convention

Transient Lodging License taxes may soon be increased one percent at properties in the Lake Tahoe portion of Douglas County (Lake Tahoe Township) to fund redevelopment projects including the addition of an event/convention center.

Overwhelming support for the tax increase was evident at the Douglas County Commissioner's meeting Thursday, where the elected officials voted 4-1 to approve the increase which would go into effect May 1, 2017.

"This is incredible," said Heddy Kaufer of South Lake Tahoe as she joined an estimated crowd of 500 men, women and children for the Bi-State Women's March on Washington Lake Tahoe.

Like millions of others who marched around the world on January 21, the festive South Lake Tahoe group walked a three mile route from the Hard Rock Lake Tahoe to the Senior Center in support of not only women's rights, but all human rights.

As the long line of walkers were greeted by honks from cars, they chanted "Love, Not Hate, Makes America Great!"

Kenneth Charles Traum passed away suddenly at his home in Martinez, Ca., on Nov. 5, 2016.

He was 45.

Kenny was born on July 17, 1971, at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, Ca. He moved to South Lake Tahoe, Ca., with his mother, Judy, and brother, Mike, when both boys were toddlers. He attended pre-school at Under the Magic Pine Tree, followed by Meyers and Al Tahoe elementary schools, South Tahoe Middle School, and graduated from South Tahoe High School in 1989.

The 38th Annual Freaker's Ball, Lake Tahoe’s largest, oldest and most extravagant Halloween party, brings the wild with a four-ring costume circus in the Convention Center, Opal Ultra Lounge and Blu Nightclub venues at MontBleu on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, at 8:00 p.m. Cost is $35 prior to Saturday, then $40 at the door if tickets are available. Costume contest with prizes.

On Friday, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino holds the 2nd Annual Rockin’ Dead Halloween Bash inside Vinyl starting at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $25. Costume contest with prizes.

The first South Tahoe Middle School convention was complete with delegates, platforms, debates and slates. Every state was represented and the students spent the day Friday much as a participant at the national convention would.

Since the school year began, teachers James Seider and Andrew Losk have been teaching their eighth grade students about civic responsibilities and duties, what it means to be a citizen of the United States and about the political process.

For those that were on the South Shore on August 27, 1980, they'll be able to tell you exactly where they were, or what they were doing when law enforcement detonated a bomb that had been left inside Harvey's Resort casino in Lake Tahoe.

Three men planted a bomb containing 1,000 pounds of dynamite inside a machine they delivered to the second floor. Successful landscaper, John Birges from Clovis, Calif., the mastermind behind the bomb, was attempting to extort $3 million from the casino, claiming he had lost $750,000 gambling there.

Engineer test. Check. Hire an Assistant Chief. Check. Negotiate new three year contract with union. Check. Retire ....Almost check.

The board on the wall in Tahoe Douglas Fire Chief Ben Sharit's office has a list of to-dos, things he had to accomplish before he could retire. On Thursday, June 30, he will be able to check them all off.

Ben Sharit, the Chief since 2011, will leave his post after being in the EMT, paramedic, firefighter business since 1980.

A 3.43 acre piece of land once owned by Randy Lane's Falcon Capital LLC may soon have a 22-unit condominium project built on it. The property (made up from two parcels) is underneath the gondola, adjacent to the Van Sickle Bi-State Park near the state line in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. The listed owner of the property is now Lucky Look LLC.

The Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe is holding their 34th annual Mid-Winter Beach Party Crab Feed on Friday, January 29 at 6:00 p.m. at Harrah's Convention Center.

This popular event is just $40 per person and will feature tables full of the tasty crustaceans as well as a silent auction and live music by A CLass Act.

Beach Attire is highly encouraged.

Tickets are limited and are expected to sell out. Reserved Tables are also available.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe will be hosting a job fair Thursday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in its convention center. Those interested in working for Tahoe’s newest casino resort can visit HardRockCasinoLakeTahoe.com and click on the “Careers” tab at the bottom of the page to view all available positions and apply. Applications must be submitted on line before Nov. 12.

A fire in the air handling unit at Montbleu Resort in South Lake Tahoe forced the evacuation of all casino and convention center patrons on Friday evening.

According to Eric Guevin, Fire Marshal for the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, the motor of the air handling unit caught on fire, forcing smoke into the hallway between the convention center and the casino floor.

One ambulance and fire engine from South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue responded along with four engines from Tahoe Douglas.

You've most likely heard of, and maybe even attended, Comic Con, a convention of comic buffs that continues to grow in numbers of attendees. Now there is a new kid on the block, Great Basin Geek Con.

