Community members

As temperatures at Lake Tahoe are heating up, so are discussions about wearing a face mask in public. While science continues to reveal new information about the coronavirus, one thing is clear: wearing a face mask slows the spread of COVID-19, if enough people wear them.

It’s difficult to find the right words. Even now, a week after the on-camera murder of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, by police officers, and all of the fallout felt nationwide, I’m still trying to understand the world, how to respond as a community leader, and how to explain it to my kids. All of the frustration, sadness, and outrage — it all seems so familiar since we’ve all been witness to these acts before, all seen and read and heard about cases of unarmed black people and other people of color killed in police custody when it was clearly avoidable.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In time of need, the South Lake Tahoe community continues to come forward and help those less fortunate. As the effects from the coronavirus pandemic continue to affect families with job and income loss, community members rise to the occasion with several places to volunteers and donate.

One of those opportunities is with Steph Warren and the Altruism Project on Fridays at Bijou Community School.

MEYERS, Calif. - An old campground at the base of Echo Summit in Meyers is undergoing a major transformation that will not only create new wetlands and restore habitat along the Upper Truckee River, it will also create public access.

Work gets underway this week at the old Tahoe Pines Campground on a $1.63M project that will include new accessible-to-all trails, bridge and parking lot, and other features along the river which is Lake Tahoe's largest tributary.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Douglas County Board of County Commissioners held a special meeting on April 29, 2020, regarding recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic impacts to local businesses in the county. The Board decided unanimously to deliver a letter to Governor Sisolak in support of reopening Douglas County and hand-delivered the letter in unison with community members and the Sheriff's Office at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is having a special puppy adoption day on May 5 to coincide with the annual Giving Tuesday fundraising day.

"Little Rays of Sunshine" is bringing two litters with a total of 11 puppies, along with one of the moms, to the public for adoption.

Pictured here is the mom Sunshine with one her puppies, Hope.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many nonprofits have had to cancel their fundraisers due to the coronavirus, but the ladies of the Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra (SITS) club in South Lake Tahoe weren't going to let the virus stop them.

Their 31t annual Elegant Evening was slated to be held at Harrah's Tahoe on April 18 with a sit-down dinner, live music, and dancing, raffle, and auction. The venue closed and restrictions on meeting in groups of over 10 people were created, so what do you do with an event that brings together 500 community members?

Move it online, of course.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Wednesday night's Tahoe Supports Tahoe live stream concert was a successful one for the South Lake Tahoe community, raising $4,200 during the two-hour concert for Tahoe Magic.

"I am still feeling the warmth from Wednesday night’s Tahoe Supports Tahoe Live Stream Benefit Concert," said Tahoe Magic Co-Founder Wendy David. "Thanks to the musicians who donated their talent and time, and to the promotion efforts just ahead of the concert, we received 88 separate donations totaling $15,290.35 just during the 24 hours of April 15."

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The proposed Lake Tahoe West Restoration Project is in the final planning stages and the three agencies involved, USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, California Tahoe Conservancy, and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, are inviting the public to provide their input. The project is a big one, covering 59,000 acres, and will provide a science-based, all-lands approach to guide restoration approaches on the West Shore over the next two decades to increase the resilience of ecosystems and human communities.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Barton Hospital would like 1000 face shields for staff during the coronavirus pandemic, and a South Lake Tahoe couple has taken on the challenge. With about 100 masks a week they are in search of help from the community in their 3D printing efforts.

Keith and Linda Cloutier, owners of Rudy's Plumbing and Heating, are currently in production of the masks. Since a 3D printer takes about 3.5 hours to print one face shield, Keith is asking for community members who have a 3D printer to join him so they can get more shields to Barton.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Governor Newsom said it was a possibility two weeks ago, California’s schools chief Tony Thurmond recommended the state’s public schools prepare to provide distance learning through the end of their school years on Tuesday, and now today, it became a reality in South Lake Tahoe.

