winter

We are ready for some glad tidings this holiday season. While we look forward to the spirit of generosity and warmth the season brings, many are also hoping the New Year will deliver a meaningful reset. Propelling ourselves forward and out of crisis will require fortitude and drive. The pending vaccine is a bright spot on the horizon, but there are other positive indicators for better days to come.

California has permitted ski resorts to continue to operate under our state-approved winter operating plans as outdoor recreation has been identified as an important outlet for personal health and wellness. Heavenly Mountain Resort, Northstar California Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort will remain open for skiing and riding during California’s Regional Stay at Home Order.

Barton Health has welcomed Alexander Manteghi, DO, to the team of providers as its new Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) physician in South Lake Tahoe. Dr. Manteghi
is treating children and adults, delivering a full array of surgical and non-surgical ENT medical services; including allergy therapy, treatments for ear and throat infections, sinus and nasal issues, head and neck illnesses, snoring, voice, and hearing problems.

In a year filled uncertainties and safety mandates, many have been anxiously awaiting the ski season at Lake Tahoe. Heavenly Mountain Resort opened last week, and now their sister Vail property, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, has opened.

As long as allowed, Kirkwood's winter operating plan is focused on comprehensive safety protocols, Kirkwood opened Friday with more than 180 acres of beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain.

Farwell 2020! We will always remember this year, but for most of us, we are also ready to kiss it goodbye with a swift kick to the curb. Our community, like all communities has been hard hit with lost income, closed businesses, stay at home orders, COVID and virtually learning at home. We have missed socializing, travelling, entertaining and being entertained, enjoying our extended family and cannot even see a friend’s smile behind their mask. We missed so much of 2020 and it has hurt, to be honest.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) announced late Wednesday that they will be staying on distance learning until at least January 8, 2021.

Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in the area, District officials said they are concerned for the health and safety of staff and students. With Winter Break starting December 21 they said the likelihood of a significant decrease in community spread before then. School will not be in session until January 4.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of the long term and short term projects the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled for the week around Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra and El Dorado County. At this time there is no work scheduled for the South Lake Tahoe area.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

Over the past ten years, the South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge has donated 50 Christmas food boxes annually to local families, delivering the boxes in recent years to the South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center for distribution to families in need.

These boxes contained a complete Christmas Ham dinner for a family of four, plus enough extra food to last for several additional meals. But, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year the Lodge was unable to hold its normal fundraisers and food collections to put the boxes together.

If those who attended the first Thanksgiving in 1621 happened to time travel and visit the 2020 version, what would they think of our version of the holiday?

That first celebration wasn't called Thanksgiving, they didn't have potatoes or pumpkin pie, but they did have a feeling of gratitude and thankfulness over the three-day celebration after a successful harvest.

Thanksgiving is based on the idea that we should all take time to count our blessings at least once a year and to celebrate it with family and friends.

Sugar Bowl Resort and Royal Gorge Cross Country will open for the 2020/21 winter season on Friday, November 27, 2020 with new safety procedures.

“We are eager to welcome our guests back to the mountain and are thrilled that opening day is just a week away,” said Greg Dallas, President and CEO of Sugar Bowl/Royal Gorge. “Our team has worked tirelessly on a reopening plan that keeps the safety of our guests and staff as the top priority.”

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of the long term and short term projects the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled for the week around Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra and El Dorado County. At this time there is no work scheduled for the South Lake Tahoe area.

Most traffic-interfering work will be restricted from 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 until 10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

ALPINE COUNTY, Calif. - The least populated county in California is just to the south of Lake Tahoe. Alpine County, population about 1,200, includes the towns of Markleeville, Woodfords, Kirkwood and Bear Valley. While not big, Alpine County is experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases just like the rest of the country.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The overnight snow storm that hit the Sierra Tuesday night left over a foot of snow on the mountains around Lake Tahoe.

Ten inches of new snow fell overnight at Homewood Mountain Resort’s summit on Lake Tahoe’s west shore, and two inches at the base (lake level). With a winter storm warning in effect until 6:00 p.m. tonight, the National Weather Service forecast is calling for another 4-8” of snow throughout the day today, and 1-3” tonight.

Heavenly staff reports 16" of snow overnight.

North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts and California State Parks are scheduled to continue prescribed fire operations this week, weather permitting. Smoke may be visible.

Scheduled operations at five locations this week:

Sugar Pine State Park - California State Parks, West of Hwy 89, along S Fire Rd and Campground Rd, 20.00 acres

Burton Creek State Park - California State Parks, North of Rocky Ridge, West of
North Tahoe High School, 17.00 acres

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are two new weather watches issued for the Lake Tahoe Basin this week, but most of the impacts will be above the 6500 foot elevation.

First come the winds. A High Wind Watch is in effect Tuesday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Winds will be front the south 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. Stronger wind gusts to 75 mph are possible in Nevada for wind-prone areas along and west of Highway 395 and Interstate 580. Exposed ridges are likely to gust over 100 mph.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With an early snow storm dropping almost a foot of snow around Lake Tahoe last week, and another few days of possible snow on the way, Southwest Gas is reminding its customers to start preparing for the winter months now. Customers living in areas that receive heavy snowfall need to take extra precautions to keep their natural gas meters and piping safe.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) will begin conducting prescribed fire operations in the Lake Tahoe Basin this week, weather and conditions permitting.

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District is scheduled to being operations Monday at Diamond Peak Ski Resort (50 acres) and later near War Bonnet Way/Peace Pipe Lane in Incline Village (20 acres).

California State Parks is scheduled to begin operations at Burton Creek (17 acres) and Sugar Pine Point (20 acres) state parks beginning as early as Tuesday.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the Lake Tahoe Basin from 7:00 p.m. Saturday, November 7 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday, November 8.

A total of 3"-6" of snow is expected with upper elevations seeing up to 10" of snow.

There are current chain controls on SR88 from Silver Lake to Picketts Junction but the new storm approaches expect chain requirements on all main highways and passes.

The three-day forecast for South Lake Tahoe from the National Weather Service in Reno:

The South Lake Tahoe Library is holding a parking lot/sidewalk book sale on Saturday, November 14th from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tables will be set up with a great selection of books to choose from.

Prices are only $5 a bag and $1 per large, coffee table books. Great selection for fireside reading this winter.

For the health and safety of all, masks will be worn, entry will be monitored to one person (or family group) per table and hand sanitizer will be available. At check-out, correct change is appreciated.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has begun closing recreational facilities for the winter season. Seasonal closures apply to many National Forest recreation sites in the Tahoe Basin including beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas and forest roads.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of the long term and short term projects the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled for the week around Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra and El Dorado County.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Long after the fire trucks have come and gone, the threat to a community impacted by wildfire remains. It’s a less obvious threat than a towering inferno destroying homes and ripping through forests and hillsides. It is a hidden threat that arrives with winter rains and California Conservation Corps Corpsmembers are helping communities stay safe from it—toxic runoff, including those from the South Lake Tahoe center.

There are those that would say 2020 is hands down the scariest Halloween movie ever and yeah, I wouldn’t argue with that. The script for this year has certainly freaked everybody out. Add to that an election year and the advent of modern day zombies who’ve been quarantined a little too long and you have the ultimate scary flick that appears to have no ending. Are you wearing your mask? Yeah, I’d rather be scared by a movie and not real life if that’s okay?

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following is a list of the long term and short term projects the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled for the week around Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra and El Dorado County.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS