Northstar Living Winter 2025

Northstar California Event Calendar 10 Choosing & Using Ski Poles 12 DRC - Snow Season Playbook 14

WINTER 2025

NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NORTHSTAR PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION

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npoa

WINTER 2025

News Magazine of the Northstar Property Owners Association Board Members Jim O’Gara, President jogara@npoa.info Chris Somers, Vice President csomers@npoa.info Gene Roeder, Secretary/Treasurer groeder@npoa.info Dan Cox, Board Member dcox@npoa.info Doug Kohen, Board Member dkohen@npoa.info Jim Kooler, Board Member jkooler@npoa.info Al Roth, Board Member aroth@npoa.info NPOA Staff Tim Fulton General Manager tim@npoa.info Nancy Barna Administrative Manager nancy@npoa.info Sean Cutunilli Operations Manager sean@npoa.info John Forni Maintenance Manager john@npoa.info Alex Case Design Review & Community Compliance Manager alex@npoa.info Contact NPOA/Northstar Living 2200 North Village Drive Truckee, CA 96161 530.562.0322 website www.npoa.info Office Hours (Subject to change) 8am – 4pm, Monday – Saturday Winter Recreation Center Hours (subject to change) 8am – 9pm Daily For up to date information please visit the NPOA website www.npoa.info Advertising Sales CCMedia Publishing - Peggy McElfish 775.548.6562 | www.cc.media peggy@ccmpublishing.com Cover Photo Olof Carmel of Carmel Gallery "Morning Glow Northstar"

inside this issue 04 | President’s Perspective 08 | GM Report 10 | Northstar California 2025-6 Winter Season 12 | Choosing & Using Ski Poles 14 | NPOA Design Review and Compliance 16 | Northstar California Golf Course

17 | Northstar Golf Clubs 18 | Northstar Fire Department 22 | Condominium Updates 25 | NCSD Update 26 | Liberty Utilities

meeting dates 2025/26 Meeting details will be sent via Eblast prior to meeting dates. If you are not signed up for electronic communications please contact the NPOA Office for a form: npoa@npoa.info or 530.562.0322.

December 13 @ 9am NPOA Board of Directors December 30 @ 9am Design Review Committee 2026 Meetings: January 27 @ 8am (If needed) NPOA Board of Directors January 27 @ 9am Design Review Committee February 21 @ 9am NPOA Board of Directors February 24 @ 9am Design Review Committee March 17 @ 8am (If needed) NPOA Board of Directors March 31 @ 9am Design Review Committee April 18 @ 9am NPOA Board of Directors April 28 @ 9am Design Review Committee

community comments policy

Northstar Living welcomes your comments that are pertinent to the Northstar community and will publish those comments on a space-available basis. 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 sean@npoa.info.

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.

www.npoa.info | WINTER 2025 | 3

npoa

president’s perspective Join us at Board Meetings

Board meetings have historically been

sessions where we comb through over

200 pages of documentation. As a board

member, it is tough to drive meetings like

this with meaningful dialogue and decision making.

In an attempt to make the meetings more engaging, we purchased new video technology and drive the meeting’s

agenda in a presentation (PowerPoint)

format. This has allowed board members to summarize the salient issues of their

respective committees and provided more discussion of key issues. Our next meeting is December 13th and I’d encourage all

to join us in the lounge or on Zoom to test drive the new format.

Making Progress on Key Projects The Strategic Planning and Visioning

committee, this year headed up by Dan

Cox with Doug Kohen and Jim Kooler, is responsible for setting the priorities and getting board approval for the projects and investments.

In any one year, there are dozens of

projects that get handled without a lot of fanfare. These can be as simple as additional towel racks by the spas or

needed fitness machine replacement parts

to the less visible pool and spa motors and general upkeep.

The larger projects are the ones that

owners remember and we are making progress here as well.

Lap Pool & Covered Spa After the annual meeting and the close of the summer season, we immediately engaged a

company to replaster and re-tile the lap pool which was long overdue for a face

lift. I am happy to report that the lap pool

and covered spa re-opened on November 8th. For those who are avid swimmers, we

kept the large pool opened for the 75 days required to complete this work then give it time to cure.

Ladies Locker Room This is the perennial project that for one reason or another

seems to be delayed season after season.

This being our 2026 #1 priority, we’ve

engaged a local firm to build a design

spec and RFP that we hope to put out for

bid no later than mid-December. The goal

is to award the contract in January with the hope of being underway with the remodel in early March. This is a very aggressive

timetable and if it goes to plan, this may impact some use of the locker room

in the late winter / early spring season.

Optimistically, we like to have the locker room completed and ready for use by Memorial Day.

Main Deck Repair and Extension The

deck to the right of the Game Room has started to weather and will need repair.

