SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Liberty Utilities has announced the implementation of a base service charge of $31.50 to residential customers’ bills starting in September.
Liberty says this is not an additional charge or an increase to rates. Rather, the charge is a fixed service charge that replaces a portion of customers’ volumetric charges that are based on electricity use.
This change is in response to new California State legislation, Assembly Bill 205, which mandates the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to change the structure of electric bills for investor-owned utility customers.
Due to the reduced volumetric totals, the base service charge structure aims to make the transition to clean all-electric vehicles and homes more affordable for customers.
The charge also creates a more equitable allocation of the physical infrastructure costs, according to Liberty’s webpage explaining the change.
Liberty explains that when fixed costs like system maintenance, wildfire mitigation, reliability upgrades, and regulated programs are all charged to customers through volumetric rates, high-usage households end up paying a disproportionate share of the physical infrastructure costs, while low-usage homes may not contribute proportionally to the upkeep of the system they rely on for grid connectivity.
Liberty expects the switch to result in little to no impact on average customer bills.
Looking for a loyal companion with a playful side? Meet Domino, a 1-year-old pup weighing just under 50 pounds who is ready to find the loving home he deserves.
Domino is a sweet, gentle boy who truly comes to life around other friendly dogs. Whether he’s playing in the yard, exploring on a walk, or simply enjoying the company of a canine buddy, his happy personality shines through.
Like many young dogs, Domino will blossom with a little time and patience as he settles into a new routine. He would thrive in a home with another friendly dog to help build his confidence and share in daily adventures. Once he feels comfortable, Domino is sure to reward his family with plenty of tail wags, affection, cuddles, and loyal companionship.
At just a year old, Domino has the perfect mix of youthful energy and a gentle nature, making him an excellent candidate for a family ready to help him continue growing into the amazing dog he’s meant to be.
If you’re looking for a four-legged friend who will brighten your days and enjoy life’s adventures by your side, Domino may be the perfect addition to your family. Come meet him and see how quickly he’ll steal your heart.
If you are interested in meeting Domino or learning more about him, please get in touch with one of HSTT’s Adoption Specialists, 530-587-5948 or adoptions@hstt.org. He is neutered, vaccinated, and up to date on his vaccines. To view more adoptable pets or to learn more about the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, visit, www.hstt.org.
CALIF./NEV. – While the national average for a gallon of gasoline held steady this week at $4.09, Californians and Nevadans continue to face rising prices. According to the AAA Weekly Fuel Report, the California state average rose seven cents from last week to $5.64, and the Nevada state average rose 12 cents from last week to $4.81.
Nationwide, gas prices are nearly a dollar higher than they were this time last year, driven largely by crude oil prices hovering around $80 per barrel amid lingering instability along the Strait of Hormuz.
“August brings some relief at the pump as road trips wind down and fall routines get underway for many families,” said Aldo Vazquez, spokesperson for AAA Mountain West Group. “However, elevated crude oil prices could prevent that seasonal shift from starting just yet.”
Fuel Prices Around California:
San Francisco: $5.83
Oakland: $5.65
San Jose: $5.63
Sacramento: $5.59
Fresno: $5.56
Stockton: $5.47
Modesto: $5.47
Fuel Prices Around Nevada:
Las Vegas: $4.80
Reno: $5.17
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.94 million to 9.04 million. Total domestic gasoline supply remained flat at 211.3 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.9 million barrels per day.
Oil Market Dynamics
At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose $5.20 to settle at $84.46 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories decreased by 7.2 million barrels from the previous week. At 404.5 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 7% below the five-year average for this time of year.
EV Charging
The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station stayed the same this past week at 42 cents. In California, the average per kilowatt hour of electricity is 47 cents.
State Stats
Gas
The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($5.64), Hawaii ($5.46), Washington ($5.11), Nevada ($4.81), Alaska ($4.73), Oregon ($4.64), Arizona ($4.42), Illinois ($4.34), Idaho ($4.30), and Montana ($4.28).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Indiana ($3.56), Texas ($3.64), Mississippi ($3.66), Louisiana ($3.68), Tennessee ($3.70), South Carolina ($3.71), Kentucky ($3.72), Oklahoma ($3.75), Alabama ($3.76), and North Carolina ($3.76).
Electric
The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are West Virginia (52 cents), Hawaii (51 cents), Alaska (49 cents), California (47 cents), New Hampshire (47 cents), Louisiana (46 cents), New Jersey (45 cents), Illinois (45 cents), Arkansas (45 cents), and North Dakota (44 cents).
The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (30 cents), Missouri (32 cents), Iowa (33 cents), Utah (34 cents), Maryland (34 cents), South Dakota (35 cents), Nebraska (35 cents), Vermont (36 cents), New Mexico (37 cents), and Minnesota (38 cents).
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Keep Tahoe Blue and Arcade Belts have collaborated to create a limited-edition belt that not only secures garments but also protects Lake Tahoe.
10% of the proceeds from Arcade Belt’s Keep Tahoe Blue Belt go toward Keep Tahoe Blue and its mission to preserve Lake Tahoe.
With the lake as its muse, the belt design draws inspiration from Tahoe’s iconic blue waters, mountain landscapes and the active lifestyle it provides.
“More importantly, it represents a shared commitment to protecting the lake so future generations can enjoy it just as we do today,” Arcade Belts co-founder and CEO Tristan Queen said.
The belt features the Tahoe-based company’s signature performance stretch webbing for all-day comfort, a patented micro-adjustable A2 buckle system, and webbing made from 85% post-consumer recycled REPREVE® polyester.
“My favorite feature has to be the custom artwork inspired by Lake Tahoe,” Queen said. “It’s subtle enough to wear every day, but it tells the story of a place that means so much to our team and our community.”
The belt features custom artwork inspired by Lake Tahoe that is subtle enough for everyday wear.Provided / Arcade Belts
Keep Tahoe Blue has been working with Arcade Belts for over a decade now. “They were one of the first to join our Tahoe Blue Business program when it relaunched in 2024,” said Hailey Hawkins, Strategic Partnerships Manager for Keep Tahoe Blue.
The Tahoe Blue Business program brings Tahoe-minded businesses on board for partnerships and collaborations that benefit Lake Tahoe, whether it’s spreading the word, on-the-ground support, like cleanups and restoration work, environmentally conscious switches or financial support.
“If I could have businesses walk away remembering only one thing about our Blue Business program, it would be that small, meaningful choices add up to big protections for Tahoe,” Hawkins said. “Community partnerships, especially with businesses, are such an impactful part of protecting the Lake.”
In addition to giving 10% of belt proceeds to the cause, Arcade Belts has been the official business partner for Keep Tahoe Blue’s annual Labor Day Cleanup.
“They are passionate about ‘protecting where they play,'” Hawkins said, “Giving back is just in their DNA.”
The limited-edition belt is lightweight, machine washable, metal-free for easy travel, and built to handle everything from hiking and camping to everyday wear. Queen says it’s for people who want functional gear that also supports a great cause.
“It’s designed for anyone who loves Tahoe,” Queen added, “whether you hike, ski, bike, paddle, travel, or simply appreciate spending time outdoors.”
The belt is available at arcadbelts.com, the Keep Tahoe Blue online store, and select local retailers while supplies last.
“Lake Tahoe isn’t just where we’re headquartered,” Queen said, “it really is the fabric that ties all of our smaller local communities and tourist communities together.”
Vacation rental scams can be avoided with proper precautionsALL |
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – It’s no secret that Lake Tahoe is one of the most sought-after destinations in the country – possibly even the world – drawing in around 15 million visitors every year. While you may be working hard to secure a place to stay during your visit, scammers could be working harder at attempting to take your money.
Many fraud-related property incidents occur because scammers steal listings and photos from real estate websites, Airbnb, and other vacation rental resources and pose as the property owner or manager, posting them on websites like Craigslist, and more recently, Facebook Marketplace.
Their prices may even be below market value with the hopes of luring people in. Once they hook an interested renter, they ask for money via Cash App, PayPal, or Venmo.
South Lake Tahoe is especially prone to these scam attempts, which may increase as local property management companies such as LocalVR South Lake Tahoe Property Management navigate through changes in South Lake Tahoe’s vacation rental market.
“With Measure T struck down in 2025 and the new ordinance passed this March 2026, additional short-term rental supply is being introduced to the market,” said Jasmine Slivka, COO of LocalVR.
The new Vacation Home Rental ordinance became effective on April 23, 2026, allowing for the return of short-term rentals with the requirement of permits and operational regulations.
“This is overall a good thing, but it does mean this can boost traveler demand and create more possible ‘scam-like’ scenarios from bad actors,” said Slivka.
Slivka noted that although they have not received any reports of scammers using their properties, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen.
“If LocalVR were to be made aware of a dupe/fraudulent listing, the take-down actions depend on the legitimacy of the platform and their own terms and conditions, if they have any. This can be a very hard job for property managers, big and large, to monitor and enforce,” she added.
According to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD), it seems as though folks are catching on to these sly tricks up a scammer’s sleeve.
“We have not had any VHR (vacation home rental) scams reported to us in 2026,” said Lt. Scott Crivelli with the SLTPD.
No reports could signify precautions are actively being taken by prospective visitors. However, folks are encouraged to stay vigilant.
“Go through Airbnb, VRBO, or a reputable local property management company that you can confirm is real,” Crivelli warned.
Once you’ve sent a payment to a scammer, it becomes nearly impossible for law enforcement to assist in getting your money back.
“The scams can be pretty intricate,” said Crivelli. “A lot of times, it’s based overseas, and it’s a fishing line with nothing on the end of it.”
Legitimate property managers will usually have their own branded website, according to Slivka.
Below are tips from LocalVR to protect your peace of mind and keep your wallet safe:
Search for company reviews online – Google Business pages, Yelp, TrustPilot
Ensure the property you are booking also has real guest reviews from previous travelers. Be very cautious of brand new listings with zero reviews. If you are booking on Airbnb/VRBO, you can see if the Host has other “real” properties/listings which can help build trust.
Review the property manager’s rental agreement before providing payment details or confirming payment.
Ensure all emails and communications come directly from the Property Management Company brand/domain, and if in doubt, call them directly to verify.
“I would never pay for a rental with Cash App, Venmo, Gift Cards, etc. and only with a credit card and a rental agreement, either through a platform like Airbnb/VRBO, or directly with the property management company. Credit card companies can really help mediate and protect travelers when an agreement is not satisfied,” Slivka said.
MINDEN, Nev. — For the millions of American families affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, navigating a cognitive diagnosis is a deeply emotional, life-altering experience. As cognitive changes progress, families frequently reach a crossroads where balancing around-the-clock physical safety with a high quality of life becomes too complex to manage at home alone.
Too often, traditional memory care models have defaulted to rigid, institutional environments that prioritize clinical management over the human experience. A community in the heart of Carson Valley is establishing a completely different framework. Valage Senior Living at Carson Valley, located at 973 Ironwood Drive in Minden, is gaining regional recognition for its innovative, person-centered approach to cognitive care. Rather than viewing a dementia diagnosis as a closing chapter, the specialized “Journey Memory Care” program is explicitly designed to meet residents where they are, focusing on what they can achieve today rather than what has been lost.
The Five Pillars of the Journey Program
The cornerstone of the memory care neighborhood at Valage is its proprietary “Journey” framework. Grounded in the community’s overarching M.A.P.S. philosophy – which stands for Meaningful, Active, Personalized, and Safe – the program is structured around five foundational pillars designed to foster an atmosphere of comfort and belonging:
Living with Dignity: Cognitive impairment should never compromise personal independence. The community prioritizes resident choices, structured carefully to avoid overwhelming individuals. For instance, caregivers utilize simple two-option choices during daily interactions, like selecting between two clothing items or meal options to empower residents with agency and confidence.
Engage the Senses: Immersive, sensory-rich experiences are used daily to reduce anxiety and bypass traditional communication barriers. Professionals lead structured programming that engages touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste and utilize soothing music, aromatherapy, and tactile objects to promote relaxation and tap into positive memories.
Culinary Experiences: The community features gourmet culinary experiences with easily modifiable menus customized to resident needs. To spark connection, the chef leads cooking demonstrations and offers mealtime support in a relaxed setting.
Personalized & Holistic Care: Valage builds individualized wellness plans centered on each resident’s unique personal history, strengths, and remaining capabilities. This whole-person approach ensures that daily care and cognitive programming are tailored directly to their specific physical and emotional needs.
Team Approach: Certified caregivers communicate continuously with physicians, specialized local healthcare providers, and family members to ensure the physical, cognitive, and emotional needs of the whole person are fully aligned.
An Environment Engineered for Comfort and Safety
The memory care neighborhood at Valage is thoughtfully designed as a safe, neighborhood-style environment that promotes familiarity, security, and comfort. The layout incorporates familiar décor, communal areas, and accessible outdoor spaces to encourage a deep sense of belonging among residents.
To provide complete peace of mind, the community implements familiar daily routines alongside advanced safety features, including specialized protections against wandering and the innovative “SafelyYou” fall-detection system. This advanced technology automatically detects over 99% of on-the-ground events, instantly alerting the 24/7 on-site professional team.
By allowing clinicians to accurately review individual incidents, the community can immediately implement precise prevention strategies rather than resorting to precautionary emergency room visits. On average, senior communities utilizing SafelyYou see a 40% reduction in overall falls and up to an 80% drop in fall-related ER visits.
Discover a Partnership You Can Trust
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia is a noble but significant responsibility that can quickly lead to severe caregiver burnout. Transitioning a family member into the Journey Memory Care program at Valage Senior Living at Carson Valley allows families to step away from the overwhelming demands of round-the-clock caregiving and return to their most vital role: being a loving daughter, son, or spouse.
Local families are warmly invited to contact the community to ask questions, explore available residential floor plans, and experience this compassionate, secure neighborhood environment firsthand.
To learn more about current memory care availability or to schedule your personal, private tour, please contact the dedicated community line directly at 775-526-4377.
