Originally Published in The Tahoe Daily Tribune, 6/08/2026, Written by Victoria Mastrocola

There’s a new pickleball pro in town. Troy Akin, PPA Tour two-time gold medalist and a top 100 professional pickleball player, is bringing his skill and passion to Incline Village.

While playing and coaching tennis for 10-plus years, Akin fell in love with pickleball just before it became one of the most talked-about sports in the nation. 

“I got in right before the pandemic boom of pickleball hit,” said Akin. “So I had a little advantage getting in early.”

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Incline Village and Crystal Bay Restaurant Week is back for its third year, bringing a ten-day celebration of local flavor, creativity, and community to North Lake Tahoe.

Kicking off May 16 and running through Memorial Day, participating restaurants across Incline Village and Crystal Bay will feature curated menus, special pricing, and unique dining experiences that highlight the best of our local food scene. Whether you’re a longtime local or visiting for the holiday weekend, it’s the perfect time to explore new spots or return to your favorites.

A Week to Explore Local Flavor

Restaurant Week showcases the diversity and talent of our local culinary community. From casual bites to elevated dining, each restaurant offers something a little different, giving you a reason to try somewhere new throughout the week.

Expect thoughtfully crafted menus, seasonal ingredients, and special offerings you won’t typically find on a regular night out.

Support Local, Dine Local

Beyond great food, Restaurant Week is about supporting the businesses that make Incline Village and Crystal Bay such a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. Every reservation, takeout order, and shared meal helps strengthen our local economy and celebrate the people behind it.

Plan Your Week

Browse participating restaurants, explore menus, and map out your week of dining. Some restaurants are still finalizing their specials, so be sure to check back regularly for updates and new offerings at https://www.ivcba.org/ivcb-restaurant-week/.

Whether you’re planning a date night, a family dinner, or gathering with friends over Memorial Day weekend, Restaurant Week makes it easy to experience more of what our community has to offer.

Join the Celebration

Mark your calendar and come hungry. Restaurant Week is your invitation to discover, connect, and celebrate the local dining scene in Incline Village and Crystal Bay.

To see the list of participating res

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 1/22/2026, Written by Victoria Mastrocola

Outside Interactive, previous network owner of Lake Tahoe Television, has transferred its ownership to former General Manager, Peter Loughlin along with several other local owners and will relaunch as Adventure Outdoors Network – Lake Tahoe. 

In the process of transitioning out of an ownership role, the Outside Interactive network has been selling all operations for each of its TV stations with goals of converting the stations into affiliate programs that are locally owned and operated. 

Loughlin, who is now CEO, established the station and has been in the Tahoe market since 1993. He was offered the chance to purchase the station from the previous ownership group, but was outbid. 

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Photo: Tahoe Daily Tribune

With a nod to Anne Sullivan, who Mark Twain dubbed “The Miracle Worker” for her wonderous work with Helen Keller away back in the 19^th century, I nominate my chiropractor, Dr. Jon, as The Miracle Worker of the 21^st century.

Granted, he did not have sight and hearing issues to deal with like Anne did with Helen, but I brought Dr. Jon a pain in my back that would make a cow bellow.

I have felt bone pain before, and I have felt muscle pain before, but my introduction to nerve pain commanded my total attention, and dropped me to the floor like a stone. Yes, the Sciatic Nerve carries with it all the high-voltage and fire power of the third rail in a New York City subway, and when it comes to surprises there is nothing quite like the Sciatica. 

Where muscle pain will elicit a cry of, “Ouch!” Bone pain will call for a stronger word like, “Damn!” But Sciatic pain is guaranteed to sally forth a laundry list of tightly knitted expletives, as in, “@#$%&*!” (I cleaned that up for the benefit of this fine family journal, but you get the idea.)

So, enter Dr. Jon, who regards the Sciatic Nerve as a member of his family, a member that needs to be cared for and invited to Christmas dinner. He showed me with a model how nerves weave in and out of the spine, and get easily pinched, which hurts like H.E. Double Hockey Sticks, if you know what I mean…

Then he pulled and pried me until I was as flexible as a circus performer, and I’ve never been quite so tall in my long life. But the real miracle came with the exercises Dr. Jon gifted me to take home. I did not take much stock in them at first, but they have earned my endearing respect. 

My favorite, and last to come to the table, is the Sciatic Nerve Floss, where you stretch your extended leg out and about like doing the Hokey Pokey, but different. This procedure flosses the Sciatic Nerve and allows one to slow dance with a minimum of sporadic cries of pain, which comes as a pleasant relief to your dance partner.

There is more good news to share, but the bottom line is I believe I could run the high hurdles tomorrow morning, or perhaps the low hurdles, and finish in the top three.

One of my chief pleasures in life is to witness people at work who are really good at what they do, and Dr. Jon is one of those who commands respect and admiration in his chiropractic practice. I might add, it brings even more pleasure yet to witness a dedicated professional while the pain in your back that is running down your leg, is slowly ebbing away.