Additionally, the remaining open space

adjacent to the deck is currently blocked off by a railing that is failing and also in

need of repair. We decided that it would

be in the best interest of the community to repair the weathered part of the existing deck and extend this decking over the aforementioned open space. This will

give us a better looking and safer deck

while providing some additional space

for a multitude of activities. Again, we’ve engaged an engineering team to scope this and look to the spring to start this effort.

Parking Lot As mentioned in the fall

Northstar Living, our parking lot has now reached the point where it will require

a full scraping and reset. We’ve spoken to several companies willing to do the

work but none will bid the project until

the spring to better assess the fluctuating cost of materials. Since we believe this

project is critical, we expect to get some Continued on page 6

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

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president’s perspective continued competitive bids at that time and move

and the summer multi-sport season that

possible.

activities.

Holding the Assessment While Balancing Critical Spending

As homeowners, I encourage you to join

members, we try to balance assessments

party scheduled this year on December

fees and interest income, other) against

provide appetizers, libations, and good

initiatives listed above.

residents attend. Please help us break that

With a careful look at our sources of

engage with old and new friends as well as

to undertake this renovation as soon as

have the greatest levels of attendance and

grouping. For all single-family homes,

one can move to a bear box collection on

in the many fun activities offered by Vail

As both homeowners and board

Resorts as well as our own NPOA holiday

and other sources of income (e.g., access

13th from 4-7pm in our lounge. We

the cost of operations and the strategic

company. Last year, we had over 165

income, strategic initiatives and our current

areas and dumpsters within each condo

record this season. It is a great way to re-

your property or take refuse to the large dumpsters on Northstar drive.

Final Comments

Northstar is a unique and beautiful

site. As always, the board is focused on maintaining and where it makes sense,

enhancing our facilities. We work closely

with Vail, NCSD, and NTRAC to ensure we are in synch and doing the best for all.

meet face-to-face with board members.

Much of what we do and accomplish

hold the 2026 annual assessment steady

Respecting Our Neighbors

operations team led by Tim Fulton,

strategic projects listed above will use a

homeowners which is 45% of our total

a modest sum from our capital budget,

NPOA annual assessments, condo owners

management of resources, we can

property maintenance, limited parking and

levels of reserves/capital, we were able to at $1,700 per household. Many of the

Northstar is home to over 672 condo

significant amount of our reserves and

population. In addition to the standard

but we are confident that with prudent

face additional condo assessments for

accomplish these projects and replenish

for some associations a separate fee for

the reserve funds over time.

additional trash pickups.

For a deep dive on all information, the

During the high vacation periods, parking

distributed for your review.

and can be over crowded with their own

Enjoy the Season and Join Us at the Holiday Party

dumpsters can also be a challenge.

annual financial package has been

While Northstar is a destination site year-

round, we have both the winter ski season

is driven by a talented and dedicated our General Manager, as well as the

Administration and Maintenance teams.

They truly put forth a remarkable effort to ensure your Northstar experience is the best it can be.

So, enjoy the season and our facilities.

spaces in the condo sections are limited families and guests. Use of the condo

Jim O’Gara, NPOA Board President Jogara3@gmail.com

A request to all would be to respect both the parking spaces within the condo

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

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npoa

general manager's report Welcome to the winter edition of the Northstar Living Magazine.

2026 are again $1,700 for the year. As in the past, payments

information for the upcoming year, and a few winter time

Outstanding assessments automatically become delinquent and

I would like to summarize 2025, include some important

are due January 1, and are considered late past January 1st.

reminders.

receive late fees posted on February 1, 2026, so please make

2026 Annual Disclosure & Communications

if scheduling a payment close to the delinquent deadline date.

The 2026 Annual Disclosure packet was distributed in

late October. We encourage you to take a few minutes to

review these important documents. If we have an electronic

transmission consent form on file, you received this information via an eblast. If you do not have an electronic transmission consent form on file, you received this information via first

class mail. If you received this information via mail, contact the office and complete the email consent form for future communications.

The 2026 Annual Assessment Statements

You will have also received the Annual Assessment statement

by the time you read this article. In fact, we have already begun receiving payments for the 2026 fiscal year. Assessments for

sure to factor in processing time and potential U.S. mail delays Included with the statements was a return envelope for those wishing to mail a payment with the perforated coupon from

your statement to the NPOA lockbox. You may also refer to the “Online Payment Reference Guide” which details how you can make an online payment. For whatever reason, if you did not

receive the Annual Disclosure packet or that Annual Assessment statement, please contact our office at 530.562.0322 so we can issue a replacement to you immediately.

Winter Season

A couple courtesy reminders for the upcoming winter season.

One, Placer County prohibits parking on the many county

roadways throughout our community from November 1 – May 1.

