Giving

Climate experts say El Nino is growing stronger and could bring drought-busting wet weather to California this year. While the ocean condition is nearly guaranteed, rainfall doesn’t always follow the sea temperature increase.

On Thursday, scientists at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) said chances for El Nino this summer are close to 100 percent, with simulations suggesting by December, it could exceed the devastating 1997-1998 event that brought widespread flooding and hurricane-force winds to most of California.

Since 2003 there has been Leadership Lake Tahoe and a few hundred people can now say they've graduated from this worthwhile program. What started as an annual joint venture between the two Chambers of Commerce that served the South Shore is now a biennial leadership experience.

I was a member of Leadership Lake Tahoe in 2006 and I can say that it changed my life.

Suicide does not discriminate. Suicide does not know income levels, race or neighborhoods. Suicide can happen next door.

Every day in California, Nevada, and every other state, there are friends, family and co-workers who struggle with emotional pain. And, for some, it's too difficult to talk about the pain, thoughts of suicide, and the need for help.

- Nearly 40,000 Americans commit suicide every year.
- In the U.S., suicide rates are highest during the spring.
- Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-olds and 2nd for 24 to 35-year-olds.

In South Lake Tahoe every year, many new species are brought in and out of the Lake. While some locals have boats, only some use them in other lakes. The city of South Lake Tahoe regulates wildlife brought in and out of the basin and lake by requiring boats to get inspected, but neglects the need to educate the future community about the harmful animals that can be brought into the lake. These are the new workers and people that will be living and giving to the community.

Have you ever wanted to share your opinion, comments, ideas and other thoughts with the City of South Lake Tahoe? Everyone is now able to speak up on a website with just that name: Speak Up SLT.

Communication is now easier, both for giving and receiving feedback on this forum. SpeakUp SLT will combine the power of social innovation and crowdsourcing with an online forum to prioritize projects and make the best decisions for our community. Citizens can vote on, comment on, and share other citizens’ ideas, as well as their own

Give Where You Live! is a 24-hour giving challenge coordinated by the El Dorado Community Foundation. This year's day long giving day is Thursday, April 23, 2015.

“We have approximately 70 nonprofits participating in the event this year. Each nonprofit will have its own website presence to highlight a particular need or needs for which it is focusing giving dollars, as well as more information about the organization in general,” said Megan Buchanan, donor services coordinator at the foundation.

This week, as part of the first EpicPromise Week, Vail Resorts will present the first ever EpicPromise Awards to two Heavenly or Kirkwood employees for their ongoing commitment to strengthening the local community and fostering a sustainable environment. The EpicPromise Awards are being given at Vail Resorts’ mountains across the country as part of the first annual EpicPromise Week (April 6-10, 2015), a full week dedicated to celebrating Vail Resorts’ widespread commitment to creating a more promising future for generations to come.

An overflowing audience of South Lake Tahoe residents, home owners, vacation home owners, real estate agents, property managers, vacation rental companies, locals and city officials were on hand Tuesday night at the Vacation Home Rental (VHR) community workshop held in City Council chambers at the airport.

City Manager Nancy Kerry ran the meeting, giving everyone a chance to speak their opinion after a short presentation.

Live at Lakeview is now classified as a signature event for the City of South Lake Tahoe, and once that was clarified during Tuesday's City Council meeting, Rob Guistina's business OnCourse Events, was awarded a five year contract to put on the Thursday night concert series.

Since the city is actually giving the event about $41,500 in waived venue charges ($650 a week), in kind services of parks, streets and public safety personnel, and cash.

The window for many Californians to sign up for health coverage widened Friday when the state exchange said it would extend this month’s deadline to enroll in a plan until the end of April.

Covered California said it was making the change to accommodate taxpayers who are just now realizing that they’ll be charged penalties on their tax returns if they don’t have health insurance. This is the first year such penalties kick in under the federal health care law.

Jamie Anderson continued her Give Back With Love sponsorship program on Tuesday, by giving three local students a dream package of equipment and a ski pass.

Anderson wanted to be present to give the students their prize but, according to Sierra-at-Tahoe, Jamie has been tied up with the X Games and Burton European Open. They wanted to get the kids up on the hill as soon as possible so didn't wait for Anderson's return but she'll join them on the slopes once back in South Lake Tahoe.

The Tahoe Area Sierra Club will host Tom and Cheryl Milham of Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care at the their next community outreach meeting on January 29th.

Location

The holidays may be over, but the season of giving continues this month as Tahoe Chamber hosts its Annual BAHM! for Charity at Riva Grill on Thursday, January 15 at 5:30 p.m. This yearly Business After Hours Mixer (BAHM!) supports local charities with all proceeds going to Christmas Cheer All Year and Bread and Broth.

Freezing temperatures and snow are common for Lake Tahoe, but for those people not used to the elements they can cause problems including frostbite or even death.

Not wanting anyone to suffer and booth at Snow Globe is giving out gloves and scarves to anyone that needs protection from the weather. Nick and Kadi Alfield had what they thought to be plenty of outer gear to give away at their booth, Lighthouse, inside SnowGlobe. But that turned out to be not the case as their whole supply was given away on the opening night of the three day concert.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe is giving the gift of a pristine Lake Tahoe this holiday season. They are looking for shoppers who not only want to buy someone a cool gift, but for people who want to invest in the future of Lake Tahoe.

Not only can people make monetary donations they can also buy gifts which include the iconic Keep Tahoe Blue bumper stickers, tshirts, kayaks, coffee mugs and books.

During the past year, the League did the following to help keep the lake blue:

Engaged 891 volunteers

For the past four years, members of the South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge have been providing meals for the less fortunate members of the community. What began as a small project with members filling up 15 boxes of food has grown into a much larger project with 40 families receiving the meals this weekend.

Administrative staff at Tahoe Valley Elementary school selected the 40 recipients and students from the school decorated the food boxes with colorful, seasonal messages.

Tahoe Youth & Family Services is hosting their fifth annual Night of Giving 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at their South Lake Tahoe office at 1021 Fremont Avenue.

The night is used as an opportunity for the community to learn about what TYFS does and to help them out both financially and with items needed by the homeless youth they serve.

There will be light refreshments.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and the South Tahoe Refuse & Recycling Company team up this holiday season to make giving to Christmas Cheer easier than ever. The LTVA’s Drive and Drop for Christmas Cheer takes place Monday, December 8 through Saturday, December 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Drive through the Visitor Center parking lot at 3066 Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe, and drop your donations of food or toys into the bins provided by South Tahoe Refuse.

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Favorable conditions are giving the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and the U.S. Forest Service more opportunities to burn piles around Van Sickle Bi-State Park, Heavenly urban lots and McKinney Rubicon area.

With cooler temperatures and some precipitation, this time of year is perfect for prescribed burning.

The LTCC men's soccer team holds the top spot in the Golden Valley Conference with a 7-0-1 league record and an overall 13-4-3 record in their inaugural season. They will take their five game winning streak into the post-season on Saturday as they try to make their way to a state title.

The team is currently ranked #9 among the community colleges in California, #13 nationally.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and the South Tahoe Refuse Company team up this holiday season to make giving to Christmas Cheer easier than ever. The LTVA’s Drive and Drop for Christmas Cheer takes place Monday, December 8 through Saturday, December 13, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Drive through the Visitor Center parking lot at 3066 Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe, and drop your donations of food or toys into the bins provided by South Tahoe Refuse.

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South Lake Tahoe residents will have a chance to see the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors in action on Tuesday, October 28 as they have their meeting on the east slope.

Many topics pertaining to the South SHore will be on the agenda.

The South Lake Tahoe Parks, Trails and Recreation Master Plan will be presented by a consultant team. A vote will then be taken on whether to approve the plan and start the environmental review process. Those costs would be split with the City of South Lake Tahoe.

Wait, what? Safer? Yes! As a 20-plus-year South Lake Tahoe resident and a recently retired FBI agent, I have experienced Lake Tahoe Community College as a student, a guest speaker, and as an occasional criminal justice instructor. Over the years, these connections have proven to me just how essential LTCC is in giving our local youth a pathway towards a productive future.

We ran a story in June about Cody Matthews, the 23 year old El Dorado County man missing from his family's home near Ice House Reservoir.

The family was faced with another tragedy this week. Here is a story that ran this week on www.kahi.com: