One of the school’s defining strengths is its low studentto-teacher ratio - roughly 13:1 - allowing teachers to build meaningful relationships with students and families over time. That sense of connection is intentionally strengthened through the school’s Seminar program, where every student is paired with a faculty advisor throughout all four years of high school. What begins as a class often becomes something much more powerful: a trusted mentorship and a consistent source of support, encouragement, and accountability.
But the foundation for that success begins long before high school.
At Incline Elementary School, students are introduced early to hands-on learning and STEAM exploration through robotics and coding, a dedicated art program, and literacy enrichment. Creativity and curiosity are woven directly into the school day, helping students develop confidence as learners from an early age.
At Incline Middle School, those experiences expand through the school’s innovative Exploratory Program, where students engage in experiential learning across disciplines ranging from culinary arts and construction to financial literacy, fiber arts, environmental projects, outdoor education, technology, and more. These programs help students develop the “4 Cs” increasingly valued by universities and employers alike: creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.
Given that support, by the time students arrive at Incline High School, they are ready to take ownership of their education.
Academic options at IHS include access to Advanced Placement and dual-credit coursework, and programs like the Personalized Learning Academy - which allows upperclassmen to pursue individualized pathways aligned with their interests and goals. The school’s College and Career programming provides hands-on guidance in everything from financial aid and college applications to internships, workforce readiness, and career exploration.
Rare is the Incline High student who is “only” a student.
Most IHS students balance their academic endeavors with a mix of athletics, clubs, performing arts, service organizations, leadership roles, and/or jobs. In a larger system, students can sometimes disappear into the crowd. In Incline, students are
encouraged to contribute — to their teams, their classrooms, and their community. That balance builds resilience, perspective, leadership, and time-management skills that matter far beyond graduation.
The results are increasingly visible.
Incline students are earning admission to an impressive range of colleges and universities, from strong regional and state institutions to some of the most selective schools in the country. Local pathways such as University of Nevada, Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College, and Lake Tahoe Community College continue to offer outstanding opportunities, while this year’s junior class includes an unusually high number of potential National Merit Scholars for a school of its size.
But what makes Incline different is not simply where students go after graduation — it’s who they become along the way.
The success of Incline students reflects the strength of a small, connected public school system where students are known, challenged, encouraged, and given opportunities to lead from an early age. Students are not being prepared for one narrow definition of success. They are being prepared for lives of purpose, opportunity, adaptability, and contribution.
In Incline, education is more than a sequence of schools. It is a connected journey — one designed not simply to build strong transcripts or impressive résumés, but capable, grounded, and resilient young adults ready for whatever future they choose.
From Incline to the Ivy League
Six Students. One K–12 Journey. Extraordinary Futures. This year, 6 graduates who spent their entire K–12 journey in Incline’s public schools are heading to some of the nation’s most prestigious universities in the country.
Chloe Greer - Duke University
Jesus Aguirre Garcia - Univ. Pennsylvania - Wharton School
Georgia Stembridge - Princeton
Jorge Garcia Valdes - Emory University
Andrew Bodel - University of Texas
Willehmina Dukes - Vanderbilt University
Community Support Expands What’s Possible
Many of the programs that help distinguish Incline’s public schools are made possible through the support of the Incline Education Fund (IEF). From the Makerspace (robotics and coding) and art programs at the elementary school to the hands-on Exploratory Program at the middle school and all five College & Career programs at the high school, IEF funded enrichment helps provide students with opportunities rarely found in a small rural district. This partnership allows the schools to offer experiences that extend beyond traditional academics — helping students explore interests, develop real-world skills, and prepare for college, careers, and life beyond graduation. Go to inclineeducationfund.org for more information.
F.W. Carson
Every day, thousands of residents and visitors pass through the Gateway to Incline Village roundabout, many never realizing the decades of local history tied to the project. For the Carson family, helping shape one of the community’s most recognizable entry points was never simply another construction job. It was an opportunity to contribute to the long-term character of the town their family has called home for generations.
F.W. Carson Co. played a significant role in the roundabout improvement project, collaborating alongside local agencies, engineers, business leaders, and community organizations to help create what has become both a gateway and a point of pride for Incline Village. The company also contributed work tied to the original bronze installations that helped establish the project’s identity from its earliest vision.
DIEGO GONZALEZ, CARL WALKER, EASTON CARSON, TROY CARSON, RIAN CARSON, DOUG GREGG, TODD CARSON, MANNY QUEZADA
A native of Incline Village, Sommers attended local schools and joined the fire district in 1995 as a dispatcher. Over the next three decades, he worked through nearly every operational role in the department before becoming Fire Chief in 2016. His father once served on the district’s board during a pivotal period that expanded emergency medical services in the community.
Today, Sommers is helping lead a very different fight: preparing Tahoe communities for an era increasingly defined by catastrophic wildfire.
