INCLINE VILLAGE CRYSTAL BAY COMMUNITY & BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
FALL 2021 | VOL. 1
HOLIDAY ISSUE Northern Lights Festival: Celebrating the holidays, promoting businesses and community events P. 15–18
969 Tahoe Blvd. Incline Village, NV 89451
Incline Village Crystal Bay Association
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 5377
Executive Director’s Letter
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Northern Lights Festival
Toccata
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Tahoe Film Festival
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Shoulder Pain & Rotator Cuff Injuries 20
Demographics
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Profile: Ron Stanger
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Business Profile: Move Mountains 8 Cross Country Skiing Returns to Nevada 10 Work & Play at Diamond Peak Ski Resort 12 + 13 Business Profile: Sierra Mobile Storage 14
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“Keep Tahoe Blue” Crew Profile: Doug Coomler
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Makerspace at Incline Elementary 24 Pet Network Humane Society Keeping It in the Family
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Washoe County Sheriff’s Office 28 TART Connection
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Colorful Characters from Incline’s Past 30
CORRECTION – In our last issue on page 12, it is stated that “..the sale of Spitsen Lumber at 1054 Tahoe Blvd” was made to Zoom founder Eric Yuan. That information is incorrect.
STAFF
COMMUNITY LIAISONS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
DUFFIELD COMMUNITY LIAISON:
FREELANCE WRITER:
Kayla Anderson GRAPHIC DESIGN:
Rena Angle
NLTFPD:
INCLINE VILLAG E CRYSTAL COMMUNITY BAY & BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
CONTRIBUTORS Richard Miner Meghan Ochs Mike Danahey Mary Danahey Hillary Abrams Joe Shaefer Ashleigh Easley
BOARD MEMBERS CHAIR: Linda Offerdahl TREASURER/FINANCE: Mike Young BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE: Blane Johnson COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE: Sheila Leijon INCLINE SCHOOLS: Mary Danahey COMMUNICATIONS: Lee Weber-Koch CPA AND FINANCE: Craig Iverson CONTENT ADVISOR: Mary Jurkonis
PHOTOGRAPHY:
LIVE.WORK.PLAY. PUBLISHER:
LIVE.WORK.PLAY. DESIGNER:
Kathy Hess-Slocum
FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES please contact Kathy Hess-Slocum at (775) 846-5656, kathy@ivcba.org
Chris Talbot Lori Fulton
FALL 2021
| VOL. 1
HOLIDAY ISSU
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Northern Ligh ts Festival: Celebrating the holidays, promoting businesses and community events P. 15–1 8
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 5377
Ashleigh Lynn Easley ashleigh@ivcba.org
Kendra Murray Ryan Sommers/Tia Rancourt PARASOL TAHOE: Laura Roche/Claudia Andersen SNU: Dr. Jill Heaton/Sue Johnson TAHOE PROSPERITY CENTER: Heidi Hill-Drum VISITOR BUREAU/NLTRA: Andy Chapman WASHOE COUNTY COMMISSIONER: Alexis Hill WSO: Sheriff Balaam INCLINE VILLAGE REALTORS:
Association
PROGRAM COORDINATOR:
Karli Epstein IVGID: Darren Howard
Crystal Bay
Julie Malkin-Manning julie@ivcba.org
Amy Berry
INCLINE VILLAGE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL:
Incline Village
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER:
ENVIRONMENT:
PUBLISHING DISCLOSURE NOTICE LIVE. WORK. PLAY. is the official quarterly publication of the Incline Village Crystal Bay Association (IVCBA). Cost to produce and distribute this publication is offset by advertising revenues and budgeted funds. The inclusion of advertising in this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by IVCBA or its Board of Directors of the projects, services or views contained therein.
969 Tahoe Blvd. Incline Village, NV 89451
Linda Offerdahl linda@ivcba.org
Josh Palmer
COVER PHOTO: Incline Village High School music teacher Doug Coomler. Photo credit Chris Talbot Printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks. LIVE.WORK.PLAY.
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WELCOME TO IVCBA! IVCBA is the community and business association dedicated to building and growing cohesiveness for the sustainability of Incline Village and Crystal Bay. We build community by organizing events and promoting businesses and nonprofits.
incline village crystal bay
SHOP LOCAL More than ever, our local merchants need your business. The fires that surrounded us all summer robbed them of their normal high season business from visitors and second homeowners. Look for Small Business Saturday and “Sip and Shop” specials starting with Thanksgiving weekend. IVCBA PRESENTS NORTHERN LIGHTS FESTIVAL Find everything you need to know in the 4-page guide in the center of this magazine. Join the plethora of events that include a community gathering at the Chateau and a “Sweet Cozy Chalet” with hot chocolate at Sierra Nevada University. Help us bring the holiday spirit through lights by decorating your business or home. SUBSCRIBE TO SNAPSHOT Find out what’s happening every week in IVCBA’s weekly newsletter. Subscribe or Join as a Community Supporter or Business at IVCBA.org/join. IVCBA NEWS Please welcome new IVCBA staff: Julie Malkin-Manning is the Administrative Manager and brings a wealth of experience from her work with events and nonprofits. She joins Ashleigh Easley, Program Coordinator, who is a recent business graduate of Sierra Nevada University. IVCBA’s new office is in Mountain Workspace, a coworking environment at 885 Tahoe Blvd. Check out their facilities for daily use of workstations or the conference room.
SIERRA N E VA D A UNIVERSITY
IVCBA.ORG
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Incline Village=IV Crystal Bay=CB SOURCE: Washoe County School District website.
School Enrollment Numbers From thewWashoe County School District website: These counts occur the first four weeks of the school year and are used to make sure enrollment counts are correct, locate students who have not yet attended school, and provide student head counts for allocation purposes. This count is a physical head count of students and includes whole numbers of students. If the student is enrolled on the day of the count, the student is counted as 1.
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350 294
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INCLINE HIGH SCHOOL
• $2.5
$2.5
B
ANNU
Embrace the
power of success
IN
A
Billion
I ILL ON
A L S LE
S
Chase International continues to lead the luxury real estate market, selling more homes over $5, $10 and $20 million, year after year.
KRISTINA MATTSON
ELIZABETH L. QUINN
530 613 5207
775 232 4530
DIRECTOR OF AGENT SUPPORT AND SERVICES CA 01950662
kmattson@chaseinternational.com
CHIEF GROWTH AND EDUCATION OFFICER NV BS.144531
equinn@chaseinternational.com
30+ YEARS OF REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE COVERING THE ENTIRE LAKE TAHOE AREA “I have a passion for exceeding my clients’ expectations and will only rest when I know their personal needs were professionally handled from start to finish.”
With an enthusiastic approach to life, buyers and sellers alike always feel confident that Mike puts one hundred percent of this time and talent toward each real estate transaction. He is a career leader and motivator who brings a strong business background to the forefront of real estate. He covers the entire Lake region, both NV and CA and has been licensed for 30+ years. Mike is a resource for information in any of these areas and loves working with his clients in showing the history of the various area to help them purchase their Tahoe retreat. Motivated for all the right reasons, you can find Mike in Chase International’s Incline Village office.
MIKE YOUNG LAKE TAHOE REALTOR® CRS SRES NV BS.0029150 | CA BRE 784148
775 771 2391 myoung@chaseinternational.com Incline Village office: 917 Tahoe Boulevard
T H E LEADER IN LUXURY REAL E STAT E
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V I S I T: CH AS E I N T E RN AT I ON A L.COM IVCBA.ORG
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MESSIAH — HOLIDAY FAVORITES
December 4–20, 2021
EPIC Elizabeth Pitcairn in Concert
February 11–20, 2022
BRRRoque Masters
January 8–16, 2022 For schedules go to www.toccatatahoe.com
Mary Knows Incline Village Resident of Incline for over 25 years
Mary Jurkonis Broker-Salesperson, Dickson Realty M » 775-772-1514 E » mjurkonis@dicksonrealty.com NV LIC: BS.145621
— bixbyauctions.com — We are a local small business that know the charities in the Tahoe area. Our primary focus is helping local charities succeed with what is usually their biggest event of the year. We don’t just show up the day of the event and wing it. We are there during the whole planning process.
