The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board is meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 9:30 a.m., on Zoom and at Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, 128 Market Street, Stateline, Nev.
Legal Committee
Resolution of Enforcement Action: Brady Sessions; Unauthorized Grading resulting in Material Damage to Trees and Unauthorized Tree Removal; 630 Grand Avenue, Placer County, CA; Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 085-142-021; TRPA File No. CODE2026-0025
Resolution of Enforcement Action; LIND Art & Technology, Inc., Launching a motorized watercraft into the waters of the Region without an inspection, operating a motorized watercraft in a tributary and in No Wake zones, TRPA File No. CODE2026-0038
Governing Board Planning Matters
A. Briefing on Biodiversity and Recreation Threshold Updates
B. Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program Update
24. Environmental Management Department recommending the Board:
1) Receive and file a presentation from Recology Inc; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the third Amendment to the current Franchise Agreement, adding Section I, Assignment and Guaranty of Continued Performance, assigning the Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal Franchise Agreement to Recology, Inc., which remains in effect through September 2028.
25. Sheriff’s Office recommending the Board receive and file a presentation on Automatic License Plate Recognition systems in El Dorado County.
This article was produced as a project for the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism’s 2026 National Fellowship Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism. It’s part of a series on LGBTQ+ health in rural areas.
Rural residents have lower access to mental health care, and the list of providers grows even smaller when seeking someone experienced with LGBTQ+ issues.
“There were zero search results,” said Zephyr Kao of their effort to find a therapist on the Nevada side of Tahoe.
The need for mental health support of LGBTQ+ people is growing for the same reason access to it could become even more difficult: the last decade has seen a sharp increase in anti-LGBTQ+ policies, primarily targeting transgender people.
The Tahoe Basin is no exception to the national trends.
Like most rural communities, residents here rate their mental health worse than urban counterparts. Community health reports from Tahoe Forest Health System and Barton Health showed that almost a quarter of adults self reported their mental health status as fair to poor in 2024-2025. And a 2026 report from the Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee showed those outcomes were worse for LGBTQ+ residents in North Tahoe: almost 70% said there were three or more days in the past month where they had poor mental health. That’s
A Tribune survey of 15 LGBTQ+ respondents as well as follow up interviews, provide additional insight on the challenges in the Basin, such as specialized medical training, treatment costs and legal barriers for both patients and providers.
Changes on the federal level are unlikely to happen in the near future. But passionate providers say they are willing to fight for the LGBTQ+ community and their healthcare on a local and state level, which is a much needed measure to protect them now.
“While policy at the federal level, and many states, is currently hostile toward LGBTQ+ health, some of the most promising avenues may be at the local level for now,” said Carrie Henning-Smith, a researcher focused on rural health. “And, of course, voting and getting involved in the political process is important to effecting change.”
Mental health outcomes in Tahoe/Truckee
Rural, mountain towns like Tahoe and Truckee often have worse mental health outcomes than urban areas, exacerbated by social isolation and affordability issues. They also suffer from higher rates of suicide, a phenomena called the “paradise paradox.”
A 2026 report from the Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee showed those outcomes were worse for LGBTQ+ residents in North Tahoe. 69.8% of their LGBTQ+ respondents reported three or more days in the past month where they had poor mental health, and 67.1% of those surveyed said they needed mental health services in the past year.
The Tribune’s own survey showed that nearly half of respondents were seeking mental healthcare. Over 70% said they had to find healthcare elsewhere because there were waitlists for providers knowledgeable about LGBTQ+ issues or because they worried they would be unable to find adequate care locally.
Availability and accessibility
A shortage of providers with LGBTQ+ experience affects community health at multiple levels. Some respondents told the Tribune they simply took a gamble on who could help. Lauri Kemper, who has been in South Lake Tahoe for decades, said that when she was seeking a therapist, she wanted someone with experience and knowledge of lesbian experiences. “The couples’ therapist we went with actually had never counseled lesbians before, but no one else in town was doing it.”
Finding who actually offers these services can be challenging. A search on Psychology Today shows providers who serve the Tahoe area, but some of them are telehealth only or require a trip down the mountain to Reno or Sacramento—both hours away from Lake Tahoe.
An Hoang, a gay man who lives in Truckee, said that the therapist/patient relationship was an important determinant of mental health outcomes, and finding the right therapist was a needed step.
But, Hoang said, “That requires choice and going through different mental health providers and a lack of choices is just inherent in a small town. But if people don’t talk about [being LGBTQ+ friendly] and the resources that are available, you won’t know how to get help. You’ll feel like you’re alone in it.”
Local providers said the average wait time for mental healthcare is typically four to six months.
Brian Crane, a clinical social worker in Reno, previously served as the clinical director for Tahoe Youth and Family Services. He said that long waitlists were the norm for rural areas like Tahoe, Gardnerville and Minden, nearby communities in Nevada. “When you do find care after being on a waitlist for six months? You’re put in front of a resident who may leave, and you start all over again.”
Crane noted that often, people turn to telehealth when they don’t have local providers. And while it opens up options to find providers that are caring, it can come with its own set of issues. Patients often want more connection than they get through a screen. And online providers are limited in what they can do. For example, it can be a challenge to get letters supporting gender-affirming surgeries through online services.
Others said they were limited by what their insurance covered and what side of the state lines they were on. Zephyr Kao, who lives on the Nevada side of Tahoe, tried to find providers who could speak to the intersection of their experience as an Asian person and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
“I originally started with the mental health providers that you get assigned from insurance… but that was a total failure,” said Kao. “I could at least get a list of providers that matched my criteria if I searched in California, but I could not do that in Nevada.” Eventually, they decided to pursue care outside of their insurance network.
Increasing providers with LGBTQ+ competencies is hard work, particularly in mental healthcare. Eastern Sierra Counseling founder David Ranson and CEO Sarah Vigilante founded their practice after seeing the need for accessible mental health services in rural communities.
“We are trying to reach across the aisle and get more access in these places, to connect our mountain communities because we are stronger together,” said Ranson. Eastern Sierra Counseling actively hires providers that identify as LGBTQ+ or have training in LGBTQ+ care to serve rural areas. They also attempt to provide competitive pay rates to ensure that providers can stay and serve the communities with a high cost of living.
Affordability
Finding the right kind of care is important, but it can also be exceedingly expensive to get the right kind of care. To get mental health care that fit their needs, Kao said they saw a provider out of their insurance network and paid out of pocket.
“Therapy was my biggest expense in a year. I was paying $275 per session every other week,” said Kao. “It was expensive. And it sucks because you know you want to get the help. At some point, you have to decide if you have that money and if you’re going to spend it on getting that help.”
Another respondent said they paid more for their out-of-network therapist than their monthly rent. But whether it’s in or out of network, mental healthcare is particularly expensive.
That’s not to mention travel for care. While a majority of those seeking therapy outside the region looked for telehealth, others routinely traveled to LGBTQ+ friendly practitioners, adding an extra cost of both money and time to their search for adequate care.
Ranson, who has had experience serving rural Inyo, Mono, Kern and El Dorado Counties said that insurance coverage is one of the biggest challenges they face.
“The culprit of these exceedingly long waiting lists is the way insurance works,” said Ranson.
Which providers are deemed in-network often depends on geographic boundaries that don’t reflect where rural residents live and work. For example, someone who lives in Truckee and works in Reno might find they can only see therapists in the Nevada valley and not on the California side.
Other times, insurance might cover primary care at a hospital, but the mental health providers are considered out of network.
Providers also say they want to serve rural communities, but because some insurers pay lower rates, it can be difficult to make ends meet.
While they offer care for people on Medicaid, they’re anxiously looking at the horizon of changes slated to take effect in January—when H.R. 1 will require people to report work or school hours to continue to stay covered. Due to higher rates of poverty and disability, the LGBTQ+ community is disproportionately covered by Medicaid.
Every barrier to care can have a bigger impact on marginalized groups, like the LGBTQ+ community. “Every hoop you put in the way makes it more likely that someone will fall through the cracks, and it’s more expensive in the long run,” said Vigilante.
Eastern Sierra Counseling pushed insurance companies to come to the table to provide better care. While Eastern Sierra Counseling partners with hospitals like Tahoe Forest Health System to provide Medicaid care for youth, widespread access is impossible without addressing the cost.
Acceptability
Rural areas historically have faced challenges with stigmatization and negative perception of mental healthcare. That stigma can also extend to different identities. While LGBTQ+ people have always existed, even in rural areas, their acceptance has been met with resistance. A study from 2025 suggests that lower social support is a risk factor for LGBTQ+ youth.
Crane, who often worked with LGBTQ+ teenagers in rural areas, said, “They were very hidden and there was a lot of fear. Many patients refused attendance to events that were labeled as trans or LGBT for fear of being outed.”
People interviewed by the Tribune described being harassed both online and in real life, sometimes leading to threats to harm, injure or kill them, or to reveal their LGBTQ+ identity to their workplaces with the hope that it would make them lose their jobs. Among LGBTQ+ youth, classmates would threaten to out them to their guardians or harass them if they saw they had participated in LGBTQ+ clubs or activities they derogatorily perceived as gay.
On the other hand, people have expressed that while Tahoe and Truckee are rural, they feel safer there than they might in other mountain towns. Victoria Estevez, a resident of Truckee who praised the care she received from Tahoe Forest Health System, said, “I pay a fee for safety. I feel support from this community and I would not move to another mountain town.”
Mental health’s history has also been oppressive to LGBTQ+ people. The legacy of diagnosing gay and/or trans people as mentally ill is one that mental health practitioners contend with today—homosexuality was removed as a diagnosis in 1973, while gender dysphoria still lingers.
But up-to-date standards of practice have advocated for coming out as a benefit to mental health and guides the care of transgender and gender diverse individuals through peer-reviewed research. And several of the providers the Tribune spoke to said they believed gender dysphoria, the feeling that one’s assigned sex at birth doesn’t align with their gender expression, should not be considered a mental illness.
Providers also spoke about the challenges of balancing advice to patients to live openly with the realities of transphobia and homophobia. Ranson said that the persistence of fear can push people back into the closet, but that there were real concerns around discrimination, harassment and even violence.
Hoang said the stigma of there being less out and open people in rural areas likely made it harder for people to talk about their experiences, let alone share their worries and fears with a mental health provider. Other respondents also shared that they worried they would be judged or treated poorly if they came out to a provider.
That lack of trust makes it easy for patients to decide to forego care entirely.
While Truckee and South Lake Tahoe both have active pride groups and events, the oppressive forces can extend past what simple social groups can do.
Kye Miller, a family lawyer who works with the LGBTQ+ community and mental healthcare in Reno, said that rural environments can create barriers to care. As an advocate for gender-affirming name changes as a part of improving mental health, he sees the issues that can arise there.
“In rural Yerington, the place that clients have to go for name changes is called the Donald J. Trump Justice Complex,” said Miller. “Clients will forego doing something good for their mental health because they have to file it in a place where they feel it will likely get rejected.”
Those attitudes also impact how people receive care. Respondents and care providers had several stories where their care was denied due to homophobia or transphobia. In one case, a patient was unable to get their hormones because a pharmacist denied filling their prescription.
Homophobia and transphobia have proven negative impacts on mental health. And when those attitudes extend to every aspect of living in a small, rural town, it’s no wonder why they reverberate into every part of the LGBTQ+ community and their lives.
Hostile policies affect LGBTQ+ access to care
Rising homophobia and transphobia isn’t limited to rural areas. The federal government has leveraged hostile policies against LGBTQ+ communities, impacting funding, care and those who provide it along with their patients.
The Trump administration built a major part of its platform on transphobia, putting out executive orders to halt gender-affirming care and dismantling policies that protected sexual orientation and gender identity from discrimination.
That included removing coverage for gender affirming care from the Affordable Care Act, putting out stop work orders on research for LGBTQ+ health and active efforts to criminalize those who provided care, especially to youth.
Carrie Henning-Smith, co-director of the University of Minnesota’s Rural Health Research Center, who conducted research on LGBTQ+ rural health found these developments troubling.
“Removing sexual orientation or gender identity from data collection efforts and removing protections in policy puts individuals at risk of harm without legal protections, while also making it more difficult to see where those harms are happening. Without adequate data, it’s difficult to know the full extent of health equity issues,” said Henning-Smith.
Such intimidation from the federal government worried many respondents to the Tribune, who struggled with the idea of seeking healthcare if it would be made unaffordable or immediately taken away from them. While California and Nevada both have protections for LGBTQ+ people, they expressed fears that their providers would be limited.
“We are making it so these populations, especially the younger portions, have a higher rate of suicide,” said Ranson.
Providers feel the fear too. Ranson and Vigilante said that in the wake of hostile policies, some of their therapists were concerned about being targeted if they advertised that they were LGBTQ+ friendly or helped with gender affirming care.
They also worried that providing diagnoses of gender dysphoria could cause their patients to be targeted. The Trump administration has already directed military officials to separate members who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and several bills have been introduced with the aim to identify those diagnoses in the general public.
Estevez, who receives care at Tahoe Forest Health System said, “In times like these, seeing a high percentage of staff and administration at the hospital with rainbow pins means something. It signals that their support isn’t fake.” So while it can feel risky to show vocal support, even a small action goes a long way when there are such negative attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people.
Health providers are in a unique position to advocate for protecting LGBTQ+ care. Dallas Ducar, chief strategy officer at Fenway Health, said, “Clinicians carry a credibility that lobbyists and advocates don’t, and their testimony takes abstract policy debates and puts it in the reality of care, because they are there to witness what happens in the margins.”
Dr. Karen Thiele, a family medicine clinician in Reno, said, “Being an ally is standing in the same line of fire as your communities. When you can speak for your patients, that’s a critical part of protecting their healthcare, and we have to use that.”
But doing so currently risks the professions of the very healthcare providers that can serve the LGBTQ+ community. Thiele said she has seen clinicians leave the field in response to hostile federal policies, especially in the realm of pediatric medicine. “I don’t feel a tenth of the daily pressure that my patients do, but I understand the stress they feel.”
Thiele says that they are striving for shield laws for physicians, which could protect providers’ licenses against out-of-state investigations, prosecutions and civil liability. In Nevada, they previously pushed for shield laws in 2023 and 2025, and failed both times. But Thiele and others hope to advocate for it again in the next legislative session.
“There are systemic barriers for rural LGBTQ+ health,” said Thiele. “To push for change, it can’t just be one voice. It needs to come from many, unified voices with institutional support. If you say that you serve a community, it needs to be everyone. Every patient. Every time.”
Rural LGBTQ+ residents need educated providers and specialists to care for them. You can read more about those challenges and potential solutions in part one and part two of this series.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Tahoe Transportation District (TTD), in partnership with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), Tahoe Fund, Washoe County, Nevada Division of State Lands (NDSL) and other Corridor Management Plan (CMP) partners announces the completion of the SR 28 North Parking Project (Phase 2 of the Tunnel Creek Parking Project), marking another milestone in ongoing efforts to improve safety, access and transportation options along Lake Tahoe’s East Shore.
The completed parking improvements support a broader regional strategy to address unsafe roadside parking, improve access to public lands and recreation areas, and create more opportunities for visitors to connect with transit and trail networks. The work is part of a coordinated, long-term approach to managing visitation and improving mobility along the SR 28 corridor while protecting the area’s environmental and scenic resources.
“Providing safe, organized parking is an important step toward improving the experience for residents and visitors while addressing longstanding safety challenges along the East Shore,” said Jim Marino, executive director of the Tahoe Transportation District. “By working with our regional partners, we are making progress toward a transportation system that better serves the community, improves safety and supports responsible access to Lake Tahoe’s public lands.”
SR 28 North Parking ExtensionProvided / TTD
The North Parking improvements build on the region’s ongoing investment in water quality improvements, safer access along SR 28, including a new transit stop, and the 90 parking spots located at the Tunnel Creek parking area. Together, these efforts support a more coordinated approach to parking management and recreation access, helping move visitors away from unsafe highway shoulders and toward designated parking facilities.
Over the next several years, the broader corridor strategy will continue to focus on providing safe off-road parking alternatives, strengthening transit connections to popular national forest recreation destinations, improving pedestrian and trail access, and supporting implementation of regional transportation priorities identified in the Regional Transportation Plan. These improvements are intended to help manage peak visitation, improve circulation and reduce conflicts among motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
SR 28 Corridor Improvements Advance with Progress on Spooner Mobility Hub
Construction is also progressing on a separate, related transportation hub and aquatic invasive species (AIS) watercraft inspection station across from the entrance to Spooner Lake State Park on national forest lands. Administered by NDOT, this two-season construction began in May 2026, with completion projected for fall 2027 and the facility anticipated to open in summer 2028.
When open, the transportation hub is expected to provide approximately 250 parking spaces, replacing unsafe shoulder parking along SR 28. The facility is also planned to support expanded seasonal transit service to East Shore recreation destinations, recreational access to Spooner Lake State Park and other public lands, and a potential future extension of the East Shore Trail. Infrastructure for planned electric vehicle charging and communication technology will further support transportation management and visitor access.
The facility will also house the Tahoe Basin’s first permanent aquatic invasive species watercraft inspection and decontamination station, replacing the existing temporary station near the U.S. 50 intersection. The station will help protect Lake Tahoe and other regional waters from aquatic invasive species.
