LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. — Grab your pup and join Keep Tahoe Blue and their partners at Wilderdog for a fun few hours of stewardship on one of Tahoe’s most dog-friendly trails.
We’ll clean up litter and pet waste along the Lam Watah Nature Trail and Nevada Beach. Every piece of trash picked up and doggie bag properly disposed helps protect Tahoe’s trails, beaches, and waters for people and pets alike. Well-behaved dogs are warmly welcome. Participants will have a shot at taking home pet-centric raffle prizes.
The cleanup will be held Wednesday, August 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Lam Watah Nature Trail to Nevada Beach | 193 Kahle Dr, Stateline, NV 89449.
Keep Tahoe Blue and Wilderdog partnershipProvided / Keep Tahoe Blue
Participants are encouraged to travel Car-Free and Care-Free to the event on a Tahoe Transportation District bus, Lake Link shuttle, in a carpool, or by bike. Parking is available at the Lam Watah Nature Trail trailhead (map) and the Kingsbury Transit Center (map).
Local dog gear creator Wilderdog is a Tahoe Blue Business, one in an ever-growing group of partners who play a key role in protecting Lake Tahoe and making a lasting impact through meaningful collaboration with the Keep Tahoe Blue. Learn more about the program, our Blue Business partners, and their impact at keeptahoeblue.org/bluebusiness. Shop special edition Keep Tahoe Blue x Wilderdog merchandise at keeptahoeblue.org/shop.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — On July 29, the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe (BGCNLT) announced an expansion of its services in Incline Village, made possible by a generous gift from the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation and a grant from the State of Nevada.
The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation is donating two buildings in Incline Village, renovation funds, and operational support to launch a new “Duffield Center for Great Futures,” which will house an Early Learning Center, Teen Center, and administrative offices.
BGCNLT Executive TeamProvided / BGCNLT
BGCNLT also received funding from the State of Nevada to help launch the opening of the Early Learning Center. Funding was a result of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and is intended to address the lack of early learning opportunities and preschools in Nevada. The Early Learning Center will serve infants as young as six weeks old through age five with year-round, all-day programming, closing a long-standing gap that has made reliable, affordable infant and early childhood care difficult for local working parents to find close to home.
The Teen Center will serve youth in grades six through twelve with out-of-school time and specialty programming throughout the school year and summer months. While still in the design phase, initial programmatic ideas for the Teen Center include a fabrication lab, a state-of-the-art e-gaming space, a digital journalism studio, and a café.
BGCNLT is currently in the design and development phase for both buildings, with the intention to begin renovations and construction in spring 2027. The goal is to begin serving youth in early 2028.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation and the State of Nevada for their support, and we’re ready to carry out the important work of expanding our services to all age groups in Incline Village,” said Mindy Carbajal, Chief Executive Officer of BGCNLT.
“The Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation has proudly partnered with BGCNLT for many years. We believe supporting youth programs has had an expansive impact in North Lake Tahoe, and we are happy to be a part of their next phase of growth,” said Chris Watts, co-president of the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation.
With this generous support, community partners, and Club families, BGCNLT will be able to expand its capacity in Incline Village, deepen its academic support, enrichment, and mentorship programming, and extend its reach to families who depend on the Club.
For more information on the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, please visit www.bgcnlt.org.
For more information about the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, please visit www.duffieldfoundation.org.
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – Tahoe Community Foundation is proud to celebrate its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of connecting generosity with community needs and helping create lasting impact throughout the Tahoe region. Since its founding in 1996, the Community Foundation has granted more than $165 million to support nonprofit organizations, community initiatives, and charitable causes that strengthen the communities of Tahoe and beyond.
Built on perseverance and collaboration, Tahoe Community Foundation was founded by local community members who shared a vision: a thriving Tahoe where philanthropy could serve as a powerful force for good. Over the last 30 years, that vision has grown into a trusted philanthropic partner for individuals, families, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders.
To commemorate its 30th anniversary, Tahoe Community Foundation is investing directly in organizations that help make the Tahoe region stronger, healthier, and more vibrant. Through a special anniversary grant initiative, the Community Foundation has awarded four $30,000 grants to standout nonprofit organizations whose work exemplifies impact, innovation, and community leadership.
The 2026 30th Anniversary Grant recipients are:
League to Save Lake Tahoe for its leadership in Environmental Stewardship
SOS Outreach for its work in Education and Mentorship
Tahoe Family Solutions for advancing community Well-Being
Thunderbird Nevada Foundation for enriching the region through Arts and Culture
Together, these grants represent a $120,000 investment in four of Tahoe Community Foundation’s core program areas and honor organizations whose efforts improve quality of life throughout the region.
“As we celebrate 30 years of philanthropy, we are honored to recognize these organizations and the important work they do to strengthen our region,” said Claudia Andersen, CEO of Tahoe Community Foundation. “Their efforts reflect the values and community impact that have been at the heart of Tahoe Community Foundation since our beginning.”
The anniversary grants awarded are both a celebration of the Community Foundation’s past and an investment in the future. They recognize the extraordinary nonprofit partners who help turn charitable giving into meaningful, measurable impact for the communities of Tahoe.
As Tahoe Community Foundation enters its fourth decade, it remains committed to fostering philanthropy, strengthening nonprofit organizations, and helping donors create the lasting impact they envision for the communities they love.
For more information about our grant programs and community impact, visit https://www.TahoeCF.org.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Bread & Broth’s Monday Meal on August 17 was hosted by Ascent, Inc., the Adopt A Day of Nourishment sponsor for the evening. Ascent, Inc. is an environmental planning and design consulting company with offices in South Lake Tahoe and four other major cities in California. The company provides innovative, sustainable planning for projects involving environmental compliance. Its staff of scientists, engineers, urban designers, and planners strive to be socially responsible by taking bold action to combat climate change. As an Adopt A Day sponsor, Ascent also demonstrated its commitment to the local community.
Representing Ascent, Inc. were Kelley Kelso, her daughter Hannah Kelso, and Nanette Hansel. These Adopt A Day crew volunteers were a delight to have assisting Bread & Broth volunteers with meal setup, serving, and takedown/cleanup. In addition to working on the serving line, they helped B&B volunteers pack 200 bags filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, served along with dairy products, meat, canned goods, and breads/pastries, for dinner guests to take home after enjoying their evening meal.
Bread & Broth’s Monday Meal, sponsored by Ascent, Inc., was a very special dinner for the 133 guests in attendance. Although every dinner served at St. Theresa’s Grace Hall by Bread & Broth cooks and volunteers is hot, nutritious, and tasty, the August 17 dinner was especially memorable. Thanks to an extremely generous donation of T-bone steaks, filet mignon, and rib-eye steaks by the recently opened Save Mart grocery store, dinner guests enjoyed “Steak Night.”
