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The current crime and police officer staffing statistics in City of South Lake Tahoe is consistent with the State of California as a whole. Most of the crimes for which the Safe Neighborhood and Schools Act have mandated a reduction in criminal penalties have increased in our city. Also consistent with state-wide statistics is the reduction in numbers of South Lake Tahoe police officers available to address local crime.

A long-standing South Lake Tahoe tradition, the Valhalla Holiday Faire, will be held November 18-20. For the 21st year, the non-profit Valhalla Tahoe will be holding the free event full of 28 local vendors & artisans, singing by the South Lake Tahoe Children’s Choral Society and a visit with Santa Claus.

The faire will be open at the Tallac Historic Site's Valhalla Grand hall during the following hours:

Friday, November 18, 2016 – 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Saturday, November 19, 2016– 10 AM – 5 PM
Sunday, November 20, 2016 - 10 AM – 4 PM

The Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and U.S. Forest Service have scheduled prescribed fire operations around the South Shore from Spooner Summit to Meyers, weather and conditions permitting.

Starting Sunday, November 6, the agencies will start burning hand piles off Logan Creek Drive and on Kingsbury Grade on the East Shore, and on urban lots near Heavenly Mountain Resort and off North Upper Truckee Road on the South Shore.

Nevada (Locations and planned date of ignition):
Logan Creek - 10 acres of hand piles start November 6

Who is John Shearer: Business owner, husband and father, captain, long-time local, and hard-worker, President of Marine Research & Education ( A non-profit educating youth about the lake and preserving the basin). Tourism Award-2014 Blue Ribbon Awards.

Focus: Tourism, recreation, infrastructure, and incentivising redevelopment and new development.

My decision to run for the city council was based upon my belief that I have the skills, experience and desire to represent you effectively. If elected I look forward to listening to and working positively with fellow council members, agencies and citizens.

There is a rumor that I am running as a “slate” with another candidate. I respect each and every candidate for their willingness to take on this difficult task. However I am not aligned with any particular candidate. I am running independently based upon my own experience, record, and skills.

What was it like for Anne Frank and other young people during the Holocaust? Or for families getting off the boat in New York and making their way through Ellis Island? Who were the women who led the fight for the right to vote?

These stories were told to students in South Lake Tahoe this week through the Living Voices program presented at South Tahoe and Mt. Tallac High Schools and South Tahoe Middle School.

Dear Henry,
I’m new to the area and not sure about how to deal with the cold weather and my dog, do you have any tips for us?
Thank you,
Bethany

Purrfect timing for this question as it actually looks like we are going to get a winter this year! Here are some winter tips for all pets.

Keep your cats inside. During any time of the year, cats that are allowed to stray can become lost or stolen, injured or killed. They can also be exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.

On Friday, Dec. 2 the Meyers Community Foundation (MCF) will hold the sixth annual Tree Lighting at 5:00 p.m. in the Divided Sky/Downtown Café parking lot. The MCF will serve popcorn, hot chocolate and other goodies.

The Christmas fire truck and Santa will return via the CALSTAR helicopter (weather and circumstance permitting). The event is free and open to the public.

The Meyers Community Foundation (MCF) is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving life in Meyers, California through its support and promotion of creative and sustainable local projects and community-enhancing events.

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Worried that California might legalize recreational marijuana, the state’s third-largest city by population has voted to ban pot sales ahead of Tuesday’s election.

San Jose isn’t alone in scrambling to block the possible effects of Proposition 64, which would legalize pot but also allow local bans on sales.

Dozens of cities and counties from tiny Blue Lake in the heart of Northern California’s pot-growing mecca to National City near the Mexico border have either imposed or are contemplating tough restrictions on recreational marijuana sales and cultivation.

Pipe Keepers is a citizen science program to address the threat of stormwater pollution entering Lake Tahoe. Runoff from rain storms and snowmelt is the largest source of pollution that degrades Lake clarity. League staff will train you to survey local neighborhoods and collect stormwater samples during rain and snowmelt events. More info at keeptahoeblue.org/events.

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Learn how forest health and fuels management activities in the Lake Tahoe Basin create effective community protection from wildfire during a free tour on Saturday, November 5 in South Lake Tahoe from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

Those attending will get an in-depth perspective of forest management and what it means to reside within a Fire Adapted Community.