The project is being developed in partnership with NDOT, TTD, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and Nevada Division of State Parks and Lands. TTD is expected to operate and maintain the transit hub and parking facility, while TRPA will operate the watercraft inspection station, pending the applicable Forest Service special use permit.
To make it easier to explore the East Shore Trail and stay up to date on the many improvements underway, the Tahoe Fund worked with Design Workshop to create a new StoryMap. You can view the interactive StoryMap here. The StoryMap provides additional context on the corridor’s transportation challenges, planned improvements and long-term vision for safer, more connected access to Tahoe’s East Shore.
For details on Tahoe Transportation District and its current projects, visit www.TahoeTransportation.org or call (775) 589-5500.
Tahoe Arts Project (TAP) extends a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped make the 13th annual Dancing with the Tahoe Stars fundraiser on October 10, 2026, a tremendous success!
This special evening brought together talented local dancers and their partners, generous sponsors, enthusiastic supporters, and community members for a night of entertainment, friendly competition, and fundraising in support of the performing arts in South Lake Tahoe.
Congratulations to all our dancers! Your hard work, courage, and dedication made this night so special.
TOP THREE DANCE COUPLES
1st Place: Maria Foulke & Gantt Miller
2nd Place: Chris Cocores & Scarlett Hart
3rd Place: Mike Mileski & Kylee Finnegan
TOP THREE FUNDRAISING COUPLES
1st Place: Maria Foulke & Gantt Miller
2nd Place: Julee Killebrew & Angie Zajic
3rd Place: Chelcee Thomas & Jessica Wackenhut
A very special thank-you goes to our local stars and their dance partners for the time, energy, and commitment they put into preparing for the event. Their hard work and willingness to step onto the dance floor helped make the evening memorable. We also thank our sponsors, donors, judges, MC’s Sara Pierce and Bryan Thompson, South Tahoe High School Dance Team, volunteers, and everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the event.
“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity and enthusiasm our community continues to show for Tahoe Arts Project,” said Peggy Blowney, Executive Director of TAP. “Events like Dancing with the Tahoe Stars remind us what a special community we live in. Thank you to everyone who danced, donated, sponsored, volunteered, and cheered us on. Your support makes a real difference in the lives of our local students.”
Tahoe Arts Project extends its heartfelt gratitude to the 40 cash sponsors whose generosity was instrumental in making the 13th annual Dancing with the Tahoe Stars our most successful year in the event’s 13-year history. Their financial support, along with the enthusiasm of our dancers, donors, volunteers, and community members, made this milestone possible. We are deeply grateful to everyone who believes in our mission and helps us bring the performing arts to South Lake Tahoe schools and the community.
Tahoe Arts Project would also like to extend a special thank-you to our generous business sponsors: Kahle Community Center, The Studio, South Shore Beauty, MVMNT, Sessions Salon, Bruschetta, Forest Suites Resort, Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge & Spa, and Bally’s Lake Tahoe. Their generosity and support helped make the 13th annual Dancing with the Tahoe Stars possible, and we are grateful for their commitment to our community and the arts.
As Tahoe Arts Project celebrates its 40th season in 2026–2027, community support is more important than ever. The success of Dancing with the Tahoe Stars helps TAP continue bringing high-quality performing arts experiences to local schools and audiences throughout the South Lake Tahoe community.
This event would not have been the incredible success it was without our amazing director/producer, Meg Peart. We are beyond grateful for the vision, time, heart, and hard work she poured into making this event so memorable. Meg, thank you, once again for supporting TAP and we truly couldn’t have done it without you!
Thank you, Tahoe, for making this evening such a wonderful celebration of dance, generosity, and the arts!
Several people have asked me over the past week what will happen to the stock market after the upcoming midterm election. Boy, do I wish I knew the answer to that one!
I may be an investment professional, but that doesn’t mean I can reliably predict where the market will move next. What I do have is a belief in the Efficient Market Hypothesis, which states that the markets reflect all the available information at a given time. That makes it extremely difficult to consistently predict what the market will do next.
Still, I can certainly understand why people are anxious about the election and its impact on the stock market. It feels like everyone is afraid that the sky is falling; half of the country if the Democrats take control of the House and Senate, and half of the country if the Republicans maintain control of them. Pretty incredible, isn’t it?
While I can’t tell you what the markets will do after the election—or, for that matter, tomorrow—what I can do is provide you with some evidence from over 75 years of market returns that may help put you at ease.
Per Fidelity, the S&P 500 index has posted gains in 95% of 12-month periods following midterm elections since 1938. In addition, the S&P 500 index has averaged gains of 14.5% since 1950 for the November-to-November period after the midterm election. That easily beats the long-term average gain since 1927 of just over 10% for the S&P 500 index and its predecessor, according to Investopedia.
Meanwhile, Blackrock notes that midterm election years themselves have been, on average, the worst-performing years for the stock market. Even so, since 1970, midterm election-year returns have averaged 7.5%.
So, what gives?
Markets don’t like uncertainty. Leading up to an election, it is often unclear whether control of Congress will change or how that might affect government policy. This uncertainty can contribute to higher volatility and lower market returns. Once the election outcome is clearer, either after the election or in the weeks leading up to it, investors feel more certain of the direction of government policy for at least the next two years.
Here is my final thought. Make sure that you are invested in a strong, diversified portfolio that makes sense for you for the long term, so that you won’t feel stressed leading up (or after) to the election. Consult a financial advisor if you are not sure. Avoid making any big changes based on emotions, knowing that the market has tended to perform well in the 12 months following midterm elections.
How ever you handle election stress, invest smartly and invest well!
Larry Sidney is a Zephyr Cove-based Investment Advisor Representative. Information is found at https://palisadeinvestments.com/ or by calling 775-299-4600 x702. This is not a solicitation to buy or sell securities. Clients may hold positions mentioned in this article. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters defeated the New Mexico Goatheads by a score of 2-1 in overtime.
The fireworks in the first period came off of a fight in the opening three minutes between Tahoe’s Tucker Ness and New Mexico’s Dakota Seaman to energize the crowd, but both goaltenders- Tahoe’s Alex Tracy and New Mexico’s Isaiah Saville posted shutout periods, and the two teams went scoreless into the second.
Knight Monsters v Utah GoatheadsProvided
In the middle frame, New Mexico got on the board first courtesy of Grant Ahcan’s first goal of the season to go up 1-0. Saville once again held down the fort in the period, and the Knight Monsters entered the third down a goal.
The final frame is when everything changed. Bronson Ride scored his first professional goal at the 8:21 mark of the period to tie the score at 1, and after a few chaotic sequences, both goaltenders stood their ground, and the game went into overtime.
In OT, it was Ness who scored the overtime winner off a pass from Tyler Rollwagen as the Knight Monsters took 4 out of a possible 6 points on the weekend.
Alex Tracy shined in net, stopping 35 of 36 New Mexico shots, earning him Second Star of the Game honors.
The Knight Monsters are back at Tahoe Blue Event Center on Wednesday, October 28, as they take on the Kansas City Mavericks for Pucks and Paws night. Puck drop is set for 7 pm PT. Season tickets and ticket packages for the 2026-27 season are now available. For more information on becoming a 1645 Club Season Ticket Member, visit knightmonstershockey.com.
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters their first win of the season against the New Mexico Goatheads on home ice by a score of 6-2.
In the first period, after enduring an early rush of New Mexico shots, Tahoe turned the tide as Jake Durflinger got the Knight Monsters on the board with his first of the season to give Tahoe an early one-goal lead. Just over three minutes later, the Knight Monsters would build their lead off of a goal from Tucker Ness, making it 2-0 Tahoe. In the closing minutes of the frame, Durflinger scored his second of the night shorthanded to put Tahoe up 3-0; however, that goal would be cancelled out by a power play goal from Jake Chiasson for New Mexico, and Tahoe took a 3-1 lead into the intermission.
After struggling in the second period on the road in Wichita, the Knight Monsters played a complete middle 20 as Noah Nelson scored his first professional goal to make it 4-1, and Samuel Mayer scored Tahoe’s second shorthanded goal of the game to go up 5-1 heading into the third period.
The Goatheads would jump out first in the final frame as Briley Wood scored his first of the season to cut the lead to 5-2, but late in the period, on the power play, New Mexico pulled their goaltender and captain Jake McGrew scored an empty-net, shorthanded goal to extend Tahoe’s lead to four and give the Knight Monsters a 6-2 win.
Goaltender Alex Tracy had a great night in net as well, stopping 40 of 42 Goatheads shots in the win in front of a sold-out crowd.
This win also marked the first win in the head coaching career of Connor Jones. The Montrose, British Columbia native joins the Tahoe staff from Princeton University, where he was an assistant coach for the last two seasons.
The Knight Monsters are back at Tahoe Blue Event Center tomorrow night, October 24, as they take on the New Mexico Goatheads for the second game of this three-game series. Puck drop is set for 7 pm PT. Season tickets and ticket packages for the 2026-27 season are now available. For more information on becoming a 1645 Club Season Ticket Member, visit knightmonstershockey.com.
We’re not saying Ducky is the smartest girl in the room…but she probably already knows how to unlock the door!
Meet Ducky! At just 1 year old and around 50 pounds, this sweet, goofy girl is the perfect combination of brains, beauty, and silly personality. She picks up new tricks and commands in no time, especially when treats are involved. Honestly, with her smarts and motivation, she might be ready to teach us a few things!
Ducky is also a wonderful canine companion who gets along great with other dogs. She’s playful, gentle, and respectful of her furry friends. Add in her love of car rides and spending time with her people, and you’ve got yourself a pretty fantastic adventure buddy. Whether she’s showing off her intelligence, making you laugh with her goofy antics, or happily hopping into the car for a ride, Ducky knows how to keep life entertaining.
Ducky is this week’s Pet of the Week. Provided / HSTT
Ducky is looking for a loving home where she can keep learning, playing, and sharing her big personality. She would do best in a home without children under 12 years old. In return, she promises plenty of laughs, lots of love, and enough smarts to keep you on your toes!
Think your home could use a little more Ducky? Come meet this clever girl and see if she’s your perfect match!
Ducky is currently in foster care, but if you are interested in meeting her, please call/email one of HSTT’s Adoption Specialists, 530-587-5948 or adoptions@hstt.org.
Ducky is spayed, vaccinated, and up to date on her vaccines. To view more adoptable pets or to learn more about the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, visit www.hstt.org.
Nothing is debated more fiercely in Vail — or more often — than the strategies and decisions of Vail Resorts. Whether you are in a bar, a restaurant, a hiking trail or on a ski lift, the topic of Vail Resorts is bound to come up. And almost no one is short of a strong opinion.
But here’s a new twist. For the first time in its history as a public company, Vail Resorts is under attack by some of its own shareholders, who are none too happy with its management or the performance of its stock. VR shares have plummeted by about 60% over the last five years, while the S&P 500 index is up 76% over that same period. The stock is down 10% over the last year, while the S&P is up a healthy 15%.
Not real good.
That’s drawn the ire of a Hong Kong-based investment firm called Oasis Management, which has nominated four of its own candidates to replace some of the existing members of the nine-person board at the company’s upcoming annual shareholder meeting. The company has yet to set a date for that meeting, but it has historically held the meeting by the middle of December.
Oasis, which currently owns 9% of VR’s stock, says its directors would bring “a fresh perspective” to Vail Resorts management. While it has yet to lay out the specifics of its proposals for change, it has said it would review everything from VR’s pricing strategies, marketing, food and beverage offerings to the pricing of lift tickets and lessons for kids and skiers who are new to the sport. It would also likely press CEO Rob Katz to give more serious consideration to selling some of its 42 resorts, especially the Park City resort which has drawn considerable interest from billionaire Matthew Prince.
Before we move deeper into the story, let’s talk for a second about how a proxy fight works. Anyone who owns Vail Resorts stock as of a designated date — we won’t know that exact date till VR files its proxy statement — can vote their shares for any of the candidates for the nine seats. VR will run a slate of nine board members, all currently serving, while Oasis will run four so-called dissident candidates and another investor, Gregory Syvert Meyer, who owns less than 5% of the stock, has nominated himself for a seat. Whichever candidates get the nine most votes will be seated.
While this may sound like a wonderful example of shareholder democracy, the outcome of the vote will actually be determined by a very tiny number of institutional investors. Why is that? Because a small number of investors own well over 50% of the stock, and their votes are pivotal. The largest of these investors is long-time VR shareholder Baron Capital, which owns 18.3% of the shares according to its latest filing with the SEC. After that, you have Capital Research, the ultra-secretive Los Angeles firm that manages the American Funds. American owns 11.4% of the stock, according to its latest SEC filing. Another 20% or so appears to be in the hands of index fund managers Vanguard and Black Rock, and then there’s Oasis at 9% and Meyer at less than 5% (if he had more, he would have to file certain disclosures with the SEC).
While Meyer is an independent candidate for the board, it is presumed he will vote his shares for himself and Oasis’ four directors, though that is not totally certain. Neither Meyer nor Oasis responded to repeated requests for comments.
Not a lot is known about Oasis among American investors. As noted, it’s based in Hong Kong and most of its investments are in Asia. While not being a well-recognized name among U.S. investors, Oasis has gained a reputation as an ultra-aggressive investor in the Far East, where it has carried on myriad campaigns over the last decade where it has pushed for everything from replacing existing management, raising the dividend to the outright selling of the company. Seth Fischer, Oasis’s founder and chief investment officer, served in the Israel Defense Forces before getting into money management. For management, hearing that Oasis just bought your stock ranks only slightly better than hearing your dog has been hit by a car.
While Oasis has been mostly mute about what specific actions it would like Vail management to consider, investors should gain much greater insight during the weeks leading up to the shareholder vote. That will begin when VR management files a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC in which it will recommend that investors back the nine incumbent directors.
Oasis will then respond with its own proxy touting its four candidates. Although not required by law, most dissident groups also file a shareholder letter in support of its proxy in which it will outline its criticism of existing management and board, and often back that up with specific proposals for change.
That’s when things start to really get interesting. VR can then follow that up with a second or even third proxy, as well as many shareholder letters as it likes, as can Oasis as the two sides go back and forth, lobbing artillery rounds at each other. Each filing and letter will most likely be able to be accessed on the Vail Resorts website.
Speculating about what exactly Oasis will say about VR management over the next month has become one of the hottest parlor games in town. If it chooses to publish a letter, it’s likely to hammer VR management for everything from dreadful stock performance, declining skier visits, the exorbitant price of lift tickets and lessons and the fact that its current board members own very little stock, much of what it does own coming via stock awards as opposed to purchases in the open market.
How will VR counter Oasis’ assault, should it be offered? It’s likely to argue that Oasis is out for a quick buck and has no intention of sticking around for the long-term. If the stock goes up 15-20%, then it’s gone. The best known of its board nominees, Bob Chapek, the former Disney CEO, is getting paid $100,000 a month to run for a board seat. If he wins, Oasis will then make him a “forgivable” $500,000 loan from Oasis to buy VR stock. Is this the portrait of someone committed to VR’s long-term future or a well-known capitalist out for a quick score?
Alas, it’s impossible to know just what Katz & crew are thinking. So far, they’ve adopted a strategy that might best be compared to an ostrich burrowing its head in the sand. During last week’s Vail Resorts earnings call, Katz, who is now on his second stint as VR CEO after Kirsten Lynch was fired in mid-2025, refused to answer any questions about Oasis or the proxy fight, a topic probably of greater interest to many investors than the company’s lackluster quarterly earnings. VR declined to respond to requests for comment for this article.
There’s little doubt the vote amounts to a referendum on Katz and the rest of Vail Resorts management.
In a provocative posting on September 25 on the investor online forum Seeking Alpha, a value investor named Sanjay Swamy argued that despite Vail Resorts stock plummeting about 60% over the last five years, the stock is still not an attractive buy. He lambasted the company for constantly blaming its problems on one-time events like the weather or Covid.
Swamy’s argument is that skiing appears to be a declining sport and Vail Resorts has failed to attract enough younger and casual skiers to produce an increase in overall skier visits. “Vail has a core consumer base that is loyal,” Swamy wrote. “However, everything else is leaking. New customers are not arriving, one-year skiers are not coming back, and the lift-ticket pool that historically converted into passholders is shrinking. This is a classic example of funnel decay. This is not something that can continue to be blamed on bad weather … My view is that the business is broken.”
During last week’s earnings call, Katz said he did not believe the sport was in secular decline, instead blaming the 12% drop in North American pass sales through Sept. 19 on — you guessed it — the weather. There’s no doubt that North American skier visits have been declining, and Vail Resorts is forecasting they will fall again during the 26-27 when compared with the 24-25 season, the last year when snowfall was normal. What is unclear is whether these declines are solely due to weather, as Katz suggests, or more fundamental problems in the ski industry.
Certainly, there are plenty of industry insiders that feel skiing is a declining business. “At the end of the day, the ski business is pretty much a no-growth business with serious inflation issues,” Aspen One CEO Dave Tanner said in June. “Frankly, pricing exhaustion, because pricing has gotten taken so much in the last 10 years, the consumer is starting to push back. So if you have that mix, what it does is it decreases the profitability of an organization, which decreases the incentive to invest into the organization … Skiing is not the juggernaut it was 10 years ago.”
