Northstar Living Fall 2019

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

2 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

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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or incorrect statements, lacking clarity or having no pertinence to the Northstar community or the Association will not be published.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

4 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

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

www.npoa.info | Fall 2019 | 7

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

Continued on page 14 12 | Northstar Living | News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association

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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

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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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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.

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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!

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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

SHERIDAN BROKERS

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Northstar Truckee Lake Tahoe

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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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

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

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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.

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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 | 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