Northstar Living Spring 2019

MARCH 2019

NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NORTHSTAR PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

20 Women In Philanthropy— TTCF Speaks With Local Changemakers 12 WINTER STORMS & POWER OUTAGES

18 Beauty & Benefits

Of A Healthy Mountain Meadow

2

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

community comments policy Northstar Living welcomes your comments that are pertinent to the Northstar community and will publish those comments on a space-available basis. Comments must be written by members in “good standing;” generally articles will be limited to 250 words. Articles should be addressed to Northstar Living; signed by the author, unless sent electronically; and should include the writer’s name, his or her Northstar address and the telephone number at which the writer can be reached most easily.

News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Comments not meeting these requirements or containing solicitations, inaccuracies, libel-

Board Members

ous or incorrect statements, lacking clarity or having no pertinence to the Northstar community or the Association will not be published. Comments must be received by February 1, for spring issue; May 1 for summer, August 1 for fall or November 1 for winter. Comments are accepted in person at the NPOA office, by mail to NPOA, Attn: Community Comments, 2200 North Village Drive, Truckee, CA 96161; by email to nancy@npoa.info; or by fax to 530.562.0324. Disclaimer : Readers are advised that the opinions expressed are those of the individual, not of all the association. The original content of these comments has not been edited.

features

10 12 16 17

Community Article Boundless Opportunities In Northstar Community Article Liberty Utilities Condominium Updates

Truckee Delivery's Poolside Snack Shack

18 20 26

4 | President’s Perspective 7 | GM Report 9 | Northstar Golf 13 | Fire Department 15 | Fitness Corner

Michael Plishner, President mplishner@npoa.info John Bowe, Vice President jbowe@npoa.info Sue Cordonnier, Secretary-Treasurer scordonnier@npoa.info Steve Klei, Board Member sklei@npoa.info Al Roth, Board Member aroth@npoa.info

Truckee River Watershed Council— Beauty & Benefits Of A healthy Mountain Meadow

Paul Schumacher, Board Member pschumacher@npoa.info Don Watters, Board Member dwatters@npoa.info Staff at NPOA

Women In Philanthropy Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation Speaks With Local Changemakers Northstar California™ Spring Calendar Truckee Summer Dining

Tim Fulton NPOA General Manager tim@npoa.info

Nancy Barna NPOA Administrative Manager nancy@npoa.info Donielle Summers NPOA Administrative Assistant donielle@npoa.info Contact NPOA

departments

March 2019

19 | NCSD Update 23 | Tennis News 24 | The Bridge Table 28 | Bear Facts 30 | Directory

meeting dates

Northstar Living 2200 North Village Drive Truckee, CA 96161 P| 530.562.0322 F| 530.562.0324 website www.npoa.info Office Hours 8am-4pm, Daily Recreation Center Hours 8am-9pm, Daily Closed for cleaning April 29 - May 2, 2019

March 26, 2019

Design Review Committee

9am

Adult Center

Advertising Sales

April 27, 2019

NPOA Board of Directors

9am

Adult Center

April 30, 2019

Design Review Committee

9am

Adult Center

May 28, 2019

Design Review Committee

9am

Adult Center

CCMedia Every Impression Matters P| 775.327.4200

June 08, 2019

NPOA Board of Directors

9am

Adult Center

June 25, 2019

Design Review Committee

9am

Adult Center

Cover Photo Olof Carmel of Carmel Gallery "Desolation Wilderness" www.npoa.info | March 2019

3

president’s perspective Mike Plishner | Board President This has been quite a winter season at Northstar. January had

record snowfall (over 10 feet) and by mid-month the mountain was fully operational. February continued the trend (another

12-15 feet over the course of two back-to-back weekends) and Vail Resorts did their usual excellent job running a 1st class ski

resort. The staff on and off the mountain -- from those who greet

us and operate the lifts, to the food service folks in the mountain lodges, the bus drivers who wisk us from our homes to the

Village, the ski instructors who teach our children, ski patrol

and medical personnel who handle both minor scrapes and

major injuries -- all are always professional, engaged, and just downright pleasant. And of course they are supported by an

excellent management team, and the crews who work all night

long to get the mountain ready each day. We are very fortunate to have all this just a few steps from where we live. Lucky us! Over the last 3-4 months, your Board has been very active --

through its existing and some new Committees -- in doing the

Association’s work. Our new Risk Management Committee, led by John Bowe, reviewed all our liability insurance coverage

and recommended changes and additions to our policies to

better address the risks faced by an organization of our size and scope. As one example, we added coverage for cyber threats to

our systems, in part to address the fact that we have now moved to accepting credit and debit cards at our front desk. Two years

ago we conducted a similar review of our property and casualty policies and increased some of the coverage for our physical

facilities. The Risk Management Committee is now focusing on forward-looking issues such as staff training, hiring protocols

on salaries needed to keep our talented staff and to attract seasonal workers.

As mentioned in my last report, we appointed a Technology

Committee, led by Steve Klei and our General Manager, Tim

Fulton. This Committee has reviewed all of our infrastructure

and is embarking on a journey in 2019 to dramatically update our technology across every dimension. We found that our

technology backbone was somewhat antiquated and needed

an update in order to move ahead with key projects to improve your experience at Northstar and improve the efficiency of our

operations. A small number of those have now been completed, some are underway, and some are in research and planning. For example:

Payment Options. In January, the front desk started accepting debit and credit cards for non-member guest fees and towel

rentals; you will be able to pay for summer program and other

expenditures this way as well. By the end of this year, we expect to have a system in place to permit you to pay for your annual membership assessment by an ACH transfer from your bank or by credit card (with a small fee to cover the added costs charged to us for credit card use).

Wi-Fi Upgrade. By summer we should have in place a much

upgraded Wi-Fi system that will permit our members to operate their devices seamlessly (and with much improved speed) throughout the Rec Center and pool areas.

Digital Communication. Our goal is to increase member

and personnel policies and procedures.

information and engagement. Our objective is to move as

Our Budget and Finance Committee, led by Sue Cordonnier,

every interaction easier and more efficient -- paying particular

has been looking at and recently updated our Investment

Guidelines, with input from our outside Investment Adviser.

While we always expect to take a very conservative approach to our finances, we found we could earn a bit more on our assets by some modest changes in how we handle our large cash

reserves which are not needed immediately. The small increase to our guest fees, from $3 to $5, which was approved at the

much as possible to digital communications with you and make attention to on-line and mobile access. There are many areas

of focus. For example, we expect to deliver a much better web

site that will be more interactive allowing easier access to your community. This magazine, Northstar Living, is also scheduled

for a complete refresh and eventually will be distributed to you exclusively on line.

December Board Meeting, after notice to the members with the

Our Trails Committee, led by Paul Schumacher, and with lots

with our contingencies and contributions to reserves similar to

working actively with NCSD on improvements to many of the

have been occasioned by the improved state of the economy

over the Northstar property. NCSD has been a great partner for

Fall budget package, allowed us to finalize the budget for 2019

of help from NPOA past president Henry DeNero, has been

those in 2018, despite increases in our personnel costs which

existing TMT trails and the addition of some new segments all

in the Tahoe region and the consequent upward pressure

4

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Continued on page 6

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President's Perspective continued us here. Its staff do all the labor in building the trail segments

recreation facilities and offerings we may not currently provide.

supportive of this program.

know of someone else who might be, please contact me or our

and General Manager Mike Staudenmayer has been extremely

If you are interested in participating on this new Committee, or General Manager.

