September 30 to October 6, 2020

local. independent. fresh.

september 30-october 6, 2020

eat & drink putting up the

harvest

the future of

hiking

tahoe mountain biking

fall color

& valley views

tahoe

entertainment harvey gross:

historyarts

south tahoe casino pioneer

magic of the delivering the fun since 1982

celtic harp

fun. unique. everywhere.

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Courtesy Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection

Volume 39 | Issue 21 TM

8

11

P.O. Box 154 | Tahoe Vista, CA 96145 (530) 546-5995 | f (530) 546-8113 TheTahoeWeekly.com Facebook.com/TheTahoeWeekly @TheTahoeWeekly

SUBMISSIONS Events & Entertainment Submit at TheTahoeWeekly.com Click on Events Calendar Editorial Inquiries editor@tahoethisweek.com Entertainment Inquiries entertainment@tahoethisweek.com

6

Courtesy Ben Fish

Cover Photography production@tahoethisweek.com

in this issue The Future of Tahoe Mountain Biking

6

Harvey Gross

8

GET OUTSIDE Lake Tahoe Facts

3

Sightseeing

4

Events

9

THE MAKERS Elisa Cutler

10

The Arts

10

THE LINEUP Anne Roos

11

Live

11

FUN & GAMES Horoscope & Puzzles

12

EAT & DRINK Canning

13

Tasty Tidbits

14

Apple Fritters

14

Twisted Oak Winery

15

TAHOE’S CHANGING OF THE SEASONS FROM THE PUBLISHER

Summer changed to fall on the Autumn Equinox on Sept. 22, but it was a few weeks of smoke-filled days that really marked the changing of the seasons this year. For a short while, visitors stayed home and out of the smokey air, but as the smoke left the Tahoe Sierra the influx of visitors returned, albeit not as many.

Parking lots around Emerald Bay and the East Shore remain packed with visitors as do many popular outdoor locations, although many U.S. Forest Service campgrounds remain closed throughout the region due to wildfire danger. Campgrounds in the Sierra State Parks will also close for the season on Sept. 30.

Fall is my favorite time for outdoor adventures as the trails are typically less busy and the traffic is mild. However, with ongoing pandemic shutdowns and virtual school in place in most communities it will be interesting to see if the region sees less traffic and visitors. What is sure is that the threat of wildfires remains, and we must all be vigilant. Learn more about being prepared from our recent story on “Fire, Fear & Red Flags” available at TheTahoeWeekly.com.

Fall colors or snow?

Fall happens quickly in the Tahoe Sierra and if you wait, you’ll miss it. Now is the time to start exploring higher-elevation trails for fall color. In the coming weeks, the fall colors will cascade down the mountainside to lower elevations as we enter October.

Tim Hauserman shares his recent outing on the Clear Creek Trail in this edition, which is great for views and fall colors. You can find some more of our favorite fall trails at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on Fall under the Get Outside menu.

Just as fall makes its brief showing of color, fall also usually brings our first snow to the Tahoe Sierra dusting some of our higher-elevation peaks and we are past due for that first snowfall.

Locals revel in talk of when the first snow will arrive, and the Sierra State Parks Foundation has come up with a unique fundraiser and is hosting its First Day of Snow Bet to raise funds for the organization.

on the cover Mike Haderer rides into the sunset on the Van Sickle Trail running alongside Heavenly Mountain Resort on the South Shore. Photography by Ryan Cleek | RyanCleek.com, @cleekndestroy

2

to our monthly e-newsletter at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Publisher & Editor In Chief Katherine E. Hill publisher@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 102

FEATURES 5

SUBSCRIBE

making it happen

SEPT. 30-OCT. 6, 2020

Clear Creek Trail

E-NEWSLETTER

Take a guess (1 guess costs $5) and choose the date when you think it will snow 1 inch in front of the Pioneer Monument at Donner Memorial State Park between now and Dec. 31. I’ve placed my bet, but I’m not sharing. Make your guess at sierrastateparks.org.

Last chance to win Our Donation Giveaway to win a custom table from Tahoe Slab concludes on Oct. 5, so make your $20 donation now to be entered in our giveaway for a custom, handcrafted 24” x 48” English walnut and Tahoe Blue epoxy coffee table from Tahoe Slab. The table is valued at more than $2,000. Enter by donating at paypal.me/TahoeWeekly or mail checks to P.O. Box 154, Tahoe Vista, CA 96148 (we must receive them by Oct. 5). Watch the table’s creation at @tahoeslabfurniture on Facebook and @tahoeslab on Instagram. 

Sales & Marketing Manager Anne Artoux anne@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 110 Art Director Alyssa Ganong production@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 106 Graphic Designer Justeen Ferguson graphics@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 101 Entertainment Editor Sean McAlindin entertainment@tahoethisweek.com Food Editor Priya Hutner priya@tahoethisweek.com Family Editor Michelle Allen michelle@tahoethisweek.com Copy Editor Katrina Veit Contributing Writers John Dee, Barbara Keck, Bruce Ajari, Mark McLaughlin, David “Smitty” Smith, Priya Hutner, Katrina Veit, Kayla Anderson, Lou Phillips, Sean McAlindin, Tim Hauserman, Alex Green, Lisa Michelle, Cam Schilling, Alex Silgalis

bears & wildlife BEAR EMERGENCIES BEAR League (530) 525-7297 (24 hours) | savebears.org A bear walking nearby or through your yard is not an emergency unless it is trying to enter your home or car.

