Former Douglas County Commissioner David E. Nelson was killed in a Beaumont, Calif., traffic mishap on Saturday night, according to a report issued on Sunday by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office.
Nelson, 81, was a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in the road in front of his granddaughter’s home around 7:31 p.m., the Beaumont Police Department confirmed on Wednesday.
Nelson served as a county commissioner from 2017-2020, narrowly being defeated by Commissioner Danny Tarkanian by 17 votes.
He and spouse Jeanne Shizuru arrived in Carson Valley in 2003.
In 2005, he was a founding member of the Good Government Group, which later rebranded as the Good Governance Group.
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He first sought public office in Douglas County when he ran for county commissioner in 2008 against Greg Lynn. While that attempt didn’t work out, Nelson tried again in 2016, winning the seat.
Nelson was a Carson Valley Kiwanian, who helped modernize the club’s recordkeeping for bicycle donations.
Nelson was early out of the gate in announcing an effort for re-election in fall 2019 and was involved in petition drives to overturn a redevelopment district at Stateline and the Park 2500 development agreement. That was the same year Tarkanian moved to Douglas County.
He was appointed to the Douglas County planning commission in 2021.
He and Shizuru were involved in the petition to regulate vacation home rentals.
In 2024, he was the top vote-getter for Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District trustee.
Nelson has been an agent for M. Scott Properties since he arrived in Gardnerville in 2003.
He graduated from California State Polytechnic University – Pomona with a bachelor of science degree in business administration and management in 1971.
STATELINE, Nev. – The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is reminding motorists traveling through the U.S. 50 Tahoe East Shore Resurfacing Project from the Lake Tahoe’s South Shore at Stateline to Spooner Summit to slow down and follow the posted speed limits and traffic control measures.
In response to ongoing safety concerns including speeding and unsafe driving behaviors, and to protect roadway workers and motorists, the Sheriff’s Office will actively be enforcing traffic laws throughout the construction zone. The enhanced enforcement effort is intended to improve safety for motorists, construction crews, residents, and visitors traveling along the east shore of Lake Tahoe.
“Work zones are not a place for impatient or aggressive driving,” said Sheriff Dan Coverley. “The safety of construction workers and drivers depends on motorists slowing down, following the posted speed limit, traffic control measures, and remaining alert while traveling through these areas.”
Construction zones are established to protect both workers and the traveling public during roadway improvements. Drivers are reminded that the posted speed limit through the project work zones is 35 mph and must be obeyed at all times. Motorists should expect reduced speeds, changing traffic patterns, and periodic delays while traveling through the project area.
Drivers are also reminded that Nevada law imposes double penalties for speeding violations in marked road construction or maintenance zones when workers are present.
Sheriff Coverley added, “We want to remind driver to exercise patience and caution while crews work to improve the roadway. Our deputies are committed to promoting traffic safety throughout Douglas County.”
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Incline Village Community Hospital announced that it has achieved accreditation through the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for its Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program. The accreditation recognizes the hospital’s commitment to quality, patient safety and continuous improvement, and its ability to meet rigorous federal and national standards for Critical Access Hospitals.
A Critical Access Hospital is a federal designation created to preserve access to hospital care in rural and geographically isolated communities. To maintain the designation, hospitals must meet specific requirements related to location and distance from other hospitals, maintain no more than 25 inpatient or swing beds, provide 24/7 emergency care, maintain an annual average acute inpatient length of stay of 96 hours or less, and continuously meet the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation.
“Critical Access Hospitals are an important part of the healthcare safety net for rural and remote communities, providing essential care where access can be especially challenging,” said Michael McGarry, chair of the Tahoe Forest Health District Board of Directors. “We are incredibly proud of our team and their dedication to providing safe, high-quality care close to home.”
For Incline Village Community Hospital, those requirements reflect an important community mission. Located in a high-altitude mountain community, IVCH provides emergency and hospital care close to home in a region where geography, weather, road conditions and distance can create significant barriers to accessing healthcare. During peak winter and summer tourism seasons, the hospital also serves a population that expands well beyond the community’s year-round residents, including visitors and the workforce that supports North Lake Tahoe.
“ACHC accreditation recognizes Incline Village Community Hospital’s commitment to meeting rigorous standards while fulfilling that important role for the North Lake Tahoe community,” said Anna Roth, President and CEO of Tahoe Forest Health System. “It also reflects the passion and dedication of our team, who work every day to provide the best possible care for our patients.”
As part of Tahoe Forest Health System, IVCH and its Rural Health Clinics and other health system services provide an essential healthcare safety net for the North Lake Tahoe community.
ACHC accreditation is distinct from the federal CAH designation. ACHC has CMS deeming authority for Critical Access Hospitals and conducts a comprehensive survey to evaluate whether a hospital meets federal Conditions of Participation as well as ACHC’s standards for quality and safety. The survey examines how the hospital operates and delivers care across areas including clinical services, quality improvement, medication management, infection prevention, patient rights, emergency services, governance, staffing and credentialing, physical environment and life safety.
During the accreditation survey, ACHC surveyors recognized IVCH as the “valedictorian of Critical Access Hospitals.” The recognition was a powerful reflection of the culture of excellence the team has built and the high level of care they provide every day despite the unique challenges of serving a small, rural mountain community.
ACHC is a nonprofit organization that has served as a symbol of quality and excellence in healthcare since 1986. ACHC is ISO 9001:2015 certified and has CMS deeming authority for a range of healthcare services and facilities, including Critical Access Hospitals.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Liberty continued its longstanding support of Bread & Broth on August 31, when four Adopt A Day of Nourishment (AAD) sponsor volunteers helped serve 152 Monday Meal guests and pack more than 120 bags of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Jennifer Guenther, who manages government affairs for Liberty and coordinates the company’s Adopt A Day sponsorships, shared that Liberty’s community service program encourages all team members to volunteer. Currently, Liberty sponsors eight Monday Meals each year.
Left to right: Kevin Newmark, Rio Guenther, Jennifer Guenther, Cindy Kortan.Provided / Bread & Broth
In addition to Jennifer volunteering at the August meal, her daughter Rio Guenther, along with Liberty team member Kevin Newmark and recently retired Cindy Kortan represented Liberty at their sponsorship meal. The Liberty team volunteers joined the B&B volunteers from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. helping with the dinner’s setup, packing food ‘giveaway bags, welcoming and serving the dinner guests, and closing out the meal event by helping with cleanup and takedown.
“It was a pleasure working with such friendly, dedicated volunteers,” shared Cindy. “We served generous portions of food to so many people in our community. The food was plentiful, and everyone was appreciative of the wonderful, delicious meal and the bags of groceries they received to take home.”
Thousands of community members have benefited from the meals served by Bread & Broth. As an all-volunteer, charitable organization and a ministry of St. Theresa Chuch, Bread & Broth has been providing hot meals since 1989. The dedication of its volunteers and the support of the community through donations and AAD sponsorships has been a major impact on those struggling with food-insecurity.
Bread & Broth thanks Liberty and its volunteer AAD crew members for their on-going support and commitment to easing hunger for those facing food-insecurity.
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.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. — What started off as a hair-brained idea with a few friends 15 years ago is now one of the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association’s (TAMBA) signature events that attracts ambitious riders from all over the country. It takes most riders a staggering 10-12 hours to complete Rose to Toads, the 62-mile point-to-point ride that showcases some of the best trails linking Lake Tahoe’s North Shore down to the South Shore, ending on the famous Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. More than just a grueling ride, today it’s one of Tahoe’s most iconic mountain bike traditions, bringing riders together while giving back to the trails that make the ride possible.
On Sunday, September 13, 200 riders will set out to tackle the 15th annual Rose to Toads ride. With more than 9,000 feet of climbing and 11,000 feet of descending, the event is equal parts challenge, adventure, and celebration of the region’s world-class outdoor culture.
Since receiving its first U.S. Forest Service Special Use Permit, Rose to Toads’ reputation as one of Tahoe’s most iconic endurance events has continued to flourish, and the event now raises approximately $20,000 annually to support trail building, maintenance, and advocacy throughout the Tahoe Basin.
“Rose to Toads has always been about more than the miles. It’s about the people who come together to challenge themselves, support one another, and celebrate what makes Tahoe’s trail community so special. Seeing this event reach its 15th anniversary is a testament to everyone who has helped shape it over the years—from riders and volunteers to our incredible partners and land managers” says Drew Bray, Executive Director of TAMBA.
Through close collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, Nevada State Parks, and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA), 2026 is the final year that the ride route will take place on sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail not otherwise open to bikes, providing one last opportunity for recreationists to experience this unique section of trail on two wheels.
TAMBA and the TRTA share a commitment to creating outstanding trail experiences through stewardship, education, and responsible recreation. Rose to Toads is one example of how partnerships between nonprofit organizations and public land managers can provide memorable outdoor experiences while supporting the long-term health of Tahoe’s trail system.
“Twenty-five years ago, volunteers officially closed the loop and completed a vision decades in the making: a trail connecting the communities and public lands around Lake Tahoe,” said Lindsey Schultz, Executive Director of the TRTA. “Rose to Toads celebrates that same spirit of connection. We’re proud to partner with TAMBA for the 15th anniversary of Rose to Toads to create a unique experience on the Tahoe Rim Trail while encouraging responsible recreation, good trail etiquette, and stewardship of the trails we all share.”
Trail users should expect increased bike traffic along the ride route – including significant portions of the Tahoe Rim Trail – all day on Sunday, September 13. TAMBA and the TRTA encourage everyone planning to recreate that day to be prepared for busier-than-usual trails by practicing good trail etiquette: plan ahead, share the trail with all users, and recreate respectfully to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
As Rose to Toads celebrates its 15th anniversary, the event continues to represent more than just a legendary day on the bike. It’s a celebration of the community that has grown around it and the trails that bring us together. Supporters are invited to join TAMBA at the finish line celebration to cheer on riders as they complete this unforgettable ride.
(The Center Square) – New or increased taxes in California will cost the Golden State’s taxpayers billions of additional dollars after the Legislature approved hikes in certain taxes during this year’s session, which ended Tuesday.
“The tax burden in California is already very, very high – among the highest state taxes of any state in the country,” Susan Shelley, vice president of communications for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, told The Center Square on Thursday. “We have the highest state sales tax, the highest income tax rates. We have more tax increases on the November ballot on the local and state level. So this is a difficult environment for taxpayers.”
Billions of dollars in projected tax revenues are expected, according to numbers obtained by The Center Square.
Democratic lawmakers on taxation and revenue committees in the state Legislature, as well as groups that supported the passage of some of the taxes that went up this year, did not respond to The Center Square before press time. Democrats control a supermajority of the Legislature as well as the governor’s office.
Gas tax
One of the taxes that already went up earlier this year was the state’s gas tax. According to previous reporting by The Center Square, the state’s gas tax goes up annually under a 2017 law. The revenue generated by the tax pays for roads, bridges, highways and public transportation.
This year, the gas tax went up 2.2 cents, bringing the tax to 63.4 cents a gallon. On the day before the gas tax went up on July 1, the average price of a gallon of gas in California was $5.43, above the national average that day of $3.85 a gallon.
The gas tax was expected to generate $327 million in 2026, according to a budget analysis from the California Senate Republican Caucus.
Digital software tax
Starting on Jan. 1, 2027, the state’s already-existing sales and use tax will include digital software. The tax will generate $450 million revenue in fiscal year 2026-27 and $900 million each year afterward. The money is meant to help pay for education funding and healthcare services, according to previous reporting by The Center Square.
“The software tax expands the tax burden and will worsen the business climate even more. Small businesses will be particularly hard hit,” said Wayne Winegarden, senior fellow in business and economics at the Pasadena-based Pacific Research Institute.
“The answer to California’s fiscal problems is spending control and demanding the government do better with less,” Winegarden told The Center Square via email on Thursday.
Managed care organization tax
Senate Bill 125 implements a tax on managed care organizations to shore up Medi-Cal funding in light of cuts imposed by the federal government’s budget law – H.R. 1, otherwise known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The cut in federal funding for Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California, is offset by the managed care organization tax. That tax charges an $8.85 tax per enrollee each month who gets their health insurance through managed care organizations.
According to a budget analysis from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the managed care organization tax stands to generate roughly $2 billion to help increase funding for Medi-Cal health plans.
The tax would generate $575 million in fiscal year 2026-27, $2.3 billion in 2027-28 and $1.7 billion in 2028-29, according to that analysis.
It is not clear if managed care organizations would pass along all of those costs to policyholders.
“Sacramento looked at California’s sky-high cost of living and decided it wasn’t high enough,” Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares, R-Santa Clarita, told The Center Square via email on Thursday. “That’s not affordability. That’s another bill for working families. We need leaders cutting costs, not inventing new ways to charge you.”
GaiaLicious is celebrating its 20-year anniversary Provided /Brandi Caskey – Indigo Photography
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – South Shore’s charming boutique and gift shop, GaiaLicious, has reached a milestone of 20 years in business with plans to celebrate on September 25 through September 27.
Back in 2006, Kelly Brosch, owner of GaiaLicious, knew exactly what kind of shop she wanted to open in town, and together with her husband, Felix, she was able to turn her dream into a reality.
“The shop has changed a lot over the years,” recalled Brosch. “When I opened, I was 40, and a lot of my customers were in their 20s and 30s, and now they’re moms with big kids and, you know, careers and everything else. We’ve had to adapt.”
It’s apparent upon entering why the shop is still going strong. From rich, comforting smells of candles, soaps and incense to stylish clothing, jewelry, tarot cards, crystals, books and art, Brosch describes the gift shop as an “eclectic mix”, teeming with a vast array of unique items.
Brosch’s goals have always been to support the community and to sell as many fair trade goods as possible.
“If you shop at the store, you’re not just supporting me as a local business, you’re supporting local artists that need an outlet to sell their stuff,” Brosch said, noting that many of her goods come from the basin or the region.
It comes as no surprise to those who live here that opening and operating a business in Lake Tahoe is no easy feat due to unpredictable tourism seasons, staffing shortages and high overhead. Brosch credits the locals for keeping GaiaLicious afloat.
“It’s a local’s shop. They’ve been supportive from day one,” said Brosch. “I think we have a lot of ups and downs that other places don’t have.”
GaiaLicious will be offering a 20%-off sale from September 25-27Provided / Brandi Caskey – Indigo Photography
From enduring hardships like the Angora Fire and COVID-19, advice from Brosch to new business owners in Lake Tahoe is to dedicate a lot of time and effort from the start and be sure to invest in the community.
“At the beginning, I was working five or six days a week, and so you have to kind of prepare for that,” said Brosch. “It won’t be like that forever, but prepare to work hard, and long hours, and lots of days.”
Brosch shared with the Tribune that after recently losing her husband, Felix, who played a vital role in the shop’s operations, she is continuing to adjust.
“It’s kind of a weird transition time for me because I’m still grieving him, and then trying to run my business.”
In honor of Felix and for never having cut a ribbon when GaiaLicious first opened, Brosch is planning to celebrate 20 years with a bang, including a 20% off sale throughout the entire weekend of September 25 through 27.
Starting on Friday, September 25 at 4 p.m., GaiaLicious will offer refreshments leading up to their 20th anniversary ribbon-cutting with the Tahoe Chamber at 5 p.m. The stop will remain open until 6 p.m.
On Saturday, September 26, DJ Ocho will be spinning some tunes from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. while customers enjoy a free Tahoe Pop after spending $20.
Sunday marks the last day of the 20% off sale.
“I’m grateful for the support from the community and the locals over the past 20 years,” added Brosch. “It’s a celebration weekend.”
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – With students back in school, Bread & Broth will resume its B&B 4 Kids’ School Year Weekend Food Bag program on Friday, September 4th. Weekend food bags will be distributed every Friday at all pre-K through 8th grade schools in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District.
In addition, weekend food bags will be delivered to seven childcare centers serving low-income families each week during the school year through the B&B 4 Tots program. These childcare facilities include Catalyst Kids, Catalyst Community, Head Start, Appleseeds Academy, Step by Step Learning Center, Family Resource Center, and Lake Tahoe Community College Child Development Center.
Each food bag contains seven single-serving, kid-friendly meals (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners), fresh fruit and vegetables, and protein-enriched snacks to supplement weekend nourishment. In addition, Bread & Broth 4 Kids, through its School Healthy Snack Program, will be providing boxes of nutrition bars weekly to each school to distribute to children who come to school hungry or become hungry during the school day.
During the 2025-2026 school year, nearly 300 food bags were distributed each week, and this number is expected to grow over the coming school year. As Cheryl Breitwieser, co-chairperson of the B&B 4 Kids program, shares, “We want to make sure that children in need have access to nutritious, kid-friendly food over the weekends when away from the school breakfasts and lunches. Families continue to struggle with food insecurity, and this program offers support for their children.”
Parents interested in determining eligibility for their child to receive these weekend food bags can contact their child’s school office or childcare center office for an application form.
ZEPHYR COVE, Nev.––On Sept. 4, 2026, the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint charging Erinn Miller, 46, with two felony counts of embezzlement. Investigators with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office subsequently arrested Miller on Sept. 8, 2026 pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by Senior Judge Steven McMorris. The complaint is filed in the Tahoe Township Justice Court. Bail was set at $25,000 cash only.
The issuance of the arrest warrant was based on an affidavit incorporating investigative reports detailing the culmination of a months-long investigation by the Sheriff’s Office regarding Miller’s financial activities while she was a treasurer for parent booster clubs for Zephyr Cove Elementary School and George Whittell High School.
According to the affidavit in support of the arrest warrant, the alleged criminal activities began in July 2020 and continued through November 2025. The complaint charges Miller with embezzling over $100,000 from the Zephyr Cove Elementary School Parents Club and over $25,000 from the George Whittell High School Booster Club.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If you’ve ever signed up for an online casino chasing a “welcome bonus” and then spent twenty minutes in live chat trying to figure out where it went, you’re not alone. At CasinoRIX, that’s the single most common reason players reach out to support in the first place.
CasinoRIX, a casino review and comparison platform that also runs a round-the-clock Personal Support desk for players, just went through a full year’s worth of those live chat conversations to see what people actually ask about. Across more than 5,000 logged chats from 2026, one topic came out well ahead of everything else combined: bonuses. Not broken games. Not failed payments. Not locked accounts.
That number is worth unpacking. Here are the five specific situations that, according to CasinoRIX’s support team, come up repeatedly, and what they reveal about how bonus systems actually work compared to how players expect them to work.
Pain point #1: Missing a bonus window
A player finds a promo code, goes to claim it, and support tells them it’s expired. In their mind, they were right on time.
This is one of the most common forms of bonus confusion support sees: a claim that lands just after an offer’s deadline, a deposit that falls just under the required minimum, or a promo code entered slightly wrong. None of these are dramatic mistakes. They’re small timing or detail issues that, because bonus terms are often buried in fine print, players don’t catch until it’s already too late.
