News Briefs
Casa Baeza’s Cesar Passed Away
TRUCKEE
Jose Andres Aguilar, also known as Cesar, Casa Baeza’s bartender, passed away on Nov. 30. He was 37 years old. Cesar was pronounced dead at Tahoe Forest Hospital.
The Truckee Police Department arrived on scene at the hospital. After extensive investigation, Truckee PD determined the circumstances to be non-criminal, and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office coroner took over the case to conduct the autopsy. The cause of death is currently unknown.
There is a GoFundMe for Cesar’s family, which has raised nearly $14,500 to date. To learn more, visit gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-jose-andres-aguilar-cesar-of-casa-baeza.
~ MR
Brown Bear Studios Expand Housing Resources for Homeless
KINGS BEACH
A vision years in the making has become a reality with the opening of Brown Bear Studios, a 14-unit permanent supportive housing facility in Kings Beach. Originally the site of the 7 Pines Motel, the property has undergone significant transformation and marks a critical step forward in Placer County’s efforts to address homelessness in the North Tahoe region.
Residents moved into the facility over the last 2 weeks, quickly reaching capacity. The $1.45-million building purchase and subsequent multi-year renovations were made possible by a combination of grant programs, including the state’s Homekey initiative, which converts properties like hotels, motels, and vacant apartment buildings into long-term housing for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The Tahoe property represents Placer’s first Homekey award and the largest addition to the county’s permanent supportive housing portfolio in recent history.
The Brown Bear facility is owned and managed by AMI Housing, a local nonprofit group that has deep experience working on permanent supportive housing projects for homeless clientele in the region. Homeless people with the most vulnerability receive priority screening and placement, and pay a fixed percentage of their income towards rent. Placements are filled using the waitlist from the homeless resource helpline, a telephone hotline accessed via calling 211 that helps assess homeless callers’ levels of need and connects them with housing, and other resources. There will be a property manager and case management to support residents on-site.
~ Placer County press release
Washoe County Approves Special Funding for Tahoe
WASHOE COUNTY
On Dec. 10, the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners approved District 1 Special Fund allocations to various nonprofits and government organizations: Chair Alexis Hill allocated a total of $63,235 to be dispersed among six local nonprofit organizations. Funds appropriated through the Commission District Special Funds must provide substantial benefit to the inhabitants of the county.
The board approved the following, as well as other initiatives:
- $25,000 to Truckee North Tahoe/Transportation Management Association to support the North Lake Tahoe Express Airport Shuttle
- $20,000 to Tahoe Fund for the educational Take Care of Tahoe winter and summer billboards
- $10,000 to Tahoe Fund to support the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council
- $5,000 to Washoe County Community Services Department to support Clean Tahoe professional fees
Learn more at washoelife.washoecounty.gov.
~ Washoe County press release
Heed Life Saving Winter Safety Measures
TRUCKEE
As the winter season sets in, the Truckee Fire Protection District (TFPD) is calling on residents to undertake proactive measures to ensure everyone stays safe. It’s important to understand aspects of mountain living that pose dangers.
Truckee Fire identified the following key safety measures:
Fire and Heating Safety:
- Maintain Chimneys and Flues: Ensure chimneys and flues are clean and functional before use to prevent chimney fires.
- Dispose of Ashes Properly: Store ashes in a metal container and keep them away from decks or flammable materials. Never dispose of ashes in trash cans, bear bins, or dumpsters — even if they seem cold. Each year, Truckee Fire responds to deck fire incidents caused by improper ash disposal.
- Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
- Keep Propane Tanks and Gas Meters Clear of Snow: Prevent snow weight from damaging supply lines and ensure emergency access in case of leaks.
Holiday and Winter Activities:
- Water Christmas Trees Regularly: A dry tree is highly flammable.
- Sledding and Outdoor Play Safety: Monitor children playing outside and ensure sledding is done in safe areas. Do not allow children to build and play in snow caves in the berm at the edge of your property that’s adjacent to the street.
Snow-Related Hazards:
- Beware of Roof Snow Shedding: Heavy snow and ice can slide off roofs without warning.
- Avoid Dangerous Ice Activities: Local lakes are not suitable for ice skating, cross country skiing, or snowmobiling, particularly as temperatures fluctuate in the spring.
For more information on Truckee Fire, please visit truckeefire.org.