Finally, I am excited to announce that we have formed a

new committee, called the Northstar Strategic Planning and

Speaking of our General Manager, Tim Fulton will be reaching

and John Bowe. We will be talking more about this in the

and working extremely well with our staff. Summer will be upon

Visioning Committee, led by Steve Klei with Sue Cordonnier

his first anniversary with us in June. He is now fully up to speed

future, but the focus is on pushing our Northstar homeowners

us sooner than we think and Tim and his team will be working

association to improve and evolve, enabling it to maintain its

to ensure a great experience for you. We expect many new

current reputation as one of the most sought-after places to

things from our deli operators in terms of new food offerings

live at Lake Tahoe, while keeping its special family-oriented

by the pool. If all goes well, we hope to have a new pizza oven

focus and reputation. We recognize that the “expectations bar”

installed and some new outdoor barbecue facilities at the deli

is continually being raised around us and you have a desire for

operation that will permit an improved and expanded menu

continual improvement. With our incredible assets and passion

of tasty foods. Hope to see you all at the Rec Center after the

to move forward, we are confident in our ability to rise to these

snows are gone!

challenges and make Northstar even better and a place you

will be proud of now and into the future. This Committee is just starting, and we are interested in adding several non-Board

members to it, particularly those with younger children who use our facilities and those who have experience with other

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Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

general manager report Tim Fulton | General Manager doing a fabulous job keeping up with nearly daily snowfall. We

also appreciate all the hard work by the NCSD Utilities Department keeping roadways and the dumpster area as clear as possible. This has been a monumental task not only for the staff doing all this

hard work, but also on equipment. NPOA had to replace one of

the snowblowers mid-season and snow-blowing vendors have to complete mid-season repairs to keep their loaders running. As you are all well aware, the Tahoe area just got “Februburied”!

Northstar-California reported they crushed their snowfall record for February by nearly 100” with a total of 286” in February, which also ties the amount reported January 2017 as the most snow in one month. The resort is reporting an even 500” total for the season

as of the end of February with more snow in the forecast for the first 10 days of March. As of the time of this writing, Northstar

announced they will extend the ski season from the scheduled closing date of April 14 until at least April 21. What a season!

Lots of snow means lots of work for the NPOA maintenance team and our plowing vendors at the Recreation Center. They are both

Lots of snow also means lots of driveway, walkway, deck, and roof snow removal for NPOA homeowners. Please don’t forget to also keep gas meters and exhaust pipes free from accumulated snow

and ice. As for gas meters, please ensure you keep your gas meter clear and dry. Accumulated snow can prevent the meter from

operating properly by stopping the flow of natural gas. Carefully

remove any accumulated snow or ice from the natural gas meter and any associated piping.

Despite all this talk about snow, it is not too early to start planning for summer. NPOA has numerous summer seasonal positions

Continued on page 11

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7

pan. Ideally, you are looking for a 3-ply pan (Stainless Steel-Aluminum-Stainless Steel) with a top of the line nonstick coating. Our “go-to” nonstick pans are: 1. Cristel Casteline- 5-ply core cooking base with 3-ply sides—a dream to cook on because of its amazing heat distribution. Cristel uses Excellis, a top of the line, PFOA free coating, that is manufacture using a 3 layer coating process. It has a 10 year warranty which is virtually unheard of in the nonstick cookware industry. $195-$295

Lara Ritchie

Picking a Non-stick Pan What if I told you using the right pan meant you could have dessert? That’s right, which pan you choose will ultimately decide not just what flavors you will create, but also how much fat you need to properly cook your food. Cooking comes down to ingredients, techniques and what equipment you need to conduct heat efficiently and effectively to produce great results.

2. Chantal Induction 21- The Chantal nonstick frypan incorporates a 3-ply diffuser cooking base with titanium and copper infused stainless steel sides. The coating is a very durable nonstick silicone ceramic coating, think a high tech pyrex and you get the picture. $60-$120 3. Frieling Black Cube- This pan is interesting and works great, especially if you like to use metal utensils. The Black Cube is a “hybrid” 3-ply core pan that incorporates stainless steel pixels/cubes with nonstick coating in the valleys for its cooking surface. Food essentially cooks on the stainless steel pixels which keeps the coating safe from scratching when using metal utensils. $50-$110

Nonstick pans are a great tool and offer more than just easy How durable is a non-stick pan? cleanup. We recommend nonstick pans for cooking eggs, fish and They do have a shelf life. Each manufacturer will have slightly batter items like pancakes and crepes. Here are three things to different standards of care for their pan. As long as your pan consider when choosing a nonstick pan. doesn’t contain PFOA then it will never be “unsafe” to cook in, but the non-stick property may diminish over time requiring you to use What is the pan made of and ist it safe to use? fat to cook in the pan. Generally, non-stick pans have a shelf life All non-stick pans have a coating of some type. For safety, around 3 years. Cristel offers a 10 year guarantee for their non-stick definitely look for a pan that is PFOA free. Pans made with PFOA pan, so you won’t have to replace it as often as a lesser quality coating (mainly Teflon) have been found to be harmful when the pan. Remember it is very important to not overheat these pans to pan is overheated and the PFOA “off gases” into the room. Not good! So please, if you have any scratched up, old non-stick pans, extend their useful life. throw them away. Notice I did not say to donate them either. This brings up a key point though for all nonstick cookware—nonstick pans, because of the coating, are designed to be medium heat pans. To get the best performance and durability, do not heat your nonstick pan above 400-450 degrees.

How does the pan perform?

Just like in other cookware, the main thing you are looking for is a pan that will conduct the heat effectively and evenly around the

The fun part of cooking is placing flavor where you want it. These non-stick pan gives you grace when you don’t want to use fat. What makes cooking easy is having a pan that works for you rather than you doing the heavy lifting. A pan that conducts heat efficiently and that is easy to clean makes cooking fun.

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March 15 March 16 March 19 March 20 March 21 March 22 March 23 March 27 March 28 March 29 March 30 April 3 April 5 April 9 April 12 April 13 April 16 April 18

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Cooking classes • Catering • Gourmet deli • Kitchen store Spices by the tablespoon • Knife sharpening

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

northstar golf Ann Middleton and Peter Morris To play on NWGC Tuesday mornings, you can use a Northstar Full Pass, Value Pass, or pay a NWGC discounted rate for the day. The NWGC discounted rate in 2018 was $55 ($30 off the standard

rate) through the month of June. From July 1 on, the daily fee for

our group was $65 ($30 off the standard rate). Rates for 2019 will be forthcoming this spring.

If you are interested in joining the Northstar Women’s Golf Club, please contact Anne Middleton, NWGC President, at 858-229-

2140 or anne.middleton@me.com. You can join anytime during Northstar Women’s Golf Club Players in 2018 Club Championship. Top Row (L-R): Claudia Young, Margie Lockwood (Low Net Winner 2018), Linda Moore, Anne Middleton, Julie Bryant, Jo Ann Polverari, Heidi Wilbert, Sandy Campion, Carol Pawlak. Bottom Row (L-R): Nora Leeder, Linda Morris, Kathryn Jaeger (Low Gross-Club Champion 2018), Susan Safipour, Diane Schmidt.

Northstar Women's Golf Welcomes New & Rejoining Members

The Northstar Women’s Golf Club (NWGC) is recruiting new and existing members for the 2019 golf season, which is slated to

begin when the Northstar Golf Course opens this spring. Our

Play Days are Tuesdays, and our first tee time is generally about 8:30-9am.

Our ladies’ group is friendly yet plays by USGA rules -- while enjoying a beautiful golf course. While Northstar is a public course, NWGC members enjoy amenities more common

at private clubs – a convenient golf bag drop off, talented

golf professionals who offer individual and group lessons, a restaurant/bar, and a well-equipped pro shop.

NWGC members range from those with long-established

handicaps -- to those who did not have a handicap before joining the NWGC. So, if you’re thinking about establishing a handicap for the first time, come do it with us at Northstar. NWGC annual dues of $70 include: membership in the Northern Nevada Golf

Association (NNGA), GHIN handicap services and reduced green fees at Northstar on NWGC Play Days.

The 2019 NWGC Club Championship will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 27 and 28. After Day 1 of the

championship, all NWGC members are invited to lunch at

the home of past NWGC President Jo Ann Polverari, and her

husband, Joe. This will be the third year for this special luncheon, which has been a great way of strengthening our golfing

friendships. After the second day’s play, members enjoy lunch and an awards ceremony at the Northstar Clubhouse.

our golf season. Guests are always welcome to play with us on

Tuesdays, so call me ahead of time so I can put you into one of our Tuesday pairings.

Northstar Men's Golf Club—Spring 2019

With the snow continuing to pile up it is sometimes difficult

to believe that golf season is right around the corner. But the

impressive snowpack will melt, the ponds will fill to the brim, the

fairways and greens will turn lush as the grounds crew work their long hours getting the course in fantastic shape for those of us lucky enough to play golf in this beautiful area.

