It's that time of year again! This month we highlight four local businesses and their local wares just in time for holiday shopping.
Provided
Simply Tahoe Freeze Dried Foods is a family affair as Schurman kids Stella and Calvin man a sales booth.
Serving Lake Tahoe’s South Shore Since 1994
NATURALFOODS MARKET
Groceries, dairy, bulk food, organic beer and wine, coffee, energy bars, cereal, snacks, body care products
PRODUCE DEPARTMENT
One of the largest selections of organic produce at Tahoe
NUTRITIONCENTER
Complete selection of vitamins, supplements & herbs
Welcome to our annual Made in Tahoe edition of the Mountain News This is always one of my favorites as we get to meet unique Tahoe locals making unique things. The products this year are a bloody mary mix, bespoke bags and totes, freeze-dried candy and a book of local photos. Each craftsperson featured has their own interesting backstory about their arrival in Tahoe and the inspiration for their products.
I guess you could call it think globally, act locally this holiday season. It’s a concept espoused by Tahoe Guy this month as his disappointment over the election has led him to lean in on participating in his community both formally and informally and he encourages readers to do the same. Peggy urges readers to pay it forward this month. How about with her top-secret recipe for fudge which she shares for the first time ever? I can’t wait to whip up a batch myself. Mike has a very personal take on the state of local health care. Mike and Peggy also touch on last month’s election as well and we have a follow-up on some legal issues regarding voter fraud
and intimidation in South Lake Tahoe. And what would the season be without escaping the madness with a movie or two? Dave’s got things covered on that front. Gary and Trish both write about the arrival of winter, each in their inimitable trademark way.
In fact, think globally, act locally could be the mantra of the Tahoe Mountain News This month we look at the possibility of mass deportations with the incoming Trump administration and what that might mean here in our town.
Our guest column comes from Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, which has come in for scrutiny and criticism lately. Next month we will be doing an in-depth piece on this longtime, local non-profit—where it’s been, where it is now and where it’s going.
Several years ago, Mike wrote a column about shenanigans in school bathrooms—vandalism and illicit activity. Later, I wrote a piece about what actually goes on in school bathrooms besides attending to nature’s call and found vaping and bullying among top concerns.
Apparently, these activities have continued to be a problem. At South Tahoe High School, a new bathroom policy has been put into place. Only two bathrooms in the entire school are open, each monitored by staff, and only two students at a time are allowed to use the facilities. How this will work in practice remains to be seen. The debate on social media has been heated with some saying the school needs to find a way to punish offenders without making things inconvenient for everyone, some saying parents need to step up and instill respect and proper values in their children and some saying this is just a natural consequence of delinquent student behavior. I could talk about how things were back in my day . . but I don’t want to seem like an old geezer just yet. Although I do own a newspaper, which is kind of old school.
With that, before I sign off for 2024, I would like to say here’s to old traditions and new beginnings. Cheers!
-Heather
Politics, fudge and kindness
As we draw the curtain on 2024, I’m reminded of a time when a presidential candidate was presenting his ideas for America.
In August of 1988, George H.W. Bush laid out his vision for a “kinder, gentler nation” during his bid to be the 41st president. His words (likely penned by a speech writer) stand in stark contrast to the incivility, conspiracy theories and social media rants that have come to define today’s politics.
It’s time to lead with the facts in any discussion and stop with the intentional misinformation that grabs headlines. You can’t just make up shit.
If you’re like many voters in California, you were probably overwhelmed by the mountain of printed material provided to explain the proposed legislation, a.k.a. ballot measures and propositions.
Now, one month after the election you have probably forgotten what the measures were and how you voted. Here are some highlights and how the vote went down:
California Amendment
3 (passed): this amendment to
California's constitution repeals a ban on same-sex marriage and instead declares marriage to be a fundamental right. Yes 62.4% No 37.6%. California Measure 2 (passed): this ballot measure authorizes $10 billion of bonds to build and repair facilities at K-12 public schools and community colleges. Yes 58.2% No 41.8%.
California Proposition 4 (passed): this ballot measure authorizes $10 billion of bonds for water, wildfire prevention and land protection efforts. Yes 59.3% No 40.7%. California Proposition 5 (failed) this proposed amendment to California's constitution would have lowered the vote needed to approve bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure projects from a two-thirds majority to 55%. No 55.5% Yes 44.5%. California Proposition 32 (failed): this ballot measure would have raised California's minimum wage to $18 an hour, effective in 2025 for employers of more than 25 people and effective in 2026 for others. No 51.1% Yes 48.9%. California Proposition
33 (failed) this ballot measure would have repealed a 1995 law banning rent controls, allowing local governments to expand limits on rental rates for housing. No 60.5% Yes 39.5%.
California Proposition 36 (passed): this ballot measure will increase penalties for repeated theft offenses and certain drug crimes, including some involving fentanyl. Yes 68.8% No 31.2%
GOOD FUDGE
For about 30 years I have been making fudge for the holidays to share with friends and a few businesses. People wait for this fudge every year and have come to expect my deliveries. The recipe was given to me by Terry Gongwer who was a registered
nurse in Tahoe about 25 years ago. Her handwritten recipe card is titled “Good Fudge.” I have never shared this recipe (considering it classified information and Terry’s little secret) until now. The recipe: 4.5 C sugar, 3/4-pound butter, 1 can evaporated milk (mix together in a heavy pot and bring to a rolling boil while stirring for seven minutes). Remove from heat, add 24 ounces of semisweet chocolate chips, 12 ounces of marshmallow cream, 2 t. vanilla extract and then stir until fully mixed. Add 2-3 cups of walnuts. Pour into a large, buttered baking dish and let harden. Voila!
RANDOM ACTS
In this season of giving, we can all take part in random acts (large and small) of kindness. Picture this: a young mom with two small children at a grocery checkout. The baby is crying and the two-year-old is dismantling the candy bar section. Mom’s credit card has been declined and she is close to a complete meltdown. Without missing a beat, the person
next in line hands the cashier a credit card and says, “I’ve got this.” Then there’s the Tahoe woman (Loa Ngaue) who posted on Facebook/Knuckle Draggers, “If anyone or family is in need or if you know anyone, my family and I are making Thanksgiving plates. I’m happy to drop it off or you can pick it up from my house.” Who even does that?
When buying coffee, tell the barista that you want to pay for the next person’s coffee. The next customer will likely be shocked and maybe inspired to buy the next person’s coffee and so on and so on. Be on the lookout for anyone who may need a helping hand or enlist to be a Secret Santa to surprise someone less fortunate. Even a friendly smile or a warm hello can make someone’s day. Kindness is powerful so get out there and spread some holiday cheer, people. It’s Christmas! To be continued….
“What's happening with the parking lot at the new light at Warrior Way in Zephyr Cove? I heard a rumor the USFS plans to develop that stretch of forest."
– Kel Bennett
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, what the U.S. Forest Service is called here, is working with Aramark, which has the concession for Zephyr Cove Resort for the next 19 years, to come up with a development plan that encompasses Zephyr Shoals, better known as the former Dreyfus Estate.
The second entrance to the resort off Highway 50 was built a year ago when the Nevada Department of Transportation installed the light at Warrior Way. It is scheduled to open in summer 2025 when a fee system is installed, according to LTBMU.
As for what will be built on the property, that remains to be seen. No project is on the books— yet. And no one in the know is saying when a project will see the light of day, let alone what kind of timeline would be involved to bring it to fruition.
“The Forest Service is working with the concessionaire, Aramark Destinations, to determine the scope and scale of future improvements,” Karen Kuentz, LTBMU lands and special use program manager, said.
Aramark essentially punted when asked what is happening.
“We don’t have plans to share at the moment, but future project updates will be available via the LTMBU website here: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=67060,” spokesperson Sheena Weinstein said.
Lisa Herron with LTBMU clarified that the website is nothing more than a placeholder. Dates on the site under Project Milestones are bogus because the content management system doesn’t allow dates to be left blank. So ignore what you see until a project actually comes forward.
With all of that said, LTBMU and Aramark hosted a well-attended meeting in April about ideas for the property. There may be no plan in the formal sense, but there are a lot of ideas that look and sound like a plan.
At the meeting, the landlord and tenant duo talked about the old estate becoming a camping area with 20-30 walk-in sites and
30 glamping tents, an event plaza, store, catering kitchen, public restrooms, interpretive trails replacing user-created ones, and a lot of pavement for parking.
The total number of spaces could go from 290 to 440.
The resort as we know it today could see improvements with restrooms, children’s play area, improved beach access, and renovating the Sunset Bar and Grill. Today, ZC Resort has 93 RV campsites, 47 walk-in sites, and 10 drive-in camp spots all on the mountain side of Highway 50. It also has 28 cabins on the lake side.
