In The News – TTCF, TRPA align housing findings, highlight regional workforce housing crisis
February 23, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 2/23/2026, Staff Report
For the first time, the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation (TTCF) and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) have aligned findings from their respective housing needs analyses, revealing consistent and urgent housing challenges across the greater Tahoe region. While the two studies examine slightly different geographies, the results point to the same conclusion: there is a significant mismatch between housing supply and the local workforce’s needs.
“Since 2016, investments in regional data have helped us track progress towards achievable local housing solutions* with the many housing efforts across agencies,” said Stacy Caldwell, TTCF CEO. “This aligned data shows that most unmet need remains on working households, which are essential to our community. This moment calls for continued coordination and locally driven solutions that match the scale of the need.”
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Introduces Moon-Based Wellness Experiences
February 23, 2026 | Member Submitted
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, an award-winning year-round resort nestled in the stunning natural beauty of North Lake Tahoe’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, announces Find Your Flow and Sauna & Soul, two moon-based wellness experiences at Stillwater Spa that invite guests to pause, reconnect, and embrace mindful practices aligned with the natural rhythms of the lunar cycle.
“We’re creating a unique space for guests to explore reflection and movement, whether they are seeking renewal or a deeper connection to themselves and their community,” said Julie Orblych, director of spa and wellness at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. “Each session is designed to honor the energy of the moon while providing practical tools for relaxation, intention setting, and holistic wellness.”
Sauna & Soul is centered around the New Moon each month and helps participants harness the energy of new beginnings. The two-hour experience includes gentle movement, mindful breathing, and meditation, followed by guided journaling paired with soothing sound vibrations. Guests conclude the session with a sauna and steam ritual to restore balance and leave feeling renewed. Upcoming sessions are on February 17, March 18, and April 17, and the experience is $45 per person.
Find Your Flow is a three-part journey designed to release tension, restore balance, and deepen connection to self and community. Each session is distinct, offering different wellness practices each month. Participants start with restorative stretching and breathing exercises, move into self-myofascial release techniques to ease tightness and increase mobility, and conclude the series with a community discussion plus a sauna and steam ritual. The first flow takes place on February 10, the second on March 24, and the third on April 7, with each session priced at $35 per person.
Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bottle, journal, and an open mind and heart. Both experiences are led by wellness professionals Jessica Hillman, a 200-hour certified yoga teacher, reiki practitioner, and certified sound healer, and Ashley Ray, a 500-hour certified yoga teacher and certified breathwork instructor.
Space is limited and advanced reservations are required. For more information or to reserve a spot, call Stillwater Spa at (775) 886-6745.
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
Situated among the towering peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the award-winning Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino offers a premier destination based in the nature-infused setting of North Lake Tahoe. The resort is home to an on-site Adventure program offering daily guided activities to help guests explore the Tahoe outdoors with everything from group hikes and archery classes to meditation sessions. Guests can enjoy premium amenities such as a year-round heated lagoon-style pool, two hot tubs, and a 25,000 square-foot Grand Lodge Casino. The resort also boasts the 20,000 square-foot Stillwater Spa featuring a variety of relaxing massages, facials and body treatments as well as state-of-the-art touchless therapies including the Cryobuilt Cryochamber, “Pearl” a revolutionary float orb, and the “Harmony” bioacoustic mat. The property showcases premier dining opportunities at the brand-new Osteria Sierra offering elevated Italian cuisine, pub-style fare at Cutthroat’s Saloon, and grab-and-go selections at Tahoe Provisions. Additional culinary delights include afternoon tea service on the weekends and a selection world-class pastries created by the resort’s renowned team of pastry chefs. 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, Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, 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.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
In The News – Tahoe Transportation District awards construction contract for SR 28 North Parking Project
February 21, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 2/21/2026, Staff Report
The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) Board of Directors approved the award of a construction contract for the SR 28 North Parking Project (Phase 2 of the Tunnel Creek Parking Project), advancing coordinated efforts to improve parking management, safety, and multimodal access along SR 28.
The Board awarded the construction contract to F.W. Carson Company of Incline Village, Nevada, in an amount not to exceed $2,385,162.20, and approved a 10 percent construction contingency of $238,516.22. The Board also authorized Additive Alternates 1 and 2, totaling $322,729.40, with a 10 percent contingency of $32,272.94, depending upon the availability of funding.
The project is being delivered in partnership with the Nevada Department of Transportation, Washoe County, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Nevada Division of State Lands, Nevada Divisions State Parks and other agencies to address parking demand and transportation safety in one of the region’s most heavily traveled corridors.
In The News – Tahoe is not Tahoe without public lands
February 21, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 2/21/2026, Julie Regan of TRPA
There’s nowhere on Earth like Lake Tahoe, and the public lands that surround Big Blue are the heart and soul of life in our community. They are also integral to the plan to protect and restore the Tahoe Basin. Measurable progress is being made on environmental goals that were set at a time when many of these open spaces were still privately owned and subject to development.
