BloodSource will conduct a blood drive in South Lake Tahoe on Dec. 18.

The blood drive is sponsored by the Barton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Walk-ins are welcome from noon-5pm.

Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be 17 years old (16 year olds need a signed BloodSource Parental consent form) and be generally healthy. There is no upper age limit for blood donations. Donors must bring a photo ID and should drink plenty of fluids before donating.

The blood drive is at the South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation Center, 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

Photo/Bill Kingman

·       The sign above was seen in South Lake Tahoe on Nov. 19.

·       The Truckee Planning Commission hearing on Canyon Springs has been continued to Dec. 1 at 6pm. Public comment remains closed and the meeting will resume with deliberation.

·       Homewood plans to open Dec. 11.

·       CareFlight has named Dean Dow as its executive director.

·       On Dec. 16 at 6pm Friends of the Library will host a reading with local author Jennifer Quashnick. She recently published “Mountaingirl Mystery- Sierra Nevada River of Lies”. The free event is at the South Lake Tahoe Library.

Thanksgiving weekend, traditionally one of the busiest travel times in America, can also be one of the deadliest. The California Highway Patrol will have all available officers on patrol.

In 2014, 45 people died in collisions on California roadways – a 36 percent increase from Thanksgiving 2013. In addition, the CHP arrested almost 1,000 people for driving under the influence.

Extra officers will be on duty from Nov. 25 at 6pm to Nov. 29 at 11:59pm.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office has received information from the California Department of Justice regarding “pension poaching” – specifically related to military veterans. These incidents target the financial assistance offered through the Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance Program.

Individuals posing as insurance agents, unpaid volunteers or Veterans Affairs representatives offer to help senior veterans apply for VA pension benefits.

What to watch out for: Anyone who asks you to pay money or move assets in connection with applying for a VA pension benefit is likely not a VA-accredited representative. He or she may be an insurance agent or representative who receives a sales commission for selling annuities or irrevocable trusts.

If approached by someone offering to help with VA pension benefits, contact the local VA (530.573.7955, ext. 5892) to determine whether this assistance is reputable.

The California Highway Patrol has been awarded a grant to promote motorcycle safety and awareness from now through Sept. 30.

Goals are to reduce the number of motorcycle-involved fatal and injury traffic collisions statewide. California continues to experience high numbers of motorcycle-involved collision deaths and injuries . In 2013, motorcycle-involved fatal and injury collisions increased approximately 4.5 percent and 6.1 percent, respectively, during the previous 12 months.

The CHP will deploy officers on enhanced motorcycle safety enforcement operations in regions with a high number of motorcycle incidents. Periods of traditionally heavy motorcycle activity such as May, which is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month; Memorial Day; Fourth of July; and designated motorcycle events in 2016 will also be targeted. A year-long series of motorcycle traffic safety education events will be conducted.

CHP will emphasize the “share the road” message.

Free, easy-to-use radon test kits will be available Dec. 1-Feb. 29 at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension offices and partner locations throughout Nevada.

Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, comes from the ground and can enter homes and accumulate to elevated concentrations. At elevated concentrations, the odorless, colorless gas can raise the risk of lung cancer for unsuspecting homeowners.

Lung cancer kills more individuals than any other cancer, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates 21,000 Americans die each year from radon-caused lung cancer, killing more people than secondhand smoke, drunken driving, falls in the home, drowning or house fires. Once diagnosed with lung cancer, there is only a 15 percent five-year survival rate.

In Nevada, one in four homes tested found radon concentrations at or above the EPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter of air. According to experts, living in a home with radon concentrations at the action level poses a similar risk of developing lung cancer as smoking about half a pack of cigarettes a day.

For more information or a list of free kit locations, call 888.723.6610.

The Food Bank of El Dorado County is in need of 10 to 15 volunteers on Nov. 25  from 9:30-11:30am to help with the Mobile Food Pantry.

Volunteers will be assisting in handing out food and signing people in during the South Lake Tahoe distribution.

For more info, call 530.621.9950 or email volunteer@foodbankedc.org.

The Lake Valley Fire Protection District holiday truck is about to roam the streets.

Here is the schedule:

Dec. 11 – Echo View Estates, Tahoe Mountain Road, Mule Deer Circle
Dec. 12 – Lake Tahoe Boulevard from Boulder Mountain Drive to Grizzly Mountain Drive
Dec. 13 – West side of North Upper Truckee from Zuni Street, Highway 50, Chiapa Drive
Dec. 14 – East side of North Upper Truckee from Grizzly Mountain to West San Bernardino Avenue
Dec. 15 – Christmas Valley from Highway 50 to Grass Lake Road
Dec. 16 –North side of Highway 50 in Meyers (lower Apache, magnet school), behind Station 7
(Cornelian Drive, Navahoe Drive, Cheyenne Drive).
Dec. 17 – North of Pioneer Trail from Highway 50 to Elks Club (Southern Pines Drive, Tionontati
Street, Meadow Vale Drive), Player Drive
Dec. 18 – Upper Apache Drive and Mandan Street
Dec. 19 – Pioneer Trail from Busch Way to Washoan Boulevard (Glen Eagles Drive, Hekpa Drive)
Dec. 20 – Pioneer Trail from Washoan Boulevard to Jicarilla Drive (Apalachee Drive, Nadowa Street,
Susquehana Drive)
Dec. 21 – Kokanee Estates (Marshall Trail, High Meadow Trail)
Dec. 22 – Golden Bear Trail, Meadow View Estates (Plateau Circle, Cattleman’s Trail)
Dec. 23 – Cold Creek Trail, Del Norte Street, Black Bart from Pioneer Trail to Meadow Crest Drive.

·       Tahoe Community Thanksgiving Celebration on Nov. 26 will also serve as the Toys for Tots kickoff party. Everyone is welcome from 2-6:30pm at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach. For more info, email nttoysfortots@gmail.com.

·       Elevated Fitness is hosting a scavenger charity dash on Nov. 22 from noon-4pm to benefit Lake Tahoe Humane Society. Teams of two will “dash” around town to solve clues and scavenge items. For more info, go online.

·       Sugar Bowl Resort will open Nov. 21 with top-to-bottom skiing. It will close Monday through Wednesday next week, then reopen for the Thanksgiving weekend.

·       Shannon McIsaac has been hired as director of sales at Lake Tahoe Hard Rock.

·       Beginning Nov. 20 recreational and commercial bobcat trapping will no longer be allowed in California.

The Tahoe Fund is looking for environmental organizations that would like to partner with the Tahoe Fund to restore lake clarity, improve outdoor recreation and inspire stewardship of the Tahoe basin.

Project ideas may be submitted online. The Tahoe Fund Projects Committee will review proposals on a rolling basis, but any projects seeking 2016 support should submit by Jan. 31.

Since 2010, the Tahoe Fund has raised funds from private donors for 15 environmental improvement projects including bike paths, watershed restorations, removal of aquatic invasive species and environmental stewardship programs. The Tahoe Fund’s biggest project to date is the Incline to Sand Harbor Bike Path that is still open for donations.

Eligible projects must be able to demonstrate that all environmental permits will be obtained, enjoy strong community support, and have other sources of funding identified.