To the community,

When you see an emergency vehicle either coming from behind or toward you, with it’s red lights and siren sounding, please give the right-of-way to that ambulance, fire truck, or police car by pulling over to the right side of the road and stopping.

Even if you are in the center turn lane, it’s the law that you yield to the right side of the street without blocking the intersection. Once the vehicles have passed, it is then safe to resume your normal travel path.

The FD thanks you for your co-operation in our efforts to respond to emergency calls safely.

Sallie Ross-Filgo, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department

To the community,

Spring has El Dorado County residents thinking about gardens, hiking and the great outdoors. It is also time to think about preventing West Nile virus infection. As the weather warms, the El Dorado County Environmental Management and Health Services departments would like to remind residents to take precautions to prevent West Nile Virus.

“Prevention strategies include draining all sources of standing water and reporting dead birds and tree squirrels to the State West Nile virus hot line,” said Virginia Huber, division manager said.

April 26-30 is West Nile Virus and Mosquito and Vector Control Awareness Week.

West Nile virus is transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. As of April 13, there have been no reported cases of human infection with West Nile virus in California this year.

However, throughout the state, five birds have tested positive for West Nile virus, including one bird in Sacramento County. Since March of this year, four birds and one tree squirrel from El Dorado County have been sent in for testing for West Nile virus.

Health officials recommend horse owners contact their veterinarians about vaccinations for their horses, as horses are very susceptible to West Nile virus.

Local health and environmental officials continue to monitor West Nile virus activity and conduct surveillance and control activities throughout the county. Physicians routinely test for West Nile virus infection in persons with meningitis or encephalitis. The El Dorado County Environmental Management Department operates a mosquito abatement program that includes: treating standing water sources to kill mosquito larvae, mosquito trapping, canvassing communities and providing door-to-door education.

Huber recommends the following tips to prevent West Nile virus:

* Drain. Empty all sources of standing water around property to reduce mosquito breeding. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas; and keep them empty or covered when not in use.

* DEET. Use an insect repellent containing DEET, Picardin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or other approved substance on exposed skin when outdoors.

* Dusk and Dawn. Take extra precautions during these times of day, as mosquitoes are most active.

* Dress. When outdoors during peak mosquito hours or in areas where mosquitoes are active, wear long sleeves and long pants.

* Report dead birds and tree squirrels to the State hotline at 877.968.2473.

* Report green or abandoned swimming pools to Environmental Management at (530) 573.3450 in Tahoe or (530) 621.5300 in Placerville.

For more information about WNV, visit: www.edcgov.us/emd or www.westnile.ca.gov. Information is also available on the El Dorado County West Nile Virus hot lines – (530) 573.3405 or (530) 642.4968.

El Dorado County Environmental Manaagement

To the community,

As summer road construction begins, the Nevada Department of Transportation is reminding motorists to drive safely in road work zones during National Work Zone Awareness Week April 19-23 and throughout the year.

“Each driver truly needs to give their undivided attention while driving, particularly through road work zones. That means always driving slowly and safely,” NDOT Director Susan Martinovich said.

Throughout the year, NDOT works to keep drivers and road workers safe, using protective barriers, warning signs, lane closures and flaggers in certain work zones. Speed limits are lowered through work zones and potential detour routes, when necessary, are established and noted with signs. All possible construction work is also scheduled during nighttime and off-peak hours.

There were 700 work zone fatalities nationwide in 2009. The last NDOT highway employee to lose his life while working in a work zone was Frank Fuentes, who was killed in 1995 by a drunken driver in Las Vegas. An NDOT employee was also seriously injured in 2008 while removing debris on Interstate 215 in Las Vegas.

Work zone driving tips, from minimizing distractions to slowing to work zone speed limits, are available on-line at www.nevadadot.com/safety. Information on current state road construction is also available at www.nevadadot.com, or by calling 511 from within Nevada.

National Work Zone Awareness Week is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration.

Nevada Department of Transportation

To the community,

This is in response to “Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition.”