Two, we strongly encourage you to take the convenient and

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

complimentary shuttle service provided by Northstar-California

In closing, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our

parking spots at the NPOA Recreation Center.

members volunteer on a very successful 2025. On behalf of

Resort as skier/snowboard parking is not allowed in the 40

Recreation Center Hours of Operation

The NPOA Recreation Center is currently within its winter daily

wonderful staff members as well as the many hours your Board myself and the entire NPOA team, we wish you a safe and joyful holiday season and a prosperous 2026.

hours of operation of 8am – 9pm. Individual amenity hours can be located on the NPOA website. Additionally, the rec center

will have limited hours of operation on the following holidays.

Note that any day not listed below will maintain the normal hours of operation:

Tim Fulton, General Manager

Thanksgiving Day (November 27) – Closed

Christmas Eve (December 24) – 8am – 4pm Christmas Day (December 25) – Closed

New Years Eve (December 31) – 8am – 6pm New Years Day (January 1) – Closed

Homeowners that are signed up for email correspondence will receive bulletin reminders for the holiday schedule.

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www.npoa.info | WINTER 2025 | 9

Vail Resorts flavors, from classic marshmallow and

chocolate to fun seasonal twists. Just look for the gold umbrella to find your way to this cozy treat station.

Winter Wonders Holiday Series December 19 to January 4

The holidays at Northstar are nothing

short of magical. Kicking off on Friday,

December 19, the festivities begin with

our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and

photos with Santa at the Rink, followed by 17 days of live music and holiday cheer.

New Year’s Eve Celebration December 31

Ring in 2026 at Northstar’s Annual New

Year’s Eve Celebration, a highlight of the

season. This year, the celebration returns

Northstar’s 2025–2026 Winter Season: A Look at What This Season Has in Store

with a spectacular fireworks display, a

rocking live band, a 360° photo booth,

Winter is officially underway at Northstar

the season. Whether you're winding down

and plenty of exciting fun to make the

ground and an exciting calendar of

the village ambiance, these performances

California! With fresh snow on the

after a day on the slopes or just soaking in

night unforgettable.

events ahead, Northstar is the place to

are the perfect way to end your day.

Women’s Weekend & New Sunday Sessions

celebrations, and meaningful community

New! Reimagined S’mores Experience

be for unforgettable experiences, festive moments.

Northstar’s Women’s Weekend returns the first weekend of March, coinciding

This season, Northstar is sweetening your

with International Women’s Day. This

Northstar’s Village Stage is once again

s’mores experience! Guests can enjoy

of ski and ride clinics, wellness activities,

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday throughout

featuring a rotating array of delicious

all designed to celebrate and support

Live Music Every Weekend

après-ski tradition with an exciting new

empowering event offers a dynamic mix

alive with the sounds of live music every

daily s’mores served at 4pm in the Village,

and community-building opportunities, women on the slopes.

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

KITCHEN REMODELS RETAINING WALLS DRAINAGE/GRADING

New this season, Northstar is introducing Sunday Sessions,

a three-part series held on three dates in December, January, and February. These one-day events will feature small group

clinics, followed by an après moment to celebrate the day and encourage connection.

Registration for all programs can be found at www.northstarcalifornia.com/events.

Celebrate a Day Well Spent at Tōst

Don’t miss Northstar’s signature Tōst experience, where guests

can enjoy a champagne toast at the top of the mountain five days a week. It’s the perfect way to celebrate a great day on the slopes with a little sparkle, stunning views, and friends old and new.

Plan Your Season at Northstar

With so many exciting events on the horizon, now is the perfect time to plan your season. From holiday delights to New Year’s

Eve and beyond, there’s something fun in store for everyone at Northstar this winter.

Energy for the holidays Energy for life

Liberty is here for you. We provide the safe, reliable electric service you count on to cook your meals and keep the lights on for your holidays.

Learn more

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www.npoa.info | WINTER 2025 | 11

Fitness - Ski Poles Aluminum

Pros: Affordable, durable, and bends before it breaks.

Cons: Heavier, and once bent, difficult to straighten perfectly.

Best for: Recreational skiers and those prioritizing toughness and value.

Carbon Fiber

Pros: Extremely lightweight, reducing fatigue and improving swing weight.

Cons: Pricier and more brittle—it can snap under high stress.

Best for: Advanced skiers, racers, and backcountry users who count every gram.

Basket Size: Match the Terrain

The basket—the ring near the tip—keeps the pole from sinking too deep into snow.

Small (Standard) Baskets: Under 5cm diameter. Best for groomed

Choosing & Using Ski Poles

By Andrew Bavetta, PSIA Level II Alpine Northstar Skier & Truckee Local Pole Length

Getting your pole length right makes a big difference in comfort, balance, and rhythm on the slopes. Here’s your quick guide to finding the perfect fit.

The 90-Degree Rule

Stand in your ski boots (or sturdy shoes). Flip the pole upside

down so the grip rests on the ground, and hold it just below the basket (the ring near the tip). If your elbow forms a 90-degree angle, your pole is the correct length.

