FALL 2019
NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NORTHSTAR PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
10 44TH ANNUAL MEETING & ELECTION 12 Truckee River Day— Do Your Part For Our Mountain Home On Truckee River Day 26 Pickleball Tournament www.npoa.info | Fall 2019 | 1
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FALL 2019
inside this issue
04 | President’s Perspective 07 | GM Report 10 | 44th Annual Meeting & Election 10 | NPOA Election & Bylaws Results
10
12 | TRWC - Truckee River Day 13 | NCSD Update 15 | Fitness Corner 17 | Northstar Golf 19 | Fire Department 20 | Condominium Updates 25 | The Bridge Table 26 | Pickleball Tournament
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27 | Tennis News 30 | NPOA Civil Code 4041 30 | Truckee Delivery
meetings 2019 dates Oct 29, 9am Design Review Committee Adult Center Nov 16, 9am NPOA Board of Directors Adult Center Nov 19, 9am Design Review Committee Adult Center Dec 07, 9am NPOA Board of Directors Adult Center Dec 17, 9am Design Review Committee Adult Center
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Meeting dates are subject to change. Please check www.npoa.info for updated information.
community comments policy
Northstar Living welcomes your comments that are pertinent to the Northstar community and will publish those comments on a spaceavailable 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. Comments not meeting these requirements or containing solicitations, inaccuracies, libelous or incorrect statements, lacking clarity or having no pertinence to the Northstar community or the Association will not be published.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.
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president’s perspective News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association Board Members 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 Peter Morris, Board Member pmorris@npoa.info Don Schreuder, Board Member dschreuder@npoa.info Paul Schumacher, Board Member pschumacher@npoa.info Staff at NPOA
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 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 November 4 - 7, 2019 Advertising Sales CCMedia Every Impression Matters P| 775.327.4200 Cover Photo Olof Carmel of Carmel Gallery "Clearing Day"
For those of you who were unable to attend the NPOA Annual Membership Meeting over Labor Day weekend, I’d like to give you a recap of some of the more important things which were discussed.
Some Initiatives Undertaken in 2019:
Over the past year, we have formed a number of new committees and reoriented some of our existing ones to focus on the “future of NPOA.” We formed a Technology Committee (led by Steve Klei) to bring about changes to our internal infrastructure, including implementing new electronic payment options, an improved Wi-Fi system, upgrading our online communications, and beginning work on a property management software upgrade which will permit us to integrate many of our functions and better handle all aspects of our business, including finance, tracking information on facilities usage by members and guests, integrating our web site with the ability to make payments for services, and improved security and monitoring of our facilities, among other things. We also formed a Risk Management Committee (led by John Bowe) which revamped our insurance program, initiated new HR procedures and training for staff and which is updating our personnel policies, practices and agreements. An ad hoc group (led by Paul Schumacher) worked with our outside counsel to update our By-Laws, which needed changes both to reflect new laws and to incorporate provisions to improve our internal processes. We also enacted an updated Investment Policy (a project led by Sue Cordonnier) and a new Board Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Policy.
An Important New Initiative Just Getting Started for 2020:
Earlier this year we formed a Strategic Planning and Visioning Committee (led by Steve Klei, with members John Bowe and Sue Cordonnier) to think about what we would like to see five and ten years from now at NPOA – including both possible improvements to our physical facilities and the amenities we are able to offer our
homeowners. Some of the ideas which are being looked at, at least as possibilities, are outlined in the separate report included with this issue of Northstar Living. We believe now is an excellent time to look towards the future in this way, for a number of reasons:
The State of Our Facilities: The buildings
which form the core of our Recreation Center are now approaching 25 years old (they were built in the mid-90’s). While they have served us well and have been very well maintained, we understand that times have changed and how they are utilized could certainly be improved. To provide some history, the “fitness building” was originally designed to be an office building with a small collection of gym equipment for member use. The office portion was later moved, and the equipment expanded. Given the varied ways that people now exercise and the numbers of users, it is no longer adequate – having people stretching literally a few feet from others lifting weights is less than ideal; we have no place for exercise classes, something most other gyms offer; our equipment is jam-packed in too little space and our members would like to see us add some further items. On the other hand, our “adult center” (the building to the left of the fitness building) is underutilized; among other things, it is probably in the wrong location as a “gathering place” for members, at the back of the Rec Center, rather than up front; it also lacks the kinds of amenities which would encourage members to “gather there” and use it. The building at the front of our site, originally dubbed the “youth center,” currently has two main functions – It has a very large and noisy arcade room right next to our administrative offices. It is not an ideal location either for our offices or for kids’ games, and certainly not for both – our staff says the noise in the offices often reaches impossible levels, and the games could certainly be moved elsewhere. In the pool area, the deli operation lacks even a modest commercial kitchen which limits Continued on page 6
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4 OUT OF THE 10 TOP-RANKED RESTAURANTS on
We have the recipe to what foodies expect in culinary excellence. We are so thankful for our guests who have ranked us #1 in dining experiences and service.
atlantiscasino.com Rankings as of 8/6/19.
president's perspective continued from page 4 the menu which can be served, the efficiency of the service and the revenues generated. In short, we believe it is time to at least consider what we now have, what we might change and how our current facilities could possibly be upgraded and/or better utilized.
What We Observe Elsewhere: A group of Board members
recently toured a number of other facilities in our area, including Tahoe Donner, Old Greenwood, Gray’s Crossing, Schaffer’s Mill and right here at Northstar, the Mountainside and Village facilities – all of which we consider competitive in the overall market. Many of these were built much more recently than ours and they reflect the ways residents now play, exercise and gather together much better than ours do, including the available food service for both summer and winter activities. Our homeowners also compare our fitness center with what they are used to at their home gyms and we are generally behind many of those facilities too. Interestingly, the one local facility which was in existence when we built our buildings in the 90’s -- Tahoe Donner -- is currently undergoing a complete overhaul, with a large, brand new fitness center building under construction this year. Local real estate professionals now tell us what is out there elsewhere in terms of amenities is beginning to impact the attractiveness of properties here at Northstar. When our facilities were built 25 years ago, we were close to the only game in town, but that is no longer the case.
Our Infrastructure Needs: We are also in need of some upgrades to our basic infrastructure, which could be incorporated into other changes to our facilities. For example, we clearly need more parking; our ADA access, while legally compliant, could be made more convenient; and we need to improve the access to the rear portions of our facilities for fire engines in case of emergency; this would also facilitate ongoing repairs and maintenance work, as well as the delivery of supplies. Where Are We in this Process? The short answer is we are just
getting started. Our Strategic Planning Committee is in the process of looking at possible ideas and understanding what kinds of changes might be feasible. We are working with an architect from the Ryan Group in Truckee, who has designed multiple recreation facilities, to help us analyze the possible goals and develop some concrete ideas to share with the membership for their input.
in person.
Some Points to Emphasize: (1) NO decisions have been reached
to go forward with any project at all at this time; (2) While we don’t have any specific proposals, possible initial projects might include things like adding a pool water slide, a new play structure for older kids, enhancing the outdoor BBQ area, adding a covered pergola on the pool deck for summer shade, adding a new oven and freezer to our Snack Shack, etc.; (3) No decision has been reached on even those items as they would need to be presented by staff to the Board at a future meeting for approval, after we actually got quotes and plans from vendors; (4) If a larger scale project is ever proposed in the future (and it may never be), it would be subject to a set plans and costs being presented for ultimate member approval or disapproval.
