It’s summertime, and the livin’ is easy… if you can keep up with the plethora of events, your houseguests, and what’s going on in town! Between concerts everywhere, Little Shop of Horrors at the Shakespeare Festival, and golf tournaments, I need another vacation.

I am back from my annual trip in northern Minnesota at my “other” Lake Up North, a term those of you from the Midwest will recognize. OK, it’s one of 10,000 lakes, but it is fairly well-known, Lake Vermilion. Minnesotans make this weekly or annual pilgrimage to a cabin or resort where we get reacquainted with mosquitos, deer flies, and the Northern Lights if we are lucky. Not that they are pesky, but did I mention the relatives!

Those relatives are now headed to Incline Village. I am on my third weekend in a row of company, but I am not complaining. Company gives me the opportunity to experience summer in Incline at its best. So far, we have attended the Beach Boys concert fundraiser for Incline Village Community Hospital, Little Shop of Horrors, the Teesters member-guest golf tournament, and enjoyed the Farmers Market on Thursdays at Incline Library. We also explored the myriad paths that wind through the woods between the Rec Center and the beaches, followed by a great lunch on the patio at Sage Leaf. We also stopped into the Science Center for some hands-on learning about Lake Tahoe in the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

While dining at Sage Leaf, I stopped into the Clearly Tahoe shop with all kinds of goodies for the outdoors, including the cutest picnic baskets ever. We walked by Vista Bikes, where people can rent an E-bike and just head right down Village to Lakeshore for a ride. Tahoe Multisport in Village Center has bikes, kayaks, you name it. Bike rentals abound in Incline…the Hyatt, Flume Trail bikes at Tunnel Creek, and Village Ski Loft. I hope I didn’t leave anyone out!

Coming up this weekend…it’s a Classical Tahoe concert on the beautiful UNR@lake Tahoe campus, hiking(for the younger set), and a Sand Harbor Experience organized by Chris Talbot and his Around Tahoe Tours company. This is a guaranteed way to get ON the beach without waiting in line for hours outside the entrance. They provide all of the set-up…umbrellas, chairs, and coolers. PLUS, Clearly Tahoe rents kayaks and Stand Up Paddles on site, so no need to drag those bulky toys to the beach. I’m looking forward to the tour part of it, getting educated on Lake Tahoe’s history and lore. 

If we had more time, a tour of the Thunderbird Lodge would be top of my list. The Visitor Bureau is a happening place these days, and good for locals too. Check out Sustainable Tahoe’s Earth Walk to learn about our native Indians, enjoy the outdoors, and not get caught up in parking hassles at the East Shore Trail. 

My favorite experiences of the summer are the Monday and Tuesday night concerts at Sand Harbor. I will be at The Reno Phil concert on Monday, August 7 for the Tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein. I will be singing along and maybe dancing in the aisles. Does anyone have an extra ticket for the Linda Ronstadt Experience on Aug 15?? 

On the more serious side, the annual Lake Tahoe Summit is being held at the Kings Beach Conference Center. It is organized by Tahoe Fund. Go to their website to register. The Lake Tahoe Summit brings all the politicians together, reminding us that the Basin is bi-state and it’s up to all of us to do what we can for the Basin, whether it’s high-level policies or just picking up trash from the trails.  

Hey, I know it’s busy right now, and the road construction doesn’t help. Don’t forget to take TART Connect, generously funded by Travel North Tahoe Nevada and Washoe County, among other agencies. Be welcoming to our second homeowners and visitors, and kindly educate them on ways to “Take Care Tahoe” and “Slow Down Tahoe”- signs courtesy of Helen Neff. Our business community is grateful for the summer season, which helps maintain them throughout the shoulder seasons.

There has been a lot of dissension in our little village lately!  It is making IVCBA’s mission…that of “building cohesiveness for the sustainability of Incline Village and Crystal Bay” very difficult. My rose-colored glasses think it’s a good thing that many people are paying attention to the issues. It is my sincere hope that residents can agree to disagree, remain civil and value solutions that may be a compromise but don’t compromise one’s integrity and values. Here are some “golden rules” for civility that encourage the expression of multiple viewpoints

• Focus on the issue, not the person: no personal attacks under the guise of free speech.
• Constructive, not destructive, criticism.
• Keep to the topic at hand.
• Keep an open mind and listen, respectively.
• Don’t jump to conclusions. Listen to all viewpoints.
• Be gracious if other opinions prevail.

These rules apply to individuals and to organizations!