Fallen Leaf Lake CSD accomplishments since January 2008 [partial]:

Agreed to a six-year contract with store/café/marina concessionaire with a guaranteed base rent of $110,000 per year that achieves the minimum targeted needs of the CSD while providing complete financial transparency. This will allow the CSD to finally determine the true value of its asset while providing superior goods and services to the community and a welcoming atmosphere to all. The agreement with the Wirth’s is grounded in trust, good will, and a spirit of partnership between the concessionaire and the board.

In addition to the numerous CSD accomplishments listed in Director (Mike) Kraft’s response we have worked diligently to develop a five-year master plan for the fire department and will hire a new fire chief for this fire season from a field of 41 applicants. We continue to do substantial fuel reduction work within the district (75+ acres) and we continue to upgrade our apparatus and equipment in order to provide the desired level of fire/EMS service to the community.

I refused to resign as requested along with Directors Thomas and Kraft because many of the petitioners had been misinformed or misguided by the proponents. I do not believe that the petitioners constituted a majority. I believe the majority of the community supports the decisions of the board and that the financial future of the district is in far better shape today than if we had voted otherwise regarding the store/café/marina concessionaire. I look forward to continuing to serve our community with honesty and integrity.

Eric Thaden, director Fallen Leaf Lake CSD

To the publisher,

Attached is my response [click on letter] to the recall as required. Rather then continue to throw mud, I felt it was important to remind people who may be asked to sign the recall petition of all the positive things our board has accomplished over the past two years. I am limited to 200 words so I was unable to fit in all the good things the board has done, but these are a few of our achievements. This has already been submitted to the El Dorado Elections Department and will be sent to those who signed the “Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition” via certified mail.

Mike Kraft, president of the Fallen Leaf Lake board

By Joseph Day and Richard McIntyre, Sacramento Bee

The Sierra Nevada is the foundation of California’s water system and needs attention. The Sierra supplies 65 percent of all water used by the people of the state, from the clean, safe water that comes from your faucets to the water used to grow crops.

Without its broad granite presence looming over the Central Valley, what most of us take for granted as “the way things are” would not be.

Looking at the Sierra as California's water solution.

Without the Sierra, irrespective of what laws were passed, the state, federal and regional water projects that supply San Francisco, the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California simply would not exist – and neither would the San Francisco Bay Delta.

Read the whole story

To the community,

When you leave your children in the care of a babysitter, take time to cue the babysitter to your family’s escape plan. Discuss the floor plan of your house, and leave the phone number where you can be reached. Explain the family fire safety plans to your babysitter.

If the smoke detector sounds, nobody should try to find the fire, much less try to put it out. Make it clear that your only concern is that everyone gets out of the house quickly and safely.

The SLTFD urges you to spend time preparing your family to be fire safe this year.

Sallie Ross-Filgo, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department

To the community,

The Parasol Community Collaboration is a membership organization dedicated to providing resources and support to our local nonprofits and greater community. The public face of the Parasol Community Collaboration, the Smallwood Collaboration Resource Center, includes a host of resources open to the general public that we urge you to take advantage of.

As a Cooperating Collection of Foundation Center, the Parasol Community Collaboration offers free access to Foundation Center’s online grants research database, Foundation Directory Online. Housed in the Smallwood Collaboration Resource Center of the DWR Center in Incline Village, the Foundation Directory Online database provides grant seekers with vital information to become successful in attaining grant funding. The Parasol Community Collaboration Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center is made possible by a generous grant from the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation.

The Parasol Community Collaboration also offers a series of affordable spring and fall Workshops and seasonal Trainings on critical non-profit topics which are open to the public. Recent topics include: grant writing, marketing, fundraising, boards, and management. Check out our website at www.parasolcommuntiycollaboration.org for the 2010 workshop and training schedule.

Intrigued? Upon becoming a member of the Parasol Community Collaboration, you gain access to even more valuable resources.

To learn more about the host of benefits gained through membership and how you can open the door to invaluable networking opportunities, contact Wendy Losee at (775) 298.0118 or visit us at one of our monthly meetings every second Wednesday of the month at the DWR Center from 8:30am-noon.

