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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is now an open license for a South Lake Tahoe cannabis microbusiness after one of those approved in 2019 will not finish up the process of opening. On January 14, 2021, the City Planning Commission denied a request from James Street LLC to change the name of the approved operator and extend their deadline to open by six months.

“You’ve got to count to three.” Those were the words of advice attributed to Norm Woods one of the first five city council members. The Cityhood project in 1965 was spearheaded by the South Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce with all five of that first council members coming from the Chamber Board ranks. Norm served as one of the first rotating Mayors and many times thereafter. His advice was offered to the citizens who were newly elected to subsequent councils.

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The Tahoe Chamber’s GO Local & Win Holiday Contest rewarded residents for spending locally during the holiday season in a time when small businesses needed it most. Kicking off in late November for Small Business Saturday, the holiday contest recorded $39,134 in spending at local restaurants and retailers through January 1st, a 291 percent increase from the 2019 contest.

For Bread & Bread there is so much to be thankful for as the year 2020 comes to an end. The organization would like to acknowledge all of the members of the Lake Tahoe South Shore community who have so generously supported our efforts to feed and help those in need during this holiday season.

The inaugural Light Up the South Shore Holiday Contest lit up the community with some much-needed Christmas cheer. Over 50 businesses and residents competed with their festive displays for the five coveted awards. The contest was held by the Tahoe Chamber.

Congratulations to the winners:

Best in Show Award Winner: The Cork and More
Honorable Mention: South of North Brewing Company

The Clark Griswold Award Winner: Cold Water Brewery and Grill
Honorable Mention: Revive Coffee & Wine

Best Window Display Winner: Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe
Honorable Mention: Eagle Protect PBC

Christmas started early for this guy once the pandemic hit. I put my Christmas lights up over the 4th of July and for a short while started watching Christmas movies too to try and get that feel-good feeling happening. Okay, I also did it because I wanted to watch movies where no one was wearing a mask and hugging one another without fear of being exposed. I’ve always enjoyed movies for their pure escapism and who doesn’t want to escape what we’ve been through already ya know? I also like being wrapped around a movie completely.

Featuring some of the biggest names in skiing and snowboarding, the inaugural Tahoe Backcountry Awareness Week will culminate with the Athlete Summit on Thursday, December 17. The free virtual event, designed to encourage those planning to venture into the backcountry to educate themselves before doing so, will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a live Q&A period with Michelle Parker, Jeremy Jones, Elyse Saugstad, Cody Townsend and Amie Engerbretson.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - In a move initiated by the Republican-based North State Conference, a letter has been sent by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors to Governor Newsom to ask for local control of the state's rules through the pandemic.

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley gathered leaders from 16 Northern California counties at this Fall's Conference of North State Leaders. No Democrat leaders were invited. The conference was held to obtain a joint response to counter Governor Newsom's approach and out of it came a "Healthy Communities Resolution."

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The new Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Deputy Forest Supervisor Danelle D. Harrison is our guest columnist and looks back, and ahead, to the health of Lake Tahoe

Looking Back

December is a special time of year when our thoughts turn to family and friends, and communities come together to celebrate the season. It also marks the end of the year. And what a year it was. Together, we experienced unprecedented events including a record-breaking wildland fire year in the Pacific Southwest Region.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to the generosity and giving heart of the “Angel of Tahoe,” Mrs. Lisa Maloff and her love for children, presents were purchased for over 100 Tahoe children this season. Due to the pandemic, Tahoe Youth & Family Services (TYFS) was unable to hold a Christmas party as they have done for the past three years. Mrs. Maloff made a sizeable donation to TYFS with the request for the nonprofit agency to help make the holiday season extra special for local children, something needed more than ever due to these challenging times.

Ring in the holiday season with the Meyers Community Foundation and enjoy their virtual tree lighting celebration on Friday, December 4 at 6:00 p.m.

To comply with COVID-19 safety precautions they moved the annual tradition to Facebook. It can be watched live here - www.facebook.com/MeyersCommunity/live.

