Shawn McLaughlin has just completed his first year as volleyball head coach at Lehigh University Provided/Shawn McLaughlin
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – For Shawn McLaughlin, a South Lake Tahoe native, being part of a team was something that came naturally.
Growing up in Tahoe, McLaughlin was accustomed to community involvement, watching as his father coached track and eventually varsity volleyball as the head coach at George Whittell High School.
“I used to joke that I was the youngest assistant coach in the country,” said McLaughlin. “I would just go around and help him keep stats.”
McLaughlin’s father was extremely successful as head volleyball coach, going on to win several state championships over his 18-year run at both Whittell and South Tahoe High Schools, allowing McLaughlin the opportunity to find interest in following in his footsteps.
Playing volleyball throughout his school years, McLaughlin was also part of a junior club team in the Bay Area before going on to play varsity volleyball at Lindenwood University in St. Louis.
After graduating from college, McLaughlin started volunteer coaching at a number of different schools including UC Davis, University of Nevada, Reno, University of the Incarnate Word, and more all around the country.
“My dad had a huge impact on my wanting to coach,” McLaughlin said, and pretty early on, he determined that a career in education was the direction he wanted to go in. “Volleyball is my means, in education, in growth and learning. I’ve always loved that element and I think that’s part of the reason that coaching has gone the way it’s gone.”
Among McLaughlin’s accomplishments, he brought many teams to their national tournaments through the club ranks. In addition, he won gold in 2014 at the USA Volleyball Junior National in 14’s USA. In terms of college, he’s been coaching for 15 years, winning several conference championships and attending the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament several times.
En route to becoming a Division I (D-I) coach, the opportunity presented itself in the form of his father running a club and bringing in college coaches.
“One of the coaches he brought in was Jamie Holmes, she was at UC Davis. I approached her and said ‘How do I get into this?’ and she said, ‘come be my volunteer,'” said McLaughlin. “It was a great start to my program and a great start to my career and that pushed me into the rest of it.”
McLaughlin is now in his first headcoaching opportunity at Lehigh University, a D-I school in Pennsylvania, and with his first year completed, the competitive program is allowing him to utilize the skills he’s learned over the years assisting other D-I coaches. “Now this is my opportunity to be super successful and to run my own ship.”
McLaughlin aims to focus on the development of the holistic student athleteProvided/Shawn McLaughlin
Despite suffering a major injury, his team was still able to overcome adversity and make it to the Patriot League Tournament, an unprecedented accomplishment for Lehigh.
“I think 2026 could be a really fun year for this team,” added McLaughlin, and with seven seniors on the team, they are striving to be victorious.
Although McLaughlin is now soaring high as head coach, he doesn’t forget his roots, and continues to return to South Lake Tahoe every Christmas.
“[South Lake Tahoe] is one of the best places in the world to grow up. It’s also a very active community,” McLaughlin said. “It’s just home. It still feels like home to me.”
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Juice It Up, a brand known for smoothies, bowls and fresh-pressed juices, opened a limited kiosk operation inside Cascade Kitchens Food Hall in early December. The location is operating as a three-month test while owners work toward securing the final details for a full-scale store in the north part of town.
The kiosk model allows customers to order at the kiosk itself (or via their app, even the day before), with smoothies and food prepared fresh behind the scenes. While the setup lacks some of the full juicing equipment used in permanent locations, the husband-and-wife ownership team of Rebekah and Don Havard say it serves as a way to introduce the brand, build regular customers and demonstrate demand.
“This gives us a chance to prove the concept and not let the community down,” Rebekah said.
The decision to bring Juice It Up to Tahoe was influenced by nostalgia as much as opportunity. The owners were familiar with the brand from their years raising a family in Southern California, where Juice It Up first launched more than 30 years ago.
The brand’s menu focuses on smoothies, protein-rich drinks, acai bowls and toast options.Rob Galloway / Tahoe Daily Tribune
“It was always the place we went when we were running from one sports practice to another,” Rebekah added. “Juice It Up was always there as our stamp.”
After visiting family in Southern California, they were reminded of the business and felt it would be a fun addition to the food and beverage scene in Tahoe – an option that combines speed, convenience, healthy food, and a family-friendly feel.
If the kiosk proves viable, the plan would be to keep the location inside Cascade Kitchens, with a possibility of taking over a bay if one becomes available. But the overarching goal is to open their permanent location by summer, potentially sooner.
A full Juice It Up store would include fresh-pressed juices made on site from ingredients such as spinach, kale, apples and citrus, significantly expanding the menu beyond what the kiosk currently offers.
The brand’s menu focuses on smoothies, protein-rich drinks, acai bowls and toast options. Among the most popular items is “The Zone,” a smoothie containing 32 grams of protein marketed in-part toward customers seeking post-workout recovery. Seasonal and limited-time smoothies will also be available on a quarterly rotation.
Toast offerings include strawberry peanut butter crunch, avocado “everything” toast and peanut butter banana toast served on sourdough bread.
In addition to the Tahoe Juice It Up operation, Rebekah and Don are also the same ownership team behind several other local food businesses, including Chicken in a Barrel and The Baked Bear. While juggling multiple concepts can be demanding, the couple credit experienced managers and staff for making it possible.
“We wouldn’t survive without our team,” Rebekah said. “They care about the food, the customers and the environment. That makes all the difference.”
Beyond in-store sales, Juice It Up is also promoting catering, mobile events and fundraising partnerships. The business can provide smoothies for offices, schools and events, including fundraisers where organizations earn a portion of sales. The franchise already meets nutritional requirements for school districts in California.
Customers who order through the app receive loyalty rewards and promotional offers and new users receive a free smoothie for signing up, with additional rewards earned through repeat purchases.
Despite launching during winter – traditionally a slower time for cold beverages – the kiosk has already developed regular customers and the food hall itself has seen increased traffic in recent weeks, particularly from large groups. Rebekah added that the shared space allows families and groups to order from multiple vendors while dining together – a key part of the food hall’s original vision.
“That’s exactly what this space was meant for,” she said. “Everyone can get what they want.”
For now, the focus remains on making the kiosk successful and building community support.
“Our hope is to make this a permanent part of Tahoe.”
Juice It Up is currently located inside Cascade Kitchens Food Hall and Bar in South Lake Tahoe, CA. For more information visit them online at cascadekitchenstahoe.com/restaurants/juice-it-up/ or look for them on their social media channels.
The recent closure of a California oil refinery — and plans to shutter another in the near future — have some experts warning of potential fuel shortages and price spikes in Nevada and other Western states that depend on the Golden State.
California supplies roughly 88 percent of Nevada’s fuel, including diesel and jet fuel. But Phillips 66 closed a refinery in the Los Angeles area in October, and earlier this year, Valero submitted a notice that it plans to close a Bay Area refinery by April 2026. Combined, the two refineries produce 284,000 barrels of oil per day, about 17 percent of the state’s refining capacity.
Though there are several reasons for refinery closures, it comes as California is trying to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, including by slashing oil use.
“If you limit the supply of fuel coming out of California, you’re going to see that cost increase,” Paul Enos, CEO of the Nevada Trucking Association, told The Nevada Independent. “The policies that they make there have an impact [on] every citizen of Nevada.”
Gov. Joe Lombardo has repeatedly raised concerns about Nevada’s fuel insecurity, framing it as a safety issue if shortages cripple transportation hubs or first responder operations. Along with the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security, Lombardo recently formed a fuel resiliency subcommittee that he said is designed to “develop long-term strategies that strengthen our infrastructure, diversify supply routes, and protect Nevada’s future.”
The potential for a rise in prices from the refinery closures is what will mitigate potential shortages, said Elliott Parker, professor and economics chair at UNR.
“You’ve got to get people to drive less if you have less supply,” he said. “That comes with a cost — if you don’t let the prices go up, then you will have shortages.”
Gas prices at a Quik Stop in Sparks on Dec. 10, 2025. (Nick Stewart/The Nevada Independent)Brenna O’Boyle / Tahoe Daily Tribune
The need for ‘bipartisan, regional communication’
Almost all the gas, diesel and jet fuel consumed in the Las Vegas Valley is transported via the CalNev pipeline, which runs from Los Angeles to Las Vegas; another gas line runs from the Bay Area to Reno, and a third runs from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas.
In 2019, the fuel line that runs between the Bay Area and Reno was shut down as wildfires burned in California; in 2023, Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency when the pipeline between Las Vegas and Los Angeles (which also serves Nellis and Edwards Air Force bases and McCarran International Airport) was temporarily shut down.
Earlier this year, the CalNev pipeline was again temporarily shut off because of wildfires.
Interspersed with the disruptions, California has passed multiple pieces of legislation targeting the oil industry, including creating an independent watchdog to monitor oil companies for price gouging; passing an electric vehicle mandate to eliminate the sale of new, gasoline-powered vehicles (which has since been blocked by the Republican-led U.S. Senate); and authorizing state energy regulators to require refineries to maintain a minimum inventory of fuel.
Lombardo, a Republican, and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) in 2024 jointly penned a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), expressing the need for “bipartisan, regional communication” when it came to California passing legislation that could have ripple effects on Western fuel supplies.
Four decades ago, more than 40 refineries operated in California. Now, the state is on pace to have just seven by the end of 2026 because of high operating and regulatory compliance costs, the political environment, conversions to bio and renewable fuels, and various state directives, Mische wrote in a paper.
Some companies have consolidated while others have focused on production at more efficient facilities, but the reduction has shrunk the state’s refining capacity from 2.38 million barrels of oil per day to 1.64 million barrels.
The closures, though, are aligning with California’s initiatives to reduce driving and lower carbon emissions. While California’s population was 6 percent higher in 2024 than in 2010, gasoline sales were 5 percent lower, said Elliott Parker, professor and economics chair at UNR.
“In a sense, the California policy is working to make gas more expensive to get people to switch to electric vehicles and hybrid cars,” he said.
‘Scary for consumers’
With the refinery closures, some experts are forecasting price spikes as high as $8 per gallon — others are projecting more modest increases under $1.50 per gallon.
Nevadans already pay well over the national average because of its reliance on California fuel, which consistently ranks among the most expensive for gas. As the national average for a gallon of gas dipped below $3 for the first time in four years in December, Nevadans continued to pay 75 cents to $1 more.
