Leadership

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County School District has hired a new superintendent to replace the retiring Teri White.

In a unanimous decision, the board voted 7-0 to hire Keith Lewis as the next superintendent. Lewis is the District's current Human Resources executive director. He will start to transition into the position immediately and officially take over when White leaves, sometime this summer.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County officials announced Sunday they will open two appointment-only community sites for COVID-19 testing for any resident wanting to be tested for the virus, one in South Lake Tahoe and the other in Shingle Springs.

These sites follow Governor Newsom's announcement last week to add more than 80 community COVID-19 testing sites across the state, focusing on underserved communities. His goal is to test 60,000 to 80,000 people per day for the virus as the state prepares to reopen.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners will be conducting a 1:00 p.m. special meeting on April 29, 2020, to discuss recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic impacts to local businesses in Douglas County. The county is actively seeking public comment from residents in regard to economic impacts on local business in Douglas County.

We would like to express our sincerest appreciation and deepest thanks to the Barton Health team for their efforts to address the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis. This is an unprecedented time to work in health care, and the staff, physicians, and administration have risen to this challenge while showing perseverance, nimbleness, and strategic creativity. The dedication to their job and the brave face they don each day while arriving at work is humbling. As Board members and community members we are deeply moved by this courage.

Fostering emotional and physical wellness is more important than ever as we navigate the global pandemic that the COVID-19 crisis has created. The Tahoe Chamber is hosting a Level-Up webinar on Wednesday, April 15 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. to teach strategies that will maximize one's potential during this uncertain time.

This webinar is free for Chamber members and $5 for non-members, but registration is required by 10:30 a.m. on April 15. Register here- https://bit.ly/WellnessAmidstCovid-19

The vacation home rental (VHR) industry stands with our neighbors, community, and City Leadership in South Lake Tahoe to discourage visitors to our town at this time. South Shore of Tahoe VHR industry companies have blocked calendars to prevent reservations, issued full refunds for cancelations, and offered incentives encouraging visitors to postpone travel to later dates.

We all need to do our part to eliminate the spread of COVID-19 with social distancing, limiting exposure to our friends, family, and neighbors, and make every attempt to flatten the curve.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - In response to COVID-19, Douglas County officials continue to work closely with Carson City Health and Human Services and a regional Emergency Operations Center (EOC) that has been set up in Carson City to ensure compliance with the Governor’s directive while working in partnership to keep Douglas County residents safe.

The 2020 Expo has been canceled. They plan on returning in March 2021.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The annual Tahoe Chamber Business EXPO will be held on Friday, May 29 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Harrah's Tahoe. It was originally scheduled for March 27 but postponed due to coronavirus concerns.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Dr. Todd Cutler has been announced as the new superintendent for the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD). During their closed session meeting Saturday, the Board of Trustees decided to reveal their announcement ahead of the previously announced March 10 date. His contract has now been finalized and he will start work at the end of the school year.

Welcome to the ninth year summary of the SnowGlobe Music Festival. This is the first year the TRPA has done any monitoring and the event continues to violate TRPA’s pre-existing rules. We can add air pollution to the list of accomplishments for this event given the recent successful lawsuit by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH). Onsite inspections for building and fire continue to find violations (they have had violations every year) and the fireworks were moved to an open undeveloped area in the forest of Bijou Park this year.

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.

This week at South Tahoe High School, students started their spring-term classes. Winter Formal is next weekend, and basketball travels to Elko for their next league game.

On Campus
After the three-day weekend, students returned to a new schedule of classes for the last term of the 2019-2020 school year.

“I like the new classes starting because it feels like the first day of school again,” said senior Alex Boyko.

“I like my classes so far,” said sophomore Laura Marler. “This term is definitely going to be easier than my last one.”

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An Interview Advisory Panel is being formed to participate in in the process of interviewing Lake Tahoe Unified School District superintendent candidates on February 7, 2020.