The Tahoe Resource Conservation District in partnership with local fire districts, and other agencies has established the Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities program to educate people on wildfire preparedness.

In order to be a successful community on the South Shore, the state line needs to become a blur and both sides need to work together. There should be no "us" and "them" but a collective "we."

When travelers come to Lake Tahoe they don't see a state line, or a direction on the compass, they see a beautiful recreational paradise that just a few people are able to call home, but millions can call a vacation destination.

In support of local men battling prostate cancer, staff from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office get to put away their facial razors in support of "No Shave November." Sheriff Chuck Allen said all employees can grow facial hair outside the normal standards for the whole month, all for a $20 donation to the Renown Health Foundation.

Women on staff can still participate. For a donation, they can wear adhesive mustaches.

Adults looking to get their high school equivalency, take workforce readiness classes, or explore individualized career and educational pathway planning are invited to attend an informational session at Lake Tahoe Community College on November 9.

LTCC’s Adult Education Consortium, called ADVANCE, is establishing a solid network of providers, services, and industry partners throughout the South Tahoe and Alpine communities to ensure adults have access to a broad range of opportunities to help them “learn, earn, and grow” in their education, career and community.

The Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce (Tahoe Chamber) will host the GO Local Workshop for Retailers on Thursday, November 3, from 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m., at Tahoe Mountain Lab, 3079 Harrison Avenue in South Lake Tahoe. The event will feature an overview of the Tahoe Chamber’s GO Local business campaign, the benefits of the campaign, and an audience brainstorming session.

The Tahoe Chamber’s goal of this workshop is to engage local retailers with the GO Local campaign.

To the voters of South Lake Tahoe,

I am writing this letter in support of Nancy Dalton’s candidacy for the lake Tahoe Community College Board of Trustees. I heartily endorse Nancy for this position. Nancy’s commitment to education and our community in general is exemplary.

I have known Nancy Dalton for over 25 years. In that time I have seen her give of her time and expertise to our community in so many ways. From teaching our children to setting an example of a life of service, she always carries herself with honor and integrity.

Dear South Lake Tahoe Community,

I first met Nick Exline at an event where we had the opportunity to meet Democratic congressional candidate Dr. Bob Derlet. Nick asked about carbon markets and the related benefits to our Sierra Nevada economy. As a watershed scientist, I was impressed by Nick’s informed and thoughtful question. I enjoyed meeting a South Lake Tahoe resident who possessed a strong background in environmental science, as well as a thoughtful man who had ideas about how we could turn our largest obstacles in this region into economic successes for our residents.

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A special election officer has been appointed by the U.S. Attorney's Office to oversee any complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud," said Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. "The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process.”

As the election nears I feel compelled to write a quick note expressing my endorsement for Randy Vogelgesang’s reelection to the STUPD Board.

I am endorsing Randy Vogelgesang for reelection to the STPUD Board. Randy is a long time local, having lived in the South Lake Tahoe community for 30 years raising a family with his wife, Cathy, and running a successful engineering firm as a small business owner. During the twenty years that I have known Randy and his family, I appreciate the honesty and integrity he has always displayed both personally and professionally.

Larry Reilly is the most qualified candidate for the LTUSD School Board. He has dedicated his life to education in the Lake Tahoe basin, holding the same teaching position at George Whittell High School for over 30 years. As one of his colleagues at Whittell and a concerned LTUSD parent, I can vouch for Larry Reilly's clear understanding of educational policy and his ability to communicate and work with both school administration and the community.

On November 8, voters in South Lake Tahoe are tasked with selecting not only local and national leadership, but they are also faced with raising taxes. Measure P is on the ballot, but it is very different than other taxes, and let me explain why.

A prime piece of real estate in Tahoe City that was originally built in 1957 for housing during the 1960 Olympics has never lived up to its potential, and is now proposed for destruction to make way for a 118-room hotel.

Sold at the end of 2013, the property known as the Hendrickson Building located at the west end of Tahoe City at 255 North Lake Blvd. is being transformed into the Tahoe City Lodge.

I have lived, worked and been very involved in this community for 36 years and this is the first time I have been compelled to write a letter in support of a candidate. I am writing this letter in support of Jason Collin for City Council.