refuse

The aftermath of the thousands of people who flocked to South Lake Tahoe's beaches last Fourth of July was a ghastly sight. South Lake Tahoe made headlines around the world for the embarrassing amount of trash left on the beaches. It took hundreds of volunteers days to pick up the thousands of pounds of garbage left on the beautiful beaches.

Locals and visitors can join #teamfireworks, a large effort to remove all debris from South Lake Tahoe's beaches following both the 4th of July and Labor Day fireworks shows.

Over 100,000 people enjoy the fireworks and anytime an area gets that many people, trash is sure to be an issue. Last year's beach clean was originally meant to make sure the debris from the actual fireworks was not left floating on the water or strewn along the beach. While not many parts of fireworks were found, hundreds of pounds of trash was collected.

Join us as we celebrate the Tahoe Bike Challenge with a community BIKE PATH CLEANUP event on Saturday, June 13th from 10am-noon.

Volunteers can meet at one of four locations throughout South Tahoe to pick up litter from the areas around our bike paths. Then we’ll meet up at the League to Save Lake Tahoe office (2608 Lake Tahoe Blvd.) for a free lunch, raffle and celebration after 12pm. All ages are welcome and all supplies will be provided!

RSVP here: Clean-Tahoe.org

Every year for two weeks, hundreds of Lake Tahoe residents and visitors park their cars and ride their bikes to work, school, and for fun. Participants in the Tahoe Bike Challenge, which runs from June 1 to June 14, track their miles and join the friendly competition for fun prizes and bragging rights.

Douglas County homeowners have an opportunity to compost their residential yard waste early this fire season when TDFPD hosts a kickoff event for Compost Your Combustibles with coffee and donuts on Saturday, May 23 at 9am. The free annual recycling program which historically has started on Memorial Day Weekend is now open at Heavenly Mountain Resort’s Boulder Lodge Parking Lot.

There was standing room only at Tuesday's City Council meeting as changes to the current Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ordinance were on the agenda.

Most of the audience was from the real estate and home rental management companies, both of whom felt there would be a lot of loss should a stricter policy be enforced.

The most innovative South Shore businesses will exhibit at the 2015 Business EXPO: Innovation in the Basin on Friday, March 27. The largest business and networking event of the year, Tahoe Chamber’s Business EXPO includes 100 local businesses ranging from restaurants and resorts to recreation providers to retailers. The event includes food and drink tastings, giveaways and a new networking lounge sponsored by the City of South Lake Tahoe, Winters Construction Group and Red Carpet Events and Design.

The facts are startling. El Dorado County has twice the number of suicides than the state average. El Dorado County has 2.5 times the state average of maternity mental issues. The domestic violence rate in El Dorado County is 1.5 times higher than the state average. More people are living in the county with mental issues than ever before.

A day long forum of mental health care providers, agencies, medical professionals and other community members was held in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday in order to find what needs are being met, and unmet, in the area.

Memories were shared all day Thursday in South Lake Tahoe, from white ribbons and thoughts shared on banners to an evening candlelight vigil.

It marks one week since 14-year old Dejon Smith went missing after spending time with friends during a storm with high winds and rain. His body was found under a fallen tree two days later.

The 7th Annual Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony was the biggest yet, with 300 people at Thursday's banquet and 175 nominations of local businesses, employees and experiences.

Here is the list of winners:

Experience Award – Sponsored by Marriott Grand Residence & Vacation Club

The nomination period for the 2014 Blue Ribbon Awards ended on Friday, October 10 at noon. TahoeChamber’s prestigious awards program that recognizes exceptional South Shore businesses received over 175 nominations for eight separate award categories. The finalists and winners will be announced at the 7th Annual Blue Ribbon Awards dinner and ceremony on November 13 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Tickets for the awards ceremony are now available for purchase at www.tahoechamber.org.

The Nominees:

The Board of Trustees, students, faculty and staff of Lake Tahoe Community College recognize the serious health problems associated with smoking tobacco and other non-tobacco products and the use of smokeless tobacco. The college also recognizes that tobacco smoke poses a health risk to non-smokers. In order to protect students and staff who choose not to smoke from an unhealthy environment, the LTCC Board of Trustees approved a new policy that prohibits smoking within buildings or facilities owned or leased by the District, and designates marked outside areas on campus for smoking.

