gratitude

As we prepare to bid the year of 2020 a fond farewell, we are celebrating Christmas as best we can during these unprecedented and uncertain times.

I could start with all the normal holiday greetings like Merry Christmas, May your holidays sparkle with joy and laughter, or I hope the magic of Christmas fills every corner of your heart and home with joy — now and always, but this year seems like so much more is needed.

As we prepare to say goodbye (and maybe even good riddance) to 2020, the end of the year brings several holidays. Whether celebrating Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanza, and of course, New Year’s Eve, remember that indoor holiday gatherings with others not in your immediate household can put you, your community, and those you care about at risk. As challenging as it is, staying home for the holidays is your best way to protect yourself and loved ones, and help slow the spread of COVID-19 in a time when healthcare and essential workers critically need that support.

The holidays are upon us, bringing a time to celebrate and gather. Gatherings during the upcoming holidays can be an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends, however, even small in-person gatherings are a contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases we are seeing across the nation and in our own community. This holiday season, consider how your holiday plans can be modified to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to keep your friends, family, and community healthy and safe.

Dear South Lake Tahoe Community, I write this letter of gratitude on behalf of the Friends of the South Lake Tahoe Library. On August 15th, we hosted our very first ever Drive-thru Grab Bag Book Sale. The traditional book sales are our biggest fundraisers and due to CDC restrictions, they are just not possible.

This new format was uncertain but you rose to the challenge. You generously donated books to be sold and you embraced this unique event making it a huge success. Thank you sincerely for being there for the Friends and for your library.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - There will be some very big shoes to fill when finding a replacement for retiring El Dorado County Undersheriff Randy Peshon. On Tuesday, June 30, Peshon will be putting his badge on for the very last time. For 43 years he's been in some level of law enforcement, the last 33 years in El Dorado County.

During his career in El Dorado County, Peshon has been at the forefront of change from implementing a change in culture at the jail in South Lake Tahoe to getting the new Public Safety Facility built under budget and ahead of schedule.

Back in 2019, the World Health Organization, the American Nurses Association and others pronounced 2020 Year of the Nurse, and in 2020 it would celebrate nurses and nursing. They chose this year because it’s the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing who trained nurses to focus on compassion with a commitment to patient care.

In a Monday morning press conference, Washoe County updated the community on the current COVID-19 situation as they continue to urge residents to stay at home to prevent its spread.

The first Washoe County resident died from COVID-19 over the weekend. He was in his 49s and the case is under investigation. It is unknown at this time if the man has underlying health conditions.

“We’re devastated to learn that a Washoe County resident has died due to COVID-19,” said Kevin Dick, District Health Officer for Washoe County. “Our thoughts are with the family at this time.”

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On just after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 22, officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) responded to a call of a dog that was hit by a vehicle near the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Boulevard.

Lobo, a large Siberian Husky, was accidentally let out of a hotel complex while the family was away. Witnesses tried to render aid at the scene but Lobo panicked, bit them and ran off.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On Wednesday, February 5, Ashley Collard, RN, BSN, was honored by Barton Health with the international DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses. A nurse in the Medical/Surgery Department at Barton Memorial Hospital, Ashley’s compassion and skill received sincere gratitude from a patient’s family, and a nomination to be this quarter’s DAISY Award® winner.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – More than 250 community members gathered for the 29th annual Barton Gala at Harrah's Tahoe on December 7. Their pledges and donations during the evening hit a record-breaking $90,000 to support community health in the Lake Tahoe area.

This year’s Gala beneficiary was the Family Birthing Center at Barton Memorial Hospital, with proceeds from the black tie soiree funding medical equipment and training to keep at-risk newborns close to their families in those precious first moments together.

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The family of actress Anna Faris had a brush with danger in North Lake Tahoe during the Thanksgiving holiday. The group of 13 rented a vacation home in the 100 block of Tahoma Drive in Tahoe City. Two of them felt ill and went to the hospital where it was determined they were suffering from Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Thanks to recent snowfall and with the Thanksgiving holiday in mind, Sierra-at-Tahoe will be running lifts a day early, on Friday, November 29, 2019, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a pre-Opening Day event.

Lift tickets will be available for purchase at ticket windows for just $10, with half of all proceeds to be donated to the Food Bank of El Dorado County.

Operations will be limited, with Easy Rider Express and Rock Garden scheduled to spin, conditions permitting.

