holiday

So far this holiday weekend, rain and snow totals have been less than expected, but in a drought anything is appreciated.

There will be some overnight snow Saturday night according to the National Weather Service in Reno. It will last until about 7 a.m. Sunday, just in time for the visitors in town for Thanksgiving begin to head home. There will be some periods of rain during the day, with some snow flurries expected around 8 p.m. Snow accumulations of 1" to 2" for the day are forecast.

Monday will be cloudy with a high of 49 and low of 28 with a sight chance of showers.

An investigation continues into the South Lake Tahoe accident that claimed the life of a local 21-year old woman and sent two people to Reno hospitals with serious injuries.

Aimee Campos died after a car driven by 20-year old Olga Penaarce, also of South Lake Tahoe, crashed at the intersection of Pioneer Trail and Edna Street early Monday morning. 25-year old Wayne Walker of Sacramento was also a passenger in the car.

The holiday season has arrived. As Americans prepare for travel and festivities with family and friends, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to remind all drivers that it’s dangerous to drive after drinking. You have to choose your role before drinking begins: will you drink or will you drive? Remember, even if you only have a little bit to drink and think you’re “okay to drive,” you could still be over the legal limit, because Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.

Traveling off the hill to enjoy some Black Friday deals in Carson City? There are some unique small businesses that are inviting you to stop by while in the capital city.

“Everybody deserves to have an original, one-of-a-kind hanging in their home,” said Jeffery Pace, owner of the Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery, 220 W Telegraph St. “With artwork starting off at $40 to $50, there’s really no reason to go to another store and buy something made in another country.”

The Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce is holding a holiday wine walk for their December After Hours Mixer. On Thursday, December 11, both members and non-members will get a passport and move from store to store at the Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe.

There will be El Dorado County wine as well as food at participating locations.

If participants find they have had too much to drink, free rides are being offered by Yellow Cab for all BAHM passport holders.

Tahoe-based nonprofit the Zawadisha Fund is teaming up again with Bona Fide Books to offer an opportunity to shop locally while having global impact this holiday season. Connect with contemporary local artists, crafters and entrepreneurs at the 4th Annual Zawadisha Holiday Bazaar on Sat., Nov. 29, from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. at Bona Fide Books,1069 Magua Street in Meyers, CA. All vendor space fees benefit the Zawadisha Fund.

It didn't look good for a 39 pound bear cub after being caught in a 400 square mile fire in the state of Washington. Suffering from 3rd degree burns, the cub was found under a horse trailer in Methow Valley, WA.

A state Department of Fish and Wildlife officer captured her, and a volunteer pilot flew Cinder to California. When she arrived at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) on Aug. 4.

The holidays and their food celebrations are almost here! Sound wonderful? Many love the holidays, but dread the annual resolution to lose weight. Consider this: if you eat 500 extra calories a day for two months, you could gain nearly 10 pounds.

Limit holiday weight gain with the following tips.

Be selective. At a party, scan the food choices and select the best first. Skip snack foods available “anytime” like chips, crackers, pretzels, and cheese.

Fill up, not out. Alternate high calorie treats with low calorie vegetables and beverages.

The Carson Valley Airporter, a new bus service between Douglas County and Reno, starts up their four round trips daily on Monday, November 17.

Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) awarded Amador Stage Lines more than $365,000 in federal funds to start the service. The bus line has supplied $143,000 in matching funds according to Michelle Gardner, NDOT transit manager.

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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The newest holiday tradition in South Lake Tahoe doesn't involve caroling, Rudolf or Christmas stockings. What is does involve is a group of community members enjoying the holiday season while wearing their best Winter White outfits and raising money for charity.

Stroll through a holiday wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights on decorated Christmas trees and holiday decor! Vote for your favorite tree in the Festival's "People's Choice Award" contest. Settle down to watch the entertainment, bid in the silent auction, enter the raffle, get a family photo with Santa, and take the kids to Teddy Bear Hospital. Kids can stop by the Gingerbread Junction, where they can write a letter to Santa and drop it in the giant mailbox for express delivery to the North Pole.

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All seniors are invited to attend the Festival for FREE and enjoy a host of special holiday activities in addition to ballroom dance demonstrations, fun raffles, and free pastries and coffee.

For more info, go to www.FestivalofTreesLakeTahoe.com or call 530-543-5614.

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Kick off the holiday season at the 44th Annual Holiday Faire. On Sunday, November 9, community members and visitors of all ages are encouraged to attend this merry event.

Barton Auxiliary volunteers and employees from The Attic, Barton’s thrift store, have selected their favorite holiday and winter donations to sell. Treasures available for purchase will include jewelry, crystal, antiques and collectibles, holiday decorations, winter wear, vintage dolls, purses, and other gift items.

