Quality

Construction on U.S. Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe will be extended through the end of November, weather permitting. The work remaining includes the installation of new traffic signals at Tahoe Keys Boulevard and 3rd Street.

Expect lane closures and extra traffic on U.S. Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe from the "Y" to Winnemucca Avenue during these final stages.

The project is a three-year one and includes water quality improvements, a new stop light at Lodi, timed traffic lights from the Y to Trout creek, bike lanes, bus pull outs, sidewalks and retaining walls.

The Tahoe Prosperity Center will host the first annual Tahoe Economic Summit on
Monday, October 30, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. The theme of the summit is “Building Community through the Sharing Economy.”

Ever since we moved to South Lake Tahoe thirty eight years ago, we have been proud to call this city our home. Between our community spirit of caring and sharing, excellent schools, and the inspiring nature of the Lake and Mountains, we are truly fortunate to live in such a special place. We recently hosted our foreign exchange student from twenty years ago and we were proud to show him all of the community upgrades such as Heavenly Village, Lakeview Commons, Harrison Avenue, South Tahoe High School, and the new Whole Foods project.

NAMI El Dorado County is hosting an information gathering hour on Thursday, November 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Lake Tahoe Community College's Aspen Room.

They would like the public's perspective as El Dorado County Behavioral Health is seeking public input for their FY18/19 Mental Health Services Plan Update.

The county will be providing public meetings, using social media, and promoting in news media to get the word out about the plan, so attendance and input at this meeting will help them plan.

The Board of Directors and membership of St. Joseph Community Land Trust wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the PFUND Family Foundation for its generous gift of $5,000. This donation will assist us considerably in our mission to help provide affordable housing and to improve the quality of life for residents of the Lake Tahoe Basin.The continued support of the PFUND Family Foundation over the years is very much appreciated.

- Cathy Kope, Executive Director, St. Joseph Community Land Trust

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The accreditation team visiting Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) left town Thursday, but not before speaking to a gathering of the school's administration, staff, students, board members and community partners.

"You guys do a great job," said Mike Claire, President at College of San Mateo and leader of the visiting accreditation team from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). "We have never found a college more well prepared than LTCC."

The public has another opportunity to give feedback on the design of the U.S. 50/South Shore Community Revitalization Project on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Formerly known as the Loop Road Project, this one seeks to divert Highway 50 from its current location near the intersection with Pioneer Trail and move traffic behind Raleys and the casinos, then reuniting with the current location of Highway 50 in Stateline, Nevada with a roundabout.

Lots to do in South Lake Tahoe this weekend. Now that South Tahoe and Whittell High Schools had their homecoming games Friday night, the rest of the weekend can be filled with everything from helping feed local youth, buying mattresses or playing golf for the high school, honoring one of the City's first leaders and enjoying the annual Fire Fest.

Vacation home rentals (VHRs) in South Lake Tahoe are again the subject of a City Council meeting. In an effort to come to an ordinance that satisfies all sides, the October 3 council meeting will look at several topics that were discussed at the September 5 VHR workshop.

MEYERS, Calif. – The Meyers Community Foundation (MCF) will host the third annual Meyers Outdoor Gear Swap on October 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Westgate Center parking lot adjacent the Divided Sky.

Looking for some sweet gear? Shop until you drop for skis, snowboards, bikes, paddle gear, climbing gear, camping equipment, and other outdoor toys. Cash or credit cards will be accepted.

Location

On May 17, 2017, South Tahoe Now was at the demolition of the McDonald's at the "Y," and the builder said he'd have the project done and ready to open in 120 days.

Wednesday, September 13, the new 4,305 square foot building with its environmental improvements opened to the public at 11:30 a.m. That was 117 days since we saw old, 40-year-old building come down.

Inside, diners will see a sleek new design with automated ordering stations and plenty of seating.

The Final Draft of the Meyers Area Plan was released today along with the associated joint environmental document. This draft updates 20-year old policies to streamline permitting for small projects, improves consistency between El Dorado County and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) policies and standards, promotes recreation and bicycle/pedestrian improvements, establishes zoning to better reflect current conditions, conserves land around the Upper Truckee River, formalizes a local citizens advisory council, and integrates design standards and guidelines.

The 2017 pine nut harvest season kicks off on lands managed by the Nevada Bureau of Land Management and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Both agencies are working together to ensure the public is safely harvesting pine nuts and aware of the regulations.

The length of the pine nut harvest season varies depending on crop quality and seasonal weather conditions. It is generally September to late October when pine nuts are available for harvest.

