekday showings March 10 through 14, and June 2 through September 1. Tickets $6 adults and $4 children under 14 and seniors 54 and over. Located north of Lawlor Events Center on Virginia Street, on UNR campus, 1.5 miles north of the downtown Reno arch. Free parking available in the West Stadium Parking Complex, level 3, just east of the planetarium. planetarium.unr.edu, 775-784-4812.
Art for Mother Earth
April 1
Our children have a lot to teach about honoring the earth, so encourage them to share their knowledge with their artistic talents. The Rainbow Bridge will host a ‘What I Do For The Earth’ drawing and poetry contest for children ages 4 to17. Five different age groups (4 to 6, 7 to 9, 10 to12, 13 to 15 and 16 to17) will compete in three categories (poetry, drawing and poetry and drawing.) Each category and age group will receive prizes and every participant will receive a special certificate for their entry. The artwork will be showcased at the Squaw Valley Earth Day Celebration. Pick up a contest application beginning April 1 at Rainbow Bridge in Tahoe City, 475 North Lake Boulevard, or in the Village at Squaw and return it with the entry by April 19. A panel of judges will select the winners of each category and prizes will be awarded April 26th at the Earth Day Celebration in Squaw Valley, therainbowbridge.com 530-583-5323.
Annual Shrine Circus
March 28 through 30
The circus is back in town. Bring your family to enjoy elephants, clowns, acrobats and more. Tickets $14, $12 for children 12 and under. Free parking. Friday, 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m., Sunday 1 and 5 p.m. Reno Livestock Event Center, 1350 N. Wells Avenue, Reno, 775-856-3330.
KidZone Wishlist
Time flies when you’re having fun, and the kids have loved flying through the outer space theme featured at the KidZone Museum this past year. It’s time to change the interactive exhibit again and they are installing the African exhibit the week of April 21 to 28. They will focus on life in the Serengeti and the Congo, with an open-air marketplace, a hut with a solar stove, a gorilla nesting area and musical instruments. They are looking for donations of the following items in good condition.
• Fabric, cotton preferably, any shape, size, texture
• Old crates, wooden boxes, baskets, non-breakable vessels of any kind, size, shape, texture
• Reclaimed wood and plywood at least 1/4-inch thick, any shape or size
• Wooden chairs, outdoor seating
• Old canvas, burlap, waxpaper, etc. bags, also any size, shape, texture, color
• Wool batting
• Children’s gorilla costumes
• Gymnastic pads and mats
• Climbing ropes, at least 30 feet in smooth textures
• Chicken wire
• Financial assistance is always greatly appreciated.
Drop off donations at 11711 Donner Pass Road, Truckee. Specify that donated items are for the African exhibit. kidzonemuseum.org, 530-587-5437(KIDS.)
Outdoors
SSafeCheckIn.com
Anytime You Go Out Alone
While riding a ski lift solo, local website developer Jeff Arndt found himself wondering, who would know if he disappeared? He knew he wasn’t alone in being alone. He knew he wasn’t alone in being alone: people go out by themselves all the time, and many don’t have anyone waiting up to be sure they return safely. He created the Internet service SafeCheckIn.com to provide that security. You ‘Check Out’ when you leave, entering information on where you are going, what you are doing, and when you expect to arrive back. SafeCheckIn monitors your account until you have safely ‘Checked In.’ If you are overdue, SafeCheckIn will first attempt to contact you by cell phone (text and voice), then will initiate a process to notify your contacts or the local authorities of your overdue status in order to initiate appropriate action to find you. Once responsibility has been passed on, SafeCheckIn follows up within an hour to assess what action has been taken. They do not assume anything without a follow-up. Use SafeCheckIn for dating, skiing, hiking, fishing, road trips, boating and more. SafeCheckIn is only $12.99 for a month, or $29.99 for a 3-month membership, which includes 24/7/365 monitoring and unlimited use. SafeCheckIn.com, 866-516-6784.
Ski Day To Benefit Tahoe Women’s Services
March 30
Tahoe Women’s Services invites skiers and snowboarders to support the organization by purchasing a $25 all-day pass to Northstar. The ski resort has generously agreed to donate the proceeds of 1,000 tickets to TWS. Tickets must be purchased before March 30. Buy them online at tahoewomenservices.org, and at will-call in the Northstar Village on March 30. erin@tahoewomenservices.org775-298-0182.
Wilderness First Responder Course
April 12 to 19
South Lake Tahoe’s Gay and Lesbian celebration is 24/7 non-stop action on and off the slopes. The celebration includes world class skiing, a cruise on the Tahoe Queen, all-night dance parties, comedy and the ‘Queen of the Mountain’ competitive Drag Race. laketahoewinterfest.com, 800-AT-TAHOE.
