Lake Tahoe Posts

Chief’s Corner: Water safety is key at Tahoe (published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune July 2022)
Summer is in full swing here at Lake Tahoe. Whether boating, paddleboarding, swimming, or kayaking on the lake, water safety is particularly important especially with the colder temperatures. The average water temperature in Lake Tahoe in July is 65.7 degrees.

When boating on Lake Tahoe it is recommended to always wear a life jacket. While regulations on life jacket use vary from state to state, the Wear It program, promotes boating safely by encouraging boaters to wear life jackets any time they are on a boat, motorized or non-motorized.

The National Safe Boating Council recommends following the “Boating Safety Seven.”
*Wear your life jacket
*Take a boating safety class
*Carry all required safety gear
*Use your engine cut-off switch
*File a float plan
*Be aware of weather and water conditions
*Boat sober, and be considerate of others

Good swimmers still need life jackets. When people fall off a boat, they may become disoriented, injured, or unconscious. Life jackets can keep victims’ heads above water so they can breathe and be rescued more easily.

There are many styles of lifejackets, choose the right one for the activities you will be doing. Make sure the life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard approved and that it fits correctly for your size and weight and is properly fastened. If you are paddle boarding, in addition to wearing a life jacket, please remember to fasten the safety leash to your ankle so you are always attached to it. In the event of a fall, the paddle board can serve as an extra floatation device.

Before setting out, be prepared. Check to make sure that all equipment is in good working order. Review a pre-departure checklist and that you have everything you need such as a tool kit and first-aid kit. File a float plan with someone you trust before you leave. Dress properly and bring an extra set of clothes. Remember to wear and bring sunscreen. It is also a good idea to check the weather before heading out. Lake and wind conditions on Lake Tahoe can change rapidly, leading to dangerous conditions for smaller vessels and paddle craft.

No matter what your activity of choice, exercising good judgement, respecting your limits, and keeping within your limits will keep you and those around you safe. Recreate responsibly.

Ryan Sommers is fire chief for the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.

Duffield Foundation invested in Incline Village High School
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — For the fourth consecutive year, the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation has contributed towards the competency based learning and personalized education plans that Incline High School has implemented.

The purpose of CBL is to advance students individually rather than the class in tandem. Nevada Department of Education uses a Carnegie unit system which is based on credit hours. Students are required to achieve 120 hours of seat time to get the credit for the classes.

“Incline High School has been a pilot NDOE school for competency based learning for the past three years,” said Principal Tierney Cahill. “Our teachers were paid an hourly stipend for work completed outside of their contract hours, to develop CBL units of study, proficiency rubrics and assessments. Since the state has not yet codified CBL into legislation, we are continuing our work with CBL conceptually, but have moved to personalize IHS through setting up internships for students in areas of interest.”

As Cahill enters her second year as principal, the students will see shifts on campus in the relationships with the staff. The first week of school students will be introduced to Rise week. Cahill describes this as an orientation week. One that is designed to learn about each student, assign advisors based on student interests, build relationships, resilience and prepare them for the rigor to come.

PINE NUTS: Sgt. Reckless
A good friend of mine, and talented Chautauquan, Kim Harris, writes for Western History Alive. Kim recently penned an excellent piece about a Mongolian mare that touched my heart. So I asked Kim if I could work, “Sgt. Reckless” into a Pine Nuts column, and she gave me her blessings…
“Sgt. Reckless,” as she was named, did not enlist in the Marine Corps, she was drafted. During the Korean War back in 1952 our Marines were wearing themselves out carrying heavy recoilless rifles up and down the steep Korean terrain, so one Marine company pooled their money and bought themselves a horse.
The recoilless had a horrendous blowback blast that lifted Reckless right off the ground the first time the two of them got acquainted, but she got used to bearing those blasts, and carried the effective weapon to wherever a vantage point was determined.
Then came “The Battle of the Nevada Cities,” one of the bloodiest battles of the Korean War. Our three outposts, “Vegas,” “Carson” and “Reno,” were so named because of the low odds we had of holding them. But Sgt. Reckless was relentless. Strapped with eight cannisters of ammo, weighing 192lbs., she got that ammo to where it needed to go. Wounded twice in the operation, Reckless never wavered, nor did she ever seem to tire. Once the ammo was delivered, she went straight to work carrying the wounded from the battlefield, and she did it with as much care as a Corpsman.
When we finally won the Battle of Nevada Cities, Reckless was awarded two Purple Hearts. Her dedication was an inspiration to our Marines, and they planned to celebrate her bravery once the war was over. And celebrate they did!
Reckless was promoted to Staff Sergeant and given a party at Camp Pendleton that is talked about even today. She was retired with honors and given a stable there on the base, where she was spoiled rotten with loving attention.
Reckless gave birth to three foals there at Camp Pendleton, the last being born in 1966, the same year Private Night Train Layne arrived at Camp Pendleton. The little colt and I had a lot in common, mainly, we didn’t know much, and loved to run. When I finally got some liberty, the first thing I did was to go for a run, and I remember running alongside a colt on the other side of a fence one afternoon, and smiling at the wild sense of freedom that was dancing in our blood. It most surely could have been one of Reckless’s three colts.
I never got to meet Sgt. Reckless, and only wish I had, now that I know her story. So I’ll close here and leave the last word to Kim, who put it so eloquently, “A little Mongolian mare, who started her career as a racehorse, has become the legacy of a true Marine. So let me say, Sgt. Reckless USMC – I salute you!”