Long before defensible space and forest thinning became part of the national conversation, the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District was building a comprehensive fuels management and wildfire preparedness program designed specifically for life in the Tahoe Basin.
Today, those efforts are drawing national and international attention.
Earlier this year, the International Association of Fire Chiefs brought fire leaders from around the world to Incline Village to study the district’s approach to wildfire preparedness and fuels management. That growing interest reflects a broader reality: agencies across the country now look to Tahoe for guidance on fuels management, defensible space enforcement, prescribed fire, and long-term forest resiliency strategies.
Sommers credits much of the district’s success to leaders like former Fire Marshal Gerry Adams, who helped pioneer prescribed burning authority for local fire districts in Nevada.
Much of Sommers’ work now extends far beyond Incline Village and Crystal Bay.
Beyond leading NLTFPD, he serves in numerous regional and statewide leadership positions involving wildfire coordination, emergency communications, mutual aid, and large-scale incident management. Those roles help ensure agencies across Nevada and the Tahoe Basin can work seamlessly together during emergencies.
While residents know him as the local fire chief, many of his peers know him as one of Nevada’s leading voices on wildfire preparedness, emergency communications, and interagency coordination.
The work may happen quietly behind the scenes, but during major incidents, those relationships and communication systems can determine how effectively agencies respond together.
Sommers also leads regional communications efforts that help ensure fire, law enforcement, and emergency agencies across Washoe County and Nevada coordinate effectively during major incidents.
Increasingly, wildfire preparedness is no longer just about safety. It is also about whether residents can continue to insure and protect the homes they have invested their lives in.
Sommers has become a leading voice in conversations around wildfire insurance, advocating for more consistent risk models that recognize the extensive mitigation work already
completed in communities like Incline Village and Crystal Bay. As insurance availability becomes a growing concern throughout the West, that work has become increasingly important to local homeowners.
Ironically, insurance challenges have also become one of the strongest motivators for homeowners to take defensible space seriously.
Throughout the interview, both Sommers and Powning emphasized that residents themselves are now a critical part of the wildfire protection equation.
While Sommers often operates at the policy and coordination level, much of the day-to-day forest work happening across the Basin falls under the leadership of Powning.
Powning joined NLTFPD in 2008 after a long career with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. He was drawn to the district because of its long-standing commitment to fuels management and prescribed fire, work that remains central to his role today.
Today, Powning oversees the district’s fuels management operations, prescribed fire programs, hand crews, and wildland fire engine modules, while also serving as Incident Commander for the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team.
His role places him at the center of many of the conversations shaping how the Tahoe Basin prepares for and responds to wildfire risk.
Formed following the devastating Angora Fire, the TFFT now coordinates fuels reduction, wildfire mitigation planning, and forest health strategies across two states, multiple counties, and numerous public agencies throughout the Tahoe Basin.
Tahoe presents challenges few communities face. Steep terrain, dense forests, multiple jurisdictions, federal lands, environmental regulations, and limited evacuation routes all converge within a relatively small geographic area. Successfully reducing wildfire risk here requires an uncommon level of coordination, persistence, and public support.
One of the coalition’s most visible projects is the Worm Project above Highway 431, which creates a protective
vegetation buffer between forested land and neighborhoods.
The project combines specialized equipment and hand crews to reduce vegetation in difficult terrain above the community. Powning said one of the biggest surprises has been the overwhelmingly positive response from residents, a reflection of how much public understanding around wildfire mitigation has evolved.
Environmental review requirements, staffing shortages, rising costs, and long-term funding sustainability remain major concerns across the Basin. Vegetation continues to regrow annually, requiring ongoing maintenance rather than one-time solutions.
At the same time, both leaders believe community education has been one of the district’s greatest successes.
Both chiefs stressed that the future of wildfire resilience in Tahoe will not be determined solely by fire agencies. It will be determined by thousands of individual decisions made by homeowners each year.
The department continues encouraging residents to focus on defensible space, home hardening, and neighborhood preparedness. Residents are also encouraged to participate in programs like Firewise and Fire Adapted Communities through the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, which help homeowners complete manageable annual projects that reduce wildfire fuels around homes and throughout neighborhoods.
For Powning, conversations around tree removal and forest thinning are often emotional. People move to Tahoe because of the forested environment, privacy, and natural beauty. Yet many of those same trees can also become dangerous fuel during wildfire events.
“We want those memories to continue forever, minus one or two trees,” Powning said.
After more than three decades with the district, Sommers expects to conclude his tenure as Fire Chief in September 2027. By then, he will leave behind more than a successful fire department. He will leave behind systems, partnerships, and programs that have helped make the Tahoe Basin safer and have influenced wildfire preparedness efforts throughout Nevada.