Nevada gets the remainder of its fuel from Utah, where at least one lawmaker is floating a bill for the state’s 2026 legislative session that would reassess its gas tax structure by shifting the levy onto fuel exports, such as the gas that makes its way into Nevada.
Nevada is “in a very vulnerable situation,” said Michael Mische, a University of Southern California associate professor and industry expert.
Sinclair Gas has announced potential expansions into Nevada, but any pipeline and infrastructure construction would take time. By next summer, Nevadans are likely to start feeling pain at the pump, said Miranda Hoover, state executive for the Energy and Convenience Association of Nevada, a trade association that represents liquid fuel and lubricant distributors, transporters, retailers and convenience store owners.
“It’s very scary for consumers, businesses [and] families working on a tight budget,” she said.
Low-income households and small businesses, which already spend a higher share of income on transportation and often have limited ability to reduce driving or absorb sudden cost increases, are hit first and hardest by price spikes, Caitlin Gatchalian, Nevada representative at the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, wrote in an email.
“The refinery closures in California expose a real vulnerability in Nevada’s transportation fuel system,” wrote Gatchalian, whose group advocates for clean energy and transportation. “People and goods still need to move.”
Governor braces for impact
The newly created fuel resiliency subcommittee will explore options to expand infrastructure and storage, recommend policies for emergency response and coordinate with other agencies to accelerate permitting for critical infrastructure projects. Its first meeting is expected this month.
Oil production within the state, however, is unlikely to increase. Nevada lacks substantial crude oil reserves. In 1990, the state reached a high, producing more than 4 million barrels of oil, but that amount has steadily declined. Last year, Nevada produced around 170,000 barrels, a blip in the national production of well over 13 million barrels of oil per day.
Citing threats to homeland security if fuel supplies to first responders and transportation hubs are compromised, Lombardo’s office has said it’s critical the state take a proactive approach.
“Energy security touches every part of daily life, and waiting until fuel disruptions are visible to the public is already too late,” Chase McNamara, the governor’s policy adviser on natural resources, told The Nevada Independent.
McNamara did not elaborate on who will serve on the subcommittee, but did say it could include somewhere between 10 and 20 appointments.
Meanwhile, Sinclair Gas has announced it is evaluating a multiphased expansion across Western fuel markets, particularly in Nevada and California, that would supply as many as 150,000 barrels per day. The first phase, which includes “debottlenecking” its pipeline from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, would move a projected 35,000 barrels per day from the Rockies into Nevada with a target operational date of 2028.
If the project comes online in time and can deliver its target amounts of oil, that would go a long way toward alleviating Nevada’s issues, Mische said.
Sinclair has also floated the idea of building a new lateral pipeline from Salt Lake City to Reno, and a pipeline expansion between Texas and Phoenix could benefit Nevada as major oil companies consider a pipeline between Phoenix and Las Vegas, Hoover said.
“We are looking at any and all options,” she said, including “planning for the future of energy diversification in the state where we don’t run into this again.”
Parker, the UNR economist, questioned if Nevada’s government has the clout to sway what happens outside the state. With one-tenth the population of California, “I don’t think there’s much Nevada can do,” he said. “We’re a small part of the market.”
The bigger question, he said, is what California wants to do.
“Does California want to intervene to try to increase refinery capacity or do they want to say ‘Yeah, it’s kind of a good thing to have higher prices?'” he asked.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Part of the Interstate 80 in Northern California ranks in the top 10 most dangerous interstate highways sections, according to a study by Camili and Capo PA of New Jersey.
The 199-mile road stretches from San Francisco through Lake Tahoe and to the Nevada border. From 2019 to 2023, it had 277 fatal accidents.
That means roughly 1.39 deaths per mile according to the study, which rated the state’s portion of interstate highways by number of crashes per mile.
Three other California interstates landed on the list. Interstate 10 ranked at No. 7, Interstate 15 ranked at 11, while Interstate 5 ranked at No. 29.
However, two ranked on the ten most dangerous interstate highways overall—Interstate 5 ranked at No. 6 and Interstate 10 ranked at No. 7 on that list.
MINDEN, Nev. — On Jan. 5, 2026, at approximately 9:50 p.m., Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) deputies were dispatched to Harrah’s Casino in Stateline, Nevada, following a reported bomb threat. Deputies were informed by casino security that a bomb threat had been received via telephone.
The caller stated, “Yeah, I just lost over $20,000 at your stupid casino, and I am going to destroy it now. I am going to bomb it. This is a bomb threat.”
The investigation determined the call was placed by Seth Maybee of South Lake Tahoe. Maybee was located at his residence in South Lake Tahoe and was arrested by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department on Jan. 6, 2026, at approximately 1:43 a.m. Maybee is charged with making a bomb threat and making terroristic threats. He was booked into the El Dorado County Jail and will be extradited to Douglas County, Nevada, to face charges.
“I want to thank Harrah’s Casino for their quick reporting of this incident and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department for their assistance in the arrest of Maybee,” said Sheriff Dan Coverley. “Due to the history of the Harvey’s bombing in the early 1980s, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Stateline casinos take these threats very seriously. Fortunately, we were able to make an arrest before anything happened”
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Barton’s Family Birthing Center was recognized for excellence in maternity care, earning a spot on the Cal Hospital Compare 2025 Maternity Honor Roll for the tenth year in a row. Barton is among 82 hospitals that met or surpassed the statewide target aimed at reducing births via cesarean section (C-section) in first-time mothers with low-risk pregnancies.
“We are committed to continually raising the standard of maternity care for our community,” said Dr. Clare Rudolph, Medical Director for Barton Obstetrics and Gynecology. “This recognition reflects our care teams’ commitment to patient-centered practices that prioritize safety, informed decision-making, and healthy outcomes for families in our community.”
Vaginal births are typically associated with fewer risks than C-section births as they are less invasive, often leading to lower infection rates, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times. While every birth experience is unique, research suggests that the hospital where a woman delivers, and the care practices of her obstetric team can influence the likelihood of having a C-section delivery.
Barton Memorial Hospital’s Family Birthing Center is a Blue Distinction® Center for Maternity Care. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated hospitals that show expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes for mothers and babies.
In addition, Barton partners with UC Davis Children’s Hospital, collaborating with specialists to care for at-risk newborns.
Most recently, Barton achieved the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation from Baby-Friendly USA, an international accreditation awarded to hospitals that adhere to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.
For more information on the Maternity Honor Roll and other Barton quality and safety accolades, visit BartonHealth.org/Quality.
GLENBROOK, Nev. – Liberty announced the successful completion of the Cave Rock Underground project in South Lake Tahoe, a historic neighborhood known for its majestic old pines and vibrant community spirit.
Liberty completed the Cave Rock Underground project.Provided / Liberty
This location was selected for undergrounding to increase service reliability for customers in the area and to reduce the risk of wildfires. To address both issues, our team:
Modernized the infrastructure: Liberty crews installed 745 feet of underground primary, 832 feet of underground secondary, and 435 feet of new overhead secondary lines, along with 8 new poles. This not only modernized the grid, it also minimized visual impact and environmental disruption. These upgrades will also help resolve potential voltage drops, thereby improving service reliability.
Reduced wildfire risk: Our team removed 18 tree attachments and replaced 1,100 feet of covered overhead secondary wires. The new covered wires reduce fire ignition risk.
Protected the environment and historical landscape: Liberty arborists worked side-by-side with civil crews to protect the neighborhood’s historic pines as the project was completed. Construction was completed primarily by hand digging and using Vactor trucks, helping to preserve the root systems and safeguard these treasured trees.
Community collaboration
Liberty coordinated closely with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and residents, including onsite field walks with HOA board members. This collaboration helped meet community standards and address residents’ concerns every step of the way.
Liberty is committed to delivering safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible service. The Cave Rock Underground project is just one example of how we’re investing in our community today for customers now and in the future.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Turning 16 is a significant milestone in any young person’s life. To celebrate this special birthday, Julia Baker wanted to do something very special to commemorate this rite of passage event in a meaningful way. “It’s been a hard year for a lot of people, and I’d like to do my part, however small, to help and give back to my community,” shared Julia.
On Monday, December 29, Julia’s birthday gift, given to her by her family, was to sponsor a Bread & Broth Adopt A Day of Nourishment. The ‘Julia Baker and Friends’ sponsor team included her mother, Jody Taylor, her friends Anwen Davies and Ayden Newey, and Ayden’s Mother, Victoria Gomez. It was the first time that any of Julia’s team members had assisted at a Monday Meal, and it proved to be a rewarding opportunity to participate in serving a wonderful dinner, observing the quality and quantity of food given away, and enjoying the welcoming environment provided at the dinner.
“Bread & Broth provides much more than a hot meal,” commented Victoria Gomez. “They spread love and joy, more like a close community. It looks like a family coming together for a holiday, with warm greetings, hugs, and genuine concern for one another. It’s inspiring to witness.”
It was a busy evening at the Monday Meal, and Julia and her fellow Adopt A Day team members participated in many of the tasks needed to feed between 115 to 150 people. Their activities included wrapping utensils, packing bags of fresh fruit and vegetables, staging the dessert table, serving the meal, drying utensils, pots, pans, and trays, breaking down the dining hall, and helping to clean the kitchen.
“It was an honor to serve our community,” shared Jody Taylor. “Thank you, Bread & Broth for what you provide us as sponsors and the community members.” Serving others is a special form of concern for others. For someone as young as Julia, her choice to help others in honor of her birthday is commendable. Helping others is a lesson in life that begins in youth and can lead to a lifetime of helping others in the form of volunteerism.
Bread & Broth appreciated having Julia and her Adopt A Day teammates join in serving others. Many thanks to Julia for sharing her birthday wishes with the organization and the dinner guests.
For additional information about making donations or learning more about Bread & Broth, please visit www.breadandbroth.org or follow Bread & Broth on Instagram or Facebook.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Prayers for snow have been answered as Tahoe’s second snowstorm of the season yielded reports of as much as 28 inches in the last 24 hours.
Screenshot of Cornice Cam at Kirkwood Mountain ResortProvided/Kirkwood Mountain Resort
According to OpenSnow, the storm is clearing by Monday night, bringing in some sunshine over the next day with chances of scattered snowstorms before a dry period heading into the weekend.
Here’s the most up-to-date resort information as of Monday, January 5:
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. — Liberty Utilities, an energy company operating in the Sierra Nevada, recently partnered with ALERTWildfire to sponsor fire cameras in the Tahoe area, improving awareness and monitoring of wildfires in the region.
