In The News – ‘First Amendment auditors’ may visit Truckee; Officials warn businesses to know their rights
January 12, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in the Sierra Sun, 1/12/2026, Written by Petra Molina
It can start with a camera quietly aimed at a storefront or a phone recording from the sidewalk. Business owners in downtown Truckee may see an increase in visits from ‘First Amendment auditors.’ Here’s what to expect.
The Truckee Chamber of Commerce has alerted local businesses that First Amendment auditors may be in the area this week. According to the chamber, First Amendment auditors are individuals who film in public or publicly accessible spaces, sometimes entering businesses that are open to the public. Their goal is often to document how people respond to being recorded and to post those interactions online.
I’ve never liked numbers, probably because they remind me of how random my life has been. As an example, by the time I was thirty I had attended three different colleges and held thirty different jobs. By the time I was seventy I had been married five times, and coincidentally they all had the same first name…Plaintiff.
As a morning radio announcer on Maui I was invited to occasional one-year-old birthday parties, and at one of those parties I delivered a particularly long-winded celebratory speech before asking, “So where is our birthday boy?!” Whereupon a toothless octogenarian walked up to me, gave me a hug, and accepted my gift of diapers. I was at the wrong party, and not the first time either…
In my twenty years in radio I wrote and produced over one thousand commercials, most of them bad. I remember the owner of the first Mexican restaurant on Maui coming to me with his concern, “I’m worried the locals might wrongly assume that our food is too spicy.” I assured the gentleman I would assuage that fear, and I did, with one fateful line, “Our food is not too hot!” They were out of business in a week, and my advertising agency, “McAvoy Layne and Associates” was right behind them. (We never had any associates.)
In my 1,000 cruises into Emerald Bay on the Tahoe Queen and the Dixie, there was one I would like to forget. I wasn’t actually onboard when it happened, but the crew could not wait to tell me all about it…
I used to keep a can of Frosty White Hair Spray up in the wheelhouse in case I had another engagement as Mark Twain when I disembarked. We used to marry people on those paddle-wheelers, usually on a Saturday, my day off. Well on this particularly windy Saturday the bride to be went up into the wheelhouse to make last minute adjustments and happened to spy, “Hair Spray” but failed to read the fine print, “Frosty White.” So she grabbed that fateful can, closed her eyes, and battened down the hatches.
Well, there were no mirrors up there in the wheelhouse, so having no idea what she had done, out she went. The crew told me they had to stuff napkins in their mouths to keep the laughter down, for the groom thought she turned into her mother up there in the wheelhouse. Furthermore, the crew took great delight in advising me, “And she’s looking for YOU!”
So you see why I don’t like numbers? In a thousand cruises into Emerald Bay, the one where the bride turned into her mother is the one I remember most, and I wasn’t even onboard when it happened. No, I’m done with numbers. Did I ever tell you about the time Loni Anderson came up to me on the poop deck and…oh but I see I’m running out of space…another time.
In The News – Echoes in the Storm: Inside the World of Tahoe’s Search and Rescue
January 10, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Sierra Sun, written by Petra Molina, 1/10/2026
The terrain was steep and unforgiving. Exposed rocks forced them to clip in and out of their skis every few yards. The wind howled so loud they couldn’t hear each other’s voices, and the whiteout made even their headlamps fade into the storm.
Sarah Krammen, president of Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, stared into the blur of snow.
In The News – Homeless in paradise: unhoused populations in Tahoe and the services that help them (part 2)
January 9, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 1/9/2026, Written by Eli Ramos
Winter is usually the time when people in the basin think about homelessness—it’s when the risks are highest for those who are unhoused and when operations like warming centers are the most critical. But year-round, organizations like Sierra Community House and the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless as well as others provide critical services to those in most need.
Part 1 of this feature covered what homelessness looks like in the Tahoe Basin and how homelessness services collect data. Now, we’ll cover what services are available to unhoused people and what changes are on the horizon for them.
Most analysts, including myself, began the year with trepidation. Stocks were pricey, tariffs would rise by a lot, immigration would be halted, and DC would be even more chaotic than normal. Economists were on recession watch. Surely stocks would fall. Wrong!
Despite all that, the economy grew about three percent in 2025 and corporate profits rose 13 percent. Long-term interest rates were little changed but short-term rates fell. Rising profits and falling interest rates explain the strength in stocks. The S&P 500 rose 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter and jumped 16.7 percent on the year. Corporate America successfully handled Obamacare, the move to green energy from the Inflation Reduction Act, and Tariffs.