Katz seems to be betting that most of the problems in the ski industry are weather-related, and that business will rebound this winter. “We certainly assume that the industry is going to have a significant recovery from last year,” he said on last week’s earnings call. “The only question is whether the industry is going to get all the way back to where it was in the fiscal 2025 season.” Interestingly, he said VR hopes to drive sales growth with a much greater foray into the ski rental industry, which is unlikely to be interpreted as good news by the local ski shops, many of which are already struggling after a dismal winter. “I think the single biggest opportunity financially is going to be gear,” he said. “That’s not going to be in the next 12 months, but I absolutely see it as a really big transformation in how people engage and use gear.”
Here are some things that shareholders will be wrestling with when considering how to vote. In the fiscal year ended July 31, which includes all the 2025-26 ski season in North America, VR skier visits were down 13.4%, and total lift revenue fell 3.5%. The difference in those two percentages is because VR raised the price of passes as well as lift tickets last year. As noted, Katz ascribes nearly all the blame for the drop in skier visits to the weather, labeling the 2025-26 season in the west as “the most difficult weather environment we’ve ever experienced.” But pass sales have been falling for the last three years and sales have been tepid so far this year, and the company says it does not expect them to meaningfully rebound. It hopes to make some of that up with increased non-pass lift sales.
Meanwhile, investors as well as those who watch the ski industry closely — or depend on it for their livelihood — are asking: Is the problem that skiers are spooked by last year’s horrific snow conditions or are there greater issues at play, ranging from the hefty cost of a ski vacation, concerns about how El Nino might impact snow in North America this season, consumers being squeezed by inflation and/or general uncertainty about the economy?
Swamy noted in his post that even in the 2024-25 season, when the snow was relatively normal, Vail Resorts did not perform in line with the industry, though that trend reversed in 2025-26. Wrote Swamy: “North American skier visits fell 3% [at Vail Resorts] in [the 24-25] season when the U.S. ski industry grew 1.7% to its second-best total on record. That’s five points of share given away in a good year … with no snowpack explanation available. Pass units have declined for three years … In my view, there’s only so much management can blame on weather.”
Like Tanner at Aspen One, Swamy contends that one of the ski industry’s biggest problems is that it has made the cost of skiing far too expensive for many people. For years, Vail Resorts has been growing sales far faster than the increase in skier visits. How do you do that? By raising prices every year. “I believe it is squeezing more money from a shrinking user base,” Swamy wrote. “Strip away the price increases and this company is going backwards.”
Vail Resorts’ response seems to be to brag that, despite its problems, it has outperformed the industry and that if we were to get a decent snowfall this season, our problems will largely be behind us. “We will outperform the rest of the industry, weather-adjusted, on lift tickets this year,” he said. “What this all comes down to, in terms of what you think will happen to sales this season, is what do people think about the U.S. ski industry for this next year.”
Obviously, Oasis, Meyer and Swamy do not agree. They see many of the company’s current problems as self-inflicted.
Swamy laid some of the blame for Vail Resorts problems on its disregard for down-home customer service of the kind pioneered by the late George Gillett, a contention that many longtime locals would sympathize with. “In my view, Vail has gotten too corporate for its own good,” Swamy wrote. “It’s lost its mom-and-pop feel…The way I interpret this is that Vail has lost touch with its customers.”
Moving forward, both Oasis and Vail Resorts are likely to unleash a team of so-called proxy solicitors to court the company’s largest shareholders — and hopefully gain their support. Oasis faces an uphill fight — some would say impossible — if it hopes all four of its board candidates will get elected. It’s very hard for dissidents to win a proxy fight, especially one like this where so many of the shares are in such few hands. It would be almost impossible for Oasis to prevail unless it convinces Ron Baron, the 83-year-old billionaire who heads Baron Capital, to support its candidates. Historically, Baron has strongly supported VR management. However, watching your stock go down 60% over five years while the market in general is booming is a bitter pill to swallow. There’s a reason proxy fights only break out against companies whose stock has languished and whose management is regarded as less than stellar.
So how will all this play out?
Frankly, there’s no way to know. There’s most likely a lot of cajoling and arm-twisting going on behind closed doors among VR management, the dissidents and large shareholders. It is not beyond the pale that VR management might reach a deal with Oasis prior to the shareholder meeting to seat one or two of the Oasis board nominees — or Meyer — in exchange for canceling the proxy vote. The dissidents would then use those seats to pressure management for changes it believes would drive up the stock price.
What would be in it for Vail Resorts management to settle before a vote?
One, it would get the company out of the headlines where the decline of the stock and declining skier visits has resulted in it being pilloried by many of its own shareholders. It would also save them the potential embarrassment of losing one or more seats to the dissidents. In exchange, VR would likely insist that Oasis sign a standstill agreement where it agrees to neither buy more stock nor sell any of what it already owns for a specified period. This not only allows things to settle down but also precludes Oasis from making all sorts of noise to drive the stock up, say, 15% or so, and then it unloads its entire position at a hefty profit.
Assuming Oasis were to gain a couple board seats and stick around, what would it do? This is always hard to predict, but almost certainly they’d want management to perform a comprehensive review of its pricing strategies as well as review any plan it must drive up skier visits. It has also said it wants to participate in any discussions regarding either acquisitions Vail Resorts is considering or dispositions of assets, such as the proposal by Prince to buy the Park City resort. The problem with selling lucrative resorts such as Vail, Park City or Whistler is that it would greatly diminish the appeal of the Epic Pass to a significant number of skiers, especially tourists, and thereby further erode the value of the company.
Would Oasis push for the sale of the entire company? Possible, but unlikely. For one thing, the list of buyers would be very, very short, perhaps nonexistent.
However, it would not be unreasonable to expect Oasis to pressure VR to unload marginally profitable or unprofitable properties or divisions. They might also apply pressure to reduce debt, which has drifted into the uncomfortable range. As of the end of fiscal 2026, net debt was nearly four times trailing earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, referred to as EBITDA in financial circles. That’s up from 3.4 times a year ago. That’s a lot of debt.
Worse, the company chewed up over $200 million in cash in fiscal 2026, roughly half its cash hoard going into the year — leaving it with about $250 million in cash going into the new year. Another horrific season this winter and the noose will start to tighten around the company’s neck and the company’s 6.6% dividend will almost surely have to be slashed, which would likely cause the stock to plummet again. Last year the company paid out $317 million in dividends, which many would describe as a not-so-subtle tactic to prop up the stock. VR chewed up nearly two-thirds of its operating cash flow just paying dividends. Short-term, that keeps some of your shareholders happy, but long-term it’s unsustainable unless business picks up.
But here’s a big issue going forward: Stocks trade on multiples and earnings growth. So how is Vail Resorts going to get that growth? It has historically been able to drive earnings growth by employing two highly effective tactics. One, it bought up resort after resort, booked the sales from those resorts and then stripped out the costs of duplicative accounting, legal, administrative and marketing departments. In so doing, it sustained consistent margins from the mountain segment in the 32-34% range until fiscal 2023. In essence, it used the acquisitions to manufacture sales and earnings growth. Second, it raised prices year after year, which allowed sales to grow faster than ski visits, as we have already seen. As a result, margins from the mountain segment have been falling since 2023 while sales have not meaningfully increased since the 2022-23 ski season. In fact, they haven’t increased at all.
Swamy thinks the pricing power that historically allowed VR to raise pass and lift prices every year has dissipated. “The 26/27 season Epic pass launched at $1,089, a 3.6% increase, the smallest year over year bump since 2021, alongside a 20% discount for skiers 13 to 30. I’m skeptical of any argument that Vail’s demand is healthy. If it were, it wouldn’t have to cut its price increases or initiate discount programs. In my opinion, Vail doesn’t have pricing power.”
So the question is this: With very few North American resorts of any scale left to buy at an attractive price and lift ticket prices having hit the point where many families can no longer afford a ski vacation, what do you do? You have a labor-intensive, capital-intensive business with considerable exposure to seasonality, the economy and climate change. And a fair amount of debt at a time when interest rates are rising.
That, my friends, is not the definition of an attractive business. It’s going to take managerial expertise and guile to navigate these issues.
If Oasis were to gain a couple of board seats, would that help? Hard to know. The best known of its candidates — at least to the business community — is Chapek, the former Disney CEO. On the surface, Chapek would be a major upgrade in the quality of Vail Resorts board. But there are questions about his motivation to be involved in this fight at all. Is he simply a rental candidate designed to provide Oasis much needed credibility with investors during the proxy fight?
According to an Oasis SEC filing, Chapek is being paid $100,000 a month by Oasis for standing for election and providing consulting services during the proxy fight. Oasis disclosed that it will also make him a $500,000 “forgivable” loan to buy Vail Resorts stock in the event he wins a board seat. That is very unusual. VR could very well attack that arrangement, arguing that Chapek is a paper candidate being paid by Oasis not only to run, but serve if he happens to win.
So far, Chapek doesn’t appear to be hugely involved with the proxy fight. He has written a book on his Disney years — he was fired in 2022 after three years as CEO — called Behind The Castle Walls and is now on a book tour. But there’s no doubt his presence on the board would give it greater gravitas. In addition, MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Horbuckle was added to the board in July. The addition of Hornbuckle and possibly Chapek would give the board a measure of experience and savvy that it has previously lacked.
No matter how the proxy fight comes out, there’s no doubt VR faces considerable challenges to not only get the stock price up but restore it to a position of respect among investors, Wall Street analysts and the skiing public. The outcome is anything but certain, though the need for change seems obvious to many observers. Wrote Swamy, “This company shows that [the strategy of] scale plus price has run out of road and that the company now has to spend real money buying back the guest experience it traded away…Unfortunately, I believe it will take a while for those changes to benefit the company.”
John Taylor is a former business reporter and Forbes bureau chief who later worked as a financial analyst on Wall Street for 20 years before retiring to Vail in 2017. He owns no Vail Resorts stock.
STATELINE, Nev. – Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) has purchased two DJI Matrice 4TD drones, expanding the District’s capabilities in fire detection, search and rescue, and emergency incident assessment throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The new technology provides firefighters with an aerial perspective and advanced thermal imaging capabilities that can help locate people in distress, identify potential fire hazards, and provide incident commanders with critical information during emergency operations.
Advanced Technology for Search and Rescue
When someone becomes lost or injured on a hiking trail, in rugged terrain, or in another difficult to access location, time is critical. Searching large areas on foot can be challenging, particularly in low-light conditions or when terrain limits visibility.
The new drones can help firefighters cover areas from the air while using thermal imaging to identify heat signatures that may distinguish a person from the surrounding environment. Once a potential subject is located, the aircraft’s targeting and positioning capabilities can help establish geographic coordinates, allowing ground crews to navigate more directly to the location.
The new technology provides firefighters with an aerial perspective and advanced thermal imaging capabilities. Provided / TDFPD
A New Tool for Fire Detection
The drones will also support fire detection and assessment throughout the District’s service area. Lightning strikes, remote terrain, and forested areas can make it difficult to identify a developing fire from the ground.
Thermal imaging allows trained personnel to look for unusual heat signatures that may indicate a hot spot, a smoldering area, or a suspected lightning caused fire. By identifying areas of concern and providing aerial imagery and location information, the drones can help crews investigate potential threats and assess developing incidents.
During active fire operations, aerial thermal imagery can also assist personnel in evaluating hot spots and identifying areas that may require additional attention.
Thermal Imaging and Lake Search Operations
Lake Tahoe presents unique challenges for emergency responders, particularly during searches for people in the water. The Matrice 4TD’s thermal imaging capabilities provide an additional tool for
scanning the water’s surface and shoreline for detectable heat signatures that may help identify a person in distress.
Thermal imagery can support search operations when visibility is limited, including certain nighttime conditions. Its effectiveness depends on environmental conditions, water temperature, the subject’s position, and other factors. It does not allow the drone to see through the water to locate a fully submerged person.
The purchase represents an investment in modern emergency response technology and provides TDFPD with additional tools to serve residents, visitors, and recreational users throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin.
As the District continues to evaluate and integrate emerging technology into its operations, the goal remains the same: improve emergency response, protect lives and property, and provide the highest level of service to the community.
Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District released the following statement privacy:
“We understand the importance of protecting our community’s privacy. Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District will deploy these drones for emergency response purposes, such as fire detection, search and rescue, and incident assessment. They are tools to help us locate people in need, identify potential hazards, and protect lives, not to monitor everyday activities. We are committed to using this technology responsibly and with respect for the privacy of our residents and visitors.”
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office has filed criminal charges against Erinn Colleen Miller, alleging multiple felony counts of embezzlement, forgery, and money laundering. The charges stem from Miller’s work providing bookkeeping and financial management services to a South Lake Tahoe medical group and a local youth sports organization.
The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office could not tell the Tribune how much money was allegedly embezzled.
Miller faces a criminal case in Douglas County, Nevada, for allegedly embezzling money from the Zephyr Cove Elementary School Parents Club and the George Whittell High School Booster Club.
These charges are separate from that pending criminal case. The El Dorado County case involves separate victims and an independent course of alleged criminal conduct.
Reporting from Sarah Drinkwine, Record-Courier
School Board trustee Erinn Miller was arrested Thursday for embezzlement on a nationwide warrant issued from South Lake Tahoe at her Dora Court office in Zephyr Cove.
Douglas County deputies took her into custody after allowing her to finish a phone call.
She was booked into Douglas County jail on a no-bail hold.
Prosecutors in her Douglas County case have been referring to possible charges in El Dorado County connected with her bookkeeping business.
She is already on Douglas County Alternative Sentencing.
Because of the warrant, she won’t be able to make bail until she is extradited to California to face those charges.
I slipped my left pointer finger into a pocket on the rock. Then, moving my right hand upward along the granite, I found a crimp hold. Yes, that’s what I had been missing. After several failed attempts, I finally found how I would get through the most difficult part of the climb.
I hoisted myself up and grasped the jug hold above my head. Relief.
That was on the hardest of the three climbs I did at 90 Foot Wall in Emerald Bay on Sunday. My group and I spent the day scaling routes, belaying each other and basking in the afternoon sun. With beautiful weather and only a few others at the usually-packed crag, it truly felt like local’s summer.
It was my first time climbing at 90 Foot Wall, and my second time climbing outdoors since I moved to Tahoe about a month ago. Since then, I have found community at Blue Granite Climbing Gym — leading me to the people I was with at 90 Foot Wall — and become utterly obsessed with knocking off enough “Rocktober” challenges to enter a raffle for a climbing rope.
To give you a sense: Rocktober has driven me to hike up and down two flights of stairs 30 times with a 30-pound kettlebell in my backpack in 30 minutes (eliciting some puzzled looks), climb 30 routes in an hour, climb three routes blindfolded, boulder with one hand only, top rope with one foot only, do 100 burpees in an hour and read a Dr. Seuss book aloud while holding a horse pose, among other things.
I’ve completed 30 challenges as of this story’s writing, but I’m sure by the time it’s published, it’ll be more. Climbing outdoors at 90 Foot Wall was on that list, too.
I consider myself a mediocre climber who gets stronger every day. In January, I purchased my first climbing membership and, over the next few months, developed the first inkling of arm strength I’ve had in my life. Taking the summer off, I lost all my momentum. Now, I’ve returned with a vengeance.
Rocktober has pushed me to push myself, attempting many physical challenges I would never have done of my own volition. I’m gaining strength. I used a hangboard for the first time. I boulder unafraid of taking falls. I want to learn lead climbing, something that always scared me off before.
As the sun set behind the mountains in Emerald Bay, we hiked the half mile from 90 Foot Wall to our cars, drove down to Kiva Beach and dunked in the lake. I stood shivering on the beach, lips blue from the cold, but I couldn’t shake the smile from my face.
There may be nothing better than spending a day out at a rock, with good company, in a place as beautiful as Tahoe.
Kiva Beach, after sunset, where we jumped in the lake.Carly Heltzel / Tahoe Daily Tribune
From left to right: Head coach Connor Jones, captain Jake McGrew, forward Jake Derflinger, goaltender Jordan Papirny, and rookie Kooper GizowskiVictoria Mastrocola / Tahoe Daily Tribune
STATELINE, Nev. – It’s an exciting start to the season for the Tahoe Knight Monsters as they brace for their upcoming home opener with new team colors, a new captain and new head coach, Connor Jones, against brand new expansion, the New Mexico Goatheads.
“I think we’ve got an energetic group,” said Jones. “‘Resilient’ would be the word that I’d use. We’ve gotten down and overcame some adversity, early.”
Jones led the team during a two-game season-opener series against the Wichita Thunder starting on October 17, and although both games were neck-and-neck, the Thunder took home a 4-3 win after heading into overtime.
“In college, you’re recruiting and you have [players] for four years, especially where I was at Princeton. You learn to develop those guys,” Jones told the Tribune. “That’s something I want to bring into this group and develop their games to get to the next level.”
While he continues to learn the ropes of head coaching an ECHL team, Jones is also striving to manage not just his players, but also staff and the operations side of things, saying that he’s more aware of the decisions he makes and how they might affect others.
Knight Monsters v Wichita ThunderProvided / Knight Monsters
New team captain, Jake McGrew has some managing ahead of him this season as he replaces previous captain, Luke Adam.
When asked which aspects of Adam’s leadership he wants to carry forward, McGrew praised Adam’s personableness.
