(Tahoe/Truckee, Calif.) –The Incline Village Community Hospital (IVCH) Foundation is excited to announce the receipt of a $7.8 million grant from the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation to fund the IVCH Surgery Enhancement Project, a major initiative to improve access to high-quality surgical care in the region. 

The grant – the largest in the IVCH Foundation’s history – will allow the hospital to expand and modernize its surgical suite, improving patient care and ensuring the hospital remains at the forefront of rural healthcare excellence.

The existing IVCH surgery space, originally built in the 1980s and designed to meet the needs of a smaller patient population, has faced growing challenges in accommodating the increasing demand for services. The planned enhancements will not only improve surgical efficiency and capacity but also create a more comfortable and modernized environment for patients and staff. Expanding the surgical suite will allow for a broader range of procedures to be performed locally, reducing the need for residents to travel long distances for specialized care, which can be especially dangerous in winter months.

The grant will allow for the construction of a new surgical procedure room, increasing the existing capacity for all current procedures, including ophthalmology, orthopedics, and gastrointestinal surgery. It will also allow IVCH to optimize existing space and explore the possibility of offering new services.

Other key features of the Surgery Enhancement Project include:

• Upgraded air handling systems to ensure compliance with modern surgical standards
• Capacity for future technology upgrades such as telemedicine and enhanced security
• Asbestos abatement, new flooring throughout the surgical spaces, and updated fixtures
• Modernization of post-operative recovery areas
• Expanded registration area to improve patient flow and overall experience

Grant funding is made possible by the generosity of the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, a private charitable foundation based in Incline Village, Nevada. In recognition of the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation’s generosity, IVCH will name the enhanced surgical suite in their honor.

“Having top-tier healthcare in Incline Village is very important to the Duffields,” said Chris Watts, co-president of the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation. “They are appreciative of the services and care the hospital offers local residents and are pleased to help update and expand the hospital’s surgical capacity.”

Additionally, the IVCH Foundation Board of Directors has committed to raising an additional $2 million to help purchase the equipment necessary to support expanded service offerings at the new Dave & Cheryl Duffield Surgery Center. This commitment ensures the project can fully meet the evolving needs of Incline Village and neighboring North Lake Tahoe communities.

“We are extremely grateful to be awarded this grant from the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation,” said Louis Ward, Interim CEO of Tahoe Forest Health System. “This funding will have an incredible impact on the level of care we can provide at IVCH, allowing us to take another step forward in our mission to provide the best rural health care in the country.”

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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.

About The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation

The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation (DCDF), founded in 2016, continues the Duffield family’s commitment to making bold impacts. DCDF focuses on support for Veterans with disabilities, companion animal well-being, and organizations in which our founders have personal connections. The Foundation’s capstone program is Liberty Dogs™, a new Service Dog campus based in Reno, Nevada. Liberty Dogs will train Service Dogs to support Veterans with disabilities. Veterans will spend two weeks, on site, training with their Liberty Service Dogs™ and leave with their new companions and the ability to lead more independent and fulfilling lives. Based in Incline Village, Nevada, DCDF is the Duffield family’s vision for funding transformational services and programs.

Originally Published in Moonshine Ink, 2/8/25, Written by Moonshine Ink Staff

IVGID Appoints Robert Harrison as New District General Manager

On Jan. 29, the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID) Board of Trustees approved an employment contract with Robert Harrison to become the district’s next general manager. 

Harrison comes to the district after a 30-year career in public sector management, with 28 years of service as a city manager or similar role in three states. Harrison has experience working with both small and large municipalities, including tourism-impacted communities. 

Most recently, Harrison has been providing consulting services through The Harrison Group, a private consulting firm he founded that’s dedicated to helping public agencies with executive search, strategic planning, council relations, community outreach, public safety programming, and organizational assessments.

In addition to welcoming Harrison to this role, the IVGID trustees would like to thank Acting IVGID General Manager Mike Bandelin for his willingness to provide the district with leadership while staff and the board sought candidates for the general manager position.

~ Incline Village General Improvement District press release

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Photo: Moonshine Ink and IVGID

By David Vomund

How much are stocks up this year?  That common question is getting harder to answer.  Many individuals look to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which was established in 1896, when it comes to measuring the market.  Although it has a great history, it’s a lousy measure of the stock market.  

Last year I wrote that it was time to retire the Dow.  I’m not alone with that view.  The Dow is a price-based average so high-priced components like UnitedHealth ($540) play a far bigger role than Cisco ($60) and Walmart ($97).  That’s ridiculous.  Plus, there are only 30 stocks in the Dow.  

For those reasons there was near universal agreement that the S&P 500 Index better represented “the market.”  But that’s not the case anymore.  That index can be retired as well.

