·       TRPA’s offices will be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 2. The office will reopen Jan. 3, but the front counter, which is normally closed on Tuesdays, will reopen Jan 4.

·       Santa will be shredding at Sierra-at-Tahoe on Dec. 24 from 9am-4pm.

·       It should be a smoke free holiday season in the Lake Tahoe Basin. According to the U.S. Forest Service, no controlled burns will be started from Dec. 16-Jan. 1.

·       The initial study/mitigated negative declaration for the Triumph Development Hotel & Residential Project in Truckee has been amended and recirculated. Comments will be taken until Jan. 24. The documents are available online. 

·       Will Morgan has been promoted to captain at Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District.

Tahoe Regional Young Professionals will host two events this month.

The South Shore Networking Mixer is Dec. 14 from 6-9pm at Echo Restaurant located inside the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel in South Lake Tahoe. One free drink and complimentary appetizers will be provided for attendees. Attendance is free for members and $10 for non-members.

Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items that will be donated to Bread & Broth for Kids. 

The North Shore Networking Mixer is Dec. 20 from 5:30-8:30pm at Alibi Ale Works located at 204 E Enterprise St., in Incline Village. One free drink and complimentary appetizers will be provided for attendees. Attendance is free for members and $10 for non-members.

For more info about TRYP or to become a member, email TahoeTRYP@gmail.com. 

·       All South Lake Tahoe fire stations have barrels for people to drop off toys for Christmas Cheer.

·       South Lake Tahoe’s offices on Tata Lane will be closed during the noon hour from Dec. 12-Feb. 17.

·       The Douglas County Public Library in Minden will be closed Dec.24-26, the Zephyr Cove branch will be closed Dec. 24-27.

·       Never Summer snowboards will be available to demo at Sierra-at-Tahoe on Dec. 17-18 from 8am-3:30pm at the Solstice Plaza.

·       Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra’s Elegant Evening will be April 22 from 5:30-10:30pm at Harrah’s. The auction is already live online. Tickets are $65; $75 after April 1. 

Toys for Tots has returned to the South Shore to collect new, unwrapped toys to benefit the less-fortunate families in the community.

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve started the Toys for Tots campaign a century ago to provide new toys to children in need during the holiday season.

Drop off gifts at one of the following locations by Dec. 18:

·       Cardinale Way Toyota

·       South Y Center Raley’s

·       Kmart

·       CVS

·       Fitness Evolution

·       Village Toys

·       Tahoe Toys and Treasures

·       Tahoe Sports LTD

·       Safeway

·       Toy Maniacs.

·      Out of the 20 resorts nominated by a panel of pro skiers and snowboarders, USA Today and 10Best readers selected Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows as the best ski resort.

·       Truckee Tavern and Grill will offer Blueprint of the Cocktail classes on Saturdays from Jan. 14 through the end of February. For more information, go online. 

·       Dawes will play at MontBleu in Stateline on Jan. 20 at 8pm. Tickets are $25 and $35.

·       South Lake Tahoe offices will be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 2.

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

·       South Lake Tahoe Fire and Rescue is collecting coats for kids from Dec. 15-Jan. 31. Drop off a gently used or new coats at Station No. 3, 2101 Lake Tahoe Blvd. 

·      Tahoe Donner downhill ski area is now open.

·       The South Lake Tahoe warm room will open Dec. 15 at 7pm at 2179 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

·        Grade school students can make holiday slime at the Minden Library on Dec. 21 from 4-5pm. All slime materials will be provided. For more information, call 775.782.9841.

·       Nevada Humanities is accepting nominations for the 2017 Nevada Humanities Awards for outstanding achievement in and contributions to the humanities. Every other year, the statewide organization presents four awards recognizing individuals and organizations that foster cultural enrichment and deepen our understanding of the human experience by facilitating opportunities for Nevadans to engage with the humanities. Nomination instructions are available online.

South Lake Tahoe has sand bags available at no cost year round for residents.

The sand lot is located at the city’s public works yard located at 1160 Rufus Allen Blvd., which is next to Campground by the Lake.

Proceed through the gate at the yard and drive to the back of the lot. At the back of the lot is a large sand mound, shovels and bags. Residents fill their own bags; limit 10.

Access to sand bags is available during normal business hours, Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm.

·      In an unusual twist, South Lake Tahoe is not going to recognize outgoing Councilmember JoAnn Conner on what should be her last day in office on Dec. 13. Instead, there will be a special meeting the day before at 1pm to certify the election and honor her for her four years of service. She came in fourth in the Nov. 8 election. The top two vote-getters – Brooke Laine and Jason Collin – will be sworn in on Tuesday.

·      Caltrans is hosting a community meeting on Dec. 15 to present design alternatives for a Highway 50 safety project in the Camino area. The meeting will be from 5:30-7:30pm at Camino Elementary School, 3060 Snows Road. A project presentation will take place at 5:45pm.

·      South Tahoe Refuse’s request for a 1.62 percent rate hike effective Jan. 1 is on the consent calendar of the Dec. 13 South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting.

·       Train, which has performed a couple times at the Harveys outdoor concerts, last year released the Christmas album, “Christmas in Tahoe.” Here is a video for the song “Shake Up Christmas” that was shot in Tahoe. 

·      Diamond Peak ski resort opens Dec. 15.

·       The Ignite Winter White Pop-Up Party at Hard Rock Lake Tahoe is Dec. 10 starting at 10pm inside the Graceland Ballroom. Tickets are $10. Women get in free until midnight. Must be 21 to attend.

·       South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue will be hosting a blood drive Dec. 20 from 9am-1pm at Station No. 3 at 2101 Lake Tahoe Blvd. To schedule an appointment, contact Kim George at 530.307.9596.

·       Intero Real Estate Services of Gardnerville presented a check for $8,200 to the Incredible Kids Fund. This program provides youth with gym membership scholarships to use at the Douglas County Community Center in Gardnerville, and the Kahle Community Center in Stateline.

·       El Dorado County is hosting a meeting in Grizzly Flats to discuss planned tree mortality operations in the area. The meeting is Dec. 15 at 6:30pm at Walt Tyler Elementary School, 6801 Tyler Drive, Grizzly Flats.

·       Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City is having a Holiday Open House on Dec. 15 from 4-8pm to benefit Ty Whisler, a local 10-year-old fighting brain cancer. There will be a festive holiday atmosphere with eggnog, gift wrapping, and holiday cheer. Twenty percent of all sales will go to the Whisler family.

The Douglas County Public Library will be having a Winter Lego Building Challenge from Dec. 17 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 Building Dreams. Children who want to use the library’s bricks can come to the Minden or Zephyr Cove library on Dec. 17 from 2-3pm to build their entries.

The rules and entry forms can be found at the library or on the library’s Youth Services webpage. 

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 together. All participants under the age of 4 must use DUPLO bricks.