Pain point #2: The signup bonus that doesn’t appear
The pitch is simple: sign up and receive a bonus. So the player signs up, and nothing appears in the account.
This is a case of a promise looking simpler than it actually is. Most of the time, the bonus isn’t triggered just by creating an account. There’s usually one more step first, like verifying your identity or making a first deposit, and nobody mentioned that part. That gap between what the advertisement implied and what actually has to happen accounts for much of this category.
Pain point #3: Requesting a bonus that isn’t listed
Some players skip the promotions page entirely and simply ask, sending support messages along the lines of “I’ve been playing a lot, is there anything available for me?”
CasinoRIX tracks this separately from every other bonus question, and it turns out to be substantial enough on its own to be the single largest support category overall, larger than every withdrawal and deposit question combined. It isn’t really a complaint. It’s closer to a loyalty gesture from players who have been active for a while and decide it’s worth asking.
Pain point #4: A win that can’t be withdrawn
This category is where bonus confusion turns into real frustration rather than a minor annoyance. A player uses a bonus, wins some money, tries to cash out, and is blocked.
Usually the cause is a wagering requirement, a rule stating that a certain amount must be played through before bonus winnings become withdrawable cash. It’s a standard mechanic across the industry, but easy to overlook if the fine print wasn’t reviewed when the bonus was first activated. By the time the block appears, the win is already sitting in the account, so it can feel like the rules changed midway through, even though the rule was there from the start.
Pain point #5: Free spins tied to the wrong game
A player gets a batch of no-deposit free spins, opens up a game to use them, and there’s nothing there. No spins, no explanation, just an offer that seems to have never showed up. Most people’s first thought is that the casino dropped the ball somewhere.
Usually, though, that’s not what happened. The spins were probably tied to one exact game rather than a whole group of similar slots, and that detail tends to get left out of the promo banner. Say the reward was for a fruit-themed slot specifically. A near-identical title from the same studio, maybe with a different fruit or a slightly different name, won’t count, even though the two games could pass for siblings. That one narrow rule is enough to send a player straight to live chat instead of just picking a different game.
What this actually reveals
Put these five together and none of them come from a player doing something wrong. Someone claims a bonus a day too late. Someone assumes signing up is enough to unlock a reward. A regular player asks if there’s anything for them after sticking around a while. A win gets stuck behind a wagering rule nobody flagged. Free spins go to a game that isn’t the one they were meant for. Different situations, same underlying story: the terms existed, they just weren’t visible at the moment they actually mattered.
That distinction points to where the real fix lives. As Alyce Fabel, Proofreader and Head of Content at CasinoRIX, explained, bonuses are increasingly becoming players’ first real interaction with a casino, and the terms attached to them haven’t been simplified at the same pace. A year earlier, bonus questions made up roughly half of all support volume. Now the figure exceeds two-thirds.
That shift doesn’t indicate players are becoming more confused. It indicates that bonuses have become the default starting point of the casino relationship, while the fine print behind them hasn’t kept up.
For an industry built around eye-catching welcome offers, that’s a valuable thing to know, and a considerably cheaper problem to solve than expanding support teams to absorb the fallout.
FRESNO, Calif. — The Lake Tahoe Community College cross country teams hit the trail for the first time this season at the Clovis Crush Invitational hosted at Woodward Park.
Competing at the eventual site of the 3C2A State Championships in November, the men’s team captured ninth place out of 24 teams with a team score of 309.
Shanaya Tolby was the lone runner for the women’s team. The freshman from La Paz, Mexico, finished 5000 meters in a time of 22:12.01.
Lake Tahoe Community College cross-country competed at the Clovis Crush InvitationalProvided / LTCC
On the men’s side, sophomore Kyle Oltmanns paced the Coyotes, finishing 24th overall with a time of 21:22.42. He was followed closely by fellow sophomore Elijah Gilleland, who crossed the finish line in 41st place after clocking 21:37.68.
Jacob Manning and Alessandro Pimentel rounded out the top 100 for LTCC in a crowded, 263-person field. Manning, a sophomore, posted 22:19.29 to take 81st, while Pimentel, a freshman, ran 22:37.24 to finish 97th.
Richard Stites rounded out the scoring for the Coyotes with a time of 23:03.93.
LTCC’s next race is the NorCal Preview on Sept. 18 at Forebay in Oroville, Calif.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – BlueZone Sports gave $10,000 to four Tahoe nonprofits over Labor Day weekend, $2,500 to each. The money came off the floor of the shop’s biggest sale of the year. Everyone who shopped that weekend had a hand in it. Five seasons in, the total has passed $50,000.
BlueZone Sports has outfitted South Lake Tahoe for nearly a decade. The Labor Day sale pulls product from all five locations and opens a day early so locals get first pick before the weekend crowds arrive. It has grown into a neighborhood event. This year, local food trucks served, Tahoe Pops handed out treats, and Tahoe AleWorx donated beer.
Blue Zone Sports gave money to four nonprofits this Labor Day. Provided / Blue Zone Sports
The four recipients work across trails, snow, youth development and the shoreline. TAMBA, the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association, builds and maintains trails across the Tahoe Basin with the U.S. Forest Service. The Kirkwood Ski Education Foundation runs alpine ski racing and athlete development at Kirkwood Mountain Resort. SOS Outreach pairs young people with adult mentors on snow, serving more than 300 participants from El Dorado and Douglas counties at Heavenly and Kirkwood. Clean Tahoe has cleared litter and illegal dump sites across the South Shore since 1988.
“The people who walk through our doors are our neighbors. Some have shopped here since they were groms and now they bring their own in for boots. Those relationships are the business. Sending this money to four groups that keep Tahoe running is how we say thanks,” said Dillon Stephan, manager of BlueZone Sports.
BlueZone Sports runs five stores in South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, Truckee, Carson City and Roseville. The company sells snow, bike, water and camping gear along with apparel and footwear, and staffs its shops with local skiers and riders.
“BlueZone has stood with our athletes and our families for years, not for a season. Steady local support is what lets a small nonprofit tell a family yes instead of no. A check like this is coaching hours and gear on young guns who would otherwise sit the winter out,” said Kevin “Coop” Cooper, president and CEO of the Kirkwood Ski Education Foundation.
“We are incredibly appreciative of BlueZone, and their support runs deeper than a check once a year. This money goes into trail work, and those trails belong to anyone who rides them. Partners who stay with you year after year are how a trail system gets built,” said Drew Bray, executive director of the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association.
One of the 15 people arrested in a Sept. 11, 2025, criminal sweep faces up to five years in prison after admitting he sold LSD at Stateline on April 24, 2025.
Robert Donald Brown, 30, agreed to a deal where he would plead guilty to supplying a controlled substance in exchange for a suspended 19-60-month sentence.
Brown was released on his own recognizance pending his Oct. 26 sentencing. He’d just been granted probation on charges in El Dorado County. He was ordered not to have contact with another of the arrestees, Amber Walker, who is also facing similar charges.
• A Californian faces up to nine years in prison after he admitted to low level possession of cocaine, Ecstasy and ketamine.
Bo Andrew Perkins, 28, also admitted to failure to appear in Tahoe Township Justice Court.
Perkins had the drugs on March 28, 2025, according to court documents. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 5. Judge Tom Gregory determined the $5,000 bail was appropriate.
Now that summer is almost over, it’s a return to school and potential fall dangers for your dog!
Back-to-School, New Schedules and Routines
Our beloved dogs are bona fide creatures of habit and feel most secure and safe with consistent schedules and routines.
While the return to school can be tough on everyone involved, your dog may experience the toughest time adjusting! Since K9s “live in the moment,” sudden changes and new routines can be confusing and unsettling, leading to unwanted stress and separation anxiety.
Use these four tips below to help your dog adjust more easily:
1. Watch your dog’s behavior for signs of isolation or separation anxiety, including: non-stop barking, destructive behavior, lethargy, depression, or even hyperactivity due to pent-up energy no longer being released by summer activities.
2. If there’s still time, practice your new morning routine to help your dog slowly adjust to the new schedule or routine. Gradually practice leaving them home alone for longer periods. Use plenty of praise and high-value treats to create a positive (vs negative) association.
3. Hire a dog walker or use a doggy daycare to keep your dog engaged and happy while adjusting to a suddenly empty and quiet house. Remember, a tired dog is a happy dog!
4. In addition, dog cams, interactive toys, and food puzzles can effectively redirect your dog’s stress and anxiety into positive interactions that mentally tire them out.
Helping Your Dog Adjust to New Schedules without Stress
It’s that time of year when schedules change, and new routines are created. But, if not handled correctly, new routines can trigger unwanted separation anxiety for your dog!
Learn why predictability is a crucial foundation for your dog’s emotional stability and stress-free life. Also, learn how to help them adjust to new routines more easily with intentional awareness and support at Canine Zen.
Fall Dangers for Your Dog
The use of rodenticides/rodent baits or traps and poisons.
Ethylene glycol-based car coolants/antifreeze.
Outdoor mushrooms, acorns, chestnuts, black walnuts and apple seeds.
Corn cobs, onions, grapes and raisins.
Fall allergies including excessive scratching, licking, redness and even sneezing.
Toxic plants such as Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, mums and more.
Potpourri, candles, mothballs, glow sticks and jewelry.
Fall decorations and plants.
Halloween decorations, costumes, candy and chocolate.
Colder temperatures for smaller, hairless and senior dogs (and cats).
Campfires, firewood, lanterns and artificial fire logs.
Piles of leaves can contain mold, sharp objects, ticks, fleas, mites, and snakes.
