Originally published in the Sierra Sun, 08/26/2024, Submitted

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – California Employers Association is co-hosting the California-Nevada Employers Summit: Navigating Success Across State Lines with the Nevada Association of Employers (NAE) on October 3-4, 2024, at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, 111 Country Club Drive, Incline Village, Nev. 89451.

The Summit is designed for employers looking to stay informed and compliant with the unique employment laws in California and Nevada. This event will provide the latest updates and essential details to help employers navigate the many new as well as different regulations in each state. 

After the legal insights, the event will feature a dynamic speaker discussing the importance of leading with intention in the workplace. This engaging presentation will offer practical tips and strategies to cultivate a purposeful and positive leadership style, so attendees leave with valuable knowledge and inspiration to implement in their organization.

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Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 08/23/2024, Submitted

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Through the generosity of its donors, Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation has once again broken its record on competitive grants made! The Community Foundation is proud to announce that it has granted nearly $400,000 through its Community Impact Grants in 2024, benefiting nonprofit organizations in the Lake Tahoe basin.

These annual competitive grants allow nonprofit organizations to request support focused on the Community Foundation’s five focus areas: well-being, education, arts and culture, environment, and community engagement. Volunteer members serving on the Community Foundation’s Community Impact Committee review each grant proposal and award the most impactful opportunities.

Last year, the Community Foundation expanded this opportunity by inviting its Donor Advised Fund holders to co-invest in the Community Impact Grants by providing summaries of the proposals and giving them the opportunity to make grant recommendations from their funds. These co-investments, when combined with the Community Foundation’s funds, have led to back-to-back record setting years for Community Impact Grants.

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Originally Published in the Sierra Sun, 08/22/2024, Written by Zoe Meyer

TRUCKEE, Calif. – Local pilots Sarah Krammen from Truckee and Raj Karwa from Incline Village secured second place in the 47th annual Air Race Classic (ARC), competing against 48 teams and approximately 125 women pilots. Held from June 18-21, the ARC is a renowned all-female air race that challenges pilots to exceed their aircraft’s previous performance rather than simply being the first to finish. This article is particularly timely, as Aug. 19 marked National Aviation Day. 

Flying under their team name Tahoe Turbulence, Krammen and Karwa tackled a 2,600-mile route that spanned nine states, from Carbondale, Illinois, to Colorado, with stops at 11 airports. The active racing portion involved roughly 18 hours of flying, but including travel time, their total airborne hours reached 50.

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Photo provided

Submitted by Lake Tahoe School, Allie Sacci, 08/22/2024

Incline Village, Nevada – August 22, 2024 – Lake Tahoe School, an esteemed independent school committed to echoing the wonder of Lake Tahoe through a joyful and academically challenging learning environment, was proud to host a special TEDxReno Salon community-wide event focused on the iconic clarity of Lake Tahoe in partnership with the Tahoe Fund. Entitled “Crystal Clear: Understanding Tahoe’s Water Clarity,” this community-wide event took place on Tuesday, August 20, in Duffield Hall.

Sustainability is a value at Lake Tahoe School that is integrated into our curriculum from early childhood through middle school. Through service learning trips, community engagement, and classroom instruction, we strive to cultivate in our students a deep appreciation for the natural world and a commitment to preserving it for future generations. Lake Tahoe, a symbol of natural beauty and environmental fragility, serves as an inspiring backdrop for our educational mission. By hosting this event – and similar events throughout the year – we aim to deepen our community’s understanding of the challenges facing this iconic lake and inspire collective action to protect it.

Lake Tahoe’s pristine waters are a treasure cherished by millions. However, the lake’s health and clarity face increasing challenges. “We are known for our water quality [at Lake Tahoe],” stated Kaya Stanley, President of TedxReno. “It’s a good thing to understand what goes into that, and what the future holds for the lake.” This in-depth discussion explored the latest science, policy, and on-the-ground efforts to protect and restore the lake’s renowned clarity.

Joining the conversation was a panel of esteemed experts with presentations by: Dennis Zabaglo – Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Kevin Prior – Director of the Land Division at the California Tahoe Conservancy Panelists included: Dr. Sudeep Chandra – Director of the Ozmen Institute for Global Studies, Director of the Global Water Center, and Professor of the University of Nevada, Reno Dan Segan – Chief Science and Policy Advisor at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Dr. Alex Forrest – Interim Director of the U.C. Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, and Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the latest research, challenges, and solutions related to Lake Tahoe’s clarity.