Christopher Jude Crow made his transition from this life on May 31, 2026. An astronomy enthusiast, he’d have liked that it was the night of a blue moon.
A true North Tahoe local, Chris was born at the Deer Park Lodge Ski Resort (now the site of the River Ranch restaurant) when a spring blizzard closed the “Truckee Shortcut” (Hwy. 267) and a subsequent avalanche closed Highway 89 as his mom was on her way to the hospital.
Chris attended Incline schools from kindergarten through graduation. He was a member of the baseball team, ran track and cross-country, and skied with the Far West Ski Team. He was always drawn to science and was one of a handful of students enrolled in the first computer science classes offered (with the inestimable science teacher, Johnny A!) After a couple of semesters of college, he decided to go into the trades. He got his start with Cangemi and Sons Plumbing in Incline Village and spent the 80’s building homes all over the North Shore. During that time, he served his community as a volunteer with the North Lake Tahoe Fire Department and as a little league baseball coach. He was a life-long member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church…as a boy he served as altar boy; as a skeptical yet spiritual man, he appreciated the wisdom and friendship of Father Bill and Father Jorge.
Chris was passionate about outdoor life in the mountains. He covered hundreds of miles of trails, hiking, skiing or 4-wheeling in the Ford pick-up he loved, and he always enjoyed being on the water. His favorite companions for his adventures were his many rescue dogs. Chris usually went to the shelter looking for the dog least likely to be adopted, so several wonderful dogs enjoyed great final years. In the last few years, Chris was seldom seen without his (favorite?!) dog, Raj. He found Raj, a young dog, lost and scared, on Hwy. 20, and the two developed a bond that was heartwarming to see. No doubt they’re now hiking in the forests and mountains of Heaven together.
Although Chris preferred dogs to people and solitude to crowds, he enjoyed events like concerts and ball games. He had the good fortune of travelling the country with his lifelong friend Paul, seeing iconic ballparks and athletes (pics of Chris & Paul range from Tahoe beaches when they were 2 years old to last year’s Giants-A’s game!) He was also a dedicated Deadhead, and he spent many of his vacations following Jerry and the boys. Locally, he attended Shakespeare at Sand Harbor productions almost every year from the early days of the shows (remember the days of just spreading a blanket at the beach?!), and he and Raj seldom missed Dog Days with the Reno Aces. Frequent trips with family to Giants games, Disneyland and along the California Coast were always memorable.
When at home, Chris had a wide range of hobbies. He particularly enjoyed model building. Along with his brother-in-law, he built and flew remote-controlled airplanes, and he constructed dozens of intricate models. He was fascinated with the US space exploration missions, and his collection of rockets and spacecraft was detailed and extensive. He made a personal study of astronomy. He was always aware of the phase of the moon and what was visible in the night sky. He often called his mom or his sister just to say, “hey, look at the moon!”
A plumber by trade, Chris was skilled in all facets of construction. In keeping with his independent nature, he spent the happiest years of his life creating an amazing off-the-grid homestead in the deep forest outside of Nevada City with his ex-wife and true friend, Christine. Their first year out there, lacking a proper vehicle for unplowed forest roads, they were snowed in for several days. He remarked that “I was ok until the hot chocolate ran out!” He loved his life in the forest and the wonderful friends he made while living and working in the Nevada City/Grass Valley area.
When his mom became ill in late 2020, Chris turned his life upside down to return to Tahoe and care for her. He moved back into his childhood home, where he chose to remain after her passing.
Chris was a complicated man, and his path in this life was seldom smooth. Those who knew him well will remember his devotion to Raj and love for all animals, his many talents, his boundless generosity, his wacky sense of humor, his kind heart and his courage.
Chris is survived by his cat Sheba and his sister and brother-in-law, Julie and Wayne Cromwell of Kings Beach, CA. A celebration will be held in September. For more information, please text or call 530-412-4229.
If you’d like to honor Chris’s memory, please consider a donation to the Gene Upshaw Cancer Center in Truckee, CA (heartfelt thanks to the amazing staff there…Chris loved you guys!) or to your favorite animal-based charity. Better yet, go to your local shelter and rescue a new friend.
Chris made the world a better place, and he is greatly missed.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – 32-year-old Amazon software engineer Yadessa Emiru Aga died in a drowning incident that occurred Monday evening at Sand Harbor.
At approximately 8:00 p.m., Washoe County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the north Sand Harbor boat ramp following a report of a possible water rescue. Upon arriving, deputies observed an unresponsive adult male being brought to shore by bystanders.
Despite life-saving measures, Aga was pronounced deceased at the scene.
According to a GoFundMe, Aga died while returning from a church conference and spending time with friends at Lake Tahoe.
Aga reportedly worked at Amazon as a software engineer and lived in Austin, Texas.
The fundraiser describes Aga as a beloved brother, son, friend, and man of deep faith, known for his kindness, warmth, and joyful spirit, adding, “To know Yadessa was to know genuine kindness, warmth, and joy.”
Donations from the fundraiser will help cover the remaining costs of bringing him home and paying for funeral arrangements in both the United States and Ethiopia.
LAKE TAHOE, Nev/Calif. – A heat wave is forecasted for the Greater Lake Tahoe area and surrounding valleys starting Friday.
Temperatures are expected to approach the 90s in Truckee, Kings Beach and other Tahoe regions.
Triple digits are expected in the valleys surrounding Lake Tahoe, including Sacramento, Carson City and Reno.
These elevated temperatures are forecasted through next weekend.
The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a formal heat advisory for regions east and south of Reno, including Fallon.
🍦It's gonna be a hot one this week! Afternoon highs reach the triple digits for lower valleys, including Carson City and Minden, with highs near 90s for Sierra communities, including Truckee. Take breaks in the shade and stay hydrated this week! #nvwx#cawxpic.twitter.com/Kvc2SsMVwR
The Tahoe region notoriously receives a large influx of visitors as temperatures rise.
A 2023 study found that for every additional 10-degree surge in temperature, traffic flows increase by approximately 1,200 vehicles over two entry points into the Lake Tahoe Basin. Those numbers increase to over 1,400 when temperatures are over 100 degrees.
The National Weather Service reminds individuals to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned space, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors.
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – Two of Nevada Department of Wildlife’s (NDOW) top employees look a little shaggy. They wear long fur coats year-round, and they don’t collect a salary.
Meet Badger and Banjo, Karelian Bear Dogs that assist the department’s bear team — Carl Lackey and Becca Carniello — in managing Nevada’s recovering black bear population and intervening when there is a human-bear conflict.
The dogs have become indispensable components of the department’s operations, flushing bears from urban dens, locating injured bears and hazing human-habituated bears by chasing and nipping at them as they are released back into the wild. The goal is to ensure bears can still live in places such as Tahoe that are now teeming with humans, but maintain a natural fear of interacting with people rather than focusing on the tasty food that humans leave behind.
“[The bears’] experiences for the most part around people have been positive,” Lackey said. “We’re just trying to give them a bad experience around people.”
The dogs also assist in hazing other wildlife such as mountain lions and deer, wriggle beneath houses with Lackey and Carniello to remove bears in crawl spaces and serve as ambassadors for NDOW and the biologists as they work to educate people about how to make their properties less attractive to bears.
NDOW is one of just a few state wildlife agencies that has adopted Karelian Bear Dogs for hazing as human-bear conflicts have increased as the mammals search in urban settings for reliable food and safe shelters.
“They’re a tool that a lot of agencies just haven’t endorsed. You can’t just assign somebody a dog,” Lackey said. “It has to be somebody who wants one of these dogs and is willing to put in the time.”
Lackey and Carniello purchased the dogs as puppies. Karelian Bear Dogs can cost several thousand dollars, although donors have helped. Using on-the-job training, Badger and Banjo were introduced to bears’ scents, then tranquilized bears, working up to participating in bear releases.
Black bears once lived across most of Nevada, except for the southernmost part of the state. Habitat destruction at a landscape scale and illicit hunting extirpated them from all but the very western edge of Nevada by the late 1800s, and by the 1980s, Nevada only had about 30 bears.
Conservation efforts and habitat restoration regeneration worked, and in the 1990s, Nevada’s bear population exploded. Nevada’s bear population now hovers between 600 and 700 across western Nevada, from far northern Washoe County down to the state line around Topaz and east to near Walker Lake.
Lackey and Carniello, along with Badger and Banjo, respond to dozens of bear-related incidents across Northern Nevada each year when bears exhibit unusual behavior or are somewhere they shouldn’t be, such as inside a house. Most of the bears are captured and released back into the wild, near where they were picked up, with Badger and Banjo’s help.
“They really add a level of comfort and safety for us when we’re in some of these close situations,” Carniello said. “This can be a really challenging job … and it’s really cool to have someone with you who adores you.”
Karelian Bear Dogs, including Banjo (right), haze a black bear after a release.Provided / Nevada Department of Wildlife/Courtesy
Boxing with bears
Twenty-five years ago, as the state’s once nearly decimated black bear population was rebounding, Lackey, then a one-man team, realized he needed help. He didn’t ask the agency to add a position to assist him; instead, he followed up on an idea he’d seen on a National Geographic program featuring Karelian Bear Dogs.
“I saw these guys working a bear, and I thought ‘this is a great idea,'” Lackey said. “They have this innate ability to work with the bear on the ground, more or less boxing with the bear.”
The dogs were originally bred in Finland and Russia to hunt large game, but their use eventually spread to assisting with hazing human-habituated wildlife. Lackey purchased his first Karelian Bear Dog on his own, and NDOW’s dog-assisted bear program took off.
Lackey, who just retired, spent almost 33 years at NDOW. Nearly the entirety of his tenure involved working with bears. Banjo, 9, was the fourth dog Lackey worked with; Carniello, who has been with the agency three years, is working with her first dog, Badger, 4.
“He is the reason that the Nevada Department of Wildlife has one of the best bear programs in the country,” Carniello said of Lackey. “We have 30 years of continuous data … He has advanced this program so much and is the reason it is so renowned.”
Prior to Lackey starting with the department, there was no protocol for how to field calls or handle human-bear conflicts, and no data was collected about the bears that were being relocated.
Crafting policies was one of Lackey’s first duties. He also implemented on-site releases and pushed to tag, and eventually collar, captured bears to gather data on them.
Bears had previously been moved out of the Tahoe Basin to less populated areas. One was relocated as far away as the Hawthorne area, roughly 90 miles from the Tahoe Basin as the crow flies. One of the first studies he did was tracking the bears that were moved out of the Basin.
“Every single one of those bears returned,” he said.
Several years later, he implemented the department’s bear dog program. Some wildlife agencies use rubber bullets, bean bag rounds or tasers to haze bears as they are released back into the wild, giving the bears a negative association with people.
At NDOW, Banjo and Badger do the hazing, and the department hasn’t had to resort to other forms of hazing in several years, Lackey said.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife uses Karelian Bear Dogs to haze bears that have gotten a little too comfortable around humans. Provided / Nevada Department of Wildlife
The Nevada Department of Wildlife uses Karelian Bear Dogs to haze bears that have gotten a little too comfortable around humans. Provided / Nevada Department of Wildlife
The Nevada Department of Wildlife uses Karelian Bear Dogs to haze bears that have gotten a little too comfortable around humans. Provided / Nevada Department of Wildlife
Sometimes, the most stubborn bears return to the same location over and over.
Lackey once responded to a call from Tahoe, where the lead singer of the 1980s hair band Whitesnake had a house. A bear had broken into the house, swam in the indoor pool and was ambling down the hall toward the recording studio.
By the time Lackey made it up there the bear was gone, so he set a trap. A couple days later, a bear was caught.
When Lackey arrived at the property and looked in the trap, he noticed it was a different bear than the prior one. As Lackey was dealing with the trapped bear, the bear he intended to trap walked past, ignoring Lackey and his bear dogs, and headed for the house. Lackey released the dogs, and they immediately chased the bear up a tree.
In another situation, Lackey and Carniello were searching for a bear that had been wandering into the famed Tahoe Biltmore in Crystal Bay on a daily basis while the historic casino and hotel underwent renovations. They found the bear wandering through a hallway — Badger cornered the bear next to the Breeze Bar, the famous nightspot where the Rat Pack — Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. — would hang out.
On average, about 40 bears per year are captured and released back into the wild. Releasing the bears in the same location not only keeps the wildlife on the landscape, but pushes people to adopt responsible bear management practices such as using bear-resistant garbage cans, Lackey and Carniello said.
The department works hard to frame the narrative around human-bear conflicts because placing the blame on bears doesn’t address the root cause of conflicts, Lackey said — human attractants left out by people.
“We’re trying to change the narrative,” he said. “People are the issue, not the bear.”
Black bears generally do not harm people.
There have been injuries in Nevada, but no recorded deaths from bears. Even those injuries are just bears “doing what is natural,” Lackey said. “It happens so rarely.”
“The dogs are amazing tools to haze the bears, but they aren’t going to make a permanent behavior change,” Carniello added. “The only permanent long-term solution comes from people securing their attractants.”
OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. — Palisades Tahoe will welcome guests to the mountains for a full season of festivals featuring live music, local food and beverages, family-friendly activities and community celebrations.
From craft beer and funk music to wine tasting, Bavarian traditions and locally made goods, this year’s festival lineup offers something for everyone. Several events will also raise funds for nonprofit organizations serving the Lake Tahoe and Truckee communities.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Brews, Jazz & Funk returns as one of Palisades Tahoe’s most beloved summer traditions. Enjoy craft beer from local breweries while listening to live jazz, funk and soul music. This dog-friendly event is fun for the whole family, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe.
Guests can celebrate the final weeks of summer with an all-inclusive wine tasting from more than 40 wineries, live music and a silent auction. Proceeds will support Can Do MS, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of people living with multiple sclerosis.
Six restaurants and six bands will compete for the titles of Best Wing and Best Band during this annual Village tradition. Guests can sample chicken wings, enjoy live music and vote for their favorites. Proceeds will benefit the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science.
