In The News – Incline Village Community Hospital earns accreditation through the Health Care Commission
September 9, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 9/9/2026, Staff Report
Incline Village Community Hospital announced that it has achieved accreditation through the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for its Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program. The accreditation recognizes the hospital’s commitment to quality, patient safety and continuous improvement, and its ability to meet rigorous federal and national standards for Critical Access Hospitals.
A Critical Access Hospital is a federal designation created to preserve access to hospital care in rural and geographically isolated communities. To maintain the designation, hospitals must meet specific requirements related to location and distance from other hospitals, maintain no more than 25 inpatient or swing beds, provide 24/7 emergency care, maintain an annual average acute inpatient length of stay of 96 hours or less, and continuously meet the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation.
Be Part of the Conversation: 2026 Lake Tahoe Business Walks
September 9, 2026 | Member Submitted
What are Tahoe businesses experiencing right now? What challenges are they facing, and what opportunities do they see for the future?
The Lake Tahoe Business Walks are one of the region’s most valuable tools for answering those questions. Every two years, volunteers visit local businesses across the Basin to gather real-time insights that help inform economic development strategies, infrastructure investments, workforce initiatives, and community priorities.This year’s Business Walks will take place the week of October 19, 2026, and we’re looking for volunteers from across the Tahoe Basin to help visit local businesses and collect community insights.
No experience is necessary—we’ll provide training, materials, and a route. It’s a fun way to connect with local business owners while contributing to data that shapes the future of Tahoe. VOLUNTEER
National Emergency Preparedness: Helping Our Community Stand Ready
September 9, 2026 | Member Submitted
In recognition of September as National Preparedness Month, the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFPD), in collaboration with Washoe County, is reminding Incline Village residents that wildfire is a year-round risk in our community. With dry summers, strong winds and the unique landscape of the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe Basin, residents must remain vigilant and continue learning how to live safely with fire.
Washoe County and local public safety agencies use the nationally recognized Ready, Set, Go! program to provide clear, consistent direction before and during a wildfire evacuation. Understanding each stage ahead of time can help residents make decisions quickly when conditions change.
Know Ready, Set, Go!
Ready, Set, Go! uses a simple color-coded model: green means Ready, yellow means Set and red means Go.
Be Ready — Be aware of danger in your area and monitor official media and emergency services for information. Prepare an emergency kit with supplies to last more than two weeks.
Get Set — Pack and be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. People with special circumstances or anyone who needs additional time should consider evacuating early.
Go Now — Leave immediately when directed. You are in immediate danger. Do not wait, and do not return until officials say it is safe.
Why This Matters
Preparedness saves lives. Ready, Set, Go! encourages residents to prepare before wildfire strikes and emphasizes leaving early when conditions become dangerous. Early action helps protect families and neighbors while keeping evacuation routes clearer for first responders.
A Message from NLTFPD
“Preparedness does not have to happen all at once, but it does need to start before an emergency,” said Fire Chief Ryan Sommers. “When residents have a plan, know how they will receive alerts and are ready to leave early, it protects their families and helps our firefighters focus on the emergency.”
Learn More & Stay Informed
Residents are urged to sign up for Washoe County’s emergency alerts and follow official county and fire district social media channels for timely information during emergencies.
Washoe County uses several methods to alert the public during an emergency. Residents are encouraged to sign up for the Rave Alert/Smart911 system, which can deliver notifications by phone and email. Public safety officials may also communicate through the Emergency Alert System on radio and television, Wireless Emergency Alerts on compatible cell phones, reverse-dial calls to landlines, and official social and traditional media channels.
In The News – Northstar vice president, GM joins Tahoe Fund Board of Directors
September 8, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Sierra Sun, 9/8/2026, Staff Report
Tara Schoedinger, vice president and general manager of Northstar California Resort, has joined the Tahoe Fund Board of Directors. Schoedinger’s extensive leadership experience spans technology, public service, and mountain resort operations, and will help advance the nonprofit’s efforts to improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.
“Tara brings a unique perspective and diverse experience to our Board of Directors that is sure to be a tremendous asset to our efforts,” said John Jones, Tahoe Fund board chair. “As we continue to pursue new opportunities to improve the Tahoe environment, her contributions will be invaluable.”