“He really meshed with everybody. He was a knowledgeable guy, and he was easy to talk to,” McGrew said. “I want to be a voice for guys if they need anything. I think there’s more to it than just inside the rink, and that’s the kind of leader I want to be.”
McGrew also touched on letting his actions and results speak for themselves.
“I think, at times, it’s knowing the spots to buckle down, not say much, and just lead by example.”
Heading into the weekend, the team will face off against the New Mexico Goatheads, a new team in the ECHL who have replaced the Utah Grizzlies in the Mountain Division. Although they’re a new team, Jones said he’s not counting them out.
“I think in any game and any sport, you can’t underestimate your opponents,” said Jones. “My message to [my team] is going to be to worry about us, and we’ll make adjustments to what New Mexico will do.”
Jones, having previously played against Goatheads head coach Zack Stortini in multiple divisional AHL matchups, anticipates that Stortini will lead a competitive and physical team.
As the Tahoe Knight Monsters dawn their new powder blue and sky blue colors, forward Jake Derflinger said it’s all part of their transition period.
“I think they look great,” Derflinger said. “A lot of things changed this offseason. We’ve got a very different looking group. We have new staff, and it just so happens that the colors changed as well.”
In lieu of all the changes, the Tahoe Knight Monsters say they’re excited for the 2026-27 season.
Their home opener weekend starts this weekend, Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, both games starting at 7 p.m., followed by a game on Sunday, October 25 at 3 p.m.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif – Councilmember Heather Horgan’s son worked at Grocery Outlet making minimum wage in high school. She makes less than he did per hour as a city council member now.
City council will soon vote to give itself a standard 5% raise starting in late January, increasing yearly pay for its members from $16,734 per year to $18,449 per year. But with the amount of time members say they spend on council per week, most will still be making less than minimum wage.
Council members, when interviewed individually, estimated they spend anywhere from 10 to 40 hours per week on council-related activities. Three of the four interviewed for this story said they spend a minimum of 20 hours on council activities per week. Councilmember David Jinkins was not able to be reached for comment.
“The public only sees two meetings a month for the most part,” Councilmember Scott Robbins said. “There’s a humongous gap between what’s visible and what actually needs to happen.”
If a council member spends an average of 20 hours per week on council, their pay would currently equate to $16.09 per hour, 81 cents less than California’s $16.90 minimum wage. After the proposed 5% raise, that number would increase to $17.74 per hour. That barely outpaces California’s minimum wage increase to $17.40 on Jan. 1, 2027.
But the majority of council members said 20 hours is a light week for them. In the 25 to 40 hours per week range, that hourly figure plummets.
It looks more like $12.87 per hour for a council member who averages 25 hours per week and $10.73 per hour for one who averages 30 hours per week. With the proposed raise, those numbers would rise to $14.19 and $11.83 per hour, respectively.
California law limits what council members can get paid in all non-charter cities based on population size. Cities are only allowed to raise their pay 5% for each calendar year since the last adjustment.
As of a 2023 state law revision, in cities with a population of 35,000 or less, councils can’t set their pay above $950 per month. Previously, that cap was set at $300 in 1984. South Lake Tahoe already had a compensation greater than the $950 cap in 2023 based on the previous yearly adjustments.
At the Oct. 6 meeting when the raise was first presented, the city clerk noted that each time she has brought the possibility of a 5% raise to council, no council has denied or decreased it.
At that meeting, Mayor Cody Bass, Mayor Pro Tem Keith Roberts and Councilmember Robbins said they will vote yes on the 5% raise when it comes to a vote, and Councilmembers Heather Horgan and David Jinkens said they will abstain.
How many hours do council members spend per week?
Mayor Cody Bass estimated 25 to 40. (“We’ve had quite a few eight and 10 hour meetings. That’s just a meeting.”)
Scott Robbins estimated 20 to 30. (“If you want to do this job of city council representation well, you’re looking at 20 to 30 hours a week. There is no legal requirement that one does this job well.”)
Heather Horgan estimates 20 to 30. (“Scott Robbins in the meeting was pretty much spot on.”)
Mayor Pro Tem Keith Roberts said it can sometimes be up to 20 hours (“It varies greatly.”)
David Jinkins couldn’t be reached for comment.
Council members typically take positions on other boards, commissions or assignments that have monthly or quarterly meetings. Horgan said it can take up to eight hours to thoroughly review a lengthy agenda packet before a council meeting.
Plus there’s the subcommittee meetings within those assignments. And all interviewed said they consistently make themselves available to constituents to hear their concerns.
How does South Lake Tahoe city council’s pay compare to other cities in California?
With state law in mind, South Lake Tahoe falls in the top 36th percentile of council pay in the state and the top 30th percentile for pay per constituent, based on 2025 data available on Government Compensation in California website.
Bass said the city’s numbers being roughly in the top third creates “an interesting dynamic” in that South Lake Tahoe has never raised its compensation more than allowed by state law. He also said that the city is in a better financial state than many others of the same or even greater sizes, which has allowed them to continue implementing the 5% raise year over year.
Robbins said the pay per constituent number being in the 30th percentile is not “terribly remarkable,” especially because while the official population of the city is around 21,000, there is a much greater population (he estimated closer to 100,000 people) that uses the infrastructure and resources the city manages.
Compared with the 50 cities directly larger and 50 cities directly smaller in population — ranging from 12,712 to 30,687 people — South Lake Tahoe has the 16th highest pay of the 101 cities and also the 16th highest pay per constituent.
Of the 259 cities with populations under 35,000 who are under the same state regulations, South Lake Tahoe is in the 28th percentile for population size, 12th percentile for council pay and 28th percentile for pay per constituent.
Why increase pay?
Council members who support the raise say that failing to increase its pay at the maximum level will limit who is able to serve on council in the future.
At the meeting, Mayor Bass was the biggest proponent of the raise, calling it a “disservice to future councils” to not increase their pay at the 5% rate. Bass is not running for reelection this year. He also noted that in his time on city council, there has never been a financial deficit and the city has had leftover, “undesignated” funds every year.
“It’s kind of been known why it is only just all old people on these city councils, and minorities aren’t represented,” he said. “Different age demographics aren’t represented, and I think it can be pointed to that.”
Bass said state-level change is needed to allow city council members to earn livable wages and the low pay contributes to “a quality issue around the people that represent us.”
Both Robbins and Bass argue that without livable pay, the only people who will be able to run will be retired, independently wealthy or have vested financial interests in council decisions.
In some public comments, people have said the job should be a volunteer position. Robbins likened the difference to the four year commitment. Roberts said the job entails much more than volunteer work — namely making laws and bearing the brunt of public frustration.
“We get chastised, we get insulted, we get threatened because of the things we do, and it’s a lot different than just being a volunteer,” Roberts said. “There’s a lot more responsibility. There’s a lot more work, and there’s a lot more challenges that we face, and we face them hard.”
Heather Horgan and David Jinkins both said they will abstain from voting on the raise.
In an interview, Horgan said the way the agenda item was presented caught her off guard and said she felt the 5% figure came out of nowhere. In the meeting, she asked staff what is common practice and even brought up the idea of an inflation-based 3% increase instead.
“It just didn’t feel right,” Horgan said. “I didn’t really know how to vote for it. I didn’t want to vote no because it felt like I was voting against the next council, and there may be people on the council that legitimately need the income.”
In the meeting, Jinkins said money should not be the reason people run for public office, but he still hopes to encourage as many people as possible to run for public office.
Do council members rely on the pay?
Not on the current council.
“But I couldn’t afford to quit my job and be on council at my current rate of pay,” Roberts said. “And as much as I enjoy being on council and enjoy doing great things for this community, I can’t quit my job and do more.”
Three of the five council members have day jobs.
Horgan said she works around 30 hours per week as a nursing supervisor at Sutter with clustered 12-hour shifts. Roberts said he works “at least full time” as the chief operating officer for Tahoe Investment Capital & Stewardship, a company that supplies upper management to businesses. Bass said he works at least 40 hours per week managing his cannabis dispensary, Tahoe Wellness Center, and managing a commercial building he owns.
“My life has been a little overloaded the last few years, to say the least,” Bass said.
Robbins worked as an engineer with a defense industry think tank until he retired about a year ago. He said being on city council made his decision to retire easier since he knew he would still have plenty to do. David Jinkins is a retired city manager.
All council members interviewed said they are privileged to have the flexibility to dedicate the time needed to city council work.
Horgan, who was appointed to council after Former Mayor Tamara Wallace resigned, said she only found out the position was paid after she had started the appointment process. She said she then talked with her husband about if it was a legitimate option to donate the salary.
The benefits caveat
Council members are eligible to receive health insurance from the city and can opt into a deferred compensation retirement plan. They do not receive pensions.
In 2025, the value of city council members’ benefits ranged from $1,113 to $26,804 depending on the council member, according to the Government Compensation California data. In a nonlinear fashion, the more the city paid into benefits, the less wages the councilmember received.
For the same year, Transparent California data shows the value of those benefits ranging from $576 to $31,196, different for every council member based on their selections.
Roberts said because health benefits and retirement are not money city council members see, he doesn’t find it fair to count that as compensation. Overall, he indicated that the issue has been taken out of proportion.
“I don’t care whether we get paid more or not,” Roberts said. “But also, the small amount that we’re suggesting is pretty small compared to the money that a lot of our city workers make.”
In the Tribune’s analysis, the Government Compensation California data was sorted using the compensation amount that appeared most frequently for each city, or, if there were no repeats, using the median compensation amount while accounting for extreme outliers. The data is based on council member pay, excluding mayoral pay unless they were the same amount like South Lake Tahoe.
Kati Graham (Giannini), a radiant spirit, devoted mother, loving sister, and cherished “Lala,” passed away peacefully, surrounded by love and family, on October 21, 2025, in Texas. She was 64 years old.
Born on October 3, 1961, in San Francisco, California, Kati was the beloved “baby of the family” as the youngest of 4 children to Lynn and Vic Giannini. She grew up in Novato in Marin County, where kids rode bikes, jumped rope, and explored outdoors until dark. She shared a bedroom with her sister and loved when her brother let her ride his horse. From an early age, she had a curiosity for nature, science projects, and hands-on discovery. She also had a lifelong love of dogs, beginning with her childhood miniature poodle, Gina, whom she carried everywhere like a stuffed animal.
Kati graduated from San Marin High School in 1979 and took over her Mother’s business, GM Inventory Company, which led her to San Diego. In 1984, she met Loren Graham, the love of her life. Their connection was instant, and they married just three months later. They made their home in Lake Tahoe, and the following year welcomed their daughter, Stacy.
Kati worked as a bookkeeper for Tahoe Bowl and Simpson’s Jewelers. While working full time, she attended WNC, and the University of Nevada, Reno, where she studied Italian, and earned her degree in Electrical Engineering in 1999. Building her career as an Operations Director for the CV Starbucks roasting plant, she earned her dream job as Global Quality Assurance Engineer in Seattle. She later moved to Mill Valley in 2012 to pursue real estate investment, managing multiple properties in the area. In 2023, she moved to Texas to be closer to family.
Kati was loved and adored in her Tahoe community, where she served as President of the Parents Club at KMS, Treasurer of the Cave Rock GID, and even coached cheerleading at her daughter’s high school. Always staying young at heart, she proudly wore what she called the “hippest” fashion and, no matter how much snow fell on Tahoe, kept the best year-round tan.
Kati cherished summer days at Round Hill Pines beach, and special shopping trips with her daughter to San Francisco. She loved to travel, listen to live music, and enjoyed sports. She played softball and volleyball, and later took up tennis at her Country Club. She would watch her 49ers, and when a touchdown was near, she would stomp her feet and shout “go, go, go!” while the family cheered along.
She was proud of her Italian roots. Christmas meant raviolis with the whole family, and a daily special bedtime routine saying “Buona notte, dormi bene, ti amo” to her daughter, when tucking her in. Good night, sleep well, I love you too Mom.
Kati’s memory lives on through her daughter, Stacy, and son-in-law, Igor; her cherished grandchildren, Nikolai (8) and Fiona (5); her siblings Kenny, Leslee, and Rori; alongside a circle of adoring nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Loren Graham, and her parents, Lynn and Vic Giannini.
The family has created an online memorial through Neptune Society, where you can view and share photos, videos, and cherished stories or memories..
Her energy, warmth, and loving spirit will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
RENO, Nev. — Sky Tavern, the nation’s oldest nonprofit ski and snowboard training facility, has secured a lease amendment with the City of Reno extending its existing lease to a total term of 99 years, through October 31, 2118, and appointed Thomas J. Powell as Chairman of its Board of Directors. The extension provides long-term the stability needed to build toward the community organization’s goals as it prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2038.
Sky Tavern’s skiing history dates to 1938, with the Reno Junior Ski Program establishing its tradition of youth instruction in 1948. Since then, more than 100,000 children have learned to ski and snowboard on its slopes. Among those who have emerged from this tradition are World Cup champions and Olympians such as Tamara McKinney, Lane Spina, and three-time Olympic medalist David Wise. The community mountain is supported by generations of volunteer instructors, parents, donors, and community members.
“From pioneers like Wayne Poulsen and Marce Herz to leaders like Bill Henderson and Yale Spina, this mountain exists because generations of people believed every child deserved an opportunity to experience the outdoors,” said Powell, who first learned to ski at Sky Tavern in the early 1970s. ” We have 12 years before our centennial to build on that legacy and prepare Our Community Mountain for generations to come. This next chapter would not have been possible without the leadership and commitment of Mayor Hillary Schieve and the City of Reno.”
“Sky Tavern represents what makes Reno special: a community that comes together to create opportunities for its children and families. This extension of Sky Tavern’s lease to 99 years marks a historic milestone in preserving land for outdoor recreation, ensuring that Our Community Mountain remains accessible to all across Northern Nevada for generations to come. It is an investment in our community’s future and a commitment to providing a place where people of all ages can learn, explore, and connect with the outdoors,” said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve.
The lease extension will allow Sky Tavern to plan significant expansion and ambitious fundraising to support its offerings of traditional winter recreation, mountain biking, and year-round educational programs. The organization is heavily focused on accessibility for families of all financial circumstances, with a long-term goal of providing children under 12 access to mountain recreation at no cost through community sponsorships.
Powell brings decades of experience in entrepreneurship, finance, and nonprofit governance. A fully certified alpine ski instructor, Sky Tavern resort trainer, and Ambassador for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation, he has remained closely connected to skiing and youth development throughout his life. As Chairman of The Brehon Group, through his work with The Founders Office, Powell helps founders find their path through growth and exit, much like he teaches his students resilience and determination on the slopes.
STATELINE, Nev. ―Gates and facilities at Van Sickle Bi-State Park wil close for the season on Monday, November 2, 2026, announced the California Tahoe Conservancy and Nevada Division of State Parks.
Park grounds remain open all winter to the public on the California side of the park, and on much of the Nevada side. A portion of the Nevada side of the park remains temporarily closed to the public as construction continues on several park improvement projects.
The Conservancy and Nevada State Parks co-manage the 725-acre park. Except for the limited public access at the Nevada day use area, the public may continue to enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing throughout the park. For visitor safety, sledding is not allowed on roads or trails within the park.
All park roads and parking lots will close for the winter to vehicular access. Restrooms will also close and drinking fountains will be shut off. No trash collection occurs during winter, and visitors are asked to practice Leave No Trace principles by packing out all trash.
Winter visitors may access the park via the main park entrance at the intersection of Heavenly Village Way and Montreal Road in South Lake Tahoe.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The City of South Lake Tahoe invites residents and visitors to enjoy Restaurant Week, taking place November 6-15. The multi-day event will spotlight South Lake Tahoe’s wide range of restaurants, encouraging guests to visit a favorite dining spot, try something new, and support local businesses.
Savor the Sierra by exploring the variety of flavors and cuisines available throughout South Lake Tahoe. Restaurants will feature discounted prices, prix fixe menus, and other special promotions at more than 30 local dining establishments, including restaurants, cafés, wine bars, and breweries.
“Restaurant Week is an opportunity to celebrate the local businesses that serve our community every day,” said Hilary Roverud, City Manager. “Choosing local businesses supports restaurant owners and employees that are essential to South Lake Tahoe’s community. We encourage residents and visitors to dine local, discover a new cuisine, and help strengthen our community with every purchase.”
To receive a Restaurant Week special, guests should let their server or a member of the restaurant staff know they are participating in Restaurant Week when they arrive or place their order. Offers vary by location, so please check with each participating restaurant for their special offering.
An interactive Restaurant Week map created by the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority will help guests find participating businesses and plan their Restaurant Week experience.
To try and decide each week where and what to eat around the basin can be a challenge – there are so many amazing choices. In this feature we’ll dive into dishes that will surely satisfy those hunger pangs and leave you wondering where to go next.
It’s not every day that you get to feature an item that was introduced to Tahoe in the 70s, but that’s indeed the case we have this week. The Snoopy Salad was first featured at the Seafood Cove in Harrah’s and it’s a menu item that is still represented today at the casino’s Friday’s Station restaurant.
To give you the lay of the land of this dish, a bed of butter lettuce is laced with shrimp, crab, sliced egg, tomato, avocado, scallions, and tossed with a citrus vinaigrette. Think of this as kind of an elevated take on a Crab Louie salad and that might help with what kind of flavors we’re dealing with.