I encourage everyone to be a knowledgeable citizen. Attend meetings…the IVGID board meetings (tonight), IVGID’s Conversation Café on Thursdays, Community Forum on 1^st and 3^rd Fridays (this Friday), and WC Citizen Advisory Board meetings. For information on IVGID meetings, go to yourtahoeplace.com. For the latest information on the possible middle school closure, go to WCSD.org or IVCBA.org/education. WCSD has published their Questions and Answers from the last meeting. They are published in this week’s SnapShot. 

Invest in Incline is an Advocacy Network. IVCB community 1^st has the best coverage of agency meetings. 

UNR@ LAKE TAHOE 

Two years ago, Sierra Nevada University made the decision to become part of the University of Nevada’s high education system. This was very difficult for many who had known and loved SNU. However, with declining enrollment(across the country) and COVID, UNR was the best option to keep an institution of higher learning open in Incline. It took one year to make that transition. 

Last July, UNR officially took over.  Dr. Jill Heaton has worked tirelessly to ensure that SNU students could complete their degrees and that the campus would be used effectively by UNR for education. Its “Semester at Lake Tahoe” will take advantage of the strengths of the campus and its location. Dr. Heaton has worked to ensure that UNR continues to be engaged with the community.  

Classical Tahoe will continue to hold its summer concerts on the campus. The Holman Art Center is still a resource for the community. Reasons to walk the campus this summer: the Demonstration Garden for ideas on native plants for your garden, Tahoe Science Center for hands-on exhibits for Lake Tahoe and geology, the paths along the creek and between the campus and the Rec Center to enjoy the outdoors without getting on a bike or the East Shore Trail. Let me know if you see my ideal “Community Christmas Tree!”.  

FATHER’S DAY IS SUNDAY

Yes, it’s a Hallmark moment. But can there really be too many days to honor people who raised you and loved you? If there is someone in your life, biological or not, who was a significant person in your life now or at some point, thank them!

COMMUNITY SIGNS AT BOTH ENDS OF TOWN

I saw NDOT putting up the new signs for service and faith-based organizations that we made last year. If anyone can get past all the road construction to see them, let me know how they look! I am grateful for the road repair, but I have exhausted all my work- arounds for the construction sites. Glad NDOT and Washoe County Roads are ON IT!

MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day weekend evokes a lot of Midwest memories. It’s a time of spring cleaning and a time for remembering loved ones and honoring those that served our country in the armed forces. 

IVCB Veterans Club Annual Memorial Service at Burnt Cedar at 10 am (arrive at 9:30).

This year is especially poignant as the Vets Club honors AJ Banford, a ‘seasoned veteran’ who passed away this year. The IHS scholarship for a JROTC student has been named after him by the IVCB Vets Club.   AJ was a 1962 graduate of the US Air Force Academy. He served a combat tour in South Vietnam, flying Huey gunships for the Navy Seawolves HAL 3. Banford moved to Incline Village in 1975 and started the Radford Company, a mortgage business, in 1979. He was a counselor for the VA’s PTSD program in Reno, having been a wounded warrior three times. AJ was last year’s Local Heroes Parade Marshal. A memorial service is being held for him on June 3.

Some of the wonderful people who lived and contributed much to our community passed away this last year. They are missed. Please think of them and others not listed here, especially on Memorial Day.

AJ Banford, Mike Croke, Kaye Dietrich, Ross Heppe, Bryan Hoopes, Donna McKay, 

Robert Ohlmer, David Parker, Anga Rebane, Bear Resna, Thalia Routsis, David Smith

MEMORIAL DAY SPRING CLEANING

Who gets through the weekend without making a trip to Mountain Hardware and Sports! Go on Saturday, when they are serving up hotdogs and entertainment by the local group ‘Jacked Up.’ I swear there are more pine cones and needles than in previous years!

Get them cleaned up so your defensible space is good. And do it BEFORE June 3 so you are free to Clean up the Village and the East Shore Trail. Pick up supplies at IVGID. And start early enough so you can head over to the Incline Library Block Party in the afternoon! It’s the kick-off to their summer reading program.

LOCAL BUSINESSES are doing their part too. Thank you to IPM, Tahoe Immo, and the many other property managers who keep our commercial areas looking good. IVCBA and the Incline Village Main Street program are undertaking beautification projects…it all starts with a spruced-up Village. More later!

I have to mention yet another activity on June 3:

 The Enchanted Forest Fur Ball, a fundraiser for the Pet Network Humane Society!

The Local Lens was written by guest author Robert Graves, Head of School at Lake Tahoe School.

Throughout my career in education, I have always believed that the strength of any city or community I have been a part of is the quality of its schools – all schools. Whether independent or private, public or charter, every school should be supported, encouraged, and promoted by all. When practiced, it allows parents to select schools that best fit their children and their families. It is undoubtedly a worthy goal for all of us, a sincere and ongoing commitment to excellence among all members of the larger community.

