Tahoe Donner News – September 2014 by Tahoe Donner Association

FEATURES

Dr. Nina Winans Meet your Tahoe Donner neighbor

Construction Update, New Name An update on the new facility

DEPARTMENTS

TAKE NOTE

From the General Manager’s Desk Net operating results; a look ahead

Fall Golf Specials Come out to play and save

Monthly Calendar A glance at September events

Remembering Summer 2014 A photo recap

Let’s Get Together Amenity events and happenings

Tahoe Donner Photo Contest Your last chance to enter!

Architectural Standards Office Building setback information

Tahoe Sierra Century Ride A fall tradition visits Tahoe Donner

Taking Care of Business Board meeting recap

Emergency Drought Measures A note from the TDPUD

Fire Safety Inspections News from the forestry department

Ski Season Passes On Sale Now! Buy early and save

Where in the World is TD News? TD News travels the world

Eat + Drink = Happy What’s on the menu? Chowder!

ALYSON STETZ/TAHOE DONNER

FORREST HUISMAN/TAHOE DONNER

6 06

23 10

VOL. 15, NO. 9

FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER’S DESK

SEPTEMBER 2014

EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION STAFF Brinn Talbot Gretchen Sproehnle Jenny Kendrick Jill McClendon

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President

Jim Stang, jcstang@sbcglobal.net

Vice President

Tom Johns, btjtd@aol.com

Treasurer

Steve Miller, stephen.m.miller@wellsfargoadvisors.com

Secretary

Ron Wulff, rwulff@sbcglobal.net

Director

Courtney Murrell, 2courtneymurrell@gmail.com

Board of Directors

board@tahoedonner.com

Postmaster Send address changes to Tahoe Donner News, 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA 96161 530-587-9400, Fax 530-587-9419

comdep@tahoedonner.com

Advertising Sales Creative Concepts + Media is the exclusive advertising representative. 775-327-4200.

Publishing Information Tahoe Donner Association holds the exclusive service mark right to “Tahoe Donner.” Any unauthorized use of such will be regarded as an infringement of that service mark right and is prohibited. The inclusion of advertising in this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Tahoe Donner Association or its board of directors of the products, services, or views contained therein. Tahoe Donner News (ISSN 1550-6061) is the official monthly publication of Tahoe Donner Association, which is located at 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee, CA 96161. Each membership parcel receives one subscription to a domestic address. Additional subscriptions are available at the cost of $25 each. Cost to produce and distribute this publication is offset by advertising revenues. Periodicals Postage Paid at Truckee, CA, and additional mailing offices. Member letters to Tahoe Donner are published in the Members section of tahoedonner.com, where publishing guidelines are available.

September is a great month in the mountains with brisk mornings, warm afternoons, and cool evenings, often referred to by those who live in this area as their favorite time of year. It also marks the start of our 2015 budget planning cycle leading toward a solid map for next year’s programs and activities, which directs decisions for the annual assessment by the board of directors. Currently, we can forecast significant cost demands which will impact the next budget due to our workers’ compensation policy and California minimum wage increases. The pressure to make up for the lost revenue from this past winter season will bring an even more conservative approach in our revenue estimates for the winter season to come. This year we are also updating two important documents for the association: the strategic plan and the general plan. Our current strategic plan has guided the association for the past five years and is now in need of reviewing and updating to guide us for the next five years. This process will occur over the next several months with the participation of our board of directors, staff, volunteer committees, and the membership as well. Our General Plan Committee has just started their process of updating the long-term capital infrastructure investment document called our general plan, which is funded by the development fund. This plan takes a twenty-year look at the foreseeable future infrastructure needs of our amenities, while balancing our level funding stream and identifying future amenity improvements.

This summer we’ve seen record numbers of members and their guests participating in the wide variety of offerings at Tahoe Donner. There are many indicators of value and utilization for Tahoe Donner, but one of the basic measurable tools is the comparison of our net operating results. July 2014 net operating results were favorable to budget by $167,000 or 77 percent, and favorable to last July by 73 percent. Of course, this was composed of countless exchanges and interactions that include our budget recovery program (noted below), sold-out day camps, aquatics classes, golf rounds, beach rentals, mountain bike rentals, lunch and dinner at The Lodge Restaurant & Pub and Pizza on the Hill, tennis lessons, fitness classes, Waterpalooza attendance, the Super Diamond concert on the driving range, along with many more programs and services utilized by the membership, their guests, and public. And, these do not include the countless opportunities exercised by members who enjoy our trail system, bingo nights, free concerts at Northwoods Clubhouse, and movie nights, just to name a few of the more popular activities and programs. Perhaps the most popular program to return this summer was the free Tahoe Donner shuttle to Truckee Thursdays which now averages over 400 riders each week. It’s no surprise we had a difficult winter this past year, due to the lack of winter weather. The resulting impact on our revenue expectation and overall budget has been significant. By the end of March 2014, we were off budget (Continued on p. 4)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

September FOR ADDITIONAL SEPTEMBER EVENTS SEE

LET’S GET TOGETHER ON PAGE 12 Season Passes Go on Sale

FALL FESTIVAL!

Season passes and season-long programs for both the Downhill and Cross Country Ski Areas are now on sale. See page 25. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Pizza on the Hill Fall Hours Starting Sept. 1, Pizza on the Hill’s new hours will be Thursday through Monday, 5-8:30 p.m. and will no longer serve lunch. See page 22. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Saturday, October 1 1

10 A.M. to 5 P.M.

Joi n us for one of our big ges t eve nts of the yea r! The re is som eth ing for eve ryo ne at o ur har ves t fest ival . Enj oy a pum pki n patch, a rts and cra ft ven dor s, “Do ggi e Dip ” con test in the swi mm ing poo l, live enterta inm ent , k ids car niva l are a wit h gam es and foo d, a s wel l as a bou nce hou se, clim bin g wal l, fall bee r sele ctio ns, BBQ and mo re! JOI N US! $15 for unl imited wri stb and or $1 per tick et.

Drive & Dine Fall Golf Special

Nor thw ood s Clu bho use , 1150 9 Nor thw ood s Blv d., Tru cke e

Our Drive & Dine fall golf promotion starts September 2. It starts at just $67 and includes a $20 food credit at The Lodge! See page 10. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

ALL EVENTS ARE DEPENDENT ON CONDITIONS. PLEASE CHECK TAHOEDONNER.COM OR CALL 530-587-9400 FOR UPDATES. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

SAT.-SUN., SEPTEMBER 27-28

Last Day of Bikeworks

End of Summer Party

Tahoe Donner Senior Tournament

This is your last chance to rent a Giant bike and hit the trails, and this is the last weekend camp for the kids, too. See page 13.

Join us to celebrate another fantastic summer at Tahoe Donner from 5-7 p.m. Live music, happy hour specials and more. See page 22.

The fourth annual! Be on the lookout for some of California’s top players in this tournament for ages 40-plus. See page 13.

tahoedonner.com |

(continued from p. 2) by $855,000. With this shortfall in mind, and potential continuation of poor winter conditions for 2015, staff and the board of directors started implementing budget control measures in January 2014 that would extend throughout the entire year. These budget recovery measures included a scaled-back forestry program, mandatory five day furlough for full-time regular employees, reductions to programs and services which had minimal impact to our members, and additional expenditure controls on discretionary spending. As a result of these measures, and very strong summer participation across our amenities, we have reduced this budgetary loss to under $300,000 year-to-date. With continued diligence and positive amenity results to budget, there is potential that this remaining loss to budget will continue to be reduced by the year’s end. Of course, this erosion of our operating member’s equity fund that is maintained as our operating contingency fund will be reviewed during the budget cycle for 2015. Our minimum balance for this fund has been established by policy at $500,000, and we should reach this minimum balance by year’s end. However, the expected balance per policy is designed to be 10 percent of operating revenue, or $962,000, which helps to protect the association from uncontrollable weather related budgetary impacts. An important indicator of the health of Tahoe Donner is the increase of new construction in our community, now up to 22 homes under construction this year. Currently, of the 6,471 privately-owned residentially-zoned properties within the Tahoe Donner subdivision, fewer than 747 remain undeveloped. The strength of our market is indicated by the very low level of delinquent assessments of 1 percent—or 67 owners—who have not paid their 2014 assessment. With growing utilization of the amenities across your community, along with improving housing statistics, the board of directors and General Plan Committee have continued to review general plan priorities to ensure we are appropriately prioritizing capital improvements to meet the needs of the membership. Currently, the new Nordic facility is

TOWN OF TRUCKEE ROAD WORK UPDATE

The Town of Truckee recently awarded a construction bid for the overlay of the Northwoods Boulevard face (from Donner Pass Road to the Northwoods and Northwoods Boulevard stop). The project is estimated to begin after Labor Day. For more details on this project, visit townoftruckee.com.

| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

well underway, and at press time the foundation is already set and walls are starting to go vertical. The goal of this project is to complement our world class Nordic operation and trail system of well over 100 kilometers of the finest trails with a facility that reflects this quality and better accommodates our members, guests, and paying public. Our expected completion date for this new facility is early January 2015; however, we remain optimistic for an earlier completion date. Regardless, we will be prepared to support Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in a new or temporary facility when the snow flies this winter. Further refinement of the equestrian campus options has continued to take place with the equestrian steering committee and staff. The board of directors reviewed these refinements to the equestrian campus at the Aug. 23, 2014 board of director meeting and approved moving forward with final plan development and improvements for the 2015 operating season, pending permitting and appropriate regulatory agency review. The Town of Truckee trails and bikeway master plan trail No. 13 from Tahoe Donner to downtown is now known as the Trout Creek Trail. Town Council has authorized supplementary funding, in addition to Truckee Special Service Area 1 funds, from other sources of up to approximately $700,000 as noted in a Town of Truckee staff report. The first phase of this trail construction is already underway this summer, with the second phase anticipated in 2015. Lastly, The Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD) implemented the state’s mandatory drought regulations at a special board meeting on August 12, 2014. The TDPUD board’s action authorized the general manager to implement stage 2 of the TDPUD’s water shortage contingency plan. The end result is that customers must now limit irrigation with potable water of ornamental landscapes and turf to two days per week. See page 24 for more information on this. Enjoy your September; I hope to see you at our amenities.

ROBB ETNYRE | GENERAL MANAGER

0N THE COVER Ethan Raymore, 8, is no stranger to Tahoe Donner Golf Course. He and his grandfather, Steve Urie (a.k.a. “Papa”), play three to four times per week. The fourth-grader learned the sport after recieving a set of golf clubs for Christmas when he was 3 years old; he enjoys playing golf with his friends, he says, and especially loves beating Papa in putting contests. The young golfer is a member of the Tahoe Donner Junior Golf Club and last year, at 7, finished third in the Tahoe Truckee Junior Golf Tour in the 8/9 division. This year, he finished second by one stroke. (In case you’re wondering, next year he plans on winning.) His family’s favorite activities at Tahoe Donner, besides golf, include biking and hiking the trails, swimming at Trout Creek, skate skiing, renting kayaks, and dining on the deck at The Lodge; the calamari is a favorite choice for Ethan and Papa.

PHOTOS: DAPHNE HOUGARD

Dickson Corporate Logos

Holiday Party = Ski for Free!

Dickson Realty Logo

Book a party at The Lodge and every guest can ski for free at the Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area or Cross Country Ski Center! At Santa’s request, all room charges and site fees will be waived for Christmas parties before December 19. For more menu options on our holiday parties, please contact group sales at 530-582-9643 or email groupsales@tahoedonner.com

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TAHOE DONNER CONTACTS

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Member Communications (area code 530) Member Services

587-9400

info@tahoedonner.com

General Manager

587-9431

gm@tahoedonner.com

White L Can be backgro ground

Contact Member Services to be transferred to other administrative departments.

Amenities Alder Creek Campground 587-9462

campground@tahoedonner.com

Beach Club Marina

marina@tahoedonner.com

587-9460

Bikeworks 582-9694 bikeworks@tahoedonner.com Cross Country Ski Center 587-9484

xcski@tahoedonner.com

Downhill Ski Area

587-9444

ski@tahoedonner.com

Equestrian Center

587-9470

equestrian@tahoedonner.com

Dickson Corporate Logos Dickson Realty Logo

Forestry 587-9432 forestry@tahoedonner.com Golf Course

587-9443

golf@tahoedonner.com

The Lodge

587-9455

lodge@tahoedonner.com

Pizza On The Hill

582-9669

pizza@tahoedonner.com

Recreation Info Hut

587-9413

troutcreek@tahoedonner.com

Tennis Center

587-9474

tennis@tahoedonner.com

Trails 587-9432 trails@tahoedonner.com Trout Creek Rec. Center

587-9437

troutcreek@tahoedonner.com

Dickson Realty Tagline

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Covenants, Al Noyes

alandjosi@gmail.com

Elections, John Sorensen

jasoren10@gmail.com

Finance, Jeff Bonzon

jdbonzon@yahoo.com

General Plan Committee Co-Chair, Michael Fajans mhfajans@gmail.com General Plan Committee Co-Chair, John Stubbs stujod@sfsu.edu

Tahoe Donner Association Chartered Club Presidents Bridge Club, Robin Reese

rbtahoe@sbcglobal.net

Friends of TD Trails, B.R. Levine

tdtrails@gmail.com

Rowing Club, Dot Mace

dotmace@me.com

Senior Alpine Ski, Dave Wallace

dwallace0717@gmail.com

Tennis, John McGregor

jmpj1964@gmail.com.

9-Holers, Barb McCabe

barbmccabe@sbcglobal.net

Men’s Golf, Bob Moore

bob4moore@aol.com

Women’s Golf, Fran Macomber

franmacomber@aol.com

Hiking Club, Robin Reese

rbtahoe@sbcglobal.net

Quilt Club, Linda Brush

sewlinda@aol.com

Junior Golf Club, Jean Lai

jslai@comcast.net

TD 4-Wheelers Club, Bill Ratcliff

td4wheelers@gmail.com

Equestrian Club, Susan Terrell

terrellsf@earthlink.net

White Lo Can be us backgrou ground w

backgroundDREAM Corporate Blue Logo YOUR LIFESTYLE

Tahoe Donner Association Committee Chairs Architectural Standards, Jason Wooley aso@tahoedonner.com

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FEATURE

Dr. Nina Winans, Concussion Expert

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR BY GRETCHEN SPROEHNLE Having your bell rung. Getting a ding. A blow to the head. Slang terms used by athletes often downplay a head injury, and may contribute to the situation being considered less severe—or worse— ignored completely. Compounding this is the fact that many believe that loss of consciousness is a requirement for a concussion. It has been estimated that there are 1.6 million to 3.8 million sports-related concussions per year in the United States, but even this staggering number may be underestimated as concussions frequently are unrecognized or go untreated. However, recently the issue of football-induced concussions and related brain trauma has been a hot topic. Awarenesss has spread throughout not only the professional sports world, but also in the youth and school sectors. The subject has even reached Congress, where former football players and neuropathologists testified before a House committee, taking the National Football League (NFL) commissioner to task on the matter. Recent findings by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine found that the number of concussions and injury rates have increased significantly in Division 1 football programs that participated in their study. While some attribute this to the fact that new policies mandate reporting and treatment, it has shed some light on the prevalence of the injury. In 2010, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) adopted a policy requiring teams to implement concussion management plans. Last year, the American Academy of Neurology released new evidence-based guidelines on the evaluation and management of sports concussion. Nationwide, sports institutions and teams large and small have taken notice. And now, thanks to one Tahoe Donner resident, the Tahoe-Truckee region is on board as well.

| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

While the topic receives attention on Capitol Hill and beyond, closer to home, Tahoe Donner’s own Nina Winans has been working tirelessly to bring it to the forefront. The Truckee physician and medical director for the Tahoe Center for Health and Sports Performance is not only passionate about concussion awareness but is one of the most respected sports medicine physicians in the region. A former college athlete herself and parent of high school and middle school athletes, Winans, along with a team of fellow physicians and educators at Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD), created a comprehensive concussion program in the community. Last year, the team was able to bring the Play It Safe concussion program to our student athletes, including a testing and additional care component to protect and help those who sustain head injuries. Play It Safe includes administration of ImPACT testing to TTUSD students — a computerized test that establishes baselines for mental acuity and reaction times. This test is just the first step in the relatively new concussion management plan. In addition, through the Tahoe Institute for Rural Health Research, a non-profit subsidiary of Tahoe Forest Hospital, Winans and her team are conducting a separate research project on traumatic brain injuries right here in our local community. “When kids take the test, we have to make sure there is some level of understanding that goes along with it,” Winans explains, adding that it is pointless to take the test unless is it coupled with education. This is where, she says, other team members come in. TTUSD athletic directors, trainers, and others in the community who are willing to take it on and put time into it lend the support needed to help the Play It Safe program succeed. “If you don’t have healthy kids, they can’t really learn,” Winans says, adding that if a patient “pushes through” or if an injury is ignored,

Nina Winans, MD, and Truckee High student, Mackenzie Redner, work through an ImPACT test in the Truckee High School computer lab. ImPACT tests, part of the Play It Safe concussion managment plan at TTUSD, establish baseline acuity and reaction times, giving healthcare providers valuable information on patients who sustain head injuries.

symptoms can go on longer and get more severe. “It is a big concern when a secondary injury is sustained before the first one is resolved. If it is downplayed and kids go back to school or sports too soon, the mental and physical stress may slow the brain recovery,” she says. Post-concussion symptoms include headaches, dizziness, cognitive challenges focusing in school, and more. Often hard to predict, Winans says post-concussion syndrome can

last for only a week or two in some kids while going on for months in others, causing delays in getting back to even simple day-to-day tasks and normal cognitive functions. In some cases, returning to the sport too soon after a concussion can cause symptoms to last for years. According to Winans, when children sustain fractures or knee or shoulder injuries, they typically heal faster than adults, but head injuries in children heal slower than in adults. Unfortunately, concussions are more preva-

lent in active communities like Truckee and Tahoe where residents participate in a variety of sports. “The people who are attracted to this area tend to move here so they can get outside and participate in the sports they love. Kids grow up watching their parents and maybe push their limits more here than in other regions,” Winans says. “Because of that we probably see higher numbers of concussions,” she says. Here in the TruckeeTahoe area, it’s not just football head injuries, she says. Skiing, soccer and mountain and

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Winans is a lifelong cross country skier and lover of the outdoors.

