santa

In response to noise, trash and occupancy complaints, the City of South Lake Tahoe has adopted a new Vacation Home Rental Ordinance. The vote was 4-0 in favor since Councilman Tom Davis had to recuse himself since he is part owner of Tahoe Keys Resort.

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 Lake Tahoe Community College and Lake Tahoe Unified School District Boards of Trustees will hold a joint meeting on Tuesday, March 24.

During the meeting, two people from the Los Rios Community College will provide an overview of "Get Focused, Stay Focused!" a career and educational course that LTUSD officials hope to bring to South Tahoe High next year.

Jesse Patterson of the League to Save Lake Tahoe will be the guest speaker during March Tahoe Talks. He will speak on "Volunteer Monitoring: How to Facilitate Change through Observation."

Vacation home rentals are an everyday part of life in South Lake Tahoe, though during weekends and holiday periods their impact is much more noticeable. With the large number of visitors "living" in the area neighborhoods next to full time residents their impact has created tension over noise, trash and parking issues.

In the City limits there are currently 1,574 houses that have a permit to be operated as a vacation home. In comparison there are about 15-20% that number in vacation cities Santa Cruz and Napa.

A father and son were arrested in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday evening for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and drugs in the 800 block of Tallac Avenue.

South Lake Tahoe Police Department's SWAT team and SLEDNET detectives served a high-risk warrant on the residence that resulted in the arrest of 55-year old Richard Martin and his 23-year old son Joshua Martin.

Over the last three months, investigators had been examining several different cases that were all affiliated with the Tallac Avenue address where both Martins resided.

“Hotel Showdown” squares off four different hotels against one another in a
winner-take-all competition. Representatives from the competing hotels spend the night at each other’s property, and with an exacting eye for detail, award points for every aspect of their experience. The highest-rated hotel wins a coveted $25,000.

The hour long episode featuring South Lake Tahoe’s 968 Park Hotel is titled ”Cat’s Out of the Bag with a Gun Show” and premieres Tuesday, January 27 at 9:00 p.m. PST.

Shortly after graduating from UC Davis in 1983 and working at wineries in Napa Valley and the Santa Lucia Highlands, Jonathan Lachs and Susan Marks took desk jobs in Silicon Valley. High-tech was the couple's ticket to their dream vineyard and winery -- but it wouldn't be in Napa or Monterey.

While at Davis, Lachs had tasted a 1980 Madrona Vineyards Chardonnay from the El Dorado Hills -- a wine so pure it sealed his fate.

"The wine was so refreshing, bright and true to character compared to the big oaky wines that were popular at the time," he recalls.

Jamie Anderson and Maddie Bowman are asked this question in this USA team interview:

Which skier considers his skills on the snow the best gift he’s ever been given? How about the snowboarder who said her favorite was the gift of life? Find out what Team USA skiers and snowboarders remember as their favorite gift of all time. Happy gift-giving!

Maddie Bowman of South Lake Tahoe, 2014 Olympic halfpipe skiing gold medalist: Onesie Cookie Monster pajamas from my best friend a couple years ago.

The Sugar Pine Foundation of Lake Tahoe has asked Santa for a $5,000 gift this year. That is the amount needed to plant and restore sugar pines in recent California wildfires.

The giant Pinus lambertiana (sugar pine trees) are shown uphill from these firefighters in the photo.

Sugar pines are the world's largest species of pine with the longest cones - and they are dying from white pine blister rust, a non-native, invasive fungus. Though they historically accounted for 25% of Lake Tahoe's forests, sugar pines now make up less than 5% of the forest composition.

Even though Mother Nature has been blessing the state of California with plenty of rain, the Sierra Nevada are still in need of a big snow storm to start their way out the drought.

Rain and snow mix in South Lake Tahoe all day Friday has yet to bring in measurable snowfall but snow is still expected through Saturday so there is still a chance.

The annual procession of decorated City vehicles and other participants made it's way down Lake Tahoe Blvd on Saturday night, much to the delight of people along the parade route and at the tree lighting ceremony at the end.

As the row of cars and trucks passed by local businesses, those adorned with lights turned them on like one moving light switch.

At the "Shops at the Y" people gathered to watch the tree lightening ceremony along with treats and photos with Santa.

The anticipation from youngsters was contagious on Friday night during Barton's Festival of the Trees. Not only did they have hot chocolate and popcorn, but kids were making ornaments, writing letters to santa, watching the performers from Marcia Sarosik Dance and South Tahoe high, but the jolly guy himself was there, listening to all of the wish lists.

Teddy bears of all shapes, sizes and conditions were taken to the Teddy Bear Hospital where doctors and nurses from Barton Health examined, x-rayed and bandaged the bears who weren't feeling too well.

Heavenly Mountain Resort is celebrating the five inches of fresh snow they received this weekend, and looking forward to a storm this week that is expected to drop a lot of snow at higher elevations.

A family favorite trip aboard the Polar Express to the North Pole awaits, but tickets are selling quickly.

Most trips are sold out, but as of Sunday evening there are still some seats available for the 8 p.m. rides on Dec. 7, 11, 13, 14 and 18. You may purchase tickets on line.

For the last three years there has been a Meyers community Tree lighting ceremony but in order to have the fourth annual event many Christmas lights are needed.

During a lightning storm this year, most of the lights were destroyed. In order to replaced them, the Meyers Community Foundation is raising money.

The tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for Friday, December 5 at 5 p.m. Everyone is invited to see Santa arrive on a special sled, enjoy cookies, popcorn and hot chocolate and help light the tree's 10,000 lights.

The LTCC men's soccer team holds the top spot in the Golden Valley Conference with a 7-0-1 league record and an overall 13-4-3 record in their inaugural season. They will take their five game winning streak into the post-season on Saturday as they try to make their way to a state title.

The team is currently ranked #9 among the community colleges in California, #13 nationally.

I had always planned to drive off the hill to watch a Reno Bighorns game, but I never found the opportunity. That is, until this weekend. It's hard to believe they've been in Reno since 2008!

My son Chris won tickets by answering a Bighorn trivia game on a Reno radio station, so my daughter Abby and I drove down Friday night to join him and watch the season opener against the Iowa Energy.

Fabulous Lake Tahoe's concert report for November 2014.

http://fabulouslaketahoe.blogspot.com/2014/11/november-2014-in-tahoe-bassnectar.html

November 01 Drought Relief @ Cabo Wabo
The Blokes @ 968 Park Hotel
Live Music w/ Steve and Tom @ Gar Woods
November 02 DJ Chris English @ Cabo Wabo
November 03 Cash Only Band @ Cabo Wabo
November 04 The Connor Party @ Cabo Wabo
Open mic w/ Lucas Arizu @ Fat Cat Cafe

Stroll through a holiday wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights on decorated Christmas trees and holiday decor! Vote for your favorite tree in the Festival's "People's Choice Award" contest. Settle down to watch the entertainment, bid in the silent auction, enter the raffle, get a family photo with Santa, and take the kids to Teddy Bear Hospital. Kids can stop by the Gingerbread Junction, where they can write a letter to Santa and drop it in the giant mailbox for express delivery to the North Pole.

Location

Kick off the holiday season at the 44th Annual Holiday Faire. On Sunday, November 9, community members and visitors of all ages are encouraged to attend this merry event.

Barton Auxiliary volunteers and employees from The Attic, Barton’s thrift store, have selected their favorite holiday and winter donations to sell. Treasures available for purchase will include jewelry, crystal, antiques and collectibles, holiday decorations, winter wear, vintage dolls, purses, and other gift items.

South Tahoe High Graduate Francisco Figueroa-Yanez, known as "Frankie" to his friends, has his new career as a school teacher in San Francisco highlighted in a recent SFGate article titled "Bay Area schools scramble for qualified teachers amid shortage." Frankie graduated from STHS in 2007, went to Santa Clara University where he majored in Biology and Spanish and is now at the University of San Francisco working on his masters degree. He visits South Lake Tahoe when time allows to see his parents and friends.

The Virginia & Truckee Railroad will once again offer service to the North Pole onboard THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride starting Nov. 21. The magical story comes to life when the train departs the Carson City Depot on Eastgate Siding Road for a one-hour round trip journey to the North Pole. This event has consistently sold out since debuting four years ago and is expected to draw record numbers again this holiday season.

Award winning performers from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Reno and Tahoe will grace the stage for Trails and Vistas World Concert at Sand Harbor State Park at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 6. The World Concert, an original blend of diverse musicians, aerialists and dancers, is produced by Trails and Vistas, a Truckee, CA-based nonprofit organization dedicated to producing inspiring art events in nature, in collaboration with the Truckee Tahoe Peace Project.