Nine themes came out of the meeting, which LTBMU categorized as:
• Environmental concerns for the site
• Community impact
• Public involvement and transparency
• Opposition to expansion
• Traffic and congestion
• Aramark’s performance record
• Infrastructure and services
• Improved USFS oversight and management
• Alternatives to development.
LTBMU summed up the last theme by saying, “Comments
included a desire for less development within the Zephyr Shoals parcel and instead, development on existing Zephyr Cove parcels. Some comments identified support for the renovation of the existing facilities within the Zephyr Cove footprint. Comments identified a desire for enlarging the buffer zones between any approved development and residents. Many comments stated a desire to prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable practices over expansion and development.”
Prior to the current contract, Aramark was not responsible for Zephyr Shoals. It’s a popular stretch of beach less than a mile long. It’s a contentious swath of land because people like to party there, often leaving behind trash.
A neighborhood borders this now vacant land.
The feds took a bit of a circuitous route to come into possession of the old Dreyfus Estate. In 2001 it took over full responsibility of the 81-acre parcel that at the time had a more than 10,000-squarefoot structure on it.
The building, built in 1985, had no historical significance, according to the Forest Service and
TRPA. It was demolished in 2019.
Zephyr Cove Resort consists of 252 acres. LTBMU has owned it since 1979 when it bought the land for $4.9 million.
Whatever happens in the future, more public input is expected.
“Public meetings and/or comment periods, environmental reviews and decisions would all take place once specific projects are proposed,” Herron explained. “The next step will be when the LTBMU receives a project proposal from the concessionaire, Aramark Destinations.”
Plus, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is likely to have a voice in the matter.
“We don’t have an application or formal proposal right now, so we won’t know what level of permitting or environmental analysis could be required,” Jeff Cowen, TRPA spokesperson said.
“There isn’t a timeline that we are aware of.”
GOT A QUESTION?
Email: mountainnews2@ gmail.com
Mail: P.O. Box 8974, South Lake Tahoe, CA 95618.
Photo Kathryn Reed
The light at Warrior Way and Highway 50 improves safety, but it will also give Zephyr Cove Resort patrons another entrance starting next summer.
Local immigrants wary about potential mass deportations
South Shore business leaders are not worried about how mass deportations could affect them, which directly conflicts with locals who are afraid of finding themselves on the other side of the southern border.
Undocumented residents in the area are worried—even more so than in 2015 when Donald Trump was president-elect the first time.
“In general I feel there is more talk and more fear, and more feelings of uncertainty this time around than eight years ago,” Tere Tibbetts said. “If nothing else, because they have heard more about it. For months we’ve heard about deporting millions of people.”
The 81-year-old who emigrated from Cuba to the United States in 1970 is an integral part of the South Shore community. She was a ski patroller at Heavenly Mountain Resort, and taught in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District and at Lake Tahoe Community College.
Today she is an advocate for immigrants and works closely with the college and Family Resource Center.
“The documenteds are scared what is going to happen to their people. In almost every family there is one or two or three that are not documented,” Tibbetts said. “Everybody knows somebody.”
Deportations are not a new concept, but mass ones are.
According to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University, the Bush and Obama administrations each deported 400,000 people a year, while the first Trump administration never hit the 300,000 mark in a year.
Business community
Neither of the two South Shore chambers of commerce’s boards has discussed what happens to member businesses if the workforce is depleted by deportations.
For starters, no one has a grasp on how many are in Lake Tahoe illegally, working or not.
sauce. They are doing work that makes the economy go around.”
Duane Wallace, executive director of South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, is equally passionate about the topic, but not in alignment with Teshara.
As a substitute teacher at Bijou Community School, Wallace interacts with a swath of Latino youngsters.
“What I tell some of the older kids who are worried about seeing relatives being sent back is, I say, don't you lock your door at night? I say, don’t you think the country should have a door?”
Wallace said.
He wants people to come here through proper channels and wants Trump to honor his word by emptying the prisons of criminals who aren’t in the U.S. legally.
agendized the threat of deportation and potential impacts.
The South Tahoe Restaurant Association, an arm of the larger chamber, has also not discussed the topic. One member said to do so would imply a restaurant is employing people who are in the country illegally.
Amber Reinholdt, attorney with Tahoe Immigration Law in South Lake Tahoe, countered that sentiment: “Typically the employers don’t know. It is in their interest to not know if someone is undocumented or not, though they may have a feeling. The reality is people use a lot of fake documentation.”
No one from Caesars Entertainment, which operates Harrah’s and Harveys casinos in Stateline, returned calls or emails.
The Pew Research Center in 2022 estimated the U.S. was home to more than 11 million illegal immigrants.
The nonpartisan fact tank says unauthorized immigrants represented about 4.8 percent of the U.S. workforce that year. The peak was 5.4 percent in 2007.
Two years ago, nine percent of Nevada’s workers were here illegally, while in California it was seven percent.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 28.5 percent of the city of South Lake Tahoe’s population identifies as Latino or Hispanic. Foreign-born residents make up 21.4 percent of the city’s population, according to the Census. This does not include people living in Tahoe outside city limits, such as in Meyers or Stateline.
Even so, he deplores what is being proposed by the incoming administration.
“Speaking as an American citizen, I don’t think mass deportation is a good strategy,” Teshara said. “Someone once said immigrants are America’s secret
“I’m not an expert on the subject matter, but I suspect there will possibly be some impacts on staffing levels on some businesses, but I have no direct knowledge of anything,” said Steve Teshara, government affairs liaison for Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce. “We don't get too far into the detail of who works for whom.”
Wallace didn’t say what should happen to those kids he teaches who are here legally but have parents who aren’t, or the ones who have been here their whole lives and have no memory of the country they were born in.
Wallace believes undocumented people take jobs from others in Tahoe, bring down wages, and make the housing situation worse.
The South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association has not
Many illegals who work in Nevada’s casinos are hired through a third party which means the gaming companies can plead ignorant if caught employing an undocumented person. Tibbetts and Reinholdt agree many local undocumenteds work in the tourism industry—casinos, restaurants and hotels.
A misconception is undocumented workers don’t pay
Photo Kathryn Reed
Images of the border wall on the Mexico side tell a story.
Photo Kathryn Reed
Signs with immigration slogans during the 2017 Women’s March on the South Shore were common.
The Tahoe Transportation District is offering expanded service to the Tahoe Blue Event Center. Buses will run from the Y Transit Center to the Kingsbury Transit Center with drop offs in front of the event center. The first bus arrives at 5:35pm and the last one departs at 10:45pm. Free parking at the Kahle parking garage and Lake Tahoe Community College is available for those who wish to park and ride, avoiding parking costs in and around Stateline. For more information, visit www.tahoetransportation.org.
ExplorUS, the current operator of Camp Rich, is acquiring RRM-CLM/Vista Recreation, so as of Jan. 1 ExplorUS assumes the Baldwin, Pope and Nevada beaches concessionaire contracts that expire Dec. 31, 2030.
Information on continuing prescribed burn operations throughout the winter is available at https://www.tahoelivingwithfire.com. For more information on burning debris, visit https://burnpermit. fire.ca.gov
The city of South Lake Tahoe’s annual Festival of Winter Lights returns December 13 and December 14 from 4pm to 8pm. Access through the history museum or the rec center. Arts and crafts, vendors, Santa, carolers, vote for the best local gingerbread house, hot chocolate and more. Bring a gift to donate to Toys for Tots.
John Rice general manager of Sierra-at-Tahoe since 1993, is leaving to be president of Ski California. Dan Healy has been named as Rice’s replacement. Healy previously served as Sierra’s director of snowsports before moving on as vice president of Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah.
Carson Kit Fox is now the official mascot of Nevada State Parks.
AleWorX’s third location is going to be in Reno.
Vail Resorts, operator of Heavenly-Kirkwood-Northstar ski areas, was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of
America’s most admired workplaces.
Comments are being taken until Dec. 20 on the updated draft Lake Tahoe Basin Community Wildfire Protection Plan: https://tahoe-basin-cwpp-trcd.hub.arcgis. com/.
Of the 5,600 vessels inspected at Lake Tahoe this year, 59 boats had aquatic invasive species with 17 arriving with quagga or zebra mussels.
The US Forest Service is seeking volunteers for two of its programs. One is Winter Trek, which takes fifth grade students into the winter landscape for education and recreation. Ski with a Ranger offers guided tours of Heavenly touching on the seasonal ecosystem and natural history. To submit an application, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/ 1FAIpQLSfvF9XCu0TvFEaE-J_Uhj1BUjcflFqmLBptiodAg_PeCueCng/ viewform?pli=1
City of South Lake Tahoe Parks and Rec has launched a Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/SLTParksAndRec) and an Instagram account (@SLTParksandRec) providing information on events, activities, services, facilities and more.
