RENO, Nev. — The Nevada Seismological Laboratory (NSL) at the University of Nevada, Reno, has received funding from Congress to develop a plan to bring ShakeAlert earthquake early warning (EEW) to Nevada, the third most seismically active state. The US Geological Survey (USGS)-led ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System currently serves over 50 million people in Washington, Oregon and California. The NSL is a statewide program responsible for the fire camera network (AlertWildfire), seismic monitoring and advancing earthquake research. NSL-operated seismometers are already contributing to the ShakeAlert System, particularly along the east slope of the Sierra Nevada where earthquakes occur regularly.
“Investment in Nevada’s earthquake safety has to increase as our population and industries continue to expand,” NSL Director Christie Rowe said. “The Nevada Seismological Laboratory currently helps provide real-time seismic data that contributes to alert delivery in California. It’s high time Nevadans got earthquake early warnings too.”
ShakeAlert EEW relies on a dense array of seismometers around faults where earthquakes occur. Alert delivery is possible because seismic waves travel much more slowly than electrical and cell signals. After an earthquake begins, it is detected within a few seconds by nearby seismometers. Alerts are delivered to people via cell phones, possibly giving them time to take a protective action such as Drop, Cover, and Hold On before strong shaking arrives. It can also trigger automated systems which protect critical infrastructure that could be damaged in a large earthquake, such as opening firehouse doors so they don’t jam shut and closing water valves to prevent flooding in case of broken pipes.
“Every moment Nevadans get to react when an earthquake is imminent can make a difference,” Nevada Office of Emergency Management Administrator Brett Compston said. “This is an important step in bringing the most advanced notification technology to Nevada.”
A cooperative agreement with the USGS will provide $300,000 to the NSL to identify the suspected earthquake source faults, propose specific regions where more seismic stations are needed, and conduct interviews across the state to identify public safety applications for ShakeAlert data Messages. This information will go into the USGS’s Technical Implementation Plan describing specific needs and budget for bringing Nevada into ShakeAlert.
Rowe said she’s excited to see progress on a project she has worked on since joining the Nevada Seismological Laboratory.
“We’re really grateful to the entire Nevada delegation for helping us achieve this critical step,” Rowe said. “We were proud to show our operations to Congressman Amodei during his visit to the Seismo Lab last summer. “
After finalizing the technical implementation plan, the USGS and NSL will ask Congress for the budget for building out the seismic monitoring stations throughout the state. The earthquake activity in western Nevada is well monitored, but at present the northern and eastern part of the state have very few seismic stations. The NSL is pushing for resources to improve monitoring in more areas of Nevada, where many rural communities, mining and geothermal operations could benefit from the system to improve safety.
“The ShakeAlert System is stable and mature in the three West Coast states, and Nevada is already contributing through a productive partnership with the USGS,” Rowe said. “Building out ShakeAlert in Nevada pursues the original program goal of expansion across high-risk areas of the western states.”
“Protecting lives is at the core of the USGS mission,” USGS ShakeAlert Operations Lead for Technical Engagement Robert de Groot said. “It is exciting to partner with the Nevada Seismological Laboratory and its partners to develop a plan that broadens and expands the use of ShakeAlert earthquake early warning by people and institutions as a tool of risk reduction so all can live safely and thrive in earthquake country.”
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Lake Tahoe Community College is launching Tahoe Youth Theater, a new actor training program for elementary and middle school students. Offering classes through CONNECT Community Education Program, Tahoe Youth Theater provides an opportunity for every student to learn and develop their performing abilities, whether they are new to the theater or a seasoned performer. Two 10-week sessions are being offered this fall.
Intro to Theatre, for elementary-aged students, is a fantastic course for younger actors who want to explore the performing arts. The course consists of hands-on activities and engaging theatre games, culminating in a short ensemble production of a folk tale.
Beginning Acting offers middle school students a unique opportunity to explore character building and partner scene work. The class focuses on developing acting techniques through scene study and theatre exercises, and will culminate in a showcase of scenes and monologues.
I am thrilled to offer our community such high-quality programming led by an experienced and talented facilitator. We are equally excited to utilize the professional, well-equipped Duke Theatre on the LTCC campus, providing participants with an exceptional space to learn, create, and engage,” said Megan Waskiewicz, Director of CONNECT.
Anastasia Purvance, a theatre professional with a background in elementary education, teaches the class. A Bay Area native, Purvance trained in acting with the American Conservatory Theatre and holds a degree in Theater, Dance & Performance Studies and Film from the University of California, Berkeley. As an educator, she served as Director of Theatre at Sage Ridge School in Reno and led summer acting intensives for Diablo Valley College’s College for Kids program. She is passionate about helping students engage with their imaginations and is excited to foster a love of performing and storytelling in the next generation of artists in Tahoe.
Courses on Vocal Acting and Intermediate Acting will be offered during the Winter Quarter, and an elementary and middle school performance troupe will launch in Spring 2027.
Fall classes begin September 15 and registration is now open. Visit ltccconnect.com to learn more and register for classes.
ACO Lake Tahoe Major – Cornhole Tournament – 10 a.m., Tahoe Blue Event Center, 75 U.S. 50. Entry: Open to all ACO Members of all skill levels. Walk-Up Tournaments are Open to the general public and spectators. World Ranking Points: A player or team’s 4 best finishes will count toward their Point Additional dates: 9/4, 9/5.
For more information, visit https://www.tahoeblueeventcenter.com/events/detail/aco-lake-tahoe-major-cornhole-tournament.
Alex Ramon “Magic” – 7:30 p.m., Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, 15 Highway 50. Harrah’s & Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe prohibits the carrying and/or possession of firearms (Even with a CCW) or other dangerous weapons on the premises. The venue reserves the right to implement security procedures designed to protect the experience for all of our customers. Sale Dates and Times: Public Onsale : Wed, 13 May 2026 at 10:00 AM Additional dates: 9/4, 9/5, 9/6, 9/8, 9/9, 9/10.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1724530545415767/ or call (800) 427-7247.
Apex Biohacking Masters Expos in Lake Tahoe, CA – 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, 111 Country Club Drive. Join us at the Apex Biohacking Masters Expos in Honolulu, Hawaii to explore cutting-edge biohacking techniques and meet industry experts! Additional dates: 9/4, 9/5, 9/6, 9/7.
For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/apex-biohacking-masters-expos-in-lake-tahoe-ca-tickets-1986642168204.
Cool Car Fridays Cruise Night at the Heavenly Village – 5-8 p.m., Heavenly Village, 1001 Heavenly Village Way. Cool Car Cruizen Fridays, All Cool Vehicles Welcome. Free to All.
Fridays, May through October. 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Gas money drawing, prizes, and more! Rain cancels. Open to all cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Brought to you by Good Sam Safe Ride.More information here
For more information, visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/event/cool-car-truck-and-motorcycle-cruise-every-friday-at-the-heavenly-village/2026-09-04/.
DJ DELO in the Mix – 9-11:30 p.m., AleWorX Stateline.
For more information, visit https://laketahoealeworx.com/event/dj-delo-in-the-mix/2026-09-04/.
Hattie Craven Band – 5-9 p.m., AleWorx at the Y, 2050 Lake Tahoe Blvd. As seen at Live @ Lakeview, old time/soul + more!
For more information, visit https://laketahoealeworx.com/event/hattie-craven-band/.
Jimmy Buffett Day – Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe, 4130 Lake Tahoe Blvd,. Join us in honoring Jimmy and his wish for us to “keep the party going” with great drinks, live music, and giving back to our community.
Starting on 09/04/2026 and ending on 09/07/2026
For more information, visit https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-resort-lake-tahoe/things-to-do-in-lake-tahoe/events/jimmy-buffett-day.
Jose “Manny Maze” DJ Meza – 11 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=7.
Kids Movie Night / Parents Date Night – 6-8 p.m., Cascade Kitchens Food Hall & Bar, 1030 Tata Lane. Description Join us on the first Friday of each month from 6-8pm for Kids’ Movie Night aka Parents’ Date Night! Each month, we show a different kid and parent approved film in our private party room. The evening is complete with snacks and supervision for the kids while parents enjoy a well-deserved night off just steps away with dinner and drinks at Cascade Kitchens. Our line for the rest of 2026 includes: September 4th – Cars 3 October 2nd – Coco November 6th – Shrek December 4th – Inside Out A date night, entertainment for the kids, and a chance to give back to the community? We’d call that a pretty great Friday night. Grab your kiddo a ticket and make it a date night! Cascade Kitchens Food Hall & Bar 1030 Tata Lane South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 www.cascadekitchenstahoe.com
For more information, visit https://business.tahoechamber.org/events/details/kids-movie-night-parents-date-night-26174.
Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series – The Red Clay Strays – Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe, 4130 Lake Tahoe Blvd,. Summer, Music, Family Friendly
The Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series has some of the hottest music acts under the stars, located across the street from our resort.
Starting on 09/04/2026 and ending on 09/04/2026
For more information, visit https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-resort-lake-tahoe/things-to-do-in-lake-tahoe/events/lake-tahoe-summer-concert-series-the-red-clay-strays.
Midway Art and Music Festival – 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Heavenly Village, 1001 Heavenly Village Way. 2026 Midway Arts & Music Festival at Heavenly Village – Labor Day Weekend / Live Fireworks Display SEPT 7th The highly anticipated Midway Arts & Music Festival is returning to Heavenly Village this Labor Day Weekend, SEP 5,6, 7th 2026, and promises to be the biggest and most exciting celebration yet. Now in its third year, the festival has grown into a signature summer send-off for locals and visitors alike. The Midway Arts & Music Festival is free to attend and open to all ages, made possible by the support of The Shops at Heavenly Village, Tahoe Improvement District and Visit Lake Tahoe. With live music echoing through the mountains, village art galleries showcasing one of a kind displays, and family fun, Labor Day Weekend at Heavenly Village promises to be an unforgettable experience. Additional dates: 9/4, 9/5, 9/6.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1041049048663171/.
Ski Run Farmer’s Market & Street Fair – 3-8 p.m., Ski Run Farmer’s Market & Street Fair, 1132 Ski Run Blvd. This beloved Friday market is where the heart of South Lake Tahoe comes alive. Stretching along the charming Ski Run Blvd, the market brings Tahoe’s best farmers, makers, musicians, and food vendors for a lively community event packed with good Tahoe vibes. Fridays, 3:00-8:00 pm June 5 through September 11, 2026.
Expect fresh organic produce, handmade goods, live music, street food, and spontaneous street dancing. It’s the perfect stop to kick off your weekend—whether you’re meeting friends for happy hour, looking for something fun with the kids, or exploring Tahoe like a local.
For more information, visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/event/ski-run-farmers-market-street-fair/2026-09-04/.
Thunderbird Lodge/Whittell Mansion Tour – Thunderbird Lodge/George Whittell Estate, 5000 State Route 28. Exclusive Tuesdays and Fridays guided tours let you explore the magic and mystery of the historic Thunderbird Lodge and Whittell Estate grounds. (Wednesdays from July 8 through September 2)
Learn about Captain Whittell’s conservation of Lake Tahoe’s Nevada shoreline and see his world-famous mansion, including secret tunnels, the card house, and the legendary Thunderbird yacht (when available).
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
Tours are on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 am and 12:30 pm, May 26 – October 16, 2026. 75-minute lodge and estate tour.
Get your tickets online here
Shuttles depart from the Travel North Tahoe Nevada Welcome (Visitor’s) Center, 969 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, NV 89451. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to departure. No private cars allowed at the Thunderbird Lodge. For more information, call 1-800-GO-TAHOE (1-800-468-2463).
Afternoon upgraded wine and cheese tours are available each Tuesday and Friday (plus Wednesdays July 8th – September 2nd), in the afternoon at 2:00 pm. Wine & Cheese Tours
For more information, visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/event/thunderbird-lodgewhittell-mansion-tour-2/2026-09-04/.
Saturday, September 5
Guided Rainbow Trail Walk – 10-11 a.m., 2152 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Join us for an enchanting journey through nature’s vibrant palette on the Guided Rainbow Trail Walk. Nestled in the breathtaking landscapes of South Lake Tahoe, this guided walking tour at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center offers an unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of the forest as our knowledgeable guides lead you along the Rainbow Trail. Discover the diverse ecosystems, and learn about the unique flora and fauna that call it home. The Guided Rainbow Trail Walk provides an opportunity to connect with your national forest and appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors. Don’t miss the chance to explore one of South Lake Tahoe’s hidden gems and experience the magic of the Rainbow Trail. We look forward to welcoming you on this educational walk! This tour is offered, free to the public, every Wednesday & Saturday at 10am between June 17th and September 27th. Be sure to bring water, waterproof shoes and please leave all pets and food/scented beverages at home or in the car. Additional dates: 9/5, 9/9.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1035573822210868/1035573852210865/?active_tab=about.
Labor Day Shrimp Boil – Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe, 4130 Lake Tahoe Blvd,. Summer, Family Friendly
Gather ’round for a coastal classic-piled-high shrimp, savory sides, and bold, beachy flavors.
Starting on 09/05/2026 and ending on 09/06/2026
For more information, visit https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-resort-lake-tahoe/things-to-do-in-lake-tahoe/events/labor-day-shrimp-boil.
Meet The Artist ~ Michael Flohr ~ September 5 – 6 – 12-5 p.m., Marcus Ashley Gallery, 4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Ste 23. Flohr goes wild and we’re going wild too! Check out Michael’s newest collection of wildlife; it’s sure to bring in a stampede of excitement Additional dates: 9/5, 9/6.
For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-artist-michael-flohr-september-5-6-tickets-1985946985895 or call (530) 544-4278.
Petty Theft – San Francisco Tribute to Tom Petty – 8 p.m., 14 NV-28. Ladies & Gentlemen, get ready to rock! Petty Theft – San Francisco Tribute to Tom Petty is making their triumphant return to Crystal Bay Casino on Sat, Sept. 5th as part of their “Won’t Back Down Tour 2026”! Sat. Sept. 5th 2026 in the Crown Room! Tickets: $20 ADV / $23 DOS Doors: 7pm Show: 8pm Ticket Link: https://tixr.com/e/195125
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2248807245525508/.
Tahoe Club Crawl Spring/Summer 2026 – 8-11 p.m., Aleworx Stateline 31 US-50. Tahoe Club Crawl is an organized VIP nightlife tour of the Tahoe South. With the purchase of your ticket, you will receive a welcome shot at 3 out of 4 stops, appetizers, free indoor games at Tipsy Putt and VIP entrance into Peek Nightclub, Lake Tahoe’s hottest Club! You will meet amazing people and have the night of your lives. We meet every Saturday at 8:00 PM Aleworx Stateline, unless told otherwise. Be Sure To Check Out our Ice Cream Shop, Aloha Ice Cream Tahoe “Winner of Best Ice Cream in Tahoe 7 Years In A Row” (Opened Seasonally)
Venues Subject to Change At Anytime, No Refunds
For more information, visit https://tahoeclubcrawl.ticketsauce.com/e/tahoe-club-crawl-spring-summer-2073?aff=cityspark.