The steaks were cooked to perfection by B&B Lead Cook Bill Marchetti and his cooking crew and served with mushroom au jus, roasted garlic broccoli, Sicilian potato salad, and a variety of desserts donated by local grocery stores. It was a feast enjoyed by all and greatly appreciated by the attending community members.
“Bread & Broth is a fantastic organization doing great work in the Lake Tahoe community,” said Hannah Kelso. “All of their volunteers are hardworking and kind, and we had such a great time helping out this week. It was wonderful to be able to give back to the community I grew up in, and it is incredibly obvious that this work is needed and appreciated. Thank you to Bread & Broth and its incredible volunteers—keep killing it!”
To learn more about Bread & Broth, donate, sponsor an Adopt A Day of Nourishment, or volunteer, visit www.breadandbroth.org or follow Bread & Broth on Instagram and Facebook.
This Olympic Valley estate is on the market for $5.7 million. Provided / Corey Schlittenhart, courtesy of Sean Collins
OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. – Descendants of debutante and heir to Hills Bros. Coffee Co. fortune, Phyllis Hills, are selling their stunning 84.5 acre Truckee River oasis for $5.7 million.
Nestled between towering pines and wildflower-strewn meadows alongside 485 feet of the Truckee River in Olympic Valley, the riverfront estate, nicknamed “Coffee Grounds”, boasts three structures including the 2,773-square-foot, four bedroom, two bathroom main residence, a 887-square-foot log-built guest cottage and a 674-square-foot caretaker’s cottage.
Phyllis Hills, later Phyllis Hills Meeks Jayred, was born in 1919. Her father, A.H. Hills, and uncle, Reuben, founded Hills Bros. Coffee Co. in 1878 in San Francisco. An active debutante, Jayred took on leadership roles in the Junior League, Hill Branch of Children’s Hospital, Claremont Country Club and Piedmont Garden Club.
The Olympic Valley estate became her family home where she nurtured her passion for fly fishing. Jayred passed away in 2020 and the age of 100, leaving the property to her descendants who are now asking $5.7 million.
The guest lodge and main house are just a short walk from each other on the 84.5 acre property.Provided / Corey Schlittenhart, courtesy of Sean Collins
“Comprising three separate legal parcels and three existing structures, the estate presents an unparalleled canvas for a discerning buyer: a private legacy holding, a luxury development opportunity, or a generational family compound,” says the property description. “The scale of this holding is virtually impossible to assemble in this location today — with a variety of already-approved uses in place and additional entitlement opportunities worthy of exploration.”
Features of the residence highlight “classic Tahoe craftsmanship” and include a stone chimney, wall-to-wall windows, a massive wooden deck overlooking the Truckee River, a stone patio along the river’s edge, natural spring, local Public Utility District sewer and water, all located on the forest side of Olympic Valley, offering a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the highway.
The main house offers a large kitchen with expansive wooden countertop space, a vibrant dining room with A-frame ceilings, and a private porch connected to the primary bedroom.
The main residence’s dining room. Provided / Corey Schlittenhart, courtesy of Sean Collins
“World-class skiing, fly fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking — all within minutes, on one of the most scenic stretches of private riverfront in the region,” the listing describes.
The property offers 485 linear feet of riverfront.Provided / Corey Schlittenhart, courtesy of Sean Collins
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – In coordination with the City of South Lake Tahoe, the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will begin work on the Bijou Park Creek Stream Environment Zone Enhancement Project over the next few weeks. This project is linked to the City of South Lake Tahoe’s Bijou Park Creek Watershed Restoration Project and involves stream and meadow restoration along Bijou Creek. A joint National Environmental Policy Act/California Environmental Quality Act analysis for this project was completed in 2025.
This week, Forest Service crews are scheduled to begin removing hazard trees and vegetation in preparation for restoration work and will install Best Management Practices around the project area. Restoration work is expected to wrap up in early October.
For public safety, access to some areas may be temporarily disrupted when work is taking place. The public should be aware of tree removal activity and keep a safe distance from equipment. Hazards may be present even when operations have ceased for the day.
As part of this stream environment zone enhancement project, two areas will be restored. The Upper Bijou Park Creek restoration along Ski Run Boulevard south of Pioneer Trail includes installation of rock steps to stabilize the stream channel and raise the bottom of the stream bed to allow for improved water flow. This work is anticipated to take approximately three weeks to complete and is scheduled to begin after Labor Day.
The project also includes stream environment zone improvements to Bijou Creek in the meadow north of Pioneer Trail along Blackwood Road. In this area, man-made berms constructed in the 1980s are causing flooding issues downstream. These berms will be removed and replaced with new berms that will be installed along roads and buildings to reduce flooding issues. Improvements will also be made to the existing trail to protect the meadow and creek and prevent sediment from entering the stream. This work is expected to take approximately five weeks to complete and is planned to begin on August 31.
Additionally, the City of South Lake Tahoe’s contractor will be completing the Tamarack Culvert Replacement Project, also part of the Upper Bijou Park Creek Watershed Restoration Project, downstream of the Bijou Park Creek Stream Environment Zone Enhancement Project. This project will allow Bijou Creek to overflow its banks and continue to spread out and wet the stream environment zones north and south of Tamarack Avenue instead of being confined and disrupted by a single failing culvert. This project is targeted to start on or around Sep. 9 and is anticipated to be completed by Oct. 15.
Firefighters found 32 homes destroyed and six damaged during their cavass of the Hawk Fire on Sunday, Truckee Meadows Chief Richard Edwards said at a 2 p.m. Monday press conference. He said that number is expected to climb as surveys continue.
More than 900 people have built a line around 27 percent of the 15,000 acre fire, mostly on the southern end where it was threatening the Sommerset neighborhood.
Carson District Ranger Matt Zumstein said there have been drone incursions by members of the public over the fire.
Firefighters working the blaze include an East Fork Fire Protection District brush truck and the Genoa Hand Crew who were dispatched on Saturday.
That occurred not long after the fire started at 11:23 a.m., just a few minutes into a red flag warning for critical fire danger. Officials are reporting humans sparked the blaze, though not how.
Thirteen structures were lost over the weekend as of Monday morning’s National Incident Management Situation Report.
The cost to fight the fire over the weekend reached $6 million.
Highway 395 through Stead is closed as the fire has crossed North Virginia Street at a couple of locations including Stead Boulevard and Peavine Road.
NV Energy reports that 9,650 electrical customers are affected by the fire.
In Nevada, evacuations are voluntary unless ordered by the governor. The first time that happened in modern history was five years ago when Lake Tahoe residents were ordered to leave their homes ahead of the Caldor Fire on Aug. 31. The Caldor Fire never made it past South Lake Tahoe, which had been evacuated a few days prior.
Air quality in Carson and Eagle valleys was in the good range since the fire started.
