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Tahoe Modern Makers is inviting the community, both locals and visitors, to the first day of their free Share a Smile campaign on Friday, July 7 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at their store located at 3668 Lake Tahoe Blvd in South Lake Tahoe.

"We normally do a different craft each week but we feel as if the "Share a Smile campaign is going to be big," said Debbie Carty. "We want the community to embrace randomly bringing a smile to a strangers face and what that can mean for a community."

In an effort to encourage visitors to the South Shore to stay over on Sunday night during the Labor Day weekend, the Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority (LTVA) started a fireworks show in Lake Tahoe in 1998.

With a changing school year calendar and lack of Sunday night stays, the Labor Day fireworks show is no more.

"The lodging and tourism board (LTVA and Tahoe Douglas Visitor's Authority, TDVA) have had discussions for awhile about the Labor Day fireworks," said LTVA and TDVA Executive Director Carol Chaplin. "Lodging was finding their Sunday night reservations were soft."

Littering in Tahoe is a big problem. Everywhere you go, there is trash and no one picks it up. People don't throw their trash in the garbage; they leave their trash on the ground and it makes its way into the lake. Other people who pass by it don't pick it up either. The problem started with the tourists who come to the beaches and throw their trash anywhere and they think that it won’t do anything to our lake. Tourists don’t take care of nature and our lake as much as the locals here. Some locals leave their trash everywhere as well.

The UCCE Master Gardeners of South Lake Tahoe are having part one (vegetables only) of their 4th annual Plant Sale this Friday, June 9 at the Ski Run Farmers Market from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., or until they sell out of plants. The sale is being held jointly with the Sierra House Elementary School who will be selling student crafted garden art.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - The public is invited to attend a Memorial Day ceremony at the Happy Homestead Cemetery on Monday, May 29 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 to members for cake and refreshments at the American Legion Hall.

For the 12th year the Tahoe Bike Challenge will see how many locals and visitors will park their cars and use a bike to get to work, school and play. This year's event is from June 1 to 14.

Returning is the popular and friendly competition which pits students from local schools, businesses and agencies against each other in friendly competition to see who can replace the most car trips by bicycle.

The UCCE Master Gardeners of Lake Tahoe are having their 4th annual Plant Sale takes on a different format this year. Natives and other perennials need more time to grow out of their overwintering slumber so the sale will be held in two segments. Vegetable plants will be sold at the Ski Run Farmers Market on friday, June 9 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (or until all plants have been sold) and the Natives and Perennials will be sold on Saturday, September 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Sierra House Elementary School.

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With millions of dollars in road repair needs ahead over the next several years, the City of South Lake Tahoe is going to move forward with plans to put a ballot measure before the voters this November.

A half-cent sales tax increase in the city limits would bring in enough funds to start a preventative maintenance program as well as fixing current problems, something Assistant Public Works Director Jim Marino said they've wanted for over ten years.

The next Tahoe Chamber After Five Mixer will be a joint event with members and locals invited to both the Blue Angel Cafe and neighboring Chimayo Street Grill in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday, April 27 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This all-inclusive social event offers the South Shore the opportunity to mix and mingle with local business owners, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.

April's After Five will begin with happy hour at Chimayo Street Grill then the party moves over to Blue Angel Cafe for tasty appetizers and delicious drink specials.

It took just minutes to fill up Lake Tahoe Aleworx Taproom & Pizzeria Thursday when they opened their doors officially for the first time. Friends, family, firemen and those looking for a great selection of beer and wood-fired pizza all came to see what the newest spot to open in South Lake Tahoe was all about.

Housed in the former Factory Stores at the Y, Aleworx is the first of two restaurants that will make their home at the new Crossing at Tahoe Valley.

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. - Renovations on the former Factory Stores at the Y are now complete, unveiling a brand new shopping destination and contemporary lifestyle center in the heart of South Lake Tahoe named The Crossing at Tahoe Valley.

Cities around the country are having ongoing discussions and debates about single family homes in their community being used as short-term vacation rentals. South Lake Tahoe is not alone in this issue which has pitted home owners vs. home owners vs. community members. As with any divisive issue, there is no easy answer.

On January 23, 2017, snow caused the roof collapse of the historic building that housed not only the Green Tahoe Market and Liquor Store on Harrison Avenue in South Lake Tahoe, but also the Lucky Dog Thrift Store.

