Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 5/28/2026, Written by Eli Ramos

Tahoe Family Solutions, the family resource center in Incline Village, has been providing therapy and mental health services at no cost to those in need. Their recent push for bilingual and culturally knowledgeable therapists is a critical step in providing care. Executive director Jody Wright and counselor Katie O’Hara spoke with the Tribune for Mental Health Awareness Month on the needs and impact that mental health services can bring to a community.

“The Tahoe Basin is a unique space, because even with a metropolitan area down the hill, it’s still considered a rural place,” said O’Hara. “There are difficulties with finding adequate services.” Incline Village has 11 therapists, with two that take insurance—the rest of them are private practices.

In 2024, Tahoe Family Solutions served 153 clients through counseling and 31 through psychiatry services. That psychiatric support is provided by Dr. Sukhi Johal, a board certified psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience and certifications in psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry and forensic psychiatry. Providing coordinated care in a rural, mountain community is particularly extraordinary.

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Originally published with Tahoe Prosperity Center, 5/22/26

On May 7, more than 130 regional leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, agencies, nonprofits, students, and community members gathered at the Tahoe Blue Event Center for the 2026 Tahoe Economic Summit hosted by the Tahoe Prosperity Center.

This year’s Summit focused on the opportunities and challenges shaping Tahoe’s future — from workforce housing and transportation to entrepreneurship, environmental innovation, and regional collaboration. Throughout the day, one message came through clearly: Tahoe’s long-term resilience will depend on stronger partnerships across sectors, communities, and state lines.

The Summit opened with keynote presentations from Kate Gordon, CEO of California Forward, and Dr. Fred Steinmann, Director of the University Center for Economic Development at the University of Nevada, Reno. Their presentations explored the intersection of climate, economic resilience, workforce development, and regional innovation — challenging attendees to think beyond traditional silos and toward more integrated, place-based solutions.

A fireside conversation moderated by TPC Executive Director Sarah Schmidt connected these broader themes directly to Tahoe, exploring workforce housing, economic diversification, tourism, clean energy, and the importance of cross-state collaboration in addressing shared regional challenges.

Attendees then moved into breakout sessions focused on:

• Connecting Housing, Transportation, and Opportunity in the Tahoe Basin
• From Idea to Expansion: Navigating Business Growth in Tahoe
• Environmental Innovation & a Regenerative Economy

Across sessions, speakers shared practical examples already underway in the region — from long-term rental incentive programs and expanded transit solutions to bilingual small business advising, workforce training pathways, maker education, and Tahoe Wood’s efforts to support forest health through local wood-based business opportunities.

This year’s Summit also featured an expanded Innovation Exchange space showcasing local businesses, nonprofits, and community initiatives aligned with TPC’s mission to advance a connected and resilient economy through regional collaboration, community-led decisions, and environmental stewardship.

For the first time, the Summit was paired with the Tahoe Chamber’s Go Local Business Expo, creating a full day of connection and community engagement. Attendees were able to move between policy conversations, economic development discussions, and hands-on interaction with Tahoe businesses, entrepreneurs, makers, and local organizations — all while enjoying a true “taste of Tahoe” through the Expo’s many local food and beverage offerings.

The collaboration between the two events received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees. One participant shared:
“The combination of the Summit and Go Local Expo was fantastic. It connected the bigger regional conversations with the businesses and people actually making Tahoe work every day.”
Another attendee reflected:
“This was one of the best regional events I’ve attended in Tahoe. The conversations felt real, collaborative, and solution-oriented.”

Survey feedback highlighted strong appreciation for the keynote conversation, breakout session variety, networking opportunities, and the Summit’s focus on actionable ideas and cross-sector collaboration. Many attendees also emphasized how valuable it was to hear perspectives from both California and Nevada leaders in the same room.

The Tahoe Prosperity Center extends sincere thanks to all speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, partners, and attendees who helped make this year’s Summit such a meaningful and energizing gathering for the Tahoe Basin.

The conversations sparked at the Summit will continue throughout the year as TPC works alongside partners across the region to advance practical, community-driven solutions for Tahoe’s future.

We hope you join us next year!

Originally published in the Keep Tahoe Blue Newsletter

Earth Month is here, and it’s one of the best times to get outside and give back to Lake Tahoe.

Join us for an Earth Day Cleanup, stop by a community festival, explore the Spurlock/Evers Environment & Education Center, or head out for an early spring hike. However you spend time here, every action helps protect the Lake.

As Keep Tahoe Blue celebrates 69 years on April 19, we invite you to be part of what comes next. Show up, take care, and leave Tahoe better than you found it.

WAYS TO CELEBRATE >

Originally published in the Sierra Sun, 3/31/2026, Staff Report

Sierra Community House announced the appointment of Teresa Crimmens as Executive Director. Crimmens has been part of the organization since 2015 and steps into the permanent role at the mission-focused organization deeply rooted in the community it serves. 

Teresa Crimmens knows Sierra Community House the way you know something you helped build from the ground up. She has spent over a decade making sure families get fed, survivors find safety, and neighbors have someone in their corner. 

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Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 3/17/2026, Staff Report

Pet Network Lake Tahoe announced the return of its signature annual fundraiser, the Fur Ball Gala, reimagined this year as The Pet Gala—a black tie celebration of iconic New York style and philanthropy.

This year’s theme, The Pet Gala, invites guests to dress to impress and show up for something bigger: helping Pet Network strengthen shelter care and expand vital community programs that keep animals
healthy, safe, and homeward bound.

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Ask of the Year: “Level up your shelter. Level up your community.

Pet Network Lake Tahoe is proud to announce the return of its signature annual fundraiser, the Fur Ball Gala, reimagined this year as The Pet Gala—a black-tie celebration of iconic New York style and philanthropy.

