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Election season can be an exciting time of year with anticipation of the possibilities, but this year in South Lake Tahoe election season is full of negativity that has pitted neighbor against neighbor. One year ago I wrote an editorial "Use the election to create a community of collaboration and teamwork," and today I urge continuance of community, collaboration and teamwork.

Desperation – a state of despair, typically one that results in rash or extreme behavior.

This must be the mental state of those opposed to Measure T. The fear mongering they are resorting too has reached an all-time low. They are claiming voting YES on Measure T will: Cost us hundreds of million in lost revenue, the loss of the entire VHR TOT, cancel the Recreation Center project, cause the fire department to respond less quickly, etc… These people apparently have no shame in their desperation to sway the local voters from forcing VHRs to operate in areas where they are zoned.

The following is a Letter to the Editor from South Tahoe Public Utility District Board Member Jim Jones, a candidate for re-election:

To the Community:

STATELINE, Nev. - Local integrative veterinarian, Carrie Turner of Heal on Kingsbury Grade in Stateline, is offering pet owners even more options for integrative veterinary care. Jenny Jones, physical therapist and certified canine rehabilitation therapist has partnered with Heal to provide more healing options for Lake Tahoe’s dogs and cats.

Location

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Eight of the nine City Council candidates responded to a series of questions given to them by the 100% Renewable Energy Committee. On Sunday we printed their first responses - http://southtahoenow.com/story/10/08/2018/slt-city-council-candidates-respond-100-renewable-committe... - and here are the remaining questions and answers:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Each of the nine candidates for City Council answered the same ten questions that were given to them by South Tahoe Now. For nine consecutive days the candidate's responses will be shared in the order received.

Today, Hal Cole gives his responses as he attempts to return to the South Lake Tahoe City Council:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Each of the nine candidates for City Council answered the same ten questions that were given to them by South Tahoe Now. For nine consecutive days the candidate's responses will be shared in the order received.

Today, current Councilman Austin Sass shares his thoughts in his quest for another term on the South Lake Tahoe City Council:

Almost 100 volunteers participated in the League to Save Lake Tahoe's 21st annual Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day on the first day of Fall, September 22, 2018. They restored crumbling stream banks, worked to protect native species and removed litter from Nevada Beach at Lake Tahoe.

“Hands-on restoration work is one of the most important actions we can take to Keep Tahoe Blue,” says Marilee Movius, the League’s community engagement manager, “and many hands make for lighter work to help out our busy land managers.”

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and a good time to familiarize yourself with the tools, resources and steps you can take in addressing suicide.

Suicide can be prevented if the signs are detected and the right actions are taken. Healthy coping skills are critical for dealing with incidents of trauma throughout life. Unfortunately, some people find that life stressors are too difficult and some choose negative ways to cope.

The most critical warning signs of suicide are:
- Talking about wanting to die or about suicide

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As expected, the South Lake Tahoe City Council's discussion of the El Dorado County District Attorney's review of allegations of Brown Act violations made by Councilwoman Brooke Laine in April, 2018 was tense, to say the least.

With a goal of being sustainable, Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) is changing the way they provide transit in Lake Tahoe starting November 1, 2018.

"This is a reboot, not an end," said Carl Hasty, TTD District Manager at the District's board meeting Friday. "We'll all feel some pain but it's not the end."

There will be some cut routes, reduced hours, elimination of winter shuttles along with an addition of service to Meyers. Buses will now operate 14 hours a day instead of the current 20 hours.

The West Shore service (Emerald Bay Shuttle) and its connections to TahoeTruckee

Last month this column focused on the faces of Tahoe’s housing crisis. This month we look at a few promising solutions from other tourist communities.

One example is the Town of Vail’s “Vail InDEED” program. Like Tahoe, the Town of Vail is constrained by a lack of available land and high construction costs. Development of new housing is slow and costly. The Vail InDEED program was created to deed restrict existing properties to create a market for locals only.