ALERTWildfire is a camera monitoring network run by the University of Nevada, Reno. The live video feeds are accessible to the public, and emergency responders can access the cameras’ pan, tilt and zoom capabilities to better monitor remote areas.
Imagery from the cameras is accessible to the public in three places: the ALERTWest website which integrates ALERTWildfire and other camera monitoring networks in the Western U.S., the ALERTWildfire website, and the Watch Duty app.
Built-in artificial intelligence provided by ALERTWest is designed to alert first responders to smoke plumes from the feeds. ALERTWest also provides a state-of-the-art command-and-control system that allows emergency responders to remotely control the cameras to provide critical situational awareness during wildfires.
“ALERTWest is proud to welcome Liberty as part of the expanding network of partners aligned around interoperability and shared situational awareness,” Scott Schifando, vice president of operations at ALERTWest, said. “Their participation directly enhances public safety for the Tahoe region and the broader Sierra Nevada.”
The cameras guide response by firefighting agencies, ensuring efficient resource allocation, and provide the public with real-time information about the fires affecting their communities.
“This has been one of my main goals since I started at the University, getting long-term support for the Tahoe cameras,” Bill Savran, director of ALERTWildfire, said.
Liberty is partnering with ALERTWildfire in alignment with its Wildfire Mitigation Plan. Part of that plan is a Situational Awareness Program designed to mitigate risk of wildfires.
“We can avoid catastrophic wildfires by avoiding ignition in the first place and reducing response time when fires do break out,” Liberty’s Senior Manager of Wildfire Prevention Peter Stoltman said.
The camera feeds are also used by Liberty’s wildfire mitigation team. The team can watch conditions like wind which may elevate fire danger, allowing them to make calculated decisions about when and where to cut power to powerlines impacted by those conditions.
“Visual imagery, paired with real-time weather data from Liberty’s network of weather stations, provides valuable information that helps guide decision-making,” Stoltman explained.
The formal launch of the partnership comes at a time when many utility companies are investing in resources like ALERTWildfire to lower costs while helping to better protect the communities they serve.
“Any investment we can make to notably reduce wildfire risk is a prudent and valuable one for our communities.” Eric Schwarzrock, California electric president at Liberty, said. “Reduced risk leads to safer communities and potentially reduced wildfire insurance costs.”
Savran added that while support provided for the initial installment of the cameras is crucial, ongoing maintenance and repairs are costly.
“Liberty sponsoring the cameras in the Tahoe area makes a significant impact and greatly improves our ability to provide awareness to firefighters and the public,” Savran said.
RENO, Nev. — Water is precious in Nevada, now more than ever.
As population growth and industrial needs increase the demand for water, researchers at the College of Engineering’s Nevada Center for Water Resiliency (NCWR) seek solutions. The issues are highlighted in a new 30-minute documentary, “Water Masters,” which premiered in December at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Produced by Emmy-winning director Dan Druhora, “Water Masters” explores water use along the Truckee River Watershed, the water system connecting Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake. The film examines the concept of upstream and downstream users, highlighting how population growth and the expansion of industry — such as new data centers that require water for cooling — increase water needs.
“I think what I would like people to take from ‘Water Masters’ is just how important water is, and how precious it is,” NCWR director Sage Hiibel said.
Benjamin Shawcroft, general manager of the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District (left), and NCWR Director Sage Hiibel discuss water use in “Water Masters,” a new documentary by Emmy-winning director Dan Druhora.Provided / UNR
Established in 2023 with a grant from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), the NCWR researches and tests new technologies in water treatment, focusing on non-potable (drinking) water reclaimed from a variety of water resources. Hiibel, a chemical engineering associate professor, focuses on water reuse in the industrial sector, while other NCWR researchers address such topics as advanced water treatment or the quantification and characterization of emerging contaminants.
“Water Masters” is the third in a four-part documentary series, “Flowing Forward,” which explores water research at the University of Southern California, University of Arizona and the Army ERDC. View it on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/1129685525?fl=pl&fe=cm
9:00 A.M. – TIME ALLOCATION (Items will not be heard prior to time stated)
1. Chief Administrative Officer recommending the Board:
1) Elect the Chair of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors for 2026;
2) Elect the Vice Chair of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors for 2026; and
3) Elect the Second Vice Chair of the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors for 2026.
Consent.
7. Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 budget transfer increasing appropriations in Contributions to Non-County Government Agencies by $25,775, using the Transient Occupancy Tax Special Projects Designation, for the El Dorado County contribution for the FY 2025-26 South Tahoe Transit Joint Powers Authority Budget.
22. Library Department recommending the Board:
1) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 007-2026 amending Resolution 152-2025 to update Exhibit A ballot measure to include the amount to be raised annually by the proposed renewal of Library Special Tax in County Service Area 10, Zone F, South Lake Tahoe;
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 008-2026 amending Resolution 153-2025 to update Exhibit B ballot measure to include the amount to be raised annually by the proposed renewal of Library Special Tax in County Service Area 10, Zone G, Georgetown; and
3) Disband the Library Funding and Sustainability Ad Hoc Committee
25. Department of Transportation recommending the Board consider the following pertaining to Contract 9966 for the 2026 DOT SLT Maintenance Pavement Rehabilitation Projects on Cedar Ridge Road, Pioneer Trail Frontage Road, Washoan Boulevard, Thunderbird Drive, Southern Pines Drive, Navahoe Driver, E San Bernardino Avenue, San Diego Street, Hopi Avenue, Bellevue Avenue, Scenic Drive, Tahoe Mountain, Mt Diablo Circle, Granite Mountain Circle and Mountain Meadows Drive:
The Douglas County School District Board of Trustees is meeting on Wednesday, January 7 at 4 p.m. at 1126 Airport Road Building G-1, Minden, NV.
4. Consolidation Scenarios with Cost Analysis (For Discussion). The administration will present school consolidation scenarios based on enrollment trends, facility use, and a two-year budget reduction plan to ensure long-term fiscal solvency. This includes the financial implications of each model and the potential to capture enough savings to reach net-zero in our General Fund Ending Fund Balance by the end of Fiscal Year 2027. The Board is asked to review these models and identify which scenarios merit further development and community engagement. No formal action will be taken during this meeting.
5. Reduction in Force – Classified Employees and Classified Management (For Discussion and Possible Action). The Board of Trustees will review and take possible action to implement a Reduction in Force (RIF) for classified and classified management employees due to a lack of work or lack of money, as authorized by NRS 288.150(3)(b). This action adheres to the mandatory bargaining requirements of NRS 288.150(2)(w), which necessitates that the district follow established procedures for a reduction in workforce as outlined in the respective collective bargaining agreements. The administration has determined that this realignment is necessary to maintain the district’s fiscal stability and ensure efficient operations. Approval of this item authorizes the Superintendent to execute the necessary personnel actions to achieve the required staffing adjustments.
6. Severe Financial Emergency (For Discussion and Possible Action). Description: The Board of Trustees will consider and take possible action to formally declare a state of Severe Financial Emergency as defined under NRS 354.685. This declaration is based on a determination that the district meets specific statutory conditions, such as a general fund ending balance of less than 4% of actual expenditures or the inability to meet payroll and debt obligations. Following this action, the district must notify the Department of Taxation and the Committee on Local Government Finance to initiate a mandatory plan of corrective action. This process may include state-level oversight and technical assistance to stabilize the district’s fiscal health and protect educational operations.
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters fell to the Allen Americans 5-1 to conclude the three-game series.
In the first period, it was the Americans striking first on the power play as Colby McAuley scored to make it 1-0. Just over two minutes later, Michael Gildon added on with a goal of his own to give Allen a 2-0 lead heading into the second.
In the middle period, goaltending was the headline. Tahoe’s Cameron Whitehead and Allen’s Marco Costantini stood their ground as both teams were kept off the scoreboard headed into the third period.
In the third, Trent Swick scored for the Knight Monsters on the power play just 1:34 into the frame to cut the lead for Allen to 2-1. However, the Americans would score three unanswered as Danny Katic, Chase Maxwell, and McAuley all added on to give the Americans a 5-1 victory. Allen finished the evening with 63 shots on goal, which is the most by an ECHL team this season.
The Knight Monsters return home on Friday, January 9, 2026, to take on the Utah Grizzlies for the first night of Military Appreciation Weekend at Tahoe Blue Event Center. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm, with pregame coverage on the Knight Monsters broadcast network beginning at 6:50 pm. Ticket packages for the 2025-26 season are now available. For more information, visit www.knightmonstershockey.com
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Lake Tahoe Unified School District students get an extra day of winter break after the district canceled school on Monday, January 5, due to weather.
According to OpenSnow, South Lake Tahoe received about 6 inches of snow over the last 24 hours, and the winter weather advisory remains in effect in Lake Tahoe until 10 a.m. on Monday.
Chain controls are in effect for Highway 50, Interstate 80, and State Routes 28, 267 and 431. Highway 89 is closed at Emerald Bay.
The basin is expected to get a brief break from snow on Tuesday, with a slight chance of snow on Wednesday and Thursday.
Warmer temperatures could be on the horizon, according to OpenSnow, which indicates that temperatures could reach the high 40s on January 12-15.
Artificial intelligence may once have sounded like science fiction, but in the world of interior design, it has quickly become an everyday powerhouse. From lightning-fast floor plans to eerily realistic 3D room mockups, AI is reshaping how designers create and how clients imagine the spaces they call home. Yet despite the technological leap, one truth remains: great design still begins with artistic vision and human connection.
AI’s most exciting role lies in amplifying creativity. Designers can now explore countless layouts in seconds, evaluate natural light patterns, or assess energy efficiency based on window placement, all before sketching a single line. Tools such as VR and AR elevate client presentations, allowing homeowners to “walk through” designs long before construction begins. The result? Faster decisions, clearer communication, and a collaborative process that feels more immersive than ever.
Time-savings are equally transformative. Modern AI-powered platforms blend floor planning, 3D modeling, and visualization into seamless workflows. Intelligent room recognition, drag-and-drop furniture catalogs, and photorealistic renderings compress weeks of work into hours while giving clients extraordinary clarity and confidence. Designers can spend less time on technical tasks and more time crafting meaningful stories through materials, finishes, and form.