Want to ensure that your next fundraiser succeeds? Bixby Benefit Auctioneers can help! With Bixby, you can trust you’ll receive: • A dedicated and experienced local team with strong regional ties • Access to attractive auction items • Donor targeting
• Marketing support • Team and volunteer coaching and engagement • Problem solving advice • Maximum donations
The auction is the dessert of a well-planned meal. L O C A L K N OW L E D G E . U N M ATC H E D C L I E N T C A R E . LIVE.WORK.PLAY.
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(775) 298-1650
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rgreen@bixbyauctions.com
RON STANGER—THE VILLAGE MARKET
Starting November 1st, for the first time in over 41 years, The Village Market, a local Incline staple that has operated under many names, will be no longer. The market, which for the last two decades has been operated by Ron Stanger is closing its doors. The perfect culmination of events has led to this tough but well-timed retirement decision for Ron and his wife Randi. In 1980 Ron moved to Incline from The Bay, where he had been working as a school teacher, to help run ‘The Village Market’, as it had been known since 79’. His stepdad owned and ran the market which had just become an independent store despite it originally being a part of a chain, ‘Eagle Thrifty’. In 2002, Ron bought the market from him and he has been busy there ever since, procuring local produce, meats, wines, cheeses, and other foods for consumers in Incline. Ron’s favorite part of the business was always the wine and the people, two things that often go hand in hand. Over the years, he has found great joy in getting to know so many of his neighbors and fellow business owners through his job and their business at the market. “Incline is a really neat community. This retirement isn’t exactly what I had planned at this time but sometimes you just need to pivot and adjust to the circumstances at hand.” The combination of being shortstaffed, needing a new butcher, along with some necessary building improvements and changes to his lease forced Ron’s hand. However, as he noted, it’s been a great run, and as the market has aged, Ron notes so has he. After living in Incline for 41 years, Ron is not only going to shut his doors on his long-time business, but also on his home here in Incline. Ron is planning to permanently move to Reno with his wife. In retirement, he plans on lots of golf, skiing, and travel, where he is guaranteed to sip on some wine from other unique locations. His job as owner and operator of the market was long hours and often quite grueling. The business was no longer fit for a single operator, but Ron’s new retirement life, will not be a single man operation as he is looking forward to a lot more time with his wife together as a couple. By the time this article goes to print, The Market’s inventory will be sold, the website will be taken down, the store fixtures will be for sale, and a new tenant will be ready to move into the space where the market has seemingly forever stood. The convenience of the Village Market, as well as the lovely events they often hosted such as tastings and local farmers markets, will be a loss for the town of Incline. Ron’s kind voice and sweet demeanor will surely also be missed by many. While Ron no longer has the time, energy, and resources to run his successful market, certainly the community of Incline hopes he finds a new vitality during his next chapter, retirement.
BUSINESS P R O F I L E
©
CHRIS TALBOT
By Meghan Ochs
IVCBA.ORG
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BUSINESS P
R O F I L E
AT MOVE MOUNTAINS,
a membership-based leadership program, COVID-19 and the challenges it presented required the organization to take a play out of their own playbook. Move Mountains was already running a successful adventure-based leadership program; however, when the world began socially distancing, the outdoor adventures that Move Mountains organized, and the opportunities for personal growth that they present, came to a screeching halt. This global change forced Move Mountains to reevaluate how they were operating and take the same steps which they ask of their own clients. Over the course of nine months, the organization put in the work and evolved. Move Mountains averted its attention inward, created a new intention about their level and type of engagement with their clients, and then took specific action to create a sustainable change about their operation. The results have been better than they could have anticipated. The core of what Move Mountains offers their clients has not changed; effective leadership training through a transformative and guided personal care journey. What has changed however is the method in which this journey is created and how it is delivered. The three words, attention, intention, and action have always been at the center of what Move Mountains focuses on. Charlie White and his impressive team guide their clients to bring these three things into alignment so leaders can show up as their best selves. This approach requires clients to draw attention inward while working through tough questions and situations with the intention of creating actionable positive change. Prior to COVID, this meant taking leaders outdoors on exciting and challenging recreational experiences to push them in a physical, naturally adverse environment. Simultaneously. leaders would facilitate tough conversations about socioemotional issues related to their goals. Now, post-COVID, Move Mountains has moved from an adventure-based model to a club-based one. The clients of Move Mountains are largely the same, individuals who are committed to personal growth, mindfulness, and personal and professional wellness. Typically, they are leaders in their field, and like most leaders, they are risk-takers and adventure seekers. Now, rather than one-off events in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains, Move Mountains offers memberships that provide monthly trainings, skill-building workshops, guided meditations, and LIVE.WORK.PLAY.
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regular practice sessions to help apply what they have learned. Adventure-based learning is still a part of the deal, but now, it is ancillary. This change was a huge pivot. It is not that what they were doing before was ineffective, but like any good leader, they recognized a changing environment requires adaptation. Charlie and his team did exactly what they asked their clients to do, commit to the process by looking inward, asking the tough questions, and recognizing both their strengths and blind spots. Move Mountains is adamant about using the word blind spot vs weakness. A blind spot, while we may not always know what it is in it, generally we are aware of its existence. Contrarily, a weakness may be less obvious or identifiable. The self-evaluation approach of noting strengths and blind spots allows Move Mountains to offer a more exhaustive range of coaching and leadership options to their clients. Their new membership platform takes a three-fold process which includes coaching, training and practice, and adventure. The Move Mountains team is reinvigorated by their new mindful leadership club format. Short-term events like their adventure packages are great openers, but as Charlie noted, “Sustained behavioral change takes time, plus consistent advocacy and support. We offer leadership skills but this type of change is a personal journey. We are here to help clients find their way, not to tell them the way.” Clients of Move Mountains must be ready to have conversations about self-worth, selfesteem, conflict, and conflict avoidance, just to name a few. Commonly, the Move Mountains team will see clients who want to create change in a specific area of their professional or personal life. This concept of separating the various spheres of life is discouraged since strengths and blind spots show up regularly in all areas. The goal at Move Mountains is to improve the overall, “Personal wellness to professional success works. It is an illusion that they are separate,” explained Charlie. We want to build resilience and adaptability to chaos and evolving business and personal climates. Strength is gained from adversity, whether personal or professional.” Through coaching, training, guided practice, and the occasional adventure, Move Mountains provides its clients with practical tools and strategies for their overall success. Their new business model is proof that their coaching and leadership strategies are effective. In 2021, Move Mountains has formally become a product of their own product. Move Mountains Blind Spot package will be available at a discount during the month of November. For more information, visit www.movemountains.com.
h I am here to assist you
before, during and after every transaction.
your
Adventure Buddy is waiting.
Pam is an excellent real estate agent who has proven to be thoroughly professional, kind and trustworthy. We originally found Pam on Zillow and decided to work with her to find a property in Incline Village. Pam was very knowledgeable about the housing market in Incline Village and immediately responded to our emails and phone calls with candid and insightful answers. This was particularly helpful for us, as we were shopping for properties remotely from the San Francisco Bay Area. Pam is patient and a great listener and she honed in on exactly what we wanted. Working with Pam was a very pleasant experience - she’s a straight shooter and one of the best real estate agents we’ve ever worked with!
h
PamF ernandez
Broker-Salesman Lakeshore Realty~across from Incline Beach Mobile 775-742-3096
Broker-Salesman, GRI / NV Lic BS.20002 / 775.742.3096 / TahoePam@Gmail.com
NV License #20002
adopt & save a life at
petnetwork.org
Learn more Pam and search for 1974 properties at: TahoePam.com Northabout Tahoe Resident since – 11 –
Selling Incline Village since 1988
TART
(775) 832-4404
This winter hit the slopes, head to work, explore the shops, dine out, and leave the car behind!
and TART Connect
TART Hop on the free TART bus to the North Shore and Truckee!
TART Connect Take the free, on-demand shuttle service anywhere along the North Shore. Just tap, relax and go! Get the app!
Park and Ride Park for free at the designated park and ride lots and enjoy a relaxing ride to all your winter recreation! Linking you to work and play.