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The Hawk Fire grew to 15,000 acres on Sunday but appears to have laid down overnight.
Flames reduced overnight based on observations from the Alert Wildfire cameras and the Fire Information for Resource Management satellite mapping of the area around Peavine Mountain west of Reno. The mapping confirms the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch’s report on the size of the fire.
As of the last report on Sunday, there were 700 firefighters working to build a line between the fire and the neighborhoods it is threatening.
At 5:30 p.m. Sunday, there still wasn’t any containment of the fire, which was caused by human activity.
“(The) goal is to keep the fire south of Cold Springs and North of Sommerset,” fire officials said on Sunday evening. “Dozers plan to be utilized on the south and east portions of the fire to create a fuel break between fire and residential areas. Firefighters are actively engaged in point protection.”
Evacuations affected around 90,000 people and Highway 395 is currently closed in both directions from Parr Boulevard to Red Rock Road.
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An East Fork Fire Protection District brush truck and the Genoa Hand Crew were dispatched to the Hawk Fire burning west of Reno on Saturday.
First reported at 11:23 a.m., the fire burned through the night, with the Red Cross reporting more than 465 evacuees sheltering at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, which was updated from an earlier number issued by the Red Cross just after 3 a.m.
Highway 395 through Stead is closed as the fire has crossed North Virginia Street at a couple of locations including Stead Boulevard and Peavine Road.
Officially, the fire has grown to 10,523 acres as of Saturday night.
More than 9,000 NV Energy customers are without power due to the fire.
Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for the fire, which enables mandatory evacuations.
Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve has confirmed the loss of structures and urged residents not to wait to be told to evacuate.
“Structures have already been burned in this fire and your life is more important than a building,” she said. “Evacuating before the fire arrives also allows our firefighters to focus their efforts on battling the blaze.”
Air quality in Carson and Eagle valleys was in the good range on Sunday morning, but National Weather Service forecasters say there’s a chance patchy smoke from the fire may arrive around 4 p.m. as winds shift west at 5-10 mph, gusting to 20 mph. Before the wind picks up conditions are right for a repeat of the smoke plume like that visible from Carson Valley on Saturday.
A red flag warning for the Sierra Front expired at 11 p.m. Saturday.
The Hawk Fire is located not far from where the Bug Fire was just extinguished.
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Less than a half-hour after a 12-hour red flag warning took effect, a fire on Peavine Mountain sent up a plume of smoke visible from Carson Valley.
The Hawk fire started at 11:23 a.m. and has already prompted evacuations for an area between Interstate 80 and Highway 395 near Verdi.
There is no official size for the fire, but satellite mapping from the Fire Information for Resource Management System indicates the fire could be affecting more than 3,000 acres west of Reno.
The Genoa crew which returned to Jacks Valley Station 15 is preparing to respond to the fire.
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A 12-hour red flag warning that began at 11 a.m. today has been issued for the Sierra Front, including Douglas County by the National Weather Service.
Southwest winds of 15-25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph and humidity approaching 12 percent.
That’s a significant decrease from this morning after a light rain fell and humidities topped out well above 50 percent.
“While humidity values aren`t exceedingly low (minimums 10-18 percent), most of these areas did not receive much rainfall last week, resulting in a greater extent of dry vegetation where fire could spread more quickly when the winds pick up,” forecasters said. “Therefore, a red flag warning continues in effect for these areas. So, be extra cautious and fire safe, avoid outdoor recreation or work activities that could spark any fires.”
There is also a slight possibility that showers or thunderstorms could return this afternoon, though that will likely be further southeast in Mono and Churchill counties.
“The main concerns with any storm will be gusty outflow winds to 40 mph, frequent lightning, periods of heavy rain with the strongest cells that could lead to flash flooding and small hail,” forecasters said on Saturday morning.
The Nevada Legislature’s committee for oversight of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency met Aug. 20 during the intersession and approved some requests for future legislation.
Among these are:
EVACUATION STUDY
A bill requiring jurisdictions responsible for evacuations in the Lake Tahoe Basin to complete an evacuation study that informs the development of an evacuation management tool, which may include a digital evacuation mapping application.
ADVERTISING
Upon completion of the study, data collected shall be used to populate an evacuation plan to be used in regional evacuation events, according to the request.
The bill was requested by Assemblywoman Heather Goulding (D-Reno) in response to multiple requests from the public. State Sen. Robin L. Titus (R-Wellington) asked that evacuation plans take into consideration transients and tourists.
UNPERMITTED RENTALS
A bill that addresses unpermitted peer-to-peer transportation rental platforms impacting the Lake Tahoe basin, enabling local jurisdictions to regulate platforms, including transportation on Lake Tahoe. This would include establishing “meaningful penalties and providing local jurisdictions with clear authority to enforce compliance.”
The bill was requested by Assemblyman Blayne Osborn (R-Gardnerville) and TRPA Executive Director Julie Regan.
SAND HARBOR STATE PARK
A bill authorizing issuance of up to $70 million in state general obligation bonds through June 30, 2037, to support the Sand Harbor State Park Redevelopment Environmental Improvement project, including up to $17 million during 2027-29 for planning, design and the first phase of project implementation. The bill was requested by Goulding.
SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS
A bill appropriating $1 million from the state general fund for 2027-29 to support independent scientific research, analysis and technical advice for the environmental management and policy decisions in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The bill was requested by state Sen. Skip Daly (D-Sparks) and Sudeep Chandra, UNR biology professor.
The bipartisan committee consists of eight members, including five Assembly members and three senators. There are five Democrats and three Republicans.
(The Center Square) – Arguments in the California redistricting lawsuit were heard in a federal courthouse in Los Angeles earlier this week, attorneys involved in the case told The Center Square.
They expect a ruling soon.
The case, which actually involved two lawsuits over the November 2025 redistricting election in the Golden State, were consolidated in court in recent months. Plaintiffs argue California’s redistricting constitutes a racial gerrymander, which is illegal. Defendants say the newly-drawn electoral maps are a politically-partisan gerrymander, which is legal.
“There’s a lot argued about standing, who can bring a case,” J. Christian Adams, an attorney for the Public Interest Legal Foundation and lawyer for the plaintiff, told The Center Square. “Our position is that when you’re segregated on the basis of race, you’re injured, just like Rosa Parks was injured when she sat on the back of the bus. We just don’t segregate on the basis of race, and that’s when the injury occurs, in our view.”
It’s nearly impossible to figure out how judges will react to arguments from both sides, Adams said.
“I can’t speak for the judges. You don’t know what goes on in their heads,” Adams said. “They don’t tell you ‘I agree’ or ‘I disagree.’ They ask questions and then take it under advisement. It’s really not possible to know.”