The Northstar Golf Club is ready and eagerly awaiting those

spring days. Although the specific dates for the various Club Tournaments and Club Championship are still being firmed

up we know that Tuesdays and Thursdays will most certainly

continue with weekly Club play offering different format matches and competitions throughout the season.

Although the Northstar Golf Club roster includes low handicap players with indexes as low as 4, it also extends to those of us who seem stuck in the 20’s and a few beyond that. One need

not be concerned, it is still a game and the Northstar Golf Club welcomes all level of players.

The annual membership dues remain reasonable at $75 for the

year, which includes your annual NCGA membership and GHIN throughout the year. If you are registered at your home course, there is a discounted rate of $50 to join as an affiliate member

that will allow you to play and possibly represent the Northstar Golf Club in various regional NCGA events.

Please feel free to call our President, Peter Morris at (530)

330-4300 or email him at Peter@PLMRealEstate.com with any questions.

Looking forward to the glorious days of summer! www.npoa.info | March 2019

9

Community Article | By Don Carr of Carr Long Real Estate

Boundless Opportunities at Northstar

the Alpine Club and Schaffer’s Camp here

Here it is, early in the new year, and already

Mountainside Builders has purchased

is a Tahoe real estate developer, whose

and unsold developer inventory of the

development of the The Ritz-Carlton, Lake

Mr. Taylor will breathe new energy into this

Run Townhomes, Stellar Residences and

enormous potential.

the Signature Home Collection at Old

makes me sense boundless opportunities.

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe has a new

new owner of the Tahoe Mountain Club

For starters, NPOA has a new General

of January 17th. This Texas based REIT

Northstar is reporting over 280 inches of snow, nearing the total average snowfall

for the entire season. The magical winter

scenery certainly inspires optimism as we

move into 2019, where new leadership of

some entities in Northstar combined with a very effective real estate design makeover

Manager in Tim Fulton! Tim comes to

NPOA from all the way across the street,

at Northstar. The new owner, Paradigm8,

Mountainside’s undeveloped land

principals were instrumental in the

Boulders Townhomes. We anticipate that

Tahoe, the Village at Northstar, Home

amazing ski-in/ski-out real estate with such

Townhomes, and is currently developing

owner in Braemar Hotels and Resorts as invests primarily in full-service luxury hotels and resorts. They purchased the hotel and

Greenwood. Having Paradigm8 as the

is the best possible outcome, bringing

long-term sustainability to the Club and its unparalleled amenities.

development rights for $120 Million from

On the real estate front, we are all aware

my firm to sell the Ritz-Carlton Residences.

Modern aesthetic, which is cropping up in

experience and collaborative spirit he

The Tahoe Mountain Club has a new

Northstar has seen less of this because

with Tim since he arrived in the Village

Mountain Club owns and operates a host

where he served as General Manager for all of Tahoe Mountain Lodging’s

many associations in the Village and

Mountainside. What a great depth of

Kennedy Wilson of Beverly Hills, who hired

brings. I have had the privilege to work

owner as of January 11th! The Tahoe

over 10 years ago.

of popular local amenities such as the

Northstar Mountainside welcomes its new

swimming pools and restaurants at Old

owner, Clifton Taylor. Taylor’s company, 10

golf courses, tennis courts, clubhouses,

Greenwood and Gray’s Crossing, as well as

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

of the growing popularity of the Mountain the new communities of North Lake Tahoe. so few homesites remain undeveloped

here. Nevertheless, I believe there is an undercurrent of pent up demand for

this aesthetic in our resort. One of our

savvy clients tapped into this demand

by undertaking a renovation of a family

GM Report Continued home which was built in 1980. My firm

was brought in before the transformation

began to consult on the primary objectives of the renovation. The home was originally conceived as a cozy family cabin with

an abundance of warm wood and filled with traditional furnishings and family heirlooms.

The project sought the delicate balance of a full remodel of certain areas with simple freshening touches in other

areas. The chosen high-impact zones

where first impressions are made were the entry, the kitchen, the great room

and the powder room. These areas were

completely transformed. Other areas that were considered lower-impact zones,

like bedrooms, bathrooms and hallways, got cosmetic changes of fresh paint and carpet.

My firm furnished and staged the home in

a style consistent with its new finishes. The end result was a complete transformation

from a cozy classic ski lodge to a full-on “mountain modern” aerie.

How did the market respond to this new listing? We brought it to market just

before the holiday season. Neighbors

were curious and first-time visitors were

impressed. Then, on January 1, 2019, we received 3 offers.

We knew going into this listing that it

could be a bellwether for Northstar. The Mountain Modern aesthetic is not for

everyone. Many families dream of owning a cozy classic ski lodge. Yet, clearly there is demand for homes that feel new and reflect current design trends. When it’s not practical to build a new home, we

discovered that a measured renovation with a carefully prepared presentation

that speaks to current design trends can outperform the market in both price

and speed of sale. I think this reveals an

opportunity to get excited about in 2019.

including children activities, tennis

pro shop hosts, swim instructors, and lifeguards. NPOA will even provide training for lifeguard certification! So, if you have family members

or friends looking a fun and well

compensated seasonal position in the Lake Tahoe area this summer,

please send them my way. We would love to talk to them now as we line up staffing for this summer.

Finally, there are many different projects being discussed at the

Board and Committee level. NPOA President Mr. Plishner provided an excellent update in the President’s Perspective section regarding

board and committee activity. These projects are currently in various

stages from initial concept through implementation. These range

from smaller more inexpensive

projects such as improvements

to the organization of equipment in the fitness center to the larger

improvements being considered to allow for expanded menu offerings

at the deli. Improvements will range from more obvious improvements

to the infrastructure and equipment to operational to technology. For example, Square Terminals were

implemented at the reception desk effective January 1. Already about 75% of the guest fees and towel

Northstar Specialist For Over 30 Years

fees are paid via credit/debit card

vs. cash. This simple improvement

has been a big hit with owners and guests. Use of credit cards will be

expanded to other services in the

future as processes and systems are put in place to support and track these credit/debit transactions.

I am still in the process of meeting

the NPOA membership. If we have

not yet meet, please feel free to stop

by the office and introduce yourself. I would love to meet you.

www.npoa.info | March 2019

11

Community Article | Kurt Althof, Program Manager, Liberty Utilities

Winter Storms & Power Outages A crisp, fresh blanket of undisturbed snow is a beautiful sight, but

surrounding power lines can eliminate all weather-related power outages.

it can come at an inconvenient price. Unplanned power outages

What Causes a Power Outage in a Storm?

contentious storms like those experienced in early February roll

situational circumstances, but almost all result in a short circuit

to minimize the potential of power outages through its robust

High winds, like the winds we often see during a winter storm,

programs. However, neither the strongest electrical distribution

together. A brief isolated wire slap on a transmission line may

are an unfortunate reality of the winter season, especially when

Weather-related power outages come in many forms and

through the mountains. Liberty Utilities goes to great lengths

that trips the breaker or blows a fuse. Take high wind for example.

infrastructure maintenance and vegetation management

can cause lines to bounce and sway, occasionally slapping

system nor the complete eradication of invasive vegetation

only cause a quick flicker of your lights as indiscernible as the

blink of an eye. On the other hand, repeated wire slaps in a short duration can lock out a breaker causing an actual outage. Similar to wind caused wire slaps, snow unloading from a power line or an overhead tree can result in a significant bounce of the line

and subsequent wire slap. Whether the cause be high wind or

the release of snow, it is not uncommon for a wire slap to lead to a power outage, especially if it occurs on a lateral line. A single slap on a lateral line, or the line that provides electrical service

to residential neighborhoods, can cause a fuse to blow thereby stopping the flow of power.

Trees are another frequent catalyst for winter-related power

Liberty Utilities’ customers are reducing our state’s carbon footprint one step at a time.

outages. Tree limbs and branches can weaken under the weight

All residential customers receive a climate credit twice a year on their bill, and eligible small business customers receive this credit on their monthly statements.

and getting tangled in the power lines. A tree branch in the line

What does this mean to you? It means real savings you can use to make energy efficient changes to your home or business — AND a cleaner planet for all of us.

Local and Responsive. We Care.

of heavy snow and strong winds, breaking from the tree’s base

will trip the breaker or blow a fuse, resulting in a power outage.

