Author: Kayla Anderson

My name is Kayla and I live in North Lake Tahoe, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Along with snowboarding, wakeboarding, hiking, paddleboarding, and golfing, I love to read, write, and drink coffee. As a full-time freelance writer, I regularly contribute to The Tahoe Weekly, the Sparks Tribune, and Enjoy magazine. To see samples of my work, view all of my recent articles here. I’ve also written a few eBooks. I'm also excited to announce that I co-authored a book with Stuart Thornton titled Northern California Road Trips out in stores now! It is the perfect companion for a trip around Northern California, spelling out where to go, what to see, and what to do in the state's coastal and inland regions. This comprehensive guide also includes a variety of maps, images, and information about national parks such as Lassen, Crater Lake, Yosemite, and more. I hope you enjoy reading Northern California Road Trips as much as I enjoyed writing it and that you find a place (or a few) that you connect with. I'm currently working on the second edition of this book, set to be released in Summer 2023.
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Natural Grocers

December 30, 2024 | Kayla Anderson

Originally published in IVCBA’s Live.Work.Play Magazine, Written by Kayla Anderson

The new Natural Grocers on 873 Tahoe Boulevard is now open, providing residents and visitors
with another way to get fresh, healthy food.


There are only three other Natural Grocers in the state (one in Reno and two in the Las
Vegas/Henderson area), making this Incline Village location its fourth Nevada store.
“This has been a long time coming, two years in the making,” says Natural Grocers Store
Manager Daniel Wescott. “What sets Natural Grocers apart is that the produce section is 100
percent organic, no exceptions. The produce doesn’t last as long because of that but keeping it
local and organic is important to the owners,” he adds. He believes that having a Natural
Grocers in Incline is a good fit because the demographic of people who live here tend to have
healthy and active lifestyles.


Over in the produce section in front of large aloe vera leaves, Wescott shares that every
weekend the store hosts a “Sample Saturday” event, where people are encouraged to come in
and try new products– or industry favorites that management chooses. “For an hour or so we
pick out what we want to sample, and learning what folks want,” Wescott says. “We can special
order produce and encourage you to speak up if you don’t see something you want; we always
do our best to find it and get it in.”


A big thing for Natural Grocers is that it has its own bulk packaging program, too. There is a
whole refrigerated aisle of bulk flour, snacks, dried fruit, nuts, and more that is labeled non-GMO
or organic, and free of harmful BPA or phthalates in its packaging.


“We have an entire list of ingredients we will not carry and have a rigorous inspection process,”
Wescott says, something Natural Grocers has been doing since 1955.


According to its website, Natural Grocers is highly concerned with the way products “are grown,
produced and processed, what they contain, how they are packaged and what is added to them.
[It] has a fundamental impact on our health and the wellbeing of our communities.”
“I remember hearing a story of a product that was pulled off the shelf because it had an
ingredient that didn’t pass inspection, and it was a bestseller. I think that shows a true
commitment to its mission,” Wescott says.


Standing in the bulk packaging aisle, I ask him what his favorite food is. “I love the sriracha cashews, and these carob energy chews,” he says, pointing to a 12-oz. bag of them was priced at $5.99, and four good-sized chunks are only 150 calories. (After our meeting, I went back and bought a bag… that paired with a can of High Brew Mocha made me feel clean, light, and ready to charge up the Flume Trail).
“Recreation is big here, people are into hiking, biking, skiing…so these kinds of foods are perfect for taking into the outdoors,” Wescott confirms.

Across from the bulk food section, all its meat is displayed and labeled on a bronze, silver, and
gold scale, indicating levels of how poultry, fish, and beef is farmed and raised. Another one of his favorite products are the Mulay’s Italian meatballs. “This is a woman-owned company, and they stand up to their quality. My kids love these, and they have no sugar.”

Going down the aisles, Wescott points out body care products made with clean, high-quality
ingredients (“setting the soap bar high,” it says) and its own line of packaged organic spices. On
the other end of the store, Natural Grocers has more than 7,000 SKU’s in supplements as well
as its own nutritional coach who does one-on-one consulting to help people with their dietary
needs.


