road

12.20.17 update: When closures are in place, Al Tahoe Boulevard will be closed from Johnson Blvd to Pioneer Village to lessen impact on residents.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - The 7th annual SnowGlobe Music Festival returns to South Lake Tahoe December 29-31, but those attending and nearby residents need to know of changes to the layout, resulting in some road closures.

Two homes in South Lake Tahoe were damaged Saturday evening after trees fell onto them as the area was under a high wind advisory. Both homes are located near Heavenly Mountain Resort.

A quick moving, weak weather system will affect the area Friday night through Saturday morning bringing very light snowfall across the region. The inversions we've seen in the Reno-Tahoe area are likely to strengthen again early next week before a cold front moves through in the middle of next week and breaks them down.

A weak ridge will be in place early next week which will again provide dry conditions, light winds, and the valley inversions. However, models do continue to show a potential for a more potent slider type system on Wednesday.

After meeting with the City, Lake Tahoe Unified School District, police, neighbors and other interested parties, the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) is one step closer to opening a warm room for the winter in South Lake Tahoe and could be open by January 1, 2018.

As weather permits, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled projects at Lake Tahoe and in El Dorado County. The following are the projects for the week:

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

Squaw Valley has created a nonprofit that will manage and distribute millions of dollars generated from the voluntary project transfer fee related to the approved redevelopment of The Village at Squaw Valley.

Named the Squaw Valley Foundation, a seven member board of directors will soon be selected and it's members will be a mix of local residents and business owners, second homeowners and a public service district appointee.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) will continue prescribed fire operations over the next several weeks, weather permitting. Lake Valley, North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts, California State Parks, California Tahoe Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service will conduct prescribed fire operations in multiple areas around Lake Tahoe. Smoke may be present.

A. Airport East - 1 acre
B. West 1st Creek - 25 acres
C. Diamond Peak Ski Area - 23 acres
D. Champagne Rd - 9 acres
E. Dale Drive - 1 acre
F. Cave Rock Area - 5 acres
G. Upper Kingsbury - 3 acres

The Heavenly Village will have a Wine Walk on Thursday, November 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sample wines crafted and shared by the Carson Road Wineries (El Dorado County), food specials and chances to win great prizes at every location.

The cost is a $20 donation and all proceeds go directly to Santa Rosa area families and first responders who were affected by the recent wildfires.

Parking every night after 5:00 p.m. in the Heavenly Village parking garage is just $5 for the evening. The tent for the event is by the fountain and stop by for your tickets there.

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is alerting motorists that lane and highway closures on area freeways will be required to replace three overhead changeable message signs with new “Advanced Variable Message Signs” or AVMS. The new signs will be installed in the following locations:
Interstate 80 westbound – Truckee – Donner Pass Road/Hwy 89
Interstate 80 westbound – Davis – Pole Line Road bridge
U.S. Highway 50 eastbound – El Dorado Hills – Latrobe Road

After taking a break during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) resume prescribed fire operations next week, beginning Monday, November 27, 2017, weather permitting.

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, California State Parks and the California Tahoe Conservancy will conduct prescribed fire operations above Incline Village, D.L. Bliss and Burton Creek state parks and near the airport in South Lake Tahoe. Smoke may be visible.

North of the CSLT Airport, Southwest of the Sierra Tract Subdivision - 8 acres
Hwy 89 / Lester Beach Road - 8 acres

The South Lake Tahoe Cancer League got their candy in early and while the store isn't open until November 27, it is now available at local locations before Thanksgiving, just in time for a holiday treat.

Boxes can now be picked up at the Moose Lodge, Emerald Bay Salon, Scotty's Hardware at the Y, and Sessions Salon.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

11/9

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch and a wind advisory for Douglas County through late Friday night on November 16, 2017. Douglas County Emergency Management is preparing for changing flood conditions and the safety of Douglas County residents. Updates will be posted to http://www.douglascountynv.gov/AlertCenter.aspx

Lake Valley, North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts, California State Parks, California Tahoe Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service will continue Lake Tahoe Basin prescribed fire operations over the next several weeks, weather permitting. Operations are scheduled to take place at or near D.L. Bliss State Park, Carnelian Bay, Kings Beach, Incline Village, Diamond Peak Ski Resort area, Glenbrook, upper and lower Kingsbury Grade and south and east of the Lake Tahoe Airport.

