Season Kick-Off Auction/Raffle Party
November 3
This popular fundraiser for the Far West Nordic Ski Association is expected to be the largest and most fun in its 22-year history. Organizers are excited about the spacious and beautiful setting for this year’s event, Sugar Bowl’s Mt. Judah Lodge. Auction and raffle prizes include ski equipment and outdoor gear, items from XC Ski Areas, bike shops, local restaurants, and other goodies. The raffle’s Grand Prize is a Dream Ski Package from Salomon, Swix and Fischer. As usual, this is Far West Nordic’s largest fundraiser for its Junior Nordic programs. Tickets are available from local Junior racers, or at info@farwestnordic.org or 530-587-0304. The party starts at 6 p.m. at 629 Sugar Bowl Road, Norden, California.
Area Ski Resorts Upgrade
‘There is nothing like the North Lake Tahoe ski product,’ said Tourism Director Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. Here’s an update on the upgrades happening with our local ‘ski product.’
• Alpine Meadows: San Francisco-based JMA Ventures recently finalized its purchase of Alpine Meadows Ski Resort. JMA Ventures specializes in the development and refurbishment of historical landmark properties. Jim Kercher has been named the new general manager of the ski area. Additional JMA projects include Homewood Mountain Resort and the Hotel Avery in Truckee.
• Homewood Mountain Resort opens the 2007/08 season with a new high-speed, detachable quad (the Homewood Express now replacing the Quad, providing quick access to North Side runs). JMA Ventures has more big plans for its new mountain, including a quaint pedestrian village, mid-mountain lodge, gondola and underground parking. The village, to be located at the north base, plans to house an ice cream shop, hardware store, market, 50-room hotel, spa and 40-condo complex. An ice rink, swimming pool and amphitheatre are also scheduled. JMA Ventures, which purchased the hidden gem in 2006, aims to keep the unique character of the resort and adhere to strict green and environmental practices throughout the planning and operational stages.
• Squaw Valley USA’s Shirley Lake will be accessed with the Shirley Lift Express, an upgraded detachable six-person lift. The express accesses 375 acres of intermediate terrain. Squaw’s terrain parks will also see a number of improvements, including a new trenched superpipe in Central Park at Riviera. Equipped with lights, the new Riviera Superpipe will be the only night accessed superpipe in the region. The addition of snowmaking in the Riviera terrain park, along with the trenching of the pipe, gives Squaw Valley skiers and snowboarders a superpipe starting at the very beginning of the season.
• The resort’s new Squallywood Clinic allows advanced skiers and riders the opportunity to learn and experience the technical top-secret lines from ‘Squallywood’ author Bob Gaffney. New guided backcountry tours open previously restricted borders to uncharted terrain and full moon snowshoe tours debut to take trekkers to upper mountain peaks.
• Northstar-at-Tahoe: Four new trails have been added to Northstar-at-Tahoe’s Northwest Territory, bringing the trail total to 83 and the resort’s skiable acreage to 2,490. Select trails off Mount Pluto have also been widened and an expanded snowmaking system will be generating more snow throughout the mountain, allowing for more accessible terrain earlier in the season. Plans to expand the slopes at Lookout Mountain are also in the works, with lift extension (detachable quad), additional trails and base facility scheduled. Northstar also recently unveiled an additional 5,000 square feet of meeting space. The latest retailers making their home in the Village include Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, Oliver Napa Valley, Tahoe Creamery and Spirits in Stone.
• Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe opens the season with improvements to the Slide Bowl on the east side of the resort. Snowmaking and selective re-contouring will continue down Silver Dollar Trail with the primary goal of achieving early-season access to Slide Lodge.
eWomen Accelerated Networking Dinner
October 17
eWomenNetwork, Inc. is the fastest growing, international, membership-based professional women’s networking organization in North America. Celebrating its second year, the Reno chapter has almost 200 members. Brenda Lewis of Brenda Lewis Copywriting LLC will speak about ‘The 6 Biggest Mistakes Most People Make On Their Ads, and the Quick Fixes to Skyrocket Responses!’ From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets $55. Tamarack Junction, 13101 South Virginia Street, South Reno, ewomennetetwork.com, 775-853-2120.
