News Briefs
Updates to Local Covid-19 Vaccines for Children Under 6, Boosters
TRUCKEE/NORTH TAHOE
Following approval by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control, the Tahoe Forest Health System and Washoe County Health District are offering Covid-19 vaccines to children aged 6 months to 5 years old.
Vaccine Types:
Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine: The Pfizer vaccine is approved for those 6 months to 4 years old and is a three-dose series — the first two doses are three weeks apart, followed by the third dose at least eight weeks after the second dose. The Pfizer doses are 3 micrograms, which is 1/10th the level of what adults receive. The three doses were about 75% to 82% effective at preventing mild illness from the Omicron variant in those 6 months to 4 years old, according to the FDA, though that data is preliminary.
Moderna Covid-19 vaccine: The Moderna vaccine is for those 6 months to 5 years old and is a two-dose series, one month apart. The Moderna doses are 25 micrograms, which is 1/4th the level of what adults receive. The Moderna vaccine was about 51% effective in preventing mild illness from the Omicron variant for kids 6 months to 2 years old and 37% for those 2 to 5 years; protection from severe illness, though, was much higher.
Where vaccines will be available:
Covid-19 vaccine events specific to children aged 5 years old and under are planned for select Sundays in July and August in Truckee/North Tahoe, and at a number of June events in Reno.
For Truckee/North Tahoe (California side):
- Visit myturn.ca.gov to view appointment availability and self-schedule
- Group scheduling is not available. Parents will need to schedule separate appointments for each child.
- Location: 10956 Donner Pass Rd., Ste. 310
- Parents should bring a form of identification and if possible identification for the child (school ID, passport, social security card, etc.)
- PLEASE NOTE: Individuals 6-plus years old cannot be vaccinated at these events. Visit vaccines.gov to search for other vaccine opportunities, or call the Tahoe Forest pediatric clinic at (530) 582-3523.
- Vaccines are free to all.
- TFHS’s pediatric clinic (MSC Pediatrics) will provide Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to established patients during regularly scheduled appointments, as well as during vaccine-only appointments.
- Call (530) 582-6205 to schedule
- Estimated start date for this service is Monday, July 11
For Reno/North Tahoe (Nevada side):
- Contact your primary care physician or pediatrician to see if they are administering the Covid-19 vaccine for those 6 months to 5 years of age.
- Call (775) 328-2427 to schedule an appointment with the Washoe County Health District at its clinic location, 1001 E 9th St., Building B (there is no drive-through option for vaccines at this time). Appointments are limited. The health district clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Updates to vaccines.gov are expected to happen this week to allow searching for Covid-19 vaccines for those under 6.
- CVS Pharmacy said it will administer Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines to those 18 months and older. More info here.
- Walgreens will provide Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines to those 3 years and older. More info here.
- Walmart plans to provide Covid-19 vaccines to those 3 years and older. More info here.
- WCHD will partner with Renown Health to host a clinic to provide the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine to those 6 months to 5 years of age on Saturday, June 25, 9 to 11:30 a.m., at the Renown Medical Group, North Los Altos location (1525 Los Altos Parkway, Sparks). Appointments required. Only the Moderna vaccine will be available. Schedule an appointment here.
For more information about the CDC approval and Covid-19 vaccines for children and teens, please review the CDC statement and CDC Covid-19 vaccine information.
Vaccine and Booster Clinics
Covid vaccines continue to be available for adults and older children locally. Please visit vaccines.gov to find a location near you. Most local pharmacies continue to offer Covid vaccines.
At this time, Covid vaccines are available as follows:
Tahoe Forest Health System
- The Tahoe Forest Pediatric Clinic can provide Pfizer vaccines to patients 5 years and older, by appointment only. Call (530) 587-3523 to schedule.
- The Tahoe Forest Multispecialty Clinic Internal Medicine/Cardiology can provide Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines to patients age 12 and older, during regularly scheduled appointments only.
Nevada County Public Health Department
- First and third Mondays of the month (except holidays)
- 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- By appointment only, call (530) 582-7814 to schedule
Placer County Public Health Department
Vaccine Clinics
- June 24 and 25
- 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., no appointment needed.
