The El Dorado County Avoid the 6 DUI Task Force is deploying DUI saturation patrols with extra officers in the cities of Placerville, South Lake Tahoe the the unincorporated areas of the county Halloween night to supplement routine patrol officers on one of the most deadly nights of the years.

Officers will be looking for the tale-tell sign of alcohol and or drug impairment.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 43 percent of all people
killed in motor vehicle crashes on Halloween night (6pm Oct. 31 to 5:59am Nov. 1) from 2009-13 were in crashes involving a drunken driver. On Halloween Night 119 people lost their lives over that same period nationwide.

Children out trick-or-treating and adults accompanying them are also at risk, as 19 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes on Halloween night (2009-13) involved drunken drivers.

Clem Shute

·       The Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of California presented San Francisco-based attorney Clem Shute with the Lifetime Contribution to the Field of Environmental Law award. Shute is a member of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board and founding partner of the environmental and land use law firm Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger.

·        Tesla Motors recently selected Sorensen’s Resort in Hope Valley as a charging station site. It’s open to other vehicles, too.

·       Douglas County Public Library in Zephyr Cove will be closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day.

·       Sierra Nevada College honored long-time Lake Tahoe-resident and SNC Tahoe community member Lane Murray with the first distinguished alumni award.

·      California Highway Patrol offers free Age Well, Drive Smart classes. For more info, go online.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between 2009 and 2013, 43 percent of all traffic fatalities on Halloween night involved an impaired driver. In 2013, 26 percent of all pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night involved an impaired driver.

Law enforcement says whether out trick-or-treating for the night or heading to a party, it is equally important for adults and children to take necessary safety precautions. For those walking door-to-door, consider using light producing or reflective devices to remain visible to cars. Only cross the street at crosswalks or corners and only when it is safe to do so. Costumes should be kept short enough to avoid tripping, and masks should be lifted or removed while on or crossing a street.

Drivers need to pay extra attention to pedestrians – especially small children – as they may be unaware of their surroundings and trick-or-treaters can appear out of nowhere. Party hosts need to be ready with non-alcoholic drinks, food, and the responsibility to make sure their guests get home safely.

South Lake Tahoe Library is seeking donations of compact discs of local music to be included in its collection.

Artists or band members of a musical act based in the South Lake Tahoe area (including Meyers, Stateline, Kingsbury, Zephyr Cove, and Cave Rock) who would like their work included in the collection, are asked to contact Chris Seal at chris.seal@edcgov.us, or bring the CD to the library at 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

Donors are asked to include basic information with the contribution, such as artist or band name, album title, and contact information.

·       The National Forest Recreation Association recognized Don Lane, recreation and wilderness program manager for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, as its 2015 Ranger of the Year.

·      The annual free Valhalla Holiday Faire on the South Shore is Nov. 20 from 5:30-8:30pm, Nov. 21 from 10am-5pm and Nov. 22 from 10am-4pm.

·      Kevin Marshall, co-founder and president of Clear Capital, will give a talk Nov. 4 from 11:30am-12:30pm at Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village. Founded in 2001 in Truckee, Clear Capital delivers real estate valuations, data, analytics and technology solutions that set industry standards for accuracy, efficiency, and accountability.

·      Caltrans is in the process of creating the inaugural California State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. More info is online.

·       Gov. Brian Sandoval has declared Nov. 1-7 Nevada Flood Awareness Week.

·       California Highway Patrol is implementing a yearlong statewide campaign to reduce by at least 5 percent the number of fatal and injury traffic collisions where speed, improper turning, and driving on the wrong side of the road are primary collision factors. To achieve this goal by Sept. 30, 2016, the CHP will combine statewide-targeted enforcement with an active public awareness campaign, which includes at least 600 radar trailer deployments and a minimum of 200 traffic safety presentations throughout the state.

·       Barton’s Fit Program integrates a variety of workouts designed for all fitness levels and all community members ages 14 and up. For more info, go online.

·       Diamond Peak General Manager Brad Wilson has accepted a job in Idaho. Mike Bandelin will serve as the interim general manager starting Nov. 6.

·       Nevada Museum of Art will be free Friday in honor of Nevada Day. This includes the multi-gallery exhibition Tahoe: A Visual History.

Chase International is teaming up with Boy Scout Troop 37 and Project MANA to help with Scouting for Food, the organizations’ annual food drive on Nov. 7.

Scouts will pick up food items between 8am and 2pm.

All donated food will be distributed to families throughout the North Tahoe-Truckee area by Project MANA at its weekly mobile food distribution.

Due to the limited size of the troop, homes located north of Lake Tahoe, east of Highway 431 and west of Country Club Drive will be visited. Residents living outside that area are encouraged to call 775.298.1856 in advance to request a special pickup.

Items may also be be dropped off at Chase International’s Incline Village office at 917 Tahoe Blvd., Suite 100.

Food items needed include canned fruits, canned vegetables, canned tuna, nuts, peanut butter, dry pasta, soup, chili, instant oatmeal, rice, and dried beans (no glass containers and no expired items).

For information about the food drive, call 775.831.7300.

·       The 45th annual Barton Auxiliary Holiday Faire is Nov. 8 from 9am-3pm at St. Theresa’s Grace Hall in South Lake Tahoe. Santa Claus will stop by between 10am and 2pm.

·       Douglas County Public Library in Zephyr Cove and Minden will be closed Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 for Nevada Day.

·       The alternative dance duo Matt and Kim will headline the free Winter Ignite concert in Heavenly Village on Dec. 12 at 7:30pm.

·      There will be a public hearing on the Martis Valley West project on Nov. 19 at 10am at the Kings Beach Events Center.

·       “Cinderella” will be shown for free Nov. 7 from 2-3:45pm in the Minden Library meeting room.

·       Tahoe Best Friends’ Howl’oween Party is Oct. 31 from 1-2:30pm. Dogs and people are encouraged to come in costume to the free event on Ruth Avenue in South Lake Tahoe.

·      Zephyr Cove Elementary School is recognizing Red Ribbon Week this week. It is about making healthy choices, especially when it comes to saying no to drugs.

·      The court hearing involving Lake Tahoe Hard Rock owners and the construction firm that did the renovation has been pushed back to Oct. 28.

·      The World Series of Poker circuit event will be at Harveys Oct. 29-Nov. 8.

·       Radio stations KRLT/KOWL are bringing the 13th annual Halloween Treat Street to Lake Tahoe Community College on Oct. 31 from 5-8pm in the main building for indoor trick or treating, games, music, a mad scientist laboratory, spooky stories, a fortuneteller, and more surprises.

What’s in Store for Transit North and South will be the topic of a discussion at Lake Tahoe Community College on Nov. 18.

This is part of Tahoe Talks Brown Bag Lunch Series. It is from noon to 1:30pm in the Aspen Room

This panel will talk about transit plans being prepared all around the Lake Tahoe Basin and the challenges and opportunities for improving transit, with a particular emphasis on transit to ski resort activities and transit between community centers and major destinations.