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Volume 39 | Issue 16
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P.O. Box 154 | Tahoe Vista, CA 96145 (530) 546-5995 | f (530) 546-8113 TheTahoeWeekly.com Facebook.com/TheTahoeWeekly @TheTahoeWeekly
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TAHOE’S TOURISM TIPPING POINT FROM THE PUBLISHER
SUBMISSIONS Events & Entertainment Submit at TheTahoeWeekly.com Click on Events Calendar Editorial Inquiries editor@tahoethisweek.com Entertainment Inquiries entertainment@tahoethisweek.com Cover Photography production@tahoethisweek.com
making it happen Publisher & Editor In Chief Katherine E. Hill publisher@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 102 Sales & Marketing Manager Anne Artoux anne@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 110 Art Director Alyssa Ganong production@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 106 Graphic Designer Justeen Ferguson graphics@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 101 Entertainment Editor Sean McAlindin entertainment@tahoethisweek.com Food Editor Priya Hutner priya@tahoethisweek.com Family Editor Michelle Allen michelle@tahoethisweek.com Copy Editor Katrina Veit Contributing Writers John Dee, Barbara Keck, Bruce Ajari, Mark McLaughlin, David “Smitty” Smith, Priya Hutner, Katrina Veit, Kayla Anderson, Lou Phillips, Sean McAlindin, Tim Hauserman, Alex Green, Lisa Michelle, Cam Schilling, Alex Silgalis
TAHOE WEEKLY is published weekly throughout the summer and biweekly the rest of the year, with occassional extra issues at holiday times by Range of Light Media Group, Inc. Look for new issues on Wednesdays. Subscribe to the free digital edition at issuu.com/ TheTahoeWeekly. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com. TAHOE WEEKLY, est. 1982, ©2007. Reproduction in whole or in part without publisher’s express permission is prohibited. Contributions welcome via e-mail. The Weekly is not responsible for unsolicited submissions. Member: North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, North Tahoe Business Association, Incline Community Business Association, Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce, Tahoe City Downtown Association, Truckee Downtown Merchants Association, Tahoe South Chamber of Commerce and Alpine County Chamber of Commerce. Printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks. Please recycle your copy.
Courtesy Tahoe in Balance
August 26-September 1, 2020
in this issue
AUG. 26-SEPT. 1, 2020 FEATURES Twin Lakes 6 Tahoe’s Tourism Tipping Point 9 Bombing of Harvey’s, Part II 13
Beaches and parks are crowded, town centers are packed with people, even hiking and biking trails are busy with users, and many locals, myself included, feel like they can’t enjoy their own backyards. There has always been a delicate balance in the Tahoe Sierra between tourism and community, but we’ve lost that balance in the last few months.
GET OUTSIDE Lake Tahoe Facts 4 Sightseeing 5 Summer Fun 7 Events 8
Our communities can’t meet the demand of our visitors. Our facilities are overburdened. We don’t have enough trash cans or trash services or enough toilets to meet demand. We were all unprepared for the influx of visitors this summer, or for the resulting trash, traffic, graffiti and noise.
THE MAKERS Wired Within The Arts
12 12
FUN & GAMES Horoscope & Crossword
14
THE LINEUP Ava Swanson Live
15 15
EAT & DRINK Frozen Summer Desserts Tasty Tidbits South African Wines Honey Ginger Glazed Ribs
16 16 17 18
But these are visible, unsanitary and disgusting symptoms of a much larger problem – our communities are being overtaxed by too many people. Our recreation facilities have not kept up with the demand by visitors, and this isn’t a new problem. Locals have been complaining about this for years in public meetings and on social media. But, with more people trying to escape the pandemic pandemonium they are experiencing at home by coming to Tahoe, our community has reached a breaking point. Trash is piled up on the beaches, toilet paper and human waste are left in front yards, dirty diapers are tossed in the bushes along the Truckee River, cars are parked illegally on roadways and in some cases on town sidewalks, there are late-night parties in nearly every neighborhood, crowds of people are gathering in rental houses in violation of state orders and common sense, graffiti seems to be popping up everywhere, and there’s a total lack of respect for Tahoe. A lack of common decency. I made a choice to live in Tahoe for the same reasons that visitors want to escape to Tahoe – the fresh air (when it’s not smokey), the quiet of the evening on Lake Tahoe, the star-filled sky at night, the alpenglow at sunset, the thousands of trails to explore, the breathtaking beaches, the allure of Big Blue. I understand that visitors need that in their lives now more than ever. And, we are all willing to share our homes with each of them. But, only if they pack out their garbage, use public restrooms (even if it means you need to leave the beach), pick up your dog’s waste and take it home with you if you need to, don’t build a fire for any reason anywhere, stop tagging rocks and rail tunnels, stay 6 feet away from everyone on the beach (even if you need to skip the beach that day) and wear a mask. Please be safe, be kind and pack out your trash (even if that means putting it in the car and taking it with you). To local officials, it’s time to take responsibility and take action right now. You serve the people of our counties and cities, not visitors. Do whatever it takes to address these issues immediately. It’s easy to reallocate funds and direct them right now to more trash cans, more trash service and to pay people to clean our beaches, our parks, our trails and our towns every single day. And, I mean the counties and cities not only covering the cost for their parks and beaches but also to cover every piece of public land in our communities. Put dumpsters, not trash cans, and portable toilets at every beach until the numbers of visitors subside. Then, figure out right now how to put more permanent public restrooms at our beaches and in our town centers and then build them. The consequences are dire – wildfires, declining clarity in Lake Tahoe, wildlife suffering and communities outraged. In the end, it’s about tourism itself. If we don’t clean up Tahoe and protect it, the visitors will stop coming one day and that would be the worst consequence of all. To do our part to help educate visitors and the community, Tahoe Weekly will be examining the underlying causes, as well as the impacts on our recreation facilities and our health and safety, in a series over the next month. In the first part, Priya Hutner looks at the root cause of these issues – too many people at once in an overtaxed community. She’ll cover litter and other related issues in upcoming editions and at TheTahoeWeekly.com. n
on the cover “I call this image I shot of my son Nate ‘Tahoe Joy,’” says photographer Paul Hamill of this shot with Lake Tahoe in the background. “I think we could all use some Tahoe Joy right about now.” | PaulHamillPhotography.com, @PaulHamillPhotos
bears & wildlife BEAR EMERGENCIES BEAR League (530) 525-7297 (24 hours) | savebears.org A bear walking nearby or through your yard is not an emergency unless it is trying to enter your home or car. INJURED ANIMALS Lake Tahoe Wildlife Center, South Shore (530) 577-2273 | ltwc.org The Wildlife Shelter, North Shore (866) 307-4216
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lake tahoe facts |
Read about how the lake was formed, Lake Tahoe’s discovery, lake clarity and more at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on Explore Tahoe. GRAY ’S CROSSING
COYOTE MOON
TAHOE DONNER
BOCA RESERVOIR STAMPEDE RESERVOIR
ho Ta
N
GRAEAGLE MEADOWS WHITEHAWK RANCH
Tahoe City
LAKE FOREST
Dollar Hill
TAHOE CITY MARINA
Ta h o e R i m
GOLF COURSES
SUNNYSIDE
CASINOS
HOMEWOOD
Spooner Lake
Glenbrook
Homewood
East Shore
OBEXER’S
e Ri m Tr a i l
Meeks Bay
Only Outlet: Truckee River (Tahoe City)
Cave Rock
Watershed Area: 312 square miles
Emerald Bay
Average Surface Water Temperature: 51.9˚F
Eagle Lake
Average Surface Temperature in July: 64.9˚F
Zephyr Cove South Lake Tahoe
Highest Peak: Freel Peak at 10,881 feet
Ta h oe
R i m Tr ail
TAHOE KEYS
Fallen Leaf Lake
Number of Visitors: 15 million annually
Meyers
Serving Truckee & Tahoe areas for over 40 years! 530-525-7704 | CutRiteTreeAndSpray.com
LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT
FREEL PEAK
Hope Valley Markleeville
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Why is the lake blue? The Lake of the Sky appears blue in color as other colors in the light spectrum are absorbed and the blue light is scattered back.
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Lake Tahoe has a surface area of 191 square miles. If Lake Tahoe were emptied, it would submerge California under 15 inches of water.
TAHOE PARADISE LAKE TAHOE
Kirkwood
Lake Tahoe is as long as the English Channel is wide.
Shoreline: 72 miles
BIJOU
Echo Lakes
at TheTahoeWeekly.com
The tree pest expert in the area CARPENTER ANT & BARK BEETLE CONTROL SPECIALIST Complete Pest Control Service — Inside & Out
LAKESIDE
South Shore
Learn about the natural history of the Tahoe Sierra
CUT-RITE TREE & SPRAY
Stateline
SKI RUN
CAMP RICHARDSON
Average Snowfall: 409 inches
Size: 22 miles long, 12 miles wide
Fannette Island
Cascade Lake
Natural rim: 6,223’
EDGEWOOD TAHOE
CAVE ROCK
Average Water Temperature: 42.1˚F
There is enough water in Lake Tahoe to supply everyone in the United States with more than 75 gallons of water per day for 5 years.
Lake Tahoe sits at an average elevation of between 6,223’ and 6,229.1’. The top 6.1’ of water is controlled by the dam in Tahoe City and holds up to 744,600 acre feet of water.
CA
MEEKS BAY
Fed By: 63 streams and 2 hot springs
Permanent Population: 66,000
Carson City
Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the U.S. (Crater Lake in Oregon, at 1,932 feet, is the deepest), and the 11th deepest in the world.
Volume: 39 trillion gallons
Tahoma Age of Lake Tahoe: 2 million years
Maximum depth: 1,645 feet
NV
TAHOE VISTA REC AREA
o Ta h
West Shore
SAND HARBOR
Tahoe
Eagle Rock
Average depth: 1,000 feet Marlette Lake
Lake
Sunnyside l
DEEPEST POINT
NORTH TAHOE
TAHOE CITY
Lake Clarity: 2019: 62.7 feet avg. depth. 1968: First recorded at 102.4 feet
INCLINE VILLAGE CHAMPIONSHIP
Crystal Bay
COON ST. BOAT LAUNCH
SIERRA BOAT CO.