- Kings Beach Library, 301 Secline St.
- 12 years and older only
Washoe County Health District
Covid-19 community events and appointments for those 5 years and older:
- Thursday, June 23: Reno-Sparks Convention Center, 4590 S Virginia St., Reno, 3:30 to 6 p.m. — appointments here
- Friday, June 24, Food Truck Friday, Idlewild Park, 2055 Idlewild Dr., Reno, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. — appointments here
- Saturday, June 25, Mexican Consulate Day at Neil Road, 3925 Neil Rd., Reno, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — appointments here
- Thursday, June 30, Reno-Sparks Convention Center, 4590 S Virginia St., Reno, 3:30 to 6 p.m. — appointments here
The Washoe County Health District has Covid-19 vaccine and booster appointments for anyone 6 months or older in its clinic Monday – Friday at 1001 E. 9th St. in Reno, and nurses that can come to your residence if you are homebound. Call (775) 328-2427 for appointments.
For adults and children 5 years and older, please check the CDC and California State Covid-19 pages for the most up-to-date vaccine and booster shot information. Visit tfhd.com/covid/covid-19-vaccine for the most recent TFHS information.
~ TFHS website, Washoe County Health District press release
Cal Fire Struggling to Meet Expectations
CALIFORNIA
An investigation by The California Newsroom and reported on by Scott Rodd with CapRadio and Danielle Venton with KQED has revealed that Cal Fire is “fumbling” key forest management and wildfire mitigation responsibilities. The outcome, as revealed in the story, Cal Fire Fumbles Key Responsibilities to Prevent Catastrophic Wildfires Despite Historic Budget, is “potentially leaving the state at greater risk of catastrophic fires.”
The investigation found the following:
- Despite a record $1.5 billion set aside by the state of California for wildfire prevention and forest health last year, Cal Fire’s forest management hiring hasn’t risen. Its firefighting staff numbers, meanwhile, have gone up.
- Experts point to desperately needed wildfire prevention projects across the state. Cal Fire isn’t fully tracking such projects, nor the number of acres treated during fiscal year 2020/21.
- The fire agency is taking years to put in place state laws.
- Cal Fire has not sent its annual report explaining fire prevention efforts to the state legislature for at least four years.
Read Moonshine Ink’s reporting on local fire management within Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service in Fanning the Flames: Common Ground, Divided Practices.
~ AH
Plastic Problem Exhibit Brings Hands-on Education to Sand Harbor’s Visitor Center
INCLINE VILLAGE
Visitors to Sand Harbor State Park will now be able to enjoy an informational, hands-on exhibit where they can learn more about protecting Lake Tahoe from plastic pollution. The display, titled Tahoe’s Plastic Problem, teaches families how to properly identify different types of plastic, the importance of recycling them properly, and how to keep them out of our waterways. The exhibit was developed by the Tahoe Water Suppliers Association, with funding provided by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Sustainable Materials Management.
UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center has been conducting microplastic source and implication research in Lake Tahoe since the summer of 2018. With more and more tourists visiting the Tahoe Basin, NDEP hopes this display will encourage visitors to make eco-friendly, sustainable choices that will protect Lake Tahoe’s pristine beauty and surrounding ecosystem for generations to come.
The new exhibit at Sand Harbor is a replica of one designed by TERC and TWSA. The original display, housed at the UC Davis Tahoe Science Center in Incline Village, was funded by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant administered by NDEP’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program.
Visitors are encouraged to share photos of the Tahoe’s Plastic Problem exhibit and use the hashtag #BreakFreeFromPlastic. To plan your next trip to Sand Harbor State Park, visit parks.nv.gov. To learn more about the Tahoe Science Center, visit tahoe.ucdavis.edu.
~ Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources press release
60-Year-Old Man Trains in Lake Tahoe to Swim English Channel
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
For two years, Jonathan Whiting has been training to swim the English Channel in honor of his late wife, Lori Whiting. He is raising awareness and funds for research through the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. The rare bile duct cancer took the life of 53-year-old Lori on Oct. 11, 2016, and left a void that Whiting has filled by exercising his skills as a decorated triathlete. The 60-year-old St. Louis, Missouri, man will swim 21 miles across 57- to 60-degree water in the famous channel separating southern England from northern France between July 17 and July 23 — weather permitting.
