Businesses and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to promote local events through the Kings Beach streetlight banner program.

North Tahoe Business Association wants to have rotating messages on the streetlights.

Banner applications for summer must be submitted no later than May 12 and no less than 90 days prior to requested installation date for the rest of the year. The design, manufacture and cost of banners and installation/removal are the responsibility of the banner applicant.

For more information and to apply, go online. For questions, contact Katie Korpi at 530.546.9000.

Caltrans this week will begin reconstructing a two-mile stretch of Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

The $56 million project goes from the Y to the Trout Creek Bridge. It will include drainage systems to treat storm water runoff, widening the roadway to provide 6-foot shoulders for bike lanes in both directions, replacing traffic signals, rebuilding curb, gutter and sidewalks, and improving the pavement cross slope.

Caltrans also is working with South Lake Tahoe to incorporate signal and operational improvements at Sierra Boulevard.

Construction will start at the Y and head east. The project is expected to be completed in 2019. The first phase this year will be from the Y to Winnemucca Avenue. 

The contractor will be allowed to work around the clock Monday through Thursday and until 11am Friday before Memorial Day and after Labor Day, and until 8am Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day. At least one lane will be open to traffic in each direction at all times. No lane closures will be permitted on weekends or around major holidays.

Motorists may experience delays of up to 30 minutes traveling through the construction zone.

·      This map lists South Lake Tahoe’s priority potholes.

·      Kimball Chatfield, a medical botanist and doctor of Oriental medicine, will lead a medicinal plant walk on July 16 from 9:30am-1pm in Hope Valley. The group will search for wild blueberries, currants, yarrow, roses, onions, as well as mint, St. John’s Wort and other plants with medicinal uses. Cost is $35 for Sorensen’s guests, $50 for others. For more info or to reserve a spot, call 800.423.9949.

·      South Lake Tahoe Senior Center has dances on the last Friday of every month from 7:30-10pm. Cost is $10, which includes appetizers, desserts, and door prizes.

·      To participate in the South Lake Tahoe 4th of July parade, complete this application and return it to parade@cityofslt.us.

·      The Minden Library is showing movies every Saturday at 10:30am in the meeting room.  These movies are geared toward adults and teens. Free coffee and treats will be available.  Movies: May 6: “Guardians of the Galaxy” (Rated PG-13); May 13: “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” (Rated PG-13); May 20: “Doctor Strange” (Rated PG-13); May 27: “Rogue One” (Rated PG-13). The Minden Library is located at 1625 Library Lane. 

·      Heather Ferris is now the planning manager for Douglas County. 

·      Choices for Children is hosting a Mother’s Day Diaper drive during the month of May. Donate any size of diapers at the following locations: South Lake Tahoe Library, Jubilee Kids Academy, Under the Magic Pine Tree, South Tahoe Association of Realtors, South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, Bright Beginnings, Tahoe Tot Spot, South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center, Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Preschool, Lake Tahoe Community College Child Development Center, Pequeños Rascals Learning Center, Appleseeds Academy, and Choices for Children. For more info, call Heather Della Ripa at 530.541.5848.

·      BloodSource will have a blood drive at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center on May 19 from noon-5pm. The drive is sponsored by Barton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Walk-ins are welcome. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be at least 16 years old (16 and 17 year olds will need a parental consent form) and be generally healthy. Bring a photo ID and drink plenty of fluids before donating.

·      Geoff Schladow, director of the Tahoe Environmental Research Center, will give a presentation July 27 about the most important factors that affect the health of Lake Tahoe, the most pressing issues, and the new programs that are designed to address them. Talk starts at 6pm, with wine at 5:30pm on the campus of Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village. Cost is $5.

·      Historian Dianne Jennings will lead an Emigrant Trail trek on three weekends this summer out of Sorensen’s Resort in Hope Valley. (Non-hiking alternatives offered. Participants may be asked to drive their own vehicles.) The dates are June 19-20, Aug. 2-3, Sept. 6-7. Cost is $65 for resort guests, $95 for others. Prices include snacks, beverages and trailside lunch. Call 530.694.2203 to make a reservation or for more info.