Alpine Meadows
ai Tr
Incline Village
Kings Beach
Carnelian Bay
RESORT AT SQUAW CREEK
BOAT RAMPS
INCLINE VILLAGE MOUNTAIN
Tahoe Vista
Olympic Valley MARINAS
North Shore
OLD BROCKWAY
NAKOMA FEATHER RIVER PARK
eR
NORTHSTAR
Truckee River
WEST EAST SOUTH
GRIZZLY RANCH
Lake Tahoe is located in the states of California and Nevada, with two-thirds in California.
i m Tr a
il
SCHAFFER’S MILL
PLUMAS PINES
RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
PROSSER RESERVOIR
PONDEROSA
DONNER LAKE
The Lost Sierra
Reno & Sparks
TRUCKEE AIRPORT
Donner Lake Donner Summit
OLD GREENWOOD
Truckee
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LAKE LEVEL Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’
ReadingsAugust taken on26-September Friday, August 21, 1, 2020 2020 ELEVATION :
RESERVOIR CAPACITY
6,227.12 |
IN 2019:
C PACITY CITY:: 40 CIT 0,870 0 BOCA 12,362 CAPA
Explore Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe
(530) 542-2908 | cityofslt.us Urban Trailhead at base of Heavenly Gondola with local exhibits and programs. South Tahoe
Fannette Island
Emerald Bay
(530) 541-3030 | parks.ca.gov Lake Tahoe’s only island is located in Emerald Bay & is home to an old tea house. Boat access only. (Closed Feb. 1-June 15 for nesting birds.) TART/South Tahoe
Heavenly
West Shore
Tallac Historic Site
South Lake Tahoe
(530) 541-5227 | tahoeheritage.org Once known as the “Grandest Resort in the World” as the summer retreat for three San Francisco elite families with the Baldwin Estate, Pope Estate & Valhalla. Grounds open yearround. South Tahoe South Lake Tahoe
Truckee
North Shore
northtahoebusiness.org Kings Beach is a popular spot for dining and shopping with the North Shore’s largest sandy beach located in the heart of town. Free parking at North Tahoe Beach, Brook Street, Minnow and the Christmas Tree lot on Hwy. 28. TART
North Lake Tahoe Demonstration Garden
Incline Village
Summer | Free (775) 586-1610, ext. 25 | demogarden.org Demonstrations of lake-friendly landscaping using native and adaptive plants, water conservation, soil stabilization techniques, defensible space from wildfires & BMPs. Self-guided tours & clinics. TART
North Tahoe Arts Center
Tahoe City
(530) 581-2787 | northtahoearts.com Featuring exhibits of work by local artists and works for sale by local artists. TART
Tahoe Art League Gallery
South Lake Tahoe
(530) 544-2313 | talart.org Featuring local artists, workshops. South Tahoe
truckeehistory.org | truckee.com Settled in 1863, Truckee grew quickly as a stagecoach stop and route for the Central Pacific Railroad. During these early days, many historical homes and buildings were built including The Truckee Hotel (1868) and the Capitol Building (1868). Stop by the Depot for a walking tour of historic downtown. Paid parking downtown. TART
Vikingsholm Castle
Emerald Bay
6,228.66
225
200,000 AF
175
100,000 AF
75
50
TROA.NET
Measured in Acre Feet (AF)
Tahoe Science Ctr OPENING TBD
Truckee
Gatekeeper’s Museum
Tahoe City
Truckee River | FLOW AT FARAD 552 (530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org Featuring historic photos, the Steinbach Indian Basket Museum and historical memorabilia. TART
KidZone Children’s OPENING TBD Museum
Incline Village
Tues.-Fri. & by appt. | Free (775) 881-7566 | tahoesciencecenter.org University of California, Davis, science education center at Sierra Nevada College. Exhibits include a virtual research boat, biology lab, 3D movies and docent-led tours. Ages 8+. TART 225
25
150,000 AF
Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS)
2 PROSSER 11,061 CAPACITY: 29,840 (530) 582-7892 | parks.ca.gov CAPACITY: C 9,500 5 features exhibits DONNER 4,690 The Emigrant Trail Museum and artifacts on the Donner Party (1846-47) at 8 INDEPENDENCE 1,3763 CCAPACITY: 18,300 Donner Memorial State Park. See the towering Pioneer Monument. A TART 20,400 40 MARTIS 1,052 CAPACITY:
Truckee Railroad Museum OPENING TBD
Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS)
TROA.NET
Truckee
Sat.-Sun. & holidays truckeedonnerrailroadsociety.com Learn about the historic railroad. Located in a caboose next to the Truckee Depot. TART
Truckee
Tues.-Sun. | Locals’ first Tues. half price (530) 587-5437 | kidzonemuseum.org Interactive exhibits, science & art classes for kids up to age 7. BabyZone & Jungle Gym. TART
Find more places to explore
Lake Tahoe Museum
VISITORS’ CENTERS
South Lake Tahoe
Museum of Truckee History
East Shore
IN 2019:
CAPACITY: C 226,500
Emigrant Trail Museum
Thunderbird Lodge CLOSED
High Camp OPENING TBD
Kings Beach
552
(530) 541-5458 | laketahoemuseum.org Features Washoe artifacts and exhibits on early industry and settlers. South Tahoe
Parking fee | parks.ca.gov (530) 525-7232 Park | (530) 583-9911 Tours Sugar Pine Point State Park is home to the historic Ehrman Mansion (summer tours), see boathouses with historic boats and General Phipps Cabin built in the late 1800s. TART
(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com Aerial tram rides with views of Lake Tahoe, Olympic Heritage Museum, events and more. Ticket required. TART
STAMPEDE 19,9661
FLOW AT FARAD
(530) 543-2674 | fs.usda.gov Features Stream Profile Chamber to view slice of Taylor Creek, nature trails & more. South Tahoe
May-October | thunderbirdtahoe.org The former Whittell estate. This magnificent lakefront home features the Lighthouse Room, Old Lodge, 600’ underground tunnel (with a former lion cage) and Boat House, home to the “Thunderbird,” a 1939 wooden boat. Ages 6+ only. No on-site parking. Tours by reservation only.
Olympic Valley
|
6,227.12 |
200,000 AF
North Shore
Summer | (530) 583-3279 | terc.ucdavis.edu This 1920s-era building features a history of the field station, current UC Davis research projects, interactive exhibits and demonstration garden. Ages 8+. TART
Taylor Creek Visitor Center South Lake Tahoe
(775) 586-7000 | skiheavenly.com Enjoy a 2.4-mile ride on the gondola to the top with panoramic views. Ticket required. South Tahoe
Hellman-Ehrman Mansion
Tahoe City Field Station
Truckee River C PACITY CAPA CITY:: 40 CIT 0,870 0 BOCA 12,362
ELEVATION :
175
Eagle Rock, one of the lake’s famous natural sites, is a volcanic plug beside Highway 89 on the West Shore. Trail to top is on the south side. TART
RESERVOIR CAPACITY
Readings taken on Friday, August 21, 2020
150,000 AF
West Shore
visittahoecity.com Popular for shopping and dining with historical sites. At the junction of hwys 89 & 28, visitors may see the Tahoe City Dam, Lake Tahoe’s only outlet, and Fanny Bridge. Peer into Watson Cabin (1909) for a glimpse at pioneer life. Free parking at Commons Beach, Grove St., Jackpine St. and 64 acres at Hwys 89 & 28. TART
CAPACITY: 18,300 C 8
125
Eagle Rock
North Shore
50
Drive through one of the area’s natural wonders at Cave Rock, the neck of an old volcano. The area is named for the small caves above Highway 50 that were cut by waves when Lake Tahoe was 200 feet higher during the ice ages.
Tahoe City
A view from Donner Peak with the Loyalton fire in the distance. Please remember to practice fire safety in the Tahoe Sierra. | Alyssa Ganong
LAKE LEVEL A 20,400 40 MARTIS 1,052 CAPACITY: Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’
25
East Shore
CAPACITY: 9,500 C 5
INDEPENDENCE 1,3763
Check schedules & openings before visiting.
Cave Rock
CAPACITY: 29,840 2
125
DONNER 4,690
CAPACITY: C 226,500
100,000 AF
ATTRACTIONS
PROSSER 11,061
Measured in Acre Feet (AF)
75
SIGHTSEEING
STAMPEDE 19,9661
6,228.66
Truckee
Thurs.-Mon. | (530) 582-0893 | truckeehistory.org Housed in the original Depot, built in 1901. Exhibits cover different eras in Truckee history. TART
Old Jail Museum
Truckee
at TheTahoeWeekly.com
Kings Beach Kings Beach State Rec. Area (Thurs.-Mon., July-Aug.)
Incline Village 969 Tahoe Blvd. (800) 468-2463 Stateline 169 Hwy. 50 (775) 588-4591 Tahoe City 100 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 581-6900 Truckee 10065 Donner Pass Rd. (Depot) (530) 587-8808 U.S. Forest Service | Incline Village
Open by appt. | (530) 659-2378 | truckeehistory.org One of a few surviving 19th Century jailhouses used from 1875 until May 1964 (summer tours). TART
855 Alder Ave. (775) 831-0914 (Wed.-Fri.)
Olympic Museum OPENING TBD
U.S. Forest Service | Tahoe City
Olympic Valley
(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com Squaw Valley, host of the VIII Winter Olympic Games in 1960, celebrates its Olympic History with the Tower of Nations with its Olympic Flame and the symbolic Tower of the Valley at the entrance to the valley. The Olympic Museum at High Camp features historic memorabilia and photographs. TART
U.S. Forest Service | South Lake Tahoe 35 College Dr. (530) 543-2600
3080 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 583-3593 (Fridays)
U.S. Forest Service | Truckee 10811 Stockrest Springs Rd. (530) 587-3558
TRANSIT North Tahoe & Truckee (TART) | laketahoetransit.com South Tahoe | tahoetransportation.org
Parking fee | (530) 541-3030 | (530) 525-9529 ADA parks.ca.gov or vikingsholm.com Tour the grounds of Vikingsholm Castle (summer), see Eagle Falls and Fannette Island (the Lake’s only island), home to an old Tea House. TART/South Tahoe
Watson Cabin
Tahoe City
(530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org Watson Cabin, built by Robert Watson and his son in 1909, is the oldest building in Tahoe City and on the National Register of Historic Places. (summer tours). TART
MUSEUMS Donner Summit Historical Society
Soda Springs
donnersummithistoricalsociety.org At the corner of Old Hwy 40 & Soda Springs Rd. 20-mile interpretive driving tour along Old 40. TART
Boots McFarland by Geolyn Carvin | BootsMcFarland.com 5
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Twin Lakes
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Peregrine Falcons are Doing Better
MESMERIZING VIEWS ALONG TRAIL B ET T E R T H A N D E S T I N AT I O N S TO RY & P H OTO S BY K AT H RY N R E E D
T
Courtesy TINS
he trek to Twin Lakes in Spooner Backcountry on the East Shore of Lake Tahoe is one where the journey is more beautiful than the destination. It’s is a rarity when an alpine lake doesn’t capture all the oohs and ahhs. Twin Lakes is just off the Tahoe Rim Trail near a junction that is popular with hikers and mountain bikers. With how low the water level was on my visit it would be possible to not even notice the lake. The expanse of dirt and grass had the dry lake bed being a larger mass than where the water was. From our vantage point we only saw one of the lakes.
