News Briefs
Teachers, District Achieve Fair Settlement
TAHOE/TRUCKEE
After months of frustrating negotiations, the Tahoe Truckee Education Association and the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District have ratified an agreement for the current school year. The teachers ratified the agreement with a 98.5% “yes” vote. The TTUSD school board ratified the agreement at the Feb. 15 board meeting.
The one-year agreement provides a competitive salary increase, maintains lower class sizes, and helps TTUSD staff build community with students and their families.
The contract includes an 8% salary increase, retroactive to July 1, 2022, when the current contract was to start. Because of the “Me Too” clause in the contract, TTUSD’s classified staff, the lowest paid in the district, will also receive the 8% salary hike. TTUSD executive managers also chose to take the 8% salary increase.
The two sides settled at the end of the second day of a state mediation. “We appreciate the state mediator. He did a great job of helping us reach a fair settlement,” said TTEA President Nik Fertitta.
~ California Teachers Association press release
Board Approves Proposed Settlement with Washoe County School District
INCLINE VILLAGE
In 2020, Washoe County settled with Incline Village residents for the overpayment of property taxes. Each entity that received and utilized property taxes were required to pay a portion of the settlement, an action that the Washoe County School District appealed. The settlement between Washoe County and the Washoe County School District, approved by the board, dismisses the school district’s appeal and results in a compromise of only the portion of property tax distributions to the Washoe County School District’s Debt Service Fund, the approximate amount of $2,500,000, but not to exceed $2,992,000.
Commissioner Mariluz Garcia disclosed that she works for the Washoe County School District, and through consultation with legal counsel, she determined that she has no personal or financial interest in the item on the agenda and could participate in the vote.
~ Washoe County press release
Proclamation of Local Emergency Due to Snowstorm
NEVADA COUNTY
With over 12,000 households still without power and downed trees blocking roadways countywide, the Office of Emergency Services has proclaimed a local state of emergency for Nevada County. This proclamation is the formal step necessary to request emergency mutual aid from state and federal partners following this extreme snowstorm. The proclamation will be formally ratified by the board of supervisors in a special meeting on Tuesday, March 7.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Saturday, March 4, at 10 a.m. through Monday, March 6, at 10 a.m. The Office of Emergency Services is urging residents to prepare for another wave of snow and colder weather.
“Please check what you have on hand and gather food, water, medications, and other critical supplies if you are able. If you have power, charge your devices,” said Griesbach. “If you need information or assistance, please call 211 Connecting Point at (8330 342-5211 and only use 911 for emergencies.”
For updates and information on county road closures, warming centers, transit services, and more, please visit nevadacountyca.gov/storminfo.
~ Nevada County press release
Regional Trails Strategy
LAKE TAHOE
Buried beneath an ever-deepening blanket of snow over the Lake Tahoe Basin lie more than 580 miles of official dirt trails that provide recreation, transportation, fitness, and fun. For the first time ever, a coalition of Tahoe partners have developed a Tahoe Regional Trails Strategy to take a Basin-wide perspective to trail planning and building. The strategy serves as a blueprint for a connected and accessible dirt trail network for Tahoe.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has been leading the strategy in conjunction with the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association, Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Rim Trail Association, California State Parks, Nevada State Parks, California Tahoe Conservancy, and Achieve Tahoe. The agency also incorporated input from 30 partners and received nearly 1,000 responses to a survey in English and Spanish about the needs of trail users.
The Tahoe Regional Trails Strategy outlines a vision, preliminary priorities over the next 15 years, and strategies for implementation, but leaves details of implementation of any singular project to land managers and trail stewards. As such, the trail alignments shown in the strategy are conceptual.
The team crafted the strategy with the goals of having trails be environmentally sustainable, equitable, connected, enjoyable, and feasible. The strategy is a living document and acknowledges that priority projects could change over time and will require regular evaluation.
The partners encourage the public to provide feedback on the draft strategy through March 31. There will also be a virtual public webinar on March 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. To register for the webinar, view the draft strategy, or share feedback about the Tahoe Regional Trails Strategy, visit the project website at tahoetrailsplan.org.
~ TRPA press release
Public Workshop on Tahoe Basin Area Plan Amendments
KINGS BEACH
Placer County is preparing minor updates to the Tahoe Basin Area Plan, inviting the public to participate in a workshop to learn more about the updates and to provide feedback. The date, time, and location of the workshop:
Thursday, March 9, from 4 to 6 p.m.
North Tahoe Event Center
8318 N Lake Blvd.
Kings Beach
The workshop will be in-person only and will include workstations where Placer County staff and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency staff will provide information and will seek input from the public on key elements of the Tahoe Basin Area Plan. Learn more about the Tahoe Basin Area Plan and proposed updates at the following link: placer.ca.gov/3342/tahoe-basin-area-plan
Read Moonshine Ink’s reporting on the TBAP amendments here, and the North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council’s divided recommendation to approve the amendments here.
~ AH
Cortez Masto Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Reauthorize Lake Tahoe Restoration Act
WASHINGTON, D.C.
U.S. Sen. Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced her bipartisan, bicameral legislation to extend the authorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act. This law has delivered millions in federal funding to Lake Tahoe since the original law passed in 2000, supporting environmental protection and habitat restoration programs across the Basin. This legislation is supported by Senators Jacky Rosen, Dianne Feinstein, and Alex Padilla and Representatives Mark Amodei, John Garamendi, Dina Titus, Susie Lee, and Steven Horsford.
“We’ve made incredible progress in preserving Lake Tahoe for future generations, but there is still more to do to protect the lake from the impacts of pollution, the threat of invasive species, and the increasing number of visitors who come to enjoy the lake each year,” said Sen. Cortez Masto. “Reauthorizing this critical legislation will ensure the communities around Lake Tahoe continue to have the resources they need to support local jobs, welcome tourists, and combat climate change.”
~ Cortez Masto press release
Scholarship in Memory of Todd Kelly
TRUCKEE
In conjunction with the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, the annual Lake Tahoe Summit Classic lacrosse tournament has established the Todd Kelly Memorial Scholarship. Through the TTCF, LTSC has made an annual commitment to award $1,000 to a Truckee High School senior enrolled in continuing education. The scholarship seeks a recipient who also pursues outdoor recreational activity and embodies the essence and spirit of Todd “TK” Kelly: heart, hustle, kindness, passion, community, and a can-do attitude and approach to life.
Kelly was a critical member of the team, who has brought the annual LTSC lacrosse tournament to Truckee and the Lake Tahoe area since 2014. TK managed LTSC local operations, staff, services, and generally supported the event’s success. To the LTSC team, TK represented everything good about beautiful Lake Tahoe, and the value of youth sports and recreational opportunities for young athletes and their families.
The Todd Kelly Memorial Scholarship will carry on his memory and give back to a community to which he cared for and contributed so much. The Todd Kelly Memorial Scholarship will be presented annually at the THS Evening of Excellent, by LTSC team member, Truckee resident, and friend of the Kelly family, Gerry Rodriguez.
For full information regarding the scholarship, please visit the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation.
~ Summit Lacrosse Ventures press release
Big Blue Adventure Race Schedule
TAHOE CITY
Big Blue Adventure, the team that puts on endurance sporting events throughout North Lake Tahoe, recently released its 2023 race and event schedule. Athletes can now register for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, mountain bike or adventure race, open water swim, triathlon, and more in one of the most gorgeous settings in the world: Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Olympic Valley, and the surrounding Sierra Nevada.
Big Blue Adventure proudly offers competitions for all ages and skill levels, and pricing varies per event with savings available for active military, youth/students, and seniors.
“There truly is a race for everyone. From the seasoned triathlete, mountain biker or trail-runner, to the outdoor enthusiast who has decided this is the year they’re going to try a new sport,” said Todd Jackson, Big Blue Adventure founder and president. “We’re even seeing some crowd-favorite events that were canceled during Covid return this year, such as the Great Trail Race.”
Big Blue Adventure has been producing endurance sporting events in the region for nearly 20 years.
