SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – With Election Day less than a week away, South Lake Tahoe voters are being asked to select three candidates to represent them on the City Council. With 13 candidates vying for the seats, the Tahoe Daily Tribune has put together a comprehensive guide to help voters get to know each candidate, understand their priorities and make informed decisions at the ballot box.
HEATHER HORGAN
Occupation: Registered Nurse
Education and Qualifications: I have been honored to serve as your City Councilmember since my appointment to the vacant seat. Over the past year, I have worked to understand the complex issues facing South Lake Tahoe, build relationships with city staff, and hear from residents, businesses, and community stakeholders. My husband and I are proud to be raising our family in South Lake Tahoe and are deeply invested in preserving the place our children call home. For more than 25 years I have served as a Registered Nurse, caring for people during life’s most challenging moments. Learn more about Heather Horgan
AIMI XISTRA
Occupation: Director Of Development
Education and Qualifications: I spent over a decade at Heavenly, first on their marketing team as public relations. In this role I hosted journalists and VIPs from all over the world and introduced them to our beautiful Tahoe. Due to those successes, I was then promoted to Executive Director at the Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation where I tripled the amount of Tahoe youth who had affordable access to skiing and snowboarding through development programs and the STMS Blue Angels program to operate alongside the competitive programs, and fundraisers like the Grapes and Gates, the Kindercup and the Groover’s Challenge. In 2022 I joined the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe as Development Director because I’m passionate about fundraising for our community youth. I currently serve on these community commissions and boards: Arts, Culture and Tourism Commission, the Embarc Advisory Board, the Multicultural Celebration Committee and the Reno Brewery District Board of Directors. Learn more about Aimi Xistra
DOUGLAS WILLIAMS
Occupation: Business Owner
Education and Qualifications: I’m Douglas Williams. I will preserve our mountain way of life and build a safer, more affordable future for local families. I am bringing community service and experience: four years on the Planning Commission, eight years volunteering locally, and service on the board of the Christmas Cheer Food Pantry. Learn more about Douglas Williams
NICK PILIAE
Occupation:
Education and Qualifications: Piliae, who works as a trainer at Escobar Martial Arts, said that he had experience building strong relationships across diverse groups, as well as strong leadership skills. He touted his experience in team sports and in the ski industry. Like many residents of Tahoe, Piliae said, “I moved here for the love of the ski and snowboard industry, but I fell in love with the town. Now, with martial arts, I get to do all my favorite things in my favorite city.” Learn more about Nick Piliae
KELLY O’HAIRE
Occupation: Retired Government Attorney
Education and Qualifications: For more than 30 years, I have dedicated my career to public service. I have served as a police officer, detective, county prosecutor, and attorney advising city governments – helping communities solve difficult problems with professionalism, integrity and accountability. The City of South Lake Tahoe has been my home for 23 years. My husband and I have built our lives here, we deeply care about our community and its future. Learn more about Kelly O’haire
DYNA BOEN
Occupation: Market Research Executive
Education and Qualifications: My career has been built around helping people, teams, and organizations grow. For more than 25 years, I have led through change as a parent, executive, and entrepreneur, with a focus on fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability. My executive experience and graduate studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business have strengthened my commitment to disciplined value-driven service. Learn more about Dyna Boen
SCOTT ROBBINS
Occupation: Incumbent
Education and Qualifications: Local government putting locals first. We need workforce housing for our nurses, teachers, and service workers. We need to modernize our fire department. Our our roads and transit need continued investment. In the last four years I’ve worked to double funding for lease-to-locals, supported the Sugar Pines affordable housing development, and passed a new policy prioritizing affordable housing for residents over non-residents. We’ve also begun work on a new Fire Station 3, doubled city investments in roadworks to more than $6M/year, completed the new recreation center, and expanded youth swim lessons. I was the only council vote against returning AirBnB’s to our neighborhoods. Learn more about Scott Robbins
DINA RAMAHA-PINO
Occupation: Social Worker / Entrepreneur
Education and Qualifications: With over 23 years of experience as a dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and founder of Conscious Mind Therapy Institute, I will bring expertise and skills in communication, active listening, conflict resolution, and empathy to our city hall. As the co-owner of Three Pines Coffee Company (awarded Best of Tahoe 2025), alongside my husband, I understand the heartbeat of our local economy, the realities of supporting a local workforce, and what it takes to keep small businesses thriving. Learn more about Dina Ramaha-Pino
ERIKA GONZALEZ
Occupation: Public Interest Attorney
Education and Qualifications: I’m running for council because I want to be part of an effective council this city can be proud of. My background is as an attorney whose practice focuses on human rights, and I’ve spent my career working with survivors of human trafficking. I’m an active community member serving on the Planning Commission and chairing the Policy Advisory Commission, so I know how city systems work and how to move things forward. Learn more about Erika Gonzalez
JOHN FRIEDRICH
Occupation: Business Development Executive
Education and Qualifications: When I served on City Council from 2020-2024, I listened to the community and acted in response with fellow councilmembers, including funding our new Recreation & Aquatics Center, Sugar Pine Village and Lake Link. We greatly increased the road repair budget, adopted one of the nation’s most ambitious clean energy goals, and banned plastic water bottles. I helped launch the Multicultural Festival. Learn more about John Friedrich
GRANT MCCRACKEN
Occupation: Founder/CEO of Venture Backed Cybersecurity Startup
Education and Qualifications: In all that local government does, it must ask and answer “how does this improve our city for the people who call it home?” To that end, my priorities include housing for a year-round community, reliable roads and transportation, a broader local economy, and a trusted and transparent city government that explains its choices and measures results. Learn more about Grant Mccracken
VERONICA MORALES
Occupation: Local Small Business Owner
Education and Qualifications: My name is Veronica Morales, and I am proud to say that I was born and raised right here in South Lake Tahoe. I went to school here, raised my family here, and all five of my children and now my grandchildren were born here. This community is not just where I live, it is home. I love our city and the people who make it special. I am running for City Council because I want to bring a fresh perspective, a genuine passion for our community, and a strong voice for the locals who are the heart of South Lake Tahoe. I may not have every degree or all the answers, but I bring something I believe matters deeply: a lifetime of love for this community and a willingness to listen, learn, and serve. Learn more about Veronica Morales
GANTT MILLER
Occupation: Architectural Window Representative
Education and Qualifications: As a father of four, former civics and history teacher, business leader, and longtime South Lake Tahoe resident, I am running for City Council to keep Tahoe a place where families can thrive, local businesses can succeed, and neighbors look out for one another. Learn more about Gantt Miller
Boosting Hope is working to make college more accessible for students across the Lake Tahoe Basin. Founded by Huma and Naseer Rana, the nonprofit provides scholarships and mentorship to help students overcome barriers to higher education.
For students who are the first in their families to attend college, the path to higher education can come with challenges beyond academics. A Lake Tahoe nonprofit is working to make that journey a little easier.
Huma and Naseer Rana launched Boosting Hope in 2020, initially serving Incline Village before expanding across the Lake Tahoe Basin. The organization works with counselors at eight area high schools to identify students who have the potential to attend college but may face financial pressures, family responsibilities or limited guidance at home.
For Huma Rana, the commitment to education began in her childhood in Pakistan. Her mother started a small school in their village that eventually grew into a middle school, giving more children access to education.
Naseer Rana, Huma Rana and Denise Menzies. Maria Palma / KUNR Public Radio
Years later, Huma and her husband brought that same commitment to their community in Tahoe.
“It’s all about community, basically. We want to educate our youngsters because it’s affecting the community,” Huma Rana said.
Naseer Rana, who retired from the World Bank, said some students’ circumstances can make their academic potential difficult to recognize.
“We identify kids who have the potential, but it’s not reflected in their grades or how they’re performing because they may have problems at home, and they have responsibilities,” he said.
Boosting Hope offers scholarships and mentorship to help students pursue higher education, including those who plan to attend a two-year college before transferring to a university.
Denise Menzies, the organization’s program director, said part of the work involves helping students recognize their own abilities and potential.
“We’re trying to identify and raise the bar for all young people, based on what we know they can do that they might not realize they can do yet,” Menzies said.
Mia Salas, a junior at the University of Nevada, Reno, understands how overwhelming the college application process can feel.
Neither of her parents attended college, and Salas said she struggled to figure out where to begin, from choosing schools to completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and writing application essays.
“When I was applying to colleges, it was definitely a roller coaster of emotions,” Salas said. “Didn’t know where to go or how to start that, or FAFSA, or what should my essay look like?”
Through Boosting Hope, Salas received financial assistance and mentorship from Menzies. That support has helped her plan her studies and explore a potential career in law.
Fourth Quarter Mindset
For the Ranas, supporting students also means recognizing the responsibilities many young people already carry. Huma said some students take on adult roles early, including translating for their parents. She wants them to be able to support their families while also having opportunities to build futures of their own.
Her husband sees that support as an investment in the wider community.
“If there are pathways to prosperity open to all parts of the community, that leads to more harmonious and socially coherent communities,” Naseer said.
He recently published Fourth Quarter Mindset, a book about finding purpose and making the most of life’s next chapter. Proceeds from the book support Boosting Hope.
The couple hopes the organization will continue giving students the financial resources, guidance and confidence to pursue their ambitions.
“If the child is doing well, the whole family is going to do well too,” Huma said.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino, an award-winning year-round resort nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is recognized in Conde Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. The annual awards honor travelers’ favorite hotels, resorts, and destinations around the world.
“We are incredible honored to be recognized by Conde Nast Traveler readers in this year’s Reader’ Choice Awards,” said Pascal Dupuis, General Manager of Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our exceptional team and the memorable experiences they create for our guests. We are grateful to the travelers who voted for us and continue to make our resort part of their Lake Tahoe getaways.”
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe is recognized in the category of “Top Resorts in the Mountain West,” making it the only Lake Tahoe hotel featured in this year’s Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Each year, the awards celebrate excellence in the travel industry based on ratings submitted by the publication’s readers. Participants evaluate hotels, resorts, destinations, airlines, and more using criteria relevant to each category. Final scores reflect the average of those ratings, with candidates required to meet minimum response and overall thresholds to qualify. The list of the top resorts in the Mountain West can be found by visiting https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/top-mountain-west-resorts.
Situated in Incline Village, on the shore of North America’s largest alpine lake, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe provides a mountain getaway that pairs outdoor exploration with distinctive dining and relaxation. Guests can discover the region through the resort’s Adventure program, featuring guided hikes, seasonal excursions, and experiences that showcase Tahoe’s natural beauty.