It’s hard to outshine the fresh, sweet and tender pieces of shrimp and crab – they elevate each and every bite. The butter lettuce is soft and silky and lets each of the components to use it as a canvas and heightens the feeling of freshness when flanked by the tomato and scallions. The avocado’s creaminess is cut perfectly by the citrus vinaigrette, and the sliced egg feel like the guy who shows up to a party that’s winding down with a fresh keg of beer – it just keeps the fun going.
This is the kind of salad that you don’t eat – you shovel. Although, that could just be me. Each bite was so addicting that I couldn’t stop eating it … until it was gone. I guess that’s why it’s been around for 50 years.
Friday’s Station Steak and Seafood Grill is located on the top floor of Harrah’s Lake Tahoe at 15 Highway 50 in Stateline. For more information, visit them online at caesars.com/harrahs-tahoe/restaurants or by phone at 775-586-4988.
⚽️ Men’s Soccer vs. Shasta College – 4 p.m., Lake Tahoe Community College. The Coyotes Men’s Soccer Team faces Shasta College at Lake Tahoe Community College Athletics Field on Friday, October 23 at 4:00 pm.
To follow the latest Coyote news, visit the
LTCC Athletics website .
For more information, visit https://www.ltcc.edu/calendar/#event-details/21a64519-91d5-4f06-a4a2-1d7a982b32b9.
2026 Business Walks – Incline Village. Description Tahoe Property Center October 19-23, the Tahoe Prosperity Center and partners from across the region will visit businesses around the Lake for the 2026 Tahoe Business Walks. Every two years, Business Walks give us an opportunity to hear directly from business owners and managers about what they’re experiencing: What’s working? What challenges are getting in the way? What does your business need to thrive? In 2024, nearly 500 businesses participated, helping identify issues including housing affordability, infrastructure, workforce needs, and the importance of tourism to our regional economy. This October, we’re going back out to understand what has changed-and what Tahoe businesses need now. Teams of volunteers will visit businesses throughout the Lake during the week, while an online survey will make it possible for businesses across the Tahoe Basin to participate. The insights we gather help TPC and our regional partners better understand business conditions, identify shared priorities, and inform programs, partnerships, and economic development efforts across the Basin. When We’ll Be in Your Community Monday, October 19 – North Shore Tuesday, October 20 – Tahoe City Wednesday, October 21 – Southern and Eastern Shore Thursday, October 22 – Southern and Eastern Shore Friday, October 23 – Incline Village Get involved: Talk with us when a Business Walk team visits your business, complete the online survey, or volunteer to join a Business Walk team and hear directly from Tahoe’s business community. VOLUNTEER >
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/2026-business-walks-1945329?sourceTypeId=Hub or call (775) 298-0267.
Afternoon Tea at Osteria Sierra – 1:30-3 p.m., Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, 111 Country Club Drive. Enjoy a refined afternoon tea experience every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1:30pm to 3:00pm, featuring premium teas, house-made scones, pastries, and gourmet sandwiches. Additional dates: 10/23, 10/24, 10/25.
For more information, visit https://www.opentable.com/booking/experiences-availability?rid=1055665&restref=1055665&experienceId=763094 or call 7758866675.
Arty the Party at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe – 9 p.m., Harrah’s Center Stage, 15 Hwy 50. 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday Nights. You can Party with Arty the Party at Harrah’s. It’s the best disco, dance, R&B, and soul party in Lake Tahoe!
“Arty the Party,” as he’s affectionately called, has been playing in Lake Tahoe for several years and now calls Casino Center Stage at Harrah’s his home.
Arthur’s incredible music career began as a lead singer for San Francisco’s 13-piece Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra. He then went on to star in the city’s famous stage musical production “Beach Blanket Babylon.” It didn’t take long before the San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, and the 49ers invited Arthur to come and sing the national anthem to open their games.
Arthur has developed a large following of loyal fans from here to L.A. People come to hang out and watch, then can’t help themselves when they end up dancing in their seats. Arthur’s versatility ranges from renditions of Van Morrison to party and dance hits from Shaggy.
For more information, visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/event/arty-the-party-at-harrahs-lake-tahoe/2026-10-23/.
Cool Car Fridays Cruise Night at the Heavenly Village – 5-8 p.m., Heavenly Village, 1001 Heavenly Village Way. Cool Car Cruizen Fridays, All Cool Vehicles Welcome. Free to All.
Fridays, May through October. 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Gas money drawing, prizes, and more! Rain cancels. Open to all cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Brought to you by Good Sam Safe Ride.More information here
For more information, visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/event/cool-car-truck-and-motorcycle-cruise-every-friday-at-the-heavenly-village/2026-10-23/.
Decorative Gourd Making Class – 12-4 p.m., Gatekeeper’s Museum, 130 W Lake Blvd. Learn to make decorative gourds! Taught by Karey Dodge, our local basket weaving instructor.
For more information, visit http://www.gatekeepersmuseum.org or call 5305831762.
Easy Star Allstars ” Dub Side of the Moon” – 8 p.m., Crystal Bay Casino, 14 Highway 28.
For more information, visit https://devildogshows.com/event/easy-star-allstars-dub-side-of-the-moon/ or call (775) 833-6333.
Hauntober in Tahoe City – 8 a.m.-11 p.m., Tahoe City Downtown, 425 N Lake Blvd. Celebrate the season during Hauntober in Tahoe City with a month of festive fall events, family fun, and Halloween-themed activities throughout the community.
From spooky adventures to family favorites, Hauntober offers something for everyone, including:
🎃 Harvest Festival & Big Truck Day, Oct. 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Tahoe Community Center 🚒
🧟 Zombie Crawl, Oct. 23. Take the FREE Event Shuttle for the Zombie Crawl.
💀 Skeleton Scavenger Hunt. Open Oct. 9-31. Stay tuned for details.
🍬 Trick-or-Treating | Oct. 30, downtown Tahoe City
* Vote for your favorite Tahoe City Scarecrow on Parade! Explore the creative displays around town, then sign up so we can count your ballot and cast your vote in the Scarecrows on Parade contest. Two categories of winners will be selected: local school classes and businesses. Voting is open through Oct. 21 at https://app.proxi.co/c/tahoe-city-scarecrows-on-parade-contest-6178.
Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun, festive fall traditions, or Halloween excitement, Hauntober is the perfect way to experience Tahoe City in autumn.
For more information, visit https://visittahoecity.org/hauntober26/ or call 5305833348.
Knights Monsters vs. New Mexico Goatheads – 7 p.m., Tahoe Blue Event Center, 75 U.S. 50. The Knight Monsters begin season three on the road with a pair of contests against the Wichita Thunder on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18. Puck drop on Saturday is at 4:05 pm PT, with puck drop on Sunday at 1:05 pm PT. The home portion of the regular season gets underway with Opening Knight on Friday, October 23, as the Knight Monsters welcome the expansion New Mexico Goatheads to Tahoe Blue Event Center for the first time. Puck drop for the first of three games against New Mexico is at 7:00 pm PT. All home games are scheduled to start at 7:00 pm PT, with the exceptions of Sunday home games, which will start at 3:00 pm PT, and the game on Thursday, November 19, which starts at 10:30 am PT. In addition to New Mexico, the Knight Monsters will take on two new opponents this season when they face the Norfolk Admirals and South Carolina Stingrays, both in the ECHL’s Eastern Conference. The Knight Monsters face the Stingrays on the road on January 15-17, and will face the Admirals on the road on February 26-28, and at home on March 26-28. The Knight Monsters get an early chance to face the Kansas City Mavericks, who eliminated Tahoe from the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season with a three-game home series beginning on October 28. 58 of the Knight Monsters’ 72 regular-season games will be against Mountain Division opponents. Last season, Tahoe went 28-24-2-3 in games against divisional opponents. Below is a breakdown of matchups against teams in the Mountain Division.
For more information, visit https://www.tahoeblueeventcenter.com/events/detail/tahoe-knight-monsters-2026-27-schedule.
Lake Tahoe Sand Harbor State Park Celebrates Spooky Harbor – 7-8:30 p.m., Sand Harbor, 2005 Nevada State Route 28. Nevada State Parks is celebrating the fifth annual Spooky Harbor at Sand Harbor State Park with seven nights of Halloween movies, family activities and seasonal celebrations along the shores of Lake Tahoe.
From September 25 through November 1, visitors can enjoy movies under the stars on the Sand Harbor Stage. Movies begin approximately 30 minutes after sunset. The event is free, with standard park entrance fees applying.
This year’s lineup includes:
Friday, September 25, 8 p.m. – The Nightmare Before Christmas (rated PG)
Friday, October 2, 8 p.m. – Get Out (rated R)
Friday, October 9, 7:30 p.m. – Hocus Pocus (rated PG)
Friday, October 16, 7:30 p.m. – I Know What You Did Last Summer (rated R)
Friday, October 23, 7 p.m. – Monster House and Kids Fall Festival (rated PG)
Sunday, November 1, 6 p.m. – Coco and Día de los Muertos celebration (Rated PG)
The Kids Fall Festival on October 23 begins at 4 p.m., with trick-or-treating starting at 6 p.m. The Día de los Muertos celebration on November 1 begins at 3 p.m., followed by Coco at 6 p.m.
Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets, low-back chairs, flashlights and warm clothing. There will be no concessions, and lighting is limited after dark.
Movie ratings range from family-friendly favorites to films intended for mature audiences. Parents and guardians are responsible for determining whether a film is appropriate for their children.
Events are weather-dependent and may be canceled without notice. For more information and updates, visitors should check the parks.nv.gov/events before heading to the park.
Need to Know
Minors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
The program is weather dependent and may be canceled without notice. Check the Nevada State Parks website for updates before you head out.
Movie begins approximately 30 minutes after sunset.
Lighting is limited after dark.
There will be no concessions available.
Viewer discretion is advised. The Nightmare Before Christmas is rated PG. Parents and guardians are responsible for determining whether the film is appropriate for their children.
Meet at the Sand Harbor Stage.
What to Bring
Water
Warm, weather-appropriate clothing
Blankets
Low-back chairs
Flashlight
Snacks
What to Expect
Outdoor screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas
Movie under the stars with Lake Tahoe as the backdrop
Seating on the Sand Harbor Stage area
A relaxed, family-friendly evening
Movie begins approximately 30 minutes after sunset and runs for approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes
Limited lighting after dark, so bring a flashlight
Fees & Registration
Event is free.
Standard Sand Harbor State Park entrance fees apply.
Drop-in welcome. No registration required.
Contact
This program is hosted by Sand Harbor State Park. For questions, contact:Marissa Cookshsp@parks.nv.gov(775) 831-0494
For more information, visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/event/lake-tahoe-sand-harbor-state-park-celebrates-spooky-harbor/2026-10-23/.
Peek Nightclub inside Harrah’s Lake Tahoe – 10 p.m.-4 a.m., Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, 15 Highway 50. Peek Night Club is back with an incredible lineup of DJs. Join us for unforgettable nights of music and dancing. Get ready to party like never before at Peek Night Club! Get your tickets today!
Peek Nightclub inside Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Saturday nights, doors open at 10:00 pm. Featuring over 6,700 square feet of optimal nightlife and live entertainment space, Peek Nightclub’s footprint includes 40 intimate VIP sections, including some of today’s most highly touted nightclub amenities. With the capability to provide full-scale music performances, Peek Nightclub hosts some of the world’s biggest names in entertainment, including big-name Las Vegas, Miami, NY, and L.A. DJs.
DRESS CODEUpscale fashionable attire is required. PEEK Nightclub does not permit the following: bandanas, durags, skull caps, beanies, sandals, ripped or baggy clothing, athletic wear, steel-toe shoes or work boots. Management reserves all rights of entry based on dress code etiquette.
For more information, visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/event/peek-nightclub-inside-harrahs-lake-tahoe/2026-10-23/ or call (800) 427-7247.
The Revolutionists – 7:30 p.m., Valhalla Boathouse Theatre. The Revolutionists By Lauren Gunderson Directed by Meg Peart October 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 & 31 at 7:30 PM November 1 at 2:00 PM Boathouse Theatre at Valhalla Tahoe Tickets: $25 Four women. One revolution. And a story worth losing your head over. Set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, The Revolutionists is a bold, fast-paced comedy about four remarkable women trying to change the world while trying not to lose their heads. Playwright Olympe de Gouges is desperately searching for something meaningful to write when her world is interrupted by three extraordinary women: assassin Charlotte Corday, Haitian revolutionary Marianne Angelle, and former Queen of France Marie Antoinette. Together, they wrestle with art, activism, friendship, legacy, and what it means to stand up for something when everything is on the line. Funny, fierce, irreverent, and unexpectedly moving, Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists takes a wildly theatrical look at the French Revolution through the stories of women too often left out of the history books. The Cast Stephanie Grigsby as Olympe de Gouges Joanie San Agustin as Charlotte Corday Ginger Nicolay Davis as Marie Antoinette Courtney Cobble as Marianne Angelle Directed by Meg Peart An Immersive Night at the Boathouse For this production, the experience begins before the first line is spoken. The Boathouse Theatre will be transformed to bring audiences into the world of revolutionary France, creating an intimate and immersive evening on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Come early, grab a drink, step into the revolution, and prepare for a night of theatre that is equal parts hilarious, poignant, rebellious, and wonderfully theatrical. Halloween at The Revolutionists – October 31 Our Halloween performance gets a revolutionary twist! Costumes are encouraged-but completely optional-for our October 31 performance. Come dressed for the French Revolution, channel your favorite historical or literary figure, or simply arrive ready for a night at the theatre. The revolution is coming to the Boathouse. Try not to lose your head. Additional dates: 10/23, 10/24, 10/25, 10/29.
For more information, visit https://valhallatahoe.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=272.
Tahoe City Skeleton Scavenger Hunt – 9 a.m., Downtown Tahoe City, 425 N Lake Blvd. Skeletons have taken over downtown Tahoe City!
Join the Hauntober fun Oct. 9-31 and explore downtown to find all the hidden skeletons for a chance to win prizes. It’s a fun, free Halloween adventure for all ages!
Opens 11 a.m. on Oct. 9
Register at https://qrco.de/skeletons
Figure out the initial clue, head to that location. Check in, take a photo with the Skeleton hiding there — and unlock the next clue. Continue to the next location until you’ve found all 12!
Make sure to click all the top tabs to see the extra points options.
Find all 12 skeletons to be entered to win a prize!
Snap Photos: Shop, Eat, Drink and upload your receipt for more extra points
Everyone who completes the scavenger hunt gets entered once.
A verification code will be sent to complete your sign-up. The easiest way is to provide your phone number to receive the verification code via text. If you choose email only and don’t receive the code, please check your spam folder. It is not spam!
Part of Tahoe City Downtown Association’s Hauntober celebrations sponsored by North Tahoe Chamber. Additional dates: 10/23, 10/24, 10/25, 10/26, 10/27, 10/28, 10/29.
For more information, visit https://visittahoecity.org/hauntober26/ or call 5305833348.
Tahoe City Zombie Crawl – 5-10 p.m., Downtown Tahoe City, 425 N Lake Blvd. The zombies are taking over Tahoe City! Join the Tahoe City Zombie Crawl on Friday, Oct. 23, for a night of Halloween fun, food and drink specials, live entertainment and spooky surprises at participating businesses throughout Tahoe City. TCDA will host a Zombification Station and Photo Booth.
Participating businesses, shuttle schedule and the full Zombie Crawl schedule will be announced soon.
Businesses interested in being part of the Zombie Crawl may contact pam@visittahoecity.com.
Dress in your best zombie or Halloween costume and crawl your way through town while enjoying special activities and promotions along the route.
The event is free to participate in, and a free event shuttle will run from Olympic Valley and the West Shore to make it easy to join the fun.
The event shuttle is funded by TBID-TOT and presented by Palisades Tahoe, TNT-TMA and TCDA.
For more information, visit https://visittahoecity.org/event/zombie26/ or call 5305833348.
Saturday, October 24
AleWorX Autumn Carnival – 12-7 p.m., Lake Tahoe AleWorX Taproom, 2050 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Saturday, October 24, 2026, Lake Tahoe AleWorX Autumn Carnival at the Y. Join us as we celebrate the change of the season with a family-friendly event designed to get the community together for a fun-filled afternoon! Live music, carnival games, pumpkin carving, face painting, costume contest and donut and pizza eating contests AND more!
For more information, visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/event/aleworx-autumn-carnival/.
The Cut – Three Spooky Stacking Rings – Tahoe Gifting Company, The Cut – 868 Tahoe Blvd, Ste. 8. Description Learn the fundamentals of metalworking – Snowflower Studios
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/the-cut-three-spooky-stacking-rings-1927874?sourceTypeId=Hub or call (775) 237-2318.
Ditchweed Harvest – 12-3 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=4.
Free Screening: Mountain in My Mind – 6:30 p.m., South Lake Brewing Company, 1920 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Join us for a high-energy night celebrating snowsports, mental health, and the community that brings us together on Saturday, October 24th, at 6:30 PM.
Mountain in My Mind returns with their 4th documentary film dedicated to talking about mental health in mountain towns. The film is professionally crafted to lower stigma and raise both awareness and money for suicide prevention.
