As summer approaches, many Americans shift their focus toward achieving a “beach body.” A survey found that 46% of Americans attempt to lose weight through dieting and/or exercise. Weight gain often accumulates due to the festive foods consumed during holiday celebrations such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and those during winter. Additionally, winter’s shorter daylight hours contribute to reduced physical activity and increased appetite.
With warmer weather comes lighter, more revealing clothing, and heightening body image concerns. Social media, magazines, and advertisements promoting the “ideal” summer body can fuel body dissatisfaction.
While appearance may be a primary motivator, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that lowering body weight from an overweight category (BMI > 25 kg/m²) to a normal range can significantly improve health outcomes.
Calorie Deficit
Different dietary approaches, such as intermittent fasting, ketogenic, low carbohydrate, low fat, paleo, and other commercial diets all function by creating a calorie deficit, that is, consuming fewer calories than the body expends. However, the sustainability of a diet is crucial for long-term success. A minimally processed diet with gradual reductions in added salt, sugar, fats, and refined grains can promote natural satiety and facilitate weight loss.
Losing Fat While Preserving Muscle
Weight loss should prioritize fat loss rather than muscle loss. A balanced approach to macronutrient (macro) intake, macros being protein, carbohydrates, and fats, ensures that muscle is preserved while body fat is reduced.
Calories from different macronutrients, affect metabolism differently:
Protein
Protein is one macro whose quality varies among sources. The more complete animal proteins (e.g., egg whites) contain all essential amino acids in more optimal ratios for muscle growth, whereas plant proteins (e.g., broccoli) may contain less of certain amino acids in the optimal ratio. Therefore, the same amount of protein from different sources may not have the same impact on muscle growth and retention.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates can have vastly different metabolic effects. Refined carbohydrates, such as those in candy, soda, and fruit juices, cause rapid spikes in blood glucose, leading to insulin surges that drive glucose into fat storage. Similarly, refined grains such as white rice and processed wheat are stripped of fiber, making them quickly digestible and absorbable, contributing to fat accumulation.
On the other hand, whole-food carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains contain fiber that slows glucose absorption, preventing the sharp glucose spikes resulting in more adipose tissue.
Fats
Fats are essential for hormone production and overall cellular function. Omega-3 fatty acids from marine sources such as DHA and EPA play a critical role in reducing inflammation and supporting metabolic health. Meanwhile, excessive intake of saturated fats can contribute to insulin resistance, promoting fat storage rather than fat oxidation. A diet rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats is preferable for metabolic health.
Strategic Macro Planning
Targeting adipose tissue loss requires more than arbitrarily restricting calories without regard to their composition. Whether they come from refined or unprocessed carbohydrates, complete or incomplete proteins, or healthy or unhealthy fats, affects body composition.
After selecting healthy sources of macros, determining their ratio depends on such variables as resting energy expenditure, overall activity level, recommended fat intake, and ideal body weight. A spreadsheet that uses these factors is available at MNTScientific.com under “Determine Your Macros.”
The Importance of Sufficient Natural Carbohydrates
Maintaining a stable blood glucose range (70-100 mg/dL) is essential for metabolic balance. When blood glucose levels drop, the pancreas releases glucagon, prompting the body to convert muscle protein into glucose to maintain energy levels. Over time, this can lead to muscle loss if carbohydrate intake is insufficient.
Conversely, excessive blood glucose leads to fat storage, emphasizing the importance of choosing natural, fiber-rich carbohydrates that provide a steady glucose release rather than a sharp insulin response.
Resistance Training and Adequate Protein
Consuming excess protein in the presence of high glucose intake can lead to fat storage. However, resistance training increases the body’s ability to use more protein for muscle growth rather than fat storage.
Additionally, moderate, as opposed to high intensity aerobic exercise encourages fat oxidation while protecting muscle tissue from being broken down for energy.
Fat and Alcohol: Hidden Factors in Weight Gain
Excess fat consumption, particularly from processed sources, promotes fat deposition. At 7 kcal per gram, alcohol is energy-dense and metabolized before carbohydrates or fats. Alcohol not used for energy is stored as fat and has no place in weight loss efforts.
Conclusion
Achieving a summer-ready physique by implementing health promoting, sustainable changes over short-term diet fads is consistent with long-term wellness. Combining proper macronutrient balance, whole-food nutrition, structured physical activity with resistance training, optimimizes fat loss and muscle preservation, or even muscle growth.
A registered dietitian, adept at weight loss and exercise can be a valuable asset toward a safe, healthy, sustainable lifestyle.
About the Author
Patrick Traynor, PHD, MPH, RD, CPT is a registered dietitian with an insurance-based practice, MNT Scientific, LLC in South Lake Tahoe, CA, Minden, NV, & Ashland, OR. In office or video appointments can be requested online at MNTScientific.com or by calling (530)429-7363. Inquiries can be directed to info@mntscientific.com.
Whether throwing a disc golf, paddling a standup paddleboard, or lifting heavy boxes, we rely on the shoulders for a number of summer activities.
The shoulder has a wide range of motion making it the most mobile joint. But because of this flexibility, it’s not very stable and easily injured.
To keep shoulders healthy and pain-free, know how to spot common injuries.
Shoulder Instability
Some people are naturally more flexible, with looser joints that can lead to multidirectional instability. Strengthening the muscles around the joint through physical therapy can improve stability. Occasionally, if therapy doesn’t help, surgery may be needed.
On the other hand, traumatic instability often results from a fall or impact, leading to dislocation or subluxation (partial dislocation). This usually requires a visit to an emergency department and carries a high risk of damage to soft tissues like the labrum or rotator cuff. Initial treatment may involve a sling and physical therapy, but if you’re young or active, surgery may be recommended, sometimes even after the first dislocation, to prevent further damage. Repeated dislocations can lead to bone loss and more complex surgery later.
Rotator Cuff Tear
A rotator cuff tear can result from injury or wear over time. Signs include shoulder pain (especially at night), weakness, and trouble lifting your arm. Sometimes, this pain mimics impingement syndrome or tendonitis, so diagnosis usually involves imaging after conservative treatments like rest, NSAIDs, or injections fail. If a full-thickness tear is found, surgery is often recommended to prevent further damage.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) causes long-lasting progression of worsening pain and stiffness, often with no clear cause. It’s more common in women and people with diabetes, between ages 40-60. Treatment typically includes physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and cortisone injections. Surgery is rarely needed.
Shoulder Arthritis
Shoulder arthritis, whether from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or rotator cuff arthropathy, leads to pain and a gradual loss of motion. As the smooth surfaces of cartilage wear down, bones can grind together, worsening the pain. Early treatment includes activity modification, NSAIDs, or injections. If those don’t provide relief, shoulder replacement surgery may be a good long-term solution.
Dr. Jeffrey Cummings is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Tahoe Orthopedics & Sports Medicine who specializes in treating complex shoulder and knee injuries. He sees patients at Barton Health’s orthopedic offices in Stateline and the Carson Valley. Call 530.543.5554 to make an appointment or visit BartonHealth.org for more information.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could work for 30-40 years, retire, and be taken care of financially for the rest of our lives? Fifty years ago, when people didn’t live as long and many companies offered pensions, a lot of people lived that promise! Today, very few Americans are fortunate enough to have a pension—typically government employees, who often earn a lower salary than private-sector employees but get the pension as a nice benefit.
If you want to retire at a reasonable age and have enough money for the rest of your life, you’ll need to plan carefully. One of the simplest tools out there is the “Traditional” Individual Retirement Account”, or IRA. This is one of two popular IRA types—the other being the Roth IRA—and this Traditional IRA is what we will focus on here.
This type of IRA is easy to set up with most financial institutions or financial advisors. You can put in up to the annual limit of $7,000 for 2025, or $8,000 if you are aged 50 or more. Once you have money in your account, you typically have a broader range of investment choices than you would in most 401(k) or other workplace plans. In addition, the earnings on the investments in your account grow tax-free until you withdraw funds—a very nice tax advantage for savers!
Traditional IRAs have some other perks as well. Since they are not through your employer, you can keep them for a lifetime, regardless of job changes, moves, or other life changes. In terms of taxes, a nice perk is that you can take a tax deduction on the amount you put in each year (although if your employer offers a workplace retirement plan, you and your spouse may not be able to deduct your IRA contributions, depending on your income level). Also, if you’re married but one spouse is not working, the working spouse can make contributions to their non-working spouse’s IRA. Normally, one needs work income in order to contribute to an IRA and get a tax deferral.
Not everything about an IRA is great, though. The annual contribution limits are low, so most investors can’t realistically expect to save enough for retirement with just an IRA and Social Security. Also, as mentioned above, employees who are offered a retirement plan at work may not be eligible for a tax deduction for their IRA, depending on their income level.
Another disadvantage of IRAs is that, similar to many other retirement plans, withdrawals before age 59 ½ are penalized (with some exceptions). That means you will generally have to pay regular income tax plus a 10% penalty if you withdraw funds before that time. If you think you are likely to need some of those funds before age 59 ½, it probably makes sense to keep some of your savings in a regular investment account to avoid that penalty.
All in all, IRAs are a great way to save for your retirement. They are easy to set up, low cost, and generally give you a great variety of investment options. Unfortunately, an IRA alone is unlikely to meet all of your retirement needs, so look for a variety of ways to save and invest.
However you choose to save for your retirement, invest smart 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. Returns are not guaranteed and past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.
When you open your front door in Tahoe, you’re never far from a forested trail, a lake view, or an expansive meadow. Such access to nature is one of the basin’s greatest gifts, where residents and visitors find peace, connection, and play. While it may feel effortless, this abundance of public land didn’t happen by accident.
Fifty years ago, public access looked very different. In 1971, only 13.5 miles of Lake Tahoe’s 72-mile shoreline were publicly owned. Today, thanks to land acquisitions from willing sellers, that number has more than doubled to 34 miles. All told, roughly 90 percent of the Tahoe Basin is now protected public land for all to enjoy.
Though easy to take for granted, our right to enjoy it was recently challenged.
When language surfaced in a Senate reconciliation bill suggesting public lands could be sold, the outcry was swift. In a region where open space is a shared heritage, the idea of privatizing public lands struck a nerve. Thanks to a strong public response and congressional support, especially from U.S. Representative Kevin Kiley, the language was removed.
Public lands at Tahoe not only keep us healthy and feed our souls, but they also fuel our local economy. While we have many challenges facing our public lands today, including growing an ethos of care and stewardship, Lake Tahoe is a national model for fostering the triple bottom line where the environment, the economy, and communities collectively win. This moment has shown us that even 50 years of progress in land conservation is not written in stone—it requires ongoing effort.
This summer marks an important chapter in that effort. On August 6, the annual Tahoe Summit returns, gathering federal, state, Tribal, and local leaders to chart the future of restoration in the basin. Since the first Summit in 1997, the event has symbolized bipartisan commitment and regional collaboration to protect Lake Tahoe.
Born from that first Tahoe Summit, the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) has become the engine behind conservation in the basin. Under TRPA’s leadership, more than 80 public and private organizations—collectively known as #TeamTahoe—have delivered 800 plus EIP projects over nearly three decades. These projects restore forests and watersheds, preserve habitats, and improve transportation and sustainable recreation. The work helps Lake Tahoe remain one of the clearest lakes on Earth.
Yet new threats continue to emerge. Aquatic invasive species—including those not in the lake, like the golden mussel—are a growing concern. While many assume that the risk lies with boats, these invaders can just as easily spread from kayaks and paddleboards without proper cleaning. Also critical is forest health, especially as hotter, drier seasons remind us just how fragile our forests are. Litter, erosion, and traffic congestion continue to demand our attention.
Tahoe’s progress in these areas has always come from collective action.
Destination Stewardship recognizes that residents, visitors, businesses, and agencies have a role to play. It means taking the shuttle to and from Emerald Bay, installing stormwater best management practices on your property, staying on designated trails, and leaving no trace. It means welcoming newcomers with guidance—by sharing the ways you care for Tahoe.
Because the right to enjoy public lands comes with a responsibility to protect them. We don’t have to care for these lands. We get to.
The upcoming 29th annual Tahoe Summit marks an opportunity to celebrate and amplify our work. Protecting public lands isn’t a one-time achievement, it’s a forever quest. I hope you’ll join me and keep us moving in the right direction.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Scientists, policy leaders and conservation experts from five continents have advanced several major initiatives to protect migratory freshwater fish and their habitats following a high-level workshop held July 15-17 at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe.
The Migratory Fish and Global Swimways Workshop, hosted by the University’s Tahoe Institute for Global Sustainability with support from PlusFish Philanthropy, produced a series of concrete outcomes that will directly inform global conservation work leading up to the 2026 United Nations Convention on Migratory Species COP15 summit in Brazil. These outcomes include:
Identification of freshwater fish species for potential Convention on Migratory Species listing
Designation of globally significant migration corridors, including the Truckee River from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake
A commitment to contribute a chapter on freshwater fish to the UN Atlas of Animal Migration, a global initiative mapping the world’s most important migratory routes
Plans for a Convention on Migratory Species report, peer-reviewed scientific publication, global species database, and outreach materials
“These are not symbolic conversations—we’re generating the data, strategies, and commitments that will shape global policy,” said Zeb Hogan, aquatic ecologist in the University’s College of Science and workshop organizer. “The outcomes of this meeting will directly inform global efforts to protect migratory fish populations and restore connectivity in rivers around the world.”
The workshop brought together experts from the UN Convention on Migratory Species Secretariat, World Wildlife Fund, the Global Center for Species Survival, Shedd Aquarium, Cornell University, University of Tennessee, the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, alongside faculty and students from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Importantly, the workshop also spotlighted the Truckee River system and its connection toto Pyramid Lake, as an essential migratory route for Lahontan cutthroat trout and cui-ui. Decades-long restoration efforts by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe showcased the tribe’s leadership in Indigenous-led conservation. University of Nevada, Reno graduate student Zach Bess and is co-authoring the Convention on Migratory Species submission, reinforcing the University’s role in student-engaged global research.
In addition to technical sessions, participants toured the Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants exhibit at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe campus and explored nearby freshwater habitats, observing native species such as the Tahoe sucker and experiencing firsthand the region’s conservation legacy.
“The University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe is acting as a global hub for science-informed policy and conservation action,” said Melanie Virtue, Head of the Aquatic Species Team at the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species Secretariat. “This gathering showcased the University’s growing leadership in freshwater biodiversity and environmental sustainability.”
The workshop emphasized the importance of operating at the science–policy interface and demonstrated how universities like the University of Nevada, Reno can convene international experts, elevate Indigenous and local knowledge, and engage students in solving the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. As the Tahoe Institute for Global Sustainability continues to grow, the Lake Tahoe campus is well-positioned to become a leading center for transformative research and action on biodiversity, climate, and water.