The Adventure Van Expo will feature custom van builds, overland equipment, outdoor products, food, local beer and live music. Van owners can also enter the DIY Van Build Contest and showcase their vehicles. The event is family-friendly and open to anyone interested in van life and outdoor travel.
Palisades Tahoe will celebrate its 19th annual Oktoberfest with German beer, brats, pretzels and Bavarian music. Guests can also participate in OktoberGames, including the Stein Race and Brat Toss. This year’s event will feature expanded food and beverage options and a new VIP lounge experience.
The Made in Tahoe Fall Festival will close out the festival season with a two-day celebration of local artists, makers, musicians and entrepreneurs. The event will feature products and performances created, brewed, grown or inspired in the Lake Tahoe Basin and Truckee region.
The Bluesdays Free Concert Series brings nationally recognized blues musicians to The Village at Palisades Tahoe every Tuesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Guests can enjoy free outdoor music, mountain views, bar service and dining from Village restaurants. The series runs from June 30 through September 1 and offers a lively way to spend a summer evening in Olympic Valley.
CALIFORNIA – A new bill would require insurance companies to warn policy holders before their homeowners insurance is canceled.
Senate Bill 1301, authored by Sen. Ben Allen, D-El Segundo, aims to make insurance companies explain to homeowners why the company is refusing to renew a homeowners insurance policy. That could range from being in a fire hazard area to having an old roof, according to a legislative analysis of the bill.
The homeowner then has 90 days to remediate the problem before their insurance policy is canceled, according to that analysis.
Allen did not respond to The Center Square on this story before press time on Thursday. However, advocates of the bill told The Center Square Thursday that the rise of nonrenewals in California has made the Golden State a national hotspot for cancelled policies.
“Consumers often have little information about the reason for the nonrenewal, and have no path to correcting a problem before their policy gets cancelled,” Carmen Balber, executive director of nonprofit Consumer Watchdog, told The Center Square Thursday. “This bill gives folks more notice, a path to remediate the problem if there is one, and the ability to keep their coverage.”
However, some homeowners get notification that their insurance policy is going to be cancelled because their home is in close proximity to – or inside – a fire risk area. That is a problem a homeowner can’t fix, Balber said.
“You can’t really change that,” Balber said. “This bill would not allow you to keep your coverage in that circumstance. It would require them to give you more notice in order to have more time to shop around.”
Opponents of the bill said that in its current form, SB 1301 would expose trade secrets in the insurance industry, oversimplify complex risk assessment methods often used in the residential property insurance market and discourage insurance companies from doing business in California. But recent amendments to the bill have reduced opposition.
“We were initially very strongly opposed to the bill, particularly the timeframe for homeowners who have an opportunity to mitigate,” Mark Sektnan, vice president of American Property Casualty Insurance Association, told The Center Square Thursday. “The way the bill was drafted, it would have created a situation where a homeowner could basically hold on to their policy for two years and not do any mitigation.”
Discussions are continuing over more amendments about the kind of information sent to homeowners as part of their notification of nonrenewal, including community maps showing other homes in the area that face the same mitigation issues that could cause nonrenewal.
“The truth on this is that we don’t necessarily have those maps, and when we do they’re proprietary, so we’re kind of working on that,” Sektnan said.
Research published by Stanford University in June shows that home insurance premiums are up 84% statewide since 2020, regardless of a home’s location in relation to a fire zone. That research also found that seven of the 10 largest home insurers in the state reduced or halted new homeowners insurance policies in California, and that average deductibles grew from $1,813 to $2,553 between late 2020 and March 2026.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The National Gym Association (NGA) Tahoe International Pro/Am Invitational was held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at South Tahoe High School in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
The event brought together amateur and professional athletes from across the country to compete in divisions including Men’s Physique, Classic Physique, Bodybuilding, Bikini, Figure, and Women’s Physique.
As a drug-tested natural bodybuilding competition, the invitational featured prejudging and evening finals, with athletes showcasing months and often years of dedication, discipline, and training in pursuit of NGA titles and professional qualification.
South Lake Tahoe native William Aragon, 31, competed in his first natural bodybuilding competition this year after more than a decade of dedication to strength training and a healthy lifestyle.
William Aragon, 31, won first place in the Open Men’s Physique Short Class.Provided
After making the decision to compete in April, Aragon committed himself fully to the preparation process, training six days per week, completing more than 82 cardio sessions lasting 45 minutes or longer, meal prepping, practicing posing, and maintaining early morning routines.
Without a coach, Aragon relied on his own discipline and accountability throughout his preparation, becoming his own biggest supporter and motivator.
“The real battle took place long before the lights came on,” said William. “Through discipline, consistency, and faith, I learned that success is not about beating others. It is about becoming the person capable of achieving your goals.”
Aragon stepped onto the NGA Tahoe International Pro/Am Invitational stage with purpose, competing at the same high school where he grew up as a student.
Competing in the Open Men’s Physique Short Class, Aragon brought energy and confidence to both prejudging and finals, earning first place in his division.
“It was never me vs. them. It was always me vs. me. Every rep, every meal, and every sacrifice was a vote for the man I wanted to become. The trophy is just proof. The mentality is the real prize,” said William. “Thank you to the judges and volunteers who helped make this event possible.”
Aragon’s fitness journey continues, and his dedication, discipline, and commitment to personal growth serve as an inspiration to others in the South Lake Tahoe community.
Armstrong trail watering Unit 14 – 8:30-11:30 a.m., Oneidas Street, Oneidas St. Join our crew for a medium length walk on uneven terrain to water native pine seedlings we planted this spring. Wear closed toe shoes and long pants. We can give you a watering backpack if you can carry 20+ pounds. You can also bring your own watering container or use our gallon milk jugs. Additional dates: 7/30, 8/4.
For more information, visit https://sugarpinefoundation.org/.
Art-in-Nature Workshop at Taylor Creek Visitor Center – 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Taylor Creek Visitor Center, 35 Visitor Center Rd.. Thursdays, June 18, through August 27, 2026. 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Join local artist, Kathy Dewey, for a free art-in-nature workshop at the Taylor Creek Visitor. All materials are provided, for a creative afternoon in the forest! Learn to improve your watercolor or acrylic skills, appropriate for most ages. Free!
Parking is free at the visitor center as well.
For more information, visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/event/art-in-nature-workshop-at-taylor-creek-visitor-center/2026-07-30/.
Chris Seal – 1-3 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=9.
Climate Hike on the Lake of The Sky Trail – 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Taylor Creek, Hwy 89 past Camp Richardson. Step onto the Lake of the Sky Trail and experience a stunning journey from the Taylor Creek Visitor Center to the sandy shores of Lake Tahoe, where every sight, scent, and sound reveals a new Climate Clue. Discover the hidden heroes of the forest—beavers—whose natural wetland‑building superpowers help protect the Sierra from drought and wildfire. Take in panoramic mountain views while learning how shrinking snowpack and earlier runoff threaten California’s ‘frozen reservoir’ and the ecosystems that depend on it.
Feel the icy lake water and explore a shoreline transformed by warming temperatures, algal blooms, and shifting drought cycles. Finish your hike inspired to become a Climate Warrior, empowered with simple everyday actions that help protect Lake Tahoe and the only Earth we have. The trail is out-and-back and less than a mile total. It is mostly flat along a gravel, dirt, and sandy path with benches along the way. This guided tour will be led out by our lovely knowledgeable staff and volunteers every Thursday at 10am between June 17th and September 27th (weather permitting).
For more information, visit https://visitlaketahoe.com/event/climate-hike-on-the-lake-of-the-sky-trail/2026-07-30/.
History Talk Photography of Nome’s Gold Rush from 1900 to1905 – 4:30-6 p.m., Gatekeeper’s Museum, 130 W Lake Blvd. On the heels of the Sierra Nevada and Yukon Gold Rushes, the beaches of Nome, Alaska attracted treasure hunters in late1899. Prospectors sailed north on steamers from San Francisco and Seattle and combed the beaches for gold, resulting in Nome’s nickname, “the poor man’s paradise” due to its perceived mining ease. In this analysis of selected photographs from Dr. William Hopper’s personal archive, Alice Wilson considers the physician’s visual expression of the Nome Gold Rush as documentarian and interpreter.
While the images reflect the adventure of Alaska, they also record hardship and change. Wilson suggests that the archive complicates a romantic notion of riches, suggesting that the use of natural resources changed the environment and its inhabitants, and positioning the photographer as more ethnographer than doctor.
For more information, visit http://www.gatekeepersmuseum.org or call 5305831762.
Karaoke Thursdays – 9-11 p.m., Description KARAOKE THURSDAYS ARE HERE! Alibi Ale Works – Incline VillageWe’re the thirstiest on Thursdays, not just for some boozy beverages, but for some killer karaoke too! Choose your song or step up for blind karaoke roulette! Best karaoke of the night will win an Alibi gift card! Sing your heart out for free beer and Alibi bites
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/karaoke-thursdays-1663986?sourceTypeId=Hub.
Macbeth – 7:30 p.m., Sand Harbor State Park, 2005 Highway 28. Additional dates: 7/30, 7/31, 8/2, 8/4, 8/5.
For more information, visit https://laketahoeshakespeare.com/event/macbeth-25/ or call (800) 747-4697.
SAILING CLUB, YACHT ROCK PARTY W/ PIER PRESSURE – 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Tessie’s Cocktails & Chords , 18 US-50. Sailing Club launches at Tessie’s with Tahoe’s smoothest & grooviest party starters, Pier Pressure. Captains Orders – grab a cocktail and head to the dance floor. Sailing Club offers a night of high-energy yachty fun that keeps the room rocking from start to finish. Rascal Flatts ticket holders receive a BOGO cocktail with their concert ticket.
Jamie Saso 8 pm
Pier Pressure 10 pm
Grab a drink and settle in for a night of yacht rock party anthems.
Experience the yachty energy firsthand—book your table today.
Lounge open 11 AM Daily. For large party reservations or tables before 10 PM, call us at 775.586.5014 or email: VIP@tessiestahoe.com
For more information, visit http://tessiestahoe.com/events or call 6194547421.
Tommy Ciccone – 6-9 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=1.
Trivia Night at Tipsy Putt – Tahoe – 7-10 p.m., Tipsy Putt, 4101 Lake Tahoe Blvd Suite 101. Trivia Night at Tipsy Putt! Free to play, prizes for winners Join us every week for Trivia Night at Tipsy Putt, hosted by the pros at DJ Trivia! It’s free to play, with fresh questions and fun challenges each week. Bring a team of 2–6 or come solo—meet new people and join a team, no pressure. Prizes go to the winners, and cold beer is always flowing. Test your knowledge and kick back with us! FREE RSVP to add it to your calendar so you don’t miss out!
For more information, visit https://eventvesta.com/events/152741/t/tickets or call (530) 443-4376.
Friday, July 31
Brahms’ First Symphony – 7-9 p.m., Description Artists Daniel Stewart, conductor Bella Hristova, violin Classical Tahoe Orchestra Program Bedřich Smetana: Overture from The Bartered Bride (1866) Antonin Dvořák: Violin Concerto, Op. 53 (1879-1882) – Intermission – Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 (1862-1876)
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/brahms-first-symphony-1663846?sourceTypeId=Hub or call (775) 298-0245.
Chili Monroe – 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=1.
Classical Tahoe – 7-9 p.m., Ricardi Pavilion at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, 291 Country Club . Classical Tahoe Music Festival returns for its 15th season July 11–Aug. 9, bringing four weeks of orchestral, jazz and chamber music performances to North Lake Tahoe. Featuring more than 70 musicians from across the country, the 2026 season includes orchestral masterpieces like Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, the return of Music in Motion with the Lake Tahoe Dance Collective, the Brubeck Jazz Summit celebrating jazz legend Dave Brubeck, family-friendly programming and a new chamber concert at Sugar Bowl Resort. Performances take place at the Ricardi Pavilion at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe and additional venues throughout Incline Village. The season also honors America 250 with concerts featuring American composers and themes. Tickets and full festival information are available at classicaltahoe.org. Additional dates: 7/31, 8/1, 8/1, 8/2, 8/2.
For more information, visit https://classicaltahoe.org/ or call 775.372.7904 .
Country Fridays: Line Dance Night – 9-11 p.m., Description Join us every Friday for line dancing and cold beer on the Incline Public House dance floor. Dust off your best boots and come ready to party!
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/country-fridays-line-dance-night-1677364?sourceTypeId=Hub.
Jazz at the Castle – Night One – 4:45-7 p.m., Emerald Bay State Park. Audio: Here’s a sample of the jazz band playing an instantly recognizable tune! From smooth ballads to upbeat swing and Latin rhythms, the West Shore Jazz Quintet delivers a rich and diverse repertoire that appeals to jazz enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. Our musicians share a deep camaraderie and a dedication to connecting with audiences through the power of live music. Whether you’re a longtime jazz fan or just discovering the genre, we invite you to experience the electric energy, joy, and spontaneity of live jazz with the West Shore Jazz Quintet. This is truly an amazing and lively experience! This is a fundraising event, so your ticket supports education programs and restoration projects in the Tahoe California State Parks! Tickets are $130 ($120 for SSPF Park Donors) and include parking, a twilight reception with live music, and heavy apps. A reservation is required, so book now! Meet the musicians (West Shore Jazz Ensemble website).
For more information, visit https://sierrastateparks.org/events/jazz-castle-july.
Meet the Artist ~ Paul Lotz ~ July 31 – Aug 1 – 12-5 p.m., Marcus Ashley Gallery, 4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Ste 23. Come see the master of wismy and bronze at Marcus Ashley Gallery here in South Lake Tahoe Additional dates: 7/31, 8/1.
For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-artist-paul-lotz-july-31-aug-1-tickets-1985938354077 or call (530) 544-4278.
