Submitted by Millie Szerman

A new 3-class series of Mah Jongg instruction starts January 25th! If you’re interested in learning this age-old tile game or if you just want to brush up on your skills, Millie Szerman will be teaching Mah Jongg at the Incline Community Center (next to the library) in Incline Village.

Join Millie on the following Saturdays, starting at 10:30 a.m. until Noon:

January 25, February 1, and February 8.

A charge of $20 for the series of three classes will include printed materials, as well as a copy of the current 2024 card which is ESSENTIAL for this game. Pre-registration is a MUST! For more information, please contact Millie at 775-833-3311 or email MillieSz746@gmail.com. 

Originally Published in the Sierra Sun, 1/10/2025, Written by Zoe Meyers

For pet owners in the Tahoe Basin facing impossible choices between unaffordable veterinary care and losing their companions, the Village Pet Foundation (VPF) has emerged as a beacon of hope. Founded in July 2023 by a dedicated group of animal welfare volunteers, this nonprofit is rewriting the narrative for families in financial distress, saving pets from euthanasia and giving them a second chance at life.

“Usually when I talk to people, they’re at their wits’ end. Their pets are dying. They can’t afford it. They’re just looking for help,” Pat Abbey, Founder and Chairperson of VPF, said.

In just 18 months, the organization has saved 78 pets, far surpassing its initial goal of aiding 25 animals per year. These rescues include cases like Oso, a nine-year-old Labrador mix rescued from a suspected dog fighting ring. Oso’s life took a turn for the better when VPF funded her emergency care, ensuring her safety and recovery.

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Photo: Gordo swallowed a piece of clothing. The obstruction was situated so that he could drink but not eat. His loving mom tried for weeks to get Gordo treated but couldn’t afford the surgery costs as a single mother of four. VPF immediately stepped up and paid for all his vet care. Provided / Pat Abbey

Originally Published in the Sierra Sun, 1/10/2025, Written by Zoe Meyer

In North Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Food Hub is reshaping the local food landscape by integrating fresh, sustainable produce with a commitment to community welfare. Led by Chairman Daniel Barstein, the initiative is dedicated to supporting small, family-run farms and promoting regenerative agricultural practices that benefit both the environment and local economies.

A Commitment to Local Sourcing

Local chefs are embracing the Tahoe Food Hub’s mission. Chef Peter Schram at Old Town Tap highlights the significance of local sourcing, saying, “As a chef, sourcing from local farms isn’t just about freshness – it’s also about connection. It’s a relationship with the hands that nurtured each ingredient and the land from which it comes. We are a small locally owned restaurant and we understand how important and how hard it is for the small farms to succeed when competing against the large national chains. Tahoe Food hub empowers small local farms and we get the best of fresh seasonal foods at their peak.”

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Photo: Sierra Sun

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 1/10/2025, Written by Katelyn Welsh

Fire agencies around the Tahoe Basin have sent engines and personnel to fight the numerous fires ablaze in southern California. The Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire and Hurst Fire are just a few of the fires active in the Los Angeles area. There’s currently five fires that have together burned over 10,000 structures, burned almost 30,000 acres and killed five people according to preliminary information pending coroner confirmation. 

It has led to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to call for mutual aid and coordinate incoming resources to the fires that are fueled by Santa Ana winds.

Tahoe Basin fire agencies have responded with 12 engines and over 50 personnel. 

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Photo provided by NLTFPD

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 1/11/25, Written by Steve Spurlock

Lake Tahoe is revered as a national treasure and is afforded legal environmental protections to match that status. As Tahoe’s environmental watchdog, the League to Save Lake Tahoe takes seriously our role to make sure the entire Basin, from Freel Peak to Brockway Summit, is preserved for future generations, just as we’ve done since the 1950s.

That is why we, along with Sierra Watch, recently took legal action to challenge Placer County’s approval of ski conglomerate Alterra Mountain Company’s massive development plan for Palisades Tahoe. Alterra’s plan would have significant impacts on the Lake Tahoe Basin, worsening traffic congestion, increasing air pollution, eroding roadways, and degrading water quality.

We see litigation as an imperfect, inefficient, and expensive tool of last resort. But all our other options have been exhausted. And someone must act for the lake…

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