“We’re here for the community and have someone here to talk to about your health issues,”
Wescott says.


Natural Grocers has a wide range of products at an affordable price, and you probably won’t
have to spend as much time as you do at other stores scouring labels. “Come in and check us out, ask questions. We really want people to talk to us. Food is an intimate thing, and it’s all individual. We want to provide something for everyone.”

What It’s Like to Work There, “I’ve been in retail half my life,” Wescott says (he’s 36 and got his first job at a store when he was 16). “Natural Grocers is very pro crew…we’re all encouraged to try the things here.”
Employees get instore credit for every hour worked and a straight ten percent discount on anything in the store, on top of all other benefits.

Natural Grocers also has an {N}power Rewards program for regular shoppers to get discounts,
earn rewards, and receive surprise offers.

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In The News – Best Places to Cozy Up By the Fire

December 28, 2024 | Kayla Anderson

Originally Published in the Sierra Sun, 12/27/2024, Written by Kayla Anderson

Tahoe gets cold in the wintertime, and sometimes you just need a place to go to warm up and get some comfort food or at least gather around a fire with your friends and a tasty beverage. Here are a few of the best restaurants and bars with fireplaces in the Tahoe basin that are open to everyone: 

Himmel Haus, 3819 Saddle Rd., South Lake Tahoe

Across from the California Lodge at Heavenly Mountain Resort, the Himmel Haus is the perfect place to go when the lifts close for the day, you want to warm up, and you are in search of some great German Bavarian food. 

READ MORE >

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In The News – Incline celebrates the 3rd annual Robot Parade

December 26, 2024 | Kayla Anderson

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 12/26/2024, Written by Kayla Anderson

Parents, teachers, students, and members of the Incline Village community filed into the Incline Elementary School gymnasium last Thursday, December 19th, to cheer on the kids taking part in the third annual Robot Parade.

The parade route wrapped around the gym like a track as classes donning holiday sweaters and headbands (related to their robot theme) sat eagerly at the start, ready to show off their robot “floats” to their loved ones in the hour-long ceremony.

The idea of the Robot Parade came from IES teacher Trina Kleinhenz who teaches a STEM-style curriculum out of a room called the Makerspace. Her lessons involve project-based learning, teambuilding, and hands-on self-directed activities. This includes teaching computer science and coding to grades as early as kindergarten up to the 5th grade robotics club.

READ MORE >

Photo credit Tahoe Daily Tribune / Kayla Anderson

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‘Tis the Season – Guide to Incline Village Churches

December 10, 2024 | Kayla Anderson

By: Kayla Anderson – Originally published in IVCBA’s Live.Work.Play Magazine

For many people, the holiday season means a time when we celebrate cultural traditions; reflect and set goals for the following year; tune into our religious beliefs; and help our fellow neighbors. Here are how two East Shore churches do all these things and bring support to the Incline Village community during the holidays and beyond:  

The Village Church, 736 McCourry Blvd., Incline Village 

As a member of ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, The Village Church runs a Christian preschool and a K-5 academy for families with kids ages 6 weeks to 5th grade; operates a thrift store at the corner of Mays and Southwood in Incline Village (with very friendly staff); and keeps a food box ministry available all year long with bankers boxes full of non-perishable food. 

Some of its year-round support groups include a ministry to those who are grieving called Griefshare that meets Mondays at 5pm for 13 weeks a few times a year as well as Alcoholics Anonymous on Thursdays at 7pm. The Village Church also keeps a Care Chest, providing medical supplies and durable medical equipment like wheelchairs and walkers to the community and supports the Sierra Community House as well as Sierra Senior Services. 

“During the holiday season we participate in the Winter, Warmth, and Wellness program, and continue to offer all our programs,” says Pastor Jeffrey Ogden. 

https://www.thevillagechurchnv.org/ , Sunday Services at 8am and 10am 

Cornerstone Community Church, 300 Country Club Dr., Incline Village

The non-denominational Christian church found on the corner of Highway 28 and Country Club Boulevard hosts a variety of groups for all ages. It has a midweek kids afterschool program every Wednesday from 3:15-4:30pm, weekly men’s & women’s Bible study groups, and a group for moms of school-aged kids called Mama Bears (which meets from 10am-12pm and includes childcare).