Perhaps AI’s most promising strength is personalization. By analyzing preferences, lifestyle patterns, and even emotional responses to color or layout, AI provides data that supports more thoughtful, client-centered design. Still, it’s the designer who interprets those insights, curating spaces that feel cohesive, intentional, and deeply lived in.
Of course, the rise of “dupe culture” adds a new twist. While clients can easily find low-cost look-alikes through social platforms and AI tools, quality, scale, craftsmanship, and longevity matter. A well-designed room is more than a collection of objects; it’s a unified vision.
As AI evolves, its value to designers will only grow. But it will remain just that, a tool. The soul of design will always be human.
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.
Have you ever wanted to have more energy to spend time skiing or hiking in the mountains? Maybe you want to feel stronger, sleep better, or feel good in your own skin? You’re not alone.
As the new year begins, many people are thinking about how to take better care of themselves. In fact, exercising more and eating healthier are two of the most popular goals people set. And a Registered Dietitian (RD) can help.
What is a Dietitian?
A Registered Dietitian, also called a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), is a food and health expert with years of training: they earn a four-year college degree, complete over 1,000 hours of hands-on practice, and pass a national exam. Some dietitians even have extra training to work with specific health needs.
This means they’re not just giving you generic advice from the internet. They understand how your body works, what challenges you might face living in our community, and how to help you reach your goals in a way that fits your life.
How Can a Dietitian Help You?
They’ll Listen to You – Dietitians take time to get to know you and your goals. They ask about your daily routine, eating habits, and how you like to stay active, as well as any challenges that make it harder to feel your best. Most importantly, they focus on what matters to you.
They Create a Plan Just for You – No two people are the same; what works for your neighbor might not help you (and that’s okay!). Dietitians customize their recommendations and will create suggestions to fit your lifestyle, your food preferences, and your goals.
They Give You Confidence – Dietitians help you understand how to fuel your body so you can make confident choices. They give you the tools and support you need to nourish your body and work towards your health goals.
They Help You Set Goals – A dietitian helps you figure out what’s most important and create doable steps to get there. Think of it like climbing a mountain — you don’t leap to the top; you take one step at a time.
They’re Your Accountability Buddy – Dietitians are there to support and guide you through the challenging moments without judgement.
Nutrition Support Is for Everyone
You don’t need to be a hospital patient or have a health problem to meet with a dietitian. In fact, most people can benefit from meeting with a dietitian and working with one can help prevent health issues down the road.
Ready to Meet with a Dietitian?
Barton Health has a team of dietitians who offer personalized nutrition counseling services based on your unique needs — ask your healthcare provider for a referral to meet with a dietitian.
Becky Espinel, RD, CNSC is a registered dietitian nutritionist at Barton Health. Learn more about Barton’s team of dietitians, offering patients personalized nutrition therapy and counseling services based on each person’s unique needs, at BartonHealth.org or by calling 530.543.5825.
Think about that first backpack you get your young child when she starts school. The straps are the perfect size, the design on the bag is her favorite character, and the bag fits everything she needs for her school day. It’s perfect! Fast forward a few years, and the straps are tight, she no longer likes the character that adorns her bag, and the backpack isn’t big enough to hold all of her school books. The bag hasn’t changed, but her needs have. It’s time for a backpack overhaul.
The same thing can happen with our investments.
The best portfolios are built with diversified, low-cost, high-quality funds, and are designed to meet the particular goals, timeframe and risk profile of the investor. But investments aren’t static, and neither are our lives—just like with the backpack example above. It is not unusual that the investment portfolio that was so well-designed initially no longer meets the needs of the investor. In that case, an overhaul of some or all of the portfolio is needed.
A great way to approach this is to look for the “why?”. Are the existing investments bringing below market returns, or drifting from their original purpose and balance? Has your risk tolerance changed? What is the money for, and when might you need it? How is the portfolio fitting in with the rest of your financial and life picture? Identifying why a change is needed will help to determine what the appropriate change looks like.
Once you are ready to make the change, you’ll want to consider the tax ramifications. Retirement accounts can generally be overhauled without creating a taxable event as long as funds stay inside the account, so that usually means that you can make whatever changes you need to without any strategy around timing or using tax offsets. That keeps it simple.
Meanwhile, selling assets in a taxable investment account will trigger either taxable gains or losses. While that doesn’t make your overhaul any less important—having a proper portfolio is very important—it means that you need to be more strategic in your implementation.
Most likely you’ll be doing a partial overhaul, meaning that some of your existing investments will remain while others will be replaced. I suggest that you look for the funds that are of the lowest quality and sell those first, and then replace them with high-quality assets that meet your updated goals. If you have any funds that have lost money, you might consider selling those to offset your gains elsewhere. That can even include high-quality funds in that sale, assuming you can identify a good replacement fund for your portfolio.
The beginning of the year is actually the perfect time to start your overhaul. Any taxes triggered by the sale of appreciated assets generally don’t come due for 15 months, until your tax deadline on the following year (consult your professional tax advisor to confirm your specific circumstances). Plus, you’re starting the year with an updated, efficient portfolio, which is going to feel good.
Remember that short-term capital gains, which are on assets held for less than 12 months, generally are taxed at higher rates than long-term capital gains on assets held for at least 12 months. Be mindful of that distinction before you sell anything, because it can have a large impact on your tax bill.
How ever you choose to keep your portfolio in tip-top shape, invest smartly and invest well!
Larry Sidney is a Zephyr Cove-based Investment Advisor Representative. Information is found at https://palisadeinvestments.com/ or by calling 775-299-4600 x702. This is not a solicitation to buy or sell securities. Clients may hold positions mentioned in this article. Past Performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.
Winter’s chill used to call for homestyle cookies laden with refined sugar and European butter, a sweet indulgence I once enjoyed without a second thought. However, after a mega heart health scare I have reshaped my approach to treats. Now, I stay clear of sugar, saturated fats, and the trans fats found in store-bought options. Embracing naturally sweet, heart-healthy alternatives during the colder months has proven worth it, contributing positively to blood sugar, triglycerides, blood pressure, and weight management. Here take a peek at a couple of snow day treats, one for a comforting breakfast and another for a go-to snack.
Warm Apple and Cinnamon Oatmeal Bowl
Move over crunchy fortified whole grain flakes, this oatmeal bowl is a heart-healthy powerhouse, too. Apples are rich in soluble fiber, particularly pectin, which can help lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and regulate blood sugar. Oatmeal is a good source of fiber, important for cardiovascular health. Cinnamon adds a natural sweetness and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. To prepare, cook oats according to package directions. While still warm, stir in diced apples (I like honey crisp despite the price), a sprinkle of cinnamon, a handful of chopped walnuts for healthy fats, and a drizzle of raw honey. This is a comforting and energizing breakfast or snack, ideal for fueling up before walking the dog or hitting the slopes.
Dark Chocolate and Berry Bark with Toasted Almonds
Who says dessert can’t be heart healthy? Dark chocolate, especially with a high cocoa content (70% or more), is rich in flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that can improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Berries, like strawberries (I have a container from our local Safeway) are also packed with antioxidants and fiber. Toasted almonds add healthy monounsaturated fats and a satisfying crunch. To prepare, melt dark chocolate in microwave. Spread a thin layer onto a flat pan. Sprinkle with fresh or frozen berries and toasted slivered almonds. Chill in fridge until firm, then break into pieces. This treat offers a guilt-free way to satisfy a sweet craving while providing heart-healthy benefits, perfect for an evening indulgence after a day in the snow.
CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, nutrition, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, and Courage with Paws, Time-Traveling Tabby, the new, revised 2nd edition of The Healing Powers of Honey (pre-order for 2026), and The Healing Powers of Olive Oil, 3rd edition in progress. She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is www.calorey.com.
There is no secret formula to guarantee a healthy life, but eating a balanced diet that prioritizes nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods and getting the recommended amount of exercise each week might be as close as it gets. For a good portion of the population, physical fitness involves visiting a fitness facility.
There are an estimated 205,180 health and fitness clubs worldwide and approximately 185 million gym memberships, according to data from Statista. Around 25 percent of the United States population had a membership to a gym, studio or other fitness facility in 2024, according to a recent survey from the Health & Fitness Association.
Considering the vast array of gyms and fitness facilities available to consumers, finding a place to start or continue one’s fitness journey may require a little leg work. To find the right place, individuals can consider these points when touring locations.
Identify your needs and wants. First, decide what is most important to you in a facility. Do you want a location that prioritizes group classes? Do you prefer a traditional gym where free weights are more abundant than machines? Are you in need of a facility with early-morning hours or one that has a pool? Make a list of your preferences to narrow down the options.
Consider convenience. Although a gym three towns over may have all of the bells and whistles you want, consider the likelihood that you’ll travel there often enough when the exercising bug bites you? A facility that is relatively close to home or the office makes it much easier to stay consistent with your workouts.
Identify fitness goals. Shedding weight is a primary goal for many people. Others may want to build muscle. The former may require a fitness club that offers a mix of cardiovascular exercises and even specialized weight loss programs. Nutrition counseling also might be a feature to look for. For the latter, a facility that features comprehensive weightlifting equipment and offers resistance training classes might be a better fit.
Seek some expert guidance. If you don’t know where to start getting fit, a gym with personal trainers can be a wise investment.
Evaluate the look and feel. Visiting various gyms can help you compare apples to apples. Look for things like cleanliness and maintenance in all areas, including locker rooms and workout spaces. Check to see if there is enough equipment to accommodate everyone during your typical workout time. Evaluate the atmosphere and vibe of the gym. You want it to feel comfortable and welcoming.
Check out the gym schedule. Be sure to see if class schedules or operational hours align with your workout needs.
Learn the costs of membership. Fitness on Demand says the average cost of a gym membership is $59 per month. Budget gyms can cost as low as $10 per month, while elite or boutique clubs may be as much as $100 monthly. However, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association says nearly 40 percent of gym members pay less than $25 monthly for membership.
Fitness-minded individuals have different factors to consider when shopping around for fitness facilities.
We are GigaBite Robotics, FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Team 20681, a community-based robotics team of 11 middle and high school students from South Lake Tahoe, and we are asking for the community’s support through donations to help us continue bringing hands-on STEM opportunities to students across our community.
This year alone, we’ve helped get dozens of local kids involved in STEM by mentoring an award-winning FIRST Lego League (FLL) rookie team that earned the Rising Stars Award and advanced to and competed at the Northern Nevada Championship, teaching STEM camps and workshops, and hosting community events that introduce students to robotics, engineering, and coding.
