Tahoe Gifting Co, Expands with New Event & Workshop Space – The Cut
September 10, 2025 | Member Submitted
Tahoe Gifting Co, known for its custom and artisan-made gifts, has expanded with a brand-new event and workshop venue called The Cut, located at 868 Tahoe Blvd, Ste 8, Incline Village—right next door to its retail shop.
The Cut offers three ways to enjoy it: private rentals for community, corporate, birthday, and bachelorette gatherings—with the option to bring in an artisan for a private workshop; Tahoe Gifting Co–hosted events such as spirits tastings and product launches; and hands-on workshops led by local artisans and the Tahoe Gifting Co team, ranging from candle making to ceramics and jewelry.
The community is invited to celebrate at The Cut’s grand opening party on September 20 at 6 pm. A calendar of events will be posted soon online and on the bulletin board between Suites 8 and 9.
Meanwhile, Tahoe Gifting Co’s retail shop remains a hub for unique gifts, continuing to offer custom holiday and large-scale gifting with nationwide shipping.
Tahoe Gifting Co.
Tahoe Gifting Co began in 2020 when founders Darya Shahvaran and Matthew Rautio set out to bring local artisans and small businesses together under one gifting roof—at a time when small businesses needed it most. As a woman- and veteran-owned business, their mission was to showcase the community’s creativity while making gifting feel personal and unique. Over time, Shahvaran layered in her graphic design background, and in December 2022 the company welcomed its laser engraver, affectionately named Ruth, which transformed the business by enabling personalized gifts from water bottles to cutting boards. By fall 2023, Chelsey Elkik joined the team, adding her creativity and heart, and today Tahoe Gifting Co stands as a circle of friends, partners, and collaborators who make it what it is.
In The News – What’s at the bottom of Lake Tahoe?: One team is preparing to show the world
September 9, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 09/04/2025, Written by Katelyn Welsh
Chase Petley rummages through the tool-laden shelves in his garage and proudly pulls out a cylinder marked by shattered glass.
“This is one of my favorite failures,” he says. It’s one of the 15 or so remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) he’s designed in his quest to explore the bottom of Lake Tahoe.
“If anyone knew what I knew about the bottom of the lake and [has] seen what I’ve seen,” Petley says, “it would be crazy not to be putting your whole life into building the equipment and grabbing the people, like I’ve done, to go and explore and show people.”
This is my favorite time of the year, when things start to quiet down but the weather is still nice and the lake is as warm as it’ll ever be before the snow starts to fall. It’s also the perfect time to catch up with friends at the farmers market, bike or hike along the East Shore Trail, or simply stroll around the streets of Incline taking in the public art.
As an art aficionado myself, I love that Incline Village has no shortage of public art and in recent years more has been coming on the scene. Therefore, now is the best time to check out these vibrant public art pieces scattered throughout town. Here are a few new and popular ones:
Highway 28/Highway 431 Roundabout Critters
Ten years ago, locals petitioned to fix the bottlenecks at highways 28 and 431, and then one of Nevada’s largest roundabouts was installed. To fill in the middle of the circle with something pleasing to look at, the Incline Roundabout Public Art nonprofit enlisted the help of June Towill Brown, a local sculptor. She created a bronze bear, deer, and coyote sculptures (donating about $250,000 of time and materials), which still stand today amongst the sagebrush and native plants.
“5 Kids in a Tree” at the Incline Village Library
If you can’t wait to crack open that book after you leave the library or are trying to finish one you’ve got, then the benches in front of the “5 Kids in a Tree” sculpture out front is a good place to relax and tuck into a novel. The detailed rambunctious bronze statue was created by Ken Ross and donated by longtime residents/book lovers Andrew Whyman and Barbara Perlman-Whyman.
“Buddha’s Eye” at UNR at Lake Tahoe
Originally established as a liberal arts college, 20 years ago, sculptor Robert Wick created and donated a bronze sculpture called “Buddha’s Eye” to the college. Wick’s public art sculptures reflect the union of land, architecture, and art, and this dynamic piece can be viewed in front of the Prim Library.
Trash to Treasure Painted Bear Boxes
Two years ago, Incline Middle School collaborated with the Incline Education Fund and UNR at Lake Tahoe to create a “Trash to Treasure” initiative, which involved promoting and participating in community cleanup days and then taking that collected trash and turning it into public art. This year, the school has expanded the effort, working with IVGID to paint bear boxes around town. The painted boxes represent a canvas for change and sustainability; a couple of them are at the softball fields and the Recreation Center.
New Tunnel Creek Café Mural and Signage
Those hiking or riding the Flume Trail above Tunnel Creek Cafe may notice a new forged metal sign and mural leading up to Flume Trail Bikes. Local artist Ryno had some paintings hanging up in Tunnel Creek Café, and the folks at Tunnel Creek worked with Flume Trail Bikes to hire Ryno to paint the mural.
The signs leading up there were recently created by Sustain Tahoe’s Jacquie Chandler and her partner to better direct people up to Flume Trail Bikes; the one at the entrance has a nice bench to sit under.
