shopping

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just days away. As the excitement of the holiday shopping season builds, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office offers some tips that will help everyone have a successful day, as long as they focus on personal safety.

Here are some tips to keep in mind before heading out to the stores:

First and foremost, stay alert. Do not get so caught up in the shopping frenzy that you lose awareness of your surroundings. Report suspicious activity to law enforcement or store security.

It's a "win-win" situation for South Lake Tahoe area businesses, shoppers and diners starting November 26 when the Tahoe Chamber launches their GO Local & Win! campaign. Those enjoying local businesses are rewarded for shopping and dining locally and will earn credit for every $25 spent and have a chance to win hundreds of dollars in cash and gifts.

Business owners and operators also win during the "GO Local & Win" campaign as they have an opportunity to promote and expand their base of customers or clientele.

It may only say November on the calendar but it is already time to get your furry family photos taken during the 30th annual Lake Tahoe Humane Society's Santa Paws.

Get your photo taken with Tahoe's original Santa Dog, Hopeful Henry. Bring your pet(s) along to get in on the photo which can be used on greeting cards, ornaments or other keepsakes.

Enjoy some hot chocolate, coffee or Mimosas while you wait! There will also be some fun shopping for both pets and their humans.

100 percent of the proceeds help Lake Tahoe Humane Society's efforts in assisting local animals in need.

From quality shopping, accommodations, recreation and dining options to the myriad service providers and businesses, the Blue Ribbon Awards honor all that business should be. This important awards program salutes those businesses that are making significant contributions to the South Shore economy.

Whole Foods Market has announced it signed a lease for a new 365 by Whole Foods Market™ store in South Lake Tahoe, but they haven't said exactly where it is going.

The Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce (Tahoe Chamber) will host the GO Local Workshop for Retailers on Thursday, November 3, from 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m., at Tahoe Mountain Lab, 3079 Harrison Avenue in South Lake Tahoe. The event will feature an overview of the Tahoe Chamber’s GO Local business campaign, the benefits of the campaign, and an audience brainstorming session.

The Tahoe Chamber’s goal of this workshop is to engage local retailers with the GO Local campaign.

Since 1999, Sierra at Tahoe has rewarded South Shore school children with a free pass to the resort if they complete two consecutive semesters with straight A's.

With an average of 346 passes given out annually (with a high of 377 and 361 this year), Sierra at Tahoe has shown they are committed to supporting local school children.

The Lake Tahoe Golf Course will be hosting their annual Wedding Open House on Sunday, October 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Besides local wedding vendors being on hand to share information about their services, there will be a Tahoe Wedding Flea Market.

Future brides and grooms can shop for wedding items that will be available at great prices.

Organizers are renting flea market tables for just $10. People are invited to bring wedding items to sell to the brides, grooms, bridesmaids, and moms who will be attending.

Kmart is closing 64 stores across 28 states.

Sears Holdings, which owns Sears and Kmart, informed Kmart employees of the closures on Friday, according to several local news reports and multiple employees who spoke with Business Insider.

The stores that are closing will begin liquidation sales on September 22 and close by mid-December, employees said.

Here's a full list of stores that will close in December, according to employees:

Kmart #3044: Lawton, OK
Kmart #3180: Merrillville, IN
Kmart #3241: Springfield, IL
Kmart #3320: Houma, LA
Kmart #3328: New Lenox, IL

"We're not your grandma's Goodwill," said Joseph Mendez, President/CEO of Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada as the ribbon was cut in the company's newest store in South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday.

Pier 1 is out of their location in South Lake Tahoe, and Goodwill Industries is heading in now that escrow has closed on the building at 1069 Emerald Bay Road. Goodwill will be celebrating the opening their 27th Northern Nevada/Sacramento area location with a four-day grand opening starting July 21 at 8:00 a.m.

Karen McClaflin, the Chief Development Officer for Goodwill Sacramento Valley & Northern Nevada, told South Tahoe Now that that the company has been actively engaged for the past seven years looking for a store and community training center in the Tahoe Basin.