It hosts a youth program every Sunday evening from 5:30-7:30pm for middle and high schoolers as well as its Sunday Worship Services every Sunday at 10am. As far as serving the community, Cornerstone works alongside and financially supports other nonprofits like Young Life, Foster the City, Real Choices Women’s Center, Reno/Sparks Gospel Mission, Awaken, Serve With These Hands, and Springs of Redemption Rehab Ranch.

Cornerstone keeps a benevolence ministry that helps people in need and it loves to support community activities like IVGID’s Trail of Treats [and Terror] and the Local Heroes 4th of July Celebration, putting on a special Veterans Recognition social prior to the Flag Retirement Ceremony in that same period. 

As far as during the winter months, Cornerstone Senior Pastor Brandon McCaughey says, “Our church loves to support those in need during the holidays. Every Christmas season we identify those in our community who have had major difficulties (major illnesses, accidents, or significant hardships) and collect funds for the month of December, including at our Christmas Eve services, in order to bless them and help with whatever they have gone through this year. We have a prayer team that faithfully prays for those in our church and in our community and we also offer Biblical counseling for those in need of spiritual direction and wisdom.”

Cornerstone also hosts several events for families this Christmas season. A Night in Bethlehem is an interactive family Christmas event that will transport participants back to Bethlehem. On Friday, December 13th from 5:30-7:30pm, families will get to make take home projects from their carpentry booth, metal shop, painters square, and pottery shop. They will learn about the Christmas Story with a live interactive reading and get to taste foods from biblical times. 

The church will also be hosting special Christmas Eve services at 4pm and 6pm on December 24th. Cornerstone will sing Christmas carols, hear a message of hope from the Bible, and close each service by lighting candles and singing worship to the Lord Jesus. All are welcome, but space is limited, so it’s best to go early. Overflow parking is available at the UNR Lake Tahoe campus kitty corner to the church. 

https://www.cornerstonecommunity.net/ , Sunday Services at 10am and 5pm (beginning December 1)

Saint Francis Of Assisi Catholic Church, 701 Mount Rose Hwy, Incline Village, 

St. Francis Catholic Church in Incline Village was founded in 1965 with the original church built by parishioners. As of last school year, St. Clare’s Mountain Montessori Catholic School at St. Francis had 48 students, teaching preschool through high schoolers. 

St. Francis supports the community in many ways–everything from offering its space for public concerts (such as Handel’s “Messiah” in December) to hosting Incline High School’s “We the People” program.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society also now has a chapter at St. Francis Church. It helps the broader community (without regard to race, sex, religion, etc.) in three ways: 1) Home visitation- Meeting with neighbors in need, Vincentians make holistic assessments of needs (physical and spiritual) and help directly (using funds donated by parishioners and members) with costs of rent, groceries, utilities, health care, transportation, etc.), or by referral to local agencies with the resources to address issues that the conference cannot; 2) Members of St. Vincent de Paul deliver bakery goods, deli foods, and vegetables to various locations in the North Shore year-round to those in need on a weekly basis; 3) St. Vincent de Paul sponsors special food distributions of meat, dairy, vegetables, and staples in partnership with Catholic Charities and from the conference’s own funds, in connection with the Winter Warmth and Wellness program in October and Toys for Tots in December. 