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION? A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. Concussions are caused by a bump or blow to the head. Even what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious. You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of a concussion can show up right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury. If your child reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical attention right away. were drawn to Tahoe Donner, she says, for all the amenities.

road biking injuries contribute to the overall number. The silver lining, Winans says, is that this prevalance makes it easier to be part of the research effort, and ultimately, part of the solution some day. Winans completed her family practice residency and sports medicine fellowship program at University of California, Davis. She was mentored by Jeff Tanji, one of the founders of the American Society for Sports Medicine, who also later established the UC Davis Sports Medicine department with colleague Rick Marder. During her fellowship, she spent several days per week in Berkeley, traveled with the University of California football program, and took care of athletes in other sports as well, while also conducting research in the physiology lab and completing a project in hypertension and exercise. Today, Winans says, she still collaborates regularly with both Tanji and Marder. “Having that connection and being able to run situations by your mentors is really great,” she says.

“We really do use them all. The Nordic Center is a huge plus for us,” she says. As a native Norwegian, she quips that she “was born with skis on,” and says her three daughters, Annika, Mia and Britta have all skiied since they could walk. In fact, even before they could walk, she took them out to Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center in pulk sleds. “I would get funny looks when taking them out in stormy weather. They were very comfy, all snuggled up in sleeping bags made in Norway designed for 20-below, and people would say, ‘You don’t have children out in this weather, do you?’” Aside from Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center, the family plays a fair amount of golf, visits the marina, and meets friends several times per week in the summer to barbecue on the beach. The Winans utilize the trail system extensively as well. “The trails just keep getting better and better,” she says. “This is our backyard. To have access to all these trails for running and mountain biking is really awesome.”

Winans joined the Truckee Tahoe Medical Group immediately after finishing her residency and fellowship training. She moved to Truckee in 1994, first renting a house in Tahoe Donner. After watching the house next door being built, she and her husband Lex decided to purchase it.

We are lucky to have Dr. Winans here in our very own backyard. Her talent and passion contribute greatly to our local community by keeping our kids healthy, but her affiliations in the regional sports medicine world are far reaching as well.

“It was really big when we first moved into it, but three kids later, it became really small!” The Winans remodeled and expanded that same house and have lived in it since 1995. The two

So the next time you see a parent pulling a kid in a pulk sled in a blizzard, don’t give them a funny look. It’s just normal for our active Tahoe Donner families!

| Tahoe Donner News | September September2014 2014

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION? Signs Observed by Parents/Guardians If your child has experienced a bump or blow to the head during a game or practice, look for any of the following signs and symptoms of a concussion: • Appears dazed or stunned • Is confused about assignment or position • Forgets an instruction • Is unsure of game, score, or opponent • Moves clumsily • Answers questions slowly • Loses consciousness (even briefly) • Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes

Symptoms Reported by Athletes • Headache or “pressure” in head • Nausea or vomiting • Balance problems or dizziness • Double or blurry vision • Sensitivity to light • Sensitivity to noise • Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy • Concentration or memory problems • Confusion • Just “not feeling right” or “feeling down”

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU THINK YOUR CHILD HAS A CONCUSSION? 1. 2. 3.

Seek medical attention right away. Keep your child out of play. Tell your child’s coach about any previous concussion.

Source: CDC.gov

tahoedonner.com |

FEATURE

FALL GOLF SPECIALS: DRIVE & DINE, FALL RATES

LAWN TIPS FROM THE PROS PREPARING YOUR LAWN FOR FALL It can be pretty tricky business keeping a lawn in good shape at altitude in the mountains. What’s a homeowner to do? We asked Kevin Kuehne, Tahoe Donner’s golf course superintendent, for some thoughts. He came up with some tips for us, and even offered to give more comprehensive instructions for fall landscaping in the next issue. In the meantime, here are a few ideas for what to do this month to keep your lawn healthy.

DRIVE & DINE It was so well received last spring, we decided to bring it back for fall! We are offering a Drive & Dine golf special again through the end of the golf season.* Starting at $67 for Tahoe Donner members, $77 for guests, or $87 for public, you can play 18 holes with a shared cart and get a $20 food credit at The Lodge Restaurant & Pub. Valid for golf play any day beginning Sept. 2 after 1 p.m. daily; food credit must be used the same day. For more information, call the golf pro shop at 530-587-9443.

FALL GOLF RATES Remember, fall golf rates go into effect starting Monday, Sept. 15. Members can play 18 holes for just $50, or twilight rates (2 p.m. or later) for just $35. Nine-hole play, starting at 4 p.m. is only $25, and to squeeze some golf in at the end of the day our Last Light rate, exclusively for members, is a mere $15. No excuses— see you out on the course! *Closing day for Tahoe Donner Golf is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 19, 2014, weather and conditions permitting.

| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

SEPTEMBER TIPS: • Start thinking about a fall fertility application for late September or early October • Adjust run times and reduce application frequencies of your irrigation systems • Comply with the State of California’s water conservation efforts to reduce use of potable water for irrigation purposes Look for a full-length article to be featured in the October edition of TD News, where we will go into greater detail on how to prepare your lawns and landscapes for the upcoming winter season.

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| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

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Fairways and Greens,

We’ve had such a spectacular summer so far! Although the afternoon showers and thunderstorms hindered some afternoon play last month, ER ONN the golf course is enjoying the additional water and remains inH O the E Dbest S TA AT I C shape in years. The mornings are getting cooler, and the greens are U Q A R a good idea to sharpen B E up HE firming up and getting quicker. It’sOalways AT T H E NNE D T E N O H your short game to help with TA your scores. EVE CIAL A quick reminder to all, our morning tee times will be adjusting due SPE to the potential frost delays and weather conditions. This allows our maintenance staff to complete on-course work prior to the start of play. Please check ForeTees or contact the golf shop to make your reservations up to two weeks in advance for members. September brings the annual Men’s Invitational, scheduled for September 13 and 14. This event brings members and guests from all over the country for some great fun and good golf. There are still some spots available; members can go to the Tahoe Donner Men’s Club website to download the application, or stop by the Men’s Club information board near the golf shop and pick one up today! We’ve got some great deals going on in the golf shop. From shirts and shorts to golf balls and gloves, it’s a great time to stock up on your favorites. This is also a great opportunity to get some of your holiday shopping out of the way at a fraction of the regular prices. For any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the staff in the golf shop.

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SS CRO I EN PU B L I CAnnual AM Fourth Tahoe Donner Senior Tournament

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This USTA event will not only draw players E Wall over the NorthI KRfrom B ern California area Ebut many of our local athletes E N as they E P fight for rankR TA L S & R ONN D R E E S O ing points and the Tahoe title. Aonline at O N N SignRup TA H A R D Donner championship OE D A E U H I A G K T E S www.norcal.usta.com and click on the junior tournament link. More F L LI B HIL N HE W E Acan information imindell@tahoedonner.com. O I T T H Ebe provided by emailing D EN PU B C AM ER Come out toNwatch some up-and-coming tennisL Istars. ON