Much of the economic growth came from consumer spending, mostly from higher-income Americans, and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) boom. Those accounted for 70 percent of GDP. The five largest hyperscalers are spending more than $400 billion in AI capital expenditures. That’s nearly as much as the 2008 bank and auto bailout!
Tech companies including Nvidia, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Alphabet drove the S&P 500 higher for most of the year. They are such a large component of the S&P 500 that the index is becoming a reflection of the promises and doubts about AI’s future.
Fortunately, in the fourth quarter there was a rotation to other sectors that were previously ignored. Financials, transportation, health care, and energy became leaders. Tech stocks retreated. Having more stocks participate in advances makes for a healthier stock market.
As always, there are worries. Inflation remains well above the Fed’s 2 percent target. If the Fed cuts rates too much then investors will expect more inflation. Is AI in a bubble that will pop? Will there be another government shutdown? Will tariff inflation arrive in 2026? And the one I’m most concerned about is will bond vigilantes panic over debt and deficits? There are always things to worry about.
That said, I’m more optimistic than a year ago. S&P 500 earnings estimates for 2026 are for 14 percent growth. Add in a Fed that is cutting interest rates into a growing economy and you have a tailwind for higher stock prices. Because of its tech exposure, a solid year might not be reflected in the S&P 500’s 2026 return, but the broadening trade to sectors that aren’t nearly as expensive would be good news for portfolio returns.
— David Vomund is an Incline Village-based fee-only money manager. Information is found at www.VomundInvestments.com or by calling 775-832-8555. Clients hold the positions mentioned in this article. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.
Iron & Wood—A Way to Keep Your Golf Game Up in The Worst Weather
January 7, 2026 | Kayla Anderson
Originally Published in the Holiday Issue of IVCBA’s Seasonal Magazine LIVE.WORK.PLAY, Written by Kayla Anderson
Incline Village is known for its changing wintry weather, and not everyone is a skier or snowboarder. Fortunately, Tahoe natives Will and Ashley Wolford manage a place behind The Paddle Wheel on 120 Country Club Drive #15 that invites locals and visitors to come in anytime, relax, and play some golf…no matter what Mother Nature orchestrates outside.
With a single bay facing Trackman iO golf simulator screens, golf aficionados can practice their swing year-round at Iron & Wood while using state-of-the-art technology that provides relatable data, which in turn helps improve their game.
“The ball flies higher and farther up here, so it’s helpful to come practice before playing a Tahoe course,” Will says.
Will and Ashley are both from North Lake Tahoe but connected years later after they moved back and met on a blind date at the Tahoe City Golf Course. Ashley is from Incline Village and has been a golf instructor with IVGID for the past few years. After having their first child (now almost 2 years old), the couple wanted to start their own business.
“We wanted to live in Tahoe and knew golf would somehow be a part of that,” Ashley says about how they came up with the Iron & Wood concept. She explains that Iron & Wood is a multi-use venue that caters to locals, visitors looking for something to do, and those who want to take lessons with Ashley.
“People saw the benefit in practicing consistently beforehand and faster improvement in their game. And we use real golf balls,” Ashley says.
Will adds that, along with being in a nice indoor environment, people can actually talk to each other while playing instead of being away from their friends searching for their ball, plus it’s good for beginners because you can move along the course at your own speed instead of having to worry about the pace of play. Iron & Wood gets a mix of non-golfers, golfers, kids, and people who even rent out the space for their weddings, bachelor parties, and birthday parties, although the couple’s ultimate goal is to feed golfers to the course.
“Our goal is to build better golfers,” Will says.
Iron & Wood is rented by the hour, and there are around 400 courses loaded onto the Trackman golf simulator.
Incline Village resident Chris Feroli has been a familiar face at Iron & Wood since day one. After moving to Incline five years ago, he started taking lessons with Ashley about three years ago.
“I’ve been coming here since Iron & Wood opened, I think I signed up right when it started,” Chris says with a grin. “In the winter, I’m usually here twice a week.”
He plays once a week at the Championship Golf Course in the summertime and says his game has improved immensely since he started frequenting Iron & Wood.
“I have way more confidence out on the course. And these two are great; they’re friendly and welcoming. It’s fun to watch their business grow and nice to play year-round,” Feroli adds.For more information about Iron & Wood or to book a reservation, visit https://www.ironandwoodgolf.com/.