Buy specialty Lake Tahoe license plates—California or Nevada—and ski for free. For more info, visit tahoeplates. com.
The South Lake Tahoe Police Department has been awarded a $45,000 grant for enhanced traffic safety programs including DUI checkpoints, vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle safety enforcement and officer training in recognizing and evaluating impaired drivers.
On December 13, people are invited to come and say farewell to the Underwater Tahoe Lounge at the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center in Incline Village from 4pm to 6pm. Free, but please RSVP to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ december-13-farewell-celebration-for-un-
derwater-lake-tahoe-lounge-tickets-1088905288029
Stephanie Hampton, currently of Carnegie Science, has been selected as the new director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. The Tahoe Fund has issued a call for project proposals that require between $5,000 and $1 million in funding. Public agencies, non-profits and businesses are invited to submit plans for consideration for environmental, sustainable and inno-
Crocheting, knitting or embroidery. The Zephyr Cove Library hosts a Fiber Arts Hangout every Thursday from 3-4:30pm. Adults of all ages are invited to bring their projects while sharing skills and knowledge. Some equipment available. For more info., call 775/782-9841.
The American Legion hosts a weekly social to share its mission and answer questions every Thursday at 5pm. Veterans, active military and family members welcome.
vative projects. For more information and to apply, visit https://www.tahoefund.org/ our-projects/submit-a-project/
The enrollment lottery has opened for the Bijou Community School two-way bilingual immersion program for kindergarten 2025-2026. The deadline to submit a commitment form is February 14, 2025. Prospective students must be five years old by September 1, 2025. For more information, a tour or to obtain a commitment form, call 530/543-2337.
Temple Bat Yam is hosting a Hannukah vodka and latkes fundraiser December 11 from 6pm to 9pm. Vodka and latkes, of course, and other yummies. Dreidel spinning, raffle and more. Visit https://tbytahoe. org/event/vodka-latkes-2024/ for tix.
Baumann’s Making Life Taste Good
The perfect choice for your holiday meal
pick-up or mailing
You can also visit www.baumannswisschalet.com Available at The Cork & More and Overland Meat & Seafood Company
South Lake Brewing will be hosting a community holiday market on December 14 and December 21 from noon to 5pm. Shop for the season from a variety of local vendors.
TOCCATA will present Handel’s Messiah on December 15 at 3pm at St. Theresa Catholic Church.
Crawl Space is a weekly meeting of parents of kids 0-24 months, allowing for play, sharing and information. Ages 0-12 months, Mondays, 9:30am. Ages 13-24 months, Mondays, 11:15 am. South Lake Tahoe Library, Rufus Allen Blvd.
Got a community item for Heard? Email mountainnews2@gmail.com, subject line “Heard.”
Photo Provided Carson Kit Fox is the new mascot for Nevada State Parks.
Photo Provided
The Christmas Fire Truck will make an appearance at the Festival of Winter Lights.
Notes on surgery and the election
So, next week I’ll be going in for a medical “procedure,” one of those things men of my age sometimes find they need to do. And the thing is, I’m having it done at Barton. Which I have to say, fills me with at least a small amount of dread . . or let’s call it apprehension. It’s not about my doctor, who is by all indications highly skilled and trustworthy, not to mention patient and informative beyond the usual standard. It’s not about the nursing staff and other medical professionals who practice there. Maybe it’s the past experiences of others I’ve known who have had things go badly, or maybe
it’s my own past experiences at Barton. And then there’s this other thing I need to have done in the new year—I know, it’s getting a bit ridiculous, right?
And knowing that we’d be into a new insurance cycle by then, I thought I’d first do some price comparison shopping—Barton vs facilities in the Carson Valley. And that’s where Barton always starts to lose my trust— when I call to ask about an actual cost of something. I have tried, and it doesn’t seem to exist . . or at least not in a figure they’re willing to tell me straight out. Maybe it’s my ignorance but I assume each procedure or
test would have an actual price connected with it. They want to process it through insurance before they will tell me, but for apples-to-apples comparison purposes, I just want the actual cost. As in dollars. Like I said, it doesn’t seem to exist. And that’s unsettling.
So, for that procedure, I’m going off the hill—not based on any math comparison but just on my experience that the same medical procedures and tests cost a lot less in Nevada than here in SLT a lot less. But I’m operating on assumption— not fact . . because I can’t seem to get the facts.
I have to miss a few days of teaching, which should be a nice little break for my students. I told them I was getting the kind of work done that you see on the various “real housewives”— you know, the brow lift that leaves you permanently surprised, maybe some sculpting of the cheekbones and some filling of the lips. They seemed to support the plan.
Elections recap
I’m just going to comment on a couple items, not including Measure N, which has already had plenty of coverage and commentary. Just these three: California Proposition 36, which increases penalties for certain theft and drug crimes, passed with 68.5 percent in favor.
A while back, I wrote about theft and other unscrupulous doings at local markets and businesses. And at the heart of that was Proposition 47, which
had intended to alleviate jails of overcrowding but came with unintended consequences—namely that criminals had a field-day as long as they kept their looting under $950 dollars. So, Prop 36 hopes to close that loophole, as described in Ballotpedia “For crimes involving stolen money or property worth $950 or less, the initiative made the crime punishable as a felony for individuals with two or more prior theft-related convictions, with a punishment of up to three years in jail or prison, depending on their criminal history.”
The initiative also added fentanyl to the list of drugs that warrant a felony charge if a person is in possession of a loaded firearm, bringing up to four years in prison. For our community and many others, fentanyl hits an especially tragic note, so this seems a good move.
Other increased sentences and mandatory state prison time come with this initiative, targeting illegal drug sales.
California Proposition 2 garnered a 58 percent “yes” vote Prop 2 issues $10 billion in bonds, with $8.5 billion dedicated to elementary and secondary educational facilities and $1.5 billion for community college facilities.
But the important thing is that Prop 2 makes changes to the formula used to determine the amount each district is required to contribute to receive state funding from the bond revenue. State government is now required to cover between 50 percent and 55 percent of construction project costs and 60 percent to 65 percent of modernization project costs.
Presumably, Prop 2 will make it easier for LTUSD to glean matching funds for the Measure U projects and thereby get more bang for our tax bucks. speaking of Measure U, it passed with a 60 percent “yes” vote
As a reminder, the measure was described thus: “Lake Tahoe Unified School District Classroom Repair Measure. To improve quality education by updating classrooms, labs, libraries, and career training facilities; repairing deteriorating roofs, plumbing, heating/cooling and electrical systems; improving fire safety, water quality and school security; and removing hazardous materials like asbestos/lead, shall Lake Tahoe Unified School District’s measure be adopted issuing $127,000,000 of bonds at legal rates, levying 3.5¢ per $100 assessed value (approximately $6,600,000 annually) while bonds are outstanding, with independent oversight, audits, and all funds staying local.”
We’ve already debated this measure in previous months and the debate is over, so let’s see how it goes. I’m hoping the oversight is legit and regular—as in monthly as opposed to annually.
And, folks, keep in mind that we’re on the hook through 2061-62 for this one.
Ok, a fourth item: Bob Anderson elected to the Lake Tahoe Unified School Board
I’ll be honest: former teachers turned board members haven’t impressed me in the past. Bob Anderson may change my view. Yes, he taught for decades at Tahoe Valley Elementary and lives and breathes the community that he represents, but I’ve also known him to be courageous about speaking out and challenging the powers that be when needed. And it’s needed more than ever—especially when the rest of the board tends to follow the LTUSD party line, whatever it is. The question is if Bob will be able to stand up to the pressure of conformity and “go along to get along” that has seemed to characterize the LTUSD boards historically. As always, feel free to email mikesmutterings@gmail.com
What's up with Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care
Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc. (LTWC) is a non-profit organization located in South Lake Tahoe with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured and orphaned wildlife while fostering a community that values the health and safety of Tahoe’s unique ecosystem. For over 45 years, LTWC has been a vital resource for wildlife conservation and education, and we continued this proud tradition in 2024. As we reflect on the year, we are excited to celebrate milestones, share our plans for 2025 (and beyond) while addressing some of the biggest questions and concerns we heard from the community this past year.
The Questions:
To start, we have frequently received the following questions at LTWC: What is the euthanasia policy at LTWC? What happened with the LTWC wildlife rehabilitation permits in October 2024?