The guiding philosophy at all levels of politics is “never face today what you can put off to tomorrow.” This is even true for matters that require immediate attention. Most politicians are, by nature, risk adverse, worried more about reelection (or the next higher office) than they are in solutions to real problems.
But “kicking the can down the road” comes with risks. Moreover, neither political party possesses a monopoly on failing to act in a timely manner to serious problems before they become full-blown crises.
Here in California, despite repeated warnings from the Legislature’s own Analyst, very little has been done to balance the books in a way that doesn’t resemble the accounting practices of an organized crime syndicate.
The state budget in the year prior to Newsom’s governorship was $201 billion. With the current budget at $321 billion, this reflects an increase of 60% even with a declining population over that timeframe.
Increased spending that far outstrips both inflation and population is the result of bad governance, especially when much of that spending is wasteful. For example, California should have pulled the plug on the disastrous high-speed rail project decades ago, but union influence continues to force state taxpayers to dump billions into that embarrassing boondoggle. Likewise, extending full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to all undocumented immigrant adults was originally budgeted at “only” $6 billion but had cost state taxpayers $9.5 billion and counting by the middle of March.
Another prime example of Newsom kicking the can down the road is his plan to suspend payments to the fund created to pay for negotiated lifetime healthcare benefits for public employees. This will stress future budgets (and taxpayers) as the poor tradeoff for the self-inflicted wounds today.
Despite our political leaders’ failure to address these systemic problems, who does Governor Newsom blame? Who else? President Trump, of course: “Largely due to the federal government’s sweeping tariff policy, the 2025 May Revision forecast of the California economy projects a period of below-trend growth and rising unemployment (‘growth recession’) and a General Fund revenue forecast downgrade by $5.2 billion in fiscal years 2023-24 through 2025-26,” according to Newsom.
But California’s fiscal mismanagement has a much longer history than Trump’s recent actions on tariffs. Moreover, this complaint begs the question of why aren’t other states similarly impacted? Perhaps it is because they have a more responsible governing class.
In case anyone believes we reserve our criticism only for progressive governance in Democrat-run states, we also cringe at what is happening in the nation’s Capital with the Big Beautiful Bill. It most assuredly is not the model of fiscal responsibility.
As this column is being written, the federal government is adding more than $1 million to the national debt every 20 seconds. Projected outlays for federal debt service keep growing with interest payments on the national debt exceeding spending on defense. Even worse, Social Security is on track to run out of money by 2034. This is inexcusable because modest changes to the program now could reap huge benefits down the road.
Despite the growing national debt, neither Congress nor the White House seem poised to tackle excessive spending. At least the Republicans have a colorable argument that making the tax cuts permanent will spur growth, but that alone won’t be enough to solve our debt problem. We can hope, however, that future “rescission” bills and the “reconciliation” process will result in meaningful spending reductions.
At both the state and federal levels, the problem with kicking the can down the road is that the problems only become worse with the passage of time. Only a pending and immediate catastrophe will spur politicians to action. But at that point, solutions become chaotic and poorly thought out.
Maybe our legislative leaders will do what they always do in the face of an impending crisis; create a commission or authorize a study. That’s because, from their vantage point, the best way to deal with a crisis is to not deal with it at all.
Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
Looking for the ultimate fetch partner?! Meet Cecilia, a sweet and spirited pup with a serious passion for fetch and a heart full of love just waiting to bloom. This champion-level fetch player doesn’t just chase the ball; she knows how to “drop it” like a pro, making playtime smooth, fun, and rewarding for everyone involved.
While Cecilia might be a little shy when first meeting new people, she’s quick to warm up with the help of a few high-value treats, and you guessed it, a tennis ball! Once she feels comfortable, her affectionate and loyal nature shines through. She’s also great with kids. So if you have a practicing baseball player at home, she may make the perfect practice companion!
Cecilia is looking for a home where she can continue to grow in confidence and let her playful personality blossom. If you’re ready to earn the trust of a sweet pup and gain a devoted best friend in return, Cecilia just might be your perfect match.
Come meet her today and see if she’s the missing piece in your family! She is spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped. If you are interested in meeting this sweet, big-hearted bundle of love or to learn more about her, please reach out to one of HSTT’s Adoption Specialists at 530-587-5948 or adoptions@hstt.org. To view more adoptable pets or to learn more about the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, please visit www.hstt.org.
Would you like to feel more resilient? To feel calmer and more connected? These five strategies will help you harness our understanding of the nervous system to create a greater sense of wellbeing.
Understand Your Window of Tolerance
The Window of Tolerance is a concept coined by the psychiatrist Dan Siegel, which describes a person’s optimal range of physiological arousal. In this state, the autonomic nervous system is in its parasympathetic mode or the “rest and digest” state. When you are in this optimal range, you will feel calm and connected, be able to regulate your emotions, and face life’s challenges without becoming overwhelmed. Physical signs you may be in this regulated, resilient mode include a slower heart rate, steady breathing, lower blood pressure, and a sense of being relaxed yet aware of your surroundings. Trauma and chronic stress can shrink an individual’s Window, leading them to shift into a survival response more often and feel dysregulated more easily. When our brains sense a real or imagined threat, our nervous system shifts into the sympathetic mode to help us survive; this is also known as the “fight, flight, freeze, fawn or flop” response. Physical signals you are in a “fight or flight” stress response could include faster heart rate, quick and shallow breathing, blood flooding to extremities, and pupils dilating; you could feel energized, anxious, vigilant or even angry. On the other hand, a “freeze, fawn or flop” stress response could feel like fatigue, freezing, numbness or losing track of time and reality. While sympathetic activation is essential to respond to existentially dangerous situations, it is not as helpful when responding to modern day stressors. They tend to be less life-threatening, longer lasting, and more complex (e.g. being chased by a saber tooth tiger versus paying your mortgage). In order to navigate these contemporary challenges, we need to problem solve, communicate clearly, and utilize logic as well as emotions. We are much more likely to achieve this if we can regulate our nervous system response, and return to our Window of Tolerance.
Learn Mindfulness & Tracking Skills Knowledge is power, and it’s impossible to build a more resilient and flexible nervous system without understanding the unique signs and signals it is sending. Mindfulness and somatic tracking skills will enable you to have a conversation with your nervous system, ultimately cultivating safety. What is mindfulness? Simply, mindfulness is the non-judgemental awareness of the present moment. Mindfulness can be practiced in many different ways, from formal meditation to walking in nature. Somatic tracking is a specific mindfulness practice which involves paying close attention to physical sensations in the body. By noticing these sensations without applying meaning or judgment, we can send messages of safety to our nervous system. Tracking our physical response to different situations can also help us build insight into factors which might be contributing to either stress or relaxation. Here is a simple way to practice: Notice any physical sensations in your body at this moment (e.g. temperature, heaviness or lightness, fizzing, tingling etc). Notice whether those sensations are pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. Shift your attention around your physical body, perhaps finding and pausing with neutral or pleasant sensations.
Build a Regulation Toolbox Finding tools to help you regulate your nervous system is a personal process which involves experimentation. Some strategies which could be added to your toolbox include: Orienting to the Present Moment Scanning the four corners of the room. Looking out the window or at something pleasant. Naming the time and date. Name it to Tame It Accurately naming emotions, sensations and thoughts you are experiencing. Mindful check-ins. Grounding Using your senses e.g. naming 5 things you can see, 4 things you can here, 3 things you can touch, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste. Pushing against a wall Intuitive movement. Holding ice cubes.
Cultivate Self Compassion Self compassion is the ability to be kind and reasonable with yourself when you are suffering or facing challenges. It can be helpful to imagine how you would treat a close friend or loved one. The researcher Kristen Neff suggests asking yourself: “What can I do to alleviate my suffering?”; she argues that self compassion can be active and fierce, as well as soft and tender. Sometimes it will involve making changes or setting boundaries, and other times it might involve turning inward and practicing acceptance.
Tap Into Co-Regulation Co-regulation is the practice of calming and connecting the nervous system through positive relationships and interactions. As fundamentally social beings, humans are able to influence each other’s nervous system states; this has been observed most notably in the child-caregiver relationship. It involves sharing emotions between one or more people, known as limbic resonance. You can harness the positive impact of co-regulation by spending time with supportive people, interacting with animals, or finding a mental health professional to work with.
Maddie Bishop, APCC is a psychotherapist at The Lighthouse Therapy Group and TherapyNest, A Center for Anxiety and Family Therapy, seeing clients in person in South Lake Tahoe and via telehealth across California. She works with adults, teens and couples, and specializes in evidence-based treatment informed by neuroscience for trauma, chronic stress and anxiety disorders.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Washoe County Commissioners heard a first reading of some controversial updates to the Tahoe Area Plan during their Tuesday, July 15 meeting.
The plan was first adopted in 2021 and several of the updates included cleaning up language in the plan.
However, the updates that have Incline Village and Crystal Bay residents on edge are mandatory updates coming from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
Those changes were dictated in the Phase 2 Housing Amendments, which were adopted in 2023 by the TRPA. Commissioner Alexis Hill, who represents Washoe County on the TRPA board, approved those amendments.
The changes deal with parking, building height, coverage and density. IVCB residents raised concerns specifically on the parking amendment, which would take away the parking requirement in certain development cases. In Incline Village and Crystal Bay, parking is already limited so residents fear not requiring developers to provide a certain number of parking spots could exasperate an already existing issue. Washoe County negotiated with TRPA and is including an amendment in the Washoe Area Plan that would allow county staff to conduct additional analysis on parking requirements in permit applications.
Another fear of IVCB residents centers around density as it concerns fire evacuation. TRPA amendments encourage in-fill and development in town centers. With traffic already being an issue in the summer, residents fear adding more development, would make evacuating nearly impossible.
However, Eric Young, Senior Planner at Washoe County said when talking to fire experts, they said having people clustered is preferred because they can focus on community hardening and sheltering in place. Washoe County will be embarking on a fire evacuation study in the near future.
The updates to the Washoe Area Plan also include a change of designation of Ponderosa Ranch to include multifamily and deed restricted housing, removal of any language around changes to Tyrolian Village and changing the ADU requirement from an acre to less than an acre.
The Washoe Commissioners heard the residents concerns but the county is stuck between making changes that align with residents’ interests and concerns and following mandatory TRPA amendments.
Hill read the amendments into the record and the item will come back to the commission for a public hearing and vote on August 26, 2025.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Since school’s out for summer, the South Tahoe Fuels Reduction Team will be starting work on South Tahoe High School for fuel reduction, increasing the defensible space and making it safer for students and staff. Work will begin on July 21st and continue into the fall.
The project began in 2024, outlining a comprehensive plan to mitigate wildfire risk around the school. It spans 80.1 acres, which includes areas both within and adjacent to the high school.
On July 8th, Division Chief of the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department Jay Manning told the Tribune that West Coast Arborists had been awarded a contract through the city, and that equipment and personnel would be starting the work in late July. The project’s estimated cost is $321,289.
“Reducing hazardous fuels around the high school is vital to protect the students, staff, and the community,” said Lake Valley Fire Protection District Captain Martin Goldberg. “Creating defensible space gives firefighters a better chance to protect this critical facility and provide a secure refuge during a wildfire.”
OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. – TrailCon, a new festival that celebrates the trail running community through engaging panels, brand activations, networking and movement sessions, drew 3,000 plus attendees to its inaugural event June 24-25 at Palisades Tahoe.
The 2025 event, officially named “TrailCon Presented By On,” reflected a vision to inspire and ignite the trail running community through in-person connection and movement.
TrailCon Presented By On had two days filled with more than 20 panels on pressing topics featuring thought leaders and icons of the sport as speakers.
The energy was high on day one, as it kicked off On Trail Demo Event with more than 100 runners trying out On’s CouldUltra Pro accompanied by DJ’s breaking out the early morning tunes on the Tram and up to the summit.
Afterward, everyone headed over to the Olympic Village Event Center where there was a full house of 500 plus people who took part in a full day of thought-provoking panels. Here are just a few:
State of the Trail Market – David Callahan and Rob Goyen of UltraSignUp were joined by strategic advisor Stephen Holmberg to discuss where the trail market currently stands and what the future holds.
Keynote: Future of Western States – presented by Western States Endurance Run Board President Topher Gaylord was a captivating history of the storied race, as well as what it takes to hold it every year and plans for the future
Run Club Visionaries and Community Builders – an impassioned panel discussion led by Mirna Valerio that shined a spotlight on the amazing stories of all the panelists who are helping to bring more people into the sport.
Day 1 ended with an amazing Happy Hour sponsored by On during which attendees had the opportunity to ‘explore’ different themed aid stations, complete with a map, in order to find good eats and libations.
Day 2 started off with another On run with 100 plu taking part, followed by the Vendor Village with 60 plus brands opening and two stages of content running throughout the day.
The most anticipated panel of the day was Freetrail and TrailCon Co-founder Dylan Bowman interviewing the legendary Killan Jornet as part of the Freetrail Podcast.
Other panels covered topics ranging from nutrition to public lands access to creatives in trail running.
Another highlight of the day was the Precision Hydration + Nutrition activation in which runners took part in a 100m dash. There was a male and female final winner that received some great prices and accolades for beating some tough competition. This light-hearted and fun event was a highlight of TrailCon.
Some of the other brands in the Vendor Village included: Nike | ACG, Birkenstock, Keen, Brooks Running, On, Leki, Lowa, Craft and Fractel
A full list of sponsors can be found HERE and exhibitors can be found HERE
The event also featured the inaugural TrailCon Hall of Fame Awards supported by Nike and the Freetrail Runner of the Year Awards.
Winners, who received an iconic letter jacket from Nike | ACG, included:
Nike Awards
The Future Award:
Anna Gibson
The Courage Award:
Stephanie Case
Community Impact Award:
Jamil Coury
FreeTrail Awards
Performance of the Year:
David Roche
Jasmin Paris
Trail Runner of the Year:
Katie Schide
Elhousine Elazzoui
TrailCon Hall of Fame:
Buzz Burrell
Tim Twietmeyer
Hal Koerner
Ellie Greenwood
Anna Frost
Anne Trason
TrailCon ICON Award:
Kilian Jornet
Courtney Dauwalter
By bridging two of the world’s most famous races, the Broken Arrow Skyrace and iconic Western States Endurance Run, TrailCon harnesses the energy of these premier races to create a transformative experience and a new 10-day Trail Running Capital of the World. From trail aficionados to industry titans, TrailCon welcomes all voices to Palisades Tahoe each June.
