affordable

What started as a project started in a Southern California dorm room by a South Tahoe High graduate has grown into an organization that helps out those in need throughout Africa.

John Cefalu was just 18 years old when he started making soap in his dorm room. He decided to leave the world better than he had found it. Those small efforts in the dorm were the beginnings of Health 2 Humanity.

After a successful season of bringing unique live music to South Lake Tahoe, the FNCTN Winter Music Series hosts its season finale concert with the funky, soulful sounds of San Francisco’s NURELIX inside the Lake Tahoe Golf Course Clubhouse.

"We saved our hidden gem for the end and I truly think everyone will be surprised with NURELIX; they give a modern touch to an old school flavor," states Nick Rogers of FNCTN Productions.

Heavenly Mountain Resort added summertime activities to the top of the gondola last summer but that was only the beginning if the Epic Discovery Project gets approval from the necessary agencies.

Live music, painting, giveaways and local sponsor and non-profit booths will all be part of the action as the FNCTN Winter Music Series has it's second event of the season. It will be rocking inside the Lake Tahoe Golf Course on Friday, January 23, 2015. Top S.F. Bay Area band Forrest Day and funky jam band Big Sticky Mess will both perform at the clubhouse.

Doors open at 8:00 p.m. and admission is $10 (FREE on your birthday) with affordable drink options available to suit a ski bum budget including Redbull with Tahoe Blue Vodka.

Tahoe Douglas Rotarian Joe Zarachoff has been in Pasadena all week, preparing to participate in the 126th annual Tournament of Roses Parade. Zarachoff, who owns Affordable Business Services on the South Shore, is the current District Governor for Rotary District 5190. This year will be the 36th year Rotary has had a float in the parade and the third straight year that the District Governor from Zarachoff's district has walked with, or rode on, the float.

"I am honored to be here representing our District," Zarachoff said.

H & R Block and El Dorado Community Health Centers are joining to host a community event. The Affordable Care Act is confusing and we are here to help. We will have enrollment agents available to help you sign up for health care and to answer questions about enrollment. We will have tax professionals available to answer questions about the ACA will affect your taxes including Tax Credits, Individual Mandate and Exemptions.

The event is on Monday, December 8 at the H & R Block offices at 1068 Emerald Bay Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 from 9 a.m. to noon.

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During Wednesday night's community Open House concerning the proposed Loop Road project in South Lake Tahoe, people can preview the plans and provide feedback on any elements of the plan.

From 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel, staff members from supporting agencies will be on hand to present the proposed plan for the U.S. Hwy 50 Revitalization Plan (also known as the Loop Road).

Known as the "Loop Road," the U.S. 50/South Shore Community Revitalization Project is about two months away from having its environmental analysis completed. Expecting that completion in January, 2015, the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) is holding a community meeting will update people on the plan to realign traffic through the casino corridor.

Planners are working on a concept with a more walkable, bikeable and transit friendly "main street" from Pioneer Trail's intersection with Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe to the loop road to the east side of MontBleu.

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:

Tahoe Arts Project has announced the return of their Holiday Festival! The 3rd annual event will be held for two days this year, November 15 and 16.

They are looking for crafters and artists, from beginner to professionals. All items must be handmade and no imports will be allowed.

Booth prices are $100 for a 10 x 10 booth space with no additional commission fees charged. There are also have 6 x 7 booth spaces available for $75. Booth Fee's are for BOTH days, making it affordable when compared to other events.

This season, skiers and snowboarders can travel to a top-rated ski resorts and have space to work. The Tahoe Mountain Lab opened on Ski Run Blvd last year and gives locals and travelers the opportunity to have a dedicated workspace when they need it and now members can travel to other ski resort towns and use other locations.

Other mountain communities that offer the same workspace opportunities are located in Frisco, Avon, Basalt and Durango, Colorado, Jackson Hole, Wyoming as well as in both North and South Lake Tahoe.

No, it's not Christmas yet, but its not too early for Tahoe Arts Project to start planning their annual Holiday Festival. They are looking for crafters and artists to fill booths for the two day event on November 15 and 16.

TAP had such a successful event last year that they've expanded it to two days and have opened signups for booth space. The festival also includes food, entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus.

They encourage all types of handmade goods and no imported items are permitted.