Arrive early to enter our massive giveaway, featuring gear and prizes from this year’s sponsors, including Flylow, Giro, Toyota, RMU, LMNT, and more. Each premiere kicks off with a keynote from award-winning director and producer, John Padilla, who will share the story and inspiration behind the film, followed by the giveaway and a full screening of Mountain In My Mind 4.
No tickets needed, just show up! Shows are limited to venue capacity.
Bring your crew! Friends, family, and kids are all welcome. Whether you’re a professional skier, a weekend rider, or simply curious about the film and its message, we’d love to see you there.
For more information, visit https://www.southlakebeer.com/brewery-events.
Knights Monsters vs. New Mexico Goatheads – 7 p.m., Tahoe Blue Event Center, 75 U.S. 50. The Knight Monsters begin season three on the road with a pair of contests against the Wichita Thunder on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18. Puck drop on Saturday is at 4:05 pm PT, with puck drop on Sunday at 1:05 pm PT. The home portion of the regular season gets underway with Opening Knight on Friday, October 23, as the Knight Monsters welcome the expansion New Mexico Goatheads to Tahoe Blue Event Center for the first time. Puck drop for the first of three games against New Mexico is at 7:00 pm PT. All home games are scheduled to start at 7:00 pm PT, with the exceptions of Sunday home games, which will start at 3:00 pm PT, and the game on Thursday, November 19, which starts at 10:30 am PT. In addition to New Mexico, the Knight Monsters will take on two new opponents this season when they face the Norfolk Admirals and South Carolina Stingrays, both in the ECHL’s Eastern Conference. The Knight Monsters face the Stingrays on the road on January 15-17, and will face the Admirals on the road on February 26-28, and at home on March 26-28. The Knight Monsters get an early chance to face the Kansas City Mavericks, who eliminated Tahoe from the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season with a three-game home series beginning on October 28. 58 of the Knight Monsters’ 72 regular-season games will be against Mountain Division opponents. Last season, Tahoe went 28-24-2-3 in games against divisional opponents. Below is a breakdown of matchups against teams in the Mountain Division.
For more information, visit https://www.tahoeblueeventcenter.com/events/detail/tahoe-knight-monsters-2026-27-schedule-1.
Logan Eastep – 5:30-9:30 p.m., South of North Brewing Co., 932 Stateline Ave.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
Mark Sheets – 4:30-7 p.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
Miki Rae Garrison – 4-6 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage. Additional dates: 10/24, 10/25.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
Porterhaus – 7:30-10 p.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary. Additional dates: 10/24, 10/27.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
Pumpkin Patch Splash at South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center – 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., South Lake Tahoe Recreation & Aquatics Center, 1100 Rufus Allen Blvd. Make a splash this fall at the 3rd Annual Pumpkin Patch Splash at the new South Lake Tahoe Recreation & Aquatics Center!
Kids can head into the Recreation Pool to choose their very own pumpkin from our floating pumpkin patch. After picking their pumpkin, they can take it to the Pumpkin Decoration Station to create a one-of-a-kind Halloween masterpiece.
New This Year!
Older kids who pass the swim test can enjoy the Spooky Splash Zone in the Multi-Purpose Pool—an extra splash of Halloween-themed aquatic fun.
Your event ticket also includes access to our indoor climbing wall.
Plus, Electric Squirrel Party Rentals will bring an inflatable obstacle course to the gym for guests to enjoy.
Cost and Registration
Pumpkin participant tickets are $15 each and must be registered in advance. Each pumpkin ticket includes choosing a pumpkin from the floating pumpkin patch, decorating it at the Pumpkin Decoration Station, and access to event activities.
Parents and/or guardians do not need to purchase a ticket to attend.
Session Times
Sensory-Friendly Session: 9:00 am to 10:00 am
General Session: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
General Session: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Come pick a pumpkin, make a splash, and celebrate the season at the new Recreation & Aquatics Center!
For more information, visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/event/pumpkin-patch-splash-at-south-lake-tahoe-recreation-center/.
Sean Hodge – 12-3 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage. Additional dates: 10/24, 10/27.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=4.
Steely Dead – 8 p.m., Crystal Bay Casino, 14 Highway 28.
For more information, visit https://devildogshows.com/event/steely-dead-3/ or call (775) 833-6333.
Tahoe Chocolate and Wine Festival – 6-10 p.m., Description Ripple Effect: Create Waves of Change – Sierra Community House Sierra Community House’s signature fundraiser returns! Save the date for the 36th Annual Tahoe Chocolate & Wine Festival, an unforgettable afternoon supporting safety, stability, and hope for families across our region. Date and details coming soon. Event Details Here!
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/tahoe-chocolate-and-wine-festival-1766770?sourceTypeId=Hub or call (530) 546-0952.
Tahoe Club Crawl Fall/Winter – 8-11 p.m., Aleworx Stateline 31 US-50. Tahoe Club Crawl is an organized VIP nightlife tour of the Tahoe South. With the purchase of your ticket, you will receive a welcome shot at 3 out of 4 stops, appetizers, free indoor games at Tipsy Putt and VIP entrance into Peek Nightclub, Lake Tahoe’s hottest Club! You will meet amazing people and have the night of your lives. We meet every Saturday at 8:00 PM Aleworx Stateline, unless told otherwise. Be Sure To Check Out our Ice Cream Shop, Aloha Ice Cream Tahoe “Winner of Best Ice Cream in Tahoe 7 Years In A Row” (Opened Seasonally)
Venues Subject to Change At Anytime, No Refunds
For more information, visit https://tahoeclubcrawl.ticketsauce.com/e/tahoe-club-crawl-spring-summer-2085?aff=cityspark.
Tahoe Knight Monsters “All Abilities Night” Fundraiser – 3 p.m., Tahoe Blue Event Center, 75 U.S. 50. The Reno Ice Sled Hockey Team will be joining the Tahoe Knight Monsters for “All Abilities Night” with a pre-game and intermission exhibition on October 24th! They will also be raising funds for their home tournament and upcoming travel season. – 25% of all proceeds brought in through this link will go directly back to the Reno Ice Sled Hockey Team and Achieve Tahoe! – Your Knight Monsters ticket gives you access to both the 3:00PM exhibition game and 7:00PM Knight Monsters game! To support the team, join us at the game by purchasing tickets at this link: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Renoice655
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1629505225448584/.
Will Murillo – 7-10 p.m., Social House.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
Sunday, October 25
Chris Seal – 2:30 p.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=1.
Football Sundays at Tipsy Putt – 11 a.m.-11:59 p.m., Tipsy Putt Tahoe, 4101 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Suite #101. Enjoy $19 Pitchers of our house light beer every Sunday in the NFL season
NFL SUNDAYS + $19 PITCHERS 🏈🍺
Catch the NFL games at Tipsy Putt and enjoy $19 pitchers of Mulligan Light, our house light beer, every Sunday. Football, cold beer, and all the games. See you Sunday!
For more information, visit https://eventvesta.com/events/161301/t/tickets or call (530) 443-4376.
Hut…Hut…Brunch – 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Alibi Ale Incline Public House, 931 Tahoe Blvd. Description Every Sunday at Alibi Ale Works Incline Village HUT…HUT…BRUNCH! Sundays 10am-3pm starting September 13th (until February 14th) NFL at Alibi. Football season is back and so is brunch at Alibi Incline. Brunch it up from 10am-3pm every Sunday. Playing up to 3 different games on once. First fan, first serve. Get here early to get your team’s game on your preferred screen.
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/hut-hut-brunch-1919067?sourceTypeId=Hub.
Jaime Saso – 7:30-10:30 p.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
Jon Sills – 5-8 p.m., Base Camp Pizza. Additional dates: 10/25, 10/29.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
Knights Monsters vs. New Mexico Goatheads – 3 p.m., Tahoe Blue Event Center, 75 U.S. 50. The Knight Monsters begin season three on the road with a pair of contests against the Wichita Thunder on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18. Puck drop on Saturday is at 4:05 pm PT, with puck drop on Sunday at 1:05 pm PT. The home portion of the regular season gets underway with Opening Knight on Friday, October 23, as the Knight Monsters welcome the expansion New Mexico Goatheads to Tahoe Blue Event Center for the first time. Puck drop for the first of three games against New Mexico is at 7:00 pm PT. All home games are scheduled to start at 7:00 pm PT, with the exceptions of Sunday home games, which will start at 3:00 pm PT, and the game on Thursday, November 19, which starts at 10:30 am PT. In addition to New Mexico, the Knight Monsters will take on two new opponents this season when they face the Norfolk Admirals and South Carolina Stingrays, both in the ECHL’s Eastern Conference. The Knight Monsters face the Stingrays on the road on January 15-17, and will face the Admirals on the road on February 26-28, and at home on March 26-28. The Knight Monsters get an early chance to face the Kansas City Mavericks, who eliminated Tahoe from the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season with a three-game home series beginning on October 28. 58 of the Knight Monsters’ 72 regular-season games will be against Mountain Division opponents. Last season, Tahoe went 28-24-2-3 in games against divisional opponents. Below is a breakdown of matchups against teams in the Mountain Division.
For more information, visit https://www.tahoeblueeventcenter.com/events/detail/tahoe-knight-monsters-2026-27-schedule-2.
Mark Sheets – 6-9 p.m., South of North Brewing Co., 932 Stateline Ave. Additional dates: 10/25, 10/29.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
Pumpkin Carving – 5 p.m., The Idle Hour Lake Tahoe, 3351 Lake Tahoe Blvd Ste 5. $50 per person Includes a pumpkin, a beverage and use of a carving kit
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2567302217014069/ or call (530) 600-3304.
Sauna and Soul – October Session – 6:30 p.m., Regency Ballroom at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, 111 Country Club Dr. Join us for an evening designed for deep restoration and intentional living. Located in Stillwater Spa inside Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Three evenings. Three energies. Join one or the full journey (registration required for each event) Oct 25th, Nov 16th, Dec 8th 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM What to Expect: Sauna & Soul is a curated three-part experience, with each gathering inspired by the prevailing astrological themes of the season. Together, these evenings offer a modern ritual to pause, reflect, and realign – through heat, stillness, and soulful connection. Guided journaling, sound healing, and access to sauna and steam create a layered journey of nourishment for body and mind. Each date carries its own energetic focus, inviting you to meet the moment exactly where you are. Attend a single evening that resonates, or immerse yourself in all three for a deeper, cyclical journey of release, renewal, and recalibration. Meet your Guides: Jessica and Ashley are lifelong seekers of connection, blending their love for nature with deep expertise in wellness practices. ✨Jessica Hillman is a 200-hour certified yoga teacher, Reiki Master, and certified sound healer rooted in Lake Tahoe. Her nurturing style weaves together movement, energy healing, and sound, inspired by her passion for Mother Earth, astrology, and the transformative power of deep healing. ✨Ashley Ray is a 500-hour certified yoga teacher, certified breathwork instructor, and Yacht master Offshore. She guides mindful movement and conscious breathwork with the wisdom of the natural world, inviting others to rediscover balance and their inner essence. Together, their intuitive teachings and joyful spirits create a space where guests can return home to themselves – while embracing the beauty of the natural world around them. ✅ Housekeeping notes: Guests are asked to park in the main resort lot and enter through the resort lobby. From there, take the main elevators down to the Lower Lobby (LL) level to access Stillwater Spa. Self-parking will be validated for all participants. We’re delighted to welcome resort guests, Incline Village neighbors, and visitors alike to share in this experience. Please note that cancellations made within 8 hours of the event are non-refundable and will be charged in full. Price: $45 Per Person/Per Session RSVP: Use Link or Call Stillwater Spa (775) 886.6745 What to Bring: a journal & pen, water bottle, and wear comfortable attire Space is limited – advanced reservations required!
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1850851692939051/.
Shawn Campanini – 12-3 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
TFS – Fill a bag event – 10 a.m.-3 p.m., tahoe family solutions thrift, 797 Southwood Blvd. Description Every Sunday – Clothing with 75% OFF tags is FREE for Students at Tahoe Family Solutions Thrift Store
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/tfs-fill-a-bag-event-1926917?sourceTypeId=Hub or call (925) 639-1805.
Monday, October 26
CAB Meeting – Incline Village/Crystal Bay – 5:30-7 p.m., Incline Village Library, 845 Alder Avenue. Description Library and Zoom Join Washoe County and the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) members for a meeting on Monday, February 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Incline Village Library, located at 845 Alder Ave., Incline Village, Nevada or via Zoom. Hear from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) on the Tahoe Living Environmental Impact Statement, receive public safety updates, and get the latest on upcoming community engagement opportunities. Click the link below to view the full agenda and participation details. Agenda
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/cab-meeting-incline-village-crystal-bay-1657429?sourceTypeId=Hub or call 775-832-4130.
Kris Munn – 7:30-11 p.m., Noel’s Coffee a.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
Sean Hodge – 5-8 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
Spooky Halloween Trivia – 6-8:07 p.m., The Idle Hour Lake Tahoe, 3351 Lake Tahoe Blvd Ste 5. Spooky Trivia just got spookier. This Halloween, trivia night at The Idle Hour is going full costume mode. Grab your team, dress to impress (or dress to terrify), and battle it out lakeside for bragging rights — plus a costume contest with a prize for the best look in the room. ️ Monday, October 26 ⏰ 6:00 – 8:00 PM The Idle Hour, South Lake Tahoe Wine in hand, costume on, brain (barely) engaged. See you there. #TheIdleHourTahoe #SouthLakeTahoe #HalloweenTrivia
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1075221448459346/ or call (530) 600-3304.
Will Murillo – 12-2 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=5.
Tuesday, October 27
⚽️ Men’s Soccer vs. Feather River College – 4 p.m., The Coyotes Men’s Soccer Team faces
Feather River
College at
Quincy, California
on Tuesday, October 27 at 4:00 pm.
To follow the latest Coyote news, visit the
LTCC Athletics website .
For more information, visit https://www.ltcc.edu/calendar/#event-details/31b411e5-189d-42b9-b22f-620d9986665b.
Roger Collins – 4-6 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
Tommy Ciccone – 12-2 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
Wednesday, October 28
Flight Night! 50% off all Flights all Day! – 12-8:07 p.m., The Idle Hour Lake Tahoe, 3351 Lake Tahoe Blvd Ste 5. Freeze, fight, or… Flight Night. For one day only, every wine flight at The Idle Hour is 50% off. No tricks, just treats — and a lot of bubbles. Come face your fears (or just your indecision on what to order) lakeside. 50% OFF ALL FLIGHTS ️ Wednesday, October 28 ⏰ 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Idle Hour, South Lake Tahoe Choose wisely. Or just choose all of them. #TheIdleHourTahoe #FlightNight #SouthLakeTahoe
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1701271211645256/ or call (530) 600-3304.
Jaime Saso – 5-8 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
Jamie Rollins – 12-2 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
Knights Monsters vs. KC Mavericks – 7 p.m., Tahoe Blue Event Center, 75 U.S. 50. The Knight Monsters begin season three on the road with a pair of contests against the Wichita Thunder on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18. Puck drop on Saturday is at 4:05 pm PT, with puck drop on Sunday at 1:05 pm PT. The home portion of the regular season gets underway with Opening Knight on Friday, October 23, as the Knight Monsters welcome the expansion New Mexico Goatheads to Tahoe Blue Event Center for the first time. Puck drop for the first of three games against New Mexico is at 7:00 pm PT. All home games are scheduled to start at 7:00 pm PT, with the exceptions of Sunday home games, which will start at 3:00 pm PT, and the game on Thursday, November 19, which starts at 10:30 am PT. In addition to New Mexico, the Knight Monsters will take on two new opponents this season when they face the Norfolk Admirals and South Carolina Stingrays, both in the ECHL’s Eastern Conference. The Knight Monsters face the Stingrays on the road on January 15-17, and will face the Admirals on the road on February 26-28, and at home on March 26-28. The Knight Monsters get an early chance to face the Kansas City Mavericks, who eliminated Tahoe from the Kelly Cup Playoffs last season with a three-game home series beginning on October 28. 58 of the Knight Monsters’ 72 regular-season games will be against Mountain Division opponents. Last season, Tahoe went 28-24-2-3 in games against divisional opponents. Below is a breakdown of matchups against teams in the Mountain Division.
For more information, visit https://www.tahoeblueeventcenter.com/events/detail/tahoe-knight-monsters-2026-27-schedule-3.
Level Up Workshop: Why You’re Trying to Be Healthy But Still Feel Off – 12-1 p.m., One College Dr. Description Why You’re Trying to Be Healthy-But Still Feel Off You’re exercising, trying to eat well, working on your sleep, managing stress, and making healthier choices-but something still doesn’t feel quite right. Sound familiar? Join the Tahoe Chamber for an engaging and interactive Level Up Workshop with Ryan J. Kime, MD, MBA, CHN, former emergency physician, Certified Holistic Nutritionist, health educator, and founder of Ryan Kime Health Advisory. Ryan will introduce his Six Daily Health Rhythms: Nutrition, Digestion, Energy, Sleep, Stress & Nervous System, and Movement & Recovery and explore how these areas work together to influence your everyday well-being. During this practical session, you’ll learn how to: ✨ Cut through confusing and conflicting health information ✨ Understand why healthy habits don’t always work in isolation ✨ Recognize which daily rhythm may need your attention first ✨ Make realistic improvements without changing everything at once ✨ Build healthier routines that fit your everyday life Wednesday, October 28, 2026 ⏰ 12:00-1:00 p.m. Lake Tahoe Community College – Lisa Maloff University Center Come ready to learn, participate, and leave with a clearer understanding of your health, plus practical ideas you can begin using right away!