To the Community,

I offer a friendly challenge to my fellow city council candidates to make South Lake Tahoe a “Sign Free” zone this campaign season. Whether or not they take me up on the offer, I am forgoing them and focusing my energy instead in walking neighborhoods and listening to what is on voters’ minds.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority would like to thank all of our community members, visitors, businesses and agencies who have helped keep our Lake Tahoe beaches clean throughout a busy summer season. Debris on Lake Tahoe’s beaches affects everyone’s enjoyment of the lake, and trash and debris on the beaches and streets can easily find its way to the lake and adversely impact lake clarity, water quality and wildlife.

The City of South Lake Tahoe imposed a single use, plastic bag ban for grocery stores in the city limits in October of 2013. The original ordinance was for grocery stores to implement the new policy on January 15, 2014 and for all other retail outlets to begin on October 15. During the June 17th City Council meeting, three Council members decided that the ban on all other retail outlets should be postponed and the final vote on that will be during this week's Council meeting.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department would like to invite business owners (with an ABC license) and their employees to attend a free seminar presented by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control on Friday, July 18th.

The LEAD (Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs) seminar will give you:

□ Information on what is acceptable I.D.; the best way to check I.D.; how to refuse service; signs and prevention of illicit drug activity, and more

□ The facts about your criminal, civil, and ABC liability

□ An update on California alcohol laws

□ Helpful handouts

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.

Looking for an enjoyable way to contribute to the Lake Tahoe community, either as a local or as a visitor?

Adopt-a-Beach is one of the nicest and easiest ways to protect this valuable and beautiful treasure and they're looking for several volunteers to help this summer. This program is sponsored by the City of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority, U.S. Forest Service, League to Save Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and South Tahoe Refuse.

The Annual Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe Spirit of Spring Fundraiser was held on Tuesday, May 13 at Edgewood Tahoe from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
All proceeds from this evening of food and wine will benefit the local kids -- helping them be great!

Guests were treated to name vintages, cordials and beer for the evening courtesy of Southern Wine and Spirits and appetizers buffet courtesy of Edgewood Tahoe.

During April's South Lake Tahoe Drug Take Back Day, over 50 pounds of prescription drugs were dropped off anonymously in the bins location in the Safeway parking lot. This is about a 27% increase over last year's efforts.

Getting unused prescription drugs out of the home is a major step in accomplishing two major goals of Drug Take Back Day: Keeping drugs out of the landfills and water systems and keep drugs out of the hands of people who they weren't prescribed for.

Get ready to clean out your yard, attic or garage! Community Cleanup Day will be held Saturday, May 31st from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

It's the one day of the year California residents can bring unwanted items to the South Tahoe Refuse Transfer Station at HUGE discounts. Only $5/truckload, free document shredding and other great deals! Check our website for more details as the event approaches.

A record-breaking 100 businesses will participate in the 2014 Business EXPO –“Tahoe South in ACTION” this Friday, March 28. The event begins at 4:30pm and continues until 8:30pm in Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Convention Center. It will highlight South Shore businesses’ goods and services to an anticipated crowd of 1,200 attendees.

The following vendors will exhibit:

A Hand at Home
Acker RV Rentals
Alpine Smith Snow Removal and Driveway Sealing
American Legion Post 795
Bank of the West
Barton Memorial Hospital
Beach Hut Deli
Beach Retreat and Lodge Tahoe

With a vote of 4 to 1, the South Lake Tahoe City Council voted Tuesday to give SnowGlobe a three year contract to have their signature concert event in the city. Promoters will also be receiving an additional $25,000 in cash funding to run the event.

SnowGlobe brings in an estimated $6 million return on the City's investment through advertising, hotel bookings, money spent on food and supplies as well on international awareness of the unique concert in South Lake Tahoe.

You may not have noticed a lack of old style light bulbs on the store shelves yet, but on January 1st it became illegal to manufacture or import 40 and 60 watt incandescent light bulbs.

Stores are allowed to sell their current stock of the popular general service light bulbs. Some of the incandescent bulbs will still be allowed though, including three way, 150 watt and narrower based candelabra lights.