In some extreme cases, an entire tree will uproot or break and fall

into or through the power lines. Dead, dying and hazardous trees are removed every year through our vegetation management

program to limit these scenarios, but even healthy green trees can break or fall in storms.

How Long Does it Take to Bring the Power Back? Weather-related power outages are a reality of mountain living, www.libertyutilities.com

especially when Mother Nature is wreaking havoc. However, the Continued on page 14

12

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

fire department Sean Bailey | Fire Chief, Northstar Fire Department chimney. It is best to take pictures and write down your specific model information (if you know it). Take the pictures and

information to a reputable local dealer and get their advice. 3. Proper Fuel. Use properly seasoned wood. Green or wet wood burns less completely and creates more creosote. Do not burn paper or other garbage in fireplaces or woodstoves. They produce large amounts of creosote.

How do you recognize fire? The most common sign is an abnormal noise coming from the stovepipe or chimney. It is usually described as a crackling, popping, rumbling,

or shuddering sound. If the stovepipe or chimney become

compromised, you might see smoke or flames escaping from it.

If you experience a chimney fire, evacuate the residence and call 911. Chimney fires are a common call for local fire departments

during the winter months. These fires can have devastating· results. From property damage to death.

Another important point, please make sure you have several

working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. You and your loved one’s lives depend on it.

A chimney fire results from a buildup of creosote on the inside walls of a chimney or stovepipe. Creosote is produced when solid fuel is burned. When fuel (wood) is burned at a lower

temperature it produces more creosote. When enough creosote

C EL 15 EB YE RA AR TI S! NG

What is a chimney fire?

is built up and the temperature is right, a chimney fire results.

Woman Owned Business

When the creosote burns in this rapid explosive manner, it can cause the stovepipe or chimney to fail. This allows the fire to spread into the home itself.

How can I prevent one?

How can I prevent one? Just like your mother said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

1. Clean and Inspect Your Chimney or Stovepipe Annually.

Prevention starts in the summer with a good chimney cleaning

Serving Truckee/North Tahoe

and professional inspection. Whether you have a fireplace,

woodstove, or woodstove insert, all need an annual cleaning.

• Environmentally friendly • Organic citrus base solution • Safe for pets and people • Low moisture process

There are several local “chimney sweeps” in the area that can handle the job. They should also inspect the flue screen to

make sure it is not clogged, damaged, or the incorrect size (1/2” screen openings are recommended).

2. Proper Temperature. Get a good woodstove/fireplace

temperature gauge from a local dealer. Make sure you

understand how to use it. Some are designed to sit on top of

the woodstove and some on the stovepipe. The type of gauge will also depend on the type of stove, stovepipe, fireplace, or

DRY 1 IN HOUR!

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Mention this ad for 15% discount - 3 room minimum www.npoa.info | March 2019

13

Community Article | Liberty Utilities continued

events such as trees that fall into or through a transmission line in a wilderness area that can only be accessed by snowmobile, snowcat or on snowshoes, the initial response time alone can

take several hours. In this scenario, once the Troubleman gets

to the area and identifies the problem they may need to call in a tree crew, line crew or both to remove a tree and make repairs. These situations take significantly longer, six to twelve hours or

even more, especially when the area cannot be accessed directly by trucks.

In most cases, Liberty Utilities can isolate issues and use remote switches to reduce the duration and the number of people affected by an outage. We understand it’s frustrating and

inconvenient to lose power, but rest assured our crews are

working as quickly and efficiently as possible to restore your

power. If you are experiencing a power outage, please report it by calling 1-844-245-6868, or use the online form on our

website at www.libertyutilities.com in the outage section. Your

reports help us pinpoint the issue and respond quickly. When the question on everyone’s mind when a power outage does occur

power does go out, we do our best to communicate and keep

switch and restoration of power depends on several factors. In

Facebook, Twitter or visit the outage page at LibertyUtilities.com

is, “When will it be back on?” Unfortunately there is no magic

our customers informed of the situation. You can follow us on

most cases the fix is similar to resetting a breaker at your house

for more information.

or replacing a blown fuse in your car, but locating and resolving the issue can be more complicated and time consuming than meets the eye.

Once an outage is detected, a “Troubleman” is dispatched to

Kurt Althof is the Program Manager of

accessible and the outage was caused by a wire slap or a blown

for Liberty Utilities. He has 22 years of

area, identify the issue and replace the fuse(s) in a relatively short

including 14 years in the resort and tourism

the area of the outage to investigate. If the problem area is easily

Communications and Media Relations

fuse on a lateral line, the Troubleman can typically get to the

marketing and communication experience

period of time, perhaps in two hours or less. For more significant

industry including 4 years with Northstar.

14

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

fitness corner Guillaume Tonelli It has been proven that skiing in the mountain clean air, boosts

your energy and mood. It increases happiness, and well-being, despite the frequency or duration of the activity.

Skiing and being out in the middle of the mountain also promote healthy eating habits. Skiing will require a good breakfast to

get all the energy you need. Lunch will be a must to refuel, and dinner is considered a recovery meal. It will naturally make you

more conscious of your eating habits: more protein, healthy fats, less sugar, more fruits and vegetables, etc.

Finally, it has been demonstrated that skiing contributes to a sunnier outlook. With so much snow in the Tahoe area, I wanted to discuss the

“Spending the day on a snow-covered hill or mountain,

health benefits of skiing for this edition.

surrounded by natural outdoor beauty, will have you forgetting

Skiing is an amazing sport as it improves your proprioception.

D exposure, which helps ward off seasonal affective disorder and

“Proprioception is defined as one’s ability to feel the position of

different body parts and the effort that goes into moving them.”

about the stresses of daily life. You’ll also benefit from the vitamin boosts your mood.”

Skiing requires an excellent balance and coordination, and you

need to be aware of the many slight movements and positions of your body to ski well and stay on your feet.

Being on the slopes also strengthens your bones and joints. You

will be putting tension and weight on your body as you maneuver down the hill, and that means you are strengthening your legs and knees, your bones are getting stronger, and you are in a

better shape overall, preventing injuries. You are in a squatting

sheridan brokers

Northstar Real Estate Specialists in Northstar, Martis Camp and Lahontan Real Estate sales

position most of the time when skiing, which strengthens your inner and outer thighs, hamstrings, quads and glutes.

530.562.1140 | Info@SheridanBrokers.com|www.SheridanBrokers.com

Skiing will improve your flexibility, which is be a huge health

benefit. By building flexibility, you will avoid muscle strains and

sprains. We don’t realize that we use almost every single muscle

in our bodies, and having a routine working on your core muscle groups, abdominals, obliques, and hips will contribute to your skiing flexibility.

One of the most important aspects of skiing is that it increases

cardiovascular endurance. Skiing is an aerobic endurance sport, and it helps burning calories, and lose weight. It also always

works your heart and lungs, which will help your overall health. One aspect that we don’t necessarily think of about skiing, is that it helps you sleep deeper. After a good day of skiing, you will

feel exhausted in the best way possible. It engages your entire

body, will give you an amazing work out, and will make you have a great night of restful sleep.

www.npoa.info | March 2019

15

Condominium Updates

Aspen Grove

At Aspen Grove, we are in the process of planning for our summer and fall

projects. We have hired a contractor to

oversee our remaining foundation repairs and to readdress any ongoing issues with water drainage. This past fall we

installed heated stairways throughout the property and we have now hired another contractor to install paver pathways

throughout the project. We have also

upgraded all of our signage and have put solar lights over the bus stop signs and

location maps. In May, we are organizing a general cleanup day to remove any

weeds and debris in our common areas. This spring, we will also begin the final phase of our re-staining project. We

continue to make major improvements to our properties and are very pleased with

the progress that has been made to date.

be an aesthetic improvement but would

also bring the railings up to current safety codes. Other long-term projects being

considered are either repaving exterior

pathways with new asphalt or replacing

Gold Bend and Northstar have to offer!!

And after over 25 years of working with

the Gold Bend HOA, Peter Miller, President of CAMCO, will be retiring. He will be

passing the reigns on to Eric Wicks, who

has worked for CAMCO for over 10 years. Thank you, Peter, for your tireless efforts to keep our community strong. We look forward to working with Eric for many years to come.

