The Democrats of El Dorado County is looking for submissions for the eighth annual Fred Winn Student Essay Contest.

The length of essay must be between 900 to 1,200 words and is due Jan. 18.

This contest is open to public high school juniors and seniors in El Dorado County.

The topic is: “What is the greatest challenge faced by your generation?” Students must explain their answer and how they will personally address challenge.

For more information, call Mel Chapman at (530) 621.0409.

As you approached the Y in South Lake Tahoe from Lake Tahoe Airport, the old photo from about 1963 shows the Smuggler Imports and Tahoe Sierra Market and Hotel white buildings at left. Most of that has been replaced by the South Y Center.

Behind the Standard service station (at right) was Rudy and Jeannie Buchanan’s new Lakeside Theater, which included a residence upstairs. The theater was razed in the late 1990s and replaced by an Office Depot, the building which now houses CVS.

— Bill Kingman

What the Y area looks like today. Photo/Bill Kingman

Heading east on Highway 50 at the Y in South Lake Tahoe in the early 1960s. Photo/Don Lane

Alpine Animal Hospital’s 22nd annual Holiday Cheer Nail Trim Promotion” to benefit Christmas Cheer is Dec. 1-31.

Last year the event raised more than $2,000 for Christmas Cheer.

From 4-6pm Monday-Friday through December, Alpine Animal Hospital will donate all proceeds from the Holiday Cheer Nail Trim Promotion to Christmas ‘Cheer.

For more info, call (530) 541.4040.

• Suzanne Roberts’ book “Almost Somewhere” has won the National Outdoor Book Award for best Outdoor Literature. Roberts teaches at Lake Tahoe Community College and Sierra Nevada College.

• It’s that time of your year to get your holiday pet photo. Santa Paws will be in town Dec. 1 from 11am-4pm at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center. This website has more info.

• Weidinger Public Relations based in Stateline was recognized for superior professional achievement and performance at the recent Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America annual Silver Spikes program, winning awards for three campaigns.

• Lou Green is retiring Dec. 5 as El Dorado County counsel.

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

Rene Jenkins is a ceremonial sound practitioner who performs “attunements” with many ancestral instruments.

Jenkis will be at Unity at the Lake on Nov. 18 from 12:30-3pm for a Ceremonial Sound Healing. It will include ancient indigenous instruments based on Peruvian cosmology, ancestral wisdom and modern healing principles performed by Rene’ Jenkins.

A $30 donation is being asked, but no one will be turned away. To reserve your space or for more info, call (530) 544.2266.

Unity is located at 1195 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

The eight winners of the annual Blue Ribbon awards put on by the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce were announced this week.

Unlike years past, the winners and honorable mentions were not notified beforehand.

The winners are:

Geotourism: Tahoe Tallac Association

Tourism: South Tahoe Standup Paddle

Experience: On Course Events

Entrepreneur: Paul Reder, PR Entertainment Inc.

Small Green Business: Elevated Fitness

Large Green Business: Harrah’s & Harveys Lake Tahoe

Public Agency Customer Service: Judy Finn, South Lake Tahoe

Customer Service: Tommy Gunnell, Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe.

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District’s fuels crew will continue the hazardous fuels reduction project in the Davis Creek Park area (just south of Davis Creek Regional Park) on Nov. 17.

Also weather permitting, on Nov. 19 the crews anticipate beginning pile burning in the North Canyon area near Spooner. This 80-acre project will go into the middle of next week, again weather permitting.

This project is a cooperative effort between North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Washoe County Parks Department and Nevada Division of Forestry.

The debris or “slash” piles were created as a result of a hazardous fuels reduction and defensible space project earlier this year, to help minimize the risk of wildland fires in the area.

Tahoe Forest Health System will be sending someone on an all expenses paid trip to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. To get in the game, just purchase a raffle ticket, or two or more.

All proceeds benefit the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center.

Each raffle ticket is $100, and only 300 tickets will be sold. Tickets must be bought in person and are available now at the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation offices Monday through Friday 9am–5pm located at 10975 Donner Pass Road; Fifty Fifty Brewing Company at 11197 Brockway Road and Bar of America at 10040 Donner Pass Road.

The drawing will be Nov. 26.

Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe and Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra are accepting applications for the Women’s Opportunity, Violet Richardson ,and Ruby awards.

The Women’s Opportunity Award is bestowed upon women in the community who provide primary financial support for their families, and who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational-skills training program or undergraduate degree program. The local winners will each receive $2,000 and are eligible to compete at the region and national competitions.

The Violet Richardson Award is a recognition program for young women ages 14-17 engaged in volunteer deeds within their community or school. Each recipient will receive $100.

The Ruby Award honors women who have worked to improve the lives of women and girls through their professional and/or volunteer work. Awardees will receive a $100 donation for the nonprofit organization of their choice.

Contact Pam Barrett at zippygirl1@att.net or (530) 545.3388 or Sandy Williams at kesan7@sbcglobal.net or (530) 541.2844 for additional information and applications. Deadline is Dec. 1.

Barton Hospice invites everyone to celebrate the memory of a loved one through Light up a Life (formerly Tree of Remembrance) on Dec. 6 from 5:30-6:30pm at Inn by the Lake (3300 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe).

Light up a Life is an annual interfaith ceremony that provides the opportunity to gather as a community and honor those of who have died.

This year’s ceremony will be outdoors (weather permitting) with an indoor reception immediately following. Music and songs will be performed by Steve Miller and Sean Cummings. Special handmade ornaments will be available for purchase. All proceeds will go to Barton Hospice services.

For more info, call (530) 543.5614.