Tot to Teen South Lake Tahoe Clothing Swap – 3-5 p.m., 2048 Dunlap Drive, #4. From Tiny Tots to Trendy Teens—Swap, Save, Sustain. Join our clothing swap for your little ones and teens!
For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tot-to-teen-south-lake-tahoe-clothing-swap-tickets-1992100410955.
Will Murillo – 12-3 p.m., Base Camp Pizza. Additional dates: 9/5, 9/7.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=1.
Sunday, September 6
Eyes on the Lake Training at Echo Lakes – 10-11 a.m., Echo Chalet, 9900 Echo Lakes Road. Do you love to kayak, paddleboard, and walk on the shoreline of Echo Lakes and Lake Tahoe? Then join us for a free Eyes on the Lake training! This training is open to the public, and all ages are welcome.
Learn how to identify various native and invasive aquatic species, and how to report observations that allow Keep Tahoe Blue and our partners to control new populations of aquatic invaders before they do lasting damage to Echo Lakes. We want to be sure that Echo Lakes remains beautiful and free of hitchhikers from Lake Tahoe or other waterbodies!
For more information, visit https://www.keeptahoeblue.org/events-activities-lessons/eyes-on-the-lake-training-september-6-2026/.
Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series – Jack Johnson – Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe, 4130 Lake Tahoe Blvd,. Summer, Music, Family Friendly
The Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series has some of the hottest music acts under the stars, located across the street from our resort.
Starting on 09/06/2026 and ending on 09/06/2026
For more information, visit https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-resort-lake-tahoe/things-to-do-in-lake-tahoe/events/lake-tahoe-summer-concert-series-jack-johnson.
One Wild Year! Cascade Kitchens First Anniversary Party and Summer Send-off – 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Location Cascade Kitchens Food Hall & Bar 1030 Tata Lane South Lake Tahoe, 1030 Tata Lane. Description Cascade Kitchens is turning ONE! We?re celebrating one wild year in the Tahoe community with one BIG Labor Day Weekend party! Join us for a full day of food, drinks, live music, family fun, giveaways, and plenty of reasons to raise a glass to Year One. WHAT?S HAPPENING Live Music throughout the afternoon + evening Kids & Family Activities from 11 AM?2 PM Wild Hour from 3?5 PM with $5 anniversary cocktails + bites Best of Cascade tasting + voting competition Cascade Passport & Raffle with prizes throughout the day ONE WILD YEAR photo backdrop Year One Memory Wall THE BIG CELEBRATION | 7:30 PM Stick around as we bring everyone together for anniversary cake, a champagne toast, Best of Cascade winners, raffle prizes, and one big CHEERS TO YEAR TWO! Then we?re keeping the celebration going with DJ + dancing starting at 8 PM. Bring your friends, bring the family, and come celebrate with us. Cascade Kitchens Food Hall & Bar 1030 Tata Lane South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 www.cascadekitchenstahoe.com
For more information, visit https://business.tahoechamber.org/events/details/one-wild-year-cascade-kitchens-first-anniversary-party-and-summer-send-off-26179 or call (240) 393-5569.
Shawn Campanini – 12-3 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=7.
Tab Benoit : Soul of the Swap w/ The Zac Schulze Gang – 7-10 p.m., The Hanger, 2401 Lake Tahoe Boulevard. THIS IS A 21+ SHOW. DOORS AT 6PM SHOW AT 7PM PARKING INFORMATION: ON SITE PARKING IS LIMITED AND IS $10 PER VEHICLE. IF YOU’RE GOING TO DRIVE, GET HERE EARLY. LEAVING YOUR CAR OVERNIGHT IN OUR LOT IS OK WITH US. OVERNIGHT CAMPING HOWEVER IS NOT PERMITTED. PLEASE CONSIDER RIDING YOUR BIKES AND OR USING RIDE SHARE. THERE IS PLENTY OF FENCE TO LOCK YOUR BIKES TO. IF OUR LOT IS FULL YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL PARKING AT THESE LOCATIONS, WHICH WE HAVE RENTED FOR THE DAY : 971 & 981 SILVER DOLLAR AVE (BEHIND THE SHELL STATION), 80 PARKING SPACES PLEASE DO NOT PARK AT MINI GOLF NEXT DOOR – YOU WILL BE TOWED TAB BENOIT 2024 Tab Benoit is a 4x Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and guitarist who has built a remarkable 30+ year career on the foundation of his gritty and soulful Delta swamp blues, acquiring a devoted legion of fans along the way, as well as 5 Blues Music Awards, including BB King Entertainer of the Year (twice) and an induction into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. After a 13 -year hiatus, Tab is back with his latest effort,I Hear Thunder, on his own label,Whiskey Bayou Records . The new album was his first #1 in the Billboard charts in over 30 years. Read more about it in Billboard here.. Benoit’s 2013 release, Medicine, was co-produced with Anders Osborne for Concord International, and garnered three Blues Music Awards. Following this notable success, Benoit took a step away from music, taking a 13-year sabbatical from recording and entering a period of creative exile. Tab’s accomplishments as a musician are matched only by his devotion to the environmental health of his native Louisiana wetlands. The notoriety achieved by his success provided him with a mouthpiece to promote his growing concern for the Louisiana Wetlands and coastal erosion from the region he calls home. Benoit is the founder and driving force behind Voice of the Wetlands, an organization working to preserve the coastal waters of his home state. In 2010, he received the Governor’s Award for Conservationist of the Year from the Louisiana WildlifeFederation. Benoit has also starred in the iMax motion picture Hurricane on the Bayou, a documentary of Hurricane Katrina’s effects and a call to protect and restore the Wetlands. Benoit has recorded and/or performed with Junior Wells, George Porter Jr, Dr. John, Willie Nelson, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Billy Joe Shaver, Maria Muldaur, James Cotton, Cyril Neville, Kenny Aronoff, Allen Toussaint, Kim Wilson, Jimmy Thackery, Charlie Musslewhite, Kenny Neal, Chris Layton, Ivan Neville, Jimmy Hall, Jim Lauderdale, Anders Osborne, and Alvin Youngblood Hart to name a few.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/912926748399988/.
Monday, September 7
Annual Labor Day Rotary Duck Drop – 9-10 a.m., Description Village Green
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/annual-labor-day-rotary-duck-drop-1895564?sourceTypeId=Hub.
Tuesday, September 8
Masterclass: Going Beyond Land Acknowledgements – 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., An interactive 2.5 hour workshop for individuals seeking to grow their allyship with Native peoples. Participants learn about the strengths and limitations of land acknowledgements and explore concrete, action-oriented strategies for building connections with Native communities and organizations.
Click here to learn more
For more information, visit https://sierranevadaalliance.org/events.
September 8th Tahoe Inc Roundtable – 5:30-7 p.m., Happy Tiers Bakery, 868 Tahoe Boulevard, ##21. Organizing & Accelerating Tahoe’s Innovation Ecosystem
For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/september-8th-tahoe-inc-roundtable-tickets-1983574394410.
Wednesday, September 9
Incline Village Library – The Acoustics of Music and the Science of Sound – 4-5 p.m., Incline Village Library, 845 Alder Avenue. Description In this interactive STEAM program, you will learn the physics behind how we hear sound and music. A collection of pitched and unpitched musical instruments including guitar, trumpet, flute, and an array of percussion instruments will be used to demonstrate, both visually and aurally, how sound is transmitted by waves to our auditory system
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/incline-village-library-the-acoustics-of-music-and-the-science-of-sound-1901387?sourceTypeId=Hub or call 775-832-4130.
Level Up Webinar: AI Readiness: Preparing Your Business for What’s Next – 12-1 p.m., Description Level UP: AI for Small Businesses AI Readiness: Preparing Your Business for What’s Next Every successful AI strategy starts with understanding where your business stands today. This interactive kickoff session introduces the foundational concepts every small business should know before implementing AI. Learn how to evaluate your current operations, identify opportunities for automation and efficiency, understand common misconceptions, and create an AI readiness roadmap tailored to your business.
For more information, visit https://business.tahoechamber.org/events/details/level-up-webinar-ai-readiness-preparing-your-business-for-what-s-next-26163.
Line Dancing – 7:30-9:30 p.m., Cascade Kitchens, 1030 Tata Ln. Description Dust off your boots, it’s time to dance! Starting 10/8, we’re hosting Line Dancing every Wednesday, 7:30-9:30 PM. No cover, all ages welcome, and beginner-friendly! We’ll sprinkle in a few lessons so everyone can join the fun. Come kick up your heels with us!
For more information, visit https://business.tahoechamber.org/events/details/line-dancing-09-09-2026-24783.
Requiem: We Remember Concert – 7-9 p.m., St Francis of Assisi Lake Tahoe, 701 Mt Rose Hwy. Historic Firebird Stradivarius to Be Heard in Tahoe Philharmonic’s Requiem: We Remember Concerts.
More than a concert, Requiem: We Remember is an opportunity to gather as a community and remember.
While this year marks the 25th anniversary of September 11, this tribute reaches beyond any single day or event. Through this music, we honor all lives lost to tragedy, conflict, violence, disaster, and sacrifice—and those who have stepped forward with courage, compassion, and service in the face of unimaginable circumstances.
We invite you to bring your own memories, your own stories, and the people you hold in your heart.
We remember those we have lost. We honor those who served. And through music, we come together in hope.
At the heart of the evening is Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, a work known not for darkness or fear, but for its extraordinary beauty, serenity, and message of peace and hope.
Then, experience something truly rare.
Internationally acclaimed violinist Jennifer Choi takes center stage to perform Sibelius’s breathtaking Violin Concerto in D minor on the historic Firebird Stradivarius, bringing one of the world’s legendary instruments to audiences right here in Northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe.
The evening begins with the exhilarating William Tell Overture by Rossini and continues with the full Tahoe Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus under the direction of Maestro James Rawie.
PROGRAM
Jennifer Choi, violin • The Firebird Stradivarius Rossini • William Tell Overture Fauré • Requiem in D minor Sibelius • Violin Concerto in D minor
❤️ FIRST RESPONDERS ATTEND FREE
As a gesture of gratitude, first responders are invited to attend free of charge in any section. Simply select the first responder option when purchasing your ticket.
Join us for an evening of remarkable music, remembrance, and hope.
We remember. We honor. We will never forget.
For more information, visit https://tahoe-philharmonic.com or call 775-386-8215.
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Advisory Planning Commission – 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Hybrid meeting, TRPA & Zoom TRPA 128 Market Street. Description Meeting materials will be posted seven days prior to the meeting.
For more information, visit https://business.tahoechamber.org/events/details/tahoe-regional-planning-agency-advisory-planning-commission-09-09-2026-24029.
Tahoe Talk on the Water: Bears, with a Bear Biologist – 5:30-8:30 p.m., Tahoe Gal. Enjoy a relaxing evening of free-flowing fine wine by Highway 12 Winery, a riveting talk by a specialist in their field, and the great company of like-minded outdoor lovers while aboard the iconic paddleboat, the Tahoe Gal. Tickets are $60 per person and include the cruise, wine, and a guided program. Dinner is available, with menu items ranging from $12 to $25 (e.g., sandwiches, salads, and small plates). A cash bar will be available. Seats are limited, so a reservation is required. Proceeds benefit the many great works of the Sierra State Parks Foundation. We highly recommend guests arrive at 5:30 pm as the boat leaves sharply at 6 pm! We predict the boat will return to the docks at 8:30 pm. Thank you to our sponsors: Tahoe.com, Highway 12 Winery, Silent A Photography, and North Tahoe Chamber* *Event grant funding from the North Tahoe Chamber reinvests funds generated by local businesses via the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) to support community vitality, environmental stewardship, and economic health in North Lake Tahoe. Visit NorthTahoeChamber.com to learn more
For more information, visit https://sierrastateparks.org/events/tahoe-talk-on-water-september.
Thursday, September 10
Incline Village Library – Never Felt Better – 3-5 p.m., Incline Village Library, 845 Alder Avenue. Description Learn how fun and easy needle felting can be during this casual drop-in program. Find a new project for inspiration each week or bring your own. All supplies provided and all skill levels are welcome
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/incline-village-library-never-felt-better-1901397?sourceTypeId=Hub or call 775-832-4130.
SAILING CLUB, YACHT ROCK PARTY W/ PIER PRESSURE – 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Tessie’s Cocktails & Chords , 18 US-50. Sailing Club launches at Tessie’s with Tahoe’s smoothest & grooviest party starters, Pier Pressure. Captains Orders – grab a cocktail and head to the dance floor. Sailing Club offers a night of high-energy yachty fun that keeps the room rocking from start to finish. Rascal Flatts ticket holders receive a BOGO cocktail with their concert ticket.
Jamie Saso 8 pm
Pier Pressure 10 pm
Grab a drink and settle in for a night of yacht rock party anthems.
Experience the yachty energy firsthand—book your table today.
Lounge open 11 AM Daily. For large party reservations or tables before 10 PM, call us at 775.586.5014 or email: VIP@tessiestahoe.com
For more information, visit http://tessiestahoe.com/events or call 6194547421.
Sibelius Violin Concerto – 7 p.m.-12 a.m., Saint Francis of Assisi, 701 Mount Rose Highway. Tahoe Philharmonic and Chorus; James Rawie, Conductor
For more information, visit https://www.bandsintown.com/e/108565551?app_id=pkvts0on0m&came_from=287&utm_medium=api&utm_source=partner_api&utm_campaign=event.
(The Center Square) – California’s 2025-2026 legislative session wrapped on Tuesday, ending a nearly 21-month-long stretch of passing bills that will impact 39.5 million Californians throughout the state.
Among the most impactful bills were budget legislation, a housing bond and bills that address public safety.
Here are some of the biggest bills that passed in 2026.
Assembly Constitutional Amendment 20
The “Save for California’s Future” Act, authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, will increase the amount of money the state puts away in reserves each year.
Effectively the equivalent of California’s savings account, the Budget Stabilization Account will see an increase from 10% to 20% of the state’s general fund revenues during good fiscal years, according to a legislative analysis of the bill. The extra funds deposited in strong budget years would be available during fiscal years when revenues decline.
The bill also puts a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot as Proposition 2, which will allow California voters to decide whether to increases the state’s “Rainy Day Fund.”
“For over a decade, nonpartisan experts have been warning us that we need to grow California’s rainy day fund, and we’ve seen that taxpayers pay the price every time a downturn forces sudden cuts to schools, health clinics, public safety and other essential services,” Gabriel told The Center Square in a written response sent on Wednesday. “ACA 20 put Proposition 2 on the ballot so voters will have the chance to fix this problem by requiring the state to save more in good years. It’s a commonsense reform that protects taxpayers from boom-and-bust budgeting.”
Senate Bill 417
SB 417, also called The Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, was authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, and gives California voters the chance to decide whether to let the measure take effect.
The bill would allow $11.25 billion of general obligation bonds to pay for housing programs for veterans, youth, students and those experiencing homelessness, according to the bill analysis. Approximately $5.1 billion would be allocated to the state’s Multifamily Housing Program, with at least 10% of units designated for extremely low-income households, while $1.25 billion would be allocated to the CalVet Home Loan Program. Approximately $1.15 billion would be allocated to supportive housing under the umbrella of the Multifamily Housing Program.