More than a Cleanup: A Tradition of Caring for Lake Tahoe
September 8, 2026 | Mary Danahey
Originally written and published for LIVE.WORK.PLAY Magazine, Family and Education Edition, Fall 2026
When volunteers come together each fall for the Great Sierra River Cleanup, every bag of litter collected helps protect the waters, forests, and communities that make the Sierra so extraordinary. On Saturday, September 19, 2026, Incline Village will do its part as IVGID Waste Not and Diamond Peak host the Pollution Penguins/Diamond Peak Ski Team Cleanup with everyone’s favorite mascot, Penguin Pete.
Organized in partnership with The League to Save Lake Tahoe’s Tahoe Blue Crew and other local organizations, the event is part of a region-wide effort to beautify communities while preventing litter from entering local waterways. Volunteers will help remove trash from Diamond Peak’s ski slopes and around town, protecting the watershed that ultimately flows into Lake Tahoe. Every piece of litter collected helps preserve the natural beauty that makes our community so special.
The cleanup takes place from 9 a.m. to noon at Diamond Peak Ski Resort, with volunteers meeting in the upper parking lot before heading out to cleanup locations. Families, friends, coworkers, and community groups are all encouraged to participate. Penguin Pete will be on hand to greet volunteers, pose for photos, and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. Cleanup supplies will be provided—participants simply need to wear comfortable clothing, sturdy shoes, and bring a reusable water bottle.
Whether you can spare an hour or stay for the morning, your efforts will make a lasting impact. Join your neighbors for a day of stewardship, community pride, and teamwork as Incline Village joins thousands of volunteers across the Sierra in helping keep Lake Tahoe and our mountain community clean and beautiful for generations to come. It’s a meaningful way to share your love for Tahoe and leave the community a little better than you found it.
The Local Lens – Kid-Friendly Food Options in the Village
September 8, 2026 | Kayla Anderson
By: Kayla Anderson
Everyone knows that kids can be picky eaters, but sometimes you just want to go out and enjoy a nice meal at a place where you don’t have to cook and do the dishes. Fortunately, these restaurants offer delicious dishes for everyone:
The Alibi Ale Works- Incline Public House, 931 Tahoe Blvd., IV
While out with a group of friends, a seven-year-old in the group ordered a pretzel…and it came out shaped as a mustache just like in Alibi’s logo. Within minutes, the mustache pretzel was consumed by everyone, and we had to order another one.
Drake says it’s an adult food that kids happen to love, and even though Alibi is mostly known for its beer, it’s always been a family-oriented establishment.
“When we opened the Truckee location in 2017, we had a pretzel on the menu, and it was selling well,” Alibi Ale Works Owner Kevin Drake says. “Then in 2018, a line cook came up with the idea to shape it into a pretzel. We work with Truckee Sourdough to produce it, and it’s been a huge hit ever since. It’s warm, soft, a little buttery, and it comes with the cheese and mustard dipping sauces. I honestly can’t eat any other kind of pretzel now.”
The Alibi Incline Public House also has a nice big kitchen where it can make full-size pizzas and keep a dedicated kids menu with cheeseburger sliders, chicken tenders, a hot dog, and a grilled cheese sandwich on it.
“We have all the basics covered for kids,” Drake says. “[But] the mustache pretzel has become pretty iconic at Alibi.”
Sage Leaf Tahoe, 893 Tahoe Blvd. Ste. 600, IV
Our very own IVCBA’s Mike O’Neill says his kid Finn loves the Sage Leaf kids burger with the restaurant’s logo branded into the bun, but the French toast sticks, quesadilla, and pasta are popular, too.
“We make all of our own pasta fresh in house daily,” says Sage Leaf Tahoe Owner Lara Hammett. “And we use organic flour that isn’t enriched or bleached with additives. The cool thing about the French toast sticks is we use Truckee Sourdough and dip them in creme bruleé batter and the kids love it. It’s served with Vermont maple syrup.”
However, the kids burger is still the fan favorite as well as unique to the Reno/Tahoe area. The meal consists of a 6-oz. Niman Ranch patty nestled in a Truckee Sourdough brioche bun and served with hand cut housemade fries for about $12.
