nature

Native Nevadan Patricia Hicks McCulloch (Pat) died peacefully on Monday, January 9 after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, William H. (Bill) McCulloch.

Pat was, as they say, a "force of nature". She was a dear family member to dozens and a dear friend to literally hundreds and she was never without a smile on her face.

Good morning and Merry Christmas Lake Tahoe skiers and riders. If you are visiting, welcome to Lake Tahoe!

Today is Sunday, December 25, 2016.

MOTHER NATURE AND SANTA DELIVERED WITH FRESH SNOW & BLUE SKIES REPORTED AT ALL RESORTS AND SHAPING UP TO BE GREAT CHRISTMAS DAY ON THE SLOPES. CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ON THE MOUNTAIN… HAVE FUN AND PATIENCE WITH HOLIDAY LINES… STAY ON OPENED RUNS ONLY AND BE SAFE!

Did you know that throughout the calendar year, our planet's orbit and tilt causes shifting weather patterns, movements and migrations of animals, emergence and disappearance of various plants and wildlife, and a host of other natural history phenomena? Learn about a wide variety of these natural history topics, track the ebb and flow of the Sierra's seasons, and catch a sneak peek at some of the wildlife you may want to watch for in the coming year at The Tahoe Natural Year: A Journey through the Seasons.

Budding young artists are encouraged to participate in the California State Parks' 2nd annual Youth Art Contest, "Discover State Parks." The submitted artwork should share what the artist personally discovered in one of the state parks.

Any flat medium is acceptable, including chalk, crayon, marker, ink, paint, watercolor or collage. There are no entry fees associated with this contest.

Zawadisha's annual Holiday Bazaar returns this holiday season on Saturday, December 3 at the Blue Angel Cafe in South Lake Tahoe from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Knock out some of your holiday shopping while adding meaning to your gift by not only shopping local, but helping rural Kenyan women.

A portion of proceeds from this event allow Zawadisha to give small loans to rural Kenyan women for items with big impact like solar lamps, clean cook stoves, and water tanks. Stop by their table at the event to learn more.

A list of what to do around the South Shore of Lake Tahoe November 25-27

The Improv at Harveys
The Improv at Harveys – Howie Nave: Host & Emcee, Shayla Rivera and Robert Duchaine, Wednesday – Sunday, November 23 – 27, 2016 The Improv presents the funniest names in comedy every week in the Cabaret Theater at Harveys Lake Tahoe! Shows happen at 9 pm every Wednesday through Sunday.
(775) 588-2411
Harveys Cabaret

Live Music at the Classic Cue Sports Bar & Grille
You can come on any night and expect one of their daily specials and activities to be going on.
(530) 541-8704
Location

1:30 pm update 11/15/26 - Many of the Lake Tahoe area ski resorts updated their opening dates today. Heavenly and Northstar will now open on Wednesday, November 23, Kirkwood and Sierra-at-Tahoe dates have yet to be determined.

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The lower elevations around Lake Tahoe have seen some snow over the past month, but nothing that stayed longer than a few hours, but the scene up on the slopes is much different.

Student success, teacher support and a district where all students have access to highly qualified teachers and cutting edge curriculum are some of Larry Reilly’s goals if elected School Board representative for LTUSD area 1. Larry believes that given the opportunity, supported by a strategic, goal oriented plan all students can succeed.

The 38th Annual Freaker's Ball, Lake Tahoe’s largest, oldest and most extravagant Halloween party, brings the wild with a four-ring costume circus in the Convention Center, Opal Ultra Lounge and Blu Nightclub venues at MontBleu on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, at 8:00 p.m. Cost is $35 prior to Saturday, then $40 at the door if tickets are available. Costume contest with prizes.

On Friday, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino holds the 2nd Annual Rockin’ Dead Halloween Bash inside Vinyl starting at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $25. Costume contest with prizes.

Word Wave, a festival for readers, writers, and lovers of story has returned to South Lake Tahoe. The three day long Word Wave will feature readings, workshops, panels, music, and plays from October 21-23, 2016 at Tallac Historic Site.

Every culture has used, and continues to use, story to entertain, educate, preserve history and tradition, and connect and WordWave will celebrate those words and the story in all its forms for the second year on the South Shore.

Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Friday, October 21

For more than a decade, Branch has been writing about life in Nevada’s Great Basin Desert with an audacity, lyricism, and wit that is uniquely his own, and on Thursday, October 20, he brings that humor to Lake Tahoe Community College at 8:00 p.m.

The LTCC Writers' Series event with Branch will be held in LTCC’s Roberta Mason Library. This event is free and open to students and the community.