·      Birder Jim Woods will share his knowledge of birds and other local wildlife on May 19 from 9:30am-2pm. Dress warmly and be prepared for cool weather. Plan to carpool to birding locations. Cost is $60 for Sorensen’s guests, $95 for others, which includes brunch. For information and reservations, call 800.423.9949.

·      Matt Williams, who graduated from Carson High School in 1983 and played third base for the San Francisco Giants, was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

·      Sugar Pine Foundation is looking for people to help plant seedlings in the Emerald Fire scar on May 13 from 10am-noon. Park at the Emerald Bay Road pullout across from Cascade Road.

·      Stephanie Kurtzman, who grew up in South Lake Tahoe, has been named the Peter Sortino director of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University in St. Louis.

·      Outdoor burning is allowed in the Truckee area. Vegetation is allowed in 4-feet x 4-feet piles attended by someone. A burn permit is required. They are available at any fire station. Go to any fire station to get a free burn permit. For more info, call 530.582.7850.

Sierra Nevada Alliance is organizing a regional March for Climate on April 29. The march in South Lake Tahoe is one of more than 300 happening nationwide and internationally inspired by the historic People’s Climate Mobilization in Washington, D.C.

The march comes on the 100th day of the Trump administration. The purpose is to march in solidarity with communities most affected by the rolling back of hard-won protections for the climate; assaults on air, water and land; and direct attacks on working families, indigenous peoples, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQIA, women, young people, low-income communities and many more.

Organizers say this mobilization is about bringing solutions to the table and targeting elected leaders, especially at the local and state levels, to take bold action.

Locally, people will meet at 10am at Lakeview Commons in South Lake Tahoe and begin marching at 10:30am toward the Earth Day celebration at Bijou Community Park. The march will conclude with a couple of speeches.

·      In U.S. News’ best high school rankings Whittell came in No. 1,389 in the country and No. 12 in Nevada. South Tahoe High, North Tahoe High and Truckee Tahoe High schools were not ranked.

·      Volunteers are needed for the May Tour of California women’s bike race in Lake Tahoe. Go online for details.

·      Douglas County Sheriff’s Department is having an open hose May 10 from 5-7pm at the DC Judicial Building, 1038 Buckeye.

·      “The Beckoning Silence,” about one of the most tragic ascents of the notorious Eiger North Face, will be shown for free May 25 at 7pm at Unity at the Lake, 1195 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

·      Bike Habitat ‘s 10th anniversary is being celebrated with the free Tour of Carson City Bike Ride and lunch on May 7 starting at 9am at Fuji Park. For info, call 775.267.5053.

Lake Tahoe Unified School District still doesn’t know when this school year will end.

The district is seeking a waiver from the state Department of Education regarding snow days. The district would like to not have to make all of them up.

The state had said a decision would be made this week. Now officials are saying it could be mid-May before a ruling is issued.

If the application is approved in full, then the last day of school would be June 16. The district is warning everyone that there is no guarantee the application will be approved in full.

·      Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit are looking for people to serve on the El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee. The committee is responsible for evaluating and recommending projects on or affecting federal land in El Dorado County. Applications and more info are available online.

·      St. Theresa Catholic Church’s religious education department is hosting a document shredding event to help prevent identity theft. It will be May 27, 10am-2pm in the church parking lot on Lyons Avenue in South Lake Tahoe. Suggested donation is $5-$10 per box. For more info, call 530.544.4788.

·      Weather and snowy mountain roads have pushed NDOT’s Highway 28 restriping project to May 1-4. Expect up to 30-minute delays.

·      Douglas County Sheriff’s Department has two new deputies — Grace Strachan and Dominic Lavezzo.

·      May is National Mental Health Month. Studies show that nearly one in five people in California report needing help with a mental or emotional health problem.