But neither Sommers nor Powning spend much time focused on legacy. Their attention remains on the work ahead: maintaining forests, strengthening partnerships, educating homeowners, securing funding, and preparing the community for a future where wildfire remains part of life in the Sierra.
As communities across the West continue searching for solutions, many are now looking toward Tahoe and the work happening here as a model for long-term wildfire resilience.
For residents of Incline Village and Crystal Bay, it is a reminder that some of the most important work protecting this community happens long before smoke appears on the horizon.
HIGHWAY 28 UPDATES
By: Kristie Wells
For decades, accessing Lake Tahoe’s East Shore carried a sense of spontaneity. Many people became accustomed to pulling off Highway 28 wherever space allowed and making their way toward the shoreline.
That experience is continuing to evolve as regional agencies work to address growing safety concerns, traffic congestion, erosion, and environmental impacts along one of Tahoe’s most heavily used recreation areas.
The changes are part of a long-term effort led by the Tahoe Transportation District and regional partners to improve safety, reduce congestion, protect Lake Tahoe’s clarity, and create a more sustainable experience for everyone accessing the East Shore.
For those heading to the East Shore this summer, the message is simple: plan ahead and expect a different parking experience than years past.
and Hidden Beach.
Roadside parking restrictions along Highway 28 continue to expand, while construction activity, new paid parking areas, and transit infrastructure begin reshaping how the public accesses destinations like Sand Harbor, Chimney Beach, Secret Harbor,
According to Andy Chapman, Tahoe Transportation District Board Chair, it is important for residents and visitors alike to understand these improvements are part of a much larger multi-year effort that will continue evolving over the next several summers, with projects like the Spooner Transit Hub still a few years from completion.
That long-term vision is becoming increasingly visible this summer. Those accessing the East Shore are being encouraged to park in designated lots, use shuttle connections where available, and rethink the traditional drive-and-pull-off experience that defined the area for decades.
The reason behind the changes is straightforward: demand has outgrown the corridor’s capacity.
According to the SR 28 Corridor Management Plan, peak demand along the East Shore far exceeds the corridor’s 582 formal paved parking spaces, with an estimated 1,175 vehicles seeking parking during busy periods. At peak summer use, surveyors counted nearly 600 vehicles parked along roadway shoulders, resulting in roughly 2,000 pedestrians walking alongside traffic to reach beaches and trailheads.
The corridor has also experienced increasing traffic congestion, unsafe U-turns, blocked emergency access routes, erosion from informal trails, and growing impacts to water quality and lake clarity.
Chapman emphasized that the goal is not to increase overall corridor volume, but rather to relocate dangerous roadside parking into safer, managed parking areas.
“The project removes and substitutes unsafe on-road parking for safer off-road parking,” Chapman explained. “This project is really about safety and erosion control.”
Construction impacts are already changing some familiar parking patterns this summer. Parking on the street near the Tunnel Creek area is being restricted during construction of the North Parking Project, while the expanded Chimney Beach parking area is expected to open June 1st with approximately 120 paid spaces. Secret Harbor parking also remains available, though future expansion work is still ahead.
Transportation alternatives are continuing to evolve as well, including Tahoe Area Regional Transit mainline bus service through Incline Village, TTD’s East Shore Express to Sand Harbor, the Emerald Bay Pilot Shuttle, and future transit hubs planned near Spooner Lake and Incline Village.
Regional agencies acknowledge the transition may be frustrating at times, particularly during construction, but maintain the temporary inconvenience is necessary for the greater good: improving safety, reducing environmental damage, and preserving access to one of Lake Tahoe’s most iconic shorelines for future generations.
You can learn more about the SR28 Corridor Project here: Tahoe Transportation District SR28 Corridor Project
Two and a half centuries ago, a nation was built on everyday courage. This Fourth of July, we honor that legacy by celebrating the veterans, firefighters, first responders, educators, and community builders who carry that spirit forward in Incline Village and Crystal Bay.
The Local Heroes 4th of July Celebration is a three-day tribute to the people who make our mountain community thrive - kids' bike parades, a hometown procession of floats and fire trucks, pancake breakfasts, a community fair, and bar-b-ques. Every moment is a chance to say thank you.
The Be a Local Hero Family & Friends Community Sponsorship lets you honor someone special - a veteran, a neighbor, a loved one who goes above and beyond. Sponsorships start at just $100, with recognition, commemorative swag, and the pride of carrying our community's spirit forward.
