Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 09/20/24, Written by Zoe Meyer

LAKE TAHOE – As winter approaches, forecasters are weighing in on what Tahoe residents can expect for the upcoming season. Predictions from the Old Farmer’s Almanac and the Farmer’s Almanac suggest a milder winter, but Bryan Allegretto from Open Snow offers a more cautious perspective, particularly for the Tahoe region.

Carol Connare, editor of the Old Farmer’s Almanac, forecasts a “calmer, gentler winter” for 2024-2025. “Temperatures are expected to be higher and snowfall lower throughout much of the United States,” Connare said. “While there will still be winter chill and plenty of powder to enjoy, the overall impact on costs and daily life should be less severe. This winter is anticipated to be relatively uneventful compared to the extremes of recent years.”

Associate editor Tim Goodwin added that the almanac’s predictions are grounded in extensive historical data. “Our forecasts are based on weather patterns observed over the last 30 years,” Goodwin said. “For the Pacific Southwest region, which includes Tahoe, we’re expecting a warmer and wetter winter with above-average precipitation from November to March. While temperatures will be warmer, we anticipate more precipitation, translating to more snow at higher elevations.”

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Being the curious sort, I went in search of words that might have started wars over the centuries, and was startled to discover how inoffensive some of them actually were…

The very first war was more of a domestic dispute between Adam & Eve that started with Eve’s surprising disclosure, “Wow, what a hairy back!” 

To wit, Adam responded, “Yeah? Well, you spell CAT with a K!” That exchange escalated until a snake arrived to distract their attentions and put an end to their dispute…

History’s first recorded real war, where people actually died, took place 2,700 year before Christ, between the Sumarians and the Elamites. That war started with a simple shout on April First, “Hey! Nude Volleyball! HA-HA! Made you look!”

The weapons used during that first recorded war were of such inferior quality that most had to rely on headbutting to exact any damage. Grabbing an opponent by the beard and slapping him silly was also a popular salutation. One Sumarian was known to be in possession of such a deadly headlock that many Elamites elected to climb a tree and jump to their deaths, rather than let Egor get a hold of them in a headlock…

The Battle of Megiddo was next, fought a week later, when Egyptian forces under the command of Pharaoh Thutmose III attacked a rebellious coalition of Canaanite vassal states led by the king of Kadesh. As sketchy records indicate, no one died in this conflict, as it was fought entirely with ripe melons that were rotting on the vine. One of Thutmose’s boys spent an entire week carving a petroglyph depicting the King of Kadesh soaked, and dripping cantaloupe juice from every aperture. People came from as far away as Siberia to cast their eyes upon it, and laugh, and make sketches of it to show back home.

The shortest war in recorded history is said to be the Anglo-Zanzibar War, when Khālid is said to have shouted to an officer of the British Royal Navy, “Your mother wears combat boots!” Mr. Khalid was set upon by the entire Royal Navy and was keelhauled seven minutes later.

For those too young to know what keelhauling is, well, they tied Khalid’s hands and feet,

then dragged him from one side of a Royal Navy vessel to the other, not on top of the vessel, but underneath it, causing Khalid to consume barrels of water and expire after pleading, “Can I have just one little cookie?!”

Well, I could go on, because there were 7,463 wars in that millennium alone, and as the efficiency of weaponry improved, casualties in each ensuing war escalated to the mortifying position we find ourselves in today, where a World War III. would leave only cockroaches and a possible return of Beach Blanket Babylon left on the face of the planet Earth.

People tell me I’m a good historian where facts are not essential, and that’s all I have for today, thanks for listening…

Audio: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Fhv4PrH1UuwlhbnTT23zO

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 09/18/2024, Submitted

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – The youth development nonprofit, SOS Outreach, is recruiting volunteer mentors for its outdoor-based mentorship program from October to April. Mentors will engage with a small group of kids and teenagers through skiing/snowboarding, skill-building workshops, and community service. No prior mentorship experience is required, as the program includes approximately 10 hours of training throughout the season. 

SOS Outreach uses a progressive curriculum to instill core values, build character, develop life skills, and foster a sense of belonging. Mentors play a vital role in delivering the curriculum both on and off the mountain, serving as positive role models to help guide young people through life’s challenges.