After exploring North Lake Tahoe, guests can enjoy the resort’s Osteria Sierra, which features a modern take on Italian cuisine, offering house-made pasta and family-style
dishes. The experience continues outdoors, where guests can gather around the resort’s firepits and enjoy S’mores while taking in the surrounding mountain scenery.
Guests can also relax and recharge at Stillwater Spa, which provides a tranquil retreat with rejuvenating treatments and distinctive wellness experiences, including the Lake Tahoe area’s only whole-body cryotherapy chamber, a sensory deprivation float tank and bioacoustics therapy.
For more information or to book a getaway to Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, please visit HyattRegencyLakeTahoe.com, or call (775) 832-1234.
Five years after the Caldor Fire burned more than 220,000 acres in the Sierra Nevada, researchers are studying what helped protect the Christmas Valley and Meyers communities, and what could reduce wildfire impacts in the future.
When the Caldor Fire threatened the Lake Tahoe Basin in 2021, no structures were lost in Christmas Valley.
UC Davis research ecologist Hugh Safford said that outcome reflected several factors working together, including years of fuel treatments, fire-resistant homes, residents prepared for wildfire and firefighters ready to respond.
“The key is you have to get the surface fuels off the site,” Safford said.
Thinning trees can leave behind branches and other debris that may fuel intense fires if they aren’t managed, Safford said. He also supports prescribed burns and allowing some naturally started wildfires to burn when conditions are safe and appropriate.
“We really need to let a lot more of the wildfires burn under the right conditions,” Safford said, adding that wildfires could be the primary way to treat fuels across 70% to 80% of California’s forestland.
But recovery after a fire remains a challenge. In severely burned areas his team has surveyed, Safford said researchers have generally found minimal natural tree regeneration.
His team is collecting field data to identify where trees are returning on their own and where replanting may be needed.
Safford said reducing wildfire impacts requires preparation before a fire, an effective response when one occurs, and evidence-based restoration afterward.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Warren Miller Entertainment, part of Outside Inc., announced the national film tour for its 77th annual installment, Warren Miller’s Days Off, hitting theaters this fall. Tickets go on sale today, September 9, 2026, at warrenmiller.com alongside the film’s official trailer. Outside+ members receive 20% off tickets to national tour screenings between September 9-22 in participating markets. The tour will launch the week of October 26 and runs throughout North America until late December of 2026.
Warren Miller’s new on-camera host and narrator, Katie Burrell, professional leisure athlete, filmmaker, and ski industry personality, joins the Warren Miller team for the 77th film. Burrell will lead audiences on a globe-spanning adventure to discover what the world’s best ski and snowboard athletes do on their day off.
Days Off is a celebration of skiing for skiing’s sake, taking audiences from the remote heli-skiing terrain of Alaska and high-alpine mountaineering of Chamonix, France, to legendary powder of Hokkaido, Japan, and the pristine slopes of Deer Valley, Utah. The journey continues through the heart of Canada’s best ski destinations—Revelstoke, Whistler, Pemberton, and Banff—capturing the raw spirit of the sport through backcountry snowmobiling, skijoring, and endless alpine pursuit.
“Warren Miller has always been about more than a ski movie—it’s about telling the stories that make us laugh, cheer, and put us on the edge of our seats,” said Chris Leavell, VP Content Strategy and Production, Warren Miller Entertainment. “Bringing Katie on as our on-screen guide and storyteller is a great evolution for this storied film series in its 77th year. And when she pitched us the “Days Off” idea, we all immediately loved it. The perspective, heart, and humor she brings to these athlete stories are the epitome of what we love about Warren Miller. It’s a fresh perspective on the Warren Miller tradition, but one that brings us back to what Warren himself did so well: go out, live the adventure, and tell the story.”
The film features eight segments shot across three continents, following Burrell as she joins athletes and industry professionals on their days off—the unscripted runs, backcountry lodges, and local traditions that live just beneath the surface of the ski industry.
“Usually, when you see these athletes on camera, you’re seeing them do what they do best. Days Off asks a different question: what do they do when they get to choose?” said Katie Burrell, professional leisure athlete, filmmaker and host of Warren Miller’s Days Off. “Getting to follow them into those moments, and experience them myself, was such a fun way to see the ski world from a different perspective. The audience will come along for the ride and hopefully be reminded that there’s no right way to spend a day in the mountains.”
Featured athletes include Sam Kuch, Craig Murray, Jess Kimura, Marie-France Roy, Christina Lustenberger, Guillaume “Gee” Pierrel, Craig McMorris, Sebastian Judge, Mark Sollors, Truth Smith, Court “Blackbird” Larabee, Mason Mashon, Kaylin Richardson, Ted Ligety, Chuck & Claudia Mumford, Pep Fujas, Sam Mitchell, Marty Schaffer, Kate VanHee, and Himari Takamori, Hinano Sakamoto, Shizuku Hanada, among others. Warren Miller’s Days Off is presented with support from Mammut, Deer Valley, Brooks, REI Co-op, The North Face, Swany, Gunnison Crested Butte, Montana Office of Tourism, Silverton Mountain, Halfdays, DryBrew, Nokian Tyres, and more in production with Outside Studios.
The tour will stop at Olympic Village Event Center in Palisades Tahoe on Nov. 4-5 at 7 p.m. and Harrah’s Lake Tahoe on Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
A Douglas County School Board trustee is being held in lieu of $1,022,525 bail after she waived extradition and was transported to California on Friday afternoon.
Erinn Colleen Miller, 46, appeared in Tahoe Township Justice Court at 1 p.m. Friday where she signed the waiver.
According to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office jail log, she was taken into custody 4:50 p.m. Friday at the Douglas County Jail, where she had been held without bail since her arrest at Lake Tahoe on Thursday.
She is facing multiple felony counts of embezzlement, forgery, and money laundering from her work providing bookkeeping and financial management services to a South Lake Tahoe medical group and a local youth sports organization, according to the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Miller was scheduled to appear Tuesday in Tahoe Township with attorney Patrick Ferguson on Douglas County charges of theft and embezzlement, however, that probably won’t occur.
She is accused of taking $125,000 from the Zephyr Cove Elementary School Kids Club and the Whittell Boosters Club, both of which support the students at the two local schools.
Miller was elected to the Douglas County School Board in 2024. She sought a leave of absence as a trustee at the board’s Oct. 15 meeting. No action was taken.
A public official “who refuses or neglects to perform any official act in the manner and form prescribed by law” may be removed from office under Nevada Law.
In Miller’s case, the official act would be her inability to attend school board meetings while she is in custody.
The means listed in NRS 283.440 is for a complaint under oath to be presented to the district court. A hearing is set within 20 days where evidence is presented, and if found to be justified, a judge can remove the person from office. The ruling can be appealed, but the public officer can’t retain the office in the meantime.
BOULDER, Colo. – OpenSnow, a trusted source for the most accurate U.S. weather forecasts, snow reports, and weather maps, has launched the newest version of its robust forecast model technology, PEAKS 2.0. The company’s in-house machine learning weather forecast system delivers unprecedented accuracy for mountain weather and snow forecasts for exact locations.
“Conventional weather models take a current state of the atmosphere and simulate how the weather will change over time,” said Andrew Brady, OpenSnow meteorologist and founder of StormNet. “PEAKS 2.0 is inherently different because it uses actual weather stations to learn what is actually occurring on the ground. It employs a sophisticated model that leverages deep learning, weather prediction model emulation, bias correction, and model weighting to provide accurate, hyper-local forecasts that are consistently ranking first across all variables.”
Mountain weather is notoriously difficult to predict because conventional forecasts treat large swaths of terrain uniformly, often missing the complex interplay of peaks, valleys, elevation, and storm behavior. With PEAKS 2.0, OpenSnow’s forecast modeling:
Understands how each storm interacts with terrain and elevation specific to mountains
Predicts precipitation, temperature, and wind simultaneously
Offers clearer, more reliable forecasts so skiers, snowboarders, backcountry travelers, and mountain communities can make smarter and safer decisions
Available in the continental U.S. and limited international locations, testing of PEAKS 2.0 has demonstrated the platform is more accurate than other forecast models, including the National Weather Service and Google’s WeatherNext 3. It more accurately predicts future weather by learning from actual (not modeled) past weather at thousands of stations, and is more detailed because it can “see” valleys, ridges, and slopes, with a resolution of 1.5 miles and adjustments down to a hyper-local 50 feet. PEAKS 2.0 also shows a range of outcomes and extends its high-resolution predictions out to 15 days.
Evaluations across the continental U.S. have demonstrated that PEAKS 2.0 forecasts outperform NOAA’s National Blend of Models (NBM), the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts, and every individual model evaluated, including the European ECMWF, American GFS, Canadian GDPS, German DWD-ICON, and more.
New traffic measures including LPIs and a four-way stop have been implemented in Incline Village.Rob Galloway / Tahoe Daily Tribune
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – New traffic measures have recently been implemented with the installation of Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) at all three stoplights in Incline Village and a four-way stop at Southwood and Village Boulevards to increase safety and reduce crashes.
LPIs were brought to the county’s attention by Helen Neff, who on March 14, 2021, was crossing Village Boulevard at the crosswalk heading from Southwood to Northwood Boulevard near the Village Ski Loft when she was struck by a car.
“I was halfway through the crosswalk, and I was hit by a car that I did not even see who was making a left turn,” said Neff.
Neff was airlifted to Renown Regional Medical Center and then transferred by air ambulance to UCSF Health in San Francisco. It took her almost a year to recover after sustaining a number of orthopedic injuries from the accident. Had her head hit the pavement, Neff believes she would have suffered brain injury or even death.
Neff’s accident led her to begin educating herself on pedestrian safety, and with the help of her father who was a retired city planner, she was directed to research LPIs.
According to a study initiated by Washoe County titled the Washoe County Tahoe Transportation Plan, the likelihood of fatality or severe injury to a pedestrian is 50% if the vehicle is going 30 mph. That percent increases to 90% if the car has reached a speed of 40 mph.
The study also showed that out of 554 crashes in Incline Village and Crystal Bay, the Village Boulevard and SR 28 intersection had the highest recorded vehicle crash density from 2015 to 2019.
“This study has many recommendations that Washoe County is working with [Nevada Department of Transportation] (NDOT) to implement,” said Alexis Hill, Washoe County Commissioner.
In 2024, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) adopted a plan called Vision Zero Strategy. Together with NDOT and Washoe County, these local and state agencies’ goals are to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
Tools in the Vision Zero Strategy plan include countermeasures such as ADA crosswalks, high visibility crosswalks, roundabouts, pedestrian medians, and LPIs.
Objectives of an LPI are to establish a presence for pedestrians, giving them a three to seven-second head start before vehicles are given a green signal. This reduces potential conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles with a 13% reduction in crashes reported by the Federal Highway Administration.
