As this is Pine Nuts number 1,664, I thought it might be fun to look back 26 years to column number one, to see just how bad it was. Please don’t let Historian Emeritus Richard Miner see this, he who tells me I’m a good historian where facts are not essential… 

Circa 1956, Harold Tiller and Art Wood, our founding fathers, shared a thermos of coffee over a fallen log…

“You know, Art, by the year 2000, they’ll be servin’ coffee over a nice counter here instead of this old dead log.”

“We only wish it were right now, Harold, ‘cuz we’re fresh out of coffee.”

“This village of ours is going to need a good name, Art, a classy name, a name that will stand up over time…I was thinking maybe, ‘Tiller Village.’”

“‘Wood-Tiller Village’ sounds fitting to me Harold, and isn’t it interesting that if you draw a line from here to Reno, and draw another line from here to the summit of Mt. Rose, and another down to Reno from there, you’ve got yourself a perfect right triangle…we could rightly call our little village, “Pythagoras Village.’”

“Art, who the heck could spell Pytha…no, you better leave that idea right there. It is a pretty good pitch from here to the top of Mt. Rose, actually quite a grade. We need to find us another word for ‘grade.’  

“Why, think if we were to build us a golf course here, Harold!  Can you just imagine what would happen with all these lateral water hazards?”

“Yes, all those lost golf balls would wash right down into the lake, and you & I’d be the only ones who knew where they gathered!  We could keep ourselves up to our eyeballs in Johnnie Walker Red on recovered golf balls alone!”

“And just think how far those golf balls would fly in this thin air!  Why people will come from the four corners of the earth to play our course. We could fairly well establish a newspaper, sit back and watch that paper prosper just on the publication of tee times. Heck, we could name streets after golf balls…think of living on Titleist Drive!  Wouldn’t that tempt the devil himself!”  

“Indeed! we could sell lots with a view of the lake, then the lots with partial views, then the lots with filtered views, and then we’ll go to sellin’ lots with an essence of view!”

“Hey, Art, we could carve our own ski slope!”

“Nope…too flat.”

“No problem…we’ll just take to callin’ it, ‘Diamond Peak!’  That’ll fetch ‘em.”

“You know, now that I think of it, Harold, we could lay claim to the beach too, and allow property owners to spread their towels out on our beach!”

“No, Art, that will never fly…those Crystal Bay Bedouins would be down here tryin’ to throw down their Cal-Neva towels on our beach, and we’d be havin’ to call out the militia every other day.”

“There’s potential here, Harold, great potential.  But this little village of ours is going to need a really good name. Tilted Village, maybe? We just don’t know… 

Audio: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Fhv4PrH1UuwlhbnTT23zO

Here is the official message from the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District: 

Due to damage sustained on the fireworks barge during last night’s storm, the 2025 Incline Village fireworks show has been canceled.

Out of an abundance of caution, Incline and Ski beaches will remain closed until further notice while community partners assess the situation and develop a recovery plan.

Your safety is our top priority. Please stay tuned for updates through official channels.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Official Message from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office:

The 2025 Incline Village Fireworks Show has been cancelled after last night’s storm caused damage to the fireworks barge.

The following beaches are closed until further notice:

• Ski Beach
• Incline Beach
• Boat Ramp

Open: Burnt Cedar Beach (for IVGID Punch Cards and Pass Holders Only)

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is assisting to secure the area and support recovery efforts. For your safety, please avoid the closed areas, both on land and on the water.

If you discover any fireworks debris or unexploded materials around Lake Tahoe, do not touch it. Please report it to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency Dispatch at 775-785-WCSO (9276) for disposal.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work to ensure the safety of our community.

Stay connected to official channels for the latest updates. @washoesheriff @nltfpd

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 07/04/2025, Written by Leah Carter

The Incline Village General Improvement District met last Thursday to discuss updates to the Incline Beach House Project, a new tennis center play pass program, and an expanded fire agreement.

Board members started with an update on the Incline Beach House Project, which is nearing final decisions. “I’m excited to see the community feedback and see where they stand as we start to make final decisions,” said Michaela Tonking. 

