Linda Dean, from the Senior Information and Assistance Program for El Dorado County, on Nov. 15 at 3pm will provide an overview of programs and assistance available to older adults in El Dorado County.
At the conclusion of the program participants may complete a survey about what services they would like.
The meeting is at the library in South Lake Tahoe — 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd.
For additional information, call (530) 573.3185.
The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is proposing to thin trees and brush on National Forest System lands near Incline Village to reduce wildfire risk and restore forest health.
The LTBMU is seeking public input on the Incline Fuels Reduction and Healthy Forest Restoration project until Nov. 28.
The project area includes 3,927 acres of National Forest System lands on the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe, from the California-Nevada state line to Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.
The proposed work would provide defensible space for nearby communities while reducing the risk of wildfire and its impacts to commercial, private and public property. The project would also reduce tree density to improve the health of remaining trees and restore vegetation such as aspen, alder, willow and meadow grasses and shrubs by removing encroaching conifer trees.
Work would consist of hand and mechanical cutting of brush and trees, which would then be removed for biomass, chipped, masticated, or piled for prescribed burning. Piles would be burned approximately one to three years later, once the fuels are dry. Work would begin as early as fall 2012 and could take three to five years to complete.
The proposed action and a map of the project area are available at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Forest Supervisor’s office, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, or online.
For more information, contact Duncan Leao at (530) 543.2600 or Paul Guarnaccia at (530) 543.2898 or email comments-pacificsouthwest-ltbmu@fs.fed.us using the subject: Incline Project.
By Matt Weiser, Sacramento Bee
Leaders of the California parks department on Tuesday were unable to explain to lawmakers the full list of criteria they used to pick 70 state parks for closure.
One-fourth of the state’s 278 parks are set to be shuttered by next July, a move required by budget cutbacks. The parks agency must trim $11 million in the current fiscal year, and another $11 million in the next.
Some of the parks slated for closure by July 1 are encumbered by legal restrictions that could result in lawsuits. Others are defined by the state as “outstanding” resources that require special protection.
Some house a wealth of historical artifacts that must be carefully packed, shipped and stored to protect them from vandals and thieves.
Parks officials said at an Assembly oversight hearing that the closure list was assembled by a dozen park executives who met for three weeks.
They looked at park revenue, visitation, maintenance needs and historical value – criteria approved by the Legislature in Assembly Bill 95 in March.
But they otherwise used largely subjective criteria and used no formal ranking method, said Bill Herms, deputy director of the department.
The North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Winter Recreation Lunch on Nov. 17 at noon, with an 11:30am registration check-in at the Olympic Village Lodge (formerly Olympic Village Inn), 1909 Chamonix Place in Olympic Valley.
This event is geared to provide insight about winter happenings, including events, festivals and activities, to frontline, front desk, cashier, wait staff and concierge employees, along with business owners and managers. Attendees may give a brief presentation at the lunch, as well as provide 80 brochures or other pieces of collateral to be distributed during the event. This luncheon sells out, so early sign ups are recommended. Deadline to register is Nov. 11.
Cost is $30/person for chamber members and $40/person for non-members and includes lunch.
For more information about the event, to register or provide collateral, call Kym Fabel, North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce manager, at (530) 581.8764 or kym@puretahoenorth.com. Go online to download a registration form, then go to Programs and Documents.
“Consider the Conversation” is a documentary done by Terry Kaldhusdal, a teacher and filmmaker from Wisconsin as well Mike Bernhagen, the director of community outreach and care partner relations at Rainbow Hospice in Wisconsin.
Together they joined forces to create a documentary exploring the American struggle with communication and preparation for the end-of-life. This film explores multiple perspectives on end-of-life care and includes information from medical personnel, patients, family, clergy, and national experts from around the country. Featured is Martin Welsh, a physician from Placerville and his challenges with ALS.
The film will be shown for free Nov. 17 at 1pm at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.
Tahoe Regional Young Professionals will bring the Lake Tahoe community together to raise funds for Tahoe Youth & Family Services on Nov. 19 from 6-10pm at Riva Grill in South Lake Tahoe.
TRYP’s Winter White Holiday Party not only benefits a family in need, but provides an opportunity for locals from around the basin to get to know one another.
The evening includes live entertainment, holiday games and door and raffle prizes donated by local businesses including ski resorts tickets, gear tune-ups, wine tasting, and more.
Attendees are encouraged to wear “winter white” (though not required). Light hors d’oeuvres will be served and drinks will be available for purchase.
Tickets are $15 in advance at Tahoe Production House (2291 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe) and Lake Tahoe TV (3445 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Ste. A, South Lake Tahoe) or $20 at the door.
Cash or checks will be accepted.
Questions, tickets, volunteer opportunities or to donate raffle prizes, email TahoeTRYP@gmail.com.
Updated Nov. 2 4:08pm:
The Stampede Fire has been contained and firefighting resources are being released. Mop-up is continuing. The cause is still under investigation.
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Tahoe National Forest officials are reporting a 1.5 acre fire northeast of Stampede Reservoir (east of Truckee).
It is burning in timber and brush and was reported earlier this morning.
Approximately 20 firefighters are on scene. The smoke is visible from Interstate 80 and Highway 89.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
All things South Shore related will be on the agenda of what is being called the inaugural joint session between the South Lake Tahoe City Council and Douglas County Commission.
While the electeds will begin the Nov. 4 meeting with lunch at noon at Edgewood Tahoe in Stateline, the formal meeting begins at 1pm. It is expected to last at least three hours.
Topics on the agenda include the South Shore Vision Plan, Loop Road, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Regional Plan Update, and regional partnerships.
• Time to sleep in – at least for an hour. On Nov. 6 at 2am those in California and Nevada — and other places — return to standard time.
• Lake Tahoe Community College’s DVD borrowing program has more than 1,000 discs – to view – for free.
• There will be a Veterans’ Day observance at the American Legion Hall in South Lake Tahoe on Nov. 11 at 11am.
• Tahoe Maritime Museum in Homewood is having a free open house Nov. 19 from 10am-5pm for all Tahoe/Truckee/Reno area locals.
• The Friends of the Library Book Sale in South Lake Tahoe is Nov. 5 from 10am-3pm. The library is on Rufus Allen Boulevard.
By Kathryn Reed
With a storm brewing, Caltrans will be able to use its Roadway Weather Information Station that was installed Monday to know more about what is going on in the South Shore.
The station, which is in the maintenance yard on top of Echo Summit, is about 20-feet tall and is triangular shaped. The installation marks the end of the Echo Summit road project. That was mostly about replacing the rock guardrail.
The Echo Summit project is officially completed. Photo/LTN
The point of the weather station is to help dispatch Caltrans resources more effectively, while also helping Caltrans to inform motorists of fast-changing travel conditions.
Also, a mile of Highway 50 at the summit was paved.
The other paving project in town is wrapping up. What was slated to be a three-year endeavor may turn out to be two, but that won’t be known until the project is well under way again in 2012.
As it stands, the Trout Creek to Ski Run project – which involves water quality improvement, road surface upgrades and bike trails – is 55 percent finished after the first season.
According to Deanna Shoopman with Caltrans, Disney – the contractor, does not receive a bonus for finishing earlier.
“This is his first big contract with the state so he is excited to finish early,” Shoopman said of the contractor. “He’s coming up with a better traffic plan for next year.”
Once the project is completely finished, it will be up to the city to maintain the sidewalks. However, Shoopman said Caltrans will not be plowing the sidewalks this winter despite that they are under the state’s responsibility until the project is done.
The city and Caltrans are still negotiating whose responsibility it is this winter to keep those sidewalks clear.
When the contractor leaves for good, anything behind the curb will be South Lake Tahoe’s responsibility, while the street is still the state’s job to clear.
An ordinance mandating private property owners shovel their walkways in the public right-of-way is now in effect.
City Manager Tony O’Rourke said the city is meeting next week with BlueGo officials to talk about having a plan to coordinate clearing some sidewalks under the city’s responsibility at the same time bus shelters are cleared.
The city, Caltrans and Disney officials are still talking regarding who shovels the sidewalks this winter. A resolution may be needed by Friday based on the forecast.