“This bill dedicates more than $11 billion to not only increase supply across our state, but also to ensure that Californians from all income levels can keep a roof over their head,” Limón said at a June press conference announcing the bond. “Affordability is not just a one-and-done.”
In addition, $150 million would be used for youth housing, $750 million to affordable housing projects under the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Portfolio Reinvestment Program, $500 million to the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program, and $450 million to the Serna Program, which fund grants and loans to pay for construction and rehabilitation for agricultural worker housing.
California’s budget bills
California’s budget legislation, coming in at roughly $350 billion, was passed at the end of June and signed immediately by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The budget includes $251.1 billion for the general fund and $1 billion of Proposition 98 to community schools.
The Legislature passed the budget during a year that saw the Legislative Analyst’s Office predict a $16.9 billion deficit through 2028. That was despite record revenues brought in by strong stock market activity related to a boom in artificial intelligence technology, The Center Square previously reported.
“I would like taxpayers to know that we took seriously the situation we’re in,” Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz and chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, told The Center Square on Tuesday. “So we balanced the budget for two years, put $35 billion in reserves, and cut the structural deficit in half, and did our best to triage against the federal cuts to the social safety net.”
Assembly Bill 1577
Introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-San Ramon, AB 1577requires data centers to report energy usage and information about energy efficiency to the state. The California Energy Commission, the agency tasked with overseeing compliance, would also have to include that data in a report expected to be released in 2029 and publish the data in an anonymized format for the public.
Under this bill, data centers also have to submit energy and efficiency information to local government agencies in the area in which they want to build or operate a data center, according to the bill analysis.
“This is yet another bill that ensures that data centers here in California work not just for the companies that are building them, but the constituents,” Bauer-Kahan said on the Assembly floor on Aug. 27. “This is a transparency bill on energy. It would ensure that our rig is able to stand up to the needs of these data centers.”
Senate Bill 904
This bill, authored by Sen. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murietta, requires state agencies to assist in expediting rebuilding permits for wildfire survivors by identifying state regulations that would slow down rebuilding and recovery.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development, along with other state agencies, will be required to submit reports to the governor and the Legislature outlining what those regulations are and recommend suspension of those rules, according to a legislative analysis of the bill.
“The reason I did the bill was because we keep trying to reinvent the wheel every time we have a big emergency,” Seyarto told The Center Square on Wednesday. “Part of that wheel was found in the executive orders that were given by the governor after the state of emergency that was declared in the Palisades and Altadena. We’ve had several of those type of fires, and they all need that kind of attention.”
That attention comes from agencies responsible for permitting, studies and other regulatory requirements that impede rebuilding and recovery, Seyarto said.
“What this does is it puts them on a timeline to identify areas that we can take advantage of to be able to get people back into their homes faster and recovery faster, no matter where the fire is,” Seyarto said.
Assembly Bill 1776
The COMPETE Act, authored by Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters, was introduced this year after concerns that large corporations based in California were engaging in anti-competitive behavior, threatening the Golden State’s small businesses.
The legislation would prohibit anyone from conspiring to engage in behavior that could be considered to be monopolistic, as well as monopsonistic – where a single company has control over an entire market as the sole or major purchaser of goods or services.
“Markets have changed,” Aguiar-Curry said during a February press conference announcing the legislation. “Industries have consolidated. When competition dries up, our families pay more; our small businesses struggle to compete. Our workers have fewer options and innovation slows down.”
The bill was supported by small business owners, who said in the February press conference that large internet shopping platforms routinely “scraped” the websites of those small businesses, recreating product listings similar to those on sites of small businesses and steering customers towards larger shopping sites, according to previous reporting by The Center Square.
Assembly Bill 2727
Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, D-Elk Grove, introduced this bill amid calls for elderly parole reform. The bill increases the eligible age for elderly parole from 50 to 65 and requires those who were convicted of certain sex crimes to serve at least 25 years of their sentence for those crimes. The legislation also requires the state’s Board of Parole Hearings to consider the results of a sexual dangerousness screening, among other things, when determining if someone qualifies for elderly parole after previously being convicted of certain sex crimes.
According to previous reporting by The Center Square, two convicts who were serving sentences for crimes against children were eligible for elderly parole this year. Gregory Lee Vogelsang, 57, was up for elderly parole in May. That parole hearing was met with intense opposition by lawmakers.
Another man, David Allen Funston, 64, pleaded guilty to new child molestation charges brought by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office the day he was set to be released on elderly parole on a different case.
“This bill will put guardrails around these individuals who qualify for elderly parole to ensure the screening is going to say they can be released out in the community and not commit another sexual violent offense,” Nguyen said when presenting the bill for a vote on the Assembly floor in May.
Senate Bill 1090
This bill, introduced by Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, D-Pasadena, places a three-year moratorium on a previous state law, the Starter Home Revitalization Act, in an effort to help homeowners who lost their homes in the January 2025 Eaton Fire.
The 2021 law required cities and counties throughout the state to allow zoning to build more dense single-family housing in an effort to increase construction of homes to address California’s housing shortage. However, after the Eaton Fire damaged or destroyed roughly 6,000 homes, that law was used to buy out homeowners who couldn’t afford to rebuild their homes, Pérez previously said.
“As the rebuilding has begun and we’ve had this huge issue with outside investors and speculators making lowball offers to disaster victims, there’s been real concern about those same developers utilizing these laws to try to increase density,” Pérez told The Center Square on Tuesday. “I want to make sure that the pause is temporary over these next three years, and that we’re giving folks time to rebuild.”
Assembly Bill 2700
Former Assemblymember and current U.S. Rep. James Gallagher, R-Sutter County, introduced AB 2700to help wildfire victims get restitution money after utility company-caused wildfires. Ultimately, the bill requires the California Energy Commission to compile a report due by Jan. 1, 2028 that assesses the restitution shortfalls for victims of wildfires that started before July 12, 2019. The bill also requires restitution mechanisms to be in place for electricity companies to pay restitution to those victims.
“It makes sure that our fire victims are fully compensated,” Gallagher said of the bill in May. “There were people who were devastated. We lost community members. We lost homes. People lost everything in these fires.”
To try and decide each week where and what to eat in and around the basin can be a challenge – there are so many amazing choices. In this feature we’ll dive into dishes that will surely satisfy those hunger pangs and leave you wondering where to go next.
Lucky for us in Tahoe, when it comes to cheesesteak sandwiches, we don’t have to have the argument if we’re team Pat or team Geno like they do in Philly. But if there were some kind of rivalry around the basin, I just may be team Tunnel Creek with this week’s feature.
This behemoth is loaded with thin shavings of rib eye, sautéed onions, peppers, and mushrooms, and is finished off with hearty topping of beer cheese. One of the best things about this sandwich is that you can taste each of the individual ingredients in supremely layered fashion, but they also play so well in the sandbox together that they transition into each other seamlessly.
Tunnel Creek Café’s East Shore Cheese SteakRob Galloway / Tahoe Daily Tribune
The steak is ultra juicy and has little crusty charred pockets throughout and the peppers and onions are just sweet enough to balance out the earthiness from the mushrooms while the beer cheese pulls some double duty to tie it all together. I honestly wish I had that beer cheese on tap in my kitchen, although I’d probably need to refill the keg at least twice a week.
Typically, the flavors of a cheesesteak fall on the rich side which can often times weigh you down. Here, you still get that richness, but it feels on the lighter side. I don’t know how they do it, but I’m definitely here for the feeling … and maybe a second sandwich to take home for leftovers tomorrow.
The Tunnel Creek Café is located at 1115 Tunnel Creek Rd. in Incline Village. For menu items and information visit them online at tunnelcreekcafe.com or reach them via phone at 775-298-2502.
ACO’s Lake Tahoe Major will be held at the Tahoe Blue Event Center on September 4 and 5Provided / Michael “Fin” Walter
STATELINE, Nev. – All those years of playing cornhole at family barbecues or tailgating outside Mackay Stadium might just pay off as the American Cornhole Organization (ACO) makes a two-day major tournament stop in Lake Tahoe for its Season 22 on September 4 and 5.
First established in 2005 by founder and president Frank Geers, the ACO went from concept to international sensation, becoming the official governing body of the sport of cornhole, providing a comprehensive and standardized set of rules, along with services and programs that enhance the game.
“Cornhole is a backyard game that is played around the world, and this organization came about to try to organize it into a competitive structure and to also create a community,” said Michael “Fin” Walter, ACO’s Announcer.
Now, ACO Majors can be found all over the country and are the main cornhole tournaments of the season, even expanding internationally to Canada and the United Kingdom. They act as membership-based competitions for all skill levels where players can earn World Ranking points that help them qualify for the World Championship. Competition divisions include World Singles, World Doubles, Women’s Singles, Seniors Singles, Juniors Singles, Coed/Coed Doubles and Blind Draw.
Non-members can also join in on the fun as ACO invites the local community to come out and show off their cornhole skills in “play-to-play” games.
“One of the great things about [cornhole] is that it’s such an easy game. It’s so portable,” said Walter. “Anyone can play. We have players who are 8-years-old and players who are 88-years-old.”
This year marks the ACO’s second time in Lake Tahoe as Walter notes of their plans to return again next season and continue to grow the game around the country and especially here in the Basin.
“I love everything about [Lake Tahoe], from the nature hiking to the vast number of things there are to do in the area,” said ACO Founder, Geers. “Whether you’re spending time at one of the awesome bars and restaurants or taking a casino trek, everything is an amazing experience in and of itself. We feel very fortunate to offer Lake Tahoe as a destination for our players, families and friends.”
The two-day ACO Lake Tahoe Major is free for spectators and will take place on September 4 and 5 at the Tahoe Blue Event Center starting around 8 a.m. with no set end time due to varying participation. For locals looking to play, you’re encouraged to arrive and head to the registration table where you will be provided with more information and instructions on how to join.
“We always say, ‘strangers are just friends we haven’t met yet’, so everyone that comes in is welcome. They’ll even find themselves playing side-by-side, sometimes, with some of the best players in the word,” Walter added.
To learn more about the American Cornhole Organization, to become a member, or to view their Season 22 Major tournament schedule, visit americancornhole.com.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Since their introduction to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California in October 2024, golden mussels continue to be a major concern for Lake Tahoe and other regional bodies of water.
To date, the Tahoe watercraft inspectors have intercepted 10 vessels contaminated with golden mussels. They’ve also intercepted 10 vessels with quagga or zebra mussels.
A golden mussel attached to the propeller shaft of the vessel that had been in the Sacramento River Delta just days earlier. Golden mussels can survive up to 10 days out of water.Credit: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
With a broader tolerance for different habitats compared to quagga and zebra mussels, golden mussels pose a greater threat to Lake Tahoe, according to the Lake Tahoe Invasive Species Program. The source says the species can also form dense colonies on hard surfaces, encrusting boats, piers, rocks, and pipes, and can impact water quality and native species.
Senators and other lawmakers and leaders addressed the threat multiple times at the 30th Tahoe Summit, which recently took place at Sand Harbor State Park.
In a pull-aside at the summit with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, the Tribune inquired about federal action targeting golden mussels.
“Our fight right now is to stop the spread,” Senator Cortez Masto said. “We have actually passed several pieces of legislation because we see what’s happening.”
U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto discusses legislation at the Tahoe Summit. Katelyn Welsh / Tahoe Daily Tribune
Much of the legislation was enacted before the species, originally from Asia, appeared in North America and addresses aquatic invasive species in general.
In the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, Senators Cortez Masto and Jackie Rosen created the Invasive Species in Alpine Lakes Pilot Program, which implemented measures necessary to prevent, reduce, and eradicate aquatic invasive species in alpine lakes.
The program was reauthorized in 2024, the same year the species were discovered, and approved through 2030 under the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024.
In January 2025, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency received $3.1 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species at Lake Tahoe. The funding was part of $17 million in grants the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was authorized to provide through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support Lake Tahoe’s conservation, restoration, and resilience.
The legislation, the senator explained, is focused on getting funding and resources into local communities. It also supports collaborative research at the University of Nevada, Reno and UC Davis.
Cortez Masto said addressing golden mussels also requires community understanding and individuals to play their part, from getting inspections to inspecting their own watercraft.
Last year, in response to the mussel detection, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency bolstered its mandatory inspection program to require mandatory decontamination for boats that last launched anywhere outside the Lake Tahoe Region.
Golden mussels are similar to the quagga and zebra mussels, but can tolerate a wider range of habitats.Provided / TRPA
Google “dirtiest jobs in America” and you’ll see that wastewater treatment operator, plumber, and basically anything that works with harsh or hazardous materials and gross-yet-necessary systems. Even in beautiful Lake Tahoe, these jobs exist and are especially important in the summer months when we have an influx of tourists. Here are horror stories, success stories, and words of advice for residents and visitors alike from those working behind the scenes in Tahoe’s dirtiest jobs:
Lead Technician/Senior Plumber Brendan Dugan at Lake Tahoe Plumbing & Heating
As a plumber for 26 years now, Brendan Dugan has done hundreds of jobs, primarily in South Lake Tahoe. He’s seen a lot in his time fixing pipes for commercial businesses and residential properties, but a couple of jobs stand out.
“There’s a mega-mansion here in South Lake Tahoe that has a very large sewage injection pump system about 10-12 feet deep (and four feet wide), and the pumps seized inside of it,” Dugan recalls. With the pumps down toward the bottom of the tank, there was only one way to free the pumps.
“I had to put on a respirator and hazmat suit and climb in there, basically into the bowels of hell,” he chuckles. Even though most of the sewage was removed, Dugan still had to work in standing water/fecal matter with waders on to disconnect the pumps and hoist them out.
“I told the owners that if anyone flushes a toilet when I’m down in the sewage pit, then I will respond with violence,” he says.
Another incident involved Dugan checking the pipes underneath someone’s vacation home and shimmying into the crawl space to find a current resident.
“[The house] hadn’t been lived in in 10 years and the owners wanted to make it into a short-term rental,” Dugan says. “I’m always the first one into a crawl space, and I had a younger coworker with me at the time, and when I went under the house, I was face-to-face with a growling bear. My coworker had to yank me out by my ankles!”
Dugan always wears a respirator because there are different threats, whether it’s in a sewage tank or in a crawl space. “Raccoon feces can get you quite sick. They are cute but disgusting creatures.”
So why does Dugan do a job that sends him “into the bowels of hell”?
“It keeps me busy. This job is a puzzle…I like to figure out why [a plumbing issue] happened and how to fix it,” he says.
Dugan initially started out his career as a pastry and sous chef in New Jersey before moving to Lake Tahoe and says he “went from making people have to go to the bathroom to cleaning them.” While he says it can be hard finding people who want to work with their hands, a plumbing career is something AI can’t replace.
“I’ve learned so much over the years; I want to start an apprenticeship program. It’s a good career, good honest work, but it can be brutal on your body,” he explains. On the toughest worksites, he says, “you just have to bite your bottom lip and give it hell, get the job done.”
Garbage sorters at Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal (TTSD) Eastern Regional Landfill
Family owned and operated, the TTSD transfer station at the top of Cabin Creek Road facing the slopes of Northstar California is likely the most scenic and better-smelling garbage collection/processing agencies anywhere in Northern California, it being surrounded by the Tahoe National Forest.
Originally opening in 1973, TTSD/the Eastern Regional Landfill Facility contracts with Placer County to perform trash collection and sorting in North Lake Tahoe/Truckee. In 1995, it added a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) that was considered cutting-edge at the time and inadvertently still makes things much easier on the customer by keeping its simple “you toss, we sort” mission. The MRF is set up to move trash along in an organized manner, as a crew of human sorters works both sides of a second story conveyor belt pulling out trash and dropping it into appropriate bins below. From the bins, the trash gets tipped onto a conveyor belt, flows into the baler, and then is sold off to secondary manufacturers.
As we walked along the tipping floor, Placer County Environmental Resources Specialist Corie Heisler pointed out the mixed piles, the crane, the front loader, and baler. It was cleaner and smelled better than I expected, although the only other dump I had ever been to was the one up in Redding, Calif.
The TTSD has brokers who buy certain materials from them and what they are looking for fluctuates. Heisler says there are steady markets for plastics one and two, glass, and cardboard, but the TTSD is flexible on what it can sell. TTSD is unique in that there aren’t any separate bins for recycling and regular trash. It’s all dumped into the same truck and sorted by hand.
“We view the blue bag as a benefit to the public because it’s a free service, but all the trash gets touched and sorted,” says Heisler. And since everything is sorted out by hand, buyers know exactly what they’re getting.
Looking at all types of things going down the sorting line, I wondered if it’s hard to see brand new or nice things thrown away.
“It is a bummer when people throw things away with the price tags still on them. Once we got a beautiful brand-new crystal chandelier; I guess people bought it and decided they didn’t want it for their house, so they just threw it away,” Heisler says. She encourages people to put that kind of stuff on Facebook Marketplace or take it to the thrift store; since there are strict regulations on scavenging, something like that will have to be broken down and processed just like any other piece of garbage which is a lot more costly.
There is a seasonality to what kind of trash is generated, too. “We see a lot more bottles and cans in July and ski paraphernalia in winter,” says Heisler, emphasizing that the TTSD likes to see people reduce, reuse, and consider how they can give stuff a second life so that “it never comes to us.”
When asked what some of the more unusual things they’ve seen are, they light up.
“One customer called and his $5,000 hearing aids were missing. He knew what truck they came on, and we all looked for them…and found them! They were in this little, tiny earbud-like pouch,” says the MRF manager.
Another time, one woman went to mail a FedEx package of two diamond rings, but they somehow ended up in the trash instead. Again, everyone working that day tracked them down and found them in the MRF. That’s what’s nice about living in the small North Lake Tahoe/Truckee community with every piece of trash overseen by a real person…you have a better chance of catching something that wasn’t meant to be thrown away.
In talking about the worst things they’ve come across, TTSD Operations Manager Chris Park mentions firearms and ammunition. “We have to call the sheriff when we find those, because otherwise we’re in illegal possession of a firearm,” he says.
“And don’t throw away batteries, of any kind, because they do start fires,” adds Heisler. Vapes are Heisler’s pet peeve at the moment because it’s a battery that can catch fire encased in plastic with nicotine, a federally regulated substance.
“Vapes have two hazardous materials. Companies create new products not thinking of the end of life of that product,” says Heisler. Fortunately, California SB 54 puts that responsibility back on manufacturers through the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act signed into law in 2022, making manufacturers think twice about their packaging sitting around forever in a landfill.
Trash collectors at Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal (TTSD)
Before the sorters can sort, TTSD’s fleet of garbage trucks is out on any given day with collectors visiting around 600 houses in their shift. Park had been with TTSD for eight years, starting out as a driver, becoming TTSD’s film and video editor, and now acting as its operations manager.
“You really get to know the area being a route driver,” he says, as we watch two collectors open bear boxes and carry cans to unload in the back of the truck. When asked if there’s anything residents or visitors can do to make a garbage collector’s job easier, Park replies, “Make sure the cans aren’t too heavy, and that they’re tied. There’s a lot more pollution when garbage isn’t in a bag because then it’s susceptible to blowing around in the wind and then they have to go around and pick up that litter.”
Overfilled cans are a problem because then the collectors must pull them, and animals getting into a can make a huge mess.
Whether a person is a trash collector or a trash sorter, working for them doesn’t seem to be all that bad.
“Sixty percent of our workforce have been working here for at least 15 years; one person just retired after 35 years. It’s always consistent work providing a stable income. Even families work here,” says Heisler. Since many of its workers live in Reno, TTSD sends vans to pick employees up in, which is especially helpful when gas is over $5 a gallon.
Utility Operations Manager Ken Fischer at North Tahoe PUD
“Ironically, our utility jobs aren’t that dirty unless something really unexpected happens,” says North Tahoe PUD Government & Community Affairs Manager Justin Broglio. Water repair crews are often down in ditches and trenches repairing old leaking pipes and that can be muddy, but there is no wastewater or hazard materials involved. And even when the wastewater crews sometimes have to climb down into a manhole to inspect a pipe or make a repair, they have full protective suits, respirators and return air supplies with them. They also clean out sewer pump stations annually and inspect the pumps/equipment using NTPUD large vacuum trucks and pressure washers.
Ken Fischer has been the utility operations manager at NTPUD for 10 years, and oversees the team that inspects fire hydrants, exercises water main valves, inspects manholes, hydro-flush wastewater mains, and answers customer requests involving their water service or wastewater blockages. They also respond to watermain or wastewater spills/backup emergencies.
When asked if Fischer has had any unique experiences on the job, he says dealing with an unexpected geyser always wakes him up. “Water main leaks are always challenging. When a leak is on the bottom of the pipe the repair is easier, but when the leak is on the top of the pipe it becomes much more interesting. As soon as the leak is exposed, the water can come shooting out of the hole and you are getting soaking wet while trying to install a clamp around the pipe and then you need to tighten the bolts with around 80 to 100 PSI of water trying to push the clamp open. If this happens, by the time you are done with the leak repair you can be covered in mud and soaking wet, but the feeling of accomplishment and fixing that pipe to restore water service is exhilarating,” he says.
As far as what residents and visitors can do to make their job easier, Fischer recommends, “NTPUD residents and visitors are our eyes in the field. It is extremely helpful to notify us of any unusual water running pooling on the street, running down the road, or shooting out of the ground. This helps us locate water leaks faster and helps reduce water loss from our water system.
“If a customer or someone visiting the area has a wastewater backup in their home, please call us first before you call a plumber. We will come out at no charge and can usually be there within a one-hour window (usually within 30 minutes), and we can figure out if the issue is on our side of the wastewater system or on the customer side. If it is on our side, it will be addressed immediately. If it is on the customer side, we will advise the customer of what needs to be done.”
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 edition of Tahoe Magazine.
(The Center Square) – At the last minute on Tuesday, the California Assembly did not take up a wildfire bill that aimed to help victims who lost their homes.
Senate Bill 492, authored by Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, and Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Irvine, was intended to improve wildfire mitigation efforts. According to the bill analysis, victims of wildfires likely caused by utility equipment would be able to submit claims to the state, and would have allowed them to reject or accept a settlement offer.
SB 492 would also have put a stay on any litigation for a period so wildfire victims could have the chance to decide whether to accept a settlement.
According to the state’s bill tracker, SB 492 was ordered to a third reading as of Sunday. The last day to take up the bill was Tuesday, before either chamber of the Legislature adjourned.
“SB 492 will not advance today,” Becker said on the Senate floor early Tuesday afternoon, just after the Assembly adjourned for the year. “We’ve spent months, and I want to thank the whole group, particularly the whole caucus, who spent months listening to the wildfire victims, working through difficult issues and bringing together stakeholders, legislators and the governor in an effort to make a meaningful difference now.”
The three-party agreement, Becker said, was a direct result of talking to wildfire survivors who lost homes and loved ones in wildfires.
“Many are still struggling to rebuild, and waiting for the compensation they need to move their lives forward,” Becker said. “They need relief and delay only prolongs suffering. SB 492 would help victims receive compensation faster, strengthen wildfire prevention and preparedness, protect survivors from profiteering, and hold utility executives personally accountable when their utility equipment causes catastrophic wildfires.”
The failure of the measure to pass at this late stage means it is dead for the year, as the Legislature adjourned its 2025-26 session early Tuesday afternoon.
Senate leadership said on Tuesday that the lack of a final vote on the bill on the last day of the session was unfortunate.
“Thousands of survivors made their voices clear,” Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, said on Tuesday. “They needed reform to ensure the next wildfire does not continue to cause the mental and financial stress that recent disasters have placed on Californians. We stand ready to take this on in 2027 to ensure wildfire survivors are protected, that our state has the tools it needs to tackle mitigation, and that the voices of everyday Californians are heard.”
Senate Pro Tem President Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, speaks about affordable housing at a Capitol press conference in Sacramento, June 23, 2026. Behind her is Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, D-Napa, who also spoke at the conference. Photo: Madeline Shannon / The Center Squareimage-1
The Center Square on Tuesday was not able to reach Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Davis, and Assembly Minority Leader Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, to ask questions about the lack of a vote.
The Assembly’s failure to vote on the bill follows an Aug. 19 protest in Sacramento, held by Eaton Fire survivors. The Center Square previously reported that the group hoped to draw attention to the need for lawmakers to follow through on their promise to allocate $25 million from the state’s Community Aid for Rebuilding Equity Fund to help them rebuild destroyed and damaged homes in the Pasadena-Altadena area.
The Eaton Fire, according to a report from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, was started in January 2025 by an electrical event caused by transmission towers owned by Southern California Edison.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Lake Tahoe Community College men’s soccer team’s 2026 season is off and running following its opening week of non-conference play.
The Coyotes, under first-year head coach Carlos Trujeque Leal, battled City College of San Francisco to a 1-1 draw in the regular season opener on Aug. 27 before falling narrowly on the road to No. 10 Evergreen Valley, 2-1, the following evening.
“We are excited that the regular season has kicked off and we’re continuing to work hard to get that first win,” said Trujeque Leal. “We are close to seeing it happen.”
LTCC (0-1-1) has reason to be optimistic with a two-week, four-game homestand starting this Friday, Sept. 4. They’ll open it up against No. 18 Folsom Lake (Fri., Sept. 4), American River (Tues., Sept. 8), No. 17 De Anza (Fri., Sept. 11), and Chabot (Tues., Sept. 15).
City College of San Francisco 1 – Lake Tahoe 1 Box Score
The Coyotes got the Trujeque Leal era started on the front foot in Thursday’s regular season opener against CCSF.
Joseph Gonzalez and Mason Franks played a clever give-and-go above the area, with Franks releasing Gonzalez into the box. Gonzalez took it with his left and curled it into the upper-right corner to hand the Coyotes the lead in the 30th minute.
LTCC held the advantage into the break, but surrendered the lead six minutes into the second half. Brandon Cardenas finished off Issac Heredia Pantoja’s cross for the equalizer in the 51st.
The teams showed that both had some early-season conditioning struggles to work through in the final 40 minutes, as they combined for six cards the rest of the way.
LTCC’s Brandon Carreto saw his second yellow in the 80th minute, and the Coyotes did well to see the draw through while down to ten men. Starting goalkeeper John Gonzalez did his part with seven saves on the day.
The following day, the Coyotes traveled nearly four hours to San José for a stiff test against 10th-ranked Evergreen Valley.
Joseph Gonzalez continued to show promise as the linchpin in the Coyote attack when he provided the assist on Ricardo Grajeda‘s first collegiate goal in the 55th minute.
LTCC put seven of its 11 shots on frame but could not find another in the 2-1 loss.
Benjamín Jónsson made his LTCC debut and tallied five saves between the pipes.
Cal Orey’s augmented book returns with new honey bee research, personal survival stories, a new and timely foreword, climate-focused reporting and Mediterranean diet healthy honey-based recipes.
In her new book, The Healing Powers of Honey, Revised & Updated (Kensington Publishing), Cal Orey cross pollinates incredible facts and stories about humans and honey bees. The fresh edition is a major expansion of the bestselling work, now with new research, updated recipes, and expanded storytelling. Here, she shares a Q&A, where she reveals insights on how honey can sweeten your wellness routine.
Q: What inspired your interest in a honey revival?
A: At Tahoe since 1999, I have penned the Healing Powers series—nine books on superfoods. Since the book on honey has had a long and successful shelf life (recently it got the #1 Top Rated label on Amazon) I thought it would be exciting to go back to the hives and science to see how much has changed in 15 years. The findings about honey and honeybees are mind-blowing.
Q: What gave honey the nickname “apocalypse food” anyhow?
A: Honey is touted for its amazing disease-fighting antioxidant power past and present-day—and this made its demand soar during the pandemic. Some beekeepers dubbed nature’s nectar the apocalypse food because of honey’s long-standing reputation as a durable pantry staple with deep historical and cultural significance. Also, during the years of COVID and post-COVID variants, research has shown honey can help boost the immune system and also quell a cough, soothe a sore throat and even energize you.
Q: Are there new things you discovered in the land of honey this time around?
A: Amazingly, yes, a lot has changed! The augmented edition also includes a more personal narrative layer. I share stories connected to rare blizzard conditions in Tahoe, a NASCAR driver’s-related life-threatening event, wildfire danger and a race against time, and a near-death experience that influenced my renewed focus on resilience, food choices and Mediterranean-style living. The updated book examines honey at a time when many readers are turning to minimally processed food alternatives to stay healthy.
Q: What about the vanishing honey bees?
A: A major focus of the sequel edition is the relationship between honey bees, environmental stress and the human food chain. I look at how extreme weather, wildfires and air quality, shifting seasonal patterns and climate-related pressures affects honeybee survival, pollination and foods that depend on bee-pollinated crops, including fruits, nuts and other agricultural products.
Q: What’s an interesting fact about honey that most people don’t know?
A: This expanded edition allowed me to return to honey through the lens of food, survival, honeybees, climate, recipes and personal experience. This book reflects my continued interest in how one natural ingredient can connect history, health, wildlife and the environment.
CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist. She holds a master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from SFSU. She will be signing books at Reno Barnes and Noble bookstore on September 19. Her website is www.calorey.com
A model in an Oscar de la Renta design on the runway.Provided / Katy Jo Caringer
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – It’s safe to say that the 57th annual Keep Tahoe Blue Fashion Show, held on August 1 in partnership with Oscar de la Renta, was an all-around success as the event marked a record-breaking $1.67 million to support Keep Tahoe Blue’s mission of preserving Lake Tahoe.
First created in 1969, the Keep Tahoe Blue Fashion Show started with only 100 guests. Bill Blass, the original designer for the Fashion Show, made an iconic appearance on Rubicon Beach.
“They threw down plywood right onto the beach and Bill Blass presented his collection, barefoot, with just a handful of models,” said Kristin Keane, Major Gifts Officer for Keep Tahoe Blue. “People were sitting at picnic tables with boxed lunches. It was very humble beginnings, very lowkey grassroots, and suffice it to say, it’s been growing ever since.”
