Community members

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) didn't give South Tahoe High and the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) the results expected after a WASC accreditation team visited South Lake Tahoe in the Spring of 2016.

Instead of an expected six-year term they received a two-year accreditation which goes through June of 2018. On March 19 and 20 of that year a team of educators will return to the campus and evaluate recommended changes.

Eleven youth detained at the Juvenile Treatment Center (JTC) in South Lake Tahoe recently received two certifications: American Heart Association Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).

This was the first time the course was offered to the youth housed at the facility, and not only did they get these important certifications but they also earned school credits.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council is looking for three community members to take a spot on the Building & Housing Board of Appeals.

Those who apply need to reside within the Tahoe Basin portion of EI Dorado County.

Board members hear appeals regarding requirements of the City relating to the use, maintenance and change of occupancy of buildings and structures, including requirements governing alteration, additions, repair, demolition and moving. In addition, they hear appeals relating to new building construction and appeals relating to existing buildings.

For 50 years the Lake Tahoe Humane Society has offered services to animals in the South Lake Tahoe community. They are now facing challenges after their Executive Director Niki Congero was fired when allegations of embezzlement arose when their bank called them about irregular activity on the agency's debit card.

Bread & Broth 4 Kids (BB4K) is holding their popular Cram-a-Cruiser food drive at South Lake Tahoe’s Grocery Outlet on Saturday, May 6, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Choices for Children is hosting a Mother’s Day Diaper drive during the month of May. Please donate any size of diapers at the following locations between May 1-31, 2017:

• The South Lake Tahoe Library
• Jubilee Kids Academy
• Under the Magic Pine Tree
• The South Tahoe Association of REALTORS
• South Lake Tahoe Senior Center
• Bright Beginnings, Inc.
• The Tahoe Tot Spot
• SLT Recreation Center/Pool Complex
• The Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe
• Lake Tahoe Preschool
• LTCC Child Development Center
• Pequeños Rascals Learning Center
• Appleseeds Academy

Location

The People's Climate Change March in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday, April 29 will bring together families and community members concerned with protection of climate and the environment, beginning at Lakeview Commons at 10:00 a.m.

From the Commons, marchers will head over to Bijou Park for the local Earth Day celebration where presentations will take place.

This week is National Volunteer Week (April 23-29). Barton Health would like to extend a heartfelt "thank you" to our incredible team of volunteers for all they do to support our patients and help our physicians, nurses, and staff.

The Republican Party’s decision on March 24 to pull the vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was met with disappointment and relief. While backers of the newly proposed legislation were disappointed that they could not find sufficient support, residents who depend on the Affordable Care Act’s medical protections and insurance options felt relief. Hope continues for a broad bipartisan approach to change this complex legislation resulting in improved coverage balanced with affordability for our citizens.

Two-thirds of teens who report abuse of prescription medicine are getting them from friends, family and acquaintances. The South Tahoe Drug Free Coalition (DFC) wants to prevent this and keep drugs out of kid's hands by reminding residents to safeguard their home, so others don’t have access to your medicine.

Judi McCallum, the longtime El Dorado County employee who served as the assistant to the District 5 Board of Supervisors for 26 years, has shared her official resignation letter with South Tahoe Now.

On March 20, McCallum reached out with a personal letter to friends and the employees of the County as she began her first day of retirement. Here is her resignation letter:

March 27, 2017
El Dorado County Human Resources and Board of Supervisors

There has been a rash of suspicious circumstances in the Gardner Mountain area over the last week, ones that remind residents to lock their cars to prevent petty theft and other crimes of opportunity.

On March 19 between 4:04 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., 10 calls went into the South Lake Tahoe Police Department about suspicious activity on Gardner Street, Clement Street, Julie Lane, Tata Lane and Sand Harbor Road. In each incident, dome lights were on several cars as if some person(s) attempted to open them. In one incident the truck's doors were open and a stereo was stolen.

The City of South Lake Tahoe now has a new vision statement to guide all of their decisions: "We will reflect the national treasure in which we live."

