·      Nepheles restaurant in South Lake Tahoe has closed after more than 40 years.

·      Lake Tahoe Master Gardeners and UC Davis TERC will talk about growing potatoes at this elevation. The talk will be May 14 at the Tahoe City Field Station. Doors open at 5pm, presentation begins at 5:30pm.

·      State of Jefferson’s second candidates’ forum will be May 8 at the American Legion Hall in Placerville. Secretary of State candidate Mark Meuser will attend, as well as El Dorado County candidates for district attorney, auditor, recorder-clerk and District 4 supervisor. Doors open at 5:30pm, with forum starting at 6:30pm.

·      Truckee’s 15th annual cleanup day is June 2. At 8am neighborhood check-in stations open; cleaning is from 9am-noon; barbecue at Truckee Regional Park is at noon. For more info, call 530.582.7700.

·      The Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association’s Water Quality Committee has launched an updated website.

·      Kili Ongoy and Diana Madson are the newest members of the South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission. They take over for Jamie Orr and Jesse Dwyer who both moved out of the city.

·       Lyndsay Bryant, founder and owner of Lake Tahoe Sitters for the last nine years, has sold the business to Holly Avila.

·      Zephyr Cove Library will be showing “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” (rated PG-13) on May 19 at 2pm on a big screen in the meeting room. Free popcorn will be provided.

·      D’Lish Catering & Burrito Window is opening this month in Kings Beach.

·      On May 8 at 6pm Truckee staff will bring a request to the Town Council to extend the current moratorium on the establishment or expansion of cannabis businesses in Truckee. The meeting will be in council chambers.

Recognizing the fact that one in three American parents struggle to afford diapers, Choices for Children is hosting a Mother’s Day diaper drive for the month of May.

Donations of any size of diapers may be dropped off this month at the following locations:

• South Lake Tahoe Library
• Jubilee Kids Academy
• Under the Magic Pine Tree
• Step by Step Early Learning Center
• Tahoe Douglas Christian Preschool
• Nicole Gordon, DDS
• Tahoe Mountain Academy
• Lake Tahoe Child Development Center
• South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center
• Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe
• Lake Tahoe Preschool
• Lake Tahoe Community College Child Development Center
• Choices for Children.

This program allows families in need to receive diapers, baby wipes and formula once a month. This program is funded by the El Dorado Community Foundation, Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra, Tahoe Magic, the Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe and donations from community members.

·      The Superior Court of El Dorado County will celebrate Juror Appreciation Week, May 7–11, to recognize the service and participation of jurors from the community.

·      Tahoe Trout Farm in South Lake Tahoe is open for the season. No fishing license is required and all ages are welcome. Unwanted fish will be donated to Christmas Cheer and Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care.

·      Douglas County Sheriff’s Office received a $500 grant from Soroptimist International of Carson City for the Explorer Post.

·      Permits are required for yard debris burning in Truckee. Stop by any fire station to get a free permit.

·      Comedian and actress Amy Schumer brings her act to Harveys on Aug. 12 at 8pm. Schumer’s “friends” are yet to be announced. Tickets range from $62-$132.

·      Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care will celebrate its 40th anniversary on May 20 from 2-5pm at Revive in South Lake Tahoe.

·      North America’s largest electric mountain bike race series is coming to Northstar Sept. 15-16.

·      The Parkinson’s Disease Support Group meets the second Wednesday of month from 3-4pm. For questions, location and registration, contact Emily Barkley at 530.543.5712 or ebarkley@bartonhealth.org.  

·      There will be a forum May 9 for people to meet four of the Douglas County Commission candidates. It will begin at 6pm at the visitors center in Stateline.

·      A READing Paws therapy dog can play a positive role in improving a child’s literacy by being the perfect reading buddy. A Mutt and Greet will be at the Minden Library on May 19 from 2:30-4:30pm. Children will have an opportunity to read to a therapy dog. Children are also invited to wear a costume of their favorite dog in literature, cartoons, comic strips, or movies. 

