Local LWV Chapter Forming
The League of Women Voters (LWV), a nonpartisan political organization that encourages active participation in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy, is forming a new Truckee/North Tahoe chapter. League members study local and state issues in depth before taking a position, observe local meetings (such as school board, city council, and TRPA), monitor elections, register voters, and sometimes sponsor candidate/issue forums for the community. LWV is open to all citizens of voting age. To join the new Truckee/North Tahoe League, call Patty Lomanto at 530-582-0726 or plomanto@sbcglobal.net, or Ann Lyman at 530-546-5530 or lwv.org.
Proactive NTPUD Board
The North Tahoe Public Utility District (NTPUD) recently extended the time required between sewer lateral pressure tests, from eight years (on new lines) and five years (on existing sewer lines) to 15 years. Additionally, at its June 23 meeting, the board of directors heard a report on a proposed suspension of Proposition 1A which would allow the state to ‘borrow’ up to 8 percent of special districts’ property tax revenue during fiscal year 2009/2010. Although the state legislature rejected the proposal, there is grave concern that the money generated by this act will be needed to help manage the state’s deficit. In a proactive move, the board accepted staff’s recommended budget reductions totaling over $250,000, some of which will have service impacts. General Manager Cindy Gustafson reported that the district can continue to serve the public adequately even with the cuts.
Collaboration Produces Handbook for Watershed Restoration Efforts
The new ‘Sediment Source Control Handbook: An Adaptive Approach to Restoration of Disturbed Areas,’ by Kevin Drake and Michael Hogan of Integrated Environmental Restoration Services, is a user-friendly roadmap for planning, implementing, monitoring, and improving the effectiveness of erosion control and restoration projects. Produced in collaboration with Sierra Business Council, six California ski resorts, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the handbook effectively bridges the gap between research and implementation of proven erosion control practices. Whether used by a ski resort, agency staff, or a homeowner, the handbook provides a set of tools to achieve successful erosion control and restoration projects, low-impact facilities improvements, and ongoing maintenance requirements. Copies of the handbook may be purchased at sbcouncil.org or nsaa.org. For an electronic copy, visit IERStahoe.com or sbcouncil.org.
Homewood Supports Defensible Space
Homewood Mountain Resort received thanks from the North Tahoe Fire Protection District and the Meek’s Bay Fire Protection District for continued support of defensible space programs. For several years, Homewood has provided the communities in the Tahoe Basin with space to dispose of wood chips, pine needles, and other organic material, which the resort uses to expand defensible space, promote growth of native plants, retain ground water, and mitigate soil runoff. ‘This award is a sign of successful community teamwork, and we intend to keep it going,’ said Homewood General Manager Kent Hoopingarner.
Second Tahoe Forum Planned
July 30
Placer County will host a second public information forum for residents in the Tahoe area on July 30 at 5:30 p.m. at Granlibakken. Potential topics include: Broadband service in the Tahoe Basin; Tahoe Regional Plan update; Development of a biomass facility and the removal of biomass material from the area; Emergency response preparedness; The County Economic Development Strategic Plan; The Travel Industry Assessment; The Main Street Program; Conference Center and Lodge, Public beach access; Regional recreation development plans; The Fire Hazard Abatement program; Delivery of Health and Human services in the Basin; Environmental Improvement Program projects; and Redevelopment efforts in the Tahoe area. Granlibakken Conference Center and Lodge, 725 Granlibakken Road, Tahoe City, Calif., 530-889-4012, placertahoeforums@placer.ca.gov.
Residential Burning Ban
The Lake Tahoe Basin Management has suspended residential burning, also known as ‘dooryard burning’ effective July 15. These residential burn bans include both California and Nevada communities throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin. The residential burn ban will remain in effect until temperatures, winds and humidity allow for safer conditions. 530-543-2627, fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu.
Placer County Closed Unauthorized Boat Launch
For years boaters have used the beach at the end of Grand Avenue (West Shore) to launch into Lake Tahoe. On July 10, large boulders were placed at the edge of the beach to prevent trailers from being driven across the beach and into the lake to launch boats. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency requires that all watercraft and trailers launched into Lake Tahoe be inspected for aquatic invasive species. Unless there is an inspector present TRPA code states that the owner of any boat launch into Lake Tahoe must close the launch. Placer County, which owns the beach, does not staff inspectors at the site. Boaters who are unaware of the ban and drive down Grand Avenue will be able to turn their rigs around and leave the area. The beach is still open to the public. Kayaks and other small watercraft can still be carried across the beach and launched by hand. 530-889-4012.
