sustainable

The U.S. Forest Service held a grand opening ceremony at the newly remodeled and reconfigured Round Hill Pines Resort on Monday, officially welcoming the public to their new beachside facilities.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has given Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) $1.6M to help continue bus service from Carson City to the Carson Valley and on to Lake Tahoe, but more is still needed to help TTD continue service both at the lake and in the valley.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Public comment closes this week on plans released by the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) that address issues the agency is facing to be sustainable. Major changes are in store for riders.

Four plans were created as bus service cannot continue as it currently is due to several factors, including the cost of fleet replacement and improvement, funding availability and forecasted funds, regulatory compliance, and keeping and attracting drivers and staff.

Efforts to bring a second vacation home rental initiative to November's ballot have hit a roadblock after the El Dorado County Elections office said they did not have enough valid signatures to take it to the voters.

The Sustainable Community Alliance (SCA) turned in 1,843 signatures, thinking that would be enough to guarantee the needed 1,005.

Elections staff did a random count of 500 of those signatures to verify the person signing was a registered voter in the City limits. They found 243 valid signatures in that sample.

There are some “innocent” VHR owners caught in the crossfire between neighborhood residents and other VHR owners and tenants who have not observed simple and reasonable rules set forth by the city. I encourage you not to throw the baby out with the bath water and eliminate all VHR’s in residential neighborhoods.

It has always been an amazing accomplishment for a student from South Tahoe High to be selected to go to either Boy's State or Girl's State, programs sponsored by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary.

For the first time organizers can remember, twins have been selected to represent the community in the unique and exciting government-in-action learning programs which teach youth how to be knowledgeable stewards of freedom, democracy and patriotism.

Two South Lake Tahoe community groups have submitted petitions to get their vacation home rental (VHR) initiatives on the November, 2018 ballot. The first group, Tahoe Neighborhoods Group, submitted 1,651 signatures to the City Clerk on April 30, and the second group, Sustainable Community Alliance, turned in 1,827 signatures on May 21, less than 30 days after they started collecting them.

There are four people running for El Dorado County Supervisor for the 5th District on June 5: Incumbent Sue Novasel and challengers Kenny Curtzwiler, Norma Santiago and Jeffrey Spencer. The 5th District covers Pollock Pines to South Lake Tahoe and Tahoma.

South Tahoe Now asked each candidate the same questions, and here are all of their answers, exactly as they were presented to us.

Sue Novasel
Occupation: El Dorado County Supervisor – District V
Past political history:
2015 – Present: County Supervisor, District V

The first of two groups trying to get vacation home rental ballot measures to the voters in November has submitted signatures to the South Lake Tahoe City Clerk. On Monday, April 30, the Tahoe Neighborhoods Group turned in 1,651 signatures on petitions they circulated through South Lake Tahoe. Those signatures will now be sent to the elections department of El Dorado County for certification.

The "South Lake Tahoe Vacation Home Rentals Restrictions Initiative" may be added to the ballot in November should proponents get enough signatures to put it there.

Created by the Sustainable Community Alliance (SCA), a group in South Lake Tahoe, the initiative is giving voters another chance to voice their opinion about vacation home rentals (VHRs) and should be on the ballot along with another initiative that wants to ban VHRs.

South Lake Tahoe joins at least 114 other entities in California in banning polystyrene, a type of plastic manufactured from non-renewable fossil fuels and synthetic chemicals that is not biodegradable and becoming a concern across the country.

Starting October 1, 2018, certain single use expanded polystyrene and plastic products will be banned in the City limits "in order to reduce and prevent the presence of this type of litter in the environment and to promote environmentally sustainable practices."

Included in the ban:

Twenty-two injured veterans will arrive at the Reno-Tahoe airport Sunday evening and head to Squaw Valley / Alpine Meadows for 3rd annual Military to the Mountains program through March 17, 2018.

Eight of the veterans are residents of the Reno/Sparks area and will join the arrival celebration at 7:45 p.m. at the airport near the ski statue.

The week long adaptive ski week is sponsored by High Fives Foundation, Adaptive Training Foundation, City of Reno, Achieve Tahoe and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - Small businesses in the South Lake Tahoe area are now able to receive mall business consulting through a partnership between Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce (Tahoe Chamber) and the Sierra Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Meyers, the commercial, public services, and recreation hub of unincorporated El Dorado County at the South Shore may soon have a new area plan and there are three upcoming public meetings on the plan. It could be adopted at the third meeting, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) board meeting on February 28.

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.

Today, the Sierra Club released a new report showcasing 10 U.S. cities that have made ambitious commitments to be powered with 100 percent clean, renewable energy like wind and solar. View the report: https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/blog/RF100-CaseStudies_2017.pdf

This is the second annual case studies report from Ready For 100, a Sierra Club campaign launched in 2016 working in cities across the United States, including South Lake Tahoe, to accelerate a just and equitable transition to 100 percent clean energy.

Meyers, the commercial, public services, and recreation hub of unincorporated El Dorado County at the South Shore may soon have a new area plan.

The Meyers Area Plan is the comprehensive long-term plan for the Meyers Community and, if approved, will replace the original Meyers Community Plan (MCP) adopted in 1993. The MCP currently serves as the comprehensive land use and zoning plan for the community of Meyers, consistent with the Lake Tahoe Regional Plan and the El Dorado County General Plan. It was originally meant to last a decade, not the almost 25 years its been in place.

Lake Tahoe Unified School District is looking for volunteers to help them in their quest to help students with a healthy lifestyle as well as their efforts to be sustainable and use of renewable energy.

Community members with an interest or expertise in any of these areas are encouraged to join one of the following committees:

Wellness Committee – Nutrition, Wellness Committee – Physical Education and Activity, and Renewable Energy and Sustainability Committee

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

The 26 members of the 2017-2018 Leadership Lake Tahoe class have been announced. They will start their ten-month long journey on September 13.

Anjie Goulding - Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Athena Adler - Harrah's & Harveys Lake Tahoe
Brittani Curtis - Tahoe Chamber
Carissa Bisnar - CB Umbrella Group
Carl Franz - Genentech
Eanad Lott - Live Violence Free
Hannah Greenstreet- Live Violence Free/LTUSD
Jason Burke - City of South Lake Tahoe
Jeremy Brown - Lake Tahoe Community College
Julie Lucksinger - Lake Valley Properties
Katharine Miller - El Dorado County Library

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.

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.

Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz announced today that his company has committed to zero net emissions by 2030, zero waste to landfill by 2030 and zero net operating impact to forests and habitat.

"Everything we do at Vail Resorts is driven by the spectacular natural environments where our employees, guests and communities live, work and play," Katz said in a press release. "The environment – and our stakeholders’ passion for it – is our business, and we have a special obligation to protect it."

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.