TahoeTruckeeTransit.com/Winter22
IVCBA.ORG
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THERE IS NO FINER WINTER EXERCISE than XC (or “Nordic”) skiing.
Cross-Country Skiing Returns to Nevada –
In Our Backyard! By Joseph Shaefer
Your choice: a gentle glide on a perfectly groomed trail or a day of exhilarating exhaustion. Either way, the sunshine and fresh air invigorate and revitalize. Some years ago, IVGID groomed Nordic ski trails in the high country up in the Old Mt. Rose Highway-Chickadee Ridge area just a few miles outside Incline Village. When that ceased to be, only the most advanced Nordic skiers or most intrepid snowshoers could enjoy the delights—and workout!—of skiing in our beautiful winter forests. Until now. A coalition of snowshoers, fat tire bike riders and Nordic skiers banded together to form Nevada Nordic (NN), a 501c3 non-profit organization, dedicated to opening the pleasures of our local winter wonderland to more than just a few hardy and experienced skiers. Now there is a community of people who are learning on and enjoying the use of well-groomed trails. Grooming is a “no trace left behind” winter activity. We can only groom when there is a good layer of snow, but that ensures that we never touch the soil or remove any natural features. Yet it provides an even and slightly packed surface to ski or snowshoe on. Groomed trails mean that even beginners can have the joy of learning to ski on skinny skis. Nevada Nordic provides this service on a completely “no fee” basis. We exist solely from donations from happy users of our trails. Sometimes that is enough, sometimes—well, not as much. But we soldier on! IVGID has endorsed Nevada Nordic’s activities to provide winter recreation for residents of IV/CB. NDOT has given a permit to Nevada Nordic to use the unpaved Old Mt. Rose Highway in the area. We await only the approval of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of the US Forest Service. We have spent the past nine months providing responses to ever more forms, training, certifications, requests for information and other documentation. We hope now the LTBMU will provide a Special Use Permit (SUP) for NN to provide groomed trails on this public land. (Official USFS maps show motorized access is allowed in this area.) If you have not tried Nordic skiing, Nevada Nordic’s website (https://nevadanordic. org/) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/InclineMeadowsXC) will give you the basics, show the breadth of appreciation from current users, and help you get started. If you are hesitant to try the above any of the winter sports available where we groom, come on up and observe or chat with those who are enjoying themselves already.
Where We Are We groom, pending LTBMU issuance of the SUP, in the area on the map below bordered by the blue and green double lines. From the roundabout at Highways 28 and 431, our groomed area begins 5.2 miles east on Mt. Rose Hwy. at the Parking area where Old Mt. Rose Hwy. intersects current Mt. Rose Hwy. and continues to the Parking area at the crest at Incline Lake Road. Nevada Nordic would like to invite our entire IV/CB community to come and enjoy a morning or afternoon of skiing, snowshoeing or just getting out into the fresh mountain air on a sunny winter’s day. You provide the enthusiasm, Nevada Nordic will provide the grooming that makes for comfortable snowshoeing or skiing, and we will all walk away with a smile on our face. That is the joy of XC skiing. That is the delight of wintertime. That is the pleasure and the privilege of living in the most beautiful place in America. LIVE.WORK.PLAY.
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7th
Annual
TAHOE FILM FEST The 7th Tahoe Film Fest will take place December 2–5 with films being screened at Incline Village Cinema, Northstar Village Cinema and the Crystal Bay Casino Crown Room. 100% of proceeds and ticket sales benefit the Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) with several films pertaining to our current environment and climate crisis. Reflection: A Walk With Water, filmmaker Emmett Brennan takes us on a severalhundred-mile journey on foot along the Los Angeles Aqueduct. His film sets the groundwork for ideas about reshaping society with water in mind. Oscar nominee Lucy Walker’s Bring Your Own Brigade takes a sharp look at the apocalyptic wildfires in California while Tasha Van Zandt’s After Antarctica follows polar explorer Will Steger’s life journey as an eyewitness to the greatest changes to the polar regions of our planet. Invisible Valley which opened this year’s Santa Barbara Film Festival explores the history of Coachella Valley including the ecological tragedy of the Salton Sea. All four filmmakers will be in attendance to introduce and discuss their films. National Geographic has provided us with three important new films. The Rescue is Jimmy Chin’s (Free Solo) latest film about the twelve young soccer players rescued from a cave in Thailand which won Best Documentary at Toronto Film Festival. The First Wave recently opened the Hamptons Film Festival with exclusive access to one of New York City’s hardest hit hospitals. Oscar nominated director Matthew Heineman spotlights the everyday heroes at the epicenter of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Torn premiered at Telluride Film Festival with Max Lowe directing a film about his father, the legendary climber Alex Lowe, who died in an avalanche on the Himalayan peak of Mount Shishapangma. We continue to showcase new music documentaries in the Crown Room at Crystal Bay Casino. Summer of Soul won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and is the directorial debut of musician Questlove (Jimmy Fallon show). The Velvet Underground is a vibrant cinematic collage that is as much about New York in the ‘60s and ‘70s as it is about the rise and fall of a group that has been called as influential as the Beatles. Bernstein’s Wall is an enlightening look at Leonard Bernstein, one of the greatest music figures of the 20th century. Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over documents a living legend chronicling her New Jersey roots, formative experience singing in church, and early success at Harlem’s famed Apollo theater. Warwick won a special award at the Toronto Film Festival. In addition to these music docs, we are showcasing two films at Crystal Bay which celebrate the ‘60s generation so bring out your bell bottoms and tie dyed shirts! Going
Further is a feature length documentary that shows an on-the-ground account of how Ken Kesey, the Merry Pranksters, and the Acid Tests helped to generate a nonconformist society of freethinkers, artists and altruists who are now pushing the evolutionary envelope of human potential. We Are As Gods offers a compelling deep dive into the many sides of Stewart Brand - creator of the Whole Earth Catalog, an influential member of the Merry Pranksters, a founder of the modern environmental movement, and today a vocal advocate for bringing back extinct species of animals and plants. Multiple Emmy award winning director Robert Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm) conducts interviews with one of the most popular literary figures of the 20th and 21st Centuries in Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time. Other film highlights include Another Round, a film from Denmark which won this year’s Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Quo Vadis, Aida? from Bosnia, which was nominated for the Academy Award and took home the Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film and New Order from Mexico which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. Tahoe Film Fest wishes to thank our Founding Partners - North Lake Tahoe, Crystal Bay Casino, Reno Tahoe, Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate, Sierra Sun and UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.
for further information, tickets & Passes visit
www.tahoefilmfest.com IVCBA.ORG
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Work & Play at Diamond Peak
By Paul Raymore This winter, why not get a job at Incline Village’s own community-owned ski resort—Diamond Peak? The mountain has part-time, full-time and flexible schedule options, with both indoor and outdoor jobs available. Potential perks include free/discounted season passes for the employee (and potentially your spouse/dependents), food/beverage discounts, and more. See positions available on page 13.
SAVE THE DATE
This winter, Diamond Peak and the Incline Village Parks & Recreation team are excited to bring back some of our favorite community events and programs. December 24-25: Santa & Penguin Pete Visit Santa Claus and his trusty sidekick Penguin Pete (Diamond Peak’s official mascot) greet kids of all ages on the slopes of Diamond Peak. Catch these two lovable characters in and around the Base Area as well as on the slopes. January 1–March 15: Diamond Cut Video Competition Each winter, this annual video edit contest highlights the incredible local talent we have right here at Diamond Peak with an awards ceremony and screening of the top video LIVE.WORK.PLAY.