El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE) announced they are taking a safety-first approach and immediate action to extend the school facility closures through the end of the school year.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As people watch the news they see the stories about a global shortage of the supplies needed by medical professionals fighting the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

Barton Health is South Lake Tahoe is preparing for a potential influx of patients seeking care and is making every effort to ensure their supplies are adequate. They are working with regional health partners, new and existing vendors, local businesses and community members to procure the personal protective equipment (PPE) that may be needed to keep their healthcare workers and patients safe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many have asked, what if our community starts getting COVID-19 cases, are we prepared? Many different groups, agencies, and the government have been working diligently and collaboratively on emergency plans to prepare.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With the anticipated impact of coronavirus COVID-19 in the area, the Barton Foundation has created a COVID-19 Response Fund aimed at helping community members and healthcare workers affected by the outbreak. Barton Health will match donations up to $75,000 to build the fund and help provide relief for residents.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to the COVID-19 emergency, Bread & Broth has made changes to their normal procedures in helping food insecure residents of South Lake Tahoe.

As an all-volunteer organization, they have been proudly serving the community since 1989 and will continue to do so as long as possible through these uncertain times due to the coronavirus COVID-19 health issues.

Starting immediately, the following schedule is in place:

Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) took additional steps on Friday to help curb the spread of the Novel Coronavirus related to fitness classes. They sent out an email to staff and students, letting them know of closures but some do affect community members who use the gym and facilities.

For up-to-the-minute news on LTCC closures and events, visit http://www.ltcc.edu/campusresources/health-and-safety/coronavirus.php. They will be updating them as things change.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Pink Heavenly, the annual fundraising event at Heavenly Mountain Resort to raise funds for Barton Health's cancer support services, has been canceled.

Originally planned for March 21, 2020, organizers with the Barton Foundation canceled the event to "protect community members, employees and care providers in the spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19."

UC Master Gardeners of Lake Tahoe invite Tahoe-based community members with a passion for gardening and helping others to join their 2020 training.

This training is fun, informative and hands-on and is a chance to learn science-based sustainable gardening practices. No prior experience necessary.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Thanks to the men and women of South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge #1632 and Bread & Broth Team #3 volunteers, a wonderful meal was served to all of the dinner guests who attended the Monday Meal at St. Theresa Grace Hall February 17. The Moose Lodge sponsored their annual Adopt A Day (AAD) of Nourishment by donating $300 to cover the costs of the food and associated expenses necessary to provide the hot, full-course meal served at the dinner.

Thanks to Vail’s EpicPromise grant and the wonderful and incredible Heavenly Mountain Resort Ski Services team members, Bread & Broth’s (B&B) dinner guests enjoyed a wonderful and nutritious meal at St. Theresa Grace Hall on Monday, February 10. Thanks to the generous $300 donation provided by the EpicPromise foundation, the B&B cooks whipped up a tasty meal of Chicken Picante, baked potatoes, green beans, and an avocado salad and servings of a variety of delicious desserts.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. – Providing a much-needed service in the community, the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe (HSTT) has been filling a void with special pet therapy training, wellness clinics, spay and neuter programs.

Since opening in December 2019, HSTT has provided over 100 spay and neuters to the community for free or at a reduced rate. They have also trained 60 new volunteers.

Some of the other programs that are helping pets and owners in the area:

Bread & Broth’s Adopt A Day of Nourishment (AAD) program provides community members the opportunity to partner with us in our efforts to serve a hot, nutritious meal to the less fortunate of our community. Providing a basic need is a way to not only ease hunger but also uplifts the lives and well-being of those who are struggling. Wanting to take advantage of this opportunity to help others, the Tahoe Wellness Center partnered with Bread & Broth (B&B) and hosted the Monday Meal as the Adopt A Day sponsor on January 20.

Bread & Broth and their Bread & Broth 4 Kids program received generous donations from the South Lake Tahoe community during last week's Tahoe Chamber Connect for a Cause Charity Mixer at the Hard Rock Casino Hotel.

More than 120 community members attended the January 23 mixer to raise money and food for the group that feeds almost 180 school-age students with a backpack of weekend food as well as hot meals for everyone on Monday and Friday evenings.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An Interview Advisory Panel is being formed to participate in in the process of interviewing Lake Tahoe Unified School District superintendent candidates on February 7, 2020.

If you are interested in serving on the community panel, please email Penny Pyle of Leadership Associates (the district’s search firm) at ppyle@leadershipassociates.org, or drop off your written submission at the District Office, 1021 Al Tahoe Blvd., with your response to the following:

- Why are you a good candidate for the interview advisory panel?