“TrailCon had very lofty goals, built in partnership with feedback from 2024 participants and our Advisory Board. Our team is ecstatic that we were able to achieve our goals and are so excited for 2026. We’ve always felt that our sport was missing an event that allowed industry and the general public to congregate, co-mingle, share ideas and learn from one another – really a must with how astronomically fast trail running is growing,” said Brendan Madigan, TrailCon co-founder and owner of Alpenglow Sports. “The energy showcased by panelists, brands, and general fans made for a tremendously exciting bridge event between Broken Arrow and Western States. Our sport now has a 10-day period that any trail running enthusiast will not want to miss!”
As the trail running landscape evolves, TrailCon provides an inclusive platform for dialogue, collaboration, education and inspiration.
Next year’s TrailCon takes place June 22-24, 2026.
About TrailCon: TrailCon was founded by three trail running and event industry leaders:
Dylan Bowman: Professional runner, CEO of Freetrail, and co-race director of Gorge Waterfalls and The Big Alta events.
Brendan Madigan: Owner of Alpenglow Sports and race director of the Broken Arrow Skyrace.
Douglas Emslie: Majority owner of the Boston Run Show and Boston Outdoor Show, and an avid trail runner.
TrailCon celebrates the rapid growth and global reach of trail running, serving as a dynamic platform for collaboration, innovation, and inspiration. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Palisades Tahoe, TrailCon will deliver two days of insights, connections, and excitement for the trail running community.
“Trail running has grown dramatically in recent years and is clearly a sport in transition. With that growth have come challenges — but until the launch of TrailCon, there hasn’t been a dedicated platform for the entire industry to come together, discuss issues, and chart a collective path forward. We saw a unique opportunity to create that space — a bridge between Broken Arrow, one of the largest trail races in North America, and Western States, the most iconic 100-miler. These 10 days in Palisades Tahoe have become the most important on the trail running calendar, and we’ve been genuinely overwhelmed by the community’s support to come together and support one another,” TrailCon Co-founder Douglas Emslie said.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Two Tahoe Basin fuels reduction projects have undergone review and approval through Governor Gavin Newsom’s fast tracking process and are set to start late summer to early fall. One approval is an almost 200-acre project located near Carnelian Bay, called the Vedanta Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project, and the other is a 43-acre project near the Tahoe Keys, called the Tahoe Keys Large Acreage project.
In the case of the Tahoe Keys project, the fast tracking process has saved one year. Without the process, it wouldn’t have started until fall of next year. This project ranked high on the priority list for the California Tahoe Conservancy, and its partners, the City of South Lake Tahoe, USDA Forest Service, and South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, due to its location near a heavily populated residential area. It’s a factor that added to its fitness for the Governor’s fast-tracking process.
The process came about after Governor Newsom issued an emergency proclamation on March 1 that resulted in the suspension of certain California state statutory and regulatory requirements on eligible projects with the goal of expediting critical fuels reduction projects.
Although it is too soon to assess the full benefits for the Tahoe Basin, Annabelle Monti, Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) program manager, is optimistic the fast tracking will prove a meaningful addition to the broader toolkit.
“As a collaborative of agencies and organizations working to protect the Lake Tahoe Basin,” Monti says, “TFFT recognizes the urgency behind this effort and sees the proclamation as a potentially valuable tool, particularly for the right types of projects in the right settings.”
Monti explains, when applied intentionally, this pathway could help move priority projects forward that have already undergone environmental analysis but are delayed due to permitting or process constraints.
Initial feedback has been positive, especially for straightforward, non-controversial projects where the streamlined process has helped projects reach implementation more quickly.
Both the Tahoe Keys and Vedanta projects were ideal candidates for fast tracking, meeting eligibility requirements. One of those requirements outlines a list of qualifying objectives, such as removal of hazardous, dead, and/or dying trees, vegetation removal for strategic fire breaks or community defensible space, just to name a few. Projects must meet at least one of these objectives. Further, qualified professionals, like registered professional foresters or burn bosses, must perform or supervise the work and the fast-tracking must be requested within the 2025 calendar year.
The California Tahoe Conservancy chose the Tahoe Keys project due to its alignment with these qualifying factors and for its relatively compact size, making it a good candidate for a first attempt at navigating the new approval process under the emergency declaration. The project had also already been through many development steps, including biological habitat assessment, sensitive species review, field reconnaissance and preparation.
The Conservancy anticipates to request fast-tracking for its larger, 500-600 acre project at its Dollar Property on the north shore. Similar to the Tahoe Keys project, the Dollar Property is adjacent to highly populated residential neighborhoods and is already through many development steps.
While the Vedanta project, which is a Tahoe Resource Conservation District (TRCD) led project, was similarly aligned, the fast-tracking did not drastically speed up the timeline. Had the TRCD instead proceeded through the standard CEQA process, utilizing a Notice of Exemption (NOE), implementation would have started around the same time.
It’s part of the reason why the TRCD does not plan on pursuing additional projects through the Governor’s fast-tracking process. “While the framework is well-suited for larger landscape-scale or commercial forestry operations, our projects tend to be smaller in footprint and community-based,” David Murray says, TRCD Forester/Forestry Program Specialist, “In these cases, the CEQA NOE process remains a clear and streamlined path to compliance.”
The Governor’s proclamation seeks to expedite the confrontation to severe risk of catastrophic wildfires across the state, but not at the cost of public health and the environment. Another eligibility requirement is following best management practices and measures in the Statewide Fuels Reduction Environmental Protection Plan (EPP). Both the Vedanta and Tahoe Keys had already undergone development steps demonstrating environmental compliance.
“While the process does suspend certain statutes, it still requires that environmental safeguards are met — and those expectations are clearly outlined in the EPP. As an RPF (registered professional forester),” Murray expresses, “I view the EPP as a robust guide that reinforces best practices.”
TFFT finds that the usefulness of the fast-tracking program will ultimately depend on project-specific factors, including location, scope, and implementing agency, but can be an asset to help navigate regulatory bottlenecks and complement long-term strategic planning or the collaborative, science-based approach of wildfire resilience in the Tahoe Basin.
However, TFFT says it is essential that partners maintain alignment on how to uphold environmental integrity, public trust, and operational transparency.
As the fast-tracking gains momentum, TFFT will continue to assess where and how the tool can be most effectively deployed in support of making the Tahoe Basin more resilient to wildfire.
Across the state, 26 projects have been approved through the fast-tracking process and four are already underway.
Joan M. Markis, 89, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2025, in South Lake Tahoe, California, where she had been a cherished member of the community for 57 years. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and mother-in-law, Joan touched countless lives with her warmth, kindness, and independent spirit.
Joan is survived by her daughters, Dr. Tanya Markis-Meyer of Nevada City, California, and Dr. Robyn Tornay of Apollo Beach, Florida. She was the loving grandmother of Aaron J. Meyer and Kennedy S. Tornay, and treasured her relationships with her sons-in-law, Michael Meyer and Alan Tornay. Joan is also survived by her sisters, Joyce A. Rensch of Woodbridge, Virginia, and Andrea J. Shafron of Hatboro, Pennsylvania.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband George J. Markis, her brother Jan Shafron, and her parents, Sonia and John Shafron.
Born on December 22, 1935, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Joan graduated from Bartram High School and began her career as a keypunch operator for General Electric. In 1960, she married George J. Markis, and the couple moved to Palo Alto, California, where Joan continued her work as a keypunch operator for Litton Industries.
In 1968, Joan and George found their forever home in the beautiful mountains of South Lake Tahoe, California. After dedicating her time to raising her children, Joan returned to the workforce as a claims secretary for AAA, where she worked faithfully until her retirement 25 years ago.
A funeral service celebrating Joan’s life will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 10:00 AM at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in South Lake Tahoe. The family invites attendees to honor Joan’s memory by wearing their favorite animal print—a reflection of her unique personality and style.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joan’s memory to a charity of your choice.
Stephen P Vaughn, aka, “Pancake.” Father, grandfather, brother, uncle, son, friend, cousin, fisherman, hunter, builder, hummingbird lover. 1951-2025.
Steve left this earthly world on the first weekend of February. A sudden heart attack at his home meant that he missed his Sunday waffles with family friends, for which he would have been sad, but also that he didn’t have to set foot in a hospital, for which he would have been thankful.
Steve was born in Los Angeles, and grew up in Orange County, CA. He wandered the length of the west coast by foot, car, bike and train, and landed in the high desert near Hesperia for many years . . . below a specific oak tree, near his favorite hot springs, where he made lifetime friends, and where his first son spent his early years.
Later Steve moved to Hop Canyon, NM with his wife Leslie and a backpack. He left 20 years later, possibly with the same backpack, having built a house, drilled a well, erected a windmill, and raised 4 children. He returned to California, and lived in Lake Tahoe, near his parents, brothers, niece and nephews. In Tahoe he continued working as a carpenter and was passionate about fishing in the high mountain lakes with the select few who would get up early enough and walk far enough to join him. By 2019 he was done shoveling snow. He headed south again, eventually making his way to Socorro, NM, where he spent the rest of this life.
Steve loved early morning coffee and reading his bible. He was a man of faith and principles that didn’t care about cultural trends, nor did he seem aware they existed most of the time. He loved to walk and hum, and he had strong square hands and gave bracing hugs. He loved flowers, birds, heirloom tomatoes and peaches. He was known for his staccato laugh, and his love of hot water and steam–spending most evenings in his inflatable hot tub and home-made sauna. He didn’t care much for other earthly possessions. More than anything else he loved his kids and grandkids.
Steve is survived by his children, Adam (Rachael), Israel, Hannah (Dain), David (Daisha), and Barnabas; by his brothers Mark (Carolyn), Dean, and Wayne; by his grandchildren, Eva, Ana, Arlo, Teagan, Farrah, Vivian, and Lillian; his nephews, Jason (Timbra), Chris, and James (Jorden) , and niece Jen (Tony); and by his lifetime friends Dan and Wendy.
We would have like to have another visit, to take another walk with you, to share a beer, to sit quietly in the sauna, to hike up to another mountain lake, to watch the hummer birds come back again in the summer. We weren’t quite ready for you to go.
The family wants to thank Jimmy and Laurie, and our cousin James for their grit and sensitivity… you are the silver lining. We love you.
Her Celebration of Life will be on Sunday, July 20th, 2025 from 10:30AM – 1PM at South Tahoe Brewery 1920 Lake Tahoe Blvd then to Kiva Beach for more stories and memories!
Michael Olin Newberger 67, passed away peacefully at home of 33 years in South Lake Tahoe, California.
Michael is survived by his wife of 33 years, Sherry; his sons, Matt and Ryan; and countless family and friends. His legacy is one of deep connection, generous laughter, and unwavering devotion to family — a devout husband, father, and friend, Michael’s life was one filled with laughter, adventure, and unconditional love. His presence will be missed immeasurably and remembered always.
Born on October 6, 1957 in Manhasset, NY and grew up with a passion for people and a zest for life. He graduated with a Business Degree from Syracuse University, where he was a proud member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. After college, he moved to New York City, beginning a career that blended hospitality, the arts, managing restaurants and actively pursuing his love for acting and theater.
Soon after marrying, he moved west to South Lake Tahoe which became their true home and playground for family adventures whether sailing, skiing, hiking, snow shoeing or biking. He shared every passion with his family: teaching his sons to ski and skate, captaining family sailboat trips, and cheering from the sidelines at hockey tournaments to soccer games and aikido lessons to gymnastics competitions. He also took pride in coaching youth sports and never missed a school concert or performance.
Professionally, Michael’s career spanned hospitality, marketing, and hotel management, with his most recent role as a dedicated and charismatic butler for Caesars Entertainment. No matter the role, he brought charm, humor, and warmth — he was always the life of the party and left a lasting impression on everyone he met.
A celebration of Michael’s life will be held at the Lake Tahoe Golf Course on September 21 from 2-5 pm where friends and family are invited to gather, share stories, and honor a life lived to the fullest.
The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center today released its “Tahoe: State of the Lake Report,” which presents data from 2024 in the context of the long-term record.
Framed in a historical context amid past and ongoing environmental challenges, the report provides an annual update for non-scientists on the Lake Tahoe Basin’s ecological health.
UC Davis has conducted research at Lake Tahoe since 1950, and scientists from UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center have been monitoring conditions at the lake continuously since 1968. This has created a unique document of change for one of the world’s most iconic and vulnerable lakes.
“As the new director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environment Research Center, I have had the opportunity this year to see our work on the magnificent Lake Tahoe ecosystem through fresh eyes,” said TERC Director Stephanie Hampton, a professor in the UC Davis Department of Environmental Science and Policy. “We take this moment to examine not only the past and present state of the lake, but appreciate the infrastructure we have put in place that will enable us to explore new research frontiers.”
Hampton will share report highlights during a live presentation and webinar today, July 17, at 5:30 p.m. PDT, at the UC Davis Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences building in Incline Village. (Learn more and register.)
Highlights of the report include data related to temperature, precipitation, algae, water clarity and more.
Warmer, rainier and less snow
Lake Tahoe today generally experiences higher air temperatures, more rain, less snow and earlier snowmelt than it did 113 years ago, the report said.
There are 27 fewer below-freezing days than there were in 1911. Whereas snow made up half of the annual precipitation in 1910, it now comprises 30-40% of total precipitation. The 2024 Water Year (Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024) had an annual average of 28.99 inches of precipitation, slightly below the long-term average of 31.4 inches.
Meanwhile, maximum temperatures have increased. In 2024, the annual average air temperature maximum was 57.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 2.8 degrees warmer than the previous year. The average annual minimum for 2024 was 31.8 degrees F, compared to 29.4 degrees in 2023.
Algae and water clarity
Periphyton, or attached algae, can create green, slimy rocks around the shoreline. In 2024, measurements of periphyton biomass were below average. However, monitoring individual sites from periphyton is difficult at Lake Tahoe due to intense wave action from year to year. TERC scientists just completed a two-year remote sensing pilot program to improve future coverage and accuracy of periphyton monitoring.
Earlier this summer, TERC released its 2024 Lake Tahoe Clarity Report, which is also highlighted in this report. After major declines in water clarity through the 1990s, annual average clarity (62.3 feet in 2024) appears to have plateaued, the report notes. The authors said targeted research into the nature of clarity-reducing particles is needed to better understand why Lake Tahoe’s clarity is not improving.
To learn more about the state of Lake Tahoe and ongoing research and educational outreach efforts, read the full report at www.tahoe.ucdavis.edu/stateofthelake.
TRUCKEE, Calif. – At Wednesday’s Truckee Chamber Government Action Committee meeting, California state senator Marie Alvarado-Gil spoke with what she called one of the most unique and diverse towns in her jurisdiction. Alvarado-Gil addressed concerns about topics and urged the representatives to share their stories and issues with her.