A Few Words on Our 2020 Budget: The Association has
continued to do well this year financially, meeting our budget goals to date for both revenues and expense through the careful management of our General Manager, Tim Fulton, the rest of the NPOA staff, and importantly, the active involvement of our CFO/ Board Member, Sue Cordonnier. We have started the process of preparing our 2020 budget, which will conclude in November. Continued on page 8
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What Are the Next Steps? Our next step will be an initial
member survey of possible projects we might consider, which will be going out very soon. By December, we hope to have some concrete ideas to present and discuss with you. We are planning to have several informal workshops over the Christmas holidays to share these ideas and solicit further member input. We are also planning on a follow-up member survey after the December workshops. If you can’t attend these in person sessions, we’ll also be sending out regular status updates by email and asking you to communicate with us to give your input by whatever means you like. Please write or email us with any input you have if you cannot attend
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general manager's report For those who may have missed the
annual membership meeting, a lot of
great information was introduced by the NPOA Board members and our guest
speakers. Please refer to the 44th Annual Meeting & Election Results section
as well as the President and Strategic Planning and Visioning for updates
specific to NPOA. For those who could
from desktops to laptops, implemented credit cards at the entry desk, and an
entirely new upgraded security camera system is in the process of being
installed. This fall we will renew the
valuation for an entirely new integrated software system and website for implementation in 2020.
not attend, I provided a summary of
Snack Shack projects this spring included
year at the meeting and will summarize
accessories, serving stations, prep
some of the projects completed the past
a new gas line, new grill with multiple
again below.
tables, undercounter refrigerators below
Technology projects included an
stand mixer and equipment to support
complete new wireless internet system
throughout the entire recreation center, installation of a modern and stable
network in the office that will support
local and cloud based storage options, transition administrative staff members
prep tables, 2 Turbo Chef pizza ovens; pizza preparation; a fryer primarily
used for chicken tenders and french fries; and implemented a restaurant
paging system which greatly increased operator efficiency and member/guest experience. I hope you were able to
Ask about monthly specials, and Northstar resident discounts.
enjoy some of the expanded menu
options at the snack shack this summer! Pool projects included main pool and covered spa coping and tile
replacement, new drain grates for all
pools and spas, minor plaster repairs,
and this fall new lap pool and spa covers. Tennis projects included a small remodel of the bathroom, new ice machine and we will complete a small remodel the
outdoor kitchen island as well as new exterior doors.
Nature trail, following a heavy winter
2018-2019, we completed a lot of tree and limb removal from the trail this
spring and partnered with Northstar’s trail maintenance crew to add some
water bars to some areas experiencing erosion and general trail maintenance. We also completed many projects for
the fitness center, landscaping and pool
deck area as described in the last edition of NSL.
Administratively, Amended and
Restated Bylaws were just approved,
the investment policy revised, review
and revisions to several other existing
policies, implementation of some new
• Locally owned HVAC Company (Tahoe Donner resident)
• 30 years experience
policies, as well as the implementation of multiple new committees have kept NPOA staff very busy in 2019.
• Specialize in repair, maintenance & replacement • Service all makes & models
• We understand the challenges of second home owners
Tim Fulton, General Manager
• We do our best to accommodate individual needs
LICENSED IN CA & NV 530.725.5450 | www.MS-AC.com
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president's perspective continued from page 6 Based on a number of factors, we believe it is almost certain that there will be an increase in the member assessment this year. To put this in context, we have had only one increase in the assessment, a total of $100, in the last eleven years. The last increase we had was four years ago. Since then, we have had some significant cost increases, which we have met by cutting things elsewhere. We can no longer do that. Insurance costs and healthcare benefit costs, in particular, have gone up significantly. At the same time, employee costs have increased as the Tahoe market has enjoyed the benefits of an improved local economy; we are having to pay more to hire and retain excellent employees, both our full time staff and our seasonal staff. We are also starting to do new projects including updating our technology infrastructure, coming up with an improved web site, moving our publications and information flow to digital format, coming up with a more rigorously documented design review process, and improving security. We are looking at updating the software system we use to manage the Association. These are a few of the things in the works. We are also now required by law to perform increased financial reporting and HR tasks -- all of this will require some staff level increases. The total increase in operating costs to cover these items, including some staffing additions, is about $300,000. Even just covering this would require an increase in the annual assessment, without any further addition to our reserves this year. Finally, to start the process of adding some improvements to our facilities like those described above, we want to begin to budget an amount for “new” things, rather than just for replacement items, with an allocation of some amount to an “improvements” fund. While other associations typically have a specific annual funding for this, we have not had this as part of our budget, which is one of the reasons why there have not been many new improvements. We are contemplating starting this fund with a one-time contribution in 2020 which would be in lieu of a further addition to our reserves in 2020, and which we think are adequate for the coming year.
homeowners also attended. This project is a long way from approval and, as we have said before, your Board has taken no position on it pending completion of environmental studies and the EIR process under CEQA. We also plan to make sure the homeowner community is given a full opportunity to learn about and weigh in on its views about the proposal. As a first step in that process, the Arts Foundation made a presentation at the Annual Meeting describing the process and presented the current conceptual design and location. A visit to the proposed site was also available for interested homeowners immediately prior to the meeting. Those who attended learned a great deal for sure. It is anticipated that we are roughly 10-12 months from the completion of the EIR process, which will be the time for homeowners to weigh in on the project (likely via a future survey) and we will keep you informed and provide opportunities to learn more as time goes along. For more information on the plans for the project, you should go to the Arts Foundation’s web site at www.TahoeArts.net.
The new assessment amount will be finalized in November as part of the annual budget process. While we do not have a final number as yet, we are contemplating an amount of approximately $15-16/ month as an increase. The final thing I want to mention in this update is the status of “The Stages at Northstar” project. As I’ve reported before, for many years the Tahoe Regional Arts Foundation has been working on a project to bring a performing arts center to the North Tahoe region, including a 650 seat indoor theater and a 3500 seat amphitheater. In the past year or so, the Arts Foundation has focused on a site adjoining the top of the Castle Peak ski parking lots (above Skidder Trail and Basque Drive) at Northstar and is now in the conceptual planning stage. At the April meeting of our Board, the Arts Foundation made an initial presentation of the conceptual plan and we had a visit to the proposed site, which a number of 8 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
Mike Plishner, Board President
Connected By More Than A Runway SINCE 1958
We are here for our community and have a responsibility to it. What happens here and how we grow, work together and prosper is important to us.
530.587.4119 info@truckeetahoeairport.com www.truckeetahoeairport.com Airport Community Hotline: 530.287.2799 (your comments matter)
Fast Facts MISSION The Truckee Tahoe Airport (KTRK) is a community airport that provides high-quality aviation facilities and services to meet local needs. We strive for low impact on our neighbors while enhancing the benefit to the community-at-large.
1
TERMINAL
2
RUNWAYS
230
HANGARS
2,600 ACRES
The Airport is a Special District of California. It is a local, focused form of government led by a five member elected Board of Directors that provides aviation services and facilities.
Community Partnerships Through our Giving Back Programs we support over 55 local entities.
With over 37,000 flight operations per year, KTRK connects people to the region as part of the Federal Transportation System.
