holidays

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On the heels of their successful supply drive for the victims of the recent Camp Fire in Paradise, Liberty Utilities is now collecting new toys and new clothing for the youngest of the displaced residents.

The local power company is collecting new and unwrapped clothes and toys for kids ages 0-17 Monday through Thursday, December 3-6 at both of their Lake Tahoe offices.

All collected gifts will be delivered to children in the Paradise area on Friday, December 7, just in time for the holidays.

As the holidays get closer, life naturally gets busier and healthy habits can get thrown out the window. Holiday parties, Thanksgiving leftovers, and Christmas eggnog take the place of health for a lot of us, and any nutrition goals can be a struggle.

Instead of trying to focus on weight or diet this season, why not use this time to start a healthy cooking habit? You may be busy this time of year, but there will also be several occasions where a home cooked dish is welcomed or expected. If you don’t cook at home regularly, here are some tips to get you started.

The longstanding tradition of a decorated fire truck in South Lake Tahoe and Meyers continues again in 2018. Here is the Lake Valley Fire Protection District's holiday engine neighborhood schedule. The truck runs December 11-23, 2018.

December 11 – Echo View Estates, Tahoe Mountain Road, Mule Deer Circle
December 12 – Lake Tahoe Blvd from Boulder Mountain Drive to Grizzly Mountain Drive
December 13 – West side of North Upper Truckee from Zuni Street Highway 50, Chiapa Drive
December 14 – East side of North Upper Truckee from Grizzly Mountain to West San Bernardino Ave.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A weekend-long celebration of the holidays will be at the historic Valhalla Grand Hall and Boathouse Theater November 16-18, 2018.

The annual Valhalla Holiday Faire will feature a variety of local and regional arts and crafts vendors, a Grand Hall decked out in traditional holiday style, refreshments from their bar, photos with Santa and the Valhalla raffle and holiday cheer to kick off the season in true Tahoe style.

The following is a letter from Duane Wallace, past president of the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce to the Tahoe Transportation District Board. He outlines the concerns their Chamber has expressed about the US 50 South Shore Community
Revitalization Project (Loop Road) EIR process and content.

"It is on the fastest track I've ever seen," he said of the Loop Road project.

Dear Chair Teshara and Commission Members,

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For 29 years members of the Barton Hospital Auxiliary and their volunteers have been creating cheese balls to sell during the holidays, and for 29 years the popularity of the garlicky, nutty and slightly spicy cheese balls has continued to grow.

One creamy swipe across a piece of sourdough bread or dipped with a cracker, and anyone with a discerning palate can tell the difference between store-bought and these homemade delights.

But what is in that tasty swipe is a guarded secret.

"Your struggles were never meant to break you, but make you stronger."

Those are the words that have been printed on the new mural of Emerald Bay painted by Community Works participants on the gym wall at the Juvenile Treatment Center (JTC) in South Lake Tahoe.

The five participants, all incarcerated at the JTC, had to do something community service oriented as part of their graduation from the one-year program. They brainstormed what that final project would be. They said they felt the white walls of the center's gym needed some color, and the idea of a mural was born.

All agencies which wish to request grant funding from the Board of County Commissioners, Community Grant Program for Fiscal Year of 2018-19 must complete and submit a Grant Application. Please be advised that due to limited funding, not all applicants may receive funding and some applicants may only receive partial funding.

Harrah’s and Harveys Lake Tahoe announced today that they once again have a paid valet and self-parking program this year, beginning on the first concert date of the summer, Saturday, June 16.

Parking rates will run $20 for self-parking and $25 for valet parking with both cash and credit cards accepted for payment, and will run this summer on days and nights during major special events and peak holiday periods at both Stateline, Nevada properties.

The public is invited to attend a Memorial Day ceremony at the Happy Homestead Cemetery, 1261 Johnson Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe, on Monday, May 28, 2018, at 11:00 a.m.

The annual remembrance event is hosted by the American Legion Post 795 of South Lake Tahoe and their Ladies Auxiliary. After the ceremony, locals and visitors are invited for cake and refreshments at the American Legion Hall on Lake Tahoe Blvd.

The three-year long, $56.9 million Caltrans project on a two-mile stretch of Highway 50 from the Y to the Trout Creek Bridge is set to resume next week in South Lake Tahoe.

Scope of work in 2018 is from Winnemucca Avenue to Silver Dollar Avenue as well as repaving the “Y” intersection. Work is scheduled to begin Monday, April 30 at 6:00 a.m. from Winnemucca Avenue working east. The work schedule for May will be from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

This has been National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, so what better time to sit down with the women who answer 911 calls in South Lake Tahoe who are the first step in protecting homes, property and people and the unsung heroes of the community.