Now in our fifth year competing in FIRST Tech Challenge, we use robotics to teach real-world engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving through Gracious Professionalism. This season’s challenge, Decode, pushed us to elevate our work through data-driven design, custom CAD-built mechanisms, and seamless integration of software and hardware.
Our impact reaches far beyond competition:
Mentoring younger teams and supporting FTC teams across Nevada and internationally
Volunteering at FTC and FLL competitions and hosting a local scrimmage
Partnering with local schools and Lake Tahoe Community College to host STEM Discovery Night
Teaching 500+ students through hands-on STEM camps and outreach programs over three summers
Donations directly support robot parts, 3D filament, registration and competition fees, tools, travel, and outreach programs, ensuring that cost is never a barrier for students who want to explore STEM.
South Lake Tahoe is a winter paradise offering a wide array of activities to complement its world-famous skiing and snowboarding. Whether you’re looking for high-thrill adventures or serene moments by a crackling fire, this guide covers the must-try experiences to make your winter visit truly unforgettable.
If you’re seeking an active way to take in Tahoe’s serene beauty, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are perfect options. Hope Valley Outdoors, just south of town, features over 60 miles of trails winding through meadows, valleys, and mountain paths. These tree-lined routes offer sweeping views and a chance to connect with the snowy landscape. Explore gear rental shops here.
Snowmobiling with Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center Lake Tahoe
Feel the rush of winter with a snowmobile tour through the snow-blanketed forests of South Lake Tahoe. Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center provides access to breathtaking panoramic views at elevations nearing 9,000 feet. For family-friendly options, Tahoe Snowmobiles and Lake Tahoe Adventures offer tours suitable for all ages.
Sometimes, the simplest joys are the most memorable. Sledding and tubing are perfect for families and thrill-seekers alike. Adventure Mountain Lake Tahoe offers machine-groomed sledding and tubing hills for all ages. Other great spots include Hansen’s Resort on Ski Run Blvd and Tube Tahoe at Tahoe Paradise Golf Course in Meyers.
Complete your winter wonderland experience with an old-fashioned sleigh ride. Pulled by majestic draft horses, these decorated sleighs glide through snowy fields and pine forests, creating magical memories against Tahoe’s stunning backdrop.
After a day of adventure, there’s nothing like soaking in natural hot springs. South Shore also has one of America’s only Japanese-style cedar bathhouses – learn more about this unique and nourishing experience here. There are a few different options, but for those seeking a little luxury, we recommend the trek to David Walley’s Hot Springs, a soothing retreat where you can relax in healing waters surrounded by the Sierra Nevada’s breathtaking scenery. Consider making a stop at Nevada’s oldest thirst parlor, the Genoa Bar & Saloon. Learn more about all of our spa options here.
6. Fireside Cozy Time
South Lake Tahoe knows how to do après-ski right. Gather around a fire pit with family and friends to toast marshmallows, sip hot cocoa, and share stories of the day’s adventures. From boutique coffee shops to cozy mountain lodges, you’ll find plenty of spots to warm up and create lasting memories.
Even when it’s snowing outside, you can climb to new heights indoors. Blue Granite Climbing Gym offers year-round climbing opportunities, from beginner-friendly walls to advanced challenges. Classes, clinics, and youth programs make this a must-visit spot for climbers of all skill levels.
Channel your inner Olympian with a curling session at the Lake Tahoe Ice Arena. Lake Tahoe Epic Curling offers Sunday evening “Learn to Curl” classes, as well as private group events. It’s a unique way to bond with family or friends while trying something new on the ice.
Looking for something a little different? Head to Yosemite Axe Throwing for a fun and exciting indoor activity. Perfect for groups or solo adventurers, this thrilling pastime lets you channel your inner lumberjack while staying warm and dry.
Tipsy Putt combines mini-golf fun with a laid-back vibe and a fantastic drink menu. It’s a great indoor option for families during the day or for adults looking to unwind in the evening. Enjoy some lighthearted competition while escaping the winter chill.
Bonus: See Lake Tahoe From The Sky
Image appears courtesy: Tahoe Helicopters
There are so many ways to see the richness of Lake Tahoe, but what about from the sky? The expert pilots from Tahoe Helicopters offer you the opportunity to see iconic sights. Imagine the beauty of Emerald Bay, Fallen Leaf Lake, Desolation Wilderness, Crystal Bay or Sand Harbor from thousands of feet above. They offer all kinds of flights, including an hour-long sunset tour. Be sure to bring your camera and be the envy of all your friends.
South Lake Tahoe has something for everyone during the winter season. From adrenaline-pumping snowmobile tours to serene hot springs, your days here can be as action-packed or laid-back as you choose. So, pack your snow gear, plan your perfect winter getaway, and experience the magic of Tahoe like never before.
Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Mountain Resort is BIG! In fact, with a vertical of over 3,500 feet spanning 4,800+ acres, it’s not surprising that it’s one of the top 10 largest resorts in North America. With so much acreage, Heavenly has something for everyone. From well-spaced trees, a multitude of easy-going cut ski runs, two canyon areas with challenging chutes (Mott and Killebrew), and one true alpine bowl (Milky Way), you’ll never say that Heavenly is a boring place. For first timers though, visiting this hulking brute of a resort can be downright frustrating. Don’t worry, we’re to help! With a little bit of planning and guidance, you’ll be able to traverse this mountain like a pro, reducing the stress and increasing the fun.
So, you’ve skied all the terrain around Sky & Canyon Express lifts and want to check out the Nevada side of the mountain. To do this, you’ll need to take the Skyline trail from the summit of the Sky chairlift. Be forewarned… keep your velocity and don’t get distracted by the lake views to your left. At over a mile in length, you need to pass the entrance to the Pinnacles and still keep going forward. You know you’ve made it once you see the Dipper chairlift, otherwise, keep that acceleration up.
Comet/Crossover (Comet Express to Stagecoach)
Heavenly Mountain Resort Lake Tahoe Dipper Comet. Photo LocalFreshies.com
Comet & Dipper offer skiers and snowboarders fantastic views of the Carson Valley below and great groomers to lay out some turns. If you make it to this side, don’t miss the Olympic Downhill trail. Stretching over 5.5 miles and covering nearly 2,000 vertical feet, it’s the perfect option for those who want to carve to their heart’s content. To get to it, you’ll need to take the Comet trail (off of the aptly named chairlift) and blast your way onto Cross-over. DO NOT slow down, otherwise, you’ll be walking or skating the entire length until you get to the top of $100 saddle. From here, you’ll schuss your way to the bottom of Olympic.
Pepi’s (Top of Stagecoach To Dipper)
From the top of the Olympic Express, take a right and proceed onto the Olympic Downhill trail. This run will get your legs burning as you wind your way all the way down to the base of Stagecoach Express. For those that want to get back to another part of the mountain, the traverse from the top of Stagecoach via Pepi’s is a challenging one. The easiest of the two options is to ski to Upper North Bowl and take Olympic Express up. From there, make a left onto Von Schmidt’s, which will let you drop back into the Dipper/Comet base area easily. The second and more direct route would be to take Pepi’s from the top of Stagecoach. This is another flat route, meaning you need to keep your speed up, or you might end up walking again.
California Trail (Top of Dipper To Sky)
Family Skiing Heavenly Mountain Resort Lake Tahoe
After so much skiing and snowboarding, your legs are done for the day. The problem is you’re still in the Nevada area. From the top of Dipper, you’ll want to head skier’s left onto the California trail. Keep up your speed until you pass the Tamarack chairlift overhead. From there, you can let yourself relax and link some turns. Take a tight left turn as you ski past the Tamarack/Gondola area. You’ll need to make sure you keep the momentum going. This long traverse can be deceptive, leading to you not reaching the bottom of Sky.
Being the largest and highest ski area in Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain can be challenging to navigate. Instead of getting frustrated, be sure that you have a plan. If you do, you’ll make your time on the mountain “Heavenly.”
Whether you’re team-building over craft brews or savoring dungeness crab cakes lakeside, you can experience the true mountain hospitality only found in South Lake Tahoe. Nestled amid the continent’s largest alpine lake and the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevadas, there’s a reason why the South Shore is a highly sought-after destination for events of all kinds.
You can book space at flexible indoor and outdoor venues, fully convertible sports arenas, and advanced facilities. From the Tahoe Blue Event Center, our state-of-the-art sports complex, to ample meeting rooms at mountain resorts, cozy lodges, and boutique hotels, we have a venue for what you need. Choose from 143,000 sq. ft. of event space options, 10,000+ hotel suites, 365 days of outdoor activities, and a 24-hour entertainment scene all in one place. Plus, you’ll be within walking distance of thrilling nightclubs, scenic views, and diverse restaurants.
Speaking of diverse restaurants, the following dining establishments and catering services are designed for groups in town to take care of business or take home a championship.
Private Rooms
With these standalone spaces, you can move about freely and enjoy the team-building experiences that arise from sharing meals with one another.
Perched atop a hill overlooking Lake Tahoe, Chart House is a legendary seafood restaurant boasting a private banquet room. With lunch, dinner, and buffet packages, your guests can soak in the views while enjoying the freshest of dishes and the friendliest of service.
Who doesn’t like pizza? Every pie at Base Camp Pizza Co. is crafted with locally sourced ingredients. They also offer “that unmistakable Tahoe vibe” and dedicated space for up to 60 people. And sure, Karen can get a salad here too.
Tucked away inside The Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe Resort, you’ll find a 442-sq. ft. private dining with a patio for up to 30 guests and an exclusive 418- sq. ft. board room space complete with fireplace, private bathroom, and patio for up to 12 guests. Relish gourmet dining, unwind at the spa, play a round of golf, hit the slopes, or stay the night at this all-in-one luxury resort property.
Whole-Restaurant Takeovers
Let’s just say you have a party-of-five and then some. Below are a few establishments that can handle your wild bunch, no matter how large (and in-charge).
Try California-style Mexican, a lighter take on Mexican and South and Central American cuisine, made with primarily organic and sustainable ingredients, as well as craft cocktails made with fresh-squeezed juices. Azul Latin Kitchen can accommodate parties of 20-50 or a full buyout for up to 120 guests. Its sister restaurant, California Burger Co., has the same accommodations with a menu of local ingredients, a curated selection of rotating drafts, and buns baked daily.