Jaime Olive, AmeriCorps member, Parasol Community Collaboration

To contractors,

I’m so glad to be able to finally release the 8-hour (1 day) Training Program we told you about. Working out the logistics took a few weeks longer than expected.

Lake Tahoe Community College is set to offer the training to all of you who expressed interest in getting some work out of the $1.5 million grant we received to conduct Lead Based Paint remediation for 100 local homes during the next 2.5 years.

For the first 40 spots, the grant will cover the cost of the training except for $50 (for the 8-hour course). Completion of the course will allow you to receive your EPA and HUD certifications for Lead Safe Workers. Call now to reserve your spot, or send in the registration form. After the first 40 spots are filled, participants can still get training, it will cost them between $75-$100.

Other training: You’ll see on the flyer the Supervisor training (1-week) course is being offered to up to 10 General Contractors – you must have a GC license to get this training. The grant will cover the registration (about $900) for the course. You’d need to cover any hotel/personal expenses (the training is in Richmond).

Read the flyer and give us a call for more questions.

Thank you for your patience. We expect to have some work for you on these 100 small projects come this summer — June–July.

Nancy Kerry, South Lake Tahoe Redevelopment & Housing Manager

To the community,

The 2010 Elegant Evening at Harrah’s was quite a success and that was due, in the most part, to the generosity of businesses and friends in our community.

Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra wishes to thank everyone who attended this fun and worthwhile event and also those who donated to make it so profitable for the programs and organizations that we as a group support. As always, every dollar raised goes back into our town, schools, and students that are recipients.

Our event was well-attended and beautifully decorated thanks to the generosity of Harrah’s and their fabulous staff and the delicious food. A special kudo to Paul Ellbogen, Paul Voss, Robin Eissinger, Linda Hunt and banquet/catering staffs for their hard work and monetary assistance. The following businesses and supporters were patrons of our 2010 Elegant Evening:

