Forest Service Antes Up to Reduce Wildfire Risk
The United States Forest Service is providing a grant of more than $6 million to the Nevada Fire Safe Council (NVFSC) to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire on private lands around the Lake Tahoe Basin. The grant will support local projects that reduce fuels and mitigate wildfire risk in areas at high risk of catastrophic wildfire due to population density and fuel loads. ‘We expect the funds to be used for a variety of hazardous fuels reduction projects and support the community chipping programs to enhance the efforts of the community to provide defensible space and reduce the threat from catastrophic wildfire,’ said Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Forest Supervisor Terri Marceron. The funding comes from an emergency supplemental appropriations bill approved by Congress in October 2008 to support critical hazardous fuels treatments on federal, state and private lands. The NVFSC will coordinate project selection and funding with the local fire protection districts, and provide a 10 percent match in the form of additional funding and in-kind services. nvfsc.org or fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/fire/index.shtml, 530-543-FIRE.
Budget Stalemate Muddies Sierra Green Economy
A recent survey by the Sierra Nevada Alliance (SNA) says the State’s stop-work order on bond-funded contracts has forced conservation groups to lay off both staff and contractors. This has impacted projects such as the restoration of Sierra headwaters, the acquisition of critical lands to protect water, the creation of defensible space, water quality monitoring, and the restoration of important habitats. ‘It’s ironic in a time when stimulating the economy through ‘shovel ready’ green jobs is all the buzz, our legislators just ripped the green shovels out of ‘shovel happening’ projects,’ said Joan Clayburgh, SNA Executive Director. The suspension of bond funding has forced land trusts, watershed groups, resource conservation districts, and grassroots community groups, from Lassen County to Kern County, to lay off skilled, talented, and committed experts. Additionally, past work performed under state contracts is not being reimbursed, jeopardizing the financial sustainability of small conservation organizations. ‘The state is not indicating when or even if they will reauthorize work to start again on these contracts,’ continued Clayburgh. ‘The one thing that has been made clear is that the first step to getting the existing green economy resuscitated is for the legislature and governor to pass a budget.’ sierranevadaalliance.org.
eScrip Funding Bolsters KidZone Museum
Truckee’s KidZone is honoring Safeway for their commitment to education with the eScrip funding program, which netted over $15,000 for the museum last year.
KidZone is one of the top 200 earning groups nationally in the Safeway Ten Percent Back to Schools Program, and has used the funds for community classes and hands-on educational programs. For 15 years, the KidZone Museum has operated as a nonprofit children’s museum serving locals and visitors. For more information on how to participate in this free program to support the KidZone Museum, contact Tina Cook at 530-448-0052.
Flight Tracking Workshop
February 12
The Truckee Airport District Board of Directors invites you to attend a workshop on
Flight Tracking. Participants will learn about the proposed flight tracking system, share opinions, and participate in the decision-making process. February 12 at 7 p.m. at Truckee’s Hampton Inn. Truckeeairport.com, or call Kevin Bumen at 530-587-4119.
Ski Business Program Grows
Sierra Nevada College (SNC) in Incline Village has seen a huge increase in enrollment in its Ski Business and Resort Management (SBRM) degree program since reintroducing the business major in 2006. ‘We’ve gone from a few dozen students to an expected 100-plus by the fall of 2009,’ said Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Lynn Gillette. Tim Cohee, a senior executive with Kirkwood Mountain Resort and a 30-year industry veteran, has played an active role in developing the ski business curriculum and teaches most of the upper-level courses. ‘The key distinction between our program and those at some other institutions is that ours is focused on management-level issues and problem solving. We don’t prepare students for jobs in the ski repair or retail shops; we prepare them for positions of leadership,’ Cohee said. ‘As a result, the Tahoe resorts are tapping into our students for both high-quality internships as well as young, talented managers to fill the funnel for years to come.’ sierranevada.edu or tcohee@sierranevada.edu.
Prosser Creek Fish Habitat Improvement Plan
March 3
The Truckee River Watershed Council, U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Fish and Game, and Swanson Hydrology & Geomorphology will co-host an in-depth presentation describing the recently developed Prosser Creek Fish Habitat Improvement Plan. The plan covers the reach of Prosser Creek immediately below Prosser Creek Dam, which currently provides very little habitat for aquatic life. Swanson Hydrology + Geomorphology will present their preliminary restoration plan and input from local residents. The presentation will last approximately one hour with one hour for questions and discussion. 6 to 8 p.m., at Truckee Town Hall. 530-550-8760.