Installation requires reprogramming of existing traffic signals and with costs ranging from $200 to $1200, they’re considered one of the most cost-effective tools to increase pedestrian safety.
For several years, Neff, with the help of Roxanna Dunn, member of the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Citizens Advisory Board, continued to push for LPIs in Incline.
[Dunn] helped me a lot with meetings with NDOT, meetings with Washoe County, and we brought it to the attention of TRPA,” said Neff. “It took a while, but in the end, everyone came together and really worked towards helping us get this done in Incline Village.”
The newly implemented LPIs are located at all three lights in Incline Village including SR-28 and Country Club Drive, Village Boulevard and SR-28, and the Northwood/Southwood and W SR-28.
“I’m very proud of the work that we’ve recently done on the LPIs in partnership with NDOT,” Hill added. “During my time on the [Board of County Commissioners], we’ve also invested in speed monitor signs and prioritized repainting crosswalks in time for the school year. I look forward to new investments coming to Incline Village as we work through the plan.”
After requests from residents in Incline Village, including Neff, a four-way stop has been added at Southwood and Village Boulevard, this measure aims to increase safety by slowing down traffic as vehicles approach Tahoe Boulevard.
A two-car crash at Village and Southwood Boulevards in July, 2023. This intersection now has a four-way stop.Provided / Helen Neff
“There is a lot that can be done for road safety – just in the design of our roads and how they’re engineered – that can get vehicles to slow, pedestrians to be more aware, and cyclists to be safe,” Neff said. ”This is a first step for Lake Tahoe to make our roads safe for everyone to use them.
As ski season approaches, Tahoe’s mountain communities are gearing up for another winter on the slopes. On Tahoe TAP, hosts Mike Peron and Rob Galloway return from a brief hiatus to catch up on the latest regional happenings and sit down withTara Schoedinger, Vice President and General Manager of Northstar California Resort, to discuss the resort, its leadership, and the season ahead.
Schoedinger brings a diverse background in technology, public service, and mountain resort operations to the role. After earning a degree in Business Information Systems from the University of Colorado Boulder, she spent the first two decades of her career in IT, including time with Vail Resorts. In 2010, she was elected mayor of Jamestown, Colorado, where she helped lead the community’s recovery following the devastating 2013 floods.
She returned to Vail Resorts in 2016 as chief of staff before becoming Vice President and General Manager of Crested Butte Mountain Resort in 2021. During her time in Colorado, she also served on the boards of the Crested Butte Land Trust and Crested Butte Center for the Arts, supporting conservation, public access, and community culture.
Appointed to lead Northstar in 2024, Schoedinger now helps oversee one of Tahoe’s major winter destinations while serving on the Ski California executive committee. Outside of work, she and her husband enjoy skiing, biking, camping, and spending time on the lake.
In this episode, Tahoe TAP explores Schoedinger’s path to resort leadership, what goes into preparing a mountain for winter, and the role ski resorts play in Tahoe’s economy and community. With opening days nearing, the conversation offers a timely look at the people and planning behind another season in the Sierra.
Tune in for a behind-the-scenes conversation with Northstar’s leader as Tahoe gets ready to turn up the dial on winter.
In this explainer, the Tribune compiles the basics voters need to know when voting by mail in Nevada.
When do ballots need to be postmarked?
Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day, Nov. 3, and received by 5 p.m. the 4th day after Election Day.
The Nevada Secretary of State recommends voters mail their ballots at least one week before Election Day to ensure it arrives on time.
All ballots come with a postage-paid return envelope and do not need stamps.
Voters may also drop off their mail-in ballot at a secure drop-off location, including a vote center, polling location or the clerk/registrar’s office. Ballots must be dropped off by 7:00 p.m. Election Day.
How to track your ballot.
Voters can track their ballot online at MyBallot.NV.gov by providing their name, date of birth and zip code.
If voter information is not found on the tracking website, voters can check their registration onVOTE.NV.gov.
What to do if there is an issue with your ballot.
Voters may contact the Secretary of State’s elections office or their county registrar of voters or election office with questions about their ballot.
Nevada Secretary of State: 775-687-8683 or nvelect@sos.nv.gov
Washoe County Registrar of Voters: (775) 328-3670 or ElectionsDepartment@washoecounty.gov
Douglas County Election Office: (775) 783-6095 or elections@douglasnv.us
In this explainer, the Tribune compiles the basics voters need to know when voting by mail in California.
When do ballots need to be postmarked?
According to the California Secretary of State, ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (Nov. 3). To ensure ballots are postmarked in time, voters should mail them at least seven days in advance.
All vote-by-mail ballots come with prepaid postage and do not need stamps.
If mailing a ballot after the seven-day advance window or on Election Day, the Secretary of State recommends voters get a manual postmark from a postal employee inside a United States Post Office.
Voters can also return their ballots in person on Election Day at polling locations or at a drop-box location by 8:00 p.m.
How to track your ballot.
When voting by mail, voters can track their ballot through the California Secretary of State’s “Where’s My Ballot?” tool.
The tool informs voters about when their ballot was mailed, received and counted.
To use the tool, voters must sign up at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov, where they can choose their preferred method for automatic updates, either email, SMS (text), or calls.
What to do if there is an issue with your ballot.
If there is an issue processing a ballot, the voter will be notified and given instructions on how to correct it.
For other issues and questions, the Secretary of State has established a toll-free Voter Hotline for requests for voter registration forms and other election materials and to report suspicions of voting or registration irregularities. The number is (800) 345-VOTE (8683).
Phone numbers for assistance in other languages are provided on the California Secretary of State’s Contact Information page.
The last opportunity to vote, whether in person or by returning a ballot, is Nov. 3 by 8:00 p.m.
RENO, Nev. – Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe was honored by the Nevada Conservation League at its recent Home Means Nevada dinner with a Green Impact Award for the resort’s sustainability work, including natural resources stewardship, compost and specialty materials recycling, education and community engagement, and advocacy efforts.
Recognized as the independent political voice of Nevada’s conservation community, the Nevada Conservation League works to protect the state’s climate, air, water, land, and health by translating conservation values into political and policy priorities so all Nevada communities can thrive. The Green Impact Award recognizes the influential strides of a locally-based company or partner organization that places environmental consciousness at the core of its work.
Anna Nason, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe Sustainability Lead receives award.Provided / Mt Rose
“We’re honored to have been selected as a Nevada Conservation League Green Impact Award recipient,” said Anna Nason, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe Sustainability Lead. “Our team has implemented a variety of sustainability initiatives we’re incredibly proud to be recognized for – from replanting native trees and landscape revegetation, to recycling sheave liners and other resort-specific gear, hosting nature tours and volunteer clean up efforts in the Tahoe Meadows and more.”
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe received the award at the Nevada Conservation League’s Home Means Nevada dinner, which brings together conservation advocates, elected officials, business leaders, and community members from across the state. The annual event honors those who are advancing Nevada’s environmental priorities and raises support for the work to come.
This season, the resort is continuing its sustainability efforts with an onsite enhanced rock weathering trial project for carbon sequestration that is showing promising results, and partnering with Treadshare to offer resort guests a rideshare option to get to the mountain.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board is meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 9:30 a.m., on Zoom and at Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, 128 Market Street, Stateline, Nev.
Legal Committee
Resolution of Enforcement Action: Brady Sessions; Unauthorized Grading resulting in Material Damage to Trees and Unauthorized Tree Removal; 630 Grand Avenue, Placer County, CA; Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 085-142-021; TRPA File No. CODE2026-0025
Resolution of Enforcement Action; LIND Art & Technology, Inc., Launching a motorized watercraft into the waters of the Region without an inspection, operating a motorized watercraft in a tributary and in No Wake zones, TRPA File No. CODE2026-0038
Governing Board Planning Matters
A. Briefing on Biodiversity and Recreation Threshold Updates
B. Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program Update
24. Environmental Management Department recommending the Board:
1) Receive and file a presentation from Recology Inc; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the third Amendment to the current Franchise Agreement, adding Section I, Assignment and Guaranty of Continued Performance, assigning the Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal Franchise Agreement to Recology, Inc., which remains in effect through September 2028.
25. Sheriff’s Office recommending the Board receive and file a presentation on Automatic License Plate Recognition systems in El Dorado County.
This article was produced as a project for the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism’s 2026 National Fellowship Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism. It’s part of a series on LGBTQ+ health in rural areas.
Rural residents have lower access to mental health care, and the list of providers grows even smaller when seeking someone experienced with LGBTQ+ issues.
“There were zero search results,” said Zephyr Kao of their effort to find a therapist on the Nevada side of Tahoe.
The need for mental health support of LGBTQ+ people is growing for the same reason access to it could become even more difficult: the last decade has seen a sharp increase in anti-LGBTQ+ policies, primarily targeting transgender people.
The Tahoe Basin is no exception to the national trends.
Like most rural communities, residents here rate their mental health worse than urban counterparts. Community health reports from Tahoe Forest Health System and Barton Health showed that almost a quarter of adults self reported their mental health status as fair to poor in 2024-2025. And a 2026 report from the Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee showed those outcomes were worse for LGBTQ+ residents in North Tahoe: almost 70% said there were three or more days in the past month where they had poor mental health. That’s
A Tribune survey of 15 LGBTQ+ respondents as well as follow up interviews, provide additional insight on the challenges in the Basin, such as specialized medical training, treatment costs and legal barriers for both patients and providers.
Changes on the federal level are unlikely to happen in the near future. But passionate providers say they are willing to fight for the LGBTQ+ community and their healthcare on a local and state level, which is a much needed measure to protect them now.
“While policy at the federal level, and many states, is currently hostile toward LGBTQ+ health, some of the most promising avenues may be at the local level for now,” said Carrie Henning-Smith, a researcher focused on rural health. “And, of course, voting and getting involved in the political process is important to effecting change.”
Mental health outcomes in Tahoe/Truckee
Rural, mountain towns like Tahoe and Truckee often have worse mental health outcomes than urban areas, exacerbated by social isolation and affordability issues. They also suffer from higher rates of suicide, a phenomena called the “paradise paradox.”
A 2026 report from the Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee showed those outcomes were worse for LGBTQ+ residents in North Tahoe. 69.8% of their LGBTQ+ respondents reported three or more days in the past month where they had poor mental health, and 67.1% of those surveyed said they needed mental health services in the past year.
The Tribune’s own survey showed that nearly half of respondents were seeking mental healthcare. Over 70% said they had to find healthcare elsewhere because there were waitlists for providers knowledgeable about LGBTQ+ issues or because they worried they would be unable to find adequate care locally.
