In The News – New, advanced imaging technology available at Incline Village Community Hospital
January 16, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in The Sierra Sun 01/16/24, Submitted
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Incline Village Community Hospital’s patients can now utilize the same level of state-of-the-art CT & X-ray technology available at healthcare leaders like Stanford and UC Davis.
The technology from Siemens is widely considered the best and fastest in the diagnostic imaging world. IVCH’s new 128-slice CT scanner, the SOMATOM X.cite, is powered by intuitive navigation that seamlessly guides technicians in providing the highest level of accuracy, imagery clarity, and patient comfort.
In addition to the new CT scanner, IVCH acquired a ceiling-mounted X-ray system, the YSIO X.pree, that includes a 3D cameral for patient positioning. It is the first radiography system to offer an interface that guides the technician through the exam workflow, improving the patient experience and the efficiency of imaging process.
In The News – Winter Safety for Dogs: Essential Tips for a Happy Dog
January 15, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in Moonshine Ink 12/14/2023, Written by Tiffany Connolly, Photo Credit Moonshine Ink
Nobody celebrates winter’s fresh powder like a dog in Tahoe. Bounding through snowdrifts and ripping through fields of white bring dogs a joy that’s contagious. But beneath all the fun, danger does exist. Safety protocols must be followed in the winter months to keep that smile on your dog’s face and those paws healthy for future snowy romps. If you’re one of the many people that go everywhere with their canine at their heels, consider these winter safety tips from India Vannini, chief medical officer at Donner Truckee Veterinary Hospital.
Avoid the Edge One of the most common winter emergencies for dogs is lacerations from skis and snowboards. As backcountry skiing grows in popularity, backcountry safety must extend to your pup. Train your dog to avoid poles, obstacles, skis, and snowboards. “I always recommend that people make sure they go through all the proper training with their dog,” said Vannini. “Ski edges are just like little saws. It’s like a knife going fast.”
In The News – The Birth of the Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue
January 15, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in Moonshine Ink 12/14/2023, Written by David Fenimore
It was February 29, 1976, and the biggest storm of the season was sweeping the Sierra. That day, 12-year-old Lance Sevison and his buddy Mike Kelly were skiing at Northstar. Sometime in the afternoon, they decided to cross the ski area boundary and look for fresh powder on the backside of Mt. Pluto. Witnesses reported that they had only one pair of skis between them, each boy skiing on a single ski. By the time the lifts shut down for the day, they hadn’t returned.
Doug Read, a close family friend, had taken Lance out on cross-country ski tours and admired the boy’s adventurous spirit. When his telephone rang with the news that the boys were missing, Read and a hastily gathered group of friends threw skis and packs into pickups and fought their way through the whiteout to Northstar. They geared up, hitched a ride to the summit, and set off into the wet and windy darkness.
Those were the days before smartphones, GoreTex, or GPS, when cross-country skis were made of wood with Lignostone edges and three-pin bindings. Nordic skiers used bamboo poles and wore woolen knickers, leather boots, and 60/40 parkas, which tended to soak the wearer in wet snow or rain. They carried no radios, headlamps, or avalanche beacons. None of them had ever organized a search, and few had participated in one.
Originally Published in Moonshine Ink 12/14/2023, Written by Kellee Rich
As the cold weather descends on the Sierra Nevada mountains, locals and visitors alike delight in the drastic scenery changes. Fall mornings blanketed with frost and multi-colored leaves sweeping across pavement reminded us that winter is coming.
As a fourth-generation local to the Tahoe/Truckee area, I’ve seen the winter season go through its ups and downs, from the community coming together to help those less fortunate, to record-breaking snowstorms that shut down roads and commerce. Because of this, I’ve compiled a Tahoe Winter Survival Guide for anyone spending time in our sublime landscape this season. My intention is to offer you some practical tools and good practices to ensure you celebrate in style, stay safe, and respect the area.