Around the same time that Ryno created the Flume Bike Trails mural, he also painted two colorful mountainscapes on the front of the Incline Storage buildings on Highway 28.
“I painted them both late last fall… it snowed a couple days right in the middle of each one which dragged it a little longer than expected. My inspiration came from old retro ski posters from the 70’s Everyone just wants either Tahoe landscapes or bears up here so I try to at least paint them differently than the normal since I’m rarely able to paint in my forte.”
Natural Grocers Community Mural
Last year when the new Natural Grocers opened, the Colorado-based company teamed up with Kings Beach artist Sara Smith, known for her intricate animal portraits, to paint a mural on the side of their new building facing Highway 28. With the help of some high scaffolding, she filled the top part near the roofline with an image of our crystal clear blue lake and Tahoe’s animals/pollinators, then invited the community to come out and leave their mark on the lower half. In late August of 2024, people picked out stencils and paint then got to work on their creations, filling in the blank wall. If you ever drive by, look at the wall and find the brown bunny sitting in the grass…it was created by yours truly.
Get Out and Find Some Art
There are a few other public art pieces in town, but these are some of the newer, more well-known ones. The best thing to do is to get out, walk around, and see how many you can find!
In The News – Construction underway on new Tahoe Meadows access ramp
September 9, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 9/9/2025, Staff Report
Construction is now underway to build an accessibility ramp in the Tahoe Meadows off Mt. Rose Highway. This new ramp will help everyone, including those with mobility challenges, access more than half a mile of boardwalk trail.
Crews from Granite Construction will be working in the area for the next few weeks. During this time, the stairs to the boardwalks will be closed. Visitors can still access the Meadows via the Ophir Creek Trail, also known as the Tahoe Rim Trail Connector.
The Tahoe Fund partnered with the Tahoe Meadows Access Ramp Committee on a fundraising campaign to build an accessibility ramp. The NV Energy Foundation, the Keyser Foundation and dozens of Tahoe Fund donors helped to meet a $75,000 match provided by Steven and Sandy Hardie to make this project happen.
As the 2025–26 school year kicks off, each of Incline Village’s public schools has exciting news to share.
Incline Elementary School Incline Elementary is thrilled to welcome new principal Sarah Zabel. Principal Zabel brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to student learning, and a passion for building a positive school environment where every child feels supported and inspired. She believes strongly in the power of community and already has a number of family-friendly events in the works—so stay tuned for some fun opportunities to get involved.
Incline Middle School The hallmark Exploratory Program is rolling out fresh offerings this quarter, giving students the chance to try new skills and experiences both in- and outside the classroom. Current options include: Culinary, Bowling, Financial Literacy, Construction, Textile Arts, Mountain Biking, Bear Box Beautification, Swimming, Tennis, Leadership, and Mentoring. These hands-on explorations not only spark curiosity but also build creativity, teamwork, and confidence.
Incline High School At Incline High, Principal Cahill is celebrating a strong start to the year. The school has already hosted its Back to School Night and Club Fair, and Homecoming is just around the corner—don’t miss the football game on Friday, September 19, and the student dance on Saturday. In addition, IHS has launched an exciting new after-school Theater Program that will count for PE credits. This marks the return of drama to the high school, with a fall production already in the works.
From new leadership to fresh programs, Incline’s public schools are off to an inspiring start. Here’s to a year of learning, connection, and community spirit!
Tahoe Forest Health System is excited to welcome the community to the Annual Fall Fun Run on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Truckee Regional Park. This family-friendly event celebrates the spirit of “Walk-tober” with opportunities for participants of all ages and abilities to run, walk, or race along the scenic Legacy Trail.
The morning begins with packet and bib pickup from 7:30 to 8:30 am at the Truckee Regional Park, followed by staggered race starts beginning at 9:00 am Runners can choose from three distances: a 10K, a 5K, or a 1-mile run/walk. Each course starts and finishes in the Regional Park and takes participants along the beautiful Truckee River on the Legacy Trail. The routes include gentle elevation changes, with the 5K and 10K incorporating a dirt-path segment for a bit of extra challenge.
After crossing the finish line, every participant will receive a finisher medal and a celebratory beverage, with a choice of beer or hop water provided by FiftyFifty Brewing. Post-race festivities run from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and include live music, delicious food available for purchase, and time to gather with friends and family.
Registration is open now at https://runsignup.com/tfhsfallfunrun. To secure early-bird pricing, participants are encouraged to register before October 3, 2025, when rates will increase. Costumes are encouraged!
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About Tahoe Forest Health System
Tahoe Forest Health System, which includes Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, CA, and Incline Village Community Hospital in Incline Village, NV, offers 24-hour emergency care, a Level III trauma center, three urgent care clinics, and primary and specialty care clinics throughout Truckee and North Lake Tahoe, including Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center, and the Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care. With a strong focus on high-quality patient care, community collaboration, clinical excellence, and technical innovation, Tahoe Forest Health System strives to be the health system of choice in our region and the best mountain health system in the nation. For a complete list of physician specialties and services, visit www.tfhd.com.