Taste one of the best wurst restaurants in the state. Himmel Haus is a German eatery and bierhaus featuring a wide variety of drinks and a simple menu of Bavarian-inspired food. Your party of 30 or whole-restaurant buyout of 80 will fit in just fine—with or without the lederhosen.
You and up to 400 of your closest attendees can overtake the entire Lake Tahoe AleWorX, an award-winning establishment serving wood-fired pizza, craft beer, cocktails, salads, and classic pub food. Trust us, you’ll savor the scenery just as much as what’s on your plate.
Catering Constants
Let our local gems cater to you on every level. Find meals that are built for fueling corporate retreats and teams hungry for victory.
Lake Tahoe’s only Scottish Pub, MacDuff’s Public House, serves from-scratch, locally sourced Scottish favorites and handcrafted cocktails. Their catering services are available onsite, offsite, and at their private venue called The Barrel Room.
Bella Tahoe is an award-winning and critically-acclaimed catering company with everything from specialized brunches cooked on-demand to five-course buffets and takeaway boxed meals to full-service catering options that are all customized to your event’s specifications.
Indulge in the rich flavors of Tahoe’s newest dining experience. Featuring large-party catering and private dining options, the menu at Primo’s Italian Bistro showcases a modern, innovative approach to Italian cuisine. Sip on Italian varietals alongside distinguished California wines, signature cocktails, inventive mocktails, and craft beers. Bonus points for checking out their late-night menu.
Diverse Diets
Whether it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, or vegetarian, we don’t think of them as restrictions so much as opportunities for true innovation. Here are some South Shore favorites offering allergen-friendly selections and adapted menus based on dietary preferences.
Sprouts Natural Food Café prepares healthy, organic, gourmet meals with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options that are clearly labeled. Add some color to your plate and feel good about what you’re eating even while you’re away from home.
My Thai serves up mouth-watering, authentic Thai cuisine that allows you to choose your preferred protein and provides a specialty veggie menu. You can also choose your own adventure with each dish’s spice level.
Consistently voted Best Coffee in South Lake Tahoe, Cuppa Tahoe is a coffee shop, bookstore, and private co-working space ideal for executive breakouts and boutique meetings. Their seasonally rotating menu includes several mouthwatering, plant-based items. We recommend the Vegan Hot Mess.
Let’s Meet (& Eat)
One thing’s for sure: you should save room for excellence. Transcend your agenda and satisfy your cravings at the same time in South Lake Tahoe. Browse South Shore venues designed for games, meetings, and conventions of all sizes. You can also scroll through this handy group pamphlet for more reasons to fall in love with the lake.
At 6,224 ft. above sea level, everything is elevated here—including your next event. Attendees will leave feeling so invigorated and satiated, the only problem you’ll have will be convincing them to board their returning flights (which is a great time to mention that we’re just a short drive away from Reno-Tahoe International Airport).
Already like what you see? Send us your RFP. (We promise not to rhyme anymore than that.) Let’s set the table for your success.
From the NHL Outdoors to the Grand Slam of Curling, South Lake Tahoe is no stranger to the world stage, especially when it comes to winter sports. Thanks to a diverse array of indoor and outdoor venues, fully convertible sports arenas, and advanced facilities, you can host any type of competition throughout the year. Nothing compares to the South Shore; find out exactly why below—and start practicing your victory lap.
All-Star Facilities
When it comes to venues, the Tahoe Blue Event Center is your MVP. This state-of-the-art sports complex features an NHL-regulation-sized ice rink, NBA regulation-sized basketball court (that can be converted into a volleyball court), and a multi-purpose arena designed for wrestling, gymnastics, and cheerleading. Basically, if the sport exists, you can probably play it here. The ~27,000 square feet of arena floor space can be configured to accommodate curling, hockey, and figure skating, to name a few. Browse additional specs and capabilities with this handy Tahoe Blue Event Center chart.
Home to an ECHL ice hockey team known as the Knight Monsters, Tahoe Blue Event Center has hosted professional games, concerts, trade shows, conferences, banquets, comedy acts, and various live performances—all with streamlined logistics and top-notch amenities included.
Speaking of logistics, talk about a smooth operator: the center’s multiple locker rooms, exclusive suites, club seats, and spacious back-of-house designated areas are ready for whatever your playbook holds. With seating for around 4,000 fans, modern sightlines, and multiple concourse spaces intended for vendor booths, concessions, and merchandise shops, at least your choice in venues will be a guaranteed win.
Post-Game Experiences
When you’re in South Lake Tahoe, the adrenaline rush continues long after the buzzer sounds. For starters, enjoy the country’s highest concentration of ski resorts within a 100-mile radius. Or come back for another season to take a hike alongside hidden waterfalls, stunning peaks, and lush meadows. You can also roll through our mountain bike trails, with family-friendly paths for starter cyclists to technical climbs for advanced riders. Of course, there are plenty of courses: golf in view of the Sierra Nevada’s granite peaks or along the lake’s shore. South Lake Tahoe’s 300 days of sunshine per year and fresh alpine air will invigorate your athletes’ bodies and minds.
Oh, so you like the nightlife? You like to boogie? We knew you had great taste. Good thing you have full access to 24/7 entertainment. The South Shore holds a trove of craft breweries, lakefront restaurants, casinos, savory steakhouses, vibrant nightclubs, serene beaches, and eclectic shops, all within walking distance of your venue or hotel. How convenient. And while we always keep the South Shore updated, we also contain rich history. Walk in the footsteps of Mark Twain, visit a castle, or dive into our underwater state park to scope out a shipwreck.
South Lake Tahoe has also covered your bases when it comes to top-rated, family-friendly activities. Have your kiddos done enough outdoor adventuring for the day? We get it. The Puzzle Room Tahoe, magic shows at The Loft, all-ages games at multiple arcades, and indoor-mini golf are sure to keep them occupied (and wear them out before bedtime).
You Call the Transportation Shots
This isn’t your average sporting event destination, so we don’t have your average transportation. Lake Link, a free microtransit shuttle system, provides on-demand rides 365 days per year, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). Equipped with bike and ski racks, the shuttles include wheelchair accessibility and supplemental services.
We’re also only a short drive away from Reno-Tahoe International Airport, with a direct airport shuttle, the South Tahoe Airporter, at hand when you need it most. And the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) recently expanded its Route 50 Express Service to offer rides for select Tahoe Blue Event Center events as well as late-night rides on the weekends. This extended service provides convenient, reliable, and free transportation, supporting a variety of events for both locals and visitors alike. Make the most of your time here with scenic tours and bus rentals. The fleet consists of three luxurious, 28-passenger mini-coaches for local, regional, and statewide destinations. Plus, our company is the only one to ever offer tours from Lake Tahoe to San Francisco and Yosemite National Park. You can book bus charters and rentals for all occasions, such as weddings, corporate events, airport transfers, and private tours.
Where Sports are Always in Season
At 6,224 ft. above sea level, everything is elevated in South Lake Tahoe. We keep you at the top of your game 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Nestled amid the continent’s largest alpine lake and the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevadas, it’s easy to see why the South Shore is a highly sought-after event destination. Browse our starting lineup of sports venues and see for yourself.
We all know Lake Tahoe is famous for its skiing and snowboarding scene. But what if you want to take a break from that and do something else. Or maybe the snow hasn’t come yet? Well, of course, you can still ski on man-made snow and the experience is great. However, there are a ton of things to do in Tahoe during the winter months that don’t need getting on a chairlift.
1. Lake Tahoe Cruise
Tahoe’s blue is best experienced from a boat. Book one of the Tahoe cruises and immerse yourself in the crisp mountain air and the blue water. Seeing the shores from a boat gives you a completely different experience. Your experience will be unique, whether you decide to do a morning cruise or a sunset cruise.
Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Tahoe aboard the M.S. Dixie II.
Some of the most memorable (or maybe not-so-easy-to-remember but definitely fun!) times are had on board a Lake Tahoe boat tour. Check out the M.S. Dixie II, the Tahoe Bleu Wave or the Spirit of Tahoe. Enjoy great food, great drinks and even better people aboard one of these South Lake Tahoe boat tours.
2. Hit the Spa
Pampering the body as well as the soul is almost a rule when it comes to visiting Lake Tahoe. Pick one of the many spa options Lake Tahoe offers and indulge yourself. Besides getting a massage or a facial, pick some goodies from the spa for yourself or for gifts for your loved ones for the holidays.
The Spa at the Landing Tahoe
3. Night Out
When you feel like you need some more action in your life, plan on an evening out. In December, the Heavenly Village is having full three weeks events culminating with a New Year’s concert. So, pack something warm in your bag and head out for a fun evening.
If you missed the party at the Heavenly Village, don’t worry. There’s always something to do in Lake Tahoe in the evening. Check out the casinos if you are into gambling, or go see music. Comedians, musicians, and excitement await you.
Peek Nightclub – Harrahs Lake Tahoe
5. Ice Skating or Sledding
So what if the snow isn’t perfect right now? The entire family can have a blast ice skating or sledding in Lake Tahoe.
Ice skating in the Heavenly Village | Photo by Jamie Kingham
6. Hiking
Tahoe is always a great place to go hiking or snowshoeing. A few popular hikes are in Lake Tahoe that allow for amazing photography. Whether your spirit animal is more Instagram influencer than John Muir, you’ll find your favorite Lake Tahoe hiking trails on the south shore.
Sunrise from Emerald Bay
7. Take the dog to the beach
South Lake Tahoe is a dog-friendly heaven. Why not bring the pooch with you to experience the lake. From gourmet pet stores to dog-friendly hikes and beaches, there’s plenty to explore. Check out this blog post for more details.
8. Just enjoy the Lake
Sit on the beach or at a lakefront restaurant and take it all in. Whether you are into meditation or not, the lake will calm your senses and relieve the stress. Then, you can go home refreshed and ready to enjoy the holidays.
Fire pit at Jimmy’s Restaurant at the Landing Resort Lake Tahoe
Instead of jumping ahead to all things 2026, we at Moonshine Ink decided to revisit some of 2025’s most top-of-mind stories for our region and see what has (or hasn’t) changed.
Below, you’ll read about the latest regarding Tahoe lead cables, North Lake Tahoe incorporation, fire insurance, and the Town of Truckee’s self-reflection.
Almost five years since a lawsuit was first filed to remove two lead-leaking telecommunications cables from Lake Tahoe, the cables are fully and completely gone.
This one deserves some historical context:
Back in November 2020, Moonshine Ink broke the news that two four-inch-thick telecommunications cables existed beneath Lake Tahoe’s surface, actively leaking lead into the water — and that legal action was being taken to do something about it.
CABLE BE GONE: A crew removes the final length of a telecommunications cable buried below the sand and high-water mark at Baldwin Beach in September 2025. Photo by Jesse Patterson/Keep Tahoe Blue
The intervening years have been somewhat of a rollercoaster. The lawsuit, filed in January 2021 by California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, initially resulted in a settlement by cable owner AT&T that fall. The company agreed to remove the cables, though denied they generated pollution.
Obtaining permits lengthened the removal process. Finally, AT&T planned for fall 2023. But a July 2023 Wall Street Journal investigation found the publicly traded corporation had a legacy of lead-clad infrastructure across bodies of water in the U.S., resulting in a freefall of AT&T stock and the company backtracking on removing the Tahoe cables until more lead testing could be done. (We reported on this, too.)
In September 2024, AT&T settled. By the end of that November, 8 miles of cables were pulled out of Lake Tahoe, though a segment remained due to its proximity to a sensitive habitat to the Tahoe yellow cress.
A year after that removal, on Sept. 18, 2025, the final phase was completed. AT&T worked in coordination with the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit to pull out the obsolete cable from Rubicon Bay to Baldwin Beach.
“Good weather and calm lake conditions allowed AT&T’s contractor to pull the remaining 100-foot section of cable with minimal impact to Baldwin Beach and Lake Tahoe,” shared USFS Public Affairs Specialist Lisa Herron in a statement. “Forest Service staff were on site throughout the operation, monitoring work to protect habitat for Tahoe yellow cress, a plant found only on Lake Tahoe’s shoreline.”
The League to Save Lake Tahoe (Keep Tahoe Blue) was also involved with the lead-cable removal.
“Taking out these decades-old, unused cables has been a top priority for Keep Tahoe Blue and the community as a whole. We’re proud to have helped make it happen and grateful to everyone who contributed,” said Laura Patten, natural resource director at Keep Tahoe Blue. “Good things happen in Tahoe when unlikely partners come together for a shared purpose.”
It took a little over two months for a grassroots organization called Eastern Placer Future to collect what should end up being enough signatures to advance the idea of a Town of North Lake Tahoe closer to the incorporation finish line.
To commence an official exploration of becoming a new town by Placer County’s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), Eastern Placer Future needed to collect 2,188 signatures (or 25%) from certified voters within the proposed town boundary. During the last week of November, a third-party consultant verified the group collected 2,387 between September and mid-November.
This is the first time such an effort has progressed so far, despite multiple efforts dating as far back as 1966.
Steve Teshara, one of the Eastern Placer Future committee members, contributes the current success to waning influence of the Lake Tahoe portion in Placer County. District 5, which includes Tahoe’s North and West shores, is 77% of the county’s land area, but its population is not rising. Western Placer’s is.
PETITION POWER: The grassroots Eastern Placer Future reached its most significant milestone to date after enough signatures were collected to move the possibility of a Town of North Lake Tahoe closer to reality. Pictured here: Joy Doyle, Katie Biggers, Sarah Coolidge, and Kerry Andras. Courtesy photo
“[District 5 Sup.] Cindy [Gustafson]’s probably the last supervisor that will be a resident of this area,” Teshara said. “That’s a central concern that we’re expressing to people, and people are resonating with that … People want to see where does our money really go, what do we get back, and are there some services that we could do better because they would be all coordinated locally? We’ll still have services provided by the county … like health and human service and a court system and things like that. And we may do some work and contracting with the county to start with, but people are really getting the sense that this is an opportunity to put in place local decision-making.”
But there’s a long way to go before anything becomes official.
During the first week of December, an Eastern Placer Future representative delivered the petitions to the LAFCO office in Auburn and then accompanied LAFCO staff to take the petitions to the Placer County elections office, which has 30 days to review.
“[The elections office is] the final arbiter of whether we’ve got the requisite number of signatures … We do expect to qualify for the petition being certified as valid,” Teshara said.
Assuming all systems are go, LAFCO will review an official Eastern Placer Future application (the group is currently raising $25,000 for a downpayment connected to this) and then put out a request for proposal for a comprehensive fiscal analysis. An environmental analysis will be considered separately.
“And then LAFCO looks at all the pieces, and they make a determination based on do they think that the town would be financially sustainable over a period of time, not just for a couple of years,” Teshara said. “They have to make sure that it’s an efficient way to provide government services in our area.
“Once they go through all that, then ultimately it has to go to the county for discussions, and finally some sort of county vote on the revenue neutrality negotiations.”
Eastern Placer Future funded an initial feasibility study for incorporation back in 2023. Based on Placer County costs and revenues for fiscal year 2021/22, Eastern Placer annually generated about $16.4 million in property tax; about $3.2 million in sales tax; $22.7 million in Transient Occupancy Tax; $2.1 million in property sales; and $862,000 from utility and service providers. The comprehensive fiscal analysis through LAFCO will create more accurate numbers based on recent costs and revenues, though Teshara said Eastern Placer Future anticipates there being enough funding to operate the town.
“A main way that LAFCO judges viability is it determines what your general fund revenues are,” he said. “If you have a general fund surplus of a certain percentage, that is a very helpful sign and metric. We anticipate that being the case.”
Should the Town of North Lake Tahoe (or whatever its official name might end up being) incorporate, it must do so without any harm to the county. Also part of the LAFCO process are revenue neutrality negotiations. “The county will pass through to the town the property tax, the sales tax, the other things that would be legally accruable to the town, but the county can’t lose a bunch of money based on this,” Teshara explained.
Assuming LAFCO approval, then board of supervisors’ approval, voters will step in to decide. To pass, it will take a 50%-plus-one ballot vote of registered voters within the proposed boundary. Regarding whether such a vote could happen as soon as November 2026, Teshara said, “All I can say is that we’re pushing as hard as we can to get through the process. Does the process take time? Are timelines stipulated under state law that LAFCO has to abide by? Yes.”
As the target is a moving one, Teshara said the best place for the latest updates is easternplacerfuture.org, which will have information about upcoming meetings, donation needs and milestones, and progress points.
When Moonshine dove deep into fire insurance in September 2023, the mood — and situation — was dire. That year, most insurance giants (Farmers Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual) began limiting coverage in California in reaction to increasing wildfire concerns. As options shrank for homeowners and commercial tenants, many Californians began turning to the FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort at higher costs. One Truckee resident told the Ink at the time that her premium through the FAIR Plan shot her monthly payment up by 272%, from $1,800 to $6,700.
Looking back at that time from the end of 2025 reveals that such increases were only just beginning. From October 2024 to September 2025, the FAIR Plan acquired 268,379 new dwelling and commercial policyholders. That’s a nearly 200% increase from the October 2022 to September 2023 timeframe.
The FAIR Plan was enacted in the late 1960s to offer insurance to those unable to find coverage through traditional routes. As of September this year, the plan’s total policies in force (or the number of active policies) is 645,987 — a 96% increase since September 2023.
Further, the FAIR Plan’s total exposure following the same timeframes is $696.1 billion (a 52% increase since last September, and 145% increase since 2023). Back in March 2024, FAIR Plan president Victoria Roach said to a state legislative committee, “We are one event away from a large assessment. There’s no other way to say it, because we don’t have the money on hand [to pay every claim] and we have a lot of exposure.” That event, as it turned out, seemed to be the January 2025 Los Angeles fires, which resulted in an estimated $4 billion loss for the FAIR plan. In February, plan policyholders were assessed $1 billion to recoup losses — the first member assessment in 30 years.
On the Nevada side, the 2025 Insurance Market Report put out by the Nevada Division of Insurance noted that “insurers reported that wildfire risk had a direct impact on policy availability in 2023 … This trend has continued into 2024, where certain areas, such as Incline Village and Stateline, have seen wildfire-related policy non-renewals rise significantly.”
BULKING UP: California’s state fire insurance option, known as the FAIR Plan, has seen its policy count skyrocket (by nearly 100% from September 2023 to September 2025). In Nevada, there’s no statewide option, though the legislature recently passed policy to keep insurers from jumping ship like they did in California in 2023. Pictured here, the 2021 Caldor Fire creeps up on a residence. Photo courtesy Cal Fire
There’s no insurer of last resort in the Silver State, but that seems to be the preference. In June 2024, then-Nevada Insurance Commissioner Scott Kipper held a town hall in Incline Village to discuss fire insurance for residential and commercial owners/tenants. Kipper said then that he didn’t consider the FAIR Plan a good policy.
“I believe [a FAIR Plan is] great for consumers having access; terrific,” he said. “But these plans generally provide lesser levels of coverage at a more expensive price. So, there’s a tradeoff that we need to ensure we work toward.”
Mike Peyton, a Farmers Insurance agent based in Incline Village who handles insurance in both California and Nevada, added the insurer perspective. “[The FAIR Plan is] a double-sided sword,” he said. “As soon as carriers know there’s a FAIR plan, there’s a larger propensity to pull out. That’s what happened in California; all the carriers said, ‘Welp, they have a FAIR plan so at least the consumer has somewhere to go.’ It kind of backfired.”
In June of this year, the Nevada Legislature passed A.B. 376, which allows insurers, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, to exclude wildfire coverage from homeowners’ policies and offer it either as a standalone product or eliminate it altogether.
On a positive note, this move could dissuade insurers from leaving the state like they have in California. So says Nevada policy analyst Anahit Baghshetsyan, who spoke with KUNR in October about the bill and said, “One policy you could think about would be debundling the home insurance, offering only wildfire insurance, mitigate the costs through that, or limited-time insurance, so maybe people would just seek wildfire insurance only in the summer months.”
Peyton, meanwhile, noted that despite the unambiguous state of fire insurance out West: “I think we’re on the upswing.”
The reasoning behind his optimism, he explained, is that people are better educated about wildfire realities and the sticker shock of rising prices has subsided. “Carriers are raising rates again but you’re not seeing double,” he added. “Now it’s the standard 3% to 7% [increase].”
Dillon Sheedy, assistant wildfire prevention manager and forester with the Truckee Fire Protection District, pointed to an encouraging trend from a fire service perspective: “More homeowners are taking proactive steps to create defensible space and meet the standards insurers now look for,” he wrote in an email. “These practices are achievable for most properties in our area, they make a real difference in wildfire risk, and we are seeing insurers remain willing to cover homes that demonstrate strong, well-documented wildfire mitigation actions that follow these guidelines and regulations.”