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Ski Resort
submissions received throughout the season. Grab your phone, GoPro or video camera, get your crew of friends together, and go film yourself having fun at Diamond Peak. You just might win some fabulous prizes. Find more information and submission guidelines online at diamondpeak.com/events. February 4: Annual Ullr Fest Party, Bonfire & Torchlight Parade The 12th annual Ullr Fest, to raise funds for the Diamond Peak Ski Team, will be held February 4, 2022. The action-packed evening includes a torchlight parade, bonfire, and live music. Come dressed in your Ullr attire as prizes will be given for best costumes. March 20: 20th Annual Dummy Downhill Participants build a dummy on skis or snowboards that get launched off of a big jump, fly down the hill and crash hard. Even non-skiers will want to come watch the madness! Dummies will be judged on creativity on the Base Lodge deck, followed by the jumping and an awards ceremony. March 26-27: Luggi Foeger Uphill/Downhill Festival Lake Tahoe Basin’s premier SkiMo competition and an incredibly family-friendly event - race to the top of the mountain using whatever human-powered method you prefer – skins, snowshoes, running shoes, etc. Then ski, snowboard, snowshoe, or run back down to
Diamond Peak
positions available include: • • • • • • • • •
Cashiers/Tickets Agents Food & Beverage (Cook, Cashier) Lift Operators Parking Attendants/Property Operations Rental Shop Staff Shuttle Driver (CDL)/Tram Driver Ski/Snowboard Instructors Ski Patrol Snowmaking/Grooming/Terrain Park Crew
View the full list of available jobs online at www.YourTahoePlace.com/jobs or contact jobs@yourtahoeplace.com, call (775) 832-1100 (EOE)
the finish line. For those of a less competitive nature, a recreational course will be available. The event will also include fun activities and a winter wildlife snowshoe hike. Select Saturdays at 10:30 am: STOKE Mountain Tours In partnership with the Incline Village General Improvement District’s Waste Not conservation staff and the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS), Diamond Peak will offer a series of guided interpretive ski/snowboard tours of the mountain this winter. Program participants will meet at the Base Lodge with a guide before touring the mountain to discuss the unique plant and animal life that flourishes within the ski area’s boundaries, as well as the history of the resort, of Incline Village and the Lake Tahoe region as a whole. Please check diamondpeak.com/events for dates and details. Monthly, January-March: Moonlight Snowshoe Hikes to Snowflake Lodge Hosted by the Incline Village Parks & Recreation Department, this award winning event encourages exercising in an intergenerational social setting for ages 9+. There will be light fare available for those who would like to purchase dinner at the top. Visit our website or call (775) 832-1310 for information. Pre-registration is required. See diamondpeak.com/events for schedule and registration.
Shahri Masters grew up at Lake Tahoe, staying on for the beauty, the lifestyle, and the people. As a third-generation real estate broker, she followed the family path of real estate and construction. Shahri will bring to you a historical perspective as well as in-depth knowledge of the area, of TRPA and development, and of course –The Real Estate Market.
Helping buyers, Shahri Masters 775-831-8888 sellers, builders, masters@inclineliving.com and investors www.inclineliving.com since 1988. NV LIC. #B1870 IVCBA.ORG
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Sierra Mobile Storage
BUSINESS P R O F I L E
Luke & Staci Stevenson FOR MANY PEOPLE COVID has been a great reminder of what is truly important. This has been true not just in the professional lives of many, but also in personal and private spaces. This past year and a half historic numbers of people have uprooted their lives and taken big gambles on major life changes such as moving and changing jobs. These life altering events often require organization and space, enter Sierra Mobile Storage. Perhaps one of the reasons Staci and Luke Stevenson, the dynamic and incredibly supportive husband and wife duo and owners of Sierra Mobile Storage, are such fervent believers in what they do is because they can relate to the needs of their customers. When the pandemic hit, the demand for Luke’s artistic talent as a local musician changed drastically. Staci who had been helping manage Luke’s musical career and operating high end vacation and rental properties also saw a change in her career. Both had always been interested in the storage business. For years they were already students of the industry and its nuances, attending seminars and doing research to one day possibly make a switch. They were prepared to leave their careers at the end of 2021; however, COVID forced their hand early and they placed all bets on starting a new business and adventure together. Their professional move came with a personal one as well when they left Incline and moved to Reno. Their decision to leave Incline after living there for decades was not an easy one. They are nothing if not a product of their own product, their move and investment in this new large business has been taxing, Staci notes, “We did not realize we were getting into the stress management business.” The events of life, and all of the organization that come with it, can be incredibly stressful and Staci, Luke and their company are here to ease the burden. Staci especially loves connecting with the customers. She excels at getting to know them, their needs and helping them through their LIVE.WORK.PLAY.
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transitional phase, whether it is a move, remodel or something else. Luke noted that they have over fifty 5-star reviews on Google and credits all of that to Staci whose favorite part of their job is answering the phone and offering her personal touch. Staci understands that just like her and Luke’s decision to place all of their chips on the bet of their new business, many of their customers are taking similar risks or making big changes when they call to ask for help with their storage needs. In addition to the personal component that this happy and professional couple obviously provide to their customers, their company also offers a few incredibly rare advantages over other traditional storage options. Their containers come in two sizes, 16’ and 20’, and they are capable of being stored in some tight and unusual spaces that other companies simply can’t match. Sierra Mobile Storage uses a remote control forklift which gives them a storage advantage that no one else can offer. This is critical to providing outdoor storage options in the rugged alpine environment of the Sierra. Also, many of their storage containers are beautifully wrapped and designed to blend in with the natural surroundings at their location. The others are white with a Sierra Mobile Storage logo which just happens to be a silhouette of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Both container types are emblazoned with the friendly reminder, ‘locally owned and operated.’ Customers can choose which wrap they prefer. The difference between a small, locally owned business, and a larger corporate run one is often one offering individual connection, accessibility and exceptional customer service. Staci and Luke Stevenson, and their company Sierra Mobile Storage, exemplify every positive dissimilarity between these two types of business. While they are obviously passionate about what they do, and the quality of product they offer, they are also in business to help change the storage industry. Max bets placed, that they succeed.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO CARE
FOOT & ANKLE ORTHOPEDICS Dr. Paul Ryan is a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon and has completed a fellowship in Foot & Ankle surgery. Dr. Ryan expands access for foot & ankle orthopedic care and performs duties as an attending faculty with the Lake Tahoe Sports Medicine Fellowship. 530.539.6600 BartonOrthopedicsAndWellness.com
PLASTIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY Dr. Kathleen Holoyda is a board-eligible Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon who is expanding access in Lake Tahoe to create a solution for patients suffering from physical abnormalities due to injury, infection, developmental abnormalities, birth defects, disease, tumors, or aging. 530.543.5799 BartonHealth.org/PlasticSurgery
GASTROENTEROLOGY Dr. Brumand is a board certified Internal Medicine physician and fellowship-trained Gastroenterologist. Dr. Brumand joins Barton Health to expand access for patients requiring diagnosis or treatment of gastrointestinal disease and GI procedures. 530.543.5986 BartonHealth.org/Gastroenterology IVCBA.ORG
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Shoulder Pain & Rotator Cuff Injuries By Robert Rupp, MD
SHOULDER PAIN IS often related to rotator cuff injuries. The rotator cuff stabilizes the ball of the shoulder joint in the socket and is involved with daily shoulder movements. Repetitive lifting and/ or sporting activities can cause injury to the rotator cuff, or it may degenerate as a person ages without a specific trauma/ injury. Pain associated with the rotator cuff is often a deep joint pain aggravated with overhead or reaching activities of the affected arm. Night pain is also a typical characteristic of rotator cuff injury and a severe rotator cuff injury may result in loss of shoulder strength and motion. Shoulder pain that does not improve after a period of rest and protection should be evaluated by a medical professional. This evaluation may include testing motion and strength of the joint and often, imaging such as X-rays or an MRI scan. A medical evaluation is important to rule out other common causes of shoulder pain such as arthritis or referred pain from the neck. There is a spectrum of rotator cuff injuries from inflammation to partial thickness tearing to full thickness tearing. Treatment of rotator cuff inflammation includes rest, protection and sometimes over-the-counter medications such as tylenol or anti-inflammatory medications. An anti-inflammatory steroid injection is also used as needed for more immediate pain relief. Physical therapy is often recommended to optimize balance of the shoulder muscles and range of motion. Partial thickness tears may heal if they are small, but larger partial thickness and complete rotator cuff LIVE.WORK.PLAY.