Throughout its 57 years, the Fashion Show has been presented all around the lake, from the West Shore to this year’s Incline Village, while expanding to become Keep Tahoe Blue’s largest fundraising event of the year.
“We welcomed, this year, around 470 guests,” said Keane, who noted that at the event’s peak prior to COVID-19, the Fashion Show had up to 640 guests present.
In 1999, Blass handed his designer reins to the legendary Oscar de La Renta to carry on Blass’ multigenerational tradition. Following de la Renta’s passing in 2014, Alex Bolen, CEO of the Oscar de la Renta brand, has continued to support the event to this day.
“Donations from private individuals are the vast majority of where we get our funding and financial support, and that allows us to respond to whatever the threat is that pops up at that time,” said Chris Joseph, Communications Director at Keep Tahoe Blue. “We have the ability to be nimble, but also try new things.”
Currently, with the looming threat of invasive species like golden mussels, which made appearances on intercepted boats in both 2025 and this year, Keep Tahoe Blue can utilize these funds to continue prevention efforts.
“It’s kind of like a superpower,” Joseph added, “the donations from private individuals that come from events like these.”
Joseph expressed that among his favorite highlights of the event, the change of pace from their day-to-day, lake-focused volunteer efforts to a full blown fashion show is always a treat to witness.
This year’s Oscar de la Renta Pre-Spring 2027 Collection featured chic, soft florals and vibrant, garden-inspired colors and designs – all with the shimmering, turquoise-blue waters of Lake Tahoe as a backdrop.
Records were shattered as the event accumulated a staggering $1.67 million in funds raised, totaling $30 million raised for Lake Tahoe conservation since the Fashion Show’s inception in 1969.
“Each year, our goal is to have as much positive impact for the lake as possible,” Keane said. “We partner with different corporate partners who can have a big impact, too, and that’s another way for us to generate more funding for the lake.”
Keep Tahoe Blue staff members — Katie Craven, Noa Banayan, and Jesse Patterson — pause for a photo between conversations with guests.Provided / Katy Jo Caringer
In addition to the organization’s partnership with Oscar de la Renta, Keep Tahoe Blue’s sponsorships and collaborations this year included Bentley Motors and Arc Boats, along with brands such as Freya, Cicada Jewelry, True Wander Travel, Bridget Giroux Design, and Team Blair Tahoe.
Raffle and auction prizes featured Oscar de la Renta and Edgewood Tahoe Resort gift certificates, an alligator bag by Leffler Leather Goods, an Eric Zener art print and a season subscription to the San Francisco Ballet paired with a stay at The Huntington Hotel.
A special tribute was also given to Fashion Committee member Barbara Brown, a long-standing Lake Tahoe Local whose 20 years of service was recognized at this year’s show, marking her final year as a committee member.
“This year, seeing tables of guests with grandmother, daughter, granddaughter – the families and individuals that keep coming back to support Keep Tahoe Blue through this event, I think it really speaks to the faith that they have in our organization to do good over the long-term,” Joseph said. “A lot of the problems facing Tahoe are not things that are solvable in a year or two. Sometimes, they take 10 to 15 years and it’s cool that they give us the support to stick with it and see those problems through to the solution.”
To learn more about Keep Tahoe Blue or ways to get involved, visit keeptahoeblue.org.
Keep Tahoe Blue’s CEO Darcie Goodman Collins speaks to the crowd about the lake-saving mission behind the 57-year-old event. Provided / Katy Jo Caringer
Keep Tahoe Blue’s 2026 class of interns — Anna Foehr, Payton Runkle, Aven Keck, and Rose Barber — posing on the runway. Provided / Katy Jo Caringer
The runway and pavilion on the shoreline in Incline Village. Provided / Katy Jo Caringer
Keep Tahoe Blue volunteers Ron Kline and Linda Kenney enjoying the event. Provided / Katy Jo Caringer
When you think of a badger or a wolverine, you probably picture a fierce, powerful predator and you’d be right. These tough mammals are part of the family Mustelidae, the weasels, and can occasionally be found in Tahoe alongside several other members of the weasel family. The longest of them all, with some adults reaching four feet in length, is the River Otter, which has certainly been making headlines lately.
The Tahoe region is home, at least occasionally, to seven species of mustelids, including not only the aforementioned North American River Otter, American Badger, and Wolverine but also their cousins, the Long-tailed Weasel, American Short-tailed Weasel, American Mink, and Pacific Marten. Some of these animals can look quite similar, while others appear very different from one another, but they all share characteristics typical of the family: elongated bodies, relatively short legs, small rounded ears, short skulls, and dense fur. Depending on the species, mustelids can be terrestrial, arboreal, or aquatic, with river otters and mink particularly well adapted to life in and around water.
Will Richardson, Executive Director at the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS), is not surprised that so few Tahoe residents know that we have otters here: “We have been closely tracking the dramatic return of river otters to the area over the last 15 or so years, both through staff observations along the Truckee River and around Donner and Lake Tahoe, as well as through photographs and reports shared with us by members of the community.”
River Otters are a natural part of Tahoe’s environment.Provided / Doug Jones
“They are not new invaders to Tahoe, but they were largely absent from the region for many decades, having been trapped out from most of the watershed,” Richardson said. “And for a lot of folks, it can be a little tricky telling them apart from a Mink. Nevertheless, they are a natural part of the region’s wildlife community and are well adapted to living in and around our cold, high-elevation waterways, and seem to be thriving as they repopulate the area.”
In summary, river otters inhabit Tahoe and belong here.
The Otter Incident: Rare but Real
Recently, a swimmer in Lake Tahoe was bitten and injured by a North American River Otter during an open-water swim. The encounter was certainly surprising and understandably generated a lot of attention.
As someone who teaches people about Tahoe’s wildlife, I was surprised by the encounter, but I was also not surprised that an otter, related to other fierce weasels could behave this way. River otters are extremely effective predators, and their bodies are built for hunting in the water, with webbed feet, powerful tails, dense waterproof fur, and strong jaws. Their playful and curious behavior can make them fun to watch, but it is important to always remember that they are wild animals.
We also should not assume we know exactly why this particular otter attacked the swimmer. Without knowing the circumstances from the animal’s perspective, it would be difficult to speculate about its motivation. What we do know is that wild animals can react defensively when they feel threatened, surprised, cornered, or otherwise disturbed, especially with a pup nearby. The best way to avoid a negative wildlife encounter is to give animals plenty of space and allow them a way to move away from us.
Is this attack common? Short answer, no. Did it happen? Yes. Could it happen again? Potentially. It is not unprecedented in the region. In 2023, river otters attacked multiple people in Serene Lakes, near Donner Summit.
I think the bigger lesson is not that people should be afraid of swimming in Lake Tahoe but be aware that we live in a place where people and wildlife share the same landscape. When we hike, swim, paddle, camp, ski, or explore around Lake Tahoe, we are recreating in wildlife habitat. We cannot control what wild animals do and occasionally we may encounter them in unexpected places. That is part of living in a wild landscape alongside other predators that call Tahoe home, including bears, mountain lions, and, increasingly heading our way, wolves.
Does that mean the swimmer should have known this could happen? Absolutely not.
This was an unlucky and unusual encounter, and there is no reason to suggest that she should have expected it, especially in an open-water swimming context, and we feel terrible that it happened. But it does give all of us a good reminder about how to interact with wildlife. Watch them. Photograph them. Learn about them. Enjoy seeing them but most importantly, give them space.
Cute but NOT Cuddly
It is unfortunate that an unusual encounter can overshadow all of the amazing things we know about these animals. River otters are fascinating members of Tahoe’s ecosystem.
They are excellent swimmers and can remain underwater for several minutes at a time. Their dense fur helps insulate them in cold water, and they are active year-round. They can even use snow and ice to their advantage, moving across frozen surfaces by sliding on their bellies and bounding.
Their diet is largely aquatic, with fish and crayfish among their favorite foods. Will Richardson recently shared with me how their intelligence and adaptability has led them to take advantage of novel prey at Point Reyes National Seashore, where they have learned how to drown Brown Pelicans as they swim in the estuaries.
As predators, they play an important role in the streams, rivers, and lakes wherever they live. They are capable of traveling on land by walking, running, or sliding and can move between tributaries and watersheds in search of food and suitable habitat. And if you have ever seen river otters playing, swimming, feeding, grooming, or sunning themselves along the water, you know just how fun they can be to watch.
Wild animals deserve the opportunity to remain wild, and the best wildlife encounter is one where both you and the animal get to walk, swim, or slide away safely.
Enjoy articles like this? Consider supporting TINS, your local research nonprofit dedicated to understanding Tahoe’s wildlife and educating the community about the natural world around us. www.tinsweb.org.
STATELINE, Nev. – South Lake Tahoe Mayor Cody Bass will appear in court again on Sept. 15 after a judge postponed his sentencing Tuesday morning at a Douglas County courtroom.
The judge issued the decision at what was supposed to be his sentencing hearing for a guilty verdict he received at a bench trial on Aug. 13 for harassment.
The continuation is the result of Bass’ attorney, Adam Spicer, requesting that the court allow Bass to take the stand to respond to witness comments made at the bench trial. Spicer said Bass did not make threats to the victim in the case, which the prosecutor’s closing arguments relied on.
The prosecutor argued that Bass had already exercised his right and did not testify. He also argued that the victims in the case are seeking a prompt resolution.
The judge stated that the delay would be felt by all parties, and that if there is justice to be heard, continuing the matter to the 15th would make any judgment conclusive and not subject to a later motion to reopen.
Bass’s attorney said at the hearing Tuesday morning that he would have his request filed by the end of the week.
The court proceedings are a result of Bass’ September 25 arrest last year after an altercation with a bouncer at AleWorx in Stateline, Nev.
Bass was originally arrested and charged with assault, trespassing, and harassment. The assault charge was later dropped.
Bass was found not guilty of the trespassing charge at the Aug. 13 trial.
Body camera footage and security camera footage released last year capture the AleWorx incident and Bass’ arrest.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – South Lake Tahoe is home to extraordinary talent, generous hearts, and a community that shows up when it matters most. On September 26, all three will come together for an unforgettable evening at Tahoe’s Got Talent, a community talent show benefiting Tahoe Youth & Family Services (TYFS).
Hosted at the iconic Harrah’s South Shore Showroom, this inaugural fundraiser will feature local performers, friendly competition, and plenty of entertainment, all while supporting a cause that impacts young people and families throughout our community.
More than a talent show, Tahoe’s Got Talent is a celebration of what makes our community special: neighbors supporting neighbors and investing in the next generation.
Doors open at 5:00 p.m., with the show beginning at 6:00 p.m.
A Showcase of Local Talent
The evening will feature an exciting lineup of performers with deep Tahoe roots, each taking the stage to entertain, inspire, and compete for audience support:
Ashleigh Goodwin
Monica Gustafson
Maven Hayes
Mickey Holiday
Trella & Jesse Kalin
Phoenix Lopez
Taylor Rennee
Ryleynne Waller
From powerful vocal performances to unique acts that showcase the creativity and spirit of our mountain community, Tahoe’s Got Talent promises an evening filled with energy, heart, and unforgettable moments.
Although the performers will capture the audience’s attention, the evening’s real significance goes well beyond the stage.
Supporting Tahoe’s Youth
For more than 50 years, TYFS has been a lifeline for local youth and families, providing critical support when it is needed most. Through behavioral health services, mentoring, youth leadership development,
housing programs, and supportive services, TYFS empowers young people and families to overcome challenges, build resilience, and achieve lasting independence.
From helping youth experiencing homelessness find safe and stable housing to providing behavioral health support and opportunities for leadership and growth, TYFS is committed to building a stronger, healthier Tahoe community for generations to come.
Every ticket purchased, every sponsorship secured, and every dollar raised through Tahoe’s Got Talent directly supports these life-changing programs, ensuring local youth continue to have access to safe housing, trusted adults, behavioral health services, and opportunities to thrive.
“When we support our youth, we strengthen the future of our entire community,” said TYFS Executive Director Cheyanne Lane. “Tahoe’s Got Talent is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible talent that exists in our community while helping ensure every young person has the support, resources, and opportunities they deserve.”
Come Cheer, Vote, and Make a Difference
Audience members won’t just watch the competition. They’ll help decide it.
Every $1 donated equals one vote toward the People’s Choice Award, giving attendees the opportunity to support their favorite performer while directly investing in Tahoe’s youth.
Get Your Tickets Today
Whether you’re coming to cheer on a friend, enjoy a memorable night out with family and friends, support a local performer, or simply give back to a worthy cause, Tahoe’s Got Talent offers a unique opportunity to have fun while making a lasting impact.
Tickets are available now: $30 for adults 25+, $25 for youth ages 13–24, and children 12 and under are free. Go to www.tahoeyouth.org to purchase votes, tickets, and sponsorships.
Thank You to Our Community Sponsors
Events like Tahoe’s Got Talent are made possible thanks to the support of local businesses and individuals who believe in the power and potential of Tahoe’s youth. There are still sponsorship opportunities available. Join us in making a difference for Tahoe’s young people while showing your commitment to building a stronger, healthier community.
TYFS would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors who have already stepped forward to support this event and invest in our community’s future.
Alpine Smith • Barton Health • Base Camp Pizza • Bert’s Café • Caesars Republic & Harrah’s • Chart House • Edgewood Tahoe • Encompass Youth • Genasci Family Dental Care • Irma D. Andersen Charitable Endowment • KRLT • Luna Lending Inc. • Meeks Lumber • Millennium Medical Spa • Sessions Salon • Side Street Boutique • Signs of Tahoe • Tahoe AleWorX • Tahoe Hacienda • The Lodge
LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Tahoe Chamber is launching a new four-part Level UP: AI for Small Business Webinar Series, designed to help local business owners move beyond the buzz around artificial intelligence and learn practical ways to make AI work for their businesses.
image
Beginning September 9, the series will guide participants through a progression from understanding whether their business is ready for AI to developing a strategy, selecting and connecting the right tools, and ultimately incorporating AI into regular business operations.
“AI is evolving quickly, and for many small business owners, knowing where to begin can be the biggest challenge,” said Jessica Grime, President & CEO of Tahoe Chamber. “We designed this series to make AI approachable and practical. Business owners don’t need to become AI experts; they need to understand where it can create value, which tools make sense for their business, and how to use them effectively.”
Each webinar builds upon the previous session while also providing standalone value, allowing participants to attend the entire series or select the topics most relevant to their business.
Provided
Webinar 1 | AI Readiness: Preparing Your Business for What’s Next
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Webinar (registration now open)
Every successful AI strategy starts with understanding where your business stands today. This interactive kickoff webinar will help business owners assess their current operations, identify recurring processes and tasks that may benefit from AI, and recognize opportunities to improve efficiency and productivity. Participants will also explore common misconceptions and important considerations around AI adoption, leaving with a clearer understanding of where to begin.