And for the benefit and safety of all, a few housekeeping reminders:

• During peak times at Northstar, we

Recreation Center, yet situated in a quiet

Northstar Drive (just East of the mail

be close to the action, yet located in a

trash in the parking lot dumpsters and

of the Northstar Village and the NPOA

trash in the dumpsters located just off

setting in the trees. We feel fortunate to

boxes). This will help eliminate overflowing

quiet mountain setting.

keep our community beautiful. We

Gold Bend

guests, as well.

encourage you to communicate this to all

TAs we wrap up another glorious winter

• If you are planning to do any remodeling,

ramping up the ongoing improvement

Review of any planned upgrades,

in the mountains, CAMCO will begin

please be sure and obtain an Architectural

projects to our community this spring.

regardless if County permits are required.

through the fall of 2019. Check out the

Get up to the mountains and enjoy all that

what’s in the Village.

We are located within walking distance

that were started last year will continue

without a permit.

the asphalt with pavers that are similar to

encourage all homeowners to deposit

The roof repair and staining projects

you believe anyone is parking in our lots

Information on the Architectural Review

process can be found on the Gold Bend website.

Gold Bend website (www.goldbend.com)

• The parking lots in Gold Bend are for

work to begin on your unit. Owners who

guests. Lately, we’ve seen an uptick in

reservations around the work schedule, so

hop on the shuttles, rather than park in

understand that, for logistical reasons, the

continue to monitor our lots and all cars

Indian Hills

What a great winter at Indian Hills! Snow, Snow, Snow! January brought us what we come to Indian Hills for, SNOW!

The storm door opened, and we saw a

series of great winter storms and even a blizzard! One storm of note happened

on January 6, which after a great series of powder days came in so strong

that Highway 80 and 267 were closed.

Making it impossible for people to leave Northstar or Truckee.

It was Sunday evening after a great

weekend of fresh snow. People were

wanting to head down the mountain to

return to the Bay Area. With zero visibility and multiple spin outs, the CHP closed all the highways. Many people were

stranded on the roads and tried to find

lodging in Truckee. Some spent the night in cars. The next morning on Northstar

Drive, there were several abandoned cars, one which appeared to have been hit

by the snowplow attempting to clear the

for a schedule of when you can expect the

exclusive use of homeowners and their

rent their units should arrange their rental

day skiers who will park in our lot and

One story from the storm is that a friend

their renters aren’t inconvenienced. Please

the general lots. Northstar Security will

so he called and asked if he could stay

schedules are difficult to change once set.

without either an owner sticker or a guest

The Board is also continuing to explore

potential future upgrades, including new railings for the exterior stairways and

pass are subject to ticketing and/or towing. Be sure and display your parking pass

and we encourage you to call Security if

decks on each unit. This would not only 16

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

road.

from Tahoe Vista could not get home,

the night with friends in Indian Hills. He

did not come alone, he had assisted two

Northstar employees from Argentina who were also trying to get to their home in

Kings Beach. They were hitch hiking their

way back home and he offered to give them a ride and then all roads closed.

It turned into a wonderful international

experience. The two young women from Argentina are here at Northstar on a

work study program. One is studying

to be a lawyer and the other a dentist.

They both work at the mid-mountain day

lodge. They made it back to work on time the next day! So the next time you see

Northstar staff from other countries, take

a minute to learn about why they came to Northstar and what their plans are for the future.

Indian Hills is a great place to live at

Northstar, and a great place of refuge in a storm!

Ski Trails

As you might imagine, we write these articles well in advance of the actual

publication date of Northstar Living. As

this one is written, we’re in the middle of a good winter storm, which is great for

skiing – but not so great for traction on

our roads, parking lots, paths and stairs. Of course, up here in the mountains,

storms routinely continue through the end of April, so there’s still a good chance that as you read this, we’re not yet completely out of the woods when it comes to snow and ice. As a general reminder ice and

We’ll be repainting the Ski View buildings (4001-4045), and covering the new sets of stairs that were installed last fall with an epoxy coating and full metal treads

to help extend their life and make them safer to climb.

We’ll also be completing the installation of the epoxy pebble coating in the

entryways to all our buildings. We’re

trying to complete this in the off-season to minimize the impact on owners and renters.

snow are inherent with our environment

Finally, we’re working on new architectural

care and caution both while walking and

– stay tuned as we work towards moving

and it is important for all to exercise

signage to mark the entrance to Ski Trails

driving throughout the resort.

this project forward, too.

But enough about snow – it’s spring

Enjoy your spring!

after all! As the weather warms, we’ll be picking back up on a few key projects.

Truckee Delivery's Poolside Snack Shack Truckee Delivery will once again be running NPOA's Poolside Snack Shack. After a successful 2018 summer, chef Carolyn Newman will be extending the menu further with equipment upgrades to the kitchen. Featuring House-made Italian Ice and her signature Bénh mÌ, this summer's poolside snack shack is not something to miss. Truckee Delivery have also expanded their drink options featuring 4 local beers on tap and a more comprehensive wine list.

From the Grill Durham Ranch Natural Raised Beef Hamburger 12.5 Spiced Chicken Greek Wrap 18.5 Grilled Vegetable Panini 10.5 Family Friendly Farms Bratwurst Bavarian Plate 22.5 Grilled Veggie Greek Wrap 14.5 Crispy Grilled Pork Belly Sandwich 18

From the Field Tahoe Food Hub Salad 7 Grilled Caesar Kale 9

www.npoa.info | March 2019

17

Community Article | Truckee River Watershed Council

Healthy Meadow by Mathew Grimm

Unhealthy Meadow by Balance Hydrologics

Beauty & Benefits Of A Healthy Mountain Meadow When you spend time hiking in the Truckee River watershed, there’s a good chance you will find your way to a mountain

meadow. The beauty and lush contrast of meadows compared to the surrounding forest make them favorite destinations.

Meadows cover only a small fraction of the landscape but are

critical to the health of rivers and downstream water supplies. There are few places as majestic as a mountain meadow and few landscapes safeguard our rivers’ headwaters as well as a healthy meadow.

Healthy meadows provide outstanding natural benefits: • Meadows store spring floodwaters and release cool flows in late summer;

• Grasses and soil filter out sediment and pollutants; and • Flowers and plants provide high-quality forage and habitat for rare and threatened species.

Meandering meadow creeks support high levels of groundwater which replenish streams during the late summer and early fall when stream flows recede.

These delicate ecosystems have been disrupted by human

activities including grazing cattle that can alter the landscape,

stream alteration due to historic mining, and conifer encroachment due to fire suppression. These factors can influence meadows in the region by degrading streams, drying the meadow surface,

decreasing carbon sequestration, lowering the groundwater table, increasing susceptibility to invasive species, and diminishing

aspen communities. Drought and flood cycles accelerate the degradation.

Over the last ten years, a series of large-scale meadow restoration

projects have improved water supply, water quality, and habitat for fish and wildlife. 18

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

ncsd update

Mike Staudenmayer, NCSD General Manager

NCSD Green Waste Recycling Program

As part of the Northstar Community Services District Defensible Space and Forest Fuels Management programs, residential

curbside yard debris pick up service is available to all NPOA

members. This service is limited to pine needles and other green waste that originates on the property and is being removed for defensible space and/or forest health reasons. Pine needles

are to be placed in bags free from dirt, rocks and other foreign debris. Slash is limited to tree limbs, branches, wood lengths,

Backflow Prevention Device Testing A backflow

prevention device is a mechanical device used to protect potable water supplies from contamination or pollution due to backflow. There are a variety of systems that may require a backflow prevention device such as hydronic heating, fire sprinkler systems, hot tubs, and irrigation systems. Without proper

backflow protection and testing, pressure fluctuations within

these systems may cause undesired water to flow backwards into the domestic water system causing potential illness. Therefore,

it is important to ensure that your water is adequately protected by the proper device and tested annually. In fact, the California Division of Drinking Water requires the Northstar Community Services District to enforce annual testing of these devices

by a certified backflow tester. For a complete list of approved

backflow device testers or for more information concerning your

backflow prevention devices, please feel free to contact NCSD at 530.562.0747.

tree bark, old firewood, and tree rounds providing the material is stacked in an organized manner and can be lifted by one

person and placed in piles not to exceed 4’x 4’ x 4’. Please do

NOT include grass clippings as they can be a source of ignition.