A $4 million project to enhance 15,000 feet or eroding roadway drainage pipe on Kingsbury Grade will begin on Sept. 11 and last through late summer of 2018, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) announced today.

Single lane closures with a traffic flagger will periodically be in place on the Carson Valley side of Kingsbury Grade between mileposts 3 and 11. Most of the work will take place Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. with periodic Saturdays lane closures.

There is no need to rush into an ordinance regulating the sale of marijuana in South Lake Tahoe. That was the overwhelming opinion of the SLT City Council Tuesday night after a special, four-hour long Cannabis Workshop.

"We owe it to our community to make sure we take every measure to protect them," said SLT Mayor Austin Sass.

The City of South Lake Tahoe is creating a new design of Sierra Boulevard that will introduce Class 1 and Class 2 bike lanes, parallel parking spots, reduced lane size and lighted sidewalks. Called the Sierra Boulevard Complete Streets Project, work is expected to get underway on the .6 mile stretch of road in the summer of 2018, but not everyone is happy about it.

At the first of two community information meetings on Thursday night, City and NCE representatives gave an overview of the planned project, had a question and answer period and shared preliminary designs of Sierra Blvd.

For 20 years, every August we’ve paused to reflect on our collective commitment to Lake Tahoe’s restoration at the Lake Tahoe Summit. This year, with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein hosting the event, the issue of climate change will be front and center. Climate change poses incredible challenges for Tahoe, affecting not only the health of its famously cold, clear waters, but the health of its expansive forests and what is to become of our $5 billion outdoor recreation-based economy.

The city received some good news this week. We were successfully awarded $2.9 million in federal funds to complete all of the funding for the Sierra Blvd. Streetscape project-we are now 100% funded through construction. Kudos to Stan Hill with the City for his excellent grant application. Per Jim Marino, Asst.

8:00 p.m. update: Road construction on Highway 50 is what led to the closure of Bank of the West in South Lake Tahoe.

"Nearby construction resulted in an air quality issue at our South Tahoe Branch, which was quickly identified and is being remedied," Anita Fox, Senior Vice President of Public Relations and Corporate Communications for Bank of the West told South Tahoe Now this evening. "We anticipate re-opening the branch no later than Thursday."

In the meantime, those wishing to conduct in-branch transactions can visit the bank's Tahoe City Branch at 150 West Lake Boulevard.

Residents are now being told they can return to their Mariposa, Calif. homes after being evacuated by the Detwiler Fire which started on July 16.

As of 11:30 a.m. Friday, the fire has burned 74,083 acres and is now 15 percent contained.

Since the fire is still threatening 1,500 structures many other evacuations remain in place. 58 homes and 60 minor structures have been destroyed with another 17 residences and structures damaged.

The nearby Maria Fire on Mokelume Hill in Calaveras County is now 117 acres and 95 percent contained.

School is out and summer is in full swing at Lake Tahoe. Visitors and residents are heading to beaches and launching boats, kayaks, and standup paddleboards to get out and enjoy the jewel of the Sierra. Millions of people visit Tahoe each year and the shoreline is where they go to experience its famously cold, clear, blue water.

The intensifying Detwiler Fire near Mariposa, Calif. continues to send smoke into the Lake Tahoe Basin, Alpine County, Reno, Carson City and the Carson Valley, causing air quality to be in the unhealthy range.

As of Wednesday morning the Detwiler fire had burned over 45,000 acres, sending a plume of smoke due north, into our area. It is 7 percent contained and caused the evacuation of the town of Mariposa as well as many surrounding roads and neighborhoods.

Nic Buccholz, a 2017 Whittell High school graduate and stand-out student athlete, was awarded the 8th annual Gene Upshaw Scholarship award.

Buccholz was honored during the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe on Tuesday. The $5,000 college scholarship is funded equally by NBC Sports and Edgewood Companies.

The scholarship was started in honor of the former Oakland Raider, NFL Hall of Famer and executive director of the NFL Players Association who played during the South Lake Tahoe golf tournament for several years.

Jack Johnson is not only an entertainer, but he is also an environmentalist doing what he can to reduce his impact on the earth. When Johnson comes to Lake Tahoe this summer on July 28 and 29, one can not only expect great music, but also a zero waste tour.

His All at One initiative is a social action network where everyone can make a positive change in their local and world community. As he tours, Johnson will connect with non-profit groups, take environmental action, and receive rewards. All At Once promotes Sustainable Local Food Systems and Plastic Free Initiatives.