Our Air Traffic Control Tower at KTRK works to:
4 Increase aeronautical safety 4 Decrease annoyance
ELEVATION: 5,901 ft MSL One of the highest in the nation POPULATION SERVED: 35,000 full-time residents and 80,000 peak period visitors SIZE: Serves Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Sierraville, Donner Summit, etc. AVIATION: KTRK serves private and charter aircraft but offers no scheduled commercial flights OPEN SPACE PUBLIC USE is managed for forestry, watershed health and wildlife safety
MEETING SPACE
91 different
non-profits held a total of meetings + events in the Airport Community Rooms
460
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npoa Update
44th Annual Meeting and Election The 44th Annual Membership Meeting
the Standing Special Resolution and the
Labor Day weekend August 31 at 3:00
passed and quorum for the meeting was
was held per tradition on Saturday of
Third Amended and Restated Bylaws both
pm. The agenda was reorganized slightly
easily achieved.
this year to include association updates
first followed by several guest speakers.
President Mike Plishner provided the
State of the Association update. Please
After a brief welcome and introduction
refer to the President’s Perspective article
results of the four director seats were
summary of this presentation.
of the Board of Directors, the election
announced. Incumbents Mike Plishner and John Bowe were re-elected along with two new board members Peter Morris and Don Schreuder. Having
each served the limit of three two-year
terms, outgoing board members Al Roth and Don Watters were recognized with plaques of appreciation for their years
in this edition of Northstar Living for a
Board member Steve Klei provided
an update on Strategic Planning and
Technology. Please refer again to the President’s Perspective as well as the
additional Strategic Planning and Vision document included with this edition of Northstar Living.
of service. It was also announced that
10 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
Board member Sue Cordonnier
provided a Financial Report. For 2019,
the association is doing a very good job managing expenses and trending per
the operating budget. Sue also discussed revisions to investment policy, some still
very conservative but improved investment yields, audit process, and current replacement reserve funding.
Next Tim Fulton provided the General
Manager Report, the highlights of which are included in the General Manager’s
Report in this edition of Northstar Living. New Vice President and General Manager for Northstar California Deirdra Walsh provided some history on her work
experience at other resorts plus an update on events at Northstar this past summer.
Mike Staudenmayer provided an update
for Northstar Community Services District and Jason Gibeaut on behalf of the
Northstar Fire Department. Again, please refer to these sections in this edition of Northstar Living for those updates.
Then to the guest presenters. First, Stacy Caldwell, CEO for the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation provided an update on TTCF initiatives as well as
progress with the Mountain Housing
Council of Tahoe Truckee. Next, Keith
Vogt, Chairman of the Tahoe Regional Arts Foundation, presented refreshed conceptual plans and location for the
proposed The Stages at Northstar project. Regrettably, the culmination of these
presentations went about 30 minutes
past the allotted time period, at which
point the approximately 250 homeowners and guests in attendance were invited to the Adult Center for a wonderful dinner provided by Smokey’s BBQ.
With thanks to Crux Events for the audio and visual support, we hope all who
attended were able to view the visual
presentation on the monitors and could clearly hear the presentations this year.
npoa election & bylaws results 2019 Annual Board Of Directors Results Election of Four Directors John Bowe
Peter Morris Mike Plishner Don Schreuder
Standing Special Resolution
Quorum Summary
Against 16
Ballots Quorum Only
For 447 Total Votes
463
Amended and Restated Bylaws
For 477 Against 4 Total Votes
481
Ballots with Votes
Total Valid Ballots Received Eligible Properties Required Quorum 10%
Other Information Disqualified Ballots
463 67 530 1,479 148 20
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Photo by Carrie Jensen
Photo by Todd Rawlinson
Truckee River Watershed Council
Photo by Cathy Howard
At Truckee River Day 2017, volunteers helped protect aspen trees from beaver damage.
Volunteers release native Lahontan cutthroat Trout into the Truckee River at the River Fair in 2018.
Do Your Part For Our Mountain Home On Truckee River Day Do you love spending time in the
The passion for these projects from locals
part of this beautiful place? Then put on
in our watershed. Meadows like those in
outdoors? Do you feel blessed to be a some sturdy boots, dig out your work
gloves, grab some friends, and come join us on Sunday, October 20th for Truckee River Day! Together we will work to
restore the Truckee River, along with its creeks and meadows.
“If you love this community, cherish the
river and its surroundings, are concerned
and visitors alike has made real change Perazzo are alive with wildflowers, and
the endangered Willow Flycatcher has
returned. Erosion has been reduced in
the First Four Miles of the Truckee River, providing cleaner water downstream. Rivers and stream are reconnected to their floodplains throughout the watershed.
about the health of the river ecosystem
The Truckee River Watershed Council
will love this event.” – Robie Litchfield,
protect and enhance the watershed. This
and want to learn new things, then you a Truckee River Day volunteer since its inception in 1996.
Each year, hundreds of Truckee River Day volunteers have been transforming the health and resiliency of over 200 sites.
spearheads these efforts that restore, will sustain the Truckee River to make
our mountain home greener, wetter, and wilder—forever.
The history of this beloved area often
features human activity that inadvertently
Volunteers mimic beaver dams on Truckee River Day 2018.
degraded our watershed. From poorly constructed roads to historic logging, grazing and mining, as well as other
legacy impacts, this area has seen it all.
Lack of proper foresight about the effects of these activities on our watershed
caused severe erosion to pollute our
waterways with excess sediment, native species to struggle, and habitat to degrade.
But here’s where you come in—Truckee
River Day. Volunteers have been working
to restore decades of damage site by site
for almost 25 years, and now you can help too. Once complete, this year's Truckee River Day will:
• Re-introduce native vegetation • Protect sensitive meadows and riparian wetland
• Provide habitat for native fish and wildlife
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ncsd update community. Unfortunately, this measure
care contract with Placer County which
voter approval and failed. As a result,
gap for maintenance projects. In
did not obtain the two-thirds majority
the District Board of Directors chose to reallocate two-thirds of the Measure E revenue to this new department with
the logic being, what good are smooth
roads if we have no homes in a burnt-out forest. The District hired a Professional Forester, started chasing grant funding and treating common areas and other large parcels of overgrown forests in and around the community. Since its
inception, this program has leveraged the allocation of Measure E parcel tax revenue to secure nearly $3 million in grant funding treating 1,300 acres of
Potholes vs. Pine Trees The NCSD contracts with Placer County to maintain the road surfaces within the Northstar community mainly
through revenue received from the
Measure E parcel tax. Following the
2007 Angora fire in South Lake Tahoe, where 280 structures were destroyed, the District proposed a new parcel
tax on the ballot to help fund a Forest
Fuels Management program to remove
excess forest vegetation to help prevent such a disaster from occurring in our
high-risk forest.
The distribution of funds between Forest Fuels Management and Roads Capital funding was revisited and adjusted
again in 2014 in an attempt to address
the need for road maintenance funding.
should help to mitigate the funding
addition, the Forest Fuels Management
program operations are being analyzed for efficiency and effectiveness
opportunities. Permanent onsite green waste recycling and residential green waste bins are amongst the concepts being explored.