~ Big Blue Adventures press release
Recently Published Book Features Mountain Biking in Tahoe
SAN FRANCISCO
Internationally published Bay Area writer Albert Flynn DeSilver announces the release of his latest book Singletrack Mind: Finding Wisdom & the Poetry of Life on Two Wheels, a collection of essays on the spirit of mountain biking in wild places featuring photographs by legendary adventure photographer Mattias Fredriksson. The book was inspired by a piece DeSilver wrote for Adventure Journal magazine that was published in summer 2021. The book is about the power of healthy play, connection to place, and expanded awareness of the natural world. It is an inspirational wisdom pocket-guide-travelogue — a beautiful and compelling book about the spirit of mountain biking and connection to nature. DeSilver takes readers on a poetic and visually stunning journey from California to Croatia and beyond.
~ Albert Flynn DeSilver press release
Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up
Shari Chase Selected as Luminary Real Estate Newsmaker
ZEPHYR COVE
RIS Media recently selected Shari Chase, founder and chief executive officer of Chase International real estate, as one of its Luminary 2023 Real Estate Newsmakers.
RIS Media selected Chase as one of the industry’s shining examples of proven success in all market conditions — ropelling her company’s and clients’ destinies forward with positive outcomes.
“I am honored,” Chase said. “What my company does is called heart-centered real estate, and it is the pulse that embraces messages of abundance, awareness, and positive energy that are our vital ingredients for success.”
In 2022, Chase redefined the position of Chief Operating Officer and filled the role with an executive operations team of staff and department leaders. Chase aimed to create a structured collaboration to drive business operations and keep people at all company levels informed and connected.
Chase was nominated by RIS Media’s in-house editorial team and other industry sources.
~ RIS Media press release
Business Briefs
Salmon Buying Club Introduces Spring Delivery
TRUCKEE/TAHOE
Slow Food Lake Tahoe is introducing an early spring pick-up option for its popular Alaskan Salmon Buying Club serving the Truckee/Tahoe area. Previously only offered in the early fall, this additional pick-up date allows locals to replenish their stash of the healthy omega-rich protein more frequently and at a significant club discount. Ordering closes on March 15, boxes will be available for pick up in the Truckee River Regional Park on April 1. To find out more or order your box for spring delivery visit slowfoodlaketahoe.org/salmon-buying-club.
Nonprofit SFLT will receive 5% of all sales to help support the future of their community programs including the Food Bank Garden, which provides free education on high-elevation edible gardens and grows organic produce for Sierra Community House’s hunger relief program. An additional amount will go towards a donation of salmon portions to Sierra Community House’s hunger relief program.
SFLT’s mission is to connect the community to the enjoyment of good, clean, and fair food by inspiring a self-reliant food culture. The nonprofit educates the community about growing, preparing, and accessing local and sustainable food.
~ SFLT press release
Summer Stargazing Events at Spooner Lake
INCLINE VILLAGE
The dark skies above Lake Tahoe provide a unique, unobstructed view of the night sky, and this summer Tahoe Star Tours will welcome visitors to the new Spooner Lake Visitor Center for docent-led stargazing. Events are scheduled on select Thursdays and Saturdays beginning in June and running through Labor Day weekend.
Led by amateur astronomer and poet Tony Berendsen, past president of the Northern Nevada Science Coalition, each tour of the night sky includes a lively science-based talk about the cosmos and telescopic view of the constellations through high-powered, professional Celestron telescopes. The telescopes use leading-edge, computerized technology for accurate pointing and tracking, with advanced optics for sharp, crisp views of distant celestial objects like galaxies and nebulae. Telescope operators will guide guests through the wonders of the cosmos including viewing of the planets, moon and stars.
Tahoe Star Tours has also partnered with the Nevada Museum of Art and Edgewood Tahoe to bring special stargazing events to their guests. On March 23, at the Nevada Museum of Art, Upstage: The Flattened Rock will include cosmic views, dance and poetry. Following the performance, telescopic views of the night sky will be offered from the Stacie Mathewson Sky Plaza.
Tahoe Star Tours also offers private group events by advance reservation. Learn more and reserve tickets at tahoestartours.com.
~ Tahoe Star Tours press release
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