Sixty years ago, back when Incline Village was becoming a town, 655-acre Ski Incline was taking root as a community-owned ski resort. It celebrated a lot of “firsts” in the Tahoe ski industry at the time, it was one of the first resorts in the area to have original moving magic carpets, the first to have a manmade snowmaking system, and I believe it was the first to have a mascot (Penguin Pete—that was the brainchild of New Zealander Ski School Director Bee Ferrato). In 1985, when it installed the Crystal Ridge quad, it opened a whole new world of black diamond terrain, hence the resort changed its name to Diamond Peak.
Twenty years ago, I was working in the wakeboarding industry in Orlando, Florida, and soon missed having four seasons—I had to buy a sweater every time I came home for Christmas. As an avid snowboarder, I applied for winter ski resort jobs at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Diamond Peak, and Sunriver in Bend, Oregon, in October 2006. Diamond Peak called me back first.
By December 2006, I had moved to Carnelian Bay with three guys who also secured jobs at Diamond Peak (I spent my first night in town going to the ICBA’s Christmas Tree Village Pray for Snow party, where I met one of my bosses, Mike Bandelin). As a lift operator, I worked with fellow chair bumpers from New Zealand, Australia, South America, and beyond, on J-1 visas during their summer breaks.
Ed Youmans was the general manager, and Mike Bandelin was the mountain manager at the time, and they were both great to work for. Mike had worked at the resort since he was 17 years old, and hailing from Vernon, New Jersey, I believe Ed became the GM in 1995.
Ed used to tell unbelievable stories of his time working at Action Park, now fondly remembered as “The World’s Most Dangerous Waterpark.” Diamond Peak Ski Operations Manager Jay Rydd used to work with Ed at Action Park, and I’m sure he has his own stories to tell.
The Lift Op Life
Before Diamond Peak renovated its ski school, there used to be a locker room facing out to the Lakeview chairlift that we used to call The Bunker because it was partly underground. Every Friday night, we had little impromptu rail jams outside The Bunker, where we would drag a barbecue out into the snow and find things like trash cans, fences, and unused railings that we could slide off on our snowboards (the whole freestyle skiing scene hadn’t come into existence yet). In January, after we got several storms that dumped feet of snow, the cat drivers pushed piles of it under the Lakeview chairlift and behind The Bunker. Ski School carved the snow piles into a gigantic sea turtle and the other a 10-ft. long whale with pinecone eyes. Tourists who didn’t ski came to Diamond Peak just to take pictures of the whale. At one of our Friday night rail jams, we tried to jib off the top of the whale and touch its tail without breaking it off.
The Beginning of Diamond Peak’s Iconic Events
In April 2007, the IVGID marketing coordinator position opened. I applied for the year-round position and got it. I worked at Diamond Peak as the IVGID marketing coordinator from 2007-2009. During that stint, our marketing team created some signature events that are still in place today. The marketing director at the time, Milena Regos, came up with Last Tracks, and it’s crazy to think she struggled to sell the concept at the time, while there’s now a waitlist for it. We also put on quite a few successful Dummy Downhills, the Luggi Foeger Uphill Downhill Race, and new events have come on the scene, like Ullr Fest and Pi Day.
My favorite event happened only once, though, and that was Bruce Spring Skiing Day. My late coworker Jay Abdo and I came up with it to celebrate the first day of spring and drum up some business after the holidays. Despite Ed being from New Jersey, he was not a Bruce Springsteen fan and hated the idea of us celebrating The Boss. But we did it anyway…we brought in a Bruce Springsteen cover band and gave everyone named Bruce a discounted lift ticket (we were liberal about who qualified). About a hundred people showed up to ski and dance the afternoon away…a few Bruces but mostly season passholders.
The Memories Continue
Thanks to Diamond Peak hiring me as a lift operator when I wanted to move to the West Coast, I have lived in North Lake Tahoe for almost 20 years. Over that time span, I’ve known people who’ve met, fallen in love, and raised their families based on some Diamond Peak connection. And every time I ride the mountain, not only do I recall dozens of other stories, but I see new memories being formed, consistently proving that the community connection has remained strong. Cheers to another 60 years!
As we recognize our 45th anniversary, we celebrate the passage of time and the enduring relationships that have shaped Plumas Bank’s success. This milestone reflects the dedication and trust of our clients, communities, employees, and investors — each contributing in their own meaningful way. In 2025, we renewed our purpose through a fresh articulation of our Mission, Vision, and Values, underscoring our commitment to making banking both personal and powerful. These values drive our work in employee development, smart innovation, and a governance model that’s earned us top industry recognition.