Material should be placed near the front of the property, adjacent to, but not on the street. A maximum of four bags of pine needles and four piles of slash per week will be picked up by District

crews on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays beginning May 3rd

through October 4th. Material in excess of these limitations may

be deposited by property owners and/or their contractors at the District’s seasonal green waste recycling site at the Castle Peak

parking lots where it is stockpiled, processed and transported to a regional bio-mass energy plant. Keys to access this facility are available at the District’s Administration office at 900 Northstar Drive during normal business hours (8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday). The District

appreciates the attention to these programs to help make the community fire-safe.

MARTIS VALLEY ASSOCIATES R E A L E S TAT E S A L E S

Specializing in Northstar® Since 1981 n! O s d n ! a H s Down Hand HO ME S • CO N D O S •S H A R E D O W N E R S H IP S •H O M E S I T E S Northstar® | Lahontan | Martis Camp | Tahoe Donner | Truckee | Donner Lake

ANNE DAIN Broker/Owner

o 530.587.8100 c 530.386.3860 | 10880 Brockway Road, Truckee, CA 96161 annedain@martisvalley.com | BRE#00829840 www.npoa.info | March 2019

19

Community Article | Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation

In 2018, the Queen of Hearts awarded $60,000 in grants to local nonprofits in four areas of impact.

Women In Philanthropy—

significant leader of TTCF's Queen of

perpetuity at TTCF to serve the North

TTCF Speaks With Local Changemakers

who helped launch the Fund as a TTCF

to an annual grant cycle, the Queen of

The role of women in leadership continues

TTCF’s youth philanthropy project.

to grow with every passing year. As women control more wealth than ever before and become more involved in shaping their local and global communities through investment, politics, and charity, their influence expands.

Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation (TTCF) recently recorded a podcast

exploring ways by which women invest

their resources and harness their individual and collective power. In Women in

Philanthropy, Stacy Caldwell, TTCF CEO,

sat down with three influential women to discuss the way that females shape the

world they live in through philanthropy. They explore how role models have

influenced their charitable tendencies, how volunteering plugs them into

community, and how programs benefiting young boys can change the world for women. The podcast features: Nancy

Gisko, a Northstar Homeowner and a

20

Hearts Women's Fund; Martha Simon,

staff member; and Lacey Norris, one of

the original members of Girls Giving Back,

To listen to the podcast, visit www.bit.ly/ QueenofHeartsPodcast (41 minutes).

The Queen of Hearts Women's Fund: The Power of Collective Giving The Queen of Hearts Women’s Fund, a

program of Tahoe Truckee Community

Foundation (TTCF), just wrapped up their thirteenth year of community impact. In 2019, The Queen of Hearts represents more than 1,300 female supporters

nationwide, an endowment of over $1.3

million, and has channeled $691,518 into programs and projects benefitting North Tahoe-Truckee.

Launched in February 2006, the Fund

sought to inspire 1,000 women to donate $1,000 within a single year to raise $1

million for a grantmaking endowment. The endowment's principal, which is currently $1.3 million, will be held in

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Tahoe-Truckee region forever. In addition Hearts supporters have the opportunity to participate in TTCF's Annual Senior

Gifts Program. Every year, TTCF works with Sierra Senior Services in order to fulfill the hoiday wish lists of local senior citizens who may not have loved ones nearby

to spend the season with. This year, 75

local seniors received gifts through this program.

Grantmaking

Currently, the Queen of Hearts'

endowment distributes approximately

$60,000 annually for grantmaking to local

nonprofits. Part of being a supporter of the fund is the opportunity to actively inform

how grant dollars are given, as a collective. Each year, TTCF hosts the Queen of

Hearts’ Annual GEMS Grants Showcase

for supporters to gather and connect in a cozy holiday setting before watching

eight nonprofit finalists pitch their 3 minute grant proposals. The pitches are recorded and shared across the country so that

supporters can cast their votes across four

areas of funding. One of the greatest parts

Girls Giving Back is a youth philanthropy project that teaches young women how to fundraise, run a grant cycle, and make an impact in their communities.

of this event is that everyone is a winner! In

manage open spaces and recreational

community commitment. The GGB team

and second place wins $5,000.

young people and neighbors with limited

vet grant proposals, and then votes on

each category, one nonprofit wins $10,000

Health and Human Services

These grants have helped shelter and feed families, protected children from violence, advocated for people's rights, and have helped create viable economic futures. Education & Youth Development

These grants have connected young people with positive role models,

developed their potential and deepened their education through art and literacy

initiatives, and given young people tools

to rise above circumstances to reach their greatest dreams.

paths, made nature more accessible to our mobility, empowered our youth through

outdoor play and exploration, and helped

Three-Year Grant Initiative

In 2012, The Queen of Hearts Women’s

Fund signed up to support a three-year initiative to bring the award-winning

summer program Aim High to our small mountain community. Aim High helps

under-resourced middle school students to “aim high” for high school and for life

through rigorous academics with a fun and highly supportive learning environment.

Queen of Hearts supportersd seeded the program $75,000 with the goal to join

that honor our history and inspire our

become self-sustainable, and seven years

to create sustainable financial streams

Grantees include public art projects

other funders in helping the program

future, programs that guide local artists

later, it is.

through business and marketing skills, and

Girls Giving Back: A Youth Philanthropy Project

and theater to our mountains.

Girls Giving Back (GGB), a youth

philanthropy project of the Queen of

Environment, Recreation

Hearts Women’s Fund, was launched

Grantees have helped protect and

of Hearts supporters demonstrated

and Animal Welfare

Continued on page 18

shelter and care for animals.

Arts, Culture & Civic Benefit

programs that welcome speakers, dancers,

hosts annual fundraisers, learns how to

in 2014 when many young Queen

www.npoa.info | March 2019

21

Community Article | Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation continued uniforms for the local marching band as

caring, creative, and effective community.

brings low-income kids to snow sports.

community impact, TTCF is your partner in

well as a youth development program that They also prioritized funding a mentorship program connecting police offers to

mentor boys answering a constant local

need to find mentorship opportunities for young men. This last grant speaks to one of the unique approaches of women's philanthropy: supporting causes that

contribute to the healthy development

of young men. This approach has many

With $27 million in assets and a history of philanthropy.

Ashley Cooper is TTCF's resident

Storyteller and Communications Manager. When she's not working, she and her

rescue dog, Mina, can be found enjoying everything North Tahoe - Truckee has

to offer, specifically: the forests, rivers, people, and live music events.

benefits, not the least of which is the

growing empathy of male allies in a world that often challenges women. Every year, the Queen of Hearts and TTCF adopt local seniors without loved ones nearby and fulfill their holiday wish lists to make the holidays brighter.

which nonprofit will receive the funding. In four years, GGB original members

have awarded a total of $10,000! This

year, they chose to address the widening gap between boys and girls pursuing education and careers in STEM. The

local girls science program received

$2,500 through GGB which then inspired an additional $3,500 from anonymous donors!

Become Involved

Are you interested in becoming more

engaged in local philanthropy? Tahoe

Truckee Community Foundation is a fully-

staffed local nonprofit that matches donors and volunteers to the causes that align

with their personal philanthropic goals.

Whether you'd like to open a fund, join the Queen of Hearts, or help a young woman become more involved, our professional staff is here to serve you. Visit www.ttcf.

net to learn more, email Emily@ttcf.net, or call (530)587-1776 for Emily Vitas, Donor Services Manager.

GGB doesn't focus all their efforts to

Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation

they have supported the purchase of new

generating resources to build a more

impact young women. In previous years

22

connects people and opportunities

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

530.587.1776 | www.ttcf.net

PO Box 366 Truckee, CA 96160

tennis news Guillaume Tonelli | Tennis Director It has been an amazing skiing winter in the Tahoe are already, and

Adults

and pickleball are a must when it comes to summer activities, and

CAMPS – all levels

in the Tahoe area.

2-Day Adult camps: Saturday and

we cannot wait to have an exciting summer at Northstar. Tennis

we offer the highest quality and the most fun lessons/clinics/camps Here is the schedule of tennis programs being offered this

summer, which includes many excellent choices for players of all levels. Our pros cannot wait to see you on the tennis court, help you with your game and most importantly, have a ton of fun.