THURSDAY, JULY 2
4 PM - INCLINE TAHOE FOUNDATION SUMMERFEST
7-9PM - TAHOE PHILHARMONIC POPS & PATRIOTIC SONGS
FRIDAY, JULY 3
8 AM - NLTFPD PANCAKE BREAKFAST
10 AM - IVCBA LOCAL HEROES PARADE, LED BY THE DPSEF KID’S BIKE PARADE
11 AM – 2 PM LOCAL HEROES COMMUNITY FAIR, BBQ, SUSIE SCOOPS ICE CREAM EATING CONTEST, AND WSCO MEET N’ GREET
SATURDAY, JULY 4
8 AM – 12PM IVCB VETERAN’S CLUB PANCAKE BREAKFAST
12:30 – FOOD RUNS OUT FREE BBQ AT SKI BEACH PRESENTED BY THE HYATT REGENCY LAKE TAHOE RESORT, SPA, AND CASINO
MAJOR EVENT SPONSORS
COMMUNITY & EVENT PARTNERS
GATEWAY ROUNDABOUT
The Gateway Roundabout is part of IVCBA’s ongoing commitment to community beautification through programs such as:
• Inclined to Bloom
• Dancing with Daffodils
• Community-driven projects to encourage walkability
• Public Art and Placemaking Initiatives
Together, these efforts help create a welcoming, vibrant community for residents and visitors alike.
PHOTO TAKE 6/4/2026
LOCAL HERO: DR. JOHANNA “JOY” KOCH
By: Kristie Wells
Dr. Johanna “Joy” Koch has spent nearly four decades caring for the Incline Village community, building relationships that span generations and earning a reputation as one of the North Shore’s most trusted physicians.
Since arriving in the Sierra in 1987, Dr. Koch has cared for thousands of local residents through every stage of life, from childhood illnesses and annual checkups to complex diagnoses and emotional life transitions. Along the way, she has become more than a doctor to many patients. She has become a steady and familiar presence in a town where long-term relationships matter.
Originally drawn to the Sierra Nevada by a desire to live and practice medicine in the mountains, Dr. Koch joined an established medical practice before opening her own family medicine practice in 1992. Today, she continues to serve patients through the Tahoe Forest Hospital System at Incline Village Community Hospital, while also serving as Chief of Staff. Her path into family medicine came from a simple realization during medical school. “I liked every rotation I went through,” she said. “I finally realized that if I did family practice, I got to do a little of all of it.”
Over time, however, it was not just medicine that shaped her career. It was the human connection. Dr. Koch says one of the biggest surprises in family medicine was discovering how much psychology and counseling become part of primary care.
“Most people who need counseling won’t go,” she explained. “But they will go see their primary care doctor.”
That long-term trust, she says, is built largely through consistency and simply being present year after year. In an era where many physicians relocate or change practices frequently, Dr. Koch believes longevity matters deeply in a small community like Incline Village.
“Being here long term is the single most important thing,” she said.
Practicing medicine in a mountain community has also allowed Dr. Koch to maintain a broader range of skills than many physicians in urban areas. Because patients often prefer to stay close to home whenever possible, local physicians frequently handle more comprehensive care while working closely with specialists across the Tahoe Forest Health System.
Even after decades in medicine, Dr. Koch remains optimistic about the future of healthcare, particularly advancements in genetics, early detection, and artificial intelligence tools that can help physicians spend less time behind a computer screen and more time focused directly on patients.
In August 2027, Dr. Koch plans to retire from patient-facing clinical care, though she says she has no intention of stepping away from the community entirely. She plans to maintain her medical license and continue contributing through volunteer and hospital-related work.
For many in Incline Village, her retirement will mark the closing of an extraordinary chapter in local healthcare. But Dr. Koch’s impact on the community, and the relationships she has built over nearly 40 years, will continue to be felt for generations to come.
For years we have been proud to serve Incline Village and Crystal Bay as a trusted non-profit dedicated to making this community stronger, more vibrant, and more livable for everyone. This summer, we’re bringing that commitment to life in new ways.
Through our Housing Committee, we continue working on workforce and affordable housing solutions, because a thriving community depends on the people who call it home year-round. As President, I am honored to be part of a team that turns long-term vision into lasting results.
This summer, watch our community transform with three landmark initiatives: the Gateway Roundabout, Incline Main Street Beautification, and Incline to Bloom—projects that will enhance the beauty, safety, and spirit of our neighborhoods for generations to come.
MIKE YOUNG
775.771.2391 mike.young@sothebysrealty.com
NV BS.29150 | CA 00784148 Each office is independently owned and operated.
STAYING FLEXIBLE THROUGH THERAPY PHYSICAL THERAPY RESOURCES
By: Kayla Anderson
Whether you are trying to stay fit or recover from an injury to regain full mobility, there are plenty of physical therapy resources in Incline Village/Crystal Bay to help you stay strong and balanced.
