In The News – Winter Safety for Dogs: Essential Tips for a Happy Dog
January 15, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in Moonshine Ink 12/14/2023, Written by Tiffany Connolly, Photo Credit Moonshine Ink
Nobody celebrates winter’s fresh powder like a dog in Tahoe. Bounding through snowdrifts and ripping through fields of white bring dogs a joy that’s contagious. But beneath all the fun, danger does exist. Safety protocols must be followed in the winter months to keep that smile on your dog’s face and those paws healthy for future snowy romps. If you’re one of the many people that go everywhere with their canine at their heels, consider these winter safety tips from India Vannini, chief medical officer at Donner Truckee Veterinary Hospital.
Avoid the Edge One of the most common winter emergencies for dogs is lacerations from skis and snowboards. As backcountry skiing grows in popularity, backcountry safety must extend to your pup. Train your dog to avoid poles, obstacles, skis, and snowboards. “I always recommend that people make sure they go through all the proper training with their dog,” said Vannini. “Ski edges are just like little saws. It’s like a knife going fast.”
In The News – The Birth of the Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue
January 15, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in Moonshine Ink 12/14/2023, Written by David Fenimore
It was February 29, 1976, and the biggest storm of the season was sweeping the Sierra. That day, 12-year-old Lance Sevison and his buddy Mike Kelly were skiing at Northstar. Sometime in the afternoon, they decided to cross the ski area boundary and look for fresh powder on the backside of Mt. Pluto. Witnesses reported that they had only one pair of skis between them, each boy skiing on a single ski. By the time the lifts shut down for the day, they hadn’t returned.
Doug Read, a close family friend, had taken Lance out on cross-country ski tours and admired the boy’s adventurous spirit. When his telephone rang with the news that the boys were missing, Read and a hastily gathered group of friends threw skis and packs into pickups and fought their way through the whiteout to Northstar. They geared up, hitched a ride to the summit, and set off into the wet and windy darkness.
Those were the days before smartphones, GoreTex, or GPS, when cross-country skis were made of wood with Lignostone edges and three-pin bindings. Nordic skiers used bamboo poles and wore woolen knickers, leather boots, and 60/40 parkas, which tended to soak the wearer in wet snow or rain. They carried no radios, headlamps, or avalanche beacons. None of them had ever organized a search, and few had participated in one.
Originally Published in Moonshine Ink 12/14/2023, Written by Kellee Rich
As the cold weather descends on the Sierra Nevada mountains, locals and visitors alike delight in the drastic scenery changes. Fall mornings blanketed with frost and multi-colored leaves sweeping across pavement reminded us that winter is coming.
As a fourth-generation local to the Tahoe/Truckee area, I’ve seen the winter season go through its ups and downs, from the community coming together to help those less fortunate, to record-breaking snowstorms that shut down roads and commerce. Because of this, I’ve compiled a Tahoe Winter Survival Guide for anyone spending time in our sublime landscape this season. My intention is to offer you some practical tools and good practices to ensure you celebrate in style, stay safe, and respect the area.
GEAR Stay Geared Up and Shop Local Layers are key. So are warm jackets and good boots. Temperatures in the Tahoe Basin can range from 30 to 50 degrees in a single day, becoming warmer during the day and dropping to below freezing conditions in the evenings. Crampons, ice cleats, or snow grips? Not a bad idea if you need some extra support and traction on icy roads and sidewalks. Shop small at local businesses in downtown Truckee, Tahoe City, Kings Beach, and Incline Village. Find great deals at second hand shops like Mountain Kids/Echo Blue in Truckee or NUTS in Tahoe City. Pick up any needed gear and snow tools at employee-owned Ace Hardware.
Submitted by Tia Rancourt with North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District
With the recent snowfall and more on the way, it is a good reminder to be aware of avalanche potential and educate yourself on pre-emptive steps to take before going outside to recreate.
In our community, we have two historical avalanche zones, one in Third Creek drainage (terrain above upper Jennifer St., Sutro, Bidwell, Lunar, and Mercury Courts) and one in Crystal Bay (terrain above Lakeview Ave., Tuscarora Rd., and Teresa Court). But avalanches can occur anywhere when the right conditions exist.
When avalanche conditions warrant an alert notification, residents can expect a notification from Washoe County Emergency Management via a reverse telephone notification called Code Red. To receive these notifications (and other alert notifications), register at Washoe County Alerts & Warnings.
You have learned to recognize the five red flags of avalanche.
At the very least, take an avalanche awareness course. Seriously consider taking an avalanche rescue course. Local education providers can be found here.
Remember, the best tip is to “Know Before You Go,” the avalanche danger rating is only a starting point. You control your own risk by choosing where, when, and how you travel.
Contact: Tia Rancourt Public Education/Information Officer North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District
In The News – That’s not snow: Thousands of styrofoam beads wash up on Incline Village beaches
January 9, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in The Tahoe Daily Tribune 01/09/2023, Written by Katelyn Welsh
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Community members are throwing pasta strainers, kitty litter scoops, buckets, tarps, leaf blowers, and shop vacuums at cleaning up potentially hundreds of thousands of styrofoam beads that washed ashore Incline and Ski Beach on Sunday. To the unknowing onlooker, the beads look like snow that has settled into drifts around the beach.
