education

The annual television meteorologist's conference, Operation Sierra Storm (OSS), couldn't have happened at a better time to bring the national spotlight to early January's storms fondly nicknamed Snowmageddon and Januburied.

Jim Cantore and Paul Goodloe, leading correspondents at The Weather Channel, both broadcast live from Heavenly Mountain Resort and showcased South Lake Tahoe’s powder-filled ski conditions for two days, eight hours each day during the historic snowfall January 10-13, 2017.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) had their annual awards ceremony on Friday January 27 to celebrate their accomplishments in 2016 and honor staff and volunteers.

Firefighter of the Year - Brenan Davis
Paramedic of the Year - Kim George
STAT Volunteer of the Year -JoAnn Conner
Dispatcher of the Year - Melissa Dube
Citizen's Award - Jack Francis

Fire Chief Jeff Meston's Meritorious Awards went to Tyler Jack for his work on the department's social media accounts and to the City's Press Information Officer Tracy Franklin.

Snow Days. Kids love 'em, parents maybe not so much.

Last week's five snow days, and a lack of one this week caused some parents to raise concern with how the Lake Tahoe Unified School (LTUSD) decides when to close school for the day.

Closing school is always a tough call for school superintendents across the country, so what is the science behind closing schools when it snows in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District?

A partnership between Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) and Sierra Nevada College (SNC) of Incline Village has brought two more four-year degree programs to South Lake Tahoe.

This fall an undergraduate program in Global Business Management was launched, and this spring, bachelor's degree programs in psychology and education are coming to the Lake Tahoe Community College.

What is Mammoth Lakes' loss will be Lake Tahoe's gain as the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce (Tahoe Chamber) has selected their new Chief Executive Officer from the mountain resort community to the south.

Craig A. Schmidt, the current Executive Director of Chamber of Commerce in Mammoth Lakes, will take over his new position on the South Shore February 6.

The Chamber's Board selected Schmidt, an accomplished chamber professional with 22 years of experience in business, workforce and tourism development.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe is looking for new Pipe Keepers, their citizen science program that addresses the threat of stormwater pollution entering Lake Tahoe.

They will be holding a "fun and interactive" Pipe Keeper Intro training on February 12 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the League's Education Center located at 2608 Lake Tahoe Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe.

Location

Denim is now the state’s official fabric to recognize its role in California history, and every autographed collectible sold in California must come with a certificate that verifies it's not a forgery. Those are just two of 898 new laws facing Californians in 2017.

Here are just a few of them compiled in part by California Highway Patrol (CHP):

On behalf of the organizers of the Lake Tahoe Virtual Race, I would like to thank Lake Tahoe community members and businesses as well as Barton Health employees and physicians for their incredible generosity.

Barton Health recently hosted the first Virtual Race Challenge. Racers walked and ran for 72 days and recorded their mileage on a 72 mile digital map of Lake Tahoe. Together, with their financial contributors, the racers raised $4,044 in donations to help expand Barton Health’s Cancer Wellness Program.

The deadline is rapidly approaching for locals to apply for 19 open positions on City of South Lake Tahoe commissions and boards.

Two year appointments are now being accepted for Airport Land Use Commission, Building/ADA Board of Appeals, Parks & Recreation Commission and Planning Commission.

Completed applications must be returned to the City Clerk’s Office no later than 5:00 p.m., on Friday, December 30, 2016. The City Council will be making the appointments at a regularly scheduled meeting in January 2017 (to be announced).

AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION:

CVS announced today that it will now sell the opioid overdose antidote naloxone without a prescription in all of their Nevada locations. This brings the total to 37 states where the drugstore chains sells naloxone over-the-counter, including California.

Jeff DeFranco will become the fifth superintendent/president of Lake Tahoe Community College on February 1, 2016, succeeding Dr. Kindred Murillo who is leaving to take the same position at Southwestern College in Chula Vista.

The LTCC Board of Trustees announced their selection at Tuesday's board meeting. DeFranco is currently the school's vice president of administrative services, a job he has held since 2012.

"This is very surreal," DeFranco said as he addressed the trustees after the announcement. "It's a dream come true."