Alvarado-Gil has served as the state senator for District 4 since 2022, switching her party affiliation to Republican late last year in response to Democratic policies on crime. However, her views still lean left of moderate, as evidenced by some of her responses to Chamber members.
“The town of Truckee is absolutely different than anywhere else in my district,” said Alvarado-Gil, who represents 21 cities and 16 tribal nations, 3 of which are not yet federally recognized, throughout her district.
The senator spent most of her time fielding questions about the concerns that attendees brought up to her.
Healthcare
It’s a hot topic for those primarily served by Tahoe Forest Health, which is a critical access hospital whose funding will change due to the recently passed H.R. 1, also called the One Big Beautiful Bill.
Alvarado-Gil lives in Jackson, Calif. and recognized the diversity of healthcare delivery throughout California, especially in the rural areas, which she primarily serves. She shared a story of how her daughter, who stayed with Alvarado-Gil during her pregnancy, wasn’t able to access maternity care in Jackson and had to go to Sacramento for adequate care.
The senator didn’t feel confident that California’s legislature would come together to fix the issue, since it’s not polling in the top 5 issues for the state, but said that they were working on access to care, funding and building a pipeline of providers.
Immigration
Attendees relayed to the senator that there was an atmosphere of “fear and absolute terror” among immigrants in the Truckee community, especially those attending community college. Alvarado-Gil acknowledged the fear, but also stated that places in California seeking sanctuary status were not following the law.
“There is a mass deportation effort in California… and it’s not a fight we’re going to win,” said Alvarado-Gil in reference to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s clash with the Trump administration. But she also recognized that immigrants make up a massive portion of the agricultural and tourism industries throughout California.
On that note, Alvarado-Gil also told a member that she could possibly intervene with regard to expediting J-1 visas, which aligns with her platform of strengthening the workforce in the state.
Housing
With the passing of SB 130, which lessens some CEQA requirements for housing projects, attendees asked the senator about how housing was being treated in the state senate. According to Alvarado-Gil, three of the top 5 issues are related to housing, so it’s a major focus among the legislature.
She commended the Truckee Artist Lofts and the town’s focus on the arts, as someone who opened a performing arts-focused charter school in the past. Chamber members suggested that they stay in contact with her about the lessons learned from the Truckee Artist Lofts, along with Coldstream Commons.
She went on to say that solutions such as “land grabs” around transportation hubs would make more accessible housing and mentioned that the government could, in the future, buy up scorched land for housing—which could have a big impact in the Tahoe-Truckee area.
She also referenced that sales of public lands or land givebacks for housing could make it cheaper for housing development to happen throughout her district.
Alvarado-Gil recognized the difficulty with housing in conjunction with rising insurance rates, leading people to move to areas with less costs of living and weakening the residency and workforce of an area.
“It’s the reality of having a border district and it’s something we’ve been seeing. But we can’t compete with Nevada’s workforce infrastructure,” said the senator regarding Truckee workers moving to Reno and Carson City. “California has a lot of money for housing and workforce support, but it’s our priorities we haven’t gotten straight.”
Environment and fire safety
While federal cuts are being made to environmental initiatives, the state has continued to pledge money to fire safety and environment. “The question is if they’ll add more,” said Alvarado-Gil.
She went on to say that changes probably won’t be clear until September, but that the legislature has pushed through $30 million for conservation funding.
Gov. Newsom just passed SB 229 on Tuesday, Alvarado-Gil’s bill that expands peace and correctional officers’ authority to enhance emergency response capabilities, including to wildfire response. But she also spoke about another bill before the Los Angeles fires that stalled in the Assembly.
“I was on the insurance committee before the fires and when we came back to session in January, it was to these devastating fires,” said the senator. The FAIR plan, which provides basic fire insurance coverage for high-risk properties, required a bailout of $1 billion to compensate for the damages incurred during the L.A. fires. Homeowners and insurers across the state have had increases in costs to pay for it, while according to Alvarado-Gil, checks to the families who have been affected have bounced.
“It’s the biggest black eye California has gotten… since it happened with issues we were already looking at,” said Alvarado-Gil.
Utility companies, which also have raised their rates in part to pay for climbing fire insurance costs, were front of mind for some chamber members. Alvarado-Gil encouraged people to contact and comment on the California Public Utilities Commission’s page, especially regarding topics like this, which prevent people from interest in electric-powered vehicles.
“I’m concerned about the energy space,” said Alvarado-Gil. She also mentioned that an executive order stopped California’s initiative to phase out gas-powered vehicles, but the state is suing the Trump administration on that issue, among others.
Looking to the future
When asked about what’s giving her hope, the senator said that she was glad to have protected funding for schools. “The educator in me came out… protecting cuts to UCs and Cal States makes me hopeful that we are still valuing education.”
She was also glad that CalTrans has plenty of money for repairs to roads and bridges. “It’s not that we’re underfunded, we’re understaffed… we need to make it cool to work in trades and public services,” said Alvarado-Gil.
Lastly, she expressed that she was hopeful that California recreation was alive and thriving.
El Dorado County Chief Administrative Officer Tiffany Schmid announced in a July 15 email that she plans leave the county, where she has worked for the last 11 years. Her last day will be Aug. 15.
“I have recommended that Sue Hennike be placed into an acting role on Aug. 16 and until my replacement is selected,” Schmid’s email notes. “The (Board of Supervisors) will consider that recommendation at a board meeting in the near future.
“I thank you for all you do and for all of your support,” she concluded. “It has been a privilege to work with you!”
Schmid began her career with the county in 2014 as a principal planner for the Community Development Agency before becoming a principal management analyst for the Chief Administrative Office in 2016. She would go on to serve as the director of the Planning and Building Department in 2018 before returning to the Chief Administrative Office. She was named an assistance CAO in November 2021. Supervisors appointed Schmid as CAO in June 2023. She filled the role as interim CAO the three months prior, following the departure of CAO Don Ashton.
Whether attending a local event around the lake, or meandering about town, there’s a good chance you could run into one of the many food trucks that are scattered throughout the basin. From pizza to ice cream to sushi (yes, one even combines two), there’s no shortage of delectable cuisine options that these trucks are dishing out.
Let’s get to know a few.
Get Rad Pizza
After meeting in Santa Cruz in 2015, Max and Kelly started their culinary journey by operating pop-ups until they dove headfirst into the Get Rad brand and purchased their custom-made truck in 2022. The kicker to the custom-made truck: it has a built-in wood-fired oven for pumping out perfect pies.
“I had seen this similar model when we were up in Portland, Oregon, and I just thought that would be so fun to create pizzas,” said Max. “The original thought was we could create slices with different farmers produce on them.”
Get Rad’s build in wood fired ovenAnthony Gentile / Tahoe Daily Tribune |
With the couple’s experience in working farmer’s markets, and seeing how successful hot food was, the idea of farm to table pizzas was born.
With favorites like the Sidewinder (basil pesto, mozzarella, sun dried tomato, and parmesan), Mr. Toads (truffle oil, mozzarella, gourmet mushrooms, and parmesan), or Pow Day (Bianco DiNapoli tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, ricotta, and spicy honey), each 11-inch pizza is made to order and most have playful names of places or experiences around Tahoe – hence the name: Get Rad.
With the flow of the truck specifically designed for pizzas, the truck tries to maintain a quick seven-to-eight-minute turnaround time.
In the busy season the truck is cranking out 250-300 pizzas a day and if you seriously have a need for pizza, you can usually always find them posted up at the Hangar in South Lake Tahoe. But, Get Rad still does catering and pop-ups so there’s a chance you might see them at another location. They also recently added DoorDash as an option so you can get their pizza delivered directly to your door.
Learn More: getradpizza.com
Little Truckee Ice Creamery
After opening a brick and mortar in 2017, and participating at Truckee Thursdays a couple years later, owner Kenny Blum quickly learned that in order to do offsite events, a truck, not a tent, was needed.
“When COVID hit, we ended up parking the trailer pretty much almost full time in downtown Truckee and that went really well for us. But we also needed another second trailer for doing events, so we ended up building a second trailer,” said Blum.
While the trailers hop around events around North Lake Tahoe and Truckee, you can usually catch one sitting in downtown Tahoe City during the summer. You can also find the truck bouncing around some of the signature events around the region like Made in Tahoe or the Tahoe City Food and Wine Classic. The business is also opening a second brick and mortar location in Reno over the summer.
Little Truckee Ice Creamery Anthony Gentile / Tahoe Daily Tribune |
The secret behind the popularity of the frozen treats: a dedication that’s focused on serving the best ice cream in town by making everything from scratch.
Whether their signature flavor of Truckee Trails (pineapple brittle, brownie and a sweet cream ice cream), which was born out of a fundraising event for the Truckee Trails Foundation, Banana Chocolate Chunk, or their Triple Berry Cobbler, the dedication to the process can be felt in every bite.
Learn More: truckeeicecream.com
Betty’s Balls and Tapas
With probably the largest coverage area of all the food trucks in the area, Betty’s Balls and Tapas hits the festival scene all summer long, traveling as much as a five-hour radius around the region. And for the husband-and-wife team of Marica and Dan Walker, it’s exactly why they do it.
“It’s truly why we started this business, to have the lifestyle of going to festivals all the time,” added Marcia. “We have our daughter now and now she’s growing up in the festival world and it’s pretty cool.”
A trio of sliders from Betty’s BallsLetter to the Editor
After opening in July during the pandemic, the two homed in on the location outside South Lake Brewing Company with their trailer, Baby Betty. And with a menu focused on being made from scratch and local and sustainable as much as possible, it constantly changes.
But, you can always count on having some type of meatball (which are gluten free), a vegan option, or typically a slider, which can range from filet mignon to brisket and everything in between.
Their tapas-style approach also means they are a great option for any type of event, which this year will also include trips to the west slope of El Dorado County for the annual Passport event and Apple Hill during the fall.
But for now, they will still pop in and out of their familiar location at SLBC, but there’s a good chance you will see them around at another location this summer.
Marcia added, “We’re around, but we’re everywhere. It’s hard to keep up with us.”
Learn More: bettysballstapas.com
Big Blue Q
Following retirement in 2019, owner Shane Mathias purchased a huge 28-foot mobile kitchen started on his second career full time, operating Big Blue Q. The initial approach to the menu started out with barbecue but has evolved into so much more.
“When I first started 13 years ago, I was doing mostly barbecue, so briskets and ribs and tri-tip and I got really bored with it really quickly,” said Mathias. “I’m like, there’s not a lot of mystique to this.”
That’s when the menu started to evolve to include items like jambalaya and paella that are, while delicious, as much as a show as they are just a single dish. In addition to those, Mathias has also incorporated shrimp boils, beignets, and even soft-shell crab tacos.
Big Blue’s Paella PartyPadres down unbeaten Giants twice, capture STNLL Majors championship
“We’re not just a barbecue truck or a taco truck or burger truck. We can do pretty much anything, and I love the creativity of cooking.” added Mathias.
That approach has amassed the truck quite a following, and operates almost exclusively at private events, with a few large events sprinkled in around the region, averaging 168 events per year. But if there’s one thing that the food truck prides itself on (outside of making amazing food), is being able to serve at volume.
Mathis added, “Last year at Winter Wondergrass we served 2,800 meals in three days.”
In addition to the large mobile kitchen, the operation includes multiple hot holdings, tow behind barbecues and trailers, rotisseries, as well as a tap trailer that includes four nitrogen-based taps.
Learn More: bbqtahoe.com
Starkey’s – Dave & Rachel Starkey
With a background that includes culinary school out of high school and working in fine dining restaurants and country clubs on the east coast, Dave Starkey made his way to Tahoe from Baltimore, Maryland. But he really didn’t want to be a chef locally at first, until he fell into a position at Mamasake, where he first learned Japanese cuisine and the art of making sushi.
That experience ultimately led to a stop at Dragonfly where his approach to sushi was mastered. When Dragonfly closed, Starkey was told that he was ultimately going to be doing his own thing. After the closing of the restaurant, Starkey was at a party when an opportunity presented itself from a friend.
Starkey’s one of a kind food truckAnthony Gentile / Tahoe Daily Tribune |
“He said there’s this new place going in where Dragonfly was, and they want me to invest in it. And I said, all right,” Starkey added. “And he looks at me and goes, I rather invest in a food truck with you than invest into this. And I said, all right, let’s do it. And that’s how it all started.”
Making the decision to go at it alone in 2014, Starkey ultimately purchased a custom food trailer (which includes a custom Napoli120 brick oven). But even with all the experience in sushi, experimenting with making dough at elevation, along with some recon in San Francisco, is what ultimately led him to add pizza to the menu.
Serving the hits he learned to make at Dragonfly, combined with his delicate approach to pizza and toppings truly makes this truck one of the most unique in all of Tahoe.
Starkey and his wife Rachel operate the business as far north as Portola and as far south as Meyers.
Learn More: starkeys-tahoe.com
Pretty Odd Wieners
Armed with the best named food truck around Tahoe, Pretty Odd Wieners was started by the husband-and-wife duo of Jilliene and Brian Main after they moved to Tahoe from Philadelphia in 2103. But what is now multiple food trucks, first started out as a hot dog cart operating just outside of South Lake Tahoe in Meyers (at the Shell station). That same location is still their flagship location, although now occupied by a full-fledged food truck that was custom built in Oregon.
“We were limited in what we could sell through the health department as far as the hot dog cart is considered,” said Brian. “As soon as we got the food trailer, that’s where the name really took stride.”
Knowing they wanted to focus on having fun and a quirky approach to gourmet hot dogs and exotic sausages, the menu was created to include items like elk sausage with cream cheese, caramelized onions, and chipotle honey mayo. Or their Rodeo Dog which is a combination of Caramelized and crispy onions, sweet peppers and barbecue sauce on top of a hot dog.
“That’s the fun, creative part,” said Brian. “Whatever it is that we decide to do, or if anybody has inspiration, we put it together, we take a bite of it and if it tastes good, it goes on the menu as a special when we rotate.”
One thing that’s unique about the approach is their recordings and posting of the inner workings on social media – especially check out their channel on YouTube. In addition to multiple social media platforms, you can also catch them around the basin at specific events throughout the summer.
Learn More: prettyoddwieners.com
Melt
When asked one day about what she would do if she had an opportunity to serve food with beer while sitting outside the Hangar in South Lake Tahoe, personal chef Abi Killebrew answered, “I don’t know, like grilled cheese … and that was the first idea and it kind of rolled with that because grilled cheese sandwiches are simple and beers and grilled cheese go together really well.”