South Shore

Many people in Meyers and South Lake Tahoe heard "loud booms" early Tuesday afternoon. Those who have lived through winter recognized the sound as avalanche control cannons, but with no snow the reasons weren't clear.

Here is the story:

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) was installing new cannons to replace the 25-year-old equipment on Flagpole Mountain, home to the Echo Summit avalanche control operations.

The Tahoe Restaurant Group, operators of BaseCamp Pizza and Azul Latin Kitchen in South Lake Tahoe, Fireside Pizza Company in Olympic Valley, Rubicon Pizza Company in Truckee will be fundraising for victims of the fires in Northern California and hurricanes in Puerto Rico on November 13, 2017.

All proceeds from dinners purchased at of those four establishments that day will be donated directly to the victims.

Both South Lake Tahoe restaurants are located in the Heavenly Village, Rubicon Pizza is at 6001 Northstar Drive, and Fireside is located at 1985 Squaw Valley Road.

South Lake Tahoe voters will be deciding the future of roads in the City when they determine the fate of Measure C on Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

Voters will decide if a one-half cent sales tax will be added in the town to provide approximately $2.5 million that will fix potholes and pave, repair, maintain local roads.

The following polling locations are established for the November 7, 2017 election:

Lake Tahoe Christian Fellowship, 3580 Blackwood

South Shore Christian Assembly 886 Glorene Avenue

Its election time and the only local issue is Measure C; an increase of one-half percent in local sales tax (excludes groceries and prescriptions) for a term of 15 years to fund road rehabilitation. I voted YES to the measure because there is no long term funding solution within the current budget or the foreseeable future. And, our roads are in terrible shape.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – California State Parks, Lake Valley, North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts and the U.S. Forest Service are scheduled to conduct prescribed fire operations beginning tomorrow, November 4, 2017.

Weather permitting, operations are scheduled to take place:

D.L. Bliss State Park - 25 acres
West side of Incline Village - 17 acres
West of the First Creek drainage - 25 acres
Upper Kingsbury Grade - 3 acres
Lower Kingsbury Grade - 6 acres
Off Pioneer Trail near Marshall Trail and Powerline Road - 20 acres

The updated Sierra Boulevard Complete Streets Project was presented to the community Thursday night, with changes incorporated after input from the public at their first meeting August 17, 2017.

Funded by grants, the .6 mile stretch of Sierra Boulevard starting at Highway 50 will have Class 1 and Class 2 bike lanes, parallel parking spots, reduced lane size, lighted sidewalks, underground utilities, landscaping, crosswalks and water quality improvements.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe supports Measure C, the ballot measure to fix potholes and repair road surfaces in the City of South Lake Tahoe. Fixing our roads protects Lake Tahoe, and is a critical complement to the advocacy by the League and many others to reduce pollution associated with Tahoe’s traffic. Taking action now is essential if we are to restore the Lake to its historic clarity.

The community is invited to celebrate another great year of mountain biking and trail building with the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) at their Fall Party on Saturday, November 4 at the Heavenly California Main Lodge.

As we transition to winter they will have the premier showing of MSP Film's Drop Everything during the evening which also features a pasta dinner, drinks, raffle prizes and swag. They will also be holding a membership drive.

The party starts at 6:00 p.m. with the film showing around 7:00 p.m.

Location

As it stands right now, any tax money collected goes to the General Fund where it can be disbursed as the city sees fit regardless what it is ear. That's why this Measure C is a good tax (if there is a good tax), because it is a specific fund that cannot be used for anything but what it's voted on.

Specifically this started as a way to keep CalPERS from robbing the general fund for unfunded pensions and liabilities. The problem is it's not enough and everyone knows it, even the authors.

Ever since I moved to South Lake Tahoe, potholes and cracks have covered our city’s roads and presented a danger to residents. We have all seen cars swerve all over the road, only to realize it’s not a drunk driver, but rather someone trying to avoid potholes. Our roads should not be in such disrepair, that a simple trip to the grocery store can feel like an obstacle course. We need to solve this problem.