~ Truckee Fire Protection District press release
Implementation of Envision Washoe 2040 Master Plan
WASHOE COUNTY
The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners settled on priorities for the implementation of the Envision Washoe 2040 Master Plan. The goal is to meet the needs of a growing community. The Envision Washoe 2040 Master Plan sets the policy-level vision that guides future growth and development in the unincorporated County. It was adopted in November 2023, and at that time, the board identified the first six initiatives to begin implementation of the plan.
On Dec. 10, the board voted to prioritize the following seven initiatives:
- County-wide affordable housing initiatives
- Resources to implement new master plan
- Tahoe Area Plan
- Public noticing
- Equine businesses
- Warm Springs ground water rights dedications
- Dashboard indicators for measuring plan achievements
The work on implementing the master plan has included policy creation, organization, and planning. According to Bethany Drysdale, county media and communications manager, the implementation of the plans may involve changes to the county code or other regulations.
On Dec. 16, the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) is hosting a meeting to kickoff the 2025 Tahoe Area Plan (TAP) update. They will present on the upcoming update process, what to expect, and opportunities for input and engagement.
Learn more about the Tahoe Area Plan update on the TAP update webpage.
~ Washoe County press releases
Campaign Seeks to Raise $50,000 For Local Forestry Program
TAHOE CITY
The key to restoring Tahoe’s forests and preventing catastrophic wildfire is a robust and talented workforce. That’s why the Tahoe Fund is raising $50,000 to provide scholarships for more than 50 students in Lake Tahoe Community College’s (LTCC) Forestry Education & Job Placement program.
LTCC’s Forestry Education & Job Placement Program teaches students how to assist with forest management, planning, and implementation work. For 3 years running, the Tahoe Fund has provided scholarships for students in the program, and recently awarded a grant to support the program administrator to ensure student success.
Over the next 5 years, forestry management occupations are projected to have more than 200 annual job openings in the greater Sacramento region alone. Approximately 76% of these jobs will be for middle- and high-skilled occupations. California community colleges like LTCC are a big part of the plan to prepare this crucial workforce of the future.
LTCC Forestry program graduates will be prepared for careers with Tahoe-based employers, including Cal Fire, the USDA Forest Service, the California Tahoe Conservancy, the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, private forestry contractors, and other agencies that are part of the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team.
To donate, please visit tahoefund.org/forestryscholarships.
~ Tahoe Fund press release
New Tahoe Public Transportation Options Unveiled this Winter
LAKE TAHOE
The return of winter in Tahoe can make driving conditions challenging.
Leave the car behind and reduce traffic congestion, vehicle idling, fuel consumption, and air pollution. Using eco-friendly transportation options also reduces wear and tear on roads and limits the impact on wildlife habitats.
Lake Tahoe has many transit options on the North and South shores, and all transit is free to the user.
On the South Shore, Tahoe Transportation District now has Route 50 bus service arriving every 30 minutes. Route 22 travels up Kingsbury Grade to Stagecoach at Heavenly and The Ridge Resorts and on to the Carson Valley.
On the North Shore, Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) operates hourly service along SR-28 between Tahoma and Incline Village, and along SR-89 and SR-267, between North Lake Tahoe and Truckee with connections to Olympic Valley and Northstar Village.
Mountaineer provides free rides within Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows. TART Connect now serves the North and West Shore communities as well as Olympic Valley, Northstar, and Truckee.
At Northstar, skiers can use Truckee’s Park and Ride lot near the airport, or catch the TART 267 route between Crystal Bay and Truckee. TART Connect has expanded zones and now offers free door-to-door service.
Take a TART bus to Palisades Tahoe and Alpine from Truckee, Tahoe City, Crystal Bay, and Incline. Where the TART line stops, the on-demand shuttles begin. Palisades Express shuttle and the base-to-base gondola take you around Olympic Valley and to Alpine Lodge.
Diamond Peak also has free ski shuttles from Incline Village that connect to TART.
~ Tahoe Regional Planning Agency press release
Annual Tahoe Bald Eagle Count Set for January 2025
INCLINE VILLAGE
The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) is hosting its annual Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey on Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers are grouped into small teams and stationed at one of 26 vantage points throughout the Tahoe Basin, mostly around the lakeshore, to get an accurate snapshot of eagle numbers at the lake.