Classic Sizing Guide 5’0” – 5’2”

110–115cm

5’8” – 5’10”

125cm

5’4” – 5’6” 6’0” – 6’2”

6’4”+

120cm 130cm 135cm

When in doubt, go a little shorter. Shorter poles promote a more athletic stance and improve control—especially in moguls, trees, and powder.

Adjust for Your Skiing Style

• Freeride & Powder: Try poles about 5cm shorter for easier planting and better maneuverability in deep snow.

• Racing & Carving: Stick with your standard pole length or even 5cm shorter. A compact stance keeps you balanced and quick through turns.

• Backcountry & Touring: Adjustable poles (roughly 100–140cm) are ideal—shorten them for climbs, lengthen for traverses.

Pole Materials: Strength vs. Weight

The two most common materials for downhill ski poles offer different benefits.

runs, ice, and racing—light and low drag.

Large (Powder) Baskets: Around 7–8cm diameter, often flexible or star-shaped. Best for deep powder and tree skiing, offering extra flotation and a solid plant.

Pole Straps & Attachments: Stay Secure, Stay Safe

Using your pole straps correctly improves control—and prevents

dropped poles in deep snow—but there’s a right and a wrong way to wear them.

Conventional Straps:

Slip your hand up through the strap loop from underneath, then grip the pole handle over the strap.

This way, the strap supports your wrist, and if you release your

grip, the pole will hang naturally without twisting or pulling at your hand.

Avoid grabbing the pole grip through the strap as that can cause serious thumb injury in a fall or make it harder to let go quickly.

Quick-Release Systems (e.g., Leki Trigger, Scott SRS):

Many modern poles connect directly to special gloves or a small wrist harness. These systems provide a secure yet releasable connection, improving swing efficiency and safety.

In a fall or avalanche, the pole detaches automatically, reducing the risk of wrist or thumb injury.

Tree Skiing

When skiing in the trees, it’s best to remove your pole straps

entirely—even quick-release systems. This allows you to let go

immediately if a pole catches on a branch or root. Staying strapfree in the woods reduces the risk of shoulder or arm injury and helps keep your upper body free to maneuver safely between tight lines.

Final Takeaway

Choosing and using your poles right may seem like a small detail, but it can make a big difference in your balance, rhythm, and

confidence—helping you ski more smoothly and enjoy every run.

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

npoa

design review & compliance Snow Season Playbook

On the roadways and at home, winter season puts the Northstar standard to work.

The Berm Stops Here

If you rent your home—short-term or long-term—please share these winter parking and right-of-way rules with your guests and leaseholders.

Seasonal parking restrictions keep plows working edge-to-

Winter in Tahoe: A Practical Checklist

the right-of-way can delay service for an entire street. These

path to them clear for crews; ice-packed service points slow

edge, and sightlines open. Vehicles parked on shoulders or in rules are largely enforced by Placer County and apply to all-size vehicles. Park entirely off-street or in an approved lot, and keep lanes wide for shuttles and local transit.

On storm days, the Northstar Village Transit app provides

Access and utilities: keep electric meters/panels and a safe

restoration and creates hazards. Around natural gas service,

protect meters and regulators from roof-shed and keep clear

with a broom. Report hazards immediately, and make sure your address is visible so responders can find you in poor visibility.

on-demand transit, and supports local circulation. Regionally,

Heating and fire safety: place fireplace or stove ashes in

provide fixed routes and on-demand zones that reduce

combustible surface, well away from structures, decks,

Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) and TART Connect individual trips during heavy weather and weekends.

Parking at the NPOA Recreation Center is designated for Recreation Center use only; ski parking is not permitted.

a lidded metal container on bare ground or another nonand woodpiles—coals can smolder for days. Test carbon-

monoxide alarms (required in California homes with fuel-

burning appliances or attached garages) and refresh batteries before peak heating season. These small, repeatable habits meaningfully reduce risk across the neighborhood.

May 1st: Plan & Review

Grading and digging in the Tahoe Basin generally run May

1–October 15 when soils are dry enough to prevent erosion and protect lake clarity. Outside that window—and any time

conditions are wet—soil-disturbing work is prohibited and active sites must be winterized. Exposed soils and unprotected slopes can cause track-off into the roadway, so stabilize early and maintain controls throughout the season.

Use the off-season to finalize NPOA Design Review submittals

so your project is queued up for spring. Align plans with NPOA

Design Review and Placer County requirements, and coordinate staking and material lead times now. For DRC scheduling,

submittals received by the 15th are eligible for that month’s agenda (last Tuesday); later submittals roll to the following

UNLOCK YOUR HOME’S POTENTIAL

month.

As always, thank you for helping keep Northstar beautiful and safe.

Locally-Owned Vacation Rental Management Benefit from our expertise, trusted by Northstar Homeowners Contact Steve Today!