Availability and accessibility
A shortage of providers with LGBTQ+ experience affects community health at multiple levels. Some respondents told the Tribune they simply took a gamble on who could help. Lauri Kemper, who has been in South Lake Tahoe for decades, said that when she was seeking a therapist, she wanted someone with experience and knowledge of lesbian experiences. “The couples’ therapist we went with actually had never counseled lesbians before, but no one else in town was doing it.”
Finding who actually offers these services can be challenging. A search on Psychology Today shows providers who serve the Tahoe area, but some of them are telehealth only or require a trip down the mountain to Reno or Sacramento—both hours away from Lake Tahoe.
An Hoang, a gay man who lives in Truckee, said that the therapist/patient relationship was an important determinant of mental health outcomes, and finding the right therapist was a needed step.
But, Hoang said, “That requires choice and going through different mental health providers and a lack of choices is just inherent in a small town. But if people don’t talk about [being LGBTQ+ friendly] and the resources that are available, you won’t know how to get help. You’ll feel like you’re alone in it.”
Local providers said the average wait time for mental healthcare is typically four to six months.
Brian Crane, a clinical social worker in Reno, previously served as the clinical director for Tahoe Youth and Family Services. He said that long waitlists were the norm for rural areas like Tahoe, Gardnerville and Minden, nearby communities in Nevada. “When you do find care after being on a waitlist for six months? You’re put in front of a resident who may leave, and you start all over again.”
Crane noted that often, people turn to telehealth when they don’t have local providers. And while it opens up options to find providers that are caring, it can come with its own set of issues. Patients often want more connection than they get through a screen. And online providers are limited in what they can do. For example, it can be a challenge to get letters supporting gender-affirming surgeries through online services.
Others said they were limited by what their insurance covered and what side of the state lines they were on. Zephyr Kao, who lives on the Nevada side of Tahoe, tried to find providers who could speak to the intersection of their experience as an Asian person and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
“I originally started with the mental health providers that you get assigned from insurance… but that was a total failure,” said Kao. “I could at least get a list of providers that matched my criteria if I searched in California, but I could not do that in Nevada.” Eventually, they decided to pursue care outside of their insurance network.
Increasing providers with LGBTQ+ competencies is hard work, particularly in mental healthcare. Eastern Sierra Counseling founder David Ranson and CEO Sarah Vigilante founded their practice after seeing the need for accessible mental health services in rural communities.
“We are trying to reach across the aisle and get more access in these places, to connect our mountain communities because we are stronger together,” said Ranson. Eastern Sierra Counseling actively hires providers that identify as LGBTQ+ or have training in LGBTQ+ care to serve rural areas. They also attempt to provide competitive pay rates to ensure that providers can stay and serve the communities with a high cost of living.
Affordability
Finding the right kind of care is important, but it can also be exceedingly expensive to get the right kind of care. To get mental health care that fit their needs, Kao said they saw a provider out of their insurance network and paid out of pocket.
“Therapy was my biggest expense in a year. I was paying $275 per session every other week,” said Kao. “It was expensive. And it sucks because you know you want to get the help. At some point, you have to decide if you have that money and if you’re going to spend it on getting that help.”
Another respondent said they paid more for their out-of-network therapist than their monthly rent. But whether it’s in or out of network, mental healthcare is particularly expensive.
That’s not to mention travel for care. While a majority of those seeking therapy outside the region looked for telehealth, others routinely traveled to LGBTQ+ friendly practitioners, adding an extra cost of both money and time to their search for adequate care.
Ranson, who has had experience serving rural Inyo, Mono, Kern and El Dorado Counties said that insurance coverage is one of the biggest challenges they face.
“The culprit of these exceedingly long waiting lists is the way insurance works,” said Ranson.
Which providers are deemed in-network often depends on geographic boundaries that don’t reflect where rural residents live and work. For example, someone who lives in Truckee and works in Reno might find they can only see therapists in the Nevada valley and not on the California side.
Other times, insurance might cover primary care at a hospital, but the mental health providers are considered out of network.
Providers also say they want to serve rural communities, but because some insurers pay lower rates, it can be difficult to make ends meet.
While they offer care for people on Medicaid, they’re anxiously looking at the horizon of changes slated to take effect in January—when H.R. 1 will require people to report work or school hours to continue to stay covered. Due to higher rates of poverty and disability, the LGBTQ+ community is disproportionately covered by Medicaid.
Every barrier to care can have a bigger impact on marginalized groups, like the LGBTQ+ community. “Every hoop you put in the way makes it more likely that someone will fall through the cracks, and it’s more expensive in the long run,” said Vigilante.
Eastern Sierra Counseling pushed insurance companies to come to the table to provide better care. While Eastern Sierra Counseling partners with hospitals like Tahoe Forest Health System to provide Medicaid care for youth, widespread access is impossible without addressing the cost.
Acceptability
Rural areas historically have faced challenges with stigmatization and negative perception of mental healthcare. That stigma can also extend to different identities. While LGBTQ+ people have always existed, even in rural areas, their acceptance has been met with resistance. A study from 2025 suggests that lower social support is a risk factor for LGBTQ+ youth.
Crane, who often worked with LGBTQ+ teenagers in rural areas, said, “They were very hidden and there was a lot of fear. Many patients refused attendance to events that were labeled as trans or LGBT for fear of being outed.”
People interviewed by the Tribune described being harassed both online and in real life, sometimes leading to threats to harm, injure or kill them, or to reveal their LGBTQ+ identity to their workplaces with the hope that it would make them lose their jobs. Among LGBTQ+ youth, classmates would threaten to out them to their guardians or harass them if they saw they had participated in LGBTQ+ clubs or activities they derogatorily perceived as gay.
On the other hand, people have expressed that while Tahoe and Truckee are rural, they feel safer there than they might in other mountain towns. Victoria Estevez, a resident of Truckee who praised the care she received from Tahoe Forest Health System, said, “I pay a fee for safety. I feel support from this community and I would not move to another mountain town.”
Mental health’s history has also been oppressive to LGBTQ+ people. The legacy of diagnosing gay and/or trans people as mentally ill is one that mental health practitioners contend with today—homosexuality was removed as a diagnosis in 1973, while gender dysphoria still lingers.
But up-to-date standards of practice have advocated for coming out as a benefit to mental health and guides the care of transgender and gender diverse individuals through peer-reviewed research. And several of the providers the Tribune spoke to said they believed gender dysphoria, the feeling that one’s assigned sex at birth doesn’t align with their gender expression, should not be considered a mental illness.
Providers also spoke about the challenges of balancing advice to patients to live openly with the realities of transphobia and homophobia. Ranson said that the persistence of fear can push people back into the closet, but that there were real concerns around discrimination, harassment and even violence.
Hoang said the stigma of there being less out and open people in rural areas likely made it harder for people to talk about their experiences, let alone share their worries and fears with a mental health provider. Other respondents also shared that they worried they would be judged or treated poorly if they came out to a provider.
That lack of trust makes it easy for patients to decide to forego care entirely.
While Truckee and South Lake Tahoe both have active pride groups and events, the oppressive forces can extend past what simple social groups can do.
Kye Miller, a family lawyer who works with the LGBTQ+ community and mental healthcare in Reno, said that rural environments can create barriers to care. As an advocate for gender-affirming name changes as a part of improving mental health, he sees the issues that can arise there.
“In rural Yerington, the place that clients have to go for name changes is called the Donald J. Trump Justice Complex,” said Miller. “Clients will forego doing something good for their mental health because they have to file it in a place where they feel it will likely get rejected.”
Those attitudes also impact how people receive care. Respondents and care providers had several stories where their care was denied due to homophobia or transphobia. In one case, a patient was unable to get their hormones because a pharmacist denied filling their prescription.
Homophobia and transphobia have proven negative impacts on mental health. And when those attitudes extend to every aspect of living in a small, rural town, it’s no wonder why they reverberate into every part of the LGBTQ+ community and their lives.
Hostile policies affect LGBTQ+ access to care
Rising homophobia and transphobia isn’t limited to rural areas. The federal government has leveraged hostile policies against LGBTQ+ communities, impacting funding, care and those who provide it along with their patients.
The Trump administration built a major part of its platform on transphobia, putting out executive orders to halt gender-affirming care and dismantling policies that protected sexual orientation and gender identity from discrimination.
That included removing coverage for gender affirming care from the Affordable Care Act, putting out stop work orders on research for LGBTQ+ health and active efforts to criminalize those who provided care, especially to youth.
Carrie Henning-Smith, co-director of the University of Minnesota’s Rural Health Research Center, who conducted research on LGBTQ+ rural health found these developments troubling.
“Removing sexual orientation or gender identity from data collection efforts and removing protections in policy puts individuals at risk of harm without legal protections, while also making it more difficult to see where those harms are happening. Without adequate data, it’s difficult to know the full extent of health equity issues,” said Henning-Smith.
Such intimidation from the federal government worried many respondents to the Tribune, who struggled with the idea of seeking healthcare if it would be made unaffordable or immediately taken away from them. While California and Nevada both have protections for LGBTQ+ people, they expressed fears that their providers would be limited.
“We are making it so these populations, especially the younger portions, have a higher rate of suicide,” said Ranson.
Providers feel the fear too. Ranson and Vigilante said that in the wake of hostile policies, some of their therapists were concerned about being targeted if they advertised that they were LGBTQ+ friendly or helped with gender affirming care.
They also worried that providing diagnoses of gender dysphoria could cause their patients to be targeted. The Trump administration has already directed military officials to separate members who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and several bills have been introduced with the aim to identify those diagnoses in the general public.
Estevez, who receives care at Tahoe Forest Health System said, “In times like these, seeing a high percentage of staff and administration at the hospital with rainbow pins means something. It signals that their support isn’t fake.” So while it can feel risky to show vocal support, even a small action goes a long way when there are such negative attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people.
Health providers are in a unique position to advocate for protecting LGBTQ+ care. Dallas Ducar, chief strategy officer at Fenway Health, said, “Clinicians carry a credibility that lobbyists and advocates don’t, and their testimony takes abstract policy debates and puts it in the reality of care, because they are there to witness what happens in the margins.”
Dr. Karen Thiele, a family medicine clinician in Reno, said, “Being an ally is standing in the same line of fire as your communities. When you can speak for your patients, that’s a critical part of protecting their healthcare, and we have to use that.”
But doing so currently risks the professions of the very healthcare providers that can serve the LGBTQ+ community. Thiele said she has seen clinicians leave the field in response to hostile federal policies, especially in the realm of pediatric medicine. “I don’t feel a tenth of the daily pressure that my patients do, but I understand the stress they feel.”