High Sierra Restorative Health
923 Tahoe Blvd. #100
The Sanctuary Tahoe
205 Stateline Rd. Kings Beach
The Sanctuary Tahoe takes an integrative approach to wellness, offering services designed to help individuals feel their best and maintain an active, balanced lifestyle. Practitioners provide acupuncture, massage therapy, nutritional guidance, herbal medicine, and other holistic healing modalities tailored to each person’s needs. By focusing on overall wellbeing rather than isolated symptoms, The Sanctuary Tahoe helps support recovery, mobility, stress reduction, and long-term health through personalized care and natural therapies. www.thesanctuarytahoe.com
Established in 2021, High Sierra Restorative Health specializes in emergency medicine, urgent care, integrative & longevity medicine, and regenerative medicine. Hormone replacement and peptide therapies are popular with High Sierra customers, but Nurse Practitioner/Founder Emily Allina wishes that people would take a proactive approach to optimizing their health and then maintaining it for their longevity. Ways to do this include taking a hard look at your gut health and how your endocrine/hormonal systems are functioning, and then going from there. High Sierra also uses PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy, which uses a person’s own blood cells to release growth factors that can speed up the healing process. For more information, book a free 20-minute consultation by calling 775-347-3737.
Incline Village Physical Therapy and Medical Fitness
333 Village Blvd. #201
The Tahoe Forest Hospital District has an entire team of licensed medical and physical therapy professionals across Truckee, Tahoe City, and Incline Village who specialize in a variety of services to help people support their active, independent lifestyles. The Tahoe Forest Health District (TFHD) has a PT clinic kitty-corner from the Incline Village Community Hospital, which specializes in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech, and general orthopedic sports programs, including treating skeletal muscle injuries. Incline Village Physical Therapy also does dry needle services as well as post ACL/knee joint replacements, following them up with postorthopedic operative management programs.
“We offer balance and stimulator wellness classes, preseason conditioning, Parkinson’s exercise classes, and advanced strengthening classes,” says TFHD Director of Therapy Services Ryan Solberg. “We focus on areas for classes that meet the needs of the community,” he adds. For a list of medically supervised fitness classes offered in Incline Village and Truckee, visit www.tfhd.com/wellness/services/ fitness/.
Incline Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine
907 Tahoe Blvd. #5
“It’s all about relaxing into fitness to me,” says Incline Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine Owner Pam Murphy. Holding not one but two master’s degrees in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, Murphy uses alternative medicine techniques on the parasympathetic nervous system (often called the “rest and digest” system) to strengthen one’s body. Her treatments include acupuncture (face down and face up), which sometimes involves cupping, in 45-minute to one-hour sessions.
“Acupuncture releases pain, and dry needling will release the muscle,” Murphy says. Recently celebrating its five-year anniversary, Incline Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine now also has an HOCATT sauna machine that combines 10 different therapies into a single treatment.
“It uses steam and infrared heat to deliver all of these modalities; it wakes up every cell in your body,” adds Murphy. Considered one of the newest cutting-edge bio-stacking devices on the market, it caters to people who don’t like needles.
To book an acupuncture appointment, visit https://pammurphylac.com/.
BACKcountry Chiropractic
937 Tahoe Blvd. #205
Founded by Dr. Jonathan Malley, BACKcountry Chiropractic has a deep appreciation for the Tahoe outdoors and wants people to be able to enjoy it as much as he does. Having experienced firsthand how chiropractic tools and treatments have improved his own mobility, he now runs BACKcountry with his wife/nurse/health coach, Colleen, to help people achieve balance and harmony not just by improving the strength and mobility of their backs, but in all aspects of their lives. For more information about BACKcountry services, visit https://backcountrychiroiv.com/.
CHLOE MENZIES
By: Kayla Anderson
As an active member of the Incline Village community, Chloe Menzies is paving the way for the next generation by serving as an impressive role model for young women wanting to make change in the world. Born in Sydney, Australia, Menzies moved to Incline full-time in middle school with her Australian father, American mother and two older sisters. Graduating from Incline High in 2020 in the height of COVID, Menzies attended Wake Forest University in North Carolina, majoring in Political Science and International Affairs with minors in Sociology and American Ethnic Studies.
During college she spent a semester in Washington DC as a legislative intern for Senator Catherine Cortez Masto where she assisted on initiatives to improve the lives of Nevadans. At Wake Forest, Chloe was also a research fellow at the Race Inequality and Policy Institute, focusing her thesis on environmental injustices and water inequality in Nevada indigineous communities. Upon graduation, Chloe returned to Incline Village and interned with the Tahoe Fund before securing a position with the Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada as an Environmental Specialist.
“It was a perfect fit working for the Washoe Tribe and putting my research into action including restoring streams for our native Lahontan Cuthroat Trout and helping germinate over 3,000 pinion pines. I also worked with the EPA and state government agencies to clean up the polluted Leviathan mine superfund site in Alpine County.”