Lake Tahoe organizations working to harmonize wildlife protection and responsible recreation reported a successful effort to protect fledgling peregrine falcons while still allowing access to popular hiking and climbing routes near the birds’ nesting sites. For the second year in a row, young peregrine falcons successfully left their nest at Castle Rock, it was announced in a press release.
One guy the four of us passed said in 30 years of hiking the area he had never seen water in the lakes. “I think the issue of wet some years and dry for other years is due to a relatively small watershed,” says Jay Howard, former park supervisor for Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. “They are also small bodies of water that are greatly subject to evaporation. When evaporation exceeds the amount of water coming in from snowmelt, a pretty fast drawdown can occur. I don’t know for sure but I don’t believe those lakes have any groundwater or springs entering from below. Over the years that I’ve noticed, the fact that they have water has seemed to be tied to snowpack — heavy or at least average snowpack years, they have water — dry or below average snowpack years, they tend to have so little water that they dry very quickly. And yes, they are unusual due to their high location.”
THE TRAIL Dogs on lease OK.
9 miles roundtrip | Moderate Elevation gain | 1,689 feet
These lakes, such as they are, are at almost 8,000 feet. One guy the four of us passed said in 30 years of hiking the area he had never seen water in the lakes. A field of granite boulders seemed to be sprouting from either side of the lake. They were round, not jagged and rough like so many in the Sierra. This must be from being under water at times. 6
The sign near the start of the trailhead in Incline Village says Twin Lakes is 3.8 miles. Three of us recorded a round trip of 9 miles from the base of the road. The parks department might want to redo its signs with the correct mileage. Better signage where the road meets the Tahoe Rim Trail would be appreciated, as well. Twin Lakes is not on any of the signs up there. Had we gone left, we would have been headed toward the Mount Rose/ Tahoe Meadows trailhead of the TRT, while going straight would have had us going downhill on the Red House Flume Trail toward Hobart Reservoir. We took a right toward Spooner Summit, which was less than 1 mile to the lakes. Most of our route was Tunnel Creek Road, which to cyclists is better known as the Flume Trail. While we were going up, most on two wheels were coming down. This is an old dirt road, so it’s wide enough for various recreation users and good for social distancing. Still, it was up the entire way and at times seemed a bit steep, especially for the two who had been living at sea level until a week before the hike. That steepness, though, didn’t present a problem coming down. A couple spots along the route Tunnel Creek could be heard and seen. This would be a welcome relief for four-legged hikers, especially with much of the trail being exposed and not shaded. The openness was perfect for picture taking — water and mountains. Lake Tahoe in several locations
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Lake Tahoe is prominent along much of the lower section of the trail; An aspen grove along the trail, which mostly an old logging road, will be even more colorful in the fall; Not much water in Twin Lakes along the Tahoe Rim Trail on the East Shore.
was breathtaking with its grandeur. The curvy shoreline offered a definition not often seen from Tahoe trails with some shallow areas mesmerizing because of the emerald hue. Much history is stored in this section of the Sierra. A set of flumes were designed to take water from the area, through the Washoe Valley on the other side of the mountain, to Virginia City, Nev., where it was used in the silver mines in the late 1800s. A tunnel on the Tahoe side was used to transport water and lumber in a V-shaped flume. That wood was needed to build the mine shafts. A few informational signs are posted near the start of the trail. One reads, “The Marlette Lake water system was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and was listed as a Historical District in 1992. The system has been upgraded and is still used today to supply Virginia [City] and Carson City with water.” Today, the water system is owned by the state of Nevada. The trail begins at Tunnel Creek in Incline Village. Park at the East Shore Trail Parking Lot and walk up Tunnel Creek Road. There is a $2 fee per person to enter Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. It’s an honor system; do the right thing and support the local parks. Dogs on lease OK.
The success of the nest is being attributed to a collaboration between Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Nevada Department of Wildlife, California Tahoe Conservancy, Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, Sierra Ecotone Solutions, Tahoe Climbing Coalition and Tahoe Rim Trail Association to educate climbers and hikers about their impact. Peregrine falcons have been monitored as a special interest species dating back to 2009. Over the years of monitoring, falcon populations increased and expanded to new areas of the Tahoe Basin such as Castle Rock, also a popular location for rock climbers and hikers. The partners worked together to educate climbers and hikers, temporary trail closures, posted signs when the birds were nesting and monitoring the nests. “Lifting the closure once it’s no longer needed each year gains the confidence of the hikers and climbers using the area, building trust that these voluntary closures are not arbitrary, which in turn leads to better compliance and better outcomes for the birds,” said Will Richardson, executive director of Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, in the release. “This was the first year they raised triplets.”
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PUBLIC POOLS
OLYMPIC VALLEY
INCLINE VILLAGE
High-tech treasure hunt on mountain using GPS to find 10 caches. Free with Aerial Tram ticket; GPS rentals available. Opening TBD. TART
25-yard, 8-lane indoor pool at Incline Recreation Center, swim lessons, aqua fitness, 1-meter spring diving board, inflatable slide (weekends). Daily rates & memberships available.
CRUISES
OLYMPIC VALLEY
“SIERRA CLOUD”
Catamaran cruises. Daily cruises, parasailing and rentals.
Swimming Lagoon & Spa at High Camp at Squaw Valley, free form lagoon with 50-meter lap lanes, two islands with waterfalls and native boulders. Opening TBD. TART
“TAHOE GAL”
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
Daily cruises.
25-yard indoor/outdoor year-round pool. Lessons. Opening TBD. BlueGo
DISC GOLF
TRUCKEE
DONNER SKI RANCH
25-yard indoor pool with 6 lanes, 1-meter spring diving board, swim training, hydraulic lift at Tahoe-Truckee High School. Opening TBD. TART
(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com
(775) 831-4386 | awsincline.com
(800) 218-2464 | tahoegal.com
(530) 426-3635 | old40barandgrill.com 18-hole course. Free to play; must register at restaurant. Practice basket.
(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com
(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com
(530) 542-6056 | citiofslt.com
(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com
INCLINE VILLAGE
ROCK CLIMBING WALLS
18-hole course at Incline Park at 980 Incline Way. Free. Daily dawn-dusk. TART
TRUCKEE
(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com
KIRKWOOD
(209) 258-7277 | kirkwood.com Experience disc golf at 7,800 feet with the notorious DiscWood disc golf course. The 18-hole course weaves through the trees and over mountainous terrain. Free. Scorecards and maps may be picked up at the General Store.
MARKLEEVILLE
(530) 694-2140 | alpinecounty.ca.gov Located at Turtle Rock Park Campground.
OLYMPIC VALLEY
(530) 583-6985 | squawalpine.com 18-hole course at Squaw Valley’s High Camp. Disc rentals. TART
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE A mostly flat and moderately wooded course is located at Bijou Community Park featuring 27 holes covering 8,324 feet. The course features mixed tees with varied fairways with slight elevation changes. On Al Tahoe Boulevard off Highway 50. BlueGo
Must mention ad at booking & present upon arrival.
TAHOE CITY
Shop at 521 North Lake Blvd. Rentals on the water at Commons Beach SAND HARBOR STATE PARK
Rentals next to the boat ramp
Reservations 530.581.4336 | TahoeCityKayak.com & SandHarborRentals.com
INCLINE VILLAGE
(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com Intermediate/advanced area with two, 5-foot tall bowls with a spine, 3-foot box and 2.5 foot bowl for beginners. Street course on top, with 8-foot flat rail, 6-foot down rail, four stairs and a 10-foot downward ramp. Corner Hwy. 28 & Southwood. Daily dawn-dusk. TART
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE Bijou Community Park features a skateboard park on Al Tahoe Boulevard off Highway 50. BlueGo
TRUCKEE
(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com
WOODWARD TAHOE
18-hole course at Truckee River Regional Park, off Brockway Road. Dogs must be on leash. Free. Daily dawn-dusk. TART
Rentals & Tours
SKATE PARKS
18-hole course at North Tahoe Regional Park, off National Avenue. Parking $5. Daily dawn-dusk. TART
(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com
$5 OFF
Community Recreation Center offers 29’ climbing wall & 12’ bouldering wall. All ages & levels. Lessons available. Opening TBD. TART
(530) 546-4212 | northtahoeparks.com
TRUCKEE
NIGHTLY SUNSET KAYAK TOURS
(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com
Truckee River Regional Park with several bowls with a spine and channel, a long rail and ledges. Knee and elbow pads and helmets required. Free. Daily dawn10 p.m. TART
TAHOE VISTA
RENTALS | TOURS | LESSONS | SALES | DELIVERY
(530) 426-1114 | rideboreal.com Featuring two skateparks – The Sierra Skatepark and the Eastern Sierra Skatepark. Plus, indoor skate park inside The Bunker.