5-Day Adult camps: Monday through Friday

9am – 12pm

9am – 12pm

CLINICS

Monday through Saturday Monday

1pm – 2pm skill development - level 1.0 – 2.5

For more detailed information, please visit the new Northstar

Tuesday

have access to all the information about our tennis and pickleball

Thursday

improve your doubles tennis game

pickleball tournament on Saturday July 6th, 2019! More details to

Saturday

social mixer’s clinic

Tennis website: www.northstartahoetennis.com. There you will

Wednesday

programs for the upcoming summer. We will have our first ever

Friday

follow on the website. Here is a little overview of what programs will be offered:

level 2.5 to 3.5

level 3.5 and above

altitude acclimation

CARDIO TENNIS

Friday and Saturday

8am - 9am

Juniors 5-Day Junior camps: Monday through Friday Advanced (age 12-18):

Intermediate (age 8-13):

2pm – 5pm

1pm – 3:30pm

Beginner (age 6-11):

3:30pm – 5pm

2-Day Junior camps: Saturday and Sunday Advanced (age 12-18):

1pm – 3pm

Beginner (age 6-11):

1pm – 3pm

Intermediate (age 8-13):

1pm – 3pm

Quickstart 3-Day Junior camps: Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday Ages 3-6

5pm – 6pm

Private lessons: 30 min, 1 hour, or 2 hour privates. Socials on a weekly basis

Pickleball

Group/individual lessons by appointment. Pickleball Socials available upon request.

www.npoa.info | March 2019

23

the bridge table Kathy Semrad I often hear players talk about how difficult it is to remember every

b. If opener’s bidding showed 13 – 15 points, that’s a

the best of players! This article is about developing good memory

could be 11 – 14 or another variation of points.

card that’s been played – probably an impossible task even for

techniques that are helpful in developing better ‘memory skills’ for offensive and defensive play! Article by Ana Roth at www. worldbridge.org.

Memory Techniques for Defensive & Offensive Play Andrew Gumperz suggestions: 1. Do one thing at a time – i.e. count HCP’s then distribution – don’t do both at same time.

2. Start with the FACTS – then move to HYPOTHESES: a. For example, you hold 7 HCP’s. Dummy tables 9 HCP’s. You see 16 HCP’s. That’s a FACT.

HYPOTHESES. It depends on partnership agreement so

c. Declarer ruffs the second round of a suit. The singleton is a

FACT. As defender you can now identify the original layout of the suit with certainty.

d. Declarer bids clubs late in the auction. Declarer may have 4

clubs, but may not. His holding 4 clubs is a HYPOTHESIS not a fact.

3. Minimize the math. For example – bidding goes: 1NT - P - 3NT - All Pass

a. You hold 7 HCP’s. Dummy tables 10 HCP’s for total of 17. Assume the 1NT opening promised 15 – 17.

One counting option for you to determine how many points your partner has:

Add the ‘known’ 17 to 15 for 32 ‘known’ HCP’s. Subtract 32 from 40 to get partner’s maximum of 8 HCP’s. Use 17 for

FOCUSED ON A

BETTER YOU

Declarer’s high point count to determine partners minimum HCP’s which is 6.

Another counting option which produces less math & chance of mental errors is:

Add 17 to 16 (middle range of 15 – 17 NT opening bid)

which is 33 ‘known’ points. 40 – 33 = 7 HCP’s. Partner holds 7 HCP’s +/- 1 point.

4. To figure out where honors are in two unseen hands: a. After combining your HCP’s with the HCP’s of one unseen

hand (dummy), pick the weaker of the remaining two unseen hands to mentally convert their points to honors:

For example: In above example your partner’s 7HCP’s is

equal to two honors, Ace & King, two Kings and a Jack, etc.

Eliminate the suits where between your hand, dummy’s hand and any cards already shown that your partner cannot hold a high honor in that suit.

Make an Appointment Today! (530) 213-0225 www.tahoeorthopedicsandsports.com 24

Now identify which specific honors are possible. Frequently there are few options

When you can place honors in the weak hand (in this

example your partner’s), mentally note that the remaining

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

honors are in the other hand (declarers).

card suggesting no interest in a suit.

Michael Bodell suggestions:

3. Pay attention to ‘discards’ by opponents!

1. Try thinking in terms of patterns instead of counting points. So

4. If the cards mean something to you it will be easier to

rather than counting 13 spades in play, think in terms of 4-4-

3-2 or 5-4-2-2 or 6-3-3-1. These patterns of numbers that add up to 13 come up a lot for both distribution of the 4 suits in

your hand and in an opponents hand as well amongst all four players.

2. When trying to remember things, don’t fixate on just

remembering the ‘card’. Instead ask yourself ‘what is going on’ and ‘what does that mean’? It’s easier to remember when you attach meaning to the bid, card or play. A high card lead in

spades probably means my LHO has two or one and is looking

for a ruff. Remembering it was a ‘high card’ & what it may mean is easier than remembering it was a Q. Radu Zoran suggestions:

remember what happened in play. If you don’t remember the exact card you are still likely to know what is important and what happened in the play.

I hope you got at least one good idea to put in your tool kit from the above article!

Northstar Bridge Club plays on Wednesdays from 1:30 – 4:30 at

the NPOA Adult Center. You do not need a partner or have to live in Northstar to play. Contact Astrid Cousins at 530.913.4020 for more information and to sign up to play. Cost is $2.

Play is ‘duplicate style’ the first Wednesday of the month. You play with the same partner all day with duplicate boards following

duplicate guidelines. Astrid Cousins runs the duplicate game.

1. Never forget to count the ‘outstanding trumps’ as declarer – easier to remember how many are left than how many have been played.

2. You do have to count in this game but 99% of players can’t

remember each and every card played. It’s best to focus on

the ‘important suits’. Ask yourself: What honors are missing?

Where can they be? What clues do I have from the bidding and opening lead?

3. Always take a little time to think at trick one. Use this time to

‘make a mental picture’ of the cards you see (their meaning). Make a plan as declarer and as defender.

4. Focus on remaining cards. You can think of a bridge hand as a puzzle where the cards played are no longer important. Free

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your memory of them and focus on cards left. Will Watson suggestions:

1. It is difficult to memorize every card played. It is also not necessary!

2. Instead remember what ‘signals’ were played between your opponents. It’s easier to remember what a card played may ‘mean’ rather than the specific card such as an opponent

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playing a card showing an even number in that suit or a low

evanscons@sbcglobal.net|775.843.0629|DIRECT www.npoa.info | March 2019

25

March 2018

15 — Friday Fun Nights 16 — Mountain Family Dinner 17 — Platinum First Tracks 22 — Friday Fun Nights 23-24 — Her Mountain Retreat 28 — S’morey Time on the Village Overlook 29 — Friday Fun Nights

April 2018

05 — Friday Fun Nights 06 — Northstar Retro Day, S’moresapalooza and Pond Skim 07 — Passholder Pub Crawl 14 — Northstar Winter Closing Day 2 — Easter Eggstravaganza

26

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Northstar California ™

Truckee Dining — Where To Eat This Summer Summer is coming. Fireside après-ski is out and outdoor patio dining is in. And

just as Northstar California has a plethora of winter après-ski spots, so the summer

outdoor patio options abound. As such, to ring in the upcoming summer season at

Northstar, we’re talking all things summer dining at Northstar California.

Downhill Grille

Just as mid-mountain is base camp for

skiers and snowboarders during winter,

so it’s base camp for hikers and mountain bikers during summer. Guests can sit on Downhill Grille's patio, watching bikers

speed down the mountain while enjoying dishes like a burger or cheese steak, or

my personal favorite, the blackened ahi fish tacos. Then wash it all down with a

margarita, of course. Additionally, Downhill Grille’s menu features items like the grilled

Calendar spring 2019

wagyu dog and a number of different wraps and salads.

