It’s that time of year of holiday parties. They range from subdued affairs to extravagant undertakings.

Some people have commented on Lake Tahoe News publicly and to Lake Tahoe News privately about parties South Lake Tahoe is having.

So, we looked into it.

Yes, those employees, too, get to celebrate the season. Just like a lot of other public employees do — here and across the country.

Several departments are having a holiday “lunch” — which the director of that department is paying for. When it comes to the police department, that party is being paid for ($35/person) by each employee. It is after “normal” hours — more of a dinner party.

City staff has done this before. This is not entirely new.

The city manager is coordinating a lunch for Dec. 15 — just like last year — during the regular lunch hour for employees to attend. In the 2011-12 budget the lunch is covered up to $700. Estimates are this year’s lunch will cost $500.

At this lunch employee service awards are given. These are awarded at quarterly lunches instead at City Council meetings.

Pass judgment as much as you like. You are the one looking in the mirror.

At Lake Tahoe News we like to think people deserve a thank you — at least once a year. No matter who they work for.

With that said, thank you to everyone out there — employed or looking for work or volunteering — as long as you are doing what you can to make this town, this basin, this world just a little better — or have done so perhaps when you were more capable — Thank You.

 — Lake Tahoe News staff