Tangipa vs. Newsom, one of the two lawsuits recently consolidated in court, was heard in federal district court in December 2025, as reported by The Center Square. In the court proceedings for that lawsuit, lawyers representing the plaintiffs said the electoral maps approved by California voters during the November 2025 special election were illegal. The maps undermine the Voting Rights Act of 1965, according to that argument.
The other case was Noyes vs. Newsom.
The Center Square previously reported that attorneys for the defense, representing Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, said that the gerrymander, rather than being a racial one, was a political one. The maps were drawn to favor Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections and were a response to Texas’ own redistricting effort in the summer of 2025. The Lone Star State’s own mid-decade redistricting push favored Republicans, who may pick up five new seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Assemblymember David Tangipa, R-Fresno, was the main plaintiff in that case. Tangipa did not respond to The Center Square before publication time on Friday. The Governor’s Press Office and Democratic lawmakers also did not respond to requests for comment.
AYSO Region 282 is need of volunteer refsProvided / Katie Joll
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – South Lake Tahoe’s largest soccer program, AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) Region 282, is in need of volunteer referees as they enter their busiest season yet.
South Lake Tahoe AYSO has served the community since 1980, administering recreational fall soccer programs to children ages four to 17. Over the last 46 years, the organization has grown tremendously, and this fall season, 712 kids are registered to play. Alongside recreational soccer, AYSO also offers competitive soccer through their volunteer-run Alliance Program.
Volunteers are a vital part of the organization’s success, and while there are 140 volunteers currently signed up to coach, participate in field setup and be on AYSO’s board, referees are lacking.
“It’s really about getting out there so that kids can play,” said Katie Joll, Marketing Director at AYSO Region 282.
Whether you’re new to refereeing, or you’re intimidated at the idea of calling a game, AYSO Region 282 provides training and support.
“We don’t just throw people in [the game],” Joll said. “They get to start where they’re comfortable, so maybe that’s the assistant referee or the flagger on the sideline that notices who sent the ball out.”
Training consists of a combination of both online and in-person, including being trained for about 3 hours by a local referee trainer. The season runs from August 29 until AYSO’s Big Blue Tournament on October 17, making it about a 6 week commitment.
Referees will also receive incentives based on the number of games reffed with opportunities to earn raffle tickets for some amazing prizes donated by local businesses and AYSO swag.
“One thing that we’re very mindful of is keeping the cost of playing low for families,” said Joll. “We work to keep it affordable, but we also work on getting funding so that we can offer scholarships.”
More than 10% of players have received scholarships to assist families in paying their registration fees.
“We’d also like to emphasize our gratitude to all of our volunteers,” Joll added. “AYSO Region 282 is entirely volunteer-run and is a community affair.”
If you’re interested in volunteering, visit ayso282.org.
AYSO Region 282 is sponsored by Pipkin Family Foundation, Souers Hastings Real Estate Team, Sombreros, South Tahoe Refuse, Castle Rock Creamery, Keys Cafe, and the Rollins Family.
If you didn’t get a chance to download the Tahoe Tap podcast, don’t worry. We have you covered. Here’s a recap of the interview portion of the podcast.
El Dorado County District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine has spent much of her life watching Lake Tahoe change.
Some of those changes, she says, have come at a cost. The freedom she remembers as a child – building forts, playing in the woods and tearing apart beaver dams – is harder for today’s children to experience. But in other respects, Laine believes Tahoe has made significant progress, particularly in environmental restoration and transportation infrastructure.
During her Tahoe Tap podcast interview, Laine discussed the competing demands of her geographically diverse district, Tahoe’s relationship with El Dorado County, vacation home rentals, snow removal, utility concerns, the future of Emerald Bay and what she sees as a continuing need for stronger regional cooperation.
A district with dramatically different needs
District 5 stretches from Tahoma on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore to Pollock Pines on the western slope of the Sierra, encompassing 11 distinct communities.
Laine said one of her first moves after becoming supervisor was creating a District 5 advisory committee with a representative from each community. The group meets quarterly, giving residents a direct opportunity to identify local problems and priorities while also learning from communities facing similar challenges.
The needs of Pollock Pines and the Tahoe Basin can be “almost like night and day,” Laine said. But some concerns cross those geographic divides. Pollock Pines residents, for example, have pushed for a developed community park – the type of basic amenity that can still require millions of dollars and significant county involvement.
Does Tahoe get its share of county revenue?
One of the interview’s more provocative discussions centered on how much revenue the Tahoe Basin generates for El Dorado County and how much comes back to the region.
Laine cautioned that the county does not clearly delineate revenue by district, making it difficult to establish a precise calculation. She said she had no evidence proving whether the basin currently receives an amount proportional to what it generates, although her suspicion is that it does not.
She pointed to a financial analysis from the early 1970s, when Tahoe-area residents explored creating a separate county. According to documentation from that effort cited by Laine, the basin at the time was receiving roughly 22 to 23 cents back for every dollar it generated for El Dorado County.
Laine said she later examined transient occupancy tax revenue and found a similar pattern: the basin generated about 70% of the county’s TOT while receiving roughly 22 to 25 cents on the dollar back.
There are complications in making a simple comparison. The basin now houses a juvenile detention facility serving the entire county, for example, while other county services are concentrated on the West Slope.
Still, when asked what she would do with a “magic wand,” Laine floated a much larger structural idea: a Tahoe County encompassing the California side of the Basin and another on the Nevada side. Or, ideally, a single bi-state county covering the entire Tahoe Basin.
Budget cuts and regional representation
Recent county budget cuts have also affected Tahoe organizations, including tourism and business groups.
Laine said she believes those reductions were generally proportional to cuts elsewhere in the county. She opposed making them so abruptly, however, arguing that organizations facing the loss of county funding should have been given a more gradual path – potentially reductions of about 30% at a time – to develop an exit strategy. That approach did not win support from her colleagues.
Beyond the county itself, Laine represents local interests on regional bodies that play significant roles in Tahoe, including the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Tahoe Transportation District and Tahoe Conservancy.
Those seats, she said, provide opportunities to identify duplicated efforts and build partnerships. They also highlight a recurring challenge: Tahoe’s local voices can compete with representatives from Sacramento, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and elsewhere.
That makes cooperation among El Dorado County, South Lake Tahoe, Placer County, Douglas County and other local governments especially important, Laine said.
Senior center faces costly repairs
The future of South Lake Tahoe’s senior center remains unresolved.
Laine described a long-running disagreement between El Dorado County and the City of South Lake Tahoe over responsibility for the facility, dating back to a leaking roof in the early 2000s.
More recently, a county assessment identified approximately $2.5 million in immediate needs, according to Laine. Those include heating and air-conditioning equipment, accessibility issues, electrical work, and other deficiencies. Even that investment, she said, might extend the building’s useful life by only another five to 10 years.
