Update from the 19th Annual Tahoe Women’s Services Chocolate Festival
November 3 in Kings Beach
The night before the Chocolate Festival, an uninvited guest broke into the fridge at Le Bistro, a French bistro located in Incline Village. The intruder, a Tahoe bear, ate all of the éclairs the restaurant had prepared for the Festival as well as dipping into paté, mint, oranges, and lemons but leaving the crème brulees.
‘It has never happened before,’ said Sylvia Doignon, wife of Le Bistro owner Jean-Pierre. So with little time to spare, Jean-Pierre remade another set of éclairs. Good thing he did, because the tasty treats won ‘Most Decadent’ at the Chocolate Festival. (Perhaps because they were so fresh?)
The event raised more than $32,000 for Tahoe Women’s Services, the only agency in the region that provides services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The other chocolate winners:
Best Presentation: Jared Nash from Lahontan
People’s Choice: Jared Nash from Lahontan
Most outstanding original flavor: Cocoa Bibelot
Peru’s 8.0 Earthquake
Tahoe Locals help aid in reconstruction and need your support!
Sam Bloch, a Tahoe local, left November 13 to head up construction of a school and a hospital in Pisco, Peru, the city hardest hit from the August 15 earthquake this year. At this point, there are an estimated 80,000 refugees that are still without housing and other crucial infrastructure. Sam plans to stay in Peru until mid-June, and intends to establish a sustainable camp for reconstruction efforts.
A seasoned disaster relief volunteer, Sam is a project manager for Burners Without Borders, an assembly of Burning Man compatriots who aid in disaster reconstruction. He brings his own tools all over the world to help those who are in need, paying his own way each time. After the 2006 tsunami in Thailand, Sam went to help. Organizers of tsunami volunteers immediately recognized his skills and efforts and put him in charge of reconstructing some of the most devastated areas. He stayed for eight months.
Sam and fellow local and friend, Jimmy Levi, are spearheading a fundraising effort for supplies, tools, and resources for the Peru project. In hopes to raise money and awareness as soon as possible, they are hoping for a mid-December event. They are looking for a venue, sponsors, and donations for a silent auction. If you can help them out, contact Jimmy at 530-386-0503 or jrlevi2000@yahoo.com.
To find out morecheck out burnerswithoutborders.org and Hands on Disaster Response at http://hodr.org for project updates, volunteer information, and to make donations.
~ Chris Jennerwein
Community Enhancement Program (CEP)
November 28
The public is invited to give input to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s (TRPA) Governing Board at its next regular monthly meeting when TRPA planners recommend concept projects to be invited to participate in the Community Enhancement Program (CEP). Redevelopment and revitalization in Kings Beach has been identified as the priority area for redevelopment and reinvestment. The Regional Vision document, accepted by the TRPA Governing Board in June, can be viewed online at regionalplanningpartners.com. North Tahoe Community Conference Center, 8318 North Lake Boulevard, Kings Beach.
Gray’s Crossing deemed Audubon worthy
Tahoe Mountain Resorts (TMR) announced that the Golf Club at Gray’s Crossing along with the residential real estate offerings in the Gray’s Crossing neighborhood has been awarded the Audubon International Gold Signature Certification. ‘Signature certification is only awarded to new developments that are designed, constructed, and maintained according to Audubon International’s precise planning standards and environmental disciplines.’
Only 15 properties in the U.S. have received the Gold Signature Certification and TMR has two of them, Old Greenwood and Gray’s Crossing.
Motorized Route Designation Process Continues in the Tahoe National Forest
The Forest Service has been working since 2003 to complete the Motorized Route Designation process that will determine which of the ‘unauthorized routes’ will become part of the National Forest System roads or trails. As part of that process, a temporary Forest Order has been signed by Forest Supervisor Steve Eubanks that prohibits cross-country motorized vehicle travel, ‘This order requires all motorized vehicles to stay on existing roads, motorized trails, routes or areas,’ said Eubanks. ‘For a one-year period or until we finish the Environmental Impact Statement, it is designed to stop the creation of new routes and to protect the resources of the National Forest.’
Copies of the Temporary Forest Order, which include maps showing the roads, trails, and areas that can be used by motorized vehicles, are available at the Forest Headquarters and Ranger Stations throughout the TNF including offices in Nevada City, Camptonville, Sierraville, Truckee, and Foresthill. The Temporary Forest Order is also available online at fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe in the ‘Route Designation area.’
For information, contact David Michael, Tahoe National Forest Trails Coordinator, 530-478-6185 or Dave Arrasmith, Project Team Leader, 530-478-6220. To sign up to receive regular updates: Ann Westling, awestling@fs.fed.us or 530-478-6205.
Water Meter Update
As of September 4, Tahoe City Public Utility District has more than 1,086 residential meters. Areas fully completed are: Dollar Point, Highlands, Panorama Estates, Lake Forest Village, and Sierra Terrace. By November, meters should be completed along the highway to Tahoe City, the Bittencourt Tract, and Tamarack Estates. Leaks have been detected in 25 to 30 percent of households ranging from 70 gallons per day up to 10,000 gallons per day. tahoecitypud.com