Thiele says that they are striving for shield laws for physicians, which could protect providers’ licenses against out-of-state investigations, prosecutions and civil liability. In Nevada, they previously pushed for shield laws in 2023 and 2025, and failed both times. But Thiele and others hope to advocate for it again in the next legislative session.
“There are systemic barriers for rural LGBTQ+ health,” said Thiele. “To push for change, it can’t just be one voice. It needs to come from many, unified voices with institutional support. If you say that you serve a community, it needs to be everyone. Every patient. Every time.”
Rural LGBTQ+ residents need educated providers and specialists to care for them. You can read more about those challenges and potential solutions in part one and part two of this series.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Tahoe Transportation District (TTD), in partnership with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), Tahoe Fund, Washoe County, Nevada Division of State Lands (NDSL) and other Corridor Management Plan (CMP) partners announces the completion of the SR 28 North Parking Project (Phase 2 of the Tunnel Creek Parking Project), marking another milestone in ongoing efforts to improve safety, access and transportation options along Lake Tahoe’s East Shore.
The completed parking improvements support a broader regional strategy to address unsafe roadside parking, improve access to public lands and recreation areas, and create more opportunities for visitors to connect with transit and trail networks. The work is part of a coordinated, long-term approach to managing visitation and improving mobility along the SR 28 corridor while protecting the area’s environmental and scenic resources.
“Providing safe, organized parking is an important step toward improving the experience for residents and visitors while addressing longstanding safety challenges along the East Shore,” said Jim Marino, executive director of the Tahoe Transportation District. “By working with our regional partners, we are making progress toward a transportation system that better serves the community, improves safety and supports responsible access to Lake Tahoe’s public lands.”
SR 28 North Parking ExtensionProvided / TTD
The North Parking improvements build on the region’s ongoing investment in water quality improvements, safer access along SR 28, including a new transit stop, and the 90 parking spots located at the Tunnel Creek parking area. Together, these efforts support a more coordinated approach to parking management and recreation access, helping move visitors away from unsafe highway shoulders and toward designated parking facilities.
Over the next several years, the broader corridor strategy will continue to focus on providing safe off-road parking alternatives, strengthening transit connections to popular national forest recreation destinations, improving pedestrian and trail access, and supporting implementation of regional transportation priorities identified in the Regional Transportation Plan. These improvements are intended to help manage peak visitation, improve circulation and reduce conflicts among motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
SR 28 Corridor Improvements Advance with Progress on Spooner Mobility Hub
Construction is also progressing on a separate, related transportation hub and aquatic invasive species (AIS) watercraft inspection station across from the entrance to Spooner Lake State Park on national forest lands. Administered by NDOT, this two-season construction began in May 2026, with completion projected for fall 2027 and the facility anticipated to open in summer 2028.
When open, the transportation hub is expected to provide approximately 250 parking spaces, replacing unsafe shoulder parking along SR 28. The facility is also planned to support expanded seasonal transit service to East Shore recreation destinations, recreational access to Spooner Lake State Park and other public lands, and a potential future extension of the East Shore Trail. Infrastructure for planned electric vehicle charging and communication technology will further support transportation management and visitor access.
The facility will also house the Tahoe Basin’s first permanent aquatic invasive species watercraft inspection and decontamination station, replacing the existing temporary station near the U.S. 50 intersection. The station will help protect Lake Tahoe and other regional waters from aquatic invasive species.
The project is being developed in partnership with NDOT, TTD, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and Nevada Division of State Parks and Lands. TTD is expected to operate and maintain the transit hub and parking facility, while TRPA will operate the watercraft inspection station, pending the applicable Forest Service special use permit.
To make it easier to explore the East Shore Trail and stay up to date on the many improvements underway, the Tahoe Fund worked with Design Workshop to create a new StoryMap. You can view the interactive StoryMap here. The StoryMap provides additional context on the corridor’s transportation challenges, planned improvements and long-term vision for safer, more connected access to Tahoe’s East Shore.
For details on Tahoe Transportation District and its current projects, visit www.TahoeTransportation.org or call (775) 589-5500.
Tahoe Arts Project (TAP) extends a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped make the 13th annual Dancing with the Tahoe Stars fundraiser on October 10, 2026, a tremendous success!
This special evening brought together talented local dancers and their partners, generous sponsors, enthusiastic supporters, and community members for a night of entertainment, friendly competition, and fundraising in support of the performing arts in South Lake Tahoe.
Congratulations to all our dancers! Your hard work, courage, and dedication made this night so special.
TOP THREE DANCE COUPLES
1st Place: Maria Foulke & Gantt Miller
2nd Place: Chris Cocores & Scarlett Hart
3rd Place: Mike Mileski & Kylee Finnegan
TOP THREE FUNDRAISING COUPLES
1st Place: Maria Foulke & Gantt Miller
2nd Place: Julee Killebrew & Angie Zajic
3rd Place: Chelcee Thomas & Jessica Wackenhut
A very special thank-you goes to our local stars and their dance partners for the time, energy, and commitment they put into preparing for the event. Their hard work and willingness to step onto the dance floor helped make the evening memorable. We also thank our sponsors, donors, judges, MC’s Sara Pierce and Bryan Thompson, South Tahoe High School Dance Team, volunteers, and everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the event.
“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity and enthusiasm our community continues to show for Tahoe Arts Project,” said Peggy Blowney, Executive Director of TAP. “Events like Dancing with the Tahoe Stars remind us what a special community we live in. Thank you to everyone who danced, donated, sponsored, volunteered, and cheered us on. Your support makes a real difference in the lives of our local students.”
Tahoe Arts Project extends its heartfelt gratitude to the 40 cash sponsors whose generosity was instrumental in making the 13th annual Dancing with the Tahoe Stars our most successful year in the event’s 13-year history. Their financial support, along with the enthusiasm of our dancers, donors, volunteers, and community members, made this milestone possible. We are deeply grateful to everyone who believes in our mission and helps us bring the performing arts to South Lake Tahoe schools and the community.
Tahoe Arts Project would also like to extend a special thank-you to our generous business sponsors: Kahle Community Center, The Studio, South Shore Beauty, MVMNT, Sessions Salon, Bruschetta, Forest Suites Resort, Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge & Spa, and Bally’s Lake Tahoe. Their generosity and support helped make the 13th annual Dancing with the Tahoe Stars possible, and we are grateful for their commitment to our community and the arts.
As Tahoe Arts Project celebrates its 40th season in 2026–2027, community support is more important than ever. The success of Dancing with the Tahoe Stars helps TAP continue bringing high-quality performing arts experiences to local schools and audiences throughout the South Lake Tahoe community.
This event would not have been the incredible success it was without our amazing director/producer, Meg Peart. We are beyond grateful for the vision, time, heart, and hard work she poured into making this event so memorable. Meg, thank you, once again for supporting TAP and we truly couldn’t have done it without you!
Thank you, Tahoe, for making this evening such a wonderful celebration of dance, generosity, and the arts!
Several people have asked me over the past week what will happen to the stock market after the upcoming midterm election. Boy, do I wish I knew the answer to that one!
I may be an investment professional, but that doesn’t mean I can reliably predict where the market will move next. What I do have is a belief in the Efficient Market Hypothesis, which states that the markets reflect all the available information at a given time. That makes it extremely difficult to consistently predict what the market will do next.
Still, I can certainly understand why people are anxious about the election and its impact on the stock market. It feels like everyone is afraid that the sky is falling; half of the country if the Democrats take control of the House and Senate, and half of the country if the Republicans maintain control of them. Pretty incredible, isn’t it?
While I can’t tell you what the markets will do after the election—or, for that matter, tomorrow—what I can do is provide you with some evidence from over 75 years of market returns that may help put you at ease.
Per Fidelity, the S&P 500 index has posted gains in 95% of 12-month periods following midterm elections since 1938. In addition, the S&P 500 index has averaged gains of 14.5% since 1950 for the November-to-November period after the midterm election. That easily beats the long-term average gain since 1927 of just over 10% for the S&P 500 index and its predecessor, according to Investopedia.
Meanwhile, Blackrock notes that midterm election years themselves have been, on average, the worst-performing years for the stock market. Even so, since 1970, midterm election-year returns have averaged 7.5%.
So, what gives?
Markets don’t like uncertainty. Leading up to an election, it is often unclear whether control of Congress will change or how that might affect government policy. This uncertainty can contribute to higher volatility and lower market returns. Once the election outcome is clearer, either after the election or in the weeks leading up to it, investors feel more certain of the direction of government policy for at least the next two years.
Here is my final thought. Make sure that you are invested in a strong, diversified portfolio that makes sense for you for the long term, so that you won’t feel stressed leading up (or after) to the election. Consult a financial advisor if you are not sure. Avoid making any big changes based on emotions, knowing that the market has tended to perform well in the 12 months following midterm elections.
How ever you handle election stress, 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.
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters defeated the New Mexico Goatheads by a score of 2-1 in overtime.
The fireworks in the first period came off of a fight in the opening three minutes between Tahoe’s Tucker Ness and New Mexico’s Dakota Seaman to energize the crowd, but both goaltenders- Tahoe’s Alex Tracy and New Mexico’s Isaiah Saville posted shutout periods, and the two teams went scoreless into the second.
Knight Monsters v Utah GoatheadsProvided
In the middle frame, New Mexico got on the board first courtesy of Grant Ahcan’s first goal of the season to go up 1-0. Saville once again held down the fort in the period, and the Knight Monsters entered the third down a goal.
The final frame is when everything changed. Bronson Ride scored his first professional goal at the 8:21 mark of the period to tie the score at 1, and after a few chaotic sequences, both goaltenders stood their ground, and the game went into overtime.
In OT, it was Ness who scored the overtime winner off a pass from Tyler Rollwagen as the Knight Monsters took 4 out of a possible 6 points on the weekend.
Alex Tracy shined in net, stopping 35 of 36 New Mexico shots, earning him Second Star of the Game honors.
The Knight Monsters are back at Tahoe Blue Event Center on Wednesday, October 28, as they take on the Kansas City Mavericks for Pucks and Paws night. Puck drop is set for 7 pm PT. Season tickets and ticket packages for the 2026-27 season are now available. For more information on becoming a 1645 Club Season Ticket Member, visit knightmonstershockey.com.
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters their first win of the season against the New Mexico Goatheads on home ice by a score of 6-2.
In the first period, after enduring an early rush of New Mexico shots, Tahoe turned the tide as Jake Durflinger got the Knight Monsters on the board with his first of the season to give Tahoe an early one-goal lead. Just over three minutes later, the Knight Monsters would build their lead off of a goal from Tucker Ness, making it 2-0 Tahoe. In the closing minutes of the frame, Durflinger scored his second of the night shorthanded to put Tahoe up 3-0; however, that goal would be cancelled out by a power play goal from Jake Chiasson for New Mexico, and Tahoe took a 3-1 lead into the intermission.
