Take a moment next Tuesday to honor the men and women who wear a military uniform to serve our country in the United States Armed Forces. Veterans Day originated with Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I. Incline Village/Crystal Bay has several organizations serving veterans, all of whom invite the general public to attend their meetings, events, and fundraisers. Perhaps the largest is the Incline Village Veterans Club, which meets monthly on the last Thursday at the Chateau for lunch. The Military Officers of America Association has a speaker series. The upcoming leadership series is on November 20 and features District Attorney Chris Hickman as the speaker. President of the Lake Tahoe Chapter, John Hoffman, is also Chairman of the Onward Opps Foundation, a nationwide group that offers mentoring and other support for vets, both active and inactive. PTSD Now! focuses on suicide prevention in Nevada (and other states) National Guard with a program called “Purple Resolve”.  Rotary Club of Incline Village celebrates Veterans Day at their lunch on Monday, November 11. If you are interested, reach out to Speeslaw@aol.com.

National Wreaths Across America Day is December 13, 2025!

Join the Incline Village Crystal Bay Veterans Club at Eastside Memorial Park in Minden or the Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline at Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City.

Donate here.

HUNGER RELIEF

There’s a lot of buzz around town right about the potential increase in food insecurity due to  cuts in the government SNAP “digital food stamps” program. Among the numerous groups ready to help, Sierra Community House is the first line of support. They are connected to our local markets and have the best buying power with sources like Northern Nevada Food Bank, so better to donate money than food. Walk-up food distribution in Incline takes place on Thursday from 2-3:30 at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church. For more detailed information on all of their food-related services and to donate, visit: Hunger Relief – Sierra Community House.

How to help….lots of people are asking. In addition to Sierra Community House,

• Tahoe Family Solutions’ family resource center is the “boots on the ground” for SNAP recipients. They are busy finding additional ways to help.
• Tahoe Community Foundation is connecting people with programs across the Tahoe Basin
• Sierra Senior Services delivers Meals on Wheels in Incline Village, funded by Washoe County.  Kristin, give URL
• Food Bank of Northern Nevada supports us locally through Sierra Community House and the Vincent DePaul branch at St. Francis Catholic Church. (give URL)
• Faith-based: every local church offers assistance to those in need! 

Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make History!

As you can imagine, I relate to this phrase quite a bit. I may not make any history book, but I am doing my best to share my time, talent, and treasure with this community! I am not alone. I have been reminded of this phrase recently with the passing of two strong women who made a difference, not just in Incline Village but also across the country. 

Nancy Siebens Binz and her family’s foundation were passionate about small private colleges and many other institutions like the Mayo Clinic.  As a longtime resident, we benefited from her generous and regular support of  Sierra Nevada College( before it became a part of UNR.) Nancy was feisty and spoke her mind. Everyone knew where she stood. She passed away in October, just a month shy of turning 94. She moved to the Cayman Islands a number of years ago and pursued her lifelong passions of travel and deep-sea fishing. 

Peggy Poindexter passed away suddenly in October, and many of us gathered to celebrate her life and support her husband, Jeff, and two daughters on Sunday at Burnt Cedar. Peggy had an illustrious career with the Department of Defense before she turned her talents to making Incline a better place. I cannot do her biography justice, but I can tell you from firsthand experience that she was an outstanding cook and shared this talent with AAUW and its garden party fundraisers and cooking clubs. When she was President of AAUW, she started a program at the high school to steer students toward vocational education and to develop skills and trades.  As her daughter said, Peggy could be “prickly”, which to me is just another way of describing a strong woman who knew her mind and made stuff happen. Thank you Peggy!

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IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

Politics, sex and religion are among the subjects not to be discussed in polite company or in public, “back in the day”.  With all the social media and AI-generated content that requires great effort to verify, maybe face-to-face is a better way to have meaningful conversations. Notice I didn’t say confrontations! IVGID’s Conversation Café offers in-person chats every Thursday at 10 am at Aspen Grove. The Community Forum meets on the first and third Fridays at Incline Library at 10 am. THIS Friday is one of those days. 