Get ready for some sunshine and happiness at the "Y" area of South Lake Tahoe. Rainbow Sprinkles Donuts and Frozen Yogurt is coming this summer, and locals and visitors alike are in for a treat.

Jody Filgo and Sallie Ross-Filgo have been planning their dream for a long time, and now they have the space to do it, the old donut shop next to Raley's.

They got the keys on Tuesday and popped the sign up in the window, letting people know what is coming.

Many people within the community show reluctance toward the loop road project, believing it would disturb their daily routines, yet the benefits of the road clearly outweigh the downsides.

In a representative democracy, the system the United States supposedly has, the policy making is controlled by the representatives elected by the people. The idea behind representative democracy is that people will elect representatives that will serve their best interest. However, in the United States the funding for election campaigns is provided by large corporations, banks, and a handful of wealthy individuals that results in the election of representatives who serve the best interests of the large corporations, banks, and wealthy individuals.

Mom, long stemmed roses and the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. The annual Mother’s Day weekend rides on the V&T Railroad are set for Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8. The first excursion of the season is also one of the most popular as families spend the day together celebrating mom.

This special edition diesel train ride from Carson City to the 1860s boom-era mining town of Virginia City provides mom with a long stem rose, quality time with family, animated Old West history storytelling, and shopping and dining to go along with the spectacular scenery.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, in its capacity as the Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization, on Wednesday adopted an active transportation plan that will help communities continue to improve transportation options for bicyclists and pedestrians in the Tahoe Basin.

Transportation projects that improve infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians also help improve air and water quality, revitalize the economy, improve public health, and enhance recreation opportunities.

Restoring and conserving our environment at Lake Tahoe means setting our aspirations at the right scale. That’s what TRPA and many partners are working to do through strategic initiatives to ensure the health of our basin’s forests, streams, and lake, and to improve our communities and transportation infrastructure.

Improving transportation options for bicyclists and pedestrians is one of the most effective strategies to conserve and restore Lake Tahoe’s environment, revitalize the economy, enhance recreation opportunities, and improve public health, according to Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) officials.

Just over two months ago, we wrote about how a large group of South Tahoe High alumni were rallying behind one of their classmates, Kevin Sullivan, who was suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

At October's homecoming football game at STHS, many of Kevin's classmates from the class of 1984 and former teammates from the wrestling and football teams came together to honor Kevin and fondly share their memories.

The Christmas spirit has been evident all through the South Shore over the past few weeks as many people and non-profit agencies have been blessed with donations of money, food and gifts to help make the holidays a bit brighter.

Here are some of the many Santas who've been busy at work:

The South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge and Women of the Moose filled up 40 boxes with hams and food for families at Tahoe Valley Elementary school. The students decorated the boxes.

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A special holiday treat in South Lake Tahoe will be held on Saturday, December 19 when the public can enjoy the lighted Christmas truck, Santa and Mrs. Claus, latkes and cookies, carolers and tours of the decorated museum and cabin during the Holiday in History Open House.

The annual Lake Tahoe Historical Society event will be held at the museum located at 3058 Lake Tahoe Blvd from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Victorian Christmas scene is spread throughout the museum and the historic cabin.

Schedule:

- Free museum and 1930 cabin tours all day.

A sure sign of the holiday season is the opening of the South Lake Tahoe Cancer League's See's Candy Store. Their large selection of fine chocolates are the perfect gift for anyone on your list, and the best thing is that all proceeds go to help locals struggling with cancer.

The See's store is now open at the "Y" from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily until Christmas Eve, or as long as supplies last. It is occupying a vacant store near Starbucks and Beach Hut Deli in the Raley's center.

During the holiday season many South Lake Tahoe locals and business owners want to help out agencies who deal with members of the public who are facing some sort of struggle, whether its financial, housing, counseling or something else.

Tahoe Youth and Family Services has found an easy way for the community to help out their agency with every day needs.

Shoppers buying locally in South Lake Tahoe between November 28 and January 1 might be taking home more than a gift for someone on their list this season.

"Go Local and Win" is a campaign by the Tahoe Chamber to encourage people to shop in town and not off the hill. By doing so, not only will they support local businesses, they can also win prizes each week.