“The Channel Swimming Association governs all documented swims across the channel. Swimmers cannot wear a wetsuit, and once a swimmer starts the swim, they must swim the entire length unassisted,” Whiting said. “For example, the swimmer cannot rest on the boat or use a flotation, and nutrition is delivered to the swimmer by a pole from the boat. There are seven days held open to monitor weather and currents for safety. Once the pilot (escort boat) says ‘it’s time,’ the swimmer must head out.”
As of the end of 2020, 2,157 individuals had completed the swim across the water passage, according to Swimming World Magazine. Whiting intends to increase that number with continued training in 2022, including a 12-mile swim across Lake Tahoe on June 25. The public is invited to attend a reception after his swim that is taking place at the La Hacienda Inn’s pool area at 1:30 p.m., located at 3820 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.
Whiting is committed to increasing awareness about bile duct cancer and raising much-needed funds for cholangiocarcinoma-specific research with his campaign, 21 Miles of Hope. His goal is to raise $100,000 by the end of 2022 for the foundation which has a mission to support patients and render cholangiocarcinoma a treatable disease. He is still accepting sponsorships to fulfill this goal.
Whiting is training with the help of coach Carol Breiter, is a retired competitive marathon swimmer who’s coached successful swimmers across the channel since 1985. She completed the swim across the English Channel herself in 1983.
Whiting is accepting donations on his website, 21milesofhope.org. Supporters are welcome to donate and follow his swim journey on the website, including his training log, photo gallery, and videos.
~ Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation press release
Visit Truckee-Tahoe Funds $160K in Sustainable Truckee Stewardship Programs
TRUCKEE
Visit Truckee-Tahoe announces $160,317 in funding for Sustainable Truckee programs and sponsorships for 2022, including Sustainable Truckee Ambassadors, trailhead signage, microtransit, Trails for EveryBODY, free bike valet, and event sponsorships. Sustainable Truckee is an initiative funded by Visit Truckee-Tahoe to support programs that protect and enhance Truckee as an authentic mountain town.
Recognizing the need for more boots on the ground to help with wildfire protection and visitor education, VTT renewed and increased funding for the Sustainable Truckee Ambassador program, managed by the Truckee Trails Foundation. VTT’s sponsorship helped double the number of ambassadors for summer 2022 from two to seven, expanding coverage of monitored areas to Tahoe National Forest trails and recreation areas, Donner Lake beaches and docks, Truckee’s scenic paved paths, and downtown Truckee.
After a successful pilot last summer, VTT is once again producing new Sustainable Truckee trailhead signage in English and Spanish to educate trail users on three primary messages: wildfire danger, Leave No Trace, and safety between riders and hikers. Designed to be welcoming and engaging, signs amplify universal messaging to mitigate trash issues and prevent human-caused wildfire.
With a focus on transportation, Visit Truckee-Tahoe is a major funding partner for the summer pilot microtransit program, along with the Town of Truckee, Tahoe Forest Hospital System, and Glenshire and Tahoe Donner homeowner associations. Branded as TART and sub-branded as Sustainable Truckee, the free, on-demand van shuttles will help reduce peak period congestion and vehicle miles traveled with service beginning in July.
To encourage a car-free bike culture for summer events, VTT co-created, with Truckee Trails Foundation and Town of Truckee’s Keep Truckee Green, the Sustainable Truckee Bike Valet for Truckee Thursdays and Music in the Park on Wednesdays. The free valet service provides safe, secure bike storage for event attendees. The Sustainable Truckee Bike Valet program is staffed by Sustainable Truckee Ambassadors and managed and operated by the Truckee Trails Foundation. Bike valet hard costs are sponsored by VTT with contribution from the Town of Truckee.
In addition to microtransit and Sustainable Truckee Bike Valet sponsorship, VTT advocated and supported Town of Truckee’s zoning changes to allow for a new ebike share program, set to launch in summer 2022 with BCycle. Sustainable Truckee branded electric bikes will be available at various docking stations or mobility hubs for locals and visitors to rent for daily travel needs. Town of Truckee’s Alfred Knotts championed the project with input from Visit Truckee-Tahoe and continues to work with BCycle on implementation.