If you are interested in serving on the community panel, please email Penny Pyle of Leadership Associates (the district’s search firm) at ppyle@leadershipassociates.org, or drop off your written submission at the District Office, 1021 Al Tahoe Blvd., with your response to the following:

- Why are you a good candidate for the interview advisory panel?

Every day we wash our dishes, fill our water glass, and flush the toilet, likely without thinking much about the systems required to make this all possible. I’d like to think we are doing our job so you don’t have to think too much about it.

South Tahoe High School’s students get ready for holiday break. This week, leadership spreads holiday cheer, Climate Crew sets out for a conference, and basketball gets ready for another home game.

On Campus
Leadership created a spirit week leading up to the break. Each day, students dressed up according to theme of ugly sweaters, Hanukkah, ski bum, holiday character, and pajama day. Leadership and Associated Student Body are holding a holiday rally in the Blue Gym tomorrow.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless has announced the hiring of a new executive director for their nonprofit.

Cheyenne Purrington will be taking over on January 2, 2020 Dr, Marissa Muscat who announced earlier this year she would be stepping down.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - During their annual organizational meeting Friday, the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board of Education decided to keep the leadership they had over the past year again for 2020.

Citing a desire for experience as they go through the process of getting a new superintendent to replace the retiring Dr. James Tarwater, the board voted unanimously to have Larry Reilly continue as board president and Barbara Bannar as board clerk. Bannar has been on the board eleven years.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Jolly your way to the tippy-top of Ski Run Boulevard in your best, most festive Kris Kringle outfit on Sunday, December 15. This fun-filled jaunt from the Black Bear Lodge all the way up to the bar at Himmel Haus will benefit the local nonprofit, SOS Outreach.

Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase at the start and finish. A procession with city officer support will leave Black Bear Lodge at 3:30 p.m. A fun and lucrative raffle drawing will be during the after-party at Himmel Haus.

Local teen and Lake Tahoe Community College student Laney Terrell has been invited by the International Scholar Laureate Program to join a delegation on International Relations & Diplomacy that will be traveling to South Africa in spring 2020.

"I am so excited for this opportunity to see how other democracies work and represent my Hometown," Terrell said.

On Thursday evening, November 21, members of Lake Tahoe Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and guests gathered to honor two local high school students with the prestigious DAR Good Citizen Award.

This award has been presented to deserving high school students since 1934. However, the award has never been presented in the greater Lake Tahoe Basin because, until February 2019, there was no DAR chapter in the area.

Last week our collective memories returned to that terrible November morning as a raging wildfire swept through Paradise, California. We woke that morning to images of wholesale devastation as fearsome winds drove racing flames from one town and one home to the next. We were horrified to watch videos of citizens running for their lives, desperately trying to escape the smoke and flames that were engulfing everything in their path. Eighty-five people lost their lives—the deadliest fire in California history— in what we now call the Camp Fire.

This week at South Tahoe High School, students dressed up for Spirit week and seniors on the volleyball and soccer teams played their last home games.

On Campus

To celebrate Halloween, the STHS Leadership and Yearbook groups created a Spirit week, where students dressed up in different themes, including angels versus devils, 80’s day, E-boy/girl versus VSCO girl, Halloween costumes, and blue-and-gold gear.

Points for dressing up increased this week compared to previous Spirit weeks, which helped drive up participation.

Athletics

Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra Director Vern Scharbrough, will guest conduct the Reno Jazz Orchestra’s November concerts and feature the music of Stan Kenton on November 8 and 9 in Reno, NV.

Kenton was one of the legendary bandleaders like Duke Ellington and Count Basie who elevated big bands from the dance hall to the concert hall each with their own distinctive sound.

Location

Between Horses and Humans (BHH) has been given another amazing gift by The Angel of Tahoe Lisa Maloff and her fierce protector Ricky Reich. We just wanted to say a big "THANK YOU" for the continued support of the children and horses at BHH. Between Horses and Humans is a non-profit organization teaching leadership through horsemanship to children dealing with difficult life situations and personal challenges.