Last week, I had the honor of testifying in Washington, D.C. before a congressional committee on preserving Lake Tahoe’s public lands at the invitation of U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. As a leader in the partnership known as Team Tahoe, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and many partners, including the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, have been working for years on legislation to modernize a law called the Santini-Burton Act. Since its enactment in 1980, the law has provided funds for the USDA Forest Service (USFS) to acquire more than 16,000 acres of sensitive lands in the Tahoe Basin.
In The News – 6 skiers rescued after Castle Peak Avalanche
February 19, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in Moonshine Ink, 2/18/2026, Written by Megan Ramsey
One day after an avalanche struck a group of backcountry skiers attempting to make its way from the Frog Lake huts east of Castle Peak to the trailhead north of Interstate-80 on Donner Summit, search-and-rescue teams have shifted their mission to a recovery effort.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call on the morning of Feb. 17 from an iPhone in SOS mode reporting the avalanche, said Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon in a Feb. 18 press conference. The sheriff’s office and Truckee Fire Protection District were the first responders to begin coordinating the rescue mission, aided by other teams such as Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Placer County Search and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Washoe County Search and Rescue, and Blackbird Mountain Guides.
In The News – How area plans help incentivize housing
February 18, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Sierra Sun, 2/16/2026, Written by Eli Ramos
Area plans, also called community or specific plans, help keep local control, flexibility and character of the area that they cover, and are an essential function of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s (TRPA) Lake Tahoe Regional Plan. But how do these area plans address housing? And how have they changed as the Phase 2 amendments of TRPA’s housing plan have taken effect? In this month’s housing series article, the Tribune takes a look at different area plans and their specific housing policies.
What is an area plan?
Area plans, as defined by the TRPA, are plans created by local governments with community members and stakeholders to help implement the policies of the regional plan at a community scale. They contain land use goals and policies, along with zoning and regulations, permit requirements, development and design standards. They also contain goals and policies around transportation, conservation, recreation, public services and housing.
Words to Water Benefit Concert Series — Sponsor Partnership Guide
February 18, 2026 | Member Submitted
As promised, I am attaching the sponsorship opportunities for the two “Words to Water” concerts this May at Inclines Center for Events (inside Bowl Incline)!
Our Family started WaterHope 21 years ago as a response to a promise we made to God 23 years ago! For many years, we put on a pro-am golf tournament, “Wine to Water,” in Napa, California, that had 26 PGA professionals, and many Fortune 500 companies supported, helping us raise over 3 million dollars to provide water solutions in our world for children who were dying from their current water sources. Parasitic water is the number one cause of child mortality in the world.
Approximately 1,000 children under the age of five die every day from diseases caused by unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). This translates to one child dying roughly every 90 seconds.
Key Statistics on Childhood Mortality
Annual Deaths: Around 400,000 children under five die each year due to unsafe WASH services.
Leading Cause: Diarrheal disease is the primary killer, accounting for approximately 395,000 of these annual deaths.
Vulnerable Groups: Children in conflict-affected areas are 20 times more likely to die from diseases related to unsafe water than from direct violence.
Regional Hotspots: Nearly two-fifths of these deaths are concentrated in just 10 countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Broader Impact of Unsafe Water
Morbidity: Beyond fatal illnesses, repeated bouts of waterborne disease lead to malnutrition and stunting, affecting nearly one-quarter of children globally.
Education: Water-related illnesses result in the loss of over 440 million school days annually.
Contamination Risk: As of 2024, approximately 2.2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water, and 1.7 billion people use fecally contaminated sources.
As a 501c3 with no paid employees we have been able to give the lion’s share of all proceeds directly to the sustainable projects that are saving thousands of children’s lives each day.
Each show will be an intimate evening with the artists taking time to let us know why they wrote each song and how they came to be hits.
Two evenings you will never forget while you help us save children and give them a future they cannot have without us.
Pet Network Lake Tahoe Announces the 28th Annual Fur Ball: The Pet Gala
February 18, 2026 | Member Submitted
Ask of the Year: “Level up your shelter. Level up your community.
Pet Network Lake Tahoe is proud to announce the return of its signature annual fundraiser, the Fur Ball Gala, reimagined this year as The Pet Gala—a black-tie celebration of iconic New York style and philanthropy.
This year’s theme, The Pet Gala, invites guests to dress to impress and show up for something bigger: helping Pet Network strengthen shelter care and expand vital community programs that keep animals healthy, safe, and homeward bound.
The Impact You’ve Made—Because You Showed Up
Thanks to generous community support, Pet Network has already leveled up lifesaving care in powerful ways, including celebrating over three years of the Community Hospital, completing a surgery and treatment remodel, replacing the roof, upgraded ventilation throughout the facility, and adding a CT scan to support more advanced care, and soon a generator to ensure safety and comfort through every storm.
