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Friday's board meeting of the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) was delayed almost two hours due to ice on the road near near Zephyr Cove, causing it to close, and those weren't the only icy conditions on the South Shore that day.

The other ice could be felt during the meeting as conflict of interest, ethics, integrity, suspicious actions and lack of transparency were the theme of the day.

All three items on the agenda Friday were placed there amid a stressed relationship between the City of South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County and Patrick Wright, the Executive Director of the CTC.

Four years ago this month, TRPA approved the 2012 Regional Plan. The landmark plan charts a course to restore Lake Tahoe’s environment and revitalize our communities and it was forged through Herculean work by California, Nevada, local governments, the public, and dozens of other partners.

Many Tahoe Basin stakeholders once questioned if we could work together, but the Regional Plan ushered in an era of collaboration. Today, the answer is how can we work together more efficiently. By building and strengthening partnerships we have made remarkable progress. This year was no different.

Late Friday night, the U.S. House of Representatives joined the U.S. Senate in passing the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016, which will bring $415 million in future funding to Lake Tahoe over the next seven years. The decision brought cheers from many local agencies, including the League to Save lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

A special benefit concert is being held at the Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) Duke Theater on Wednesday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m. to raise money to help a local woman battling aggressive brain cancer.

Students in the school's Rock Ensemble classes will hit the stage for an evening of classic rock n’ roll hits, some gospel, some country, and a little bit of heavy metal to raise funds for the Angie Peart Cancer Fund.

Angie Peart, who herself is a rock student herself, is the wife of the LTCC reprographics/phone operator Bob Peart. She has been battling brain cancer since 2015.

The 8th annual Barton Festival of Trees & Lights at MontBleu got underway on Thursday with the Senior Stroll, complete with an ukulele concert and treats.

Judging of the decorated trees also took place. A team of local media, chamber members and educators viewed the trees and judged them on criteria including elegance, theme and creativity.

The Best of Show and Best Interpretation of Theme awards went to "Woodland Queen."

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and South Tahoe Refuse are teaming up again this holiday season to make giving to Christmas Cheer easier than ever between December 5-11.

There are two way for community members to donate, making it easy to help make the holidays brighter for those less fortunate.

South Tahoe Refuse & Recycling is holiday their Community Holiday Food & Toy Drive December 7 through December 11. Leave canned and packaged food along with toys on the curb during your regular collection day, or drop off at South Tahoe Refuse, 2140 Ruth Ave, during business hours.

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Ring in the holiday spirit at Barton Health’s eighth annual Festival of Trees & Lights. The winter celebration features events and entertainment starts Thursday, December 1 and continues through Sunday, December 4 at MontBleu Resort on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe.

“The Festival of Trees & Lights provides a warm and family-friendly atmosphere to inspire people to get into the spirit of holiday giving,” says Kindle Craig, the director of the Barton Foundation. “All the money raised goes back into the community and supports health and wellness programs.”

Jonathan and Svetlana Lang were selected as winners of a new spa as part of the Spas for a Cause raffle contest to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Tony Grasso, owner of Hot Springs Portable Spas in Carson City, presented the winners with their prize on Thursday inside the lobby at Heritage Bank. The model on display for the contest is bright pink, but Grasso said the winner has the option to choose a color of their choice.

Grasso said his company donated the spa, and that all of the money raised goes to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

DRIVETHEARC, a corridor of electric vehicle (EV) fast charging stations spanning from Monterey to Lake Tahoe, broke ground today with a ribbon cutting ceremony in El Dorado Hills, Calif.

The new EV travel highway is the result of an agreement between the State of California and New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan's largest public research and development company.

Also in this partnership is the Nissan Motor Co., Nissan North America, Kanematsu and EVgo.

Barton Health grants were distributed to nine South Lake Tahoe organizations who address the most pressing health needs of the community: mental health, substance abuse and access to health care services.

During a recent luncheon, grants were handed out to Live Violence Free, Lake Tahoe Unified School District, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - El Dorado Chapter, SOS Outreach, South Tahoe Family Resource Center, Tahoe Art League, Tahoe Magic, Tahoe Turning Point, and Tahoe Youth & Family Services.

Measure P, the two percent raise in transient occupancy tax for lodging properties in the City limits, has passed by a fairly large margin. With 100 percent of the precincts counted, a "yes" vote of 3,214 to 1,537 has passed by a 35.30 percent difference in the unofficial results.

The measure will use the funds raised by the extra tax to support recreational improvements in the City. A new recreation center, competitive pool and ball courts are in the plans.

All candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council were given the same questions. With just one day to go to the elections, we will be featuring their answers and a video of their interview with Tahoe Regional Young Professionals through the day.