11:30 a.m. UPDATE: Deputy Brian Ishmael of the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office died in the line of duty early Wednesday after being shot after arrival at a home in Somerset, Calif. They were responding to a call of theft from a marijuana garden.

El Dorado County Sheriff John D'Agostini held a press conference Wednesday morning, updating the public on some of what transpired earlier in the day.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – On Wednesday, September 18, Angela Harvey, RN was honored by the DAISY Foundation™ and Barton Health with the international DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses.

Angela, a nurse at Barton Memorial Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), is the first person to receive this award at Barton Health. The DAISY Award® recognizes the extraordinary, compassionate care that nurses provide patients and families every day. The award is one initiative of the DAISY Foundation™ to express gratitude to the nursing profession.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The first day of school has been pushed out until September 9 for all of the students at Sierra House Elementary School. South Tahoe Now had spoken to the school district on Wednesday and at that time they were still hoping to have the school open by August 26.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The suspect arrested in Douglas County after engaging law enforcement in gunfire after a pursuit Friday night is now the suspect in three Bay Area homicides.

Stefon Jefferson, a 43-year-old man from the San Francisco area, started Friday off by allegedly fatally shooting a man in Oakland at 10:14 a.m., another in San Francisco at 1:27 p.m. and a third in Berkeley at 2:40 p.m.

During Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 7 – 13, we celebrate those who give their time and energy to improve the lives of others. The benefits of volunteering go beyond lending a helping hand. Studies show volunteers have significant health benefits such as lower blood pressure, decreased likelihood of depression, and an increased sense of purpose and life satisfaction.

Volunteers are the bedrock of Barton Health. More than 55 years ago, our hospital was founded by volunteers, and the spirit of helping to support our community’s health thrives within our organization to this day.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Almost two years after their executive director embezzled almost $60,000 from the Lake Tahoe Humane Society (LTHS), the nonprofit tasked with helping local pets, is folding after 51 years of serving the South Lake Tahoe community.

A new board of directors had taken several steps, including the sale of their Emerald Bay Road building and laying off of employees, to get LTHS back on their feet but could never get the nonprofit's community standing back.

Thanks to Vail’s EpicPromise Grant funding, Heavenly Mountain Resort hosts six Bread & Broth Adopt A Day of Nourishments annually. Heavenly’s sixth and final AAD for 2018 was sponsored on December 10th and their $300 sponsorship donation went towards serving a fantastic Greek themed dinner. B&B’s talented volunteer cooks whipped up Greek chicken, a Greek pasta salad, broccoli, and a beautiful Greek salad to be served by the Heavenly sponsor volunteers to the very happy dinner guests.

Dear Community, With a very heavy heart, I feel it is my responsibility to share the statement I gave yesterday at the Public Comment portion of the special School Board meeting that focused on the events of Sierra House’s 11/11 fire and clean-up. We are all deeply grateful for the success of Lake Valley Fire and all the specialists and District staff that have bent heaven and earth to help remediate all aspects of this situation. I write with deep respect and gratitude for all that LTUSD leadership has done for our family and community as well.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The turkeys are in the ovens, barbecues or deep fryers. The side dishes are being prepared, pies are baked and many are waiting for friends or family to arrive. The football game is on, the Macy's parade is over and maybe you have a chance to sit down and get your feet up.

Today is Thanksgiving, the annual day of giving thanks, celebrating a holiday and enjoying friends and family. The gathered group differs from home to home.

Nancy Kerry has been gone from her position as the city manager of South Lake Tahoe since March, but she finally got the credit due for her many accomplishments and contributions during a standing room only celebration Tuesday evening.

Over 75 community leaders came together to present Nancy with a proclamation signed by both Mayor Wendy David and Mayor Pro Tem Tom Davis, their last official act with the City.

The list of tributes spoken during the evening is a lengthy one.

Thanks to Vail’s Epic Promise Grant funds, Heavenly Mountain Resort hosts six Adopt A Day of Nourishment dinners every year. Bread & Broth is very grateful for Vail’s financial support and the many hours that Heavenly team members donate of their personal time to support B&B’s efforts to ease hunger in our community by hosting Monday Meal dinners.

On Saturday, September 22, 2018, Live Violence Free held the 19th Annual Sunset Gala on the rooftop of the Harveys garage. This beautiful, crisp, fall evening was spent dancing to the funk tunes of Midtown Social with over 385 members of the South Lake Tahoe community in attendance. We joined together to support Live Violence Free’s mission of promoting a violence free community through education and advocacy to address domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and basic needs.