Domestic violence is often one of those taboo conversations, both within a family and within a community. Sierra Community House takes many steps to educate our community and make it safe to talk about issues that affect us and our neighbors. They are commemorating National Domestic Violence month with at least two ways for community participation: 1. Go to their  35^th annual Chocolate and Wine Festival on October 25 at the Hyatt. 2. Join the Purple Walk in Truckee this Thursday, October 16.

Crossing the News Desert, a Tahoe Series program on Thursday night at UNR, is yet another way to join the conversation in person on how difficult it is becoming to get news coverage in rural communities. In case you missed it, KUNR has established a radio studio in the Prim Library, right here in Incline Village.

Talkin’ Tahoe TONIGHT!

The topic on everyone’s minds this week is the weather! Get Meteorologist Dawn Johnson’s take on how the winter is shaping up.  How DO they make the decision to call the upcoming weather a winter advisory or a warning?

High School Fair at Lake Tahoe School on October 21

We LOVE our local high school, but what if your child needs something different. Look at the flyer just to get a sense of all the choices there are, many of them local. Why not actually attend and learn more if you are a family with younger kids?

BEAUTY IS MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

Now that I have your attention, let me help you plan your Saturday (after Pet Net’s Puppy Plunge).… Go to Natural Grocer to learn why Detox is so important to your skin. THEN go to Tahoe Aesthetician’s one year anniversary to learn how she can fix those outer flaws that will help boost your confidence and make you feel beautiful on the inside too!

ON THE FUN SIDE

I can’t possibly cover all of the fun events that Incline Library, Alibi and Incline Bowl put on, but our calendar can! Check out an adventure film, the Sheldon Massacre Expedition and their Backcountry trip through Northwestern Nevada in May by the  Wildwood Foundations at Alibi on Saturday.

CORRECTION

The CAB meeting is on Monday October 27 at 5:30. The topic is on Nevada State Park renovation plans for Sand Harbor.

LIKE WHAT YOU READ?

IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

IVCBA and the Village Center are starting a new tradition on Saturday. Fall Fest is a family event reminiscent of the Oktoberfest events that were held here several years ago. Instead of German food, Mexican food will be available at Lupita’s, Foursquare Church, and La Tienda Latina.  Jacked Up will be playing instead of an oompah band. Highlights include a pumpkin patch (where you can decorate them on the spot) at Grocery Outlet and scarecrow making at Sierra Verde.  The brainchild of owner Pam Aaron, stick scarecrows will be provided and can be decorated with clothing donated from the thrift stores. Families will be encouraged to stroll along the boardwalks on both upper and lower levels, grab some food, and hang out in the plaza created in the middle of the parking lot to enjoy the music. IVCBA will host lemonade and water.  Many businesses will have games, crafts, or treats to enjoy. The fire district will be on hand, giving free flu shots. And if it’s cold, they will bring out the burn barrels!

As the oldest shopping center in Incline, Village Center holds a lot of history. Known best for the post office and Postal Express across the parking lot,  it is the place “where locals shop and neighbors meet”. It has a diverse mix of businesses, including salons, 2 Mexican markets, and a restaurant,  Fitness Loft, Wyld Peony floral shop, the only computer maintenance storefront in Incline, Wired Solutions and Tahoe Multi-sport with year-round sports equipment rentals. It is also home to Tahoe Family Solutions, a Family Resource Center, helping those in need and providing bilingual counseling. 

INCLINED TO BLOOM

Dancing in daffodils is what we will be doing next spring if we ALL plant bulbs this fall!  This is starting out as a grassroots campaign to beautify Incline in the spring. Daffodils are the first flower (yellow) to peak out through the snow in April/May and are hardy enough to survive an unexpected snowstorm. Once the bulbs are planted, the flowers come back every year. Locals are invited to plant bulbs along streets that have visibility in town. Donations can be made through Incline Tahoe Foundation. Anyone or any group willing to plant extra bulbs, reach out to Linda@IVCBA.org. More about this next week. 