Glue sticks, pencils, magic markers, batteries, rubber bands, and backpacks.
Coat matting due to damp conditions.
Less daylight may require reflective gear (collars, harnesses, and leashes) for evening or early morning walks.
After walking in the wet and cold, thoroughly dry your dog’s coat.
(The Center Square) – California’s strict pollution and clean air laws will remain in place, at least for now, after a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit against the Trump administration.
For decades, the Clean Air Act has allowed California to set tougher emissions rules for cars, ships and other vehicles than the rest of the country, using special permissions known as waivers.
While many Republican and Democratic presidents have granted these waivers to California, Republican President Donald Trump has objected out of concern that Golden State rules are harming consumers and the economy.
In June, Trump and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin sought to reclassify four Clean Air Act pre-emption waivers as rules subject to congressional repeal. Soon after, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom, both Democrats, and California’s Air Resources Board filed a lawsuit calling the federal EPA’s efforts an “unlawful attempt to circumvent administrative procedure and attack state emissions rules.”
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Beryl Howell, an Obama appointee, granted the preliminary injunction on Wednesday.
While this is a temporary win for California, Bonta called it “a key victory” against the Trump administration.
“When it comes to environmental integrity, posterity demands that we act,” said Bonta in a press release. “The bottom line is that California is taking many steps forward to protect the environment and public health while President Trump is taking six steps back.”
When asked to comment, the White House referred The Center Square to the EPA, which said it is considering mediation appeal options.
Meanwhile, Larry Behrens of Power the Future, a nonprofit dealing with energy issues, said the costly emission standards are typical for the Golden State.
“California already pays the highest prices in America for nearly everything, yet Gavin Newsom and Rob Bonta are fighting to preserve mandates that will make life even more expensive,” the Power the Future communications director told The Center Square. “President Trump and Administrator Zeldin are right to challenge a system that allows California’s costly mandates to spread far beyond its borders.”
While admitting that the injunction is a “setback for affordability and common sense,” Behrens added that it “does not change the fact that Californians are paying the price for the green agenda.”
For several years, California has had the highest gas prices in the nation. That was true again Thursday, with the California’s average at $5.78 a gallon. The national average is $4.14, according to AAA.
Come the first Monday of September, many children and their parents start to face the reality that school, if it hasn’t yet started, is about to begin again. That’s because Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. But there is much more to this holiday than barbecues and the notion that fall is right around the corner.
Labor Day was forged by the labor movement of the late nineteenth century. Many workers during this time felt they were underpaid and overworked. Conditions at their places of employment also lacked adequate safety. These workers banded together to fight for higher wages, shorter workdays and improved working conditions.
Before it was adopted as an American federal holiday, Labor Day was first recognized by labor activists and individual states. Although New York was the first state to introduce a bill, Oregon actually was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, which the state first celebrated on February 21, 1887. Four more states followed suit that year. By the end of the decade, three more states passed Labor Day holiday laws.
In recognition of the momentum of Labor Day at the state level, and with the adoption of the holiday by another 23 states by 1894, Congress passed an act on June 28, 1894, officially making the first Monday in September a legal holiday each year.
The United States is not alone in devoting a holiday to celebrate its labor history and honor the contributions of workers. Canada celebrates Labour Day to remember the rights of workers, which include paid holidays, medical care, fair hours, union wages, and safe workplaces. Labour Day was declared a legal holiday by the Parliament of Canada on July 23, 1894. The earliest Labour Day celebrations were held in the spring, but eventually were moved to September.
Labor Day remains a time to honor and affirm the dignity of working people across the nation. It also affords individuals an opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved day off and reflect on the contributions workers have made throughout the years.
Sunscreen—check. Hiking boots—check. Swimsuit and towel—check. It’s the final checklist review before embarking on the Lake Tahoe vacation of your dreams, but did you remember to bring your bike (and helmet)?
With Tahoe’s expansive multi-use path system, there’s a scenic bike ride just around the corner, no matter where you stay—offering a unique way to explore Lake Tahoe and discover its hidden gems.
The smell of pine trees, the wind nuzzling your hair, and the crunch of pine cones are just a few examples of how these paths pave the way to a more palpable Tahoe experience.
Beyond being an exciting and immersive activity, biking these paths also doubles as transportation with many restaurants, stores, and activities within biking distance, not to mention it’s free and offers many benefits.
Bringing your bike allows you to skip the parking headache and fees, while providing flexibility.
So pump up those tires, pack your helmet, and don’t forget your reusable water bottle to take advantage of Tahoe’s renowned tap water.
No bike? No problem. There are numerous bike rental shops around the Tahoe Basin, as well as pay-as-you-ride scooters in South Lake Tahoe and e-bikes in Truckee.
If you happen to visit in June, it’s Tahoe bike month. Check out tahoebikemonth.org for festivities.
Ready to hit the paths? Here’s a list of bike paths divided by region to get your bearings.
The map also has a complete list of paved paths, as well as bike lanes and routes. Just because a route isn’t listed in this guide doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to bike to your desired destination or explore other spectacular rides.
North Tahoe
North Tahoe is known for its smaller, charming towns, laid-back vibes, rich history, and abundant recreational opportunities with both Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River to explore. A vast network of paths offers access to nooks on the east, west, and north sides of the lake, as well as along the scenic Truckee River corridor to Olympic Village.
East Shore Trail
The crown jewel of multi-use paths in Lake Tahoe, this new trail teleports users to one turquoise cove after another and ends at Lake Tahoe’s most well-known beach, Sand Harbor. Biking to Sand Harbor allows you to skip the reservation system and the entrance fee is 80% off ($2) if you arrive by bike. For no fee, Hidden Beach and many other coves are scattered along the path. You can add the ride along the Lakeshore Blvd path adjacent to lakeside mansions and head up Village Blvd for food and drinks in Incline Village. Note, the beaches along Lakeshore Blvd are private.
The East Shore Trail travels along turquoise coves and beaches from Incline Village to Sand Harbor. Courtesy Photo |
Miles: ≈ 3 miles one way
Must stops – Memorial Point View Point – Hidden Beach -Tunnel Creek Cafe for a patio beer and views – Sand Harbor
North Shore Trail
This trail hugs the lake in the Tahoe City region until it reaches Dollar Point and meanders uphill, offering both lakefront, downtown, forested, and elevated views of Tahoe. As it leads the rider through a variety of scenes, there are multiple stops at beaches, docks, breweries, and shops along the way. You can extend the ride in multiple directions since it can easily connect to the Truckee River Trail and West Shore Trail.
Miles: ≈5 one way
Must-stop: – Commons Beach – Tahoe City downtown for cafes, restaurants, shops, and breweries – Boatworks Mall and the Snow Museum – Fanny Bridge & the Lake Tahoe Dam
Dianne Feinstein West Shore Tahoe Trail
This trail is named after both a lover and protector of Lake Tahoe; the late Senator Dianne Feinstein often recounted a story in which she biked around Lake Tahoe with no brakes. Adopting Feinstein’s love and care for Tahoe is highly encouraged; however, brakes are recommended for this path from Tahoe City to Meeks Bay, especially for all the stops you’ll want to make at museums, delis, rock features, cedar forests, docks, beaches, and more. This trail was resurfaced in 2025.
Eagle Rock begins to peak through the trees on the Dianne Feinstein West Shore Tahoe Trail.Courtesy Photo |
Miles: ≈12 miles one way
Must stops: – Gatekeeper’s Museum – Fanny Bridge & Lake Tahoe Dam – Sugar Pine Point State Park – Hellman-Ehrman Mansion – Meeks Bay – Eagle Rock
Truckee River Trail
This path meanders along the Truckee River from its origin in Tahoe City until the path cuts west for the Olympic Valley’s mountain views and lush meadows. There are plenty of river stops for picnics, a cool off, or to just take it all in. Stop for a pick-me-up at the River Ranch Lodge & Restaurant, which acts as a halfway point, or a well-earned meal at the Palisades Tahoe Village or Tahoe City terminus.
The Truckee River Legacy Trail follows a scenic portion of the river for 5 miles.Courtesy Photo |
Miles: ≈ 6 miles one way
Must stops: – Fanny Bridge & Lake Tahoe Dam – Photo-op at Truckee River bridge crossing near Olympic Village turn off – River Ranch Lodge & Restaurant – Take Palisades Tahoe’s Aerial Tram for the views and visit the Olympic Museum
South Tahoe
From a vibrant city scene to breathtaking nature escapes, South Tahoe offers the best of both worlds. The region has a generous network of bike paths, making getting behind the handlebars a great way to explore all the area has to offer with the following major paths.
South Tahoe Bikeway
Meander across a significant portion of South Tahoe on this path, with the lake often just a stone’s throw away for a significant portion of the ride. The path wanders through the lively downtown district of the City of South Lake Tahoe to a serene terminus near Baldwin Beach. Note, this path is connected through a few on-street bike routes. Follow the map or look for signs for those connections.
The South Tahoe Bikeway if often a stone’s throw away from Lake Tahoe.Tribune file photo |
Miles: ≈9 miles one way
Must stops – Any of the five beaches along this route, including Lakeview Commons, Kiva Beach, and Baldwin Beach – Taylor Creek Visitor Center – Tallac Historic Site – Camp Richardson
Meyers Bikeway
This route heads south, away from the City of South Lake Tahoe and towards the small, charming town of Meyers. By traveling away from the city and lake, the path leaves the busyness behind and brings in quiet and tranquil stops, including meadows and ponds. This can be done in a one-hour out-and-back if you’re quick!
