Photo of the week

☀️ This #PlacerLife photo of a sunstar shining over the mountains beyond Lake Tahoe was taken by @abeblair on Instagram.

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Celebrate the 12 Days of Placer County and our biggest stories of 2025

We’re excited to share the 12 Days of Placer County, a festive countdown celebrating the stories and accomplishments that shaped our year. Each day, we’ll unwrap a new highlight that showcases how county programs, services and people make a real difference in daily life.

Follow along on Facebook, Instagram and our website to revisit the moments that mattered most in 2025. Join us for a little year-end reflection, discovery and community pride as we celebrate all things Placer County.

Public safety

County partners with California State University for new forensics lab

The District Attorney’s Office is one step closer to bringing a regional forensics lab to the county. Supervisors approved an agreement with California State University that provides $2.5 million for the design-build process. Read more

Housing

Hope Way Apartments appeals to be heard by Board of Supervisors

Our Board of Supervisors will consider three appeals related to the proposed Hope Way Apartments project during its regular meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, at the Placer County Health and Human Services building in North Auburn.
Learn more

Regional transit

Board approves 16 new buses as Placer moves closer to electrification

We took a significant step towards our long-term transit fleet modernization goals this week following approval for 16 new public transit buses, including four new electric buses for a pilot program in North Lake Tahoe. Read more

Aging and wellness

Newsletter for older adults: Healthy minds for the holiday season

This month’s Healthy Aging newsletter highlights simple ways to support cognitive health during the busy holiday season, including brain games. You’ll also find upcoming classes, tips to avoid online shopping scams and more.
Learn more

In other news

Board approves $500,000 to facilitate housing in North Lake Tahoe through new trust

Traffic shift scheduled along eastbound I-80 in the Sierra

Join the fun of Winter Book Bingo at your local library

Sierra College expands access to affordable student housing with 358-bed grand opening on Rocklin campus

Our board unanimously approved the North Lake Tahoe Tourism Business Improvement District through 2036 this week

Choose PlacerGROWN farmers’ markets to prepare holiday goodies and meals

Still need presents this year? Find local businesses on our Love for Local map on Engage Placer, or add your business today

This week in Placer County history

Bringing fresh-cut evergreen trees into the home for Christmas became popular in America after Queen Victoria and her family were pictured in the Illustrated London News in 1846 beside their decorated tree. Before that, German families decorated winter evergreens, but the tradition had not yet caught on in most American homes. Like much of what Queen Victoria did, it became an instant sensation. 

Trees were adorned with homemade ornaments, apples, stringed popcorn and berries, and lit candles. Starting in Germany, wealthy families even hung strings of silver that would flicker in the candlelight. By the early 1900s, tinsel became a popular, reusable and much more affordable Christmas tree decoration made of aluminum and copper. Demand for copper during World War I stopped tinsel production, but the invention of aluminized paper tinsel brought the decoration back into vogue in the 1950s. Lead tinsel replaced the highly flammable paper tinsel, but in 1972, the dangers of lead exposure brought an end to its production.

To see a Victorian home lavishly decorated for Christmas, stop by the Bernhard Museum in Auburn during the holiday season or visit the museum’s free annual “S’mores & Stories” event on Dec. 12, from 5-8 p.m.!

Photo: Gaffett home decorated for Christmas in Clipper Gap. 1911; Placer County Museums collection

Advisory committees and commissions

Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply

Current recruitments include:

Area 4 Agency on Aging Advisory Council

Building Board of Appeals

Colfax Cemetery District

Economic Development Board

Fish & Game Commission

Gold Run Cemetery Committee

Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council

Housing Development Advisory Taskforce

In Home Support Services Advisory Committee

Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention

Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council

Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council

Historical Advisory Board

Horseshoe Bar-Penryn Municipal Advisory Council

Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council

Central Municipal Advisory Council

Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council

North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council

Placer County Child Care Advisory Council

Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission

Solid Waste Local Task Force

Tahoe Basin Design Review Committee (DRC)

Veterans Advisory Council

Wastewater Advisory Committee

Fun things to do this week

Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...

Roseville: Grinchmas, Downtown Roseville Ice Rink, Gingerbread House Contest, Artist 2 Artist December Drawing, 3rd Annual Winter Night Market, Roseville Historical Society Holiday Open House, Petty Theft band, Holiday Gingerbread House Factory
Rocklin: Breakfast with Santa
Lincoln: Breakfast with Santa
Auburn: Placer Theater Ballet presents “The Nutcracker,” Colla Voce Chamber Singers – Holiday Performance, A Christmas Carol; Or, The Miser’s Warning!, S’mores and stories at the Bernhard Museum, “It’s A Wonderful Life” Presented by State Theater Acting Company and Auburn State Theater, Auburn Country Christmas, Old Town Christmas at the Auburn Historic Courthouse, Holiday Bazaar & Ugly Sweater Party At Ponderosa Cider

Colfax: Colfax Winterfest 2025, Soroptimist Old Fashioned Soup Kitchen Fundraiser, All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast
North Lake Tahoe: Holly Jolly Strolls and a Visit with Santa, Merry & Bright Holiday Stroll, Santa Ski Day, Tahoe City Holiday Markets, Cocoa @ the Cabin, Community Garden Workshop Holiday Wreath Making, North Tahoe Chamber Power Lunch, Tahoe City Farmer’s Market

...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.

Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!

Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail

Upcoming public meetings and events

Board of Supervisors, Dec. 16, 9 a.m. Information
CANCELED - West Placer Municipal Advisory Council, Dec.17 Information
Planning Commission, Dec. 18 , 9 a.m. Information

To learn about other Placer County committees and commissions and current opportunities to serve your community click here.

List of active projects throughout Placer County

Projects are listed alphabetically and by Board of Supervisors districts. A hard copy of the list is available at the Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, 3091 County Center Drive in Auburn. 

Active Projects

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