With 2 - 3 feet of snow in the forecast for the Mount Hood region this Friday and Saturday, ski resorts like Mount Hood Meadows are preparing to open for the season--earlier than expected. And if you take frequent trips to the mountain, now's a good time to snag your 10-time or season pass.

Sample pass prices:

• Timberline: Season pass (includes Ski Bowl): $449 Adult, $379 Teen, $279 for Junior/Senior until 11/8/09
• Mount Hood Meadows: 10-time pass: $349 until 11/8/09
• Cooper Spur: $200 for individual, $375 for family

Enjoy the snow!

If you're a fan of Bravo TV's Top Chef and you think you've got the culinary skills to compete, here's your chance. The show's talent scouts will be in town soon to find the next batch of talent. Not only can you try out for the regular version of the show, but they're also looking for people to compete in the new spin-off of Top Chef, "Top Chef: Just Desserts."

Where: Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway

When: Sunday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m

What to Bring: Your filled out application and video. Read the full requirements online.

If you have too many leaves to wait for yard debris pick-up, you can always bring them to a leaf drop-off center and pay a small disposal fee. The leaves you drop off will be recycled into compost.

Leaf drop-off events were canceled earlier this year, but a few of them were reinstated. Here's the schedule:

• Gabriel Park - SW 42nd and Vermont, in the upper parking lot - November 15, November 22, December 6

• Lents Park - SE 92nd and Pardee, on the east side of the park - November 14 and December 5

• Stanton Yard - 2929 N Kerby, west of Emanuel Hospital on Kerby - November 21

• Westmoreland Park - SE 22nd and Nehalem, in parking lot by baseball field - November 14, November 21, December 5

The Multnomah County Health Department issued this update for their community vaccination clinics:

"Due to unexpected delays in H1N1 vaccine production, all community vaccination clinics have been canceled. Multnomah County has received a limited supply of the H1N1 vaccine which has been given to doctor's offices and health care organizations for pregnant women and children under 5."

For the latest updates, visit the Multnomah County Health Department's website.

The latest show by Cirque Du Soleil, KOOZA, will premiere in Portland on April 9 under the Grand Chapiteau (big top) at SW Moody Avenue (South of the Marquam bridge).

"KOOZA is about human connection and the world of duality, good and bad", says the show's writer and director David Shiner. "The tone is fun and funny, light and open. The show doesn't take itself too seriously, but it's very much about ideas, too."

Prices start at $25.40. Get ticket information for KOOZA in Portland.

There's a chill in the air, which means I'm looking for ways to warm up. One way is to cook up a bunch of spicy food. And since I've discovered the Secret Aardvark, my chili has a bit more kick. Secret Aardvark is a habanero hot sauce that's made right here in Portland, and it'll knock your socks off.

Like many other local food companies, Aardvark started off selling their sauces at the Portland Farmers Market. Now, they sell all over Oregon, Washington and Montana. You can get it at grocery stores like Whole Foods and New Seasons, plus a ton of other outlets, listed on the Aardvark website. Do you have a local product you love? Tell me about it by posting a comment below.

As you know, there aren't enough swine flu vaccination shots to go around. Multnomah County is asking that only people in the priority groups go to their community vaccination events. Priority groups include pregnant women, children, young adults, health care workers, and adults with compromised immune systems.

Currently, there are clinics scheduled through early December. Get the schedule for Multnomah County's Swine Flu vaccination events.

Want to capture your little ones with professional photographs this Halloween? You can, with the Oregon Food Bank photo fundraiser: Cobwebs, Costumes, Cameras and Kids.

Where: Campbell Salgado Studio, 8107 SE 16th Ave in Portland.

When: October 31, 10 am - 12:30 pm for Costume Sessions for smaller kids. 1 pm - 3 pm for Spooky Snapshots.

Prizes There will be a raffle for gift baskets full of prizes donated by Sellwood-Moreland area businesses.

Pricing: $15 - $20, with proceeds benefiting the Oregon Food Bank.

To schedule your costume session call (503) 736-3040 or visit Campbell Salgado Studio for more details.

Our state is the first to create an electronic registry for patients to communicate their wishes to health care providers in terms of whether they'd like life-sustaining treatments as part of their end of life care.

According to the program, Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Paradigm, patients may fill out a form outlining their wishes to encourage better patient-doctor communication. The form accomplishes two major purposes:

• It turns treatment wishes of an individual into actionable medical orders.
• It is portable from one care setting to another.

POLST has forms and frequently asked questions on their website.

This Wednesday, October 21, you can have a meal out and donate money to Growing Gardens at the same time. Growing Gardens a non-profit organization that helps low-income people build their own organic vegetable gardens. Just visit one of the restaurants below on October 21 and a percentage of your bill will be donated to the organization.

Participating Restaurants:

• Biwa, 215 SE 9th Avenue
• Ciao Vito 2203 NE Alberta St
• Firehouse 711 NE Dekum St
• Fish Grotto 1035 SW Stark St
• Iorio 912 SE Hawthorne Blvd
• Laughing Planet Cafes (all Portland locations)
• Park Kitchen 422 NW 8th Ave
• Screen Door 2337 E Burnside St Gardens
• SubRosa 2601 SE Clinton St

Get more information about the Dine Out, Dig In promotion.