The source of the nearly Dippin’ Dot sized beads—a floating dock— was discovered Sunday afternoon. The dock likely broke open during the storm, scattering an unknown amount of plastic styrofoam beads into the lake.
The Incline Village Improvement District removed the damaged dock Monday morning and volunteers have been working since to clean up its remnant pellets.
Colin West of Clean Up the Lake says the storm’s large waves threw the beads high onto the shore, keeping them 10 to 20 feet from the water level.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino Debuts Winter Wellness Program with Elemental Immersion
January 9, 2024 | Member Submitted
Immersive Wellness Events Feature Cold Plunge in Lake Tahoe, Sound Healing, and More
Incline Village, Nevada (November 25, 2023) – Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, a spacious resort nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of North Lake Tahoe, debuts a winter wellness program for guests and local residents. The resort will host multiple Elemental Immersion events throughout the season providing a full-day of focused, intentional wellbeing experiences led by area professionals.
“We are thrilled to bring back our popular Elemental Immersion experience this winter at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe,” said Julie Orblych, director of spa and wellness at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino. “The events are curated to provide a customized wellness journey for each individual participant in a small and welcoming group setting. The itinerary has been carefully-curated to provide a full-day of thoughtful and intentional wellness sessions from some of the area’s best professionals and is designed to encourage relaxation, balance, and both physical and spiritual wellbeing.”
The first Elemental Immersion of the winter season will take place on Saturday, December 9 with check-in at 9:30 a.m. The morning session will commence with a wellness session led by Brooke Haley, a RYT yoga teacher and reiki master. Haley will walk participants through a breath work class where they will practice Wim Hof breathing techniques. Guests will then take part in an intention-guided cold plunge in the naturally-chilled waters of Lake Tahoe, followed by a chef-prepared meal at Lone Eagle Grille curated to reflect wellbeing focus.
The Elemental Immersion will continue in the afternoon with a sound healing session led by Gyongyver Rindour, who is certified by the International Academy of Sound Healing. Participants will be surrounded by the sounds of water, wind, flutes, gongs, and Tibetan Bowls to provide vibrational acoustics designed to help cleanse and clear out overactivity of the mind, and encourage a sense of presence and balance.
The event will conclude with a “letting go” fire ceremony where attendees will write down things that may be holding them back in their wellness journey which they have the option to share with the group. They will the throw piece of paper into the resort’s pool-side fire pit as a symbolic gesture.
Throughout the day, participants of the Elemental Immersion will have access to the resort’s spa facilities and amenities including a spacious heated outdoor pool, oversized whirlpools, and spa relaxation areas, and more.
In addition to the winter kick-off event on December 9, the resort will host Elemental Immersion experiences on January 20, February 10, and March 9. Registration for the events is required and can be made by calling (775) 886-6745.
For more information or to book a stay at 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, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, a AAA Four Diamond Award winning resort, offers majestic lake and mountain views from its 422 guestrooms, including 32 suites and 24 lakeside cottages. The resort’s design evokes modern alpine luxury with exposed wood beams, rich leathers, and granite features throughout the property. Premium amenities include 500 feet of private beach featuring a 275-foot floating pier, a year-round heated lagoon-style pool and two hot tubs, a 25,000 square foot Grand Lodge Casino, and 50,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor flexible meeting and event space including the picturesque Lakeside Ballroom, Tahoe’s premier lakeside ballroom just steps away from the beach. Additional amenities 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, and an on-site Adventure program which provides guided activities led by the resort’s team of adventure specialists. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino has received numerous awards and recognitions including Travel + Leisure’s 500 Best Hotels in the World, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, Smart Meetings Smart Stars Awards, U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotel Awards, and more.
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
The Hyatt Regency brand prides itself on connecting travelers to who and what matters most to them. More than 175 conveniently located Hyatt Regency urban and resort locations in over 30 countries around the world serve as the go-to gathering space for every occasion – from efficient business meetings to memorable family vacations. The brand offers a one-stop experience that puts everything guests need right at their fingertips. Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts offer a full range of services and amenities, including the space to work, engage or relax; notable culinary experiences; technology-enabled ways to collaborate; and expert event planners who can take care of every detail. For more information, please visit hyattregency.com. Follow @HyattRegency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and tag photos with #AtHyattRegency.
In The News – Nine 47 Tahoe to bring 40 condominiums to Incline Village
January 7, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Northern Nevada Business Weekly, Written by Rob Sabo
A long-delayed condominium project in Incline Village is scheduled to break ground this spring on two acres at the corners of Tahoe and Southwood boulevards.
Nine 47 Tahoe will be the first new condominium project constructed in Incline Village in more than two decades, said Randy Fleisher, principal with Palcap FFIF LLC. Fleisher told NNBW that the condo project also may include development of deed-restricted housing on a separate parcel and is a labor of love more than 15 years in the making.
