projects

Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra recently awarded 14 worthy organizations, projects, and programs with funding from their Community Grant program. The mission of the organization is to “Strengthen and enhance the lives of women and youth in our community and the world.”

The following organizations/programs/projects best aligned with this mission according the the Soroptimists: Between Horses and Humans, Bijou Kindergarten Adventure Introduction, Bijou 5th Grade Enrichment Field Trip, Health Talents

Following the lowest snowpack ever recorded and with no end to the drought in sight, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced actions that will save water, increase enforcement to prevent wasteful water use, streamline the state's drought response and invest in new technologies that will make California more drought resilient.

A newly released scientific study highlights the importance of collaborative work to prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species at Lake Tahoe, and confirms what many public and private stakeholders have feared: That the invasive quagga mussel, if introduced, could establish in our mountain lake’s clear, iconic waters.

Good news for shareholders of Vail Resorts Thursday after the results for the second quarter of the fiscal year were released. Vail operates real estate, ski resort and lodging segments including Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar Mountain Resorts in Lake Tahoe.

Vail Resort's net income was $115.8 million for the second fiscal quarter of 2015, representing a 95.3% increase compared to the same period last year.

Just over a dozen members of the community turned out for Thursday night's meeting about the pending Caltrans project that with either replace or restore the bridge over Echo Summit.

The Echo Summit Bridge Replacement/Rehabilitation Project was created because of cracks, rusting reinforcing steel and concrete spalling on the existing bridge which was built in 1939.

There are new building codes within South Lake Tahoe's city limits, so, with the new building season coming up, the City has scheduled a contractor's meeting to cover the changes.

The following are just some of the changes that every contractor, designer and homeowner should know:

• Radon requirements will be mandatory.
• Sprinklers for additions could be required.
• Take into account in updating all plumbing fixtures when you improve anything in your house.
• Smoke detectors older than 10 years will need to be replaced whenever you pull a permit.

There’s a lot to be learned by studying others’ successes. At the Tahoe Talks Brown Bag Lunch this February, a design engineer for the Federal Highway Administration discussed how modern roundabouts are being used to improve traffic and make roads safer for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians, as well as where they would make the most sense at Lake Tahoe.

The California Tahoe Conservancy Board unanimously voted today to award Sierra Business Council (SBC) $50,000 to expand and enhance the Lake Tahoe Water Trail.

The Lake Tahoe Water Trail is the 72-mile scenic paddling route around the shore of Lake Tahoe. SBC plans to improve trail maps; increase wayfinding, trailhead signage, and outreach and education; launch a Lodge-to-Lodge Network; and establish a new Oversight Committee to develop a business plan to create a more sustainable program.

There has been a lot of work completed on the baseball fields in South Lake Tahoe, including a new diamond for local little league teams. One needed item wasn't on the list of projects completed with Measure S funds was replacing the old and broken scoreboard so a fundraising effort has begun to replace it.

South Tahoe High varsity baseball coach Starbuck Teevan started a GoFundMe page in order to help with the $18,500 needed for a new scoreboard.

Three hours weren't enough on January 22 to complete the lengthy agenda of the Tahoe Paradise Resort Improvement District Board of Directors meeting so it will pick up where it left off this Thursday.

The meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Lake Tahoe Fire station in Meyers located at 2211 Keetak Street. It starts at 6 p.m.

The 47th Annual Tahoe Douglas Rotary's St. Patrick's Day Celebration has some added extras this year to make this time honored tradition even more fun than usual.

On March 13, 2015, the Rotarians will open the doors at Harrah's Tahoe to the public who will be treated to the first ever First Responders Recognition evening tied into the traditional St. Patrick's Day event.

The Community Athletic Coordinating Council, an organization consisting of representatives of youth and adult sports organizations in South Lake Tahoe will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, February 4, 2015. This meeting will be held at the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Boardroom, starting at 5:15pm. This is an open meeting and all interested community members are invited to attend.