Monophonics – 7-10 p.m., The Hanger, 2401 Lake Tahoe Boulevard. THIS IS A 21+ SHOW. DOORS AT 6PM SHOW AT 7PM PARKING INFORMATION: ON SITE PARKING IS LIMITED AND IS $10 PER VEHICLE. IF YOU’RE GOING TO DRIVE, GET HERE EARLY. LEAVING YOUR CAR OVERNIGHT IN OUR LOT IS OK WITH US. OVERNIGHT CAMPING HOWEVER IS NOT PERMITTED. PLEASE CONSIDER RIDING YOUR BIKES AND OR USING RIDE SHARE. THERE IS PLENTY OF FENCE TO LOCK YOUR BIKES TO. IF OUR LOT IS FULL YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL PARKING AT THESE LOCATIONS, WHICH WE HAVE RENTED FOR THE DAY : 971 & 981 SILVER DOLLAR AVE (BEHIND THE SHELL STATION), 80 PARKING SPACES PLEASE DO NOT PARK AT MINI GOLF NEXT DOOR – YOU WILL BE TOWED
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1739070830805653/.
Pierre LaRage – 5-9 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
Stephanie Fagliano – 8-10 p.m., Social House.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=10.
Will Murillo – 12-3 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage. Additional dates: 7/31, 8/2.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=1.
Saturday, August 1
Annie Davidson – 3-6:30 p.m., South of North Brewing Co., 932 Stateline Ave.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=10.
Boarding for Breast Cancer’s 22nd Annual Skate the Lake – 12-7 p.m., Common’s Beach, 400 N Lake Blvd. Skate The Lake is a 28 (or 8) mile skate-bike-roll along a portion of the North Lake Tahoe shores starting at Sugar Pine Point Park up to Palisades Tahoe and ending at Common’s Beach. B4BC welcomes anyone on wheels of all ages and abilities to join this push for prevention as the nonprofit raises funds for its education, prevention and survivorship programs.
To register, visit b4bc.org. Additional dates: 8/1, 8/2.
For more information, visit https://pro.gofundme.com/campaign/b4bcs-22nd-annual-skate-the-lake/c792715.
Chris Seal – 5-9 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
Dwarfanators Wrestling – 8 p.m., Bally’s Lake Tahoe, 55 Highway 50.
or call (775) 588-3515.
Family Concert and Music Maker’s Faire: Kids Take the Stage – 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Description Saturday, August 1 at 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Curated by Rita Whitaker Haun, Musikgarten Instructor & Education Coordinator Local students from the Greater Tahoe-Truckee-Reno area take the stage as we welcome young musicians to perform in the Family Concert alongside small ensembles from Classical Tahoe. In our instrument exploration zone, children will learn how the instruments work, sound, and feel. The Nevada Discovery Museum will be on hand to create hands-on music and science stations for children to draw, paint, and make their own percussion and string instruments. 11 AM – 12 PM Family Concert 12 PM – 2 PM Music Maker’s Faire Tickets: Adults $10 and Students $5 to support the Festival’s educational programs.
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/family-concert-and-music-maker-s-faire-kids-take-the-stage-1663856?sourceTypeId=Hub.
Guided Rainbow Trail Walk – 10-11 a.m., 2152 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Join us for an enchanting journey through nature’s vibrant palette on the Guided Rainbow Trail Walk. Nestled in the breathtaking landscapes of South Lake Tahoe, this guided walking tour at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center offers an unforgettable experience for nature enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of the forest as our knowledgeable guides lead you along the Rainbow Trail. Discover the diverse ecosystems, and learn about the unique flora and fauna that call it home. The Guided Rainbow Trail Walk provides an opportunity to connect with your national forest and appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors. Don’t miss the chance to explore one of South Lake Tahoe’s hidden gems and experience the magic of the Rainbow Trail. We look forward to welcoming you on this educational walk! This tour is offered, free to the public, every Wednesday & Saturday at 10am between June 17th and September 27th. Be sure to bring water, waterproof shoes and please leave all pets and food/scented beverages at home or in the car. Additional dates: 8/1, 8/5.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1035573822210868/1035573885544195/?active_tab=about.
The Heart of Robin Hood – 7:30 p.m., Sand Harbor State Park, 2005 Highway 28.
For more information, visit https://laketahoeshakespeare.com/event/the-heart-of-robin-hood-9/ or call (800) 747-4697.
Jacob Thompson – 4:30-7 p.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=1.
Jazz at the Castle – Night Two – 4:45-7 p.m., Emerald Bay State Park. Audio: Here’s a sample of the jazz band playing an instantly recognizable tune! From smooth ballads to upbeat swing and Latin rhythms, the West Shore Jazz Quintet delivers a rich and diverse repertoire that appeals to jazz enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. Our musicians share a deep camaraderie and a dedication to connecting with audiences through the power of live music. Whether you’re a longtime jazz fan or just discovering the genre, we invite you to join us and experience the joy and spontaneity of live jazz with the West Shore Jazz Quintet. This is a fundraising event, so your ticket supports education programs and restoration projects in the Tahoe California State Parks! Tickets are $130 ($120 for SSPF Park Donors) and include parking, a twilight reception with live music, and heavy apps. A reservation is required. Meet the musicians (West Shore Jazz Ensemble website).
For more information, visit https://sierrastateparks.org/events/jazz-castle-august.
Kings Beach Art Tour – Additional dates: 8/1, 8/2.
For more information, visit https://tahoebackyard.com/event-calendar.
Logan Eastep – 7-10 p.m., South of North Brewing Co., 932 Stateline Ave.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=1.
Luke and Kaylee – 12-3 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=10.
MicroMania Midget Wrestling live in Lake Tahoe! – 7-10 p.m., Bally’s Lake Tahoe, 55 Highway 50. CLICK FOR TICKETS
Please welcome MicroMania Midget Wrestling in Lake Tahoe, NV on Saturday August 1, 2026 at Bally’s Lake Tahoe Resort & Casino! This show is 18+ (Unless w/ Adult) and doors open at 7pm.
Featured match: 25 CENT vs. MINI DIDDY!! This show sells out everytime so don’t wait for your tickets! MicroMania Tour is a high powered, explosive, athletic Pro Wrestling show with just the right touch of comedy thrown in to make for an unforgettable BIG event not necessarily BIG people!! These micro athletes may be short in stature but are giants in the world of entertainment where they will keep you on your feet screaming from the opening bell through the Main Event!
Midgets jump off bars, hit each other with props and they also take it out of the ring and wrestle in the crowd. There is nothing these extreme midgets won’t do to defend their titles! Hey, these guys can do a push-up with one hand, can you?!
For more information, visit https://lateniteproductions.com/event/micromania-midget-wrestling-live-in-lake-tahoe/ or call (775) 588-3515.
Passion and Spirit – 7-9 p.m., Description Artists Daniel Stewart, conductor Limmie Pulliam, tenor Classical Tahoe Orchestra Program Giuseppe Verdi: Overture from Luisa Miller (1849) Giuseppe Verdi: “Dio! Mi potevi scagliar” from Otello (1887) Pietro Mascagni: Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana (1890) Ruggero Leoncavallo: “Vesti la giubba” from Pagliacci (1892) Giacomo Puccini: “E lucevan le stelle” from Tosca (1900) -Intermission- Florence Price: Concert Overture No. 2 (1943) Traditional Spirituals, arranged for tenor and orchestra Giacomo Puccini: “Nessun dorma” from Turandot (1924)
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/passion-and-spirit-1663862?sourceTypeId=Hub or call (775) 298-0245.
Porterhaus – 7:30-10 p.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
Primus Tribute Here Come the Bastards at Whiskey Dick’s in Tahoe – 7 p.m., Whiskey Dicks, 2660 Lake Tahoe Blvd.. We’re coming back baby! Sacramento Primus tribute Here Come the Bastards performing live at Whiskey Dick’s Saloon in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday, August 1st! Joined by Local Anthology, and Plasma Head. 21 and over, doors at 7 PM.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1732721688081492/ or call (530) 544-3425.
Tahoe City Heritage Celebration – 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Gatekeeper’s Museum, 130 W Lake Blvd. On Aug. 1, enjoy a joint celebration with the Gatekeeper’s Museum, Watson Cabin, SNOW Museum, TCDA and the Placer County Heritage Trail to honor our local history.
11 a.m. | Rededication of the plaque honoring Dr. James Church next to the Lake Tahoe Dam
11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Placer County Heritage Trail, FREE admission at Tahoe City Museums
Gatekeeper’s Museum Open House with refreshments and live music from the Old Souls.
Watson Cabin
SNOW Museum
1 p.m. | Historic Walking Tour
Free | Led by Mountain Town Walking Tours
Space is limited. Registration will open soon.
Additional walking tours will be offered on Tahoe City Day on Aug. 8.
For more information, visit https://visittahoecity.org/event/heritage26/.
Tahoe Club Crawl Spring/Summer 2026 – 8-11 p.m., Aleworx Stateline US-50. Tahoe Club Crawl is an organized VIP nightlife tour of the Tahoe South. With the purchase of your ticket, you will receive a welcome shot at 3 out of 4 stops, appetizers, free indoor games at Tipsy Putt and VIP entrance into Peek Nightclub, Lake Tahoe’s hottest Club! You will meet amazing people and have the night of your lives. We meet every Saturday at 8:00 PM Aleworx Stateline, unless told otherwise. Be Sure To Check Out our Ice Cream Shop, Aloha Ice Cream Tahoe “Winner of Best Ice Cream in Tahoe 7 Years In A Row” (Opened Seasonally)
Venues Subject to Change At Anytime, No Refunds
For more information, visit https://tahoeclubcrawl.ticketsauce.com/e/tahoe-club-crawl-spring-summer-2068?aff=cityspark.
Will Murillo – 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
You Should Be Dancing (A Tribute to The Bee Gees) – 8 p.m., Crystal Bay Casino, 14 Highway 28.
For more information, visit https://devildogshows.com/event/you-should-be-dancing-a-tribute-to-the-bee-gees/ or call (775) 833-6333.
Sunday, August 2
Gospel Brunch – 12:15-2:30 p.m., Noel’s Coffee & Apothecary , 31 US-50 #102. Noel’s Coffee & Apothecary In Stateline, NV (located between AleWorx and CVS Pharmacy) now has a Gospel Brunch every Sunday from 12:15 PM until 2:30 PM featuring live Gospel music, croissant sandwiches and craft coffee. Come feed your spirit, soul and body!
Jaime Saso – 7:30-10:30 p.m., Noel’s Coffee a.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=10.
Jamie Rollins – 3-5:30 p.m., South of North Brewing Co., 932 Stateline Ave.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=10.
Kyle Ledson & Broken Compass Bluegrass – 4 p.m.-12 a.m., Commons Beach, 400 N Lake Blvd. Broken Compass Bluegrass will be taking over Commons Beach in Tahoe City. Grass by the lakeside- how does it get any better?
Commons Beach is a 4+ acre beach and park located lakefront in downtown Tahoe City on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. Locals and tourists alike frequent the beach for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, sunbathing, picnicking… and, of course, every Sunday in the summer for our 12-week Concerts at Commons Beach concert series.
Guests are welcome to bring picnics, blankets, and low-back chairs for a perfect lakeside evening. Local food and drink vendors sell beer, wine, soft drinks, sushi, bbq foods, ice cream, and more. Come early and enjoy the lakeside ambiance with friends and family. We have a fully equipped playground for the little rock-‘n-rollers too!
For more information, visit https://www.bandsintown.com/e/108144229?app_id=pkvts0on0m&came_from=287&utm_medium=api&utm_source=partner_api&utm_campaign=event.
Miki Rae Garrison – 12-3 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=1.
OLD 97’s – 7-10 p.m., The Hanger, 2401 Lake Tahoe Boulevard. THIS IS A 21+ SHOW. DOORS AT 6PM SHOW AT 7PM PARKING INFORMATION: ON SITE PARKING IS LIMITED AND IS $10 PER VEHICLE. IF YOU’RE GOING TO DRIVE, GET HERE EARLY. LEAVING YOUR CAR OVERNIGHT IN OUR LOT IS OK WITH US. OVERNIGHT CAMPING HOWEVER IS NOT PERMITTED. PLEASE CONSIDER RIDING YOUR BIKES AND OR USING RIDE SHARE. THERE IS PLENTY OF FENCE TO LOCK YOUR BIKES TO. IF OUR LOT IS FULL YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL PARKING AT THESE LOCATIONS, WHICH WE HAVE RENTED FOR THE DAY : 971 & 981 SILVER DOLLAR AVE (BEHIND THE SHELL STATION), 80 PARKING SPACES – MAPS LINK. PLEASE DO NOT PARK AT MINI GOLF NEXT DOOR – YOU WILL BE TOWED
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1243459867989629/.
Omni Tahoe Yoga Festival – 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road. Yoga. Music. Lakefront. Immersive.
The OMNI Tahoe Yoga Festival is returning August 2-4, 2026 with an all-new, breathtaking home on the shores of Valhalla Tahoe, a historic site and lakefront sanctuary where movement meets nature and community comes alive.?
With longer hours, expanded programming, and more live musical acts under the stars, TYF 2026 will be our most connected and elevated year yet.Attendees this year can expect:
Sunrise flows and lakefront mindful practices
Cold lake dips + hot sauna sessions
Soulful music, barefoot gatherings, and nightly energy
Thought-provoking panels and conscious conversation
A large Vendor village, wellness brands, handcrafted goods, delicious local food options and community celebration
Camping options close to the venue, making it easy to stay grounded, present, and fully immersed in nature
Come for the movement… stay for the magic of Tahoe in its purest form—where self-discovery, connection, and adventure unfold naturally by the water.
Subscribe now to be the first to receive early details + ticket access. Additional dates: 8/2, 8/3, 8/4.
For more information, visit https://valhallatahoe.com/event/omni-tahoe-yoga-festival/ or call 530-541-4975.