Chloe is currently a freelance grant writer for organizations including The Boosting Hope Foundation, supporting students from underserved communities with college scholarships and mentorships, and the Empowerment Access Foundation, which helps victims of human trafficking restore their lives.
When asked where her philanthropic spirit came from, Chloe replies, “I feel like it was something that was instilled in me at a young age from my parents. I learned that paying it forward feels good and we need to protect and support each other.”
Chloe is Miss Lake Tahoe 2026 and chose to focus her service initiative on animal advocacy. “Saving animals also saves people.”
I grew up in a home with a rescue dog and adopted my first rescue in college…Mercedes was cruelly debarked by her previous owners, which resulted in fearful and aggressive behavior. I want to be the voice for animals like Mercedes,” Chloe says. Chloe also adopted a 14lb cat named Bizét, from Pet Network Humane Society in Incline.
Chloe will compete with 10 other contestants for the Miss Nevada title in South Lake Tahoe this summer, with the hope of representing Nevada at Miss America. “I love representing the uniqueness of Nevada,” she says. Her work with The Miss America Scholarship Opportunity is aligned with their values of scholarship, leadership and community engagement.
“We mentor younger girls through the Silver State Stars program. They learn important life skills and also see how kindness and empathy help our society,” she adds.
My education at Incline High School and my participation in “[We The People], taught by Milton Hyams, helped build my passion for civic engagement and my social justice career pathway. In 2020, I competed in Nationals on ZOOM during COVID from home. I was wearing my suit blazer on top and pajama bottoms and slippers on the bottom. It was thrilling when they announced on the live stream ceremony that the Unit 3 team I was a part of, with two other girls, won the National Award. Like many other We the People Alumni, Chloe is now helping coach.
Chloe also established the recycling program at Incline High School, collaborating with Waste Management, Administrators, teachers, students, and parents to bring recycling bins and a program to the school. I’m proud when I visit the high school and see the recycling stations in use and think, “I did that.” It makes me realize one person can make a difference, it’s just about getting out there and doing it.”
A World of Opportunity at Incline High School Through Rotary Youth Exchange
by Mary Danahey
For more than 50 years, the two Rotary clubs in Incline Village — part of Rotary International District 5190 — have quietly helped change lives through one of Rotary’s most meaningful programs: Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE).
Now gaining renewed momentum locally, the program offers Incline students and families an extraordinary opportunity to both explore the world and bring the world home to Incline.
This is far more than travel — it’s transformation.
Rotary Youth Exchange invites high school students ages 15–18 to live abroad, attend school, and fully immerse themselves in another culture, either for a full academic year or through a shorter summer exchange. In return, communities like Incline Village welcome students from around the globe into their homes, schools, and everyday lives.
At Incline High School, exchange students from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and Thailand have become part of the fabric of campus life — joining classes, sports teams, clubs, and friendships that often last a lifetime.
Rotary refers to these students as “Peace Ambassadors” — young people building understanding across cultures one friendship at a time. And those connections frequently endure long after the exchange year ends. Many host families and exchange students remain close for decades, visiting one another across continents and creating lifelong bonds rooted in a single shared experience.
What makes Rotary Youth Exchange especially unique is the depth of support behind it. Students complete a rigorous application and interview process and are carefully vetted before acceptance. Host families are also screened, trained, and supported throughout the year to ensure a safe, structured, and welcoming experience for everyone involved.
Exchange students typically live with two or three host families during their stay, allowing them to experience different perspectives of American family life while building deeper ties within the community. For host families, the rewards can be just as meaningful — introducing new traditions, perspectives, and energy into the home. Over time, many students become far more than guests; they become family.
As longtime Rotarian Rick Sweeney often says, “It’s not a year in a lifetime, but a lifetime in a year.”
Whether your family is considering hosting a student from abroad or sending your own child out into the world, Rotary Youth Exchange offers something increasingly rare: a meaningful opportunity to expand horizons, build confidence, and develop lasting global connections.
More Than an Exchange Student —
Family for Life
Exchange students don’t simply pass through a community. They leave behind friendships, traditions, and connections that often shape families for decades.
Incline native Michelle Jezycki still remembers when her family welcomed a Rotary exchange student from Florence, Italy while she was attending Incline High School.
“Growing up in Incline as a family of all girls, we thought we had a pretty good handle on our household dynamic,” she recalls. “That changed the day my parents announced we were getting a ‘brother.’”
That “brother” was Cristiano, an energetic and enthusiastic Italian exchange student who quickly embraced life in Incline. He attended school at IHS, played soccer, cheered at volleyball games, and became a familiar face at local sporting events and activities.
“He didn’t just live in our town,” Michelle says. “He belonged to it.”
What no one realized at the time was that a one-year exchange would become a lifelong relationship. Nearly 40 years later, Cristiano still lives in Florence with a family of his own, while the two families continue to visit one another and remain close friends. “It started as a school-year experience,” Michelle says, “and turned into a lifelong connection.”
