Christmas

With more than 4,000 acres of land in the Lake Tahoe basin being burned by the U.S. Forest Service annually, prescribed burns have become an important part of keeping forests healthy.

On Thursday, I followed the Tallac Hotshots as well as Engines 41 and 42 from the U.S. Forest Service as they burned an eight acre parcel off Grass Lake Road in Christmas Valley.

This is the second year the Lake Tahoe Historical Society has put on a Chautauqua, yet many people are unsure of what one is.

Chautauqua was a very popular adult education movement in the United States during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Named after Chautauqua Lake where the first was held, Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s.

Former US President Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as saying that Chautauqua is "the most American thing in America."

Residents go to the City for a number of requests, and in order to make sure procedures are followed on those requests, new policies were created Tuesday during the South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting.

A Champions Plaza Recognition Policy was created in order to know how to handle the expected requests for names to be placed at the new venue at the corner of Highway 50 and Lakeview Avenue. The sculpture was selected earlier this summer.

Lake Tahoe radio host, standup comedian and emcee of the Improv at Harveys, Howie Nave is among 62 Nevada radio and television personalities and managers who will be inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame this Saturday in Las Vegas.

Nave, who has been with KRLT FM 93.9 as host of “Howie’s Morning Rush” at Lake Tahoe for nearly 15 years, will be inducted at the Four Seasons Hotel. He joins the ranks of more than 800 broadcasters from around Nevada who make up the Hall of Fame.

The 3rd Annual Meyers Mountain Bike Festival is going on Saturday and Sunday, August 8th and 9th in the parking lot of Divided Sky It brings together the biking community, especially those that enjoy bicycles on dirt in beautiful Lake Tahoe.

It is full of events from rides and demos of equipment to a BBQ and Beer Garden.

SATURDAY - AUGUST 8

Sign Ups @ Dirt Lot - Corral Trailhead bottom - 8 a.m.
Demos/Shuttle - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
After Party @ The Divided Sky

SUNDAY - AUGUST 9

The fourth annual Fall Festival and Chili Cook Off is building for Saturday, September 12, 2015, at the South Tahoe Recreation Complex on Rufus Allen Blvd.in South Lake Tahoe. The event will start at 10:00 a.m. with vendors and a vintage car show. Vendors will offer products and services for the home, including items like hand crafted furniture and lamps, small plants, local artists and authors, candles, and gift items. Liberty Energy, the Lake Tahoe Humane Society, Christmas Cheer, and the Cancer League will be on hand to explain the services available for our community.

To City Manager of South Lake Tahoe, City Council

RE: motel housing

Honorable City Manager and City Council,

I am writing to you out of concern about the possible new ordinance regarding motel housing. In the past six years I have been involved with working for and advising various properties. The seven different properties opened my eyes to a separate part of our community that goes mostly unnoticed.

Exciting times for South Lake Tahoe in May as the community shines on the international stage as the location of the first stage of the Amgen Tour of California. Fourteen teams consisting of 84 of the top professional women racers will be in town for the race May 8-9, 2015. The racers consist of Olympic medalists, World Champions, Tour de France competitors and other cyclists from the National and International field.

Many of the teams have already been in the area getting ready for the Lake Tahoe stop on their tour. As we get closer to May 8, more of the participants will be in town.

Snow has been falling steadily in South Lake Tahoe all day, bringing much needed water to the region.

In Christmas Valley, on Beaver Brae, almost a foot of snow was report by 8 p.m. on April 7 with a couple of more inches expected overnight.

The forecast calls for the system to move out of South Lake Tahoe by 6 a.m. with a slight rainfall expected mid-morning.

The high on Wednesday is expected to be 46 degrees, with a low of 21.

Days will warm up with a high of 51 on Thursday with a low of 25.

Both Friday and Saturday have forecast highs of 54 and lows of 26.

Several different areas around the Lake Tahoe basin have been tapped for continued fire operations.

Over 700 acres will be burned north of Tahoma near Elizabeth Drive, southwest of Meeks Bay, on Gardner Mountain near South Tahoe High School and Gardner Street, Christmas Valley, Luther Pass near Grass Lake, and Ski Run Boulevard near Heavenly. On the East Shore, operations may take place near Logan Creek Drive and off Highway 28 north of Spooner Summit.

Operations will last through the next several weeks as conditions allow.

Over 700 more acres of slash pile still remain to be burned around the Lake Tahoe Basin as part of the California Tahoe Conservancy, Nevada Division of Forestry and U.S. Forest Service fire operations.

St. Theresa Catholic Church is hosting the 21st Annual Crab Dinner on Friday, February 13, 2015. The event will take place at Grace Hall, on the corner of Highway 50 and Lyons Avenue in South Lake Tahoe, right next to the church.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails and a silent auction, the crab dinner starting at 7 p.m., followed by the dessert auction at 7:45 p.m. If that weren't already enough, there is a raffle and live auction beginning at 8:30 p.m.