Are you a college student looking to intern for the winter? Are you a retired school teacher but miss your students, love to snowshoe and want to give back to the community? Or maybe you simply love the outdoors and working with children and want to be involved in your community. The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is seeking volunteers to assist with the 2017 Winter Trek Conservation Education Program that begins January 2017, at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Imagine a drive down to Vikingsholm Castle and enjoying a private tour and cocktail party for four in the courtyard. Or maybe you can picture yourself enjoying a catered, private dinner inside of the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion with seven of your friends, just as the guests of the 1930s enjoyed.

To the South Lake Tahoe Community,

With the election over, I am writing to congratulate the new LTUSD Board members, to respond to some of the claims Derek Allister made public in the final days of the election, and to reaffirm my commitment to volunteer my time and talents to this school district into the future.

I just want to thank everyone who supported me and my campaign. I really feel that I made a decent showing, considering I was out-spent 33 to 1. I plan to stay involved in the community as I have always done. Who knows what will happen in 2 years. I’m already considering another city council run in 2018. I feel so lucky having been able to personally talk to about 2,500 voters, answer their questions, discuss their concerns and rejoice with them about living in the most beautiful place on earth.

A special meeting dedicated solely discussion of the future of the Lake Tahoe Community College's Theatre Arts Program will be held by the school's Board of Trustees on Tuesday, November 29 at 6:00 p.m. in their board room.

All candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council were given the same questions. With just one day to go to the elections, we will be featuring their answers and a video of their interview with Tahoe Regional Young Professionals through the day.

Tamara Wallace, 46, Retired Businesswoman/Chamber Exec

Discuss your interest in serving on City Council. What is your prior experience in working with civic, community or governmental organizations?

Dear Voters,

I am writing to endorse Annie Davidson for LTUSD School Board. As coach of my daughter’s soccer team, Annie showed true devotion to her athletes and was an incredible teacher and mentor for the girls she coached. She showed true patience and skill in coaching nine 7-year-old girls. I got to know Annie during this time and was impressed with her enthusiasm for our youth and our community.

This is a critical School Board election. It is important that our future Board continue the great work our present Board has completed over the last decade. So, it is imperative that Larry Reilly be elected as LTUSD School Board Trustee for Area #1. There is a great deal of work that needs to be done in our district. There are important decisions that need to be made. Our schools and our community need practical, tough, experienced leadership to support Dr. Tarwater in his continuing efforts to make LTUSD a great district for our children.

As we collectively hold our breath to see who will lead our nation, our city, our public school system and our local utility district, it is a great time to define leadership.

I learned about leadership while serving on many boards over the last 40 years, starting with Tahoe Parents Nursery School, graduating to school site councils and youth sports boards, then on to community boards, at the County and local level. I have observed many great leaders and learned what leadership is and is not.

Student success, teacher support and a district where all students have access to highly qualified teachers and cutting edge curriculum are some of Larry Reilly’s goals if elected School Board representative for LTUSD area 1. Larry believes that given the opportunity, supported by a strategic, goal oriented plan all students can succeed.

Join us Saturday, November 5, to mark storm drains in the Tahoe Sierra neighborhood. Meet at the League to Save Lake Tahoe Education Center and Store at 10 am. We will be placing English and Spanish markers on storm drains to educate community members that it all flows to Lake Tahoe. Be a part of the solution to Keep Tahoe Blue. More information at keeptahoeblue.org/events.

Location

I am writing this letter in support of Annie Davidson for the LTUSD Board. She is mother to two LTUSD students and knows firsthand the challenges that our school district, educators, and students face. She has no political ties that might sway her in one direction or another in regards to what is best for our community.

To the voters of South Lake Tahoe,

I am writing this letter in support of Nancy Dalton’s candidacy for the lake Tahoe Community College Board of Trustees. I heartily endorse Nancy for this position. Nancy’s commitment to education and our community in general is exemplary.

I have known Nancy Dalton for over 25 years. In that time I have seen her give of her time and expertise to our community in so many ways. From teaching our children to setting an example of a life of service, she always carries herself with honor and integrity.