Topics to be discussed include
 Election of Officers – 2015
 Develop and adopt procedures for submittal of projects
 Project Review and Update
 Old and Unfinished Business
 New Business

Lake Tahoe Community College was one of 36 community colleges in California to apply for a chance to offer baccalaureate degrees, just as 20 other states currently offer. The 15 colleges that will be part of the inaugural program were announced Tuesday, and LTCC was not among them.

The next Tahoe Talks Brown Bag Lunch series is Wednesday, January 21st at 11:30 a.m. at Lake Tahoe Community College in the Aspen Room.

Join Trevor Coolidge, Associate Civil Engineer for the City of South Lake Tahoe for a follow-up to the December webinar “Using Pilot Projects to Implement Protected Bike Lanes.” The presentation will include a discussion with engineers from El Dorado County and Douglas County on the challenges and opportunities related to implementing pilot projects and complete streets in South Shore communities.

A bond oversight committee is needed with the passage of Measure F in November, the Lake Tahoe Community College's $55 million bond.

All schools and colleges that receive bonds are required to have an oversight committee per California Prop. 39.

The Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and the U.S. Forest Service will continue prescribed fire operations this week on Kingsbury Grade near Buchanan Road, Ski Run Boulevard near Heavenly, Luther Pass and Spooner Summit.

Operations will last through the next several weeks as conditions allow.

The New Year brings big changes both for me personally and for the Forest Service in Lake Tahoe. After 37 years with the agency, I’m looking forward to retirement and handing over the reins at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit to a new Forest Supervisor.

I’m grateful for steady Basin leadership that has enhanced relationships making them stronger. Days of past tensions between conflicting interests have passed. Today, local agencies work closely together on solutions that protect our communities and our environment.

Liberty Utilities is reminding customers to always be prepared for winter storms and possible power outages that may result from them.

“Although we’ve made significant progress in reducing electrical outages since acquiring the utility nearly four years ago, the reality is that a really big winter storm can impact our ability to keep the lights on,” according to Mike Smart, President of Liberty Utilities-California.

With the approaching winter storm, Liberty offers the following outage preparation tips:

A specialty Nevada license plate supporting safe bicycle and pedestrian programs is now available for purchase through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

During last week's Loop Road open house, residents and businesspeople gave their input on what they felt the US Highway 50/South Shore Community Revitalization project should offer.

Results show that 82% of the people participating believe the most important goal is to beautify the corridor and create gathering spaces for locals and visitors.

Another 67% of the respondents believe there should be efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve mobility options, 60% said the project should revitalize the area and boost economic development.

As the keynote speaker at last month’s National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation in Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell emphasized the central role collaboration must play for America to protect its natural resources, balance economic needs, and address emerging environmental challenges such as climate change.

“We are moving into an era of epic collaboration,” Jewell said, explaining that regional partnerships across jurisdictional boundaries are more important than ever for the federal department that manages 20 percent of our nation’s land.

State Route 28 on the East Shore of Lake Tahoe from Incline Village to the intersection with Highway 50 is set to receive $12.5 million in improvements.

The Washoe County Commissioners approved a Federal Lands Access Program Memorandum of Agreement for federal funding for the design and construction of the improvements.

Three Olympic athletes from the inaugural USA slopestyle snowboarding team will arrive in South Lake Tahoe this spring to compete in Heavenly Mountain Resort’s signature event, High Roller Hold ‘Em, on Saturday, April 4, 2015. Olympic Gold Medalist Sage Kotsenburg will place his bets against fellow Olympians Billy Morgan and Chas Guldemond, as well as High Roller Hold ‘Em veterans Gjermund Braaten and Eric Willett.

If you've driven past South Tahoe High School in the last month you've most likely noticed a new bike trail heading from Lake Tahoe Blvd and Viking Way, through the forest to Sawmill Pond.

This new segment of bike trail, which is part of the Lake Tahoe Blvd Enhancement Project, will help to connect Meyers to the City of South Lake Tahoe.