“When I first saw the site years ago, I envisioned delivering condominiums to the Incline Village community,” Fleisher said. “My wife owns a Pilates studio here, we are ingrained in the community, and we understand the need for both ends of the housing spectrum. That’s why we also are targeting achievable and affordable housing on our other site.
“We are very fortunate that we got this two-acre site,” Fleisher added. “I had been bird-dogging this site for years, and I finally convinced the owner to turn it over to us.”
Elizabeth Pitcairn Joins Toccata-Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
January 6, 2024 | Member Submitted
Elizabeth Pitcairn performs Brahms Violin Concerto and Chuyoung Suter performs Grieg’s Piano Concerto – and you don’t have to drive to Reno!
Elizabeth Pitcairn joins TOCCATA-Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus for the 14th year, performing one of the finest and most popular gems in the concerto repertoire. And the orchestra and chorus celebrate their 19th anniversary, under the direction of founding Artistic Director and Conductor, James Rawie, with one of the greatest monuments in Western music.
Elizabeth Pitcairn has a well-deserved reputation as one of America’s most beloved soloists. Since her New York debut at Lincoln Center in 2000, she has performed at Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, all over Europe, and in China and Hong Kong. She plays the legendary “Red Mendelssohn” Stradivarius of 1720 (which inspired the Academy award-winning film, “The Red Violin”).
You will immediately fall in love with the main melodies of Brahms’s “Violin Concerto in D major”! Settle in and let yourself be swept away by the turbulent passion of the opening movement, the languid beauty of the slow movement, and the giddy, high-spirited energy of the finale. The piece is played so often because it is undeniably a masterpiece in the world of violin concertos.
Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor” is the monumental achievement of his life’s (prodigious!) compositions. The work is among Grieg’s earliest important works, written by the 24-year-old composer in 1868 in Søllerød, Denmark, during one of his visits there to benefit from the climate.
Tickets: $30 for adults, $40 preferred seating (youth $15), $50 premium seating (youth $25). Seniors enjoy $5 discount in all seating. FREE ADMISSION for youth under age 23 in general admission seating.
In The News – The reasons behind prescribed fire operations
January 6, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in KOLO 8 on 01/05/2023, Written by Jayde Ryan
RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Prescribed burns are resuming in North Lake Tahoe and they are a beneficial way to keep the forests healthy and reduce fires.
Lake Tahoe’s forests are extremely vulnerable to wildfires. So, the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District tries to reduce that risk through two types of prescribed fires.
The first is pile burning, like what is happening this week. The second is “under story burning”, that is the burning of the forest floor as it is. Fire officials say one of the main reasons why prescribed fire is so important, is because it reduces the risk for major fires, like the 2007 Angora Fire.
”Suppressing all fire has got us in the situation now where a fire can get so big because we suppressed them in the past and that allows that vegetation to grow, and then it’s unmanageable for a few days, and we don’t want that,” says Chief Ryan Sommers. “We want to reintroduce fire into the elements and the environment to keep those fuels down and it’s also very good for forest health.”
Provided by NTBA – Originally published at www.placer.ca.gov//tahoeparking
Background
Placer County is developing a North Lake Tahoe Parking Management Program as recommended in the Resort Triangle Transportation Plan adopted by the Placer County Board of Supervisors in October 2020.
Simply expanding transit and bicycle/pedestrian options without changing the low cost and convenience of the private automobile near attractive recreation areas does not cause a significant overall shift in mobility patterns. Pricing and managing auto use at the end of the trip, such as at beach and recreational parking locations, is an effective approach already in use around Lake Tahoe. The implementation of active parking management will improve utilization of existing infrastructure and enhance use of transit and other travel options.
Purpose
The purpose of this program is to better manage the existing parking supply in the North Lake Tahoe region. County officials are considering solutions, such as a paid parking system in town centers and recreational beach parking areas, as well as the establishment of specific residential permit parking zones. Goals include encouraging alternative modes of travel, ensuring sufficient turnover in convenient parking spaces for businesses, protecting neighborhoods from spillover parking, and efficiently using land to meet Tahoe area parking demands.
Private parking area participation in a County paid parking program will be voluntary, but the inclusion of underutilized private parking in the overall program is encouraged and also provides revenue return opportunities for the private property owner. This program has the potential to generate funding for local investment into alternative transportation enhancements, such as new bicycle/pedestrian facilities and expansion of transit services. Community engagement is planned for spring 2023 as part of the initial development of the program, as well as establishment of stakeholder working groups for collaborative discussions regarding program goals, elements, financing, technology, enforcement, and phasing.
Placer County will hold a pair of meetings to gather community input on existing parking related problems to be solved with the initial phase of implementation of the North Lake Tahoe Parking Management Program. Each will be facilitated by county staff and an experienced parking consultant, Dixon Resources Unlimited.
In person community meeting – Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at 5 p.m. at the North Lake Tahoe Event Center.
Virtual community meeting – Thursday, Jan. 11, starting at noon. Visit placer.ca.gov/tahoeparking to register.