Ron & Maureen Ashley Oasis Chamber Music Series: New World, Old World – 5-8 p.m., Description Sunday, August 2 at 5:00 PM & 7:00 PM Ron & Maureen Ashley Oasis Bridging continents and traditions, this bold program reimagines familiar works across ages through fresh instrumental voices. Bernstein’s Suite from West Side Story, arranged for brass quintet, bursts with rhythmic energy and instantly recognizable tunes. Till Eulenspiegel, einmal anders! offers a playful retelling by Hasenöhrl of Strauss’s beloved tone poem about the mischievous folktale prankster. The program concludes with Berwald’s Grand Septet, a virtuosic and rarely heard gem that blends classical elegance with Romantic exuberance. Artists Daniel Gilbert, clarinet Justin Cummings, bassoon Billy Hunter, trumpet Adam Luftman, trumpet Thomas Jöstlein, horn Erik Ralske, horn David Garcia, trombone Dan Peck, tuba Ruth Lenz, violin Xiao-Dong Wang, violin David Sywak, viola TBA, cello Timothy Dilenschneider, bass Program Leonard Bernstein (Arr. by Jack Gale for brass quintet): Suite from West Side Story (1957) Richard Strauss (Arr. by Franz Hasenöhrl): Till Eulenspiegel, einmal anders! (1895, arr. 1954) Franz Berwald: Grand Septet in B-flat Major (1828)
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/ron-maureen-ashley-oasis-chamber-music-series-new-world-old-world-1663870?sourceTypeId=Hub or call (775) 298-0245.
Seasonal Reverse Happy Hour – Tipsy Putt, 4101 Lake Tahoe Blvd Suite 101. Cheers to Tahoe Summer Nights!
Join us Sunday through Thursday from 8pm to close for Reverse Happy Hour!
50% off All-You-Can-Putt passes and 50% off draft cocktails (with purchase of All-You-Can-Putt).
Your games pass unlocks unlimited mini golf and 1–2 Putt™ rounds all day—so if you start earlier and keep your wristband on, you’ll still score half-off cocktails that night.
Members? You’re always in luck! Enjoy 50% off draft cocktails during Reverse Happy Hour without a games purchase!
Late nights, great drinks, and endless putting! Cheers to that!
For more information, visit https://tipsyputt.com/event/summer-reverse-happy-hour-tipsy-putt-mini-golf-drink-specials/2026-08-02/.
Yoga in the Beer Garden – 11 a.m.-12 p.m., South Lake Brewing Company, 1920 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Stretch, sip, and soak up a Tahoe summer morning. Enjoy a one-hour all-levels yoga class in the Beer Garden followed by a delicious beermosa. The perfect way to kick off your Sunday.
Bring your own mat or towel and join us for a relaxed morning of movement, fresh air, and community. Please make sure to add-on Beermosa if you’re staying for a pint. Only $5! Yoga participants only.
For more information, visit https://www.southlakebeer.com/store#!/Yoga-in-the-Beer-Garden/p/846265781.
Monday, August 3
Beach Cleanup – 8:30-10 a.m., North Tahoe Event Center, 8318 North Lake Blvd.. Join the North Tahoe Public Utility District at the North Tahoe Event Center every Monday from June 1 through August 27 to help keep our beaches and community clean. Meet on the Lakefront Patio at the North Tahoe Event Center at 8:30 a.m. to fuel up on fresh-brewed coffee and doughnuts before we head out to pick up trash. It is a rewarding way to kick off your week while giving back to the lake we love. Event Details When: Mondays, June 1 – August 31 Time: 8:30-10am Location: North Tahoe Event Center, Lakefront Patio
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/749766891496884/749766918163548/?active_tab=about.
Jon Sills – 12-3 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=2.
Kris Munn – 8-11 p.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=2.
Luke and Kaylee – 6-9 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=2.
Peter Wilson – 7 p.m., Cutthroat’s Saloon, 111 Country Club Dr. Peter Wilson sings and plays at Cutthroat’s Saloon at the Hyatt Incline Village.
For more information, visit https://www.bandsintown.com/e/108036596?app_id=pkvts0on0m&came_from=287&utm_medium=api&utm_source=partner_api&utm_campaign=event.
RENO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA- Summer Breeze: Yacht Rock Classics – 7:30 p.m., Sand Harbor State Park, 2005 Highway 28.
For more information, visit https://laketahoeshakespeare.com/event/reno-philharmonic-orchestra-summer-breeze-yacht-rock-classics/ or call (800) 747-4697.
Sean Hodge – 5-9 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=2.
Tuesday, August 4
Hot August Nights – Gar Woods Grill & Pier, 5000 N Lake Blvd. Additional dates: 8/4, 8/5.
For more information, visit https://www.garwoods.com/calendar.html or call (530) 546-3366.
Luke and Kaylee – 7-10 p.m., South of North Brewing Co., 932 Stateline Ave.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=2.
Nightz at Tahoe Opera – 7-9 p.m., St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 341 Village Boulevard. If you’ve ever said, “Opera just isn’t my thing”…this concert was created for you.
Forget everything you think you know about opera.
This isn’t one long opera in a language you don’t understand. It’s an evening filled with opera’s greatest hits—breathtaking arias, powerful choruses, unforgettable duets, and beautiful orchestral music that has captivated audiences for centuries.
Join the Tahoe Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, under the direction of Maestro James Rawie, for an inspiring summer concert featuring music by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Bizet, and Massenet.
You’ll hear many of opera’s most beloved masterpieces, including selections from:
🎼 The Magic Flute 🎼 Turandot 🎼 The Barber of Seville 🎼 Rigoletto 🎼 Nabucco 🎼 La Traviata 🎼 Thaïs
The evening features acclaimed guest soloists, full orchestra, and chorus performing some of the most recognizable and emotionally stirring music ever written. Selections from The Magic Flute will even be performed in English, making this concert especially welcoming for first-time opera listeners.
One of the evening’s highlights is Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs, performed by Concertmaster Kevin Matheson, along with Puccini’s triumphant “Nessun dorma,” Rossini’s famous “Largo al factotum,” Verdi’s moving “Va, pensiero,” and the joyful finale from La Traviata that will leave you smiling.
Whether you’re a lifelong classical music lover or simply curious about opera, this is the perfect concert to discover why these masterpieces have inspired audiences for generations.
Performance Dates
📍 Carson City — July 29 • 7:00 PM Boldrick Community Center
📍 Reno — August 2 • 4:00 PM Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church
📍 Incline Village — August 4 • 7:00 PM St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church
🎟 Reserve your seats today and experience an unforgettable evening of music, passion, and inspiration.
Affordable Tickets for Everyone
Tahoe Philharmonic continues its tradition of keeping concerts accessible:
• General Admission: $20 • Preferred Seating: $40/35 Senior or youth under 23 • Premium Seating: $50/ $45 senior or youth under 23 • Front Row Seating: $100 • Youth under age 23: Free in General Admission
Event made possible through the generosity of the Carol Franc Buck Foundation
For more information, visit https://www.tahoe-philharmonic.com/concerts/ or call 7753868215.
Pressing Strings – 7:30-10 p.m., Boathouse Theater, Tallac Historic Site. Hailing from Annapolis, Maryland, Pressing Strings is a powerhouse trio–led by guitarist and vocalist Jordan Sokel–has earned a loyal following with their genre bending blend of blues, rock, and folk, wrapped in soul-stirring storytelling and toe tapping grooves. Their music resonates with the emotional grit of blues, the laid back swagger of folk, and the urgency of modern rock.
Whether delivering heartfelt ballads or energetic anthems, Pressing Strings weaves lyrical introspection and high-caliber musicianship that feels both fresh and familiar. Sokel’s smokey voice and intricate guitar work is complimented masterfully by a star rhythm section. Held down tightly by drummer Justin Kruger–an energetic and charismatic performer whose style mirrors his outside the box personality and unique approach to the instrument, along with bassist Nick Welker–a solid and stoic figure who picks melodic lines and chordal voicings that makes the trio sound full and lush. All three members sing, adding harmonies reminiscent of southern California in the 70’s. Together they push the limits of what a trio can do and provide an immersive, feel-good vibe that hits the audience’s heart as hard as it does the ears.
Recently the band has been touring the US coast to coast headlining clubs and delighting festival audiences at such festivals as Palisade Roots and Bluegrass Festival, FloydFest, Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival, Firefly, Sweetwater 420Fest, Cavefest etc while sharing the stage alongside major artists like Gov’t Mule, Toad The Wet Sprocket, JJ Grey and Neil Francis.
Tickets: $35 | Members: $31.50
Doors: 7:00 PM | Show: 7:30 PM
All ages welcome | Concessions available
For more information, visit https://valhallatahoe.com/event/pressing-strings-august-4-2026/.
Taco Tuesday – 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Tipsy Putt – South Lake Tahoe, 4101 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Suite # 101. Taco Tuesday at Tipsy Putt
Tuesdays just got a whole lot tastier. Join us every Tuesday at any Tipsy Putt location for our unbeatable Taco Tuesday special: choose any 3 tacos for just $10 and enjoy $3 off margaritas all day and night.
You can mix and match your favorites to create the perfect trio. Whether you’re craving something classic or want to try a little bit of everything, Taco Tuesday is the best way to build a full meal without breaking the bank.
Pair your tacos with a refreshing margarita, challenge your friends to a round of mini golf, and make Tuesday your new favorite day of the week.
Available all day, every Tuesday, at all Tipsy Putt locations.
For more information, visit https://eventvesta.com/events/152639/t/tickets or call 530-443-4376.
Tommy Ciccone – 12-3 p.m., Base Camp Pizza.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=2.
Wednesday, August 5
Ditchweed Harvest – 7-10 p.m., South of North Brewing Co., 932 Stateline Ave.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=3.
EJ Worland – 7:30-10 p.m., Boathouse Theater, Tallac Historic Site. A year ago, EJ Worland’s days were filled with hard labor on construction sites across Australia. Discovered for his extraordinary musical gift, he bid farewell to his blue-collar world to embrace a life of full time music. Drawing inspiration from the soulful sounds of the early ’70s, EJ’s timeless vocals and captivating recordings pay tribute to legends like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. In addition, EJ has shared stages with artists such as Allen Stone, Teddy Swims, Mac Ayres, and Donavan Frankenreiter.
Tickets: $35 | Members: $31.50
Doors: 7:00 PM | Show: 7:30 PM
All ages welcome | Concessions available
For more information, visit https://valhallatahoe.com/event/ej-worland-august-5-2026/.
Jamie Rollins – 6-9 p.m., Heavenly Corner Stage.
For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=3.
Line Dancing – 7:30-9:30 p.m., Cascade Kitchens, 1030 Tata Ln. Description Dust off your boots, it’s time to dance! Starting 10/8, we’re hosting Line Dancing every Wednesday, 7:30-9:30 PM. No cover, all ages welcome, and beginner-friendly! We’ll sprinkle in a few lessons so everyone can join the fun. Come kick up your heels with us!
For more information, visit https://business.tahoechamber.org/events/details/line-dancing-08-05-2026-24778.
LIVE MUSIC – Sage Leaf Tahoe – 5-8 p.m., Description Every Wednesday 5pm – 8pm Best selling drinks are, the bees knees, the sage leaf and the Bloody Mary. They have been the top sellers since we opened our incline village location in June 2020 Best selling food items are the sage and cheddar biscuits, any of our house made organic pastas, the Tahoe blue French toast and our bone in Niman ranch pork chop, duck fat fries with house made truffle aioli, and of course our Angus burger our huge favorites. Sage Leaf Reno opened on 3/7/2026 and we have two patios, a completely remodeled bar, and a spacious dining room good for large groups and intimate celebrations. We have happy hour daily from 3-5pm at Reno, and happy hour daily 5-6pm daily in Incline Village. Both restaurants are open 7 days a week for brunch and for dinner We do half off all bottles of wine on Sunday dinner. We offer vegan and vegetarian options as well as all the meat lovers favorites. We have something for everyone at Sage Leaf Reno and Tahoe. Live Music every Wednesday 5pm-8pm in Tahoe location We are open for Mother’s day and Father’s Day brunch as well as dinner and we strongly encourage reservation at both locations Incline Village location opened 6/4/2020 We also offer backcountry delivery service (think catering while you’re snow shoeing or snowmobiling) during winter snow dependent. We are family owned and operated. Husband and wife team who have lived in Incline Village since 2012. Raising our two small children here in our tight knit community. www. Sageleafreno.com and www.Sageleaftahoe.com
For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/live-music-sage-leaf-tahoe-1704197?sourceTypeId=Hub or call (775) 413-5005.
Pick-Up Cricket – 5:30-7 p.m., North Tahoe Recreation & Parks North Tahoe Recreation & Parks, 6600 Donner Rd. Discover something new, meet other players, and help bring cricket to North Tahoe! Learn the basics and participate in a short-sided game every Wednesday on our synthetic field during this 7-week program. Equipment is provided. Days: Wednesdays Start Date: July 15 End Date: August 26 Ages: 18+ Location: North Tahoe Regional Park Field #4 Free to attend
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1663312288249093/1663312298249092/?active_tab=about.
Swinging Wings Wednesday – 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Tipsy Putt, 4101 Lake Tahoe Blvd Suite 101. Wednesdays are for wings — and winning! 🍗⛳ Join us for Swinging Wings Wednesdays, where great swings earn even better bites. Play 9 holes and unlock 12 wings for just $9. Even better? Members get FREE games every Wednesday plus 12 wings for $9. It’s our favorite day of the week for a reason. Bring your crew, sip on your favorite drinks, and make a little midweek magic with mini golf, bold sauces, and unbeatable deals. 🔥 12 wings for $9 when you play 9 holes 🏌️ Members: Free games + $9 wings 🍺 Drinks, games, and good vibes 📅 Every Wednesday Swing big. Sauce boldly. See you Wednesday. This offer is available exclusively at our Tahoe, Sacramento, and Emeryville Tipsy Putt locations. Be sure to visit your preferred location’s event page to confirm their Swinging Wing Wednesday details and specific day of the week.