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tears are often surgically repaired via a minimally invasive shoulder arthroscopy to promote healing and help restore normal rotator cuff function. Recovery after a surgical repair typically requires use of a shoulder sling followed by gradual increase of shoulder function through physical therapy. Maintaining shoulder motion with stretches and optimizing the strength and balance of the muscles that control the shoulder joint, including the muscles of the arm, the shoulder blade and the chest wall, may help prevent rotator cuff injuries. Dr. Robert Rupp is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and program director of the Lake Tahoe Sports Medicine Fellowship. He is a sports medicine specialist treating shoulder, hip and knee conditions in Carson City, Incline Village, and at the Center for Orthopedics & Wellness in South Lake Tahoe, CA. To learn more about orthopedic services available, call (530) 543-5554 or go to BartonOrthopedicsAndWellness.com.
IVCBA LEADS WITH SERVICE AS A
“Keep Tahoe Blue” Crew By Ashleigh Easley
IVCBA IS DEDICATED to building and growing cohesiveness for the sustainability of Incline Village and Crystal Bay. To sustain our crown jewel we must take action; IVCBA decided to become a Blue Crew leader. We invite you to take action with us. We will be planning our clean up days around high traffic/use days and hope to join forces with the other crews in our area. On September 28, 2021 Keep Tahoe Blue: The League to Save Lake Tahoe hosted it’s Tahoe Blue Crew (TBC) Leader training. Each summer they host a 45-minute session to empower individuals and business owners alike to protect Tahoe from microplastics and other waste. This meeting included approximately fourteen Lake Tahoe lovers who listened intently as Marilee Movius, Community Engagement Manager of The League to Save Lake Tahoe explained what she meant when she said “Lake Tahoe is being loved to death”. Those words and the sheer gravity of the situation are enough to make anyone take a double look. There are several jaw dropping numbers reported annually. First, the total number of visitors who come to the Tahoe Basin, is estimated at 15 million visitors per year according to our friends at the Tahoe Fund. Keep Tahoe Blue’s assessment is that there are three reasons people neglect to clean up trash. In short, they have no personal connection to the area, they think someone else will pick up after them, and the lack of trash receptacles. Since TBC was started in 2019, 124 crews have completed over 800 cleanups. During these cleanups, Tahoe Blue Crews have removed*: • 14,705 pounds of trash • 40,451 cigarette butts • 38,497 plastic pieces
In 2014, the adopt-a-beach program began its journey of rebranding to become what we now know as the Tahoe Blue Crews. The official relaunch happened Labor Day of 2019 and quickly grew to 124 active crews. This means that three times per year there are 124 crews who gather at an “adopted zone” and join forces to pick up cigarette butts, plastics, and more trash. IVGID and IVCBA will be teaming up to offer, at separate adopted sites, one clean up will be offered in the spring after the snow melts, shortly after the 4th of July and one last clean up in September. Joe Hill, Public Works Technician and TBC Leader for IVGID said: “The Tahoe Blue Crew empowers local volunteers to commit to protecting our community through litter clean ups. Whether the events are organized amongst a group or initiated by sheer willpower of the individual, no impact is insignificant. The Blue Crew’s efforts have resulted in countless pounds of trash removed from Tahoe’s watershed so far; it never seems to end. While park staff and dedicated community members pick up litter every day, the attention that our region receives as a travel destination and high-quality place to live requires additional hands on the ground to keep up with the mess left behind. No one is proud of littering, but it happens consistently whether intentional or not. Besides education, outreach and enforcement, all we can do is set a good example. After all, our community is happiest and most prosperous when we can rely on a healthy environment to thrive in.” If you would like to join the IVCBA Blue Crew or to find another crew to join in IV/CB please contact Ashleigh; ashleigh@ivcba.org or by phone (775) 8335252. *DATA PROVIDED BY KAT WALTON OUTREACH ASSOCIATE, LEAGUE TO SAVE LAKE TAHOE.
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By Mike Danahey INCLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL’S new music teacher, Douglas Coomler, brings an
...we have one of the strongest music programs in the Pacific Northwest.
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enthusiasm for the subject to the classroom, real world experience in the field—and all that jazz. “The pieces are in place here at Incline to build a very strong program like the one I had growing up,” Coomler said. Coomler comes to Incline Middle School from time teaching at Mendive Middle School in Sparks and a continuing career in the Reno music scene. In addition to teaching at IMS, starting in October Coomler is going to be the new music director of the Reno Jazz Orchestra, for which he has played saxophone since 1999. “My playing days in the band (orchestra) are most likely over, but I will be the conductor now. I am very honored to have this position,” Coomler said. Coomler also is weighing if he will still have time in his schedule to remain involved with the Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra. “Hopefully I will, because I really love teaching jazz to those talented students,” Coomler said. His own love for playing music began in 5th grade in rural Pleasant Hill, Oregon. “In 5th grade, we either did choir or band. I was pretty shy, so I really wasn’t comfortable singing, so I picked the band and the saxophone,” Coomler said. Having supportive band directors in middle and high school overseeing quality programs built Coomler’s passion for music, as did attending many jazz festivals and performances.
“We had a jazz band in high school that was very good and fun to play in,” Coomler recalled. “I began playing many solos and loved it. I also started listening to John Coltrane as well as many other jazz greats at an early age.” Regarding how Coomler wound up in Reno, his senior year in high school, Coomler won an award for outstanding saxophone at the University of Nevada’s jazz fest. The award included a full-ride scholarship to the university, which led to a local career in music and music education. “Reno is wonderful because there are so many outstanding musicians,” Coomler said. Over the years Coomler has played with and for numerous acts that have performed at clubs, concert halls and casinos in the Biggest Little City in the World. Those artists include The Temptations, Four Tops, Supremes and Frank Sinatra Jr. as well as productions of Smokey Joe’s Café, Grease, Shake Rattle and Roll, The Rat Pack and Simply the Best (Tina Turner Review). Coomler also had been teaching at UNR, but left that post to teach in the Washoe County School District. “I needed to simplify things a bit. Teaching 15 private lesson students, gigs, UNR and the Reno Youth Jazz
Orchestra was an all-day job. After becoming engaged, I felt it was best to teach at a public school full time. This allows me to spend more time with my future wife,” Coomler said. With respect to coming up the hill to Incline Village, Coomler noted he grew up in a small town where he attended a high school that had just 400 students. “Still, we were able to have one of the strongest music programs in the Pacific Northwest,” Coomler said. Coomler said the biggest thing he would like to impart on students would be developing their love of music. “Right now, we are in a bit of basics mode as the Covid time has taken a lot of playing time from many of the students here. Getting back to fundamentally sound playing is of utmost importance,” Coomler said. Coomler said the plan for this school year is to prepare the budding musicians for putting on some concerts. As the program strengthens, he hopes to take students to festivals and competitions. “Those are usually extremely fun and inspiring to young students. Music really is about performance and I look forward to seeing these young students enjoy that most important aspect of music,” Coomler said.