After struggling in the second period on the road in Wichita, the Knight Monsters played a complete middle 20 as Noah Nelson scored his first professional goal to make it 4-1, and Samuel Mayer scored Tahoe’s second shorthanded goal of the game to go up 5-1 heading into the third period.
The Goatheads would jump out first in the final frame as Briley Wood scored his first of the season to cut the lead to 5-2, but late in the period, on the power play, New Mexico pulled their goaltender and captain Jake McGrew scored an empty-net, shorthanded goal to extend Tahoe’s lead to four and give the Knight Monsters a 6-2 win.
Goaltender Alex Tracy had a great night in net as well, stopping 40 of 42 Goatheads shots in the win in front of a sold-out crowd.
This win also marked the first win in the head coaching career of Connor Jones. The Montrose, British Columbia native joins the Tahoe staff from Princeton University, where he was an assistant coach for the last two seasons.
The Knight Monsters are back at Tahoe Blue Event Center tomorrow night, October 24, as they take on the New Mexico Goatheads for the second game of this three-game series. Puck drop is set for 7 pm PT. Season tickets and ticket packages for the 2026-27 season are now available. For more information on becoming a 1645 Club Season Ticket Member, visit knightmonstershockey.com.
We’re not saying Ducky is the smartest girl in the room…but she probably already knows how to unlock the door!
Meet Ducky! At just 1 year old and around 50 pounds, this sweet, goofy girl is the perfect combination of brains, beauty, and silly personality. She picks up new tricks and commands in no time, especially when treats are involved. Honestly, with her smarts and motivation, she might be ready to teach us a few things!
Ducky is also a wonderful canine companion who gets along great with other dogs. She’s playful, gentle, and respectful of her furry friends. Add in her love of car rides and spending time with her people, and you’ve got yourself a pretty fantastic adventure buddy. Whether she’s showing off her intelligence, making you laugh with her goofy antics, or happily hopping into the car for a ride, Ducky knows how to keep life entertaining.
Ducky is this week’s Pet of the Week. Provided / HSTT
Ducky is looking for a loving home where she can keep learning, playing, and sharing her big personality. She would do best in a home without children under 12 years old. In return, she promises plenty of laughs, lots of love, and enough smarts to keep you on your toes!
Think your home could use a little more Ducky? Come meet this clever girl and see if she’s your perfect match!
Ducky is currently in foster care, but if you are interested in meeting her, please call/email one of HSTT’s Adoption Specialists, 530-587-5948 or adoptions@hstt.org.
Ducky is spayed, vaccinated, and up to date on her vaccines. To view more adoptable pets or to learn more about the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, visit www.hstt.org.
TL;DR: South Lake Tahoe has been named Expedia’s #1 Trending Destination for 2027, following a 195% surge in travel searches. Discover why this year-round mountain destination is capturing travelers’ attention worldwide.
The secret is out! South Lake Tahoe is capturing the attention of travelers worldwide, and Expedia’s latest travel trends report confirms it.
According to Expedia’s Unpack ’27 travel trends report, South Lake Tahoe saw a remarkable 195% year-over-year increase in travel searches, earning the top spot among trending destinations worldwide.
And it’s easy to see why. From sparkling blue waters and sandy beaches to breathtaking alpine scenery, South Lake Tahoe offers something unforgettable in every season. Visitors can hit the slopes at world-class ski resorts, explore scenic hiking and biking trails, cruise across the lake, or simply relax and take in the mountain views. Add exciting entertainment, delicious dining, and a wide variety of places to stay, and you’ve got a destination worth discovering again and again.
Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure, a romantic mountain escape, or a memorable family vacation, South Lake Tahoe delivers an experience unlike anywhere else.
Who doesn’t love that cozy autumn feeling of walking to your mailbox, or a drop box, or an in-person voting center to cast your vote for local, state, and national leadership?
2026 is a midterm year, meaning no voting for the U.S. president and vice president. With that spotlight off, local races receive more, much-deserved attention. Ideal, since that’s where voters have the most power to effect change. But without presidential candidates on the ballot, there tends to be considerably less participation. In 2022’s midterm election, 36% of California’s voting age population cast a ballot compared to 53% in 2024’s general. In Nevada for those same years, 41% bumped up to 58%.
The irony isn’t difficult to spot: Rules and codes over local development, utility rates, transportation options — these and hundreds more decisions happen in your neck of the woods and are made by the people you vote into office. But it doesn’t have the same drama or them-versus-us vibe, so it might not feel as critical to participate.
We hope reviewing the answers provided by candidates in the following pages adds a reason to your pros and cons list about voting on or before Nov. 3. There are very real issues at hand and critical decisions being made, and who you vote for could turn the tide one way or the other.
For our election coverage in our October edition, we took a methodical approach to the jurisdictions and special districts featured: Those we questioned in person as part of the Truckee Candidate Forum on Oct. 8 — Truckee Town Council, Tahoe Forest Hospital District, and Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District — were not included in print. (You can re-watch those forums, which took place Oct. 6 and 8, at ttm.ompnetwork.org.
A North Shore Election Forum took place Oct. 6, where state candidates participated in a Q&A. Find the recording at firsttuesdaybreakfastclub.com.
Incline Village Crystal Bay Business Association is hosting an IV-CB Community Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. in the Duffield Theater at Incline High School. It will be broadcast live and available afterward at youtube.com/@iv-cbcommunityforum9730.
We also touch on Measure P, which goes before all voters within the TTUSD boundaries.
You’ll find three district-specific questions asked of the candidates, who were allowed no more than 125 words in response per answer. Please sit with their answers and mull over who you believe would best fill an empty seat on a board, then responsibly fill out your ballot and cast your vote by Nov. 3. A healthy democracy depends on participation.
For uncontested races and other information, view our 2026 Election Tracker at tinyurl.com/5f4w5j4c.
Residents must register to vote by Oct. 19. Same-day voter registration is possible, but must be done at a county elections office, polling place, or vote center. Visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov for a list of early voting locations.
Residents must have registered to vote in person or by mail by Oct. 6. Same-day voter registration is possible and must be done in person at a polling location. Visit tinyurl.com/mrfcsc7p for a list of early voting locations.
Two years ago, the Incline Village General Improvement District was in a precarious spot. Fraud allegations, financial issues, failed recalls, and a general manager spot that couldn’t seem to be kept filled — interim GM Bobby Magee, who resigned after three months, followed by Kent Walrack, who lasted a similar length of time before being terminated by a new board. That same month, January 2025, the still-current GM, Bob Harrison, was put in place.
Earlier this summer, Trustee Mick Homan wrote a piece for Moonshine saying that at long last, things are looking up. “With key hires in HR and finance to supplement the existing team, focus shifted to three priorities,” he wrote. “Improving organizational health, restoring financial discipline, and advancing long-term capital planning.”
The shape of that progress looks different to different people. There are three candidates running for two seats on the IVGID Board of Trustees, with only one incumbent running for reelection: David Noble. That means there’ll be at least one newcomer, either Harry Swenson, who ran in 2024, or Ryan “RB” Brooks. The candidates touch on cost discipline, transportation, and utility management.
Candidates were limited to 125-word responses per question, and they have been edited for style and clarity. Order of replies determined by a randomizer.
1. Public transportation has been identified as a critical option to reduce traffic, lower pollution, expand mobility, and more. December 2025’s cancellation of TART (Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit) Connect’s microtransit services and the Aug. 1, 2026, discontinuance of IVGID’s Senior Transportation Program have created a gap in public transportation needs across Incline Village/Crystal Bay. What do you see as the most critical way(s) IVGID can support or encourage expanded public transportation options?
Brooks: The end of these programs left us without on-demand transit for the residents who depend on it most: seniors, workers, and people without a car. As I see it, IVGID’s most critical role is to restore service quickly and on solid legal footing. IVGID’s counsel has advised that [Nevada Revised Statute] 318 doesn’t allow the district to operate transportation directly. Rather, we should let a local 501(c)(3) run the service and receive state and federal funding directly, including [Nevada Department of Transportation’s] [Federal Transit Administration] Section 5310 and Older Americans Act funds and Washoe County senior service contracts. IVGID’s role would be to convene partners and help prepare grant applications. Any direct financial support would be reviewed by legal counsel first, so we don’t trade one lawsuit risk for another.
Editor’s note: Words in brackets were added by editors and do not count against word count.
Noble: IVGID representatives have been in discussions with county representatives since April to strongly encourage restarting/funding TART, which would assist all residents, including seniors. Those discussions have included the use of at least some of the taxes generated from STRs in unincorporated Washoe County (over 90% of those revenues come from STRs in Incline Village and Crystal Bay), which currently go to the county, Travel North Tahoe Nevada (formerly the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau), and the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Unfortunately, IVGID is prohibited from providing public transportation service, unless it is tied to at least one of IVGID’s recreation venues.
Swenson: I would work with the board and amend the long-standing contract with Washoe County to ensure senior transportation services are fully funded by the county and are consistent with services offered in other towns/districts of the county. For instance, the county provides discounted Lyft rides and taxi services for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents. We need to ensure our community is aware of the services available.
IVGID has the responsibility of providing transportation according to the contract with Washoe County; therefore, the elimination of services was wrong. The problem appears to be budgetary and due to the services provided by IVGID going beyond what the county provides in other communities. Services should have been reviewed and refined rather than eliminated.
2. IVGID provides essential utilities while also operating an extensive recreation system. How would you determine which responsibilities should take priority when the district faces competing financial, infrastructure, and community needs?
Swenson: Maintaining and updating our water and sewer infrastructure is critical. Much of it is still original and in state of disrepair. We’ve had too many water main and line breaks. We need to budget and execute on a plan to get it upgraded and properly maintained. At the same time, we need to make the maintenance of our existing facilities, such as the recreation center, a priority. We should budget for these things first and then determine what additional projects can be accomplished. Only projects that can be delivered should be contained in the budget that results in your beach and recreation fees. This would resolve the over-collection of fees from our community while keeping our facilities in good repair.
Brooks: Tier 1 – Public health, safety, and legal obligations. Water, sewer, and effluent systems come first because they protect residents and the lake, and regulations aren’t optional.
Tier 2 – Taking care of what we already have. Before paying for anything new, IVGID should fully fund the repair and replacement of its existing pipes, pumps, facilities, and equipment.
Tier 3 – Core recreation at the heart of our community. Each IVGID facility should be evaluated on cost, usage, and how close it comes to covering its expenses. But keep a holistic approach.