Listen to the audio: https://anchor.fm/mcavoy-layne

Toy Maniacs — where it's all fun and games!

Open daily, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Discover total serenity among towering pines lining a cream-colored, private beach at Stillwater Spa in Lake Tahoe. The natural beauty of our property will leave you relaxed and refreshed. Have an unforgettable spa experience at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe with our luxurious massage, facial, and body treatments.

A fun birthstone fact for your day! We love the rich, deep red tone of these beautiful stones. Just make sure you wear your sunscreen in this warm Tahoe sunshine so you don't match them! ❤️?

PINE NUTS A Step Back in Time
Of the 4,000 times I have had the pleasure of pretending to be Mark Twain, each is worth remembering, and a few are worth writing down for the grandkids. Then every once in a while, my memory is jogged to bring forth an evening that I had not thought about since the night it happened, several years ago now. And this happened yesterday when I stopped into Camp Richardson to see if any changes had been made in the past few years. As I walked into the lobby, a distant memory of an evening there drifted peacefully through my mind, and I had to smile.

Several years ago, my planned outdoor program there as Mark Twain was rained out, and moved into the lobby, where twenty basketball fans were watching an NBA playoff game. They were not happy, as they were asked by management to watch the game without sound, and they would have to listen to Mark Twain at the other end of the room. I, on the other hand, was pleased beyond measure, for being from Nevada, I had a little action on that game, and was suddenly able to watch it over the heads of my audience.

Well, it was a barn-burner of a game and went right down to the wire with a buzzer-beater to win it for my team, and as the final shot went through the hoop I could not contain myself, and shouted, “It’s good!” Of course I had to follow that with, “It’s good to be back to Camp Richardson, where life is easy.”

The basketball fans were quick to look around when I shouted, “It’s good!” And were smiling at the discovery that Mark Twain was a basketball fan. I remember I made more on the game that night than I did holding forth as Mark Twain in the lobby of Camp Richardson. Some days are diamonds.

How lucky to have 3,999 fond memories and only one not so fond. I remember we were at the Pony Express Pavilion on a very windy night, a Washoe Zephyr strong enough to blow empty chairs all the way to Mound House. A setting sun was also blinding an anemic audience that was painfully sparse. The County Fair was in full swing, and a huge monster truck was driving paying passengers on noisy joyrides ‘round and ‘round the pavilion. One could not hear oneself think, so the nice folks in the front row could neither hear nor see me. Had I been given a choice, it would have been a pistol or poison for me.

Mercifully, once my program came to a premature close, a sympathetic stranger offered to buy me a drink. We’ve been the best of friends ever since. Some days that start out to look like bear scat, turn out to be diamonds…

Listen to the audio: https://anchor.fm/mcavoy-layne

Après Après is an Intimate Fundraising Event on the Shore of Lake Tahoe to benefit the Diamond Peak Ski Education Foundation
The Diamond Peak Ski Education Foundation (DSPEF) will host an intimate VIP fundraising event on the crystal blue shores of Lake Tahoe in Incline Village on Sunday, August 28 from 3 to 7:30 PM. The donor party of the season, Après Après, the evening on the lake, will be filled with exquisite food and amazing local music.

Après Après provides a rare opportunity for 80 guests to experience an evening at one of Incline Village’s premier private lake front properties, as longtime local philanthropist Kern Schumacher generously opens his private lakefront estate to support the DPSEF Ski Team.

VIP guests will enjoy a caviar and champagne reception, special VIP seating, and a meet & greet with special guests in a stunning setting; the property is used for the exclusive annual spectacular Oscar de le Renta annual fashion show benefit. All guests will enjoy incredible hors d'oeuvres, dinner, and cocktails, with a view, while mingling with Diamond Peak Ski Team’s new Executive Director and Board members.