This annual event is part of a nationwide census of the country’s bald eagle populations. TINS took over local coordination of the monitoring effort in 2012 for the entire Tahoe Basin and is now calling for volunteers.
The spotters take careful notes on the age, time, and direction of travel of every eagle spotted. When the data are compiled, TINS is able to plot the movements of each individual bird and get an accurate count for the day. Tahoe hit a record count in 2021 with 42 individual eagles.
Birders of all experience levels are welcome to participate, and TINS will try to accommodate volunteers’ preferred location. To help prepare, TINS also is hosting a talk the evening before, on Jan. 9. This free event will cover the history of bald eagles and their conservation in the United States, how the count works, and how to identify and age bald eagles.
Learn more and sign up for the event here.
~ Tahoe Institute for Natural Science press release
Staff Provides North Lake Tahoe Parking Management Update, Board Approves New Enforcement Technology
EASTERN PLACER COUNTY
Thanks to new hand-held technology devices, Placer County staff reported strong summer parking enforcement numbers in North Lake Tahoe at an early December board of supervisors meeting. Following an update about the program, staff requested a purchase of new technology to further enhance enforcement.
Implemented at ski resorts last winter and in the Kings Beach area this past summer, the county’s Parking Management Program in North Lake Tahoe continues to expand with the goal to reduce traffic congestion in the region.
Additionally, at that meeting the board also approved a contract to utilize the Citation Processing Center for parking citation processing and payments. This action allowed enforcement officers to switch from time-intensive, written paper parking tickets to automated electronic parking citations. It also shifted parking enforcement from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office to Placer County’s Public Works enforcement team to reduce the use of law enforcement resources in eastern Placer.
Staff anticipates returning to the board in March 2025 with results of this past summer’s initial phase of the Kings Beach Parking Management Implementation Plan, including the outcome of the paid parking demonstration and recommendations for future actions.
Learn more about parking management here: placer.ca.gov/8857/parking-management-program.
~ Placer County press release
Community Celebrates Student Entrepreneurs at FuturePreneurs
TRUCKEE
The inaugural FuturePreneurs Pitch Showcase, hosted by Sierra Business Council and the Truckee Chamber of Commerce, was a resounding success, filling the Truckee Town Council Chambers with a crowd. The event, held on Dec. 6, was the culmination of an intensive week-long education program designed to teach young entrepreneurs the tools to develop their business ideas and present a “pitch” to potential investors and the community.
Six teams presented their company ideas which showcased everything from creative solutions to pressing local issues to forward-thinking ideas for future markets.
Winners of the showcase were selected by an expert panel of judges and the audience, with prizes being awarded for first and second places, and people’s choice.
The first-place winner was EmpowHER, a female-focused gym created by Jessica Wurzelbacher, Hattie Kaplan, and Melanie Marquez Cruz, aiming to provide an empowering and inclusive space where you can build a strong body, strong mind, and a strong future.
The second-place winner was Grad Grind, an innovative app concept designed by Anthony Garcia-Ramirez, Estefanía Gaitan Meza, Valentina Vasquez, and Iratze Aguilar Solorio to help high school students navigate the college application process in a budget- and time-friendly way.
The People’s Choice winner was Second Serving, a logistics concept developed by Jazmine Sanchez-Valdez, Lily Fay, Olive Masterson, and Litzy Payan. Their idea focuses on collecting unused food from vacation rental homes and delivering it to food banks and soup kitchens.
The success of this FuturePreneurs Pitch Week highlights the impact of collaboration on our community.
~ Truckee Chamber of Commerce press release
Business Briefs
First Flying Electric Ferry in the U.S. is Coming to Lake Tahoe
LAKE TAHOE
With Lake Tahoe attracting over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts year-round, road congestion has become an ever-increasing problem. Local company FlyTahoe and tech company Candela are set to solve this by introducing a revolutionary zero-emission vessel that will make its U.S. debut: the world’s first flying electric ferry, the Candela P-12, which recently launched on Stockholm’s waterways.
Anticipated to launch in the next year or so, FlyTahoe will feature a 30-minute cross-lake service, cutting the travel time in half compared to the daily 20,000 car trips along the same route.
The P-12 is the world’s first electric hydrofoil ferry, hailed as a “game changer” for waterborne transport by combining long range with high speed and a revolution in energy eSiciency. This 30-seat vessel, designed to accommodate both skis and bikes, uses hydrofoil technology — computer-guided underwater wings — to fly above the water’s surface at high speeds, unaffected by waves and winds.