The Virtual Meyers Community Tree Lighting Celebration will feature comedian and radio show host Howie Nave doing the annual countdown to light the very special tree. Lake Valley Fire District will join in and illuminate the holiday spirit.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) is celebrating kindness and paying it forward this holiday season by visiting locals deserving of a special treat purchased from local small businesses.

Staff members are not shaving this December for 'Decembeard', and taking the funds collected to buy a gift at a local small business and then deliver to the chosen person....each day for the 12 Days of Christmas. They did the same beard fundraising last month along with City staff for 'Novembeard' which raised money for a cancer charity.

Bread & Broth’s holiday Thanksgiving meal giveaway on November 23 was a tremendous success thanks to the kindness of many generous community supporters. In addition to the regular bags filled with fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, eggs, butter, bread and pastries, 170 holiday meal “fixings” bags were handed out in the foyer of St. Theresa Grace Hall. The Thanksgiving meals went to 549 very grateful individuals and family members.

INLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - The 6th Annual Tahoe Film Fest presents environmental and independent feature length and award winning films to North Lake Tahoe from December 3-6, 2020. Special guests and filmmakers will be present at many of the films.

The festival takes on a new look during the pandemic. The films originally scheduled for Northstar had to be moved as movie theaters must only operate outdoors due to Placer County's Purple Tier. The theaters on the Nevada side can still show films but only at 50 percent capacity.

Santa is going to be very busy this season in South Lake Tahoe, not only preparing his gift list for children and keeping the elves busy, but by answering each and every letter left for him in a special mail box.

2020 has been a difficult year for many, and who couldn't use some extra cheer with a letter from the jolly guy in the red suit? He will be responding to each child with a message about kindness and hope during challenging times along with a special personalized certificate of kindness!

There is a change of command at the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District. They recently promoted four staff members:

Battalion Chief Bryce Cranch promoted to Assistant Chief

Bryce has held the positions of Firefighter/Paramedic, Engineer, Captain, Training Captain and Battalion Chief. Special assignments: EMS Chief, Facilities Chief. Serving the TDFPD community for 16 years.

Captain Chris Lucas promoted to Battalion Chief

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a special ceremony November 6, 2020, one that honored the police service of K9 Tara as she left her home for the last time. After surviving cancer surgery that resulted in the loss of one leg two years ago, K9 Tara was put to sleep after being hit by the disease once again.

In the days before television, the internet, cell phones and video games, families would gather around the radio each evening and listen to Sorry Wrong Number, Moon Over Morocco, Dragnet, The Adventures of the Thin Man, The Shadow, Flash Gordon, and War of the Worlds.

With no visual component, radio drama depended on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and the story. Each episode would leave listeners wanting more and the level of anticipation grew as the next airing date grew closer.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to restrictions on gathering due to the pandemic, Veterans Day ceremonies in South Lake Tahoe area canceled for 2020. The American Legion Auxiliary and Vets in Counseling members placed approximately 600 flags at Happy Homestead Monday, after the snow fell.

The community is invited to attend the Tahoe Chamber’s 13th Annual Blue Ribbon Awards to honor South Shore businesses and individuals that have impacted the community for the better. In place of the annual awards dinner, winners will be announced in an awards show that is pre-filmed and broadcast on Lake Tahoe Television on November 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Those wishing to attend the free event can register in advance on TahoeChamber.org to get direct access to the awards ceremony.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) said Wednesday that there has been a COVID-19 positive case at Bijou Community School.

LTUSD, with guidance from El Dorado County Public Health Department, has notified individuals at the school site of the need to isolate and monitor their health. It has not been released if the person was a teacher, student or staff member.

There are those that would say 2020 is hands down the scariest Halloween movie ever and yeah, I wouldn’t argue with that. The script for this year has certainly freaked everybody out. Add to that an election year and the advent of modern day zombies who’ve been quarantined a little too long and you have the ultimate scary flick that appears to have no ending. Are you wearing your mask? Yeah, I’d rather be scared by a movie and not real life if that’s okay?

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce Board recently asked the nine City Council candidates ten questions they felt were of most importance to its members. The questions focused mainly on topics relating to things that will or may affect both the local small businesses and the community in general.

Their board made the decision to not endorse a specific candidate this election, but instead rank them based on how much they align with the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce goals based on their answers to the questions below.