In my recent article on the power needed to run artificial intelligence (AI), I wrote how power bills are going up due in part to the additional electricity needed to run AI data centers. I made reference to the 20 percent spike in energy bills in the northeast, but data centers are coming to northern Nevada, too.
The Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (RTI) is known for having the Tesla Gigafactory. Soon, it will be known for data centers as well. Microsoft has acquired 225 acres within the center and a larger plot in nearby Silver Springs. Apple and Google are expanding their data centers, too. The RTI may become one of the largest data center markets in the world.
Estimates are that these data centers will require a 40 percent increase in Nevada’s electricity usage and consume billions of gallons of water every year. Although companies are racing to build data centers across the world, Nevada is giving tax breaks to build here, including abatements on property taxes for a decade or more. I bet the companies would have come, tax breaks or not. Nevadans should at least know this is happening. Most don’t.
NV Energy will supply power to these data centers. Traditionally utility stocks are steady and provide a good income for shareholders. That has changed. Because of data centers, utilities are in a growth industry. The SPDR Utilities ETF (XLU) is up 12 percent this year after gaining 20 percent in 2024.
The need for power is why Market Vectors Nuclear Energy (NLR) is up 120 percent since 2023. For individual stocks, I like GE Vernova (GEV) and Vistra Energy (VST), although they are volatile and are only appropriate for the speculative portion of a portfolio.
As for the overall market, those analysts with time to check say that 80 percent of S&P 500 companies reported second quarter earnings better than expected. Perhaps Wall Street needs better analysts. Investors are enthusiastic for earnings growth and the expected upcoming cuts in interest rates. Earnings will be growing fast among big-cap AI companies, but anticipation of that is why the stocks are where they are with historically high valuations.
Will other stocks follow suit? Yes, to some degree market participation has already improved. Small-cap stocks do especially well when the Fed lowers interest rates. When rates are lowered will investors decide to take on some risk instead of staying in a money market fund with a falling yield? Eventually, yes. It’s a bull market.
David Vomund is an Incline Village-based Independent Investment Advisor. Information is found at www.VomundInvestments.com or by calling 775-832-8555. Clients hold the positions mentioned in this article. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.
Lake Tahoe School presents: Coffee With Kirsten Jones
September 8, 2025 | Member Submitted
Lake Tahoe School is proud to host a special presentation by Kirsten Jones, a renowned Peak Performance Coach, motivational speaker, and author of the best-selling book, Raising Empowered Athletes. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 16, at the Bobcat Treehouse Library in Lake Tahoe School from 8:30 am to 10:00 am.
Kirsten Jones, a Hall of Fame NCAA Division I volleyball player and former NIKE executive, has dedicated her career to helping athletes, parents, and coaches navigate the complexities of youth sports. Her unique approach focuses on teaching athletes to get out of their heads and into their bodies, allowing them to perform at their highest level.
Having raised three Division I athletes herself, Jones intimately understands the challenges and triumphs of the youth sports journey. Her presentation will draw from her personal experiences and professional expertise, offering parents practical strategies for time management, building resilience, and fostering a positive, high-performance mindset in their children. Attendees will learn how to help their athletes manage pressure, amplify their strengths, and find joy in the athletic experience.
“We are thrilled to bring Kirsten to our community,” says Cynthia Keeler, Director of Development and Special Events at Lake Tahoe School. “Her insights on raising empowered athletes and navigating the pressures of competitive sports are invaluable. This is a must-attend event for any parent or coach who wants to make a lasting, positive impact on their young athletes’ lives.”
The presentation is free and open to the public, and attendees can register at https://www.laketahoeschool.org/ninja-forms/57niju.
About Kirsten Jones: Kirsten (Keer-stin) is a Hall of Fame NCAA Division I volleyball player, 15-year NIKE executive, motivational speaker, Peak Performance Coach, author of the best-selling book, Raising Empowered Athletes, and host of the award winning podcast, “Raising Athletes” (#5 on Feedspot in Youth Sports).
She works with athletes, parents, coaches and administrators, helping them identify their pain points, amplify their strengths and reach their individual and collective team and leadership goals.
Kirsten’s super power is getting people out of their heads in into their bodies, allowing them to feel their best and perform beyond what they believed possible.
Kirsten and her husband, Evan, have raised three athletes (ages, 24, 21 and 19). Two sons, who became DI basketball players and a daughter who played volleyball through high school. Kirsten understands the pressure, excitement and often times anguish that comes with roller coaster ride that is youth sports. Buckle up!
Contact:
Allie Sacci Director of Marketing & Communications allie.sacci@laketahoeschool.org 775-831-5828
Twenty-five years ago, we were logging onto the Internet with dial-up connections. Today, you can book a microtransit ride from an app on your smartphone. That’s a lot of change in just one generation—imagine what the next 25 years could bring for transportation at Lake Tahoe.
The recently adopted Connections 2050, TRPA’s 25-year Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) charts that future with more than 90 projects designed to protect the lake and improve how people get around the basin. Success over the next quarter-century will be measured not only by projects completed, but by the outcomes they deliver, such as cleaner air and water, safer streets, and more connected communities.
