Linking the Communities, Tahoe City Lakeside Trail Opens
After more than two decades of work, the Tahoe City bike trail is complete. On June 21, the Tahoe City Lakeside Trail, the missing link in the North Shore’s system of cycling and walking paths, officially opened. The section is the final one-mile segment in the largest paved trail system at Lake Tahoe, a 19-mile network connecting existing North Shore, West Shore, and the Truckee River trails. Before the segment opened, bikers and trail users had to travel through Tahoe City on Highway 28.
To celebrate the Lakeside Trail completion, a series of events was held last month. On June 21, a rally of cyclists and walkers kicked off the celebration. Later that day, the Tahoe City Public Utility District’s official Lakeside Trail Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place on the trail in front of Jake’s on the Lake. Festivities continued on June 24 at Commons Beach with a “Let’s Get Linked” celebration, in which hundreds of participants created a human chain by holding hands with each other along the trail. A free concert on the beach followed, featuring The Blues Monsters, Dad’s LP, Downbeat, and Jellybread.
“It’s so exciting; after a whole week of celebration, today is a culmination of it all,” said TCPUD President Judy Friedman after the “Let’s Get Linked” celebration. “It’s great to see the community come out and party. The whole event was great!”
The trail system was originally proposed in the 1980s, but funding for design and permitting didn’t become available until the 1990s. Creating a bike path on the shores of Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River was challenging from the start — the project was flooded with environmental and property ownership concerns. After years of meetings and property owner coordination, the new section in Tahoe City required multiple phases of construction. The first phase was completed in 2001. The final phase was difficult to build because of its waterfront location.
The newest segment runs along the water’s edge in Tahoe City. The path is a linear parkway, passing natural rock formations, crossing creeks, and bordering plazas, picnic areas, and environmental restorations. The California State Parks, the United States Forest Service, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, Placer County, and many commercial property owners were partners who worked with the TCPUD to guarantee the completion of the trail. ~ Lindsay Ray Curtis/Moonshine Ink
New Art Enrichment Programs for Seniors
Most great endeavors have a human story behind them, and the Art-Health Alliance is no exception. Tom and Carla Beebe, who combine business acumen with artistic talent and heart, are forming a new organization to promote health and wellness through art and other forms of creative expression.
With the help of a carefully selected board, the AHA launched the Creative Expression for Adults, 60+ pilot program. The board includes Barbara Kramen-Kahn, Ph.D, Anne Chadwick, Shane Johnson, M.D., and Alice Baldwin.
AHA joined forces with Sierra Senior Services and Executive Director Sarah Deardorff to provide specialized visual art programming tailored to the Tahoe/Truckee older adult population. Programs are designed to maximize cognitive engagement and critical thinking abilities, as well as the exercise benefits to the hands and fingers that art making can provide.
The first workshop is a nine-session egg painting workshop led by Cathee vanRossem-St.Clair. Info: Carla Beebe, (530) 386-4976, arthealthalliance@hotmail.com
Spiritual Leader Comes to Truckee
Winner of the Gandhi Peace Price and Nobel Prize Nominee, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne will give a free presentation. The leader of the world-renowned Sarvodaya movement of Sri Lanka, Dr. Ari will share his practical, successful secrets on
how to overcome community challenges.
Sarvodaya is described as the sharing of resources to lift everyone up. Dr. Ari has been likened to Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama. Like the world’s greatest teachers, he has an impressive ability to rally ordinary citizens to see the spiritual wisdom of looking beyond their own salvation to help ensure the salvation of others.
This event is sponsored by For Goodness Sake and Connecting the Good. Info: July 17, 7 p.m., Truckee High School Theater, 11725 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, (530) 550-8981, goodnesssake.org
Placer County Displays Student Posters
The Compassion in Action Art Project, created by the students of Rock Creek Elementary School in Auburn, will be on display at Placer County Animal Services.
The project promotes kindness to animals and the adoptions of homeless animals, and includes 40 colorful posters hand drawn by third-grade students and special education students at Rock Creek School. Each of the posters depicts the strong bond between children and animals. The art project is organized by A New Hope Animal Foundation and Rock Creek School volunteer Audrey Reighley.