Community Members elected to NLTRA
Local residents are making a difference in the community by volunteering to be part of the decision-making process at the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association (NLTRA). The organization’s Marketing Committee, which received the most applicants in NLTRA’s history, seated new members Deanna Gescheider, Steven Holt, Christine Horvath, Julie Maurer, Jennifer Merchant, John Monson, Les Pedersen, Nick Pullen, and Brett Williams. Elected to the NLTRA’s Chamber of Commerce Advisory Committee are Justin Broglio, Jan Colyer, Joy Doyle, Liz Dugan, Sherina Kreul, Heather Leonard, Cheri Sprenger, Kay Williams, Ron Yglesias, and Mike Young. On the NLTRA’s Finance Committee are Gretchen Nedved and Mike Salmon. Wally Auerbach, Debbie Casey, and Gary Davis are lay members on the NLTRA Transportation Committee. On the NLTRA Infrastructure Committee are Jennifer Merchant, Wally Auerbach, Cheri Sprenger, Rick Lieman, Sue Daniels, Guy Perman, Paula Rachuy, and Keith Vogt. nltra.org.
TRPA’s Best in the Basin
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) recognized recipients of the 2008 Best in the Basin Awards at its January Governing Board meeting. In its 19th year, the award program recognizes projects demonstrating exceptional planning, design, and compatibility with the Lake Tahoe environment. Local professionals in the fields of architecture, landscaping, planning, engineering, and resource management served as judges. ‘These are the property owners and professionals whose investment and work are a critical part of the restoration effort in Lake Tahoe,’ said Dennis Oliver, Best in the Basin program coordinator. Among the winners were Curtzwiler Building in Meyers for Best Mixed-Use Project; Sky Forest Acres in South Lake Tahoe for Public Service; Chinquapin Homeowners Association in Tahoe City for Best Area-Wide Defensible Space Work; and Tahoe Maritime Museum in Tahoe City for Best Commercial Rebuild. Contact Dennis Oliver, 775-589-5235, for details, photographs, and complete list of winners.
New Tool for Serving Nevada’s Elders
In her most recent project for the Sanford Center for Aging, Truckee local Stephanie Rogerson was one of four public health professionals who prepared ‘Elder Count Nevada 2009,’ a report card on seniors in Nevada. The information in this second edition of the publication provides valuable information to enable advocates, service providers, elected officials, and educators to better serve Nevada’s growing population of elders. ‘Government at all levels faces enormous challenges as the baby boomer generation enters retirement. Authoritative information of the type contained in this document can help Nevada serve as a national model for responsible action,’ Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons said. Find the report online at unr.edu/Sanford/programs/elderscount/html.
Newsom to Address the Queens
February 26
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will be the keynote speaker at Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation’s Queen of Hearts Luncheon on Feb. 26, at the Resort at Squaw Creek. The purpose of the Queen’s Fund is to encourage women to use their collective power of philanthropy to address important issues in North Lake Tahoe. ‘Most women’s funds only give money to programs that benefit women and girls. Founders of our Fund were very clear that ‘all issues are women’s issues’, and that we wanted to grant in the areas of youth, environment, arts, and education,’ said Lisa Dobey, Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation CEO.
Each year, the Queens gather for an annual luncheon. ‘Over the years, we have had speakers who entertain, who challenge, and who motivate us. We’re continuing that cutting edge tradition this year by having our first male speaker,’ Dobey said. Mayor Newsom has shown strong leadership in working in partnership with philanthropy to address pressing issues in his community. ttcf.net.
Sponsor Crab & Pasta Feed
Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are available for the Truckee Noon Rotary’s infamous Crab and Pasta Feed on Saturday, March 14, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Truckee Community Center. This annual event features juicy Dungeness crab and an auction with fantastic prizes. This year the live auction will be organized by and benefit the Family Resource Center, a local nonprofit organization providing education and mobilizing resources to empower families and individuals to be self-sufficient and contributing members of the community. Rotary is actively seeking $500 level sponsors to help offset the cost of the crab. Sponsors will receive recognition in press releases and advertisements as well as mentions during the auction. The bar opens at 5 p.m., dinner starts at 6, and the auction from 7 to 9. Tickets $40/adults and $20/kids (under the age of 16). 530-550-2350.
Consumer Alert from Placer County Assessor
Placer County homeowners are being targeted with an offer in the mail from a private party to pay a $179 fee for a review of their property. Although the document resembles a tax bill, Placer County Assessor Kristen Spears cautions property owners that the County Assessor department already performs this review at no charge, and there is no need pay a private company to request a review of property tax assessments. The past two years, the Assessor has devoted significant resources to identifying and recognizing declining values of residential properties. As a result, over 36,000 property owners’ assessments have been reappraised and temporarily reduced to market value. The Assessor department will continue this review in 2009, and homeowners will receive a value notice this July. 530-889-4309, KSpears@placer.ca.gov.