For more information, visit https://eventvesta.com/events/152736/t/tickets or call (530) 443-4376.
White Thorn Wednesdays – 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Keeping our trails open and ride-able requires continuous brushing and maintenance. TAMBA will be hosting White Thorn Wednesdays again this summer to provide this much needed trail maintenance. We will be working on trails all around the lake. Keep checking the event for the most current work location and information.
We will start the season off with working on Incline Flume trail on the North Shore. Our first day will be Wednesday May 27, 2026. We will meet at the trailhead at the upper trailhead 10:00 am.
Please sign up here! Select “Incline Flume” as the work location.
Please remember to bring the following:
– Long Sleeve Shirt
– Long Pants
– Helmet (bike ok)
– Long Finger Gloves
– Eye protection
– Sturdy Shoes (over the ankle boots recommended if doing rockwork
– Food/Snacks for the day
– Plenty of liquids
– Backpack
– Rain gear if thunderstorms are forecasted
If you have any questions, please email Jake Groce, at Jake@tamba.org.
Thank you very much and we look forward to seeing you at the trail day!
For more information, visit https://tamba.org/event/white-thorn-wednesdays-4/2026-08-05/.
Mary Pivetti will be located at Studio 2 during the TAL Studio Tour, showcasing atmospheric landscape and floral watercolors.Provided / Mary Pivetti
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – For its 19th year, Tahoe Art League’s (TAL) Artist Studio Tour will be held all weekend long starting Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 2, bringing opportunities to meet regional and Lake Tahoe artists in their own studios as they discuss their processes, inspirations and origin stories.
First founded in 1964, TAL is the oldest nonprofit arts organization in El Dorado County. Through decades of expansion, the league now offers classes, workshops, monthly art demonstrations, scholarships to students, and hosts exhibits while operating an art gallery in the heart of South Lake Tahoe. Those beautiful murals you see around town? TAL coordinates and funds them, transforming the city into its own gallery.
“We’re always offering art opportunities to the community,” said Kathy Dewey, TAL board member, art educator and Studio Tour committee member. “Our mission is to support visual arts in South Lake Tahoe, and the Studio Tour is an opportunity for artists to showcase their work on their own, without having to go through a gallery, museum or other entity.”
This year’s Studio Tour will offer 38 unique artists at 22 studios in Lake Tahoe, spanning from Zephyr Cove to Meyers. Photography, watercolor, oil paintings, wire work, woodturning – the variety of art is boundless and the setting in which the art is displayed is as intimate as it gets, allowing folks a first-hand look at what techniques are used and how it’s all created.
“This is a free event that’s put on for the community, and you could spend all three days going to visit these studios because that’s how many artists there are to see,” Dewey said.
Folks can also participate in TAL’s passport program, which allows visitors to track which studios they’ve visited on the tour. Pick up your passport at the TAL Gallery, collect your stamps, and submit your passport, either at the last studio you visit or the gallery, for a chance to win some amazing raffle prizes in the form of original works of art donated from Studio Tour artists.
In addition to entering the raffle via your passport, visitors can also acquire a raffle ticket for every $100 they spend on the Studio Tour.
Ellen Nunes is an artist and member of the TAL for over 16 years. She has participated in the Studio Tour for 10 years this year.
Her abstract Lake Tahoe art can be seen in several places around the lake, including Clearly Tahoe and Tahoe Trunk Show.
She and two other artists, Darlynn Sharpe and Francis Rider, will be displaying their work at Nunes’ home studio (Studio 12) in the Tahoe Keys.
“I really love opening my studio to the community. They can come in and see how I make the art. They’re going to see my process, what I’m passionate about and how things get from start to finish,” said Nunes. “I think this is a very valuable thing for folks to see who are interested in art. I think people really enjoy meeting the artists. You don’t usually get that experience when you’re shopping at a gallery.”
Nunes plans to continue participating in the tour for years to come, saying that as long as people are interested in her work, she’ll continue making it.
The TAL Artist Studio Tour will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 31, August 1 and 2. Get started by picking up a Studio Tour passport and brochure with the list of artists and where they’re located at the TAL Art Center Gallery located at 3062 Lake Tahoe Blvd in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
“You’re really supporting the artists by attending this event, appreciating their art, bringing it home and making it a part of your life,” Dewey added.
The Artist Studio Tour takes place July 31 through August 2Provided / Tahoe Art League
To try and decide each week where and what to eat in and around the basin can be a challenge – there are so many amazing choices. In this feature, we’ll dive into dishes that will surely satisfy those hunger pangs and leave you wondering where to go next.
I’m not certain just how popular fennel is. It’s highly popular in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking, but here in the U.S., I think it’s probably a little lesser-known vegetable and extremely underutilized. But, if it keeps getting the treatment like it does in this week’s feature, it won’t stay that way for long.
Fennel is a perennial herb from the carrot family and while it does carry an anise flavor, I’m not going to go as far as to say it tastes like black licorice – mainly because I’m not a black licorice fan, but I do like fennel. It also has a wonderful texture that is crisp and juicy.
For this dish, baby fennel is braised in a French Provençal style method where it first gets seared in a combination of triple filtered beef tallow and butter. Once those nice sear marks start to take hold, the pan is deglazed with white wine and added to the fray is a combination of ingredients starring blood orange and burnt orange. It’s then braised until the liquid cooks down to a syrupy consistency and finished off with a cold-pressed raw olive oil, fresh herbs, smoked salt, and fennel pollen.
Parents, if there ever was a way to get your kids to eat veggies, this is the way. It’s likely the best preparation of fennel I’ve had to-date. It balances savory and sweet so well it could have a yoga class named after it. The charred edges give it real depth of flavor and add in a slightly different texture than you get when you get to the core of the vegetable.
I could easily hunch down over this and make a meal out of it but do yourself a favor and get it as a side dish and explore the rest of the menu. I think you’ll find some other fun choices equally as impressive.
Paxton’s Settlement is located at 120 Country Club Dr #24 in Incline Village. For menu and more information visit them online at paxtonssettlement.com or reach them via phone at 775-298-7900.
Slot game design has undergone notable evolution, influencing new standards in digital entertainment. Players now experience updated visual effects, engaging mechanics, and interactive features beyond classic reels. These shifts reflect broader industry changes, reshaping expectations for how technology and creativity intersect in modern gaming.
Slot game design changes influence not only how you play but also broader patterns across digital entertainment platforms. Developers use technology and storytelling to create engaging experiences that parallel those found in mainstream gaming. Some titles, including Top Kalamba Games Slots, use advanced graphics and responsive soundscapes to appeal to a wide audience. As these games evolve, distinctions between traditional slot play and interactive entertainment can become less clear.
From mechanical reels to interactive digital features
Slot games were once defined by simple spinning reels and straightforward mechanics. Today, digital versions can include multiple layers of gameplay, offering variety through bonus rounds, special symbols, and real-time feedback systems.
Developers use technology to provide features that respond quickly to player decisions, making each round feel more personalized. Faster feedback loops, such as mini-wins or access to bonus modes, may contribute to a more engaging experience and can influence patterns of play.
The transition from physical to digital platforms has enabled slot games to incorporate cascading reels, expanding wilds, and cluster pays mechanics that would be impossible with mechanical components. These innovations allow symbols to interact in complex ways, creating chain reactions and multiple winning opportunities within a single spin. The digital format also supports instant recalculation of outcomes and seamless animation transitions, fundamentally changing the pace and rhythm of gameplay compared to their mechanical predecessors.
Visual and audio design enhancements fueling engagement
Modern slot game design places a strong emphasis on high-definition animation, detailed graphics, and dynamic effects. These visual elements can reinforce in-game events, indicate feature triggers, and maintain attention through motion and spectacle.
Sound design can include custom music, environmental effects, and adaptive cues that match on-screen action. This focus on audiovisual fidelity reflects how some digital entertainment products draw on conventions from cinema and video games to create more engaging experiences.
Reimagining gameplay mechanics and player agency
Beyond the classic spin and wait structure, some slot games integrate bonus rounds, mini-games, and multi-stage features. These mechanics can introduce additional ways to interact, combining random outcomes with optional gameplay elements.
Player choice is included in some designs, such as selecting between different bonus paths or in-game options. These elements may contribute to engagement and can alter the rhythm of traditional slot play, adding a sense of progression within the game’s structure.
Mobile-first designs and accessibility in user experiences
As mobile devices have become a major platform for digital gaming, designers often prioritize interfaces that support seamless, one-handed play. Shorter session formats and simplified controls can suit users looking for quick, accessible entertainment across different device types.
Performance optimization is important for players on limited bandwidth connections or older hardware. Some slot games include accessibility options, such as adjustable text sizes and simplified navigation, which can make the experience more inclusive. Many Kalamba games are available on mobile platforms, reflecting this broader shift toward mobile-first design.
Licensed themes, storytelling, and digital entertainment trends
Slot game design sometimes draws on popular culture, using licensed themes or original narratives to create familiarity and interest. Story-driven elements can give context to in-game features, encouraging continued engagement as new scenes or features appear.
This approach reflects a wider digital entertainment trend where gameplay and narrative are combined to create richer experiences. Competition for attention can contribute to games that blend recognizable references with original creative content, shaping how sessions are presented.
Transparency, player clarity, and consumer awareness
The complexity of modern slot mechanics makes clear disclosure especially important. Developers often provide explanations of odds, features, and rules to help players understand how outcomes and features work.
Across digital entertainment, transparency can support informed choices about how to play. Clearer information may also encourage responsible play and influence expectations for how entertainment products present key details in an accessible, straightforward way.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – It’s time to put on the ritz! Join the 39th Annual Great Gatsby Festival Saturday and Sunday, August 8-9, 2026, at the Tallac Historic Site on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. both days. The Gatsby Speakeasy will run from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, August 8.
This year’s Great Gatsby Festival welcomes:
vintage and craft market vendors,
live jazz and ukulele performances,
classic lawn games and automobiles,
living history tours,
a silent auction and raffle,
Gatsby Speakeasy, and
the iconic Gatsby Tea & Fashion Show.
The Gatsby Tea & Fashion Show takes place on Sunday 2-4 p.m. at the Pope House. Tickets for this popular event are sold out.
The Great Gatsby Festival began in the mid-1980s as a celebration of all things Roaring Twenties, from Art Deco design to classic cars. Over the years, the festival has brought thousands of revelers together in the shared appreciation of the bygone era.
The Great Gatsby Festival is hosted by the Tallac Historic Site and the Taylor Creek Visitor Center’s interpretive association, The Great Basin Institute, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — The Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH) is pleased to announce the appointment of Emily “Emil” Elyse (they/them) as its new Executive Director.
Emil brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, public policy, and homeless services to the role. Since joining Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless as Program Manager, Emil has demonstrated a strong commitment to expanding services, strengthening community partnerships, and helping individuals experiencing homelessness find stability and hope.
“I am honored to serve as Executive Director of Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless,” said Emil. “Our community has shown that when organizations, volunteers, businesses, and residents work together, we can create meaningful solutions. I look forward to building on that momentum as we continue to expand housing opportunities and strengthen the support systems that help our neighbors thrive.”
Emil earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Policy from San Francisco State University in 2021. Their career has focused on developing innovative, community-based solutions to homelessness.
In 2020, Emil joined a Permanent Supportive Housing provider serving San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood before relocating to Reno, Nevada. There, they oversaw the region’s Coordinated Entry System, helping connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness with housing and services, while also leading the area’s annual Homelessness Point-in-Time Count for two consecutive years.
Before joining TCH, Emil managed the public funding portfolio for a Harlem-based workforce development agency that supported individuals reentering communities after incarceration across the nation.
Known for combining strategic leadership with a collaborative approach, Emil is passionate about using data, public policy, and community partnerships to create lasting solutions. Outside of their professional work, they remain active in grassroots community initiatives and the performing arts.
As Executive Director, Emil will lead Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless in advancing its mission to provide safe, supportive housing and essential services for individuals experiencing homelessness throughout the Lake Tahoe region.
For more information about Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless and its programs, visit www.tahoehomeless.org
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. / Calif. – Turquoise coves, bubbling creeks, breathtaking vistas and restoring forests, Tahoe is a paradise embraced by many. Yet, this paradise destination isn’t void of the darker parts of humanity.
Here are a few harrowing incidents from Tahoe’s true crime history.
Zodiac connections?
Donna Lass gained worldwide attention due to the perception that her disappearance was linked to the Zodiac Killer after authorities received a postcard of a Sierra scene. The notorious killer was known for sending taunting letters and making phone calls to newspapers and police following a murder. Lass’ sister also received a mysterious Christmas card.
“Many theories exist and have been reviewed by our agency,” the South Lake Tahoe Police Department says, but a definitive link to the notorious killer actually has not been identified.
Lass, a nurse who provided first aid patient care at a casino near South Lake Tahoe, went missing from the area at the age of 25 in September of 1970.
An article clipping following Lass’ disappearance. Provided / PCSO
In 2023, her case went from a missing person case to a homicide after advancements in DNA technology positively identified an unknown skull, found in 1986 in Placer County, as hers.
Despite the discovery, her case remains unsolved and is listed as a cold case with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.
A stolen life
On June 10, 1991, 11-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard was walking to her bus stop on Washoan Boulevard in Meyers, Calif., when she was pulled—reportedly kicking and screaming—into a steel-gray sedan.
That was the last time anyone in the region, including her family, would see her for close to two decades.
This is an undated file family photo released Aug. 27, 2009 by Carl Probyn of his stepdaughter, Jaycee Lee Dugard who went missing in 1991. (AP Photo/Carl Probyn, File)AP | Carl Probyn
Around 18 years later, Dugard was found alive in Antioch, Calif. She had been held captive in a hidden backyard compound of a sex offender named Phillip Garrido. Garrido and his wife had kidnapped her, and Garrido repeatedly raped her.
She was living in the compound with her two daughters, fathered by him. By the time she was found at 29, her daughters were 15 and 11.