Webinar 2 | Build to Sell: Driving Holistic Growth & Enterprise Value Through AI
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Webinar Presented by Shamus McNutt, Founder, Volare AI
A valuable business should be able to operate and grow without everything depending on its owner. This strategic webinar will explore how AI can help reduce founder reliance, improve operational efficiency, capture institutional knowledge, and strengthen the systems that drive long-term enterprise value.
Whether the goal is growth, scalability, greater freedom from day-to-day operations, or an eventual sale, participants will learn how to approach AI as a business-building strategy rather than simply another technology tool.
Webinar 3 | Plugging AI In: Choosing the Right Tools and Connecting Them to Your Business
Wednesday, January 27, 2027 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Webinar Presented by Austin Rodriguez-Woodard, Founder, RW Business Services, LLC
With hundreds of AI platforms available, choosing the right technology can quickly become overwhelming. This practical webinar will help owners move from “AI sounds useful” to actually putting it to work.
Participants will learn how to evaluate AI tools based on the problem they need to solve, data privacy and security, accuracy, cost, and integration capabilities. Practical examples across marketing, sales, finance, recruiting, and operations will demonstrate how businesses can connect AI with systems they already use and start small without adding unnecessary complexity.
Webinar 4 | From Set Up to Systematized: Running AI Week to Week
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Webinar Presented by Amanda St. Laurent, Founder, Sonder North Co.
Implementing AI is only the beginning. The final webinar will focus on turning one-time AI wins into repeatable business habits.
Participants will learn how to establish an operating rhythm for recurring AI-assisted tasks, incorporate those tasks into existing routines, and create trust checkpoints to ensure AI-generated work remains accurate and reliable. A practical example will demonstrate the process in action, with participants leaving with a framework they can apply to a recurring task within their own business.
From AI Curiosity to Everyday Business Use
Together, the four webinars create a practical progression:
Prepare → Build → Connect → Systematize
The series is designed to help small businesses approach AI intentionally starting with their business needs rather than chasing the latest technology. By the conclusion of the series, participants will have a clearer understanding of where AI can add value, how to select and implement appropriate tools, and how to incorporate AI into sustainable business practices.
Registration is required. Webinars are free for Tahoe Chamber members and $10 for community members. Registration for the September 9th webinar is now available through TahoeChamber.org/events.
(The Center Square) – Bills tackling surveillance pricing, elderly parole eligibility, social media addiction and other issues passed in the California Senate on Monday, the last day of the 2026 legislative session.
One of those bills, Assembly Bill 2564, authored by Assemblymember Christopher Ward, D-San Diego, aims to keep retailers from using surveillance pricing to increase prices of their merchandise based on customers’ personally identifiable information, including age, gender, marital status, geolocation and online search history. That information is used to increase the price of products because of a customer’s perceived willingness to pay, lawmakers said on the Senate floor, according to a legislative analysis of the bill.
Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, who presented the bill in the Senate Monday, said the public believes that government lets businesses price gouge them, and without the Legislature passing the bill, the public would be right.
“This is all happening without you even knowing it, leaving you with no ability to negotiate or control what rates you see at checkout,” Wiener said. “At a time when prices for basic necessities are rising across the board, it’s more critical than ever to ensure that people aren’t being unfairly charged high prices because of their actual or perceived characteristics.”
Opponents of the bill said on the Senate floor on Monday the bill would affect discounts offered to customers who have club cards at places where they buy groceries or other necessities, which is the only way they can afford the things they and their families need.
“When I’m in my own district, people feel like they’re living in a rigged economy,” Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, D-Napa, said on the Senate floor. “The price of everything is out of control. All they know is that their strategies, their club card, their discounts, that’s how they’re making it work.”
That bill ultimately passed 22 to 14. It now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Also on Monday, the Senate passed Senate Bill 907, which mandates sentences for those convicted of a hit-and-run accident that kills or hurts someone. The bill would apply to those who have previous DUI or gross vehicular manslaughter convictions in the past 10 years. The author of the bill, Sen. Bob Archuleta, D-Pico Rivera, introduced the bill after losing his granddaughter, Samantha Robles Haun, after a drunk driver hit her car and killed her just before Christmas 2024.
“[SB] 907 strengthens California’s DUI enforcement laws for repeat offenders,” Archuleta said on the Senate floor. “Senate Bill 907 includes two provisions that will protect California families from drunk drivers, improve road safety, hold repeat serial offenders accountable, and prevent future tragedy from occurring.”
Archuleta’s bill got bipartisan support on Monday, with senators on both sides of the aisle saying during debate that the legislation would save lives and that it was an important reform for the state.
“Thank you for the presentation on the floor, just to remind us of the severity of these offenses, and the responsibility we have to respond appropriately,” Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego, told Archuleta. “I think this bill definitely moves in that direction.”
Other bills that came up for a vote on the Senate floor on Monday included Assembly Bill 2727, which increases the eligible age for elderly parole to 65 if an inmate has served 25 years of their sentence for specific sex crimes. That bill, authored by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, D-Elk Grove, was introduced earlier this year as the California Board of Parole Hearings grappled with the release of two men in their 50s or 60s who were convicted of sex crimes against minors. They were both sentenced to life in prison, but after serving enough years, they both qualified for elderly parole, according to previous reporting by The Center Square.
“This bill is about protecting our children, families and communities from violent sex offenders who will still pose a significant risk when they are released,” said Sen. Susan Rubio, D-West Covina, when presenting the bill for a vote on the Senate floor. “This bill simply encourages something that’s really important, that individuals undergo sexual dangers screenings and we make sure we ask the right questions before we release them and put victims in harm’s way.”
Nguyen’s bill ultimately passed 37 to 0 on Monday before it went back to the Assembly floor for a final vote.
TAHOE CITY, Calif. – Four of the Lake Tahoe region’s most iconic restaurants offer their guests a way to give back to the local environment, and it’s added up in a major way. By leaving contributions of any size to their checks, guests at Gar Woods Grill & Pier, Riva Grill, Bar of America, and Sparks Water Bar have raised nearly $400,000 for the Tahoe Fund.
“When you visit one of these quintessential Tahoe restaurants, you’re not only enjoying an incredible meal or a signature Wet Woody, you can also give back to this special place and inspire others to do the same,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “We are so thankful for this longstanding partnership and their unwavering support of our work.”
This partnership is part of the Tahoe Fund’s $1 for Tahoe program. Created to offer a simple way for those who love Tahoe to help make it even better, $1 for Tahoe raises money to restore and improve the environment and enhance recreational opportunities through guest donations. Proceeds from the program support the efforts of the Tahoe Fund in its mission to improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.
“We’re proud to have supported the work of the Tahoe Fund for over a decade,” said Tom Turner, CEO of Tahoe Restaurant Collection. “Thanks to our guests, every small act of generosity over the last ten years has made a big impact for Lake Tahoe.”
The funds raised from guest contributions goes directly to projects that help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, improve lake clarity, and make it easier to get around, enjoy, and take care of Lake Tahoe. Some of the projects that benefit include: innovative pilots to prepare communities for wildfire, restoration efforts in the Upper Truckee River watershed, and the next section of the East Shore Trail. To learn more about the various programs funded by Tahoe Fund, visit: www.tahoefund.org
Gar Woods Grill & Pier, Riva Grill, Bar of America, and Sparks Water Bar raised nearly $400,000 for Tahoe Fund. Provided / Tahoe Fund
Lake Tahoe is one of the most studied lakes in the world, and understanding what’s happening beneath its famously clear surface is critical to protecting its future.
On this episode of Tahoe TAP, hosts Mike Peron and Rob Galloway sit down with Dr. Stephanie Hampton, Director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center and a professor of environmental science and policy, for a conversation about the science behind Lake Tahoe and the challenges facing freshwater ecosystems.
A freshwater ecologist by training, Hampton has spent more than two decades studying lakes and the forces that shape their health and resilience. Her research has taken her from Lake Tahoe to Lake Baikal in Siberia, one of the world’s oldest and deepest freshwater lakes, giving her a global perspective on the factors that keep aquatic ecosystems healthy — and the growing pressures they face from climate change and human activity.
Hampton’s work places her at the intersection of science, environmental policy and public understanding. In addition to leading the Tahoe Environmental Research Center, she currently serves as President of the Ecological Society of America and has held leadership positions with the National Science Foundation and Washington State University.
For a region where the health of the lake is closely tied to its environment, economy and quality of life, Hampton’s work offers an important look at what researchers are learning about Tahoe — and what those discoveries could mean for the lake in the decades ahead.
In this episode, Tahoe TAP explores the science behind Tahoe’s clarity, how changing environmental conditions are affecting freshwater ecosystems, what researchers are watching most closely, and how scientific research can help guide the decisions needed to protect the lake.
Tune in for a fascinating conversation with one of the country’s leading freshwater ecologists and get a deeper look at the science helping us understand — and protect — Lake Tahoe.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The City of South Lake Tahoe advises the public that road construction is scheduled to begin Wednesday, September 2. Motorists should reduce speeds in work zones, watch for workers and equipment, anticipate delays, follow posted traffic controls, and use alternate routes where possible. We strongly urge motorists to avoid Pioneer Trail between US 50 (Lake Tahoe Blvd) and Ski Run Blvd during construction.
Pioneer Trail Pavement Treatment
Where: Pioneer Trail, between US 50 and Larch Avenue What: Roadway surface treatment to extend the life of the pavement.
When: September 2, 3, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, and 16 Work Hours: 7:30 am to 6:30 pm
Traffic Impacts/Detours: One-way traffic control for southbound will be in place. Northbound traffic will not be allowed during construction hours. Motorists should use alternate routes.
Provided / City of SLT
Pioneer Trail Pedestrian Improvement Project
Where: Pioneer Trail, between Larch Avenue and Ski Run Boulevard What: Road Reconstruction and Paving When: September 8 through October 2 Work Hours: 7:30 am to 6:30 pm (one lane will remain closed 24 hours a day)
Traffic Impacts/Detours: A 24-hour single-lane closure will be in effect for the entire duration of the construction period. Southbound traffic will be allowed through the work zone. Northbound traffic will be detoured at Ski Run Boulevard. Expect significant delays and use alternate routes. Thru traffic should consider using US 50 instead of Pioneer Trail
Pioneer Trail Road ConstructionProvided / City of SLT
Al Tahoe Boulevard Pavement Treatment
Where: Al Tahoe Boulevard, between Pioneer Trail and US 50 What: Roadway surface treatment to extend the life of the pavement. When: September 10, 11, 14, 15, and 16 Work Hours: 7:30 am to 6:30 pm
Traffic Impacts/Detours: Single-lane closures with two-way traffic and significant traffic delays are expected. Motorists should use alternate routes when possible. South Tahoe Middle School pick-up/drop-off traffic should use US 50 and avoid Al Tahoe Boulevard.
Construction schedules may change due to weather or other unforeseen conditions.
By the end of the 2023 season, the once-proud North Tahoe football team had been down in wins and participation for the better part of two decades. The sophomore-led varsity finished 0-9, this after the class endured a winless record as freshmen on JV the year prior. Without a single taste of victory, frustrations boiled.
“Everyone talked about quitting,” said head coach Ryan Brolliar, referencing a closed-door team meeting held the summer before the next season. “There were tears shed, profanities back and forth. I said, ‘We’re not leaving this room until all you guys are in or all you guys are out.’”
From that day forward the Lakers were, quite literally, all in. Soon after, players and coaches embarked together on a journey to a no-frills camp in the middle of nowhere in Northern California where a Navy SEAL awaited to whip them into a cohesive unit.
“It was five days of no cell phones, no parents, no friends, just football,” Brolliar recounted. “We had a sandlot field and the Navy Seal kicked our butt. We were playing in the dark some nights. We worked through things. It was so much fun.”
North Tahoe came together. And in the fifth game of the ’24 season, the team broke through with a win, finally tasting the sweet satisfaction of victory with a 26-14 triumph over West Wendover.
“It was like we won the championship,” Brolliar said of the moment that had been months in the making,
The momentum led to two more victories that season and catapulted the Lakers to a historic 2025 campaign. For only the second time in 20-plus years, and two years removed from going 0-9, the Lakers finished the season with a winning record. The team battled to a 5-3 regular season, trouncing Yerington 34-0 in the final game to earn a spot in the NIAA 2A football championships.
“I’ll never forget the announcer over the PA after the game — ‘Ladies and gentlemen, the Lakers are going to the playoffs,’” Brolliar relayed. “It was awesome.”
HEAD COACH: Ryan Brolliar (second coach from left) spreads the stoke at a recent North Tahoe practice.
2026 Season Preview
This fall marks Brolliar’s fifth year as head coach, and under his watch the rising Lakers tide has lifted the program’s boats. But with 18 seniors graduated-and-gone from last year’s breakthrough team, North Tahoe will once again be young. Fifteen juniors will be called upon for the bulk of the productivity, the squad’s lone senior coming in the form of starting safety, kicker, and punter Chemo Anselmo-Arrieta.
Hawkin Anderson’s high football IQ, footspeed, and quick release have him slated to start at quarterback. He’ll look to find tight end Charlie Blair and tight end/receiver Axl Fant, both of whom, like many on the small, special-ops-like 25-man roster, will play “ironman football,” contributing on offense as well as defense.
Running back/linebacker Ian Dohner will carry a heavy load, and Gael Servin will anchor the offensive and defensive lines. Matthew Rosenfeld will lead the defense from his middle linebacker spot while adding strength to the offensive side of the ball at the fullback position.
The Laker offense looks to establish the run game with physicality at the line of scrimmage, and the defense is designed to allow players to play on instinct. “It’s a lot of see ball, get ball,” Brolliar explained.
The team put together a solid fall camp and fared well at home in their Aug. 15 jamboree (organized scrimmage), scoring three times against Chico-area Hamilton High School, while also playing stout defense, including tallying an interception.
But the path into the regular season won’t be easy.
North Tahoe opens with three straight games on the road. It all starts this Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Quincy against the Trojans of the Mid Valley League. The tough nonconference schedule continues the next week against Highlands of the historically strong Sierra Delta League. After a bye, the Lakers open 2A Northern League play at Coral Academy (Reno) on Sept. 12.
North Tahoe’s first home game will take place Sept. 18 under the lights against the Incline Highlanders.
“Incline is our rival,” Brolliar said. “It’s the only game that we get portable lights for every year. Friday night lights. We also make sure it’s our homecoming game.”
The next two weeks are also at home, against Pershing County (Lovelock) Sept. 26 and West Wendover Oct. 3. The regular season’s finale is Friday Oct. 29 at Yerington, but the Lakers’ goal is for that to not be the final time they put on shoulder pads to compete against a foe in a different colored jersey.
“We’re young, but we’re going to mess some stuff up,” Brolliar said. “There’s not a junior class that’s better [than ours]. We are a playoff caliber team.”
READYING FOR THE SEASON: The 2026 Lakers, seen here warming up before practice, are led by 15 juniors on their 25-man roster.
Blue Blood
Brolliar has been around North Tahoe football so much in his life, it’s practically in his DNA. His father, Dave Brolliar, taught P.E and was the team’s head coach for much of the 1980s, guiding the Lakers, among other achievements, to the Nevada 2A state title in 1986.