530-214-5547 steve.schmidt@skyrun.com skyrun.com/north-lake-tahoe

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

Alexander Case, Design Review & Community Standards Manager

t r u c k e e @ d i c k s o n r e a l t y. c o m | C A D R E# 0 1417 7 1 0 1 1 8 3 6 D o n n e r P a s s R d , Tr u c k e e , C A 9 6 1 6 1 | 5 3 0 - 5 8 7 -7 4 4 4

Northstar California Golf Course After only a 4 month season the golf course officially closed on

October 19. It was a great season overall following ice damage from the frosty winter months. The maintenance team worked hard to

winterize the golf course including posting winter signs, aerifying

and drilling the greens, aerifying the fairways, roughs and tee boxes and staking the cart paths and greens with STAY OFF signs.

We encourage any homeowners or guests to stay on the cart paths always if you choose to walk the golf course during the winter. I

cannot emphasize enough how damaging it can be to walk on the grass when the snow falls. The impact to the ice layer below can severely damage the growth of the grass coming out of winter.

Three staff members are here year-round, and anyone caught on

the turf will be asked to leave and could result in consequences. The golf course is NOT a snow play area and again anything off the cart path is always prohibited.

We had a setback this year on four greens because of a mild winter

and more than expected ice. As we take pride in the golf course and continue to try and improve conditions, we need everyone’s help

during the winter. Thanks for a great summer season and we hope to see everyone on the links in Spring 2026!

Jarrett Bower, Director of Golf

Jarrett.k.bower@vailresorts.com | 530.562.3887

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

Northstar Women's Golf Club Women’s Golf Club (NWGC) plays every Tuesday from opening

to closing with a very fun tournament played on the 4th Tuesday in August. Many of us get season passes (which are very

reasonable for the area) and we will get together for one or two other days during the week. Joining the NWGC allows you a

discount for Tuesday play and allows you to bring a guest and

they also receive the same discount. The cost to join should be

$75.00. Some of the monies collected are used for Tournament Prizes plus we should have a couple of games in September

with smaller prizes. Membership also gives you access to the

Northern Nevada Golf Association (NNGA) where you will receive notifications about discounts to golf courses and merchandise. It also gives you access to the USGA GHIN App that allows you to Carol Pawlak, Astrid Cousins, Marian Hansen and Sandy Campion after a cold day of golf on September 30.

Happy Holidays to the NPOA Community!

In the blink of an eye the summer golf season is over. We have

said goodbye to our snow bird friends as they fly off to warmer

weather and the full timers are looking forward to the snow flying and getting together for ski days. The clubs have been stowed

away for the winter, waiting for either a warm day in Reno or the opening of the Northstar course this Spring.

We would like to thank Jarrett for keeping the course open for a few extra days in October. The course was closed from October 13-15 due to weather, but they reopened on October 16 which

establish or maintain your handicap index.

It has been many years since there was a Northstar Men’s Golf

Club, but if anyone wants to reach out to Jarrett Bower, Director of Golf, at jarrett.k.bower@vailresorts.com I am sure he can

assist with getting that started again. We watch many men play as singles, the women really enjoy the camaraderie of playing

together, plus it makes it easier to find your ball when you play with others.

If you would like to be included when the applications are sent

out, or know someone who might be interested, please send an email to Marian Hansen at sidebcorp@aol.com to get added to the distribution list.

was still extremely cold. Those who played on Thursday could not

If you have not played the Northstar course, or not for a

a beautiful Autumn Day.

challenging and fun. The members are there to help you navigate

feel their fingers, but closing day on October 18 turned out to be Around the beginning of next year, we will be sending out

invitations to join the Northstar Golf Club for 2026. The Northstar

while, come out and give it a try next year. You should find it the course and share a lot of laughs.

Have wonderful winter.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Home is where you belong.

Join us to find out about Truckee events, businesses, and people. Learn more at Truckee.com.

www.npoa.info | WINTER 2025 | 17

Northstar Fire Department and clear land after logging or forest fuels reduction operations.

When conducted properly, pile burning can be an efficient and environmentally responsible way to manage biomass waste.

The Purposes of a Pile Burning Operation

The main goals of pile burning include:

1. Fuel Reduction - Removing excess vegetation from the forest reduces the likelihood and intensity of future wildfires.

2. Site Preparation - Pile burning piles help restore the land to

historic standards. Additionally, it is beneficial to prepare land

for replanting conifer seedlings in addition to native grasses and forbs. Pile burning assists in re-establishing wildlife food sources

Pile Burning Background

The 2025-2026 Measure U Forest fuels reduction project season is

nearing completion of “on the ground” forest fuels reduction work, and soon it will be time for winter operations which include pile burning operations.

Pile burning is a controlled method of disposing vegetation debris, such as branches, brush, and conifer trees, by burning them in

held piles. It is commonly used in forestry, land management, and agricultural settings to reduce fuel loads, manage wildfire risk,

and Native American cultural practices.

3. Pest and Disease Control – Pile burning removes infected or

infested wood and biomass. Additionally, pile burning prevents the spread of insects or pathogens.