Elegant Evening 2010

A Massage at Tahoe, A Massage for all Seasons, A Frame of Mind, AC Stephan & Diane Johnson, Acacia Winery, Ace Hardware of SLT, Acqua Hair Design, Advanced Cosmetic Dermatology, Allasia Creations, Alpen Sierra Coffee Co., Alpina Café, Alpine Realty & Rentals, Alpine Clothing Co., Altitude Salon, Amador Flower Farm, American Red Cross, Angel Touch, Angie’s Signs, Anytime Fitness, Aquilina Hardwood Floors, Aspen Hollow, Balanced Fitness, Balancing Your Business, Barbara Gustafson, Barton Health, Bert’s Cafe, Betsy & John Williams, Bike Habitat, Black Bear Inn, Bleu Wave, Blue Water Bistro, Body Essentials, Bonita Paulis Fine Art , Boy Scouts, Brian Shinault Architect, Brothers Burrito, Burger Lounge, Cafe’ Fiore, Carol Taylor, Carson Valley Inn, Carson Oak Outlet, Cathy Huffman, Cedarville Winery, Celeste Eckerman, DDS, Chevy’s, Cilantro’s, Cindy Shinault, Cindy Cowen, City of SLT Rec Dept., Cookie & Paul Rork, Cork & More, Costco, Crossfit Lake Tahoe, Curves, Dancing Deer, David Wally’s, Deerfield Lodge, Dennis Nelson, Deep Lake Design, Diane Ross, Dick’s Fuller O’Brien Paints, Dirk Yuricich Photography, Dog Dog Cat, Dollar Signs and Graphics, Doris Groelz, Dorothy Davis, Dr. Seljesta, Eagle Valley Golf Course, Ed Cook Tree Service, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, El Dorado Hotel & Casino, El Dorado Savings, Eloise Automotive, Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe, Emery Financial, Eric Linkugel, Ernie’s Coffee Shop, Evelyn Yonker, Farah Richmond, Fat City Food Co., Flower Farm Inn, Forever Dance Ballroom, Freshies, Genasci and Stigers Dental, Genoa Lakes Golf Club, Getaway Café, Gold Store, Grassroots Natural Food, Grocery Outlet, H2O Sports, Hampton Inn & Suites, Harrah*s/Harveys, Heaven Scent, Home Depot, Hot Gossip, Hot Locks, Hot Cha Cha, House of Ski, Hunan Gardens, Inn by the Lake, Irene Radford, Jazzercise, Jeff Chamberlain, DDS, Joanne Wood, JoAnn Conner – Independent Associate Prepaid Legal, Joanne Shope, Joe Benigno’s Tree Service, John & Roxie Upton, Julie Nelson, K9 Bliss Dog Behavioral, Kahle Community Center, Kalani’s, Katharine Miller, Kathay Lovell, Kathy Angel-Forte, Kevin J. Cassidy, DDS, Keys Café, Kingsbury Automotive, KOWL/KRLT radio, Kragan Auto, KTHO radio, Lake Tahoe Golf Course, Lake Tahoe Master Framing, Lake Tahoe News, Lake Valley Fire Department, Lake Tahoe Chinese Buffet, Lake Tahoe Holidays, Lake Tahoe Cruises, Lakeland Village Resort, Lakeside Inn & Casino, Laurie Brazil, Les Schwab Tire Center, Linda LaFavor-Coyle- Beauti-Control, Lisa Huard, Lucille Holmlund, Lydia Rogers, Lynn Corey, Maria Martinez, Marilyn Pawling, Mary Kay Consultant Laticia Hansen, Maren Taylor and Eric Linkugel, Maureen & Bradley Senn, Micshell Riley Sculpture, Midkiff & Associates, Mind/Body Fitness, Mirabelle French Cuisine, Mo’s Place, Mountain News, Mountain Postal, Hair & Nail Studio, Nails by Lillian, Naked Fish, Nancy & Ken Rollston, Nancy Gayner-CMT, Napa Inn, Nel’s Hardware, Nephele’s, New York Pizza, New Day Nail & Hair, Off the Hook, Orchid’s, Overland Meat, Pam Brekas Originals, Passeretti’s, Pat Papp, Patagonia, Peter Darvas, Picchetti Winery, Pottery by Lynn, ProClean Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, Red Hut Cafe, Redwood Printing, Riva Grill, Robert Mancinelli, Rojo’s, Ross Groelz, DDS, RSN, Safeway Round Hill, Sage & Thymely Solutions, Inc., Savvy, Scott Mason, Scotty’s Hardware, Scusa!, Sessions Salon, Shari Young, Sherna Kopple-Svensson, Sidestreet Boutique, Sierra Athletic Club, Sierra Nevada Backflow, Sierra Windows and Doors, Signs of Tahoe, Ski Run Boat Co,. Skin & Hair Wellness Center, SLT Police Department, SLT Fire Department, Soaring NV, Sorenson’s Resort, Soroptimist International of SLT, South Y Fireplace, Sprouts, Staples, Stateline Brewery, Steamers Bar & Grill, Steve Cress, Studio 6 Hair Design, Sugar Pine Bakery, Sunridge Golf Course, Susan Welsh, Sushi Pier, Svadhyyaya Yoga, Svensson’s Workshop, Tahoe Business Monitor, Tahoe Health Touch, Tahoe Daily Tribune, Tahoe Cakes by Grace, Tahoe Family Dentists, Tahoe Ridge Winery, Tahoe Grille, Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge & Spa, Tahoe Keys Deli, Tahoe Sports LTD, Tahoe Paradise Golf Course, Tahoe Season’s Resort, Tahoe Valley Pharmacy, Tahoe One Hour Cleaners, Tahoe Carpet Care, Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters, Tahoe Tutor, Tahoe Donut, Tahoe-Douglas Fire Protection District, Tep’s Villa Roma, Thai One On, The Sportsman, The Glass Doctor, The Adolescent Mind, Thran’s Flowers, Thrifty Hippy Store, Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society, Tolman & Co. Jewelers, Weddings A-Go-Go, Wendy David, Western Highland Mortgage Co., Wildman Café, Wolfgang Puck, Zephyr Cove Restaurant.

Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra