The first piece of satire Sam Clemens published outside his brother’s paper, was also his first salvo in a lifelong crusade against frauds and humbugs. “The Dandy Frightening the Squatter” was published in the Boston Carpet Bag in 1852 when Sam was sixteen-years-old. As a lifelong humorist and social critic, he continues to speak to us today with an immediacy that transcends the ages. So let us take a moment here in 2025, and take a listen to this sixteen-year-old prophet…

A tall, brawny woodsman stood leaning against a tree which stood upon the bank of the river, gazing at some approaching object, which our readers would easily have discovered to be a steamboat. About half an hour elapsed, and the boat was moored, and the hands busily engaged in taking on wood.

Now among the many passengers on this boat, was a spruce young dandy, with a killer moustache, who seemed bent on making an impression upon the hearts of the young ladies on board, and to do this, he thought he must perform some heroic deed. Observing our squatter friend, he imagined this to be a fine opportunity to bring himself into notice; so, stepping into the cabin, he said:

“Ladies, if you wish to enjoy a good laugh, step out on the guards. I intend to frighten that gentleman into fits who stands on the bank.”

The ladies complied with the request, and our dandy drew from his bosom a formidable looking bowie-knife, and thrust it into his belt; then, taking a large horse-pistol in each hand, he seemed satisfied that all was right. Thus equipped, he strode on shore, with an air which seemed to say, “The hopes of a nation depend on me.” 

Marching up to the woodsman, he exclaimed: “You are the very man I’ve been looking for these three weeks! Say your prayers! You’ll make a capital barn door, and I shall drill the key- hole myself!”

The squatter calmly surveyed him a moment, and then, drawing back a step, he planted his huge fist directly between the eyes of his astonished antagonist, who, in a moment, was floundering in the turbid waters of the Mississippi.

Every passenger on the boat had by this time collected on the guards, and the shout that now went up from the crowd speedily restored the crest-fallen hero to his senses, and, as he was sneaking off towards the boat, he was thus accosted by his conqueror: “I say, yeou, next time yeou come around drillin’ key-holes, don’t forget to look up yer old acquaintances!”

Yes, that sixteen-year-old Samuel Clemens is shouting across the ages, trying his level best to remind us, that integrity, decency, respect and character still do matter, and now it is our turn to stand up against frauds and humbugs, and act, not violently, but act collectively…

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

Originally Published in the Sierra Sun, 4/24/2025, Submitted

The Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team has welcomed Annabelle Monti as its new Program Manager who will play a key role in elevating regional efforts to prepare the Lake Tahoe Basin for wildfire. Monti brings extensive experience in fuels and vegetation management, strategic planning, and community engagement, which makes her exceptionally well-suited for the role, according to the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team.

“We are thrilled to have Annabelle join our team,” said Tahoe Douglas Fire Chief, Scott Lindgren. “Her experience and leadership will help drive the collaborative efforts of the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team forward, ensuring that Lake Tahoe remains proactive in mitigating wildfire risks and improving forest health.”

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Photo provided to Sierra Sun

EARTH DAY, officially designated as April 22 in 1970, is now a worldwide event dedicated to sustaining our planet.  Friday, April 25 is when celebrations take place in the Basin. Head over to UNR’s Lake Tahoe campus for a local celebration and learn what actions are being taken by our local agencies and organizations. 

Protect your home against fire!

UNR is fast becoming a go-to venue for community programs. TONIGHT, April 23 at 6pm, Prim Library is hosting the program on gardening and home hardening tips that can safeguard your property. The fire district will be on hand to talk about fire-adapted communities and defensible space. Take more action by becoming a fire-adapted ambassador for your neighborhood. Learn more at a Zoom session on May 7 at 12pm. Register HERE >

One more event on campus this week! Thursday, April 24, the Tahoe Environmental Research Center is introducing their new director Stephanie Hampton, an expert in freshwater ecology. This event is a perfect segue to Earth Day on Friday!

CIVIC DUTY

Wednesday, April 30 is a big day for this.

Starting at 4pm at Incline Library:

Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) has a “self-guided” open house on its SR 28 improvement projects. Learn about the North Parking Project, plans for a transit hub at Spooner, and central corridor improvements.

Starting at 5:30 at the Chateau:

Washoe County is hosting a workshop on proposed changes to the Washoe Tahoe planning “bible”, the Tahoe Area Plan. These changes are primarily designed to align Washoe County housing policies with TRPA’s “Phase 2 housing amendments supporting deed-restricted, affordable, moderate, and achievable multi-family developments”. There is an in-person workshop on Wednesday, April 30, at the Chateau.  There is a LOT to digest. Washoe County planning has been holding meetings and disseminating information since the beginning of the year. Get the background material at 

TAP update webpage 

FUN STUFF

Do you get stuck in a rut of going to the same restaurants? IVCBA’s restaurants are giving you a reason to explore. Check out all of the participants in RESTAURANT WEEK here! 