A Global Experience That’s Surprisingly Accessible
While the experience is truly life-changing, RYE is also surprisingly affordable. Rotary exchange programs are often available at roughly one-third the cost of many traditional exchange programs, making them an exceptional value for families seeking a meaningful international experience for their child.
Families interested in becoming a host family or learning more about sending a student abroad can search online for Rotary Youth Exchange or contact local Rotarian Rick Sweeney at TahoeRickNV@gmail.com.
SUMMER 2026 Fundraisers and Community Events
July 2-5
Local Heroes 4th of July Celebration
July 11
Classical Tahoe Gala
July 16
Lobster Dinner (IVCH Auxiliary)
July 21-24
Lake Tahoe Dance Festival
July 23-25
CBC Gambler’s Run
Aug 13
TFS Shabby Chic
Aug 20
PEO Taste of Incline
Sept 20
Golf From the Heart (IVCH Auxiliary)
Sept 23-25
Washoe Tahoe Leadership Academy (IVCBA)
Sept 26
Rotary Best Ball for a Cause
Sept 26
Sheriff’s picnic
Oct 1
Pet Network Barktoberfest
Oct 7
IVGID Puppy Plunge
Oct 17
IVCBA Fall Fest at Village Center
Oct 24
SCH Chocolate Festival
Music Mashup
By: Kayla Anderson
There are many opportunities for bootie shaking in Incline Village/Crystal Bay this summer, whether it’s at the beach, the brewery, or the blackjack table. Here are all the different live music events coming up on Tahoe’s East Shore for the 2026 summer season:
Alibi Ale Works Tunes
Now in its third year, Tunes on Tap is back and bigger than ever with more chairs, firepits, and an extended stage. Thanks to receiving an Amex Shop Small grant administered by Main Street America, the Alibi Public House in Incline Village was able to bolster its amphitheater space, making it a far better space to hang this summer.
When asked what he’s looking forward to the most this year, Alibi Ale Works Owner Kevin Drake says, “The music lineup. The diversity of musical styles and quality of the bands is absolutely top-notch. Also, we’ve added more comfy seating in our Beer Forest and will have servers taking food and drink orders.”
Drake explains that Alibi expanded the stage to better accommodate bands and their equipment, making it much safer
and accessible to all.
“You can never have too much stage space,” Drake adds. Bring your own blankets/chairs and dress in layers because once that sun dips below the mountains, it gets a little chilly. All concerts start at 7 pm. Here is the 2026 Tunes on Tap music lineup:
Citizens Concert Live at Cornerstone Community Church
Over at 300 Country Club Drive in Incline Village, the Cornerstone Summer Concert Series kicks off with the Citizens Concert on June 6th. Pacific Northwest rock group Citizens (led by vocalist/guitarist Zach Bolen) emerged in 2011, bringing melody-driven and emotionally charged faith-based alternative rock to Christian communities everywhere. Tickets are $35 each and free for those ages 8 and under. Cornerstone will also be welcoming American folk artist Matt Papa on July 18th ($35 tickets) and a free singer-songwriter mashup on July 23rd. Shows start at 7 pm.
• June 6: Citizens Concert
• July 18: Matt Papa
• July 23: New Song Cafe: Up and Coming Singer Songwriter Mashup
The Gambler’s Run at Crystal Bay Casino
The Gambler’s Run at North Shore’s state line is also back July 23-25th featuring three days of music in the mountains, gambling, and more. The String Cheese Incident is kicking off as Thursday night’s headliner. Big Head Todd & the Monsters will be headlining the following night as Winter Wondergrass favorite Diggin Dirt plays Friday night’s afterparty in the Crown Room. And there’s so much more! All events are general admission, standing room only for ages 21 & up; buy tickets at www.crystalbaycasino.com/gamblers-run-music-festival
The full lineup:
• July 23: The String Cheese Incident
• July 23: Octave Cat
• July 24: Big Head Todd & The Monsters
• July 24: Robert Jon & The Wreck
• July 24: Diggin Dirt
• July 25: Sicard Hollow
• July 25: Chalk Dinosaur
• July 25: A mystery guest(s) TBD
Tahoe Philharmonic
For more than 20 years, Maestro James Rawie has been leading the Tahoe Philharmonic, conducting concerts all over Tahoe’s northeast shore. These are the series to keep on your radar; visit www.tahoe-philharmonic.com for more information:
• May 31-June 7: Classics+ Enjoy Grieg’s lush Piano Concerto sparkling with Nordic fire while Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 carries us from darkness to radiant victory. Guest pianist Jennifer Savage and violinist Kevin Matheson will be playing with the Tahoe Philharmonic Orchestra for a night of timeless beauty and unforgettable melodies.