The S&P 500 is a capitalization-weighted index so the larger the company the bigger its influence.  In recent years the largest companies have grown faster than others so the S&P 500 Index is greatly influenced by a few holdings.  The largest five stocks (Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta Platforms) determine 26 percent of the index’s movement.  Technology stocks have a nearly 35 percent weighting.  Instead of showing what most stocks are doing, the S&P 500 has become a technology index.  

Case in point:  On the January 27 “deepseek” sell-off, the S&P 500 dropped 1.5 percent even though more stocks were up than down.  The S&P 500 fell because the technology sector was being sold.  It was a bad day for those who owned S&P 500 index funds and it was a warning shot for what will happen if technology stocks underperform during the next bear market.  S&P 500 index fund investors are not diversified.

Billionaire investor Chamath Palihapitiya has also sounded the alarm.  He warned that S&P 500 investors will have a “rude awakening” because the top ten stocks in the index represent 40 percent of the capitalization.  The greater concentration increases the risk.    

A better measure of what most stocks are doing is an unweighted S&P 500 Index (every stock in the index is equally important).  That is found in the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP).  Though an ETF won’t become the standard measure of the market I’d rather own this ETF for the long term than I would an S&P 500 index fund.  Those who hold large S&P 500 positions are in effect technology investors.  I hope they know that.

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.

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, a spacious year-round resort nestled in the stunning natural beauty of North Lake Tahoe’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, has partnered with Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the first African American woman-owned spirit brand in the United States, for an exclusive whiskey pairing dinner in honor of Black History Month. This special event will offer an unforgettable dining experience featured a curated four-course meal paired with exceptional whiskey tastings and handcrafted cocktails. 

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey for this incredible event celebrating Black History Month,” said Istvan Erdos, executive sous chef at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. “Guests will enjoy an unforgettable evening filled with expertly crafted dishes and award-winning whiskey while also learning about the inspiring legacy of Nearest Green and his impact on the whiskey industry.”

The pairing dinner will take place at Lone Eagle Grille on Thursday, February 13 at 5:30 p.m. prepared by Erdos and his talented team. Additionally, Orion Ondriska, a representative from Uncle Nearest, will be on-site to guide diners through the whiskey pairings and share insights into the legacy of Uncle Nearest and the popular brand. 

The menu includes the following:

• Cold Appetizer: Smoked duck salad with orange-braised endives and stuffed morel mushrooms, paired with a blood orange Italian highball cocktail featuring Uncle Nearest 1856 whiskey
• Hot Appetizer: Pan-seared foie gras served with butter-toasted brioche and blueberry-thyme jam, paired with a blueberry thyme smash cocktail made with Uncle Nearest Green Whiskey
• Entrée: Braised pork belly and scallops accompanied by smoked cheddar grits, paired with a smoked old-fashioned cocktail made with Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey
• Dessert: House-made sticky toffee pudding, paired with an espresso martini featuring Uncle Nearest Rye and Borgetti Espresso Liqueur

The exclusive dinner is $150 per person plus tax and gratuity. Seating is limited and reservations are required and can be made by visiting https://www.exploretock.com/loneeaglegrille/. Parking is included.

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey honors the legacy of Nathan “Nearest” Green, the first known African American master distiller in the United States. Revered as “The Best Whiskey Maker the World Never Knew,” Green, a formerly enslaved man, was instrumental in developing the whiskey-making techniques that define Tennessee whiskey today, including the renowned Lincoln County Process. It is widely believed that Green taught Jack Daniels the art of whiskey making, shaping the industry’s future. 

Since its debut in 2017, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey has rapidly become the fastest-growing independent American whiskey brand. The company’s ultra-premium spirits have earned more than 150 awards and accolades including “Spirit Brand of the Year” from Wine Enthusiast and “World’s Best” honors at the World Whiskies Awards.

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

Ideally situated on the pristine shores of North Lake Tahoe, the AAA Four Diamond Award-winning Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino offers majestic lake and mountain views from its 422 guest rooms, including 32 suites and 24 lakeside cottages. The resort epitomizes modern alpine luxury with its exposed wood beams, rich leathers, and granite accents. Guests can enjoy premium amenities such as a private beach with a 275-foot floating pier, a year-round heated lagoon-style pool, two hot tubs, a 25,000 square-foot Grand Lodge Casino, and 65,000 square feet of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting and event space, including the picturesque Lakeside Ballroom, Tahoe’s premier lakeside venue. Additional features include a 20,000 square-foot Stillwater Spa with 16 treatment rooms, multiple restaurants and bars, pet-friendly accommodations, a fully-equipped Hyatt StayFit gym with Peloton bikes, and an on-site Adventure program offering guided activities. 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 in the West 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