During a two-day long retreat and strategic planning session, the City Council and staff leaders met to discuss their strategies over the next two years, something they do right after every Council election.

City leaders will now get other agencies on the South Shore to join them in this mission, as well as the community. The vision will be reflected on City materials, a new logo, and be the "guiding principle in decision making."

The following is Mayor Austin Sass's monthly letter to the community:

Leave No Trace is a national program that teaches and inspires people to enjoy the outdoors while also helping to protect it.

While protecting the outdoor environment and keeping it clear and free of trash and debris should be commonplace, it isn't.

The Leave No Trace team was recently in South Lake Tahoe on a vacation but stopped by South Tahoe High to talk to members of Generation Green. Many may remember the team as community members who left last year to travel the country and teach and train along the way.

The Vagina Monologues returns for its 15th year in South Lake Tahoe on February 25 and 25 for two shows at the Beach Retreat & Lodge. The unforgettable event is two evenings of sharing prose, pain, love, laughter and life. The cast is made up of a diverse group of community members including students, mothers, daughters, sisters new-to-the-stage and seasoned performers.

What a lively and jubilant occasion at Barton Health’s Eighth Annual Festival of Trees & Lights. It is always a treat to see the delight in children’s eyes as they admire handcrafted trees and seek “treatment” for their injured teddy bears at the Teddy Bear Hospital.

Snow Days. Kids love 'em, parents maybe not so much.

Last week's five snow days, and a lack of one this week caused some parents to raise concern with how the Lake Tahoe Unified School (LTUSD) decides when to close school for the day.

Closing school is always a tough call for school superintendents across the country, so what is the science behind closing schools when it snows in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District?

After a record number of candidates sought election to the South Lake Tahoe City Council in November, another large group of citizens are seeking assignments to four City commissions.

During their next meeting on Tuesday, January 16, the City Council will fill the open seats on those commissions: Planning, Parks & Recreation, Airport Land Use and Building/ADA Board of Appeals.

Lake Tahoe Community College will be closed Wednesday January 11 due to power outages, severe weather, and continuing road condition issues.

The college wants to assure students that they will work with them to make up lost days of school, but their safety comes first.

"While we are very concerned about the loss of student learning this week, we have to be more concerned about the safety of our students, faculty, and staff," said LTCC President Kindred Murillo. "The decision maker was the City of South Lake Tahoe issuing a request for community members to stay off the roads."

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. - Auditions are being held for the romantic and tragic comedy Love/Sick at Lake Tahoe Community College's (LTCC) Duke Theatre on January 10, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

Men and women of all ages and types are encouraged to try out for the winter quarter production of the LTCC Theatre Arts Department. Performances of Love/Sick take place March 17-26, 2017.

Santa Claus has come early for some lucky residents. For the month of December all pet adoption fees will be covered in El Dorado County after a generous donation by TravelLite RV Rentals in Placerville.

Their donation covers the adoption fees at both the Diamond Springs and South Lake Tahoe shelters.

There are currently eight dogs and nine cats at the South Lake Tahoe shelter, all waiting to go to a good home. Among them are two boxer mixes, one boxer, one Australian Shepherd and a Siberian Husky.

Ring in the holiday spirit at Barton Health’s eighth annual Festival of Trees & Lights. The winter celebration features events and entertainment starts Thursday, December 1 and continues through Sunday, December 4 at MontBleu Resort on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe.

“The Festival of Trees & Lights provides a warm and family-friendly atmosphere to inspire people to get into the spirit of holiday giving,” says Kindle Craig, the director of the Barton Foundation. “All the money raised goes back into the community and supports health and wellness programs.”

Construction on the new three mile shared-use path from Incline Village to Sand Harbor has ended for the season.

During this year's phase one, crews built an underpass beneath the highway to bring the upcoming shared use path from the east to west side of the road near the Flume Trail. In addition, work began on the three new parking areas located near the Ponderosa Ranch and Tunnel Creek Café that will provide safer options for the one million recreationists who visit the area each year. This year’s efforts also included the relocation of a sewer (effluent) pipe near Hidden Beach.