For Lake Tahoe School, our support of all schools is integral to our commitment to the larger community. From sharing visiting speakers and facilities to competing athletically and supporting each other’s fundraising events, we believe in our area schools. In fact, many of our graduates look to Incline High School to continue their education. As members of the Incline Village community, Lake Tahoe School will always show support during our area schools’ successes and challenges.

I recently had the chance to experience some of these challenges firsthand. As many of you know, Washoe County School District proposes several options for Incline Middle School as part of a district-wide review of its facilities. Among these options is the possible closing of the current Middle School and consolidation of its grades into the current Incline Elementary and High Schools. Utilizing the primary rationale of declining enrollment, this option was the catalyst for a community-wide meeting held at Incline High School on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. 

While the meeting sometimes grew contentious and often strayed from the District’s intended presentation, I was impressed with two things. The first was the high attendance that overwhelmed the small cafeteria. The crowd included parents, teachers, alums, students, and community members concerned about what such a school closure might mean for their students and our community. Even more impressive was the passion and intensity of the crowd as they shared their questions and concerns about the proposed action. Listening as they shared their experiences and what Incline Middle School means to them, I could not help but be both proud and grateful to be part of the Incline Village community.

Leaving the meeting with many issues still unresolved, I am optimistic about the future of our local public schools. With passion and broad community support such as I just witnessed, there was much to be confident about. I personally hope that Incline Middle School continues to be a vital part of our education community. Additionally, I know that the voices of support I heard that night will continue to work in the best interests of all students in our community. We are a community that supports one another, and your continued support of our local schools is greatly appreciated. It takes a Village.

If you would like to contribute to the discussion regarding options for Incline Middle School, please consider attending Washoe County School District’s next public meeting on May 3, 2023, in Duffield Theatre at Incline High School.

Incline Village has a few community issues to address this month and your engagement is needed!

MOBILITY HUB

The location of an Incline Village Mobility Hub has generated mixed opinions. It is important for Incline Village to be a part of the regional solution for transportation and to support workforce transportation solutions from Reno and Carson. Additionally, reducing the number of vehicles on the road is a goal, and providing visitors with the opportunity to leave their cars behind is one way to encourage sustainable travel and tourism. To help direct the conversation about community needs, residents can participate in a survey about what the mobility hub should entail and/or attend a mobility hub workshop on April 20.

INCLINE VILLAGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Public schools play a critical role in the Incline Village community, and the community is being asked for input on two issues. One is a policy revision of an Administration Regulation (7087) that removes local input from the process for school closures within the school district. The public comment period has been extended until April 27 to hear from educators, parents, and community members. Click here for more information and ways to submit your comment. 

The other issue involves the Washoe County School District’s long-term plan to modernize all district school facilities, which could lead to the closure of Incline Middle School. The district is requesting community participation in an online survey in advance of a second community meeting on May 3 at Incline High School.

EARTH WEEK

Earth Week is also being celebrated this month, with Earth Day falling on April 24. The Take Care Tahoe organization has a lot of ideas for celebrating at the Tahoe Earth Week Challenge, and visitors can also find ways to be a steward of North Lake Tahoe by visiting the Travel North Tahoe Nevada website or participating in Sustain Tahoe’s Incline Village Earth Walk, available year-round.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

There are a number of community meetings that take place monthly at which you can learn more about community issues and how to get involved, including the Community Forum the 1^st and 3^rd Friday of each month at the Incline Library and the Washoe County Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) Meeting on May 1 at 5:30 at the Incline Library or on Zoom. 

For more details on these events visit the IVCBA Calendar of Events.

Today’s Lens is about gratitude for two of our anchor institutions, IVGID and Incline Village Community Hospital. It is easy to take both for granted because they are woven into the fabric of our community. They are part of the landscape; they add value and quality of life to Incline Village and Crystal Bay.

We did not always take local health care for granted. Thanks to some of our early residents, like Ivan Althouse, the Lakeside Hospital was established in 1981. Its existence was precarious until local community members led by Marianne Ingemanson, provided some emergency funding, and then aligned it with the Tahoe Forest Health District in Truckee in 1996. It is now owned by Tahoe Forest Health District. It includes emergency care and a clinic with primary care physicians and specialists that have weekly office hours. The IVCH Foundation raises funds to enhance its supply of medical equipment.

I don’t normally dispense medical advice, BUT having utilized our local hospital twice recently, I have a couple things to share. They both highlight the great care we get from the Tahoe Forest Health System.

