holiday

This year’s Independence and Labor Day fireworks display challenge has proved that Tahoe South is a team. As in other situations I recall over the years, we come together in times of crisis and demonstrate that we care deeply about this special place we call home. This summer, we as a community are forming a new team – Team Fireworks – and every member counts.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit began a mastication project last week on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe off of Fairway Drive near Tahoe City.

The project will eliminate material left behind after thinning for fuels reduction and involves using a masticator, which is a large lawn-mower type of heavy equipment that runs over debris and chops it up into smaller pieces.

The City Council agenda for Tuesday, April 14th runs the gamut from a presentation on the Tahoe Valley Plan to the Cal Trans Master Agreement to hearing an appeal by Cody Bass of the Tahoe Wellness Cooperative.

Council will meet in closed session at 8 a.m. on anticipated litigation. The regular meeting will be called to order at 9 a.m.

The goal is simple, "Helping the youth of South Lake Tahoe to be well read and well fed."

Hunger isn't just an inner city problem. Hunger isn't just a third world problem. Hunger affects approximately 16 million children in the United States with 3 million rural community households being "food insecure."

How can children focus on solving a math problem or writing an English paper when he or she is trying to ignore the persistent pangs of hunger? School work is forced to compete with hunger.

Since there is a lack of snow through the Sierra Nevada, visitors and locals in the Lake Tahoe basin are enjoying things that are normally reserved for the summer months.

On December 28th, Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate in Zephyr Cove decided to give back to the pets in the community by hosting a Holiday Pet Food Drive, yielding big results. Leading up to the 28th, close to 600 lbs of dog and cat food were donated to pets in need. In addition, many pet toys and other items were donated, on top of $170 in check donation.

Passengers will be riding Blue GO buses along Highway 50 for free through January 5. Routes 50 and 53 run from the "Y" to the Kahle Community Center from 5 am to 11 pm.

Tahoe Transportation District is offering the free rides to keep cars off the road during the higher traffic holiday season and to show riders how they can help the South Lake Tahoe air quality and to see how convenient, comfortable and affordable the bus system is.

As 2013 draws to a close, it provides an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of many this year. It was just a few short years ago, in the midst of the Great Recession, both public agencies and private companies throughout the basin were in the middle of layoffs, service reductions and unemployment hovering above 17%. Concerns regarding economic recovery were significant. Rather than buckling under, we buckled down, got things done and prepared for recovery.

The 2nd Annual South Lake Tahoe Holiday Parade will be held on Saturday, December 14. Spectators will line the parade route from the top of Ski Run Blvd to TJMaxx at the Y. When the parade starts the forecast is sunny and 40 degrees.

The Theatre Department at Lake Tahoe Community College is seeking children and adults to cast in the award-winning play “Still Life With Iris” by Steven Dietz. Auditions will be held Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the Duke Theatre. Performances will be March 14-23, 2014.

Freshly fallen snow will add to the holiday ambiance of events in South Lake Tahoe this weekend!

The Lake Tahoe Historical Society invites everyone to their annual Holiday in History Open House on Saturday and Sunday, December 7-8. On Saturday from 11 to 7 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm, visitors can tour the 1930s log cabin, view a Victorian holiday scene, enjoy free cider and cookies and children can even call the North Pole from a special antique phone! The event is free.

The Barton Foundation has been a cornerstone for The Barton Health Group for more than 20 years by providing excellent healthcare service to customers and also have been big players during the holiday season. This year’s Barton Festival of Trees and Lights will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Barton Health and Coldwell Banker Select will be contributing to the event in a major way. The franchise will be donating a gorgeous “sports themed” Christmas tree to the event, which will be auctioned off at the black tie gala event on December 7th.

With the holidays right around the corner, many of us are beginning to think about warm meals with loved ones and the joys of exchanging gifts. However, many local families with few resources are struggling to rebuild their lives after experiencing violence. They are solely focused on how they will pay rent and provide food and warm clothing for their families. For the thirteenth year in a row, Live Violence Free is organizing an opportunity for community members and businesses to come together to provide happier holidays for local survivors of violence.

The Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Business After Hours Mixer (BAHM) on Thursday, January 16 at the Riva Grill from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Attendees will enjoy delicious delicacies and libations served up by the Riva Grill while supporting a great cause.

Tickets are $10 for members and $20 for prospective members. All proceeds go to charity and attendees are encouraged to donate more. Buy tickets online at www.tahoechamber.org.

We'd like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. This is a time to give thanks for what we have, and we thank you for being a reader. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our South Lake Tahoe news and information with you.

Counting you among our SouthTahoeNow.com family is something for which we are especially grateful.

We wish you a lovely Thanksgiving and a joyous holiday season.

With many thanks,
Your devoted STN team.

After winds delayed Friday’s initial opening day, Heavenly Mountain Resort opened for the 2013-2014 ski and ride season on Saturday, November 23. The resort opened the Gondola and Tamarack Express, accessing 14 acres and 1.5 miles of skiable terrain. The resort plans to open additional terrain this next week, conditions permitting.

Northstar California Resort also opened today, and Kirkwood Mountain Resort is slated to open on Monday, November 25, giving access to three Tahoe resorts leading into the Thanksgiving holiday. Sierra at Tahoe may join them, depending on conditions.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Snow on the ground, a decorated Grand Hall which is home to the 18th Annual Holiday Bazaar at Valhalla Friday through Sunday. Local artists and vendors will have a variety of hand crafted and other special items for purchase.

On Saturday and Sunday there will also be performances by the local school choirs and other musical groups, Santa will stop by to spread holiday cheer and an assortment of hot cider, hot mulled wine and holiday cookies will be available for purchase.

South Lake Tahoe, CA – 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 3rd Annual Zawadisha Holiday Bazaar on Sat., Dec. 7th, from 10am-3pm at Bona Fide Books,1069 Magua Street in Meyers, CA. All vendor space fees benefit the Zawadisha Fund.

Granlibakken Conference Center & Lodge at Lake Tahoe (http://www.Granlibakken.com) offers a Thanksgiving tradition that celebrates family and friends with a hearty holiday feast around the dinner table and boundless opportunities to work up an appetite or work off the satisfying dinner.

It's Holiday Movie Time at the South Lake Tahoe Library!

Coffee, donuts and Irving Berlins classic movie, ’Holiday Inn’, starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.

Free event but it is requested that you bring non-perishable food items for donation to Christmas Cheer.

The Sierra Nevada Ballet will present the popular “PEANUTCRACKER – The Story in Nut Shell” on December 6 and 7 in Carson City and December 17th in Reno, Nv. Based on Lev Ivanov‘s original ballet “The Nutcracker”, PEANUTCRACKER is a shorter, 45-minute narrated version that is “designed for families with younger children to introduce them to the wonderful world of ballet,” noted Rosine Bena, Artistic Director of the Sierra Nevada Ballet. Bena who wrote and choreographed this traditional holiday show.

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Today was a state holiday in Nevada in honor of the state's admission into the Union on October 31, 1864. The annual gathering to celebrate the heritage of Nevadans has been marked with a carnival, contests, dinners, dances and other events. The big highlight of the birthday celebration will be the 75th Annual Nevada Day Parade in Carson City on Saturday, October 25.

‘Tis the season to Empower Tahoe: the Tahoe Regional Young Professionals’ (www.tahoetryp.org) Annual Winter White FUNdraiser returns on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 6:30 - 10 p.m. at the Riva Grill in South Lake Tahoe. The themed holiday party supports TRYP’s professional development programs like workshops and scholarships, while also raising funds for the Boys & Girls Club of South Lake Tahoe. The theme is the color white so all attendees are encouraged to wear white!

My daughter and I had been planning our annual Apple Hill trek for several days when I decided to change it up a bit. Since my free time is so rare I figured why not include a visit to our favorite little town Sutter Creek? And then, since we're doing that, might as well throw in a drive down beautiful Highway 4! Since the portion of the road we'll be covering is closed after the first big snow we had to do it! The day was plotted on a map in my head with some verification on google maps. The map said our little trip was going to take 5 hours and 10 minutes and cover 225 miles.