In addition to the work of the St. Vincent de Paul group, St. Francis Church invites everyone in the community as well as visitors to any of these events and regular weekend Masses:

https://sftahoe.org/, Mass Schedule: Saturday: 5:00pm (English); Sunday: 9:00am (English), 11:30am (Bilingual), 5:00pm (Spanish); Daily Mass: Tuesday – Friday at noon

Sundays from 12:30pm – 2:00pm: Youth Group Meeting; Thursday, Dec. 9 & 16, 4:30pm-6:00pm: Holiday Grief Support Group; Thursday, Dec. 16, 6:00pm-8:00pm: Twenty-Somethings Group; Sunday, November 17, time TBD: “Becoming Catholic” meetings begin; Thursday, Dec. 19, 10:00am, St. Clare’s Christmas Pageant: St Clare’s Tahoe – Christmas Program; Friday, Dec. 20, 6:30pm-8:30pm, Tahoe Philharmonic’s Classical Orchestra and Chorus presents Handel’s “Messiah”; Tuesday, December 24, 2024, 3:00pm- 4:00pm: Children’s Christmas Mass; Tuesday, December 24, 2024, 10:00pm- 11:00pm: Christmas Eve – Vigil Mass;  Wednesday, December 25, 2024, 9:00pm – 10:00pm: Christmas Day Mass (English);  Wednesday, December 25, 2024, 11:00am-noon: Christmas Day Mass (Bilingual).

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 341 Village Blvd., Incline Village

St. Patrick’s hosts a number of community groups on its campus weekly, including the: Sierra Community House’s food distribution program, the Knitter’s Guild, the North Tahoe Community Choir, Cafe Conversacion (for English language learners), Alcoholics Anonymous, Girl Scouts, Military Officers of America, and more. It also takes up collections for local, national, and international relief organizations. In the fall, it collected in-kind donations for the Winter Warmth and Wellness event as well as financial donations for the Community Thanksgiving Celebration 2024 and hurricane relief efforts on the East Coast.

St. Patrick’s Christmas services will be on December 24th which includes a family-friendly pageant service at 5pm and a candlelight service at 9pm. Each year around Christmas it sends out a list of local organizations to its congregation with information about them, encouraging parishioners to donate to the organization with which they most resonate.

https://www.tahoeepiscopal.org/, Sunday Services at 10am

North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation, 700 Latone Ave., Tahoe Vista

The Tahoe Jewish Community, a partnership of North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation and Temple Bat Yam, supports the Jewish residents, visitors, and supporters of Jewish life in the Tahoe Basin and the Northern Sierra. Through North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation (NTHC), it hosts various groups of co-creators of community from a religious school to a B’nai Brith Youth Organization Tahoe Chapter and book club. Additionally, it holds ritual gatherings to mark Shabbat and holidays to enjoy meals together, connect, and support each other through life’s journey. In the coming months, it will be launching a Women’s Mussar (Jewish Soul Traits) Circle and parenting conversations to support parents in navigating the rise in antisemitism. 

The “holidays” is a bit different for a Jewish community as the bulk of American society considers the winter season as “the holidays”.  While Hannukah falls around this time, it is considered a minor holiday for NTHC. It strives to support the wider community by taking part in winter clothing drives, a food drive in advance of Thanksgiving, and volunteering through United for Action to be a source of advocacy to strengthen the community. https://www.tahoetemple.org

Here are other worship services available in Incline Village/Crystal Bay; visit their websites for more information: 

New Life Church, 918 Northwood Blvd., Incline Village, https://www.newlifeincline.org/, Sunday Services at 10am. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, December 24, 2024 5:30pm

Open Door Foursquare Church, 754 Mays Blvd. Building 6 Stes. 12 & 7, Incline Village, https://inclinevidanueva.org/, Sunday Services at 10am, bilingual

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Top 10 Halloween Happenings in Incline Village & Crystal Bay

October 22, 2024 | Kayla Anderson

Originally Written for IVCBA by Kayla Anderson, UPDATED FOR 2024

Cute costumes, candy, pup parades, Nevada Day, haunted houses, parties, and more are on the docket for this year’s Halloween in Incline Village/Crystal Bay. Here are the events to watch out for:

  1. OCT. 24: TRAIL OF TREATS & TERROR AT VILLAGE GREEN

IVGID (Incline Village General Improvement District) is again hosting the fun Trail of Treats and Terror for the littles leading up to the big day. Music will be available as well as food, drink, and merchandise to purchase from 3:30pm-5:30pm. Reserve your spot online at yourtahoeplace.com and be sure to bring proof of your Incline Village/Crystal Bay residency. 

