·      Tahoe kids doing what they love – mountain biking. Video is courtesy of First Tracks Productions.

·      Animal Coalition of Tahoe’s photos with Santa event is Dec. 7-8 from 3:30-5:30pm each day at Pet Station, 2205 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. Photographer Jenny Scales will take photos of you, your pet, and your kids with Santa for a $10 donation to support ACT’s spay-neuter program.

·      Truckee High School’s Project Grad – Safe and Sober Graduation Night is looking for volunteers. For more info, contact Kim Parisi at k.parisi@sbcglobal.net or call or 530.448.1662.

·      SnowFest returns to the North Shore from March 1-11. More info is online.

·      Sugar Bowl Resort will open Dec. 6, offering top-to-bottom skiing and riding. The resort will also host an opening celebration party on Saturday with free lift tickets for the first 100 people.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe is hosting a Winter Wonderland: A Holiday Open House on Dec. 14.

There will be an opportunity to make a free Lake Tahoe keepsake using reclaimed, lake-shaped wooden pieces. 

The fire will be going. There will be light appetizers, drinks, and music from violinist Ellen Flanagan. Shop discounted prices on Keep Tahoe Blue holiday gifts.

The event is from 5:30-8:30pm at 2608 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

RSVP online.

·      Early bird registration is open for the annual Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce Business Expo. It is March 30, 4:30-8:30pm in Stateline. Go online for details.

·      The Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade at Granlibakken in Tahoe City starts at 5pm. For more info, go online.

·      Tahoe City Ice Rink at the Winter Sports Park is open daily from 10am-8pm.

·      Tahoe Cross Country in Tahoe City is having a welcome winter party on Dec. 16 at noon. 

·      Save the date: Erected to honor the immigrants who passed through Truckee en route to new opportunities in the West, the Pioneer Monument has stood at Donner Memorial State Park for 99 years. At its dedication on June 6, 1918, thousands of people and three Donner Party survivors gathered to honor the past. June 9, 2018 is the rededication, centennial celebration, and restoration kickoff of this iconic statue. Ceremonies begin at 11am, followed by family activities and a fundraising gala to raise funds for the construction of an education pavilion and restoration of the iconic landmark. For more information, call 530.583.9911.

·      Opening dates: Donner Ski Ranch – Dec. 2; Homewood – Dec. 9, Soda Springs – Dec. 9, Diamond Peak – Dec. 14.

·      Santa will be coming to the Tahoe City Golf Course with a sleigh full of presents and ready to chow on some pancakes on Dec. 9 from 10am-1pm.

·      South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue is hosting a Coats for Kids Drive from Dec. 26-Jan. 31. Drop off gently used or new coats to Fire Station No. 1 at 1252 Ski Run Blvd. or Fire Station No. 3 at 2101 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

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

·      Dee Byrne has been promoted to the role of vice president of skier services at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadow, overseeing ski and snowboard school, ski teams, resort activities sales and service, and hosts. Elianne “El” Furtney has been promoted to managing director of the resorts’ ski and snowboard school.

The Douglas County Library will be hosting a Winter Lego Building Challenge from Dec. 16 to Jan. 3. 

Children, teens, and adults are invited to build an original Lego brick structure to enter in the contest. This year’s theme is Magical Worlds. Children who want to use the library’s bricks may go to the Minden or Zephyr Cove library on Dec. 16 from 2:30-3:30pm to build their entries.

The rules and entry forms are at the library. Each participant is allowed one entry. Creations will be entered in one of six categories based on the builder’s age, or families can enter a family build together.  All participants under the age of 4 must use DUPLO bricks.  

Caltrans is alerting motorists that the left lane of westbound Interstate 80 will be closed Dec. 6 from 8am-4pm from Magra to 1.5 miles east of Colfax.

Maintenance crews will be performing drainage work.

Drains for rain and snowmelt runoff are located along the median in this area of Interstate 80.

Because there are only two lanes on this three-mile length of Interstate 80, motorists are likely to experience traffic delays.

·      Mickey Avalon, plus the Guestlist and DJ (R) Styles will be at Whiskey Dicks Saloon in South Lake Tahoe on Dec. 29. Must be 21. Doors open at 9pm. Tickets are $25 at the door.

·      Tahoe Women’s Community Fund is looking for members. For more info, go online.

·      On Dec. 9 South Lake Tahoe will light the tree at The Crossing. There will also be a Holiday Mall Crawl featuring all shops in the center at the Y joining together for exclusive specials.

·      Tioga Pass (Highway 120) is closed for the season.

·      The Truckee Community Christmas senior program and toy, food and coat drives are under way. Coats may be donated at Church of the Mountains in downtown Truckee and Tahoe Forest Church on Hirschdale Road. Food items are being collected at several shops and grocery stores around Truckee. Recipients have been identified by area agencies, schools and churches, and are screened and approved. 

·      Sierra Avalanche Center is having a fundraiser Dec. 1 at 6pm at the restaurant at Lake Tahoe Airport.

·      Azul Latin Kitchen in the Heavenly Village is having an enchilada fundraiser for Tahoe Youth & Family Services on Dec. 12, 5-9pm. Cost is $10.

·      Northstar plans to open Dec. 1.

·      There will be a fundraiser Dec. 5, 6-9pm at South Lake Brewing Company for Jared Marquez who was in a serious climbing accident on Nov. 10. All proceeds will go toward his medical expenses. Marquez is the owner/roaster of Refuge Coffee.

·      The video BrandUSA shot of Lake Tahoe is being used in China and Taiwan to promote Lake Tahoe to international visitors. Here is the video of Lake Tahoe for China. Here is the landing page for China. This is the landing page for Taiwan.

·      Tahoe Figure Skating Club’s holiday show will be Dec. 9 at 4pm at the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena. Holiday Show. The show will feature skaters from around the Tahoe area. There will be public skating before and after. The show is free; public skating is at regular rates.

·      Truckee Fire is collecting new toys until Dec. 23 for the local Soroptimist club, which will be distributed to local children in need. Glenshire, downtown and the high school fire stations have bins. 

·      The Minden library is showing classic holiday movies on the big screen – “Christmas in Connecticut” on Dec. 4 and “Holiday Inn” on Dec. 18. Both shows are at 4pm. Free treats, fruits and vegetables (reindeer food), and cozy beverages will be available. A special gift will also be given to all who attend.

·      Barton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is sponsoring a blood drive Dec. 1 from noon-5pm at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center.

·      RejuVenate Sauna and Energy Center is having a grand reopening on Dec. 1 from 3-6pm and Dec. 2, 10am-2pm. The new location is at 124 McFaul Way, Ste. 202 in Round Hill.

Now through Dec. 2 Douglas County sheriff’s deputies will be looking for motorists and occupants who are not buckled up while traveling.

The department will be joining forces with Nevada Highway Patrol to watch for drivers and occupants in vehicles who are not wearing their seat belts and/or children who are not properly secured in car or booster seats.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration’s, 12,584 lives were saved by wearing seat belts, yet 49 percent of occupants who were killed in 2013 weren’t restrained.