Do-It-Yourself BMP Class
October 20
IGVID Waste Not and the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District are hosting a free workshop which will review what BMPs are, explain Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) guidelines, offer methods to conduct in-the-field evaluations, and present design BMPs that will meet TRPA standards. The instructor will provide hands-on lessons and show tricks of the trade that will make BMPs simple to install yourself. Homeowners, contractors, and material suppliers are encouraged to attend. Class size is limited to 20. From10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, Nevada. wastenot@ivgid.org, Wastenot Hotline 775-832-1284.
Two Full Days of Spiritual Exploration
October 20 and 21
Reno Psychic Institute will present the Church of Inner Light’s Fall Psychic Fair at the Reno Sparks Convention Center. More than 65 vendors will provide spiritual and psychic readings including aura and tarot readings, astrology, energy healings, trance mediumship, aura photography, angel readings, channeling, palmistry, animal psychic, spirit guides, past lives. Health and wellness practitioners including NSA, Ayurvedic medicine, Quantum touch healing, Reiki massage, alternative health and wellness information and products, crystals, books, jewelry, clothing, mystical art and much more. Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday from 9:30 a.m.to 6 p.m. $8 admission includes entertainment, workshops and raffle ticket. 4590 South Virginia, Reno, Nevada, renopsychicinstitute.org, 775-324-2872.
Tibetan Teachings, Meditations and Practice
October 20 and 21
Two Truckee evenings with Losang Samten, Tibetan Master of Buddhist Philosophy, Sutra and Tantra.
• Tibetan Sacred Chanting, Dance, and Meditation from 7 to 9 p.m., October 20, at Tahoe Yoga and Wellness Center, 10770 Donner Pass Road, Truckee. Lucetta Swift 530-582-1415.
• Tibetan Tea Ceremony, Chanting and Meditation, October 21 from 5 to 7 p.m., 15354 Icknield Way, Glenshire/Truckee. R.S.V.P. to Anna Toso 530-582-4656. Bring a cushion or low beach chair. The suggested donation for each event is $10 to $20, and will go to the Tibetan Children’s Orphanage, a refugee center in Dharamsala, India, run by the Dalai Lama’s sister. Losang will be at University of Nevada, Reno, from October 16 to 25, to create the Wheel of Life sand mandala, a presentation of Buddhist teachings on suffering and impermanence. losangsamten.com and nevadadharma.net.
Eat Chocolate to Help
November 3
Tahoe Women’s Services Nineteenth Annual Chocolate Festival brings together tantalizing chocolate, delicious wine, a silent auction, and night-long entertainment to support the only agency in the North Lake Tahoe/ Truckee communities providing services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and to children who have been abused or neglected. Last year’s event raised more than $50,000. There are still opportunities for businesses to become involved as an auction donor or chocolatier. Contact Michele Prestowitz at 775-298-0169 or mprestowitz@tahoewomenservices.org. North Tahoe Conference Center, 8318 North Lake Boulvevard, Kings Beach, from 7 to 10 p.m. Cocktail attire suggested. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. tahoewomenservices.org; for credit card orders, call 775-298-0010.
Make Your Own Website
November 13
Reserve your space now for Lake Tahoe Online’s free community classes. Hands-on, interactive training sessions include Make Your Own Website on November 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. and Digital Photos from Your Camera on December12 from 7 to 9 p.m. No previous computer experience required. 12219 Business Park Dr, Truckee, LTOL.com, 530-582-2080.
Howlin’ Halloween Doggie Costume Contest
October 27
Tails by the Lake is sponsoring this dress-up event for the canines. Entry fee is $8 per dog. Sign up by 11:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Proceeds benefit the Truckee-Tahoe Humane Society. Prizes for first, second and third funniest and most original costumes. All entries will also receive a gift from Tails by the Lake. High Noon at the Village at Squaw Valley, Tails by the Lake Courtyard. 530-583-9247.