Cutler on Hospital Board
The Tahoe Forest Hospital District Board of Directors recently announced the addition of Ken Cutler, MD, MPH, to its five-member board of directors. The vacancy was created by the resignation of MaryLou Austin. Cutler is the current health officer for Sierra County, and was formerly health officer for Nevada County. In addition to his experience in public health, Cutler is board certified in general pediatrics, and has worked for North Lake Pediatrics in Truckee, The Medical Group of Northern Nevada, the Reno Special Children’s Clinic, and the Children’s Hospital in Oakland, Calif. For more information, go to tfhd.com.
Winter Settles In at Medical Group
Less than one year after joining the Truckee Tahoe Medical Group (TTMG), Dr. Erin Winter has gained a strong foothold in the community. Winter graduated from Georgetown Medical School and completed her internship and family practice residency at the University of Nevada, Reno. She worked as a ‘traveling doctor,’ taking locum tenens positions across the United States and in New Zealand, before joining TTMG.
New GM for Tahoe Donner
After a five-month search, the Tahoe Donner Association Board of Directors has chosen Robb P. Etnyre as association general manager. Etnyre’s leadership and business experiences and his most recent responsibilities at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC) provided him with the qualifications the board was seeking. In addition to serving as the commanding officer and executive officer of the MCMWTC, Robb was the U.S. Marine and Naval Attaché to Vietnam and a faculty member at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Robb has a BS in Economics and a Masters degree in National Security Affairs.
Former U.S. Ski Team Member Joins Resort at Squaw Creek
The Resort at Squaw Creek has hired Cory Carlson as director of sales. Previously, Carlson served as associate director of sales at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, Nevada, and held several positions at the Park Hyatt Hotel and Spa in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Carlson is a former member of the U.S. Ski Team and the World Pro Ski Tour.
Jeremiah’s Back
After a 10-year hiatus for travel and study, Jeremiah Nelson has returned to the Tahoe Basin, armed with a Certified Arborist’s license and certified as a Tree Risk Assessor in the Pacific Northwest Chapter of International Society of Arboriculture. He has reopened his original business, Jeremiah’s Tree Service, as well as Jeremiah Nelson, Consulting Arborist. Based in Tahoe City, Nelson is teaming up with his nephew, Hunter Nelson, to provide arbor services to the area. Both businesses may be reached at 530-581-1945.
Vikings Conquer Granlibakken
Lake Tahoe’s Granlibakken Resort chose its third and final Viking from dozens of online entries during its virtual casting call for an upcoming advertising campaign. Bob McCuiston of Sparks, Nevada, will join his Nordic counterparts – Stan Wood of Castle Hayne, North Carolina, and Katerina Audley of Portland, Oregon – each of whom will receive $1,000 and a five-night vacation at Granlibakken. The all-season resort hired the ‘Spokesvikings’ to star in a series of web-based postcards targeting meeting and convention planners. The Viking Trio will demonstrate the all-season resort’s amenities for business groups and vacationers, such as scalable high speed internet (up to 20 mbps), customizable meeting space, and a plethora of indoor and outdoor resort activities. granlibakken.com.
Logging Railroad Tour
August 1
The Truckee Donner Railroad Society invites YOU to join a tour of Logging Railroad Trestles and roadbeds north of Truckee. Visit logging railroad routes, roadbeds, and trestle locations from Truckee Lumber Co all the way to Verdi Lumber Co. Time, weather, and attitudes permitting. The tour usually takes from five to seven hours, depending on road and trail conditions, and comes with questions, photo opportunities, passionate railroad history debates, wildflowers, wildlife, serendipitous finds, etc., and has never been the same twice.
Meet Saturday, August 1 at 10 a.m. at Truckee Chamber of Commerce (the old depot). For Truckee Donner Railroad Society members the tour is free. A variety of Membership levels are available: Life Membership is $500. Annual Memberships are: Business Membership, $100; Family Membership, $65; Individual. Tour costs $25 for nonmembers. Donations are encouraged but not required. All proceeds collected go toward the development of the Truckee Railroad Museum. For more information call Truckee Donner Railroad Society Historian and Tour Coordinator, Nelson VanGundy at 530-587-1165(o) or 530-386-0638(c).