Along with transportation, VTT sponsors all-inclusive trail development that cultivates a welcoming culture under the new message Trails for EveryBODY to help communicate that all users, all ages, shapes, sizes, and experience levels have a trail for them in Truckee.
To learn more about VTT’s Sustainable Truckee initiative, visit sustainabletruckee.org.
~ VTT press release
TTUSD Free Summer Meals Program Begins in July
TRUCKEE/TAHOE
Beginning July 6, free meals for all children 18 and under and disabled adults 22 and under will be distributed by the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District at the following locations daily:
- Donner Mobile Creek Homes
- Truckee Pines Apartment Homes
- Tahoe Vista Mobile Park (Tahoe City)
- Henness Flat Apartments
Check ttusd.org/food for updated information for locations, dates, and times or on Instagram, @ttusdfood.
~ Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee
Chamber of Commerce Announces 2022/23 Board of Directors
TRUCKEE
The Truckee Chamber of Commerce announces the re-election of four board members. The board provides leadership for carrying out the Truckee’s chamber vision of building a vibrant and prosperous Truckee community through business leadership.
The following members of the Truckee Chamber of Commerce were nominated to serve on the board of directors for a three-year term from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025.
The nomination period ended May 9. As no other members were nominated, no election will be held and the nominated slate is now declared elected.
The elected slate:
- Kellie Cutler, Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe
- Ted Owens, Tahoe Forest Health System
- Liz Wainscoat, Plumas Bank
- Ravn Whitington, Porter Simon
Fiscal year 2022/23 board:
- Emily Vitas, chair, Truckee Tahoe Workforce Housing Agency
- Aimee Schaller, past chair, Aegis Insurance Markets
- Bill Greeno, Quality Automotive Servicing
- Jessica Carr, SBDC, Sierra Business Council
- Kellie Cutler, Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe
- Chris Fajkos, Chris Fajkos Luxury Real Estate
- Jon Luster, Second Home Care
- John Manocchio, Pacific Crest Wealth Planning
- Ted Owens, Tahoe Forest Health System
- Liz Wainscoat, Plumas Bank
- Ravn Whitington, Porter Simon
Emily Vitas assumes the chair of the board position effective July 1.
~ Truckee Chamber press release
Tahoe Conservancy to Begin Planning New Upper Truckee River Restoration
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
The California Tahoe Conservancy will begin planning a new project to restore a section of the Upper Truckee River in El Dorado County. The project will help Lake Tahoe’s largest inflowing stream become more resilient to climate change and will protect the lake’s famous water clarity.
At its meeting on June 16, the conservancy board agreed to accept $500,000 in federal funding for the planning effort. The conservancy plans to restore a section of the river and its floodplain near Lake Tahoe Airport and U.S. Highway 50.
The restoration project will be part of a larger effort to restore the entire Upper Truckee River and watershed. Draining a third of the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Upper Truckee is Tahoe’s largest watershed.
The lower part of the watershed has undergone enormous change in the past century. Logging, grazing, and the development of roads, neighborhoods, and the airport have harmed the watershed. Developers altered and straightened the river channel. Wildlife habitat and water quality declined.
The planning activities will focus mostly on conservancy property, along with some USDA Forest Service land.
At the same meeting, the conservancy board approved a land exchange with the Tahoe City Public Utility District. The conservancy will transfer 18 acres of land to the TCPUD, including properties near the Tahoe Cedars neighborhood in Tahoma and in the Highlands neighborhood east of Tahoe City. In return, the conservancy will receive from the TCPUD 107 acres of environmentally sensitive open space land near Quail Lake in the Homewood area. This exchange supports California’s Pathways to 30×30 strategy, as it increases the amount of state-owned land that the conservancy will manage to protect wildlife habitat, biodiversity, open space, and public access.
~ CTC press release
New Water Conservation Restrictions Now in Effect
TRUCKEE
Due to persistent and severe drought conditions across the state, in May 2022 the California State Water Board adopted new mandatory emergency drought regulations, building on prior drought precautions that were put in place earlier in the year. The idea behind these rules is for all Californians to reduce their water use in an effort to conserve the state’s supply of water during drought time.
