The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFPD) reminds residents that the 2026 Curbside Chipping Program will conclude on Saturday, October 31, 2026.

“Curbside chipping is an important tool in managing vegetation and maintaining defensible space around homes,” said Division Chief Powning. “Residents who plan to participate this year should submit their requests by October 31. Meeting the deadline gives our crews time to review and schedule requests before the program pauses for winter.”

How to Schedule Pickup

Residents must request pickup online through the official NLTFPD Curbside Chipping page:
🔗 www.nltfpd.org/curbside-chipping

Program Guidelines

• Piles must be placed curbside and easily accessible
• Branches should be no larger than 6 inches in diameter
• Maximum pile size: 20 ft length × 6 ft height × 6 ft width
• No stumps, roots, garbage, nails, lumber, or pinecones
• Commercial piles are not accepted, these are piles created by a contractor or landscaping company, rather than by a homeowner
• Chips will be left on site for residents to use safely

Requests are typically completed within one week. Timing may vary depending on fire assignments or staffing availability.

Defensible Space Inspections (DSI)

Defensible space inspections can still be scheduled by calling (775) 831-0351, ext. 8130 after October 31. Please note, inspections are subject to weather conditions.

Final Reminder

Residents have until Saturday, October 31, 2026, to submit a chipping request. After that date, the program will pause for the winter season and resume in spring 2027.

Learn More & Stay Informed

For more information or to submit your request, please visit: www.nltfpd.org/curbside-chipping

Huge Thank You to all the Village Center Businesses: Grocery Outlet, Tahoe MultiSport, Sierra Verde Home Designs, Lupita’s Restaurant, Pet Network Thrift, Tahoe Family Solutions, and Glasses Wine Bar – and to our Fest Vendors: Incline Shine Window Cleaning, Natural Grocers, Lighthouse Medical, Nevada Nordic Booth, Pillulles Tacos & North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District for coming out!

Special shout-out and thank you to our Fall Fest Host Partner, Tahoe Connections for Families, for the wonderful Family Carnival, Pumpkin Decorating, and Raffle!

Can’t wait for next year!

Check out these fun Fall Fest Photos and Drone Footage >

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10dSqWCK5rOkwcIJvd8tUVBFp_g4BcR5W?usp=drive_link

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 10/19/2026, Written by Victoria Mastrocola

Single mother Anahid Mendez and her 10-year-old son, Jayden, have started a GoFundMe to ask the community for help purchasing a wheelchair-accessible van for Jayden.

Diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in 2024 at age eight, Jayden can no longer walk and is bound to a wheelchair for mobility. 

As a progressive, genetic neuromuscular disorder, DMD is caused by mutations to the DMD gene, resulting in the dysfunction or absence of the dystrophin protein. Without dystrophin, progressive muscle degeneration and weakness occur, making it difficult, and in some cases, painful, for children to walk, run, or jump.

READ MORE >

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 10/16/2026, Staff Report

The Tahoe Community Foundation has awarded a $30,000 grant to the environmental nonprofit Keep Tahoe Blue to expand its science-guided programs that empower residents, visitors, students, and volunteers to play an active role in protecting Tahoe.

Keep Tahoe Blue was selected as one of four nonprofit organizations recognized through the Community Foundation’s special anniversary grant initiative celebrating 30 years of philanthropy and community impact.

“Protecting Tahoe takes a village. We’re incredibly grateful to have a generous and forward-looking partner in Tahoe Community Foundation,” said Keep Tahoe Blue’s CEO Darcie Goodman Collins, PhD. “Their continuing support allows us to do the multi-year work required to transform science into solutions, so we can conserve what we all love about this natural treasure.”  

READ MORE >

Originally published in the Moonshine Ink, 10/15/2026, Press Release

Cold temps and Tahoe’s highest base area elevation have given Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe an edge again this year, with the resort becoming the first in Tahoe — and among the first in the country — to fire up its snowmaking system ahead of the start of the 2026/27 season.

Targeting a Nov. 6 opening, weather and conditions permitting, the resort’s marketing director, Mike Pierce, says, “It’s always exciting to see the first taste of winter, and as an added bonus, to be able to crank out snowmaking in force over the next couple of days. We plan to make as much snow as possible with this latest cold snap and then be ready for all future opportunities to crank up the system.”

The resort’s location has significant advantages when it comes to making early season snow thanks to Tahoe’s highest base elevation at 8,260 feet, mostly north and east facing slopes, and a robust snowmaking system that can produce snow when conditions permit (below freezing temperatures coupled with low humidity, ideally for periods greater than four hours).

READ MORE >

If you missed the live IVGID Candidate forum on October 13th, here is the recording. Starts at 6:39 –