Sierra College Program for Seniors Celebrates Generous Endowment
The Sierra College Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) has announced the receipt of a $1 million endowment gift from the Bernard Osher Foundation. OLLI is an academic tuition-free program targeted toward more mature students who are interested in the joy of lifelong learning, without homework or exams. The endowment will enable the college to offer lifelong learning programs in perpetuity. In the award letter announcing the gift, Mary G.F. Bitterman, President of The Bernard Osher Foundation, wrote, ‘The progress that the [Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sierra College] has made since receiving its initial support from the Foundation in February 2004 has been outstanding, and we congratulate you and your colleagues on your many remarkable achievements.’ Sierra College is the only California community college and one of only three community colleges to receive funding. 916-781-6290, sierraolli.com.
Eating for Education
The Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation would like to thank the restaurants and cardholders who support the Dining for Schools program, as well as Porters Sports, Save Mart, Safeway, and Mountain Hardware for selling the Dining Cards. Dining for Schools is an annual fundraiser providing one of the greatest sources of revenue for the Foundation’s grants program. The 2009-10 Dining for Schools cards will go on sale in early September. Each Dining Card purchased entitles the bearer to 50 percent off an individual dinner entrée at the participating restaurants. 530-550-7984.
Curb Your Yard
Good news for gardeners and defensible space: The Truckee Town Council has just approved the implementation of a curbside yard waste collection program. Weekly curbside collection begins immediately for up to four green bags containing pine needles and cones, weeds, small twigs and branches, wood chips, bark, garden waste, and lawn trimmings on regular trash days. Program ends Oct.31. Green bags are available for purchase at Mountain Hardware and Tahoe Supply Company in Truckee. keeptruckeegreen.org.
Recycle Those Tires
On the first and third Saturdays of the month, from now though June, 2010, the Eastern Sierra Landfill will accept up to none light (no tractor or heavy equipment, or rims) tires per vehicle for free recycling. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. keeptruckeegreen.org.
These Trying Times Call to Action Delivers
In May, a family with three children in our community was spared eviction, thanks to support from the Family Resource Center of Truckee (FRC) and the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation. The Truckee FRC received a $5,000 emergency grant from the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s Call to Action campaign in March, which raised more than $115,000 for situations like this. ‘In addition to the monetary assistance, the FRC advocates on behalf of families in need, whether it’s calling utility companies, or working with a landlord, or helping the family create a workable monthly budget,’ explained Adela Gonzalez del Valle, FRC Executive Director. ‘Requests for help have accelerated dramatically since last November,’ Gonzalez added. ‘We are seeing middle class families who have never needed this kind of assistance before.’
Community resources for people in need:
• North Tahoe Family Resource Center, Kings Beach – 530-546-0952
• Family Resource Center of Truckee – 530-587-2513
• Project MANA, Incline Village – 775-298-0008, Truckee – 530-587-4079
• Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, Kings Beach – 530-546-4324
• Sierra Senior Services, Truckee – 530-587-4611
• KidZone, Truckee – 530-587-5437
• Sierra Family Services, Tahoe City – 530-581-4054
Park the Car
Lake Tahoe residents and visitors can travel in style this summer on the Tahoe Trolleys, TART buses, free Northstar Shuttle, and a new connection to Emerald Bay and South Lake Tahoe. A free Trolley Shuttle runs continuously from 10am to 5pm daily from Crystal Bay to Tahoe Vista and up North National Avenue. There is also a free Tahoe City Trolley on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to accommodate the Farmer’s Market at Commons Beach. To get to South Shore or Emerald Bay, take TART to Tahoma and transfer to the Blue-Go Nifty Fifty Trolley. Night Trolley service is back from 7:00 pm to midnight, from Squaw Valley to Incline Village (Granlibakken service is on-call). For schedule information call Tahoe Area Regional Transit at 530-550-1212, toll free at 800-736-6365, or visit laketahoetransit.com.
Community Collaborative Launches New Website
The Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee has a new website featuring nonprofit and community resources. The site – communitycollaborative.org – offers links and information on everything from child education and development to alcohol abuse and domestic violence. ‘The website will be a great hub for those interested in joining us and for those in need of services,’ said Alison Schwedner, CCTT director.
Truckee FOL Now Online
The Friends of the Truckee Library have launched a website to keep the community informed about membership and volunteer opportunities, fundraising efforts, cultural events, the regular library programs they support, and updates on the movement to build a new public library for the community. The site, designed by Rémy Denton, can be viewed at truckeefol.org.
Come learn more about a possible new public library: Wednesday, July 22, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board Room at 11570 Donner Pass Road.
