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The third annual Mental Health Forum in South Lake Tahoe today brought together almost 60 people who are dedicated to helping the mental and behavioral health in the community.

Hosted by Barton Health, this year's forum participants shared the progress they've made on strategies for mental health and local service gaps that were generated during the 2015 event.

Jeanne Nelson from the South Lake Tahoe chapter of NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) was very pleased with the outcome Thursday.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Code has changed, much to the appreciation of both homeowners and contractors who had to deal with different codes, depending on the location of the home, City or in the County.

The council voted to remove restrictions on the fire sprinkler code (Chapter 5.20) to be more in line with Lake Valley Fire District. The City's stricter code confused contractors who build houses in the city, and in the county, and it was also found to be cost prohibitive for homeowners wishing to remodel.

Tibetan monks from the Gaden Shartse Monastery are returning to South Lake Tahoe from April 1 to April 6 with a full schedule of ancient and colorful participatory activities, Dharma talks, meditations, and cultural rituals to promote inner healing.

Events, unless otherwise noted, will be at the Blue Angel Cafe, located at 1132 Ski Run Blvd.

All events are donation based and all proceeds will go towards funding the construction of the Phukhang College House at Gaden Shartse, which houses over 600 exiled monks in the Tibetan Refugee Zone in India.

As we welcome in 2016, the City of South Lake Tahoe would like to reflect on the accomplishments of 2015. The following is a summary of accomplishments during 2015.

Strategic Priority: Fiscal Sustainability
The most important issue facing cities and local agencies is continued steadfast attention to the budget, both short term and long term fiscal impacts.
· FY 15/16 budget adopted on time and without use of alternative revenues (3rd consecutive year).
· Adopted 5-year Financial Forecast and 5-Year Capital Investment Plan.

With more than 4,000 acres of land in the Lake Tahoe basin being burned by the U.S. Forest Service annually, prescribed burns have become an important part of keeping forests healthy.

On Thursday, I followed the Tallac Hotshots as well as Engines 41 and 42 from the U.S. Forest Service as they burned an eight acre parcel off Grass Lake Road in Christmas Valley.

South Lake Tahoe has seen a lot of change over the last few years, some small project and some large.

Two businesses are jumping in on the action, one by opening three new doors, the other moving down a few doors into a new building.

Chad Tripp opened Bear Bottom Bargains two weeks ago at 1950 Lake Tahoe Blvd. He started three thrift stores in the center that also houses Tile Outlet. One store focuses on furniture, another household items and the third one, upstairs, has sporting equipment and clothing.

The public will have a chance to learn about sustainable landscaping in Lake Tahoe at the 8th Annual Conservation Landscape Tour on August 19. The tour will begin at the Lake Tahoe Community College Demonstration Garden and continue down Pioneer Trail towards Meyers Station.

Get inspired to transform your home’s landscape into a mountain oasis at the 8th Annual Conservation Landscape Tour on Wednesday, August 19 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This year’s theme is discovering the many approaches to Tahoe Friendly Landscaping.

Chautauqua performer Michael E. Fischer will portray Carson Valley rancher Heinrich F. Dangberg in a free presentation at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

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Not only are eight South Lake Tahoe Police Department employees being honored during a ceremony on Thursday, May 14, two K9s will be officially sworn in.

The annual ceremony is held in conjunction with National Peace Officer’s Memorial Week. This year, the awards will be given during part of the City of South Lake Tahoe's 50th Anniversary celebration.

I, like many of the other citizens of this beautiful city, enjoy the recent tourist-friendly developments created in the last decade. However, the city should place greater emphasis in revitalizing the run-down residential roads because the lack of sidewalks in these areas is unacceptable. As a solution, the city should begin projects to build sidewalks in residential areas because our residents would enjoy living a healthier lifestyle as well as experience an increase in their property values.

A public workshop on the City of South Lake Tahoe's vacation home rental policy (VHR) will be held on March 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber.

Excessive noise, trash and parking issues are some of the main complaints voiced by neighbors of vacation homes so the City wants to address all concerns. Those concerned neighbors as well as vacation homeowners, rental companies and hotels are invited to attend the meeting.

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.

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) -- At first, Loly Garcia didn't have to travel far to her jobs in the chic hotels of this fabled tourist town. She shared a tiny studio apartment with her father, brother and a cousin after arriving from El Salvador more than 20 years ago.

But after she married and wanted a home of her own, she had to drive 23 miles west, past tracts of empty land and vacant mansions whose owners visit only a couple of weeks a year, to the mobile home park where she now lives.

During last week's Loop Road open house, residents and businesspeople gave their input on what they felt the US Highway 50/South Shore Community Revitalization project should offer.

Results show that 82% of the people participating believe the most important goal is to beautify the corridor and create gathering spaces for locals and visitors.

Another 67% of the respondents believe there should be efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve mobility options, 60% said the project should revitalize the area and boost economic development.

Earlier this year the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) purchased three properties in order to provide open space, improve water quality and remove blight.

The first of these properties, the Alta Mira Building, was demolished this week.

"We hope these acquisitions will be just the first wave of our renewed
efforts to partner with the City in helping to revitalize South Lake Tahoe," Tom Davis said in May when the Conservancy Board voted to purchase the building for $2.5 million. He sits on both the Conservancy Board and South Lake Tahoe City Council.

After the frantic pace of home sales in South Lake Tahoe over the past two years, things are starting to slow down to a more level pace. Home sales in South Lake Tahoe, California dropped 13% in the month of July, mainly due to the fact that there is a lower inventory of homes priced under $300,000. Homes priced between $435,000 and $650,000 actually saw a rise in closed sales, up 20.5%. There was a huge surge in home sales from 670 a year in 2012, to a peak of 790 for the year ending in May of 2013, back to 678 for the past 12 months.

By the end of 2014 there will be a new casino on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. Park Tahoe Casino Resort will be the new name of the property currently known as the Horizon, according to Jon Park.

"Our family has a long history in Lake Tahoe and we are so excited to be a part of the continued success of the Lake Tahoe market," Jon Park said. "The renovations we have planned for the Project will be a major part of the continued vision of the South Shore Area Plan."

Northern Nevada students and others are holding "Walk for Philippines Typhoon Victims" starting at University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) on November 24 in support of the victims of deadly super-typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), one of the most powerful ever recorded on land.

October 20-26 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and the City of South Lake Tahoe is joining agencies across the country to help bring awareness to the public about the harms of lead.

This year’s theme is "Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future” which emphasizes the many ways parents can reduce a child’s exposure to lead and prevent its serious health effects.

October 20-26, 2013 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

Lead is highly toxic and can harm your child’s brain, causing lifelong learning and behavior problems. Children under age six are most at risk for lead poisoning, but there are also significant health risks for adults, newborns and pregnant women too.

Lead dust in the home is caused by chipping, peeling, flaking or deteriorating lead-based paint. Lead dust is not the same as household dust. Lead dust is often invisible, heavier, and stickier. It can be present in even the cleanest of homes.

Join UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center for an Open House at the Tahoe City Field Station (Historic Hatchery) at 2400 Lake Forest Road from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 15. Visitors can tour the historic building, talk to TERC scientists about their work, and learn something new about Lake Tahoe. Local garden clubs will be on hand to give plant selection and gardening advice, and Red Truck of Truckee will sell food and beverages.

The Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center will host its holiday gala on Saturday, Dec. 1.The museum will be filled with gingerbread houses, decorated Christmas trees and the scent of cookies. Th...