At the time of the interview, Laine said the county had no maintenance dollars programmed for that work. She also raised the question of whether South Lake Tahoe’s new multigenerational recreation facility could meet some senior needs, while acknowledging controversy surrounding that possibility.
“There’s a lot of questions, not a lot of answers at this time,” Laine said, calling the issue a high priority.
Snow removal staffing and new equipment
After staffing shortages created snow-removal concerns in Meyers and elsewhere in the basin, Laine said the county has made progress recruiting seasonal workers.
El Dorado County maintains approximately eight full-time Department of Transportation employees locally and was able to hire roughly eight additional seasonal employees last winter, she said. Recruitment incentives included a signing bonus of about $6,000, while county wages became more competitive with other local employers.
Laine said the county was fully staffed the previous winter and expected that to continue.
Equipment has also been upgraded. The county purchased two new snow blowers and two graders, with two additional graders expected, replacing some machinery dating to the 1970s. Laine credited Measure S oversight and basin-specific transient occupancy tax funding for helping make those purchases possible.
Energy reliability becomes an urgent concern
Following a major South Shore power outage shortly before the interview, utility reliability was another prominent topic.
Why You Should Never Flush Feminine Products or “Flushable” Wipes (They’re Not as Friendly as They Sound)
August in Lake Tahoe brings peak summer crowds, vacation rentals at maximum capacity, and plenty of family visitors enjoying the lake. With more people using bathrooms in your home or rental, the risk of plumbing disasters spikes. As CBO Plumbing Tahoe’s Water Whisperer, I’ve cleared more clogged pipes from so-called “flushable” products than I care to count — and the results are never pretty.
Here’s the reality: Most feminine hygiene products, tampons, pads, and even wipes labeled “flushable” are not designed to break down in your septic or sewer system. They contain plastics, synthetic fibers, and super-absorbent materials that swell up and tangle with other debris. In Tahoe’s older pipes and variable water pressure at elevation, these items create stubborn blockages that can stop flow entirely, leading to backups, overflows, and expensive repairs.
DIY Don’ts – What NOT to Do
•Don’t flush tampons, pads, panty liners, or any feminine hygiene products — even the ones marketed as “flushable.” They expand and catch on pipe joints, especially in high-altitude systems where flow can slow.
•Don’t flush baby wipes, makeup remover wipes, disinfecting wipes, or any “flushable” bathroom wipes. Most are made with plastic fibers that never fully dissolve and create massive clogs over time.
•Don’t assume your garbage disposal or septic system can handle them. These products are a leading cause of septic tank failures in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
•Don’t wait for a full backup. Slow flushing or gurgling sounds are early warnings — address them quickly before water damage occurs.
DIY Do’s — Smart Mountain Plumbing Habits
• Do provide a small, lined wastebasket right next to the toilet for proper disposal of feminine products and wipes. Make it convenient for guests.
•Do post a polite, clear sign in bathrooms — especially in vacation rentals: “No feminine products, wipes, or paper towels in the toilet — thanks for protecting our Tahoe plumbing!”
• Do use a plunger correctly at the first sign of trouble but know when to stop and call a professional. Repeated plunging on a bad clog can damage seals and create bigger leaks.
• Do educate your family and guests. A quick conversation or note can prevent costly emergencies, particularly during busy summer months when rentals turn over frequently.
Tahoe homes face unique challenges — older infrastructure, temperature swings, and heavy seasonal use all make these clogs more common and harder to clear. Vacation rental owners: one blocked toilet from a single guest can lead to negative reviews, lost bookings, and repair bills that eat into profits. Homeowners: regular prevention keeps your property protected through winter freezes and spring thaws ahead.
By following these simple do’s and don’ts, you’ll avoid unnecessary plumbing headaches and keep your system flowing smoothly. Prevention is always cheaper and less stressful than emergency service.
We’re happy to handle the tough jobs so you don’t have to.
Until next month, keep your pipes happy in the high country.
Joe Ortiz CBO Plumbing Tahoe — Family-owned experts in mountain plumbing challenges. 775-450-6139 | cbotahoe.com
Lake Tahoe has many important stories to tell. If it could speak, it could recount its formation millions of years ago, its sculpting by glaciers, how forests and wetlands came to protect its crystal-clear waters, and the centuries of stewardship by the Wá∙šiw (Washoe People). More recent chapters include environmental damage from logging, grazing, and unmanaged development, which combined to steal some of Lake Tahoe’s famed water clarity.
Today, the story is marked by collaborative efforts to protect and restore its unique environment. From the groundbreaking Bi-State Tahoe Regional Planning Compact in 1969, to science-based environmental thresholds and growth management policies in the 1980s, Lake Tahoe has become an international leader in conservation. Each key milestone has been connected to the next by consensus-building, commitment, and a shared passion for Lake Tahoe.
Central to these achievements is the health and clarity of Lake Tahoe. However, by the 1990s, despite having one of the most comprehensive regulatory frameworks in the nation, the lake’s clarity continued to decline. Most of the harm to Lake Tahoe’s environment had already occurred. Critical lake-filtering wetlands had been filled in, polluted stormwater flowed to the lake, wildfire threatened our forests and communities, and car-centric town centers offered few transportation options.
Then came the first Tahoe Summit in 1997. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and myriad public and private sector partners launched an epic collaboration called the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, or EIP. At the 30th annual summit earlier this week, Congressional leaders and many stalwart protectors of Lake Tahoe gathered to recognize the remarkable work of federal, state, regional, and local agencies, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, scientists, nonprofits, and the private sector, who have delivered more than 900 lake-saving projects over the last three decades.
Now more than 80 partners strong, Team Tahoe has become one of the most successful restoration programs in the nation. Partners have treated more than 102,000 acres of forest, made improvements and new connections on 210 miles of bike trails, restored more than 1,100 acres of wetlands, and completed erosion and stormwater improvements on nearly 840 miles of roadway to protect the lake’s clarity. Under the EIP, water quality partners have kept millions of pounds of fine sediment out of the lake and clarity has stabilized.
Neither restoration nor regulation stands on their own at Lake Tahoe. The success of conservation can be measured partly by what was never built. TRPA halted new subdivisions, freeways, a bridge over Emerald Bay, and plans for a city the size of San Francisco in the basin and protected wetlands from new development. Rampant growth has been replaced by careful planning and incentives for environmental redevelopment and more affordable housing. The EIP was the missing link in the continuous chain of work to protect and restore the lake.
More recently, Team Tahoe has mobilized to confront emerging threats to the basin. TRPA and our partners are fighting aquatic invasive species through a nationally recognized watercraft inspection program. Partners are improving transportation and safety in recreation corridors like Nevada’s East
Shore and California’s Emerald Bay. Forest and fire agencies are increasing the pace and scale of fuel reduction projects and prioritizing fuel breaks along evacuation routes to improve safety.