So, if you happen to feel a few more
bumps in the roads as you make your
way around Northstar, please understand that this is the result of putting limited resources towards the priorities the Board has placed in doing what we
can to mitigate the risk of catastrophic
wildfire in our community. Also know that District staff is working hard to balance this priority with the desire to keep the road system functioning at the highest level possible.
However, given the reallocation of
money originally programmed for road maintenance to this fire-prevention
effort, the overall condition of our public roads has deteriorated below a level of service that all of us would prefer.
In order to address this deficit, District staff recently renegotiated the road
Mike Staudenmayer, NCSD General Manager
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 Ha 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
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www.npoa.info | Fall 2019 | 13
Truckee River Watershed Council continued from page 12 • Create resiliency to buffer drought, flood and wildfire • Reduce erosion to improve water quality • Repair our mountain home To participate in this year’s restoration projects, please visit www. truckeeriverwc.org. The deadline for registration is Wednesday,
release at 3pm! This community event is presented in partnership with Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships with free food
provided by Northstar California. And of course, everyone is
invited to the fair – even if you’re not involved in the restoration projects.
October 16th.
The Watershed Council leads this important effort in partnership
Volunteers have their choice of half or full day restoration
Truckee, Trout Unlimited, Truckee Donner Forestry, Truckee
projects with different levels of difficulty. Projects will include
planting native vegetation and seeds in McIver Dairy Meadow, constructing willow bundles along Squaw Creek, and building
with Friends of Squaw Creek, Sugar Pine Foundation, Town of
Donner Land Trust, Truckee Trails Foundation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Forest Service
boardwalks at Donner Camp. In the Martis Wildlife Area,
Thank you to this year’s funders, including donors to the
plugs around a new creek crossing, and plant culturally relevant
Northstar California/Vail EpicPromise, Tahoe Truckee Community
volunteers will have the opportunity to plant willows, install sod
Truckee River Watershed Council, National Forest Foundation,
plants, all as part of the larger Martis Wildlife Area restoration
Foundation, and the Town of Truckee.
project. Projects start at 9am or 11am and finish by 2:30pm.
After a hard day of volunteer work, come celebrate with us at the River Fair from 1pm to 4pm at Granite Flat Campground. There will be fun environmental educational activities for both kids
and adults. Then participate in a native Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
To take part be sure to register at www.truckeeriverwc.org. Or
contact Michele Prestowitz at mprestowitz@truckeeriverwc.org to find out more.
Either way, you’ll feel empowered knowing you took part!
FOCUSED ON A
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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.
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14 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
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fitness corner You will basically have the full attention of an expert right by your side. They will make sure you are lifting with a proper technique,
and will design a personal program to get you to where you want to be. They will help prevent injuries, and will know better than anyone when to push you and when to slow down. The last trend is Mobile Exercise Apps. It is one of the most popular trends these days. It is very easy to
download videos and apps so that you have easy access to your
New Fitness Trends in 2019 The first fitness trend is wearable technology.
When we look around at the gym, we see a lot of people using
work out anytime and anywhere. Mobile exercise apps focus
directly on the one reason we skip the gym: time. You can do
just about anything with these apps, at your own pace, without leaving your house or your hotel room.
some type of wearable technology. From smartwatches to
fitness trackers to heart monitors and GPS devices, wearable
technologies are not going anywhere. One reason it is becoming so popular is because it is giving us feedback on what we do.
From counting our steps to letting us know how we sleep, we like to know when we do well, and how we can improve if we don’t.
Guillaume Tonelli, Tennis Director
Technology is a huge aspect of fitness nowadays, and getting
accurate data means we can actually improve our work outs, and we all love that.
The second trend is group training.
If you like energy that comes from working out with other people, this trend is for you. Group classes are designed to make a work out safe, effective, and motivational, which helps you “connect
CSLB #974246
with like-minded people”. It gives you a sense of community, and supports you to integrate people into your life and routine that want to achieve similar goals as you. Group training goes from boot camps, to spinning class, to Zumba work outs.
The third trend is High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).
We find ourselves being really busy and having less time to work
out, which means we have to do a similar work out as before, but in less time and so much more intense. With HIIT, you will get an effective and efficient workout done in much less time.
What it means is that you will be doing a work out at a high
intensity alternated with short rest periods to maximize calorie
burn and cardiorespiratory fitness in half the time of regular work outs. It does mean the work outs will be very intense and harder
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than usual gym sessions.
The fourth trend is hiring a personal trainer.
It is very beneficial to work one on one with someone that gets to know you and will help you get the most out of your work out. It is beneficial for people of all fitness levels.
530.581.4031 www.mrhoneydo.biz info@mrhoneydo.biz PO Box 5247, Tahoe City, CA 96145
www.npoa.info | Fall 2019 | 15
Taylor Edgerton, Se Ecglast Custom Cutlery & Whetstone Sharpening Exclusively sharpening at Nothing to It!
Knife Maintenance
I think we all get a little giddy using a brand new, out of the box knife with a pristine, sharp edge. The way it glides through food with little to no effort is a thing of beauty. So how do we keep our knives working like new after the honeymoon? To really understand knife care, we need to understand what breaks down a knife’s edge. There are three interactions in which a knife's edge is degraded:
The elements: Acids, water and detergents all react with steel
and slowly break down its composition. The longer the steel is in contact with any of those things, the more degradation that occurs in the blade. Keeping a knife clean and dry will add years to its life and help retain a sharp edge.
Heat: Extreme heat can also break down a blade. Varying
temperatures can slowly wear on a knife. Different materials
expand and contract when exposed to different temperatures. This can easily rip handles away from tangs, and cause the knife to fall apart. Add liquid, and this is amplified even more.
Use: Let's face it— using a knife will dull its blade. How you use a knife has a big impact on how fast the edge degrades. If you're gentle while using it, you'll find the edge lasting longer. Also factor in your cutting board surface. Do not cut on a surface that is harder than steel. Wood is the most gentle on your knives. Glass and tile will dull the knife quickly since both surfaces are harder than your knife’s steel. Regardless, if you know how to sharpen a knife, you can restore the edge once it's gone. Now that we understand what factors dull your knife, let's talk about what we can do to preserve it. Dishwasher a no-no: Keeping a clean knife is paramount to making your knife last, though the dishwasher hits all the points in what hurts your knife. It exposes the knife to water, detergent, heat, and with a strong enough spray, hard use. Instead, it's much easier to use warm water, a sponge with mild dish soap, and just gently rubbing the knife, washing off anything that could be stuck to it. Just keep your hand away from the edge, and dry immediately when done. Sharpening: Sharpening removes worn down, softened steel to
create a new edge from the harder steel below. There are different ways to accomplish this, but the best is to sharpen by hand with a series of decreasing grit factor whet stones. Grinding machines also sharpen, but tend to remove more steel than needed to produce a new edge, decreasing the lifespan of your knife. Using a honing steel after each use will lengthen the time needed between sharpening. Not sure how to hone a knife? Feel free to contact me or Nothing to It! for a quick and easy honing lesson. We also offer a full whet stone knife sharpening workshop and whet stone sharpening services.
Invest in a good knife: Knowing how your knife was constructed
and the hardness/grade of steel that it is made of is paramount. Essentially, the harder the steel, the better it will hold its edge. Cheap, multi-knife knife sets are alluring at the warehouse club. However, those sets, even from well-known brands, are made with less expensive, softer steels that work great the first use and quickly dull. Make sure to ask questions when buying your knife, as some retailers and manufacturers will give you extra tips on how to keep your knife working like new. When in doubt, ask a professional. We're here to help!