Eco-Taxi Enters the Race
Eco-Taxi of Truckee announces the formation of Team Eco-Taxi to compete in the Progressive Automotive X Prize competition, an international competition involving the building and racing of high-mileage, low-emission vehicles in a long-distance road race. Cars must achieve 100 miles per gallon and satisfy low-emission criteria. Team Eco-Taxi is excited about the possibilities of this community-oriented project, and is seeking co-sponsors. To contribute services or funds, contact Stephen Lederman at 530-386-3836 or Stephen@veggietaxi.com. progressiveautoxprize.org.
Call to Action
March 15
The Truckee-Tahoe community is feeling the economic hit: demand at local food banks is up 30 percent, domestic violence cases are up 15 percent, low-income senior meals are up 32 percent, and area nonprofits are reporting a 65 percent decrease in charitable contributions. Private and public granting sources are also drying up. The Truckee-Tahoe community, spearheaded by leadership from the Truckee-Tahoe Community Foundation, is kicking off a local initiative – Call to Action! – to address the pressing challenges in our region. Volunteer phone bankers throughout our region will join forces to ask local community members to make a donation. The goal is to encourage1,000 people to contribute $100 each for a total of $100,000. Send a check, join a phone bank, take action. 530-587-1776, ttcf.net.
Wildlife Abounds in Glenshire
The overwhelming response to The Community Wildlife Sightings project – over 250 sightings reported from November through January – has inspired SOS (Saving Open Space Glenshire) to extend the project throughout 2009. The group is currently holding a Local Raffle for Local Wildlife drawing, to be held on February 23. The prizes are pairs of 08/09 lift tickets from Alpine Meadows, Boreal, Homewood, Northstar, and Sugar Bowl. Tickets are 1 for $5 and 3 for $10, and are available at The Pour House, Between the Notes, and Citizens Bank. sosglenshire.org.
Bus to Northstar
The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and Northstar Resort have implemented a pilot ski shuttle between Tahoe Vista Lodging Properties and Northstar. If successful, the shuttle may be implemented for the entire winter transit season next year. The shuttle will operate Saturdays and Sundays from now through Easter Sunday, as well as during Presidents Week, Feb. 16 to 20. Schedules are available at LakeTahoeTransit.com.
Mom and Pop Rule!
Results from a recent survey conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a nonprofit research organization, showed that, even in this challenging economic climate, independent retailers have been outperforming many chains. The survey also found that independent retailers in cities with active ‘Buy Local’ campaigns reported much stronger holiday sales than those in cities without such campaigns. ‘Even as household budgets shrink, many people are choosing to direct more of their spending to local businesses,’ said Stacy Mitchell, senior researcher with the Institute. ‘This could be a key factor in getting the economy back on track. Study after study has concluded that locally owned businesses deliver more jobs and significantly greater economic benefits to their communities.’ ilsr.org.
New Publication to Showcase Local Climate Change Efforts
Truckee Climate Action Network (TCAN), in conjunction with Moonshine Ink, is delighted to announce that production has begun on ‘Truckee’s Guide to a Smaller Footprint,’ a new project funded by a grant from the Nature Fund at the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation. The free guide, to be ready by Earth Day 2009, will highlight current local programs to reduce carbon emissions. It will also feature an assessment of Truckee’s current carbon footprint, and offer strategies to help our community move toward a greener future. info@truckeecan.com, 530-386-3128.
SnowFest Science Expo
February 26 and 27
The Lake Tahoe School will partner with UC Davis’s Tahoe Environmental Research Center and Sierra Nevada College to host the fourth annual Science Expo as part of SnowFest. ‘Snow, Water, Ice, and Earth’ will feature over 25 interactive science experiments and demonstrations for kids ages 6 to 12 and their families. Last year, nearly 700 people visited the Science Expo event. This year, the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation has supported the collaborative event with grant funding. Students from local schools will be attending during the school day on Feb. 26 and 27, and the Science Expo is open to the general public on Feb. 27 from 3 to 7 p.m. Admission is free. 291 Country Club Drive in Incline Village on the campus of Sierra Nevada College, 775-881-7560, ext. 7474, terc.ucdavis.edu/calendar.
Mousehole Improvements
The Town of Truckee received a letter from CalTrans about the town’s questions about interim improvements at the Mousehole in Truckee, at Highway 89. According to Becky Bucar, assistant engineer for the Town, Caltrans has indicated that they will move the northbound speed limit sign 50 feet south of its existing location, conduct a speed study this spring, analyze the suggested guardrail alternatives, and work with the Town and stakeholders to develop appropriate warning light devices. BBucar@townoftruckee.com.
Sierra Nevada College Defers Tuition Increase
Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village recently announced that the college’s board of trustees will defer the previously approved 4.9 percent increase in tuition for the 2009/2010 academic year. SNC President Robert Maxson explained, ‘During these tough times, as the nation comes together, we want to do our part.’ sierranevada.edu.