The South Tahoe Alliance of Resorts (STAR) gave a total of $15,000 to three area non-profits this holiday season to feed families as well as secure essential upgrades to community centers/programs.

STAR gifted $5,000 to Christmas Cheer All Year’s Food for Families, which resulted in $11,400 worth of fresh food from Raleys supermarket. Through this initiative Raleys was able to purchase items at wholesale while selecting various items that were in more demand. For every $1 donated to Christmas Cheer results in more than $2 worth of food.

The holidays may be over, but the season of giving continues this month as Tahoe Chamber hosts its Annual BAHM! for Charity at Riva Grill on Thursday, January 15 at 5:30 p.m. This yearly Business After Hours Mixer (BAHM!) supports local charities with all proceeds going to Christmas Cheer All Year and Bread and Broth.

A few inches of snow fell at Lake Tahoe ski areas, bringing out skiers and riders in droves for Christmas Day fun.

There is a chance of under an inch snow on the first day of SnowGlobe, Monday, December 29, but other than that the two week forecast is clear and cold.

Per Accuweather, the following is forecast for South Lake Tahoe:

Friday, December 26 - Sunny with a High of 32, Low 10
Saturday, December 27 - Mostly Sunny with a High of 41, Low of 20
Sunday, December 28 - Some sun with a high of 41, Low of 18

Jamie Anderson and Maddie Bowman are asked this question in this USA team interview:

Which skier considers his skills on the snow the best gift he’s ever been given? How about the snowboarder who said her favorite was the gift of life? Find out what Team USA skiers and snowboarders remember as their favorite gift of all time. Happy gift-giving!

Maddie Bowman of South Lake Tahoe, 2014 Olympic halfpipe skiing gold medalist: Onesie Cookie Monster pajamas from my best friend a couple years ago.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe is giving the gift of a pristine Lake Tahoe this holiday season. They are looking for shoppers who not only want to buy someone a cool gift, but for people who want to invest in the future of Lake Tahoe.

Not only can people make monetary donations they can also buy gifts which include the iconic Keep Tahoe Blue bumper stickers, tshirts, kayaks, coffee mugs and books.

During the past year, the League did the following to help keep the lake blue:

Engaged 891 volunteers

Recently the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, in conjunction with South Tahoe Refuse & Recycling, conducted a “drive and drop” at the LTVA’s California Visitors Center, and curbside collection on regular pick-up days. Once again we were overwhelmed by the generous response from our South Lake Tahoe community. Together we collected over 1,500 pounds of food and toys to benefit Christmas Cheer all Year, plus over $1,200 in cash, $1,000 of which was donated by the Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe.

With holiday celebrations upon us, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is preparing for this heavily-traveled time of year by educating the motoring public about safety on our roadways. As part of its upcoming Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) the CHP is reminding travelers to buckle up, adhere to the posted speed limit, avoid distractions behind the wheel, and always designate a sober driver.

For the past four years, members of the South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge have been providing meals for the less fortunate members of the community. What began as a small project with members filling up 15 boxes of food has grown into a much larger project with 40 families receiving the meals this weekend.

Administrative staff at Tahoe Valley Elementary school selected the 40 recipients and students from the school decorated the food boxes with colorful, seasonal messages.

The employees of South Tahoe Public Utility District are making donations to Christmas Cheer and Live Violence Free this holiday season. For the past month, staff has collected donations of food, toys, and more than $200 in cash for Christmas Cheer. They have also generously given of themselves filling wish lists for 15 families of Live Violence Free, who they hope to make the season a little brighter.

“I like participating because I know that these gifts go directly to the community” said District employee Matthew Mendoza.

City of South Lake Tahoe employees donated nonperishable food items and raised over $200 for Christmas Cheer all Year at their Annual Employee Appreciation party last week.

Christmas Cheer is a local food pantry in South Lake Tahoe that relies 100 percent on donations and is located at 1022 3rd St. South Lake Tahoe, CA.

-Tracy Franklin, Public Information Officer

The annual procession of decorated City vehicles and other participants made it's way down Lake Tahoe Blvd on Saturday night, much to the delight of people along the parade route and at the tree lighting ceremony at the end.

As the row of cars and trucks passed by local businesses, those adorned with lights turned them on like one moving light switch.

At the "Shops at the Y" people gathered to watch the tree lightening ceremony along with treats and photos with Santa.

If you haven't made it to the annual Festival of the Trees yet, you have through Sunday to take in all of the holiday fun. Trees and wreaths line the convention center at Harrahs and people can try and win everyone on display with a high bid.

Designer Trees
Best of Show and Most Elegant:
Noir et Blanc, Designers: Katie Long, Thran's Flowers
Best Interpretation of Theme:
Moulin Rouge, Designers: The Merry Widows and The Gallant Widowers
Most "Outside the Box" or Creative:
Sew Wonderful, Designer: Caryn Hughes

Local School Trees