Dugard’s identity became known after a run-in with a parole officer of her captor, Phillip Garrido, who was on parole for another kidnapping and rape he committed in the seventies.
The case caused California parole officials to come under scrutiny over how a sex offender parolee under supervision managed to conceal a victim with children for so long.
Dugard recounts her 18-year captivity in a memoir called A Stolen Life.
South Lake Tahoe Strangler
It was a question that went unanswered for close to 40 years: who killed 27-year-old Brynn Rainey and left her body nude and partially buried near Sunset Stateline Stables in the summer of 1977? Authorities asked a similar question for Carol Andersen, 17, whose body was found on the side of a road in South Lake Tahoe in the summer of 1979.
The almost 40-year secret is something one South Lake Tahoe resident took to his grave when he died in 2014.
Due to evidence pointing to strangulation on both bodies, the unknown killer became known as the South Lake Tahoe Strangler.
In 2018, four years after he died, DNA advancements and evidence finally revealed that South Lake Tahoe resident Joseph Holt was responsible for both murders.
Holt had been a South Lake Tahoe resident since 1974, when he moved to the region to pursue a real estate career.
Following the DNA reveal, a search warrant for a garage where his personal property had been stored following his death turned up evidence that he may have been involved in other crimes. It’s something investigators are still looking into.
A composite drawing of a suspect in an attempted burglary in Los Gatos in the ’70s strongly resembles Joseph Holt, pictured on the left.Provided / El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office
According to investigators, Holt’s family, including his son, who helped supply DNA evidence, was unaware of his alleged criminal activity.
Trailer terror
What started as an opportunity for two young models to appear in a commercial turned into three days of terror.
On May 16, 1987, a 12- and 14-year-old girl, chaperoned by Maybelle Martin, a 69-year-old owner of a Reno modeling agency, and her friend, Dorothy Walsh, 73, met South Lake Tahoe resident Herbert James Coddington at a casino.
Coddington told the young models that they would be in an anti-drug commercial he had planned.
He brought the models and their chaperones back to his rented trailer at Tahoe Verde Mobile Home Park, telling the group that it was a photography studio. That’s where he proceeded to murder Martin and Walsh and sexually assaulted the girls for three days.
Coddington had built a soundproof plywood case in one of the trailer’s bedrooms and confined the girls there.
Upon a tip from another teenage model, who notified police when the group did not return from the modeling job, which she had originally planned to go to, the FBI raided the trailer.
Herbert Coddington, E-08100.Provided / California Department of Corrections
Coddington was also linked to the 1981 murder of a 12-year-old girl in Las Vegas.
The suspected serial killer received the death penalty for his crimes. The Supreme Court upheld his death penalty in 2001 after an appeal. In 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom instituted a moratorium on the death penalty. Coddington remains on the condemned inmate list with the state, along with 567 other inmates.
A missing pair
In January of 1982, two Harrah’s Lake Tahoe blackjack dealers, roommates and friends, Julie Schossow, 25, and Marilyn Putt, 27, went missing from their South Lake Tahoe home sometime between the late night and early morning of Jan. 12 and 13.
Marilyn Putt, left, and Julie Schossow, right. Provided / El Dorado County District Attorney
Around six months later, on June 6, 1982, a recreational rafter found Putt’s body in the south fork of the American River near a popular rafting area approximately 60 miles from South Lake Tahoe.
Her body was weighted with a chain and bound. The cause of death appeared to be ligature strangulation.
Just over a month later, Schossow’s body was found approximately 150 yards from Putt’s with a cord tightly wrapped around her neck twice. The cause of death also appeared to be strangulation. It’s possible the two were bound together.
Investigation revealed their estimated time of death to be 6-8 weeks prior to the discovery of their bodies.
This leads Investigators to believe the two friends were kidnapped, held captive for around three months at an unknown location, likely between South Lake Tahoe and Placerville, before they were killed.
The double homicide continues to be a cold case in El Dorado County.
Putt was closely associated with several leading members of the “Church of Scientology,” though not a member herself, leading investigators to seek information from anyone associated with the church in the South Lake Tahoe area in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Investigators have also sought information from employees at the Harrah’s around that time, who frequented the Rendezvous Bar or lived near Putt and Schossow’s home at the intersection of Los Angeles and Bellevue in South Lake Tahoe.
The Tribune has also highlighted three cold cases from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department involving missing persons: Frances Hatadis, Bobette Ulrich, and Brian Ranken.
“Hard to put into words how freeing it is,” Jimi Brenner said while taking a break from an afternoon at the downhill mountain bike trails. Brenner lives and works on an orchard around Auburn, he likes biking, he is into metal fabrication, and when he was 29, his car slid off the road into a big oak tree. He became paralyzed from chest down.
JIMI BRENNER on his adaptive bike. Trails for these bikes should be at least 58 inches wide, according to High Fives. Photo courtesy Jimi Brenner
Brenner found the hospital-provided wheelchairs not to his liking, so a year after his injury, he built his own. “I’ve always been the outdoorsy person,” he said. “I can’t get stuck inside much.”
Three years after his accident, Brenner rode a bike again. The bike was adaptive to his injury, lent to him at the High Fives Community Bike Day, a fundraiser open to everyone.
High Fives was launched in 2009 after its founder, Roy Tuscany, overshot a ski jump and became paralyzed from the waist down. Tuscany received help from his community and started High Fives to “prevent life-changing injuries and provide resources and hope if they happen.” Since then, High Fives has served over 1,000 athletes in a multitude of sports and funded more than 1,900 grants.
After receiving a grant from High Fives and the Kelly Brush Foundation, whose mission is “to inspire and empower people with spinal cord injuries to lead active and engaged lifestyles,” Brenner was able to buy one of the bikes, which start at $15,000. But he didn’t know where to ride it. “Auburn has a lot of real tight single track,” he said. “It’s hard to ride independently.”
In 2021, High Fives collaborated with Sky Tavern Bike Park, located off Mt. Rose Highway, to build a trail suitable for adaptive riders. “We wanted to include several [adaptive specific] design features,” said Becca Lefanowicz, director of brand and creative for High Fives. For instance, “that it would be wide enough for adaptive bikes that have a wider and longer frame.”
I DID IT! Estocado is triumphant after a downhill mountain bike run.
A High Fives adaptive trail must be at least 58 inches wide, a standard that unaffiliated organizations like Lee Canyon resort in Las Vegas have begun to copy. Because adaptive mountain bikes have a lower clearance than standard ones, the trail is also maintained to avoid what Lefanowicz calls “pinch points” — areas that would be too rocky for the low clearance of an adaptive bike. Brenner described the Sky Tavern trail as “super fun, super flowy.” It’s also one of two locations for the High Fives Community Bike Day in June, July, and August this year.
Since the Sky Tavern installation, High Fives has put in another adaptive-friendly trail at Sierra Vista in Reno.
“Most trails are not too far off,” Brenner said, “there’s maybe just a little something on them [that makes them not suitable for an adaptive bike].” But on Brenner’s new-model Bowhead Reach with a tilting mechanism, he said that “98, 99% of the trails — I can ride on them.”
ALL SMILES: High Fives collaborated with Sky Tavern Bike Park, located off Mt. Rose Highway, to build a trail suitable for adaptive riders, which Estocado happily bombs down. Photos courtesy High Fives
Brenner said it’s big news in his community when a new trail like this is put in. “It’s more open space you can get out and explore.” This, he said, is the point. And Lefanowicz added that the word she most commonly hears from people who use the adaptive trails is “independence.”
There was a moment at the second-ever Gambler’s Run in 2024 when The Main Squeeze was covering Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar” and it all kind of came together for Crystal Bay Casino’s production/marketing manager Sam Shear.
“It was right at dusk,” he said. “The golden hour light. The energy of the band, the energy of the crowd. It was epic. All the work we’d done, a lot of things had to line up to make that moment happen.”
MUSICAL CONNECTION: A festivalgoer and a musician are in sync during a daytime set.
Things did line up and that moment did happen. More moments happened last year and more moments will happen in 2026, the festival gaining momentum like some incendiary fiddle solo played against a devil down in Georgia. This year, the String Cheese Incident leads its biggest lineup yet, headlining three days of deep-pooled musicality with their Thursday night set.
Formed in Colorado a good 30 years ago, the band has shredded strings and lit up audiences around the world with its bluegrass meets funky-country-rocky-jazzy-reggae-infused sound that offers a pinch of psychedelia and throws in a warm breeze
for good measure.
IT’S ALL GRATITUDE AND GOOD TIMES in the front row at dusk at Gambler’s Run.
The band’s name stems from a cheese-heavy food fight the members had in a bar back in the ’90s. They’ll be coming off a two-night run at Red Rocks Amphitheater before rolling the dice in Crystal Bay as part of their five-month Just Keep Spinning tour.
Red Rocks has a 9,500-person capacity, a typical venue size for the band. Gambler’s Run, on the other hand, is capped at 1,000. A faraway lawn seat won’t exist at the festival, and access to the front rows won’t cost $500-plus — so fans will see and hear and feel the cheese-grating up close.
“String Cheese is about the biggest act we can get,” Shear said. “We’ve had them in the Crown Room, but this is a new time for a new setting.”
That setting is outdoors. That setting is intimate. That setting is Tahoe air and golden hour light and the mysteries of the night. And visuals.
“A lot of focus is also on the art, the eye candy of the festival,” said Shear, who was coy with details to not give away too much and spoil first-impression surprise and intrigue. “It’s an all-encompassing experience. We’ll transform the festival grounds as much as possible.”
Those adorned grounds will be played from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with the gates opening at 3 p.m. for food and craft vendors, and high-energy afterparties in the Crown Room raging until midnight or so.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters headlines Friday’s lineup with its own sweet Colorado-born style that has continued to evolve and delight music lovers since its 1993 platinum rock album Sister Sweetly, featuring the decade’s iconic and seemingly immortal (for good reason) “Bittersweet.” The soulful sounds and rhythmic beat of The California Honeydrops will get Saturday night’s airs swirling and the dancefloor moving.
But Gambler’s Run isn’t just three consecutive big-name concerts; it’s a music festival that features eight hours of music per day and over 10 bands that run the gamut. Also performing are the Humboldt funk machine Diggin Dirt, the electronic-instrumental synthesis of the groovy Octave Cat (featuring Jessie Miller of Lotus), and the Nashville-based Grateful Dead-influenced punk rockers Sicard Hollow, among others.
Sicard Hollow’s guitarist Alex King shared his thoughts: “We love music festivals, casinos, and lakes. Gambler’s Run is a perfect place … because it crosses off all three of those boxes. Let’s party.”
Three-Pronged Event
In addition to the intrepid tunes and dynamic art, Gambler’s Run also features a core contingent of activities and activism at its nonprofit village.
The nonprofit tine is a who’s who of local ecological stalwarts: Keep Tahoe Blue, Sierra Nevada Alliance, Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), UC Davis, Restoring My Lake; and, from Colorado, Conscious Alliance. Each entity helms an interactive booth and leads an engaging activity that ties back to its message. Festival-goers are provided a punch card; punches are earned by doing the activities; completing all the activities gains entry into drawings for signed posters and other rad prizes.
A main component of the activism for the festival itself focuses on sustainability. “When we started Gambler’s Run four years ago now, we were like, ‘We are in Lake Tahoe, we should be as conscious of our environment as possible.’”
THE OUTDOOR GROUNDS at Gambler’s Run hosts bands from 4 to 10 pm. before the event moves into the Crown Room for the afterparties.
A main cog in that activism/sustainability wheel was to phase out plastic cups by phasing in aluminum ones. The CBC began doing so at the first Gambler’s Run in 2023 and it’s now become standard practice at every show it hosts. No single-use plastic cups, not one; stats showing the switch having already saved close to 100,000 plastic cups and thousands of plastic water bottles from ending up in landfills.
That’s the type of action that helps the world keep spinning and the music keep playing. And summer music festivals right here in the Tahoe Basin, without having to undertake some distant drive in some super-hot direction, are a good thing too.
“If you’re a local,” Shear concluded, “you know the Crystal Bay Casino; what we do is live music. This is our masterpiece — three days of music, art, activism. Come on over and hang out.”
Wade Snider, master photographer, believes that every photo taken should be planned for months. In accordance with his tight hierarchy of strict guidelines, he camped out for ages, waiting for this exact photograph. On day 90, lightning struck. The beagles lined up. The bear was there. All he had to do was hit the shutter. The world softened for a bit. The birds, awestruck, quieted their ritualistic song. When the day returned to focus and time resumed ticking, all that was left was a photograph. Seen here.
With summer in full swing, the Cancer new moon on July 14 offers a welcome invitation to slow down, to rest, and to reconnect.
On July 18, Uranus in Gemini trines Pluto retrograde in Aquarius, an amicable transit that highlights both the tension and harmony between abstract ideas and collective technological transformations underway. Two days later, Jupiter in Leo forms a trine to Neptune retrograde in Aries, while also opposing Pluto — encouraging examination of values and relationships to the world’s changes.
The sun enters Leo on July 22, followed by Mercury coming out of its retrograde transit on July 24. Expect a certain momentum to return to a plan of yours that’s been stalled.
A major collective shift occurs on July 26 as the north node enters Aquarius and the south node enters Leo. This new nodal cycle will be playing out for 18 months and encourages us to participate more consciously in worldly happenings.
Leo-season energies amplify on July 29 when Jupiter conjoins the sun during a full moon in Aquarius. With Pluto in conjunction to the full moon, this lunation brings expansive emotional and subconscious transformation. Pay attention to what needs to be released as well as what’s coming up that needs to be celebrated.
Venus enters Libra on August 6. This will bring balance, a focus on beauty, and an inclination to socialize. August 7 and 8 may feel more reactive, with the Gemini moon transiting first Uranus and then Mars. To give yourself time to take in the full picture, endeavor to pause before responding to things.