Law enforcement agencies throughout Nevada will be joining forces and focusing on distracted drivers through May 14.

The Nevada Highway Patrol will be working to urge motorists to keep drivers’ eyes on the road and put away cell phones or other items that cause distractions.

According to the NHP, 5 seconds is the average time eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55 mph, that is enough time to cover the length of a football field.

The following are safety precautions to minimize distractions while driving:

• Put your cell phone down and focus on the road;
• When using electronic devices for directions, set the destination prior to driving;
• Speak up when you’re a passenger and your driver uses an electronic device while driving. Offer to call or text for the driver, so his or her full attention stays on the driving task;
• Always wear your seat belt. Seat belts are the best defense against other unsafe drivers.

Lake Tahoe Community College will be hosting a Gift of Literacy event May 25 so each Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School student receives a nw hardbound book to help spark a lifelong interest in reading.

Among the invited guests who will be reading to local children that day will be two-time Olympic gold medalist freeskier and children’s book author David Wise.

In its pilot year, the Gift of Literacy program will provide approximately 138 kindergarten, first grade and special day students from the magnet school with copies of selected books. Copies will also be provided to all LTUSD elementary school libraries, the South Lake Tahoe Public Library, LTCC’s Roberta Mason Library, and at LTCC programs including the Child Development Center and Tahoe Parents Nursery School.

In addition to receiving free books, magnet school students will spend the day at the college.

For more info about the event, call 530.541.4660, ext. 210.

·      The annual seasonal dog closure at the Upper Truckee Marsh on the South Shore is from May 1-July 31.

·      Placer County this season will spend $2.5 million for various West Shore road improvements.

·      Here are the El Dorado-Tahoe and Sierra roadwork schedule from Caltrans for the week.

·      Barton Health offers an eight-class cessation program from the American Lung Association. The classes are on Wednesdays, May 16-June 27, plus June 8, from 6:30-8:30pm. Cost is $30. Register online, then click “Freedom from Smoking” and then “sign up online.”

·      Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Bridgeport Ranger District closed for the season April 30.

·      The Fair Political Practices Commission ruled that South Lake Tahoe Councilman Jason Collin accurately reported contributions and gifts related to the November 2016 election.

·      Nevada Reads author Julie Buntin will be at the Minden Library on May 15 at 5:30pm to discuss her book “Marlena: A Novel.” 

·      University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Living With Fire Program, in partnership with the Nevada Division of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management and Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, urge Northern Nevada residents to bring their ornamental junipers, pines, rabbit brush, sagebrush and other woody vegetation to one of two locations to be chipped and disposed of for free on May 12, 8am-1pm. Locations are the area next to the Nevada Division of Forestry location at 885 Eastlake Blvd. in Washoe Valley and the lot adjacent to the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District’s Fire Station 221, 11525 Red Rock Road in Silver Lake.

·      Doug Read, who has served on the board of directors at Tahoe XC and Tahoe Cross-Country Ski Education Association for 19 years and as vice president for the past four years, has retired.

·      A networking event for women business professionals organized by Truckee-Tahoe Women’s Lawyers will be hosted at TrailRunner International May 23, at 5:30pm. Attendees are requested to RSVP to Dana McDonald at demac8@yahoo.com.

·      This week Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit OK’d proposed improvements to existing skiing and snowboarding terrain at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Work could begin this year.

·      Wanderlust, producers of the largest yoga lifestyle events in the world, returns to Squaw Valley July 19-22.

·      Proscenium Players Inc. is having a workshop about light and sound on May 5 from 9am-3pm at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City. Cost is $15-$20. More info is online.

·      California taxpayers saved an estimated $17 million last year thanks to the tireless efforts of the state’s Adopt-a-Highway volunteers.

·      The Minden Library will be showing “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (rated PG-13) on May 5 at 10am. The movie and popcorn are free.