4. Waste Management – Pile burning offers a practical way to dispose of logging/fuels management biomass and other

organic debris in remote areas where mechanical removal is costly or inaccessible.

How Pile Burning Operations are Created

Used in Forest Fuels Reduction - When pile burning is

CA Lic #775721 NV Lic #075038

incorporated in the forest fuels reduction prescription, the following happens:

1. Pile Construction - Biomass material is gathered into burn piles

ranging from 6’x6’ to 12’x12’ in size and resemble charcoal kilns.

Once created, they are left to cure over the summer, becoming dry and are covered with manufactured material to ensure that part of the pile stays dry for ignition. The created burn

piles are free of soil, large stumps, and trash, which can hinder combustion and increase smoke.

2. The Fuels Management department requires that crews create burn piles a safe distance away from residential/commercial

properties and that they are created and spaced adequately

to minimize scorch to residual trees and to mitigate convective heat.

3. Seasonal Timing – The Fuels Management department manages

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pile burning operations starting in the fall and can last into early spring. This is a window of opportunity when fuel moisture is

higher, air temperatures are lower, and there’s less risk of fire

spread. Typically, there is snow on the ground when there is a pile burning operation.

4. Weather Conditions – The Fuels Management department will check the weather forecast 48-72 hours in advance to ensure

low wind speeds, favorable wind direction(s), stable atmospheric conditions, and proper smoke dispersion. Pile burning in

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

Continued on page 20

www.npoa.info | WINTER 2025 | 19

Northstar Fire Department continued

optimal weather conditions is required by the Placer County

Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) and CAL FIRE, and the

Northstar Fire department must obtain a burn permit from these entities.

5. Ignition – Burn pile ignition starts with a test pile to decide if

there are favorable conditions for a safe operation. If favorable, piles will be lit, and ignitions will cease between 11:00 am and 12pm.

6. The afternoon part of pile burning involves merging burn piles

to ensure 100% consumption and to mitigate smoke dispersal.

7. At the end of day, the burn piles are placed in a manner to

ensure they burn down clean, they are contained, and patrols

begin. Our unit CAL FIRE dispatch is notified at the beginning and end of each day of operation.

Environmental Considerations

While pile burning releases carbon dioxide and particulates, it can still be beneficial overall when compared to uncontrolled wildfires or open burning without oversight. Best practices such as burning dry material, using the correct burn pile size, and choosing best weather can reduce smoke and emissions.

Additionally, agencies involved in burning are experimenting

with biochar production from partially burned piles, turning waste wood into carbon-rich soil amendments instead of ash.

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Pile Burn Monitoring and Data

1. To follow pile burning operations that will occur within the District’s Wildfire Prevention Zone (WPZ), please view the

following link: https://fuelsmanagementhub.northstarcsd.org/ pages/operations

2. Additionally, please see the map showing pile burning locations for the 2025-2026 project season. This map will be updated at the link above throughout the project season.

3. To see who is burning in the State of California, please scan the

QR code below. This link will show what agency is burning, what type of burn it is and how large the operation will be.

Pile burning is an essential tool in land and forest management,

balancing ecological health, fire safety, and practicality. When pile burning is done responsibly, it reduces hazardous fuels, supports ecosystem restoration, and helps maintain resilient landscapes.

Ongoing education, regulation, and research continue to improve

pile burning techniques for safety and environmental sustainability.

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

npoa

condominium updates Aspen Grove

It's winter time at Northstar and here's

hoping the mountain is covered in snow

welcoming skiers from all over to enjoy the beautiful family-friendly and challenging terrain overlooking Lake Tahoe from Mt. Pluto.

Phase II of our landscaping project

was completed in October. Nineteen

Aspen Trees and several native shrubs were planted within our Aspen Grove Community. All the trees have been

staked, above ground irrigation has been installed and several loads of wood chips have been spread in surrounding areas

throughout. The area looks amazing and

we all look forward to watching the trees and plants thrive as they become an

integral and natural part of our common area landscape.

Tahoe Park Tree Service located in Truckee

completed its defensible space work

snow and ice can build up on the steps

They also removed approximately 66 dead

leading to condo units.

throughout Aspen Grove in September. and hazardous trees as well as trim and

limb many of our larger willows. Several large mounds of remaining wood chips

were spread around many locations near building structures and paths paralleling the creek. Their work was professional,

efficient and thorough. Many thanks for the work that was accomplished to meet the standards required for defensible space

mandates as well as to make sure we are safe from falling dead trees and large branches.

All of our heated stairs that needed repair are now operable and include new and improved heating elements with larger paver stones. For safety reasons, it was

important to have the stairs functioning

properly during the winter season when

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

from our parking lots onto pathways

A BIG thank you to our Board of Directors who work effortlessly throughout the

year to provide a collective vision for our community. Special thanks to Andrew

Sackheim for his wisdom and countless hours of service. You will be missed on

the Board. Welcome to our new member, Linda Duste, who will also serve as liaison

to the Landscape & Aesthetic Committee.