Tier 4 – Wants. New amenities, expansions, and nice-to-haves come last.
Three rules would guide me in how I apply this:
Keep the money where it belongs.
Plan on a five- to 10-year horizon.
Show our work.
Noble: Water and sewer services take priority over all recreation venues because those services are essential to daily life. IVGID recently completed the effluent export pipeline project under Highway 28 — a $62 million-plus project finished a year ahead of schedule and $13 million-plus under budget. Looking forward, I believe reinvestment in IVGID’s water service and ski area should be priority. Wildfire preparedness measures (pipe replacement, backup generators, etc.) need to be accelerated for our water delivery system to be better prepared for future wildfire events. Diamond Peak is the only venue that generates a profit for the community ($1 to $5 million/year), yet no meaningful investments have been made in nearly 20 years — lodge, lift, and snowmaking upgrades are long overdue to address declining skier visits.
3. The past few years have seen ups and downs in the facility fee amounts district property owners pay annually. For example, in the fiscal year ending 2023, residents paid $780. In 2024, that amount dropped to $455. In 2026, due to impacted district finances, the annual fee went up to $1,375. The current IVGID board said the latest increase will help ensure district financial stability and the ability to manage current and future capital facilities. Do you think the board and staff have handled the financial instability well? How would you seek to maintain or improve district financial management moving forward?
Noble: The facility fee was kept flat from 2010 to 2023, while construction, labor, and food prices rose considerably over that period. The fee went up to $1,375 to begin addressing years of deferred maintenance and capital projects that languished due to analysis paralysis. I led the effort in early 2025 to hire IVGID’s new GM, who has rebuilt the finance department. We now have the right personnel in place for IVGID to comply with all applicable fiscal and accounting protocols, resulting in a clean (no exceptions or disclaimers) [Fiscal Year] 2025 audit. IVGID will be removed from the state’s fiscal watch list once the anticipated clean audit for FY 2026 is filed in November, which will enable IVGID to access additional financing tools for future projects.
Swenson: IVGID is collecting money for projects without the ability to complete in the budgeted year for many years; it’s resulted in excessive cash reserves. The excessive cash build-ups have also allowed your money to be used where it wasn’t intended or budgeted. The lower-fee years were during a time when the board linked the fees to the ability to deliver projects and services; they didn’t over-collect but collected for what was achievable. Last year’s capital improvement plan was for $30 million of projects and barely executed on $6 million. Now, with the tripling of fees, they’ve collected another $40 million out of your pockets. The board needs to budget and collect only for projects and services it can deliver, nothing more. Apply proper fiscal management!
Brooks: The current board and staff faced the problem honestly. They built a long-term capital plan, ranked the most critical projects, and stabilized the general fund. The effluent pipeline replacement finished a year early and under budget. That’s real progress.
Going forward, I would:
Instead of raising fees, pursue cost savings and revenue generating opportunities. For example, we have a $400,000 line item for the replacement of golf carts. Let’s solicit sponsors like Titleist or Nike to brand and sponsor the golf carts.
Index the fee to construction costs every year with a published formula.
Autumn Color Reflected in the Twilight
Caples Lake, Calif.
Fall is here, and for photographers, it’s the most exciting time of the year. Grab your gear and head to the mountains. Great images may seem easy, but capturing world-class ones is not as simple as it appears. I have five key elements that I look for in a single image:
1. Color: The sky and landscape should be bursting with color. Brilliant blue skies, glowing sunsets, and vibrant fall foliage make images pop.
2. Water: I prefer a one to three-second exposure to soften the water into a creamy flow of motion. Reflections double the foliage and sky color, creating beautiful, mirrored compositions.
3. Strong Compositions: Find a solid center point, such as an is
olated tree or a splash of color. Your eye should wander around without being led out of the frame. S-curves and diagonals make images more dynamic.
4. Old Things: Ghost towns, dilapidated buildings or barns, and remnants of bygone eras are not only enjoyable to discover, but they are often weathered, rusted, or in disrepair, captivating viewers.
5. Weather: Clouds, snow, and rain can all enhance an image. Cloudy days reduce the contrast of shadows. The first snowfall of the year is a must-see, and a gentle rain to wash away dust is always welcome.
I haven’t yet captured a photo that incorporates all five elements, but I’ll keep trying!
It being a midterms year, Moonshine Ink sought to create a political education column, speaking with academics on the state of politics in the country. In this edition of the Politics Brief, Moonshine spoke with Teaching Assistant Professor Owen Fite, Ph.D., from the University of Nevada, Reno’s political science department. Answers were lightly edited for style and clarity.
You teach a class on political philosophy, so I’m wondering if you can define democracy and tell me about how it has evolved since its creation? Why didn’t the founding fathers go with a direct Athenian democracy?
To give the general synopsis of what Athenian democracy was, it wasn’t monolithic, it wasn’t static. It changed over different years in which it existed. But the most radical take … that I think is worth juxtaposing from today is a democracy in which you had 6,000 citizens who showed up to the Pnyx — the assembly. It’s this hilltop in Athens. And the first 6,000 citizens that showed up there got to be essentially congress members for the day.
Those citizens would be voting yea or nay on the various proposals that were submitted by [a] council of 500. This was still restricted to Athenians, even if there were other city-states and areas that were under Athenian rule. This was still a very exclusive form of citizenship that also did not include women or children or slaves. But these people also were paid.
As a way to make this more accessible even to the poor, you could get paid essentially a day’s wage to show up and do your citizenry duties. And so you had a form of citizenship that allowed for such participation and allowed for real engagement, whether it’s because you were picked by lottery to be one of these more deliberative council members in this smaller body of 500, or you always having this right to show up early to this assembly with 5,999 other folks and vote yea or nay on these various proposals. I don’t think I need to explain to you how different that is from democracy today.
Aristotle gives you a theory as to three noble forms of government — what are pure, virtuous forms of government: benevolent kingship, aristocracy, and polity, or what also might be translated to a constitutional polity of sorts.
The perverted forms, or the forms of government that end up taking shape if the noble ones end up being corrupted, are: tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy. Democracy is seen as mob rule, rule of incompetence, rule of those who are subject to material needs. In other words, people are selfishly going into these assemblies looking for what they can get. If they don’t have their needs met, they’re going to be even more desperate and selfish instead of deliberating and thinking of a collective communal good.
And it isn’t until we get to John Locke and what we would call the introduction of liberal democracy that we get kind of this 180, where we get essentially the English Civil Wars, and we get this re-understanding that government is based on consent, individual’s agreement to enter into a social contract and accept legitimate authority.
[The founding fathers] had a lot of liberal ideas to pull from, they draw from Lockean philosophy, and so they have the basis of a liberal democratic government, but one that is still supposed to be based on rationalism, that is still supposed to exclude women, those who are not educated enough, like children, those who are supposed to only be property owning. In other words, still this idea that those who can’t provide for themselves are going to corrupt a public body, seeking their own selfish good if they don’t have their own material sustenance met.
And what one could clearly argue as real skepticism of the everyday citizen, the fact that the Senate was not able to be elected until we get to the 1900s shows that the founding fathers didn’t want everyday people in charge of affairs. The fact that the electoral college existed meant another layer of insulation in which individual people could not express their concerns. By just keeping it in the House of Representatives, it allowed some sort of representation based off citizens, which is still a very exclusive circle.
Not everyone could be a citizen … that would be specifically capped by a Senate. It’d be capped to really make sure that all these warnings made by political philosophers over the last thousand years [about] a tyranny of the masses, a tyranny of the uneducated, would never really take shape.
ZOON POLITIKON: Politics isn’t simply Congress or voting, says Owen Fite, it’s the network of relationships and decisions that shape how we live together. File image
As politics becomes wrapped up in every facet of life, what would you say to somebody who says that they’re not political? How does this tie into Aristotle’s idea of the zoon politikon?
Zoon politikon translates to political animal.
And this is an assumption made by Aristotle that people are political creatures. In other words, politics is not something we should avoid. Politics is the very essence of being human.
The fact that humans have ideas of what is good and bad, what’s better and worse, what is righteous, what is sincere, what is emotion, these are all very human things. And all of this has to do with politics. In order to understand this you have to have a more capacious definition instead of an institutional definition of politics just being Congress or voting.
But politics at its origins is the practice of compromise, of agreeing. Well, that’s what it’s like to be a person. The only way one could avoid politics would be living out on an island by themselves with no interaction with anyone else.
But even that is still the consequence of politics. For example, [if] some different treaties or different governments agreed not to populate this one island,[then] even if someone avoids all politics, the very absence of politics … requires politics elsewhere. And so that’s a different answer, though, to how someone who tells me they’re not political, how I’d respond to them.
I would do a long Socratic kind of back and forth if I had all the time in the world and I was invested in really getting this through. I would ask, ‘What does it mean to not be political?’ I’d throw it on its head. And if someone said, ‘Oh, it’s just I like my job and I like watching my TV.’ I’d ask, ‘Well, how do you have your job? What are the economic forces at play? What are the facts of insurance, the subsidies, the workplace protections, the fact that you have a home, the zoning, the roads that get you from here to there, the fact that you have TV, that you have internet connection here and there, that everything that leads to you being a part of another’s world, that’s political.’
It is interesting because I feel like some of the people I’ve talked to think it’s pointless. They think that they don’t have influence, or maybe they think that there’s no point in voting in the presidential election because they think that the only potential power that they have is within local elections.
What I would call a meaningful distinction of what you brought up is the difference between having agency and influence versus control and masterdom. Yeah, people in the U.S. right now do not have control over their politics.
They do not have a masterdom over politics unless they are one of those few exceptions of a political party elite or Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos-type billionaires. That doesn’t mean someone doesn’t have influence. If I were to have a conversation with individuals, I would probably take it as local, scaled down as possible to think of what influence have you had on friends, on family, on the community, and I would interrogate them or challenge them to say, how is that apolitical? You convincing a friend to watch a certain show over another, going to this event versus another, joining this club, spending their time doing this and that.
Whether they’re subtle or not, they have interconnections with ideas of what is better, what is worse, what are ways that we want to associate, we want to cohabitate, we want to live together, what institutions we want to make, whether they’re formal or informal.
What I problematize about the definition that you cited is that it’s really restricted by an institutionalist type of thinking that, yes, if you only work with institutions and you expect institutions to completely reflect what you want, it’s going to feel like you have no agency, but that’s only one avenue of politics.
The most radical changes over history, the biggest political change happens outside of formal institutions. It creates new institutions over time. You as an individual are not going to do that. You don’t have that control or masterdom, but that’s where you don’t get these big critical junctures until it actually takes up across a large group, a large mass of people.