The Answers:
Euthanasia Policy at LTWC: Euthanasia is never an easy decision at LTWC; it is a painful and traumatic process for staff and the decision to euthanize is made only when an animal is suffering and beyond recovery. LTWC also follows strict protocols to ensure that any euthanasia decision is never made by a single individual. Decisions are, instead, made collaboratively, involving thorough evaluations by staff, consultations with experts, and guidance from veterinarians. In many cases, multiple veterinarians are consulted with federal and state agencies providing constant oversight. Our approach is guided by compassion, professionalism, and a deep commitment
to the welfare of the animals in our care. Contrary to rumors, no animal has ever been euthanized due to “lack of space,” “lack of funds” or “lack of qualified personnel.” These claims are simply false.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit: LTWC operates under stringent regulations and holds permits for wildlife rehabilitation of animals, migratory bird rehabilitation, and education animal programs. This year, a staff member forfeited LTWC’s California Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife when they resigned. Under state law, once a permit is forfeited, the facility is treated as a brandnew operation and must reapply for a new permit. LTWC is in the process of securing a new permit, which we expect to receive by January 2025. Once we receive the new permit, we will resume operations in full. LTWC is also hiring additional staff given our anticipated expanded operations for 2025.
The 2024 Upgrades and Expanded Operations for 2025: Speaking of expanded operations, one of the biggest upgrades to LTWC is the near completion of the new fawn rehabilitation building. This building was constructed in response to the retirement of another local rehabilitator dedicated to fawns. LTWC is determined to fill the need for a rehabilitation facility for injured/orphaned fawns. With the new facility, LTWC will be able to accommodate up to 30 to 35 fawns for rehabilitation and release in 2025. As we move forward, we will be calling on volunteers to help us care for these young creatures and we encourage anyone interested to join our efforts.
Another upgrade to operations in 2024 involved LTWC bringing its ambassador program into regulatory compliance while hiring a new Wildlife Education and Ambassador Curator out of Cornell University, Ms. Kit Ellsworth, BA, CPBTKA. Ms. Ellsworth is a highly qualified professional, with a degree in biology and is certified to work with our raptors and mammals in care. Since arriving this year, Ms. Ellsworth developed a targeted curriculum for public information which highlights Lake Tahoe’s wildlife and environment for various age groups. Ms. Ellsworth also has special qualifications to train raptors and has implemented a new raptor training program at LTWC. Finally, Ms. Ellsworth has transformed LTWC’s Education and Ambassador Program by implementing new diets, enrichment programs, interaction protocols, and training protocols for our ambassador animals, including our well-known representatives such as Em the Eagle, Porky the Porcupine, Phoenix the Red Tail Hawk, and Ozzy the American Kestrel. In 2024, LTWC achieved some incredible survival, release, and rescue rates for incoming wildlife at the center with a post-24-hour survival rate of 72.02 percent for birds and 77.25 percent for mammals. These numbers reflect LTWC’s commitment to advancing care standards and adapting our facilities to the needs of our animals. Most importantly, the numbers represent the tireless efforts of our dedicated staff, volunteers, and veterinarians. We are immensely grateful to each person whose work was instrumental in saving the lives of so many animals.
LTWC has also undergone significant transformations this year with new policies and protocols to strengthen our organization and expand our impact and efficacy. These changes— implementing standardized protocols, ensuring compliance with governing agencies, and creating a professional nonprofit infrastructure—are essential to fulfilling our mission effectively. While progress is not without its detractors, we remain firm in our resolve to uphold the highest standards of care and operation. It is also with this dedication that we are able to expand operations, hire new and highly qualified personnel, and continue providing world class
care for the animals who need it most. These efforts have since been recognized with the Best in the Basin in Science and Innovation award from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. LTWC’s success in 2024 is a direct result of the dedicated work from our staff and volunteers. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and invite anyone interested in joining our mission to visit ltwc.org, sign up for our newsletters, or become a volunteer. Together, we can continue making a difference for wildlife and ensure that the Lake Tahoe ecosystem remains vibrant and healthy for generations to come.
On the following pages is the Mountain News Made in Tahoe edition. An annual tradition, Made in Tahoe was begun to shine a light on Tahoe locals who actually make things—a locals gift guide of sorts for the holiday season. This year we feature four diverse mountain craftspeople
Local seamstress has it in the bag
Fabric pieces in various sizes and patterns, spools of thread running the color spectrum, projects in progress, finished creations—it’s all organized chaos for Kathy Wharton.
She knows exactly where to find something, how things are going to be paired together, and what the next step in each project is.
On this particular day, the South Lake Tahoe woman is redoing some of the straps on various bags (most are nylon, some are leather) so they hang a wee bit longer, especially when draped across one’s body.
Wharton has been sewing since she was a little girl, when her mom taught her on their old Kenmore machine. Then life intervened and sewing was no longer a priority. It was the pandemic that led Wharton back to her love of cloth and creativity.
“I love fabrics and I love colors, so I like to come up with the best color creation I can,” Wharton said. “The insides are as beautiful as the outside because I’m so fussy with fabrics.”
By the insides and outsides Wharton means the bags she creates by hand in her home. Turn them inside out and it’s just as beautiful; the stitching just as meticulous.
She jokes that she changes the thread a thousand times a day.
Wharton’s first foray back to her Janome sewing machine was to create masks when most people were covering their noses and mouths to prevent contracting Covid. She gave about 1,000 masks away, including to Barton Health, before N-95s be-
come the norm. She sold another 3,000 at the Tuesday farmers’ market.
Piles of leftover cloth kept accumulating in her sewing room. This led her down the path of creating patterns for her original bags. They range in size from small enough to carry
large bag she uses when traveling. “They hold a lot.”
Many come with an outside zippered pocket for easy access to keys and such. Inside pockets for easy retrieval of phones is a common feature. Most have unique buttons as closures, which adds to the orig-
a cell phone to the largest being 20 inches by 20 inches.
The larger one is good for shopping or for those who carry lots of things on a daily basis.
“I put in my flipflops, iPad, a change of clothes, all the essentials,” Wharton said of the
inality of the bag.
“I tend to use cotton, so then I have to interface everything,” Wharton explained. “It has a nice weight. Sometimes I interface lining on the outside of the bag.”
Prices range from $22 to
$75. Custom orders cost more.
All are washable, unless leather is involved.
Fanny packs are part of her wares, as are art bags that can hold brushes, pencils, scissors and other items. These roll up for the artist to easily transport his or her tools. iPad covers are on Wharton’s list of things to create.
A plethora of fabric fills her workspace. It’s out in the open, tucked into corners and stuffed under things.
“I have to stop buying fabric and use the colors I have. It
fabrics of custom-made elephant fabric.”
That’s not fabric made from the animal, but fabric with images of the animal. She has also used her photographs of the area, like wildflowers from hiking to Winnemucca Lake, and printed them onto bags.
Wharton’s business name is Heavenly Creek Goods. If it sounds familiar, that is because Wharton is becoming a regular at festivals in and around the Tahoe basin selling her wares.
While the business is growing, Wharton has no desire to make this a full-time job. Though, she admits before a show the hours add up to ensure she has enough inventory to showcase.
Wharton recently started dabbling in art quilts. She has a thirst to keep pushing herself to be creative in a variety of ways.
is an addicting thing,” she said of shopping for fabric.
Most of her product comes from Spoonflower.
“They have artists create (the fabric),” Wharton said. “I buy from different vendors. If I put in elephants (as a search), they would have 1,000 different
“This is the candy factory where all the fun happens,” a smiling Kim Schurman says, gesturing around the dining room of her Christmas Valley home.
Large bins containing different kinds of candy sit on a rack lining one wall. Buckets of the finished product are stacked around the room and in the corner is a freeze dryer.
Schurman and her family are the proprietors of Simply Tahoe Freeze Dried Foods. Their line includes nine varieties of candy that have been transformed in the freeze dryer from dense and sticky into an ethereal, lacy treat for the tongue. Freeze-dried Skittles are the most popular product in the Simply Tahoe line, but if
someone doesn’t like those, try another type, says Schurman.
“We’ve never found anyone that didn’t like something.”
In the summer, people can sample the various freezedried offerings at the Wednesday Farmer’s Market at Tahoe Paradise Park and at the Live at Lakeview summer concert series. Schurman said they do the occasional community fair or event. Packages of the candy are also available at Holiday Market, Cuppa and Rocket Fizz in Heavenly Village, most retailing for $12 per package.
The business is a family affair with the Schurman children—Seth, 20, Calvin, 16 and Stella, 14—pitching in around the table to make and package the candy. The Schurmans,
who homeschooled their kids up until this year, incorporated the skills needed for business tasks into their curriculum. Calvin, particularly, has taken a shine to the business. He manned the Farmer’s Market booth last summer and also makes deliveries and business calls.
“He’s very entrepreneurial,” Schurman says.
Sometimes, their kids’ friends join in as well, says Schurman. “They put on some music and start talking and start sharing,” sometimes a bit much. “I say ‘You do know I’m an adult and I know your mother.’”
Teenagers are also some of the company’s biggest customers, spurred on by a Tik Tok trend featuring freeze-dried candy.