The degree of severity of drought conditions and water availability varies from region to region across the state, but all Urban Water Suppliers (meaning those who supply municipal water to more than 3,000 customers) have been directed to implement Level 2 of their respective Water Shortage Contingency Plans.
On June 1, the Truckee Donner Public Utility District Board of Directors took action to comply with the mandatory State regulations, and voted to initiate Level 2 of TDPUD’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
“California and the entire western U.S. is in a severe drought, and everyone must do their part to only use the water you need, and conserve,” said TDPUD’s water utility director, Chad Reed. “We understand the restrictions will be challenging and we are here to work with our customers to help raise awareness of the mandatory regulation and help them comply.”
Effective June 2, TDPUD potable water customers must comply with the following:
- Irrigation of ornamental landscapes and turf (lawns, gardens, etc.) with potable water is limited to every other day.
- Customers are prohibited from applying potable water to driveways and sidewalks, unless specifically for driveway sealing or construction projects.
- Washing a vehicle with a hose that dispenses potable water is prohibited, except where the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle.
- The use of potable water for the irrigation of “non-functional turf” at commercial, industrial, and institutional sites is prohibited.
- Customers may be subject to fines and penalties for failure to comply with these requirements.
Compliance with the drought regulations is mandatory and TDPUD asks that everyone take steps to comply. Enforcement will be done with complaint-driven steps to ensure that everyone is aware of the new restrictions and has the opportunity to comply. For more information, please call (530) 587-3896.
~ TDPUD press release
County Seeks Input for Comprehensive Plan Update
RENO
Washoe County is asking for residents’ input through a survey on how to update and incorporate existing area plans into the Envision Washoe 2040 Comprehensive Plan update. Such questions as What opportunities or challenges does regional growth pose to your area’s desired character? or What key topics should be addressed in your area’s goals and policies? Take the survey and learn more about the Envision Washoe 2040 update at envisionwashoe2040.org.
~ Washoe County enews
CodeRED Sees Uptick in Interest
TRUCKEE
Since its shifting of emergency notification systems from Nixle to CodeRED on June 1, the Town of Truckee has seen 17,509 people sign up in the 96161 zip code. (While not a direct comparison, as Nixle required a text number to sign up, sign-ups for Nixle with the town amounted to 15,394.)
The town’s acting police chief, Danny Renfrow, said in a May press release of the alert system, “CodeRED is a web-based communication tool powered by OnSolve that enables our public safety agencies to notify residents, visitors and businesses by phone, text message, email, social media, and even TTY. Anything from police or fire activity in the area, to an evacuation or shelter in place order, will be communicated through this platform.”
Property owners in the Martis Camp and Northstar areas have Truckee in their mailing addresses but technically lie outside town limits. These properties are within Placer County and are urged to sign up for Placer Alert messaging from the public safety agencies in their area, shared Bron Roberts, Town of Truckee public information officer.
“It is important to recognize that in the event of an emergency, we would be working with these public safety partners to ensure people within the impacted areas are informed to the best of our ability and with all our appropriate resources,” Roberts added via email.
For those Truckee/Placer County community members still wanting to receive Truckee notifications, Roberts suggested registering with an address in Nevada County limits, ideally one close to their home address. No one else registering will be impacted if an address is used multiple times.
“If someone does not know a Nevada County address and would like to use town hall, 10183 Truckee Airport Rd., in Truckee, they can do so,” Roberts wrote. “It means that they will be receiving general alerts for the entire Truckee area and for the specific zoning of the address input.”
Visit truckeepolice.com/codered-faqs for frequently asked questions on the Truckee Police Department website.
~ AH
Check Tahoepublicbeaches.org Before Going to the Beach This Summer
TAHOE CITY
As the summer season gets underway, the Tahoe Fund and agencies that manage Lake Tahoe’s public beaches have updated tahoepublicbeaches.org to help improve the recreation experience for residents and visitors. Designed as a resource guide to over 40 beaches that surround the iconic shores of Lake Tahoe, the site offers information about frequented hotspots and lesser known locations. Users will find helpful information about how to get to each beach, where to park, hours of operation, and what amenities and services are offered, if any.