The Meyers Bikeway is a peaceful path that heads to the town of Meyers from South Lake Tahoe.Heavenly Mountain Resort set for earlier summer hours
Miles: ≈6 miles one way
Must stops – Sawmill Pond – Tahoe Paradise Park – Stop by Meyers’ charming downtown for drinks, live music, markets, and a bite to eat
Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway
Once envisioned as a four-lane freeway, this stretch of land took on a very different purpose. The greenway now provides a peaceful and scenic path lifted above meadows after freeway plans were halted due to environmental concerns. Intended to one day go from Meyers to Stateline, the current path consists of a moderate flat stretch that links neighborhoods as a quiet back way around South Lake Tahoe.
The Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway provides a peaceful backway around South Lake Tahoe. Zephyr Cove Tennis Club hosting Breakfast at Wimbledon doubles tournament Saturday
Miles: ≈ 4 miles one way
Must stops – Bijou Park – Lake Tahoe Community College – The path itself is a destination for its conservation, engineering design, creeks, and scenery
Lam Watah Nature Trail
A small network of paths wanders on the Nevada side of South Tahoe, venturing into protected meadows and beaches, and offers an option to go up in altitude if you want the exercise. Stores at the center of the network provide opportunities for the perfect pit stop. Biking this trail from the Stateline casinos is a great way to avoid paying for parking at Nevada Beach.
Miles: ≈1-2 mile segments
Must stops -Nevada Beach -Round Hill Pines Beach Resort -Burke Creek -Rabe Meadows Trailhead
Truckee
The Town of Truckee is located a short drive from the North Lake Tahoe region, perched right off Interstate 80 and the railroad. The historic town has enough stories, activities, and charm to earn a visit in its own right and a plentiful bike network to explore.
Truckee River Legacy Trail
Truckee’s highlight path never ventures from the namesake waterway, crossing a bridge and wandering from the Truckee Regional Park and deeper into nature. You can easily connect it to a path that takes you to downtown Truckee. Expect to see fishermen and folks floating the river on this stretch.
The Truckee River Legacy Trail follows a scenic portion of the river for 5 miles.Courtesy Photo |
Miles: ≈ 5 miles one way
Must stops: – River views and picnic opportunities – Truckee Bike Park – Smell the wildflowers – Fishing holes
Martis Valley Trail
This path connects two vibrant communities, starting at the Town of Truckee and connecting to the Northstar Village. It spans a variety of landscapes, from wide open meadows and brushlands with 360° mountain views, to weaving through forests. Nature and scenery are not in short supply on this path.
The Martis Valley Trail passes through an open valley with mountain views before winding through pine trees.
Counting on continuity: Salmon takes over South Tahoe girls soccer program
Miles: ≈ 5 miles one way
Must stops: – Explore deeper into Martis Valley on the handful of trails that shoot off the path – Northstar Village shops and restaurants – Eat lunch at a gazebo
Trout Creek Trail
If you’re pinched for time but in need of a nature reset, this is the perfect escape while not wandering too far from town. With a gentle slope uphill, you’re quickly thrust into pines and the gurgling tunes of Trout Creek.
Miles: ≈1.5 miles one way
Must stops: – A meditative sit in nature – Patio brew or coffee upon return to town
Connecting the dots with transit
If you’d like to connect two separate paths or regions but don’t feel comfortable biking on a busy road or highway, transit can provide a car-free solution to connect the dots. Transit lines such as Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (Truckee and North Lake) and Tahoe Transportation District (South Lake) offer FREE buses, all equipped with bike racks, and have routes that go across state lines. Regional Amtrak services to Truckee or South Lake Tahoe both accept bikes. Plan your trip with the Transit App or Google Maps.
Etiquette
These multi-use paths around the Truckee-Tahoe basin are meant not only for bikes, but also for walkers, scooters, and other modes. Here is a list of practices the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition encourages users to adopt while sharing these paths with others.
Bike on the right
Pass slowly on the left
Bike at an appropriate speed
Be kind to other users
Use lights when riding at night
Happy trails
Well, hopefully this gives you an idea of not only how easy it is to get around Tahoe on a bike, but also how it opens up many of Tahoe’s special experiences.
Be sure to utilize the interactive map pulled up through the QR code or accessed through tahoebike.org. The map has many resources, including point-to-point directions, construction alerts, bike parking, and bike shops.
Many paths also have air pumps and bike repair stations along the way.
It’s time to hit the pavement. Watch for pedestrians and wildlife, and of course—enjoy!
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 edition of Tahoe Magazine.
Prostate cancer affects about 1 in 8 men in the United States. Highly treatable when caught early, regular screenings for prostate cancer and early detection are key to good outcomes.
Annual wellness visits with your primary care physician for routine screenings, in addition to family health history tracking, are the best way to find health issues early when treatment can be most successful.
Unfortunately, research shows men are overwhelmingly less likely to visit their primary care provider than women. Each September, during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, I encourage you to take stock of your preventative health: schedule your annual exam and any overdue health screenings.
Prostate cancer is detected with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a follow-up prostate biopsy. Elevated PSA levels may also indicate a benign prostate condition or inflammation/ infection in the prostate.
When and if you need a PSA test depends on your age, personal health history, and risk — work with your care team to understand if you are due for a PSA test during your annual wellness exam.
Preventing Prostate Cancer: Although there is no secret trick to staying cancer-free, there are ways to lower your chances of getting prostate cancer:
– Eat fruits and vegetables every day: include tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage.
– Save high-fat meals and high-fat dairy for special occasions: limit foods like hamburgers, sausage, cheese, and ice cream. Instead eat lean meats, fish, and low-fat or nonfat dairy foods.
– Use caution with calcium: too much calcium may raise your risk for prostate cancer slightly. Normal amounts of calcium in dairy foods and drinks are fine. But talk with your healthcare provider before you take calcium supplements.
– Find ways to move more: pick physical activities you enjoy and can see yourself doing for at least 30 minutes on most days.
– Stay at a weight that supports your health goals: extra weight is linked to a higher risk for a more serious type of prostate cancer. Choosing healthy foods and adding movement to each day will help.
Annual wellness exams, including regular health screenings, in addition to proactive communications with your care team are important pieces of prostate cancer prevention and detection.
Dr. Miriam Locke is a board-certified urologist treating men and women for a variety of urological issues, including prostate cancer, at Barton Urology in South Lake Tahoe. To learn more about available urological services, call 530.543.5400 or visit BartonHealth.org.
Welcome back to Ask Talie Jane, where thoughtful design meets real life. I’m Talie, your design insider and go-to for smart tips, creative solutions, and ways to make your home both beautiful and functional.
Today’s hot topic: Kitchens are Getting a Colorful Makeover
For years, kitchens have played it safe: white cabinets, gray countertops and enough stainless steel to make a restaurant jealous. But in 2026, homeowners are finally saying goodbye to the bland kitchen and hello to color.
Bold cabinetry is leading the charge. Deep green, navy blue, warm terracotta and even cheerful yellow are finding their way onto kitchen walls and cupboards. The goal is to make the kitchen feel less like a purely practical workspace and more like the heart of the home.
And color isn’t stopping at the cabinets. Colorful appliances are making a comeback, from retro-inspired refrigerators to brightly finished mixers and toasters. Even kitchen islands are getting in on the fun, often painted in a contrasting shade to create a dramatic focal point.
We’re also pairing bold colors with natural materials such as wood, stone and woven textures. The combination keeps colorful kitchens feeling warm and sophisticated rather than overwhelming.
For those more cautious, there’s no need to paint the entire kitchen electric blue. A colorful backsplash, a few vintage stools or open shelves filled with bright ceramics can make a surprisingly big impact.
The trend reflects a broader shift toward personality in interior design. Instead of copying a picture-perfect kitchen from social media, homeowners are choosing colors and materials that actually reflect who they are.
After years of playing it safe, it seems the kitchen is finally having some fun. And perhaps that’s fitting: the room where we cook, gather, celebrate and occasionally burn dinner deserves a little personality!
Have a design or construction question? Send it to Natalie@TalieJaneInteriors.com, and you might see it answered right here in the next column.
Talie Jane is the Owner and Principal Designer of Talie Jane Interiors, an award-winning, full-service design firm serving the Lake Tahoe and Napa/Sonoma regions. She is also the co-owner of Talie Jane Construction, a design-driven general contracting firm specializing in luxury remodels.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The City of South Lake Tahoe will begin construction on Phase 2 of the El Dorado Beach Revetment and Improvement Project on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Phase 2 work will include removal of the existing plastic sandbags that have functioned as temporary shoreline-stabilizing barriers and replacing them with a rock revetment, a structure that stabilizes the shoreline. The work will also include backfilling the area with sand to maintain a beach area, trimming exposed geotextile fabric, and repairing the boulder revetment on the east side of the beach. Construction is anticipated to be completed by October 15, 2026. The schedule may extend beyond October 15 depending on construction progress, weather conditions, and permitting agency approvals.
El Dorado Beach closureProvided / City of SLT
During construction, the following areas will be closed to the public:
El Dorado Beach
Lakeview Commons
El Dorado beach boat ramp
Lakeview Commons/Boat Ramp parking lot
The project contractor will install temporary fencing around the upper portion of Lakeview Commons and the Lakeview Commons/Boat Ramp parking lot. While construction will occur primarily on El Dorado Beach, the City is restricting access to a larger area to secure the work zone, providing space for construction staging and equipment, and to maintain public safety.