Ryan was nine years old that year, and he served as the team’s waterboy. “I remember the emotion,” he said of the celebration after the championship victory. “People just hugging, crying. I was a young kid. I was like, ‘wow.’”
The feeling of awe surrounding the game of football stuck with him, and the young Brolliar grew up bleeding North Tahoe blue. When he got to high school, he became a great player himself, a Laker known for making plays all over the field. His senior year in 1995, he earned first team all-league honors as a quarterback and first team all-state accolades as a defensive back.
The team was going strong. But after decades of success and stability, the school’s enrollment and the football team’s numbers both dwindled, so much so that the Lakers had to cancel the 2014 season. A revolving door of three coaches in three years further damaged the once-proud team. There was serious talk of completely cutting the program.
That’s when longtime head coach Scott Everist reached out to the old quarterback. “He called me and basically told me it was time to move back home,” Brolliar said.
After over 20 years of teaching, coaching, and playing music professionally in San Diego, the coach’s son returned to his roots to revive the Lakers football team.
Brolliar came back to Tahoe without even having set up a day job to pay the bills. But his bold actions were met with fortune; within three weeks, the North Tahoe physical education teaching position opened up. Brolliar was qualified. He applied and got the job. “Now I’m in my dad’s old office,” he mused, “teaching P.E. and coaching football.”
That might just be about as full circle as it gets.
“When I moved back, people didn’t even know we had a football team,” said the coach, again remembering the talk of cutting the program. “The kids are excited. We’re back, and we’re not going anywhere.”
We begin our exploration of the celestial energies with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. This beloved annual occurrence, active until Aug. 24, is a beautiful invitation to spend an evening beneath the cosmos. As shooting stars streak across the night sky, connect in your heart with all the other human beings making wishes at the same time.
Astrologically, we arrive at the midpoint of summer with an abundance of fire energy as Mercury, Jupiter, the sun, and south node all transit in Leo. On Aug 15, Mercury conjoins Jupiter in this heart-centered sign, creating opportunity for expansive, truthful, and courageous expression.
Energies may turn wonky on Aug. 17 as Mars in Cancer squares Neptune retrograde in Aries. Mars, the planet of action and forward movement, generally feels uncomfortable in Cancer’s nurturing waters, and Neptune can dissolve certainty and blur the path ahead. Fortunately, Venus in her home sign of Libra sextiles Jupiter that day, bringing grace, open-mindedness, and support for peaceful resolutions.
On Aug. 22 the sun conjoins the south node in Leo before moving into Mercury–ruled Virgo the following day. Mercury follows suit, joining first the south node on Aug. 25 before meeting the sun in Virgo for a cazami on Aug. 27. Together, these alignments encourage the release of old identities and outdated stories, allowing more authentic patterns to emerge. We also experience a full moon lunar eclipse in Pisces the same day.
Jupiter trines Saturn retrograde in Aries on Aug. 31, bringing optimism to the work of structure and discipline. However, that supportive energy shifts quickly as Mars squares Saturn on Sept.1. Allow this transit to reveal habits, fears, and reactions that are ready to be transformed, remembering that impatience rarely produces lasting results.
NATURAL MAGIC
To support healing, create an ancestral water-and-fire offering for the Mars-Saturn square. In a safe outside place, light an orange or red candle; fill a bowl with spring water; add rosemary, rose petals, and cedar fronds. Then sit quietly and ask: What ancestral patterns around action, anger, protection, and survival am I ready to complete?
Feel what arises, and write three patterns onto separate pieces of paper. Burn one piece and place its ashes into the bowl. Place a second, unburned, into the bowl among the plant beings. Place the third beneath the bowl of water. Blow out your candle and leave the ritual outside overnight. In the morning, offer the water, ashes, plants, and paper to your garden or compost as a prayer to the earth and to all those that came before you. Trust in the magic of healing
It started on July 3 in my Carnelian Bay neighborhood. Eighty-five percent of the houses are short-term vacation rentals and second homes, which are normally filled up with families on the Fourth of July holiday.
But this Independence Day was the first of its kind. Because not only was it a major milestone celebrating the birth of America, but the influx of visitors flooding the streets weren’t families — it was a teen/college kids takeover.
Suddenly every house in my neighborhood was full of sorority and frat-house-like renters, drinking out of red solo cups and playing cornhole in the streets. And then the crowds kept growing.
By July 4 at 1 p.m., every beach in North Lake Tahoe was packed with an overwhelming number of young people roughly the same age. Most of the girls were dressed in thong bikinis and many guys were in American flag board shorts, no shirts.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office shut down Tahoe City’s Skylandia and Bristlecone beaches by 4 p.m. due to underage drinking, significant traffic impacts, and widespread littering. More than a dozen California State Parks enforcement officers broke up the crowds in Kings Beach.
“We’ve caught multiple kids peeing on our fences and just tossing trash in the streets,” Kings Beach resident Amber Kramer posted to Facebook.
By the time the fireworks started, my neighborhood was eerily silent, all the houses abruptly abandoned by 11 p.m. By the next morning, everyone had vanished.
“It was like spring break around here … in the 20-plus years of living here, I’ve never seen anything like it,” my neighbor said on that (relatively) quiet morning of July 5.
I heard in the following days that San Francisco Bay Area high school and college students organized this. Parents rented the VRBOs and Airbnbs for their kids. Tik-Tok posts went viral weeks before the takeover.
Although the scene didn’t get out of control like the shooting that took place in Florida, large, random gatherings like this can pose a public safety threat.
Kings Beach business owners commented online that the crowds did not contribute to the downtown economy — no one went into the restaurants despite hordes of people hanging out in front of the Taco Bell at 10 p.m. that evening.
“Yes, it was bad for business, and yes, the streets and sidewalks are covered in trash and vomit. Definitely not fun,” a local Kings Beach business owner posted to Facebook.
Shortly after the busy weekend, a petition went out asking Placer County to publicly address what happened this Fourth of July. A few days later, Placer County District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson released a statement saying she was planning a meeting with agency representatives to talk about it.
I feel like this is a weak response.
Right now, neither the rental agencies nor homeowners are taking responsibility for these issues, so Placer County needs to implement penalties big enough to make owners think twice about who they are renting to or what their properties are being used for.
There are a lot of parking, noise, and trash issues that full-time North Tahoe residents deal with all summer from their short-term neighbors, and I have never seen or heard of an instance when rules have been enforced or penalties imposed. Placer County does have a 24/7 short-term rental hotline number neighbors can call to address complaints, but in many cases the vacationers are just given a slap on the wrist or a warning, and a new crop of visitors comes the following weekend. I’ve never heard of an STR getting shut down.
Considering we’re nearing the end of summer, I think Placer County should publish a statement this fall that contains: 1) an analysis of what happened this Fourth of July; 2) a plan emphasizing how parking/trash/noise regulations will start being heavily enforced beginning June 1, 2027; and 3) share a report of how many complaints were recorded and how they were addressed in the summer of 2026.
If this is a problem that affects you, too, sign the petition. Write Cindy Gustafson. And Placer County, please take residents’ complaints seriously and do something about them.
~ Kayla Anderson is a freelance writer and coauthor of Moon Travel Guides’ Best of California State Parks and Northern California Road Trips. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from CSU, Chico, and has been a North Lake Tahoe resident for the past 20 years.
Every summer, Lake Tahoe’s transportation challenges become impossible to ignore. Gridlocked roads, full parking lots, and unsafe parking along busy highways are the visible signs of a problem that dozens of agencies have spent decades trying to solve.
Gavin Feiger, policy director for Keep Tahoe Blue, put it like this:
“Transportation in Tahoe has been one of the largest contributors to clarity decline. It has one of the biggest impacts on the environment and on our day-to-day lives. It’s a huge issue that we haven’t been able to crack as a region yet. We’re tackling aquatic invasive species. We’re doing restoration projects. Development is getting more sustainable and it’s limited. Growth is capped. We’ve done all these things, but we just haven’t worked out transportation yet.”
Part of that, he explained, is the cost. Transportation systems not only include creating bike lanes and trails and shuttles, but also “everything under the street.”
MILE AFTER MILE: Nevada’s state Route 28, which runs from the California state line in Crystal Bay following Lake Tahoe to halfway down its East Shore, sees 2.6 million vehicles annually and over one million recreational visitors.
The Lake Tahoe Regional Transportation Plan, developed by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and intended to address water and air quality, scenic and recreation sources, noise levels, and more through a Basin-wide system, puts the total unfunded priorities of the plan at $20 million annually for the next 20 years. Some say that number is on the low end.
“There’s not one big thing that can solve it,” Feiger said. “It’s not like we can go to Sen. [Alex] Padilla and be like, we need the Sen. Padilla Tahoe Transportation Bill, and build a giant bridge, and name it after him. We need $20 million a year for transit operations that will be spread amongst five different agencies. That’s a hard act.”
While a Basin-wide transportation solution remains years away, local agencies are making progress on one piece of the puzzle: parking. This summer, several projects aim to improve access and safety while reducing congestion at some of Tahoe’s busiest destinations.
We touch on the efforts, as well as significant snags, below.
rAguably the most critical player when it comes to all things transportation in Tahoe is the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD). When the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact, which unites California, Nevada, and the U.S. government to manage the shared region, was amended in 1980, it established the TTD.
“That does put us in a pretty unique position because our jurisdiction is the Basin,” said Tara Styer, deputy director for TTD. “We’re able to leverage funding across state lines, and then we’re also able to implement those projects that are across jurisdictions … It takes a bit for everyone to be rowing in the same direction, but having that governing document really helps to have something to point back to.”
In July 2020, TTD began its Park Tahoe program, intended to aid what many see as a long-needed holistic and equitable approach to parking management in the Tahoe Basin. The first area of interest for the program: state Route 28, the famous two-lane highway along the Nevada side of the lake.
LOT FULL: A lack of enforcement capacity along state Route 28 has led to people parking in paid lots as well as continuing to park along the shoulder of the two-lane highway, even in no parking zones.
Park Tahoe was launched the same day as the Tahoe East Shore Trailhead, north of Ponderosa Ranch Road in Incline Village, which offers 90 metered parking spots away from — and this is critical — the shoulder of SR 28. This first lot was Phase 1 of the North Parking Project. Phase 2 is actively underway, with the relocation of 38 shoulder-parked vehicles to an official lot.
Parking along the shoulder of SR 28 is a very popular approach for those looking to visit various beaches. Numbers have doubled in the last 15 years. It’s also, as Styer said, a huge safety risk.
“The last shoulder counts we did in 2024, we looked at a midweek day, and we looked at two Saturdays, usually late July, early August,” Styer said. “We had 970 shoulder-parked vehicles on a summer Saturday in August.” With an average of three people per vehicle, plus bikes, this can mean over 3,000 people on a summer day using the state highway like a sidewalk or parking lot.
Shoulder parking is the leading cause of crashes on SR 28. From an environmental perspective, shoulder parking increases erosion along highway embankments and into Lake Tahoe.
The day-use reservation system at Sand Harbor State Park, implemented August 2024, is an attempt to reduce congestion by limiting the number of vehicles trying to enter the park during peak morning hours. From mid-May through September, visitors must make a reservation if they want to enter the park between 8 and 10:30 a.m. After that, remaining spots are available on a first come, first served basis. “Out of the 400 reservable spots, we are still able to let in 20 to 50 vehicles,” wrote Tyler Kerver of the Nevada Division of State Parks in an email, noting that the number varies with weather, holidays, and the day of the week. “The gates to the main parking lot are usually closed by 11 a.m. June through August.”
Progress is piecemeal, and people are still parking their cars along SR 28, shifting locations as signs marking no-parking zones go up. “As we implement these projects throughout the corridor, it’s sort of a whack-a-mole effect,” Styer said. “Anything south of Secret Harbor is still technically not no parking. Although it’s not safe and a lot of people are parking over the fog line [the white stripe along the outside of a paved road].”
A significant parking lot option became available this June: The Chimney Beach Trailhead, which offers about 130 spaces, each for $12 a day. The site improvements include a pedestrian crosswalk across SR 28. In order to open up, a permit granted by the TRPA to the U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), required, “The no parking zone on SR-28 shall be extended around Chimney Beach Parking lot prior to the new parking lot being open to the public. The area of no parking shall be consistent with the area identified in the project [environmental assessment]. LTBMU shall coordinate with partners who are responsible for enforcing no parking along the corridor.”
CHIMNEY BEACH: The new parking lot on U.S. Forest Service land offers about 130 spots, each for $12 a day. According to the Tahoe Transportation District, the lot fills up on weekends, but not as much during weekdays (while shoulder parking on state Route 28 stays consistent).
Basically, TRPA was asserting that roughly 130 shoulder parking spots along the highway south of Sand Harbor could be blocked off with no-parking signs, since those cars now have a place to park.
That’s what was supposed to happen.
“The signs went up, there’s [a memorandum of understanding] in place [but] nobody has capacity to do the enforcement,” Feiger said. This has lead to cars not only parking at Chimney Beach, but also, on high-demand days, still parking along the shoulder, despite signage.
However, TRPA Public Information Officer Jeff Cowen says “the new no-parking zone along the Chimney Beach section of the corridor is largely working. NHP has been ticketing. Our [Environmental Improvement Program] manager drove through the corridor [on Wednesday, Aug. 5], and there were a number of cars parked in the corridor, but none in the new no-parking zone.
“There have been issues on very busy days, including the Fourth of July, and times when law enforcement resources are spread out.”
Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) confirmed with Moonshine its staffing is stretched thin. “We’re doing saturation patrols as necessary, focusing on weekends and holidays, trying to get extra staff up there to deal with parking issues,” said Trooper James LaRose, public information officer for NHP.
From January to June 3, 2025, NHP investigated 25 crashes and issued 26 traffic citations and eight parking citations.
The same timeframe for 2026 saw 19 crashes, 34 traffic citations, and 29 parking citations.
“You’d think it would be common sense that people can’t park in the travel lane or block traffic,” LaRose said. “Apparently it’s not and we end up with a lot of people with part of their car still in the travel lane.”
“It’s not like we can go to Sen. Padilla and be like, we need the Sen. Padilla Tahoe Transportation Bill, and build a giant bridge, and name it after him. We need $20 million a year for transit operations that will be spread amongst five different agencies. That’s a hard act.”
~ Gavin Feiger, policy director for Keep Tahoe Blue
He added that officers will drive through using a PA system, letting drivers know they can’t be parked in the travel lane, can’t have their vehicles protrude — “even the mirror over the line” — and asking them to move their vehicles. After the announcement, they’ll come and issue citations.
“If it’s too egregious, we’ll call for a tow truck,” he added.
“We’re very frustrated,” Feiger said of the situation. “And it’s the same permit conditions and the same process for the Spooner lot [which will provide 250 spots and is expected to come online fall 2027]. It’s going to be the same one for the Secret Harbor lot [which is facing a $13-million funding gap for the 120 spots], like all of them. This has to be successful.”
Legislation recently passed in Nevada and a companion bill on the California side could help with this hurdle.
Nevada’s SB 426, passed June 2025, created the Lake Tahoe Basin Scenic Byway Corridor Recreation Safety Zone, spanning Nevada highways and state routes in the Tahoe region, to establish traffic control and parking measures, as well as the development of parking enforcement and citation issuance between the TTD and law enforcement agencies.