Martis Valley Grille

Martis Valley Grille is one of the biggest, most beautiful patios in Truckee,

overlooking the Northstar California Golf Course, Martis Valley, and further afield,

the Sierra Nevadas. Breakfast and lunch

is served daily, while happy hour is every

day from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The crowd favorite is the Cubano, served on focaccia bread with applewood-smoked pork

shoulder, Serrano ham, emmental cheese,

Petra

One of Truckee's under-the-radar

restaurants, Petra is a wine bar tucked away in the Village at Northstar. Petra's dining

menu features a number of share plates, including assorted salami and artisan

cheeses, hummus, and lamb meatballs, while it also has heartier selections like

lemon ricotta ravioli and braised short rib.

I recommend grabbing a seat on the patio and ordering a glass of wine, or a flight of

three wines, and a selection of salami and cheese. Hello, al fresco dining.

Dijon aioli, and house pickles. Naturally, I recommend pairing it with a mojito.

Sundays are the main event, however, for

the Sunday Mimosa Brunch. Additionally, if you're golfing, call in your order (530-562-

2460) before teeing off at the 9th, and pick it up on your way through.

Event Schedule is Subject to Change. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.NorthstarCalifornia.com

www.npoa.info | March 2019

27

bear facts Data Provided by CDFW Website, Compiled by Nancy Barna

California Black Bears Are On The Move

Tips for Bear-proofing your Home

of hunkering down through the winter. As a reminder, the

habitat, in search of food. The best defense against bear break-

people to help reduce unwanted encounters with this large

property by following these tips:

California’s black bears will be active and hungry after a period

Bears may venture into areas of human activity close to bear

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) encourages

ins and bears in your yard is to eliminate attractants to your

mammal by being “bear aware.” People who visit or live in bear

• Purchase and properly use a bear-proof garbage container

country can take actions that promote responsible behavior and safe co-existence with bears.

Black bears are the only bear species in California. They

generally prefer mountainous areas and natural habitat.

However, as more people choose to live in or near bear habitat, some bears may become used to the presence of people and as a result display less shy and avoidant behavior.

Black bears have a diverse diet and can eat nearly anything, from berries and insects to pet food, human trash and road

kill. They also have a highly specialized sense of smell, which

(check with NPOA for GCE rules/requirements).

• Wait to put trash out until the morning of collection day (currently collection day is Monday).

• Do not leave trash, groceries or pet food in your car. • Keep garbage cans clean and deodorize them with bleach or ammonia.

• Keep barbecue grills clean and stored in a garage or shed when not in use.

• It is advised to not hang bird feeders in bear country.

can sometimes lead them to enter homes, cabins and tents

• Do not leave any scented products outside, even non-food

Local communities and areas of human activity in or around

• Keep doors and windows closed and locked.

while following their nose (and stomach) to a food source.

bear habitat can provide a tempting food supply for a hungry

bear. However, unwanted and/or destructive bear activity may be significantly reduced or even eliminated, when people are mindful and remember to remove attractants and access to food.

28

items such as suntan lotion, insect repellent, soap or candles.

• Securely block access to potential hibernation sites such as crawl spaces under decks and buildings.

• Do not spray bear spray around property – when it dries, it can serve as an attractant.

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

• Do not feed deer or other wildlife – this will attract bears to your property.

Tips for Hiking in Bear Country

• Bears may react defensively if your presence is not known – make noise while hiking. Talk loudly or whistle.

• If possible, travel with a group of people.

Black Bear Safety Reminders • Black bear behavior is not always predictable. Human-bear

attacks are rare in California; however, they do occur. There is no single safety strategy applicable to every bear encounter.

• Individual bears can display varying levels of tolerance and temperament.

• Avoid thick brush and walk with the wind at your back so your

• Prevention is better than confrontation.

• Watch for bear sign along trails – scat, tracks and stripped

• Share this information with your children. Make sure they

• Avoid sites where dead animal carcasses are observed.

Black Bear Encounters

scent is ahead of you. bark off trees.

• If you see a bear, avoid it and give it the opportunity to avoid you.

• Leash dogs while hiking in bear country – dogs can surprise and aggravate bears – bringing the bear back to you when the dog flees from the bear.

• Keep as much distance as possible between you and the bear. know to tell you if they see a bear in the area. Be Bear Aware.

These are general guidelines based on research by wildlife

managers and scientists, intended to help keep you safe in the event of a black bear encounter. Keep in mind that safety tips for grizzly bears are not the same as for black bear. California does not have grizzly bears.

Continued on page 30

• Orthopedics and Sports Medicine • Total Joint Program, including Anterior Hip Procedures • Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center • Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care • 24-Hour Emergency Care • Physician MultiSpecialty Clinics • Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Services • Tahoe Forest Women’s Center • Health, Wellness, Fitness and Prevention Programs • Tahoe Forest Center for Health • Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory and Pharmacy • Ambulatory Surgery Center • Home Health and Hospice • Walk-in Health Clinic and Occupational Health • Long Term Skilled Nursing Care www.npoa.info | March 2019

29

Bear Facts Continued • If a bear breaks into your home, do not confront the bear.

Most bears will quickly look for an escape route. Move away to a safe place. Do not block exit points.

• If you encounter a bear in your yard, chances are it will move

on if there is nothing for the bear to forage. If there is enough distance between you and the bear, you can encourage the bear to leave by using noisemakers or blowing a whistle.

• If you encounter a bear while hiking and it does not see you. Back away and increase your distance. Clap hands or make noise so the bear knows you are there and will move on.

• If you encounter a bear on the trail and it sees you. Do not

make eye contact. Back away, do not run. Let the bear know you are not a threat. Give it a chance to leave.

• If a bear approaches you, make yourself look bigger by lifting

and waving arms. Use noisemakers, or yell at the bear. If small children are present, keep them close to you. Carry and know how to use bear spray as a deterrent. In the event of a black

bear attack, it is usually recommended to fight back. However, each situation is different. Prevention is the key.

Black Bear Facts

being the most common. • There are an estimated 35,000 bears in California. • Males are much larger than females and can weigh up to 500 pounds, although average weight is about 300 pounds.

• Black bears can sprint up to 35 mph and they are strong swimmers and great tree climbers.

• Bears are omnivorous eating foods ranging from berries,

plants, nuts, roots, and honey, honeycomb, insects, larvae, carrion and small mammals.

• Bears typically mate in June and July. • Bear cubs are born in winter dens in January and February and are hairless, deaf and blind.

• Black bear attacks are rare in California and typically are defensive in nature because the bear is surprised or

defending cubs; however, bears accustomed to people may become too bold and act aggressively.

• Female black bears will often send cubs up a tree and leave

the area in response to a perceived threat. Do not remain in the area – when you leave, she will come back for her cubs.

• Black bears are the only bear species found in California. They range in color from blonde to black, with cinnamon brown

directory Support These Local Businesses That Support NPOA A

| Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa

B C

775.825.4700

| Bassett Flooring

530.582.7428

| Carmel Gallery

530.582.0557

Carr Long

530.562.1100

• Peter Morris

530.330.4300

CCMedia 530.582.4100

E H | Heaven's Best

| Evans Construction

530.582.8854

Carpet Cleaning

530.550.1252

L | Liberty Utilities

800.782.2506

M | Martis Valley Associates

530.587.8100

Mountain Hardware & Sports 530.587.4844 Mr. Honey-Do

30

N | Northstar California™

530.562.2267

Nothing To It

775.284.2665

R

530.412.3174

| Resort Properties at Northstar • Bob Williamson

S

| Sheridan Brokers

530.562.1140

• Kevin Sheridan

530.562.1140

| Tahoe Exclusive T Vacation Rentals

530.448.5123

Tahoe Forest Hospital

530.587.6011

Tahoe Forest Orthopedics

530.213.0225

Tahoe Mountain Lodging

855.620.5809

Tahoe Truckee Vacation Properties

866.582.6186

530.581.4031

Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

Partner With Northstar’s Leading Rental Team Trust your investment to Tahoe Mountain Lodging. With 30+ years of experience, we deliver more bookings, longer stays and overall higher nightly yields than any competitor. WE OFFER :

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We’re situated in the heart of Northstar with on-site housekeeping and maintenance teams—ensuring we can respond to emergencies 24/7 and capture walk-in traffic.

Contact us today to receive a custom evaluation of your residence’s rental revenue potential. 855.620.5809 | www.tahoemountainlodging.com www.npoa.info | March 2019

31

News Magazine Of the Northstar Property Owners Association 2200 North Village Drive Truckee, CA 96161