The panel delved into the factors impacting the lake’s health, discussed progress that has been made, and explored the path forward. “We were thrilled to partner with TEDxReno to bring together leading experts to discuss this critical issue,” said Amy Berry, CEO at Tahoe Fund. “We are committed to helping our partners find solutions to the challenges facing the Lake through the power of philanthropy.” The full video of this presentation will be made available to the public in the near future. About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of discovering and spreading ideas, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

TEDxReno is an independently organized licensee of the TED organization. About the Tahoe Fund The Tahoe Fund is a nonprofit founded in 2010 to support environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance sustainable recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation, and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Through the generous support of its donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged more than $20 million in private funds to secure more than $160 million in public funds for more than 160 environmental projects. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org. About Lake Tahoe School Lake Tahoe School is an independent preschool through eighth grade in Incline Village, Nevada. Our mission at Lake Tahoe School is to create a joyful and academically challenging learning environment that echoes the wonder of Lake Tahoe, cultivates community, and sparks personal discovery that leads to an extraordinary future for every student.

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 08/22/2024, Madison Schultz

With the summer season bringing an entirely new set of outdoor recreation activities to Lake Tahoe, mountain biking is a highly frequented, adventurous activity that’s beloved by many Tahoe locals and visitors to the area alike. Like many action-based recreational activities, mountain biking is presumed by many as a male-dominated sport, but unlike the blanket assumption, women have been avidly making proactive strides in dominating Tahoe’s local mountain biking landscape. 

According to a study conducted in 2018 by the Outdoor Industry Association, 46% of bikers across the nation were female. While the male gender still encompasses over half the amount of bikers in the nation, when analyzing a smaller, highly-active area such as the communities around Lake Tahoe, the involvement from both genders is head-and-shoulders above other areas in the nation. 

Given the treacherous involvement, and hefty upfront investment, that getting into mountain biking brings to active participants, it can oftentimes be overwhelming being introduced into the sport – especially when factoring in being a woman in a statistically male-led industry.

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Photo provided from Tahoe Daily Tribune

Originally Published in The Tahoe Daily Tribune, 08/20/2024, Staff Report

On this episode of Tahoe TAP, hosts Mike Peron and Rob Galloway deliver local news and feature an in-depth interview with Ryan E. Sommers, Fire Chief of the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District. Chief Sommers’ team is renowned for their excellence in preventing, preparing for, and responding to emergencies in the communities of Incline Village and Crystal Bay, Nevada.

Sommers was unanimously appointed to the position on September 21, 2016, becoming the seventh Chief since the district’s founding in 1959. Sommers was born in Reno, raised in Incline Village, and began his career with the NLTFPD in 1991 as a seasonal volunteer firefighter. He has since worked his way up through the ranks, serving as a dispatcher in 1995, a firefighter in 1997, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, and Assistant Fire Chief before being named Chief.

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Dear Community Partner,

We are contacting you and your organization to let you know of the possibility of additional continuous single-lane closure traffic controls for the IVGID Effluent Pipeline Project construction at the Secret Creek Crossing on Nevada State Route 28 during the following dates: September 13 – September 15, 2024.

Typically, the continuous 24-hour traffic controls conclude for the weekend on Fridays at 12:00 p.m., with work resuming on Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. So, for this extended period, there will be continuous 24-hour traffic controls on this stretch of SR 28 starting on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 20, 2024.

While we realize it is not ideal to enforce single-lane traffic controls during the weekend, the location of this area of highway is within an extremely rocky zone where the bedrock extends above the road grade and throughout the entirety of the work area. The new IVGID pipeline is required to cross beneath the existing Secret Creek box culvert (12-ft depth); this portion of work is very complicated and is subject to many unknowns due to ground conditions and water intrusion from the creek. For the safety of those working on the project and traveling in the area, this extended single-lane closure is necessary.

IVGID and the project contractor have deliberately scheduled the subject work task in the shoulder season to avoid summer/peak-season traffic volumes. We appreciate any collaboration in messaging this closure to both community members and visitors. We will provide updates and detailed information to your organizations to assist with this effort.

Please see the attached maps and photographs of the location and to familiarize yourself with the project. Please reach out to IVGID Communications Coordinator Kari Ferguson with any questions or concerns.

IVGID greatly appreciates your help in spreading the word about these potential traffic impacts.

Sincerely,

Hudson Klein, P.E.

Interim Engineering Manager

Kate S. Nelson, P.E.

Director of Public Works

Incline Village High School – Women’s Scholarship fundraiser kicks off on September 1st

INCLINE VILLAGE, NV (August 14, 2024) . . . The American Association of University Women, Tahoe-Nevada Branch (AAUW Tahoe-NV), located in Incline Village, is holding an online silent auction beginning September 1st and running through September 18th. The proceeds will benefit scholarships for deserving Incline Village High School senior women and the Branch’s new Community Grant Program! The auction can be found at the following Internet address: https://www.32auctions.com/AAUWTahoeNV2024.

In association with their upcoming Garden Party fundraiser, to be held on September 15th, AAUW Tahoe-NV Branch’s silent auction features numerous exciting and varied items, including vacation packages, experiential offerings, baskets of goodies, sports packages, demonstrations and instruction, and much, much more!

“Our upcoming Garden Party will be held on a gorgeous Lakeshore estate and is limited to just 150 guests,” explains Janet Usinger, Fundraising Chairperson of the organization. “So, we opted to present an online silent auction to augment our fundraising efforts. Our committee members have been diligent in securing wonderful bidding opportunities to help raise even more monies for our Scholarship Fund! From golf packages to restaurant gift certificates, the items are sensational! For more information about the Garden Party and to purchase tickets, please visit https://tahoe-nv.aauw.net/events.”

AAUW Tahoe-NV awards scholarship recipients up to $3,000 each year of their college career as long as the recipient maintains a 3.0 GPA and continues as a full-time student. Currently, AAUW Tahoe-Nevada is supporting eight qualified college students. This past year, AAUW Tahoe-NV awarded a total of $28,000 in scholarships and Community Grants.

2-2-2/ONLINE SILENT AUCTION TO BENEFIT SCHOLARSHIP FUND

AAUW Tahoe-NV Branch sponsors a monthly meeting in Incline Village that features speakers on a broad range of subjects to its 150 members. The Branch also has many interest groups (Outdoor Enthusiasts, Book Club, and a Great Decision discussion group, to name just a few).

The AAUW Tahoe-NV Branch is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation registered with the Nevada Secretary of State (Federal Tax I.D. #943055754), whose purpose is to further AAUW’s mission in advancing equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. Contributions to the Scholarship Program and Community Action Grant efforts qualify for a federal tax deduction pursuant to the provisions of Section 170.c. of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 USC 170c. For further information on the AAUW Tahoe-NV organization or to contribute to their efforts, please go to their website: https://tahoe-nv.aauw.net.

Charles Fee has announced his retirement as Producing Artistic Director of Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival (LTSF) in Incline Village, Great Lakes Theater (GLT) in Cleveland, and Idaho Shakespeare Festival (ISF) in Boise. After a long tenure marked by significant contributions to the growth and success of these theaters, Fee believes now is the right moment to transition to new leadership. Fee will pass the torch to Sara Bruner, who is poised to uphold and expand the legacy of these dynamic cultural institutions, fostering their ongoing success and growth.

Fee’s career at these organizations has spanned three decades and has been marked by visionary leadership and profound impact. Starting at ISF in 1991, he expanded his influence by joining Great Lakes Theater in 2002 and adding LTSF to his portfolio in 2010. Before his illustrious career with these three organizations, Charles was the Artistic Director at Sierra Repertory Theatre in California from 1988 to 1992. His extensive experience includes work with renowned institutions such as The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Missouri Repertory Theater, Actor’s Theatre of Phoenix, and the Los Angeles Shakespeare Festival. The three-city strategic alliance connecting Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Great Lakes Theater, and Idaho Shakespeare Festival stands as the biggest testament to Charles Fee’s visionary leadership. 

This model has enriched the cultural offerings of each region and established a new standard for collaborative theater production that has gained national acclaim. In addition to that acclaim, Charles was honored for his leadership by the Cleveland Arts Prize as a recipient of the Martha Joseph Award, the Boise Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, and the Idaho Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. 

As Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival sought revitalization, Fee wanted to add breadth, opportunity, and further talent to the successful producing model he had created in Cleveland and Boise with his business partner and GLT Executive Director Bob Taylor. The two worked to bring this exciting partner – located in an amphitheater in Nevada’s signature Sand Harbor State Park – into the strategic alliance, and the innovative production model was solidified.

Fee’s programming acumen would once again be on display as he continually created not one or two but three seasons that could efficiently, and with high artistic integrity, be produced in three different venues in three different time zones all to similar success. Patty Jansen, Chairperson of LTSF’s Board of Directors, shares, “Charlie has been a beacon of artistic excellence and innovation at Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Under his guidance, our Festival has flourished and become a cornerstone of cultural life in the region while also taking our place in the unique, prosperous cross-country partnership he created.

As Charles embarks on his retirement, we express our heartfelt gratitude for his exceptional contributions. His legacy will continue to inspire and uplift our audiences for years to come.” Fee started with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival in 1991 and quickly started working to revitalize it. In 1993, Fee, along with Managing Director Mark Hofflund, began a successful $12 million advancement campaign that included the construction of the amphitheater ISF now calls home in the historic Barber Pool Conservation Area, a riparian wildland home to 300 species located at the foot of the Rockies. With a continued surge in community engagement, attendance grew from 28,000 and peaked at 76,000 (101% capacity) in 2019. Philanthropic support continued to grow and sustain the company in recent years, as it returned to packed houses in Boise and throughout the region, where it visits 150 schools each year in predominantly rural communities, often hundreds of miles distant. 

