Interested in Barack Obama’s campaign?
December 17
If you’re interested in volunteering for the Senator’s presidential campaign, or in learning more about the man, come to an Obama Volunteer Meeting, December 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District Office, 10046 Church Street, in Downtown Truckee. 530-889-8927.
Lake Tahoe’s the Popular Kid Right Now
Among the Top 50 Ski Hotels: Well-heeled travelers gave North Lake Tahoe a thumbs-up in the December edition of Conde Nast Traveler magazine when readers rated four North Tahoe resorts as ‘Top 50 Ski Hotels in North America.’ The magazine’s list includes PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn (ranked 21), Resort at Squaw Creek (24), and the Village at Squaw Valley (30) in Olympic Valley, as well as the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino (40) in Incline Village.
Orbitz.com: The online travel website ranked Lake Tahoe the number one destination for hotel and vacation packages booked by Orbitz.com for travel between November 20 and May 1, 2008.
Good ‘Work’ in Tahoe: In October, the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) began broadcasting a new national commercial, entitled ‘Work,’ designed to increase tourism to the Golden State. And Lake Tahoe is benefiting as the 30-spot closes with a camper greeting the sunrise at a snowy Emerald Bay.
‘Lake Tahoe is incredibly fortunate to be a part of this $11.2 million campaign,’ said Andy Chapman, tourism director of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. ‘We simply don’t have the budget to buy this kind of exposure on our own.’
‘Work,’ produced by the Sacramento-based MeringCarson, is a tongue-in-cheek concept that plays off the notion that work for Californians is all play, based on research by the CTTC.
WHATT Executive Director Steps Down
After four years as Executive Director of the Workforce Housing Association of Truckee-Tahoe (WHATT), Rachelle Pellissier will step down from the position as of December 31.
Citing a desire to work closer to her home in Reno where she is raising her family, and the opportunity for WHATT to bring in an Executive Director who has more affordable housing development experience, Pellissier said it was a good time for the transition.
‘This was a hard decision to make, but I believe this is the best for both me personally and for the organization,’ Pellissier said. ‘I hope that everyone will look at this as an exciting opportunity for change.’
Pellissier has been involved in WHATT from its inception in 2002. She was a founding Board member of the organization, and then took over as Executive Director in December 2003. During her tenure, WHATT developed from an organization that solely advocated and educated regarding the need for affordable workforce housing in the region, to an organization that has expanded its roles to include those of development partner, community outreach coordinator, and long-term steward of the region’s scarce affordable housing resources.
The organization is currently seeking a replacement. For information on the position: contact Greg Schumacher, gregs@ttlco.com.
Ski Areas Greening Up Their Act
What do Mammoth Mountain, Squaw Valley, Telluride and Park City have in common? These ski resorts used to be at the bottom of the class on the annual Ski Area Environmental Scorecard, published for the last eight years by the Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition. Not any longer. These four resorts are now receiving top grades as a result of improving their environmental stewardship. For example, Squaw Valley scored a D for several years after illegally filling streams and altering stream channels, impacting wetlands and violating water quality standards. Now the resort is scoring an A for the first time, because they haven’t been cited for any further water quality violations, and they’ve reduced their energy footprint through programs such as retrofitting old buildings, using biodiesel in their fleet, and investing in more energy-efficient snow guns.
‘The goal of the Ski Area Scorecard has always been to promote change, not beat up on the industry’s worst. I think these ‘comeback kid’ resorts are simply listening to their customers,’ said Autumn Bernstein, Land Use Campaign Director for Sierra Nevada Alliance, a member of the Ski Area Citizens Coalition.
But alas, ‘The Comeback Kid story is not an industry norm,’ said Ben Doon, Research Director for the Ski Area Citizens Coalition. ‘Resorts like Kirkwood, Northstar, and Colorado’s Breckenridge and Copper, are continuing their outdated, destructive practices and have ranked amongst the poorest environmental performers on the Scorecard since 2000.’
Other local resorts’ grades: Alpine Meadows – A; Boreal – B; Homewood – B; Mt. Rose – B; Sugar Bowl – C; and Northstar – D. For the complete report, visit skiareacitizens.com.
Money for Nature
The Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation (TTCF) has $65,000 to give away for needy projects related to nature in the area. The purpose of the Nature Fund is to conserve the wildlife, lands, waters and air quality of the Truckee, North Tahoe and Donner Summit regions while creating opportunities for enjoyment of the outdoors. Activities that could support this goal include everything from acquiring land or building trails, to environmental education or restoration work. Priorities for funding are projects that are have a high level of impact on an accepted problem, have high levels of community involvement and have high visibility. The foundation expects to dole out the money in two to three grants. Applications available at the TTCF office, 11071 Donner Pass Rd, at ttcf.net, or by request from 530-587-1776. Applications are due January 16, by 5 p.m.; turn around time is approximately six weeks.
Money for Inspiring Women
Soroptimist International of Truckee-Donner is again offering their Woman’s Opportunity Award to assist a woman who must now enter the workforce and/or upgrade their employment status. The $1,700-award is intended to help offset costs associated with attaining higher education, skills and/or training. Applicants must be female, head of household, single or married with primary financial responsibility for supporting their family, attending or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program, or an undergraduate degree program and have financial need. Contact Kathy Scopin-Setter at 530-550-1416 or Lisa Swartz at 530-587-5303.
TRPA Reduces Office Hours
In response to a seasonal decline in foot traffic at its permitting centers, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) has set winter customer service hours for its North Shore office in Tahoe City. Beginning December 10, the office at 3080 North Lake Boulevard will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Friday. The office is currently staffed Tuesday through Friday. The normal schedule will resume in spring. 775-589-5235.