While she never thought that idea would ultimately lead to a food truck, after conversations with the owner of the Hangar and her sister, Killebrew ultimately decided to take the risk (along with business partners).
Melt Food TruckGiants’ Andrew Lehmann wins Majors Home Run Derby
They found a place in Reno that builds food trailers and offered up everything that Killebrew wanted in a truck. Once the paperwork was signed in May of 2024 to build the truck, they were open by mid-July of that same year.
With a menu that rotates a sandwich of the month along with a handful of staples, it also includes soups (mainly during the winter) and fries. The ongoing offerings include sandwiches like The Picnic (blackberry jam, balsamic glaze, sliced apples, turkey, along with goat cheese and gruyere cheese) and The Muenster (muenster, cheddar and mozzarella with ham, turkey and prosciutto).
You can find Melt at its usual post outside the Hangar, with some potential larger events this summer.
Learn More: meltfoodtrucklaketahoe.com
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2025 edition of Tahoe Magazine.
Keep Tahoe Blue, Sierra Watch, Palisades Tahoe Reach Settlement Agreement on Development Project
OLYMPIC VALLEY
Palisades Tahoe has reached an agreement with Keep Tahoe Blue and Sierra Watch to settle litigation challenging proposed development in Olympic Valley. The organizations have issued the following shared statement:
“Sierra Watch, Keep Tahoe Blue, and Palisades Tahoe negotiated in good faith to find a solution that effectively ends the 14-year conflict over Olympic Valley while supporting the social, economic, and environmental needs of Olympic Valley and the Lake Tahoe region.
Under the settlement, all parties agree on a revised blueprint for the Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan that:
Reduces the total bedrooms within the specific plan by 40%
Reduces total new commercial space by 20% in the specific plan main village area
Affirms the permanent elimination of an indoor waterpark within the Village Specific Plan area
Protects the land that was proposed for development at the base of Shirley Canyon by creating a conservation easement, preserving the land for recreation and public trail access in perpetuity; and
Prevents additional development within the specific plan boundary for 25 years.
If Placer County approves the revised blueprint, the agreement would end the conservation groups’ legal challenge to the county’s 2024 approvals.
The three organizations appreciate the truly collaborative spirit of months-long negotiations and look forward to working together in the future to protect and uplift this unique region, its community, and all who love it.”
~ Keep Tahoe Blue press release
Schiff to Host 29th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit
LAKE TAHOE
U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that the 29th annual Lake Tahoe Summit will be held on Aug. 6 in South Lake Tahoe. This year’s theme is “Protecting Lake Tahoe: Balancing Sustainable Recreation and Conservation.”
The summit will honor the legacy of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who, along with Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, created the summit in 1997. The summit will be held at Valhalla Tahoe, Feinstein’s favorite venue and site of the last summit she hosted in 2019. Federal, state, and local stakeholders and representatives of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California will meet to continue Feinstein’s work to protect the lake for future generations.
When: Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 10 a.m.
Who: California and Nevada senators, governors, and members of congress representing Lake Tahoe. Keynote Speaker will be Lake Tahoe resident and Academy-Award nominated actor Jeremy Renner
Registration: General registration for in-person or virtual attendance HERE.
Where: Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
On-site parking is not available. It is encouraged to use public transportation or the complimentary shuttle service. Please see additional information here.
~ Tahoe Regional Planning Agency press release
Incline Village Launches “Worm” Wildfire Fuels Mitigation Project
INCLINE VILLAGE
The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFD), in partnership with the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID), is initiating the Worm Wildfire Fuels Mitigation Project, a two-phase effort to reduce wildfire risk and enhance community safety in the wildland-urban interface above Highway 431.
THE “WORM” Wildfire Fuels Mitigation Project in Incline Village. Courtesy photo
The project — named “The Worm” due to its winding, elongated shape — spans 142.6 acres of IVGID-owned land and is designed to create a 132-foot-wide buffer zone of intensively managed vegetation between forested areas and residential neighborhoods.
Phase 1: Covers 64.5 acres, scheduled to begin the week of July 14, and be completed in 4 to 5 weeks.
Phase 2: Will treat an additional 78.1 acres, with completion expected in the summer of 2026.
The primary objective is to reduce the brush component within the project area while retaining 10% to 15% of native brush to preserve the natural forest aesthetic and support wildlife habitat. This fuels break will serve as a critical line of defense in the event of a wildfire, improving firefighter access and reducing fire intensity near homes.
Burnbot, a wildfire risk reduction company, will begin working in the designated areas of the Worm Project starting July 14. Residents may notice remotely operated mastication machines which are extremely low impact will be utilized.
The treatment corridor winds through key areas above Incline Village, reinforcing the region’s wildfire preparedness strategy.
For more information or to view the project map, contact NLTFPD Forester Jason Furmaniak at jfurmaniak@nltfpd.net.
~ North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District press release
County Renews Agreement With Cal Fire To Strengthen Emergency Response
PLACER COUNTY
The Placer County Board of Supervisors has approved a first-ever 5-year agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to continue providing full-service fire protection and emergency medical response across unincorporated areas of the county served by the Placer County Fire Department.
The $104.2 million agreement, which extends through June 30, 2030, ensures Cal Fire will maintain year-round fire protection, prevention, rescue services, hazardous materials response, and all-hazard emergency services to more than 1,000 square miles of unincorporated communities.
The contract supports approximately 59 full-time firefighters in the first year, with a phased approach to adding positions in future years as Cal Fire transitions toward a reduced industry standard shift pattern.
Public Feedback Sought on Draft Cell Tower Ordinance
NEVADA COUNTY
Nevada County is inviting public comments by Aug. 8 on a draft ordinance updating the county’s 20-year-old cell tower regulations.
The draft ordinance was prepared at the request of the board of supervisors to keep up with changes in technology over the past 2 decades and to address neighborhood concerns related to health, visual impacts, and more. It incorporates feedback from those who attended a public hearing in March.
Some changes in the proposed ordinance are:
Adding radio frequency monitoring after a cell tower is installed.
Increasing setbacks for towers from 100% to 150% of tower height from property lines in all zoning districts except industrial. For example, a 100-foot tower would need to be at least 150 feet from the nearest property line.
Expanding how far out the county must notify nearby property owners about new cell tower projects.
Requiring additional supporting information with project applications such as more robust alternative site analysis.
Nevada County receives about three applications a year for new cell towers. Comments must be provided in writing by 5 p.m. Aug. 8 to Associate Planner David Nicholas at david.nicholas@nevadacountyca.gov or 950 Maidu Ave., Ste. 170, Nevada City, CA 95959.
The ordinance is expected to go before the planning commission in September and before the board of supervisors in November. View “Communications Tower and Facilities Update Draft Ordinance” at mynevadacounty.com/513/projects-supporting-documents.
~ Nevada County press release
Nevada State Parks Accepting Pre-Applications for Recreational Trails Program Funding
CARSON CITY
Nevada Division of State Parks is now accepting pre-applications for the 2026 Recreational Trails Program (RTP), a federally funded grant program that helps build and improve outdoor trails across the state. The program is funded through the Federal Highway Administration and provides critical support for creating and maintaining both motorized and non-motorized trails enjoyed by hikers, bikers, off-highway vehicle users, and outdoor enthusiasts.
RTP funding can be used to:
Build or maintain recreational trails
Install trailhead amenities like restrooms, parking, or kiosks
Add signs or markers along trails
Support outdoor education programs
Conduct planning or environmental reviews related to trail development
Organizations eligible to apply include cities, counties, state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and Native American tribal governments.
Approximately $1.2 million in funding is available statewide. Because funding is limited, projects will be selected through a competitive process by the RTP Advisory Committee and Nevada State Parks staff. Final decisions will be made in January 2026 following a public presentation of project proposals.
All applicants must submit a pre-application to determine project eligibility. Only those who submit an approved pre-application will be invited to complete a full application this fall.
Deadline to submit a pre-application: Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at 5 p.m.
Library to Temporarily Close for Interior Painting
KINGS BEACH
The Placer County Library Services Department will temporarily close the Kings Beach Library for 2 weeks from July 15 to 28, for interior painting.
During the closure, two previously scheduled events — Engineering Challenge on July 15 and Level Up That Painting for Teens on July 25 — will continue as planned and will be held outdoors at the library. Both programs begin at 2:30 p.m. Register for these events at placer.libcal.com.
The book drop at the Kings Beach Library will also be closed during this time. Patrons can return materials to the Tahoe City Library, located at 740 North Lake Blvd.
Library staff have extended due dates for Kings Beach Library patrons and will provide additional time for their requested holds to ensure minimal disruption.
For more information about library programs and updates, visit placer.ca.gov/library.
~ Placer County press release
More Than 650 Volunteers Keep Tahoe Blue at July 5th Cleanup
LAKE TAHOE
The “Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue” Cleanup marked 12 years of the region’s largest volunteer cleanup event and continued movement toward cleaner beaches, more people practicing environmental stewardship, and improved beach management around the Fourth of July holiday.
More than 600 volunteers found 26% less litter this July 5 than at last year’s event, totaling just under 1,375 pounds.
Kings Beach State Recreation Area joined the Tahoe Blue Beach program this year with funding from the North Tahoe Community Alliance’s TOT-TBID Dollars At Work program.
The Tahoe Blue Beach program launched in 2024 at Zephyr Cove Resort through a partnership with the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and Aramark Destinations. As a result, volunteers collected 97% less litter during the 2024 cleanup event than the previous year. On July 5, the total litter collected at Zephyr Cove Resort dropped again, totaling less than 100 pounds. Tahoe Beach Club, Meeks Bay Resort, and Camp Richardson Resort are part of the Tahoe Blue Beach program as well.
~ Keep Tahoe Blue press release
Business Briefs
New Clarke Chiro Continues Family Legacy
TRUCKEE
Born in Truckee to two chiropractors, Dr. Charleston (Charley) Clarke, D.C., returned to town to open his own chiropractic practice, continuing the legacy of his late father and owner of Clarke Chiropractic Center. His new practice, Clarke Chiro, opened on July 7. Following in his father’s footsteps, Clarke Chiro is located in the same building as his father’s old practice.
“I loved the way my dad practiced. He was just a very grounded, very loving, very compassionate man that just showed up every day for his patients. And that’s kind of the mission for me still is just to serve the chiropractic community with love and compassion, integrity, but also clinical excellence,” Clarke said. “The goal is the same, helping people move and feel their best on a daily basis and when they’re hurting, come in and I’ll help you feel better.”
Clarke graduated from Life Chiropractic College West in March of 2025, practicing in Southern California before venturing back north. Now, with a few touch-ups to the space and a new infrared sauna, Clarke said he’s ready to give back to the Truckee/Tahoe community like his father had. The building also hosts two acupuncturists and a massage therapist, creating what Clarke calls a holistic space.
Clarke’s father, Tom, passed from a cardiac incident in July of 2024, before Clarke could graduate and join his father in Truckee.
Learn more at clarkechiro.com or visit the chiropractor at 10021 Martis Valley Rd., Ste. A, in Truckee.
It’s been about 5 months since Feb. 14, which in some circles has become known as the Valentine’s Day massacre, when 10% of U.S. Forest Service staff was laid off.
Since then, amid appeals and investigations, some of those fired as part of the government-wide mass termination have been reinstated, though project and grant funding in many cases remain frozen. More cuts are possible as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to reduce federal funding for forest management and hand off such responsibility to the states. Yet following a recognized playbook, the feds show continued interest in military-like responses to combatting catastrophic wildfire.
In the Truckee/Tahoe region, agencies, organizations, and individuals brace themselves for the hottest months of the year and the highest number of visitors to the region, when any hairline fractures in the infrastructure could widen.
Information about direct impacts to the two national forests within Moonshine Ink’s coverage area, Tahoe National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, remains murky. Media requests sent to the public information officers for both agencies — individuals who have long histories of exchanges with the Ink — now must coordinate responses with the national office, whose replies are vague.
Thus, external and anonymous sources are needed to paint a picture of USFS’s situation in the region.
On its face, it’s business as usual. “When it comes to the Forest Service and staffing, we actually held a meeting with the leaders of all the national forests in my district, all seven of them,” said Rep. Kevin Kiley, whose congressional district runs along the eastern California border, from Plumas National Forest south to Death Valley National Park. “I asked them each specifically, how are the staffing issues right now for you? All of them said that when it comes to fire prevention, their staffing has never been better.”
Brian Newman, a Cal Fire assistant chief for the Amador-El Dorado Unit, echoed the sentiment. “As part of the Lake Tahoe Regional Fire Chiefs Association, talking through all those abilities to respond, the Forest Service has been able to articulate that their staffing on the fire response side is good, as far as I understand.”
On a national level, the message is the same. “At [the U.S. Department of Agriculture] we are ensuring the entire department is geared to respond to what is already an above normal summer fire season. We are providing the resources needed to ensure the Forest Service has the strongest and most prepared wildland firefighting force in the world,” said USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins in a mid-May press release.
UNFLAPPABLE: Area agencies and organizations are keeping a level head while federal impacts continue to trickle down. At the same time, “We’ve got to get work done,” said Annabelle Monti of the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team. “So, we’re going to obligate this contract and we’re going to get this project rolling and we’re going to make sure this crew is available to come on and do these things. And until we’re told to stop, we need to make tracks where we can.” Photo by Julia Bonney
Probing further, however, shows likely long-term impacts from the USFS’s cuts to Truckee/Tahoe, even as an army of Tahoe-devoted agencies have stepped up to assist.
While the frontlines of firefighting were spared from the mass terminations, those in secondary firefighting support roles, as one example, were not.
“When you fight a fire, especially when you fight a long-term incident, it requires a lot of people in support roles,” explained one individual closely connected with local USFS operations and with a long history of firefighting. “On a larger fire, one that’s going to go for days or weeks, there are so many of these support systems people have no idea about … providing vehicles, providing meals, places for people to rest, showers. The ratio of support personnel to people on the tip of the shovel is 4 or 5 to 1 on a large incident. So many people who filled those positions are gone.”
This person asked to remain anonymous because of ongoing relationships with the Forest Service and will be identified as “Pat” through the rest of the article.
At the same time, long-time local USFS partners like Reno-based Great Basin Institute, which supports environmental research projects and education throughout the West, including prominent work in the Tahoe Basin, find themselves lacking the usual Forest Service financial support.
The ratio of support personnel to people on the tip of the shovel is 4 or 5 to 1 on a large incident. So many people who filled those positions are gone.”
