Updated Dec. 2 4:05pm: The tour has been canceled.

Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Green Business Cooperative is hosting the Tahoe Basin Green Tour Dec. 3 from 9am-5pm.

Tour participants will visit various lodging and dining properties around the lake to learn from locals how to implement green practices and realize cost savings along the way.

The tour is designed to be especially beneficial to lodging and dining establishments, but will cover green practices that are applicable to all business types.

Tour stops include: 968 Park Hotel, Zephyr Cove Resort, Moody’s Bistro & Lounge, Cedar House and the Rock in Truckee.

For $40, the tour includes lunch at Moody’s Bistro & Lounge, environmentally friendly transportation, and handouts with contacts from each stop.

Register by Dec. 2 online or call (775) 588.1728.

Transportation will leave from the chamber in Stateline  at 8:45am and will return by 5pm.

The El Dorado County Health Services Department, Public Health Division, is conducting a community flu shot clinic today in South Lake Tahoe from 9am to noon at the Senior Center, 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

For those individuals who cannot attend or who missed the recent series of community flu shot clinics sponsored by the Health Services Department, the seasonal flu vaccine is now also being offered by appointment at Public Health clinic locations in Placerville and South Lake Tahoe. To schedule an appointment, or for more information, call (530) 621.6100 in Placerville or (530) 573-3155 in South Lake Tahoe.

The cost for the vaccine is the same at both the community flu shot clinic and through the Public Health clinic appointments. The seasonal flu vaccine will be offered free of charge to children 6 months through 18 years of age, and Medicare Part B will be billed for people age 65 and older. There is an administration fee of $15 for people age 19 through 64, but no one will be turned away due to inability to pay. People who are severely allergic to eggs and egg products, and infants under the age of 6 months, should not get the vaccine. Individuals should consult with their physician if they have specific questions about getting the flu vaccine.

Caregiving is a difficult and often challenging role that one can undertake, and taking the opportunity to share information and feel connected to others who are providing care is a vital step to perform this task to the best of your ability. Take the opportunity Dec. 9 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center (3050 Highway 50) to become connected and rejuvenated at your local support group.

Refreshments will be served. Free respite care is available to qualified caregivers. Pre-authorization is required for respite services. Questions? Call (530) 621.6151.

By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal

Sierra ski resorts are continuing a greening trend, according to an environmental report card prepared by conservationists.

The Ski Area Citizens Coalition released its annual evaluation of western ski resorts Tuesday, concluding they are showing an improved environmental performance for the fourth year in a row.

Squaw Valley USA and Alpine Meadows placed No. 1 and No. 3 in the rating of 82 resorts, while no Sierra resorts made the list of the worst 10 for their treatment of the environment.

“For the Sierra, with a lot to lose from climate change shrinking our snowpack, improving environmental stewardship is a good thing,” said Richard McIntyre, campaigns director for the Sierra Nevada Alliance, a coalition member group.

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Environmental scorecard

UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center post-doctoral researcher Alexander Forrest just returned from Antarctica after three weeks on the ice. Forrest was part of an international collaboration between United States, Canada, New Zealand, and France to deploy an underwater robot to study Antarctic sea ice, which is expected to decline more than 33 percent by 2100.

Join Forrest for a presentation on the research project, Flying Under the Big Ice Antarctica: Robotic Submarines in Antarctica on Dec. 8 at 6pm at the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences on the Sierra Nevada College campus in Incline Village.

The morning is starting off with mostly blue sky, but that is not likely to last all day. Unsettled weather is the forecast.

Here is the ski ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

“Light Up Lake Tahoe” is looking forward to another holiday season of twinkling lights. This year, not only will holiday lights be on Highway 50, but program organizers are reaching out to any local business clusters, plazas, and neighborhoods to join in on the fun.

“Light Up Lake Tahoe” will be structured differently from last year. Any business or neighborhood may participate by decorating the exterior of the building with white LED lights. Special pricing is available at Meeks’ South Lake Tahoe location for the same reels of energy efficient white LED lights that were provided last year. The first 30 businesses to purchase a reel from Meeks and register online at www.lightuplaketahoe.com will receive a second reel to keep for free. Supplies are limited, and you must ask for the “Light Up Lake Tahoe” lights.

Inn by the Lake won the light contest in 2009. Photo/Provided

This year, businesses will be able to keep their lights, and are responsible for installing them. “Light Up Lake Tahoe” has partnered with Trinity Landscape and Snow Removal Services to install holiday lights for you if you prefer. They are offering a 15 percent discount for anyone who mentions “Light Up Lake Tahoe.”

They offer a few programs: they will install your lights for an hourly rate or you can lease lights from them that they install for you and take down and keep for another season.

If you register as a “Light Up Lake Tahoe” participant, your business will be included in the 2nd annual “Best Lights on the Lake” competition. The community (via online voting) will select the winner. You don’t need to purchase “Light Up Lake Tahoe” lights to participate; simply register your business or location, create your lighting display, and you will be included in the competition.

All participants will be mentioned in local media and any promotions about the program. Visit the website to find out more information and to see photos from last year. If you have questions, email lightuplaketahoe@gmail.com.

Astronomy Snowshoe Adventures with Tony Berendsen are Dec. 22, Dec. 29, Jan. 22 and Feb. 26.

Astronomy Trips include guided snowshoe tour followed by a program by professional astronomer Tony Berendsen, complete with high powered telescopes and iPad for close-up viewing.

Astronomy tours start in either Tahoe Vista or Truckee. Tours are between 2 and 4 miles and appropriate for all ages and abilities. Call for exact start time and location.

Day tours are throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin and Truckee areas. Several snowshoeing adventures are available through the Tahoe Adventure Company.

For more information is online or call 866.830.6125 or (530) 913.9212.

The North Tahoe Public Utility District and North Tahoe Winter Adventures have opened Sled Hill and Snowmobile Track Rentals at the North Tahoe Regional Park. It will be open daily from 10am-4pm.

The cross country trails in the park were groomed for the first time last week. There is no set schedule for grooming the trails. Snow conditions, available personnel, temperature, budget and grooming needs of the concessionaire at the sled hill are factors that determine when the groomer is in operation. At a minimum, our groomer operator attempts to prepare the trails before the weekend (Friday evening) and repair after the weekend (Monday morning), but this is not always possible if the snow depth and temperatures are not conducive to grooming or trained staff are not available.

The North Tahoe Regional Park and its facilities are open from 7am-5pm. All vehicles must be removed from the Park before 5pm.

More information may be found on the District’s Park Facilities website and then navigating to the North Tahoe Regional Park page. Grooming status is indicated on this page.

For more information regarding the sled hill and snowmobile track rides, call (530) 546.0605.

By Mike Dunne, Sacramento Bee

One way to cut down the number of wines to sample at a tasting where hundreds are being poured is to ask each winemaker for a taste only of his or her flagship wine.

The wording is important: Don’t ask for a taste of the favorite wine – you run the risk of hearing that tired refrain that asking vintners to pick their favorite wine is akin to asking them to pick their favorite child.

At the Family Winemakers of California tasting in San Francisco late this summer, the most surprising answer to the flagship question came at the table of C.G. Di Arie Vineyard & Winery of El Dorado and Amador counties.

Without pause, owner-winemaker Chaim Gur- Arieh singled out petite sirah. That was startling – he seemed likely to name a wine that more often is credited with bringing attention and acclaim to his winery, such as primitivo, zinfandel, barbera or syrah among his varietals; or among his blends, a proprietary release like “Sierra Legend,” a finely tuned mix of Italian and French grapes.

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