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PR E Be on the lookout for some of the top players from Northern CaliforI V AT E A M I N N I SR EN PU E T R BLIC AM E N nia and beyond to be in the draw, looking for the title of Tahoe Donner E N A T O CPE N TAEHN OE DL S K I A R E senior champion. Age divisions start at 40-plusEand R I V With R run all the way I L operating hours beginning Tuesday, Sept. 2, The Beach new AT E A M H N ON T E Rsenior tennis to 70-plus. Prepare to be inspired Tby ofNthese OW N I O E Dsome E D A Hwhat C E N be open from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Rentals are available P Club Marina U B L I C will AM I A Nto all USTA R members and R E T players can do on a tennis court. Play is open N ER ES ON from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and must be returned by 6 p.m. The finalEday ONN RY O EE NDI EQU O D P UTA H the ON UNT I signupsRare Senior Tournaments tab. BLIC AM C O TA H E Kat www.norcal.usta.com under T E A S of operations is Sunday, Oct. 5. Members must have their kayaksRout of H C L U E S RC D E O N D C R U A LFor more C please email tennis@tahoedonner.com or call I R E PB Oinformation E ACE VR I N A EN PU storage by our final day of operations. RO BLIC AM S P G RMEMBERS GRAMS A D M 530-582-9625. O MaP & A O 10 a.m. S C EEPTU TD M E NI LU B The Marina Grill is open daily from 6 p.m., but will offer EN W RIV H I AT E A M M BLIC A C T N R A DATE: SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 AND 28 N L O E N Sept.P2.O O T limited menu starting ER JOIN N TBeach SH RE E PR EN R ARE INTE C For more information please contact the Club Marina at 530M E I VAT E A We will continue to offer Cardio Tennis, themed clinics, Mens Day,E D O N N PR EN I VAT E A M SDONNorERseeTtahoedonner.com/beach-club. O R K E 587-9460 R TA H O OE N Ladies Day, Mixed Doubles Day and lessons throughout the month E K ofW TAHT R I A N C E I B RE September. You can view our monthly calendar online at tahoedonner. EESP I A LU S & R NER EN TQ EN P U KOVACH ALI | MARINA MANAGER DON K Remember, for BLIC AM E com/tennis, or download toAkeep for handy reference. S E O E D R C R T H R D A E N D U U A L summer, G this those who have purchasedIsix packs G R Oplease be sure to use L F EB E P M R H E ODS A them end of the season they do not carry over into next E AC I O Tas THE O N Nbefore the R N D W E P E H E U O BLIC AM T CESDclosing O N N date TA H IOur year. S Efor the Tennis Pro Shop and the completion of ATT NOR POOL R U AHO U Q O A C programs is Sunday, Oct. 12, but the tennis courts will our scheduled PR EN E LHF BE I VAT E A M NER AT O THE I G DON N E remain open for casual play until the first big snow storm of the season. S O E PU BLIC AM TA H ORK See you on the courts this fall at the Tahoe Donner Tennis Center. IKEW IT

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Guided rides are available starting at $10 per person, and we have a full fleet of rentals with options for families, including bikes for kids.

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QU The Trails Department, along A with E R BE E E H NN Friends Tahoe Oof TDonner Trails, will AT T H N OE D H E A T hold a volunteer work party on SaturL EV ECIA S P day, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Watch your emails for more details on the project; it will likely be a morning of light trail work, such as brush clearing and rock removal. Interested participants will meet at the roadside parking near the Cross Country Ski Center. For more information, call 530-582-9672 or email trails@tahoedonner.com. SEAN CONNELLY | TRAILS MANAGER

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IAN MINDELL | DIRECTOR OF TENNIS

School has started and fall is fast approaching, but tennis is still in full NIS TEN TER swing at the Tahoe Donner Tennis CPE N E N Center. Our September lineup of events, RIV R E AT E A M ONN TER N O E Dhas something E H clinics and programs A C T IAN T Rrefuse E for everyone asSwe to let summer end. USTA team play, a junior U I Q E N PU ME B A L I C tournament, the Fourth Annual USTA Senior Tournament and a full schedule of play days, clinics and lessons will keep you swinging all the way through the month. Book some time to play during the month of September at the Tahoe Donner Tennis Center.

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USED RENTAL BIKE SALE Bikeworks sells a third of the rental fleet each year. The annual Tahoe Donner rental bike sale is going on now through Monday, Sept. 8, during normal business hours from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. every day. The selection includes a variety of Giant bikes that are no more than two seasons old and have been professionally maintained by the Tahoe Donner Bikeworks staff. Bikes for sale include front and full suspension mountain bikes, with a few other selected bikes. Prices start at $100. For details, call 530-582-9694.

DAVID WALKER | BIKEWORKS tahoedonner.com |

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Trivia Night is Back! Trivia Night starts up again in September. See page 22 (Pizza on the Hill) for details.

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Century Club Challenge Celebration Come join us in celebrating our Century Club Challenge Centurions for 2014 on Friday, Oct. 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Trout Creek Recreation Center. Enjoy some light appetizers and wine as we recognize our Century Club inductees. All those who have visited Trout Creek one hundred times by Sept. 30 will be made honorary members of our Trout Creek Century Club and will receive a Trout Creek Century Club T-shirt. We will also unveil the Century Club Hall of Fame and reward our super-centurions (150 visits), mega-centurions (200 visits), and of course, the centurion who has the greatest number of visits to Trout Creek.

Friday Family Movie Night A fun, free event for the whole family. See page 22 (Pizza on the Hill) for details.

Kids Night Out Tahoe Donner hosts an evening of games, dinner, arts and crafts, a movie and even a bedtime story at the Northwoods Clubhouse from 5-9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month for children ages 4-9. Space is limited; please make reservations online at ShopTD (tahoedonner.com/shop). Call 530-587-9437 for details . DATE: FRIDAY, SEPT. 5; TIME: 5-9 P.M. COST: $20 PER CHILD; ADVANCE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

DATE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17

Mark your calendar for Fall Festival Kids Club Possible Evening Hours We’ll continue to be open daily from 9 a.m.1 p.m., but we are considering adding evening hours again, and we are soliciting parent feedback. If you would like to see us add this service, email Ashlie Taylor, Kids Club Coordinator, at ataylor@tahoedonner.com. Ask about our Kids Club punch cards… they make great gifts! Purchase at the Trout Creek Recreation Center front desk. For more information, see tahoedonner.com/fitness.

| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

Fall Festival is one of Tahoe Donner’s biggest events of the year. Enjoy arts and crafts vendors, seasonal beer offerings, pumpkin patch, a kid’s carnival with games and food, a rock climbing wall, bounce house, and much more at Northwoods Clubhouse. For more information, call 530-587-9413 or visit tahoedonner.com/rec-programs. DATE: SATURDAY, OCT. 11 TIME: 10 A.M.-5 P.M. COST: $15 FOR UNLIMITED WRISTBAND OR $1 PER TICKET

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Tahoe Donner Women’s Golf Club We had another very successful guest day. The Diamonds and Denim Tournament was a huge success! We had guests from 42 differNER DON E E S O ent clubs and fielded l28 players. Everyone TA H OUR C F enjoyed the format and ease of scoring the I GOL EN PU games. Prizes were awarded B L I C A Mto half of the field. The raffle, tee prizes, snack bags, breakfast and decorations were fabulous. As usual Kevin and his crew had the course in great shape. A big thank you to the pro shop for all the support and hard work they provided. Kudos to Beth Krewedl and Gina Vadnais, ER tournament directors,Dwho O N Ndid aTfantastic job N HOE A V T E Ehappen. And, making this wonderful event L A I EC S Pthe let’s not forget time and energy put in by the committee chairs and volunteers. This has been a very busy summer. We played in President’s Cup matches as well as the club championship and for the first time, we had a men’s and women’s club mixer with a Ryder Cup format. Both clubs enjoyed the event. Golf season is not over so keep swinging and enjoying our beautiful golf course with all of the fine women in our Tahoe Donner Women’s Golf Club.

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Tahoe Donner Quilt Group Tahoe Donner Quilt Group has been busy all this year making quilts for the Truckee Healthy Babies organization through Child Advocates of Nevada County. This time we

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presented 31 quilts to Susan Duffey Smith, the family assessment worker with the organization. We have given her over 60 quilts in one year. She told us a great deal of what their organization is doing with these quilts and it was very gratifying. Since they are now well-stocked we are shifting our emphasis to placemats for Meals on Wheels. We want to bring a smile to the recipients with colorful placemats for their meals. If anyone has any fabric or thread to donate, please give them to ‘Chelle Sonder at Member Services. All are welcome to join us in the conference room at Northwoods Clubhouse on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 6 - 8 p.m. Come for show-and-tell and great fellowship.

Tahoe Donner Senior Alpine Ski Club Are you a senior Tahoe Donner alpine skier age 55 or above? Want to enjoy year-round sports and activities in a fun social environment? Then the Tahoe Donner Senior Alpine Ski Club may be for you. In July, club members enjoyed a golf tournament for all levels at Tahoe Donner Golf Course and spent a day kayaking out of Meek’s Bay at Lake Tahoe followed by a potluck lunch overlooking the lake. In September, we look forward to a spectacular sailing adventure aboard a 50-foot yacht on Lake Tahoe and an end-of-season golf tournament. We welcome new members so please check out our website at tdski.com for details on club activities and to download a membership application form.