As of June 24, the design-build team at CORE Construction has submitted design development drawings and will proceed with construction drawings, scheduled for submission by the end of August. The project has been in progress for nearly a decade, and nearing this stage of the process marks a step closer to making the developments tangible. 

READ MORE >

Originally published in the Sierra Sun, July 3rd 2025, Staff Report

Summer in Tahoe means warmer weather and days at the beach, but it also means more people around the Lake. To encourage people in the Basin to go slow and be safe, Take Care Tahoe has reprinted the popular “Take it Slow, Tahoe” yard signs. 

The message of “Take it Slow, Tahoe” captures attention and uses creative artwork to remind everyone to take it slow in Tahoe. The signs are part of a larger campaign that launched in Summer 2022. 

Yard signs are available for pick-up at seven locations around Tahoe, including: 

READ MORE >

Originally Published by TRPA, 07/01/2025

Prepare for mandatory decontaminations and download the Tahoe Boating App

As the Lake Tahoe Region approaches one of the area’s most popular boating holidays, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is reminding boaters, paddlers, and beachgoers about special precautions that help visitors and residents protect the lake and safely enjoy its iconic, blue waters.

Stop Aquatic Invasive Species: Arrive Prepared for Inspection and Decontamination

To protect the Lake Tahoe Region from invasive golden mussels, all motorized watercraft without a valid Tahoe inspection seal will be decontaminated following a mandatory inspection. Details for boaters:

• Clean, Drain, and Dry to save time, minimize decontamination fees, and protect the lake.
• Boaters needing inspection and decontamination around busy holidays and weekends may experience long walk-in wait times and are encouraged to adjust plans or schedule an appointment attahoeboatinspections.com/appt.
• Hand-launched electric watercraft, including eFoils, eSUPs, and kayaks with trolling motors, must display a 2025 Tahoe Electric sticker. Visit tahoeboatinspections.com/efoil for requirements.
• Bring boating equipment, including keys, life jackets, water toys, and ballast bags, to the inspection station, but kindly leave kids and pets at home. Ensure boat batteries are charged.
• Walk-ins and appointments are accepted until 4:30 p.m. daily to allow adequate time for inspection and decontamination.

Become a Tahoe Keeper: Paddlers Can Protect the Waters of the Tahoe Region

• Clean, Drain, and Dry all gear to minimize the risk of aquatic invasive species introduction from kayaks, paddleboards, and other non-motorized gear.

• Fallen Leaf, Angora, and Echo lakes are pristine. To help protect all alpine lakes, Clean, Drain, and Dry between every launch, even within the Tahoe Basin. 
• Registered Tahoe Keepers can opt in to the 2025 Eyes on the Lake x Tahoe Keepers Chance to Win to win paddle gear and unique Tahoe water experiences.

• Free, solar-powered cleaning machines are located at Sand Harbor, Meeks Bay, and Kiva Beach help paddlers Clean, Drain, and Dry.
• Paddlers can stop by any of the three regional inspection stations for a fast, free decontamination to eliminate invasive species on hand-launched watercraft.

Take Safety Seriously: Download the Tahoe Boating App

• The Tahoe Boating App features live weather warnings, area attractions, no-wake zone boundaries, and more to enjoy the lake safely and responsibly. Download for iOS and Android at tahoeboating.org.
• Wear a personal flotation device and be aware of the risk of cold-water shock.
• Lake Tahoe’s no-wake zone keeps boaters and swimmers safe. Motorized boats must stay under 5 mph when boating within:
  • 600 feet of shore
  • 100 feet of paddlers and swimmers
  • 200 feet of shoreline structures
  • All of Emerald Bay

For access to boat inspection information, including the appointment system, fee structure, and Clean, Drain, Dry protocols, visit TahoeBoatInspections.com and follow the program on social media @TahoeBoating. 

Contact the inspection team at 888-824-6267, or  ais@trpa.gov. For media interviews and requests, contact Public Information Officer Jeff Cowen at 775-589-5278, or jcowen@trpa.gov.