Additionally, new research is coming forward to better understand the drivers of lake clarity. While annual clarity measurements are stable overall, averaging 69 feet last year, the goal is for clarity to return to its historic average of nearly 100 feet. The Tahoe Science Advisory Council is coordinating research into the continuing trend of relatively low clarity in summer months. With so many watershed restoration projects happening, it is imperative that we understand the roles that warming temperatures, invasive species, and more extreme weather events may have on Tahoe’s world-renowned clarity.
In Lake Tahoe’s current chapter, it remains one of the clearest lakes on Earth—not by accident, but because of decades of coordinated action. Although our work is far from over, we can feel proud of what Team Tahoe has accomplished to protect this national treasure.
As the Tahoe Basin celebrates 30 years of progress under the EIP, we must recognize the crucial role that residents, businesses, policymakers, and visitors all have in sustaining Tahoe’s future. Many thanks go to our dedicated congressional delegation, state officials, and local government representatives who have fought tirelessly for funding for Lake Tahoe. We encourage you to visit restoretahoe.org to see Team Tahoe at work and explore some of the landmark projects in your backyard.
Hayley Williamson is Chair of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board and Nevada At-Large Board Member. Vince Hoenigman is Vice Chair and California Governor’s Appointee
LAKE TAHOE, Nev./Calif. – Forty-five years after a complex bomb was planted at Harvey’s Resort Hotel and Casino in Stateline, Nevada, a new documentary is bringing one of the most extraordinary crimes in Lake Tahoe history to the big screen.
On Wednesday, Aug. 26, Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema in Tahoe City will host a special anniversary screening of I Got Bombed at Harvey’s, a documentary that revisits the events surrounding the infamous 1980 extortion attempt.
The bomb was planted at Harvey’s on Aug. 26, 1980. The next day, on Aug. 27, the device exploded during an attempt to remove it. The elaborate bomb contained more than 1,000 pounds of dynamite, and the criminals demanded a $3 million ransom. The case sparked one of the largest manhunts in FBI history.
Directed by Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel, I Got Bombed at Harvey’s combines archival footage, firsthand interviews and investigative storytelling to examine the crime and the surprising story behind it.
The Emmy-winning husband-and-wife filmmaking team, along with their nonfiction production company Sidestilt Films, are best known for The Pez Outlaw, which won a Special Jury Prize at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival. The couple also won two Emmys for the film.
I Got Bombed at Harvey’s represents a new experience for the filmmakers: bringing a documentary to the place where the events actually unfolded, and doing so around the anniversary of the bombing.
Among the experiences that stood out for the filmmakers was speaking with the head of the FBI’s bomb squad and seeing an actual replica of the massive extortion device. A recreation of the bomb is maintained by the FBI and has been used for training, offering investigators and bomb technicians an opportunity to study one of the most unusual explosive devices in the bureau’s history.
“We’d heard about the story for so long, and then all of a sudden you see things in real life and you’re like, ‘Oh, that really did happen.'” Bryan Storkel said.
The timing of the screening also gives local audiences an opportunity to revisit an event that has remained part of Tahoe’s history for generations. The 1980 bombing has continued to fascinate investigators, historians and residents because of the sheer complexity of the device, the audacity of the extortion attempt and the extraordinary investigation that followed.
For the Storkels, however, the anniversary screening marks a different stage in the filmmaking process; the moment when a yearslong project finally reaches an audience.
“There is so much that happens before you make the movie, there’s so much that happens after it, but this is kind of the fun part where we get to just let people see it on a big screen,” Bryan Storkel said.
I Got Bombed at Harvey’s will screen Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 5 p.m. at Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema in Tahoe City. The screening will be followed up with a Q&A with filmmakers and special guest from the FBI and the bomb technician who worked on the case.
STATELINE, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) attended and spoke at the 4th annual Lake Tahoe Electric Transportation Forum at the Tahoe Blue Events Center on Thursday, Aug. 20.
The annual forum, founded and organized by Kevin McGehee, brings together leading voices for advocacy and educational conversations about clean energy transportation on land, on water, and in the air.
McGehee expressed that he was thrilled to have the Senator there. “She has been a tremendous supporter of clean energy transportation technologies and has supported this forum since its inception four years ago,” he said. “Her continued engagement means a great deal to us and reinforces the importance of bringing together government, industry, and the community to advance practical clean energy solutions.”
The senator highlighted the implementation of electric transit buses in Lake Tahoe and how increased electric vehicle use will reduce pollution, combat climate change, and ultimately help keep Lake Tahoe blue.
“Over the past ten years, I’ve seen our summers get even hotter, our fire seasons grow more severe, and our drought worsen,” she said, but also expressed hope in seeing clean energy expand and become more accessible. She shared that EV registrations have increased by nearly 420% in Nevada.
Senator Cortez Masto expressed the importance of, and her support for, not only expanding access to electric vehicles and installing charging ports, but also ensuring the industry has a strong domestic supply chain, including critical minerals and battery manufacturing.
“By bolstering our clean transportation industry, we’re doing so much more than putting cars on the road – we’re creating good-paying jobs, helping Nevadans get where they need to go, combating climate change, and bringing down costs for everyone.”
The senator shared her experience investigating the clean energy industry in Nevada, which included traveling to all Nevada counties and encountering the mining industry’s significance to rural communities.
She reviewed how the electric vehicle supply chain in Nevada has expanded dramatically, bringing about the Tesla and Panasonic gigafactory.
“Nevada is leading the clean energy revolution in the U.S. and hosts the nation’s most complete ‘lithium loop’ needed for lithium battery manufacturing and recycling.”
Yet, she expressed, there is still work to do and discussed the bills she recently introduced to make electric vehicles and other clean transportation technologies more accessible to consumers.
One bill pertinent to Lake Tahoe is the Cleaner TRAILS Initiative, which she explained would make it easier for travelers to use electric vehicles on public lands by adding zero-emission fueling infrastructure at National Parks, U.S. Forest Service Sites, and near airports.
“I’ve never been someone who is going to tell Nevadans they have to abandon their gas-powered cars. But together, we are making EVs an easy, cost-effective, attractive choice for Nevadans from all walks of life,” she said.
Senator Cortez Masto, who was also in town for the 30th Tahoe Summit, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn more about clean transportation in the Tahoe Basin at the forum.
The forum’s featured speaker this year was aeronautical pioneer Heather Chirtea, America’s first female flying car owner and pilot, as the annual event explored electric transportation in the sky.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Incline Wine + Food Lake Tahoe returns for its 4th annual flagship weekend from August 28–30, 2026 along the “Sierra Riviera”, blending the timeless elegance of “Old Tahoe” with the world-class heritage of 16 Napa Valley family estate wineries, featuring Laurent-Perrier as the Exclusive Champagne Partner.
