Squaw Valley Considering Name Change
OLYMPIC VALLEY
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is considering changing the name of their resort, as “Squaw” is an English-root word that has been used as a slur against Native American women. “As you likely know, the term is used by several area businesses as well as state and federal agencies for locations in the Olympic Valley region and these groups should be involved in the discussion,” read the resort’s statement in part.
~ BL
Grocery Stores Popping Up like Daisies
TRUCKEE
June 25 marked the grand opening of a locally owned Grocery Outlet across from Safeway and June 27 came the unveiling of the Raley’s O-N-E on Soaring Way, a “new kind of Raley’s” focused on “offering a curated assortment of wholesome goodness,” according to their site.
On the scene at Grocery Outlet’s first-ever 5 p.m. crowd, a mostly masked and distanced group of shoppers was ready to break into applause when cowbells rang and employees announced savings from individual customers’ checkouts. It’s a chain-wide tradition: “A customer just saved $106 on their groceries,” came one proud announcement to scattered applause.
Moonshine had the chance to catch up with Grocery Outlet store owners Shannon and Ryan Parrish, who had been waiting patiently through approval, planning, and construction phases and were over the moon to see the fruits of all their labor and dreaming.
“We’ve been monitoring it for quite a few years and this has always in our hearts been our destiny,” Ryan Parrish said.
So with the grocery store stock immediately expanded almost by half again, competition opportunities increase in the industry that has provided one of the most essential of the essentials during this crisis. Though the Raley’s O-N-E website still shows a mockup rather than a photo of the now-constructed store, it is fully operational. They tout fresh produce and carefully selected products, described as “better options for the community we proudly serve.”
~ BL
Resorts Open for Summer Operations
TAHOE
Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California Resort are open for select summer activities. Kirkwood Mountain Resort will have human-powered activities (no lift access) available to guests, similar as years past. The resorts shared operating plans as well as their commitment to safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific guidelines about physical distancing, employee protocols and training, guest expectations, enhanced cleaning and sanitization, hospitality, and lodging and dining facilities.
Opening dates and activities at Vail Resorts’ other North American resorts can be found at snow.com/info/summer-2020-update.
~ Vail Resorts press release
Downtown Bookstore Moves
TRUCKEE
Word After Word Books has moved down the street from its former location in historic downtown, and is now located in the Truckee Mercantile Building at 10052 Donner Pass Rd., just across the street from the downtown fire station. The Word After Word Team is excited about the move to a larger building in order to provide a broader selection of books and literary gifts. The bookshop reopened June 26, and is open for in-store shopping daily between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
~ Word After Word press release
New Fly Fishing Store is First of its Kind in 10 Years
TRUCKEE
Trout Creek Outfitters opened June 20 as the first fly fishing-specific store in Truckee since West River Fly Shop 10 years ago, run by Andy Burke, and Truckee River Outfitters who shared a lease even before then with Tahoe Dave’s.
“So we’re technically not the first but the first that will be remembered,” said Scott Koper, an employee of the new store. Trout Creek Outfitters is located at 10115 Donner Pass Rd. and is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Koper said the space “opened up and we jumped on it,” and that the fledgling crew feels fortunate things seem to be falling into place and working out “better than we expected,” Koper said, noting that they are building their business around them as they begin and don’t even have streetside signage yet.
~ BL
Makers Fair Canceled, Truckee Roundhouse Struggles
TRUCKEE
The Truckee Roundhouse is a nonprofit that runs a makerspace supporting teaching, learning, and practicing a variety of crafts, skills, technologies, and arts. Like many small local businesses, the company has been hit hard financially due to the COVID-19 shutdown. Due to concerns about the virus, Truckee Roundhouse’s main annual June fundraiser, the Makers Fair has been canceled.
To learn more visit truckeeroundhouse.org and find a video that local photographer/videographer Court Leve made to promote the Roundhouse’s efforts to stay afloat at vimeo.com/431256078/b045fe449d.
~ BL
Moving In, Moving Up, Moving On
Town Manager, Police Chief Head Out
TRUCKEE
Within days of each other, Robert Leftwich, chief of police, and Jeff Loux, town manager, retired from the Town of Truckee.
Leftwich, who left the town on July 3, announced his retirement amidst community concern over a leaked internal email of his, in which he shared his thoughts on police brutality and the death of George Floyd. Capt. Randy Billingsley with the police department will serve as interim police chief.
Loux retired July 1, citing his decision as a good time to take place despite a recent performance review and shifting dates in his contract. He first joined town staff in 2017 as the community development director. After six months in that position, he moved up to the town manager positions, which he held from August 2017 to July of this year.
The town has hired WBCP Inc. for the recruitment of a new town manager, which will work closely with town staff and council. The community will have the opportunity for input on ideal qualities of the next manager via a survey (available in both English and Spanish) until July 11. A virtual workshop also took place on July 8.
English survey: surveymonkey.com/r/K85MS6V
Spanish survey: surveymonkey.com/r/KB7PW6W
~ AH
Interim to Permanent General Manager
Incline Village
The Board of Trustees of the Incline Village General Improvement District unanimously voted to appoint Indra Winquest as the district’s general manager. Winquest had been serving as interim GM. The appointment was official on July 1.
~ IVGID press release
Interim Public Health Officer Steps In
NEVADA CITY
Nevada County Public Health welcomes Dr. Richard Johnson as interim public health officer. Johnson is an M.D., has a master’s in public health, is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and will be jointly serving as Alpine County’s public health officer while interim public health officer for Nevada County. He will have the continued enhanced support from Dr. Glennah Trochet, who has been serving as Nevada County’s deputy health officer, interim support from Dr. Ken Cutler, who will remain on board to assist with the transition to a new health officer, and will be working alongside Jill Blake, Nevada County public health director.
~ Nevada County press release
Tahoe Donner Elects Two New Board Members
TRUCKEE
The Tahoe Donner Association held its annual members meeting on June 28, during which the newest board members were announced. Taking the seats of Jennifer Jennings and Jeff Connors are Courtney Murrell and Steve Mahoney, each elected to three-year terms. The voter turnout was the association’s highest ever, at 49.6% (in 2019, it was 44.2%). Out of a total of 6,099 votes, Mahoney took 1,921; Murrell had 1,844; and in third place was Rob McCray, with 1,042.
The new positions were announced in advance of the arrival of a new general manager, David Mickaelian, whose expected start date is July 13.
~ AH
