Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 12/5/2024, Submitted

The League to Save Lake Tahoe, the nonprofit environmental advocacy organization behind the movement to Keep Tahoe Blue, has filed a lawsuit formally challenging Placer County’s approval of the Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan, a massive development that would worsen traffic congestion, increase air pollution, erode roadways, and degrade water quality in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

“As a solutions-based organization, litigation is an option of last resort. To protect Lake Tahoe, we were left with no choice in this case,” said Dr. Darcie Goodman Collins, Chief Executive Officer of the League to Save Lake Tahoe. “We have met repeatedly with development representatives and County officials to urge them to consider alternatives that would mitigate the environmental impacts of this project. But they were not interested. We are not opposed to the modernization and expansion of Palisades Tahoe, but we must take a stand to Keep Tahoe Blue.”\

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Photo: Snowbrains

Submitted by Tia Rancourt of North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, 12/04/2024

The Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team (TFFT) Fall Prescribed Fire Program began in September and is scheduled to continue through the winter months when conditions are favorable. During this period, residents and visitors in the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding areas may notice smoke in the air regularly due to residential debris burning and prescribed fire operations. Both activities play an essential role in protecting our communities by reducing excess vegetation (fuels) that can feed wildland fires. However, no matter how positive the benefits are, they come with a side effect that can be more than a minor inconvenience: smoke.  

Prescribed Fire

While fire has always been a natural part of the Sierra Nevada ecosystem, the structure of our current society presents unique challenges for land managers. Today, there are more people than ever living in or visiting Tahoe Basin forests. For many, smoke is the most likely way they will experience a prescribed fire, which can lead to a lot of negative emotions. No one likes to breathe smoke, and it can pose tangible health risks, especially to vulnerable populations. The good news is that exposure to smoke can be reduced by following a few simple suggestions:

• Close windows, doors, and outside vents when it’s smoky to prevent smoke accumulation indoors. 
• If you have an air conditioner, run it. Keep the fresh air intake closed and keep the filter clean.
• Ventilate your home and workplace during periods of light smoke. 
• Avoid physical activities while smoke is dense.
• View helpful Smoke Management Tips and share with family and friends.
• Monitor air quality in your area at AirNow.gov.

Depending on the number of acres being burned and fuel loading in the unit, smoke from planned fires is generally present for a much shorter period and can be much less impactful than smoke from unplanned fires. Wildfires tend to be considerably longer in duration than planned fires, sometimes blanketing huge areas with thick, choking smoke for weeks or months at a time. Prescribed fires help reduce these kind of smoke impacts and allow fire managers time to notify residents before burning.

Prior to prescribed fire ignitions, land managers coordinate closely with local and state air quality agencies and monitor weather to help avert smoke impacts by burning on days with optimal smoke dispersal. Crews conduct test burns before igniting larger areas to verify how well vegetation is consumed and how smoke rises and disperses before proceeding. If smoke dispersal and consumption of vegetation is not ideal, operations may be postponed until conditions improve.     

It’s common for smoke from prescribed burns or wood burning stoves to hang low to the ground at night and in the early morning due to a phenomenon known as a temperature inversion. A temperature inversion is when warm air “caps” cooler air, causing smoke to become trapped in valley bottoms at night and in the early morning.  

Before burning, TFFT members post signs on roadways in areas affected by prescribed fire operations, send email notifications to the Prescribed Fire Notification List, and update the local fire information line recording at 530-543-2816. Additionally, project details and locations are available in the form of an interactive prescribed fire map and interested community members may send an email to sm.fs.paltbmu@usda.gov to sign up for notifications.

Residential Debris Burning

While prescribed fire is carefully managed by fire professionals, residential debris burning requires landowners to take specific precautions to ensure safety and compliance. Before burning outdoors, residents must check with their local air quality agencies to confirm it is a permissive burn day. Weather conditions, especially wind, play a critical role in safe burning. In addition to obtaining a valid burn permit, understanding and following all rules and safety guidelines for debris burning is essential.

• Obtain a valid burn permit when they are required.
• Do not burn household trash or garbage outdoors.
• A responsible adult must be in attendance until the fire is out.
• Clear flammable material and vegetation within 10-feet, down to bare earth, around the burn pile.
• Only burn dry, natural vegetation such as leaves, pine needles, and tree trimmings.
• Limit debris piles to 4-feet in diameter and 4-feet in height. Add to the pile as it burns down.
• Burn only on safe weather days. Do not burn on windy days.
• Keep a water supply and shovel close to the burn site.
• To reduce smoke, burn between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when dispersion conditions are best.

As a reminder, debris burning is never allowed in the City of South Lake Tahoe.

For more information on safe debris burning, visit burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/. Even on permitted burn days, following safety guidelines is essential to reducing fire hazards, preventing wildfires, and protecting communities.

Learn more about living in fire-adapted ecosystems, prescribed fire, fuels reduction and more at Tahoe Living With Fire. Get prepared, get informed, and get involved!

By David Vomund of Vomund Investments

As an investment adviser I frequently read about the methods fraudsters use to scam investors, taking their money and sensitive data.  The attacks are getting more frequent and are harder to identify.  Gone are the days where you simply look for misspelled words in an email.  In 2023 scammers who used trusted companies like Schwab, Fidelity, and others to trick investors into sending them $1.3 billion.  