TRUCKEE
(530) 550-2225 18 holes at Sierra College Campus. Free. Daily dawndusk. TART
ZEPHYR COVE The Zephyr Cove course is 18 holes covering 5,256 feet with holes of varying lengths. On Warrior Way. BlueGo
Call (530) 546-5995, ext. 110, to be listed in Summer Fun. 7
TheTahoeWeekly.com
eve nts Hike for Parks
Fur Ball 2020
Sierra State Parks Foundation Truckee | Aug. 26-Sept. 2
Pet Network Humane Society | Incline Village | Aug. 29
Help reach a goal of 1,500 collective miles spread over at least 150 hikers. The $35 participation fee will go toward funding local state parks. $35 | facebook.com
Skate the Lake Virtually
Photo Credit | Skate Photographer? Courtesy The Lake
Sierra Summer Challenge
Boarding for Breast Cancer announces the 16th annual Skate the Lake event on Aug 29. In light of COVID-19, participants near and far can join virtually in the fun that Skate the Lake is known for. Choose a local trail, path or sidewalk to serve as the setting for the push to fundraise and raise awareness. Join in the efforts of reaching a fundraising goal of $30,000 for education, prevention and survivorship programs by creating a fundraising page. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $25. After that, the more a person raises, the better the prize. Virtual participation will be celebrated and highlighted on @B4BC’s Instagram story through shared tags #push4b4bc and #skatethelake. Swag bags and additional enticements will be rewarded to keep the stoke alive regardless of location. B4BC is a nonprofit organization that advocates for early detection and a healthy, active and conscious lifestyle as the best means of breast cancer prevention. | b4bc.org
Shop tahoe
Virtual challenge | South Lake Tahoe | Aug. 26-Sept. 2 Summit the most Sierra peaks or swim in the most Sierra alpine lakes, all while documenting their adventures and raising donations. | (530) 542-4546, sierranevadaalliance.org
Authentic Wellness: Virtual Workshops Barton Health | South Lake Tahoe | Aug. 27
Learn tools to cope with life’s daily challenges from experts in their fields. 5 p.m. Free | (530) 587-3769, tfhd.com
Hosted virtually live on Facebook and Youtube. 7 p.m. | (775) 832-4404 ext. 108, facebook.com
Skate the Lake 2020 Virtual | Tahoe City | Aug. 29
Use a local trail, path or neighborhood as the setting for the push to fundraise and raise awareness for breast cancer prevention. | charity.gofundme.com
Baby Storytime on Facebook Truckee Library | Truckee | Aug. 31
Join Miss Amy for songs, books, and early literacy tips for babies during this Facebook Live event. Free | https://www.facebook.com/ pg/nevadacountylibrary/events/?ref=page_internal, facebook.com
LEGO Challenge on Facebook Live Truckee Library | Truckee | Sept. 1
Tahoe Downwind Championship A classic downwind run for the Team Tahoe Waterman crew, whenever the wind allows. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. | facebook.com
Miss Amy will read a story to inspire your brick creations then show you some examples that you can create at home. 4-4:30 p.m. Free | facebook.com/nevadacountylibrary, mynevadacounty.com
Free Outdoor Movie Nights
Full Moon Kayak Tour
Chicken in a Barrel | South Lake Tahoe | Aug. 29, 30
Tahoe Vista Recreation Area | Tahoe Vista | Sept. 1
Tahoe Waterman’s Landing | Carnelian Bay | Aug. 29
Enjoy free outdoor movies every Saturday (date night) and Sunday (family night). The movie begins at dusk, 8:45 p.m. 8:45 a.m. Free | tahoesouth.com
Increase your knowledge of astronomy with jaw dropping views of Lake Tahoe illuminated by the full moon. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $65 | (530) 913-9212, tahoeadventurecompany.com
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August 26-September 1, 2020 FEATURE
TAHOE’S
TOURISM
EDITOR’S NOTE: For the next few weeks, Tahoe
Weekly will be covering the tourism impacts that locals and visitors alike have experienced this summer. This is the first part in the series.
TIPPING POINT S TO RY BY P R I YA H UT N E R
LOCALS URGE OFFICIALS TO ADDRESS TR A S H A N D O V E RTO UR
T
ISM
ourism is the lifeblood of Tahoe’s economy. The pristine beauty of the mountains, lakes and forests offer thousands of acres in which to recreate. The influx of tourists
ebbs and flows seasonally and swells during the summer and winter.
Visitors book hotels and short-term rentals, eat at the restaurants, shop in the retail stores and take to the outdoors. However, the impact of the sheer numbers of visitors has been overwhelming this summer due to the pandemic, according to local officials and locals. After many months of sheltering at home and with no end to the pandemic in sight, visitors have taken to their cars to escape to Tahoe. Second homeowners have relocated to their second homes since they can work remotely, and many schools have moved to distance learning. On any given day, beaches around Lake Tahoe and the surrounding areas are overrun by visitors. Finding space in a campground is hard, permits for backpacking are difficult to procure, hiking and biking trails and beaches are packed. The number of day visitors and short-term rentals have brought challenges to the Tahoe Sierra. Garbage, lack of garbage receptacles, graffiti, lack of public bathrooms, illegal parking, traffic issues and noise have created a divisive situation between local residents and government officials and, in some cases, with visitors. At the heart of these issues is the larger question of how many visitors can the Tahoe Sierra handle. Many locals say there are too many visitors and the area has reached the tipping point. Local officials, however, report they don’t have the data to tell where the people are coming from – are they second homeowners using their vacation homes more, more day visitors, more short-term rentals or more visitors spending the entire summer here. No one has the answer. What is clear is that locals are fed up and are demanding action.
TRACKING VISITORS Officials and tourism agencies say they have no way to quickly track the number of visitors in the Tahoe Sierra. Data from the transient occupancy tax (TOT) collected by short-term rentals is not available for months after a stay. Sales tax tracks spending but does not provide any data on who is making the purchases. The region is governed by five counties — Placer, Nevada, Eldorado, Douglas and Washoe — along with the City of South Lake Tahoe, the City of Carson City and the Town of Truckee. Within the Tahoe Sierra, there is also the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and Truckee Tourism Business Improvement District that market the region to visitors.
In Truckee, one of the only incorporated cities in the Tahoe Sierra, Mayor Dave Polivy says the town estimates there’s been a 10 to 15 percent increase in home use in the town based on increased sewer flows this summer. However, they don’t know if that’s from vacation rentals or second homeowners using their homes more. “There are higher occupancy rates. We are seeing a good amount of healthy tourism and we expected this due to less people flying,” says Polivy. The City of South Lake Tahoe, the only city in the Tahoe Basin and with one of the largest full-time populations, is also being heavily impacted by the number of people visiting the area and is wrestling with issues of trash, graffiti and traffic. “We are seeing the same issues as other places around the lake. We’ve seen more people here this summer due to COVID,” says South Lake Tahoe Mayor Jason Collin. “I don’t think it’s sustainable for the long haul. We’re used to having a much higher flow of people in the summertime and then typically about this time of the year, it starts to trail off. We’ll see what happens when other communities start going back to school. I don’t know if it’s going to trail off.” The South Shore city also doesn’t have a way to track visitor data in real time. “I think the best way to do it would probably be based on cell phone data, which we don’t have access to. But it would be something that would be valuable to understand what that impact is in real time,” says Collin. “We have a lot of second homeowners on the South Shore; over 60 percent of our homes are second homes. And a lot of those people decided to shelter in place here, so that’s increased the number of people staying in our area, as well staying in short-term rentals and hotels.” According to Collin, weather is also a factor in increased visitor numbers: “It’s been hot. And so, whenever it’s hot, we get more people here. I think during this time, we have more people looking for a place to escape and Tahoe is a beautiful place to escape to. However, with COVID, we still need to be vigilant.”
“I don’t think it’s too much tourism, I think that our infrastructure is not as supportive as we need.” –Carol Chaplin
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
9
TheTahoeWeekly.com
Overcrowded beaches in Kings Beach. | Courtesy Tahoe in Balance CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
“I think that we are definitely more impacted. Trash and traffic have been more of an issue,” says Carol Chaplin, president and CEO of Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, which markets tourism for the South Shore. “We are finding that everybody wants to get close to the water. We see the same on the hiking and biking trails. We are all a little bit overwhelmed by the day traffic. We don’t know how to measure it. We know the parking lots are full, the trails are packed, and we are seeing a lot of visitors who want to be outdoors.” Dan Canfield of California State Parks says that local state parks are also seeing increased visitation. “Public lands are pretty much the only recreation outlet currently available. Amusement parks, zoos, movie theaters, air travel to Hawaii/Mexico, dining out, are all closed or severely restricted to slow the spread. Visitation increases in our day-use areas are substantial, perhaps approaching a 50 percent increase over last year,” says Canfield. While Placer County is also seeing an increase in the use of its recreation facilities, 5th District Supervisor Cindy Gustafson says they don’t know where the
CONNECT Clean Up the Lake | cleanupthelake.org Keep Tahoe Blue | keeptahoeblue.org Keep Truckee Green | keeptruckeegreen.org Tahoe In Balance on Facebook Tahoe Truckee Litter Group on Facebook
VOLUNTEER Kings Beach clean up | Mondays 8-10 a.m. Tahoe Truckee Litter Group Kings Beach clean up | Sunday 8:15 p.m. Lady Luck Skate Shop on Facebook MOOP the Lake | Sept. 8-10 moopthelake.org Truckee Litter Corps | 1st Saturday of month, 8 a.m. keeptruckeegreen.org Truckee River Cleanup Day | Sept. 8, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Truckee River Cleanup on Facebook
Short-term Rental
COMPLAINTS City of South Lake Tahoe | (530) 542-7474 Douglas County | (775) 782-5126 Eldorado County | (530) 573-3300 Placer County | (530) 581-6234 or str@placer.ca.gov Truckee | (530) 448-8003 Washoe County | (775) 328-6106 10
increase is coming from. Her district represents a broad geographic area that stretches from Auburn to Donner Summit and includes large portions of the North and West shores of Lake Tahoe, as well as Northstar and Olympic Valley. “It certainly appears that in recreation locations, beaches and trails, we’re seeing increased use and I am hearing from a lot of constituents that they absolutely feel inundated,” says Gustafson. “Swimming pools that are closed, some beaches are limiting people and taking reservations for guests to use the beaches. Is that pushing more people onto some of the public spaces? “I don’t know if there are more visitors versus second homeowners versus locals. It’s hard to judge,” Gustafson says. “I know everybody says they’re all visitors. But occupancy numbers and TOT tracking isn’t showing more. It’s showing less. Now, are those people illegally renting, are they using a friend’s home, are they coming for more than 30 days? Are they second homeowners that have stayed all summer or invited friends up and others? “One of the things I’ve been saying to everybody is we need more data. People are making a lot of assumptions,” says Gustafson. “I will tell you that our traffic counts are down based on numbers [Tahoe Regional Planning Agency] collected on Highways 89 and 267. It’s down 8 percent on 267 and 6 percent on Highway 89 and that was for a two-week window the last two weeks in July, which was kind of our peak.” Gustafson says Placer County is working with a firm called StreetLight Data to monitor traffic using cell phone data in and out of the Tahoe Basin. She says she has been researching TOT data, occupancy data and talking to vacation property managers and hotels and all of those are trending down.