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Photo Credit: SOS Outreach: https://sosoutreach.org/mentor/

Developed by Regional Fire, Law, and Emergency Personnel – Submitted by Tia Rancourt NLTFPD

(Lake Tahoe, CA and NV) – A new Lake Tahoe Regional Evacuation Plan was developed by the cooperative efforts of the Lake Tahoe Fire Chiefs, Lake Tahoe Law Enforcement Agencies, and Emergency Management Personnel following experiences gained during past major wildfires. The Plan is a “living document” intended to provide the public with critical information related to evacuations and will be updated from time to time.

The Plan pulled together a diverse team of experts from two different states and five different counties which all have jurisdictional responsibilities around Lake Tahoe. The efforts resulted in a robust and critically needed Regional Evacuation Plan. 

The plan is currently located at: laketahoeregionalevacuationplan.pdf (ca.gov).  The plan is organized so that the evacuation information in the front of the plan is applicable to ALL parts of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Then there are seven annexes in the back of the plan that allows for more specific information which is only pertinent to the specific areas.

The Plan emphasizes regional cooperation and collaboration in event of a large wildfire that may occur in the future. Local emergency experts recognize that planning for a large wildfire that will require evacuations is a reality for the Tahoe Basin. Fire, Law, and Emergency Management partners are more prepared to manage these events as a result of this new Plan.

The Plan is a “living document” and is open for a sixty-day comment period ending on November 20, 2024. Submit your comments by emailing your agency contact name listed above.

By David Vomund

The 2 ½ year rate-hiking cycle is over.  I’m amazed at how well the stock market did considering that short-term rates went from zero to over five percent.  Now the Fed is expected to cut rates several times.  The interest rate on money market funds is dropping below five percent and could be just under 4 ½ percent by year’s end.

I’ve written several times that investors should buy income vehicles before yields drop.  They have been.  Over the past five months T-bond ETFs are up 14 percent excluding interest payments!  Successful investors anticipate the news instead of waiting for it.  

Acting on forecasts instead of past data is also important for Federal Reserve officials.  The Fed can’t be data dependent based on historical data.  We’ll leave that to the financial media.  Instead, they must be data dependent based on their forecasts.  Currently, inflation is falling faster than what the Fed predicted and unemployment is higher than their forecast.  That’s why most economists expect more rate cuts.  It also makes an argument that the Fed has waited too long to cut.  

Lower rates will push our income vehicles ever higher, but slowly lower money-market fund yields.  A year from now the money-market funds will yield at most 4 percent, which was a level we found attractive when rates were rising, but it won’t feel as good when rates are falling.  Go figure. 

As for the overall market, September has historically been the year’s worst month and it was off to a weak start again amid a spreading belief that the economy is slowing.  Given the nature of today’s risks here and overseas, and our politics, this September could be rougher than usual.  Whatever the case long-term investors in quality stocks with dividend growth will come through just fine.  For example:  

The Vanguard Dividend Growth ETF (VIG) is up 15 percent this year and the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) is up 10 percent.  The Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV), which is heavily weighted towards Financials and Consumer Staples, is up 14 percent year-to-date.  That’s near the return of the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index and with less volatility.

Bottom line:  Prospects for growth next year are still good and together with falling rates will create a favorable market environment helped in part by the impact of AI on businesses and individuals.  A recession or even a slowdown would change that (the election probably won’t).  Just when and by how much remain to be seen.  

David Vomund is an Incline Village-based Independent Investment Advisor.  Information is found at www.VomundInvestments.com or by calling 775-832-8555.  Clients hold the positions mentioned in this article.  Past performance does not guarantee future results.  Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 09/17/2024, Submitted

TAHOE CITY, Calif. – The NV Energy Foundation is making a major investment in the health of Tahoe’s forests with a $250,000 grant to the Tahoe Fund’s Smartest Forest Fund. This significant contribution will help increase the pace and scale of forest restoration efforts and better prepare Lake Tahoe communities for wildfire. 

“In Lake Tahoe, catastrophic wildfire is not just a threat, it’s our reality,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “Thanks to the NV Energy Foundation, we will be able to invest in more game-changing solutions and innovations to reduce excess fuels in our forests and better prepare them to withstand fire.” 

The Smartest Forest Fund was launched in 2019 to use philanthropy to drive innovation through seed funding and de-risk opportunities for the Tahoe Fund’s public agency partners. Already, more than $1 million has been committed to over 25 projects and helped to secure over $27 million in public funding.

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Photo Credit: Tahoe Daily Tribune