Info: Posters will be on display from June 18 until July 2, Placer County Animal Shelter, 11251 B Ave., Auburn, and will move to the Placer County Administrative Center at the Domes, 175 Fulweiler Ave., Auburn.
Tahoe Mountain Club Has New Executive Chef
Willy Carroll is the new executive chef for PJ’s restaurant, the Terrace, Bearfoot Bar and Grill, Alpine Club, and Schaffer’s Camp. Bringing a total of 12 years of culinary experience as well as a background in golf-specific establishments, Carroll will play a key role in furthering Tahoe Mountain Club’s commitment to fresh seasonal cuisine. Carroll plans to enhance partnerships with local and sustainable purveyors and to bring in the highest quality produce, meats, seafood, and cheeses in an effort to minimize Tahoe Mountain Club’s carbon footprint. Info: (530) 550-5088, tahoemountainclub.com
Truckee Donner Rec Coed Soccer
Be a part of the best soccer league in Truckee/ Tahoe this summer. The season begins July 15 and continues on Sundays through September. Games will take place at River View Sports Park. Registration is open now. The season will consist of at least eight games and playoffs. Info: $510/team due at sign up, $140/player’s fee, Truckee Donner Recreation Center, 8924 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, (530) 582-7720, tdrpd.com. Soccer officials looking for extra money this summer, contact Pete Kristian, adult sports coordinator, (530) 550-4452, petek@tdrpd.com
Humane Society of Truckee-TahoeSeeks Heroes
The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe has re-launched its Heroes Now and Forever campaign to raise the final one million dollars needed to build a new animal shelter that will serve the region. The Heroes campaign seeks 850 individuals, groups, or businesses to make a commitment to contribute $1,000 each.
The new shelter will provide much needed expanded space and will replace a dilapidated, inadequate facility. The new HSTT animal shelter will be located on land donated by the Town of Truckee just above downtown off of Donner Pass Road on Stockrest Springs Road. Info: (530) 587-5948, hstt.org
Nevada Wildfire Conditions
A dry winter has left well below average mountain snow packs and little runoff. Many rivers and streams have already experienced peak flows and are dwindling rapidly. Nevada’s forests, woodlands, and rangelands are all being impacted by the ongoing drought, with fuel moistures extremely low.
“I implore all Nevadans to take personal responsibility for preventing wildfires,” said Pete Anderson, Nevada State Forester fire warden.
“While nature plays a role in some fire starts, it is up to each individual to ensure that no matter what the activity, from target shooting to exploring Nevada’s wildlands, we are all thinking about and doing everything possible to prevent wildfire ignitions.” Info: Nevada Division of Forestry, (775) 684-2500, forestry.nv.gov
Summer Reading Programs
The Tahoe Truckee Reads Campaign has developed a variety of summer programs designed to promote learning retention in students when outside the classroom.
The Truckee Public Library has a summer reading program for ages 5 and up. Toddler story time will take place at the library at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays.
The Tahoe City and Kings Beach public libraries’ summer reading programs for children, teens, and adults will run all summer with incentives for reading.
Glenshire Elementary and Tahoe Lake Elementary school libraries are offering open library times every Thursday morning. Tahoe Lake also offers story hour at the weekly Tahoe City Farmers Market.
Book drives will be held at North Tahoe and Truckee elementary schools, and neighborhood reading programs are also planned. Info: exined.org, volunteers contact Laura Abbey Brown, (530) 550-7984, exed@ttcf.net
Volunteers Wanted for Rim to Reno Trail Building
In 2011, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and several other contributors made real headway on the Rim to Reno project, a new trail that will connect the existing Tahoe Rim Trail, which circles the mountain ridges above Lake Tahoe to Reno. The Rim to Reno trail system will connect existing trails and create a new system that includes loops, and will be accessible through the Mt. Rose Summit Trailhead, U.S. Forest Service’s Thomas and White’s Creek Trailheads, and Washoe County’s Galena Creek Regional Park. Already 1.75 miles of new trail between Galena Falls and Relay Peak is complete, as well as several miles of the trail leading south from Reno.