Tahoepublicbeaches.org offers information on each beach, including what facilities are available, which beaches are dog friendly, where to BBQ, rent paddleboards or boats, and where to find shade. It also has information about the Lake Tahoe Water Trail and how people can do their part to help take care of Lake Tahoe. By encouraging beachgoers to get around without a car, visit the beach at non-peak times, and protect the environment from litter and pet waste, the website highlights destination stewardship practices emphasized throughout the region.
A collaborative effort, the site was developed by the Tahoe Fund and co-funded by the California Tahoe Conservancy through the Lake Tahoe License Plate Program. Eight public agencies assisted with the project to create one central place for beachgoers to find public beach information. The partners include: California Tahoe Conservancy, California State Parks, City of South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City Public Utility District, North Tahoe Public Utility District, Nevada Division of State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, and Tahoe Transportation District.
Low lake levels this summer mean the beaches will be larger, but many boat ramps around Tahoe will be closed. Currently, the only public boat ramps that are open are at the Lake Forest boat ramp in Tahoe City and the Cave Rock boat ramp in Cave Rock. Non-motorized users are still able to launch paddle boards and kayaks at closed boat ramps.
Beachgoers are encouraged to bookmark the mobile-friendly website and use it to plan their next trip to one of Tahoe’s public beaches. Learn more at tahoepublicbeaches.org.
~ Tahoe Fund press release
Stray Rescued in Tahoe City Ready for Forever Home
TRUCKEE
A stray dog that survived more than five weeks on her own, during which time she was hit by a car and suffered injuries, is finally rehabilitated and ready for adoption. Estrella was first spotted in Tahoe City back in February. It took several tries and several weeks for animal control to rescue her. Now, after extensive physical and mental rehabilitation, the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is thrilled to announce she is available for adoption.
With the help of many staff members from Animal Services and HSTT, along with several dedicated volunteers, slowly Estrella began to trust people more and more. She still has a long way to go in fully trusting people and new environments, but HSTT knows with confidence that Estrella is now ready to truly find her way into a new and loving home.
While Estrella has many great qualities, like walking well on a leash, very treat-motivated, and loves being outdoors, she is not the dog for everyone. She needs a very specific home that will continue her journey to becoming a well-socialized, trusting dog. She needs a quiet, adult-only home where patience will play a key role in her continued growth in trusting people and her surroundings.
Estrella likes to be around other dogs, and could benefit from a calm and confident role model dog (cats are unknown). She needs a home that understands the path to recovery that she is on, and is dedicated to continuing her socialization. For quite some time, she will need to be fully leashed when outside, so a fenced yard will play an important role in slowly allowing her to hopefully be off-leash at some point. She also wears special glasses outside for her eye condition. She’ll need a plan for when she’s left unattended and a commitment to ongoing training. HSTT is happy to support some costs associated with training.
Lastly, and most importantly, Estrella needs to feel safe and secure in her home. Once her trust has been earned, she is an affectionate, sweet, and trusting pup. A home that won’t push her too hard, but will wait for her to be ready to move on to the next step and a home that will celebrate all her wins is exactly what she’s looking for.
If you are interested in meeting Estrella for adoption, please call HSTT at (530) 587-5948 or visit the shelter Monday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m.
~ HSTT press release
Little League End-of-Season Tournament
TRUCKEE
The end-of-season Truckee Little League Majors tournament saw the Royals eliminated by the Giants and the Pirates eliminated by the Red Sox in the first round leading up to June 17’s Friday night final game between the Giants and the Red Sox. Despite adverse weather with cold temperatures, wind, light rain, and even a bit of snow, both teams gave it their all. The score was back and forth, 3-3 in the third inning, tied 6-6 after the sixth inning, ending regular play and going into extra innings. In the seventh inning, the score was tied 7-7, and 9-9 in the ninth, but the Giants held the Red Sox to 9 in the top of the 10th inning.
At the bottom of the 10th inning, the Giants scored to take the tournament win, ending the game at about 10 p.m. Thanks to all the coaches, scorekeepers, umpires, sponsors, and other volunteers for a great season.