~ anonymous individual closely connected with local U.S. Forest Service
“The Forest Service as a whole has not released a single new dollar in 2025 to GBI,” the institute’s CEO, Peter Woodruff, said. “[That’s] tens of millions of dollars in what could be work that could be happening in 2025. The agency has the money, [but] they have not been allowed to release the funds yet to take on the stewardship work. And we’re now a month and a half into the proper field season for most of this to take place, so we’re looking at suboptimal conditions for work getting accomplished because it’s just being held up.”
Woodruff commended local USFS leadership for putting its best foot forward and trying to maintain positivity, “but you’ve got to remember, they’re looking at record visitation, and they’re looking at a devastating blow to their workforce. That’s just unsustainable. That’s the bottom line. You can’t keep asking more of these public servants who are here, not because they’re paid well, but because they care [enough] about these places to perform heroics when all the forces are against them.”
There’s also the morale factor. As Annabelle Monti, program manager for the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team, put it, “I spent 15 years in the Forest Service. I grew up in the Forest Service, so all of my friends are being affected by this. This is a huge deal … And when people are losing their jobs with almost zero notice and then being brought back on and then that’s still in flux, how are you supposed to feel about your contribution?”
“At the whim” of the politically powerful
Many of those interviewed commented on the mentality that comes with working for a federal agency: “It feels like we’re at the whim of the administration,” said a former USFS worker who will be known as “Logan.”
Pat added to this, describing the difference between working for the Forest Service under Democrat or Republican guidance. Namely, that Republicans tend to reduce budgets for the USFS and Democrats provide more.
FEDERAL TURBULENCE: As the U.S. Forest Service wades through staffing and funding cuts in the face of an administration keen on funding fire response but not forest management, Truckee/Tahoe agencies are advocating for the preventive measures. “Good people are leaving,” said Laura Patten, natural resource director for the League to Save Lake Tahoe. “Essentially, all of these Forest Service staff … need support.” Forest Service staff pictured here from an April 2025 underburn, which reduces understory vegetation in a forest, while leaving the overstory (tree crowns) mostly intact, in the Tahoe National Forest. Photo by Julia Bonney
“[Under Republicans] you see a lot more emphasis on resource extraction. There’s less emphasis on … a holistic approach — working with the forest, trying to make things better,” Pat said. “When it comes to fire stuff, doing forest management and fuels management is really key. They’ve abandoned all that … and throw more money at the reactive stuff. ‘We don’t care about taking care of the stuff, but when it burns, we’ll throw more [tools] at it’ … Helicopters, airplanes, big money, big profits.
“Going out and raking the forests, doing fuel management, saving the animals — that’s tree-hugger shit,” Pat joked. “Guys against a wall of fire, dropping flame retardant from planes … That’s more macho, more badass, but not [effective long-term].”
There’s also the overarching umbrella of the fire-industrial complex, a federal-private partnership that is financially and politically motivated to continue the war on wildfire.
Slate criticized this approach in a 2021 article titled, The U.S. Government Is Wasting Billions on Wildfire Policy That Doesn’t Work: “Faced with such catastrophic wildfires, it seems only natural for fire services to respond with every resource available. But according to many of the country’s most respected fire experts, there is little evidence that most of these fire suppression campaigns are effective.
“These critics say that the current practice of trying to suppress every big wildfire is foolhardy, especially given the huge, climate-driven fires more and more common in the West. Some blame this policy on what they call the fire-industrial complex: a collection of the major governmental fire agencies and hundreds of private contractors, who are motivated by a mixture of institutional inertia, profiteering, and desperation.”
Pat’s job with the Forest Service was swept up in the early 2025 upheaval, though he continues to work with the agency. Some staff were encouraged to retire — an approach, Pat added, that isn’t new: “They’ve done this for decades. If somebody’s on [a list of identified positions to cut] and they’re retirement-eligible or even if they’re not, they’ll say we want you to retire, and we’ll give you $25,000.”
Two states, five counties, all of these people, everybody cares about Tahoe. That seems so overwhelming. But in situations like this, that provides you this huge base of a variety of partners that have the flexibility to advocate for Tahoe.”
~ Annabelle Monti, Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team Program Manager
This is known as a Reduction in Force, or RIF. The $25,000 amount is also standard procedure, per the U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “The Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment Authority, also known as buyout authority, allows agencies that are downsizing or restructuring to offer employees lump-sum payments up to $25,000 as an incentive to voluntarily separate.”
How many local employees have been affected is unclear, even to partner agencies. One source said they heard that those initially laid off from the LTBMU were all brought back. Both Pat and Logan guessed that between 20 and 30 Tahoe National Forest staff members were fired but weren’t sure how many, if any, have returned.
The official USDA response to the Ink’s questions was, “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on pending congressional legislation.”
Safety nets
Regardless of how potential wildfires might be tackled, representatives of Cal Fire and the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team said as of the end of June 2025, they’re confident they have the frontline staff to do the job.
“Our fuel reduction projects and prescribed pile burning and brush cutting and those types of things, we’ve continued on as agencies — state, local, federal — altogether moving forward with those and those have continued at the pace that we would normally expect to see,” Cal Fire’s Newman said.
This is an example of the Tahoe Basin’s many jurisdictional foundations proving to be a boon.
Monti spent 15 years working for the Forest Service in the Carson Ranger District, just east of the Basin, before joining the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team this past March.
“Having worked in the area for my entire professional career, looking into Tahoe from the outside,” she said, “it was always like, Oh my gosh, that seems like such a nightmare. Two states, five counties, all of these people, everybody cares about Tahoe. That seems so overwhelming. But in situations like this, that provides you this huge base of a variety of partners that have the flexibility to advocate for Tahoe.”
She gave such examples as the League to Save Lake Tahoe (aka Keep Tahoe Blue), California Tahoe Conservancy, and Tahoe Resource Conservation District as groups that took on advocacy and hosting roles.
“The pieces were in place in the Tahoe Basin specifically to do that,” Monti continued. “And that doesn’t exist in a lot of other places. I think that’s the vision of the future. All resources are limited — funding, resources, people, workforce, all of these things. And so, I think this collaborative approach is really starting to gain momentum, but Tahoe in particular seems to be 20 years ahead of the curve.”
Those just outside the Basin are making their voices heard as well. On April 18, decision-makers from Truckee, Nevada City, Grass Valley, and Mammoth Lakes met with Rep. Kiley, urging him to advocate for the reinstatement of forest health and wildfire mitigation federal funding.
A May 9 follow-up letter by the jurisdictions provided, as requested by Kiley, a list of impacted projects on the cusp of proceeding such as the Five Creeks Project and Alpine Meadows and Olympic Valley Fire Protection Project. On June 6, Town of Truckee Mayor Jan Zabriskie sent a second follow-up, requesting an update on advocacy efforts, as well as expressing disheartenment that “Tahoe National Forest operations continue to face critical operational challenges, including staffing shortages and difficulty procuring basic supplies. Specifically, campgrounds and recreation programs in Tahoe National Forest continue to be critically understaffed.” This information came to Zabriskie, he said, via town staff meeting with USFS staff.
A June 2025 My Shot in this newspaper by Town of Truckee Council Member Courtney Henderson also posed concerns for a lack of update.
Similar to the stalled shovel-ready projects, the Great Basin Institute is experiencing its own rollercoaster with the Forest Service. The institute has partnered with the agency to perform forest and biological surveys and inventories, forest timber sale preparation, hand crew support for fuels reduction, and more.
There are two pots of funding from the USFS that have affected GBI this year. First, obligated funding, which had been fully authorized and should have been available but was not during a 6-week lapse in February and March. “It was ruled by injunction that the holding back of those funds was essentially impoundment,” Woodruff explained.
The vast majority of that funding, “in the millions,” he said, has since been distributed — except for about $900,000 Bureau of Land Management dollars that was canceled for conservation activity in Elko, Nevada.
Second, tens of millions in USFS funds have been “authorized for use,” Woodruff added, through the agency’s grants and agreements department, “but has not been released through an executed agreement with GBI.” (This grants department was also highlighted in the aforementioned letters to Rep. Kiley.)
CANDID KILEY: California District 3 Congressman Kevin Kiley met with supervisors of the National Forests in his district earlier this year to understand staffing needs. For fire response, he was assured staffing had “never been better,” as he said in a late June press conference. “There were a couple people whose job was to maintain trails that were a little short-staffed,” he continued. “I think these are fairly normal within the general cycle when it comes to hiring.” Screenshot, June 26 press conference
“It’s held up from being obligated to GBI,” Woodruff explained. “The agency wants to move forward, we want to move forward, they have the money. It’s just not clearing this administrative hurdle to get executed.”
In some of these cases, staff has already been hired to work on the not-yet-funded projects.
“We’re using other prior pots of funding to keep projects going. We’re getting creative,” he said. “GBI also writes and competes for quite a few non-federal grants. If we’ve got that in the pot, we can try to use non-fed money before we are dependent on the fed. But in many cases, that work just won’t happen this year if it takes much longer to be administratively executed.”
In a late-June press conference, in response to a Moonshine question, Kiley said he has “absolutely expressed” his concerns to the administration about project advancement, as well as on the house floor.
“We want to make sure that our national forests and our national parks have the personnel they need,” he added. “We’ve advocated for giving greater autonomy to the local forests specifically with our district and the parks to enable them to deal with these issues more promptly.”
On a similar wavelength, Monti acknowledged the opportunities that have come about with a refiner’s-fire mindset: “I think that a lot of people have taken the federal funding aspect for granted for a long time because it was so secure. And this has really shown that that might not be the case. So, to mitigate those effects in the future, we really need to take a step back and rethink how we’re approaching these things so that we have even more safety nets built in.”
On paper, 39° North, a mixed-use development proposed for Kings Beach, checks all the boxes for Placer County. Both the county and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency have identified the need to drive development to town centers to achieve environmental and economic sustainability. A key way to accomplish this is by building new, modern hotels. Studies commissioned by the county found that a major hotel in the commercial core encourages walkability and increases retails sales and shoulder season activity. There is just one problem — no new large hotel has been developed on the North Shore in 50 years.
Enter 39° North. The project includes 132 hotel rooms, 10,400 square feet of retail space, 38 townhomes, and 63 workforce housing units in the heart of Kings Beach. The Placer County Board of Supervisors last month approved economic subsidies for 39° North to ease the high cost of development in the Basin and try to overcome the half-a-century no-hotel slump. However, some Kings Beach residents as well as local grassroots and environmental organizations are critical of this action, saying it puts the cart before the horse and implies bias toward the project before the environmental process and community engagement are complete.
A PLACE TO STAY: The proposed 39° North project includes a 132-room hotel in the heart of Kings Beach. If approved and built, it will be the first new large hotel on the North Shore in 50 years. Image courtesy Kingsbarn
The Project
Menlo Park-based Kingsbarn Capita and Development is the fourth developer in 7 years to attempt to move forward with this project, often referred to as the Kings Beach Center, which is slated to be built on three separate sites all owned by the county. Kingsbarn entered the picture 5 years ago and merged with the prior developer, Craig Clark, hoping to bring the project to fruition.
“We came to think there would be a lot of real benefit in redeveloping a key town center on the lake,” said Phil Mader, president of Kingsbarn. “It’s a nice opportunity to be able to reinvigorate Kings Beach and do something complementary to the surrounding area.”
Kingsbarn spent the last year redesigning the project after it received community feedback that it was too tall and that the mountain modern architecture didn’t match Kings Beach’s community character. It reduced the number of floors from six to four, cut the number of hotel rooms from 179 to 132, changed the architecture to Old Tahoe style, increased the retail space by 2,100 square feet, and trimmed the length of the workforce housing building from 247 to 192 feet. Originally only planning to build studio and 1-bedroom apartments for workforce housing, after hearing from the public, Kingsbarn added seven 2-bedroom apartments.
REVITALIZE: “Our goal is that we are creating a landmark sustainable mixed-use project in Lake Tahoe that is going to reinvigorate Kings Beach,” Kingsbarn President Phil Mader said. Image courtesy Kingsbarn
“We have done a tremendous amount of changes,” Mader said. “We think Tahoe is a special place and special community and this is a special site. We will continue to refine our plans as we move through the process. This is already hugely different than where we were a year ago.”
Economic Incentives
The issue before the board of supervisors at its June 24 meeting was not approval of the development — there is still a long road to travel before the project will be ready for that step — but rather whether to approve 39° North for the county’s North Lake Tahoe Economic Incentive Program. This program, which started in 2016, was created to lessen the costs and uncertainties of developing lodging in the Basin.
The program has three components — development rights cost offset, infrastructure cost offset, and a tourist occupancy tax (TOT) rebate — and is available for new or remodeled lodging.
Kingsbarn applied for the first and third components. The development rights cost offset translates to the county helping acquire tourist accommodation units (TAU) for projects with a minimum of 40 TAUs (one TAU equals one hotel room). TAUs are a commodity that can be transferred and sold and are required for lodging developments in the Basin; however, there is a finite number of TAUs in Tahoe. As such, starting in 2016 Placer County began purchasing and banking TAUs to help with future redevelopment. The county banked 206 TAUs, of which 146 remain.
“From studies we learned that one of the largest uncertainties preventing developers from building lodging was access to development rights, which are TAUs,” Placer County Deputy CEO Stephanie Holloway told Moonshine Ink.
Paul Griffith, the county’s business development manager, put it a different way at the board of supervisors meeting.
“We are trying to make it more predictable to bring the risk down,” he said. “I think the risk here is higher than anywhere in the country. I think developers understand this.”
Last year, Kingsbarn asked for 146 TAUs, which the board rejected because it intended to save some for future projects. This time, Kingsbarn requested the reservation of 106, resulting in unanimous approval. Kingsbarn will not officially acquire the TAUs until the 39° North project is approved by the board of supervisors.
“I don’t see much of a risk right now to put the TAUs in a reservation,” said Supervisor Shanti Landon at the meeting. “It is appropriate especially when it comes to the intent of the [economic incentive] program.”
If Kingsbarn hadn’t received TAUs from the county, it would have to buy them on the open market or purchase an old hotel to demolish.
“We have done a tremendous amount of changes.”
~ Kingsbarn President Phil Mader
The only other hotel development on the North Shore that has been the beneficiary of the TAU cost offset program is the Tahoe City Lodge, which was approved in 2016 but has yet to be built. It received 60 TAUs.
The other part of the economic incentive program that Kingsbarn applied for and was awarded is the TOT rebate program, which is linked to the TAU cost offset. TOT is a 10% tax collected on all lodging properties that is paid by the consumer and goes back to North Lake Tahoe. As part of the program, 80% of the TOT generated by the new hotel and townhomes will be rebated to Kingsbarn for a 20-year period. The remaining 20% is retained by the county, with half applied to repayment for the TAUs and half invested in the county’s general fund. The TAU cost is estimated at $1.5 million for a 14-year payoff. Once the loan is paid off, Kingsbarn would continue to receive 80% of the TOT revenue as a rebate, and 20% would go to the county as regular TOT revenue.
