14.0°
Sister Time! Big Sister Tenaya Ideker (right) with her Little Sister, Rachelle, enjoying some time together at the Boys and Girls Club in Kings Beach. Courtesy photo |
CommentsSpot News Briefs (13 May to 16 June)
Published: May 14, 2010
click for slideshow
Spot NewsBriefs: Nevada County
Gold Standard Award for Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County & North Lake Tahoe is among only 22 agencies out of 400 nationwide selected by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for the prestigious Gold Standard Award. The honor is given to top-performing agencies in terms of number of children matched with caring adult mentors, growth in revenue, and match closure rates (matching a big sister with a little sister). In 2009, BBBSNC served 58 percent more children than in 2008, grew its revenue by 37 percent over 2008 levels, and had a match closure rate of 23 percent (compared to the national average of 36 percent).
BBBSNC was founded in 1981 and serves children in all of Nevada County, as well as the North Lake Tahoe region, including the communities of Kings Beach and Tahoe City. Info: bigsofnc.org
Call to Action Pays Out
Local agencies that benefit families have received much-needed funding infusions, thanks to the efforts of Call to Action, a Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation phone-a-thon campaign that raised $138,416 just over a year ago. One quarter of the money raised went into TTCF’s endowment to benefit families in perpetuity. The remaining $103,500 was returned to the Tahoe/Truckee region in the form of grants to local organizations.
“These grants supported everything from buying food for hungry families to adding counseling sessions for people in crisis to supporting Meals on Wheels programs and emergency shelter,” said TTCF CEO Lisa Dobey. Call to Action grant awards went to a long list of recipients including Project MANA, Sierra Family Services, Sierra Senior Services, Family Resource Center of Truckee, and the North Tahoe Family Resource Center. Info: (530) 587-1776, ttcf.net
New Trustee Appointed
The Tahoe Truckee Unified School District Board of Trustees appointed Pat Gibbons-Johnson to fill the vacant seat of former Area 1 Trustee Bill Kraus at a special meeting on April 21. Her appointment is good for the remainder of the term, which expires in November 2010. Gibbons-Johnson served as an elected Trustee for Area 1 from 1999 to 2006. The trustees chose Gibbons-Johnson over the only other candidate who applied, Robert Jamison, after interviewing both of them publically. Info: ttusd.org
It’s Construction Time Again
The California Department of Transportation officially began the 2010 “Get Across 80” construction season between Colfax and the Nevada state line with a kick-off on April 22. The construction program consists of eight projects totaling more than $520 million to repair Interstate 80. Info: (877) 362-8080, getacross80.com
Truckee Tahoe Airport District Announces New GM
The Truckee Tahoe Airport District Board of Directors has selected Kevin Smith as its new general manager effective May 10. Smith brings 14 years of public administration experience and is also a skilled pilot. He most recently served as the deputy city manager of Cottonwood Heights, Utah, where in addition to overseeing day-to-day operations he managed various municipal departments including Public Works, Engineering, and Risk Management. Smith is also a reserve police officer and has his emergency management certification from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Smith has a master’s in geography with an emphasis in urban planning and natural resource management from Brigham Young University.
“Smith’s experience in public administration and community relations combined with his interest and love for aviation will provide the district with leadership and vision as we take ourselves to the next level in operational effectiveness and community responsibility,” said Board President Sandy Korth. Info: (530) 587-4119, truckeetahoeairport.com
Spot News Briefs: Placer/Washoe County
Placer County Takes Action on Tahoe Issues
Last month, the Placer County Board of Supervisors took action on a number of items that affect the Lake Tahoe Basin:
• Authorized the Director of Public works to enter into a contract for work on the Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project.
• Reduced the number of days county animal shelters are open to the public from six to five per week, with open days running from Tuesdays to Saturdays.
• Amended the North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council’s boundaries to include Northstar and all of the Martis Valley Community Plan area to the county line.
• Approved project plans for the Donner Pass Road Stabilization Project.
Teshara Leaves Resort Association
After seven years at the helm of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and leading the organization through significant growth and expansion, President and CEO Steve Teshara has resigned to open a consulting company.
“Steve has been a tremendous asset to both the NLTRA and the North Lake Tahoe community,” said NLTRA Board President Alex Mourelatos of Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort. “His skills, dedication, and passion have opened up many doors, and he has played a critical role in implementing the recommendations of the North Lake Tahoe Tourism and Community Master Plan.”
The NLTRA is the umbrella organization for the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and the Tahoe North Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is a partner with the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau in the North Lake Tahoe Marketing Cooperative. Info: nltra.org, northlaketahoechamber.com
Placer County to Buy Tahoe City Office Building
At its April meeting, the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved an option to purchase the 11,400 square foot Customs House building in Tahoe City for the near-term relocation of several of its departments. The acquisition of the bank-owned property was for $3.4 million (under $300 a square foot), almost $2 million below market value.
The county wants to eventually build a government center in Kings Beach. However, that would not be completed before 2014–2015. In the meantime, the lease for the Assessor’s Tahoe office expires this June, and the lease for the West Shore building that houses Environmental Health and the Community Development Resource Agency will expire in 2012.
The Burton Creek Public Safety departments could also occupy the Customs House while the facility undergoes reconstruction.
Two of the eight suites in this building are currently occupied by professional businesses, who would become tenants of Placer County.
NTPUD Launches Two New Websites
The North Tahoe Public Utility District has launched a revamped ntpud.com that is easy to navigate, provides updates on the latest utility district capital projects, features an up-to-date calendar of events and meetings at district facilities, and offers tip sheets on water conservation, water quality, and winterization. The site also features elements from the old website such as bill pay and public meeting documents.
The district’s parks department also has a new website, northtahoeparks.com, that enables visitors and residents to find photos of locations and facilities, as well as reservation forms to secure park facilities. Visitors may sign up to receive updates and parks-related press releases via email on the website. Info: (530) 546-2652, ntpud.com, northtahoeparks.com
NTPUD Gets New Manager of Planning and Engineering
Paul A. Schultz, PE, has joined the North Tahoe Public Utility District as manager of Planning and Engineering effective.. Schultz has been working independently as a civil engineer in the Tahoe area for the past four years and brings over 25 years of experience in the fields of civil and environmental engineering.
Schultz holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from California State University, Sacramento, and has extensive experience in public works project management and infrastructure planning and design. Prior to relocating to the Tahoe area in 2006, Schultz served as a principal engineer at URS Corporation.
Out of 67 applications, six applicants were interviewed for the job.
Schultz enjoys skiing and kayaking and is a docent at the Tahoe Maritime Museum in Homewood. He resides on the West Shore with his wife, Kathleen, and their dog, Kiva. Info: ntpud.org
Supervisors OK Construction Contract for Tahoe City Transit Center
At its April meeting, the Placer County Board of Supervisors voted to award the construction contract for the Tahoe City Transit Center.
The center, which will cover about 2.5 acres of 64 Acres, will serve as a hub for Placer County’s Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) buses. The center will be situated adjacent to hiking and bike paths and provide parking for commuters and visitors to utilize buses to get around on the North and West Shores.
The Transit Center is part of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Environmental Improvement Project program for improving air quality, which in turn will benefit lake clarity.
The $4.2 million contract was awarded to Truckee-based Aspen Developers Corporation; construction should begin this summer. The total project cost is estimated to be $7.4 million and is fully funded through various federal, state, and local grants.
Spot News Business Briefs
Ritz-Carlton in Default
Bank of America, the lead lender for the Ritz-Carlton Highlands at Northstar, filed a notice of default with Placer County against the resort’s owner, East West Partners, in late March. The notice claims that Highlands Hotel LLC (East West Partners) owes the bank a total of $157 million on two separate loans. A notice of default is typically filed in California when a borrower is 90 days behind in payments. Once the notice is filed, the borrower has another 90 days to work out an agreement with the lender before a sale or foreclosure can proceed. East West Partners filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in mid-February.
The Ritz-Carton closed on April 19 for three weeks. “This seasonal closure has been planned for over two years,” said Ritz PR Director Steven Holt. “We’ll be up and fully operational on May 10.”
Plumas Bancorp Makes Profit
Plumas Bancorp, a bank holding company and the parent company of Plumas Bank, announced that earnings increased by $1.4 million from a net loss of $1.28 million for the first quarter ending March 31, 2009, to a net income of $134 thousand during the quarter ending March 31, 2010. This marks the first time in the last six quarters that the bank has made a quarterly profit, according to Elizabeth Kuipers, a Plumas Bank vice president and marketing manager based in Quincy. “We are pointed in the right direction,” Kuipers said. Info: plumasbank.com
North Tahoe Chamber Expo
Wednesday June 2
The North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce holds its annual Business Expo and Mixer on June 2 at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach. The expo offers businesses the opportunity to showcase services and meet new customers in a fun, festive environment. The event is free to the public and will feature a raffle, food, drinks, and free product giveaways for attendees. Businesses must reserve booth space by May 20. Info: Kym Faybel, kym@puretahoenorth.com, (530) 581-8764
Luxury Homes Sales Rise
North Lake Tahoe and Truckee luxury home sales rose 26 percent in the first quarter of the year compared with the same period a year ago as a decline in prices attracted more buyers to the market, according to information from Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. A total of 24 million dollar–plus home sales were recorded in the Tahoe/Truckee region during the first quarter from January through March, up from 19 during the same period one year ago. The median sale price during the period was $1,297,500, down 16 percent from the first quarter of 2009.
Sellers received an average of 92 percent of their asking price during the first quarter of 2010, up from 83 percent in the fourth quarter and just 77 percent a year ago. Info: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, californiamoves.com
Richardson House Re-Invigorated
The Richardson House in Truckee, a large Victorian dating to the 1880s, has recently been renovated by owners Christina and Kent Young, who are offering 20 percent off any 2010 booking made by May 15. The entire house, which features six bedrooms, five and a half baths, parlor, rumpus room, and modern kitchen, is available as a vacation rental for large families and groups. Truckee native and Truckee Donner Historical Society President Chelsea Walterscheid is the house manager, serves as concierge, and even gives guests guided walking tours of Truckee on request. A portion of Richardson House proceeds go to the Historical Society, and local nonprofits may inquire about using the home for meetings and events when not booked. Info: therichardsonhouse.com
0 Reader Comments so far ...
Be the first to comment on this article!