Local SaveMeFromForeclosure.com representative Paul Romero is putting together a “Free Foreclosure Help” event on Dec. 12 from 9am-2pm at Romero’s Barber Salon at 2572 Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe.

Bring your latest mortgage statement with you to find out if you qualify to have your monthly payments reduced, or if there is another option for you to escape foreclosure.

For more information, call (530) 318.2662 or visit www.SaveMeFromForeclosure.com to get the free report “How to avoid foreclosure, What other people won’t tell you” and set up a free consultation.

South Tahoe Refuse’s holiday food drive is Dec. 7-11.

South Tahoe Refuse residential customers are asked to set out canned and packaged foods in a bag next to their trash can on the regular refuse collection day. The goods will be collected by marked STR trucks and distributed through community programs.

Donation are also being accepted at South Tahoe Refuse, 2140 Ruth Ave., South Lake Tahoe.

Collection routes will on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

By Tony Bizjak, Sacramento Bee

Several vehicles may have been racing on Salmon Falls Road in El Dorado County early Sunday before three young people were killed in a solo car crash, investigators said.

“That is something we are looking into,” California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Dan Stark said Friday. “There is a suspicion there may have been street racing involved.”

Street racing is illegal and could lead to charges, he said.

Read the whole story

A winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service from 7pm Sunday to 7pm Monday for the Lake Tahoe Basin. That translates into the next couple of days being powder days. Winds, again, could pose a problem today, especially on lifts higher on the mountain. Read the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe, to know what’s going on today.

In a recent ceremony hosted by the American Society for Industrial Security, nine top law enforcement officers in the Northern Nevada region received awards for outstanding job performance.

Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini attended the awards ceremony as a guest speaker, and to see one of his own officers honored.

Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini, left, congratulates Investigator Greg Rooney. Photo/Provided

Douglas County sheriff’s Investigator Greg Rooney received an award of excellence for his professional expertise in gang investigation; including his research, education and knowledge of local and national gangs and trends (both juvenile and adult), development of innovative gang enforcement strategies to combat gang activity; practical use of resources to effectively combat crimes committed by gang members, and for his specific accomplishments and successes in decreasing area gang activity.

Investigator Rooney was also recognized for his contribution to establishment of a joint gang enforcement unit of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. Investigator Rooney is a court recognized subject matter expert on issues related to criminal gangs.

ASIS is an international professional security organization dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals. The Northern Nevada chapter of ASIS has been active for about 26 years.

Publisher’s note: Reprinted with permission from the December 2008 Tahoe Mountain News.

By Kathryn Reed

I call them gizzies because my Mom does. I called her last month to ask where the name came from. “That’s what Gram Frances called them.” My grandma isn’t around anymore to be able to continue the name game.

I searched the Internet well past my bedtime trying to figure out the origin of gizzies because the dictionary I’ve had since high school graduation failed me. Dictionary.com failed me. I was led to a website about dogs. I was reading websites I really would rather never revisit.

Finally, one blog had a reference to the gizzies I was in search of. I’m letting this validate that my family is not alone in calling homemade Chex cereal party mix gizzies.

Mom’s original recipe was cut off from a box of Chex cereal before I was born. “I’ve had it forever. We can easily say 45 to 50 years,” Mom told me. The original calls for a carton of Chex-mates. I’ve never heard of that and Mom doesn’t know if they still exist.

That recipe doesn’t use pretzels, but Mom can’t remember a time not having pretzel sticks in her gizzies. Nuts were optional way back when. Mom has always opted to skip them.

Gizzies are a great snack. The problem I have is they tend to turn into a meal because I get a bit repetitive with my “just one more handful” mantra.

The store bought stuff is icky, according to me and Mom. A homemade batch is the way to go. It’s great to have around during the holidays as an alternative to all the sweets, works well at Super Bowl parties and was a crowd pleaser Election Night.

Yes, gizzies are salty. Using unsalted butter would be one way to cutback sodium. In the future mine should be less salty. I’m not going to admit what I had written on my recipe card. Suffice it to say, it’s been changed since last talking to Mom.

Gizzies keep for quite a while (in other people’s houses) in an airtight container. Mom just shared a secret — warm the cereal before pouring on the butter mixture. This helps the butter better stick to the cereal.

Oh, and this is not a vegetarian snack. Regular Worcestershire sauce has anchovies. Vegan and vegetarian sauces are available on the Internet. I haven’t looked locally,  but I’d start with Grass Roots.

I use a pan like the one people use to cook a turkey in.

If you can’t find each variety of cereal, just make sure you have 16 cups.

We’ve always used Lowry’s Seasoned Salt.

Below is the current recipe my family uses. Happy Holidays!

Gizzies

4 C each corn, bran, wheat, rice Chex cereal

2 sticks butter

3 T Worcestershire sauce

2½ tsp seasoning salt

1 package pretzel sticks

Melt butter, stir in Worcestershire sauce and seasoning salt. Mix well. Pour mixture over warmed cereal that is in a roasting pan. Bake at 250 degrees for 45 minutes. Stir every 15 minutes.

By Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee

Federal officials are investigating possible ties between CalPERS’ former chief executive, a controversial former board member and a financier who just pleaded guilty in a New York pension fund corruption case.

Court records show the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a subpoena in June to financier Elliott Broidy, who pleaded guilty Thursday to felony charges that he showered nearly $1 million in illegal gifts on state officials in New York.

The federal enforcement agency demanded records of any contacts Broidy had with former CalPERS CEO Fred Buenrostro and former CalPERS board member Alfred Villalobos, among others.

Read the whole story

The world’s foremost violinist, Itzhak Perlman, celebrated for his musical work on the score for “Schindler’s List,” brings his virtuosity to the Reno stage in an exclusive engagement as part of Artown’s Encore series Jan. 21.

Artown fulfills its mission to enrich Reno’s art industry by garnering some of the most eminent and distinguished artists from around the world and bringing them to northern Nevada. Perlman is one such artist who draws praise all over the world and will share his musical mastery with Reno audiences.

“Seeing Itzhak Perlman perform is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many people and we’re thrilled to be able to bring him to Reno,” Artown Executive Director Beth Macmillan said in a press release. “The community’s love and appreciation for the arts provides the support needed for organizations such as Artown to bring artists like Perlman to Reno, and in turn performers like Perlman enhance the richness of our community.”

Perlman’s American debut, more than 50 years ago with an appearance on the “Ed Sullivan Show”, launched him into the spotlight of worldwide recognition and acclaim. Since then he has appeared with every major orchestra and performed recitals throughout the world including the January 2009 Presidential Inauguration and the 2007 State Dinner for Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

The emotion he lends to music is made evident by his proudest achievement, playing the violin solos in John Williams’ film score for Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List.” Perlman’s career has been studded with 16 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as four Emmy Awards and a Kennedy Center Honor, just to name a few.In addition to touring and performing, Perlman is a frequent presence on the conductor’s podium working with symphonies and orchestras throughout North America and he serves on the faculty of The Perlman Music Program founded by his wife, Toby Perlman.

Pianist Rohan De Silva accompanies Perlman for the performance. A frequent on-stage partner with Perlman, De Silva collaborates with a variety of musicians for performances throughout the world including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the U.S. Library of Congress and venues in Amsterdam, Milan, London, Tokyo and New Zealand, just to name a few. De Silva, a native of Sri Lanka, studied music at the Royal Academy of Music in London as well as The Juilliard School. He also serves on the faculty at The Perlman Music Program and Japan’s Ishikawa Music Academy where he gives masterclasses in collaborative piano.

Artown, a nationally recognized monthlong arts and culture festival held in Reno each July, recently introduced the Encore series to present artistic offerings throughout the year. Artown’s Encore highlights dance and musical artists unable to visit Reno in July. Additional upcoming presentations include Soweto Gospel Choir March 26 and Pat Metheny’s Orchestrion Tour April 23.

Perlman and pianist De Silva perform Jan. 21 at 8pm at Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts with tickets priced at $40, $75 and $100. Tickets are available at the Pioneer Center box office, by phone at (775) 686-6600 or online at www.RenoIsArtown.com.

By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE — Barton employees are best known for not spreading things that are contagious, but today will be their fourth day of making sure everyone catches the holiday spirit.

Laughter filled the air and smiles seemed to be everywhere on Saturday during the Teddy Bear Breakfast.

Plenty of room in this mailbox for letters to Santa. Photo/Kathryn Reed

For those who brought their stuffed animals, the Barton elves took them to the workshop to have them decorated. One monkey dressed in Harley-Davidson gear game back with pink earrings to go with the pink skirt and black leather jacket.

This is the first year of the Festival of Trees and Lights at MontBleu. The money raised will go to the community clinic that Barton Healthcare runs.

“It benefits the community clinic because we’ve had an overrun of patients without insurance,” Barton spokeswoman Denise Sloan said in her best elf accent. “The clinic has had to increase its hours to include Saturdays.”

The showroom has been transformed into a winter wonderland with trees decorated in more ways than one can imagine. One section it devoted to what kids at the schools on the South Shore came up with. Others are the work of several Barton employee groups. Still more are the work of professional designers in the area.

All the trees can be bid on — with the winner taking possession of the tree and everything beneath it.

Santa is perched on a throne of sorts, eager for kids to have their picture taken with him and to hear what they want for Christmas.

A station is set up to write letters to Santa — which Rebekah Miller, 10, and Dayna Genna, 8, were eager to do. But they wouldn’t reveal what was in those letters that were eventually stuffed into a huge mailbox.

A stage is set up with rotating acts.

Today’s fun begins at 9:30am with Colleen Klym leading Christmas carols; 10am is the music duo of Skiff’s Project; 11:30am is Raina Silva’s Hula Kids; noon Forever Dance takes to the floor; 1pm is the Fratella Marionettes’ North Pole Review; 2pm the Sierra Ballet Theater Company performs; 3pm is a demonstration by Halau Hula — O Leilani.

In Gingerbread Junction in the showroom at 10am Kerri Russell will read and sing from “In the Meadow Don’t feed our Bears.”

From 2-4pm everyone can make holiday crafts

To get into the Festival of Trees and Lights it costs $5 for adults, $3 for ages 2-12 and those older than 55.

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South Lake Tahoe’s Redevelopment agency is about to have $2.1 million from the state.

California’s Department of Housing and Community Development approved the Aspens Multi-Family Housing Development.

The workforce housing will be next to Fire Station No. 1 on Pioneer Trail, have 48 lower-income units, eight moderate income units, have a 1,800-square-foot community building, a 1,600-square-foot playground facility, and all buildings will be LEED certified.

Total project cost is $16 million. This includes the $2.1 million from the state, a city RDA loan of $1.5 million and tax credits of approximately $2 million.

The city, in a press release, said it intends to use all legal means to encourage the developer to purchase building supplies locally and hire qualified local residents during construction phase of the project.

The next steps for the project are City Planning Commission review on Dec. 10 and TRPA Governing Board review later this month.