In The News – Incline High opens three-story expansion
May 21, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 05/21/2025, Written by Leah Carter
Incline High School unveiled its newest expansion and renovation project on Thursday, May 15. The expansion, funded by a grant from the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation, includes a three-story, 12,000-square-foot addition to the campus.
Some of the new features in the building included a culinary arts kitchen, a student and community hub, a dance studio and new classrooms for the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. The event began with a ribbon cutting at the JROTC entrance to the building, followed by presentations in the student/collaborative hub and an open house.
Parents, students and faculty were wide-eyed as they toured the new facilities, including a kitchen and cafeteria complete with walk-in fridges and even a Marzanno espresso machine.
In recognition of Wildfire Awareness Month, a coalition of wildfire experts, technology companies, energy providers, and nonprofits launched a groundbreaking pilot project today aimed at creating the most wildfire-ready community in the Lake Tahoe region.
The Incline Fire Smart Community Pilot is taking place in the Tyrolian Village HOA, a neighborhood encompassing 228 homes across 60 acres in Incline Village, Nevada that has been identified as a high priority wildfire area by the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.
The pilot is leveraging new technology to identify which mitigations matter the most, while informing insurance outcomes and demonstrating how comprehensive wildfire defense can be implemented and replicated across Tahoe and the West.
“This initiative has the potential to fundamentally change how communities approach wildfire resilience,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “We’re combining cutting-edge modeling and state-of-the-art technology with on-the-ground mitigation on public lands, NV Energy’s utility corridor, and in the neighborhood to create a replicable blueprint that can save lives, protect property, and preserve natural resources, while informing insurance outcomes.”
During a demonstration today, the public was able to see a remote-operated masticator from BurnBot remove hazardous fuels in the neighborhood up to five feet from homes. Attendees also heard from a panel of experts on how the project came together and the science and strategy behind it. You can watch the panel discussion here.
In The News – Incline High School swim team state championship results
May 20, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 5/20/2025, Written by Katelyn Welsh
The Incline High School swim team completed its season at the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association’s (NIAA) 3A State Swimming Championships on Saturday, May 17, at the Moana Springs pool in Reno, Nev. The team had 10 student-athletes span four individual events and three relays.
Senior and co-captain Ava Hane finished 4th in both the 200 yard individual medley and the 100 yard backstroke. Hane out competed Tahoe-Truckee basin competitor Kyla McCarthy Smith of Truckee High School (6th), but fell behind South Tahoe High School’s Nichole Whisnant (2nd) in the medley. In the 100 yard breaststroke, Hane, with a time of 1:17.18, was just behind Truckee High School’s Sophia Martin, with a time of 1:17.13. Hane outcompeted North Tahoe High School’s Maren Plumb by over two seconds.
Senior and other co-Captain William Arrison finished 7th in both the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard backstroke. Truckee High’s Caleb Edwards (5th) outcompeted Arrison in the medley. In the breaststroke competition, Arrison beat Truckee High School’s Jack Ridgel by close to three seconds. North Tahoe’s Dexter Vastine beat Arrison by almost four seconds.
Emergency Medical Services Week: We Care. For Everyone
May 19, 2025 | Member Submitted
Submitted by NLTFPD, May 18 – 24, 2025
The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFPD) is proud to join the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) in recognizing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, May 18–24, 2025. Now in its 51st year, EMS Week celebrates the vital contributions of EMTs, paramedics, and emergency medical personnel across the nation.
This year’s theme, “We Care. For Everyone.”, highlights the compassion, commitment, and critical care EMS professionals deliver every day—whether in large cities, rural communities, or here at home in Incline Village.
“National EMS Week is a time to recognize and honor the dedication of our paramedics and EMTs, whose critical work and unwavering commitment make a profound difference in the lives of those they serve every day,” said Fire Chief Ryan Sommers, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.
As part of the week’s observance, NLTFPD will be engaging with local students at Incline Elementary School, offering ambulance tours and interactive lessons about:
How the EMS system works
How to recognize a medical emergency
When and how to call 911
Basic safety and prevention practices
These educational visits aim to foster safety awareness at a young age while inspiring the next generation of community helpers.
To learn more about EMS Week and how you can support your local emergency medical services, visit www.emsweek.org.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Announces Premier Huneeus Vintners Wine Dinner
May 19, 2025 | Member Submitted
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, a spacious resort nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, announces it will host a Huneeus Vintners wine dinner at Osteria Sierra on Thursday, May 22 at 6 p.m.
“We are thrilled to host this premier wine pairing experience that highlights the critically acclaimed wines of the Huneeus Family,” said William Stout, food and beverage director at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. “This exclusive wine dinner will feature select wines from both Faust Vineyards and Flowers Vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. Each wine has been delicately paired with delicious menu items served at our signature restaurant Osteria Sierra.”
The Huneeus Wine Dinner will feature an expertly curated four-course menu, including:
Antipasti: King crab served with avocado mousse and a citrus salad topped with red radish and dried chili threads, paired with Flowers, Chardonnay Sonoma Coast.
Primi: Porcini mushroom truffle gnocchi and grilled portobello mushroom in cured lemon crème fraiche espuma and garnished with a crisp sage leaf, paired with Flowers, Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast.
Secondi: Braised beef cheeks atop saffron spiced carrot purée served with sides of roasted purple cauliflower, grilled baby artichokes, butter glazed green beans and duck fat confit potatoes. The secondi course will be paired with Faust, Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley.
Dolce: Brulèe Red Hawk cheese and fig jam with smoked almond crumb, honey comb and crisp rosemary lavash.
The Huneeus Wine Dinner experience will be hosted Thursday, May 22 starting at 6 p.m. With limited spots available, reservations for this intimate event are encouraged. Reserve your spot at https://www.exploretock.com/osteria-sierra/.
For more information or to book a getaway to Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, please visit HyattRegencyLakeTahoe.com, or call (775) 832-1234.
About Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino
Situated among the towering peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the award-winning Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino offers a premier destination based in the nature-infused setting of North Lake Tahoe. The resort is home to an on-site Adventure program offering daily guided activities to help guests explore the Tahoe outdoors with everything from group hikes and archery classes to meditation sessions. Guests can enjoy premium amenities such as a year-round heated lagoon-style pool, two hot tubs, and a 25,000 square-foot Grand Lodge Casino. The resort also boasts the 20,000 square-foot Stillwater Spa featuring a variety of relaxing massages, facials and body treatments as well as state-of-the-art touchless therapies including the Cryobuilt Cryochamber, “Pearl” a revolutionary float orb, and the “Harmony” bioacoustic mat. The property showcases premier dining opportunities at the brand-new Osteria Sierra offering elevated Italian cuisine, pub-style fare at Cutthroat’s Saloon, and grab-and-go selections at Tahoe Provisions. Additional culinary delights include afternoon tea service on the weekends and a selection world-class pastries created by the resort’s renowned team of pastry chefs. Recognized for excellence, the resort has garnered numerous awards including Travel + Leisure’s 500 Best Hotels in the World, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best, Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Smart Meetings Smart Stars Awards, and U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotel Awards.
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 hotels
The Hyatt Regency brand is a global collection of hotels and resorts found in more than 200 locations in over 40 countries around the world. The depth and breadth of this diverse portfolio, from expansive resorts to urban city centers, is a testament to the brand’s evolutionary spirit. For more than 50 years, the Hyatt Regency brand has championed fresh perspectives and enriching experiences, while its forward-thinking philosophy provides guests with inviting spaces that bring people together and foster a spirit of community. As a hospitality original, Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts are founded on openness—our colleagues consistently serve with open minds and open hearts to deliver unforgettable celebrations, effortless relaxation and notable culinary experiences alongside expert meetings and technology-enabled collaboration. The brand prides itself on an everlasting reputation for insightful care—one that welcomes all people across all countries and cultures, generation after generation. For more information, please visit hyatt.com
Free First Time Homebuyers Workshop in Incline Village
May 19, 2025 | Member Submitted
May 22 at the Chateau 5:30pm-7:30pm
Published May 19, 2025 – Written by Laura Vitencz PhD IVR CEO
A First Time Homebuyers Workshop, open to the public, will be hosted by Incline Village Realtors on May 22, 2025, from 5:30pm -7:30pm, at the Chateau in Incline Village. The Workshop here will feature speakers from the regional community, including mortgage lenders, credit repair agencies, insurance companies, banks, title companies, and leaders from Incline Village Crystal Bay Association (IVCBA) and Incline General Improvement District (IVGID). Resources and information geared toward breaking down barriers for the first-time homebuyer will be provided to consumers as part of a grant obtained by Incline Village Realtors from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) consumer advocacy grant program.
Spanish translators will be available at the event.
“IVR is excited to work with our local community businesses and leaders to provide consumers information and resources they need to purchase their first home and break down barriers to homeownership,” said the CEO.
The grant will also facilitate an IVR webpage with multiple language options for First Time Homebuyers. The webpage will host video (s) of the event and information that could be helpful to members of the public interested in purchasing their first home.