  1. OCT. 31: TREAT STREET AT THE COUNTRY CLUB CENTER

Take the kids trick or treating in the safe and well-lit areas within the Country Club Center from 4pm-6pm before heading over to Mill Creek. FUMO, Cool Mess, Austin’s, Incline Spirits, Mountain High Sandwich, and other businesses will have candy. 

  1. OCT. 26: CREEPERS BALL AT THE CRYSTAL BAY CLUB WITH MUSTACHE HARBOR

For over a decade, MUSTACHE HARBOR has been thrilling audiences across the country with their spot-on renditions of the smoothest music from the 1970’s and 80’s, all performed with the highest level of musicianship and state-of-the-art sound and lighting. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, DOORS AT 7PM – This is a 21 and older show.

  1. OCT. 25: SPOOKY HARBOR – KIDS SCARY MOVIE

Join Sand Harbor State Park for Halloween movies and Trick or Treat Fun! Movies start at 7:00 pm at the Sand Harbor Stage. The event is free, but park entry fees apply.The October 25 showing of Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! will also include a Kids Fall Festival with games, pumpkin decorating, face painting, etc.  Get more information.

  1. OCT. 31: SPOOKY HARBOR – SCARY MOVIE

Join Sand Harbor State Park for Halloween movies and Trick or Treat Fun! Movies start at 7:00 pm at the Sand Harbor Stage. The event is free, but park entry fees apply. Visitors should come prepared with blankets or chairs, a flashlight, and warm clothing. Sand Harbor will not be offering concessions and does not have lighting after dark. This showing is Rated R.

  1. OCT. 26: SPOOKTACULAR DOG RESCUE HALLOWEEN FUNDRAISER

Get ready for a howling good time at our Halloween Fundraiser, benefiting our beloved dog rescue! This year, we’re pulling out all the stops to ensure a fun-filled day for you and your furry friends. Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 26th, from 11 AM to 3 PM at the charming Tunnel Creek Cafe, located at 1115 Tunnel Creek Road. LIVE MUSIC, SILENT AUCTION, FOOD, COSTUME CONTEST AND MORE…

  1. OCT. 31: HYATT HAUNTED CARNIVAL COMMUNITY EVENT

The Haunted Carnival will take place on Thursday, October 31 between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the resort’s Regency Ballroom. Entry is a $10 donation which will include five carnival tickets that can be used on games and activities, and additional tickets will be available for purchase for $1 each. Validation will be provided for the resort’s self-parking lot. The Haunted Carnival will feature a costume contest with several prizes. Families can also test their skills with several traditional carnival games including ring toss, duck pond, and a bean bag toss with prizes for winners, as well as several activities such as face painting, crafts, a photo booth, and a bouncy house. Hyatt Haunted house is later in the evening for Teens and Adults.

  1. OCT. 25: NLT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB HARVEST FEST IN KINGS BEACH

From 5-8 pm, families can dress up and enjoy food, monster trucks, a glow room, a haunted house, carnival games, face painting, and more to celebrate Halloween. Admission is free, there is a small fee for Haunted House, and the memories are priceless at the Clubhouse on 8125 Steelhead Avenue in Kings Beach.   

  1. OCT. 28: INCLINE VILLAGE LIBRARY – TEEN TUESDAY HALLOWEEN PARTY

Join fellow teens for some trivia, games, drawing challenges and snacks at our Halloween themed party. Join the fun at the Incline Village Library, 845 Alder Ave, after school from 4-5 pm.

  1. OCT. 28: NEVADA DAY PARADE, CARSON CITY

Lucky for us, Nevadans get an extra holiday right around Halloween to celebrate the founding of the Silver State (it was deemed the 36th state admitted into the Union on October 31, 1864). Head down to Carson City on the Saturday beforehand for a day full of festivities, including the famous Nevada Day Parade downtown that travels in front of the capitol building. 