The transportation district’s Styer said that while the legislation is in effect, operationalization will take time. She did say the district is in communication with NHP over how the two agencies can coordinate. “We don’t necessarily want to staff someone who’s on the corridor writing tickets. We’d rather leave that in law enforcement’s capable hands … [and possibly do something] similar to the approach that has been taken in Emerald Bay where agencies are funding overtime for CHP.”
TTD’s projects are primarily federally and state-funded, as well as locally, largely from the Tahoe Fund. The money collected through parking meters (aside from a percentage that goes to USFS from parking on federal land) go back into local coffers.
SAND HARBOR is a premier destination for those visiting or living in the Tahoe Basin. To help reduce congestion on state Route 28, the state park instituted a reservation system in 2024, to run from mid-May through September, for entry between 8 and 10:30 a.m. Traffic backs up during those hours, as seen in the bottom photo, and the parking lot is usually closed by 11 a.m.
California’s AB 2679, meanwhile, went before the Senate Committee on Appropriations on Aug. 3 and was placed in a suspense file, to be reviewed in detail for its potential fiscal impact. The bill proposes the Tahoe Transportation Safety Act, which would effectively mimic the Nevada bill by, in part, authorizing TTD to address unsafe parking and pedestrian movement in the Basin.
Raising the price of fines for illegal parking is a more recent solution implemented because up until recently, they simply haven’t been a successful deterrent.
“We’ve been out there doing surveys, doing enforcement with highway patrol, and they’ll tow a car and another car will pull right in,” Feiger said. “The highway patrol person will be like, ‘Did you just see that [the other car got a ticket]?’ And they’re like, ‘How much is the ticket?’ ‘Hundred bucks.’ They’re like, ‘Oh, okay. Fine.’”
El Dorado County in June increased penalties for illegal parking along state highways from $50 to $300 per occurrence. On the Nevada side, the max fine for parking in a no-parking zone is $305, while parking over the fog line incurs a $538 fine.
In South Lake, a new vision is unfolding for what the Tahoe Basin could become as parking management expands: Keep Tahoe Blue’s Car-Free, Care-Free Tahoe, which kicked off this past June. The concept imagines a future where someone can park their car and use interconnected transit options (buses, shuttles, bike paths, scooters, etc.) to reach any destination around Tahoe.
“It was designed to kind of encapsulate all of our transportation efforts,” Feiger said, pointing to ongoing advocating for funding, providing input on the regional transportation plan, getting legislation passed, and so on. And not only the work Keep Tahoe Blue is doing, but also its partners’ work.
A key example is the Emerald Bay Shuttle, run by TTD and piloted last summer through funding from Keep Tahoe Blue and the Tahoe Fund to reduce congestion and pollution, and provide alternative parking options in one of the most visited spots around the lake. Along with the shuttle implementation, which started its 2026 season in late June for $5 one way (reduced fare options available), TTD is installing about 400 feet of temporary barriers along the shoulder. California Highway Patrol promises strict enforcement of parking regulations. Last summer, enforcement wrote 248 citations, issued 13 moving violations, and had 10 vehicles towed.
There has been a lot of good feedback, Styer said about the shuttle, and the partnerships have produced momentum. Beyond that, groups are addressing operational hiccups. “We do not have a formalized crosswalk in Emerald Bay,” she continued. “I think that could be really beneficial. And the speed limit through there is still pretty high, so, you know, those types of things — working with Caltrans.”
Other programs falling under the Car Free, Care Free Tahoe umbrella: the South Shore Transportation Management Association and its 30 different funders (including many local businesses) that helped launch microtransit shuttle Lake Link in 2022. Or Heavenly Ski Resort, which increased its shuttle service in 2024.
“We see this as a way for us to really share that it’s better,” Feiger said. “We have options now. It wasn’t this way for a lot of years, but it’s getting so much better now. And the biggest thing is people need to just get out there and get on the paths, ride the buses. That’s the best thing you can do to support this, so that’s what we’re trying to make happen.”
While this is a vision that will ideally spread around the lake in terms of transit connection, he added that South Shore is the closest to achieving such a goal in Tahoe.
On the North Shore, Placer County is focused on expanding its paid parking program in Kings Beach. Starting May 1, the West End and Rainbow lots began charging vehicles $10 per day, with a $20 holiday rate, through September. These two lots joined the Christmas Tree and Brook Avenue locations, which saw fee increases to a daily rate of $20, with a holiday rate of $40.
Local businesses initially pushed the program to take off in summer 2024 with the Christmas Tree lot pilot program, increasing parking turnover a major goal.
STATE HIGHWAY OR PARKING LOT: In 2024, an estimated 970 cars a day parked on the SR 28 shoulder on a Saturday in August, a huge safety risk and environmental detriment. Tahoe agencies are trying to fix that and more when it comes to parking around the Basin.
“I think one of the frustrations our business owners had in certain areas was that people would park and go to the beach all day, and then there wouldn’t be room for their patrons to come in and access their businesses,” said Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson. “So, the paid parking does help modify behavior and hopefully help people make the decision to be somewhat inconvenient to either walk or ride a bike or call a micro mass transit bus.”
During the first full year of the paid parking program’s pilot, 2025, 595 citations were issued, bringing in roughly $42,000 in revenue, and $43,000 in paid lot fees. Yet expenditures far outweighed the intake: staff cost about $175,000, and contracts $65,000.
“We want it to become self-sustaining,” Gustafson said, “and so we need more in the paid parking program to make it self-sustained. But we have issued a lot of citations. I think over 300 citations, and over 200 warnings [since May 1].”
Such a program for Tahoe City is undergoing staff discussion and community outreach.
Not everyone believes adding parking is the right solution. While agencies are implementing new restrictions and adding infrastructure in the name of safety and environmental protection, some residents argue the Basin has already reached its limits. Steve Dolan, who lived in Incline Village for 23 years and founded the Friends of Third Creek nonprofit, which monitors North Shore watersheds, sees the addition of parking lots and continued development — even with strict codes — as adding to an area that’s already at capacity.
“There’s a limit to what this beautiful emerald of the Sierra can accommodate,” he told Moonshine. “There’s just a limit.”
Dolan wants a moratorium placed in the Basin to stall rapid growth — which, according to TRPA, already boasts 15 million visitors annually and a $5-billion economy.
“At any given time, the number of people that can stay in the parks, camping, in houses as guests, in hotels that exist, and in hotels that are being built, and in developments that are being developed already to this day, that’s too many people,” he said. “We need to stop that now and adjust to it.”
There are also those — especially locals — who find themselves having to pay for parking where it used to be free and are frustrated by that. Styer has heard as much, and said she understands the parking changes aren’t welcomed by everyone.
“I know that it’s a transition,” she said. “It’s a transition for me as well. But the parking revenues are returned to the operations and maintenance within the corridor, and I think that that’s really key. We’re looking at a corridor that didn’t have, in my opinion, adequate facilities. Just adding restrooms along the corridor has been really critical. Allowing Waste Management, having those parking ambassadors at Secret and Chimney this summer to help manage the trash. I think that all of those are huge benefits.”
“There’s a limit to what this beautiful emerald of the Sierra can accommodate. There’s just a limit.”
~ Steve Dolan, former Incline Village resident and
founder of Friends of Third Creek nonprofit
Feiger emphasized the environmental benefits, saying that limiting parking is one of the most effective ways to shift driving behavior by encouraging carpooling or transit use or maybe deciding not to take a trip at all.
“One of the cool things about Tahoe is that all of our locals, all of our residents and our visitors — we’re all going to and from the same places,” he said. “So, a system that works for visitors will also work for our residents. If we can get more visitors out of their cars, it makes it easier for our employees to get around who maybe have to use their cars.”
Gustafson points to being prepared within reason for a future that could see increased visitation: “I think with climate change, we have to be prepared that as temperatures get hotter, the evidence is here: More people come to recreate in the High Sierra. Some of that’s Lake Tahoe, some of it is rivers and streams … My job is to make sure we’re looking ahead and trying to prepare for that and find solutions that can help us live together more amicably. We don’t have the infrastructure for the millions of more Californians and Nevadans there are within drive-up range, and I don’t know that we should pave paradise for that.”
A new facility called Peak Women’s Care is opening in the former Gateway Urgent Care building on Donner Pass Road in Truckee, which says it offers free-of-charge services for people facing an unplanned pregnancy, including pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and what it calls an “options consultation.” The facility has the appearance of a women’s health center, but the reality is it’s more a faith-based resource center than a medical clinic.
Peak Women’s Care also operates a center in Portola, an hour north of Truckee, which opened in November 2024. Its Truckee location is slated to open by the end of this summer, pending an occupancy permit from Nevada County.
“Our goal is to service people from Lake Almanor to North Lake Tahoe, so that’s why we’re growing with a location in Truckee,” Mollie Williams, executive director of Peak Women’s Care, told Moonshine Ink. “We’re often servicing people who are traveling from far away, so we want to try to meet them where they’re at.”
As Peak Women’s Care prepares to open its Truckee doors, residents facing an unplanned pregnancy will soon have another place to turn — though what they’ll find there, and whether it constitutes healthcare, remains at the center of a broader national debate.
In publicly available tax documents, Peak’s mission is stated as this: “To provide free religious instruction and information to members of the public who are pregnant, considering pregnancy, or who are partners of pregnant women.” The document further adds that the center “walks with those facing unplanned or unsupported pregnancies by providing medical, material, and spiritual resources, all centered in Christ while upholding the sanctity of all human life.”
Peak seems to fall under a category known as crisis pregnancy centers. A CPC is a nonprofit organization, regularly affiliated with religious education, that presents itself as a women’s healthcare clinic. In 2022, the California Attorney General issued a consumer alert, stating: “While crisis pregnancy centers may claim to offer comprehensive reproductive healthcare services, their mission is to discourage people from accessing abortion care.”
CPCs have been around since the late 1960s and currently, there are an estimated 2,600 in the U.S., with more continuing to open. (That’s roughly three times the number of abortion clinics in this country.) Most CPCs are associated with national pro-life organizations such as Birthright International, the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, Care Net, or Heartbeat International.
Peak Women’s Care is licensed as a community clinic in California. A licensed physician, Dr. Alexandra Hunt, serves as its medical director. The clinic is permitted to perform basic pregnancy tests and ultrasounds but not further medical procedures. It does not offer services like prenatal care, testing for sexually transmitted infections, or birth control options, or abortions. It has staff who are trained to perform ultrasounds, according to Williams, but many of the staff are volunteers without medical licenses. The center also provides free online parenting classes and no-charge maternity and baby supplies, like diapers, clothing, and car seats.
The president of the board of directors of Peak Women’s Care is Betsy Taylor, who’s married to Dr. Peter Taylor, a longtime OB-GYN at Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee. Peter Taylor is not currently working as a doctor at Peak Women’s Care, but Williams did confirm that he has been providing what she called “backup ultrasound interpretations.” Williams said Dr. Taylor will provide those services for the new Truckee location as well. Dr. Taylor could not be reached for comment.
Betsy Taylor declined to be interviewed, but in a letter to Sierra Bible Church’s congregation, she wrote that Peak Women’s Care is a “Christ-centered nonprofit” that’s been “making a powerful impact in our region.” Her letter asked for help with tenant improvements like drywall and electrical and added that “Peak is also looking for people to serve as volunteer patient advocates and nurses.” Her letter added that Care Net training will be provided to volunteers. Care Net is a pro-life ministry that offers training to staff at pregnancy centers such as this one.
The former Gateway Urgent Care building, a 1,300-square-foot A-frame at 11105 Donner Pass Rd., was recently purchased by Tim and Rebekah Ruppert, who attend Sierra Bible Church. The Rupperts are renting the building to Peak Women’s Care. Its location near Tahoe Forest Hospital places the nonprofit in an area where many patients in this community seek healthcare.
“Most people don’t know what crisis pregnancy centers are. They give the appearance that they’re just trying to help pregnant women, and who doesn’t want to help a pregnant woman?” said Andrea Swartzendruber, an associate professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia. Swartzendruber helps run
an online CPC map.
“It can be hard to tell if what you’re looking at is a CPC. They’re deceptive in a lot of ways by calling themselves medical facilities or clinics or giving the impression that they’re unbiased,” Swartzendruber said. “CPCs tend to target young people, people of color, and those with low incomes who don’t have easy access to healthcare. They often give inaccurate health information or use a limited medical ultrasound as a tactic to try to convince people not to get an abortion.”
Dr. Jessica Hamilton, a local physician at the Western Sierra Medical Clinic in Kings Beach and a former medical director at Planned Parenthood, has treated women who’ve recently visited a crisis pregnancy center. “Typically, a patient will come in and say, ‘I went to a clinic around the corner, and I got an ultrasound that told me I was 15 weeks pregnant,’” Hamilton said. “But then I’ll check how far along they are by ultrasound and what they were told previously isn’t accurate. It’s clear people with minimal training are making errors.”
Abortion services often have cut-offs based on how far along a pregnancy is because of institutional policies, medical regulations (medication abortions are often only available to 11 weeks gestation), or a patient’s medical history. Delaying a decision can mean a person has fewer choices. “A misguided visit — especially by someone who lives in a rural area — could drastically affect one’s ability to choose, as options may disappear as they progress in gestational duration,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton is in the process of trying to open a medical clinic in North Lake Tahoe, called Alpine Medicine, that would offer comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including abortion services. Currently, elective abortions aren’t available in the Truckee/North Tahoe area. Tahoe Forest Hospital does not perform them; instead, it’ll refer patients to Planned Parenthood in Reno, Roseville, or Sacramento. “Patients deserve factual information and a full range of options in a timely manner. I would encourage anyone visiting a crisis pregnancy center to understand what it is, ask for licensing, and bring records of your visit, including your ultrasound, to a licensed medical professional,” said Hamilton, who also recommended calling or texting the Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline, (833) 246-2632, for anyone needing information.
Funding for Peak Women’s Care comes from hundreds of individual donors and some grant funding. Contributions and grants for the organization in 2025 totaled $355,927, according to tax documents.
Julie Halvorsen is a Tahoe City resident and mother of six children who’s regularly supported Peak Women’s Care through financial donations. “I support women and I’m coming from a place of wanting to do the right thing. A woman making any decision regarding her pregnancy should be given grace, love, support, and understanding without judgment or challenge,” Halvorsen said. “I understand there are women who may not want a pregnancy or are not prepared or supported for one. This mother deserves all the same support. My hopeful confidence is that Peak Women’s Care is going to do everything they can to bring that child into the world.”
Swartzendruber warns that since CPCs aren’t subject to HIPAA laws, they aren’t required to keep patient information secure. However, Williams at Peak Women’s Care said they are committed to patient confidentiality.
“We do not refer or provide abortions, but we are a safe place where people can talk through all of their options,” Williams said. “We never force anything on anyone or give out information people don’t ask for. We want to support holistically, but it’s all permission-based.”
~ Megan Michelson is a freelance journalist who lives in Tahoe City.