Jason Collin, 43, Administrative Director of Post-Acute Services & Owner/Race Director for Epic Tahoe Adventures, 8 years living in Tahoe.

Discuss your interest in serving on City Council. What is your prior experience in working with civic, community or governmental organizations?

All candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council were given the same questions. With just one day to go to the elections, we will be featuring their answers and a video of their interview with Tahoe Regional Young Professionals through the day.

Ted Long, 77, attorney and lecturer, 21 years full time skiing here since 1965.

Discuss your interest in serving on City Council. What is your prior experience in working with civic, community or governmental organizations

The popular “Plates for Powder” program and offers skiers and boarders two free lift tickets at one of ten resorts in Lake Tahoe if they purchase the new Lake Tahoe license plate in either California or Nevada.

“The mountains are covered in white from this weekend’s storm signaling that ski season is almost here,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “Get ready to ski at one of the 10 resorts in Tahoe who generously support this great program by purchasing your new California or Nevada Tahoe plate today.”

Dear South Lake Tahoe Community,

I first met Nick Exline at an event where we had the opportunity to meet Democratic congressional candidate Dr. Bob Derlet. Nick asked about carbon markets and the related benefits to our Sierra Nevada economy. As a watershed scientist, I was impressed by Nick’s informed and thoughtful question. I enjoyed meeting a South Lake Tahoe resident who possessed a strong background in environmental science, as well as a thoughtful man who had ideas about how we could turn our largest obstacles in this region into economic successes for our residents.

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Every new parent in Tahoe knows that finding quality childcare is a struggle. Facilities have long waiting lists; and only a few can offer State subsidies to low-income families.

According to Choices for Children a healthy childcare vacancy rate is 15%. That gives parents choice in where to put their child based on location, costs or personal preferences. Here in Tahoe our vacancy rate is just 5% and as our population continues to grow that percentage is likely to decrease further.

A prime piece of real estate in Tahoe City that was originally built in 1957 for housing during the 1960 Olympics has never lived up to its potential, and is now proposed for destruction to make way for a 118-room hotel.

Sold at the end of 2013, the property known as the Hendrickson Building located at the west end of Tahoe City at 255 North Lake Blvd. is being transformed into the Tahoe City Lodge.

There are many important issues concerning the Nation, California and South Lake on the November 8th ballot. Not only we will decide on who the next President is but we’ll also be voting in two City Officials, who some could argue will actually have a greater impact on our daily lives than the Nation’s Leader.

Dr. Annie Davidson should be the next LTUSD School Board member from Trustee Area #1. Since coming to Lake Tahoe, she has jumped into the community with great energy and commitment. For example, she is an adjunct faculty member of Lake Tahoe Community College and co-teacher at Tahoe Parents Nursery School with Aileen Yure and Jennifer David. She served as member of the Sierra House Elementary PTA Board as a co-grant coordinator, classroom volunteer, and also volunteers with the Coalition for the Homeless and Warm Room Advisory Council.

A controversial proposed 550-site campground on the ridgeline of the Lake Tahoe Basin at Brockway Summit appears to be history as the US Forest Service announced today that they have entered an agreement to purchase the 120 acre site between Truckee and Kings Beach.

"We're here to celebrate because we love Lake Tahoe," Nevada Senator Harry Reid said at the 20th annual Lake Tahoe Summit on Wednesday. Reid, who started the focus on Lake Tahoe along with President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore with the first Summit in 1997.

"Like a World Series team who can't rest on their laurels," said Reid, "we need to build on progress."

Reid went on with his World Series antidote and introduced the "All Star Lineup" at the 20th Summit, his last in office as he won't be seeking reelection after serving the state in Washington since 1987.

I am lucky to have lived in South Lake Tahoe for 9 years and grateful to be raising my children in such a wonderful place. I received a Masters Degree in Land Use Planning from UNR and am currently a solution oriented AICP, Senior Planner at Midkiff & Associates. My commitment to community service led me to the Leadership Lake Tahoe program, board membership with the Tahoe Drug Free Coalition, the Chamber Government Affairs Committee and the fight against climate change.

Lake Tahoe was at a crossroads in 1997. The lake’s famous water clarity, once measuring 100 feet, was declining year after year because of stormwater pollution from roads and developed areas and erosion from streams damaged by logging and cattle grazing.

The South Tahoe Chamber will be holding their annual golf tournament at the Lake Tahoe Golf Course on Tuesday, August 23. Registration will start at 7:30 a.m., shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. This is a player scramble/best ball format.

Entry fee is $95 and covers the player's green fees, cart, range balls, awards luncheon and contests. The theme is pirates and everyone is invited to decorate their carts and come dressed in their favorite pirate finery.