For more information, visit https://business.tahoechamber.org/events/Details/level-up-workshop-why-you-re-trying-to-be-healthy-but-still-feel-off-1938457?sourceTypeId=Website.
LIVE MUSIC – Sage Leaf Tahoe – 5-8 p.m., Sage Leaf, 893 Tahoe Blvd. Description Every Wednesday 5pm – 8pm Best selling drinks are, the bees knees, the sage leaf and the Bloody Mary. They have been the top sellers since we opened our incline village location in June 2020 Best selling food items are the sage and cheddar biscuits, any of our house made organic pastas, the Tahoe blue French toast and our bone in Niman ranch pork chop, duck fat fries with house made truffle aioli, and of course our Angus burger our huge favorites. Sage Leaf Reno opened on 3/7/2026 and we have two patios, a completely remodeled bar, and a spacious dining room good for large groups and intimate celebrations. We have happy hour daily from 3-5pm at Reno, and happy hour daily 5-6pm daily in Incline Village. Both restaurants are open 7 days a week for brunch and for dinner We do half off all bottles of wine on Sunday dinner. We offer vegan and vegetarian options as well as all the meat lovers favorites. We have something for everyone at Sage Leaf Reno and Tahoe. Live Music every Wednesday 5pm-8pm in Tahoe location We are open for Mother’s day and Father’s Day brunch as well as dinner and we strongly encourage reservation at both locations Incline Village location opened 6/4/2020 We also offer backcountry delivery service (think catering while you’re snow shoeing or snowmobiling) during winter snow dependent. We are family owned and operated. Husband and wife team who have lived in Incline Village since 2012. Raising our two small children here in our tight knit community. www. Sageleafreno.com and www.Sageleaftahoe.com
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/live-music-sage-leaf-tahoe-1704209?sourceTypeId=Hub or call (775) 413-5005.
Ted Kennedy – 6-9 p.m., South of North Brewing Co., 932 Stateline Ave.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
Thursday, October 29
Chris Seal – 12-2 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
Halloween Happenings – Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe, 4130 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Fall, Family Friendly
No tricks-just treats! Enjoy Halloween Happy Hour, S’mores at Sunset, Kids Candy Trail, and more.
Starting on 10/29/2026 and ending on 10/31/2026
For more information, visit https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-resort-lake-tahoe/things-to-do-in-lake-tahoe/events/halloween-happenings.
Roger Collins – 12-2 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
SAILING CLUB, YACHT ROCK PARTY W/ PIER PRESSURE – 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Tessie’s Cocktails & Chords , 18 US-50. Sailing Club launches at Tessie’s with Tahoe’s smoothest & grooviest party starters, Pier Pressure. Captains Orders – grab a cocktail and head to the dance floor. Sailing Club offers a night of high-energy yachty fun that keeps the room rocking from start to finish. Rascal Flatts ticket holders receive a BOGO cocktail with their concert ticket.
Jamie Saso 8 pm
Pier Pressure 10 pm
Grab a drink and settle in for a night of yacht rock party anthems.
Experience the yachty energy firsthand—book your table today.
Lounge open 11 AM Daily. For large party reservations or tables before 10 PM, call us at 775.586.5014 or email: VIP@tessiestahoe.com
For more information, visit http://tessiestahoe.com/events or call 6194547421.
Ted Kennedy – 7:30-11 p.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
Trail of Treats & Terror – 3:30-5:30 p.m., The Village Green. Description Village Green A Community Halloween Celebration Travel through the haunted forest, snap a family photo, and enjoy some spooky fun! This annual event is typically held on the Thursday before Halloween to provide a safe Halloween experience for the Incline Village/Crystal Bay community. Save the date! More details and registration coming this fall… Date/Time: Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 3:30-5:30 PM Location: Village Green & Fitness Trails (960 Lakeshore Blvd., Incline Village) Join us for food, drinks, fun, and plenty of Halloween spirit! Don’t forget to wear your BEST costume Donations & Volunteer Opportunities Get Involved in Trail of Treats & Terror! Since 2001, this spooktacular Incline Village tradition has brought our community together for a safe, fun, and FREE Halloween celebration. But it only happens with YOUR support! Let’s keep this Halloween tradition alive for the entire community! Volunteer: We need helping hands to plan, set up scenes, recruit teams, support safety, and more. Whether it’s food trucks, music, or lending a hand at the event – there’s a role for you! Donate: Incline Tahoe Foundation (ITF) is collecting donations to cover candy, safety lights, and permitting fees. Every dollar helps keep the magic (and the spooky!) alive. Donate 2025 Trail of Treats Sponsors Thank you to all our 2025 community partners and sponsors! AAUW Tahoe/N. Nevada Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe Dayle Hoevel Photography Diamond Peak Diamond Peak Ski Education Fund Gray Squirrel Tree Service, LLC Incline Education Fund Incline Village Chiropractic LLC. Incline Village Library Inside Incline IVGID Public Works & Waste Not Lake Tahoe School Pet Network Ridgeline Rotary Club of Tahoe- Incline Tahoe’s Connections for Families UNR at Lake Tahoe Washoe County Sheriff’s Office – Incline Substation Nevada Nordic Incline Elementary School IVGID Parks & Recreation North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District SOS Outreach Cornerstone Community Church Incline High School Interact Club Frushon Accounting Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Peyton Real Estate Collection The Incline Lodge Tahoe Tutoring The Village Church/ Village Christian Academy & Preschool
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/trail-of-treats-terror-1907236?sourceTypeId=Hub or call (775) 832-1300.
TL;DR: South Lake Tahoe has been named Expedia’s #1 Trending Destination for 2027, following a 195% surge in travel searches. Discover why this year-round mountain destination is capturing travelers’ attention worldwide.
The secret is out! South Lake Tahoe is capturing the attention of travelers worldwide, and Expedia’s latest travel trends report confirms it.
According to Expedia’s Unpack ’27 travel trends report, South Lake Tahoe saw a remarkable 195% year-over-year increase in travel searches, earning the top spot among trending destinations worldwide.
And it’s easy to see why. From sparkling blue waters and sandy beaches to breathtaking alpine scenery, South Lake Tahoe offers something unforgettable in every season. Visitors can hit the slopes at world-class ski resorts, explore scenic hiking and biking trails, cruise across the lake, or simply relax and take in the mountain views. Add exciting entertainment, delicious dining, and a wide variety of places to stay, and you’ve got a destination worth discovering again and again.
Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure, a romantic mountain escape, or a memorable family vacation, South Lake Tahoe delivers an experience unlike anywhere else.
Who doesn’t love that cozy autumn feeling of walking to your mailbox, or a drop box, or an in-person voting center to cast your vote for local, state, and national leadership?
2026 is a midterm year, meaning no voting for the U.S. president and vice president. With that spotlight off, local races receive more, much-deserved attention. Ideal, since that’s where voters have the most power to effect change. But without presidential candidates on the ballot, there tends to be considerably less participation. In 2022’s midterm election, 36% of California’s voting age population cast a ballot compared to 53% in 2024’s general. In Nevada for those same years, 41% bumped up to 58%.
The irony isn’t difficult to spot: Rules and codes over local development, utility rates, transportation options — these and hundreds more decisions happen in your neck of the woods and are made by the people you vote into office. But it doesn’t have the same drama or them-versus-us vibe, so it might not feel as critical to participate.
We hope reviewing the answers provided by candidates in the following pages adds a reason to your pros and cons list about voting on or before Nov. 3. There are very real issues at hand and critical decisions being made, and who you vote for could turn the tide one way or the other.
For our election coverage in our October edition, we took a methodical approach to the jurisdictions and special districts featured: Those we questioned in person as part of the Truckee Candidate Forum on Oct. 8 — Truckee Town Council, Tahoe Forest Hospital District, and Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District — were not included in print. (You can re-watch those forums, which took place Oct. 6 and 8, at ttm.ompnetwork.org.
A North Shore Election Forum took place Oct. 6, where state candidates participated in a Q&A. Find the recording at firsttuesdaybreakfastclub.com.
Incline Village Crystal Bay Business Association is hosting an IV-CB Community Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. in the Duffield Theater at Incline High School. It will be broadcast live and available afterward at youtube.com/@iv-cbcommunityforum9730.
We also touch on Measure P, which goes before all voters within the TTUSD boundaries.
You’ll find three district-specific questions asked of the candidates, who were allowed no more than 125 words in response per answer. Please sit with their answers and mull over who you believe would best fill an empty seat on a board, then responsibly fill out your ballot and cast your vote by Nov. 3. A healthy democracy depends on participation.
For uncontested races and other information, view our 2026 Election Tracker at tinyurl.com/5f4w5j4c.
Residents must register to vote by Oct. 19. Same-day voter registration is possible, but must be done at a county elections office, polling place, or vote center. Visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov for a list of early voting locations.
Residents must have registered to vote in person or by mail by Oct. 6. Same-day voter registration is possible and must be done in person at a polling location. Visit tinyurl.com/mrfcsc7p for a list of early voting locations.
Two years ago, the Incline Village General Improvement District was in a precarious spot. Fraud allegations, financial issues, failed recalls, and a general manager spot that couldn’t seem to be kept filled — interim GM Bobby Magee, who resigned after three months, followed by Kent Walrack, who lasted a similar length of time before being terminated by a new board. That same month, January 2025, the still-current GM, Bob Harrison, was put in place.
Earlier this summer, Trustee Mick Homan wrote a piece for Moonshine saying that at long last, things are looking up. “With key hires in HR and finance to supplement the existing team, focus shifted to three priorities,” he wrote. “Improving organizational health, restoring financial discipline, and advancing long-term capital planning.”
The shape of that progress looks different to different people. There are three candidates running for two seats on the IVGID Board of Trustees, with only one incumbent running for reelection: David Noble. That means there’ll be at least one newcomer, either Harry Swenson, who ran in 2024, or Ryan “RB” Brooks. The candidates touch on cost discipline, transportation, and utility management.
Candidates were limited to 125-word responses per question, and they have been edited for style and clarity. Order of replies determined by a randomizer.
1. Public transportation has been identified as a critical option to reduce traffic, lower pollution, expand mobility, and more. December 2025’s cancellation of TART (Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit) Connect’s microtransit services and the Aug. 1, 2026, discontinuance of IVGID’s Senior Transportation Program have created a gap in public transportation needs across Incline Village/Crystal Bay. What do you see as the most critical way(s) IVGID can support or encourage expanded public transportation options?
Brooks: The end of these programs left us without on-demand transit for the residents who depend on it most: seniors, workers, and people without a car. As I see it, IVGID’s most critical role is to restore service quickly and on solid legal footing. IVGID’s counsel has advised that [Nevada Revised Statute] 318 doesn’t allow the district to operate transportation directly. Rather, we should let a local 501(c)(3) run the service and receive state and federal funding directly, including [Nevada Department of Transportation’s] [Federal Transit Administration] Section 5310 and Older Americans Act funds and Washoe County senior service contracts. IVGID’s role would be to convene partners and help prepare grant applications. Any direct financial support would be reviewed by legal counsel first, so we don’t trade one lawsuit risk for another.
Editor’s note: Words in brackets were added by editors and do not count against word count.
Noble: IVGID representatives have been in discussions with county representatives since April to strongly encourage restarting/funding TART, which would assist all residents, including seniors. Those discussions have included the use of at least some of the taxes generated from STRs in unincorporated Washoe County (over 90% of those revenues come from STRs in Incline Village and Crystal Bay), which currently go to the county, Travel North Tahoe Nevada (formerly the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau), and the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Unfortunately, IVGID is prohibited from providing public transportation service, unless it is tied to at least one of IVGID’s recreation venues.
Swenson: I would work with the board and amend the long-standing contract with Washoe County to ensure senior transportation services are fully funded by the county and are consistent with services offered in other towns/districts of the county. For instance, the county provides discounted Lyft rides and taxi services for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents. We need to ensure our community is aware of the services available.
IVGID has the responsibility of providing transportation according to the contract with Washoe County; therefore, the elimination of services was wrong. The problem appears to be budgetary and due to the services provided by IVGID going beyond what the county provides in other communities. Services should have been reviewed and refined rather than eliminated.
2. IVGID provides essential utilities while also operating an extensive recreation system. How would you determine which responsibilities should take priority when the district faces competing financial, infrastructure, and community needs?
Swenson: Maintaining and updating our water and sewer infrastructure is critical. Much of it is still original and in state of disrepair. We’ve had too many water main and line breaks. We need to budget and execute on a plan to get it upgraded and properly maintained. At the same time, we need to make the maintenance of our existing facilities, such as the recreation center, a priority. We should budget for these things first and then determine what additional projects can be accomplished. Only projects that can be delivered should be contained in the budget that results in your beach and recreation fees. This would resolve the over-collection of fees from our community while keeping our facilities in good repair.
Brooks: Tier 1 – Public health, safety, and legal obligations. Water, sewer, and effluent systems come first because they protect residents and the lake, and regulations aren’t optional.
Tier 2 – Taking care of what we already have. Before paying for anything new, IVGID should fully fund the repair and replacement of its existing pipes, pumps, facilities, and equipment.
Tier 3 – Core recreation at the heart of our community. Each IVGID facility should be evaluated on cost, usage, and how close it comes to covering its expenses. But keep a holistic approach.
Tier 4 – Wants. New amenities, expansions, and nice-to-haves come last.
Three rules would guide me in how I apply this:
Keep the money where it belongs.
Plan on a five- to 10-year horizon.
Show our work.
Noble: Water and sewer services take priority over all recreation venues because those services are essential to daily life. IVGID recently completed the effluent export pipeline project under Highway 28 — a $62 million-plus project finished a year ahead of schedule and $13 million-plus under budget. Looking forward, I believe reinvestment in IVGID’s water service and ski area should be priority. Wildfire preparedness measures (pipe replacement, backup generators, etc.) need to be accelerated for our water delivery system to be better prepared for future wildfire events. Diamond Peak is the only venue that generates a profit for the community ($1 to $5 million/year), yet no meaningful investments have been made in nearly 20 years — lodge, lift, and snowmaking upgrades are long overdue to address declining skier visits.
3. The past few years have seen ups and downs in the facility fee amounts district property owners pay annually. For example, in the fiscal year ending 2023, residents paid $780. In 2024, that amount dropped to $455. In 2026, due to impacted district finances, the annual fee went up to $1,375. The current IVGID board said the latest increase will help ensure district financial stability and the ability to manage current and future capital facilities. Do you think the board and staff have handled the financial instability well? How would you seek to maintain or improve district financial management moving forward?
Noble: The facility fee was kept flat from 2010 to 2023, while construction, labor, and food prices rose considerably over that period. The fee went up to $1,375 to begin addressing years of deferred maintenance and capital projects that languished due to analysis paralysis. I led the effort in early 2025 to hire IVGID’s new GM, who has rebuilt the finance department. We now have the right personnel in place for IVGID to comply with all applicable fiscal and accounting protocols, resulting in a clean (no exceptions or disclaimers) [Fiscal Year] 2025 audit. IVGID will be removed from the state’s fiscal watch list once the anticipated clean audit for FY 2026 is filed in November, which will enable IVGID to access additional financing tools for future projects.
Swenson: IVGID is collecting money for projects without the ability to complete in the budgeted year for many years; it’s resulted in excessive cash reserves. The excessive cash build-ups have also allowed your money to be used where it wasn’t intended or budgeted. The lower-fee years were during a time when the board linked the fees to the ability to deliver projects and services; they didn’t over-collect but collected for what was achievable. Last year’s capital improvement plan was for $30 million of projects and barely executed on $6 million. Now, with the tripling of fees, they’ve collected another $40 million out of your pockets. The board needs to budget and collect only for projects and services it can deliver, nothing more. Apply proper fiscal management!
Brooks: The current board and staff faced the problem honestly. They built a long-term capital plan, ranked the most critical projects, and stabilized the general fund. The effluent pipeline replacement finished a year early and under budget. That’s real progress.
Going forward, I would:
Instead of raising fees, pursue cost savings and revenue generating opportunities. For example, we have a $400,000 line item for the replacement of golf carts. Let’s solicit sponsors like Titleist or Nike to brand and sponsor the golf carts.
Index the fee to construction costs every year with a published formula.
Autumn Color Reflected in the Twilight
Caples Lake, Calif.
Fall is here, and for photographers, it’s the most exciting time of the year. Grab your gear and head to the mountains. Great images may seem easy, but capturing world-class ones is not as simple as it appears. I have five key elements that I look for in a single image:
1. Color: The sky and landscape should be bursting with color. Brilliant blue skies, glowing sunsets, and vibrant fall foliage make images pop.
2. Water: I prefer a one to three-second exposure to soften the water into a creamy flow of motion. Reflections double the foliage and sky color, creating beautiful, mirrored compositions.
3. Strong Compositions: Find a solid center point, such as an is
olated tree or a splash of color. Your eye should wander around without being led out of the frame. S-curves and diagonals make images more dynamic.