Tahoe Donner Men’s Golf Club This year’s Tahoe Donner Men’s Golf Club

KENNY BLUM PHOTOGRAPHY Tahoe Donner’s Quilt Group poses with their handiwork. Having donated over 60 quilts to local nonprofit organizations in the past year, the group continues to work with charities. Photo provided by Linda Brush.

Invitational will be held September 13 and 14. This is your chance to show off our course and community to your friends who may not get a chance to experience Tahoe Donner otherwise. The golf course is in its best condition in years! This event is open to all Men’s Club members and their guests. It is a fun-filled weekend and includes two days of prime-time golf, carts, range balls, a special tee prize from the Nike Mobile Pro Shop, Friday evening party including a putting and chipping contest, two breakfasts, two lunches, a wonderful dinner (including no charge dinner for your wife/significant other), beverage service, lots of prizes and awards, the horse race, the Snowtech gorilla hole, the Rapton Honda baby gorilla hole, and a chance to win a trip for four to Bandon Dunes or $10,000 with a hole-inone on hole seven! Visit our website at www. tdgolfclub.com to learn all about this fabulous tournament event.

There will be four flights based on total team handicaps. This will allow players in each flight to compete with other teams of similar ability. Day one is a shamble at 70 percent of player’s individual handicap. Day two is a two-man best ball at 90 percent of player’s individual handicap. (Continued on p. 16)

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(continued from p. 15) Invitations and entry forms have been emailed to all Men’s Club members and entry forms are located on the Men’s Club bulletin board outside the golf pro shop or at our website at tdgolfclub.com. For more information, contact Art King at aiking156@att.net.

TD Junior Golf Club The Tahoe Donner Junior Golf Club season ended with sunshine and smiles for its annual club championship tournament Thursday, August 8. With the sun shining, 41 junior participants enjoyed a high Sierra putting contest and a competition round of golf. The winner of the championship 18-hole flight was Lauren Hickam with a remarkable round of 83. The winners of the other flights that played nine holes were as follows: Ethan Flynn, blue flight; Ethan Raymore, yellow flight; Sam Lager, white flight; and Landi Giordani, orange flight. Winners of the high Sierra putting contest were Ethan Flynn, Max Carter, Sam Lager and Landi Giordani. Many thanks to all of the parents and volunteers who made this event a tremendous success.

Friends of Tahoe Donner Trails This has been a summer of great events and growing membership for the Friends of Tahoe Donner Trails club. In July we partnered with the Tahoe Donner Trails Department for another Alder Creek Meadow cleanup. This time we focused on a derelict barbed wire fence alongside Alder Creek Meadow, which posed a hazard to people, dogs and wildlife. At the end of the day we had successfully removed over a mile of rusted barbed wire in total.

Tahoe Donner Junior Golf Club members all smiles after the annual club championship tournament Aug. 8, 2014. Photo provided by Jean Lai.

Invasive weed spotting has proven immensely popular in Tahoe Donner, so we were excited to host the Weed Warriors for another educational weed walk. Attendance at last year’s event smashed all previous records, and this year’s walk proved even bigger. Though we ran a little late, we were able to see nearly every invasive plant species known to be growing within the association. The Friends of Tahoe Donner Trails Club is for anyone who values and enjoys Tahoe Donner’s natural surroundings. To learn more about the club, our trails and cleanup projects, and our work on invasive weed control, please visit us at TDTrails.org, or email us at tdtrails@gmail. com.

Tahoe Donner Equestrian Club

Refined • Reclaimed • Rustic

If your family enjoys peaceful wildlife viewing from horseback, pony rides, summer riding camps and lessons for kids, scenic Euer Valley trails and vistas, western barbecues, and cowgirls and cocktail events, then join our club by emailing terrellsf@earthlink.net. You’ll receive updates about activities, meetings and association plans for the future of our amenity. We welcome you to our Equestrian Club!

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| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

founder of the town, Henry Harley. His grave marker said that “he died with the belief that his town would someday live again.” From Summit City we headed north to Jackson Meadows Reservoir, Henness Pass Road and back to Truckee. If you haven’t joined the club yet, please consider joining. We will be taking a weekend trip to Bridgeport and Bodie ghost town the weekend of Sept. 19, 20 and 21. Join us for some fun with the ghosts! Check out our website at td4wheelers.com and if you are interested in joining the club, send an email to td4wheelers@gmail.com.

ABOVE: The TD 4 Wheelers Club had fun exploring the history of Summit City, Calif. RIGHT: The TD 4 Wheelers Club found some fantastic views on their July trail run. Photos provided by Bill Ratcliff.

TD 4 Wheelers Club News The TD 4 Wheelers had a fun trail run in July. Our route took us west on Henness Pass Road to the turnoff for White Rock Lake. We found some challenging 4x4 roads surrounding the lake and enjoyed our lunch while some of the younger members of the group went for a swim. From there we headed west to Meadow Lake, another gorgeous lake next to the long-deserted town of Summit City. In fact, the only remnants of the town are a memorial marker and the old town cemetery. When we visited the cemetery, we found the grave of the

START SNAPPING! This is your last chance to grab your camera or go through your photo archives and choose your best images. We’ll select our favorites and winners in each of the three categories will be published in the October issue of the Tahoe Donner News and will receive a $50 gift certificate to The Lodge Restaurant & Pub. CATEGORIES: ACTION, NATURE, PEOPLE For contest guidelines and instructions on how to enter, see tahoedonner.com/photo-contest. QUESTIONS? Email comdep@tahoedonner.com. CONTEST ENDS SEPT. 7, 2014 tahoedonner.com |

SUMMER 2014 Wow! What a fabulous summer at Tahoe Donner! We thought our members might enjoy seeing a few snapshots from the wonderful line-up of events, camps, and all the summer fun that happened this past summer at Tahoe Donnerâ&#x20AC;Ś From our sold out Super Diamond Concert on the Green, to Waterpalooza fun, to our new delicious food selections added to the menu at The Marina, T-9 Grill and our Marco Polo Grill to our new fitness classes added at the Tennis Center, this was an unforgettable summer here at Tahoe Donner. We hope you and your families had as much fun as we did and we plan to enjoy autumn and begin our early snow dances in preparation of a winter wonderland returning to Tahoe Donner.

| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

tahoedonner.com |

SUMMER 2014

CONTINUED...

| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

TAHOE SIERRA CENTURY RIDE ICONIC FALL FAVORITE WINDS THROUGH TAHOE DONNER

Tahoe daydream: After completing a challenging and scenic ride, you roll into Squaw Valley and enjoy a delicious meal serenaded by North Tahoe’s finest student musicians who directly benefit from your entry fee to the Tahoe Sierra Century Ride, Saturday, Sept. 13. Indeed, dreams come true at this quintessential Tahoe “miles for music” event. Whether one’s motivation is to squeeze in another training session before the Ironman competition or simply enjoy a stunning bike ride, the Tahoe Sierra Century Ride delivers. Featuring well-supplied rest stops and support, all of the routes start and finish in the Village at Squaw Valley. While the event’s moniker includes the word ‘century,’ the 100-miler is just one of three rides offered in this annual Tahoe event. Check out the following course descriptions and start warming up those bicycling legs!

COURSES 100-Mile Route: Departing Squaw Valley, ride along the Truckee River to Tahoe City, then enjoy 13 beautiful miles along the Lake Tahoe shoreline before climbing Brockway Summit. Next, enjoy a long descent into Martis Valley, then a strenuous 8-mile climb up to Tahoe Donner. Enjoy the vistas from the top before descending back into Truckee for a 5-mile cruise along Donner Lake. Climb Old Highway 40 over Donner Summit, and then descend to the Cisco Grove lunch stop. After refueling, head back up to the Summit and enjoy an exhilarating and stunning descent back to Donner Lake. Finish the ride with 15 flat miles along the Truckee River back to Squaw Valley. 60-Mile Route: This is an out-and-back trip with a vertical gain of 2,500 and one summit climb. After starting in Squaw Valley, riders follow the Truckee River to Truckee and then on to Donner Lake. Next, they head up and over Donner Summit on Old Highway 40, enjoy lunch at Big Bend, continue onto Cisco Grove for the turn-around, and then head back up and over the hill to Donner Lake and back to Squaw Valley, 6,800 vertical gain. 30-Mile Route: You’d like to participate, but not sure you’re ready for the big rides? The 30-miler is perfect for recreational riders (road bikers and mountain bikers). It’s got all the fun ride elements without any of the major climbs. Like the other routes, it starts and finishes at Squaw Valley. Participants ride to the West End of Donner Lake, enjoy lunch and then return to the Village at Squaw. Après Ride Party: Whether a rider selects the century ride or the 30-miler, they will be feted at the Village at Squaw Valley with tasty food from Fireside Pizza Co. and entertained with great music from North Tahoe middle school and high school bands.