The El Dorado Beach Revetment and Improvement Project is a three-phase effort to stabilize the shoreline at El Dorado Beach, protect existing Lakeview Commons infrastructure, and preserve community access to the beach. All project phases are being designed in consultation with agency partners, including the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. All work completed in Phase 2 is anticipated to be incorporated into the future Phase 3, which will address the long-term stabilization design solution for El Dorado Beach.
All three phases of the project are intended to reduce shoreline erosion and sedimentation, support compliance with water quality standards, and help protect Lake Tahoe’s beneficial uses.
“This work is an important step in protecting the El Dorado Beach shoreline, Lakeview Commons infrastructure, and Lake Tahoe’s water quality,” said Hilary Roverud, City Manager. We appreciate the community’s patience during this temporary closure as the City completes these needed improvements.”
By the end of the 2023 season, the once-proud North Tahoe football team had been down in wins and participation for the better part of two decades. The sophomore-led varsity finished 0-9, this after the class endured a winless record as freshmen on JV the year prior. Without a single taste of victory, frustrations boiled.
“Everyone talked about quitting,” said head coach Ryan Brolliar, referencing a closed-door team meeting held the summer before the next season. “There were tears shed, profanities back and forth. I said, ‘We’re not leaving this room until all you guys are in or all you guys are out.’”
From that day forward the Lakers were, quite literally, all in. Soon after, players and coaches embarked together on a journey to a no-frills camp in the middle of nowhere in Northern California where a Navy SEAL awaited to whip them into a cohesive unit.
“It was five days of no cell phones, no parents, no friends, just football,” Brolliar recounted. “We had a sandlot field and the Navy Seal kicked our butt. We were playing in the dark some nights. We worked through things. It was so much fun.”
North Tahoe came together. And in the fifth game of the ’24 season, the team broke through with a win, finally tasting the sweet satisfaction of victory with a 26-14 triumph over West Wendover.
“It was like we won the championship,” Brolliar said of the moment that had been months in the making,
The momentum led to two more victories that season and catapulted the Lakers to a historic 2025 campaign. For only the second time in 20-plus years, and two years removed from going 0-9, the Lakers finished the season with a winning record. The team battled to a 5-3 regular season, trouncing Yerington 34-0 in the final game to earn a spot in the NIAA 2A football championships.
“I’ll never forget the announcer over the PA after the game — ‘Ladies and gentlemen, the Lakers are going to the playoffs,’” Brolliar relayed. “It was awesome.”
HEAD COACH: Ryan Brolliar (second coach from left) spreads the stoke at a recent North Tahoe practice.
2026 Season Preview
This fall marks Brolliar’s fifth year as head coach, and under his watch the rising Lakers tide has lifted the program’s boats. But with 18 seniors graduated-and-gone from last year’s breakthrough team, North Tahoe will once again be young. Fifteen juniors will be called upon for the bulk of the productivity, the squad’s lone senior coming in the form of starting safety, kicker, and punter Chemo Anselmo-Arrieta.
Hawkin Anderson’s high football IQ, footspeed, and quick release have him slated to start at quarterback. He’ll look to find tight end Charlie Blair and tight end/receiver Axl Fant, both of whom, like many on the small, special-ops-like 25-man roster, will play “ironman football,” contributing on offense as well as defense.
Running back/linebacker Ian Dohner will carry a heavy load, and Gael Servin will anchor the offensive and defensive lines. Matthew Rosenfeld will lead the defense from his middle linebacker spot while adding strength to the offensive side of the ball at the fullback position.
The Laker offense looks to establish the run game with physicality at the line of scrimmage, and the defense is designed to allow players to play on instinct. “It’s a lot of see ball, get ball,” Brolliar explained.
The team put together a solid fall camp and fared well at home in their Aug. 15 jamboree (organized scrimmage), scoring three times against Chico-area Hamilton High School, while also playing stout defense, including tallying an interception.
But the path into the regular season won’t be easy.
North Tahoe opens with three straight games on the road. It all starts this Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Quincy against the Trojans of the Mid Valley League. The tough nonconference schedule continues the next week against Highlands of the historically strong Sierra Delta League. After a bye, the Lakers open 2A Northern League play at Coral Academy (Reno) on Sept. 12.
North Tahoe’s first home game will take place Sept. 18 under the lights against the Incline Highlanders.
“Incline is our rival,” Brolliar said. “It’s the only game that we get portable lights for every year. Friday night lights. We also make sure it’s our homecoming game.”
The next two weeks are also at home, against Pershing County (Lovelock) Sept. 26 and West Wendover Oct. 3. The regular season’s finale is Friday Oct. 29 at Yerington, but the Lakers’ goal is for that to not be the final time they put on shoulder pads to compete against a foe in a different colored jersey.
“We’re young, but we’re going to mess some stuff up,” Brolliar said. “There’s not a junior class that’s better [than ours]. We are a playoff caliber team.”
READYING FOR THE SEASON: The 2026 Lakers, seen here warming up before practice, are led by 15 juniors on their 25-man roster.
Blue Blood
Brolliar has been around North Tahoe football so much in his life, it’s practically in his DNA. His father, Dave Brolliar, taught P.E and was the team’s head coach for much of the 1980s, guiding the Lakers, among other achievements, to the Nevada 2A state title in 1986.
Ryan was nine years old that year, and he served as the team’s waterboy. “I remember the emotion,” he said of the celebration after the championship victory. “People just hugging, crying. I was a young kid. I was like, ‘wow.’”
The feeling of awe surrounding the game of football stuck with him, and the young Brolliar grew up bleeding North Tahoe blue. When he got to high school, he became a great player himself, a Laker known for making plays all over the field. His senior year in 1995, he earned first team all-league honors as a quarterback and first team all-state accolades as a defensive back.
The team was going strong. But after decades of success and stability, the school’s enrollment and the football team’s numbers both dwindled, so much so that the Lakers had to cancel the 2014 season. A revolving door of three coaches in three years further damaged the once-proud team. There was serious talk of completely cutting the program.
That’s when longtime head coach Scott Everist reached out to the old quarterback. “He called me and basically told me it was time to move back home,” Brolliar said.
After over 20 years of teaching, coaching, and playing music professionally in San Diego, the coach’s son returned to his roots to revive the Lakers football team.
Brolliar came back to Tahoe without even having set up a day job to pay the bills. But his bold actions were met with fortune; within three weeks, the North Tahoe physical education teaching position opened up. Brolliar was qualified. He applied and got the job. “Now I’m in my dad’s old office,” he mused, “teaching P.E. and coaching football.”
That might just be about as full circle as it gets.
“When I moved back, people didn’t even know we had a football team,” said the coach, again remembering the talk of cutting the program. “The kids are excited. We’re back, and we’re not going anywhere.”
We begin our exploration of the celestial energies with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. This beloved annual occurrence, active until Aug. 24, is a beautiful invitation to spend an evening beneath the cosmos. As shooting stars streak across the night sky, connect in your heart with all the other human beings making wishes at the same time.
Astrologically, we arrive at the midpoint of summer with an abundance of fire energy as Mercury, Jupiter, the sun, and south node all transit in Leo. On Aug 15, Mercury conjoins Jupiter in this heart-centered sign, creating opportunity for expansive, truthful, and courageous expression.
Energies may turn wonky on Aug. 17 as Mars in Cancer squares Neptune retrograde in Aries. Mars, the planet of action and forward movement, generally feels uncomfortable in Cancer’s nurturing waters, and Neptune can dissolve certainty and blur the path ahead. Fortunately, Venus in her home sign of Libra sextiles Jupiter that day, bringing grace, open-mindedness, and support for peaceful resolutions.
On Aug. 22 the sun conjoins the south node in Leo before moving into Mercury–ruled Virgo the following day. Mercury follows suit, joining first the south node on Aug. 25 before meeting the sun in Virgo for a cazami on Aug. 27. Together, these alignments encourage the release of old identities and outdated stories, allowing more authentic patterns to emerge. We also experience a full moon lunar eclipse in Pisces the same day.
Jupiter trines Saturn retrograde in Aries on Aug. 31, bringing optimism to the work of structure and discipline. However, that supportive energy shifts quickly as Mars squares Saturn on Sept.1. Allow this transit to reveal habits, fears, and reactions that are ready to be transformed, remembering that impatience rarely produces lasting results.
NATURAL MAGIC
To support healing, create an ancestral water-and-fire offering for the Mars-Saturn square. In a safe outside place, light an orange or red candle; fill a bowl with spring water; add rosemary, rose petals, and cedar fronds. Then sit quietly and ask: What ancestral patterns around action, anger, protection, and survival am I ready to complete?
Feel what arises, and write three patterns onto separate pieces of paper. Burn one piece and place its ashes into the bowl. Place a second, unburned, into the bowl among the plant beings. Place the third beneath the bowl of water. Blow out your candle and leave the ritual outside overnight. In the morning, offer the water, ashes, plants, and paper to your garden or compost as a prayer to the earth and to all those that came before you. Trust in the magic of healing
It started on July 3 in my Carnelian Bay neighborhood. Eighty-five percent of the houses are short-term vacation rentals and second homes, which are normally filled up with families on the Fourth of July holiday.
But this Independence Day was the first of its kind. Because not only was it a major milestone celebrating the birth of America, but the influx of visitors flooding the streets weren’t families — it was a teen/college kids takeover.
Suddenly every house in my neighborhood was full of sorority and frat-house-like renters, drinking out of red solo cups and playing cornhole in the streets. And then the crowds kept growing.