Serving Lunch 11am – 2pm, Mon – Fri 11:30am – 1:30pm, Sat
775.284.COOK | 225 Crummer Lane, Reno Visit Nothingtoit.com for full class schedule
Cooking classes • Catering • Gourmet deli • Kitchen store Spices by the tablespoon • Knife sharpening
16 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Association A D V Owners ERTORIA L
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northstar golf
(Left) NWGC members prior to Tuesday play day on June 18 – (L-R) Claudia Young, Margie Lockwood, Linda Morris, Marcia Gallagher, Carol Pawlak, Sandy Campion, new member Marian Hansen and NWGC President Anne Middleton. (Right) (L-R) New member Marcia Crockett, former NWGC President Jo Ann Polverari and NWGC President Anne Middleton on July 9 Play Day.
Northstar Women's Golf
special luncheon, which has been a great way of strengthening
The Northstar Women’s Golf Club (NWGC) was happy to
enjoyed lunch and an awards ceremony at the Northstar
welcome three new members – Carolyn Chambers, Marcia
Crockett and Marian Hansen – during the 2019 golf season. The group enjoyed playing on its weekly Tuesday Play Days at the
our golfing friendships. After the second day’s play, members Clubhouse.
Our ladies’ group is friendly yet plays by USGA rules -- while
Northstar Golf Course throughout the summer and early fall.
enjoying a beautiful golf course. While Northstar is a public
While our 2019 golf season ends in mid-October, prospective
at private clubs – a convenient golf bag drop off, talented
members can obtain information about the NWGC during
the year by contacting Anne Middleton, NWGC President, at
858.229.2140 or anne.middleton@me.com. Guests are welcome to play with us on Tuesdays, so call Anne ahead of time to be
course, NWGC members enjoy amenities more common
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
placed in one of our Tuesday pairings.
handicaps -- to those who did not have a handicap before joining
NWGC members enjoy playing at Northstar during the golfing
for the first time, come do it with us at Northstar. In 2019, NWGC
season, as well as participating in other golf activities around
the Lake Tahoe and Reno areas. Many NWGC members belong to the Reno-based Senior Women’s Golf League (www.swgl.
org) and encourage others to consider joining for the 2020 golf
the NWGC. So, if you’re thinking about establishing a handicap
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.
season.
Northstar Men's Golf
Nine of our NWGC members competed in the annual 3-day
As we admit the daylight hours are getting shorter and the
issue of Northstar Living will include a summary of the NWGC
the warm days and pleasant times playing a round of golf with
Summerwood golf tourney at Schaffer’s Mill in August. The next
overnight temperatures are getting colder we continue to enjoy
Club Championship, which was held on Tuesday, August 27,
our fellow members of the Northstar Golf Club.
and Wednesday, August 28. After Day 1 of the championship, all NWGC members were invited to a luncheon hosted by
former NWGC President Jo Ann Polverari, and her husband,
Joe, at their home in Northstar. This was the third year for this
The grounds crew have maintained their efforts through the
summer to revitalize our course from a particularly brutal winter. Continued on page 18 www.npoa.info | Fall 2019 | 17
Northstar Golf continued from page 17 I for one applaud their efforts having witnessed the conditions
For anyone interested in playing golf with the Northstar Golf Club
has taken to bring us back to the quality standards we’ve come to
at 10:30am, and we have now moved the 9 hole challenge tee
when the snow melted and recognizing the amount of work it expect at the Northstar Golf Course.
we will continue the Thursday’s 18 hole challenge group tee time time to Monday’s at 12:30pm. Check in with the Clubhouse, we would love to have you join us.
The annual Club Championship Tournament was recently
contested over a two day period where the weather was perfect
Any questions about the joining or playing with the Northstar
2019 Low Gross Champion is Bill Anttila with a two day total of
Peter@PLMrealestate.com
and some competitive golf was on display. The newly crowned
169 and Rodney Unrein is our new 2019 Low Net Champion with a two day total of 142. Congratulations to Bill and Rodney for
Golf Club, feel free to contact Peter Morris - 530.330.4300.
May this winter bring lots of snow but kinder underlying conditions to our beautiful course!
some fine golf!
Of special note - we are proud to announce that Dr. Richard Park has repeated as Northstar Golf Club - Senior Champion with
a Low Net score of 117 and an even more impressive two day
total Low Gross of 173 which was 2nd overall. We look forward to the day when Dr. Park succeeds in “shooting his age”, which
from recent results may even happen this year. Congratulations Richard!
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18 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
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fire department The Fire Department will be seeking to bring ALL properties in this area into compliance with defensible space laws. The Fire Department will be preforming inspections from the streets
and common space areas providing the owners with a 30-day
notice to comply if any defensible space violations are noted. We
encourage all owners within Northstar (regardless if your property
resides in a focus area or not) to be preemptive. Please contact the fire department and seek out a defensible space inspection. Do
not wait for the fire department to come to you. Instead, voluntarily seek defensible space compliance each year as mandated by the State of California.
The Fire Season and the threat of wildfire is not over. Let’s all The Fall Season brings the ever-present shifting weather offering
continue being diligent in practicing fire safety. As always, the Fire
This change also means the following:
Northstar community as safe as possible.
cooler temperatures and a decrease in the likelihood of wildfire.
Department is greatly appreciative of your efforts to help make our
The Campfire Season Ban will soon be lifted. Which means:
Owners, renters, vacationers, etc... can have campfires in their
backyards/patios and cook their favorite foods on their charcoal grills. The Fire Department understands that these restrictions
can be frustrating. However, we live in unprecedented times as
it pertains to wildfires. We all agree that campfires and charcoal
Jason Gibeaut, Division Chief Northstar Fire Department
grills can and have led to the start of unchecked fires within the Tahoe Truckee Basin. Remember the Angora Fire? The risk of a
catastrophic wildfire is too high during fire season to take chances with people’s lives and property. To find out if the campfire ban
is still in effect, please refer to the Northstar Community Services
District website (www.northstarcsd.org). The Fire Department will
announce on our website/webpage when the ban has been lifted to allow all of us the ability to return to doing those two things so many of us cherish: grilling with charcoal and warming ourselves by a crackling campfire.
The seasonal pursuit of proper defensible space by owners and
the fire department will end. This year the Fire Department hired a Seasonal Defensible Space Inspector which greatly increased the number of inspections and defensible space compliance. Along
with inspecting properties voluntarily requested by owners, the fire department chose Martis Landing (and, its surrounding streets) as
a “focus area”. A focus area is a zone chosen by the fire department for defensible space enforcement. The fire department does
not have any personnel to inspect every property at Northstar
every year. So, by choosing these streets as a focus area, the fire
department is able to get owners to comply with defensible space requirements under compulsion. Important to note: Starting in
2020, the fire department’s focus area will include: Woods Point Way, Gray Wolf, Overlook Place, North Summit, Silver Fox Court
and Grouse Ridge. Owners of properties located on these streets
Mountainhardwareandsports.com
should be prepared for inspections during the Spring of 2020.
www.npoa.info | Fall 2019 | 19
Condominium Updates
Northstar Club
Northstar Club is friendly, fun, family...not
were blessed to have covered heated
to mention fantastic value.
parking, lockers and storage bags for
Come on in and visit us...explore and
us in the morning, hot chocolate after
you will see how much value you get for a low buy in price. The Club has been in
the Village for almost 20 years now and,
from my viewpoint, has only grown more
our equipment, breakfast waiting for
skiing followed by happy hour and time
to spend meeting members from all over the Bay Area and the US.
desirable. My husband and I bought in at
Summer months were the bonus and
had no idea how fortunate we were about
activities were right at our fingertips. We
the beginning (a hole in the ground!) and
we soon discovered how many fun
to feel.
play at and on the lake, hike beautiful
We bought for the access to the ski
performances at Sand Harbor. We can
slopes (a short walk up the stairs to the
gondola and GO!) but soon realized we
trails through gorgeous forests, go to
just stay put at our Club and enjoy all the amenities at NPOA Recreation Center,
~ 20 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
play in the Village or just relax in our spacious and well appointed unit.