Taking place at a private 6-acre lakefront estate in Incline Village, Lake Tahoe’s flagship wine + food weekend offers guests three tiers of access: the ultra-limited Grand Reserve La Paulée multi-event pass, the VIP Reserve single-day pass, and Estate general admission.
The Destination for Napa Valley Family Estate Wine Enthusiasts
“By focusing on family-owned Napa Valley estates each with a unique heritage at a private lakefront venue, we’ve established Incline Wine + Food as the definitive flagship wine weekend for the Lake Tahoe region,” says Founder Daniel Clark. “It’s a celebration of the unique heritage, legacy, craft, and community that defines both Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe.”
Loyal guests receive thrilling off-menu invitations to dinners, brunches, boat outings, and social gatherings with wine at private lakefront residences throughout the year courtesy of winery partners and patrons curated by Incline Wine + Food.
Weekend Schedule & Highlights
Friday, August 28: Vintner’s Sunset Reception
The weekend begins with an intimate evening of rare pours and high-altitude elegance. Guests will mingle with winemakers and vintners from prestigious Napa Valley family estates, sharing stories and selections from their private cellars. The evening features a “La Paulée” style celebration of Napa Valley library reds, elegant white varietals, and vintage Laurent-Perrier Champagnes paired with Wagyu and truffle elements, gourmet canapés, and premium heavy appetizers—culminating in a spectacular 7:37 p.m. sunset over the lakefront estate.
Saturday, August 29: Grand Tasting Lakefront Celebration
The mid-day centerpiece offers a world-class walk-around tasting experience with a vintage Lake Tahoe theme. Passholders experience an expansive selection of esteemed Napa Valley estate wines alongside partner Laurent-Perrier Champagne and a diverse array of gourmet food options. VIP and Grand Reserve guests receive one-hour early entry, a Laurent-Perrier Champagne reception, complimentary valet parking, and exclusive access to a private lakeside lounge vignette under the redwoods.
Sunday, August 30: Laurent-Perrier & Lobster Rolls Brunch
The weekend concludes with a relaxed yet refined finale hosted by the exclusive champagne partner.
Offered as a curated extension to the weekend, this private experience features a profile of multiple Laurent-Perrier Champagnes unique to this event paired with lobster rolls, canapés, savory bites, and elevated pastries.
2026 Featured Wine Partners
Almacerro — Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
Alpha Omega — St. Helena, Napa Valley
Burè — St. Helena, Napa Valley
Fait-Main — St. Helena, Napa Valley
Flint Knoll — Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley
Hourglass — Calistoga, Napa Valley
Morisoli Vineyards — Rutherford, Napa Valley
Revana — St. Helena, Napa Valley
Seavey Vineyard — Conn Valley, Napa Valley
Sherwin Family Vineyards — Spring Mountain, Napa Valley
Somnium — Crystal Springs, Napa Valley
Tench Estate — Oakville, Napa Valley
The Mascot — Oakville, Napa Valley
Theorem — Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley
Whitehall Lane — Rutherford, Napa Valley
William Cole — St. Helena, Napa Valley Exclusive Champagne Partner:
Laurent-Perrier — Tours-sur-Marne, Champagne, France
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The largest beer celebration in the Tahoe Basin is back. On Saturday, August 29, 2026, the 9th Annual Tahoe Brewfest will take over Ski Run Blvd with 40 breweries, live entertainment, and local bites from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. When Tahoe Brewfest concludes, the celebration will keep going with after-parties at Tipsy Putt (5–8 p.m.), Lake Tahoe Aleworx Stateline (5 p.m.–2 a.m.) and Paddle House Brews (5–10 p.m). This event will also launch the 3rd Annual Tahoe Beer Week, a seven-day celebration of craft beer across South Lake Tahoe running August 22–28.
Tahoe Beer Week
Tahoe Beer Week, running August 22–28, is a full week of local brewery and community events across South Lake Tahoe leading right to the big day on Ski Run Blvd. Attendees who check in at each event will be entered for a chance to win prizes, including a $50 Cold Water Brewery gift card and VIP tickets to see the Red Clay Strays at the Lake Tahoe Amphitheater on September 4, 2026.
Official Calendar of Events: Saturday, August 22 – Tahoe Bloody Mary Fest Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino | 12 p.m.–4:30 p.m. | 21+ Ticketed Event
Sunday, August 23 – Bubbly Brunch – Live Music at 11 a.m. Tahoe Cocktail Corner| 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Monday, August 24 – The Hoppy Hour Mix – Live DJ, Happy Hour Specials Cold Water Brewery | 5–8 p.m.
Tuesday, August 25 – Music Bingo – Free to Play The Libation Lodge | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 27 – Live at Lakeview – Blu Egyptian + Junior Toots + After Party Lakeview Commons – 4:30–8:30 p.m. | Paddle House Brews – 7–10 p.m.
Friday, August 28 – Ski Run Farmers Market + Tahoe Brewfest VIP Early Check at Tipsy Putt Tahoe Ski Run Blvd – 3–8 p.m. | Tipsy Putt Tahoe – 7 p.m.–1:30 a.m. (21+ Only) VIP Can Skip the Line + Free Mini Golf
Tahoe Brewfest
This year’s lineup features more than 40 breweries, cideries, kombucha makers, and distillers; see the full 2026 roster at www.tahoebrewfest.com/breweries. Tahoe Brewfest was voted Tahoe’s Best Charity Event in 2025 by the Tahoe Daily Tribune and has drawn more than 2,000 attendees each year.
VIP tickets are already in short supply and have sold out ahead of the event in past years. With almost a week to go, organizers are urging anyone considering VIP to lock in their tickets now at https://bit.ly/TBF2026.
Imagine hiking the Tahoe trails but struggling to catch your breath through your nose. Or constant sinus infections keeping you from enjoying life. When nasal problems persist, it’s time to look deeper — literally.
What Is Nasal Endoscopy?
Think of nasal endoscopy as a camera tour of your nose and sinuses. Your ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist uses a thin tube with a tiny camera to see what’s causing your symptoms. The procedure happens right in the office and takes just minutes.
Both flexible and rigid endoscopes are safe and well-tolerated when performed by an experienced doctor.
Why You Might Need One
Your doctor may recommend nasal endoscopy if you’re dealing with:
Constant nasal blockage
Recurring sinus infections
Nasal polyps or growths
Frequent nosebleeds
Loss of smell
Cerebrospinal fluid leaks
The camera shows details regular exams can’t reveal, like where bleeding starts, tissue swelling, or whether a growth is a harmless polyp or something more serious.
More Than Just Looking
Sometimes nasal endoscopy does double duty as treatment. Your doctor can remove foreign objects (common with kids), take tissue samples, or even perform minimally invasive surgery to treat chronic sinus issues, polyps, or tumors.