By July 4 at 1 p.m., every beach in North Lake Tahoe was packed with an overwhelming number of young people roughly the same age. Most of the girls were dressed in thong bikinis and many guys were in American flag board shorts, no shirts.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office shut down Tahoe City’s Skylandia and Bristlecone beaches by 4 p.m. due to underage drinking, significant traffic impacts, and widespread littering. More than a dozen California State Parks enforcement officers broke up the crowds in Kings Beach.
“We’ve caught multiple kids peeing on our fences and just tossing trash in the streets,” Kings Beach resident Amber Kramer posted to Facebook.
By the time the fireworks started, my neighborhood was eerily silent, all the houses abruptly abandoned by 11 p.m. By the next morning, everyone had vanished.
“It was like spring break around here … in the 20-plus years of living here, I’ve never seen anything like it,” my neighbor said on that (relatively) quiet morning of July 5.
I heard in the following days that San Francisco Bay Area high school and college students organized this. Parents rented the VRBOs and Airbnbs for their kids. Tik-Tok posts went viral weeks before the takeover.
Although the scene didn’t get out of control like the shooting that took place in Florida, large, random gatherings like this can pose a public safety threat.
Kings Beach business owners commented online that the crowds did not contribute to the downtown economy — no one went into the restaurants despite hordes of people hanging out in front of the Taco Bell at 10 p.m. that evening.
“Yes, it was bad for business, and yes, the streets and sidewalks are covered in trash and vomit. Definitely not fun,” a local Kings Beach business owner posted to Facebook.
Shortly after the busy weekend, a petition went out asking Placer County to publicly address what happened this Fourth of July. A few days later, Placer County District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson released a statement saying she was planning a meeting with agency representatives to talk about it.
I feel like this is a weak response.
Right now, neither the rental agencies nor homeowners are taking responsibility for these issues, so Placer County needs to implement penalties big enough to make owners think twice about who they are renting to or what their properties are being used for.
There are a lot of parking, noise, and trash issues that full-time North Tahoe residents deal with all summer from their short-term neighbors, and I have never seen or heard of an instance when rules have been enforced or penalties imposed. Placer County does have a 24/7 short-term rental hotline number neighbors can call to address complaints, but in many cases the vacationers are just given a slap on the wrist or a warning, and a new crop of visitors comes the following weekend. I’ve never heard of an STR getting shut down.
Considering we’re nearing the end of summer, I think Placer County should publish a statement this fall that contains: 1) an analysis of what happened this Fourth of July; 2) a plan emphasizing how parking/trash/noise regulations will start being heavily enforced beginning June 1, 2027; and 3) share a report of how many complaints were recorded and how they were addressed in the summer of 2026.
If this is a problem that affects you, too, sign the petition. Write Cindy Gustafson. And Placer County, please take residents’ complaints seriously and do something about them.
~ Kayla Anderson is a freelance writer and coauthor of Moon Travel Guides’ Best of California State Parks and Northern California Road Trips. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from CSU, Chico, and has been a North Lake Tahoe resident for the past 20 years.
Every summer, Lake Tahoe’s transportation challenges become impossible to ignore. Gridlocked roads, full parking lots, and unsafe parking along busy highways are the visible signs of a problem that dozens of agencies have spent decades trying to solve.
Gavin Feiger, policy director for Keep Tahoe Blue, put it like this:
“Transportation in Tahoe has been one of the largest contributors to clarity decline. It has one of the biggest impacts on the environment and on our day-to-day lives. It’s a huge issue that we haven’t been able to crack as a region yet. We’re tackling aquatic invasive species. We’re doing restoration projects. Development is getting more sustainable and it’s limited. Growth is capped. We’ve done all these things, but we just haven’t worked out transportation yet.”
Part of that, he explained, is the cost. Transportation systems not only include creating bike lanes and trails and shuttles, but also “everything under the street.”
MILE AFTER MILE: Nevada’s state Route 28, which runs from the California state line in Crystal Bay following Lake Tahoe to halfway down its East Shore, sees 2.6 million vehicles annually and over one million recreational visitors.
The Lake Tahoe Regional Transportation Plan, developed by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and intended to address water and air quality, scenic and recreation sources, noise levels, and more through a Basin-wide system, puts the total unfunded priorities of the plan at $20 million annually for the next 20 years. Some say that number is on the low end.
“There’s not one big thing that can solve it,” Feiger said. “It’s not like we can go to Sen. [Alex] Padilla and be like, we need the Sen. Padilla Tahoe Transportation Bill, and build a giant bridge, and name it after him. We need $20 million a year for transit operations that will be spread amongst five different agencies. That’s a hard act.”
While a Basin-wide transportation solution remains years away, local agencies are making progress on one piece of the puzzle: parking. This summer, several projects aim to improve access and safety while reducing congestion at some of Tahoe’s busiest destinations.
We touch on the efforts, as well as significant snags, below.
rAguably the most critical player when it comes to all things transportation in Tahoe is the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD). When the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact, which unites California, Nevada, and the U.S. government to manage the shared region, was amended in 1980, it established the TTD.
“That does put us in a pretty unique position because our jurisdiction is the Basin,” said Tara Styer, deputy director for TTD. “We’re able to leverage funding across state lines, and then we’re also able to implement those projects that are across jurisdictions … It takes a bit for everyone to be rowing in the same direction, but having that governing document really helps to have something to point back to.”
In July 2020, TTD began its Park Tahoe program, intended to aid what many see as a long-needed holistic and equitable approach to parking management in the Tahoe Basin. The first area of interest for the program: state Route 28, the famous two-lane highway along the Nevada side of the lake.
LOT FULL: A lack of enforcement capacity along state Route 28 has led to people parking in paid lots as well as continuing to park along the shoulder of the two-lane highway, even in no parking zones.
Park Tahoe was launched the same day as the Tahoe East Shore Trailhead, north of Ponderosa Ranch Road in Incline Village, which offers 90 metered parking spots away from — and this is critical — the shoulder of SR 28. This first lot was Phase 1 of the North Parking Project. Phase 2 is actively underway, with the relocation of 38 shoulder-parked vehicles to an official lot.
Parking along the shoulder of SR 28 is a very popular approach for those looking to visit various beaches. Numbers have doubled in the last 15 years. It’s also, as Styer said, a huge safety risk.
“The last shoulder counts we did in 2024, we looked at a midweek day, and we looked at two Saturdays, usually late July, early August,” Styer said. “We had 970 shoulder-parked vehicles on a summer Saturday in August.” With an average of three people per vehicle, plus bikes, this can mean over 3,000 people on a summer day using the state highway like a sidewalk or parking lot.
Shoulder parking is the leading cause of crashes on SR 28. From an environmental perspective, shoulder parking increases erosion along highway embankments and into Lake Tahoe.
The day-use reservation system at Sand Harbor State Park, implemented August 2024, is an attempt to reduce congestion by limiting the number of vehicles trying to enter the park during peak morning hours. From mid-May through September, visitors must make a reservation if they want to enter the park between 8 and 10:30 a.m. After that, remaining spots are available on a first come, first served basis. “Out of the 400 reservable spots, we are still able to let in 20 to 50 vehicles,” wrote Tyler Kerver of the Nevada Division of State Parks in an email, noting that the number varies with weather, holidays, and the day of the week. “The gates to the main parking lot are usually closed by 11 a.m. June through August.”
Progress is piecemeal, and people are still parking their cars along SR 28, shifting locations as signs marking no-parking zones go up. “As we implement these projects throughout the corridor, it’s sort of a whack-a-mole effect,” Styer said. “Anything south of Secret Harbor is still technically not no parking. Although it’s not safe and a lot of people are parking over the fog line [the white stripe along the outside of a paved road].”
A significant parking lot option became available this June: The Chimney Beach Trailhead, which offers about 130 spaces, each for $12 a day. The site improvements include a pedestrian crosswalk across SR 28. In order to open up, a permit granted by the TRPA to the U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), required, “The no parking zone on SR-28 shall be extended around Chimney Beach Parking lot prior to the new parking lot being open to the public. The area of no parking shall be consistent with the area identified in the project [environmental assessment]. LTBMU shall coordinate with partners who are responsible for enforcing no parking along the corridor.”
CHIMNEY BEACH: The new parking lot on U.S. Forest Service land offers about 130 spots, each for $12 a day. According to the Tahoe Transportation District, the lot fills up on weekends, but not as much during weekdays (while shoulder parking on state Route 28 stays consistent).
Basically, TRPA was asserting that roughly 130 shoulder parking spots along the highway south of Sand Harbor could be blocked off with no-parking signs, since those cars now have a place to park.
That’s what was supposed to happen.
“The signs went up, there’s [a memorandum of understanding] in place [but] nobody has capacity to do the enforcement,” Feiger said. This has lead to cars not only parking at Chimney Beach, but also, on high-demand days, still parking along the shoulder, despite signage.
However, TRPA Public Information Officer Jeff Cowen says “the new no-parking zone along the Chimney Beach section of the corridor is largely working. NHP has been ticketing. Our [Environmental Improvement Program] manager drove through the corridor [on Wednesday, Aug. 5], and there were a number of cars parked in the corridor, but none in the new no-parking zone.
“There have been issues on very busy days, including the Fourth of July, and times when law enforcement resources are spread out.”
Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) confirmed with Moonshine its staffing is stretched thin. “We’re doing saturation patrols as necessary, focusing on weekends and holidays, trying to get extra staff up there to deal with parking issues,” said Trooper James LaRose, public information officer for NHP.
From January to June 3, 2025, NHP investigated 25 crashes and issued 26 traffic citations and eight parking citations.
The same timeframe for 2026 saw 19 crashes, 34 traffic citations, and 29 parking citations.