Whatever you do, be safe, brush your teeth after eating all that candy, and take the TART Connect if you’ve had too much fun and need a safe way to get home. Happy Halloween!🎃

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In The News – Making Shakespeare in Tahoe accessible to everyone

August 12, 2024 | Kayla Anderson

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 08/12/2024, Written by Kayla Anderson

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – On the evening of August 6, Aistë “Ice” Masters and her 13-year-old son Timmy were sitting in the front row of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival (LTSF) The Merry Wives of Windsor show laughing hysterically. This was a special night for them considering sign-language interpreters Jo Dunlap and Shawna Hafen were there, allowing them both to get the full Shakespearian theater experience.

Although the Masters’s have lived in Stateline for 18 years, this was the first time that they attended an LTSF performance. Timmy was born profoundly deaf in both ears, suffering from bilateral hearing loss. He wears a cochlear device which maybe gives him 50% hearing, but the sounds are different. It takes a lot of effort to depend on it for hearing and the devices can fail, so deaf people tend to primarily use sign language as it’s a more reliable source of communication. Ice herself took six levels of American Sign Language (ASL) at Lake Tahoe Community College when he was born and used it to communicate with him as a baby and toddler.

READ MORE>

Photo: Interpreters Jo Dunlap and Shawna Hafen. Provided / Angie Reagan

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Gambler’s Run Comes Back to the Crystal Bay Club This Summer

July 23, 2024 | Kayla Anderson

Originally published in LIVE.WORK.PLAY Summer edition, Written by Kayla Anderson

The northeast shore’s newest booming summer music festival is back as the multi-day Gambler’s Run returns to the Crystal Bay Club Casino for its second year in a row. 

For a while now, the staff at the Crystal Bay Club have been wanting to create an event where locals and visitors could gather at the Tahoe’s northern state line to enjoy the great music that the casino is known for, along with enjoying delicious food, drinks, and local arts & crafts vendors. 

This is the second year of the Gambler’s Run, which will take place July 26-28, 2024, on Crystal Bay Club grounds.

Last year the CBC hosted 26 bands over three days, but this year the Gambler’s Run has been condensed down to include bigger names that will be playing longer sets. In its inaugural 2023 year, local-ish bands such as Six Mile Station and Hot Buttered Rum played while this summer California native favorites Donavon Frankenreiter, Jackie Greene, and The Mother Hips are on the bill. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will also be back, headlining on Friday night with special guest Karl Denson and playing the afterparty on Saturday night. 

Crystal Bay Club will have the same general setup as it did last year for the Gambler’s Run, with two stages outdoor and indoor with live music going 2pm-midnight for all three days. The casino also added a kickoff party this year with Grammy nominee Samantha Fish for Thursday night (July 25th).

“It’s a diverse group of musicians including funk, jam, bluegrass, americana,” says CBC General Manager Eric Roe. A lot of these bands have played at the Crown Room over the years as well.

When asked why musicians like playing at the CBC, Roe replies, “Our acoustics are amazing in the Crown Room. We have a rich music history and good energy here in the North Shore. We have a lot of passionate music lovers here.”

Along with a variety of food trucks and local artisan vendors that had already signed up by early May, Roe adds that they’re “collaborating with some big heavy hitter nonprofits” on the sustainability front this year, too. The Tahoe Fund, League to Save Lake Tahoe, Sierra Nevada Alliance, and Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) are just a few organizations that will be giving educational talks between band sets. This year’s festival will be implementing sustainable practices and to be as waste-free as possible. “Zero waste, zero plastic” is what they’re shooting for, Roe reiterates. 

Although there is no camping available at the Crystal Bay Club, the CBC has partnered with Incline Lodge to offer Gambler’s Run room packages. 

“The majority of festivals offer camping so finding lodging partners was a big goal for us this year,” he says. When asked what his favorite part of the festival was last year, Roe replies, “The overall vibe out there was just incredible. And it looks like it will be well-attended this year. 

“We’ve been collaborating with musicians [throughout the year] to give the people what they want. We want to make the Gambler’s Run about them [the audience], for them,” Roe says.