DEFENSIBLE SPACE

Time to rake up those pine needles. Homeowners should have received stickers in the mail. Chipping services are available through October. More info with NLTFPD.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

DID YOU KNOW that Sand Harbor is getting a makeover? It’s a major effort. Find out the details at the Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) hybrid meeting on Monday, October 13 at Incline Library or on Zoom.

Take that CPR class sponsored by NLTFPD! https://nltfpd.org/training-center/cpr-classes

ARTS AND CRAFTS

Tahoe Gifting Company has expanded their space and now offer specialty crafts weekly. This adds to the plethora of art activities offered by Incline Library and pottery classes at Karacotta Ceramics. Check the IVCBA.org calendar for specific classes and dates. The CUT

LIKE WHAT YOU READ?

IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

Even though summer is not officially over until September 21, Labor Day weekend seems to mark the end of that vacation kind of lifestyle. Kids are back in school, and many people just stay in town rather than go somewhere. If the weather manages to end its series of thunderstorms, now is the time to go to the beach on the weekend or try for a parking space to walk the East Shore Trail in the middle of the day.  Events that mark Labor Day weekend in Incline:

VILLAGE SKI LOFT LABOR DAY SALE

Come and try to get a bargain for the upcoming ski season. Is this heavy rain a sign of a big snow year??

ROTARY DUCK DROP

Selling yellow rubber ducks has been the fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Incline Village for a long time. A number of years ago, it switched from a race in the creek to a “duck drop” with the help of a fire truck from North Lake Tahoe Fire Department. 9:00 on Monday at Aspen Grove parking lot. Don’t be late or you will miss it.

BBQ AND PICNICS

Can you believe we have no smoke this year??  Every grocery store in town is promoting their picnic-style foods for the classic backyard party with family and friends. Just in case you haven’t noticed, there are THREE stores in town: Raleys, Natural Grocer, and Grocery Outlet.

Heads up: no SnapShot next week.

NEXT WEEKEND: Incline Wine & Food Event 

Plan NOW to go to this classy event that also raises money for the Boys and Girls Club. It’s expensive, but I promise the venue and the high-end wines are worth it!

Don’t worry. There is still music every night, somewhere in Incline, for another week or two.

LIKE WHAT YOU READ?

IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

Frank Sinatra Showroom, Indian Room, Circle Bar….bring back memories? The Cal Neva is coming back! Jason Newcomer and McWhinney presented their latest plans for revitalizing the Cal Neva. They are bringing back a lot of our memories but in an updated, tasteful form of the 100-year-old lodge. I toured the job site yesterday and was impressed with how much progress they have made. The hotel brand is Proper, a small boutique hotel known for incorporating a local vibe that is welcoming to both locals and visitors. Look for an opening in 2027. Find more details at REVITALIZE CAL NEVA.

Shabby Chic tomorrow night! Tahoe Family Solutions has revitalized itself with new management, led by Jody Wright, and a renewed commitment to its role as our family resource center. If you didn’t get tickets in time for Shabby Chic, consider patronizing their thrift store in Upper Village Center.  They are committed to supporting our workforce and families in times of need, providing much-needed mental health services in both languages, and a commitment to children and education.

UPCOMING EVENTS

I am on my way to Norway for a cruise with my family, so I am going to go out for a couple of weeks with the “Don’t misses”:

Jean Michael Cousteau at UNR on August 23

PEO’s annual Tastes of Tahoe on August 21

Twain Tuesdays on August 26 in the St. Patrick’s Amphitheater

Labor Duck Drop! SEPTEMBER 1 at Aspen Grove

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Monday, August 25: CAB meeting at the library

Tuesday, Aug 26: Board of County Commissioners is reviewing the proposed changes to the Tahoe Area Plan. These meetings are broadcast in the Incline Library Community Room so that you don’t have to go down to Reno to participate.

LIKE WHAT YOU READ?

IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

Congrats to Captain Joseph Colacurcio who is now officially the captain of the Incline Substation of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Affectionately nicknamed “Cola”, he has spent many years working in Incline and being a positive leader in our community. Please also welcome Aaron Tracy,  newly promoted to Lieutenant, second in command at the Incline Substation. Under the strong leadership of WCSO Sheriff Balaam, the substation does more than just “keep the peace”. Captain Cola, Lieutenant Tracy, and the deputies participate in community meetings and gatherings and help residents.  Mark your calendars for the annual Sheriff’s picnic on September 27.

ROTARY CLUB NEWS

The TWO clubs in Incline are active in the community in many ways. I want to highlight two of them. The Morning club is conducting a food drive for the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission. Bring canned goods to the bin at the Rec Center. Labor Day will see the annual “Duck Drop” for the noon club. You can also thank Rotarians for the “Peace Park” in front of the Chevron station and the beautiful flowers at the bus shelters.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

It’s been a while since we have heard much about the projects in Crystal Bay. Get an update on the Cal Neva next Tuesday, Aug 12 at the Incline Library. Their website, www.revitalizecalneva.com will tell you that the completion date is a bit of a moving target, but sometime in 2027. This property is approaching 100 years of existence next year.  With the recent news about the failed plans for the Biltmore to become a luxury hotel resort, the revitalized Cal Neva promises to bring a much-needed facelift, along with a new venue for both visitors and locals(and jobs!) to Crystal Bay.  

INCLINE LIBRARY

To prepare for writing the Lens each week, I look at the calendar at IVCBA.org. The sheer number of offerings at the library is impressive. They have events/activities for all ages. If you are still entertaining summer guests, consider taking a break from the Lake, etc., and stop in. 

WILDWOOD AND THE BLACK ROCK DESERT

Burning Man is not for everyone. But did you know, there is a land conservancy group that has small private excursions to the Black Rock Desert? Learn more about this 3-day excursion in Northern Nevada with scientists in late September.

LIKE WHAT YOU READ?

IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

Today is a big day for civic engagement! I hope you read this in time to go to the IVGID Capital Improvement projects at the Chateau from 3-6 pm. Starting at 5 pm is the TRPA Workforce Housing workshop at the community room in what is commonly called the Parasol building at 948 Incline Way. The official name has always been the DWR Community Nonprofit Center. Note: Parasol is now called the Tahoe Community Foundation.

Housing continues to be an issue for the workforce in Incline Village. Indeed, many workers and business owners commute on a daily basis. We’re glad they have that dedication, even in the wintertime when conditions can cause delays. Having a community that includes its workforce and families contributes to a stronger sense of well-being for everyone. Businesses thrive with a bigger full-time base of residents. The support of TRPA and Washoe County is very important to solving these chronic problems. 

LAKE TAHOE DANCE COLLECTIVE

THIS is the big week for the Lake Tahoe Dance Festival! They are featuring professional dancers from New York and Boston to perform on the North Shore. Their Kings Beach Community Night is Thursday night. You need tickets, but they are inexpensive. What a great way to introduce your kids to a very special performing art. Dance classes are taught year-round, right here in North Tahoe.

PLUS, those professional dancers are on the Classical Tahoe stage at Saturday night’s Music in Motion performance!

I need to mention the Sierra Nevada Ballet with its 35-year history in Reno/Tahoe. Rosina Bene and her husband Steve Porter are the founders and are still at the helm of the professional dance company. They also offer dance classes year-round. They are on stage at Sand Harbor every summer as part of the Shakespeare Festival’s Monday night Showcase series. This year’s performance is Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. What an interesting juxtaposition of theater and dance! Don’t miss it. Next Monday, July 28.

UNR AND CLASSICAL TAHOE

This is such an interesting week for families in the community. UNR at Lake Tahoe has become a center for education and performances that are accessible to everyone. Did you know they now have a second pavilion? It is smaller but has so many uses for the local community.  It will be used Saturday, July 26 at 4pm for a free concert that is the culmination of a partnership between UNR and Classical Tahoe. It is called the Chamber Connections residency and gives UNR students a chance to study and perform with Classical Tahoe professional musicians.

LIKE WHAT YOU READ?

IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE