Category: Community News

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Local School Updates

December 12, 2022 | Mary Danahey

Hi I’m Mary with the Incline Education Fund, a local nonprofit that support students, educators and parents here in Incline. Through our programming, advocacy and fundraising, IEF helps to ensure academic achievement and skill development across generations of Incline students. We have some exciting updates to share about each of the schools:

Incline Elementary School
IES students have been busy putting their STEAM skills to work this holiday season!
For the past couple of weeks, students have been working on a school-wide project. Students have been reading books about parades and floats and then using their creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills to design their own floats and a parade route. Then they programmed their robots to “carry their floats” through the halls of IES. The holiday parade is scheduled for December 22 at 10:00.

Event Details >

Incline Middle School
And not to be outdone, Incline Middle School will be showing off their STEM skills this holiday season as well.
Even though Nevada Jane’s will be closed until 12/21, head over their porch to check out IMS’s holiday light display. The 7th & 8th graders created all of the displays, chose the songs, coded the light sequences and programmed the 13-minute show. There are 5 sequences and the show will run daily from 5pm-9pm. Additionally, they are entering the Deck the Halls Lighting Contest!
A huge thank you to Terry Barberry and Incline Education Fund for supporting this project.

Incline High School
Huge congrats are in order to the Incline High School “We the People” team!!
For the 20th time in 23 years, our small-town school has made it to State. The next competition will be Feb. 4th.
Basketball, both nordic and alpine skiing, and wrestling have begun. Check the IHS website for details.
And don’t forget to mark your calendars for the annual CrabFeed – it’s on March 18th at the Hyatt. Get the details here.

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Pine Nuts – Thanks for the Memories

December 11, 2022 | McAvoy Lane

I was whistling, “Born to Lose,” while waiting to get my booster shot, and overheard a young passerby ask his mother, “Mom, why is that man whistling?”

“Because he’s happy, Honey.”

And she was right. I was happy to be the lucky recipient of a potentially lifesaving vaccine, and, were I not to draw attention to myself there in the pharmacy, I’d have been dancing to the ironic song I was whistling.

One of the nice remunerations of growing older is an ability to celebrate other peoples’ conquests and achievements, some call it Freuden Freude. I only wish I could shake the hands of the doctors and scientists who developed our vaccines and take them all to T’s for lunch.

I was able to extend a small expression of gratitude this morning, with a little help from my pet Jay, Huckleberry. Six roofers were standing in a circle on the driveway below, about to tackle the big job of keeping ice from falling on us this winter. Huckleberry had just tapped on my window with his beak and was waiting patiently for his Beer Nut, while I whistled, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.”

I shouted to the workers below, “Gentlemen, thank you for your good work, and my pet jay, Huckleberry, would like to thank you too.”

With that said, I took a half-step back from the Beer Nut I had set out for Huck, and here he came to take it almost out of my hand. The guys down below shouted their approval and gave Huckleberry a standing ovation.

When we take time to celebrate little subtleties, well, little grievances pass away. As an example, I’m delighted that I can put my thoughts down on paper, and thanks to this fine family journal, convey these thoughts to you. As I number my columns, I happen to know this one is number 1,528, and yet, it is the first in which I am acknowledging my joy. Please allow me to say thank you to the publishers and readers of Pine Nuts, for granting 22 years of scribbler gaiety.

Some of the feedback I have received over the years has been helpful too, like, “You don’t know Jack!” (Ah, but I do, he lives in New Jersey.) Humility is an essential ingredient to contentment. Mark Twain received a letter once that said, “Sam, those who criticize your writing never saw you dance.”

But before I quit apostrophizing and get me to bed, I must vehemently denounce the recent algae bloom of ill-conceived antisemitism. Of all the misplaced prejudices in the world, this one has the least to recommend it. Our Jewish friends and neighbors are our intellectual aristocracy. They are good at just about everything, and better than most at obstruse thinking. So the animosity we are witnessing today is most assuredly a product of envy, one of the seven deadly sins, I forget what the other six are just now. But then I am sleepy, and must say goodnight…

Listen to the Audio

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Watch Washoe Life: County Commission Highlights

December 11, 2022 | Member Submitted

The Board of County Commissioners approved a grant to help process the backlog of DNA tests at the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Another grant received and approved by the Board will fund a new inclusive playground at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park.

View this Washoe Life recap for more news from the Board for the month of November >

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Local Lens – Positive Developments in Incline Village and Crystal Bay

December 7, 2022 | Linda Offerdahl

Anyone who has tried to build a home or a commercial property in our community knows how obstructive county and regional policies can be. The cost of construction is often insurmountable and has led to commercial properties in decline and a stagnating look to a Village we would like to appear quaint perhaps, but not antiquated. This is reason enough to applaud those developers who have made the investment of their money, as well as their time, to contribute to our economic vitality. I want to use this week’s Local Lens to call out recent developments that lead to a sustainable Incline Village and Crystal Bay.

Natural Grocers

It’s hard to miss the big hole of construction on Tahoe Blvd. across from Christmas Tree Village that will become Natural Grocers. They will work through the winter as much as they can, but it will probably not open until 2024.  Cruz Construction, a local company is doing the work. IVCBA is in touch with the developer and the Natural Grocers personnel. They are eager to engage with the community.

Waldorf Astoria Lake Tahoe

“Revitalizing the Biltmore” just announced the branding and management agreement with Hilton for the resort being built in Crystal Bay next to Granite Place Condominiums.  It brings a luxury brand, Waldorf Astoria, and a reliable hotelier, Hilton, that will be able to see the project through and provide long-term employment to our year-round workforce. The developer EKN has worked hard to engage the community and keep us informed. Look for it to open in 2027.

Nine 47 Tahoe Condominiums

For a myriad of reasons, the corner of Southwood and Highway 28, the site of the old Stanley’s Restaurant and the gas station, the lot has been vacant for years. No merchant or restaurant has found a viable business opportunity at that location. Randy Fleisher, a local Incline resident, and his development group, Hamilton Realty Finance, are undergoing great expense to build a multi-family dwelling on that property. They still have some hurdles to jump through with Washoe County and TRPA. Let’s support this new development and use it as an opportunity to improve the control of traffic at that intersection as well as the walkability of our town. 

With the influx of new families, Incline has a shortage of housing at every income level, and the inability to build workforce housing needs to be addressed at the agency level. Don’t shoot the messenger, aka developers, because it’s infeasible to build workforce housing in Incline. The Washoe Tahoe Housing Partnership is moving, albeit slowly, with Washoe County and TRPA to ease these restrictions.

In addition to the restrictive and expensive building environment, concern about adequate support for a new business is often mentioned as a problem by potential businesses. We often hear about the shortage of workforce housing in running or starting a new business. We rarely hear about the difficulty of running a business in a small town in this era of Amazon.com and big box stores. THIS is a problem locals CAN address. Shop Local!

Raley’s Incline Center

Did you notice they improved their signage? It may seem minor, but it was likely expensive. It updates the look of our major shopping area. Merrill has improved the look of the Bank of America building. Watch for a new restaurant, Rosewood, I believe the name is, in the building with Dickson Realty.

Mountain Hardware and Sports

We have a new reason to “shop local” …the new ownership of Ace Hardware has led to an expansion into the old Pet Station space. It is open already! It is full of clothing, sporting, and household goods that are hard to find in Incline Village. 

Grocery Outlet

Yes, the rumors are true. Village Center owner Greg Hoff is in negotiation with Grocery Outlet to fill the Village Market space. Although the ink is not dry on the deal, IPM/Larry Wodarski has been directed to make much-needed structural improvements. Village Center and its post office hub used to be the place “where neighbors meet and locals shop”. It needs that anchor business, a market, to reinvigorate it. 

Benefits of these developments to our community:

  • Employment for locals with the creation of new jobs
  • Investment in our commercial areas strengthens our local economy
  • Developments often lead to infrastructure and other improvements in town
  • Revitalization maintains the value of our homes
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IVCBA Gets Grant to Help Fund Main Street Program

December 7, 2022 | Member Submitted

Originally Published in The Sierra Sun on 12/4/22

Written by Miranda Jacobson

The Washoe County Board of Commissioners in October granted $25,000 to the Incline Village Crystal Bay Community & Business Association to support funding of the Main Street program.

The Incline Main Street program is a part of the Nevada Main Street, which works to redevelop and revitalize downtowns.  

Continue Reading >

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Winter is Off With a Bang in IV/CB… Here are Some Places to Sip and Shop

December 7, 2022 | Kayla Anderson

Photo by Lora Wagner

Wow, we are in the throes of winter with the promise of a white Christmas up ahead. Diamond Peak opened early with a crazy amount of natural snow (check out current weather conditions from its live webcams here), shops are fully stocked with goods, and Santa Claus has been making his rounds. The holiday season is arguably our favorite time of the year as it allows us to celebrate our Incline Village/Crystal Bay businesses. 

Hopefully you’ve had a chance to enjoy Giving Tuesday, Small Business Saturday, and the past Northern Lights sip and shop events at the Village Center and Country Club Center, but if not, that’s okay because there is still more to come. 

There will be another Sip & Shop event at Christmas Tree Village on December 10th with Village Interiors, Karma Tahoe Consignment, Crosby’s Pub, Village Ski Loft, Mofo’s Pizza, Thania’s Juice Bar, Monaco Nails, Koi Sushi, High Sierra Gardens, and the new Happy Tiers Café participating, allowing one to shop local while having fun.  Tahoe Gifting Co will also be participating. They just opened a new retail location at 800 Southwood (at Mays Blvd). for all things locally made (and they ship and deliver!)

Other businesses that offer unique and special items in IV/CB shopping centers include: 

Tahoe Time Plaza – Rainbow Printing, a good place to print out family pictures and purchase art supplies for those blustery winter days) and save 20 percent on gift cards for Clearly Tahoe kayak tours through December 31st. 

Across from the Raley’s Shopping Center on Tahoe Boulevard in what we call the Bite Building – Bridget Giroux Design (this mother/daughter team makes amazing Tahoe-scented candles and promotes local artists), Drink Coffee Do Stuff, Frederick’s Fusion Bistro, The Local, Bite American Tapas.

Village Toys in the Starbucks Plaza is also offering a 20% discount on the purchase of new, unwrapped toys that are being donated to Toys for Tots and other local charities. For a list of all Incline Village/Crystal Bay businesses and a map of where they are located, visit our Northern Lights Shopping page. 

Personally, the week I moved to Incline Village the first event I ever attended was the IVCBA’s Sip & Shop at the Christmas Tree Village in December of 2006. Santa Claus was taking photos with kids, the shops were warm and inviting, and people were gathered around barrel bonfires in the parking lot. Everyone was so friendly, so merry, and it was a great way to meet my neighbors and future employers… a few who have since become my lifelong friends. And with all the snow we were getting at the time, I felt assured that Incline Village/Crystal Bay was the perfect place to be for the holidays.

Therefore, let it snow!

Other events coming up this month:

December 9- Nativities from Around the World at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church and a ski season kickoff party at Alibi Incline Public House

December 10- Tahoe Family Solutions’ Brunch With Santa at The Chateau

December 11- TOCATTA Messiah Concert at the Cornerstone Church

December 15- Starbucks Plaza Santa Party

December 17- Wreaths Across America

December 17- Raley’s Incline Center Sip & Shop Event

December 18- Hannukah begins- North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation Party

December 20-22- Deck the Halls Lighting Judging

December 21- Hannukah Celebration at the UNR at Lake Tahoe Prim Library

December 25-26- Diamond Pete and Santa ski at Diamond Peak

December 31- New Year’s Eve Parties at Glasses Wine Bar, Alibi, Crystal Bay Casino, and the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe

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Local Shopping Guide

December 7, 2022 | Kayla Anderson

Shop Local, Shop Small

Tis the season for holiday shopping, and what better way to celebrate your loved ones than by getting them something unique, original, and made or sourced in your own town. And from now until Christmas, there are dozens of events, shops, and promotions within Incline Village and Crystal Bay that are worth checking out. Here are a few options for finding gifts close to your holiday home:

Panache (930 Tahoe Blvd. Ste 204, Incline Village) next to Raley’s in Incline Village carries home décor items such as nice-smelling candles, Tahoe-centric coffee table books, and warm women’s clothing, everything from stylish activewear to Emu boots and slippers.

You can also scoop up comfortable, warm second hand clothing at the Village Christian Thrift Shop (799 Southwood Blvd., Incline Village), Pet Network Thrift Store (760 Mays Blvd. Ste 9, Incline Village), and Tahoe Family Solutions (774 Mays Blvd. #13, Incline Village) all in and around Mays Boulevard. All these thrift stores have kitchen appliances, furniture, sports equipment, greeting cards, and an abundance of other good finds, so you can really stock up on gifts while saving money and supporting worthy causes. Tahoe Forest Hospice Gift & Thrift (893 Tahoe Blvd. Ste 1500, Incline Village) also has an amazing assortment of items, and its staff is super friendly. 

Karma Tahoe (868 Tahoe Blvd. Ste. 12, Incline Village) in Christmas Tree Village started out as a women’s clothing boutique but expanded to include children and men’s clothing. Find gently used boots, shoes, purses, and jewelry too.

Speaking of jewelry…if you’re thinking of taking your relationship to the next level, consider checking out specially sourced turquoise, stone, and metallic necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings at family generational business The Potlatch (930 Tahoe Blvd. Ste 401, Incline Village), or the glimmering Forever Rox jewelry store (930 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) to find priceless diamonds, also located in the Raley’s Shopping Center.

For things exclusively made in Lake Tahoe, Handmade at the Lake (865 Tahoe Blvd. Ste 104, Incline Village) sells quilts, kitchen and bath accessories, Lake Tahoe ornaments, bath sets, and pottery made right here in Tahoe. 

FOR THE FOODIE IN YOUR LIFE:

Raley’s (930 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) and Happy Tiers Bakery (Christmas Tree Village, Incline Village) has you covered, with sweets, specialty breakfasts, and more. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe’s Tahoe Provisions (111 Country Club Dr., Incline Village) also has Tahoe made snacks and to-go treats that are made right here at the lake, and you may get to catch a glimpse of its impressive holiday gingerbread display. Sunshine Deli (919 Incline Way, Incline Village) sells delectable pastries, specialty donuts made inhouse, and other belly-filling yet healthy breakfast and lunch items.  

Alcohol makes a good gift for those ages 21 and older, and there’s no better place to find it than at Incline Spirits & Cigars (120 Country Club Dr. Unit 25, Incline Village). If you’re looking for more of a laidback wine night, head over to Glasses Wine Bar (760 Mays Blvd. Ste. 8, Incline Village) to grab a bottle to share with friends or pour your own glass our of one of its many wine dispensers.

A great idea for hostess and holiday gifts with a Tahoe flair, the thoughtfully curated Tahoe Welcome Basket are chock full of unique locally crafted food and artisan products.

FOR THE KIDS:

If you are shopping for young ones, The Potlatch has an entire kids books and games section. And while you’re so close, it’s worth meandering across the parking lot about two hundred yards away to cuddle up with the soft plush toys at Panache. To find a whole shop dedicated to kids, venture over to Village Toys (899 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) that’s now located next to Starbucks on the corner of Highway 28 and Village Boulevard. Buy an unwrapped gift for charity (Toys for Tots and others) and receive a 20 percent discount through the holiday season.

Have you checked out the new Bowl Incline (920 Southwood Blvd., Incline Village)? If not, consider buying a bowling session for your family for an experience you’ll never forget in the newly renovated building. There is something for everyone here, including three pool tables, a state-of-the-art arcade, cornhole boards in an outside enclosed patio area, and a fancy cocktail menu for adults. Learn more about the business’s reinvention in the Winter 2022 edition of Live Work Play magazine. 

FOR THE GARDENER/INTERIOR DESIGNER IN YOUR LIFE:

If you have that special person who takes pride in their yard and home, check out High Sierra Gardens (866 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) for a lovely variety of plants and their holders, or put together a nice fresh flower bouquet to bring to your party host. For a gift that lasts a bit longer, head over to ACE Hardware (910 Tahoe Blvd. Unit 103, Incline Village) for tools, hoses, paint, appliances, barbeques, and other garden equipment.

For more interior decorating, Village Interiors (868 Tahoe Blvd. Ste. 9, Incline Village) sells furniture, art, and will even design your space for you, and the new Bridget Giroux Design (Above Drink Coffee Do Stuff in Incline Village) mother/daughter team brings a fresh, modern take on how to design a mountain rustic home with aesthetic tastes close to the Holly Hunt brand. Every month, the design studio also hosts exhibits featuring local artists in its pop-up gallery and hosts a holiday shopping event open to the public in late November/early December. 

FOR THE SKIER OR SNOWBOARDER:

For all things outdoor-related, visit the Village Ski Loft (800 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) for socks, skis, snowboards, goggles, jackets, pants, and more. It also carries mountain bike and hiking accessories for the summer aficionado. If you have a four-legged that you like to explore the outdoors with, pick up some stocking stuffer treats for them at the newly expanded Pet Station (800 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) located underneath VSL.

Speaking of skis, check out the line of Praxis sticks made right here in Incline Village (848 Tanager St. Unit J, Incline Village). Take them up to our local, community-owned Diamond Peak Ski Resort (1210 Ski Way, Incline Village) and pick up a signature DP gift item at its shop within the base lodge. 

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Step Up for STEM

December 7, 2022 | Mary Danahey

Submitted by the Incline Education Fund

Did you know that the Incline Education Fund is a volunteer driven 501c3?

That means over 99% of your unrestricted donor dollars go directly to those who need it most (your restricted donations, of course, go only to the purpose you designate). Every $100 sends over $99 to programs at one of our Incline Public Schools and those dollars are put to work immediately.

How does your generosity look inside the schools?

Right now, your gift is underwriting the Incline Education Fund’s STEP up to STEM project. Part of this innovative plan includes the proven, high-impact, small group math support currently underway at Incline Elementary and Incline Middle Schools to cement important math skills. 

The schools are already seeing impressive results as students gain confidence in their developing math abilities… Step One in helping to prepare our students for the rigors of an exceptional STEM education, K through 12. Our ultimate goal is to get and keep ALL of our students above grade level. TODAY, we need your help to continue this successful program next semester

With your support, Incline Education Fund is making a difference.

You can too. Help our students Step up for STEM and Donate Here >

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Pet Network December Adoption Fees Waived

December 6, 2022 | Member Submitted

Made possible by the Gately Family Foundation

All of the Pet Network rescues, including puppies and kittens, are FREE to adopt this month thanks to the support of the Gately Family Foundation!

Each adoption also comes with ONE YEAR of free vet care through Pet Network Community Hospital*

*Terms, conditions, and limitations apply.

Find out more about the adoption process here.

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Mountain Safety Guide

December 6, 2022 | Grace Hubrig

Ski California and its member resorts in California and Nevada created the Mountain Safety Guide to educate our guests on how to ski and snowboard responsibly and safely while having a fun experience. Learning and practicing what is contained in this guide, using common sense, and making good decisions will contribute to your safety and the safety of all guests.

Additionally, if you complete the Ski California Mountain Safety Guide Quiz at the end, and you will be entered into a raffle for a 2023-24 Ski CA Gold Pass ($3,750 value!).

View the Mountain Safety Guide and take the quiz.

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