holidays

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officers announced 121 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, 21 are in El Dorado Hills, 28 in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, 42 in Greater Placerville, 7 in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, 9 in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, 11 in North County, 2 in South County, 5 in Lake Tahoe region. Awaiting address confirmation from today's count: -4. Total now awaiting address confirmation: 54.

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 Tahoe Chamber has launched the GO Local Tahoe Digital Gift Card program to boost immediate local spending that will support South Shore restaurants, retailers and service providers throughout the recent Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. The GO Local Tahoe Card is a community based, e-gift card that allows you to give the gift of supporting LOCAL and allows your recipient to spend with local businesses of their choice. The ease of this gift card makes it the perfect last-minute holiday gift and stocking stuffer for a Tahoe lover.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many people in the South Lake Tahoe area could use some extra help during the holidays, and local sources of free food are available to help ease some needs.

Bread & Broth will be open on Monday, December 21 and 28 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with bags of food. Also, their Friday food bag operation will not be open on Christmas Day but will resume on New Year's Day, January 1, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. They are located at St. Theresa Grace Hall at 1041 Lyons Avenue, South Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With most of the Heavenly Holidays events canceled at the Heavenly Village this year, one event was still able to be held - the annual Breakfast with Santa.

The breakfast, moved outside this year due to COVID-19, was held each Saturday in December with the guest stars, Santa and Mrs. Claus. A limited number of tickets were available and each breakfast sold out.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A new company has launched to meet the community needs of COVID-19 testing with workplace testing and overnight results. Test Well today announced the launch of its purpose-built lab in South Lake Tahoe that will not only lower the cost but provides increased accuracy of test results.

The Test Well team, composed of industry experts and local personnel, will prioritize the testing of frontline and essential workers at scale. Starting Monday, December 21, 2020, Lake Tahoe area employers will have access to quick and affordable testing for their employees.

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.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many times shoppers in South Lake Tahoe want to know where they can go to support local crafters and business owners. South Tahoe Now opened the center column of the front page to advertise small local businesses who joined in the free program, and now another robust page of local shopping options has arrived just in time for the holidays.

South Lake Tahoe Holiday Bazaar is an online version of what would normally be the annual craft fair and bazaar season. The website has about two dozen makers and businesses at this time with more signing up daily.

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.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Overland Meat & Seafood Company will once again pay-it-forward in South Lake Tahoe and give away hamburger to those in need of some help with putting food on the table during these trying times. The new giveaway day is Monday, December 14 starting at 10:00 a.m.

Brian Cohen, owner of the popular market in South Lake Tahoe, will be continuing what they have now done four different times since the beginning of the pandemic. So far they have given away thousands of pounds of hamburger to people in the community.

Douglas County has recently seen an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases in an extremely short period of time. This is part of a regional and statewide trend in rapidly increasing confirmed COVID-19 infections and they are experiencing strain to their healthcare system and first responders.

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.

ALPINE COUNTY, Calif. - The least populated county in California is just to the south of Lake Tahoe. Alpine County, population about 1,200, includes the towns of Markleeville, Woodfords, Kirkwood and Bear Valley. While not big, Alpine County is experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases just like the rest of the country.

Bread & Broth is seeking donations for a Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway that will be distributed on Monday, November 23, 2020 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at St. Theresa Grace Hall in South Lake Tahoe.

During past Thanksgiving holidays, Bread & Broth has sponsored a hot Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the trimmings, once that guests could enjoy with the fellowship of others in the community. During those dinners over 250 individuals joined in the special holiday meal.

This year will have to be different due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Seasonal holidays like Halloween will be different this fall to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Finding safe ways to celebrate can create magical memories, and lower the risk of exposure to yourself, your family, and your community. The decisions we make on this one day can have a ripple effect beyond our own families. Halloween during the COVID-19 pandemic is a chance for you and your children to get creative, and maybe even invent some new traditions for your family. It's also a great opportunity to model flexibility and a positive spirit.

Christmas tree permits for National Forest lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin will be available for purchase online through Recreation.gov beginning November 16, 2020. Details about designated cutting areas, dates and types of trees that may be cut can be found at https://www.recreation.gov/tree-permits/ltbmu.

As a result of COVID-19, the V&T Railway Commission has announced that fan favorite, Polar Express, has been canceled for the 2020 season. In its place, the railway will host Santa’s Drive-Thru Village, a socially distanced holiday event, December 11 through 13 and December 18 through 24.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - We have all seen the photos of trash left behind on beaches, trails, parking lots and surrounding dumpsters not only in Lake Tahoe but across the country. This is only the tip of the problem and managing our trash is key to prevent landfills being overflowed with our unnecessary waste.

The Nevada Department of Transportation is inviting Nevada drivers to submit contest entries for creative traffic safety messages to be displayed on electronic freeway signs.

Last year, nearly 285 individuals were killed in Nevada traffic crashes. With over 90% of U.S. crashes caused in part by driver behavior, the message boards are an important driving safety reminder.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - COVID-19 testing will continue in the Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) Physical Education building through the end of July, at a minimum.

The LTCC virus testing site is the only large scale site in El Dorado County after the site at Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs closed. There has since opened a testing site in El Dorado Hills.

The decision to continue using the facility as a testing site will be made on a month-to-month basis going forward.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - What started out as a charity that shared the magic of the holidays with local children has now become a lifeline of support that immediately provides South Lake Tahoe families with financial assistance when they are in crisis.

The 501c3 non-profit was founded in 1994 and has helped low-income families on a year-round basis with one-time crisis funding, but that role is now growing due to the current COVID-19 health and economic crisis. Tahoe Magic recently launched its new website TahoeMagic to show how those in need can be assisted.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority would like to thank the community for their generous donations of toys, food and $900 in cash that was collected for Christmas Cheer All Year at the LTVA’s Nevada Visitors Center during December.

Thank you also to the South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association for their $500 donation.

Many local individuals and businesses stepped in to make the holidays a little brighter for those in need, and for that we are grateful.

Anne Sutterfield
Online & Operations Manager
Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority

On December 23, Andy and Ellen Dauscher, and their daughters Ali and Carleigh, shared the blessings of the holiday season with the dinner guests attending Bread & Broth’s Monday Meal dinner. Thanks to their Adopt A Day of Nourishment (AAD) sponsorship, the Dauscher Family funded B&B’s meal, and as a family, volunteered at the dinner to spread the holiday spirit and share the blessing of a holiday meal.

“What a wonderful way to start Christmas week,” shared Ellen. “We love helping our community members who are hungry. Thank you, Bread & Broth for letting us join you.”

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Four local families were treated to presents for their children at Fire & Ice in South Lake Tahoe on Monday. Mom even got to take home a special gift too!

Identified through SOS Outreach, the kids met with the jolly Santa Claus and were given bags of gifts to take home.