How to identify fraudsters that are posing as a bank or brokerage employee:

• Urgency.  Fraudsters create a sense of urgency.  They may claim that your account has been compromised and insist that you act quickly to resolve the situation.
• Unsolicited messages.  Ignore all unsolicited email and text messages promoting “exclusive” investment opportunities.
• Fake Fraud Alerts.  Scammers send notices claiming fraud on your account and urge you to call them where they will then ask for your sensitive information.  
• Crypto Currency.  If someone urges you to send bitcoin then it is definitely a scam.  

How to protect yourself:

• Enable two-factor authentication.  In addition to entering a username and password, important websites should have an additional step where a code is sent to your phone.   Enabling this additional step is the most crucial preventative measure that you can take.  A financial firm will never ask for the authentication numbers sent to your phone and if you do provide a scammer the numbers then you will be fully liable for all of their withdrawals.  
• Never click on a link in an email or text.  Not even an email that has a link to your monthly statements can be trusted.  Instead of clicking on a link, go directly to the financial site.  It helps to bookmark that page.
• Protect passwords.  Never share a password or one-time codes with anyone who contacts you.  Also, don’t use the same password for multiple sites. 
• Don’t trust caller ID.  If someone claims there is a problem with your account then log in to the account or call the firm using a verified phone number from a trusted source.
• Contact your adviser.  If you have an investment adviser then call them to help resolve any issues you may have.

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, 11/28/2024, Submitted

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Diamond Peak Ski Resort is pleased to announce that it will be opening a week earlier than originally planned this winter. Diamond Peak’s new Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.

“Thanks to the hard work of our snowmaking team and some cold pre-season temperatures provided by Mother Nature, we’ve had a productive run of snowmaking so far this year,” said Diamond Peak Marketing & Communications Manager Paul Raymore. “With a solid base on the terrain we’ll have open for Opening Day, we’re stoked to open early and give all of our pass holders and community members another week of fun on the slopes.”

Chairlifts and runs planned for Opening Day include the Crystal Express, Lodgepole and School House chairlifts and Crystal Ridge, Sunnyside, Lodgepole and School Yard ski runs. Additional lifts and terrain may be open by Thursday, conditions permitting. Full details can be found on the Mountain Report page of the Diamond Peak website.

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Submitted by Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort and Spa, 11/26/24

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, a spacious resort nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and on the shore of Lake Tahoe, announces its 2024 “Festive” holiday extravaganza. This year’s Festive holiday experience will feature a schedule of events and activities to help travelers make the most of their snow-filled holiday getaway. 

“We are excited to launch our 2024 “Festive” holiday program, transforming our resort into a breathtaking winter wonderland,” said Andrew DeLapp, resort manager at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino. “Our recreation team offers a wide range of activities to make the most of a winter getaway in North Lake Tahoe. Guests can enjoy everything from family-friendly holiday-themed events to thrilling excursions through snow-covered landscapes.”

Between December 21 and New Years Day, the resort will feature a schedule of holiday activities including gingerbread house and pretzel log cabin making classes, festive bingo, pajama party holiday movie nights, and “Story Time with Mrs. Claus.” The schedule will also provide several activities for adults including Italian wine tastings and a “Taste of the Sierras” guided mixology session.

Throughout Festive, the resort’s on-site Adventure program will feature several activities exploring North Lake Tahoe’s snowy setting. Guests can take the “Snowshoe 101” classes where they will learn the basics of snowshoeing, or take a guided snowshoe excursion to the Chickadee Ridge Trail which features stunning views of the lake and friendly chickadee birds that will eat seed directly from your hand.

The Festive schedule also features several wellness-focused activities including sound bath sessions with Tibetan and Crystal singing bowls, ski recovery yoga, and more. 

On New Year’s Eve, the resort will ring in 2025 with a party at its Cutthroat’s Saloon and a dinner soiree at Lone Eagle Grille. On January 1, guests can start 2025 with an extravagant brunch at Lone Eagle Grille and a polar plunge in the Lake from the resort’s private beach. 

Reservations are required for all activities and are available to reserve 2 weeks prior to the activity date. For full activity details, please use the link: https://uqr.to/HyattAdventures

For more information or to book a getaway to 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, the AAA Four Diamond Award-winning Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino offers majestic lake and mountain views from its 422 guest rooms, including 32 suites and 24 lakeside cottages. The resort epitomizes modern alpine luxury with its exposed wood beams, rich leathers, and granite accents. Guests can enjoy premium amenities such as a private beach with a 275-foot floating pier, a year-round heated lagoon-style pool, two hot tubs, a 25,000 square-foot Grand Lodge Casino, and 65,000 square feet of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting and event space, including the picturesque Lakeside Ballroom, Tahoe’s premier lakeside venue. Additional features 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 with Peloton bikes, and an on-site Adventure program offering guided activities. Recognized for excellence, the resort has garnered numerous awards including Travel + Leisure’s 500 Best Hotels in the World, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best in the West Smart Meetings Smart Stars Awards, and U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotel Awards.

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 hotels 

The Hyatt Regency brand is a global collection of hotels and resorts found in more than 200 locations in over 40 countries around the world. The depth and breadth of this diverse portfolio, from expansive resorts to urban city centers, is a testament to the brand’s evolutionary spirit. For more than 50 years, the Hyatt Regency brand has championed fresh perspectives and enriching experiences, while its forward-thinking philosophy provides guests with inviting spaces that bring people together and foster a spirit of community. As a hospitality original, Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts are founded on openness—our colleagues consistently serve with open minds and open hearts to deliver unforgettable celebrations, effortless relaxation and notable culinary experiences alongside expert meetings and technology-enabled collaboration. The brand prides itself on an everlasting reputation for insightful care—one that welcomes all people across all countries and cultures, generation after generation.
For more information, please visit hyatt.com