Choices for Children is offering a free workshop “The Early Months: Infant Development and Parenting, birth – 36 months” on Nov. 7 from 9-11:30am. It will be at 1029Takela Drive, Ste. 1, South Lake Tahoe.
Call (530) 541.5848 to reserve a space or for more information.
The HOPE Club from Lake Tahoe Community College in partnership with the Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls Club is throwing a Halloween Dance for high school students on Oct. 30 from6-10pm.
It’s at the Boys & Girls Club (1100 Lyons Ave. in South Tahoe)
Admission is $7 or $5 with a costume.
There will be prizes for best costumes as well as raffles. Music provided by disc jockey Diversity/Diversity.
What do you get when you take energetic kids, passionate adults, supportive service clubs and an incredible community college? You get a program called Kids College. For the past 11 years I have had the good fortune of coordinating the LTCC Kids College Program for our community. Like many things during this economic struggle, our program will be taking a leave of absence for a bit. It is my hope that the program returns in the near future.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who made this program possible. The Kids College teaching staff which took their talents and magically created them into unique learning opportunities for our youth. The supportive services clubs for their donations which made the program possible for many kids in our community over the years through scholarships; Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe, Kiwanis Sunrisers, Tahoe Douglas Rotary, South Lake Tahoe Optimists, Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe, Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra, South Lake Tahoe Rotary, and Vail Resorts 360. The staff and Board of LTCC which continued to support the idea and infrastructure of the program. And finally, the kids themselves and their families that participated in the program. Many individuals continued to work to provide this program for our youth over the years. The common thread for all of us has been and will continue to be investing in our youth for a brighter community.
My best regards to all,
Lisa Huard, LTCC Kids College Coordinator
By Kathryn Reed
The on again, off again discussion of pot dispensaries in South Lake Tahoe is on again.
The City Council plans to discuss the matter at the Nov. 3 meeting at Lake Tahoe Airport. No action is expected that day, though the council could direct staff to draft policy or an ordinance.
Three medical marijuana outlets exist within the city limits. Because state and federal law don’t jive, it can create problems for local municipalities when it comes to regulating the businesses. At it stands, the three are not paying any taxes to the city — either through a business license fee or sales tax.
California and Nevada are two of the 14 states to allow medicinal marijuana use. California did so through Proposition 215, called the Compassionate Use Act of 1996.
In 2003, state Senate Bill 420 “The Safe Access†bill that was designed to give cities and counties in California better guidelines was approved by the Legislature and took affect the next year.
Earlier this month, the Obama administration issued an edict stating federal law enforcement will not arrest people associated with or close medical marijuana establishments that are following state law.
“This is a step forward in the clarification process. Now federal law should be changed if the feds are to allow states to regulate. As long as existing federal statutes remain in place prohibiting the use, the matter is arguably muddied,” City Manager Dave Jinkens said.
On Nov. 3, the City Council is expected to discuss Proposition 215, SB420 and federal law.
“The council looks forward to receiving input from the public, medical marijuana dispensaries and any other interested party on the issue,†Patrick Enright, acting city attorney said.
Council meetings begin at 9am and are at Lake Tahoe Airport.
Publisher’s Note: The following information is provided by Placer County.
Northern California’s first big storm slammed the region Oct. 13 and gave residents a warning: winter is here. Thousands of Placer County residents lost power when this system hit. Were you prepared?
Every family and home should be prepared to handle a local disaster and have the resources to survive at least three days without services.
“From our homes along the valley floor to the crest of Sierra, we’ve seen our share of disasters – wildfires, flooding, powerful winter storms, heavy snow, back-country avalanches, power outages and high winds. We should expect them,” said Rui Cunha, Director of Office of Emergency Services.
Let this early winter storm be a reminder that we all need to create a family readiness plan. Talk to your children about what to do in an emergency. Learn First Aid and CPR. You can register for classes with the American Red Cross at www.sacsierraredcross.org.
Before the next storm hits, the Office of Emergency Services offers a few hints to help prepare:
1) Buy and store an extra supply of drinking water. One gallon a day per person.
2) Have a 3-day supply of ready-to-eat nonperishable foods; a can opener, matches, knife, foil and plastic bags. Do NOT use outdoor cooking devices, such as barbecues.
3) Buy extra batteries and/or flashlights.
4) Before a storm hits, clear rain gutters, repair roof leaks and cut away branches that could fall on your house or other structures during a storm. (Don’t do these chores in the middle of a storm!)
5) Do you have a fire extinguisher? Do all family members know how to use it?
6) Pack a bag with medications, first-aid supplies, blankets, warm shoes and clothing, rain gear, toiletries and personal items, household tools, list of important phone numbers, and games/toys for the kids.
7) Plan ahead of time how you will handle your pets; food and water for pets and livestock.
8) Have a battery-operated TV or radio on hand.road failure
9) Check what you have lying around outside. Will a strong wind blow it away or cause damage?
10) Know the location and how to turn off water, power, propane and gas coming into your house.
11) Winterize your car. Keep half a tank of gas in the car, good tires and keep tools such as a shovel or scraper. Keep blankets in the car.
12) If you are exposed to freezing temperatures, remove wet clothing and immediately warm up with hot soup and a blanket. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
13) Recognize symptoms of exposure: dizziness, exhaustion and shivering are signs of hypothermia. Skin discoloration and numbness are signs of frostbite.
Stay well informed. Turn on the radio or TV news or visit online media websites for emergency information, instruction or warnings.
For more information on preparedness, call the American Red Cross at (530) 885.9392. You may also find preparedness information at the Placer County website at www.placer.ca.gov.
By Kathryn Reed
El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Neves is resigning in December, more than a year before his term ends.
He told Lake Tahoe News on Tuesday morning it has everything to do with wanting to spend more time with his family – to make up for missed anniversaries and birthdays celebrated without him.
Some speculate the reason Neves is leaving is so the candidate he wants to replace him will have a leg-up in the June 2010 primary.
Jeff Neves
To that theory, Neves said he believes the Board of Supervisors will not appoint one of the seven candidates who has declared his candidacy for the 2010 sheriff’s race. However, his resignation letter strongly urges them to appoint a captain in the department. Neves on Tuesday said he believes the board will appoint Undersheriff Fred Kollar to fill out the remainder of the term.
Neves’ Oct. 23 resignation letter to the Board of Supervisors didn’t say much despite filling an entire type written page. (Click letter to read his words.)
In his resignation letter Neves tells supervisors he thinks candidate Capt. Craig Therkildsen should be appointed interim sheriff. As a back up, he says Kollar would be his second choice.
Kollar says he has no desire to be sheriff except on an interim basis, and that he had intended to retire when Neves left office. If Kollar is not appointed sheriff, it’s unknown if the interim top cop would keep Kollar. The sheriff appoints the undersheriff.
“I would take the job merely because we are going into a very contentious election year where several people are vying for sheriff. By putting me in you get someone who is not involved in that process,†Kollar said. “I would bring stability, continuity and hopefully keep election year politics out of the office as much as possible.â€
On top of that, as undersheriff he is integrally involved in the budget process. The county will begin working on the 2010-11 budget right after the first of the year. The fiscal year for the county begins July 1.
Kollar has been with the department for 30 years – with about a dozen of those years in the South Lake Tahoe office.
Supervisors are expected today to discuss in closed session the looming sheriff’s vacancy because sheriff’s department personnel issues were already on the agenda. Because the sheriff matter was not original on the agenda it’s possible the discussion could violate the Brown Act, the state opening meeting law.
Neves, who was first elected to the highest law enforcement position in the county in 2002, months ago said he was planning to retire at the end of his second term.
Instead, his last day will be Dec. 26. After 30 years in law enforcement, all with this sheriff’s department (seven years at the Lake Tahoe office), Neves said he plans to do more volunteer work and continue his work on nonprofit boards.
The sheriff’s primary is in June. It’s possible more candidates could declare before then. A candidate needs 50 percent, plus one vote to win it outright; otherwise the top two finishers would be in a runoff in November, with the winner taking office in January 2011.
The bulbs better be in the ground by now because winter is going to be back in Lake Tahoe starting tonight. White stuff is likely to be covering the ground Tuesday morning.
Winds are picking up now, with a lake wind advisory is in effect until Wednesday at 5am. Winds are from the west in the 20-30mph range, with gusts of 45mph. Wind gusts could hit 100mph on the ridges.
A couple of inches of snow are expected to accumulate at lake level or a little higher starting tonight and into Tuesday.
It’s expected to be windy all week, with more moisture coming in Friday.
Dress warm – Tuesday’s high in Lake Tahoe is expected to be 38 degrees.
The annual Chocolate, Wine & Rose Festival benefits Tahoe Women’s Services on Nov. 7, 7-10pm. Guests enjoy chocolate by Tahoe’s finest chefs at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach. Tickets are $60/person at the door.
A Toast to Tahoe Skiing: Mountain Dreamers Nov. 7, 6pm, at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley when keynote speaker Mark Wellman, the first paraplegic to sit-ski unassisted across the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, will share his amazing journey. Tickets are $85/person in advance and $100/person at the door.
By Johnathan L. Wright, Reno Gazette-Journal
Have glue gun, will marry.
In tough times, women planning weddings in Northern Nevada are getting in touch with their inner crafters and making their own invitations. They’re summoning their inner gardeners and arranging their own flowers.
To save money on her wedding cake, Tina Miller of Carson City is calling on her inner decorator by garnishing three Costco cakes with fresh flowers and displaying them on her Wilton tiered cake stand.