“You’d think it would be common sense that people can’t park in the travel lane or block traffic,” LaRose said. “Apparently it’s not and we end up with a lot of people with part of their car still in the travel lane.”
“It’s not like we can go to Sen. Padilla and be like, we need the Sen. Padilla Tahoe Transportation Bill, and build a giant bridge, and name it after him. We need $20 million a year for transit operations that will be spread amongst five different agencies. That’s a hard act.”
~ Gavin Feiger, policy director for Keep Tahoe Blue
He added that officers will drive through using a PA system, letting drivers know they can’t be parked in the travel lane, can’t have their vehicles protrude — “even the mirror over the line” — and asking them to move their vehicles. After the announcement, they’ll come and issue citations.
“If it’s too egregious, we’ll call for a tow truck,” he added.
“We’re very frustrated,” Feiger said of the situation. “And it’s the same permit conditions and the same process for the Spooner lot [which will provide 250 spots and is expected to come online fall 2027]. It’s going to be the same one for the Secret Harbor lot [which is facing a $13-million funding gap for the 120 spots], like all of them. This has to be successful.”
Legislation recently passed in Nevada and a companion bill on the California side could help with this hurdle.
Nevada’s SB 426, passed June 2025, created the Lake Tahoe Basin Scenic Byway Corridor Recreation Safety Zone, spanning Nevada highways and state routes in the Tahoe region, to establish traffic control and parking measures, as well as the development of parking enforcement and citation issuance between the TTD and law enforcement agencies.
The transportation district’s Styer said that while the legislation is in effect, operationalization will take time. She did say the district is in communication with NHP over how the two agencies can coordinate. “We don’t necessarily want to staff someone who’s on the corridor writing tickets. We’d rather leave that in law enforcement’s capable hands … [and possibly do something] similar to the approach that has been taken in Emerald Bay where agencies are funding overtime for CHP.”
TTD’s projects are primarily federally and state-funded, as well as locally, largely from the Tahoe Fund. The money collected through parking meters (aside from a percentage that goes to USFS from parking on federal land) go back into local coffers.
SAND HARBOR is a premier destination for those visiting or living in the Tahoe Basin. To help reduce congestion on state Route 28, the state park instituted a reservation system in 2024, to run from mid-May through September, for entry between 8 and 10:30 a.m. Traffic backs up during those hours, as seen in the bottom photo, and the parking lot is usually closed by 11 a.m.
California’s AB 2679, meanwhile, went before the Senate Committee on Appropriations on Aug. 3 and was placed in a suspense file, to be reviewed in detail for its potential fiscal impact. The bill proposes the Tahoe Transportation Safety Act, which would effectively mimic the Nevada bill by, in part, authorizing TTD to address unsafe parking and pedestrian movement in the Basin.
Raising the price of fines for illegal parking is a more recent solution implemented because up until recently, they simply haven’t been a successful deterrent.
“We’ve been out there doing surveys, doing enforcement with highway patrol, and they’ll tow a car and another car will pull right in,” Feiger said. “The highway patrol person will be like, ‘Did you just see that [the other car got a ticket]?’ And they’re like, ‘How much is the ticket?’ ‘Hundred bucks.’ They’re like, ‘Oh, okay. Fine.’”
El Dorado County in June increased penalties for illegal parking along state highways from $50 to $300 per occurrence. On the Nevada side, the max fine for parking in a no-parking zone is $305, while parking over the fog line incurs a $538 fine.
In South Lake, a new vision is unfolding for what the Tahoe Basin could become as parking management expands: Keep Tahoe Blue’s Car-Free, Care-Free Tahoe, which kicked off this past June. The concept imagines a future where someone can park their car and use interconnected transit options (buses, shuttles, bike paths, scooters, etc.) to reach any destination around Tahoe.
“It was designed to kind of encapsulate all of our transportation efforts,” Feiger said, pointing to ongoing advocating for funding, providing input on the regional transportation plan, getting legislation passed, and so on. And not only the work Keep Tahoe Blue is doing, but also its partners’ work.
A key example is the Emerald Bay Shuttle, run by TTD and piloted last summer through funding from Keep Tahoe Blue and the Tahoe Fund to reduce congestion and pollution, and provide alternative parking options in one of the most visited spots around the lake. Along with the shuttle implementation, which started its 2026 season in late June for $5 one way (reduced fare options available), TTD is installing about 400 feet of temporary barriers along the shoulder. California Highway Patrol promises strict enforcement of parking regulations. Last summer, enforcement wrote 248 citations, issued 13 moving violations, and had 10 vehicles towed.
There has been a lot of good feedback, Styer said about the shuttle, and the partnerships have produced momentum. Beyond that, groups are addressing operational hiccups. “We do not have a formalized crosswalk in Emerald Bay,” she continued. “I think that could be really beneficial. And the speed limit through there is still pretty high, so, you know, those types of things — working with Caltrans.”
Other programs falling under the Car Free, Care Free Tahoe umbrella: the South Shore Transportation Management Association and its 30 different funders (including many local businesses) that helped launch microtransit shuttle Lake Link in 2022. Or Heavenly Ski Resort, which increased its shuttle service in 2024.
“We see this as a way for us to really share that it’s better,” Feiger said. “We have options now. It wasn’t this way for a lot of years, but it’s getting so much better now. And the biggest thing is people need to just get out there and get on the paths, ride the buses. That’s the best thing you can do to support this, so that’s what we’re trying to make happen.”
While this is a vision that will ideally spread around the lake in terms of transit connection, he added that South Shore is the closest to achieving such a goal in Tahoe.
On the North Shore, Placer County is focused on expanding its paid parking program in Kings Beach. Starting May 1, the West End and Rainbow lots began charging vehicles $10 per day, with a $20 holiday rate, through September. These two lots joined the Christmas Tree and Brook Avenue locations, which saw fee increases to a daily rate of $20, with a holiday rate of $40.
Local businesses initially pushed the program to take off in summer 2024 with the Christmas Tree lot pilot program, increasing parking turnover a major goal.
STATE HIGHWAY OR PARKING LOT: In 2024, an estimated 970 cars a day parked on the SR 28 shoulder on a Saturday in August, a huge safety risk and environmental detriment. Tahoe agencies are trying to fix that and more when it comes to parking around the Basin.
“I think one of the frustrations our business owners had in certain areas was that people would park and go to the beach all day, and then there wouldn’t be room for their patrons to come in and access their businesses,” said Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson. “So, the paid parking does help modify behavior and hopefully help people make the decision to be somewhat inconvenient to either walk or ride a bike or call a micro mass transit bus.”
During the first full year of the paid parking program’s pilot, 2025, 595 citations were issued, bringing in roughly $42,000 in revenue, and $43,000 in paid lot fees. Yet expenditures far outweighed the intake: staff cost about $175,000, and contracts $65,000.
“We want it to become self-sustaining,” Gustafson said, “and so we need more in the paid parking program to make it self-sustained. But we have issued a lot of citations. I think over 300 citations, and over 200 warnings [since May 1].”
Such a program for Tahoe City is undergoing staff discussion and community outreach.
Not everyone believes adding parking is the right solution. While agencies are implementing new restrictions and adding infrastructure in the name of safety and environmental protection, some residents argue the Basin has already reached its limits. Steve Dolan, who lived in Incline Village for 23 years and founded the Friends of Third Creek nonprofit, which monitors North Shore watersheds, sees the addition of parking lots and continued development — even with strict codes — as adding to an area that’s already at capacity.
“There’s a limit to what this beautiful emerald of the Sierra can accommodate,” he told Moonshine. “There’s just a limit.”
Dolan wants a moratorium placed in the Basin to stall rapid growth — which, according to TRPA, already boasts 15 million visitors annually and a $5-billion economy.
“At any given time, the number of people that can stay in the parks, camping, in houses as guests, in hotels that exist, and in hotels that are being built, and in developments that are being developed already to this day, that’s too many people,” he said. “We need to stop that now and adjust to it.”
There are also those — especially locals — who find themselves having to pay for parking where it used to be free and are frustrated by that. Styer has heard as much, and said she understands the parking changes aren’t welcomed by everyone.
“I know that it’s a transition,” she said. “It’s a transition for me as well. But the parking revenues are returned to the operations and maintenance within the corridor, and I think that that’s really key. We’re looking at a corridor that didn’t have, in my opinion, adequate facilities. Just adding restrooms along the corridor has been really critical. Allowing Waste Management, having those parking ambassadors at Secret and Chimney this summer to help manage the trash. I think that all of those are huge benefits.”
“There’s a limit to what this beautiful emerald of the Sierra can accommodate. There’s just a limit.”
~ Steve Dolan, former Incline Village resident and
founder of Friends of Third Creek nonprofit
Feiger emphasized the environmental benefits, saying that limiting parking is one of the most effective ways to shift driving behavior by encouraging carpooling or transit use or maybe deciding not to take a trip at all.
“One of the cool things about Tahoe is that all of our locals, all of our residents and our visitors — we’re all going to and from the same places,” he said. “So, a system that works for visitors will also work for our residents. If we can get more visitors out of their cars, it makes it easier for our employees to get around who maybe have to use their cars.”
Gustafson points to being prepared within reason for a future that could see increased visitation: “I think with climate change, we have to be prepared that as temperatures get hotter, the evidence is here: More people come to recreate in the High Sierra. Some of that’s Lake Tahoe, some of it is rivers and streams … My job is to make sure we’re looking ahead and trying to prepare for that and find solutions that can help us live together more amicably. We don’t have the infrastructure for the millions of more Californians and Nevadans there are within drive-up range, and I don’t know that we should pave paradise for that.”