Sheedy noted that thanks to Measure T, passed by Truckee voters in 2021 to create a dedicated source of local funding for wildfire prevention, the district has expanded its defensible space and home-hardening inspections and increased fuels reduction and green-waste programs, among other increased home survivability efforts.
He added, “We can’t speak on behalf of insurers, but we do believe that communities demonstrating strong, consistent wildfire mitigation work are the ones best positioned over time … As the statewide insurance landscape continues to evolve, our goal is to ensure that the Truckee area is a model of what a well-prepared and wildfire-resilient mountain community looks like.”
The Town of Truckee’s Transparency? So Far, Improving
It’s been a year of considerable self-reflection for the Town of Truckee. After growing outcry over the town’s land development processes and skepticism around an organizational assessment of the town grew to a boiling point in early 2025, a giant reset button was hit in mid-May.
The hope: That three reports meant to analyze the young town’s function internally and externally could provide common ground for groups at odds to move forward in a more unified fashion.
More than 110 recommendations were shared at a May 13 council meeting for the town to address residents’ desire to preserve Truckee’s natural beauty, staffing burnout, processual issues, and more.
Six months later, the rubber has not only hit the road, it’s put mileage on the odometer.
“There’s 15 or 20 [recommendations] that are done,” said Town Manager Jen Callaway, “and we’ve got a ton that are in process that we’re working on — almost 50 of those. We’re making great strides. I think the most probably notable and exciting [one] from a community’s perspective and the staff’s perspective is we just got authorization to execute a [three-year] contract with Cloudpermit [for no more than $182,246]. That’s the permitting software, and we are on target to be live with that in May [2026] at the start of the building season. Pretty rapid progress on that.”
Other notable recommendations that have seen progress the last quarter of 2025:
• Hiring: Council approved 10 of the assessment’s recommended 20 new full-time positions — six of which were for the Truckee Police Department. Staff is 90% through the recruitment process. A new tracking process, NEOGOV, is being used to streamline the ability to collect applications and advance promising individuals.
“What we approved and recommended with this first budget was reclassification of the lieutenants to the captain,” Callaway said specifically of the PD positions. “That required a classification study. We’ve done that; they’ve been reclassified and hired an administrative sergeant … And then an emergency services coordinator, so a second position in emergency services. That recruitment is underway now.”
Administrative Services Department survey: complete
Town fiscal policy updates: 75% complete. Staff intends to bring draft policies to town council for final approval during December.
Enhance town’s credit card procession and payment capabilities: 50% complete
Specific to the town’s planning division, which was recognized as “the biggest organizational/operational challenge facing the town” by the Baker Tilly organizational analysis, staff has incorporated amendments to help “clean up” the development process, Callaway said. The application has also been simplified.
Further, “Our community development director, especially for larger projects, is having more of an initial conversation about timelines, expectations, and trying to understand that better before we even start,” Callaway said. “In addition to the software and the planning on-call hours, the staff is really working hard to try to understand expectations and see if we can meet those, or if we can’t, we’re really clear about why.”
Ed Vento, president and CEO of the Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe, echoed the sentiment of success. “If you asked me to grade them, I’d give them an A,” he told Moonshine. “I don’t expect perfection; I do expect transparency … The [Cloudpermit] software isn’t going to fix everything, but we expect it to be another tool for staff to use and the public to use toward a better customer service experience.”
CATT members have been able to sit down with engineering and town building staffers to hold discussions on current processes. Vento said he expects the same cooperation and collaboration when meetings with planning staff happen as well.
“Now that both [the town and CATT] have had success, we can approach each other and not think somebody’s up to something,” he continued. “We’ve been able to see each other work. The joke is everyone thinks the town has a conspiracy going. And maybe CATT does too … we both figured out that none of us have the time, the will, and the smarts to work on these conspiracies. We figured out how each other works now and nobody has the time for BS. Is there an issue … with discretion [over design decisions]? Yes, but we’ll address that. We’re taking care of the low-hanging fruit. They’re doing a good job, and I think we are too in communicating.”
It’s no secret that our holiday season in Truckee/Tahoe can be a quintessential winter wonderland. For many, these early winter months are marked with the joy of falling snow, twinkling downtown lights, and our favorite folks gathered around what my mother would call “a rip-roarin’ fire.”
“… IT’S NO COINCIDENCE THAT SO MANY WINTER CELEBRATIONS CLUSTER AROUND WHAT MAY JUST BE THE MOST MAGICAL TIME OF THE YEAR: THE WINTER SOLSTICE.”
In the weeks before Christmas, trees parade like proud passengers atop family cars, gelt (the foil-wrapped chocolate coins given as gifts and game tokens during Hanukkah) reappears on grocery shelves, and elementary school students huddle around craft tables to make ornaments for downtown displays.
As a child at Truckee Elementary, I distinctly remember these ornament-decorating parties. One year, we transformed sheets of white paper into supersized snowflakes; the next, we marbled the inside of transparent globes with acrylic paint and glitter. And while most of our holiday activities centered around Christmas traditions, our teachers still carved out spaces for others. In kindergarten, we munched on latkes and gelt while playing dreidel. For our winter holiday recital, we sang classic Christmas carols side-by-side with “Kwanzaa is Here.”
While nearly all of my schoolmates celebrated Christmas, and nearly none celebrated Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, power remained in the simple practice of acknowledging multiple holiday traditions. That same strength lies in recognizing that our holidays, despite their differences, share important throughlines such as joy, light, renewal, generosity, and gathering.
And it’s no coincidence that so many winter celebrations cluster around what may just be the most magical time of the year: the winter solstice.
For millennia, humans have marked this season with celebrations around the solstice. It’s unclear when exactly these “holidays” began, but archeological sites around the world showcase human architecture intentionally aligned with the path of solstice sun. Stonehenge, for example, marks both the summer solstice — when the sun rises behind the Heel Stone in the northeast to shine its first rays into the structure’s center — and the winter solstice, when the last moments of sun cast long rays directly through the circle’s heart. And predating Stonehenge by over 6,000 years, Karahan Tepe in Turkey was similarly built to cast solstice sunlight on key statues and structural elements throughout the site. Ancient Rome and Greece greeted the solstice with exuberant parties, and Yule festivities celebrated by Germanic peoples came to shape many of the beloved rituals we now associate with Christmas: decorating evergreen trees, feasting, gift-giving and lighting candles to illuminate this short-sunned season.
It’s possible that the timing of contemporary Christmas was also gleaned from solstice celebrations. Early religious scholars showed little interest in pinpointing the day or season of Christ’s birth, and it wasn’t until 336 C.E. that emperor Constantine declared December 25th as Christmas. Because the date of this newly declared “Christmas” lined up so closely with solstice celebrations such as Yule and Zoroastric celebrations of Mithra — god of the sun, whose birthday had long been celebrated on December 25th — its timing is popularly attributed to an effort of the Church to adapt pre-existing celebrations.
And just as Christmas absorbed and reshaped solstice traditions, Hanukkah also transformed, particularly in the United States America.
While of minor religious importance within Judaism, Hanukkah became culturally amplified in the 19th and early 20th centuries as Jewish-American communities sought to establish and distinguish their celebrations alongside the growing prominence of Christmas. Gift giving, not traditionally a component of Hanukkah festivities, was widely adopted to liven the Jewish holiday in hopes that it could metaphorically (and literally) hold a candle to the cultural phenomenon that American Christmas had become.
Kwanzaa, meanwhile, was founded in 1966 by American activist Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga to acknowledge African American and Pan-African heritage, community, and culture. Its name was derived from the Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits,” inspired by the harvest festivals celebrated across the African continent, many of which are held in December near the southern hemisphere’s summer solstice. In India, Hindu celebrations of the solstice take part in January with regionally distinct names and iterations.
LIT UP: A menorah holds nine candles, one for each night of Hanukkah, plus one helper candle called shamash, used to light the others. File photo
Local indigenous communities including the Wašiw, or Washoe, tribe have tracked astronomical movement since time immemorial, developing keen understandings of how the moon, stars, and planets move across the sky. Features throughout Wašiw land indicate a deep-seated understanding of the winter solstice.
With this context — far from exhaustive, yet reflective of our celebrations’ interconnected histories — we come back to our snow-dusted corner of the world.
“AS THE DAYS BEGIN TO LENGTHEN, WE CAN CARRY THIS LIGHT FORWARD WITH THE SIMPLE TRUTH THAT THERE IS MORE UNITING US THAN SETTING US APART.”
The lampposts in downtown Truckee wear candy cane stripes, and carols drift through the evening air in Incline Village as Jennifer Street comes to life with holiday light shows. True to form, the North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation is getting ready for a Hanukkah après ski, complete with hot chocolate and latkes. Coffee shops are brimming with cider and pumpkin spice. Garlands of oranges and cranberries and popcorn drape over door frames. At home, my menorah waits on the coffee table with anticipatory candles.
On Christmas morning, I’ll sip a Bloody Mary. Your kids may be snacking on Santa’s leftovers – after all, how often do they get to eat cookies for breakfast? And many of us will end our night among our favorite people, wrapped in sweaters beside a rip-roarin’ fire.
Whatever individual celebrations are in store for us, we’ve arrived at this season as one community. Together, we’ll move through these shortened days. Beneath the snow, seeds for next spring’s flowers lie waiting, ready to endure a hardy winter. If we’re lucky, this season will offer each of us moments of joy, connection, and reflection.
Kwanzaa celebrates African American and Pan-African culture. File photo
And, even when the holidays come to an end, this early-winter season remains a rallying cry to bring our community closer still. Each day we will be gifted a touch more light and gain a little more time in the sun. If we allow it, this prodigal light can be its own kind of celebration, a quiet call to action. As the days begin to lengthen, we can carry this light forward with the simple truth that there is more uniting us than setting us apart.
May this returning light remind us that we are at our strongest when we honor the many threads that make the Truckee/Tahoe tapestry whole. As the sun lingers a bit longer each day, we can choose to retain the warmth that makes this season feel special. We can choose to look out for our neighbors, to notice what we share, and to step into a new year connected — to one another and to this place we call home.
FIRE and star observances have long been associated with solstice celebrations. File photo
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