Chronic rhinosinusitis (inflammation of your nasal and sinus linings) is one of the most common reasons for this procedure. Your doctor can spot swelling and polyps and collect samples to identify infections and find the best treatment.
Breathe Easier
Don’t let nasal problems slow you down. Whether you’re struggling with chronic congestion, frequent infections, or mysterious nosebleeds, nasal endoscopy helps your doctor see exactly what’s happening and how to fix it.
Alex Manteghi, DO, provides surgical and nonsurgical solutions for ear, nose, and throat issues in adults and children. Call 530.543.5815 or visit BartonHealth.org to learn more about services at Barton Ear, Nose, & Throat.
What would you do if someone supposedly from your brokerage firm called and said your account has been hacked? Most people would be skeptical. But what if that person said someone is withdrawing money right now and that it’s imperative that you act quickly or the money will be lost? It’s different when there’s a sense of urgency. That’s how fraudsters operate.
How to identify fraudsters that are posing as a bank or brokerage employee:
· Urgency. Fraudsters create a sense of urgency. They may claim that your account has been compromised and insist that you act quickly to resolve the situation.
· Unsolicited messages. Ignore all unsolicited email and text messages promoting “exclusive” investment opportunities.
· Fake Fraud Alerts. Scammers send notices claiming fraud on your account and urge you to call them where they will then ask for your sensitive information.
· Crypto Currency. If someone urges you to send bitcoin then it is definitely a scam.
How to protect yourself:
· Enable two-factor authentication. In addition to entering a username and password, important websites should have an additional step where a code is sent to your phone. Enabling this additional step is the most crucial preventative measure that you can take. A financial firm (or someone supposedly from Microsoft or Apple) will never ask for the authentication numbers sent to your phone and if you do provide a scammer the numbers then you will be fully liable for all of their withdrawals.
· Never click on a link in an email or text. Not even an email that has a link to your monthly statements can be trusted. Instead of clicking on a link, go directly to the financial site. It helps to bookmark that page.
· Protect passwords. Never share a password or one-time codes with anyone who contacts you. Also, don’t use the same password for multiple sites.
· Don’t trust caller ID. If someone claims there is a problem with your account then log in to the account or call the firm using a verified phone number from a trusted source.
· Contact your adviser. If you have an investment adviser then immediately call them to help resolve any issues you may have.
David Vomund is an Incline Village-based Independent Investment Advisor. Information is found at www.VomundInvestments.com or by calling 775-832-8555. Clients hold the positions mentioned in this article. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.
I am writing to introduce myself as a candidate for South Lake Tahoe City Council.
Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to public service and helping to support thriving communities. I began my professional career as a Police Officer and Police Detective, and I put myself through both college and law school at night while working full time. I served as a Deputy District Attorney, and the head of the sexual assault and child abuse units, as well as the supervising attorney for a large city police department. I have also had a small business where I served as an attorney for other small and large cities, and I worked as the Director of Moral Character for the State Bar of California.
That progression – from police officer, to prosecutor, to attorney working with local governments, to small-business owner – has given me the opportunity to see government from many different perspectives. I know how important good government can be, and I also know how frustrating government can become when it stops working well for the people it is supposed to serve.
That is an important reason I am running for the South Lake Tahoe City Council.
During my years here, I have seen our community at its best and have also experienced many of the same challenges as my neighbors. I have dealt with parking problems, neighborhood crime, difficult vacation rentals and other quality-of-life concerns. I have cleaned up trash left behind in our neighborhood. Like many residents, I experienced the extraordinary pressures that came with the increase in tourism during the pandemic. And during the Caldor Fire, my husband and I evacuated along with an elderly neighbor, not knowing what we would find when we returned. Experiences like these remind me that the decisions made by our City Council are not abstract. They affect our neighborhoods, our safety, our businesses, our homes and our daily lives.
In addition to my professional background, I also spent many years as a volunteer on a Homeowner’s Board, Victim of Crimes Council, and a Police Advisory and Review Board, which functioned as an appellate board for citizen’s complaints. I understand the important role the City Council plays in establishing priorities, allocating resources, and working collaboratively with other local agencies, boards and commissions. My goal is to bring experienced, professional, and common-sense leadership to the Council while making decisions that strengthen our community and support those who protect it.
I believe South Lake Tahoe is at an important time of transition. This is a time for experienced, professional and trustworthy leadership. I want to help restore faith and confidence in our city government by focusing on competent decision-making, respectful leadership, transparency and the basic responsibility of making City government work well for the people who live here.
My priorities begin with the fundamentals. Residents should be able to depend on strong police and fire services, continued improvement in wildfire preparedness and evacuation planning, and steady attention to our roads and other basic infrastructure. We also need a healthy local economy. Our small businesses are part of the character of South Lake Tahoe, and City government should be a constructive partner in helping good businesses succeed while making sure economic development benefits the people who live here.
And as a community that depends on tourism, we need to manage its benefits and its impacts thoughtfully. We can support a strong visitor economy while still protecting our neighborhoods, our environment and the quality of life that makes people want to call South Lake Tahoe home.
I am not running because I believe one person has all the answers. Good local government requires listening, asking difficult questions, examining evidence and working with people who may not always agree.
I am running because I believe my experience can be useful to this community at an important moment, and because after more than two decades here, I care deeply about what South Lake Tahoe will be like in the years ahead.
Over the coming months, I look forward to meeting more of you, hearing what you believe our city is doing well, and learning where you believe it can do better. I hope to earn your confidence by listening carefully, doing my homework and bringing experience, professionalism, integrity and common sense to the work ahead.
Kelly O’Haire Candidate for South Lake Tahoe City Council www.Kelly4SLT.com
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.”
The Lake Tahoe camping season may be winding down for the summer, but there are still a few places to enjoy sleeping under the stars this fall.
Milky Way over Emerald Bay Lake Tahoe | Photo: Rachid Dahnoun
Lake Tahoe is a popular camping destination all summer long; however, for the hardy outdoors people among us, year-round camping opportunities exist around Lake Tahoe. Fall is a fantastic time to enjoy the changing leaves, fewer crowds, and quieter beaches and trails, and the cooler temperatures are perfect for long hikes and mountain bike rides.
Fall colors around Lake Tahoe. Photo by Carol Chaplin.
Here are some of your options for camping this fall in Lake Tahoe:
Campground by the Lake, season runs from April through the end of October (weather permitting).
D.L. Bliss, Donner Memorial, Emerald Bay, and Sugar Pine Point are OPEN during the winter for hiking and snowshoeing, but these parks are CLOSED to camping beginning mid-September (varies by park).
Bring extra layers (temperatures drop at night), and don’t forget your sleeping pad! While you are here, make sure you check out all the beautiful fall colors.
South Lake Tahoe Camping | Photo: @keeptahoe.local
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.