MUSIC MATTERS Launched in 2003, the event is the brainchild of the North Tahoe Music Fan Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for the music programs at North Tahoe Middle School and North Tahoe High School. These award-winning programs include five concert bands and three jazz bands. Both North Tahoe schools have an extraordinarily high percent of students participating in the music program. Compared to the national average of 6 to 10 percent music program student participation, North Tahoe Middle School boasts a 65 percent participation rate, and the high school has 24 percent. Plus, of these music students, at least 60 percent also participate in a school sport.

INFORMATION Registration is open until the morning of the event, Saturday, Sept. 13. For more information, go to www.tahoesierracentury.com or the Tahoe Sierra Century Facebook page.

tahoedonner.com |

DINING OPTIONS The Lodge Restaurant & Pub

Open daily at 11:30 a.m. for the pub lunch menu until Sept. 28, and nightly year-round for dinner at 5 p.m. with artisan-crafted cuisine and spirits. For more information, call 530-587-9455 or to see our menus, visit tahoedonner.com/the-lodge.

Golfer’s Early Bird Happy Hour now Daily Golfers and non-golfers alike can join us at The Lodge Pub for drink specials every afternoon from 1 – 4 p.m. Domestic beer (bottles) and Coors Light drafts are $3, selected drafts are $4, and house red and white wines in addition to well cocktails are just $4.

Happy Hour Enjoy drink specials and 25 percent off small plates, soups and salads from 4 - 6 p.m. every day, through Sept. 28. Happy hour discounts valid in The Pub only.

No Corkage Tuesdays Bring in a special bottle of vino from home to savor in the dining room and the corkage fee is waived on Tuesday. Every other day of the week, bring in a bottle of wine and the corkage fee is waived when you purchase a bottle of wine from our extensive wine list.

restaurant. Take 25 percent off small plates, soups and salads, plus enjoy drink specials.

End of Summer Party, Friday, Sept. 26 Join us for our end of summer party as we toast to a fantastic summer season. Happy hour will be offered from 5 - 7 p.m. in the entire restaurant. Live music is scheduled from 6 - 9 p.m. Don’t miss it! * Offers listed are not valid during holiday periods and may not be combined with any other promotions or coupons. Offers subject to change.

WildER Wednesdays Returns! Starting September 3, happy hour specials will be offered all night long in the entire

Pizza on the Hill Starting Monday, Sept. 1, Pizza on the Hill will be open Thursday - Monday for dinner from 5 - 8:30 p.m. and closed for lunch.

Over 25 Years Experience

For more information, please call 530-5829669, or visit us online at tahoedonner.com/ pizza-on-the-hill to see our menu.

Thursday Night Trivia

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| Tahoe Donner News | June 2014

Trivia buffs, test your trivia knowledge from local history to current events, and win prizes. Trivia Night is held from 6:30 - 8 p.m. every Thursday. Prizes include gift certificates for free pizza. * The event will be cancelled at 7:15 p.m. if there is insufficient attendance by that time.

Happy Hour

Friday Night Movie Night

periods and are not valid with any other promo-

Order pizza from Pizza on The Hill and sit back and get cozy with the family while enjoying a movie on our big screen at the Northwoods Clubhouse. Friday Family Movie Night takes place at 6:30 p.m. every Friday. Movies are rated G and PG.

Sunday Half-Price Pizza Night Pizza on the Hill offers half-price pizza all night every Sunday. This offer is valid for cheese or pepperoni pizzas, for dine-in or to-go orders! At this price, everyone’s happy, including your wallet. Limit 6 pizzas per group.

A great way to quench your thirst! Get $3 Coors Light drafts, $4 seasonal draft beers, $4 house cabernet or chardonnay by the glass at Pizza on the Hill’s Happy Hour from 5 - 6 p.m. Thursday-Monday. * Offers listed are only valid during non-holiday tions or coupons.

MARCO POLO GRILL AT TROUT CREEK

Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. 3 p.m. through September 1.

T-9 GRILL

Open through the end of golf season with a limited menu starting Sept. 29.

FEATURE

TAHOE DONNER ENTERS A NEW ERA NEW NAME, CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS FOR NEW FACILITY BY FORREST HUISMAN, DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL PROJECTS

Alder Creek Adventure Center

Below left: Wall panels and roof packages were constructed offsite throughout the month of August, which has helped to expedite the construction schedule for anticipated completion in early 2015. Photos: Forrest Huisman, Tahoe Donner

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When the Tahoe Donner board of directors authorized major upgrades to our existing and increasingly popular cross country ski center, all within a short building season and operational

Above: The entire concrete slab of the new Tahoe Donner Adventure Center is now poured and utility trenching has been installed. Construction will go vertical with wall panels and roof framing through September.

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Construction Update

timeframe, unique strategies and efficient construction processes were born. Like the automobile industry has implemented for years, we’ve instituted similar preplanning and coordination efforts that allow for the majority of all 10,000 building components to be digitally designed, then fabricated and connected offsite (see photo at left). While this was taking place elsewhere, grading and foundation work began onsite for an expedited vertical framing and roof installation process this summer that completes the shell and allows installation of interior finishes during adverse winter conditions. Once complete, these processes will account for nearly half the normal construction schedule, which will allow the facility to open up fully in early 2015. Watch for email updates and more information to appear in Tahoe Donner News regarding an official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new facility. In the meantime, the trails will be fully operational as soon as the snow flies and coverage allows. For more information on the construction process, see our capital improvements page online at tahoedonner. com/major-projects/. For specific questions regarding operations for the new facility, call Member Services at 530-587-9400, extension 0.

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After soliciting member input and ideas throughout July and August, the board of directors voted on a new name for the wayfinding monument signage on Alder Creek Road. Board members reviewed homeowner feedback on three potential names as well as new name suggestions, ultimately choosing the most popular choice among homeowners: Alder Creek Adventure Center. With the variety of outdoor activities, including cross country skiing, equestrian, mountain biking, hiking, daycamps and more that will take place there, the name needed to reflect a broad range of interests.

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COMMUNITY

CALIFORNIA STATE REGULATORS ADOPT EMERGENCY DROUGHT REGULATIONS NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER FROM TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT SENT TO CUSTOMERS IN AUGUST, 2014 IMPORTANT: California State Regulators Adopt Emergency Drought Regulations; Truckee Donner Public Utility District (PUD) Takes Steps to Comply Dear Truckee Donner PUD customer, The Truckee Donner Public Utility District has taken action to implement restrictions on outdoor water use as required by law. The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has recently adopted emergency drought regulations which include provisions against wasting water that apply to all Californians along with the restrictions on outdoor irrigation. Compliance is mandatory and there are provisions for penalties and fines. The key impacts to Truckee Donner PUD customers from the state’s emergency drought regulations include: 1. Restriction on the irrigation with potable water of ornamental landscapes and turf to 2-days per week. This applies to all Truckee Donner PUD water customers; and 2. Prohibitions for all Californians, punishable by a fine of up to $500 for each day in which the violations occurs, against: • The application of potable water to outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes runoff such that water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots, or structures; • The use of a hose that dispenses potable water to wash a motor vehicle, except where the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle or device attached to it that causes it to cease dispensing water immediately when not in use; • The application of potable water to driveways and sidewalks; and • The use of potable water in a fountain or other decorative water feature except where the water is part of a recirculating system. To help with enforcement of drought regulations, the Truckee Donner PUD has established a formal procedure to receive complaints regarding observations of noncompliant incidents. Staff will investigate complaints and take action where appropriate. Complaints must be in writing and can be filed at www.tdpud.org home page (click on Forms button) or delivered to Truckee Donner PUD at 11570 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, CA 96161.

| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

The state’s emergency drought regulations went into effect on July 29, 2014 and will remain in effect until rescinded by the SWRCB. By law, emergency regulations such as these can only be in effect for 270 days before they need to be renewed. The Truckee Donner PUD board held a special meeting on August 12, 2014 and took action to implement the new regulations. With this notice, you are required to comply immediately with the mandatory regulations. Truckee Donner PUD staff are working with the state regulators to ensure compliance and to track any new developments and will communicate with our customers when significant changes occur. It is important to note that, although Truckee is in a drought, we are not experiencing a water supply shortage. However, we must all comply with the mandatory state emergency drought regulations and it is critical that we conserve water. The Truckee Donner PUD Conservation Department is available to help you save water though our very successful water-efficient toilet rebate/exchange, customer leak-repair rebate, free handouts of low-flow plumbing fixtures and hose-spray nozzles, and conservation garden. There are many opportunities to save water, money, and live more comfortably. Visit www.tdpud.org/departments/conservation for full program details. For information on the emergency drought regulations or to file a complaint for violations, visit www.tdpud.org (see Spotlight section or Forms button). For additional information, call 530-582-3931 or visit the TDPUD’s conservation department at 11570 Donner Pass Road. Regards, Steven Poncelet Public Information and Conservation Manager Truckee Donner PUD

DAPHNE HOUGARD

BULLETIN BOARD

ALYSON STETZ/TAHOE DONNER

SEASON PASSES ON SALE NOW

biathlon will be offered on Tuesdays, TD Kids on Wednesdays and Thursdays; and the junior race program on Fridays and weekends. See the website for times, age restrictions and signup information.