Fall colors are near their peak in Lake Tahoe and Hope Valley, and with wind, rain and snow in the forecast, this may be the last few days to witness their spectacular golds, yellows and reds.

Not quite time to get on the slopes, but it certainly appears Mother Nature will attempt to get snow in the Lake Tahoe Basin this weekend with snow levels forecast at lake level. Light snow is expected and there may be impacts to travelers over Highways 50 and 80.

Location

Fall is a time of transitional beauty in the Sierra Nevada - from fish to foliage, winter coats, and lower sun angles, the landscape takes on new colors and appearances. Explore the nature of these transitions with Conservation Biologist Will Richardson from TINS. Learn why so much of the landscape changes color, the mechanisms behind those changes (for example, how and why leaves change color), and a bit about the nature of color and visual perception. Dr. Richardson will of course also show you great places to observe these colors in the Tahoe region.

Location

"I've never been here," President Obama told the crowd at the 20th annual Lake Tahoe Summit on Wednesday. "Its not that I didn't want to come, but nobody invited me."

The President said he'd be sure to be back. "I'll be coming here more often through my transportation won't be as nice," the President said to a crowd appreciative of his humor.

"I'll be back not because its beautiful, not just because Godfather II happens to be my favorite movie, but because this place is spectacular because its one of the highest, deepest, purest lakes in the world," said the President.

New Police Vehicle Look - The Officers and staff of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department have undertaken a review appearance of the SLTPD vehicles and have concluded with a new design. The new look depicts our patch, which we are all proud to wear. The background includes a mountain scene which represents our good fortune to serve in such a beautiful place. The old logo was rather generic with just lettering on the doors. I hope you like the new look.

A water spout was spotted on Donner Lake Thursday, and Truckee photographer Jeremy Jensen was there to catch the image on film. Thunderstorms were going through the Sierra at the time.

Jensen said the water spout picked up children on a paddle boat in the China Cove area at about 4:30 p.m., knocking them into the water. Eyewitnesses told Jensen that the group of children are "A-Okay."

"Nature is wild, I've never seen something like this in Truckee," Jensen said on his Facebook page.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and other area fire departments have responded to several illegal cooking fires in homeless encampments this summer, some which have spread to burn up to several hundred feet.

The cause of the July 19 fires behind the power station by the Heavenly Gondola and in the Trout Creek area behind Ross are still under investigation, but sources have said they were both most likely started by illegal campfires. Fire crews also responded to transient camp fires on July 27 and August 8 as well as several illegal cooking fires.

A proposed redevelopment plan for Squaw Valley would include affordable employee housing, new infrastructure including roads and fire safety, as well as environmental improvements according to Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, LLC. They have kicked off and effort to communicate with the public and gain support through "Squaw Tomorrow" for what is being called the Village at Squaw Valley redevelopment project.

Steve Leonard died peacefully in the company of his family on Thursday, July 7 , 2016.

He is survived by his wife, Maureen Leonard; children, Tess and Benjamin Leonard; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Brenda Leonard; brother, Jack Leonard ; nephews, Jon and Sam Leonard, and Lance Rominger. He is preceded by his parents, John and Opal Leonard, and sister, Sharon Leonard.

Tens of thousands of people will be enjoying the Lights on the Lake fireworks show over Lake Tahoe Monday, most of them unaware of the hundreds of hours of work put into their enjoyment.

"We love out job," said Zambelli Fireworks Western Region Project Manager John Hagan. "We can use explosives to make people happy."

Zambelli is the company hired to produce the 25 minute pyrotechnic show over Lake Tahoe on July 4, starting at 9:45 p.m.

This spring Live Violence Free, in collaboration with a multitude of partners, has been fortunate enough to expand the annual Girls Empowerment Retreat and organize the first ever Boys Empowerment Event. With the generosity of funding from Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra and MacDuff’s Public House, Live Violence Free worked closely with South Tahoe Middle School to engage 7th and 8th grade girls and boys in discovering their true potential for greatness.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) announced today that Squaw Valley will host an Audi FIS World Cup in March 2017, consisting of a women’s giant slalom on Friday, March 10 and a women’s slalom on Saturday, March 11. The event will mark the return of World Cup ski racing to California for the first time in 19 years.

Charles “Butch” Jensen died peacefully in Sacramento on May 14, 2016 of cancer. He was 73 years old.

Mountain Resort Television speaks with Marybeth Donahoe, the Fire Adapted Communities Program Coordinator about how nature has adapted to fire and we need to as well. Then Jason Burke does this week's City in 60 talking about the Total Maximum Daily Load Program, helping to keep Lake Tahoe blue and control storm run-off.