A bit of serendipity led the Schurmans to embark on the business. Around a year ago, the family was in the process of moving to Florida, so Kim could enroll in a master’s degree program in occupational therapy. Kim and her husband, Aaron, had been foster parents for several years, and Kim wanted to take it to a new level as a professional counselor. “I decided one day, after getting barfed on, that I wanted to work in foster care on a therapeutic basis.”
On the way, they received a call that Aaron’s father had suffered a health emergency. Aaron hopped on the nearest flight and the Schurmans’ friends—couple Travis and Kenna Cabral – jumped in to help the family. During this time, Travis asked Kim if she knew of anyone who might want to take over Simply Tahoe Freeze Dried Foods, which he and his wife had
founded a few years back, but which they found themselves too busy with kids and life to continue. It was a lightbulb moment for the Schurmans. They moved back to Tahoe and took over the business.
Simply Tahoe is run mainly by Kim, who does 90 percent of the work. Aaron, a digital artist, works from home in motion design and 3D design for companies such as You Tube, Google, Amazon, Apple and others. In the past year, Simply Tahoe produced around 5,500 bags of candy. Besides Skittles, other freeze-dried merchandise includes Jolly Ranchers, Nerds Gummy Clusters, Charleston Chews, Big Hunk and Milk Duds, Caramel M&Ms, Twix, saltwater taffy and Bits-O-Honey. Each item has been given a cute, Tahoe-themed name, such as Chairlift Chews or Honey Bear Bites.
Simply Tahoe, like many local businesses, is subject to the seasonal whims of Tahoe. In
the summer, Kim works around 25 hours a week in the business.
The rest of the year, she works about 10 hours a week. “It’s great for helping our family financially,” says Kim. She also cleans vacation rentals. Originally from Minnesota, the Schurmans moved to Los Angeles 17 years ago, then to the Bay Area a year later. Around ten years ago, after a particularly rainy holiday stuck at home, they decided to move to Tahoe and were able to make it work. They love the small town, interconnected, feel of Tahoe and seeing familiar faces around. In the Bay Area, said Kim, “we didn’t see our neighbors at church and we didn’t see our church friends at the store.” Schurman said she was “embarrassed” to tell her dentist she owned a candy company. But the dentist said, “Are you kidding? I’m the one people don’t want to see. You have the best job!”
Photo Kathryn Reed
Kathy Wharton sews a strap onto one of her custom bags at her South Lake Tahoe home.
Photo Kathy Wharton Working with a variety of fabric designs adds to the creativity of Heavenly Creek Goods’ products.
Photo Kim Schurman
Sister and brother Stella and Calvin Schurman work the family's Simply Tahoe candy booth at the Farmer's Market.
Photo Heather Gould
Kim Schurman packages candy at her family's home-based company.
Local woman mixes it up Photographer captures the big picture
Bloody mary mixes aren’t complicated. But that doesn’t mean they are all the same.
Sarah Moss knows this all too well.
“If you buy one from the grocery store, most have been cooled and heated up, and preservatives added,” Moss said.
“Mine does not have a long shelf life because it doesn’t have preservatives.”
Moss brought the original recipe with her from Minnesota, then tweaked it to make it her own when she bought Turn 3 bar in South Lake Tahoe in September 1998 at the age of 22. Orange juice is one addition. It adds a sweetness and makes it frothy. She also switched the steak sauce to one that is sweeter. Horse radish gives it a
kick, and then there is a whole lot of pepper. Her concoction, known as Sarah’s Sierra Bloody Mary Mix, is never cooked. It’s made fresh.
A liter bottle sells for $15 and will last six months in the refrigerator. Well, it’s not likely to last that long because it tastes so good. It’s that it won’t start turning brown for half a year.
“The only thing that happens is the coloration will change after so many months,” Moss said.
In her hometown of Faribault, Minn., Moss was a bartender from age 18 to 21. Minnesota didn’t change the age
requirement for serving alcohol when consumption laws changed to 21.
Like so many before her, Moss moved to South Lake Tahoe after seeing the lake from Echo Summit and then driving around it. She moved here with the intention of bartending two weeks after turning 21 because she knew she had to be that old to get a job.
Moss was working at Hoss Hoggs when she was approached with the idea to buy what became Turn 3.
“I went to Coldwell Banker and offered less than half the
asking price as a joke and they took my offer. That is how I got a liquor license,” Moss said. “It was fun. I was young, having a good time. Then I had my kids and needed to do something else.”
She came up with the name Turn 3 because most racetracks have at least three turns. The relevance is that she raced gokarts for 23 years, Sport Car Club of America for four years, and also raced an open-wheel car. Even though Moss sold the bar in 2019, she continues to make the mix.
Not long after she sold Turn 3, which in some circles is
better known as the peanut bar, Moss started making the mix at home. She also started working at Overland Meat, which is next door to the bar. She made the mix there and sold it in liter containers.
Not long after she left Overland, the state of California via county health departments began cracking down on people making food products outside of a commercial kitchen. While those regulations have since relaxed, Moss hasn’t looked into whether it would be worthwhile to jump through the regulatory hoops.
But this doesn’t mean her mix isn’t available. Those bloody marys at Sonney’s BBQ Shack Bar & Grill, which has locations in South Lake Tahoe and Gardnerville, are so good because of Moss.
“I make them a concentrate. I put it in Mason jars. They keep those in their fridge and as they need them, they put it in jugs and mix tomato juice in to make a gallon,” Moss said.
For now, she is content with her small operation out of Sonney’s. She can make extra there, bottle it, and keep it in her refrigerator for people who want to special order a liter.
Plus, Moss has a full-time job working for Sierra Valley Electric, so the bloody mary mix is a definite side hustle for now.
“I could make it as a concentrate and make it as strong as I want,” Moss said. “I’ve definitely pondered all the different ideas. Maybe it will be my retirement job ten years down the road.”
Ian Ruhter’s large format, black-and-white glass plate photographs sell for eye-watering (too eye-watering to print) sums.
“The average person, including myself, can’t afford my work,”
I turned my back on school and got into trouble.” Ruhter did discover snowboarding and built a competitive career, but that only lasted so long. In the late 90s, finding himself at the end
commercial photography business.
But about a decade in, the photography landscape changed.
“Digital photography was emerging and there was pressure to edit and photoshop and make things unreal.
feeling you just don’t get with other mediums,” he said.
After discovering what Ruhter characterized as this lifechanging type of photography, he decided to go big and go home. He purchased a giant camera lens on eBay, bought a truck and turned it into a camera—like the whole back of the truck is a camera— and returned to Tahoe. Ruhter said he took inspiration from the book The Alchemist. The title character “goes in search of gold
he said. So, the South Lake Tahoe native is releasing a book of his photographs that is within the everyday person’s price range (Cost $68 presale, $85 retail).
Titled The Lake it contains photos from around Tahoe of spots that are special to Ruhter.
“It’s a memoir of memories, moments, good times and bad times,” explained Ruhter. Suffering from dyslexia, Ruhter struggled to read and write growing up. “I felt like I was dumb. I was in special ed classes, which had a negative connotation.
of his snowboarding pursuits with “no skill set,” Ruhter took a photography class at Lake Tahoe Community College taught by Pat Leonard-Heffner. “I fell in love with it and I was good at it. It became this thing that allows me to communicate and tell what I’m thinking.” It was also the end of Ruhter’s alcohol use. “I quit drinking 20-plus years ago. I filled that need with photography and art.” With that, Ruhter was off on a new adventure. He moved to Los Angeles and built a successful
It was turning my voice into a liar. I love the truth and honesty of film,” said Ruhter.
During this time, Ruhter came across wet plate collodion photography, a process from the 19th century, deployed by many early photographers. It involves mixing liquid film and spreading it on glass plates, which are inserted into a camera and exposed to create a final print. “It only produces one photo. No negative, no nothing. You can’t retouch it. I loved the idea . It’s not always perfect. It’s a handcrafted, unique
and realizes everything he always wanted was back at home. That was my journey.” The Lake has a glossary of alchemy symbols that connects with different pages in the book.
Back in Tahoe, Ruhter began photographing at locations where he could maneuver his truck. Many of his photos are intimate, obscure snapshots of places around the basin, not the
scenic, glamour shots one sees in many Tahoe photography books. The parameters of his photographic set up, “forces me to look at things in a very, very different way,” he said. Ruhter carefully considered the sequencing of photos in his book. For example, in one threepage stretch, there’s a picture of his four-year-old daughter, Lily at Lily Lake, followed by a photo of some gnarled tree roots looking a bit like clasped hands to symbolize roots both real, familial and societal, followed by a photo of some indigenous grinding rocks, symbolizing Tahoe’s human lineage.