LOCALS ARE FED UP People are on edge and being in the midst of a global pandemic hasn’t helped matters. Garbage, graffiti, parking, traffic, wildfire danger, evacuation concerns, the impact of litter and tourism on wildlife, microplastics in Lake Tahoe and human waste are all underlying symptoms of one problem: too many visitors in a region that community members say doesn’t have enough regulation or enforcement. Community members are rising up and begging officials, agencies and municipalities to take responsibility for garbage, graffiti, traffic and noise. Many residents are upset by the impact of tourists and the region’s inability to maintain and deal with overburdened services. Local advocates are calling for more funding from local governments to mitigate the issues arising from so many visitors coming to the area. Truckee resident Court Leve started Truckee Tahoe Litter Group a few years ago when he became frustrated by the amount of garbage in the area. He’s been an activist and lightning rod for both the town and Tahoe at large to take action on the issues of trash and short-term rental regulations. Leve notes that the community feels there is a lack of leadership on the part of local officials to manage garbage, visitors and short-term rentals. “Government officials say it’s not so bad. Not so bad is not a standard I want to live with,” says Leve, who is not interested in shutting down tourism but finding solutions. Along with the garbage flooding local beaches and neighborhoods, Leve notes the need for more regula-
tions on short-term rentals in the region since many locals are citing noise issues, frequent parties late into the night and parking as major problems. “We need better use of TOT dollars for garbage, and I’d like to see more stringent regulations on short-term rentals,” says Leve. “Just talk to someone living next door to someone who rents out their home. They are fed up.” Each county and city sets its own regulations on shortterm rentals, which can vary widely. The Town of Truckee does not currently have any regulations on short-term rentals, but the town is working to develop them and looking to adopt them as early as Sept. 8, according to Polivy. “We have a pretty strict vacation rental ordinance,” says South Lake Tahoe’s Collin. “We enforce against noise, occupancy, parking and haven’t seen the numbers increase in the number of complaints or the number of violations. We’re seeing a lot of people coming up and hunkering down for the most part. They are spending more time in their second homes. We are definitely concerned. We need to be as vigilant as possible. We need to adapt. People do have rights to travel about. And we have no way of closing down.” Kings Beach resident and community advocate Cheri Sugal says the underlying problem is that the local economy relies too much on tourism. She wants to see officials work to move away from tourism, especially due to the pandemic as more workers move to permanent remote working. “The dependence on tourism is changing. It’s a false narrative. More people are living up here that have no connection with the tourism industry at all. They work from home or have jobs that are not connected with tourism,” says Sugal. “Let’s remember we are in the middle of a global pandemic. And it’s not just a question of is it too much tourism in general, is it too much tourism right now? Given the added health concerns that we’re all dealing with, the answer is so clearly yes, a resounding yes. I’m at the point where I see the need for very strong action to be taken to get the county to do things that will reduce the number of people coming here. We could clean up their garbage until we’re blue in the face.” Sugal also feels that the influx of visitors to the area this summer was predictable and somewhat preventable. She and other local advocates want officials to shut down shortterm rentals. “The rest of the state is closed. We have to fight to have more garbage dumpsters and get more trash cleanup. It is time put more regulations in place, although I would argue none of that has worked in Placer County,” she says. “So as far as enforcement goes, it just hasn’t worked. You’re still up all night when there’s a house party two doors down from you. And so, for me, it comes down to the question of what tools do we have in the toolbox to reduce the number of people coming here and there’s really only one tool and it’s through accommodations. I think it’s about getting rid of the short-term rentals.” Tahoe City resident and journalist Laura Read is also fed up. She felt putting her anger into action was the only way for her to make a difference and started the Tahoe in Balance Facebook page. “I thought, ‘Can I take my energy my efforts, raise awareness and pull together facts in such a way to perhaps help people make decisions more quickly and take action more quickly?’ ” says Read, who also wants to see more code enforcement on short-term rentals and to reallocate TOT taxes to address tourism impacts. Josh Lease of Meyers says he didn’t realize that his anger and frustration would spur a protest but once people
August 26-September 1, 2020 FEATURE
responded, he went with it. His posts on social media led to a lot of press, along with a weekend event he coined, Roundabout Rallies. There were five protests in mid-August with the intention to bring awareness to the issues facing Tahoe. “This is not about locals versus tourists. It’s about the onslaught of people we are getting up here. The infrastructure can’t deal with it,” says Lease, who was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic at the time. “If we cannot save Lake Tahoe, we are in trouble. “Many residents feel like they are no longer able to enjoy the beaches and trails on the weekends. Social distancing on beaches is not happening. There is nowhere to go. Everywhere you go is packed,” says Lease. “I am not saying don’t come here. But if you want to come here, be respectful. Treat servers with respect. And pack it in and pack it out. Don’t come here and trash Tahoe.”
just too many people there in one day. And Sand Harbor. You can’t get in after 9:30 in the morning and parking is crazy from Zephyr Cove to Skyland. I think disbursement is something that we need to talk about. How do we properly disperse tourism, for sustainability reasons? I don’t think any of us have figured it out. It’s something that is starting to take priority in a lot of our conversations. “The good news is that all of us are talking with all of the municipalities, agencies and organizations like North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, TRPA, the Forest Service, the City of South Lake Tahoe and Placer County Board of Supervisors,” says Chapin. “We are all on a collaborative track, talking across agencies on a weekly basis. Never before have we all sat down at the same table and looked at the same problems.”
FINDING A BALANCE
Local officials say that they are looking toward some level of sustainable tourism, saying that there needs to be responsibility and stewardship, along with visitor education. “We are doing everything we can to mitigate the trash and traffic and doing the best we can,” says Hentz. “People want to get out for their mental health and physical health and we’re this logical place because many other places are closed. I do think it has created an additional level of sense of urgency for all of us to understand and recognize the challenges. I think people are still going to come up here and our numbers are going to go up naturally. I think it forces us to get a more comprehensive plan in place that addresses the issues facing us. We need to communicate what it means to travel to North Lake Tahoe and how to be responsible.” Mayor Collin says the City of South Lake Tahoe is working diligently to deal with the issues of tourism and the impact of overcrowding. “The city manager is working with the South Tahoe Refuse and our public works department to manage garbage. We are trying to educate people,” he says. “We have a new volunteer ambassador task force that is primarily for COVID compliance. They talk to people that aren’t wearing masks and give them information about why it’s important. We are looking to educate and ask that they are respectful and good stewards of the environment and not just from the possibility of transmitting COVID but with trash, as well. We are trying to be as adaptable as possible because we don’t know what’s going to happen. We are going to continue to be as vigilant as possible from the city side as to how we manage things and ask all of the residents and visitors to do the same.” The City of South Lake Tahoe has put more garbage receptables at local beaches and parks and increased trash services to those areas. Placer County also recently added more garbage cans and increased trash services in the downtown areas of Tahoe City and Kings Beach. “I agree that it was a delayed response,” Gustafson says. “It’s definitely took time for us to understand it is an ongoing issue.” Many locals, however, say the actions taken recently by the counties and cities that are supposed to protect their community is too little too late. “Are you kidding me? You guys are basically patting yourself on your back publicly and you haven’t dealt with the garbage issue in years,” Leve says. “It literary took a pandemic for them to respond.” n
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The towns, cities and counties in the Tahoe Sierra collect tax dollars from a myriad of sources including sales tax, lodging tax — or TOT — and property tax from homeowners. Tax dollars are used by local governments and agencies to fund infrastructure and provide services. “Transient Occupancy Tax are taxes brought in from hotels and short-term rentals. In South Lake, they go into the general fund,” says Collin, noting that revenue was down significantly in the first couple of months of the pandemic. “Once we reopened, the preliminary numbers from July look back up as we have been busy. But it’s not just about the money. It’s really important that we are trying to find the balance between protecting the health of everybody whether they’re full-time residents, second homeowners or visitors to protect this community, keep the economy rolling and support our businesses.” “I’ll be most interested in seeing our sales tax revenues of this region and our lodging tax,” says Jeffrey Hentz, the executive director of North Lake Resort Association. “Those numbers lag behind several months, so unfortunately, we won’t be able to see those numbers in real time. Typically, it takes three to six months. Those are two key metrics that can tell us about overnight and day visitors. We are one of the few destinations in the state that’s open. Many of the communities, leisure activities, public areas and places people typically go are closed. It’s pushing people to areas that are open. It’s a huge contributing factor.” “Our mission is to drive overnight stays in South Lake Tahoe. All of our lodging partners are saying that they’re doing good and pleased with the results,” says Chaplin of the South Shore. “We have approximately 10,000 rooms on the South Shore. Overall, we’re reaching 90 percent occupancy on the weekends. Our larger and more developed properties are at 100 percent over the weekends. We estimated that 100,000 people were on the beaches for July 4.” She acknowledges that since COVID, more people are driving to the South Shore. “More customers are willing to drive over 800 miles to get to their destination right now,” says Chapin, who sees people from Stockton, Fresno, the Bay Area, Sacramento and Reno, Nev., and driving farther distances even for a short stay in Tahoe. “I don’t think it’s too much tourism. I think that our infrastructure is not as supportive as we need,” says Chapin. “I think that there are definitely impacts to some of our iconic locations like Emerald Bay —
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creative awareness | arts & culture | the makers movement
Ketsia Maya
East Shore mural unveiled Tyler Rivenbark & Frida Ticehurst-Rivenbark
THE makers
Email news to editor@tahoethisweek.com
CHANNELING HER OBSESSION FOR WIRE WRAPPING S TO RY BY K AY L A A N D E R S O N | P H OTO S C O U R T E SY K ET S I A M AYA
A
t my favorite Mexican restaurant in South Lake Tahoe, Maya’s Mexican Grill where they make housemade tortillas, a display next to the cash register shows off intricately wire-wrapped jewelry. Stones and copper wire are shaped into tree pendants, half opalite moon earrings are secured in silver-plated wire and delicately beaded dreamcatcher earrings appear as though a lot of love and time have been put into them. All of this is the work of South Lake Tahoe resident Ketsia Maya, who has been making WiredWithin jewelry since late 2017.
The community mural art in the tunnel on the Tahoe East Shore Trail was unveiled on Aug. 21. The mural, painted by local husband and wife art and design duo Tyler Rivenbark and Frida Ticehurst-Rivenbark, was completed with help from students at Lake Tahoe School in Incline Village, Nev. The mural features both day and night scenes. The night scene includes snow lines on the mountains, giving the mountains depth and light. The daytime scene on the opposite wall depicts the reflection of the mountains in Lake Tahoe’s crystal clear waters. The ceiling uses a multitude of colors to seamlessly blend the designs of the day and night scenes.
“I’ve been more into beadwork, but then one day I bought a box
“The ceiling helps expose how all colors of the rainbow appear in Lake Tahoe’s landscape as day turns to night, and the sun and the moon refract with the water, the snow and the clouds,” said artist Frida Ticehurst-Rivenbark in a press release. “For us, this mural is one of the most exciting visual experiences, leading people into and through the tunnel and from day to night, brightening the space with the colors of natural phenomena.”
of beads off Facebook and it came with different 20-gauge wire coils. I wrapped three pendants with them and became obsessed.”