When the roof collapsed, the sprinkler system was set off and the water main broke, sending gallons of water through the stores in the building. Clean up and building repairs are still underway.

Representatives from several agencies met with the public Thursday night at El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel's second community meeting to discuss traffic issues and the "invasion of neighborhoods" by non-local drivers.

Lake Tahoe must improve its internal transportation systems before they can expect visitors to the region to get out of their cars and use different, and better, ways of getting around. That was the message during last week's Tahoe Talks presentation by Lake Tahoe transportation partners, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) and El Dorado County.

Many drivers plan ahead when planning their travel along highways in interstates across the county. Want to miss rush hour? Don't hit that city in the morning and late afternoon. Mad dash to Santa Cruz on a warm Saturday? Leave early in the morning or go the night before to miss the backup of traffic.

Smooth travel over Highway 50 in the Sierra requires the same planning or one will get stuck in heavy traffic on Friday evenings heading to Lake Tahoe, or Sunday mornings leaving Lake Tahoe (or the day after a holiday).

Traffic is moving smoothly in South Lake Tahoe and Meyers today without the backup that has been seen on previous Sundays.

Gone are the chain controls, closed I-80 and storms, and their place are sunny skies, no road controls or closed highways and no backup in Meyers on Highway 50.

This week, City, County, Caltrans, fire departments and law enforcement got together to discuss the backup that has delayed travelers up to eight hours, and prevented locals to navigate easily through the community.

Sunday traffic heading west from South Lake Tahoe has been a major problem from the city to Meyers all winter long. Last week, on March 5, there were reports of travel time on the 9.3 mile route along Highway 50 from Stateline to Meyers taking eight hours, and from the Y to Meyers, four hours for the 4.3 mile trip.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - - In 1977, Live Violence Free was founded by volunteers with a phone booth and a desire to make South Lake Tahoe a safer, happier place to live.

Many other local nonprofits in the area have similar stories of their origin. South Lake Tahoe’s nonprofit and other service organizations were forged out of volunteerism. Dedicated individuals looking to make a difference have laid the foundation for the strong culture of service that exists in our community.

To further this culture, people need to continue to give time and labor back to the community.

A delegation made up of Lake Tahoe and Reno area ski and tourism vendors and officials was recently in China to spur both an interest in skiing and snowboarding in China, as well as promoting tourism to the Sierra Nevada.

The ”stoke delegation” from Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows visited the resort’s sister mountain in China, Genting Secret Garden. China will be hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

After a series of storms fondly dubbed by South Lake Tahoe locals as "Januburied" and "Snowmaggedon" hit the Lake Tahoe region in January, the water levels in the lake have risen to the highest levels since 2013.

As of January 28, 2017, Lake Tahoe is at an elevation of 6225.08, 2.08 feet above its natural rim of 6,223 feet above sea level. The lake is considered full at the legal limit of 6,229.1 ft, so there is still quite a big of storage left, 482,400 acres of water to be exact.

Long time South Lake Tahoe locals have been heard in town saying, "This is just like winter used to be." Without many serious snowstorms in the past several years, forecasts of 2-3' feet are catching many by surprise as they find themselves unprepared.

The City of South Lake Tahoe is reaching out to residents with advice to stay safe, how to be prepared, how to handle berms, and updates on the City's preparations.

Friday-Saturday, January 20-21

The vacation home rental (VHR) businesses in South Lake Tahoe have joined together in an effort to address, not only issues residents have with their homes, but to address their relationship with those who control and vote on their regulations.

"Our biggest fear is that the City has changed the intent of the ordinance without the council approval," said Josh Priou, Director of Product Development at Lake Tahoe Accommodations and a member of SLTVRA, South Lake Tahoe Vacation Rental Alliance.

The snow hasn't been the only concern on Highway 50 over Echo Summit and along the road to Strawberry. The behavior of motorists who park illegally on the road is becoming more of a safety issue and hazard.

For those that have driven this stretch, the situation isn't anything new though there has been a big increase in offenders.

Drivers are pulling over on the roadway, a state highway, to experience snow play, and those parking are not paying attention to "No Parking" signs or the dangerous situation they are causing.