What the county approved on June 24 is an option agreement only. If and when the project itself is approved, Kingsbarn will have to bring an official TAU loan agreement and TOT rebate agreement for approval by the board of supervisors. It could look the same as what was approved last month, or it could be slightly different.
“Developing in Tahoe is extremely complicated,” Mader said. “Being able to have some level of certainty that if the project is approved TAUs are available and participation in the rebate program is critical. It gives us a very strong foundation for moving forward.”
The only other projects that have been approved for the TOT rebate program are the Tahoe City Lodge and Evo Tahoe City, which was given the green light at the June 24 board meeting for its remodel of the former America’s Best Value Inn.
Mader notes that zero TOT dollars are being generated right now by the properties where 39° North would be built since there is currently no lodging on those sites.
COMMUNITY CONCERNS: Critics of the 39° North development, including Patricia Orr of Strong North Tahoe (center), discuss the project with Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson (right) after the June 24 board of supervisors meeting in Kings Beach. Photo by Melissa Siig/Moonshine Ink
Disagreeing with the Process
However, around 10 people spoke in opposition to approving the economic incentive program for 39° North, as well as addressing other issues regarding the development and the process, at the June 24 meeting. Placer County also received 54 letters.
“These are massive public subsidies, yet there is no public pro forma available to show how the project will be financed or what the community benefit will be in return,” Carnelian Bay resident Danielle Hughes said at the meeting. “There is a lack of community benefit with workforce housing that consists mostly of studios and 1-bedroom apartments that won’t meet the needs of teachers, firefighters, and families. Most troubling is the lack of public process — the project is moving forward without meaningful community engagement.”
Kingsbarn held community meetings on the project in Kings Beach in May 2024 and June 5 of this year, and the board of supervisors hosted one in January 2024.
The grassroots organization Strong North Tahoe, which was started in 2024 to advocate for small-scale redevelopment, financial transparency, and community involvement in fiscal decisions, is critical of the project and the process.
“We believe it’s too early [to approve the economic incentive program for 39° North] because Placer County has stated the public process and engagement haven’t begun yet, but in reality, behind-the-scenes things are happening that we are concerned about that would reduce public engagement and collaboration,” Kings Beach resident Patricia Orr, who is part of the Strong North Tahoe leadership, told Moonshine Ink.
Orr argues that the CEQA process has already begun, yet there has been no public notice, hearing, or scoping. Holloway confirmed that part of the purchase and sale agreement with the county last July required Kingsbarn to move forward with an environmental consultant, which signals the start of the environmental process. However, that is on hold while the applicant makes changes to the project.
Strong North Tahoe is advocating for a full environmental impact report (EIR) and the opportunity to collaborate on the design and scope of the buildings.
“The county keeps saying ‘be patient, the community will have its time to be engaged,’ but in reality, there has only been two informational meetings when the project has been actively worked on since 2023 by the developer,” Orr added. “We will absolutely support the project once the design and scope include community engagement and buy-in. At this time, that hasn’t occurred.”
The environmental nonprofit Mountain Area Preservation also had concerns about the board of supervisors’ vote.
TEAR DOWN: Part of the 39° North development would require demolishing this current building, which is owned by the county. Photo by Wade Snider/Moonshine Ink
“As an agency, you are showing bias toward the developer when you give public subsidies to a project before it goes through any type of public process, whether that be CEQA or environmental review,” MAP Executive Director Alexis Ollar said. “It shows they just plan to approve the project. That then leaves those of us who do advocacy pushed out of the scenario … It’s basically giving entitlements to a developer who hasn’t done due diligence. Environmental review is due diligence.”
Ollar emphasized the need for more public review of the project in return for public dollars.
“It’s like the community is giving a huge gift of public subsidies in order to provide this new redevelopment,” she said. “Let’s ensure that that new redevelopment is in line with the community area plan.
According to Mader, Kingsbarn’s next step is to flush out its changes to the project and submit the revised design to Placer County for review. Mader said that if everything proceeds smoothly, 39° North could go before the board of supervisors for approval in a year.
The amount of traffic post-Covid almost destroyed my soul. Even when I left my house by 6 a.m. to head to the resort, there was no guarantee of a prime lift line position. All it takes is one spin-out and traffic would stretch for miles, enough to turn around, head back home, and build a van to become a snowbird. I didn’t sign up to live in a city. But enough about me. This led me to ask some folks:
What is your most memorable Tahoe traffic experience?
Dan Rooney, Reno Owner/operator, Silver State DJ
A couple of years ago, on a random Tuesday, I went to [Palisades Tahoe] for a powder day. Left Reno at 6:30 a.m. and didn’t get to the resort until noon. And that’s why I ride Mt. Rose now.
Niels Krejcir, Prosser Technical project manager
The weekend ski traffic. Being a weekend warrior can sometimes mean a 2-plus hour trip from Truckee to the parking lot, which is typically a 20ish-minute trip. As great as the mountain and the skiing is, if I can’t leave early enough and beat the traffic, it’s often not worth that much extra time in the car.
Mike Holmes, Canada Canadian tourist
Yesterday [early July], driving from Tahoma to Incline to Reno to Truckee, and back to Tahoma. Every minute of it sucked.
Mike Barra, South Lake Tahoe Marketing
Driving from Kings Beach to Palisades on a powder day. Due to a multitude of wrecks on the way we fell behind the traffic. Google Maps gave us another hour to Palisades, so we tried going up the backside [to Sherwood at Alpine]. A truck got stuck sideways at the top of the road, and we turned around and went home.
Jack Kashtan, Donner Lake Retired
Five hours from Olympic Valley to Donner Lake during a Sunday snowstorm. I was lucky. When 80 closed later, people still on 89 spent the night there.
In recent years, we have seen one community after another devastated by wildfires in California — some of them in forests, some in grassland and chaparral areas — in Paradise in the 2018 Camp fire, Greenville in the 2021 Dixie Fire, and Altadena and Pacific Palisades in the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles, among many other tragic examples. Politicians want to take action or at least be seen as doing something that will help. But in this climate of fear and uncertainty and mourning, some politicians are proposing dangerous and highly misleading legislation that would make things worse.
Recently, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) joined with Senate Republicans to introduce the Fix Our Forests Act, SB 1462, claiming his bill would help protect communities from wildfires. In reality, Padilla’s proposal is a radical logging bill that would put communities at greater risk.
While the bill pays lip service to community wildfire safety, referencing “wildfire-resistant structures” and “defensible space,” it includes no funding or financial incentives to actually promote community wildfire safety, unlike real community wildfire safety bills, such as HR 582 (Rep. Huffman, D-CA) and HR 948 (Rep. Kiley, R-CA).
Moreover, the bill includes a series of provisions that would roll back bedrock environmental laws to give logging companies dramatically increased access to trees on public forests. One provision of the bill allows vast areas of public forest to be logged any place the U.S. Forest Service, with a wink and a nod, claims there is an emergency, without any scientific showing or public comment. Another provision exempts public forest areas up to 10,000 acres in size from environmental analysis and most public participation in order to allow more logging. In addition, the bill overrides the Endangered Species Act in situations where new scientific information indicates that existing logging plans would drive a species to extinction.
The bill does not include any limits on the size, the age, or the number of trees that can be logged, so mature and old-growth trees could be felled and hauled away by logging companies in vast numbers, and clearcutting would be allowed.
This is bad news for community safety. Here’s why. The most current research finds that wildfire speed is the biggest factor associated with significant loss of homes and lives. The faster fires move, the less time people have to safely evacuate, and the less time first responders have to react and help. Fires move fastest where there is low wind friction due to more open vegetation conditions that allow winds to sweep flames through the area more rapidly, causing firefighters to quickly become overwhelmed, according to research published in the journal Science. In other words, removing trees to reduce forest density increases the speed at which fires spread toward communities.
There are many scientific studies by the U.S. Forest Service’s own scientists that find that thinning and other logging activities also alter the forest microclimate, increasing wildfire intensity.
Sen. Padilla has referenced the Camp Fire of 2018, which destroyed the town of Paradise, in order to promote his logging bill, but he fails to mention that the forests through which the Camp Fire spread fastest and most intensely, before burning down over 14,000 homes and claiming 86 lives, were among the most heavily logged in the entire northern Sierra Nevada. The Dixie and Caldor fires also spread rapidly through large areas of thinned forest before destroying towns.
We need wildfire solutions that focus on communities, not more backcountry logging, and we need elected officials with the integrity and courage to stand up for science and public safety above the financial interests of the logging industry.
~ Chad Hanson is a wildfire scientist with the John Muir Project (johnmuirproject.org) based in Kennedy Meadows in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains and is the author of the book Smokescreen: Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our Forests and Our Climate.
A shipwreck on a foreign land. A girl disguised as a boy who falls for a duke. A duke who pines for a countess who swoons for the girl (disguised as a boy). The gluttonous drunkard Sir Toby Belch. And Feste, the fool with the wisdom to somehow tie it all together.
Twelfth Night — with its entanglements, its absurdities, its romance — headlines the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s 2025 season, returning to Sand Harbor’s outdoor, lakeside stage 7 nights a week from July 5 to Aug. 25.
COMPLEX LOVE TRIANGLE: Viola (left), disguised as Cesario, swooned over by the countess Olivia. Photo by Two Bird Studio
“It’s one of Shakespeare’s great comedies,” said Sara Bruner, the organization’s producing artistic director designate. “Our production in particular explores its deeper notes of tragedy and loss while celebrating the joy of the play.”
Its title given for the end-of-Christmas season upon which it was first shown (in either 1601 or 1602), Twelfth Night showcases the Bard’s timeless combination of humor and humanness. While things may have changed a bit in the last 424 years, human nature has remained the same; and whether a groundling back at the Globe Theatre along the River Thames or a Tahoe-ite upon the moonlit stage at the lake, Will the Quill’s gift to get to the core of things — with wit, whimsy, and wordplay — strikes fast and leaves a lasting dose.
His plays were never meant to be statically read in some high school English class but rather vividly seen in real life, and there may be no better stage on this third orb from the sun than what Tahoe Shakespeare offers.
“With the setting and the quality of art, there’s no other theater like Tahoe in the country,” Bruner said. “The level of professionalism we bring and to have the lake, it’s unmatched.”
Then and Now
Tahoe and Shakespeare have a history over a half-century old. Today’s world-class productions started out with humble origins in 1972 with a few shows at Sugar Pine Point State Park and then Skylandia Park in Tahoe City before finding a permanent home and heightened professionalism at Sand Harbor in 1978. As the appetite for outdoor theater has grown, so have the offerings of Tahoe Shakespeare, which now augments its 2-month run with a non-Shakespeare play and select concerts.
“We will always be anchored in Shakespeare,” Bruner noted, “but we want to meet different folks where they are. In the end, it’s about providing access to art.”
2025’s alternate play is Peter and the Starcatcher, a prequel to Peter Pan based on the book by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. It offers answers to questions perhaps long pondered: Where did those lost boys come from and what are their relationships? What’s James Hook’s problem and how exactly did he lose that hand? And what about this young Smee fella?
In true repertory theater style, the same cast plays both plays. With Starcatcher’s imaginative storytelling, the 12 actors are able to portray over 100 characters on stage as the audience is transported from Victorian England to the high seas to a deserted island, a mermaid’s grotto, and much more.
“Starcatcher is like a really good Pixar movie,” Bruner continued. “If you’re 9 years old you love it for one reason and if you 60 years you love it for another. You see different things in it, glean different lessons and story points. And it’s beautifully done.”
To round out 42 nights of theater during the summer run, 10 evenings of music are also presented as part of The Concert Showcase Series. Catch a Rolling Stones, ABBA, or David Bowie tribute band. Experience the Reno Jazz Orchestra or the Reno Philharmonic do their thing, or absorb the Sierra Nevada Ballet performing Twelfth Night: Ballet Noir, among other acts.
Cuisine, Notables, and Quotables
Shakespeare’s Kitchen is open every evening for alfresco dining from 5:30 to 7:20 p.m. and during intermission, and all shows start promptly at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $22 for both plays and $32 for concerts. For a full menu of Shakespeare’s Kitchen, a comprehensive calendar of events and ticket pricing, and more information, visit laketahoeshakespearefestival.com.
In addition to extra layers or blankets for nighttime temperatures, theatergoers may also bring their own food and drink — just beware of Sir Toby Belch pointing a portly finger your way and demanding “more cakes and ale.”
Earlier in the play when Viola washes ashore after her fateful shipwreck, she looks around and asks, “What country, friends, is this?”
Get out and go see what she discovers, and see what you might discover with a night out at the theater.
“Most of our society’s storytelling takes place on a screen,” Bruner concluded. “There’s nothing like getting out and spending time with community, in nature, watching a story unfold with live actors. Whether surrounded by family or strangers, it’s a great opportunity to take a break from the phone for a couple hours and watch this ancient art form unfold.”
On a clear day, and from the right vantage point, you can see all of Lake Tahoe in one frame. Before your eyes are peaks, trees, boats, homes, and, if you squint hard enough, people. Most of all, you’ll notice an astonishingly large body of water, connected to everything else in sight. That’s how we should all think about Tahoe — as a whole, with myriad interlinking parts, but essentially as one thing, nonetheless. That’s how we need to treat it, too, if we hope to keep Tahoe blue.
Modern people, in our infinite wisdom, have taken the Lake Tahoe Basin that was — and is — so wisely stewarded by the Waší-šiw (Washoe people) for millennia and divided it up into dozens of often overlapping puzzle pieces, representing the different spheres of influence for governments, agencies, districts, and organizations. There are enough letters in those entities’ acronyms to fill the lake.
Lake Tahoe doesn’t care about the lines people draw on the map. And when we’re out enjoying the wonderful things that Tahoe has to offer — a sunrise paddle, a full moon snowshoe, or a dog walk through a sunlight-dappled forest — you and I don’t think too hard about which jurisdiction we’re in, either. We feel awe and appreciation before more rational thoughts start to creep in.
The things that could change Tahoe are place-agnostic as well. A wildfire burning in the Tahoe National Forest doesn’t throw on the brakes as it approaches the Forest Service’s Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit boundary. As the Caldor Fire showed us in 2021, even the massive granite wall that makes up the Tahoe Basin’s western edge isn’t enough to stop wildfire in its tracks.
In the past, conservationists focused their mission and efforts on the 500-plus square miles within the Lake Tahoe Basin. Logic seemed to dictate that if pollution, flames, and other threats could be prevented in that space, then Tahoe would be safe. Climate change has shown us that’s no longer the case. Longer droughts, wetter winters, and more intense storms are weakening Tahoe’s defenses, making previously rare ecological events, like harmful algal blooms, more common.