The P-12’s cruising speed of 25 knots (~30 mph) is crucial for commuters looking to cut travel times. The FlyTahoe ferry will connect the northern and southern parts of the lake in under 30 minutes, while driving around the lake often takes over 2 hours in the winter. FlyTahoe will create a vital link to the 14 world-class ski resorts encircling the lake, making it an ideal option for tourists and locals alike.
A detailed analysis by the Tahoe Transportation District already recognized ferries as the best solution to reduce traffic congestion along Lake Tahoe’s north-south route, citing lower costs per user and faster travel times than cars and buses. However, that analysis, conducted before the advent of the P-12 technology, did not account for the electric ferry’s ability to reduce energy usage by 80% compared to traditional ferries — a factor that Meinzer says significantly bolsters the unit economics and overall business case.
The launch is anticipated to happen by late 2025 or early 2026. “This timeline reflects our commitment to thorough diligence in manufacturing and ensuring compliance with key regulators, including but not limited to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the CA Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW),” wrote FlyTahoe founder and CEO Ryan Meinzer in an email to Moonshine.
~ FlyTahoe press release
Winner Announced For Auto Doctor’s 12th Annual Car Giveaway
TRUCKEE
The Auto Doctor announced the recipient of its 12th Annual Holiday Car Giveaway: Ashleigh Regan. This year’s program, now led by new owners Allen and Megan Amunson, continues the shop’s commitment to giving back to its community.
Regan, a Truckee local and patient at the Tahoe Forest Hospital Cancer Center, was nominated by her colleagues at HeyChef!, a local private chef company. Despite health challenges, Regan is celebrated for positivity, dedication, and work ethic.
The annual giveaway is a cherished community event where The Auto Doctor donates a fully refurbished and reliable vehicle to a local individual or family in need. The selection process highlights those who face significant hardships while demonstrating resilience and making a positive impact on others.
Under the Amunsons’ leadership, The Auto Doctor is committed to upholding the values, which ensure this annual tradition has a lasting impact on Truckee.
~The Auto Doctor press release
Announcing the Opening of Cabin Fever
TRUCKEE
After over 20 years of serving the Lake Tahoe-Truckee community, Cabin Fever Home is thrilled to announce the opening of a brand-new showroom in downtown Truckee, just east of Moody’s at 9940 Donner Pass Rd. (former location of the Carmel Gallery and Alpenglow Gallery).
The gallery offers an extensive selection of home furnishings and decor, from ready-to-ship pieces to bespoke custom orders, all designed to help craft the perfect mountain retreat.
Cabin Fever Home also now showcases stunning artwork by local landscape photographers Olof & Elizabeth Carmel. Come visit Cabin Fever this holiday season and discover the ideal pieces to transform a space.
Cabin Fever is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and can be reached at (530) 536-3131. For more information, visit Cabin Fever Tahoe.
~ Carmel Gallery press release
Beach-Cleaning Robot Cleans Over 1 Million Square Feet of Tahoe Shoreline
LAKE TAHOE
In 2021, BEBOT, the first solar and battery-powered beach-cleaning robot on the West Coast was introduced.
Now, in 2024, BEBOT cleaned over 1 million square feet of shoreline across 20 beaches, revolutionizing how humans care for beaches and paving the way for a sustainable future in tourism. With approximately 15 million visitor days annually to Lake Tahoe, traditional volunteer cleanups can no longer keep pace with the increased influx of visitors during the peak busy season. BEBOT elevates beach cleanups, sifting out debris as small as 1 cm from below the sand’s surface.
Among the 30,000-plus pieces of litter removed in 2024, plastic pollution dominated, making up nearly 50% of the total. Other frequently found items included cigarette butts, nicotine pouches, bottle tops, broken glass, sales tags, and zip ties — everyday items that contribute to the growing problem.
Expanded BEBOT operations to Tahoe’s North Shore beaches were funded by the TOT-TBID Dollars At Work program, made possible by the North Tahoe Community Alliance (NTCA). This funding allowed ECO-CLEAN Solutions to deploy BEBOT across 20 beaches around the Basin in 2024. These included public beaches such as Kings Beach, Meeks Bay, and Zephyr Cove.
~ ECO-CLEAN Solutions press release