Students from Lake Tahoe School contributed wrote in their own words, and within certain lines of the mural, what makes Lake Tahoe special to them. Some of the ideas the students shared include: “beautiful all year around,” “a symphony of water” and “the moments with family and friends.” | tahoefund.org
–Ketsia Maya “I’ve always been into jewelry. I’ve been more into beadwork, but then one day I bought a box of beads off Facebook and it came with different 20-gauge wire coils. I wrapped three pendants with them and became obsessed,” she says. The surprise box of coils was fun to practice with and she began looking up tutorials on YouTube, teaching herself how to hold stones in wire, she says. “Wrapping a bead is a lot easier than wrapping a stone without a hole,” says Maya. Explore Tahoe’s vibrant arts scene
at TheTahoeWeekly.com
She explains that her first designs were made by wrapping beads with wire and once she got the hang of that she moved to wrapping cabochons. Maya got so into it that she was making one to two pendants a day throughout the winter, building up her collection. In the beginning she wanted to get pendants down first, but three months into her new wire-wrapped jewelry hobby she began making earrings — and now she makes rings, anklets, keychains and bookmarks, as well. “I would get off work [at Wells Fargo] and just make jewelry. I wasn’t going out that much and just got good at it,” she says. 12
When spring 2018 rolled around, she put in an application to set up a booth at Live at Lakeview and began selling her jewelry called WiredWithin and also participated in the Ski Run Farmers’ Market. “People loved it,” she says. “I recognized a lot of customers from Wells Fargo and met a lot of visitors. People thought they made great gifts.” She spent months thinking about an appropriate name. She asked her coworkers at Wells Fargo for suggestions and her manager just blurted it out: “Wired Within.” Maya loved the name and soon after launched her website, Twitter, Instagram and Etsy accounts. Before the pandemic hit she planned on opening a storefront by Ski Run Marina and continue participating in crafts fairs, but all of that has been put on hold. “Everything started getting canceled so I had to shift the direction that the business will go. I’m just hanging tight right now, taking things as they come and going with the flow,” she says. Currently, WiredWithin jewelry is sold at Maya’s Mexican Grill in South Lake Tahoe and at Mountain Freak Boutique in Truckee, as well as online at her website and on Etsy. Her most popular item is the opalite moon necklace wrapped in silverplated copper.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Ketsia Maya;
WiredWithin owl pendent; Black Lives Matter tree of life bookmark; Rainbow moonstone and blue aventurine earrings.
“People love the color. It’s almost like they glow when they’re on you. They’re exceptionally beautiful,” she says, adding that the wire she uses is solid copper with .125 sterling-silver casing that can be easily be polished. Maya released a Black Lives Matter collection on Etsy where all the money from products sold is funneled into ActBlue charity and BLM.org. “I have new bookmarks with the BLM charm and opalite moons; a lot of the collection is set in sterling silver. After everything that happened with George Floyd and having all my shows canceled, I was feeling sad and helpless. I had bought all these crystals and wires to get ready for the show season. I have all this material, so I decided to start this collection and donate the proceeds from the sales,” she says. | wir3dwithin.com, etsy.com
the art s The Art of Kevin Jamieson South Lake Tahoe Library | Aug. 26-31 12 p.m. | talart.org
Call for Artist Submissions Glass Garage Collective Stateline | Aug. 26-March 6
1 p.m. | glassgaragecollective.com
Virtual Writing Session Word After Word Books | Truckee | Aug. 26 6:30-8 p.m. | (530) 536-5099, wordafterwordbooks.com
“Black, white, and a hint of...” art show Tahoe Art League Art Center South Lake Tahoe | Aug. 28-Sept. 4
11 a.m.-4 p.m. | (530) 544-2313, talart.org
Cherie Pinsky “Sound and Vision” Keynote Used Records and Books South Lake Tahoe | Aug. 29
11 a.m.-5 p.m. | facebook.com
August 26-September 1, 2020 HISTORY
The plot to bomb Harvey’s Resort Hotel
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I
n late August 1980, an angry gambler attempted to extort millions of dollars from Harvey’s Hotel Resort by threatening to blow up its hotel casino at South Lake Tahoe. John Birges Sr. was bitter that he had lost $800,000 playing blackjack and he wanted it all back — plus more. So, he built a powerful bomb with nearly 1,000 pounds of dynamite to pull off the $3-million shakedown. On the morning of Aug. 25, Birges and two accomplices, Willis Brown and Terry Lee Hall, checked into Balahoe Motel near Lake Tahoe Airport. As the owner of a motel, Nancy De Minico had a sixth sense for sketchy guests, so she wrote down the license number of the white van in which the men drove up. That information would become an important clue for law enforcement to track the vehicle registration to the house of Birges’ son, John Jr. Yet it would still take a year to capture the mastermind behind the crime. After a few hours of fitful sleep in the motel, in the early morning hours of Aug. 26 Birges walked to a public pay phone near the airport. In fact, he was hiding instructions for the ransom drop-off. He told Brown and Hall to carefully clean the room, remove any fingerprints and then drive to the airport to pick him up. Birges waited, but the transport never arrived. He walked back to the motel where his co-conspirators were unsuccessfully trying to start the van. The battery was dead so they called a tow truck to jump-start the vehicle. During all this time, a bomb with eight sensitive detonators connected to nearly 1,000 pounds of high-explosive dynamite, was sitting in the back of the van. In pre-dawn darkness, the men drove to the casino district and parked across the street from Harvey’s where they unloaded what they called the machine onto a customized wheeled cart. The cart carrying the bomb was rolled across the street to Harvey’s front lobby entrance. Birges concealed it with cloth displaying an IBM logo. To the casual eye, it looked like a standard paper-copying machine. Read Part I of Mark’s three-part series
at TheTahoeWeekly.com
Birges had welded caster wheels to the bomb’s base so at the street curb Hall and Brown were able to push it flush onto the sidewalk and roll it into the casino. From there, Hall muscled it into a service elevator and took it to the second floor. Birges showed up and the men positioned the bomb in a quiet corridor near the casino’s business offices. Birges used toothpicks and glue to disable the locks of the doors at either end of the hallway so no one might accidently set off the
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deadly device. After leaving an extortion note next to the machine, Birges, Hall and Brown drove back to Fresno County where Birges contacted his sons John Jr. and James. Birges’s girlfriend, Ella Joan Williams, was in on the caper, as well. Birges told them he needed their help at Lake Tahoe to collect the ransom money.
During all this time, a bomb with eight sensitive detonators connected to nearly 1,000 pounds of high-explosive dynamite, was sitting in the back of the van. According to plan, that afternoon the six co-conspirators headed out on a mission to get the money. Birges’s ransom note was discovered at 6 a.m. on Aug. 26 by a Harvey’s slot manager, who noticed the sealed doors and tampered locks. Security was called and once they opened the hallway doors and read the contents of the envelope, they learned of Birges’s threat. The extortion note warned of the extreme sensitivity of the detonators in the bomb stating that it would go off at the slightest vibration or movement. The anonymous creator of the apparatus cautioned: “Do not move or tilt this bomb, because the mechanism controlling the detonators in it will set it off at a movement of less than .01 of the open end Ricter (sic) scale. Don’t try to flood or gas the bomb. There is a float switch and an atmospheric pressure switch. Both are attached to detonators.” The ominous warnings indicated the complexity of this massive bomb. It could not be taken apart without triggering the weapon. The letter forewarned that even turning the flathead screws in the metal
Newspaper headlines. | Courtesy South Lake Tahoe Historical Society
boxes would cause it to blow. Authorities were in a tough spot and they knew it. Without guidance from the evil genius who built the device, there was no way to render it safe. For the critical information needed to defuse the bomb, the ransom letter demanded $3 million in “unmarked, unbugged and chemically untreated $100 bills.” The untraceable cash was to be delivered to a specified site by helicopter that night — not much time. Directives would be hidden at public phone booths or delivered by an unaware taxi driver or individual — but not by the bombmaker. Harvey’s chief of security was called as was Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office and Tahoe-Douglas Fire Protection District. On discovery and confirmation that the bomb was real by using a specialized X-ray machine, police immediately evacuated an estimated 600 employees and patrons from the hotel casino. Several blocks of streets and businesses were closed and cordoned off. Scores of explosive specialists arrived from the military, FBI and other federal agencies, but all were stumped on how to disarm the expertly constructed bomb. It was the most sophisticated apparatus that they had ever seen. At this point, what had begun as a calculated and technically impressive criminal operation worthy of a James Bond movie script, quickly took on the farcical incompetence of a Keystone Kops comedy. The delivery of the ransom money via helicopter was botched due to sloppy instructions and an overly elaborate plan concocted by Birges. He dispatched his girlfriend to drive to an airport near Placerville and wait for the helicopter to land there. Birges planned to be in the chopper because he intended to hijack it that night when it showed up to deliver the ransom money near Lake Tahoe. Meanwhile Birges and his two sons drove up Highway 50 to Ice House Road, the planned rendezvous point for
the money handoff. They intended to signal the helicopter with a strobe light, but neglected to bring the battery for it. They tried to steal a battery from a Volkswagen parked outside a closed service station at Kyburz, but were chased away by the owner of the garage. The Birges family then drove west, down the mountain to Placerville where they purchased a car battery from a Shell gasoline station, before returning to the Ice House Road location. Armed with three loaded guns, Birges and his sons split up to wait for the helicopter. The trap was set — or so they thought. Stay tuned for the conclusion in the next edition and at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin is a nationally published author and professional speaker. His award-winning books are available at local stores or at thestormking.com. You may reach him at mark@thestormking.com.
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Your relationship life is undergoing some important activation. These will unfold over the coming weeks. Positively, your ability to communicate more clearly with others will increase. This could prove to be an excellent time to engage in creative cooperatives.
Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)
FIRE
EARTH
AIR
WATER
Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22)
Working behind the scenes continues, yet you are also in the mood to take some new leads. Your focus remains centered on your career, public life, and social status in general, and some rather deep changes are indicated. These probably began many months ago but not the implementation process has begun.
Libra (Sep 22-Oct 22)
The spotlight is on friendships. These may include love interests as well. Either way, you can expect some action in this area.As eager and excited as you may feel to dive in, you are probably wise to take your time before you draw conclusions or make any big commitments. Yet, for now, at least, meeting new people could prove quite exciting.
Scorpio (Oct 22-Nov 21)
Some big changes are being activated in your life. These represent new beginnings. In some respects, these could amount to dreams coming true. However, especially regarding long-term commitments, you are wise to pay extra close attention to the fine print. Be willing to talk things through thoroughly and clarify.
Sagittarius (Nov 21-Dec 21)
This Leo fire New Moon will prove extra stimulating and exciting. It will have the effect of inspiring you to take new leads. These may especially include creative projects. It is likely that you have been waiting for a green light in this regard and it is likely that the light has finally turned signaling you to advance. Be open to receiving from others, especially from family.
Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)
A playful and passionate mood shifts now to a more practical focus. You will still want to get in what leisurely pleasures you can, but attending to more pressing matters will probably prove necessary and satisfying. Meanwhile, much of your focus probably remains on the home front and/or with family.
Taurus (Apr 20-May 21)
Some powerful new beginnings close to home will become apparent over the next few weeks. These will bring improvements, especially. A creative adjustment process will be activated and you will pay extra close attention to the details. It could be the perfect time to do renovations. Yet, these may occur as much within your own mind and attitude as externally.
Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)
Some cycles are super creative and this stands to be one of them. Your focus will, however, include practical concerns. As well, the creative focus may be directed to clearing the clutter, at least initially. Alternately, you could find yourself at the drawing board drafting a design or outlining a plan.
Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22)
You are in the mood to make a few investments. These could be as much time related as money, perhaps more. Either way, directing your energy to bring in the new may well include the need to clear the old first.
Capricorn (Dec 21-Jan 19)
Some deep changes are brewing in you. These will become more apparent over the coming weeks. They are probably directly associated with some of the more significant relationships in your life. This process includes aspiring to realize ideals and are not all about practical realities alone. In other words, the emphasis is on relationships and increasing love and harmony.
Leo (Jul 22-Aug 23)
The New moon impulse is extra strong for you because it is occurring in your sign. This usually activates the urge to take new leads and strides and to initiate new activities. Your focus is extra oriented towards practical interests and requirements. Attending to the details and getting your affairs in order is extra important.
CryptoQuip
Balancing a rhythmic theme of work and play is strongly emphasized and will remain so over the coming weeks and months even. Exploring new territory is featured and is true on both fronts. It is generally important that you set major new projects into motion as well prior to December.
If you liked to wear gold tiaras, I guess people would refer to you as “karat top.”
Hocus Focus differences: 1. Girl’s bow is missing, 2. Tree limb has been added, 3. Boy’s shirt has stripe, 4. Sign is different, 5. Treehouse roof is different, 6. Tree steps are gone.
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THE lineup live music | shows | nightlife
festivals | entertainment
Ava Swanson’s AWELESS INDIE IRONY S TO RY BY S E A N M c A L I N D I N
H
ow does an artist capture and criticize the day in an age without perpetuating the stereotypes that define it? Just ask AVA. Ava Swanson was born and raised in Bozeman, Mont., in a musical family. “In my house as a kid, everything was a song,” she says. “Getting up, getting dressed, going poop. We’d always sing as a family.” After high school, she moved to Squamish, British Columbia, where she specialized in political performance art at Quest University Canada and formed an indie R&B group, buckwheat.
AUGUST 27 | THURSDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. David Beck & Colombe Tresan Alibi Ale Works - Truckee Public House, Truckee, 5-7 p.m.
Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Live Music under the Tent Bar of America, Truckee, 9 p.m.
stepping back from the
Watch “AVA” sing “Pawn Shop”
at TheTahoeWeekly.com
momentum I had before the pandemic. I had
AUGUST 30 | SUNDAY
to really reflect on what
When she graduated last year, Swanson moved to Stanley, Idaho, for the summer where she worked at bakery while recording her latest album “VABA ESTE” under the stage name AVA. Then she embarked on a cross-country solo tour in a Subaru Forester, which took her to many a legendary music city. Little did she know she made the trip just in time. “I found I loved playing places where a few friends or mutual connections could come see me,” she says. “The shows in Memphis and Nashville where I didn’t know anyone were actually kind of sad. Music is so much more meaningful for me when I feel connected.” When the Coronavirus pandemic ramped up in March, Swanson realized she could be caught in Canada without health insurance. So she and her boyfriend made a mad dash for the United States arriving at a friend’s house in Tahoma days before the border shut down. After laying low for three months, she found a job waitressing at Fire Sign Cafe while trying to figure out how to further her music career in a world where touring is no longer an option. “All of my music goals shattered,” she says. “I’m a very futuristic person. I love to daydream and have things to work toward. I didn’t know who I was without the ability to identify goals and tread toward them. It was heartbreaking.”
Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m.
AUGUST 29 | SATURDAY
I had to learn about
–Ava Swanson
AUGUST 26 | WEDNESDAY
Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Music on the Beach; Virtual Vibes online, Kings Beach, 6 p.m. Rustler’s Moon Gar Woods Lake Tahoe, Carnelian Bay, 8 p.m. Live Music under the Tent Bar of America, Truckee, 9 p.m.
time for lessons.
this music career.”
l i ve
AUGUST 28 | FRIDAY
“ It’s been the perfect
I am expecting from
August 26-September 1, 2020 THE LINEUP
INDIE POP
After falling into a deep depression, Swanson joined local singing collective Tahoe Sisters in Harmony to safely connect with community and reinspire her love of music. “It’s been the perfect time for lessons. I had to learn about stepping back from the momentum I had before the pandemic,” she says. “I had to really reflect on what I am expecting from this music career. Is it healthy and reasonable or am I setting myself up to be disappointed? This is what it’s going to look like in this era so I have to be ready for that.”
SATIRICAL INDIE POP BLISS The enchanting “VABA ESTE” is an eclectic mix of social commentary and reflective poetry cloaked in lo-fi indie pop. The title comes from the name of her parent’s boat; it mingles Estonian and Latin to signify “free this.” On the opening track “Boring,” Swanson muses about politics, religion, fame and love over the hushed tones of a Washburn electric guitar on delay. “I’m so very boring, but I gained a dozen followers this year,” she croons with a understated irony and sideways criticism of her clamoring need to be special. “I grew up in a generation that is highly individualistic and meritocratic,” she says. “If you’re not exceptional and you’re not specialized, it’s your fault and you’re a failure. I see people with serious mental health issues growing up under a value that you have to be unique.”
With an uncanny lyricism about nothing that evokes the dry wit of Courtney Barnett of Australia, Swanson examines how image, desire and mortality shape modern times. “My age is always at the coffee shop,” she warbles on the pseudo-innocence of “Pawn Shop.” “We like our brands and we like to be seen. A generation made of icons. The generation of our parent’s dreams. But we don’t bother with our fathers.” “U.S. values taken to extreme lead to such toxic ways of living,” says Swanson. “That comes down to me and my people having such crises of selfhood and understanding or place and role in the world. These are things I like to poke at in my music.” “Magnolia” is a stripped-down acoustic lullaby reminiscent of cosmic 1960s antiprotest melodies by Melanie and Joni Mitchell. “Saturday, sleeping for hours,” she sings. “Let out your neurons. Oh, let ‘em play. Play like magnolia flowers in acid rain.” “I’m kind of going for this observer eye,” says Swanson. “I think when it’s too on the nose it doesn’t work. How can I speak candidly and observe the world, but not in a way that’s so obvious?” | ava-music.net Sean McAlindin is a writer and musician living in Truckee, who loves a secret powder stash just as much as a good jam. You can reach him at entertainment@tahoethisweek.com. Other writings and original music are available at seanmcalindin.com.
Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Backyard Boogie series (on radio) KTKE 101.5 – Truckee, Tahoe City, 4-7 p.m.
AUGUST 31 | MONDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m.
Major Motion Pictures · Independent Films Live Music · Dance Performances
Our pop-up drive-in runs Thursdays-Sundays for the summer.
Drive-In | 8:45 pm The Wedding Singer Aug 27-30
The Blues Brothers Sept. 3-6
Visit TahoeArtHausCinema.com for showtimes, schedule, events + tkts THE COBBLESTONE CENTER 475 N LAKE BLVD., TAHOE CITY, CA | 530-584-2431
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EAT &drink
food & libations | recipes | delicious events
Frozen summer treats
tasty tidbits Tahoe City Farmers Market
TO B E AT T H E H E AT
Commons Beach | Tahoe City | Aug. 27
The Tahoe City Farmers Market is every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. until Oct. 8. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | tahoecityfarmersmarket.com
S TO RY & P H OTO S BY P R I YA H UT N E R
Once you have layered your dessert, set it in the freezer to harden. This is a family hit. Popsicles, parfaits with whipped cream and berries, chocolate-covered bananas, homemade peanut butter cups and frozen yogurt (a tangy treat) are all delicious and cooling treats to help beat the heat. Almost anything can be frozen, including tiramisu and chocolate mousse.
Incline Village Farmers Market Incline Village Library | Aug. 27
The Incline Village Farmers Market is every Thursday until Sept. 3. 3-6 p.m. | (775) 832-4130, laketahoemarkets.com
Romano’s Certified Farmers Market Sierra Valley Farms | Beckwourth | Aug. 28 The Farmers Market is every Friday until Sept. 11. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | sierravalleyfarms.com
Truckee Certified Farmers Market Truckee River Regional Park | Sept. 1
The Truckee Certified Farmers Market is every Tuesday until Oct. 15. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | truckeecertifiedfa.wixsite.com
Enjoy the tastes of Tahoe
at TheTahoeWeekly.com
El Dorado County Certified Farmer’s Market American Legion Parking Lot South Lake Tahoe | Sept. 1
Certified Farmer’s Market is held at the American Legion parking lot, on Tuesdays through Oct. 13. There are new procedures due to the coronavirus that line up with the state and county guidelines for outdoor events serving prepared and fresh food. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Free | eldoradofarmersmarket.com
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Mud pie is one of my favorite ice cream desserts.
T
he August sun in the mountains can be extreme, skin glistens from the heat and after an afternoon of playing in the sun, it’s time to cool the body down. Reaching for a frozen cooling treat might help. Ice cream comes to mind, but there are numerous other frozen desserts to consider. The differences come in the ingredients. Ice cream is made with cream. Gelato, an Italian variation of ice cream, is made with more whole milk and less cream. Sorbet is made with frozen pureed fruit. Sherbet is a fruit-based dessert containing milk, shaved ice and fruit juice poured over crushed ice. Frozen yogurt is made with yogurt.
ICE CREAM FUN & EASY Making ice cream can be fun, creative and relatively easy. The hardest thing is waiting for it to freeze. The base ingredients include cream, sugar and sometimes sweetened condensed milk. The flavor profiles are endless. There are several ways to make ice cream with or without an ice cream maker. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, the easiest method requires a hand beater or whisk and a shallow glass freezer-safe bowl or pan. No-churn ice cream is easy to make with only three ingredients: whipped cream, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract.
LEFT: Ice cream sandwiches; RIGHT: Priya Hutner’s Mud Pie.
It’s smooth, creamy and crunchy and it’s sweet and
FRUIT SORBET
salty all at the same time.