“I don’t know if people will get all that, but you don’t have to. I wanted to make something that each time someone picks it up, they learn something new.” In the middle of the book is a double page fold out of Lake Tahoe showing the “immensity” of the lake. Ruhter has found his niche with both the product and the process. Working inside his truck-camera is “very emotional,” he said. “Growing up with dyslexia, I see everything backwards. In the camera, everything comes in upside down and backwards. I built a world where I go inside and it’s reflected the way I see it.”
Ian Ruhter’s new book, The Lake, can be purchased online at https://www.ianruhter.com.
Photo Heather Gould
Sarah Moss adds tomato juice to her proprietary bloody mary mix.
Photo Heather Gould
Order one of Sarah Moss's bloody marys at Sonney's BBQ.
Photo Provided
Photographer Ian Ruhter assembles his truck camera out in the field.
Photo Provided
Ruhter holding a copy of his book, The Lake, inside his Kingsbury studio.
The following letter to the editor is addressed to Tahoe Guy (formerly Tahoe Dad) regarding his column in the November 2024 Tahoe Mountain News.
inflation with a high of nine percent and overall 20 percent over four years does not come close to Germany’s inflation of 23 percent in the second half
of 1922 to over 1 million percent by the end of 1923. Google it and learn something. When referring to stigmatizing immigrants, are you referring to the 10 million illegal migrants that came through our secure border, some of who have murdered and raped American citizens, many who are on the terrorist watch list,
members of vicious gangs from Venezuela and no doubt many are spies for China, the greatest threat to this country? Let’s not forget the cages for illegal migrants built by Obama and his record of deporting illegal migrants, or do those facts not fit your echo chamber narrative?
You imply those who voted for Trump are like Hitler and Nazi supporters, for which I take great personal offense. Think before you state your extreme views.
DEPORTATION
Continued from Page 11
taxes. They do. They have all the same taxes taken out as any W-2 employee does. Only that bogus Social Security card won’t allow them to tap into the system when they are older.
Plus, everyone pays sales tax.
Reinholdt tells her clients to speak with a licensed tax person,
worked two and three jobs and had children in the schools that were born in South Lake Tahoe.”
Being a sanctuary city has previously never made it onto a City Council agenda.
Senate Bill 54, that took effect Jan. 1, 2018, made California a sanctuary state. Then -El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Agostini was adamantly opposed to the law and said he would not abide by it.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and El Dorado County Public Information Officer did not respond to inquiries.
South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Dave Stevenson said now is no different than when the threat of deportations circulated eight years ago.
“There are a lot of Califor-
vada differ dramatically when it comes to interacting with ICE, caution is being advised.
“I’m telling people to stay lowkey; maybe this is not the time to get in a car and travel to another state. I tell them to be more careful if they cross the state line into Nevada,” Tibbetts said. “If you are going to get stopped in a car, it is better to be in California and not Nevada.”
Reinholdt, the immigration attorney, echoes those concerns.
“In California I don’t worry about my clients being transported to ICE. For my Nevada clients it’s a different story,” she said. “I expect to see more transfers to ICE authorities in Nevada in the next four years.”
Opportunities of hope
matter their status.
While Jeff DeFranco, president of LTCC, was not available for this story, in the past he has said, “Lake Tahoe Community College remains committed to serving all students, regardless of their backgrounds or immigration status. We are committed to providing them with a safe learning environment. And we will continue to protect the private information that all of our students provide in the college application and registration process.”
No one from Douglas County School District returned calls.
to tell them the truth, and to file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) issued by the IRS. ITINs are for non-U.S. citizens without a Social Security number.
Sanctuary v. enforcement
Cody Bass wants South Lake Tahoe to be a sanctuary city.
Bass was mayor at the time of this writing, but may have a new title as of Dec. 10 when recently-elected members to the South Lake Tahoe City Council are sworn in and the body appoints the next mayor and mayor pro-tem.
Bass told the Mountain News during council member comments that he would ask for the topic to be agendized in 2025.
A sanctuary city, county or state is one that protects immigrants and does not share information with federal law enforcement. Trump and his people are looking at ways to punish sanctuary cities and states that receive federal dollars.
El Dorado County Supervisor Brooke Laine brought up the topic when she ran for council in 2015.
“I actually sat down and spoke with many immigrants who live and work in the city and were very afraid that they might be deported or other members of their family might be deported,” Laine said. “These are people who
In early December, Stevenson spoke at the Family Resource Center (FRC) to address questions about what happens if ICE agents come to town because Director Karen Goldberg said more of her clients are acknowledging they are scared about what the future may bring.
This nonprofit helps anyone in need and never asks their legal status. Help can involve learning English, how to navigate living in a different country, translation, health care or something else.
LTUSD Superintendent Todd Cutler said, “I see my job and the job of our team to make sure the students in our schools are safe and protected, and that is our intention. Schools are a safe place for children and that is not the place for ICE to take kids away.”
Undocumented people who are sick or injured have nothing to worry about if they go to Barton Health for care.
nia state laws that prohibit state and local law enforcement from participating with ICE,” Stevenson said. “Immigration status does not show up on the checks we do. If they have a warrant, they have a warrant. Warrants do not have immigration status.”
He knows of one instance when SLTPD helped ICE; this involved a person wanted in Mexico on homicide charges. It’s cases like that where state law allows local California officers to cooperate with immigration agents.
Across the state line, Douglas County Sheriff Dan Corley said, “The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is committed to upholding the law and ensuring the safety of our community. As part of this commitment, we cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) consistent with our mission to protect and serve all members of our community.”
Because California and Ne-
Reinholdt was at Lake Tahoe Community College this month talking to students about their rights. She expects more of these gatherings to occur throughout the region in the coming months.
Her motto is to “control the controllables,” which in some ways means don’t buy into the hysteria, the false narratives, but be smart and informed.
The attorney says, “I’m really urging people if you are a resident, to become a citizen. You absolutely do want to become a citizen if you have that eligibility. Once you are a citizen, your rights are protected. They cannot take that away from you. If you are undocumented and have no status, I say get screened by an immigration attorney.”
People have rights per the Constitution no
Tibbetts has recently ordered more “red cards” which provide information in English and Spanish (and come in nearly every language imaginable) to advise people of their rights. These cards are applicable to citizens and non-citizens.
They say: “I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution. I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door. I do not give you permission to search any of my belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights. I choose to exercise my constitutional rights.”
“We treat every individual who enters the emergency department regardless of background or circumstances,” spokesperson Mindi Befu said. “Barton Health does not ask for or document any information about a patient’s immigration status.”
Photo Provided Tere Tibbetts is a staunch supporter of rights for all people no matter immigration status.
Photo Provided South Lake
Waiting for winter to bring it
“Are you ready for winter?” my friend asked.
He had a forlorn smile as he pedaled by, and I couldn’t help but notice his loving embrace of his bicycle’s handlebars. My dogged companions, dopily drunk on river water, didn’t even bother to sniff him as he passed.
We were all immersed in the hypnotic trance of Indian summer in Tahoe. Bathed in the soft, slanted sunlight, this deceitful season lulling us into believing these perfectly quiet, quietly perfect days will never end. But it got me to thinking. Last winter wasn’t so bad, was it? Meteorologists described it as a “normal winter,” as if normal is ever a thing in Tahoe.
With no impending roof collapse or rivers of ice water running down our walls, it’s easy to remain focused on what’s important as winter approaches—a short memory. Then surrender to the inexplicable addiction of play-
ing on fresh fallen mounds of creamy snow under an oblique, but determined sun shooting reflective sparks off every icy-mirrored surface. At the end of the day, there’s the added comfort of knowing at home, there’s a hot fire, hot tub and hot toddy waiting to embrace you.
For positive attitude insurance, it never hurts to have a plane ticket to Hawaii in your back pocket. I’ve got one of those and friends urging me to visit. So all is good. Nothing can possibly go wrong . . right? I mean, not like last winter. When, suddenly, Hubby was limping so badly he would grab the closest object to propel him forward, whether it was a snow pole or a shopping cart currently being used as a trash receptacle. He chose to hobble rather than use a cane because, “A cane would make me look old.”
“Well . . ” I said, “hanging onto a shopping cart full of trash makes you look old and crazy.”
An auspicious start to the cold, dark months that lay ahead. However, a hip replacement followed by six weeks of physical therapy had him walking again by June. Then he and his new hip walked out the door.
They headed to Crowley Lake for a month of fishing. Upon his return, much to the dismay of the local Kokanee salmon, he put a fishing boat on Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake. I didn’t see him again until September. That’s when he made a point of coming home to find out what I got him for his birthday.
Which was a trip to the San Juan islands. Most assuredly a selfish gift. Although spending last winter x-country skiing with the dogs was an exercise of tranquility, spending the rest of the winter pickle-balling with my peer group, officially known as Cranky Old People, was the
ultimate challenge. At this age, the men are scrambling around the gym searching for their missing testosterone, while we women are oozing testosterone from every pore and sweat gland on our bearded faces.
