Business Briefs | December 13, 2018 – January 9, 2019

Correction: It was originally reported that the owners of the Old Post Office Cafe plan have decided to sell the cafe, but they have clarified that this won’t happen for at least a couple of years. The cafe will continue its operations in the mean time. Moonshine regrets the error.

Vail Announces Wind Energy Contract and Plastic Use Plan

NORTHSTAR

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Vail Resorts announced on Nov. 13 a long-term wind energy contract to purchase the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power 100 percent of its estimated North American operations by 2020. Additionally, the company announced a partnership with Eco-Products to supply all of its North American restaurants with compostable and recycled-content items and eliminate conventional single-use plastics, a process which will begin during the 2018/19 winter season. These announcements will apply to Vail’s three Tahoe-based holdings: Heavenly Mountain, Northstar California, and Kirkwood Mountain Resorts. Achieving zero net emissions by 2030 is one pillar within the company’s Commitment to Zero sustainability goal, announced by Vail Resorts in 2017. Another pillar is to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2030.

Free Shuttle Begins in Squaw Alpine

OLYMPIC VALLEY

The new nonprofit Squaw Alpine Transit Company (SATCo) announced that Mountaineer, a new on-demand transit service, began operating in Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows as of Dec. 1. The shuttle will be powered by Downtowner, an app-based microtransit service, and available to residents and guests in Squaw Valley or Alpine Meadows for in-valley transit at no cost. To catch a ride, simply download the Mountaineer app. Mountaineer will operate on-demand seven days per week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Squaw Valley and Saturdays and Sundays in Alpine Meadows from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. through April 30, 2019. Seven dog-friendly, 10-person, four-wheel drive Sprinter-type vans equipped with ski and snowboard racks, and two ADA vehicles of similar capacity will be used.

New Fitness Studio Opens

TAHOE CITY

Located downtown, new studio Tahoe Fit will be hosting a grand opening party featuring celebratory bubbly and snacks on Dec. 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. Tahoe Fit is officially open for classes on Monday, Dec. 17. Tahoe Fit is the brainchild of local fitness instructor Katie Martin whose upbeat teaching style has garnered a legion of faithful followers at Tahoe Body Loft in Tahoe City, and Performance Training Center in Truckee. Featuring motivating, high-energy playlists, Martin’s group fitness classes offer equal opportunities for a wide range of fitness levels and ages. The 1,000-square-foot studio’s classes utilize equipment ranging from battle ropes and TRX suspension trainers to dumbbells and BOSU balls. Info: betahoefit.com

Alpenglow Mountain Festival Registration Opens

TAHOE CITY

Registration for the sixth annual Alpenglow Mountain Festival, presented by Outdoor Research and DPS Skis, opens Dec. 17. With over 80 individual events from Feb. 16 to 24, 2019, the Alpenglow Mountain Festival is the premier mountain lifestyle event in North America. Geared toward beginner and intermediate winter recreation enthusiasts, Alpenglow Mountain Festival showcases some of the best activities Lake Tahoe has to offer — backcountry skiing and splitboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, natural history, yoga, live music, educational workshops, social gatherings, and more. Info: alpenglowsports.com/mountainfestival

Local Baker Rises to TV Fame

TAHOE CITY

Amanda Nguyen, a local baker from Tahoe City, appeared on ABC’s The Great American Baking Show, based on the hit series The Great British Bake Off judged by Paul Hollywood. To prepare, Nguyen recruited her local North Tahoe fire station for tastings. She describes her recipes as simple, old-fashioned classics. “Recipes like pecan pie and coffee cake are passed down, and Bake Off provided a fantastic way to pass along those family traditions to my sons in an easy-to-follow format,” she said. The show began airing on Thursdays starting Dec. 6 and at bakealong.com where Nguyen will release detailed videos of each show bake.