In case Mr. Sciatica should ever come calling on you, Dr. Jon’s practice is called Backcountry. And to bring a smile, you might mention that you were referred by one of Dr. Jon’s contented backalaureates…

Audio: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Fhv4PrH1UuwlhbnTT23zO

Originally Published in the Sierra Sun, 10/24/2025, Staff Report

Get ready for a night of delicious discovery and community connection at the 18th annual Passport to Dining, taking place Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach. This year’s event invites foodies on a culinary journey featuring nearly 25 tasting stations that highlight local restaurants, caterers, breweries, and wineries. Guests will enjoy unlimited tastings, live music, a silent auction, and raffle opportunities.

“Passport to Dining reflects the vibrant culinary scene, entrepreneurial spirit, and community-oriented ethos of North Lake Tahoe,” said Kerry Andras, Kings Beach District events manager. “From artisan bites and craft beers to fine wines and creative cocktails, the breadth of offerings promises an engaging experience for every palate, and a fantastic opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors.”

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When I welcome folks into my home for An Evening with Mark Twain I always encourage them to think about someone they admire who’s been dead awhile, study that person’s life, and bring that person to life through Chautauqua. It doesn’t have to be a famous person, it could be an unknown relative who did something worth remembering. Well, that suggestion struck the flint of a young lady here last night, a recent graduate from Stanford, who told me about her great, great, great Aunt Ada, who hid the Connecticut Charter of 1662 in a tree, saving it from confiscation and revocation by King James.

As she related to me with widening eyes, the legend of the Charter Oak began in 1662 when King Charles II of Jolly Old England granted Connecticut a royal charter guaranteeing representative government and self-rule. “Party On!”

But the party suddenly ended 25 years later, when King James II sent a governor to confiscate the charter and take control of Connecticut. Then guess what? A very smart lady took that charter and hid it in a tree, the hollow of an oak tree to be exact. The newly appointed governor and his men turned the whole town upside down, but never could find that charter in the Oak. 

So the new governor returned to the Old World, and Connecticut continued to rule itself, thanks in large part to the great, great, great Aunt of my houseguest, who is relating this saga to me. She even told me she has an artifact of wood at home in Connecticut that was cut from the now celebrated Charter Oak…

Eventually, When William and Mary became King and Queen they restored many of the provisions included in the original charter, and the charter served as the state constitution until around 1818…

Well, I was fascinated, and suggested to her that she become her great, great, great Aunt Ada, tell that story in its entirety in first person, and bring that history to life in the classroom and on the lecture platform. After all, the Charter Oak remains a symbol of Connecticut’s enduring tradition of 1662 even today, and it is no coincidence that the white oak tree remains Connecticut’s state tree…

So in closing, I would again ask the gentle reader to select someone you admire who’s been dead for a good while, study that person’s life, and bring that person back to life in Chautauqua. It will give you another life, and one life is not enough.

Time will tell, but I hope I live long enough to get to hear Aunt Ada tell the story of the Connecticut Charter Tree in first person. I for one, and I know many others, will be spellbound, and possibly forget for an hour or so, that we even own a smartphone…

By the way, a bolt of lightning brought down the mighty Charter Oak back in the 19^th century, but the legend lives on…

Audio: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Fhv4PrH1UuwlhbnTT23zO

Submitted by Incline Education Fund

Incline Village High School News and events:

If you are, or if you have a current senior in high school, don’t miss out on the IEF – IHS College & Career Fair this Thursday from 6:30-8:30.

Over 300 people have registered to see reps from 16 colleges, all 4 local community colleges, NLTFD, WCSO, ROTC, and the Norther Nevada Building Trades and Electrical Assn. 

Incline High School is offering an after school program for Theater:

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 09/05/2025, Written by Eli Ramos

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, on average, over half of the homes around the Tahoe Basin were built before 1979. While age isn’t the only determining factor in housing quality, the reality is that many housing options are subject to the changes of the decades: years of weather damage, broken-down facilities, and inadequate repairs that can make a home far more difficult to live in.

Add in changing regulatory standards, higher expenses and the challenges of those who address housing quality and it’s easy to see why these problems go untouched. But leaving it alone leaves a lot of suffering in its wake, and the problem won’t go away on its own—in fact, it’ll probably get worse.

In this article of the Tribune’s ongoing housing series, we’re looking at a problem that affects people already living in the area and how it impacts quality of life.

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Originally Published on North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Facebook Page, 08/24/2025

Celebrating PIO Tia Rancourt 

We honor and celebrate PIO Tia Rancourt, who is retiring after 29 years of dedicated service with NLTFPD.

From classrooms to community events, Tia has been at the heart of our public education and fire safety efforts. Her passion for teaching, outreach, and connecting with people has touched generations of families in Incline Village.

Thank you, Tia, for your commitment, leadership, and heart. You’ve inspired generations, and you will be deeply missed but we are excited to wish her a well-deserved retirement filled with new adventures and time to enjoy all she has given to others.

Please join us in wishing her a happy, healthy, and well-deserved retirement!