So, squeezing in a trip before winter sounded great. At least until Hubby chose to forego comfort, warmth and convenience by deciding on a camping trip.
Now, I’m not saying I don’t like to camp. But the last camping trip I remember involved twelve mules and twelve equally stubborn women. It didn’t take long to discover that the mules were surprisingly cooperative and far more very useful. And they sang better around the campfire. It was an utterly remarkable vacation. Instead of searching for breweries, we completely stuffed our fridge with beer. Because I’ve been told by every unemployed beer fanboy super-glued to his bar stool, “Beer is food.” And who would argue with the experts?
We loaded our bikes onto a NASA engineered locking bike rack, which, keeping with local tradition, cost more than our camper. Then added a New York chain, two U-bolt locks, a combination lock, a deadlock and, if I’m not mistaken, a live stick
of dynamite. And we returned with a completely empty fridge and both of our bicycles still in our possession, thus bankrupting breweries and bike thieves across three states.
Now it’s late fall and my friend is asking, “Are you ready for winter?”
I ponder the question. Well . Christmas is coming with its “Eat Everything Except the Ornaments” policy. My skis are waxed and winking at me whenever I walk by. The snowboarder outfit I inherited from my son when he was twelve still fits me like a couture sleeping bag. And an impending snowstorm is promising to perform a tourist-ectomy on our town. That leaves the locals who stay no matter snow or shit storm. This one, for sure, is craving a Christmas colonic snow-cleanse for Tahoe. Along with celebrations of the season with friends, family and random snow-addicts who ski across my trail. And . . there’s that plane ticket in my back pocket . Yep. I’m ready. Merry mayhem and happy holidays to all of Tahoe's winter-hearty locals!
All that hopey, feely stuff
Life does not always go as planned or as voted.
So, what do we do about it? What in our lives is in our power to change? What do we as citizens and members of our community here in South Lake Tahoe have agency over? I’ve been thinking about the future for myself and for my family a lot since the election. Ultimately, what I’ve come to realize is that even though larger national issues and directions are not necessarily aligning with my particular social and political philosophy, there is a lot here in town that I care about and that I can have a positive impact on. It is possible to enact change, to represent the values and the goals that I care about, right here, right now in South Lake Tahoe.
Think globally. Act locally. I don’t see those bumper stickers around that much anymore, but the sentiment is exactly what I needed to recenter myself.
As we turn the page on 2024 and enter a more uncertain future, I’m going to pick up even more trash in my neighborhood, get more involved in local organizations, and focus more effort and certainly more attention on what is right in front of me. It’s time to start tuning out and turning off more of the national news noise and instead value my town, my friends, my community.
Here are the organizations that our family has been involved in locally and my opinion on their impact on our town and our lives:
1. Sierra Child and Family Services —11 years ago Wifey and I became foster parents and we remain involved today. Being a foster parent has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
2. Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (T.A.M.B.A.)—Our whole
family has been involved in TAMBA events and even some trail building for years. We love TAMBA. The whole organization is amazing and the new trails and prospective projects are incredible.
3. Tahoe Rim Trail Association (T.R.T.A.)—We’ve also done trail work on the Rim Trail with TRTA and believe in their mission. Their outreach and stewardship are incredible.
4. Tahoe Climbing Coalition (T.C.C.)—Since its founding, we’ve been participating in clean-ups at Eagle Lake trailhead, replacement of bad bolts, and community outreach with TCC. Their work saves lives and keeps Tahoe pristine.
5. Sierra Avalanche Center (S.A.C.)—We’ve attended events and fundraisers and I used to follow forecasters around the backcountry. TAMBA, TRTA, TCC, and SAC are great ways to be responsible stewards of the outdoors here in Tahoe. If you care about the natural beauty around you and how that natural beauty is used, roll up your sleeves and do something!
6. Tahoe Arts Project (T.A.P.) — Three years ago, I was lucky enough to be a “star” in the big fundraiser that TAP puts on, “Dancing with the Tahoe Stars,” and was able to raise almost 10K for their organization. Our kiddos have all enjoyed the fun assemblies and programs that TAP brings to the schools. When they ask you, say yes!
7. Tahoe Women’s Community Fund—Wifey has been a member of this community organization for the past few years and has really valued their approach to community interconnections and charitable giving.
8. Rotary Club—We had an
International Exchange Student stay with us years ago and I was a member for a while as well. Rotary is wonderful organization.
9. American Youth Soccer Organization (A.Y.S.O.)—Wifey coached a great team of girls a few years back and we’ve really enjoyed all the seasons of soccer for our kiddos. Be a coach. Why not?
10. High Sierra Softball—Last year was our first time being part of the High Sierra Softball organization and I have to say that they do an amazing job for kids here.
11. Blue Granite Climbing Gym while technically a business, they do so much community outreach and involvement that it’s worth including them in this list. Blue Granite has made our community stronger…. you know, like muscles, but in other ways too.
12. Boy Scout Troop 594—We’ve been involved in our local Boy Scout troop with varying levels of commitment for the past five years. I can’t say enough good things about the brilliant job they do of putting together amazing programs and activities for kids.
13. LTUSD Community Advisory Committee for Special Education and Special Olympics for Northern Nevada —There is an entire universe of awesome people creating inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities. Being involved in this world is just beautiful.
14. S.O.S. Outreach—We’ve been lucky enough to participate in this program over the past few years and really love the dedicated people that make it possible for local youth to get on the mountain, even those facing financial hardship.
16. Tahoe Fund—We’ve been tangentially involved in some of the gorgeous new murals around town and absolutely love that blank cinderblocks and T1-11 siding are turning into creative canvasses.
In addition to these organizations, there are so many other ways to be involved here in town: Live Violence Free, The League to Save Lake Tahoe, Animal Coalition of Tahoe, Bread and Broth at St. Theresa’s, Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless, Optimist Club, Friends of the Library, Soroptimist International, Sugar Pine Foundation, Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Tahoe Grizzlies, South Tahoe Futbol Club, and of course the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe. There’s also just volunteering at our schools; while our kiddos were at Bijou, it was a fantastic way to stay connected and help teachers and the community. My apologies for any omissions above as the organizations listed here are by no means comprehensive. If you’re like me and feeling a bit disillusioned and depressed over the direction that huge swaths of our national identity seem to be trending, I’d suggest doing something about it. I know I am. Think Globally. Act Locally. Be the change and all that “hopey feely” stuff they want us to abandon in despair. Resistance and positivity!
M.C. Behm is a full-time resident of South Lake Tahoe and author of “Once Upon a Quarantine” and “The Elixir of Yosemite.” Available locally and online. To learn more or respond to columns visit www. behmbooks.com or email mcbehmbooks@ gmail.com.
15. Tahoe Writers Works—This collection of writers is fantastic and I owe a lot to their enthusiasm and red pens.
Photo Provided
Triumph over despair.
Staying on the right track
Well, this is pretty wild, isn’t it? We are seeing ski resorts all across the country opening early this season, some having their earliest openings in decades; how exciting is that! Now we just have to keep that momentum going somehow as we know how this can work quite often. We get going gang busters—“big snow early, yahoo!” . Uhh, where did the storms go? Oh, don’t worry, ten days out we see something in the magical snow globe. Well, if you put your snow tires on, put the boat and motorcycle and bicycle away, the horse is down at lower pastures, the top is back on the Jeep . well, you blew it! You have jinxed us. Go undo all that stuff because we need to keep these surprise storms rolling
in and keep in that state of “Oh S*#t, we weren’t ready for that yet!”
Okay, sorry about that little rant (but you know I am right). So back to the early snow conditions. We went out a few days ago to take advantage of some of that beautiful fresh and reasonably deep snow. A little cross-country ski, nothing big, nothing steep, just a cruise to enjoy some nice-fresh-sparkling-coldsqueaky-under-the-skis kind of snow, nothing short of magical, and before Thanksgiving nonetheless! Oh and of course with doggie, her favorite thing to do.
We pick a spot that is not really a “trail head” or even a popu-
lar spot to start, just one we like, convenient, pretty, out of the way. First tracks out, perfect, set a cool little ski track out a couple miles, up and down, around and over. Yeah, I know it’s starting to sound a bit like Little Red Riding Hood; how cool would that be if we were headed to Grandmother’s house in the woods? And no worry because the big bad wolf has changed ways and is with us, having a fun time running around, sniffing and chasing sticks we throw.
Lunch at a nice spot; even the big bad wolf gets a snack, then the fun ski back on the trail we set. It’s always nice to get that little glide kickin’ back to where you started. We get part way, come around a corner and some snowshoers have walked to this point on our track! Okay, now to be fair, we are on national forest land and there are no actual rules about walking on ski tracks, though at ski touring centers such rules do exist. At a touring center they have spent time grooming
those ski tracks and skating lanes so the surface of the snow is in nice shape for their paying customers and walking or snowshoeing is against the rules; yep, more rules, but some touring centers will provide a trail for snowshoeing either to the side of the ski track or somewhere else.