First, mental confusion can indicate a urinary tract infection! When my husband Richard complained of feeling foggy and kept asking the same question, I reached out to Dr. Joy Koch. She referred us to ER and then called to tell them we were coming. Thorough testing indicated a UTI, even though he had no symptoms. The ER care was fantastic, from Nurse Joe Woodman to ER Doc Ben Kavinoky.

Second experience: Sore abs from an exercise class and questionable food intake confused the symptoms of  appendicitis that I was experiencing. More than one thing can be happening at a time! When that pain (think childbirth contractions) I was experiencing went away, I was tempted not to follow through with the doctor appointment. Thank goodness I went. Dr. Koch’s careful exam led to a CT scan, leading to an emergency appendectomy. I got fast test results that only a small hospital could provide and immediate response from the ER and surgical team at the larger hospital in Truckee. 

About those sore abs….Kristen Miller, fitness instructor at IVGID, can be a drill sergeant! I found muscles I never knew I had! The 30-day Fitness Challenge at the Rec Center encouraged me to go to new classes and have a daily fitness habit. Community health and wellness is at the core of what they do. From the myriad recreation facilities to the social opportunities, particularly involving fitness, IVGID is integral to the high quality of life in Incline Village. Be sure to let the staff and the board know how much you appreciate the “country club” life style in a public setting. 

INCLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS UPDATE

We have two critical opportunities coming up to make our voices heard and to have a say in shaping the future of our community school with the Washoe County School District.  

Washoe County School District (WSCD) has called a meeting next Wednesday, April 5 at 5PM in the cafeteria at Incline High School to discuss a possible consolidation of the Incline Village schools, including an option for the consolidation of students and classes into two buildings and repurposing of a third. The forums will be held in both English and Spanish. 

Currently, WCSD is in the process of changing its policy on school closures, and the community has until April 4th at 5PM to provide public comment. Take a moment to review the new policy and provide feedback at the emails provided if you feel so inclined.

View the Washoe County School District updates here >

There is nothing like a record year for snowfall to highlight the problems of living or working in a remote rural community like Incline Village! We are learning more about snow loads on roofs that lead to leaks and potholes that lead to tire damage (including my car). Even the Sheriff’s Substation had to evacuate and relocate to the old library building on Alder. On the positive side, we can all share a story about how our neighborhood came together, and the persistence of the snow plow crews have kept us as accessible as possible for emergencies. Thanks to the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District for providing sandbags and to Washoe County for providing the sand.

One of those community wide issues that gets worse in a winter like this, is workforce transportation. Assuming they can afford the gas, how many workers can afford a reliable AWD vehicle with snow tires to drive up from Reno or Carson? A big thanks for all the workers who have suffered long commutes and hazardous driving to work in Incline Village and Crystal Bay!

This is why IVCBA convened a roundtable on Workforce Transportation last Thursday. Every single transportation agency managed to attend, despite storm warnings that afternoon. Major employers and business leaders attended as well. We started the conversation, with Commissioner Hill as moderator, of just what can be done, particularly with the help of regional transportation agencies. The first step is to utilize what’s already available.

Look to IVCBA to get the word out on van pools and “smart trip” carpools provided by the RTC in Reno. Better yet, go online to RTCWashoe.com. TRPA has a Commute Tahoe Program that we need to learn more about. Our local TART Connect, with funding from Travel North Tahoe Nevada and other agencies, illustrates that shared rides can work, particularly for local service workers. TART buses are often criticized for apparent lack of use, but officials point out this is mostly during off-hours and that service, even in Incline, they are well utilized for morning and evening commutes in North Tahoe.

Longer term solutions will take commitment… by agencies to fund commuter transportation from the gateway cities, by workers making some sacrifice in personal convenience to share rides, by businesses helping to fund employee transportation and by residents to get behind the concept of a bus hub. Yes, I know, I am definitely looking at this issue with my rose-colored glasses.

BUSINESS UPDATES

• Rosewood Tahoe is the new restaurant in Raleys Center! It has a casual vibe with a hint of Italian influence, catering to a wide audience.

• Tunnel Creek Cafe is open for dinner Thursday through Sunday, giving their chefs Chad and Evan a chance to shine.

• Is there anyone who hasn’t been to Ts Rotisserie since they reopened? We are grateful for their commitment to supporting their staff while they were closed.

• Happy Tiers will be shedding real tears of happiness when they are finally fully open for business, hopefully before Easter. They are hoping to get your pastry/cookies/cakes order for that weekend!

If you are not on FB or Next Door, maybe you haven’t heard that Grocery Outlet is definitely moving into the old Village Market space in Village Center. They are shooting for a November 2023 opening.