INCLINE STAR FOLLIES is in their second comeback year! See your friends, neighbors, co-workers and their kids on stage lip-syncing and dancing to your favorite songs. MAY 2-3. Tickets at available HERE >

GOOD FOR YOU

Natural Grocers has another one of their Saturday seminars on April 26 at 11 am. Learn about carbohydrates, the good and the bad. Does this mean I have to choose between potato chips or popcorn?!  I’m going to need something comforting after those heavy-duty meetings next week!

LIKE WHAT YOU READ?

IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

A Peace Pole is a monument declaring the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in the language of the country in which it is planted and usually several other languages.

The Peace Pole Project was started in Japan by Masahisa Goi (1916 – 1980), who dedicated his life to spreading the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. Mr. Goi was greatly affected by the destruction caused by World War II and the bombs which fell on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Since 1986, Peace Poles are now the most recognized international peace symbol and monument the world over with more than 200,000 Peace Poles standing in almost every country throughout the world. 

Rotary International has adopted Peace and Conflict Resolution as one of its seven areas of focus. Rotarians all over the world are encouraged to promote peace through service projects and community outreach. 

Sponsored by: Rotary Club of Incline Village – Noon Club

When: May 21^st at 2:30 pm – 3:15 pm

Where: 898 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village, NV 89451. Rotary Garden at Chevron Corner. Recommend parking in Raley’s lot and walking half block.

Who: Incline Village Rotarians from Noon Club and Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline – Morning Club, the Washoe Tribe. Incline High School’s Mi Cultura and Interact Clubs.

Event contact: Lu Sweeney, lurn@me.com

For more information about The Rotary Peace Pole project see https://rotarypeacepoles.world

Written by Julie Reagan – TRPA

Lake Tahoe is leading the charge into Spring for all of us. Budding trees, songbirds, and warm days are bursting forth just in time for the 55th celebration of Earth Day next Tuesday. Started in 1970, the annual event is a touchstone for conservation, sustainability, and harmony between the natural and human environments. These are the principles on which the states of Nevada and California founded the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), also marking 55 years this year.

It was a courageous move. In the 1950s and ‘60s, Tahoe was undergoing an enormous building boom. Plans for freeways and a city the size of San Francisco encircling the lake were on the table. Fortunately, it was also a time when environmental science was beginning to drive public policy.

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Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 04/21/2025, Written by Leah Carter

The Incline Village General Improvement District met to review audit progress, discuss water quality and iron out details regarding possible boat parking at Diamond Peak Ski Resort over the summer.

Ahead of discussing agenda items, Trustee Mick Homan touched on the subcommitee meeting held on April 4 by the Commitee on Local Government Finance. Homan gave an update on audit progress, saying staff made “great progress” over the last month, bringing around 110 open items down to just two significant audit testing items left outstanding. 

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I had my first and worst experience on a horse during a summer I remember only as, “The Summer of Blaze!” I was coaching swimming at the time, and there were two swimmers who were exceptionally talented, Patty & Maggie, but on this particular day they were dogging it. So I shouted to them, “Pick it up, ladies, this is not your Hilton Spa!” They stopped swimming and shouted back, “We’ll pick it up, coach, if you will ride Blaze!” To wit, I shouted back, without thinking, “Fair enough!”

Well, they did pick it up, and I was pleased, until later that afternoon, when I heard clopedy-clop-clop in the parking lot, and suddenly there was Blaze, a magnificent bareback wild stallion that Patty & Maggie had trained to run through an obstacle course at lightning speed.

Being a man of my word, albeit wearing only a swimsuit without spurs or even shoes, I climbed bravely up onto a gate, and from there boarded Blaze, who flared his nostrils in recognizing that he had a genuine turnip on his back that he was going to dispose of in a Churchill Downs minute.

Well, Patty & Maggie slapped Blaze on the rear, and we shot across that parking lot and into a pear orchard like an arrow from a crossbow. Of course I grabbed Blaze by the ears and held on for dear life as we fast approached a haybale that he had been trained to jump. So up and over we went with me hugging Blaze around the neck while he zeroed in on a low-hanging pear tree. I could see that I was about to be rudely scrapped-off by a very fast approaching pear tree, so I chose valor over defeat, and as that pear tree came into reach, I grabbed a branch with both hands, spread my legs, and let Blaze continue along his destruction derby without me. 

As I hung there counting my sins, the sound of my beating heart was broken by laughter and shouts of approval from my antagonists, the talented but devious aquanauts, Patty & Maggie, who went on to win medals in their respective events during that memorable Summer of Blaze…

I would suffer yet one more incident with a horse. I was walking down at the docks on the Island of Maui to watch the circus arrive, and a pretty lady was leading the horses off the boat onto the Island when one of her horses swung around and hit me in the chest with his rear-end, knocking me to the ground. The pretty lady shouted, “Don’t you know a horse when you see one?!” Somewhat stunned, I shouted back, “No, but I know a woman when I see one!” Without a moment’s hesitation, she shouted back, “That’s funny, you don’t look like you would!”

That hurt me, worse than the horse, but it was such a good riposte that I had to laugh, and take it like a man…   

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