THE PREGER PRIZE
CREATIVE IDEA CHALLENGE
November 20 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm The Preger Prize Creative Idea Challenge seeks original ideas to stimulate and reward individual creativity among undergraduate students. Like its Business Plan Competition siblings, the Preger Challenge is open to all full-time students currently enrolled at the Incline Village campus of SNU, in any major. YOUR IDEA MUST BE: Original – no one else’s • Useful to a specific group • Novel – not obviously derivative • Implementable and can deliver value • Include a plan for implementation
For more info, visit: www.sierranevada.edu Or contact Justin Spees or Jonathan Breiter in the Business Dept. IVCBA.ORG
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By Mike Danahey
THIS SCHOOL YEAR, students at Incline
Elementary are taking part in a hands-on approach to learning as they head to a makerspace classroom twice a week. “A makerspace is a classroom in our school where students will learn critical thinking, problem solving and resilience while working with coding, robotics, engineering activities, crafts and so much more,” said Incline Elementary Principal Dan Zimmerman. To develop Incline Elementary’s makerspace, Zimmerman and teacher Trina Kleinhenz visited existing makerspace classrooms, including one at Lake Tahoe School which focuses on industrial arts projects and learning for students grades K - 8. Kleinhenz is overseeing instruction for the Incline Elementary makerspace. “Though our focus won’t be the industrial arts, it was still valuable to see how a project could be scaffolded from kindergarten to fifth grade,” Zimmerman said. “There was also a high level of engagement in the makerspace, which was exciting.” Kleinhenz said she’s providing the Incline Elementary makerspace with a strong focus on robotics and coding. “I have been the coach of our robotics team here at IES for the last two years, and I also have an endorsement in computer science,” Kleinhenz said. “By exposing all students to computer science from a young age, we are promoting equity and diversity in that field.” Kleinhenz met with staff from each grade level to determine priorities for what else will be taught in the makerspace. She is working collaboratively with and supporting other teachers in the makerspace on two projects, a reflection on the pandemic, and a Lake Tahoe environmental project come spring. Kleinhenz also is teaching a class on digital citizenship for all five grades. Zimmerman said the goal for having the makerspace is
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to expose students to an inclusive classroom where they are taught through strategies that support gifted and talented education. “Minorities, students with disabilities and children who come from families that struggle economically who make up a significant portion of our enrollment - are often underrepresented in gifted and talented education,” Zimmerman said. “Poverty is directly related to whether a student will be accepted into a gifted program, and that can have a negative impact on access to honors and AP classes in middle and high school.” Lack of access to such instruction creates obstacles to college success and participation in science, technology, engineering, and math careers, Zimmerman said. Zimmerman said decreasing inequities should lead to increased participation in college and STEM programs, particularly among underrepresented groups such as girls and minority students, and ultimately help such students grow their potential for economic advancement. As for how the Incline Elementary makerspace operates, Zimmerman said Kleinhenz has specific learning targets that she teaches, for which she presents a problem, a project, or a challenge. “Students then work collaboratively and creatively to apply their learning and solve the problem or create a solution,” Zimmerman said. Zimmerman said, “Reflection on mistakes and making corrections is a large part of the process. Most important is the need to be resilient, to be able to learn from failure and persevere.” The makerspace classroom houses all of the materials, supplies, and equipment that students will need to be successful. Zimmerman said, a focus for Kleinhenz is educational technology, so student access to various coding programs, robotics kits and personal devices like laptops and iPads is essential. Students also are using art supplies for planning, storyboards, and craft-based activities and team building, he added. So, while the Incline Elementary makerspace is up and running, items of all sorts are still needed to bring it to its full potential. To that end, the Incline Education Foundation provided seed money for the project to get underway. The foundation, in conjunction with the school’s PTA, continues to raise funds and purchase items for the makerspace. For more information, including a list of what’s needed, see iesmakerspace.weebly.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS: PET NETWORK ANNUAL FUR BALL GALA: June 11th, 2022 TO VOLUNTEER AT PET NETWORK EMAIL:
volunteer@petnetwork.org SIGN-UP FOR THE PET NETWORK NEWSLETTER:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/g30ABhG/signup FOLLOW PET NETWORK ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.instagram.com/petnetworkhs/ https://www.facebook.com/PetNetworkHumaneSociety/ Visit the Pet Network Thrift Store, Open 11 am to 5 pm 760 Mays Blvd., Suites 9 & 10 Incline Village NV, 89451 (775) 548-5049
By Hilary Abrahms
PET NETWORK HUMANE SOCIETY in Incline Village has undergone some exciting changes over the past year! With a new Executive Director at the helm, this nearly 30-year-old animal welfare organization is on a mission to rescue more animals than ever from overcrowded shelters. Pet Network cares for animals until they are ready to be adopted out into loving homes across the Tahoe basin and beyond. Cats and dogs from across the Western states are brought to the shelter where they receive medical care, behavioral enrichment, and of course lots of love and attention from staff and volunteers. Since its inception, Pet Network has rescued and rehomed more than 10,000 animals in need, and new fur friends arrive to the facility weekly. Prior to adoption every animal is examined by the Pet Network veterinarian, Dr. Ryann Healy, who treats them for medical concerns, administers vaccines, and spays or neuters each animal before they are adopted out into the community. While waiting for their new families, the dogs rest in spacious kennels that have large windows and individual access to their own outdoor wooded play yards. The adult cats lounge in their indoor/outdoor ‘catio’, complete with a flat screen TV that imitates a fish tank, while the smaller kittens tussle around safely in their indoor ‘kitten playground.’ The upbeat energy you feel when walking through the humane society’s doors matches the growth they are experiencing. Staff bustle around the immaculate facility, tending to a new litter of kittens and consulting on the best video angles for a dog who will be featured on their Instagram page, all while a rather rotund lobby cat oversees the activity from her perch. The Pet Network team makes a concerted effort to ensure that the shelter is a place of love and laughter and new beginnings. From the afternoon
‘scent of the day’ that wafts through the dog halls via diffuser, to specially made pupsicles and Kongs chock-full of peanut butter and treats, the animals are lovingly cared for by the Pet Network family while they wait for their forever homes. Every staff person participated in a week-long training intensive, from the receptionist to the Executive Director, to become ‘Fear Free’ certified to work with animals in a safe, loving, and compassionate manner. Pet Network’s warm inviting vibe extends beyond the care of their animals, with an increase in community outreach events and collaborations, their lifesaving work is touching communities in the Tahoe basin and beyond every day. Cats and dogs are brought to Pet Network where they receive the care necessary to adopt them out into loving and grateful homes. Over 645 animals were rescued by Pet Network in 2020 and this year they are aiming to top that number.
How You Can Help
Incline Village’s beloved humane society has big plans for the future! As they continue to save the lives of animals across the Western states, with a small but dedicated staff, the help of volunteers is more integral than ever to their mission. The shelter has a host of volunteer opportunities available for both handson animal lovers, as well as for individuals who would prefer to contribute to the cause by working at the Pet Network Thrift Store, taking photos of animals, or helping out the front desk staff. Shelter visitors are welcome 7 days a week, stop by for a tour and say hello to the furry residents! Pet Network is honored to carry out the special work of changing the lives of rescue animals, and they are so thankful to the Tahoe community for their ongoing support.
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(LEFT): The Nelson Family at The Potlatch, from L to R- Katie, Lisa, Penny, and Aaron. (RIGHT): The Menath Family, Scott, Stetson, Sheperd, and Ashley. (FAR RIGHT): The Azzara Gitchell family.
By Kayla Anderson
AS PEOPLE WHO’VE BEEN HERE for a while know,
Incline Village/Crystal Bay is a beautiful place to grow up, start a business, and raise a family, and few people are lucky enough to say they’ve done all three. Even luckier are the community members whose parents started a small business and kept it thriving, paving the way for their children to take over. Here are a few examples of some of our favorite local businesses now in their second or third generation of ownership:
The Potlatch
Celebrating 50 years in business, Lisa and Aaron Nelson sell unique jewelry and gift items that make it one of the best boutique shops to visit for any occasion. The Potlatch was originally started by the Ross family on Ski Way in Incline Village and bought Native American jewelry from Lisa’s grandparents who were traders. The Ross’s sold the business to the Olsen family, who then sold it to the Wurtele’s (Lisa’s grandparents) eventually took it over. Lisa and her mother Lynn Brown lived in the house behind the store, and Brown eventually bought the store, and moved it to the Raley’s Shopping Center. Lisa took over The Potlatch in 2010 and still enjoys curating jewelry and other gift items from small mom and pop businesses. From home décor items to skincare, clothing, and children’s products, The Potlatch has it all. And while COVID-19 created some challenges with staffing and inventory, Lisa feels lucky to have great employees, repeat customers, and a supportive community. “It takes a lot to run this business. But luckily, I have a great core group of amazing managers,” Lisa says. And she emphasizes being incredible grateful for the employees (and customers) who’ve stuck with her through the pandemic. LIVE.WORK.PLAY.
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“It’s like having a second family. Especially during Covid, I’ve found that this is a nice little community, being able to lean on people and residents who come in to spend money,” Lisa says. The Nelsons have two daughters, 10-year-old Penny and 12-year-old Katie, who are also “jewelry addicts”, Lisa says. When asked if her daughters have plans to take over The Potlatch someday, Lisa responds, “They talk about it all the time. In their ‘What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?’ reports for school, they say they want to be shopkeepers. My fifth grader says she wants to run a candy store.” They already have a leg up on knowing how the business runs and Lisa appreciates their help. “They know how to use an adding machine, they’ll vacuum, clean windows. They’re reliable… and their little fingers are perfect for handling necklace clasps and earrings,” she smiles. “It’s cute, it reminds me of working with my mom,” Lisa adds.