We also welcome Linda Benzing to the Landscape & Aesthetic Committee.

Finally, it's important to acknowledge the many homeowners who recognize the

value of maintaining a clean and healthy

environment throughout our Aspen Grove Community. This combined effort allows

everyone to enjoy the benefits of well-kept shared spaces.

Indian Hills

Indian Hills and Northstar are enjoying a winter wonderland!

But did you ever wonder who to call if you had a problem with

utilities while staying in Northstar? The Indian Hills website (www. indianhills.net) offers valuable information to everyone, as well as additional information for Indian Hills owners upon login.

Indian Hills owners, please email the webmaster at webmaster@ indianhills.net or gserafini@gmail.com if you have not yet set up your owner account, forgotten your access credentials or encounter access problems.

“Who you gonna call?” is not as easy as calling Ghostbusters! It depends on what you need help with:

Behavioral/Mental Emergency 988 You can sign up for outage alerts from the utility companies and

emergency alerts from the State of California at www.ready.ca.gov and from Placer County www.placer-alert.org.

And while the internet provides great information, nothing beats

being connected to your neighbors! Exchange contact information so you can watch out for each other. Join the Neighbor to

Neighbor Meet 6 Neighbors challenge (www.californiavolunteers. ca.gov/meet-6-neighbors). Knowing at least 6 neighbors is

associated with improved physical and mental health and well-

Electricity

Liberty Energy 844.245.6868

Gas

Southwest Gas 877.860.6020

Water

CAMCO for Indian Hills 530.587.3355 NCSD for wider community 530.562.0747

Cable/Internet

Spectrum 833.780.2020

Road Conditions

CA 800.427.7623, NV 877.687.6237

being, and helps communities be better connected, more resilient, and better prepared for disasters.

A reminder to all residents and guests in Northstar, the dumpsters in the condo areas are exclusively for the use of those condos.

Single-family homes either have bear boxes for trash disposal or

NPOA Rec Center 530.562.0322 Northstar Shuttle download the Northstar Transportation app Snow Report

Public Safety Emergency 911

can use the Northstar drive disposal area.

Continued on page 24

530.562.1010

CO N T E M P O R A RY

A R T

F O R

M O U N TA I N

L I V I N G

P I P E R J G A L L E R Y.CO M | 102 50 D O N N E R PA S S R OA D, T R U C K E E | @ P I P E R J G A L L E R Y

www.npoa.info | WINTER 2025 | 23

Condominium updates continued If you are in Indian Hills, check out the prototype of the new

entryway stairs and walkways at units 6133 and 6134 on Feather Ridge! This project helps us optimize design and engineering

details and construction costs for replacing our entryways. You

reaches its readers. Homeowners should share these hanger tags

with their property managers and guests to assure easy access and avoid erroneous tickets.

will notice the materials and style match the rear deck project we

As mentioned in recent issues, the replacements and repairs

project, and Indian Hills Owners will begin to get more information

makes access to and from our condos safer and easier – especially

reached out to owners with a survey that includes a question

exhausted from a day on the slopes.

completed a few years ago. We are excited to see progress on this

to stairways and entrance pathways continue to proceed. This

on the cost and timeline. The Indian Hills Board of Directors has

important in ski boots, when carrying a snowboard, or when

that will help assess preferred funding options for the entryways.

The survey helps the Board better understand the interests and priorities of owners.

Our renewed internet and TV provider (Spectrum) agreements

have kicked in, giving us speedier service, free local tv channels, and a ton of streaming services at no additional cost! These

This winter enjoy all Northstar and Indian Hills have to offer! Stay

channels include AMC+, HBO Max, Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN,

to know your neighbors, and participate in the business of your

who may not even need their own individual plans anymore.

connected. If you are skiing in the woods, do it with a buddy, get homeowners’ associations. The Indian Hills Owners Board of

Directors welcomes your input and participation in our meetings.

The NPOA Board needs your input too! Your participation in the community contributes to the wonder of Northstar!

Paramount+, and Peacock – a tremendous benefit to homeowners, In another bit of good news, our Ski Trails Board member Al Roth was also elected to the Northstar Property Owners Association’s

(NPOA) Board of Directors, joining Jim Kooler as another condo

owner on that larger Association’s Board. Having two of the seven NPOA Board members be condo owners (as opposed to single-

Ski Trails

As the air turns crisp and the peaks begin to sparkle with early

snow, our community is gearing up for another exciting ski season!

Here’s what’s happening around the Ski Trails Condominiums as the winter chill approaches…

We’ve extended the hours of parking lot monitoring provided at

the entrance to our parking lots to ensure that we and our guests

family residence property owners) is important because our

owners have different needs and deserve strong representation within the larger Northstar community.

