·      SmartTraveler.com listed Lake Tahoe’s beaches among the best to see in the winter.

·       Hard Rock Lake Tahoe has a slew of events planned for New Year’s Eve. 

·       Here is the Sierra roadwork schedule for next week from Caltrans.

·       Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., has announced his intentions to run for re-election in 2018, which means he won’t be running for governor.

·      Tahoe Fit by Barton Health is led by qualified fitness coaches. Activities offered this season: winter conditioning, indoor cycling, Pilates, cardio core, barre, kickboxing, and a diverse selection of yoga classes. All fitness levels welcome. Sign up or get more details by calling 530.543.5549.

AAA is offering free rides to residents in the Lake Tahoe Basin and elsewhere in Northern California on New Year’s Eve.

Tipsy Tow is a service to help prevent drunken driving. It’s available to people who aren’t AAA members, too.

Tow truck drivers will take the driver and their vehicle up to 10 miles to their home. Passengers are permitted if there is room.

The rides are available from 6pm Saturday to 6am Sunday. Call 800.222.4357.

·       Caltrans is working to let motorists know about road issues in a timelier manner. Check out this video. 

·       Regarding Question 1, or the Nevada Background Check Act, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says: To summarize the AG opinion the act is not enforceable and therefore citizens are excused from compliance with the act until the issues identified in the opinion are remedied. The Douglas County sheriff is advising residents that they may proceed with private party firearm sells and transfers as they did prior to the passing of ballot question No. 1.

·       Waste Management will collect clean trees for recycling at the curb on trash service days from Jan. 9-13. Trees must be cut into 3-foot or smaller lengths. Recyclers may drop off trees of any size at Preston Field until Jan. 29. North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District will chip these trees for local erosion control projects. 

·       According to LosAngelesHotels.org, South Lake Tahoe is the most expensive destination in California for New Year’s Eve.

·       The deadline to become a 2017 voting member of Tahoe Women’s Community Fund is Dec. 31. Applications are online. 

·       One the 20 most expensive houses sold in the U.S. in 2016 was in Lake Tahoe. Check out this story. 

·       The Golf Channel assembled the most bizarre moments of 2016. A fan touching Justin Timberlake at the American Century Championship made the list. 

·       Truckee Chamber of Commerce has 2017 mandatory law posters available. More info is online. 

·       Spirit of Spring, the Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls Club annual fundraiser, is April 11 from 7-9:30pm at Edgewood Tahoe. Go online to purchase tickets. 

·       On Jan.6, Alpine Meadows will join 75 other resorts across the United States and Canada in hosting the Guinness World Records event for the largest ski and snowboard lesson ever taught.

·       Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Bridgeport Ranger District is open for snowmobiling.

·       UberSki is now available in Lake Tahoe, which means these drivers can carry four people and their ski equipment.

·       Climate change and lake temperature in the Sierra Nevada: There’s no business like snow business is the subject of a talk by Steve Sadro. It will be Feb. 9 at 6pm at UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center on the campus of Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village. Cost is $5.

Fred Gifford is the recipient of a pair of Harlem Globetrotter tickets. This is because he subscribes to Lake Tahoe News.

Being a subscriber has multiple advantages, including being able to post unlimited comments, receiving breaking news alerts, and having a chance to win things like these basketball tickets. Subscribers are also ensuring there are more local stories on Lake Tahoe News.

“I subscribe to the ‘News‘ as I find its reporting non-political, as well as unbiased, up-to-date on a more frequent basis, as well as over all good reading touching on most subjects pertinent to the Tahoe way of life,” Gifford said.

Subscriptions are $10/month or $100/year. To subscribe, go online or send a check to Lake Tahoe News, PO Box 13406, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151.

This is what Gifford had to say about his experience seeing the Globetrotters in the past, “The first time I saw the Globetrotters was at the Cow Palace in South San Francisco. I was 9 years old. The second time I saw them I was in high school. Both times I was mesmerized by the fantastic moves and ball handling that went on. I don’t travel well anymore due to age and medical situations, but would give my left ear to get tickets so that I could give them to a couple of friends that have never seen them live. If they are as impressed with the whole Globetrotter show, I am sure they would share with me ,as well as others in a situation similar to mine. The fantastic crowd pleasing antics these guys provide just blew me away! Fulfillment by proxy and happy to listen to the tales related if the tickets are a go!”

Washoe County commissioners this month allocated $75,000 to expand senior services in Incline Village.

The old library on Alder Avenue will be remodeled to divide the area up a bit. New furniture will be ordered.

Services will include clinical programs, nutrition, and caregiver support. The county regularly budgets $150,000 for senior services in the Incline-Crystal Bay areas.

The U.S. Forest Service office there will remain, though the remodel will make some changes to the access.

A start date on the construction has not been set.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

·       South Tahoe Refuse will pick up Christmas trees that are free of all decorations from Dec. 26-Jan. 6 on regular garbage days.

·       Incline Village General Improvement District’s board this month voted to change the policy for trash violators. First offense for residential customers requires getting a wildlife-resistant trash cart, second offense will be a fine between $100-$999, three or more offense involves fines between $500 and $999. Commercial properties could face a $999 fine the first time, with multiple infractions costing another $500 to $999.

·       Caltrans District 3 employees donated $21,391 in cash and 577 pounds of food to charities across an 11-county region, including Lake Tahoe.

·       Here is the sierra roadwork schedule from Caltrans for the coming week.

·       South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge No. 1632 donated 51 boxes of food to the South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center.

The Placer County Air Pollution Control District is seeking applications for its annual Clean Air Grant program.

The goal of the program is to reduce air pollution from sources not already required by law or regulation to do so. This program is a proactive approach to help incentivize clean technologies and programs which ultimately provide the benefit of measurable and cost effective emission reductions.

There are six grant project categories to choose to apply under. About $800,000 is available.

More information is available online.

Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s annual human resources update will be Jan. 18 from noon-1:30pm.

Topics will include the new minimum wage, all gender bathrooms, worker protections, and more. 

The goal is to provide updates to make sure businesses  stay protected in 2017.

Bring your lunch to the chamber conference room in Stateline. Cost is $10 for members, $20 for others.