Tahoe Donner Downhill: The best place for family fun! Believe it or not, the longest day is far behind us and now it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming ski season. Throughout the warm summer, weather forecasters began talking of predictions of an El Niño winter, which means more precipitation than normal. Though no one can guarantee it, we are hoping that El Niño will bring us the winter we need to break the drought and give us a wonderful winter playground. We are looking forward to a great winter!

Tahoe Donner Cross Country: Exciting year ahead! Construction of the new cross country ski facility is well underway and staff is excited to move operations into the new building in early 2015. As soon as the snow flies and there is enough coverage, Tahoe Donner will be grooming for cross country skiing, so watch our website and your email inbox for updates. Season passes are a great deal if purchased by the end of November: Just $224 for members and $299 for public. Buy now to save. Cross country ski improvement and biathlon clinics, learn-to-ski specials, snowshoe tours, and the new midweek Technique Tune Up sessions will be offered throughout the season. The Skogsloppet fundraiser race, Winter Trails Day, Tahoe Donner Challenge, Taste of Truckee and the Tour D’Euer are all events not to miss. Be sure to check the events page on the website and mark your calendars. The popular after school cross country programs start at just $125 including a trail pass and equipment rental during sessions, and are expected to fill up again, so sign up early to guarantee a place. Youth

Tahoe Donner Downhill remains the best place for family fun and learning. We pride ourselves with that personal touch that larger ski areas can’t always provide. Looking for something to keep the kids busy this winter? Tahoe Donner Downhill’s programs are perfect for the beginner or intermediate skier or rider. Weekend and midweek programs are available for both skiers and boarders with a focus on fun, safety and learning. Starting at just $339, these programs are very popular, so visit the website and sign up soon. We will start taking reservations November 15 for regular ski school lessons. If you are looking for lessons over the holiday, be sure to reserve early as we get extremely booked during that time of the year. Downhill member passes start at $179, and the combined pass, which offers unlimited skiing and riding at both the downhill and cross country ski areas, is just $319. For the public, downhill season passes start at $299, and the combined passes start at $399. Remember, prices will go up December 1, so get your best deal now. El Nino may be bringing an early winter, so don’t delay! Get your season passes and sign up for season-long programs early, save some money and hit the trails and the slopes as soon as it snows. Passes and youth programs may be purchased online at tahoedonner.com/shop starting September 1. Questions? Until the ski areas are open, Member Services can help at 530-587-9400 or info@tahoedonner.com. tahoedonner.com |

BULLETIN BOARD

EAT + DRINK = HAPPY BY MICHAEL PETERS, DIRECTOR OF FOOD & BEVERAGE

CLAM CHOWDER: ROBUST AND FULL OF FLAVOR

Manhattan or New England? No, I’m not talking about the best vacation spots for the fall. I’m talking about CHOWDER! Like many older dishes through history, you’ll find the name of the food stems from the word used for the vessel in which it is cooked. While some believe chowder was named for the large cooking pot—or cauldron, known in French as a chaudière—that it is cooked in, others maintain it comes from the old English term for a fishmonger, “jowter.” Chowder and seafood stews can be traced back to the fishing villages along the coast of France from Bordeaux to Brittany. There are also early European references made in the Cornwall region of Southwestern England. When the ships returned from the sea, every village had a large cauldron waiting for a portion of each man’s catch, to be served later as part of the community’s welcoming celebration. Fish chowders were the forerunners of clam chowder. The chowders originally made by the early settlers differed from other fish soups because they used salt pork and ship’s biscuits. It is noted in early recipes that dairy is absent from the list of ingredients. Instead, the chowder got its thickness and richness from soaked biscuits. The biscuits were most likely tough, cracker-like hardtack, not the fluffy leavened biscuits of the American south, and dairy was not as easy to come by. Instructions were given to layer ingredients so they would not burn in the pot. The chowder of old could contain just about everything that flew, swam, or grew in the garden, much like Brunswick stew. Chowder may have been born in England and France but it grew up in America. The

| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

most famous by far is New England clam chowder. It is made from a milk or cream base. This chowder traditionally uses clams, potatoes, bacon and onions. New England clam chowder has been famous for centuries; in fact, Herman Melville even wrote about it in the classic novel “Moby-Dick.” (“Chowder for breakfast, and chowder for dinner, and chowder for supper, till you began to look for fish-bones coming through your clothes,” Ishmael opines in it.) New Englanders are also strict about the ingredients for their clam chowder, specifically shunning tomatoes in their version of the soup. In 1939, an assemblyman even attempted to pass a law to make it a statutory offense to add tomatoes to chowder. For those who are not offended by tomatoes, there is Manhattan clam chowder, which is made from a clear broth and includes tomatoes for flavor and color. In the mid-1800s, with large numbers of Italian immigrants moving to the east coast, specifically the New York area, tomatoes in clam chowder grew in popularity. The chowder was known by different names, including Coney Island clam chowder and Fulton Market clam chowder, but eventually became popularized as Manhattan clam chowder.

As the days grow cooler and you start to smell the smoke of wood stoves in the air, throw on a sweater and come down to the Lodge for some of Chef Lew’s housemade New England clam chowder.

BEVERAGE RECOMMENDATIONS Most white wines usually pair well with chowder. If you are a chardonnay person you might lean toward a bigger, more buttery option. You will also find that a crisp sauvignon blanc with nice citrus notes will help cut through the richness of a creamy chowder. For a beer choice I would recommend a Guinness stout, Newcastle Brown or our local FiftyFifty Charles B. Brown Ale. These beers will lend flavor without overwhelming the clams.

INSIDER TIP: If you decide to make your own chowder, instead of adding flour to create a roux, which can be tacky and pasty, mash a portion of the potatoes you have cooked in the chowder with a wooden spoon. This will act as a thickening agent. We hope to see you at The Lodge Restaurant & Pub to sample some chowder soon. Until then, chow — er, ciao!

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BULLETIN BOARD

TAHOE DONNER RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ENVELOPES Members often ask how and where they can develop their lot at Tahoe Donner. There are various zoning rules from the Town of Truckee combined with Tahoe Donner Association governing documents that regulate where you can build on your lot, often called the “building setback” or “building envelope.” Building setbacks exist for many reasons. They enhance street aesthetics, create privacy by preventing buildings being constructed too close to one another, and also prevent encroachments and snow from possibly shedding across property lines. Another reason for the setbacks is to provide easements for access, recreation, erosion control, and utilities so local power and water companies may gain access to infrastructure.

Fro nt

Property corners

SETBACK LINES: • Front Setback: Each lot includes an easement of snow storage by the Town of Truckee. These easements consist of a strip of land 20 feet wide at the front of each parcel and parallel to all roads (corner lots). • Side Setback: A minimum 10 foot side setback running parallel from the side property lot lines. • Rear Setback: Running parallel to the rear property lot line, a minimum rear setback is equal to 20 percent of the gross area of the lot or a minimum of 25 feet. The rear setback is intended to be preserved as a greenbelt area. • Building Height: The maximum height for any structure or improvement shall be 35 feet measured from the building’s midpoint on the downslope. • Maximum Lot Coverage: The maximum area to be surfaced including all buildings and paved areas is 35 percent of the total lot area.

EASEMENTS: • Utility Easements: Easements for installation and maintenance of utilities and drainage facilities are shown on the subdivision maps. These easements generally consist of 10 feet at the front of the Lot parallel to the road lines and five feet along and parallel to the rear and side lot lines if present. Within these easements, no structure, plantings or other material shall be placed or permitted to remain which may change or interfere with the installation and maintenance of utilities or which may damage, interfere or change the direction of

| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

Property corners

Side setback area (10 ft.)

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Re (20ar se % tbac or 25 k are ft. a min ) ) . t f (20 a e ar ck a b set

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Figure 1 (diagram not to scale)

flow of drainage facilities in the easements. • Recreational Easements: Recreational easements are shown on the subdivision maps. These easements typically consist of a 10 foot strip of land along the property line. In some cases, this strip of land could be much larger if running adjacent to the rear lot line. Within these easements, no structure of any kind shall be placed, erected, constructed or maintained, and no tree or vegetation shall be felled, cut, trimmed, pruned or removed, except as may reasonably be required by the association to construct and maintain trails and park sites therein and/or for the construction and maintenance of public and private utility easements shown on the subdivision maps. • Access Easements: These easements are created so an owner can gain access to a relatively steep lot. An access easement gives someone the right to travel across a designated strip of land owned by another person for ingress and egress purposes. Maps showing all access easements are maintained in the Architectural Standards Office. • Slope Easements: These easements were created to protect steep areas from erosion and sliding. No structure, plantings or other materials shall be placed or permitted which may damage or interfere with established slope ratios, create erosion or sliding problems, or may change the direction of drainage channels.