GEAR Stay Geared Up and Shop Local Layers are key. So are warm jackets and good boots. Temperatures in the Tahoe Basin can range from 30 to 50 degrees in a single day, becoming warmer during the day and dropping to below freezing conditions in the evenings. Crampons, ice cleats, or snow grips? Not a bad idea if you need some extra support and traction on icy roads and sidewalks. Shop small at local businesses in downtown Truckee, Tahoe City, Kings Beach, and Incline Village. Find great deals at second hand shops like Mountain Kids/Echo Blue in Truckee or NUTS in Tahoe City. Pick up any needed gear and snow tools at employee-owned Ace Hardware.
In The News – Ride Like a Local: A Newbies Guide to Skiing and Snowboarding
January 13, 2024 | Miranda Jacobson
Originally Published in Tahoe Daily Tribune 01/13/2024, Written by Miranda Jacobson – Tahoe Magazine
It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting Lake Tahoe for a weekend or if you’ve lived in the basin for years; the question is always the same: “Do you ride?”
It’s a common one to be asked, and more times than not, most people just have the same enthusiastic answer: “Yes!” Which is to be followed by the differentiation of whether or not one skis, snowboards, or even ski bikes. The answer could even include how many come out to Lake Tahoe just to experience the one-in-a-lifetime pow and witness the breathtaking views.
But riding the slopes of Lake Tahoe can be expensive, and for someone who doesn’t know how or where to start, the feat could be daunting. Do you rent gear your first time and pay for lessons, or do you have a friend that can lend you some gear and a lesson or two? Where do you go to buy gear? What resort should you start at? Is it worth it to buy a pricey pass?
The Knitters Guild of Incline Village Celebrates 21 Years
January 13, 2024 | Kayla Anderson
Originally Published in IVCBA’s Live.Work.Play Magazine, Written by Kayla Anderson
A few weeks before United For Action’s annual Winter Warmth & Wellness Drive, members of The Knitters Guild of Incline Village meet at the St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church to knit together and create warm winter wear to donate back to the community.
These fiber artists informally gather every Wednesday at the church from 1pm-3pm all year long to knit and crochet together, creating scarves, shawls, blankets, beanies, and more. As the weather cools off thus ramping up a need for warm clothing, these members are using this midweek cold sunny afternoon to make progress on their projects.
Former Incline Village resident Peggy Harrison started The Guild back in 2002, meeting up with her friends at the church to knit together and share patterns. Word got around and more local knitters started attending the informal Wednesday meetings, taking yarn from the closet, and turning it into wearable/useable items that then are given to the Tahoe Forest Hospital, Sierra Senior Services, the Eddy House in Reno, and more.
Knitters Guild members are welcome to pull yarn from the closet that was generously donated by local thrift stores and residents if it is used to make something that can go back into the community.
It’s free to join the Knitters Guild, and knitters of all abilities are welcome to join a meeting. If you come up short on yarn, you can usually find more of it in The Guild’s stash. The Guild meets every Wednesday all year long from 1pm-3pm; some people are more active in the summer, others in the winter. There are some members who can’t attend meetings in person but still donate handcrafted items to meet a specific cause or need.
At the end of the two-hour knitting session, a member holds up a beautifully eyelet crocheted blue and cream blanket. It looks cozy, perfect to curl up with in front of the fire… made with love right here in Incline Village.
Submitted by Tia Rancourt with North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District
With the recent snowfall and more on the way, it is a good reminder to be aware of avalanche potential and educate yourself on pre-emptive steps to take before going outside to recreate.
In our community, we have two historical avalanche zones, one in Third Creek drainage (terrain above upper Jennifer St., Sutro, Bidwell, Lunar, and Mercury Courts) and one in Crystal Bay (terrain above Lakeview Ave., Tuscarora Rd., and Teresa Court). But avalanches can occur anywhere when the right conditions exist.
When avalanche conditions warrant an alert notification, residents can expect a notification from Washoe County Emergency Management via a reverse telephone notification called Code Red. To receive these notifications (and other alert notifications), register at Washoe County Alerts & Warnings.
You have learned to recognize the five red flags of avalanche.