The evening’s music is matched to the magnitude of the property’s beauty and will take guests musically from afternoon into sunset. The String Beings, Reno and Tahoe’s Premiere String Ensemble will set the scene during cocktail hour, followed by award-winning songwriter Eric Henry Anderson on keyboards during dinner. Eric, a life-long ski racer and coach at Diamond Peak, was commissioned by the city of Reno, Artown, and The Reno Philharmonic Orchestra to write and produce a song and music video on behalf of Reno. The resulting “Heartbeat to Heartbeat, Eye to Eye (From Reno with Love)” is a citywide collaboration featuring over 50 performing artists from around Reno.

Following dinner, guests will enjoy a private lakefront concert by Ike & Martin, the premier acoustic rock duo in Lake Tahoe as the sun sets along the west shore, setting a golden glow on the guests. Performing together for more than 20 years, Ike Marr plays the banjo, guitar, mandolin, and viola; Martin Shears plays the guitar, foot bass, dobro, and harmonica. In this rare lakefront performance venue, guests will experience a show they’ll never forget.

Tickets are limited and will sell out. Table buyouts and sponsorships are also available. Tickets and more information are available at apresapres.com.

The Diamond Peak Ski Education Foundation is a unique non-profit that provides area youth with an exceptional community program to build strong character through the Diamond Peak Ski Team. More than 225 athletes, ages 5 – 99 and 50 coaches participate in DSPT’s ski program each season. DPSEF also awards needs-based scholarships to Incline Village/Crystal Bay youth to provide access to our ski programs.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, attracting top coaching talent and providing access for year-round training opportunities, athletes require community support in the way of sponsorship and fundraising. Visit dpsef.org for more information.

University of Nevada, Reno and Sierra Nevada University reach milestone! The stunning location and the 50-plus year legacy of Sierra Nevada University will be preserved as the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe!

July 5, 2022
Dear Wolf Pack Family,
I hope this email finds you well and that you’re enjoying your summer. We have a very exciting announcement!

I am pleased to inform you that July 1, 2022 marked an important milestone in our university’s proud 148-year history. Since June 2021, when the Sierra Nevada University (SNU) Board of Trustees approached our University about a possible transfer of assets and operations to the University of Nevada, Reno, both institutions have worked diligently to make this transfer a reality.

I wish to welcome students, faculty, and staff who have elected to continue with us, and alumni and friends of SNU to our Wolf Pack Family! This stunning location and the 50-plus year legacy of SNU will be preserved as the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe!
This year-long transition has been one of our University’s most complex and game-changing accomplishments, and we will continue to work with regulators in the coming months to provide final documentation of this transaction. I wish to thank the individuals on both campuses who worked so well together during the past year, and for the work that you will continue to do to integrate our families together in the coming years. I wish to also thank the University of Nevada, Reno Foundation and the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents for all of the support throughout this transition.

With the passing of this milestone, I wish to share a few thoughts.

First, SNU has always stressed experiential learning. The focus has always been on the institution’s students, whether it be the residential campus programs or the robust state-wide teacher advancement programs. Learning outcomes have always been framed by how much a student’s life has been changed for the better. This immersive and intimate learning culture will remain and thrive for all students to enjoy.

Second, the collaboration and shared sense of teamwork that has marked this transition year will not change, either. We want the students, faculty and staff of Sierra Nevada University to know that the past year has been the beginning of the beginning – and that today we enter a new phase where support from the University of Nevada, Reno will be comprehensive and complete.

Finally, the possibilities of this milestone means are infinite. In all of my visits to the Incline Village campus, I have been awed by not only the beauty and splendor of the environment, but even more excited about the boundless potential to help our University transform how we deliver instruction, conduct research and engage with our communities. This is an opportunity of a lifetime!

This is a moment that will mark a new chapter in the University of Nevada, Reno’s storied and proud history as we humbly accept this gift of higher education from the SNU Board of Trustees to share with current and future generations of students. Please join me in welcoming our newest members of the Wolf Pack Family, the students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Sierra Nevada University as well as the Incline Village community.

Go Pack!
Sincere regards,
Brian Sandoval
President

Top headlines from the Board of County Commissioners Meeting (July 19, 2022)
1. Board awards contract for medical services at the Nevada Cares Campus
2. Board approves grant to fund new positions through Northern Nevada HOPES
3. Commission awards District Special Funds to Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation
4. Board accepts numerous donations to Washoe County departments and programs