Fresh fruit sorbet is even simpler to make. All that is needed are the ingredients, a bit of time and patience. Sorbet is basically a frozen fruit. Many recipes use sugar, but sweet fruit will suffice if you want a lowcalorie healthy version. To make sorbet, use your favorite fruit or combination of fruits and herbs such as raspberry mint or blackberry mango and freeze the fruit in a freezer bag. Once the fruit is frozen, add it to a blender with a dash of lemon juice – sugar, maple syrup or agave is optional — add to a blender and freeze it.
It is not for the faint of heart.
EPIC DESSERT CREATIONS Having ice cream on hand is an excellent base for an epic dessert creation. My top frozen treats this summer include berry sorbet, ice cream sandwiches, mud pie and frozen peanut butter cups. Ice cream sandwiches are delicious and easy to make. You can bake cookies or purchase store-bought cookies, large oatmeal or chocolate chip are excellent choices. Layer your favorite ice cream flavor between two cookies and freeze until ready to enjoy. Mud pie is one of my favorite ice cream desserts. It’s smooth, creamy and crunchy and it’s sweet and salty all at the same time. It is not for the faint of heart. It is pure sugar and fat, an outrageous summer treat — and easy to create. Begin by crushing Oreo cookies or graham crackers with a bit of butter to hold it all together for the crust and press it into a pan. Layer softened vanilla ice cream and coffee ice cream on top of the crust. Drizzle chocolate syrup and/or Nutella and add a few dollops of peanut butter. Add some crushed Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and broken pretzel bits. Top with another layer of ice cream and swirl on chocolate syrup, Nutella or caramel on top. If you have extra Oreo cookies tuck them around the edges. Everything and anything goes in this creation. Additions and variations are part of the creative process. Consider potato chips, malt balls, frozen cherries or butterscotch.
It is pure sugar and fat, an outrageous summer treat — and easy to create. Priya Hutner is a writer, personal chef and workshop facilitator. She is the owner of the Seasoned Sage, which prepares organic artisan meals for dinner parties and events. She also offers in-home cooking classes, parties and local pop up dinners. As a breath meditation teacher and long-time yogi, she facilitates workshops and classes that focus on gaining a deeper awareness of self. Send story ideas to priya@tahoethisweek.com. | (772) 913-0008, pria78@gmail.com, seasonedsage.com
SIMPLE VANILLA ICE CREAM WITHOUT AN ICE CREAM MAKER From the kitchen of Priya Hutner 2 C heavy whipping cream 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Beat whipping cream with a mixer until stiff peaks form. In a small bowl, mix together the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract. Pour into a freezer proof glass container and freeze 4 to 6 hours.
EASY RASPBERRY MINT SORBET From the kitchen of Priya Hutner 1 C raspberries, washed & frozen ¼ C sugar A dash of lemon juice ¼ C fresh mint
Place frozen berries in a blender with ingredients and blend. Place in back of the freezer and allow to set for 4 to 5 hours.
August 26-September 1, 2020 EAT & DRINK
A TOUR OF
South Africa wines S TO RY BY L O U P H I L L I P S
W
ith all that is going on in these most unique days, what better time for a mental vacation. Since we all have unlimited travel points in the world of the imagination, we can go as far as we want. Being a wine fanatic, I’m thinking we head off to lesser-known wine regions the world over. So jump on your magic carpet and buckle up for the ride. First stop: South Africa where like California the best wine regions are near the coast — in this case near the Southern Cape. Interestingly when wine curriculum is taught, South Africa is included in the New-World category, in spite of the fact wine production there began in the 1600s. This is pertinent not just for historical accuracy, but also because the producers here focus on classic varietals and the wines are usually more restrained and earthy than what we find in New-World offerings.
Kings Beach Full Service on Patio & Takeout orders 12:00pm-8:00pm
Full
Bar
(530) 546-4539 8345 North Lake Blvd. - Across from the State Beach in Kings Beach
FOR TAKE OUT OR DINE IN, SEE MENUS BELOW BRUNCH & LUNCH
WINE LIST
DINNER
Bordeaux Blends South Africa’s Strength (2015 Rupert & Rothschild)
Reds made from Cabernet and Merlot are the closest thing I know to a cross between quality Bordeaux and Napa versions. They are structured and earthy with some generous fruit. More mountainous coastal areas make for wonderful Rhonestyle reds; a varietal that does especially well is Cinsault, as well as Syrah and Grenache. Value versions are ripe and full of dark fruits and the higher end of this type are more in the vein of actual Rhone wines with game and minerality notes and are meant to age.
Plenty of Outdoor Seating Spindleshankstahoe.com | 400 Brassie Ave, Suite B · Kings Beach | (530) 546.2191
A good place to start is with South Africa’s signature South African values: Bloem and Secateurs wines.
grape, Pinotage, which is
The main wine regions by the Southern Cape region have a variety of topographies, geologies and climates. Climate is greatly influenced by a cool-water current from Antarctica that winemakers call the Cape Doctor. In addition, the long history of the industry here has allowed producers to match the correct grapes with the best area in which to grow them. A good place to start is with South Africa’s signature grape, Pinotage, which is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. These unique reds have not caught on elsewhere; maybe deservedly they are an acquired taste, but for the adventurous, they are worth a shot. On the white-wine front, Chenin Blanc is a South African favorite, and most are zippy and energetic, although richer versions are also available. Whites from Rhone grapes are also a strength and feature blends of Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. These are typically a little lighter on their feet than their French counterparts. Sauvignon Blancs are another strong suit and are stylistically similar to Kiwi versions. All of these benefit from the cooling influence of the Cape Doctor and are good food matches.
a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. As with any new region you are exploring, ask your local purveyor for suggestions. Explore more wines with Lou
at TheTahoeWeekly.com
Lou Phillips is a Level 3 Advanced Sommelier in Tahoe and his consulting business wineprowest.com assists in the selling, buying and managing wine collections. He may be reached at (775) 544-3435 or wineguru123@gmail.com.
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FROM CHEF SMITTY’S KITCHEN
Feed Your Neighbor
Honey-Ginger
Giving Boxes
Glazed Ribs
Tahoe Food Hub announces the expansion of its Feed Your Neighbor program.
BY C H E F DAV I D “ S M I T T Y ” S M I T H
Giving Boxes filled with local, seasonal, sustainably grown fruits and vegetables are available to those affected by Covid-19, those experiencing financial hardships and/
Famous for our Mexican Dinners (530) 587-3557 10186 Donner Pass Rd - Truckee
or those participating in Tahoe Truckee Unified School District’s food pantry and Placer County’s Head Start programs. For a free weekly box, visit Tahoe Food Hub’s website and click on the Giving Box sign-up link. For questions or more information on how to sign-up, email Marissa Yakaitis at marrisa@ tahoefoodhub.org.
Sierra Community House Food Distribution We’re delivering perishable food bags weekly in Truckee & North Lake Tahoe.
Delivery staff and volunteers are following best practices and wearing masks. Please follow social distancing and NOT interact. To sign-up or cancel, e-mail food@sierracommunityhouse.org or call 775-545-4083; Provide full name, address, phone number, birthdate and number of people in the household.
Local businesses, organizations or individuals can donate or learn more also by visiting the website. In addition, supporters of Tahoe Food Hub’s online farmers market, Harvest to Order, can donate to the Giving Box fund when placing an order. The Feed Your Neighbor program was designed to provide equal access to fresh, seasonal, sustainably grown food for community members facing food insecurity. Since April 1, more than 2,500 Giving Boxes have been distributed and $60,000 raised by the community for the Feed Your Neighbor program. | tahoefoodhub.com
Brewforia closes The popular Incline Village, Nev., restaurant and brew pub Brewforia closed earlier this month.
Fine Italian Food & Spirits
“We were not able to come to agreeable terms on a new lease at Brewforia so at the end of August we will be closing,” it was announced on its Facebook page on July 31. “ … Our hope is we find a new location and can continue with our mission of bringing great food and drink to the people we call
W
eekend cookouts can range from hot dogs and hamburgers, to chicken, grilled veggies, steaks or ribs. The possibilities are endless. Now when I was a kid, it was pretty much always burgers and dogs. I honestly don’t remember ever having ribs — I mean, ever. I think I might have had my first ribs sometime in my 20s.
This method of cooking the ribs will shorten the grilling time and still give you a great end result.
Try Smitty’s tips for cooking ribs
at TheTahoeWeekly.com
This was probably because ribs can take a lot of cooking time, especially if you use only the grill. My parents were always too busy to spend that kind of time on dinner. This method of cooking the ribs will shorten the grilling time and still give you a great end result. You also can do the entire cooking process in the oven if you don’t have a grill, but still want the barbecue menu. Have a great weekend cookout and enjoy some ribs.
David “Smitty” Smith is a personal chef specializing in dinner parties, cooking classes and special events. Trained under Master Chef Anton Flory at Top Notch Resort in Stowe, Vt., Smitty is known for his creative use of fresh ingredients. Contact him at (530) 412-3598 or tmmsmitty@gmail.com.
our neighbors. Currently, no other spaces
Locals Love Lanza’s!
are available, but we continue to look.”
(530) 546-2434
Sister restaurant Bertie’s Hot Chicken
BAR - 4:30 p.m. DINNER - 5 p.m.
in Incline Village is still open. | Brewforia
7739 N Lake Blvd - Kings Beach
on Facebook
LanzasTahoe.com
From the kitchen of: Chef David “Smitty” Smith Sunday through Thursday not valid with any other offer | Expires May 22, 2019
Lakeview Deck and Patio Open for Dining
JasonsBeachSideGrille.com
•
(530) 546-3315
8338 NORTH LAKE BLVD., KINGS BEACH, CA
18
HONEY-GINGER GLAZED RIBS 6 lbs. baby-back pork ribs, cut into two-rib portions (3-4 racks) 2 C water ½ C orange juice ¾ C brown sugar 2 T cornstarch 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 T ground ginger 1 t Dijon ½ C honey ¼ C soy sauce Salt and pepper
Season the ribs with a salt and pepper and place bone-side down in a roasting pan with 1 cup of water. Cover tightly and bake at 350 degrees F for an hour and half to two hours. Mix the other cup of water with the rest of the ingredients in a bowl while the ribs are cooking. Remove the ribs and drain the pan. Bring the glaze to a boil so it will thicken. Grill the ribs over indirect heat or low heat for about 45 minutes to an hour; pour glaze over them every 10 to 15 minutes. If you are going to use the oven and not a grill, return the ribs bone-side down to the pan and pour half the liquid mix over the ribs; put back in the oven uncovered. Bring the other half of the glaze to a boil to allow it to thicken; pour some over the ribs every 10 to 15 minutes. Cook for about an hour.
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