4. Old Things: Ghost towns, dilapidated buildings or barns, and remnants of bygone eras are not only enjoyable to discover, but they are often weathered, rusted, or in disrepair, captivating viewers.
5. Weather: Clouds, snow, and rain can all enhance an image. Cloudy days reduce the contrast of shadows. The first snowfall of the year is a must-see, and a gentle rain to wash away dust is always welcome.
I haven’t yet captured a photo that incorporates all five elements, but I’ll keep trying!
It being a midterms year, Moonshine Ink sought to create a political education column, speaking with academics on the state of politics in the country. In this edition of the Politics Brief, Moonshine spoke with Teaching Assistant Professor Owen Fite, Ph.D., from the University of Nevada, Reno’s political science department. Answers were lightly edited for style and clarity.
You teach a class on political philosophy, so I’m wondering if you can define democracy and tell me about how it has evolved since its creation? Why didn’t the founding fathers go with a direct Athenian democracy?
To give the general synopsis of what Athenian democracy was, it wasn’t monolithic, it wasn’t static. It changed over different years in which it existed. But the most radical take … that I think is worth juxtaposing from today is a democracy in which you had 6,000 citizens who showed up to the Pnyx — the assembly. It’s this hilltop in Athens. And the first 6,000 citizens that showed up there got to be essentially congress members for the day.
Those citizens would be voting yea or nay on the various proposals that were submitted by [a] council of 500. This was still restricted to Athenians, even if there were other city-states and areas that were under Athenian rule. This was still a very exclusive form of citizenship that also did not include women or children or slaves. But these people also were paid.
As a way to make this more accessible even to the poor, you could get paid essentially a day’s wage to show up and do your citizenry duties. And so you had a form of citizenship that allowed for such participation and allowed for real engagement, whether it’s because you were picked by lottery to be one of these more deliberative council members in this smaller body of 500, or you always having this right to show up early to this assembly with 5,999 other folks and vote yea or nay on these various proposals. I don’t think I need to explain to you how different that is from democracy today.
Aristotle gives you a theory as to three noble forms of government — what are pure, virtuous forms of government: benevolent kingship, aristocracy, and polity, or what also might be translated to a constitutional polity of sorts.
The perverted forms, or the forms of government that end up taking shape if the noble ones end up being corrupted, are: tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy. Democracy is seen as mob rule, rule of incompetence, rule of those who are subject to material needs. In other words, people are selfishly going into these assemblies looking for what they can get. If they don’t have their needs met, they’re going to be even more desperate and selfish instead of deliberating and thinking of a collective communal good.
And it isn’t until we get to John Locke and what we would call the introduction of liberal democracy that we get kind of this 180, where we get essentially the English Civil Wars, and we get this re-understanding that government is based on consent, individual’s agreement to enter into a social contract and accept legitimate authority.
[The founding fathers] had a lot of liberal ideas to pull from, they draw from Lockean philosophy, and so they have the basis of a liberal democratic government, but one that is still supposed to be based on rationalism, that is still supposed to exclude women, those who are not educated enough, like children, those who are supposed to only be property owning. In other words, still this idea that those who can’t provide for themselves are going to corrupt a public body, seeking their own selfish good if they don’t have their own material sustenance met.
And what one could clearly argue as real skepticism of the everyday citizen, the fact that the Senate was not able to be elected until we get to the 1900s shows that the founding fathers didn’t want everyday people in charge of affairs. The fact that the electoral college existed meant another layer of insulation in which individual people could not express their concerns. By just keeping it in the House of Representatives, it allowed some sort of representation based off citizens, which is still a very exclusive circle.
Not everyone could be a citizen … that would be specifically capped by a Senate. It’d be capped to really make sure that all these warnings made by political philosophers over the last thousand years [about] a tyranny of the masses, a tyranny of the uneducated, would never really take shape.
ZOON POLITIKON: Politics isn’t simply Congress or voting, says Owen Fite, it’s the network of relationships and decisions that shape how we live together. File image
As politics becomes wrapped up in every facet of life, what would you say to somebody who says that they’re not political? How does this tie into Aristotle’s idea of the zoon politikon?
Zoon politikon translates to political animal.
And this is an assumption made by Aristotle that people are political creatures. In other words, politics is not something we should avoid. Politics is the very essence of being human.
The fact that humans have ideas of what is good and bad, what’s better and worse, what is righteous, what is sincere, what is emotion, these are all very human things. And all of this has to do with politics. In order to understand this you have to have a more capacious definition instead of an institutional definition of politics just being Congress or voting.
But politics at its origins is the practice of compromise, of agreeing. Well, that’s what it’s like to be a person. The only way one could avoid politics would be living out on an island by themselves with no interaction with anyone else.
But even that is still the consequence of politics. For example, [if] some different treaties or different governments agreed not to populate this one island,[then] even if someone avoids all politics, the very absence of politics … requires politics elsewhere. And so that’s a different answer, though, to how someone who tells me they’re not political, how I’d respond to them.
I would do a long Socratic kind of back and forth if I had all the time in the world and I was invested in really getting this through. I would ask, ‘What does it mean to not be political?’ I’d throw it on its head. And if someone said, ‘Oh, it’s just I like my job and I like watching my TV.’ I’d ask, ‘Well, how do you have your job? What are the economic forces at play? What are the facts of insurance, the subsidies, the workplace protections, the fact that you have a home, the zoning, the roads that get you from here to there, the fact that you have TV, that you have internet connection here and there, that everything that leads to you being a part of another’s world, that’s political.’
It is interesting because I feel like some of the people I’ve talked to think it’s pointless. They think that they don’t have influence, or maybe they think that there’s no point in voting in the presidential election because they think that the only potential power that they have is within local elections.
What I would call a meaningful distinction of what you brought up is the difference between having agency and influence versus control and masterdom. Yeah, people in the U.S. right now do not have control over their politics.
They do not have a masterdom over politics unless they are one of those few exceptions of a political party elite or Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos-type billionaires. That doesn’t mean someone doesn’t have influence. If I were to have a conversation with individuals, I would probably take it as local, scaled down as possible to think of what influence have you had on friends, on family, on the community, and I would interrogate them or challenge them to say, how is that apolitical? You convincing a friend to watch a certain show over another, going to this event versus another, joining this club, spending their time doing this and that.
Whether they’re subtle or not, they have interconnections with ideas of what is better, what is worse, what are ways that we want to associate, we want to cohabitate, we want to live together, what institutions we want to make, whether they’re formal or informal.
What I problematize about the definition that you cited is that it’s really restricted by an institutionalist type of thinking that, yes, if you only work with institutions and you expect institutions to completely reflect what you want, it’s going to feel like you have no agency, but that’s only one avenue of politics.
The most radical changes over history, the biggest political change happens outside of formal institutions. It creates new institutions over time. You as an individual are not going to do that. You don’t have that control or masterdom, but that’s where you don’t get these big critical junctures until it actually takes up across a large group, a large mass of people.
We go back to the heart of it, which is politics only exists with others. You as an individual are not going to change everything in politics by yourself. It’s all part of a collective action problem, a collective effort.
Three seats of the five seats on the Truckee Fire Protection District board are up for the midterms, but none of them are seeking reelection, which means come Jan. 1, 2027, there’ll be three new faces overseeing the fire district’s budget, policies, and overall services for the community. This is especially notable considering the district’s current legal battle against Placer County over property tax allotment, such impending capital projects as a new headquarters fire station, and the recent union formation.
Candidates were limited to 125-word responses per question, and they have been edited for style and clarity. Order of replies determined by a randomizer.
1. Truckee Fire says a decades-old property-tax allocation problem in Placer County has cost it roughly $40 million since the 1970s. What is your understanding of the district’s claim, and what role should the board play in pursuing a resolution that supports reliable fire and emergency medical services while considering the impact on other taxing agencies? (Read more on this situation at moonshineink.com: Truckee Fire Sues Placer County Over Decades of Unpaid Property Tax.)
McThorn: Unfortunately, there is a confidentiality clause with the legal case, and I do not have all the factual information. Once on the board, I can better understand the issue. From what I know, this should have been addressed many years ago by prior chiefs and boards.
I am not for taking from other special districts within Truckee. This appears to be the threat from Placer County and am not sure that is legal. If the case is won, it should come from the Placer County general fund and not our special districts. Moving forward, the funds should be allocated appropriately to Truckee Fire. If elected, I will share all factual information that is legally allowed so we can move forward responsibly.
Rintala: The district has not been receiving funding from the fire service taxes paid by residents in a portion of Placer County. The district has spent many years trying to resolve this with Placer County. The fire taxes other district residents pay should not have to make up for the funding removed from our region. As a community member, I am not convinced that our local agencies are overfunded by the taxes collected for the TFPD, as the county suggests. The board should seek out and review available information and pursue the case with the entire community we serve in mind. The district should also be ready and willing to engage with other agencies to understand potential impacts.
Witherspoon: Truckee Fire deserves fair, durable funding without destabilizing schools, healthcare, sanitation, or neighboring districts. I reviewed the Zone 7 tax-area records, and the allocation snafu locked into place after Proposition 13 is there for anyone to see. The sanity check is whether Placer County or Northstar [Community Services District] would provide fire protection with those allocations. Quite simply, they wouldn’t. Correcting this historical imbalance will have a financial impact on the county and/or our local special districts. The board should protect the district’s legal position while making settlement the priority. I would require transparent reporting on legal costs, verify the service-cost analysis, and bring Placer County and affected agencies into structured negotiations.
Brown: The lawsuit is active against Placer County by Truckee Fire. This case should be guided by fairness, fiscal responsibility, and what is legitimately owed to our fire district. We have been pursuing a fair resolution with Placer County for decades; with better communication this could have prevented the lawsuit. While retroactive funding may not be recoverable, we should establish a fair path forward. Our emergency services remain unchanged for these areas while local taxpayers bear the costs. I believe there are sufficient resources to reach an equitable solution without negatively impacting other agencies. The court should make a ruling and Truckee Fire will acceptingly move forward. If settlement is needed, I would support collaboration, transparency, and a fair outcome for all involved.
Golden: I completely agree that we cannot take resources away from our schools or healthcare district. A zero-sum fight between local emergency services and education is not the answer.
At the same time, we have to be honest about the problem. Billions of dollars of development have occurred in the Martis Valley, creating more people, more homes and more fire risk, while Truckee Fire remains understaffed. I believe Placer County needs to be part of the solution. We should work toward a long-term agreement that better recognizes the cost of protecting these communities.
My goal would be simple: make sure the tax revenue generated here is helping provide the services needed here, while working with our neighboring agencies rather than taking resources away from them.
2. Significant capital projects are on the horizon for Truckee Fire, including Station 90, a new headquarters fire station, and a regional training facility for Truckee and its partner agencies. What are three specific ways the board of directors might hold the line on fiscal discipline during the planning and implementation of these and other projects?
Golden: Fiscal discipline doesn’t mean saying no to every major project. It means making sure we’re building what our community actually needs and getting the most value for every taxpayer dollar.
I’m particularly supportive of seeing the regional training facility through because I believe it can make Truckee and our neighboring agencies better prepared while sharing cost and resources. I would work directly with partner agencies to make that happen.
Training matters. Firefighters cannot be expected to perform at their best during a structure fire if they can’t regularly practice those skills. Technology, equipment, and fire behavior continue to change, and we have to keep our firefighters current. I would expect strong budgets, accountability, and regular oversight while investing in training that keeps our community safe.
McThorn: The new station 90 is still in the early phase and changes can be made. From what I know, there is not a definitive funding plan. There should be a collaborative effort moving forward with all stakeholders, Transient Occupancy Tax, and community input. Fiscal responsibility is always a priority with public funds. It is a good plan with an attached fire station from what I have seen.
The need for a regional training facility should be a priority. Our goal should be to keep our firefighters within or close to our district when training. Training is a top priority, and Truckee is one of the most uniquely challenged areas in the country. Our firefighters need to be ready at all times.
Rintala: With three new board members, the prospective capital projects should be reviewed starting with a thorough needs and benefits analysis as we look to modernize and grow with our community. The district is healthy and should explore accessible funding options while prioritizing the most important capabilities we can afford to pursue. These are high-impact projects that can improve capability and service quality if well planned. A fire station is a large investment. Community-supported funding must be considered in the context of overall community needs, aging infrastructure, and resource availability. The board needs to honor and protect the existing partnership with voters that brought us wildfire risk reduction through Measure T funding and plan to build forward in concert with other community providers.
Witherspoon: Representing taxpayer interests starts well before construction. Station 90’s 18,000-square-foot concept carries a preliminary estimate of about $24 million. At that scale, the district must validate and prioritize needs, compare smaller and phased alternatives, identify external funding, and show that construction will not weaken reserves or service levels. Any capital plan must address upgrades to aging stations and prioritize the highest needs. For greenlit projects, I would require updated cost estimates and public board approval at design milestones, bid awards, and significant change orders. For a regional training facility, each partner’s capital contribution, operating share, governance rights, maintenance obligation, and exit terms should be documented before Truckee commits. We should fund what crews need, what population growth demands, and what the tax base can sustain.
Brown: I believe a new fire station can be an important investment in our community’s safety, but we need strong safeguards before committing significant taxpayer dollars. I would support a thorough feasibility study, independent cost estimates, realistic construction timelines, and a clearly defined project scope. The board should establish a firm budget with appropriate contingency reserves, require competitive bidding, and have any significant scope or cost changes return to the board for approval.
We should also evaluate long-term operating and maintenance costs, secure outside funding where possible, and regularly review the project against established milestones. Most importantly, the community deserves transparent reporting throughout the process. Good planning means anticipating challenges before they become expensive problems and ensuring we build what Truckee needs while protecting taxpayers.
3. Earlier this year, Truckee firefighters joined the Sierra Nevada Firefighters Local 3800 union. What changes, if any, have you observed in the district’s internal communication, collaboration, or service delivery since then? As a board member, how would you support a constructive working relationship among executive staff, the board, and union members?
Brown: I respect the employees’ choice to go union and encourage good collaboration. The transition and relationship are new and priorities should be open communication to build trust, accountability, and a strong working relationship. We can work together to build a problem-solving partnership and I’m positive the union relations will continue to develop. Since the unionization, the board has approved a change in service for the better with regard to daily minimum staffing levels. The staffing levels are now increased by two personnel, making a mandatory of 10 personnel. This is an important improvement from the previous minimum staffing of eight. There is always room for revision and conversation to increase these levels in the future based on district needs and fiscal availability.
Golden: I believe the most important thing is that everyone remembers we’re on the same team. Our firefighters, executive staff, and board may have different perspectives, but we all have the same responsibility: providing the best possible fire and emergency medical service to our community.
Since firefighters joined Local 3800, I believe the board should embrace that relationship, not treat it as an obstacle. I would make a point of listening to our firefighters and understand what they’re seeing on the ground, while also respecting the responsibilities of the chief and board.
Good organizations communicate openly, address problems directly, and hold each other accountable. I would work to build that relationship: one that’s based on respect, transparency, and a shared commitment to the people we serve.
McThorn: Since unionizing, the internal communication seems to be strained. With my experience in labor and management communications and negotiations, I will bring stability, open lines of communication, and straightforward discussions. I have learned over my career that such communication will always prevail. It will unify and gain trust among labor and management and build a stronger fire district. The firefighters and prevention officers are front line and have the best insight for positive change. As a board member, I would like to see monthly labor and management meetings with set achievable goals, and a monthly report to the board. To be a truly effective union it takes the labor group to be proactive and communicate factually. We must work together to better serve our community.
Rintala: The union relationship is new and all parties still have to learn how to work with each other under a new system. Attending board meetings over the last year and listening to firefighters, I’ve observed difficulty from all sides while individuals remain mission-driven and strive to deliver outstanding service to our evolving rural community. TFPD’s extraordinary firefighters, staff, and leaders work with many response partners for rapid, scalable, and reliable emergency response. The national advocacy from the union promises to bring guidance to our team that helps keep our firefighters, residents, and visitors ever safer in emergencies. The board should actively guide respectful engagement from the boardroom to the front line putting our community and our Truckee Fire team ahead of turf battles.
Witherspoon: I am not inside the organization and will not claim firsthand knowledge of private workplace dynamics. Public statements surrounding the unionization suggest employees wanted a more consistent voice in district decisions. I have seen no evidence that unionization has diminished service, and I support employees finding a constructive way to be heard. I welcome the perspective a regional union can bring from peer fire districts. As a board member, I would support scheduled labor-management meetings, anonymous employee climate surveys and more transparency with staff, e.g., livestreaming board meetings so employees can follow them remotely. The board should respect collective bargaining and the chief’s chain of command while ensuring employees can raise concerns safely. Constructive labor relations are necessary to sustain excellent public service.
Inventory levels are down from 2025 in nearly all Tahoe submarkets. In September 2025, there were 327 homes listed for sale in the Tahoe Sierra MLS compared to 272 in 2026. The homes that sell are moving faster than last year, with average days on market dropping across every market except for the NV Tahoe Basin, where days on market jumped from 70 to 146 along with a 37% rise in median sold price year over year. This suggests a smaller pool of higher priced sales rather than a cooler market. Month-to-month, most submarkets saw sales volume increase into September where prices decreased slightly, consistent with the overall trend of sellers adjusting pricing to move inventory as we move into the shoulder season.