At the very least, take an avalanche awareness course. Seriously consider taking an avalanche rescue course. Local education providers can be found here.
Remember, the best tip is to “Know Before You Go,” the avalanche danger rating is only a starting point. You control your own risk by choosing where, when, and how you travel.
Contact: Tia Rancourt Public Education/Information Officer North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District
In The News – That’s not snow: Thousands of styrofoam beads wash up on Incline Village beaches
January 9, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in The Tahoe Daily Tribune 01/09/2023, Written by Katelyn Welsh
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Community members are throwing pasta strainers, kitty litter scoops, buckets, tarps, leaf blowers, and shop vacuums at cleaning up potentially hundreds of thousands of styrofoam beads that washed ashore Incline and Ski Beach on Sunday. To the unknowing onlooker, the beads look like snow that has settled into drifts around the beach.
The source of the nearly Dippin’ Dot sized beads—a floating dock— was discovered Sunday afternoon. The dock likely broke open during the storm, scattering an unknown amount of plastic styrofoam beads into the lake.
The Incline Village Improvement District removed the damaged dock Monday morning and volunteers have been working since to clean up its remnant pellets.
Colin West of Clean Up the Lake says the storm’s large waves threw the beads high onto the shore, keeping them 10 to 20 feet from the water level.
Whiskey, unless we put it on our bunions, is not good for us, yet great numbers of folks will be sipping it on Super Sunday in Las Vegas, as the word “book” morphs into a powerful verb. Super Bowls bring us together. I remember our son’s first words. We were watching the Super Bowl together at home when he witnessed his first field goal, stuck his little finger into the air, and shouted, “It’s GOOD!”
Personally, I concoct my own Clemens Cointreau for Super Sunday, and I shall share my secret here with my good friend, the gentle reader. You suspend, and hermetically seal a naval orange in a bell jar, to hover above a couple liters of brandy and a cup of sugar for 30 days, during which time that orange drips flavor down into the brandy, and on Super Sunday, Voila! You’ve got Clemens Cointreau for the angels. But you don’t want to eat the orange, or you could find yourself conversing with your grandfather, who has been deceased for a decade. All you need now is a St. Bernard to deliver your Super Sunday Clemens Cointreau to the neighbors in a small barrel strapped to his neck, along with a nice note.
As a fan of the Chicago White Stockings, Mark Twain would never get to see a Super Bowl, but if he had, we know what he might have chosen to compliment the contest. He wrote to his wife, Livy, from London in 1874, that he would like to have waiting upon his arrival back home, “…a bottle of Scotch whiskey, a lemon, some crushed sugar, and a bottle of angostura bitters. Ever since I have been in London I have taken a wine glass cocktail made with those ingredients before breakfast, before dinner, and just before going to bed.”
Today we call that a “Mark Twain Cocktail” and we can find it at the Fox in Carson City on any delightful day. To cleanse the pallet, I highly recommend the “Langhorne Lager” on tap for our pleasure. (Langhorne being Sam Clemens’s middle name.) So that being said, what would Mark Twain have to say?
“As for drinking, I have no rules as for drinking, when others are drinking, I like to help. I have found that a tumbler full of whiskey in the early evening is a preventive of toothache. I’ve never had the toothache, and what is more, I don’t intend to have one.”
Finally, as is our custom, we allow Mr. Twain the last word…
“How solemn and beautiful is the thought that the earliest pioneer of civilization is never the steamboat, never the railroad, never the newspaper, never the missionary, but always whiskey! All hands turn to and build a church and a jail, and behold, civilization is established forever in the land.”
Please join us next week for “What Would Mark Twain Say?” It’s free, and worth it!
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino Debuts Winter Wellness Program with Elemental Immersion
January 9, 2024 | Member Submitted
Immersive Wellness Events Feature Cold Plunge in Lake Tahoe, Sound Healing, and More
Incline Village, Nevada (November 25, 2023) – Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, a spacious resort nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of North Lake Tahoe, debuts a winter wellness program for guests and local residents. The resort will host multiple Elemental Immersion events throughout the season providing a full-day of focused, intentional wellbeing experiences led by area professionals.