Spend a day on a trail work crew. Volunteers of all skill levels and physical abilities are welcome — no prior experience necessary. Workdays will begin Saturday, July 14 with the Rim to Reno Kick Off event at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting at the Mt. Rose Trailhead. Subsequent workdays will occur every Thursday and Saturday for the rest of the summer until Oct. 20. Info: (775) 298-0239, register online, tahoerimtrail.org
“Y” Foundation’s Writing Contest Winner
In March, Tahoe/Truckee writers were invited to enter The “Y” Foundation’s Creative Writing Contest. The winning piece is an essay written by Jacqueline Ginley about what life in Truckee means to her. Ginley will receive a $750 scholarship to attend the Squaw Valley Writer’s Workshop this July. Ginley is a journalist with a particular passion for fiction, but it was her nonfiction essay that was the winning piece. The “Y” Foundation is a charitable organization established in loving memory of Katy Zirbel to promote and support local writers. Info: the-y-foundation.org
Read more: moonshineink.com/sections/mountain-life/y-write-because-you-could-win-scholarship
Winter Empowerment Fund Assists Athlete
The High Fives Foundation’s Winter Empowerment Fund Program allocates donated funds to athletes to assist in recovery from a life altering injury. The HFF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for athletes who have suffered a major injury while pursuing their dream in the winter action sports community.
On Dec. 22, 2011, Jake Hickman crashed while competing at a U.S. Freestyle Ski Team Selection Competition. The impact caused a spiral compression fracture of Hickman’s T8 vertebrae with an incomplete paralysis of the spinal cord.
The HFF provided Jake with rehabilitative healing therapies and training systems that would not be possible without the generosity of 81 donors. Info: highfivesfoundation.org
Free Green Thumb Garden Workshop
Improve your garden by visiting the garden at the UC Davis Tahoe City Field Station Historic Fish Hatchery. Free conservation landscaping presentations; learn something new from experts in the field. Edible Gardens on July 17 with Sharon Buss, McBride’s Nursery at Tahoe Tree Company, learn how to subsidize your grocery bill by growing veggies successfully at high elevation. Fire-wise Landscaping on July 31 with Susie Kocher, University of California Cooperative Extension, hear how to limit the level of flammable vegetation and materials surrounding your home. Soils Testing with Rachel Kozloski, Natural Resources Conservation Service, on determining your yard’s soil and figuring out what can grow on Aug 7. Aug 14 brings Composting With or Without Worms with Stephen Andrews, UC Berkeley, on reducing waste while creating nutrient rich soils for your garden. 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Info: 2400 Lake Forest Rd, Tahoe City, Alison Toy, (775) 881-7560 x 7483, antoy@ucdavis.edu
Youth Paddleboard Program
Get on the water with the Tahoe Maritime Museum’s youth paddle boarding program, every Wednesday through Labor Day, at Commons Beach, Tahoe City. Local youth can experience the fast growing water sport of paddle boarding in this free program. Explore the lake, learn about local history and ecology, and most of all have fun on the water. Pre-registration is necessary. Info: Katena, (530) 525-9253 x 103, katena@tahoemaritime.org
Community Sailing Program
The Tahoe City Public Utility District’s Parks and Recreation offers sailing courses for youth and adults, beginner to advanced race team, and everything in between. Intermediate and advanced youth programs this summer still have a few openings, as well as the adult and women’s sailing programs. If you are a natural out on the water, be sure to check out the race clinics which can guide you onto the race team.
Info: TCPUD Recreation Office, (530) 583-3440, tahoecitypud.com
Water Carnival for Kids
Water Carnival for kids of all ages on Saturday, Aug. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. Enjoy the giant inflatable water slides, slip slides, water games, and more. Vendor space is available at $40 per booth. This safari themed adventure costs $2/child and $1/adult. Info: Village Green, 960 Lakeshore Blvd, Incline Village, contact Incline Village Parks and Recreation Aquatics office, (775) 832-1321, inclinerecreation.com