Menath Insurance
Founded in 1981 by Mike Menath, Menath Insurance has grown to be one of the most trusted and respectable insurance companies in the Lake Tahoe area. Having a “passion for protection,” Menath provides its clients with all kinds of insurance and are happy to be able to help their clients in times when they need it the most. And being 40 years in business with offices in Incline Village, Reno, South Lake Tahoe, and Susanville, the Menath family shows no signs of slowing down. Mike’s son, Scott, got hooked on the insurance business after moving to San Diego and getting a job with an insurance company after college to “dip his toe in the water” as he says. He found that he loved it and moved back to Incline Village to collaborate with his dad. While running an insurance company in Lake Tahoe can be challenging (mainly insuring those in wildfire risk
areas), Scott is determined to give insurance companies a better name; his favorite part is helping people get back on their feet. And after seeing the response to the recent Caldor Fire, Scott has full faith that Lake Tahoe is one of the best places to be in times when disaster strikes. “There’s an intrinsic value for Tahoe that can be underwritten for. In this last fire, departments from all over the country came to save this place, it’s the jewel of the West. Tahoe is so responsive…if you look at the numbers, there’s zero change in risk in the last 30-40 years. I’m incredibly grateful for everything the fire departments have done for our communities,” Scott says. Although his dad Mike stepped back from the day-today operations in June 2021, he is still active with local fire boards to help keep people insured in this area. “I’m in a business when I see people at their worst and nothing makes me more pleased than to give them a check and help them rebuild. It’s part of an effort to give insurance a better name in the industry,” he says.
Azzara’s
On a weekday night in the shoulder season, people are trickling into the popular IV Italian restaurant to get hearty, traditional meals crafted with love. Azzara’s has been around since 1956, when Sam Azzara used his mother Vita’s recipes to open a restaurant in Stanton, California. He relocated to Incline Village in 1978 and opened a location here, quickly becoming an integral part of the community. Meanwhile, Sam’s youngest daughter Andrea graduated from IHS and went to school at University of Nevada, Las Vegas on the millennial scholarship. She loved to cook and graduated with a degree in culinary arts management, moving back to Northern Nevada. In 2007, Andrea and her husband, Cord Gitchell, took over Azzara’s.
A lot has changed over the years, but Azzara’s has come out stronger than ever. Sam passed away in 2018 and the Gitchells are currently raising three sons: 15-year-old Tate, 12-year-old Dane, and 9-year-old Mac. Especially during the pandemic, it helped to have them around. “Tate is old enough to work now, it’s a huge gamechanger. He helps me unload food, he busses tables; he’s just as capable as any of my adult staff,” Andrea says. She also credits the continued success of Azzara’s to their ability to adapt quickly, implementing carry out, online ordering, and delivery services when they reopened. Azzara’s treats their staff well, allowing them to keep 100 percent of their employees when things started opening back up. For instance, just look at head chef Valentina Medina and Zoelia Medina who’ve been with the restaurant for more than 40 years. When asked whether her sons have expressed interest in taking over Azzara’s, Andrea replies, “Hopefully one of them will take it over. They’ve all talked about it… one will say, ‘When I run this place, I’m going to be the bartender and you’re going to do dishes or something like that,’ but that’s just them being boys,” she smiles. However, Andrea is adamant about encouraging her children to follow their hearts and pursue their own interests. Only time will tell…Andrea and Cord were young when they took over the business and still have a lot of years left. And although it’s hard running Azzara’s without her dad around, fortunately being involved in the restaurant helps keep his memory alive. “People loved to see him, running around bussing tables, and we were always telling him to slow down,” Andrea says.
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THE WASHOE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE was recently awarded a public safety grant
from the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation. This grant enabled the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Incline Patrol Division to increase its staffing footprint and provide additional resources to the Incline Village Community. In 2008, during the great recession, Sheriff Mike Haley had to make the difficult decision to close the substation. While law enforcement services were still provided to Incline Village, the station was managed out of the Reno Patrol Office. Due to the generosity of the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation, additional staffing positions were awarded beginning July 1, 2021, and the station was reopened. The Sheriff’s Office currently has its leadership team in place and deputies completing their field training program by year’s end. Captain Corey Solferino, Lieutenant Anthony Miceli, Sergeant Peter Sewell, Sergeant Joseph Colacurcio, Sergeant Noah Boyer, Sergeant Brian Atkinson, and Sergeant George Cholico will lead these deputies in new strategic policing initiatives and crime reduction strategies to include stratified policing, community-oriented policing, directed patrols, and problem-oriented policing. This leadership team tested and was hand-selected for the opportunity to be included in the Incline Village Community. They are here first and foremost because they want to be here and effect positive change. We are excited about integrating with the local business community and residents to provide excellent service and build upon solid relationships. Under the guidance of Sheriff Darin Balaam, our team is happy to bring education and enforcement concerning topics crucial to our community. Our team is ready, willing, and able to address some of the more complex issues that plague our region. These issues include but are not limited to opioid and substance abuse, mental health, persons experiencing homelessness, human exploitation and trafficking, traffic and pedestrian safety, and impaired driving. We look forward to becoming more involved in the day-to-day interactions of the community we serve and welcome the challenge to earn your respect. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Incline Patrol Division is Committed to our Community.
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with TART (Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit) to bring this service to Incline Village/Crystal Bay. It can provide rides for free since the service is paid for out of the TOT (Transit Occupancy Tax). The summer TART Connect service was so popular in its pilot season that it recently reintroduced it to run this winter. It has been operating from 6pmmidnight daily but may expand them depending on demand. Shortly after Susan picks me up from the Incline Substation, there are already five rides lined up in the queue by 6:15 pm. We pick up two Argentinians who are renting a house off Tyner (Susan knows the owners and has been here a few times before) and we drop them off at Raley’s, and then from there pick up two guys from Thailand armed with shopping bags and take them down to their home at Mays Boulevard. I’m blown away at how busy she is so early into her shift on a Monday night. “When people figured this out, it’s like a whole new world opened up for Incline,” Susan says.
By Kayla Anderson
IT’S 6 PM, and TART Connect driver Susan Hahn is getting ready to start her shift of picking people up and dropping them off at places around Incline Village and Crystal Bay free of charge. Even though it’s a Monday night, Hahn is especially busy since the day marks the first snow of the season. It’s cold outside and quite a few of IV/CB’s hospitality workers don’t have cars, so utilizing this complimentary on-demand service is a great alterative on freezing nights like these. Full disclosure: Susan and I have been friends for at least 10 years, meeting at Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe when she was the office manager and I worked in the marketing department. Her father-in-law lived on Country Club Drive in Incline Village for 15 years (I spent a Thanksgiving there with Grandpa Gerry) and Susan’s daughters Cassie and Sammy have also lived in Incline Village on and off throughout the years. The Hahn family knows the IV/CB area well. Everybody absolutely loves Susan, so it wasn’t a surprise when I learned that she became a Lyft driver three years ago. Around that same time, Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows introduced a free on-demand shuttle service through Mountaineer to provide on-demand rides in and around Olympic Valley. In the 2018/19 winter season, it gave more than 150,000 rides. Its enormous success prompted other North Lake Tahoe communities to get involved, and this past summer Downtowner partnered up
It seems that most of the rides she gives are for seasonal and hospitality workers who are juggling several jobs to stay afloat. We talk about how nice it is to have a safe service available to get to and from the local bars (especially travelling that stretch from Crystal Bay to Incline where there’s no shoulder to safely ride a bike or walk) and data showing that ride share services are reducing drinking and driving incidents. As she says this, we pick up some people from the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe and a customer from the Paddlewheel who she knows well. “You make a lot of friends from this job,” she says. “Being a Tahoe Connect driver is like being a bartender or a therapist,” Susan says. If I wasn’t there, people will sit up front with her and either keep quiet or unload their whole life story. “I have so many regulars; that’s why it’s so needed here,” Susan says. When I ask what Susan’s favorite part of the job is, she replies, “You know me, I talk to everybody. And I get to listen to my own music, be kind of independent. I love the regulars. So many times, I drop someone off and they say, ‘Love you, Susan!’ That’s how close knit this community is.” The TART Connect operates in three zones including the Tahoe City area, Kings Beach area, and Incline Village/Crystal Bay. To book a ride, download the app, choose the destination in the appropriate zone, and the driver will be there within 15 minutes to pick you up. If you don’t have the app, you can also call 530-2145811.