Inclined Burgers & Brews, 901 Tahoe Blvd., IV
On a warm summer day, Inclined Burgers & Brews was packed with people on their lunch break as well as what seemed to be multi-generational families. Inclined Burgers’ menu is robust to say the least, with variations of burgers, fried chicken, and breakfast filling a decent-sized TV screen above the bar. A kids version is in the lower corner of that menu, even though anyone of any age can order from it.
While hamburgers are understandably the most popular item on the kids menu, they also offer grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken nuggets meals. I got the chicken nuggets, which cost $14.95 with a small fry and drink included. I made myself an Arnold Palmer out of the soda fountain, and within minutes my chicken nuggets came out piping hot, with a heaping number of shoestring fries and housemade buttermilk ranch with it.
I was halfway through my meal when I noticed that Inclined Burgers & Brews also serves an alcoholic Frosé drink (made of rosé wine, vodka, and watermelon-strawberry slush) and “Incline Loaded”, spicy, and garlic parmesan chicken nuggets along with the classic version, making this a place eager to come back to.
Notable Mentions:
T’s Rotisserie, 901 Tahoe Blvd., IV- The Swing family have been pillars of the community for generations now, continuously keeping Incline locals and visitors well-fed with its affordably delicious Mexican food, so it’s no surprise that they keep a kids menu. The tacos, burrito, and cheese quesadilla provide perfect portions for young’uns, and while T’s Owner Jamie Swing says that his own kids are super picky, his daughter will eat the cheese quesadilla and bean & cheese burrito.
Bowl Incline, 920 Southwood Blvd., IV – Bowling alleys aren’t typically known to serve unique upscale fare alongside the pins and polished lanes, but having a Sam Choy’s Ohana Diner within Bowl Incline makes it the exception. While the poke nachos or spicy pineapple salmon bowl may be too adventurous for little taste buds, the “Future Bowler Menu” for kids 12 and under provides favorites such as a hamburger, popcorn chicken, teriyaki chicken, or cheese/pepperoni pizza.
Mofo’s, 868 Tahoe Blvd., IV- I’ve always loved Mofo’s for its salad bar and buttery pasta, but it turns out kids are a fan of it, too. Named to evoke the idea of getting “more for your money,” this 40-year-old restaurant serves a kids menu with tried-and-true favorites like cheese pizza, lasagna, homemade pasta, and meatballs made from longstanding family recipes.
High school is where students begin turning interests into ambitions and preparing for life beyond graduation. At Incline High School (IHS), that journey unfolds in a close-knit environment where every student is known, challenged, and inspired to succeed.
With approximately 300 students, IHS combines the personalized attention of a small school with opportunities typically found on much larger campuses. Recognized as a Nevada Five-Star School, students can accelerate their education through Advanced Placement and dual-credit courses, giving them the opportunity to earn college credit, reduce future tuition costs, and begin college with credits already completed.
Learning extends well beyond the classroom. Through the school’s Personalized Learning Academy (PLA), students connect academics with hands-on projects, internships, and career exploration. Whether pursuing engineering, business, health sciences, education, environmental studies, or the arts, students gain real-world experience while exploring college and career pathways long before graduation.
That commitment to excellence extends across campus. Last year, IHS students achieved a 100% pass rate in AP: Research, Seminar, Psychology, Precalculus, and English Language & Composition classes. The nationally recognized We the People team placed 10th in the nation, while Highlander athletic teams continued to compete at the highest levels, regularly qualifying for Nevada state championships.
Creativity thrives alongside academics. A transformative renovation of the Duffield Theater, made possible by the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, added a state-of-the-art sound system, professional recording studio, and media editing suite. These facilities give students hands-on experience in music, theater, audiovisual production, and digital storytelling using industry-standard technology.
Students also benefit from strong community partnerships. Through the Incline Education Fund, the HOPA Mentor Program connects students with local professionals, while college and career initiatives, including the annual College & Career Fair, introduce students to universities, trade schools, apprenticeships, military pathways, and local employers.
At Incline High School, students don’t have to choose between personalized attention and exceptional opportunity. They learn in a school culture where students feel connected, supported, and engaged (a commitment reflected in the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the Washoe County School District). Graduates leave with rigorous academics, meaningful real-world experiences, and the confidence to pursue whatever path comes next.