With an average of 300 to 400 calls going into dispatch each month, staff has to be ready to handle an emergency at every moment through their shift, which in South Lake Tahoe is normally 10 hours long, though they can be up to 12 hours.

South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County will be joining thousands of communities across the United States when they participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration “National Drug Take Back" on Saturday, April 28.

El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel will hold a town hall meeting on Wednesday, February 28 at the Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. to discuss solutions to traffic issues in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Novasel will be joined by County Department of Transportation staff, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and County Counsel.

The following is a "Letter to the Editor" received by South Tahoe Now:

This isn’t easy to talk about. The backlash has been very hurtful and without compassion. I’m not against SnowGlobe, but the idea of having several festivals a year as things are now, is just not something I can endure.

Christmas was made very special for 100 South Lake Tahoe children on Saturday, December 16, 2017 when philanthropist Lisa Maloff joined Tahoe Youth and Family Services (TYFS) in ringing in the holidays with a special celebration that won’t soon be forgotten.

Earlier this month, Mrs. Maloff made a generous donation of $75,000 to the agency that serves the youth and families South Lake Tahoe, Douglas County and Alpine County. Mrs. Maloff asked TYFS to hold a very special Christmas party so she could spread some holiday cheer and create magical memories for our local children.

The Holiday Season is an especially wonderful time of year. We look forward to holiday get togethers, to holiday meals, to good cheer and yes, treats. But we don’t look forward to holiday pounds. Many of our New Year’s resolutions are testament to our holiday eating patterns. We vow to start a diet, or to exercise more, or change habits. We know we often consume more than we should. So what can we do to reduce the unhealthy parts of the holidays, and keep the treasured parts?

'Tis the season to be merry and ready to have fun in South Lake Tahoe!

Here is a list of some of things one can enjoy this weekend:

The conversations and attitudes we have with children about food can be linked to their eating habits. Use these new sayings developed by childhood obesity researchers to help guide children in a healthier direction during the holidays and beyond:

Old: Clean your plate.
New: Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full.

Ever think of watching movies outside during the winter in Lake Tahoe? Now is your opportunity to gather around the fire pits at The Crossing in South Lake Tahoe and watch holiday movies, ski and snowboard movie premieres, participate in fundraisers and have fun with raffle prizes, all part of the new Sierra Cinemas.

Starting Sunday, December 3, Sierra-at-Tahoe, FNCTN and Lake Tahoe AleworX start December off right with "The Polar Express." Its a free, community event in the courtyard at Lake Tahoe AleworX.

Movie Nights:

When: Sunday, 12/3 at 5:00 p.m.
Cause: Boys & Girls Club

Vehicles without the proper traction control device on their cars while on El Dorado County roads this winter may be fined and/or towed.

Massive traffic jams on Sundays in Meyers throughout last winter led drivers onto side streets without chains or snow tires on their vehicles, creating a parking lot of disabled cars that were stuck in the snow. Those drivers attempting to circumvent traffic ended up using Manda, North Upper Truckee and other local roads but a new ordinance will try and alleviate those issues.

Happy holidays from Lake Valley Fire Protection District. Here is the neighborhood schedule for their Holiday engines. The truck runs December 11-23, 2017.

December 11 – Echo View Estates, Tahoe Mountain Road, Mule Deer Circle
December 12 – Lake Tahoe Blvd from Boulder Mountain Drive to Grizzly Mountain Drive
December 13 – West side of North Upper Truckee from Zuni Street Highway 50, Chiapa Drive
December 14 – East side of North Upper Truckee from Grizzly Mountain to West San Bernardino Ave.
December 15 – Christmas Valley from Highway 50 to Grass Lake Road

Each year, children of all ages stop by the Barton Foundation's Festival of Trees and Lights to ring in the holidays during one of the special events including Senior Stroll, Teddy Bear Brunch and the Gala.

From November 30 through December 3, the convention center at MontBleu Resort will transformed into a holiday paradise featuring beautifully decorated trees, wreaths and decorations and a gift shop with famous Barton cheese balls and unique presents.

Temple Bat Yam of South Lake Tahoe is inviting the public to join their congregation in their observance of the Jewish High Holy Days, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

This is an opportunity for the public to observe these special holidays with the local Jewish community and Rabbi Evon Yakar. Their services are open to all.

Temple Bat Yam’s services and events will be as follows:

Slichot September 16, 2017 @ Spooner Lake State Park - 6:00 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah Eve September 20, 2017 @ Temple Bat Yam - 7:00 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah I September 21, 2017 @ Temple Bat Yam - 10:00 a.m.