On August 12, we have a powerful solar eclipse. The Leo new moon also joins the south node, with Jupiter and Mercury also in Leo. This day will illuminate old stories of identities and patterns that may surface for review.
NATURAL MAGIC
There are many transits happening in this time that relate to collective change and how that is personally significant, highlighted by the nodal shift into the signs of Aquarius and Leo exactly on July 26; consider setting aside twenty minutes a day between July 19 and August 2 to honor both the transition and your own evolutionary growth. Begin with ten minutes of heart-centered meditation. Place one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly, breathing slowly as you imagine your awareness dropping from your head to your heart.
Then spend ten minutes reflecting and journaling. Consider these prompts: When I shift perception from my head to my heart, what changes within me?What is my unique gift to the world? How can I use my creativity in service to something larger than myself?
Bees. These remarkable bugs are more than just fuzzy visitors to flowers or “scary” insects that sting. They are vital pollinators who play a crucial role in maintaining the health of our mountain ecosystems and the planet as a whole.
When most people think of bees, they picture the classic honey bee: living in its bustling hive, making honey, and serving the queen. However, honey bees are not native to North America and their highly social lifestyle represents only a small fraction of the world’s bee species.
In fact, the vast majority of bees around the world and in the Sierra Nevada are solitary, up to 85% living quiet, independent lives that often go unnoticed by humans. In these species there are no queens, no workers, and no hives.
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A SWEAT BEE (Halictidae) nuzzles into flax in South Lake Tahoe. Photo by Nina Miller/Moonshine Ink
Van Dyke’s Bumble Bee (Bombus vandykei) atop a sage in Truckee. Photo by Will Richardson
A MASON BEE (Osmia montana) visits a Senecio in Page Meadows above Tahoe City. Photo by Will Richardson
Rather, every female bee is essentially a one-bee construction crew, food gatherer, and parent all rolled into one. After snowmelt, they find or build suitable nests, collect nectar and pollen, and create a carefully stocked nursery for future offspring. After supplying the nest chamber with food, the female lays a single egg, seals the chamber, and begins the process of preparing the next chamber for another egg. Once her work is complete, her life cycle comes to an end and the next generation develops during the winter months to emerge in the spring.
Meanwhile, male bees have a simpler life. Their lifespan lasts only a few weeks and equates to: emerge, compete to find a mate, reproduce, and that’s about it.
Native Tahoe/Truckee bees come in an incredible variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Some wear the familiar yellow-and-black striped patterns while others look like tiny flying jewels, shimmering in the sunlight with their metallic greens, blues, or bronze. When identifying whether an insect is a bee, a helpful clue is to look for yellow, dusty pollen clinging to its body. Female bees often carry pollen on specialized hairs attached to their legs called corbiculae (or “pollen pants”), and other species will tote it on the underside of their abdomens.
Tahoe/Truckee Bee Diversity
One of the most interesting solitary bees around Tahoe/Truckee are leafcutter bees (Megachile spp.). These tiny architects carefully cut out near-perfect circles from leaves or other plant material and carry them back to their nests. They then use the leaf pieces to form the structure of their nursery chamber cells, and, like wallpaper, the leaf material lines and protects the chamber to promote growth of beneficial microbes.
Gardeners sometimes notice the neat circular holes left behind by the leafcutters and wonder, “What happened?” Fortunately, it’s most often good news. The holes rarely harm the plant as a whole, and the “damage” is little more than a tiny rental fee, paid in exchange for excellent pollination services.
Mason bees (Osmia spp.) include another type of solitary bee found in our area. These small critters have dark bodies and an often iridescent sheen, and can easily be mistaken for a fly. However, they are all bee: widely considered some of nature’s most efficient pollinators. A single female has been known to pollinate up to 2,000 blossoms in one day.
Her pollinating power comes from how she carries pollen. Instead of packing it tightly on her legs, the mason bee female carries it loosely on the underside of her body, allowing her to transfer more pollen between flowers. Around Tahoe/Truckee you can find mason bees living in natural cavities such as hollow stems and holes in wood, but they will also readily occupy homemade bee boxes with paper or cardboard nesting tubes placed near flowering plants (a fun project for your yard).
For other bees, that patch of exposed dirt in your yard or a downed log out back can be prime real estate too, so leave them be!
Of course, no discussion of Sierra buzzers would be complete without mentioning bumble bees (Bombus spp.). The fuzzy giants of the bee world, bumble bees are larger, louder, and easier to spot than many of their smaller relatives.
Unlike most of the area’s native bees, bumble bees are social insects, forming small colonies led by a single queen and supported by a female workforce. Their colonies, however, function very differently from honey bee hives. As fall approaches, the workers die off, leaving only the newly mated queens alive, seeking shelter underground where they overwinter beneath the snowpack. When spring arrives, each queen emerges to build an entirely new colony from scratch.
Truckee/Tahoe is home to several bumblebee species, including the endangered Western Bumble Bee (Bombus occidentalis). Not long ago, at Sagehen Creek Research Station, Dr. Nina Sokolov of UC Berkeley found 23 Western Bumble Bees in just 45 minutes, a remarkable find given this species is endangered and difficult to find across the state of California. Perhaps Truckee is a hotspot for this species? More research and time will tell, but for now this is encouraging for Bombus occidentalis.
Supporting the Bees That Support Us
Bees play a critical role in maintaining our region’s biodiversity. Their services support the plants that provide food and shelter for countless other species, while encouraging outcrossing among the plants themselves, increasing genetic diversity and creating stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities of organisms.
Sadly, not all news is good, and our bees face many challenges. Habitat loss, disease, pesticide exposure, and climate change all threaten native bee populations. Habitat loss from human development destroys both nesting sites and the flowering plants bees depend on. Pesticides may directly harm the pollinators or indirectly kill the plants they rely on. Climate change creates timing mismatches between flowers and the bees’ emergence.
Fortunately, communities throughout our nation are recognizing the importance of protecting pollinators, and Truckee has an exciting opportunity to join that effort. The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) is leading the charge to designate the Town of Truckee as an official “Bee City.” TINS and other partners through Bee City USA intend to protect native pollinators through education, habitat restoration, and conservation. While the designation is an important milestone, its true value lies in the community actions that follow.
POLLINATORS: One of Truckee/Tahoe’s most common and widespread bumble bee species, Yellow-faced Bumble Bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) visiting a yarrow and showing a packed pollen basket. Photo by Will Richardson
Residents can help in surprisingly simple ways; planting native flowers and leaving patches of bare soil, dead wood, and dried stems all work to create nesting opportunities. Even participating in community science projects using iNaturalist, a free app that helps identify plants and animals while collecting data for science and conservation, can help researchers better understand local bee populations. In this way, every yard, garden, school, neighborhood, and human can become part of the solution.
So, the next time you hear a faint buzz while hiking a trail, walking through a meadow, or tending your garden, take a closer look and try to appreciate the bee for who it is and what it does.
These remarkable insects may be small, but their impact is enormous. Quietly and tirelessly, our native bees sustain the wildflowers, forests, and vibrant landscapes that make the Sierra Nevada the wonderful and biologically diverse place that it is.
If you’re not looking for the Understory, it’s easy to walk right past it. Owner Annie Stefani calls it a hobbit hole — picture Alice falling into the rabbit burrow and coming out in Tahoe. Located in an underground cellar at the north end of downtown Tahoe City in front of urgent care, the Understory is North Lake Tahoe’s newest bookshop, which opened June 30.
“That aspect of getting lost in a story has been a big part of my entire life,” says Stefani, who grew up in Tahoe City and has worked in education for 20 years, teaching middle and high school English and social studies. “Reading is a way to learn about another place. Especially in a bubble like Tahoe, books are a window into another world.”
BOOK CLUB: Tahoe City has a new bookstore, thanks to North Tahoe High’s former librarian. Photo courtesy Daniel Stefani
Five years ago, Stefani obtained a master’s degree in library and information science and began working as the librarian at North Tahoe High School. When she took over that role, she completely redesigned the physical space of the school’s library. “When people asked me what I’d do if I wasn’t a teacher, I’d always say I’d be an interior designer,” she says. She discovered a designer who focused on home libraries, and she thought, “This is a thing? I can incorporate design and books and make them look beautiful and readable? Who knew?”
Last year, she left her job at Tahoe Truckee Unified School District and launched Wonderwood Books and Library Services, a book-centric design studio for homes, hotels, and more. She designed and curated bookshelves at the new Apex Club at Palisades Tahoe — complete with books by local authors and ones based on Sierra Nevada ski history — as well as home libraries for several local residences. “When you walk into someone’s home, you look at what they’re reading,” Stefani says. “You want those shelves to not only look nice but also represent who you are.”
LET’S READ: Small but mighty, The Understory bookstore opened last month.
With the launch of her library design business, she needed a space outside her home to store books, so she began looking at storage facilities and commercial spaces around the area. A meeting with Christine and Andrew Ryan, who own the Tahoe Backyard in Kings Beach and operate a micro-business incubator, gave her a new idea: Find a space that could house her library design studio and also be a community bookstore.
“It seemed like a crazy idea in the Amazon-era of online book ordering to open a brick-and-mortar bookstore,” Stefani says. “But Christine and Andy gave me the confidence and encouragement that a bookstore could actually work.”
Another serendipitous meeting with local architects Robb and Molly Olson, who recently purchased the Trading Post buildings in downtown Tahoe City, led Stefani to the so-nick-named hobbit hole. “They said they had a commercial space I might be interested in and when they stopped in front of that door into the underground, I thought, ‘Oh no,’” Stefani recalls. “But then we walked in and my answer was immediately: ‘yes.’ It’s much brighter than it looks thanks to the skylights, and the space has such a good quality.”
The underground store, which previously housed a law office and the office of the former property owners, the Dyer brothers, has been vacant for years. The interior and exterior were recently remodeled and landscaped in preparation for the Understory’s late June opening.
At just 645 square feet, it’s not a huge space. The main room displays books for sale, and the two smaller back rooms offer a reading nook with a gas fireplace that can be rented out for book clubs or other gatherings and a conference room that can be used for private meetings.
“The space is small, but because of that it can be carefully curated,” Stefani says. “I want this to be a community-based bookshop, so there will a rotating community shelf with reading recommendations.”
She doesn’t plan on focusing on outdoor guidebooks — Tahoe City’s Alpenglow Sports has that well covered — or competing with the vast collection at Truckee’s much bigger Word After Word Books. Her goal is to have a small, handpicked collection of fiction and nonfiction books that are switched out regularly, so you can always find something new. “I want everyone — locals, visitors, kids, adults — to be able to walk into the store and discover a book that invokes that sense of curiosity, joy, and wonder that you can find from a good story.”
The last bookstore in Tahoe City, called the Bookshelf, closed in 2012. Can this one fare better? “Tahoe is a very literary place, more than people may realize,” Stefani says. “I’m excited to create this space for our community around a shared love of reading and storytelling.”
After 20 years teaching English and as a high school librarian, I’ve learned that while reading is a deeply personal act, it also has the innate ability to build community through the simple act of sharing the books we’ve loved or what’s next on our list. While Joyce Carol Oates once said, “Read widely, and without apology. Read what you want to read, not what someone tells you you should read,” I also believe that one should never turn down an opportunity to share what’s on their reading list. So, here are 10 books for your summer reading adventures, with stories rooted in travel and place.
1. Properties of Thirst by Marianne Wiggins. The Eastern Sierra is magical this time of year and Wiggins manages to capture the beauty of the Owens Valley and create historical fiction perfection with this story about the building of Manzanar, the city of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and a family stuck in the middle. This is one of my favorite books of all time.
2. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. Eco-fiction, mystery, family drama all in one. A woman washes up shipwrecked on a remote sub-Antarctic island guarding a seed vault, and nothing about the family sheltering her is quite what it seems.
3. Playground by Richard Powers. While Powers’ The Overstory was part of the inspiration for The Understory, his novel Playground is a captivating shift to the ocean with this sweeping story about ocean exploration, tech oligarchs, and what it means to be family.
4. The Land and Its People by David Sedaris. I first discovered the sheer genius of David Sedaris while reading Me Talk Pretty One Day on a study abroad trip to France. To this day, I have never felt so seen in a collection of essays about navigating life in another country with such sharp, tender wit. In The Land and Its People, Sedaris revisits those themes of travel, brotherhood, and friendship.
5. Land by Maggie O’Farrell. This highly anticipated historical fiction piece will transport you to Ireland in the years surrounding The Great Hunger, from the author of Hamnet.
6. Barbarian Days by William Finnegan. Much like skiing, surfing quickly turns into an all-consuming adventure. In this Pulitzer-winning memoir I come back to every summer, Finnegan shares stories of chasing waves around the world. Part travelogue, part coming-of-age-story, and part meditation on obsession in sport.
7. Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune. In a past life when I worked for a surf camp in Mexico, my favorite colleagues were all from Tofino. This slow-burn romance set on the Canadian coastline is the perfect summer beach read.
8. Saltwater by Katy Hayes. In this twisty, glamorous murder mystery filled with family secrets, the island of Capri is a character itself. Local Tahoe author Katy Hayes brings the same eye for atmosphere and intrigue that made The Cloisters a hit, making Capri’s sun-bleached cliffs and shadowy villas feel as vivid as anywhere in fiction this summer.
9. Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer. Italy, but make it chaotic. The Pulitzer-winning author of Less sends a young archivist to catalog a crumbling Tuscan villa for a 92-year-old baroness with one last love to track down. The other side of The Understory are library services, including archival work, so my inner cataloguer loves this premise.
10. Calypso by Oliver K. Langmead. This is going to be my personal challenge book for the summer, and it feels like good timing between the release of Spielberg’s Disclosure Day and the new Odyssey movie coming out in late July. Recommended by a friend who’s a sci-fi expert, this Hugo-nominated sci-fi novel is told entirely in verse, following a colony ship engineer who wakes from cryosleep to find her vessel transformed into a forest, ruled by the descendants of the crew.