The annual Lake Tahoe Summit held this week at Sand Harbor State Park marked the 22nd time government officials, public agencies, non-profit environmental groups, the public and other groups came together to renew their focus and commitment on preserving the beauty of Lake Tahoe.

First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers are with the communities and forests affected by the destructive and tragic wildfires across California, Nevada, and the West. Our Lake Tahoe Basin firefighters are responding to both local and national wildfires and providing assistance to those in need. I am very proud of each one and know their families go through added stress during their absence.

This time of year, wildfire suppression can overtake our thoughts and activities, however, a great amount of work is occurring around the Lake Tahoe Basin to create more resilient forests.

The follow letter was given to South Tahoe Now and mailed to the South Lake Tahoe Mayor, City Councilmembers and staff:

Dear Mayor David and Council Members:

I am writing to you as a follow-up to my letter of May 12, 2018 (see at end of story) regarding Policy Priorities and Issues for City Government.

Quality and Affordable Housing for Residents is Very Important

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - "This is a really special group," Brad Deeds, Dean of Workforce Development and Instruction at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC), told those attending Saturday's graduation of the Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy (LTBFA) class of 2018.

For the past ten months, the 18 graduating men and women have been put through the tough physical, emotional, operational and educational requirements of becoming a firefighter.

Each speaker echoed Deeds' sentiments.

The epic clarity of Lake Tahoe was measured at an average of 59.7 feet in 2017, a 9.5 foot drop from the previous year and 10.3 feet lower than the five-year average according to the annual report compiled by the Tahoe Environmental Research Center at the University of California, Davis.

This measurement surpasses the previous lowest level of 64.1 feet which was recorded in 1997, but far below the record high of over 100 feet in the mid-1960s.

Several Lake Tahoe agencies have joined together to remind residents and visitors to practice proper food storage and trash disposal at all times while in bear country. Intentional or unintentional feeding of bears can result in the bear being killed, fines and/or jail time for violators. Every year law enforcement and state wildlife officers respond to hundreds of calls in which bears may pose a public safety threat and/or are damaging property. In some cases, the animals are euthanized.

Become part of the solution and help save our Tahoe bears!

Both California and Nevada suffered destructive wildfires last year. Nevada saw 768 fires burn more than 1.3 million acres. California experienced the deadliest, largest, and most destructive wildfires in its history. Just a few hours-drive from Tahoe, more than 40 people died and thousands of homes were destroyed in the wine country and North Bay last October. In Southern California, the Thomas Fire ravaged communities and forest lands last December with damaging flooding and landslides piled on after the fire subsided.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe, Mountain Area Preservation and Sierra Watch are filing today a notice of appeal in California’s Third District Court of Appeals seeking adequate environmental protection for Lake Tahoe from the proposed Martis Valley West Project.

We can always count on either Supervisors Novasel or Ranalli starting off each VHR public meeting discussing VHR’s with the reminder that VHR’s are an allowed use for single family dwellings under TRPA’s land use Ordinances. They have attempted to make us believe the word of God (TRPA) has set this in stone, and that we should all now work together to allow these nuisance businesses to coexist in our neighborhoods.

Join the South Lake Tahoe Optimist Club at Cold Water Brewery on Tuesday, April 24 and find out more about their club and how they support local youth. The event is from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Learn a little more about what they do, the youth organizations that they support and how you can support youth organizations.

Many people donate both money and auction items to the Soroptimist of Tahoe Sierra club for their annual Elegant Evening which occurs on Saturday, April 21. What many don't know is where those donations go. There was question recently in the community about donations, so the club wanted to clear up any misunderstandings.

The club recently created a diagram to better explain where each penny goes as they don't have must left over funds after they issue scholarships, grants and other forms of financial support.

Last year’s Elegant Evening funds went to provide:

To: The Community

I am providing the following information because I can no longer be a party to the violations of law, secrecy, manipulation, lies, and power struggles that are rampant at the City today.