“It has been a goal of mine to get outdoor national acts on the North Shore for years now, so to finally see that come to fruition was incredible,” he adds.

2024 Gambler’s Run tickets are capped at a thousand people per day and as of early June, there were still a few 3-day passes available for purchase. “But I would get them sooner than later,” says Roe. 

For more information about this year’s Gambler’s Run, visit https://www.crystalbaycasino.com/gamblers-run-music-festival/. 

Sidebar: Other Notable North Lake Tahoe Concert Series Happening This Summer

Live Music at Incline Beach, Incline Village: The Incline Spirits Barefoot Bar at Incline Beach hosts live music on Wednesdays and Fridays from 4pm-7pm. Must have a valid IVGID Picture Pass card to enter. https://inclinespirits.com/barefoot-bar/ 

Music on the Beach, Kings Beach: This free summer concert series hosted by the North Tahoe Business Association takes place on Fridays from 6pm-8:30pm. https://northtahoebusiness.org/music-on-the-beach/

Concerts at Commons Beach, Tahoe City: This is a free concert series hosted by the Tahoe City Downtown Association and Tahoe City PUD that takes place on Sundays from 4pm-7pm. https://concertsatcommonsbeach.com/ 

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In The News – Incline Elementary Kindergartners learn about nature through Wild Sierra Nevada

June 7, 2024 | Kayla Anderson

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 06/06/2024, Written by Kayla Anderson

On a beautiful Friday afternoon in Incline Village, a bunch of wriggling and happy yet well-behaved kindergartners file into Ms. Trina Kleinhenz’s Makerspace at Incline Elementary School.

That day’s class was joined by two special guests, author Joanna Howes and illustrator Alex Bailey of Wild Sierra Nevada: A Family Nature Guide. When the students sat attentively and settled into the class, Howes and Bailey introduced themselves.

“I always loved to draw and paint, did that throughout my life, and went to school to become a scientist. And now I draw and do art for my job,” Ms. Alex Bailey tells the kids…

READ MORE >

Photo Credit – Kayla Anderson (Tahoe Daily Tribune)

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Beautifying Efforts and Events Underway for Incline Village

May 28, 2024 | Kayla Anderson

IV Main Street Beautification Campaign Kicks Off, Incline Green Clean is Coming Up, and More

Local businesses and entities in Incline Village/Crystal Bay recently started collaborating on ways to make Incline Village/Crystal Bay look nicer, welcoming, and more accessible to visitors and residents alike. Here are some upcoming sustainable, green initiative events to take part in as we usher in summer at the lake:

Incline Village Main Street Beautification Campaign

Businesses have been complaining about the lack of having a “main street” in Incline Village for a long time, therefore the IVCBA has partnered with the Incline Tahoe Foundation (as well as Main Street America and Nevada Main Street) to launch the Incline Village Main Street Beautification Campaign. According to the Incline Tahoe Foundation, the purpose of the campaign is to facilitate and support transformational strategies for economic revitalization and commercial core redevelopment of Incline Village. 

Thanks to a one-time reinvestment grant in the amount of $75,000 from Washoe County, the Main Street Beautification Campaign is focused on revitalizing Incline’s commercial core through fresh organization, design, promotion, and economic vitality. Beautification committees are chaired by volunteers, working towards building Incline with a consistent design with elements that are incorporated into the landscaping, lighting, signage, and public art. 

Some of the first projects underway to help fulfill this goal include: promoting spring and fall community clean-ups with local organizations; working with local landscapers to create a better-looking commercial area; improving commercial zone signage; reviewing the current landscaping in the Highway 431/Incline Village roundabout; identifying, enhancing, and promoting public art; reviewing and possibly installing new streetlights to increase safety while also considering the effects of light pollution; and more. 

The IVCBA just hired Incline Village Main Street Manager Jonathon Gardner to help facilitate Beautification Campaign efforts. For more information about the IV Main Street Beautification Campaign, feel free to contact Jonathon Gardner directly at jonathon@ivcba.org. To donate to the Incline Village Main Street fund, do so through the Incline Tahoe Foundation at https://www.inclinetahoe.org/incline-village-main-street.html.  