Middle school is a time when students begin discovering who they are, what inspires them, and where their talents can take them. At Incline Middle School (IMS), those discoveries are intentionally built into the school experience.
Known for its small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and supportive learning environment, IMS offers opportunities that reach far beyond the traditional classroom. Students explore future careers, develop leadership skills, and build meaningful connections with the Lake Tahoe community through hands-on, real-world learning.
At the heart of the IMS experience is the school’s innovative Exploratory Program. Every student participates in a series of nine-week STEAM and career exploration courses designed to spark curiosity, learn “life” skills, build confidence, and help students discover their strengths before entering high school.
What makes the Exploratory Program unique is its connection to the Tahoe Basin. Through partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, and industry professionals, students tackle real-world projects that introduce them to careers shaping the region, from environmental science and technology to finance, entrepreneurship, outdoor recreation, and the skilled trades. Many of these experiences take students beyond the classroom and into the field, using the Lake Tahoe environment as a living laboratory for exploration and discovery. These hands-on opportunities connect classroom learning to real possibilities, helping students discover new interests while envisioning future career paths.
Students can also participate in the nationally recognized We the People civics program, recently relaunched under veteran educator Scott Daniels. Through simulated congressional hearings and constitutional debate, students strengthen their critical-thinking, communication, and civic leadership skills while gaining a deeper understanding of their role as engaged citizens.
By blending rigorous academics with hands-on exploration, community partnerships, and personalized support, Incline Middle School gives students the confidence to take on new challenges and the freedom to discover where their passions can lead. It’s a place where curiosity grows into confidence, and where students begin building the foundation for success in high school, college, careers, and beyond
In The News – Tahoe from two wheels: A bike path guide to experiencing Lake Tahoe’s hidden gems
September 7, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 9/7/2026, Written by Katelyn Welsh
Sunscreen—check. Hiking boots—check. Swimsuit and towel—check. It’s the final checklist review before embarking on the Lake Tahoe vacation of your dreams, but did you remember to bring your bike (and helmet)?
With Tahoe’s expansive multi-use path system, there’s a scenic bike ride just around the corner, no matter where you stay—offering a unique way to explore Lake Tahoe and discover its hidden gems.
The smell of pine trees, the wind nuzzling your hair, and the crunch of pine cones are just a few examples of how these paths pave the way to a more palpable Tahoe experience.
North Tahoe
North Tahoe is known for its smaller, charming towns, laid-back vibes, rich history, and abundant recreational opportunities with both Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River to explore. A vast network of paths offers access to nooks on the east, west, and north sides of the lake, as well as along the scenic Truckee River corridor to Olympic Village.
East Shore Trail
The crown jewel of multi-use paths in Lake Tahoe, this new trail teleports users to one turquoise cove after another and ends at Lake Tahoe’s most well-known beach, Sand Harbor. Biking to Sand Harbor allows you to skip the reservation system and the entrance fee is 80% off ($2) if you arrive by bike. For no fee, Hidden Beach and many other coves are scattered along the path. You can add the ride along the Lakeshore Blvd path adjacent to lakeside mansions and head up Village Blvd for food and drinks in Incline Village. Note, the beaches along Lakeshore Blvd are private.
This is a bittersweet month as we say goodbye to two people who have shaped our Long Range Planning team in very meaningful ways: John Hester, our longest-serving team member and Chief Operating Officer; and Kaley Arboleda, our multi-talented outreach coordinator and assistant planner. While both are heading off to exciting new chapters—“retirement,” for John (though I question how long this status will apply), and a planning position for Kaley on California’s coast—it’s hard to imagine our team without them.
John inspired agency planners to think bigger, helping evolve an idea picked up in the field into something that will work at Lake Tahoe. Kaley’s role mirrored that on the public-facing side—she was connecting on housing issues with people, particularly those new to the process, making sure those same ideas landed clearly and stayed engaging once they reached the community.
We are grateful for the time we got to spend working with and learning from both of them.
Best of luck to John and Kaley in their future endeavors.-Karen Fink, Long Range Planning Director