Community banking continues to play a vital role in economic development, and Plumas proudly invests through personalized support for small businesses, financial literacy initiatives, artistic engagement, and philanthropic giving. Our recent acquisition of Cornerstone Community Bank expands our regional reach and deepens our impact, allowing us to serve more communities with the same values-driven approach. As we reflect on our legacy and look ahead, we remain focused on exceeding expectations and building lasting value for all who depend on us.
Here’s to 45 years of community banking — and to all that lies ahead.
North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Fire Code and WUI Code Updates Take Effect January 1, 2026
January 7, 2026 | Member Submitted
The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFPD) announces that the newly adopted 2024 Lake Tahoe Nevada Fire Code and 2024 Lake Tahoe Nevada Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code will officially take effect on January 1, 2026.
These updated codes are based on the 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) and 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC), with local amendments tailored specifically to the unique wildfire risks, environmental conditions, and community needs of Incline Village and Crystal Bay.
Strengthening Community Safety and Wildfire Resilience
The updated Fire Code and WUI Code are designed to:
Enhance wildfire mitigation and defensible-space standards
Improve building and vegetation requirements in wildfire-prone areas
Clarify fire-safety expectations for new construction, remodeling, and existing properties
Increase consistency with regional and state fire-safety practices
“These updates reflect our commitment to reducing wildfire risk while ensuring clear, modern, and locally appropriate safety standards for our community,” said Fire Chief Ryan Sommers. “With wildfire threats continuing to evolve, these codes provide essential tools to protect lives, property, and our natural environment.”
What This Means for Residents and Property Owners
The codes apply to new construction, permitted projects, and certain property-maintenance requirements beginning January 1, 2026. NLTFPD encourages residents, builders, architects, and property managers to review the updated codes well in advance to ensure compliance and allow adequate planning time.
Educational resources, summaries of key changes, and code documents are available on the NLTFPD website.
A Message from NLTFPD
“For the NLTFPD, prevention has never been optional,” said Fire Marshal John James. “With the adoption of the updated Lake Tahoe Nevada Fire Code and Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) Code, in alignment with Tahoe Douglas Fire, we are enhancing safety and resilience across our community, for both people and the environment. NLTFPD has led this work for decades—defensible space since 1985, fuels management and prescribed fire since 1995, and WUI enforcement since 2013. These updates simplify compliance and provide clear, consistent standards for anyone designing or working on the Nevada side of the Tahoe Basin.”
Learn More
For additional information, code documents, or assistance:
The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District would like to notify the community of potential hand pile burning operations, weather permitting, in the Incline Village/Crystal Bay area.
Planned Ignition Window:January 5–18, 2026(Weather dependent, ignitions will continue through the winter, as conditions allow)
Burn Duration: Approximately 5 days of burn-down time for the SR 431 area and approximately 1 day of burn-down time for each Upper Tyner and Upper Tyrolia project (weather and conditions permitting)
Location: • Multiple small locations north of State Route 431, Incline Village • Multiple small urban lots in the Upper Tyner area • Upper Tyrolia neighborhood
Total Acreage:74 acres
Smoke Visibility: Smoke may be visible from the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding communities
Estimated Smoke Direction:North, Northeast, and East
Please be advised that ignitions will continue through the winter, as conditions allow. NLTFPD will continue to send out notifications identifying specific areas where burning will occur. These pile burns are part of ongoing fuels management efforts aimed at reducing wildfire risk and improving forest health. All operations will be conducted and monitored by trained NLTFPD personnel to ensure safety and compliance with all local and state regulations.
Incline Education Fund (IEF) has received a $26,500 grant from the Tahoe Community Foundation to support the continued expansion of its STEP Up for STEM initiative, strengthening STEM and STEAM education across Incline Village public schools. The award includes $25,000 from the Community Impact Fund and $1,500 through a donor-advised co-investment from the Gap Fund and The Bolinger Family Fund, supporting the fourth year of IEF’s five-year effort to build a vertically aligned K–12 STEM pathway.
Through STEP Up for STEM, all three Incline public schools—elementary, middle, and high school—have earned STEM School Designation from the Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology, making Incline Village the first fully aligned K–12 STEM pathway in Nevada. This grant funding will help sustain the Incline Elementary School Makerspace and art programming – laying the groundwork and skill development for STEM programs at the middle and high school level, like: robotics, engineering, environmental projects, middle school Exploratory courses, and high school College & Career programs that prepare students for future success.
This Tahoe Community Foundation grant allows IEF to sustain their STEP Up for STEM programs and ensures every Incline student has access to high-quality, hands-on STEM and STEAM learning.