This year’s theme, The Pet Gala, invites guests to dress to impress and show up for something bigger: helping Pet Network strengthen shelter care and expand vital community programs that keep animals healthy, safe, and homeward bound.

The Impact You’ve Made—Because You Showed Up

Thanks to generous community support, Pet Network has already leveled up lifesaving care in powerful ways, including celebrating over three years of the Community Hospital, completing a surgery and treatment remodel, replacing the roof, upgraded ventilation throughout the facility, and adding a CT scan to support more advanced care, and soon a generator to ensure safety and comfort through every storm.

What’s Next: Leveling Up Care and Community Support

Funds raised at the Fur Ball Gala this year will help Pet Network take the next step forward, investing in faster diagnostics, expanded access to veterinary guidance, and programs that strengthen the bond between people and pets.

Key areas of focus include:

Advanced diagnostic equipment to help diagnose more quickly and treat more effectively, including tools like PCR testing, a pathology camera, and a sequencer. 

Currently, animals with signs of infectious disease must be quarantined for an average of Four days as we wait for pathology results. This equipment allows for same-day results, in-house, reducing stress and length of stay for shelter animals. This technology will also be used to serve community pets, allowing same-day diagnostics for common ailments and illnesses, including masses, canine influenza, and so much more, reducing uncertainty and accelerating treatment.

Telemedicine access to a Veterinarian, 7 days a week, offering peace of mind and support for fosters, adopters, shelter pets, and Community Hospital clients

Continuing education for staff, ensuring compassion is matched with the best skills so every outcome improves, increasing the pipeline of talent in animal sheltering, and empowering the shelter community

Training classes for adopters, alumni, and the broader community—supporting long-term success and strengthening the human-animal bond.

Humane education programs like summer camp and Petiquette, teaching youth safe, responsible interactions with animals while strengthening community resources.

Expanded support staff and services, helping increase capacity, access, and affordability of care for all.

Food Bank support, serving community members who need help keeping pets fed and in loving homes–no cost, no questions asked.

The Ask of the Year

Level up your shelter. Level up your community. Pet Network is calling on supporters, sponsors, and local businesses to help power the next level of lifesaving care through the Fur Ball Gala. Every ticket, sponsorship, and donation helps ensure more pets receive the highest available standard of care and more families have the resources to keep the pets they love. This milestone would not have been possible without the instrumental support of the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, whose generosity continues to shape animal welfare in Tahoe and beyond. Alongside individual donors and community champions, their investment helped turn vision into reality. The Foundation has committed to a $100,000 donation match at the Gala to support this new equipment and these lifesaving programs.

About Pet Network Lake Tahoe: Pet Network Lake Tahoe, an AAHA Accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which encompasses Pet Network Humane Society and Pet Network Community Hospital, is a premier veterinary practice and animal welfare organization dedicated to saving lives, promoting wellness, and strengthening the bond between pets and their families. As a leader in shelter medicine, rescue, and adoption services, Pet Network serves the Lake Tahoe community and beyond with comprehensive medical care and a deep commitment to animal welfare.

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 1/12/2026, Staff Report

The Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline, in partnership with the Incline Village Interact Club, made up of local youth leaders, is hosting a community-wide mobility equipment collection to support Crutches 4 Africa, a nonprofit organization that provides life-changing mobility aids to people in underserved nations across Africa.

The program collects gently used mobility equipment and redistributes it to individuals who otherwise would have no access to medical mobility support. These donations help restore independence, dignity, and opportunity while also reducing waste by keeping usable equipment out of local landfills.

The Rotary and Interact Clubs are encouraging residents to clean out garages and storage spaces and donate items such as crutches, elbow crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, leg braces, prosthetic limbs, aircast walker boots, and ski poles.

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Mark your calendars to join us this Valentine’s Day as we gather to celebrate an extraordinary couple who lead with their hearts.

Tahoe Family Solutions is honored to announce our Inaugural Heart of the Community Brunch, a special morning of gratitude recognizing individuals who demonstrate outstanding generosity and commitment to our community.

This year, we are proud to present the Heart of Giving Award to Joe and Polly Wolfe, whose compassion, leadership, and steadfast support have touched countless lives across our region. Their belief in children, families, and community-centered care is deeply felt—and profoundly impactful.

Joe and Polly’s support of Camp Explore, TFS’s annual summer camp for underserved children, has opened the door to joy, discovery, and belonging for kids who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend camp. Because of them, more children experience safe spaces to learn, grow, build confidence, and simply be kids.

he list of organizations who benefit from their generosity is lengthy, and their dedication to each is significant. In addition to TFS, Joe and Polly support many local artists and arts organizations including the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, the Reno Philharmonic and the Nevada Museum of Art.

They are also deeply devoted to veterans initiatives, with Joe serving on the board for PTSD Now! Their ongoing commitment to these groups – and many more! –  has made a massive impact in our community, and we are profoundly grateful for their contributions. 

This inaugural Heart of Giving brunch is both a celebration of and a thank you to Joe and Polly, and to the generous donors who make programs like ours possible. Together, we are building a community where every child has access to opportunity, care, and connection.We’ll be sending out invitations after the beginning of the year, so please watch your mailboxes and your inboxes. We hope you will join us for a meaningful morning as we honor Joe and Polly for their philanthropy that is rooted in compassion, and celebrate what is possible when a community comes together with heart.

Become a Sponsor for the Heart of Giving Event!

We know winter events can be tricky, especially as fundraisers. That said, we believe it’s important to celebrate leaders in our community throughout the year. We hope you’ll consider becoming a sponsor so we can make this an annual winter event. All proceeds will benefit our annual programs, including our Family Resource Center’s emergency funding and our youth programs, including Camp Explore and our new Reading With Your Littles pre-K program.