Members have become like family to us. Together we have experienced happy
and sad milestones...the stuff of life! We have been able to support each other
in never anticipated ways. My husband and I have traveled to various parts of our planet with some members, we
often meet up in the Bay Area and enjoy each other’s company. This week I was
Continued on page 22
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www.npoa.info | Fall 2019 | 21 DicksonRealty.com
Condominium Updates Continued From Page 20 able to vote for the daughter of long
time members in her quest to be named Best Country Solo Artist. One year, my husband and I were able to use the
Club in the off season to have a party
celebrating a life milestone where we
hosted 85 people for a long weekend. We also were able to use the Clubhouse at
the Rec. Center for a catered dinner. Our membership is fabulous and flexible!
All of this could not happen without a
brilliant General Manager who assures that our Concierge, Housekeeping,
Reservation expert and Maintenance
staff are the very BEST! In addition, our
5 member Board has our best interests at heart as they assist in keeping our
building in tip top shape, keep our units stocked with current amenities, keep us fiscally sound and back up our GM as
needed or desired. Not a single member
would say we didn’t feel fortunate to have all this talent taking care of us!
SO...check us out! There is so much more I could go on about and won’t. You just
need to come in the front door and give us a look-see.
By Rhonda Darling,
A Very Happy NSC Member
Aspen Grove
feel fortunate to be close to the action, yet
complete our summer projects.
By Richard Bjur, President,
As Fall approaches, we are still trying to
We are re-staining the tower buildings
and removing the stainless steel chimneys
located in a quiet mountain setting.
Aspen Grove Condominium Association
of our pathway replacement project will
Gold Bend
new pavers. The new heated stairways
the cool, crisp air of fall and winter is now
pathways will be a great addition to our
the winter season the best and can’t wait
being addressed as we continue to repair
only hope that the 2019 / 2020 season is
on all of these buildings. The first phase
upgrade one section of our pathways with
The warm summer days are giving way to
worked well last winter and the new
right around the corner. Many of us love
community. Improved water drainage is
for opening day on the slopes. We can
certain foundations that had previously
as epic as last year – fingers crossed!
been damaged by high groundwater levels. New solar lighting has been
installed on all of the new bus signs, and new monument signs will be installed later this Fall to better identify Aspen Grove.
We continue to update our individual
properties and are very pleased with the improvements to our community that have been made to date.
At Aspen Grove, we are located within
walking distance of the Northstar Village and the NPOA Recreation Center, yet
situated in a quiet setting in the trees. We
22 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
It’s been a busy summer at Gold Bend
– crews have been hard at work on the
re-roofing and siding refurbishing. At the time of this publication, we expect both projects to be completed by the fall of 2020 .
Future improvement projects that the Board is considering include:
• Upgrading signage throughout the
complex, including highly visible “No Public Parking” signs
• Replacement of all pathways and exterior stairways
• New railings for the decks and new
• CAMCO and the Gold Bend board will
spindle configuration now in place
the CCR Division Chief at the Northstar
grid work on each unit to replace the
These improvements would augment
our properties and enhance our overall experiences at Northstar. Rest assured that, even with all the improvements
and projects under consideration, our
association finances remain very strong.
Our maintenance budget is well funded,
and your Board continues to work to keep our expenses in-line with income.
And for the benefit and safety of all, a few housekeeping reminders:
continue working with Jason Gibeaut, Fire Department, to ensure that our property and its surrounding lands
meet their defensible space guidelines. We will keep owners updated as future plans are developed.
• All homeowners were recently sent the
Northstar Fire Department’s Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Guide.
The Board urges you to take the time to carefully review the material provided within this document. It not only
provides instructions on what general
any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact the Board via email. Email
addresses can be found on the Gold Bend website (www.goldbend.com) under “Contacts”.
Indian Hills
Summer is over. Residents and guests had the chance to hike, bike, enjoy the Rec
Center, get out on the Lake, raft down the Truckee and more. The fall time can be
some of the nicest times at Indian Hills,
no crowds in town or on the trails and still great weather.
steps you can take now to prepare for
The Summer wrapped up with the Labor
the Northstar Fire Department, any
information specific to Northstar on
meeting and reception brought together
decks must be encased with a fire-
evacuation route maps. We encourage
tarps are available at Mountain
to also provide this vital information to
• As part of the Gold Bend Defensible Space Requirements as outlined by
a wildfire emergency, but also provides
firewood stored on homeowner’s rear
emergency notification systems and
retardant tarp. Acceptable fire-retardant
all owners who rent out their properties
Hardware in Truckee. The Northstar
renters.
Fire Department may be inspecting
the units after October 1, 2019. Upon inspection, owners storing firewood
on their decks without a fire-retardant tarp may be subject to a $1,000
fine assessed by the Northstar Fire Department.
• Mark your calendars! The Gold Bend
Annual Owner’s Meeting will be held on Saturday, November 2nd, at the Northstar Rec Center. The Board
encourages all community members
to attend to voice their opinions and/ or concerns. As always, if you have
Day weekend activities. The NPOA Owners home owners and condo owners to celebrate the Northstar lifestyle.
The Indian Hills Board of Directors met and we held our annual meeting. We reviewed our parking policy to help assure that only people staying at Indian Hills will park in our area. Elections of Board Members were held for three positions. We are
pleased to welcome back Bryan Miller, Gail Riggins and Dr. Jim Kooler.
Continued on page 24
www.npoa.info | Fall 2019 | 23
Condominium Updates continued from page 23 buildings. This one can be particularly
challenging because it requires blocking the entrance to the building for about 2 days. You should receive a notice in
advance of the schedule, and we hope you can work with us to get this done despite the inconvenience.
The Ski Trails board is continuing to
examine other improvements, from a
new sign at the beginning of our road to ways to increase our protections against Indian Hills Residents
We also had our annual breakfast meeting
the possibility of wildfires. As always,
Ski Trails
If you’re fortunate enough to be a Ski
and condo tour. More than 40 people
Trails owner, we don’t have to remind
to see the ways that owners continue to
mountain. In addition to our ski in/out
joined us during the breakfast. It is great
you that we have the best location on the
creatively update their condos!
access, we’re close enough for a quick
You will see maintenance is continually
shops and entertainment, yet far enough
being done on our buildings. The new
signage makes it much easier to find your
walk to the village to enjoy its restaurants, away to escape its noise and commotion.
way around our property. The new entry
As we begin the transition from summer
to Indian Hills!
down as vacations have been taken, kids
However, finding your way on the hiking
at Northstar comes to an end while the
sign on the traffic circle welcomes people
trail can be a bit tricky with limited signage. Check out the trail maps at: https://www.
into fall, that commotion naturally dies
are back at school, and mountain biking snow is still a couple months away.
northstarcsd.org/tompkins-memorial-trail
But it’s anything but the quiet season for
Some of the best times of the year at
them, it’s the busiest time of year. We
Indian Hills are during the fall! Come enjoy and start doing your snow dances so we can have another winter like the last!
the teams who maintain Ski Trails. For
take advantage of the break in visitors to complete as much work as possible in
order to minimize the disruption that this work can cause.