It seems that what non skiers don’t understand is that skis have this enjoyable glide as they move forward, on the flats, uphill and of course downhill. That glide gets better when there is a track to move through and the more skis pass over it, the better it gets. Then someone comes along and walks in the tracks. This, of course, chunks them all up, taking away the glide we skiers covet so much.
So out of respect and etiquette, snowshoers, hikers and skiers or snowboarders that have to “boot” in should always move to one side of the ski track to make more of a hiking trail. Now to be sure, being respectful is not always possible, for instance when the trail is in terrain where there just isn’t enough room to spread out this way. A great example of this is at Carson Pass. At the beginning of the trail, the terrain is very steep as the summer trail traverses across the hillside. This is what the winter trail follows and there simply isn’t enough room to
spread out, so one trail is what we get and that is fine. We all pack it down and share and have a great time, but you will notice that most of the time as you get farther out where there is more room, the skiers will move out of the packed path and make a ski track . then someone moves over and walks on that! Dang it.
I do not want anybody to get the wrong impression here. I’m definitely not anti-snowshoe; some of my best friends are snowshoers . uh, okay, maybe not, but they are out there enjoying the woods and that’s all that counts. Oh, and I was very lucky to recently meet Nancy, a retired lady who loves snowshoeing by herself, so happy and so inspiring— girl, you can walk on my ski track any time you want.
So, there we are, all ready to have a nice cruise back in on the track we set, and these knuckleheads had to walk on our track all the way back to the car. There was plenty of room to walk on either side or 50 yards away from our track; maybe they thought they were going to get lost. I am kind of surprised they didn’t follow our tracks all the way to our lunch spot and sit down next to us to take a break. Oh well, maybe it will snow three feet soon and bury those tracks so we can start making tracks again. Let’s play
Election issues linger
Because voters resoundingly quashed Measure N, the South Lake Tahoe initiative that would have taxed owners of dwellings that were vacant more than half the year, it would not have mattered if out-of-thearea second homeowners who may have changed their voting address had voted here.
Measure N failed with 71.34 percent or 6,107 votes against compared to 28.66 percent or 2,454 voters who affirmed the measure.
Legally people are only allowed to vote in the community of their primary residence. That means second homeowners could be taxed without representation, as would have been the case with Measure N. But it’s also the case when it comes to school bonds and other ballot initiatives.
The catch is that it’s a crime to vote where you don’t live.
“As far as any possible charges, I can’t release anything as far as that goes,” Investigator Simon Brown with the El
Dorado County District Attorney’s Office said. His office declined to press charges after the August 2010 Fallen Leaf Lake
board election when it found improprieties.
This election cycle, the DA’s Office sent 161 letters to individuals questioning their decision to register in the city. Brown said he spoke to about half of those people.
El Dorado County Department of Elections also sent letters to people who it suspected of changing registrations solely to vote on Measure N.
Bill O'Neill, registrar of voters, said ultimately about 250 changed their registrations back to their original address.
Another 31 stuck with South Lake Tahoe, which he said his office and the DA found to be legitimate.
“We were seeing people changing their registration from their previous outof-county address to South Lake Tahoe, but using their (other) address as their mailing address,” O’Neill said as to what caused a red flag.
Overall, he said this election went off without a hitch. O’Neill said turnout in the county was at about 83.5 percent, which is
slightly higher than the 82 percent in 2020. As for the two voter intimidation cases reported in October to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, detectives could not determine who may have taped letters to “No on N” yard signs threatening that residents would be committing voter fraud if they voted in the city. The letters contained detailed information about the properties and the property owners. If new evidence comes to light, the culprit could face felony charges.
Police Chief Dave Stevenson says this type of activity in South Lake Tahoe had been unheard of until this election cycle.
“The typical stuff we deal with locally every election is signs are in the wrong place or someone is messing with signs,” Stevenson said.
Photo Gary Bell Be sure to watch where you're going.
Have a wicked Christmas at the movies
As we have entered December it is time for the release of all the holiday movies. From November through December the studios plan some of their biggest releases, as the holidays provide the biggest market outside of summer. The released films tend to be focused on the broadest audience, i.e. everyone, and the stories tend to be more upbeat or at least with an upbeat ending. Some films are specifically about the holidays like Tim Allen’s Santa Clause franchise or Tim Burton’s
The Nightmare Before Christmas, going all the way back to Miracle on 34th Street And some are not about the holidays like Star Wars: The Last Jedi or The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. But either way, it has been a big market for films since the ‘50s.
This month, I thought I’d do a couple of our early holiday films, one about the holidays and one not. The first is an early Christmas release titled Red One
This is an interesting film because it has an unusual status in that the critics have mostly hated it (34 percent tomatometer) but most audiences have loved it (90 percent tomatometer). The film gives us Santa Claus, played by a buff J.K. Simmons whose Securi-
ty code name is “Red One,” kidnapped from his North Pole residence, and the North Pole's head of security, Dwayne Johnson, who must find him before zero hour on Christmas Eve. Johnson is forced to team up with a gambling-addicted, self-centered bounty hunter in the form of Chris Evans, who happens to be an expert in finding people as the pair embark on a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.
The critics hated this film because there’s no chemistry between the stars, the story is hohum, it sacrifices Christmas magic for CGI mayhem and is lacking heart. In some ways, one could agree with this, but audiences love it because it’s a lot of fun, with good action, they love watching the Rock and Chris Evans play off each other, and the film’s message about people needing to be more kind to each other resonated with viewers.
I’m gonna land on the side of the audience with this one and I think you just need to have the right mindset to see the film. Basically, Red One is a Marvel Christmas film. I mean you have humans and supernatural beings battling for the heart of Christmas with big CGI battles, lots of great set piec-
es filled with good and bad monsters, high tech gadgets and banter with good guys who must save the world, or at least Christmas. And you have Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans for Christmas’s sake, which should be a clue. Dwayne is not a stranger to this kind of comedy action film, and his character is exactly what we would expect. Evans is especially having fun as the opposite of Captain America and is adept at delivering comic lines with deadpan perfection. So overall, if you can put aside your general thoughts of what a Christmas movie should be, and just be open to a fun, kidlike adventure, then you will not be disappointed.
The second major holiday release is promising to be one of the biggest films of the year as well as the biggest opening for a musical adaptation, and that would be Wicked The film is based on the hugely popular 2003 Broadway musical, which was based on the 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The film follows the musical storyline but with an extended plot and two new songs.
We start at the end of the story we’re used to, with the celebration of the death of the Wicked
Witch of the West in Munchkinland. Glinda the Good appears and when asked, relates the backstory of Elphaba, who will eventually become the Wicked Witch of the West. We then flashback to the difficulties of her birth. Since her mother had an illicit affair, causing Elphaba to be born completely green (for no explained reason), her father basically disowns her. Though smart and with a good heart, she is always on the outside. Years later, as she travels with her sister to Shiz University where her sister has just been accepted, the headmistress notices Elphaba’s raw talent for magic and she enrolls as well. She will then meet spoiled, self-centered Glinda (who is still called Ga-linda at that point). They have an immediate dislike for each other and of course will end up having to room together. A good chunk of the film is spent at the University where Elphaba and Glinda preside over what is basically Hogwarts meets 90210. After a few scenes and songs, they go from hated roommates to best friends.
Eventually Elphaba’s ability to use magic is noticed by the Wizard of Oz and off they go to the Emerald City. But things in the Emerald City as well as the
Wizard himself are not as they seemed, and the friendship between the two will be strained to the breaking point. The film is one giant world of cool set pieces and well blended CGI; the whole look is rather fantasy steampunk with a healthy dose of art deco thrown in. And in this fabulous landscape are large groups of dancers, be they Munchkins, university students or Emerald City residents, strewn about the sets for the big musical numbers, performing very cool choreography as Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda very effectively belt out Steven Schwartz’s moving songs. Besides having a phenomenal voice, Grande, a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum singer-songwriter, is perfect as the self-absorbed Glinda with a fabulous flair for comedy.
So, is the film worth the hype? Yeah, pretty much. It does drag a little in a couple places, but basically hits on all cylinders. Teresa and I saw it in a great theatre and she really loved it. Plus remember, this is only the first of two movies, so this story is only half over, and the fireworks are just beginning. Look for the second half next year.
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Photo Universal
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in Wicked, an offshoot of the Wizard of Oz.
Photo Provided
Photographer Ian Ruhter (Made in Tahoe, page 19) makes his own chemical film from scratch.
Michelle Jessica Jessie
Mika Dailey is a devoted mother, outdoor adventurer and passionate real estate enthusiast.