“We are thrilled to bring back our popular Elemental Immersion experience this winter at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe,” said Julie Orblych, director of spa and wellness at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino. “The events are curated to provide a customized wellness journey for each individual participant in a small and welcoming group setting. The itinerary has been carefully-curated to provide a full-day of thoughtful and intentional wellness sessions from some of the area’s best professionals and is designed to encourage relaxation, balance, and both physical and spiritual wellbeing.”
The first Elemental Immersion of the winter season will take place on Saturday, December 9 with check-in at 9:30 a.m. The morning session will commence with a wellness session led by Brooke Haley, a RYT yoga teacher and reiki master. Haley will walk participants through a breath work class where they will practice Wim Hof breathing techniques. Guests will then take part in an intention-guided cold plunge in the naturally-chilled waters of Lake Tahoe, followed by a chef-prepared meal at Lone Eagle Grille curated to reflect wellbeing focus.
The Elemental Immersion will continue in the afternoon with a sound healing session led by Gyongyver Rindour, who is certified by the International Academy of Sound Healing. Participants will be surrounded by the sounds of water, wind, flutes, gongs, and Tibetan Bowls to provide vibrational acoustics designed to help cleanse and clear out overactivity of the mind, and encourage a sense of presence and balance.
The event will conclude with a “letting go” fire ceremony where attendees will write down things that may be holding them back in their wellness journey which they have the option to share with the group. They will the throw piece of paper into the resort’s pool-side fire pit as a symbolic gesture.
Throughout the day, participants of the Elemental Immersion will have access to the resort’s spa facilities and amenities including a spacious heated outdoor pool, oversized whirlpools, and spa relaxation areas, and more.
In addition to the winter kick-off event on December 9, the resort will host Elemental Immersion experiences on January 20, February 10, and March 9. Registration for the events is required and can be made by calling (775) 886-6745.
For more information or to book a stay at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, please visit HyattRegencyLakeTahoe.com, or call (775) 832-1234.
About Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino
Ideally situated on the pristine shores of North Lake Tahoe, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, a AAA Four Diamond Award winning resort, offers majestic lake and mountain views from its 422 guestrooms, including 32 suites and 24 lakeside cottages. The resort’s design evokes modern alpine luxury with exposed wood beams, rich leathers, and granite features throughout the property. Premium amenities include 500 feet of private beach featuring a 275-foot floating pier, a year-round heated lagoon-style pool and two hot tubs, a 25,000 square foot Grand Lodge Casino, and 50,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor flexible meeting and event space including the picturesque Lakeside Ballroom, Tahoe’s premier lakeside ballroom just steps away from the beach. Additional amenities include a 20,000 square-foot Stillwater Spa with 16 treatment rooms, multiple restaurants and bars, pet-friendly accommodations, a fully-equipped Hyatt StayFit gym, and an on-site Adventure program which provides guided activities led by the resort’s team of adventure specialists. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino has received numerous awards and recognitions including Travel + Leisure’s 500 Best Hotels in the World, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, Smart Meetings Smart Stars Awards, U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotel Awards, and more.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino is located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, at 111 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, NV, 89451. For more information, visit HyattRegencyLakeTahoe.com or follow the resort on Facebook or Instagram.
About Hyatt Regency
The Hyatt Regency brand prides itself on connecting travelers to who and what matters most to them. More than 175 conveniently located Hyatt Regency urban and resort locations in over 30 countries around the world serve as the go-to gathering space for every occasion – from efficient business meetings to memorable family vacations. The brand offers a one-stop experience that puts everything guests need right at their fingertips. Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts offer a full range of services and amenities, including the space to work, engage or relax; notable culinary experiences; technology-enabled ways to collaborate; and expert event planners who can take care of every detail. For more information, please visit hyattregency.com. Follow @HyattRegency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and tag photos with #AtHyattRegency.