On the same token, aquatic invasive species have to make their way in from the outside; it’s part of what makes them invasive. News headlines this summer have been packed with cautionary messages about invasive golden mussels, which were discovered in North America — in the Port of Stockton, more specifically — for the first time ever last fall. In the time since, these ecosystem-wrecking mollusks have traveled more than 300 miles across the state of California, from Bakersfield to Lake Oroville. In late May, a golden mussel was found at the boat inspection and decontamination station at Alpine Meadows. Fortunately, it was intercepted before it got into Donner Lake or Lake Tahoe, where it would almost certainly turn those beautifully clear waters greener and murkier.
This list of concerns, however, is no reason to feel defeated. On the contrary, let your optimism for Tahoe’s future run wild! Here’s why: we know more about what makes Tahoe tick than ever before, and more people are taking more actions more frequently to protect and conserve the region.
Tahoe’s scientific community — from UC Davis’s Tahoe Environmental Research Center, the University of Nevada, Reno, the Tahoe Science Advisory Council, and others — are building on our knowledge of Tahoe and how it works. There is, of course, truth to the old chestnut: “knowledge is power.” The more we know about what threatens Tahoe, how, and why, the more able we are to step in and stop it.
On the wildfire front, a coalition of local, state, and federal fire agencies, land managers, and other partners known as the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Teams have work underway to complete forest health and thinning projects on more than 7,500 acres in 2025.
To build climate change resilience, the California Tahoe Conservancy is moving closer to reverting the site of a former Motel 6 in South Lake Tahoe to its natural state, which will reconnect more than 750 acres of marsh and meadows that act as one of Tahoe’s largest natural pollution filters.
In response to the invasive golden mussel, Tahoe’s already robust boat inspection program was strengthened prior to this boating season. Now, all boats, jet skis, and e-foils must be inspected and decontaminated before they are allowed to launch. Organizations, agencies, businesses, and individuals are spreading the word with signage, ads and mailers, so paddlers, anglers, and beachgoers know to clean, drain, and dry their gear to ensure it’s invasive species-free before it touches the water.
The Destination Stewardship Plan knits together dozens of regional organizations to collaboratively improve how recreation and visitation are managed, so the environment and economy are sustainable. In the case of land use, consistency is key. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency oversees a single set of rules across the whole Basin that are inflected and shaped by local community input.
Across the region, hundreds of thousands of acres of public land act as a natural playground where we hike, camp, ski, and play. A recent federal proposal suggested selling off these wild spaces, which would have disastrous consequences. Tahoe’s public lands are managed by federal partners to protect our environment and communities against wildfire, and to safeguard Tahoe’s water quality. They must stay that way. Thankfully, individuals and organizations like Keep Tahoe Blue, where I work, spoke out against the proposal, and lawmakers got the message.
Much progress is being made to safeguard Tahoe, but we can’t become complacent. Protecting this special place is a race without a finish line. And like any worthy pursuit, the journey is just as important as the destination.
These big topics are proof positive that to protect and conserve Lake Tahoe for future generations, we have a lot of work left to do. Working together, we will keep Tahoe blue. All of it.
~ Jesse Patterson is the chief strategy officer for Keep Tahoe Blue, which has embraced collaborative action in its 2025-2029 Strategic Plan. Read it at keeptahoeblue.org/strategic-plan.
Editor’s note, July 12: Clarification of pole bending times.
Spurs give a soft, dull jangle and dust lifts into the air as 15-year-old Fia Trombetta strides through her community barn in Truckee like she’s making her final walk before a gunfight. Her belt glimmers, late afternoon light catching on the silver buckle with the embossed words, POLE BENDING Reserve State Champion. The pale blue eyes of her horse, Shiloh, track Fia and he briskly trots over to meet her. The young cowgirl absentmindedly strokes her horse’s white nose when he pokes his head over the stall door, obviously happy to see her.
The 21-year-old former ranch horse is taking Fia to the National High School Finals Rodeo, happening July 13 to 19 in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Considered the world’s largest rodeo, spanning 7 days with over 1,800 competitors from around the world, it’s by far Fia’s biggest rodeo yet.
HIS HEART’S STILL IN IT: Shiloh was a former ranch horse bought off Craigslist years ago. He came out of retirement to rodeo with Fia, and he knows his job better than any other horse, she said.
Competitors are allowed to use scores from their top nine rodeos to qualify for nationals. Most other qualifiers were able to attend all 15 events on the state of Nevada high school rodeo circuit this year and to drop their four or five lowest scores. A high school freshman and rookie rodeo athlete, Fia could only make it to eight, with friends offering to haul Shiloh in their trailers before the Trombettas found one. Yet, she and Shiloh performed well throughout the season, and in May at the Nevada State High School Rodeo Association championships in Winnemucca, they ratcheted it up in their signature event of pole bending with a personal best. Their performance paid off and the duo finished second as Nevada’s reserve state champion. Fia says she owes it all to her horse.
“The two of them are so smooth, they hug the poles. It’s just — it’s beautiful.”
~ Jen Trombetta, Fia’s mother
Fia competes primarily in pole bending, where horse and rider weave in and out of six poles. The event is based on time and penalties are assessed for knocking down any poles. Her first pole bending run was just over 7 years ago in June of 2018 when Fia was making runs in the 40-second range. Almost 3 years into her partnership with Shiloh and after less than a year with professional trainer Jennee Rhodes they’re now in the low 21s. The Nevada state champion, by comparison, consistently lays down 20-second runs.
Where many rodeo athletes have more experience and younger, more expensive, better-bred horses, Fia achieved her reserve standing on a horse 6 years her senior. For Fia to even make it to rodeos safely in the winter, she joined the Nevada High School Rodeo Association and the National High School Rodeo Association.
“It’s a large difference. People who were born into that type of world versus coming into it as a sixth grader who had no clue what was going on,” Fia said. “I just kind of learned as I went.”
As for Shiloh’s breed, Fia has only guesses. She thinks he is a Navarro Paint mixed with an American Quarter Horse, but Fia said she calls him her all-American because of his white face, blue eyes, and reddish coat in the sun.
“It’s the best feeling in the world to know that I’m riding that horse of all horses. One who we never really thought would go that far, who had already been retired once,” Fia said. “To know that the 21-year-old horse that was originally [2,500] dollars is out here, running faster times than I ever thought that I would be able to run and just making these amazing dreams happen for me. It’s a really great thing. And it’s a dream come true for me.”
A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND: Shiloh’s breed is unknown; Fia calls her 21-year-old rodeo partner her “all-American” horse. Here he leans into his rider’s touch at a Truckee barn.
Shiloh was a former ranch horse bought off Craigslist by Fia’s friend and former rodeo rider Sophia Wellise, who nurtured him to better health and introduced him to rodeo. According to Fia, Wellise found Shiloh in bad shape and taught him to trust her. Fia said she initially was hesitant about leasing Shiloh since he was retired, but a year into riding him, their connection was undeniable. Now she said Shiloh has shown her their success wasn’t about a price tag, but rather the partnership she has with him.
“He’s already past his prime. So, to think about what he would’ve been like in his prime is like, it’s kind of — [I] wish I would’ve been able to ride him back then, but, he’s still — for his age he’s still going really strong,” Fia said. “He’s in good shape and his heart’s still in it. And as long as his heart’s still in it, I’m willing to keep running him.”
Born and raised in Truckee with skiing in her blood, Fia’s parents never expected their daughter’s affinity for horses to stick. But she had older equestrian friends, Wellise and Ava Solberg, who piqued her interest in rodeo. Solberg acted as her first coach and helped train her when she started leasing Shiloh in 2022. He has been what Fia considers a “step-up” horse because of how far he’s taken her and the growth in her he has enabled.
“Watching the bond that her and Shiloh have is really amazing,” said Fia’s mother, Jen. “You can watch, you know, other riders that are on super, super fast horses that are pulling the weave, but they’re really swinging wide — but they’re just on a super-fast horse and they’re still good riders, don’t get me wrong. But, you watch Fia and Shiloh and people are like, ‘That didn’t look like a 21-second run.’ And it’s because the two of them are so smooth, they hug the poles. It’s just — it’s beautiful.”
Fia said her parents originally told her she wasn’t allowed to have her own horse until she was out of high school and could pay for one herself. That changed when Shiloh consistently gave Fia personal records in pole bending and barrel racing. Jen said Wellise knew their bond was extraordinary and saw that Fia and Shiloh allowed each other to reach great heights. Wellise decided to gift her horse to her friend on April 21, 2024, with permission from Fia’s parents. Now, rodeo is the Trombetta family’s life.
“Those were some pretty special pictures that day where [Fia] was smiling ear-to-ear because she had an awesome day in the arena. And I was smiling ear-to-ear, not only from how awesome she was doing and how happy she was, but from knowing that this horse, that she and he had created such a bond together, that he was now part of the family,” Jen said.
Continuing to train with Rhodes, who teaches at Raise the Bar ranch in Palomino Valley, is what Fia thinks is going to get her times down even further. Fia hopes to get a rodeo scholarship and attend the University of Wyoming or Montana State University and further pursue her goals of going pro by joining a college rodeo team.
Fia planned on going as far as she could with Shiloh before he retired (again), having carried her farther than she could have imagined. Unfortunately, while Shiloh’s heart is still in it, nationals will be his last big ride. The vet broke the news right before Moonshine Ink press time that Shiloh should be retired because of his arthritis even though Fia and Jen report that all Shiloh wants to do is run. The family is heeding the vet’s advice with Shiloh approaching old age; most domesticated horses live between 25 and 30 years.
“We simply can’t afford some of these more expensive horses,” Jen wrote in an email. “We won’t find another Shiloh, but we’ll be looking for a connection between Fia and the new horse. Likely a horse that has been introduced to pole and barrel patterns but not necessarily trained heavily in it.”
DIGGING IN: Fia and Shiloh are this year’s Nevada State High School Rodeo Associate Reserve State Pole Bending Champions. Photo by Ciera O’Brien Photography
In preparation for Shiloh’s retirement and Fia’s continued career, she’s raising money to help buy a new horse (see sidebar above). Fia is heartbroken by the unexpected change in plans, having hoped to ride Shiloh for another year in the rodeo and create new personal records with him. Now, nationals will be the duo’s last runs together. And when the Junior Barrel Race comes up at the Truckee Pro Rodeo on Aug. 23, Fia aims to participate, though she’ll be doing so without her favorite companion.
“That horse, I don’t know how he does it, but he is the most hardworking, honest, and trustworthy horse I’ve ever swung a leg over,” Fia said. “I trust him more than anything, and I love him more than life. To be able to come and go to nationals my rookie year on that horse — as amazing as it would be to go on any horse — if I were to be going on an expensive 7-year-old, it would not at all feel the same.”
Help Truckee Local Fia Get Back
in the Rodeo
Now that Shiloh is set to retire after the National High School Finals Rodeo, Fia is looking for a horse to continue pursuing her passions. As her mom said, horses get expensive quickly. And while no horse can replace Fia’s heart-horse, maybe one can ride with her to the pros.
The Tahoe Sierra is my “home-place,” both literally and figuratively. As such, I value the role and commitment of Moonshine Ink to provide information for residents and passers-through, to foster community and to create a forum for communication and ideas.
My introduction to this publication was via my daughter’s job for several years as a Moonshine Ink writer and editor, contributing to inspiring stories, interviews, multimedia content, the TAP calendar, and other features. Even after she left Truckee, I have continued to enjoy the free newspaper as a supporting member and reader.
Since moving to Northern California in high school, I have visited, played, lived, worked, hiked, camped, backpacked, skied, swum, fished, kayaked and loved the North Lake Tahoe area for over half a century (maybe not for you … but hard for me to believe!).
Now living in Davis, CA, I am a second homeowner in Soda Springs and a shareholder in a recreational camping spot near Truckee/Frog Lake, giving me a wealth of opportunities to spend time in this area, a privilege that I value deeply and do not take for granted.
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SNOW PLAY: Kerry (left) with daughter Allie Loux and her son, Aziel. Courtesy photos
SNOW PLAY: Kerry (left) with daughter Allie Loux and her son, Aziel. Courtesy photos
I have visited and recreated in North Lake Tahoe through four seasons — sun, frost, snow and melt, and have enjoyed the changing scenery and experiences. I revel in the wildflowers and native trees/plants, birds and animals. I have experienced the mountain culture, Truckee shopping and restaurants, and relished the many trails and the wilderness.
In my early years, I worked in Tahoe City as a maid, in a sandwich shop, and other seasonal jobs. I then worked on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency transportation study doing field work to monitor trips in and out of the area, leading to the 1975-80 Transportation Short Range Element and ensuing recommendations for environmental improvements and traffic-related mitigation.
This early work informed my education and career trajectory as a landscape architect and planner. This year I retired as the City of Davis sustainability manager. Therefore, I have professional and personal concerns and convictions about the impacts of climate change, including wildfires, changing precipitation patterns and increased temperatures, all of which impact people, jobs, and habitat. I encourage each of us to become familiar with ways we can act locally to have a global impact. For me, information like that found in Moonshine Ink, is indispensable for this awareness. Without a forum to share thoughts and ideas, our collective understanding and connection would suffer.
In June, I celebrated my 70th birthday at Serene Lakes and Truckee with friends and family. My three daughters and three grandsons continue to grow a deep connection to this mountain region. Just like his mom and aunts, the eldest grandson, Christopher, age 10, is a budding naturalist and fisherman, with vast science knowledge and facts to share. His brother, Matt, 7, is a creative and enthusiastic explorer, with an imaginative approach to all he sees, hears, and touches. Their cousin, Aziel, 5, loves everything wherever he goes! Kayaking, sandcastles, snow angels and sledding, splashing in the rain and the lake. I feel so fortunate to share this wonderful mountain home with them.
As a second homeowner, I feel a particular responsibility for Tahoe’s stewardship, and staying informed through quality journalism like Moonshine Ink is absolutely fundamental to that commitment. I believe that the North Lake Tahoe region is a treasure, and that we all need to value and preserve its beauty, habitat, and environment, for now and for generations to come.
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On a clear day, and from the right vantage point, you can see all of Lake Tahoe in one frame. Before your eyes are peaks, trees, boats, homes, and, if you squint hard enough, people. Most of all, you’ll notice an astonishingly large body of water, connected to everything else in sight. That’s how we should all think about Tahoe — as a whole, with myriad interlinking parts, but essentially as one thing, nonetheless. That’s how we need to treat it, too, if we hope to keep Tahoe blue.