Street

Property corners

Rear setback area (20% or 25 ft. min

Front setback area (20 ft.)

Side setback area (10 ft.)

Front setback area (20 ft.)

Property corners

Street Figure 2 (diagram not to scale)

More information can be found on easements and setbacks in Article VI and IX of the TDA governing documents, and pages 10 and 11 of the Architectural Standards Rules, Procedures and Restrictions for Land Use (which may be found online at tahoedonner.com/architecturalstandards). If you have any questions regarding your building envelope or setback lines in relation a proposed structure or landscaping project on your lot please stop by the Architectural Standards Office for further assistance. Search ALL TAHOE DONNER Properties FOR SALE: www.TahoeTruckeeBrokers.com

www.ISellTruckee.com/TahoeDonner

SHERYL WALKER ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS OFFICE MANAGER

HOMES ON THE RISE The Architectural Standards Committee reviewed the following plans in July 2014: Unit/Lot 05/146 05/114 10/375

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NANCY COSTELLO BROKER-OWNER

CA Broker License # 01256997

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530.426.5005: CELL 530.582.5005: OFFICE

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Drawn to Fire? So Are We…

Firepits, firetables and outdoor fire accessories will keep you comfortable now through the fall. Visit our showroom to see what’s hot. Currently in-stock and shown here: OWLee Santorini & Aero; Tropitone Santorini, Banchetto & Spectrum; and, the Woodard Jax Firepit.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS BOARD MEETING RECAP JULY 19, 2014 Consent Calendar: Approved 5-0 • Bank signature card • Grant ingress and egress easement • Resolution 2014-3 board code of conduct and ethics • Equestrian Steering Committee appointment (Stubbs) • GPC resignation (Lewis) • ASC alternate appointment (Moore) • Covenants Committee appointment (Zapponi) Appointment of Board Secretary: Approved 4-1 (Director Wulff abstained) The board approved the appointment of Ron Wulff as new secretary for the association.

Serving you in two Truckee Locations: Main Showroom 11403 Brockway Road, 530-587-6681; and, Downtown Truckee in the historic Loading Dock building 10115 Donner Pass Road, 530-550-8800 www.Mountain Home Center.com

Appointment of Directors as Committee Liaisons: Approved 5-0 The board approved committee liaison appointments. Donner State Park Foundation: Approved 5-0 The board approved promoting the Sierra State Park Foundation’s fundraising efforts for the new museum at Donner Memorial State Park via instant news emails and in the Tahoe Donner News. Land Management Plan: No action The board was provided with an update on a new land management plan. Strategic Planning Guidance 2015 Budget: No action Discussion took place regarding the 2015 budget process. Trails Master Plan: No action The board received an update on the status of the Trails Master Plan. Tahoe Donner Cross Country Wayfinding Signage: Consensus By consensus, the board selected three preferred name options for the new Cross Country Center and approved obtaining additional membership input prior to a final vote by the board at the August 23, 2014 board meeting. Director of Finance and Accounting Report: Approved 4-0 (Director Murrell absent) The board approved the unaudited preliminary June 2014 financials. These summaries are intended for general information purposes only. The minutes are available at tahoedonner.com, upon request in the General Manager’s office, or by calling 530-587-9431. A copy of the minutes and current agenda are posted outside the Member Services Office in Northwoods Clubhouse.

| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014

BULLETIN BOARD

PROPERTY INSPECTIONS FOR FIRE SAFETY UNIT 2 AND UNIT 9 TO BE INSPECTED THIS FALL First, I would like to thank all of the members who have brought their properties into compliance and have maintained them. A great deal of work has been completed and Tahoe Donner Association is really starting to look in excellent shape as far as fire safety is concerned. With the fire season we experienced in 2007, many property owners expressed their concern about the level of fire safety on private lots. The board of directors listened to these concerns and adopted a four-year program to inspect all properties, both developed and undeveloped, in the association. The goal of this program was to inspect approximately 1,500 properties per year, and have them in compliance with state law, local ordinance and association covenants and restrictions by the end of the summer season. We have completed the original four-year program and are now entering the fourth year of phase 2. The goal from 2012 through 2019 is to inspect 750 properties per year under an eight-year program. For the 2015 program we will inspect some of the properties located on the northeast side of the subdivision. The streets we are going to visit include Brookstone Drive, Greenleaf Way and Telemark Place. The inspection area will also cover portions of Bennett Flat Road, Falcon Point Place, Hansel Avenue, Lausanne Way, Northwoods Boulevard, Pathway Avenue, Schussing Way and St. Bernard Drive. We will not be responding to complaints of properties outside of these three units as staffing levels will not allow. This serves as written notice as required by the Tahoe Donner Association covenants and restrictions that these inspections will occur between mid-September and mid-November this year, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. We plan to complete 50-100 inspections per day during this period. Inspectors will walk through the property in order to complete the inspections. All properties in the inspection area will be notified by email

whether they are compliant or need some work to become compliant in the late fall or early winter. For those properties with no email contact address, we will send a letter stating if the property passed or failed the fire compliance inspection. Upon receiving the non-compliance notice owners may request the inspection report to begin planning completion of the required work. The official notification to properties not in compliance will be mailed in the spring and early summer of 2015 with a list of the deficiencies; owners will be given 45 days to complete corrections. Authority for these inspections comes from the state of California Public Resources Code 4291, Truckee Fire Protection District ordinance 94-1 and Tahoe Donner Association C & Rs Article VIII, Section1 (a) iii and iv. Following is a list of items we will be looking for: DEVELOPED LOTS AROUND THE STRUCTURE OR TO THE PROPERTY LINE:

• Pine needles removed from the ground at least 10 feet from the structure • All pine needles removed from the roof • No vegetation within 10 feet of a chimney or propane tank • All combustible material removed from under decks and next to the structure. This includes stored firewood but it may remain if covered with a tarp • Nuisance firewood must be managed

• Break up “brush fields” so that individual bushes are left (allow for space between bushes to be 2 ½ times the height of the bushes) • Excessively dense tree cover thinned (generally trees under eight inches in diameter that are growing without proper spacing from one another or growing under the canopy of larger trees) • Nuisance firewood must be managed For all of the above items, 100 feet applies if your lot is flat. If your lot is on a steep slope, a greater distance may be required. UNDEVELOPED LOTS FOR THE ENTIRE LOT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY:

• For trees greater than 12 feet in height – all branches removed six feet from the ground • For trees smaller than 12 feet in height – remove the lower branches for half the height of the tree • Excessively dense tree cover thinned (generally trees under eight inches in diameter that are growing without proper spacing from one another or growing under the canopy of larger trees) • All dead and beetle-infested trees removed • All dry, flammable vegetation and woody debris between one-half inch and 12 inches in diameter removed (not pine needles) • Firewood is not allowed to be stored on vacant lots

WITHIN 100 FEET OF STRUCTURES AND PROPERTY LINES:

• All dry, flammable vegetation and woody debris between one-half inch and 12 inches in diameter removed (not pine needles) • For trees greater than 12 feet in height – all branches removed six feet from the ground • For trees smaller than 12 feet in height – remove the lower branches for half the height of the tree • All dead and beetle-infested trees removed

Remember, items that pertain to your lot need to be maintained on a yearly basis. The C & Rs require that each lot be maintained in such a manner as to not create a fire hazard. Failure to do so may result in a hearing before the Covenants Committee with the possible result of a fine being assessed until the required work is completed.

BILL HOUDYSCHELL | HEAD FORESTER tahoedonner.com |

BELIZE

Kerry and Sue Anderson visiting Ambergris Caye, Belize in March 2014.

MEXICO

Ma rk and Jill Richardson rela xing on a beach in Cancun, Mexico, and watching the parasa ilers.

ARGENTINA

Gordon, Connie & Cassidy Finwall enjoying the wine region of Mendoza, Argentina.

SCOTTSDALE

Ray Doving, Linda Doving, Janie Adams, and Steve Adams at Spring Training in Scottsdale, Ariz. in March 2014. The group was there to cheer on the San Francisco Giants!

Email your â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where in the Worldâ&#x20AC;? photos to: comdep@tahoedonner.com. Please submit only .jpeg files of 300 dpi or higher for printing. Photos must include a copy of TD News. Please list the names of everyone in the picture, where and when it was taken, and a short description of your captured experience. Note: please be patient; it could take up to six months to see your photo published due to a large number of submissions.

| Tahoe Donner News | September 2014