Dr. Laura Vitencz is the chief executive officer for IVR in Incline Village, NV. Vitencz worked closely with a team of community volunteer business leaders, real estate professionals, Membership Services Director Camryn Murray and Sean McDonald, 2025 President of the IVR board to make this workshop a reality.
PINE NUTS – The Hydrologic Cycle and the Presence of God
May 16, 2025 | McAvoy Lane
I should begin this examination by testifying that I believe Mother Nature and God are different words for the same thing. That being said, I would like to examine the hydrologic cycle as it might relate to a presence of God, and invite you to accompany me in this exploration…
Invisible as it might be to the naked eye, let us take a look at the miracle of the hydrologic cycle as a continuous circulation of water from ground to atmosphere and back to ground. Here are a few of the basic machinations as we know them…
Water from our oceans, lakes and rivers evaporates as vapor into the atmosphere. Atmospheric vapor then cools and condenses into water droplets or ice crystals, creating clouds. Water droplets in the clouds then become heavy and fall back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Water is then stored in various reservoirs, including oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers and groundwater. And voila! We have our wet and wild water world…
Thanks to science, I learned all this as a freshman in college. I also noticed a handwritten note at the bottom of my report card: “Mr. Layne, perhaps you should consider changing your major to something more like, Auctioneering.”
But getting back to the subject at hand, how does a hydrologic cycle relate to a presence of God? Well, we cannot see the evaporation of water, but we can see the results, just as we can’t see God, but can stand in awe and wonder while observing the results.
So I’m starting to wonder if the presence of God is within reach of our intuitions and emotional suspicions, and yet still a leetle beyond the reach of our intellect.
My certainty in the hydrologic cycle playing a crucial role in the health of Earth’s climate and ecosystems causes me to suspect that there is an additional force, a force of God if you will,
that plays a crucial role in the health and wellbeing of our daily lives. Heck, it was a blizzard that kept me cabin bound long enough to read a book by Mark Twain that gave me a rewarding 36-year career of portraying Mark Twain in classrooms and one man shows around the globe. Some have called this delightful sojourn, “A God-Wink.”
Science and Mother Nature will eventually lead us to the discovery and explanation of a higher power, but until that happens, I shall content myself in knowing there is much more going on around us than we can see, and yet we can appreciate whatever we imagine it to be, including loving our mother, Mother Nature.
Well, I thank you for accompanying me on this scientific expedition, and I would now humbly ask you to pass me a lime for my Guinness…
In The News – Learn to “Grow Your Own” in Tahoe: UC Davis Hosts Gardening Workshops and Plant Sales
May 16, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 05/16/2025, Submitted
The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), in partnership with the UCCE Lake Tahoe Master Gardeners, is excited to announce two upcoming Grow Your Own Gardening events designed to empower residents and visitors to cultivate their own fruits and vegetables right here in Tahoe.
Events:
Saturday, May 31, 2025 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tallac Historic Site | South Lake Tahoe, CA
Friday, June 6, 2025 | 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. UC Davis Tahoe City Field Station | Tahoe City, CA
At these free, hands-on workshops, participants will discover the secrets to successful gardening in Tahoe’s unique high-elevation environment. Learn how to grow your own produce using science-based methods, sustainable strategies, and eco-friendly techniques tailored for the Lake Tahoe Basin.
In The News – Classical Tahoe pairs music and movement to enrich early childhood minds
May 15, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Sierra Sun, 05/15/2025, Written by Katelyn Welsh
Music and movement have long been shown to play a positive role in early childhood development, something Rita Whitaker Haun has seen evidence of in children right here in North Tahoe.
“They moved much more easily. They sang much more easily. They were more expressive,” Haun said of kids who went through her early childhood program (for ages birth through five years old), and went on to excel in her music class at Truckee Elementary School.
In The News – Washoe County School District Board approves budget recommendations, confronts challenges
May 14, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 05/14/2025, Staff Report
At its regular public meeting, the Washoe County School District (WCSD) Board of Trustees heard a presentation from Chief Financial Officer Mark Mathers, who provided detailed information about the district’s challenging budget forecast for the next two fiscal years. Like many public agencies, the district is facing cuts to state and federal funding and is taking a variety of steps to keep the cuts from directly impacting students and classrooms.
Following the presentation, the Board of Trustees approved most of the budget recommendations that will be incorporated into the district’s final budget, but acknowledged that fiscal challenges lie ahead, partially as a result of a slowing economy and federal policy changes that reduced anticipated funding for education.