Al and the rest of the Ski Trails Board can be reached at board@ skitrailshoa.com. Owners and potential owners should feel free

to let them know if you have any concerns, questions, or ideas for improving Ski Trails.

and renters have parking spots in the coming winter season. The

Our terrific membership, strong Board, perfect location, and

tags and will be available by the time this issue of the magazine

Come join us for another beautiful winter!

new annual owner windshield stickers and guest parking hanger

beautiful buildings make Ski Trails the best spot on the mountain!

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

NCSD Update rough graded with paving completed in October after rockery walls, bridges and drainage features are installed.

• Wood Energy Facility – The facility is designed to convert forest waste from local fuels management projects into renewable energy. Once complete, it will provide heat for pools and buildings throughout the Northstar Village and generate

electricity to power the facility itself. Installation of underground energy distribution piping was successfully completed in

summer 2024. On-site construction will be performed next summer, with the facility expected to be operational and

delivering heat in late 2026. Detailed project information is

available on the District’s website by scanning the QR code.

Trail and Wood Energy Facility Projects Northstar Community Services District (District) staff are working diligently to deliver two community projects. Project summaries

As always, the District will manage projects to minimize disruption as much as possible; however, inconveniences within the project

areas may be unavoidable. We ask that you please be patient and take caution within construction cone zones to help make these

are as follows:

• Martis Valley Trail Segment 3F - This project entails extension of

projects a success.

the Martis Valley Trail (paved Class 1 multi-purpose trail) from the

For specific questions/concerns related to the

7,036 feet). Work commenced in early May, and the project is

NCSD at customerservice@northstarcsd.org or

Castle Peak Parking Area to the Northstar Village (approximately

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Liberty Utilities • Estimated restoration times (ERT)

may not be available right away as

crews need to assess the situations to

determine repairs needed. Liberty will provide an ERT when available.

• ERTs are subject to change as new

developments arise. Power restoration may occur before or after an ERT

depending on weather, access, and repairs.

We understand that losing power is

inconvenient. Our Liberty team works

hard to provide you with safe and reliable

service and prepares for potential impacts from winter weather.

In the event of an outage, our crews will

work to restore power as quickly and safely

Liberty Encourages Customers to Prepare for Winter and Potential Power Outages

Center at www.libertyutilities.com to update.

• View outage updates on our outage map

as possible.

Keep Your Meter Clear

Liberty’s meter readers stop by your home

Winter is just around the corner, and with

at www.libertyutilities.com and follow us

or business about once per month to

power outages. Poor road conditions,

or Facebook (@LibertyUtilitiesLT).

is necessary to determine how much

winter weather comes the potential for

on X, formerly Twitter (@LibertyUtil_CA)

challenges accessing remote areas, heavy

• For more helpful information, visit our

repairs required can result in extended

center at www.libertyutilities.com.

snow, falling trees, and/or the nature of

power outages. It is important to be ready when winter arrives.

Here are some tips to help you prepare: • Put together an emergency kit with

flashlights, a battery-operated radio, extra batteries, bottled water, warm clothing, blankets, and more.

• Store at least a 48-hour supply of nonperishable food and water.

• Create a plan to safely heat your home.

Avoid burning coal or wood in an indoor area without proper ventilation. For

carbon monoxide safety tips, please

visit our Carbon Monoxide Safety page

at www.libertyutilities.com under safety, electrical section.

• Keep your contact information on file

with Liberty up to date to receive text, email, and voice notifications in the

event of an outage. Call customer care at 1.800.782.2506 or visit the Outage

Outage Tips section of the outage

In the event of a power outage, here are some tips:

read your meter. Access to your meter electricity your home or business used during the month.

Some meters are easy to access but many are on the side or the rear of the home or

business. These locations are more difficult

• First, check to see if the power failure is

for meter readers to access, especially

neighbor's power is still on, check your

ice buildup. Regardless of your meter’s

problem is not a blown fuse or tripped

meter, and access to it, clear of snow,

outage.

checked, and maintained.

limited to your home or business. If your

during winter when there is snow and

circuit breaker panel or fuse box. If the

location, Liberty asks that you keep the

circuit breaker, call Liberty to report the

ice, and any obstacles so it can be read,

• If you are not in the area and your

camera system or smart home devices are not working, call your internet

provider first to check if communications are down. Then check Liberty’s outage

map at www.libertyutilities.com prior to calling Liberty to report an outage.

• Report power outages by calling

1.844.245.6868 or visiting the Outage Center at www.libertyutilities.com.

• Stay at least 30 feet away from downed wires and report them by calling 1.844.245.6868.

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

When meter readers cannot safely access your meter, Liberty may need to issue an estimated bill. Estimated bills are

based on your usage history and may not

accurately reflect your actual usage for the month. Once the meter is accessible and able to be read, Liberty will provide an

adjusted statement to reflect your actual consumption and an accurate billing.

Please help Liberty’s meter readers and field service technicians by providing a

clear path and unobstructed meter so they can safely do their job.

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

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