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Joyce Anderson and Lorne Greene observing a presentation.
READERS OF THE FIRST EDITION OF LIVE.WORK.PLAY. will remember the article entitled
“Colorful Characters of Incline’s Past” (the Bill Anderson Story) concluded with Bill’s lease of 448 acres of land on the mountain where the Incline Railway had operated in the late 1800’s. In 1962 Bill had already established a small stables operation on what is now the Tunnel Creek Cafe site of his property to provide horseback riding for tourists visiting the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. In 1962 Bill decided to move that stable operation to his newly leased expanse of forested mountain side on a spot above his increasingly unused equipment yard. Access roads were created and land leveled for the construction of a much larger horse barn and coral. Long time employee J.C. Putman supervised building. Adjacent to the stable area, Bill created a frontier town to display some of the frontier era artifacts he’d been accumulating to lend the newly named Incline Stables the aura of the old west that would appeal to horseback riders. By fortunate coincidence, by 1964 the television series Bonanza had become the most watched television program in the nation. Bill had already concluded an arrangement with the show’s producers to care for the horses they used when they filmed occasional shots on location at the Lake. Increasingly visitors to the stables inquired about the location of “The Ponderosa Ranch” depicted on the burning map that opened the TV show every week. It didn’t take long for Bill to see that Incline Stables was sitting on a goldmine and he set about transforming his stables into a place which heretofore had only existed on the television screen and was filmed mostly in Hollywood TV studios. Bill decided to capitalize on the interest caused by the TV show by charging a Fifty cent admission fee to the grounds. In 1965 when Bonanza star Lorne Greene released an LP record with a song on titled “An Old Tin Cup” Bill decided to gift such a cup free to any customer who bought a soft drink at his newly created Old West Saloon near the stables. The cups and saloon were a smash hit with visitors. Over the following years tens of thousands of LIVE.WORK.PLAY.
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Colorful Characters From Incline’s Past those cups went home with tourists from around the world. Bill continued to add attractions to the Incline Stables operation, from children’s rides to an 1880’s hand carved carousel. By 1966 the operation was becoming a full scale western themed amusement park. Bill knew that there was no “real” Ponderosa Ranch except on TV, and he asked attorney Don Carano to research ownership of the name “Ponderosa Ranch” and found it was not registered. So they incorporated the “Ponderosa Ranch & Stables” name and renamed the Incline Stables operation. NBC was furious but after several months of haggling the lawyers hammered out a deal which gave Anderson exclusive rights to merchandizing Bonanza products plus rights to use the names and likenesses of the actors in exchange for 10% of the gross profits on sales at the ranch. NBC considered the deal a win-win and so did Bill. Bill then set about planning his next coup—creating an exact replica of the Cartwright family ranch house. Thanks to a disgruntled former Paramount employee, Bill obtained exact blueprints of the house as built on the studios’ lot in Los Angeles and duplicated it. It became the jewel in the crown of what had become the “real” Ponderosa Ranch in Incline Village. In June of 1967 a local grand opening was held and that year more than 150,000 people poured through the gates. But it was not long before the NBC executives realized that Incline Village now had an exact replica of the Cartwright home and another brouhaha ensued. But Bill convinced them of the benefit of having an exact duplicate of the ranch house at Lake Tahoe where they could also film scenes for TV episodes. A crew from the studio visited to make sure every aspect was the same as the studio locations. All was perfect, except that the angle of the structure to the sun was off so the shadows would be different if two scenes had to be cut together. Bill had the entire house lifted off its foundation and rotated to perfection. With the folks at NBC finally happy with the way things were playing out with their new “studio” location, a cooperative attitude had finally come into play. And on June 13, 1968 a true
Grand Opening was held with NBC President Thomas Sarnoff, Dan Blocker, Michael Landon and Lorne Greene all present. Governor Paul Laxalt unveiled the dedication placard o the ranch house near the front door and some 500 travel agents and media representatives wrote glowing reports which circulated around the world. With all the added attractions the price of admission had only risen to one dollar for adults. In 1968 some 250,000 people came to Incline Village to visit the Ponderosa Ranch and the “Cartwright family home” had become the number one holiday destination for Bonanza television fans around the world. In succeeding years annual attendance between Easter and October was almost always a quarter of a million people or more, and hundreds of others attended private events held on the property. Interviewing Joyce Anderson Bock and family members brought to light other aspects of the operation that most visitors never realized. For instance, although the facility was here in Incline Village, much seasonal help did not come from locals but from college students recruited from the midwest—especially Minnesota and North Dakota. The business required about 125 people on a daily basis and many seasonal employees returned year after year. Visitors to the Ranch filled the nearby motels and hotel/casinos; others stayed in Reno, Truckee or on the South Shore and drove in for the day. International visitors planned summer vacations just to see the “home” of Hoss and Ben Cartwright with Germany and Japan the primary sources. Our local Visitor Center has said that even today foreign tourists arrive asking how they can see and perhaps tour the famous Ponderosa Ranch. In the late 1960’s Bill seriously explored the possibility of recreating the old Incline Railway of logging operation days as a tourist attraction for the Ranch—one that could operate year round. But running the numbers revealed that it’s construction and operation would cost more than it could return and so the idea was shelved. That idea of rebuilding the funicular was revived by the new management team headed by David Geddes around the year 2000 and engineering drawings were even completed, but this time the idea was further beset by permitting and regulatory issues. The famous Cartwright Ranch House which was introduced to the public in 1967 was largely constructed from antique lumber recycled from the old Hall of Records building in San Jose and a razed mansion in Antioch, CA. And the famous village church which opened in 1976 was not moved to Incline from the Nevada boondocks but built on site replete with six stained glass windows which did from an actual church near Topeka, KS that Bill learned was about to be razed for a freeway project. Give Bill Anderson credit, when it came to recycling he was 40 years ahead of the times. Many people also never knew that Bill and Joyce Anderson became ambassadors of good will to the world for the United States Department of Commerce, receiving the very first “Visit
U.S.A. Ambassadors” citation in 1972. Bill and Joyce toured the world for the Department of Commerce between 1972 and ’76. One such trip to New Zealand resulted in buying a second home there at Lake Taupo where they then spent winters. It was there that their daughter Jillaine met David Geddes whom she later married. Bill and Joyce legally separated in 1988 and concluded an amicable divorce in 1995. In 1996 Bill Anderson gifted the Ranch to his children and retired to his “other ranch” in the Dayton Valley. Then son-in-law David Geddes became President of the Ponderosa Ranch while son Joyce Anderson Bock Royce as Vice President handled the holding a portrait of her and Bill. day-to-day operations and Jillaine handled the merchandizing business. Bill Anderson passed away in 2004 shortly after completing his autobiography. Joyce Anderson married famed test pilot Charles Bock in 1997. Charlie passed away in 2019 and Joyce still lives part of the year in the beautiful home she and Bill had built together back in the day above Tunnel Creek. The family decision to sell the ranch was first considered early in the new Millennium after David and the Anderson children concluded that with major projects like reinventing the Incline Railway or building a hotel and Bonanza museum on the site were so constrained that the future evolution of the Ranch was going to be problematical. As David recently remarked, and I’m paraphrasing his words….we loved running the Ponderosa Ranch but the handwriting was on the wall—you either grow and change or die. The three owners then started looking at what might be the next best use of the land and its archives and initiated discussions with several public agencies including IVGID, Washoe County, Nevada State Parks and others. The talks had slowly moved ahead for several years when in July of 2004 Incline resident David Duffield stepped forward and made a full cash offer which the family accepted. The Ponderosa Ranch continued to operate the rest of that 39th season, with throngs of happy guests as usual and closed forever on September 26, 2004. Of that last day Royce Anderson was quoted in the Nevada Appeal as saying, “People just didn’t want to leave…. It was great, and we ran out of everything, including beer.”
Richard Miner PAST PRESIDENT, INCLINE VILLAGE & CRYSTAL BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
IVCBA.ORG
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