• July 1-8: Pops & Patriotic Songs Pops, patriotic, and classical favorites performed live by Tahoe Philharmonic’s orchestra, chorus, and soloists.
• July-August: Nightz at Tahoe Opera Enjoy Arias, Duets & The Magic Flute in English in the heart of Reno-Tahoe with soaring voices, fiery passion, and unforgettable opera music.
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at Sand Harbor
The LTSF is known for its plays held on a stage with Lake Tahoe as the main backdrop from July 3 to August 23, but some special musical performances will also be held as part of the Festival this year. To buy tickets, visit laketahoeshakespeare. com.
• Tuesdays, July 3-August 23, 7:30 pm: Macbeth and The Heart of Robin Hood
• July 6: A Tribute to Billy Joel
• July 13: Reno Philharmonic Orchestra: Back to the 80’s
• July 14: Keith Anderson: A High-Energy Country Hits Concert
• July 20: The Doo Wop Project
• July 28: Reno Jazz Orchestra: Trekkin’ Tahoe: A Jazz/Rock Odyssey
• July 29, 7:30 pm: Super Diamond
Classical Tahoe Music Festival
Returning for its 15th season with four weeks of orchestral, chamber, and jazz music featuring more than 70 artists, Classical Tahoe is celebrating America’s 250th birthday by presenting high-quality music and performances that integrate organizations like the Lake Tahoe Dance Collective and the Brubeck Summit Sextet on certain nights. Performances will mostly take place at the University of Nevada, Reno, at Lake Tahoe, as well as at other venues throughout Incline Village. The entire festival runs July 11-August 9.
“Honoring our nation’s Semiquincentennial, we’ll feature American composers, past and present, throughout the festival. Beyond that, it’s not an exaggeration to claim that there will be ‘something for everybody’, including inspiring symphonies, hot jazz, chamber music spanning three centuries, classical ballet, internationally renowned guest artists, and educational family programming,” says Classical Tahoe Artistic Director Laura Hamilton. Get tickets at https://classicaltahoe.org/.
• July 11: Summer Gala/A Star-Spangled Soiree
• July 12, 14, 16, 17: A series celebrating the legacy of jazz pianist Dave Brubeck
• July 19: Beethoven Sonatas with Gilles Vonsattel
• July 24: Classical Tahoe Orchestra Fire and Fantasy
• July 25: Music in Motion with the Lake Tahoe Dance Collective
• July 26, Aug. 2 & 6: Ron & Maureen Ashley Oasis Chamber Music Series: Landscapes in Sound
• July 28: Free Chamber Connections show
• July 31: Brahms’ First Symphony
• Aug. 1: Family Concert and Music Maker’s Faire
• Aug. 7: Classical Tahoe Orchestra The Classical Continuum
• Aug. 8: Season Finale: Beethoven’s 7th
The Tahoe Way: Living and
Performing at Your Best
Katie Gollotto, DO, (Dr. Katie) is passionate about sports medicine and bringing quality care to athletes in the Tahoe region and beyond. Board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation as well as Sports Medicine, she is trained to empower athletes of all ages and abilities to continue pursuing sports and passions to the best of their abilities, decrease pain, and give peace of mind.
Why is sports & physical medicine important for our region?
Dr. Katie: Lake Tahoe is known for world-class recreation. From the sports field to the great outdoors, there is a large population of active individuals, and many who participate in year-round, high-impact sports, which makes injuries inevitable. I have trained specifically in sports medicine because I am passionate and knowledgeable about what it takes to get an athlete back to the sport they love, not only safely, but quickly!
What sets sports medicine physicians apart in their care for athletes?
Dr. Katie: An injury doesn’t have to mark the end of an athlete’s training while they recover. The goal of a sports
medicine physician is to keep the athlete safely active. We prioritize non-surgical solutions when available and look for other ways they can train and develop while still getting adequate rest and rehabilitation for their injury.
When should somebody see a sports medicine physician?
Dr. Katie: Exams can happen at any time, but I often see athletes directly following injury or to address specific pain. For training and competing athletes, it’s good to establish a baseline of care and assess any underlying issues that increase their risk for certain injuries.
What is your favorite part about being a sports medicine physician?
Dr. Katie: Sports, and exercise in general, are often part of a person’s identity. As an athlete myself, I understand the mindset necessary and fulfillment one gets from pushing their body. I love supporting athletes in reaching their goals and enjoy working alongside the Lake Tahoe community to keep my patients safe, active, and doing the activities that define them.
Dr. Katie Gollotto is a board-certified sports and physical medicine specialist offering non-surgical orthopedics and sports medicine solutions from offices in Incline Village and Stateline. To make an appointment with Dr. Katie, call Barton Sports & Physical Medicine at 775.589.8915 or visit BartonHealth.org to learn more.