What’s Next: Leveling Up Care and Community Support
Funds raised at the Fur Ball Gala this year will help Pet Network take the next step forward, investing in faster diagnostics, expanded access to veterinary guidance, and programs that strengthen the bond between people and pets.
Key areas of focus include:
Advanced diagnostic equipment to help diagnose more quickly and treat more effectively, including tools like PCR testing, a pathology camera, and a sequencer.
Currently, animals with signs of infectious disease must be quarantined for an average of Four days as we wait for pathology results. This equipment allows for same-day results, in-house, reducing stress and length of stay for shelter animals. This technology will also be used to serve community pets, allowing same-day diagnostics for common ailments and illnesses, including masses, canine influenza, and so much more, reducing uncertainty and accelerating treatment.
Telemedicine access to a Veterinarian, 7 days a week, offering peace of mind and support for fosters, adopters, shelter pets, and Community Hospital clients
Continuing education for staff, ensuring compassion is matched with the best skills so every outcome improves, increasing the pipeline of talent in animal sheltering, and empowering the shelter community
Training classes for adopters, alumni, and the broader community—supporting long-term success and strengthening the human-animal bond.
Humane education programs like summer camp and Petiquette, teaching youth safe, responsible interactions with animals while strengthening community resources.
Expanded support staff and services, helping increase capacity, access, and affordability of care for all.
Food Bank support, serving community members who need help keeping pets fed and in loving homes–no cost, no questions asked.
The Ask of the Year
Level up your shelter. Level up your community. Pet Network is calling on supporters, sponsors, and local businesses to help power the next level of lifesaving care through the Fur Ball Gala. Every ticket, sponsorship, and donation helps ensure more pets receive the highest available standard of care and more families have the resources to keep the pets they love. This milestone would not have been possible without the instrumental support of the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, whose generosity continues to shape animal welfare in Tahoe and beyond. Alongside individual donors and community champions, their investment helped turn vision into reality. The Foundation has committed to a $100,000 donation match at the Gala to support this new equipment and these lifesaving programs.
About Pet Network Lake Tahoe: Pet Network Lake Tahoe, an AAHA Accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which encompasses Pet Network Humane Society and Pet Network Community Hospital, is a premier veterinary practice and animal welfare organization dedicated to saving lives, promoting wellness, and strengthening the bond between pets and their families. As a leader in shelter medicine, rescue, and adoption services, Pet Network serves the Lake Tahoe community and beyond with comprehensive medical care and a deep commitment to animal welfare.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for American women. This is partly because women often have lesser-known heart attack symptoms, and because heart disease can affect a woman’s body differently, making it harder to recognize.
Not Your ‘Typical’ Heart Attack
Women don’t always have the telltale symptom of severe chest pain or pressure. Rather, they are more likely to feel jaw or neck pain. They may also experience the following:
Shortness of breath
Indigestion
Nausea or vomiting
Upper back pain
Extreme fatigue
Because these symptoms are less obvious, women may dismiss them — even providers might mistake them for something else. Knowing the signs can be lifesaving.
Different Types of Heart Disease
Providers use the term heart disease as a catchall for many types of conditions affecting the heart. The most common is coronary heart disease (CHD). It affects both men and women. In CHD, plaque builds in the large arteries, which may lead to a heart attack.
Many women, though, tend to have a less commonly known condition called coronary microvascular disease (CMD), which affects the tiny arteries of the heart. CMD may develop because of changes in estrogen before menopause. Typical tests for CHD — like stress tests or angiography — may not always detect CMD, so additional evaluation may be needed.
Protect Your Heart
Everyday habits, like staying active, eating well, managing stress, and following your provider’s recommendations, can make a difference for your heart health.
Most importantly, know the potential signs of a heart attack and seek help immediately if you think you may be having a heart attack.
David Young, MD, is a board-certified cardiologist at Barton Health. The team at Barton Cardiology offers cardiac care at offices in South Lake Tahoe, Stateline, and Incline Village. Learn more at BartonHealth.org or by calling 530.543.5497. Join Dr. Young for a free webinar, “Heart Disease in Women,” on Thursday, February 12 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.; details at BartonHealth.org/Lecture.
In The News – Incline Middle School’s Exploratory Class at Pet Network; Community-involved learning for students
February 16, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 2/16/2026, Written by Victoria Mastrocola
Children gathered excitedly as they headed to the buses just outside of Incline Middle School. They seemed eager to start their weekly Exploratory classes as Principal Dan Lediard greeted his students with a fist bump. For a group of 6th and 7th graders, today’s destination: Pet Network Humane Society.
The Exploratory classes, originally dubbed “teacher passion projects” by Lediard’s predecessor, Carrie McDonald, were first introduced as a means to get students back into school after COVID-19.