Come learn about a variety of shoulder issues, including rotator cuff tears, shoulder arthritis, and shoulder replacement. Shoulder exercises and treatments will also be addressed.

This Barton Wellness Lecture is called Orthopedic Injury Prevention and will be hld November 5 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in Minden, NV.

Kyle Swanson, MD, Tahoe Orthopedics and Sports Medicine will be presenting along with Monique Havilund, PT, MSPT, Bodywise Physical Therapy and Gary Standifer, PT, MS, Bodywise Physical Therapy.

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Would you like to take part in the 3rd Annual Holiday Parade in South Lake Tahoe? Entries are now being accepted for this fun event which will take place on Saturday, December 13 at 3 p.m.

The parade route will begin at Ski Run Blvd and make it's way down Highway 50 to the Y.

All profits will go to the local food pantry, Christmas Cheer, who feeds approximately 1,000 families a month.

Families and businesses are welcome to participate for a fee of $50 per entry. Scout and school groups can participate for free though registration is still required.

Tahoe Arts Project has announced the return of their Holiday Festival! The 3rd annual event will be held for two days this year, November 15 and 16.

They are looking for crafters and artists, from beginner to professionals. All items must be handmade and no imports will be allowed.

Booth prices are $100 for a 10 x 10 booth space with no additional commission fees charged. There are also have 6 x 7 booth spaces available for $75. Booth Fee's are for BOTH days, making it affordable when compared to other events.

9/28/14 10:00 p.m. update: 4,420 firefighters and support staff are still on the scene of the 97.099 acre King Fire which is now 89% contained.

After 4 days of precipitation with accumulations of 1-3 inches, fire spread has been halted, however heat remains in the heavier fuels and in the heavy duff sheltered from the rain under the dense timber canopy. As the weather turns warm and dry over the next several days, expect to see an increase in fire activity and smoke production; however spread potential is extremely low, doe to the successful suppression efforts.

As soon as the holiday visitors head home after the Labor Day weekend, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) will close State Route 207 to through traffic starting Tuesday, September 2.

Kingsbury Grade will be closed at the top near Tramway Drive. The lake side of the Grade will be open but the valley side will not. NDOT will temporarily re-open SR207 for the Genoa Candy Dance September 27 and 28.

The Barton Health and South Lake Tahoe community have lost a special, irreplaceable friend. On June 27, Dan Kerr passed away. He was 76 years old.

Dan is probably best known as the Sacramento Chairman of the Blood Drive. Dan donated more than 26 gallons of blood. Since 1981, he has coordinated blood drive efforts in South Lake Tahoe with the Barton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. The South Lake Tahoe Blood Drive still takes place every other month and, with Dan’s coordination, celebrated its 48th year anniversary in June.

Lucas McNamara, 7, was hiking around Griff Creek near Kings Beach Fire Station last week with his family when he saw a black, spiny fish, about 1-foot-long, lying dead in the creek. He ran up the creek bed, yelling, “Dad, you need to look at the big crazy fish!”

Lucas’ parents, Steve and Jen McNamara, decided to make this a teachable moment for their son, who already shows active interest in science and the environment.

“I told Lucas that this fish is not normal for Lake Tahoe and may be harmful to the other fish and animals in the lake,” Steve said.

"It's a challenge to make sure they are all safe," said Eric Guevin, Tahoe Douglas Fire Marshall. He was commenting on the increased number of calls his department received on the the 4th of July when tens of thousands of visitors come to the Lake Tahoe basin to celebrate. When more people come to Lake Tahoe the fire department sees a large increase in service calls.

"Our rescue crews were kept busy," according to Guevin.

One of the country's favorite discount stores has opened a store on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. Dollar Tree held a grand opening on Saturday, July 5th at it's Round Hill Mall location.

"You'll be amazed at what you can find at Dollar Tree," manager Lance Hendee told SouthTahoeNow. "We carry almost everything under the sun."

Hendee said their grand opening was a little slow, but that they were expecting that due to the holiday and the fact that "most people don't know we're here."

The California Highway Patrol, Nevada Highway Patrol and Douglas County Sheriff's Office will be joining forces over the holiday weekend in South Lake Tahoe by conducting sobriety, car safety and driver's license checkpoints on both sides of the state line.

The California Highway Patrol will have their checkpoint in Meyers on Saturday, July 5 on U.S. Highway 50 between Pioneer Trail and State Route 89. It will be staffed by officers who are trained in the detection of alcohol and/or drug impaired drivers.