There are several choices for South Lake Tahoe voters in Tuesday's primary election.

Local Issues and Offices
El Dorado County Supervisor: Kevin Brown, Kenny Curtzwiler, Gerri Grego, Sue Novasel, Teresa Piper, Angela Swanson

Assessor - Karl Weiland

Auditor/Controller - Michael Owens, Joe Horn

District Attorney - Judson Henry, Vern Pierson

Recorder Clerk/Registrar of Voters - Chris Amaral, Bill Schultz

Sheriff - John D'Agostini

Surveyor - Rich Briner

Treasurer/Tax Collector - Ron Briggs, C.L. Raffety

Lake Vista Apartments is a 4.6 acre, 64-unit deed restricted affordable housing project on lower Kingsbury Grade in Stateline, Nevada. It was built in 2000 under a special agreement with the TRPA to replenish the Nevada side's affordable housing stock after the number of units at the complex on Kahle Drive was dramatically reduced in order to restore the meadow. The complex was built on a USDA affordable housing tax credit program which specified a minimum of 15 years of affordable housing use.

This year, Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) is celebrating its 40th year of serving the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding communities. In my three years working at LTCC, it is clear to me that the college is here in this beautiful location because a group of dedicated people had a vision of higher education in Tahoe, and the determination to make sure it happened. We are now at a crossroads due to changes in funding, community college priorities, and statutes.

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What could be the last of its kind for some time in South Lake Tahoe, The Aspens at South Lake is celebrating its completion with a grand opening on Thursday, February 27.

The new affordable housing complex is 48 units and cost about $9.5 million to build. 47 of the units will be assisted units which are based on income needs and will likely be filled by service industry employees and single parents with entry level jobs. The Aspens bring the total number of affordable housing units in South Lake Tahoe to 350.

Over 100 members of the South Lake Tahoe community attended the 3rd Annual Tahoe Chamber Community breakfast on Tuesday where they shared their visions of what was needed for success.

Those attending broke up into group discussions on a few topics including what they felt small businesses in the area need in order to be better prepared. Since the event was put on the by chamber, there was also discussion was about what the TahoeChamber.org could provide to improve their member's experiences.

There are a few upcoming Chamber events to highlight:

Passengers will be riding Blue GO buses along Highway 50 for free through January 5. Routes 50 and 53 run from the "Y" to the Kahle Community Center from 5 am to 11 pm.

Tahoe Transportation District is offering the free rides to keep cars off the road during the higher traffic holiday season and to show riders how they can help the South Lake Tahoe air quality and to see how convenient, comfortable and affordable the bus system is.

Two local businesswomen, Marianna Lucido and Suzette Waite, have teamed together to start a new company called Lake Tahoe Cosmetics. Their vision is to offer women a complete, affordable cosmetics line that gives them a finished, glamorous look, and also fits the lifestyle of living in Lake Tahoe. These products are made with the highest quality ingredients that create a light and natural feeling and provide a flawless, long-lasting look that is compatible with our mountain climate.

Governors from eight states this week announced a groundbreaking initiative to put 3.3 million zero-emission vehicles on the roads in their states within a dozen years.

If you’re looking for business assistance at an affordable rate, this is the workshop series for you. Mann, Urrutia, Nelson, CPAs & Associates (MUN CPAs), will present this three-part workshop series for business owners. The workshops will take place October 23, October 30, and November 6, at 10am in the TahoeChamber Conference Room.

October 23: The different options for structuring your company: Sole Proprietor, LLC, S Corporation - How should you be structuring your busines?

David Kelly of South Lake Tahoe has been recognized by the State of California’s Department of Rehabilitation as one of the “50 Notable People in the Disability Community.”

H&R Block Income Tax Course enrollment and Job Fair on September 11th
Course teaches fundamentals of tax preparation

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Does your business or home have inadequate Internet service? Or maybe you don't have Internet service at all.
The Gold Country Broadband Consortium is working to provide choices for affordable Internet service throughout a four-county region, including the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The Consortium is hosting a meeting on Monday, June 24, to hear residents' and business' concerns about Internet service in the South Lake Tahoe and Meyers areas. The meeting will be from 6:45 to 8 p.m. at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Complex, 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd. (Aspen Room).