~ Truckee Little League, Majors Giants, Special to Moonshine Ink
Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up
Sanitation Agency GM Resigns
TRUCKEE/NORTH TAHOE
LaRue Griffin, general manager of the Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency since May 2015, has resigned from his position, effective end of day on June 23. Richard Pallante, maintenance department manager, has been appointed as interim general manager, beginning June 24.
At a June 23 special board meeting, the TTSA Board of Directors deliberated for three hours during closed section over Griffin’s performance evaluation and who the interim GM would be. No reportable action came out of the closed section.
Pallante, the interim GM, will receive a step 2 general manager pay, at $90.8282 per hour. The board requested that Vicky Lufrano, human resources administrator, and Andrew Ramos, legal counsel, create a salary scale for an interim assistant GM title. Operations department manager Michael Peak will be considered for that role at a future board meeting.
Griffin is placed on administrative leave with pay. The board directed TTSA counsel, Andrew Ramos, to prepare an agreement with Griffin, which Ramos said he expects to come back before the board in the next week.
In an email sent to staff on June 21, he wrote, “I sincerely appreciate having had the opportunity to work with you and have enjoyed my time at the agency. Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and teamwork over the past years as we worked together to improve TTSA.”
~ AH
Business Briefs
Frontline Wildfire Defense Expands to Lake Tahoe Basin
SAN FRANCISCO
Frontline Wildfire Defense, a wildfire protection company, recently announced expanded installation services, now offering custom installations of its patented exterior sprinkler systems to homeowners in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The system empowers homeowners to prepare, monitor, and defend their homes during a wildfire event with Frontline’s exterior sprinkler solution.
In 2021, wildfires caused $90 billion in damages and cumulative economic loss in the United States, with $55 billion in California. As Cal Fire predicts more intense wildfire seasons, Frontline is accelerating its market expansion to provide resources that protect property, keep families safe, and limit the financial loss caused by wildfire damage.
“Last year the Sierra Nevada range saw an unprecedented 1.5 million acres burned, damaging more than 2,800 structures and completely leveling Greenville and Grizzly Flats,“ said Harry Statter, CEO and founder of Frontline Wildfire Defense. “We want to give Lake Tahoe property owners the tools needed to proactively ensure the safety of their families, homes, and businesses.”
The Frontline Wildfire Defense System provides custom, digitally connected external sprinkler systems that use environmentally friendly, biodegradable Class A fire-fighting foam to protect homes by creating an environment that is too wet to burn.
The free Frontline mobile app (iOS, Android) provides comprehensive wildfire safety information in near-real-time and is available for free on iOS and Android. Homeowners can ensure that they have comprehensive protection with features that include active wildfire tracking, evacuation alerts, and wildfire preparation checklist. For sprinkler system owners, the app also features remote activation, an integral component for the Lake Tahoe area as more than 25% of homes are utilized as vacation residences.
Frontline installations have protected more than $400 million in home value from the threat of wildfire. For more information about Frontline and its new mobile app, visit frontlinewildfire.com.
~ Frontline Wildfire Defense
Enhanced Detection Technology for 3D Mammography Exams
TAHOE/TRUCKEE
The Briner Imaging Center at Tahoe Forest Hospital offers the highest resolution 3D mammography available. Recently it has made advancements to its 3D Mammography exams with the addition of the Genius AI Detection technology.
The Genius AI Detection technology is the latest breakthrough in breast cancer detection, improving accuracy as it works to identify lesions that indicate potential cancer more thoroughly and quicker. 3D Mammography exams with this enhanced detection technology offer superior performance in locating suspicious areas in complex conditions, such as dense breast tissue, in breast images. Key clinical insights like this help catch breast cancer early.
With the aid of the Genius AI Detection technology, doctors can accurately detect irregularities and quickly determine the best course of action for the patient.
To schedule a mammogram at the Briner Imaging Center, please call (530) 582-6510. Physician referrals are not necessary, and most insurance plans are accepted.
Free or reduced cost screenings may be available to those who qualify. For eligibility details, please call (530) 582-6219.
~ Tahoe Forest Health System press release
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