Great Basin Geeks of have announced their inaugural foray into pop culture conventions.

Great Basin Geek Con will be held Oct. 17-18, 2015, at the Reno Town Mall, 4001
S Virginia St, Reno.

“The folks at Reno Town Mall and Buy Nevada First share our goal of making

Change.

It’s happening fast in Reno-Tahoe tourism, from millennials’ growing influence in the marketplace to changing preferences among visitors, according to a new industry analysis.

And the quicker the region embraces it, the better.

“Reno-Lake Tahoe Tourism Industry – Navigating Change,” is a white paper written by South Lake Tahoe-based SMG Consulting and its president, Carl Ribaudo.

Each year the Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club holds their signature fundraiser, the St. Patrick's Day Celebration, and because of this they are able to give away tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships, grants and gifts to members of the community.

On Friday, local non-profits were handed the fruits of the Rotarian's labor at their annual community donation day.

This year, the following groups received a donation either at the meeting or during the school year:
Zephyr Cove Elementary School
Boy Scouts Troop 468
Boy Scouts Troop 594
WHittell High Boosters

A live music double header at Valhalla!

Susie Glaze & The Hilonesome Band has been likened to the classic British bands Pentangle and Fairport Convention blending classic folk music with rough-edged stories of tragedy and fate, all with orchestral arrangements sounding like chamber music gone folk! This is a lush newgrass Americana folk fusion quintet presenting gorgeous eclectic blends of mountain folk and exciting new grassy and Celtic-inspired originals, all with the remarkable voice of Susie Glaze.

Location

The most innovative South Shore businesses will exhibit at the 2015 Business EXPO: Innovation in the Basin on Friday, March 27. The largest business and networking event of the year, Tahoe Chamber’s Business EXPO includes 100 local businesses ranging from restaurants and resorts to recreation providers to retailers. The event includes food and drink tastings, giveaways and a new networking lounge sponsored by the City of South Lake Tahoe, Winters Construction Group and Red Carpet Events and Design.

While the Tahoe Douglas Rotary's annual St. Patrick's Day fundraiser has always been a local's favorite, this year's event created such a buzz around town that it actually sold out a month ago.

On Friday, March 13, 650 people filled Harrah's Convention Center for an evening of first responder honorees, an inaugural digital silent auction, a wine and beer bar with televisions to watch the bidding from as well as a red carpet with "paparazzi" to record the evening.

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

All 437 rooms of the South Shore's MontBleu Resort are going to get a makeover along with the casino floor and convention center.

Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation is now accepting applications for its fall grant cycle. Applications are available online on the organization’s website www.ltedf.org and are due Sept. 26, 2014.

Are you looking for a way to enjoy your Sunday afternoons? The "Jazz & Beyond: Carson City Music Festival" is offering free concerts in the Legislative Plaza between the State Capitol and the Legislature Building in Carson City on three Sundays: Aug. 3, Aug. 10, and Aug. 17, 2014. "Jazz & Beyond" is a yearly festival put on by the Mile High Jazz Band Assoc. and its sponsors. People can enjoy these family friendly "Jazz Picnics in Park" concerts in a pleasant atmosphere with shade trees and a bit of Nevada history.

A record-breaking 100 businesses will participate in the 2014 Business EXPO –“Tahoe South in ACTION” this Friday, March 28. The event begins at 4:30pm and continues until 8:30pm in Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Convention Center. It will highlight South Shore businesses’ goods and services to an anticipated crowd of 1,200 attendees.

The following vendors will exhibit:

A Hand at Home
Acker RV Rentals
Alpine Smith Snow Removal and Driveway Sealing
American Legion Post 795
Bank of the West
Barton Memorial Hospital
Beach Hut Deli
Beach Retreat and Lodge Tahoe

The 2014 Business EXPO – “Tahoe South in ACTION” is only a few weeks away and nearly 90 businesses are preparing for the South Shore’s premier business event of the year. The Business EXPO provides local businesses with the opportunity to showcase their products and services to over 1,200 attendees. Attendees will have the chance to learn more about South Shore businesses while sampling food and beverages from exhibiting vendors. All members of the public are invited to attend this year’s EXPO on March 28 from 4:30 to 8:30pm in the Convention Center at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.

There has finally been a lot of construction action at the site of The Chateau Project in South Lake Tahoe over the last couple of months. Many locals have called this area "The Hole" since construction stalled in 2008 but they are now seeing life being put into one of the cornerstones of the South Lake Tahoe Tourist Core.