Fee is equally proud of the opportunities he provides through a robust “Access Program” for those whose life challenges might otherwise keep them from enjoying the programs of Idaho Shakespeare Festival, for a high school Apprentice Company immersing juniors and seniors in an intensive, full-time, summer experience of being integral to a professional theater company; and for a longtime collaboration with musical theater students from Baldwin Wallace University under the direction of Victoria Bussert.

This collaboration with one of the nation’s leading undergraduate training programs has significantly contributed to the Festival’s growth and success as a producer of not only Shakespeare but also Sondheim and other highlights of world dramatic literature and American musical theater. “Charles Fee is simply a giant in Idaho theater and arts. Through his many years of stellar service, he has been pivotal to the success of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival we know today,” said J. Kevin West, President of the Board of Trustees at Idaho Shakespeare Festival. “From the initial capital campaign to fund our current amphitheater to the present, his visionary leadership has not only produced magnificent theatrical productions, but also deeply connected us with our community. 

Truly, Charlie will leave a lasting legacy here in Idaho. As he steps into retirement, we honor his extraordinary contributions and look forward to building on the strong foundation he has created.” Charles Fee’s dedication extends beyond the stage. He has been actively involved in community initiatives, serving on the strategic planning committee for the Velma V. Morrison Center, producing the FUNDSY Award Gala, and organizing the Idaho Governor’s Awards in the Arts. Additionally, he has contributed as a board member to the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Rotary Club of Boise Downtown.

He served his first decade in Boise as a faculty member of Boise State University, having earned degrees from the University of the Pacific (BA) and the University of California, San Diego (MFA).At Great Lakes Theater, Fee’s tenure began during a challenging time of financial instability. His strategic approach and innovative solutions were instrumental in stabilizing the organization. Yet, Fee’s vision extended beyond the mere survival of Great Lakes Theater; he was dedicated to long-term sustainability and artistic excellence. 

He incorporated strategies such as restaging successful productions and implementing cost-effective strategies that allowed GLT to overcome early financial crises and set it on the path to growth. Despite constraints, Fee’s unwavering commitment to maintaining artistic excellence was essential in re-establishing the theater’s reputation and securing community support, assuring a bright future for the organization. Through iteration and keen strategy, Fee created the successful six-show season GLT now enjoys. At the same time, his extraordinary programming acuity has brought the popular thriller genre to GLT patrons and a number of hit productions that have brought in diverse and enthusiastic audiences. “We are deeply grateful for Charlie Fee’s outstanding artistic leadership and sound fiscal stewardship of Great Lakes Theater for over twenty years,” says Kim Bixenstine, President of Great Lakes Theater’s Board of Directors. “Charlie was the architect of our unique and innovative collaboration with the theaters in Idaho and Lake Tahoe, which has been hugely successful from both an artistic and business standpoint. 

He is leaving us in a strong position and excellent hands with Sara Bruner at the artistic helm.” Along with former Executive Director Bob Taylor, Fee ushered in a new era for GLT by heralding the campaign to renovate the Hanna Theatre and provide Great Lakes Theater with its new theatrical home in Playhouse Square. Fee’s innovative spirit is seen throughout the renovation of the space, where the intimate, patron-forward design provides an unparalleled theatrical experience. 

His tenure has fostered a culture of transparency, creativity and resilience, ensuring the theater’s ongoing prosperity. Throughout his tenure in all three companies, Fee has had the unwavering support, sacrifice and love of his family, his wife, Lidia and daughter Alexa. The sacrifices families make to careers in the arts are often overlooked, but all three boards and staffs recognize the role that Lidia played in the success of these companies. From the endless travel and equally relentless schedule of rehearsals, performances and social obligations, Lidia proved to be a tireless and enthusiastic partner to Fee and a devoted mother to Alexa. 

As he steps into retirement, Fee embarks on a new chapter, leaving behind a legacy of artistic brilliance and transformative leadership, not only among the companies he has led but especially throughout the communities he has served. The three theaters that have flourished under his visionary guidance will forever bear the imprint of his passion and dedication. We applaud his immense contributions to the world of theater.

We wish him all the best in his active, well-earned and illustrious retirement. “How can I possibly capture in one word, one sentence, one paragraph, what my life in these three companies has meant to me and my family?” Fee questioned. “This was a life’s work… every day was heart-stoppingly thrilling, endlessly challenging, full of breath-taking beauty and utterly joyful. I will be forever grateful to the Trustees who supported us, the staff and artists I had the privilege to collaborate with, and the endless generosity of the communities we continue to serve. Thank you all. Lidia and I look forward to joining you as members of the audience!”