holiday

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are some promising signs that the COVID-19 surge is over in El Dorado County. If current data continues in the direction it has been headed, El Dorado County is likely near the peak of the post holidays COVID-19 surge.

The surge of cases and hospitalizations began two weeks after Halloween, then continued through the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years holidays.

The El Dorado County Public Health Director Dr. Nancy Williams says we won't reliably know until another week or two has passed if the surge has hit its peak.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With nice weather, a relaxing of some travel restrictions, and some snow on the ground, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend is expected to be a busy one in the Sierra.

The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and California State Parks have joined together in an outreach campaign to provide simple actions to increase the enjoyment of the outdoors experience. Staying local, planning ahead, social distancing guidelines, not leaving trash and following the posted rules are just some of the ways to enjoy Lake Tahoe and the Sierra.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Hospitals across California have been experiencing the effects of the coronavirus, with overflowing intensive care units (ICUs) and a workforce stretched to its limits.

On January 5, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced a plan to reduce pressure on strained hospital systems and redistribute the responsibility of medical care across the state so patients can continue to receive lifesaving care.

This mandate is meant to share resources and staffing related to the current COVID-19 surge.

The Tahoe Chamber’s GO Local & Win Holiday Contest rewarded residents for spending locally during the holiday season in a time when small businesses needed it most. Kicking off in late November for Small Business Saturday, the holiday contest recorded $39,134 in spending at local restaurants and retailers through January 1st, a 291 percent increase from the 2019 contest.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Dear LTUSD friends and families, As the holiday season comes to a close and a new year is upon us, I greet the opportunity to say goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021. Happy New Year!!

For Bread & Bread there is so much to be thankful for as the year 2020 comes to an end. The organization would like to acknowledge all of the members of the Lake Tahoe South Shore community who have so generously supported our efforts to feed and help those in need during this holiday season.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many head to the Sierra to experience snow in all forms, from the ski slopes to sledding and building snowmen. Even during the pandemic and current "Stay-at-Home" orders in California, area roads were full this past holiday weekend with those seeking play time in the snow.

Each year, law enforcement has to deal with those who seem to have forgotten the laws of being safe on the roadway and parking on the highways, and not observing "no parking" zone rules.

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.

The inaugural Light Up the South Shore Holiday Contest lit up the community with some much-needed Christmas cheer. Over 50 businesses and residents competed with their festive displays for the five coveted awards. The contest was held by the Tahoe Chamber.

Congratulations to the winners:

Best in Show Award Winner: The Cork and More
Honorable Mention: South of North Brewing Company

The Clark Griswold Award Winner: Cold Water Brewery and Grill
Honorable Mention: Revive Coffee & Wine

Best Window Display Winner: Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe
Honorable Mention: Eagle Protect PBC

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Paying it forward has spread quickly through the South Lake Tahoe community this holiday season, and now the City is joining in to help those in need while at the same time helping out small locally-owned restaurants.

The “Pay It Forward” initiative involves community members and organizations contributing money to open tabs at local restaurants. It’s a program that helps those in need and helps support the restaurants when they need it the most.

2020 has been a year of incredible challenges and changes for our organization. At Live Violence Free, we worked hard to continue to meet the needs of our community. Our resilient staff, volunteers, and board members have risen to the challenge and provided stabilizing support to the community, and we are here every step of the way.

Christmas started early for this guy once the pandemic hit. I put my Christmas lights up over the 4th of July and for a short while started watching Christmas movies too to try and get that feel-good feeling happening. Okay, I also did it because I wanted to watch movies where no one was wearing a mask and hugging one another without fear of being exposed. I’ve always enjoyed movies for their pure escapism and who doesn’t want to escape what we’ve been through already ya know? I also like being wrapped around a movie completely.

As you deck the halls this holiday season, be fire smart. A small fire that spreads to a Christmas tree can grow large very quickly. Many of the Christmas Trees in homes have now been there for a week or two, and precautions can be taken to prevent a fire that would ruin the holidays.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO), Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection (TDFP), state agencies, local non-profits and businesses are coming together to launch a campaign aimed to help our community stay safer by providing server intervention training and ride alternatives to those who are drinking and need to get home.

Call For A Ride, Stay Alive is a drunk driving awareness campaign that offers server intervention training to employees from casinos and other Stateline area businesses.

With the holidays already upon us, one thing is certain this year – the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on millions of Californians, causing us to rethink so much of our daily lives, including reprioritizing family time and our mental health. The holiday season may add more challenges to parents who are balancing career, teacher and caregiver duties, as well as dealing with unanticipated illness, burnout and unemployment. Each of these challenges, for some of us, can make the season feel like the added pressures are insurmountable.

A visit with Santa Claus is challenging this year due to the pandemic, but Douglas County has been able to create a COVID-safe event with its partners.

Santa Claus and his elf Doug will be spreading some holiday cheer on December 21 in a Drive-Through Cookies and Cocoa with Santa event at the Douglas County Community and Senior Center.

Families are invited to drive through the Christmas Lane to enjoy music, crafts, hot cocoa and cookies, all from the safety of their vehicles. Letters for Santa will also be collected and socially distanced complimentary photos will be taken.

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.

We cannot turn on the news, surf the web or walk down the street without constant reminders that we, along with the rest of the world, are battling a virus that has already taken a huge toll on our lives. No one has been immune to the impacts of this virus.

The holidays this year are set to be especially hard for many families throughout El Dorado County and beyond, with many facing the threat of going hungry without the means to put food on the table. To help relieve some of this stress, and help ensure families can eat this holiday season, Feed El Dorado has provided $25,000 in food cards to be distributed by Choices for Children and Head Start on both the Western Slope of El Dorado County and in South Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In an ever changing pandemic situation, Bread & Broth 4 Kids has adjusted their weekly food bag program for South Lake Tahoe school age youth.

Bags will be on the school buses (schedule below) on Wednesdays when school is in session (no delivery December 23 and 30). When school resumes to in person instruction, this schedule will adjust to fit the need and school schedules.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to the generosity and giving heart of the “Angel of Tahoe,” Mrs. Lisa Maloff and her love for children, presents were purchased for over 100 Tahoe children this season. Due to the pandemic, Tahoe Youth & Family Services (TYFS) was unable to hold a Christmas party as they have done for the past three years. Mrs. Maloff made a sizeable donation to TYFS with the request for the nonprofit agency to help make the holiday season extra special for local children, something needed more than ever due to these challenging times.

Lights, Camera, Action! These three words beginning the filming of any movie and they've been heard quite a bit recently around the Lake Tahoe and the Carson City area. The beautiful scenery the area provides has been the prefect holiday backdrop for romantic Christmas movies this season.

"Feliz NaviDAD," "Dear Christmas," and "Once Upon a Main Street," were all filmed in the area this year, following last year's "Christmas Reservations" and years of Hollywood movie hits.

The South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center is busy assisting our community during these incredibly difficult COVID-19 times. This Holiday Season many members of our community are struggling with basic necessities to survive. So many members of our community work in the service industry in jobs such as; servers, waiters, bussers, housekeepers, maintenance personnel etc. Those industries have been impacted dramatically, especially with the updated governmental restrictions on in-door dining in California.

El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office today announced the reactivation of the
County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to the increase in COVID-19 cases and its impact on County hospitals. It includes personnel from the Sheriff’s Office, County Public Health department and the County’s Chief Administrative Office.