June 1st, 9am-noon: Incline Green Clean Community Clean Up Day

The entire community will be coming together on June 1st to help clean up Incline Village, and the more who participate the merrier. In a coordinated effort between the IVCBA, IVGID Waste Not, Tahoe Blue Crew, Clean Tahoe, Waste Management, the Incline Education Fund, Incline Highlanders, and the Washoe County Library System, the first big community cleanup day of the year– Incline Green Clean– is happening the morning of June 1st. The event kicks off at the Incline Village Library at 845 Alder Avenue at 9am where you can pick up tools, safety vests, trash bags, disposable masks/gloves, and meet fellow clean-up crew members. At 11am, everyone will meet back up at the library as it begins its block party to enjoy food, fun, and more. 

The whole family is encouraged to attend, as this teaches our kids the importance of stewardship and taking care of our town and environment.  For more information, contact Waste Not at (775) 832-1284 or email wastenot@ivgid.org. 

June 1st, 11am-2pm: Incline Village Library Block Party 

Following Incline Green Clean, the Incline Village Library is hosting its second annual block party filled with activities and information booths from local organizations around Incline Village/Crystal Bay. Grab friends and family, play some cornhole, eat a hot dog or two, and don’t forget to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge and claim your free book. 

How to Organize Your Own Community Clean Up Crew

The League to Save Lake Tahoe formed the Tahoe Blue Crew to empower and support anyone taking the initiative to create a litter-free Lake Tahoe, which is why they’ll be at the June 1st Incline Green Clean community cleanup. However, if you can’t make the June 1st event, there are many other ways to get involved. One of them is by forming your own Tahoe Blue Crew. To become a Blue Crew leader, pledge to adopt a litter “hot spot”, clean it at least three times a year with your crew, and report the results back to the League. For more information, visit https://www.keeptahoeblue.org/join-us/tahoe-blue-crew/. 

Additionally on the East Shore, Incline Village Enhancement Fund is “calling all trashbusters” who are interested in organizing neighborhood clean-up crews. For more information, visit InclineEnhancement.com.

Why It’s Important to Keep Tahoe Clean

According to the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s website, “Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places on earth, but the Lake’s environment feels the impact of 15+ million visitors each year. Litter is the most visible sign that Tahoe is at risk of being loved to death.

Litter harms the Tahoe ecosystem by spreading bacteria, clogging storm drains, leaching chemicals, marring our pristine outdoors, and harming wildlife. Community cleanups like those conducted by the Blue Crew reduce litter, protect our ecosystem, raise awareness, and build environmental stewardship.

Tahoe receives three times the number of annual visitors to Zion National Park or Yellowstone National Park, but it doesn’t have the same strict protections as a national park. Public land managers don’t have the staff or resources to keep up, so they need the help of Tahoe-lovers to protect Tahoe’s delicate environment.”

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In The News – Cal Neva owners host Open House to update community on plans 

May 25, 2024 | Kayla Anderson

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 05/24/2024, Written by Kayla Anderson

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – At 11:30 a.m. on May 21, a line was out the door and going down the stairs of Bowl Incline as people eagerly waited to get into the Cal Neva Open House. Inside, people had the opportunity to meet Revitalize Cal Neva project team members, learn more about the renovation of the historic property, and ask questions about its progress. Revitalize Cal Neva held two sessions that day; 88 people showed up for the morning session and 48 people came to the afternoon one.  

To a group of mostly fellow Crystal Bay neighbors, McWhinney Senior Vice President of Hospitality Development Jason Newcomer showed off the blueprints of the project, which will be a Proper Hotel. It includes a spa & fitness center, pool, cabins, pickleball courts, a renovated theater, and 216 hotel rooms/ “keys”. Fifty-two keys are in the Villas, which will be 11 structures with 38 units inside them (ideal for families and larger groups) along with 164 keys in the main hotel tower

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photo provided by McWhinney

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