Spin-a-thon Fundraiser
April 19
Four women from Truckee riding their bikes from San Francisco to Los Angeles, 545 miles, to help end Aids. Help the cause by participating in a get-your-heart-pumping fundraiser – an all day spin-a-thon! Come spin for an hour, two, or ride your own century! All levels are welcome. All proceeds benefit the San Francisco Aids Foundation, and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian center. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Elevation Fitness in Truckee, 10775 Pioneer Trail Rd., $10 donation, cassandrasharpe@gmail.com.
Classes
Blower Door/Air Sealing Workshop
March 15
Air leakage can account for 30 to 50 percent of heating bills. See how blower door tests are performed and learn about simple techniques in air sealing that you can start incorporating into your home immediately. Workshop instructor, Ron Clark of Energywise, says spending money on replacing windows is not where you need to start, and that the average home can be air sealed for less than $1,000. From 9 a.m. to12 p.m. Workshop costs $25 for SiGBA members and $35 for non-members. Call 530-546-4967 to register.
Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation
March 25
Scott Terrell from Truckee Donner PUD will discuss energy efficiency and water conservation. The main focus of Scott’s career has been in energy, water efficiency, renewable energy, green building and sustainability in the Truckee community. He has developed several partnerships throughout the region in the areas of green building and sustainability. $5 for SiGBA members and $10 for non-members. 6 p.m., at the Cedar House Sport Hotel, 10918 Brockway Road, Truckee, sigba.org/calendar, 530-546-4967.
Squaw Valley Community Involvement Fair
April 3
Promote awareness of your organization, sign up members, enlist volunteers and solicit donations at the Squaw Valley Institute Community Involvement Fair on April 3 at the Resort at Squaw Creek. The featured speaker, John Chapman of Community Leadership Initiative, will be talking about volunteerism and philanthropy. His passion for community support is contagious. Free, thanks to support from Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation. Community Involvement Fair opens at 6 p.m., speaker at 7 p.m. Janet Zipkin at jzzipkin@squawvalleyinstitute.org
World of Travel and Tourism I
April 5 and 6
This course covers the basics of air travel in the U.S. and Canada, use of the Official Airline Guide (OAG), flight itineraries and reading airline tickets. An overview of travel in the U.S. and Canada, and geographic factors affecting travel such as climate, land surfaces, time zones and cultural differences. Destinations such as Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, French Canada, New England, the Gulf Coast and the Southwest will be emphasized 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at UNR’s Continuing Education Building. Course costs $120.75 for one undergraduate credit or $176.25 for one graduate credit. Early registration is required. extendedstudies.unr.edu/creditcourses.htm, 775-784-4062 or 1-800-233-8928.
Home Show Grows
May 24 and 25
The Truckee Home and Building Show will expand to accommodate approximately 200 exhibitors this year. In partnership with the Sierra Green Building Association, the show will continue the focus on green and sustainable building with the 2008 Regional Green Building Symposium featuring a green building tour, keynote speakers, films and workshops. ‘Due to the participation of the Home Show sponsors – Truckee Donner PUD and Sierra Pacific Power Company – the Home Show has grown to be a major influence in the Truckee-Tahoe area for introducing and promoting the technology and systems relating to energy efficiency, green building and maintaining a sustainable life in the Sierra,’ said Pam Neff, Truckee Home & Building Show Coordinator. ‘Wind, solar and micro-hydro electric generating systems, expanded polystyrene insulated concrete forms, insulation made from soy beans and home automation systems are some of the examples of cutting-edge technologies that have made their debut at the Truckee Home & Building Show.’ Get your business involved in the area’s hottest Home and Building Show and call to be an exhibitor. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $5, and proceeds benefit local schools. Tahoe Truckee High School, 11725 Donner Pass Road, in Truckee, truckeehomeshow.com, 530-587-3477.
Online Nevada Encyclopedia (ONE)
Developed by Nevada Humanities, ONE was launched in March 2007, offering nearly 600 articles and interactive features, including more than 150 virtual reality tours of sites throughout the state. In honor of Black History Month ONE premiered the Civil Rights Gallery interactive online exhibit, which explores various aspects of the Civil Rights movement – an important part of Nevada’s heritage – with audio clips and historic images.
‘Roughly 50,000 people have visited ONE in the past year. Students, residents and national and international visitors make up the spectrum of people who have learned about Nevada from this valuable resource,’ said Karen Wikander, managing editor of the ONE. ‘The new Civil Rights Gallery is a wonderful way to celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans in Nevada history,’ said Ken Dalton, a former president of the Northern Nevada Chapter of the NAACP. onlinenevada.org, 775-784-6587.
Healthy You, Healthy Animals
March 29
Come have fun while helping our furry friends! A $20 donation allows you to participate in various health services including: detoxifying foot baths, biofeedback nutritional analysis, infrared sauna, gym use, chiropractic consultations, vibrational sound therapy, watsu, cranio-sacral therapy, health information and products. Bring a swimsuit and beach towel. Sierra Sports & Spine Therapy, out by the Truckee Tahoe Airport, 530-587-WELL (9355).