This fall, Ski View units will be getting
a fresh coat of stain, and our diligence
with this has not only kept our buildings looking great, it’s also extended the
life of our siding, which has saved us a considerable amount of money. We’ll
also be trying to complete the installation of the pebble-epoxy coating over
the concrete in the entryways to our
24 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
we encourage you to attend all of our
board meetings – either in person or by
phone – to stay informed with the issues facing us and to lend your voice to the conversation.
Enjoy your fall, and see you on the mountain this winter.
nsl
the bridge table Advancing Overcalls By Your Partner
A simple overcall by partner at the one level requires a good five
A third approach is agreeing that a new suit is not forcing (NF on
six card suit and a sound opening hand or better. Jump overcalls
with a very good hand for an overcall.
card suit and usually 7 to 16 HCP’s. At the two level a good five/ or Preemptive Overcalls are often now considered ‘weak bids’
showing a long 6, 7 or 8 card suit and usually 6 – 10 HCP’s with 2 of the top three or 3 or the top five honors.
With more than 17 total points most partnerships make a Take Out Double (TOD) first rather than an overcall and then bid their good 5+ card suit to show a stronger hand and a good suit.
Overcalls mean the auction has become competitive and bidding options have changed!
the convention card) and the Overcaller is expected to pass except The Advancer always tries to advance the auction with 8+
points, not only to see if there is a fit with your partner but to be competitive and interfere with the opponents bidding.
With a weak hand and support for partner’s suit Advancer makes a jump raise to the number of combined trumps. A raise to any level is a signoff. The advantage is that you take bidding room away
from the opponents when you have a fit but are unlikely to win the auction or get to game. This is standard and not alerted.
Some partnerships prefer to treat advances of an overcall in the
If you use the jump raise as weak in competitive auctions which is
unless Advancer is a passed hand. (Mark your convention card
suit with a strong hand. That is handled through a cuebid of the
same manner as responses to an opening bid. A new suit is forcing accordingly.)
Others prefer to give the Overcaller more leeway. A new suit by
Advancer is constructive, but not forcing. The Overcaller is invited
to bid again but can pass with a minimum hand. (NFConstr on the convention card).
standard you need another way to show support for your partners opponents suit and is forcing for one round. The cuebid is very
versatile when advancing an overcall or takeout double. It is used to show an invitational or better hand (10+ points) with a fit for
partner’s suit. It can also be used to show other strong hands when a new suit response is not forcing.
With no support for your partner’s suit, Advancer can bid a good five card or longer suit if an unpassed hand with partnership agreement that a new suit is forcing.
When advancing a weak jump overcall it’s better to focus on ‘tricks’ rather than points. Your partner, the Overcaller, generally promises one less trick than the overcall.
In Summary, with enough strength to take partnership to game,
get to game! With interest in game but without support bid a new suit (if forcing) or with support cuebid opponent’s suit. With a fit, raise to level of combined trumps.
Northstar Bridge Club plays on Wednesdays from 1:30 – 4:30pm
at the NPOA Adult Center. You don't need a partner or have to live in Northstar to play. Contact Astrid Cousins at 530.913.4020 or
BASSETT FLOORING is family owned and operated and has
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served the Truckee-Lake Tahoe area
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since 1979. We carry high-quality hardwood flooring and carpet ideal
bassettflooring.com
astridwc@aol.com for more information and to sign up to play. Cost
is $2. Play is ‘duplicate style’ the first Wednesday of the month and can sometimes go until 5pm. You play with the same partner all
day with duplicate boards following duplicate guidelines. Astrid Cousins runs the duplicate game.
Kathleen Semrad, The Bridge Expert
for your mountain home. Visit us and explore our amazing selection at the Pioneer Commerce Center in Truckee.
www.npoa.info | Fall 2019 | 25
Pickleball Tournament | by Susan Safipour and we all hope they do it again next year. It was a blast!” The tournament was the dream of Truckee’s Pickleball Ambassador, Matt Juskiewicz, and retired tennis professional, Fred Safipour, a Northstar homeowner. They wanted to bring the North Lake Tahoe community together in a big, fun way, and to showcase the potential of this booming sport in this top vacation destination.
Game On! Pickleball Players from 11 States Come To Northstar To Play! More than 300 players from across the United States came to Northstar to play in the Tahoe Peak Pickleball Tournament, Truckee’s first ever pickleball competition. Held at Northstar’s beautiful homeowners’ recreation center, from September 5-8,
players competed on 20 courts for 10 hours of match play each of the four days. “It was one of the best run tournaments I’ve ever been a part of,” says Trisha Pollack, who won gold in the 35-plus ladies 3.5 bracket. “Everyone was so kind and helpful,
26 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
“I really wanted everyone to see what a beautiful place Tahoe is for pickleball,” Safipour says. “And I knew they would be wowed by the complex at Northstar.” The local community, including many
Northstart homeowers, volunteered in droves to support the tournament, arriving before dawn to stripe tennis courts, set up check-in, and welcome players from 11 states. The match schedule stayed on
Continued on page 28
nsl
tennis news there yet. We put too much emphasis on one single point, when, we will be playing many more and always have a chance to come back. You must focus in the moment in order to succeed. • You cannot change the past point as it is gone forever, but you can refocus and redesign your next point. A tennis match is a game of chess; the one with the better strategy that can execute and be flexible will take it. • Last but not least, your body language is very important on the court. When you see someone looking down, shoulders down, lamenting about everything except the actual game, you could safely say they are probably not doing as well as they could be. Your opponent sees it and uses it against you.
How To Stay Positive With Yourself
What you control needs to be impeccable to give yourself the best chance at succeeding.
Tennis is a tough sport mentally. The game requires not only physical prowess and proficiency in technique, but mental toughness for tennis.” According to Optimum tennis. Mental toughness is a big challenge in tennis. Here are a few tips on how to get better during matches:
• Without practicing your mental toughness, you will most likely struggle with players that are ranked lower than you. Mental toughness will bring you confidence, consistency, and concentration to put you in a great position to be successful.
C EL 15 EB YE RA AR TI S! NG
• You start getting better by putting together a routine at practice. Having a similar way of thinking all of the time helps you during high pressure matches.
Guillaume Tonelli, Tennis Director
Woman Owned Business
• One great tip is to stay versatile; have multiple playing styles so you can adapt and always have a solution for the obstacles that come up. • Options are mentally empowering; a lack of options creates mental despair. As long as you have another playing style to revert to when one isn’t working, you won’t give up.” Optimum Tennis mentions.