We go back to the heart of it, which is politics only exists with others. You as an individual are not going to change everything in politics by yourself. It’s all part of a collective action problem, a collective effort.
Three seats of the five seats on the Truckee Fire Protection District board are up for the midterms, but none of them are seeking reelection, which means come Jan. 1, 2027, there’ll be three new faces overseeing the fire district’s budget, policies, and overall services for the community. This is especially notable considering the district’s current legal battle against Placer County over property tax allotment, such impending capital projects as a new headquarters fire station, and the recent union formation.
Candidates were limited to 125-word responses per question, and they have been edited for style and clarity. Order of replies determined by a randomizer.
1. Truckee Fire says a decades-old property-tax allocation problem in Placer County has cost it roughly $40 million since the 1970s. What is your understanding of the district’s claim, and what role should the board play in pursuing a resolution that supports reliable fire and emergency medical services while considering the impact on other taxing agencies? (Read more on this situation at moonshineink.com: Truckee Fire Sues Placer County Over Decades of Unpaid Property Tax.)
McThorn: Unfortunately, there is a confidentiality clause with the legal case, and I do not have all the factual information. Once on the board, I can better understand the issue. From what I know, this should have been addressed many years ago by prior chiefs and boards.
I am not for taking from other special districts within Truckee. This appears to be the threat from Placer County and am not sure that is legal. If the case is won, it should come from the Placer County general fund and not our special districts. Moving forward, the funds should be allocated appropriately to Truckee Fire. If elected, I will share all factual information that is legally allowed so we can move forward responsibly.
Rintala: The district has not been receiving funding from the fire service taxes paid by residents in a portion of Placer County. The district has spent many years trying to resolve this with Placer County. The fire taxes other district residents pay should not have to make up for the funding removed from our region. As a community member, I am not convinced that our local agencies are overfunded by the taxes collected for the TFPD, as the county suggests. The board should seek out and review available information and pursue the case with the entire community we serve in mind. The district should also be ready and willing to engage with other agencies to understand potential impacts.
Witherspoon: Truckee Fire deserves fair, durable funding without destabilizing schools, healthcare, sanitation, or neighboring districts. I reviewed the Zone 7 tax-area records, and the allocation snafu locked into place after Proposition 13 is there for anyone to see. The sanity check is whether Placer County or Northstar [Community Services District] would provide fire protection with those allocations. Quite simply, they wouldn’t. Correcting this historical imbalance will have a financial impact on the county and/or our local special districts. The board should protect the district’s legal position while making settlement the priority. I would require transparent reporting on legal costs, verify the service-cost analysis, and bring Placer County and affected agencies into structured negotiations.
Brown: The lawsuit is active against Placer County by Truckee Fire. This case should be guided by fairness, fiscal responsibility, and what is legitimately owed to our fire district. We have been pursuing a fair resolution with Placer County for decades; with better communication this could have prevented the lawsuit. While retroactive funding may not be recoverable, we should establish a fair path forward. Our emergency services remain unchanged for these areas while local taxpayers bear the costs. I believe there are sufficient resources to reach an equitable solution without negatively impacting other agencies. The court should make a ruling and Truckee Fire will acceptingly move forward. If settlement is needed, I would support collaboration, transparency, and a fair outcome for all involved.
Golden: I completely agree that we cannot take resources away from our schools or healthcare district. A zero-sum fight between local emergency services and education is not the answer.
At the same time, we have to be honest about the problem. Billions of dollars of development have occurred in the Martis Valley, creating more people, more homes and more fire risk, while Truckee Fire remains understaffed. I believe Placer County needs to be part of the solution. We should work toward a long-term agreement that better recognizes the cost of protecting these communities.
My goal would be simple: make sure the tax revenue generated here is helping provide the services needed here, while working with our neighboring agencies rather than taking resources away from them.
2. Significant capital projects are on the horizon for Truckee Fire, including Station 90, a new headquarters fire station, and a regional training facility for Truckee and its partner agencies. What are three specific ways the board of directors might hold the line on fiscal discipline during the planning and implementation of these and other projects?
Golden: Fiscal discipline doesn’t mean saying no to every major project. It means making sure we’re building what our community actually needs and getting the most value for every taxpayer dollar.
I’m particularly supportive of seeing the regional training facility through because I believe it can make Truckee and our neighboring agencies better prepared while sharing cost and resources. I would work directly with partner agencies to make that happen.
Training matters. Firefighters cannot be expected to perform at their best during a structure fire if they can’t regularly practice those skills. Technology, equipment, and fire behavior continue to change, and we have to keep our firefighters current. I would expect strong budgets, accountability, and regular oversight while investing in training that keeps our community safe.
McThorn: The new station 90 is still in the early phase and changes can be made. From what I know, there is not a definitive funding plan. There should be a collaborative effort moving forward with all stakeholders, Transient Occupancy Tax, and community input. Fiscal responsibility is always a priority with public funds. It is a good plan with an attached fire station from what I have seen.
The need for a regional training facility should be a priority. Our goal should be to keep our firefighters within or close to our district when training. Training is a top priority, and Truckee is one of the most uniquely challenged areas in the country. Our firefighters need to be ready at all times.
Rintala: With three new board members, the prospective capital projects should be reviewed starting with a thorough needs and benefits analysis as we look to modernize and grow with our community. The district is healthy and should explore accessible funding options while prioritizing the most important capabilities we can afford to pursue. These are high-impact projects that can improve capability and service quality if well planned. A fire station is a large investment. Community-supported funding must be considered in the context of overall community needs, aging infrastructure, and resource availability. The board needs to honor and protect the existing partnership with voters that brought us wildfire risk reduction through Measure T funding and plan to build forward in concert with other community providers.
Witherspoon: Representing taxpayer interests starts well before construction. Station 90’s 18,000-square-foot concept carries a preliminary estimate of about $24 million. At that scale, the district must validate and prioritize needs, compare smaller and phased alternatives, identify external funding, and show that construction will not weaken reserves or service levels. Any capital plan must address upgrades to aging stations and prioritize the highest needs. For greenlit projects, I would require updated cost estimates and public board approval at design milestones, bid awards, and significant change orders. For a regional training facility, each partner’s capital contribution, operating share, governance rights, maintenance obligation, and exit terms should be documented before Truckee commits. We should fund what crews need, what population growth demands, and what the tax base can sustain.
Brown: I believe a new fire station can be an important investment in our community’s safety, but we need strong safeguards before committing significant taxpayer dollars. I would support a thorough feasibility study, independent cost estimates, realistic construction timelines, and a clearly defined project scope. The board should establish a firm budget with appropriate contingency reserves, require competitive bidding, and have any significant scope or cost changes return to the board for approval.
We should also evaluate long-term operating and maintenance costs, secure outside funding where possible, and regularly review the project against established milestones. Most importantly, the community deserves transparent reporting throughout the process. Good planning means anticipating challenges before they become expensive problems and ensuring we build what Truckee needs while protecting taxpayers.
3. Earlier this year, Truckee firefighters joined the Sierra Nevada Firefighters Local 3800 union. What changes, if any, have you observed in the district’s internal communication, collaboration, or service delivery since then? As a board member, how would you support a constructive working relationship among executive staff, the board, and union members?
Brown: I respect the employees’ choice to go union and encourage good collaboration. The transition and relationship are new and priorities should be open communication to build trust, accountability, and a strong working relationship. We can work together to build a problem-solving partnership and I’m positive the union relations will continue to develop. Since the unionization, the board has approved a change in service for the better with regard to daily minimum staffing levels. The staffing levels are now increased by two personnel, making a mandatory of 10 personnel. This is an important improvement from the previous minimum staffing of eight. There is always room for revision and conversation to increase these levels in the future based on district needs and fiscal availability.
Golden: I believe the most important thing is that everyone remembers we’re on the same team. Our firefighters, executive staff, and board may have different perspectives, but we all have the same responsibility: providing the best possible fire and emergency medical service to our community.
Since firefighters joined Local 3800, I believe the board should embrace that relationship, not treat it as an obstacle. I would make a point of listening to our firefighters and understand what they’re seeing on the ground, while also respecting the responsibilities of the chief and board.
Good organizations communicate openly, address problems directly, and hold each other accountable. I would work to build that relationship: one that’s based on respect, transparency, and a shared commitment to the people we serve.
McThorn: Since unionizing, the internal communication seems to be strained. With my experience in labor and management communications and negotiations, I will bring stability, open lines of communication, and straightforward discussions. I have learned over my career that such communication will always prevail. It will unify and gain trust among labor and management and build a stronger fire district. The firefighters and prevention officers are front line and have the best insight for positive change. As a board member, I would like to see monthly labor and management meetings with set achievable goals, and a monthly report to the board. To be a truly effective union it takes the labor group to be proactive and communicate factually. We must work together to better serve our community.
Rintala: The union relationship is new and all parties still have to learn how to work with each other under a new system. Attending board meetings over the last year and listening to firefighters, I’ve observed difficulty from all sides while individuals remain mission-driven and strive to deliver outstanding service to our evolving rural community. TFPD’s extraordinary firefighters, staff, and leaders work with many response partners for rapid, scalable, and reliable emergency response. The national advocacy from the union promises to bring guidance to our team that helps keep our firefighters, residents, and visitors ever safer in emergencies. The board should actively guide respectful engagement from the boardroom to the front line putting our community and our Truckee Fire team ahead of turf battles.
Witherspoon: I am not inside the organization and will not claim firsthand knowledge of private workplace dynamics. Public statements surrounding the unionization suggest employees wanted a more consistent voice in district decisions. I have seen no evidence that unionization has diminished service, and I support employees finding a constructive way to be heard. I welcome the perspective a regional union can bring from peer fire districts. As a board member, I would support scheduled labor-management meetings, anonymous employee climate surveys and more transparency with staff, e.g., livestreaming board meetings so employees can follow them remotely. The board should respect collective bargaining and the chief’s chain of command while ensuring employees can raise concerns safely. Constructive labor relations are necessary to sustain excellent public service.
Inventory levels are down from 2025 in nearly all Tahoe submarkets. In September 2025, there were 327 homes listed for sale in the Tahoe Sierra MLS compared to 272 in 2026. The homes that sell are moving faster than last year, with average days on market dropping across every market except for the NV Tahoe Basin, where days on market jumped from 70 to 146 along with a 37% rise in median sold price year over year. This suggests a smaller pool of higher priced sales rather than a cooler market. Month-to-month, most submarkets saw sales volume increase into September where prices decreased slightly, consistent with the overall trend of sellers adjusting pricing to move inventory as we move into the shoulder season.