Serving Truckee/North Tahoe
• A second mental tip is about concentration. If you are easily distracted, it will be easy to lose your focus and after the nerves, anger etc., come into play, it will be very hard to keep a clear idea of your objectives. Keep a simple phrase in mind to reset your ideas, for example: play cross court when in trouble. • We have all heard it before, but Positive Self-Talk is crucial. Instead of thinking about what went wrong, try to reverse the idea and focus on what you will do better next point. Instead of thinking “don’t stop”, think “follow through”. • Another important point is to stay in the moment; it is very easy to start thinking about what could happen when we are not
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www.npoa.info | Fall 2019 | 27
Pickleball continued from page 26 Tahoe’s commitment to its active and healthy outdoor lifestyle. The restaurants in Northstar Village contributed dining certificates to the daily raffle, and offered tournament players discounted meals.
time thanks to volunteer court monitors and score runners. All in all, volunteers dedicated hundreds of hours to make the tournament a huge success. “We embraced the vision of the tournament directors as a way of supporting and increasing the interest of pickleball in our community,” says volunteer Roger Wells, a long-time Truckee resident and avid pickleball player. As planning for the tournament progressed, the dream grew from hosting a tournament,
to working with Truckee-Donner Recreation Center officials to eventually build a permanent pickleball complex in Truckee. Rec Center officials gave their enthusiastic support to the community effort — and proceeds from the tournament, including a daily raffle, will be given to the town to start that project. Organizing the event took months of planning. Numerous local businesses supported the tournament, confirming
Generous sponsors included the TruckeeDonner Recreation District, Best Western Plus, Ace Mountain Hardware and Sports, Tahoe Trail Bars, Alibi Ale Works, Safeway, Raley’s, and Starbucks. Major pickleball companies, including Pickleball Central, Paddletek, Head, and Selkirk, also made significant contributions. “I’ve been to hundreds of pickleball tournaments across the nation and never have seen one in such a beautiful of a location, run so smoothly and professionally,” says Joan Deputy, who teaches a weekly Drills and Skills class in Reno. “It’s unheard of to get over 300 players to register for a first-time pickleball tournament. They knocked this one out of the park!“
Village Dining Northstar California offers an incredible range of dining options for the whole family, from a quick and healthy quinoa breakfast burrito at White Rabbit, to fabulous apres cocktails served rink-side at the end of the day. With plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options across the resort, we are happy to accomodate your dietary needs. Enjoy every last bite with the ones who matter most.
NORTHSTARCALIFORNIA COM
28 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association
ADVERTORIAL
Certified Mixologist Nubbia Gamez, might hail from Lima Peru but after ten years in Tahoe, she’s a "Truckee Local.'' Remembering her time as a student in
blended Lava Flow, Coconut Dream, or Lilikoi Mai Tai, guests
can almost feel the ocean waves lapping at the sand between their toes.
Tahoe fondly, Nubbia came back to visit
In the spirit of making sure everyone can
her life and knew she wanted to stay in
of age or desire to avoid an adult bever-
Nubbia had worked her way from host to
tropical “mock-tails”, which feature pureed
they obtained their full liquor license, she
ents. Who wouldn't want to sit on the
in 2009. Before long she met the love of
have a fun "Aloha" experience, regardless
Truckee. Fast forward a few years, and
age, the menu also features several
bartender at a local pizza place. When
juices and other non-alcoholic ingredi-
quickly realized that she had a lot to
patio and enjoy a ''Hawaiian Sunset"?
learn ... she'd never even mixed a
margarita before that first training!
S AW TO OT H R I D G E . CO M
AT T H E V I L L AG E AT N O RT H STA R | 5 0 0 1 N O RT H STA R D R I V E S U I T E 5 1 0 1 T R U C K E E , CA | 530.562.2188 Always striving to be the best, Nubbia jumped in with both feet, studying to become a Certified Mixologist. She
honed her craft, learning to create well balanced craft cocktails that would
appeal to a wide audience. She even
helped run mixology classes at the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe.
Today, Nubbia works side by side
Sawtooth's owners to make sure the
beverage menu has a little something for everyone, including "cocktails" for the kids. She's had fun finding ways to infuse Hawaiian influence with Californian and Peruvian favorites.
Whether coming in to celebrate a special occasion or just grab a bite after work, guests can enjoy vacation vibes of being in Tahoe with Nubbia's handcrafted "Tahoe Blue" Margarita or the pine-needle infused "Into the Forest" Old Fashioned.
Always true to Sawtooth’s Hawaiian inspiration, the menu
wouldn't have been complete without the addition of a few
things to help guests feel as though they’ve been transported to the beach in Maui...with just a few sips of the island classic
Want to bring vacation home with you?
Try your hand at mixing the perfect cocktail with one of Nubbia’s favorite recipes:
lnto The Forest Old-Fashioned 2 oz Highwest Bourbon 0.25 oz Pine Needle Infused Maple Syrup 1 dash of Angostura Bitters 1 dash of Orange Bitters Put all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, stir for about 20 seconds. Strain ingredients into a rocks glass with a large rock ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel and a luxardo cherry.
Fall Hours (Oct 1 until the Snow starts fallin'!) Wednesday - Sunday: 12pm - 8pm Fall Happy hour: 4 - 6:30 Winter Hours 12pm - 9pm Daily
*subject to change
www.npoa.info | Fall 2019 | 29
nsl
npoa civil code 4041 NPOA | Civil Code 4041 Required Response Civil Code, §4041 requires each homeowner to provide the Northstar Property Owners Association (NPOA) with the following information on an annual basis. This request for information is also required to be sent by associations to their members at least 30 days prior to making the Association’s own Annual Budget Report disclosures under Civil Code §5300. Please complete this form and return it to the Association within 30 days: 1. The mailing address to which notices from the Association are to be delivered: 2. An alternate or secondary address to which notices from the Association are to be delivered: 3. The name and address of your legal representative, if any, including any person with power of attorney, or other designated person to be contacted in the event of your extended absence: 4. Is the separate interest that you own (check one): Owner-Occupied
Rented Out
Vacant
Undeveloped
Property Address
Member Name
Date
NOTE: If an owner fails to provide the information set forth in items 1 and 2 above the last address provided in writing by the owner or, if none, the property address shall be deemed to be the address to which notices are to be delivered.
Please return this information to the association at the following address, email, or fax. Northstar Property Owners Association: 2200 North Village Drive, Truckee, CA 9616 | npoa@npoa.info | Fax 530.5620324
Truckee Delivery Offers Free Delivery To NPOA Owners
Truckee Delivery is proud to announce free delivery to all NPOA members on orders over $50. This fall and winter enjoy the luxury of dining in your own home. Truckee Delivery creates fully prepared meals right here at Northstar using locally sourced, organic and sustainable ingredients. Follow the quick and simple instructions to re-heat your meal and enjoy without effort. To see the full range of options available visit our dedicated website delivernorthstar.com or to check out our other catering options visit Truckee.Delivery
30 | 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 :
• Unparalleled exposure through our sales partnerships and marketing strategies • Revenue streams via golf, ski and corporate groups, reunions, weddings and more
• Personalized guest experiences including concierge and bell service, housekeeping, grocery delivery • Coverage of all advertising and credit card fees • A competitive revenue split
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 | Fall 2019 | 31
News Magazine Of the Northstar Property Owners Association 2200 North Village Drive Truckee, CA 96161
32 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association