INJURED ANIMALS Lake Tahoe Wildlife Center, South Shore (530) 577-2273 | ltwc.org The Wildlife Shelter, North Shore (866) 307-4216

TAHOE WEEKLY is published weekly throughout the summer and biweekly the rest of the year, with occassional extra issues at holiday times by Range of Light Media Group, Inc. Look for new issues on Wednesdays.

Subscribe to the free digital edition at issuu.com/ TheTahoeWeekly. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com.

TAHOE WEEKLY, est. 1982, ©2007. Reproduction in whole or in part without publisher’s express permission is prohibited. Contributions welcome via e-mail. The Weekly is not responsible for unsolicited submissions. Member: North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, North Tahoe Business Association, Incline Community Business Association, Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce, Tahoe City Downtown Association, Truckee Downtown Merchants Association, Tahoe South Chamber of Commerce and Alpine County Chamber of Commerce. Printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks. Please recycle your copy.

September 30-October 6, 2020

lake tahoe facts |

Read about how the lake was formed, Lake Tahoe’s discovery, lake clarity and more at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on Explore Tahoe.

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Zephyr Cove CAVE ROCK Cave Rock South EDGEWOOD CAVE ROCK Lake Tahoe Zephyr Cove TAHOE EDGEWOOD CAVE ROCK Stateline Emerald Bay Average Water Temperature: 42.1˚F Zephyr CoveSouth TAHOE Fannette Island South Lake Tahoe Zephyr Cove SKI RUN Emerald Bay Lake Tahoe South Average Surface Water Temperature: 51.9˚F Fannette Island LAKESIDE Stateline Emerald Bay TAHOEEagle Lake Tahoe SKI RUN Fannette Island Stateline Lake KEYS Emerald Bay64.9˚F BIJOU SKI RUN Average Surface Temperature in July: Watershed Area: 312 square miles

CAMP RICHARDSON

Highest Peak: Freel Peak at 10,881 feet Average Snowfall: 409 Tr ail R i minches Ta h oe

Permanent Population: 66,000 T Ta h oe

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Learn about the natural history of the Tahoe Sierra

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Natural rim: 6,223’

Size: 22 miles long, 12 miles wide Lake Tahoe is as long as the English Channel is wide.

Lake Tahoe has a surface area of 191 square miles. If Lake Tahoe were emptied, it would submerge California under 15 inches of water.

Why is the lake blue?

The Lake of the Sky appears blue in color as other colors in the light spectrum are absorbed and the blue light is scattered back.

Louis Phillips

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Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the U.S. (Crater Lake in Oregon, at 1,932 feet, is the deepest), and the 11th deepest in the world.

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• Geared for Games • Alice’s Mountain Market located at Squaw Valley • Donner Memorial State Park

Maximum depth: 1,645 feet

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Average depth: 1,000 feet

Shoreline: 72 miles

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Lake Clarity: 2019: 62.7 feet avg. depth.

1968: First recorded at 102.4 feet

Lake Tahoe sits at an average elevation of between 6,223’ and 6,229.1’. The top 6.1’ of water is controlled by the dam in Tahoe City and holds up to 744,600 acre feet of water.

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LAKE LEVEL Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

Readings taken on Friday, September 25, 2020 ELEVATION :

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

6,226.50 |

IN 2019:

C PACITY CITY:: 40 CIT 0,870 0 BOCA 12,362 CAPA

Explore Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 542-2908 | cityofslt.us Urban Trailhead at base of Heavenly Gondola with local exhibits and programs. South Tahoe

Fannette Island

Emerald Bay

(530) 541-3030 | parks.ca.gov Lake Tahoe’s only island is located in Emerald Bay & is home to an old tea house. Boat access only. (Closed Feb. 1-June 15 for nesting birds.)

TART/South Tahoe

Heavenly

West Shore

Tallac Historic Site

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 541-5227 | tahoeheritage.org Once known as the “Grandest Resort in the World” as the summer retreat for three San Francisco elite families with the Baldwin Estate, Pope Estate & Valhalla. Grounds open yearround. South Tahoe South Lake Tahoe

Truckee

Kings Beach

North Shore

northtahoebusiness.org Kings Beach is a popular spot for dining and shopping with the North Shore’s largest sandy beach located in the heart of town. Free parking at North Tahoe Beach, Brook Street, Minnow and the Christmas Tree lot on Hwy. 28. TART

North Lake Tahoe Demonstration Garden

Incline Village

Summer | Free (775) 586-1610, ext. 25 | demogarden.org Demonstrations of lake-friendly landscaping using native and adaptive plants, water conservation, soil stabilization techniques, defensible space from wildfires & BMPs. Self-guided tours & clinics. TART

North Tahoe Arts Center

Tahoe City

(530) 581-2787 | northtahoearts.com Featuring exhibits of work by local artists and works for sale by local artists. TART

Tahoe Art League Gallery

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 544-2313 | talart.org Featuring local artists, workshops. South Tahoe

4

truckeehistory.org | truckee.com Settled in 1863, Truckee grew quickly as a stagecoach stop and route for the Central Pacific Railroad. During these early days, many historical homes and buildings were built including The Truckee Hotel (1868) and the Capitol Building (1868). Stop by the Depot for a walking tour of historic downtown. Paid parking downtown. TART

Vikingsholm Castle

Emerald Bay

225

200,000 AF

125

175

150,000 AF

100,000 AF

75

50

25

Gatekeeper’s Museum

Tahoe City

Truckee River | FLOW AT FARAD 497 (530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org Featuring historic photos, the Steinbach Indian Basket Museum and historical memorabilia. TART

KidZone Children’s OPENING TBD Museum

Incline Village

Tues.-Fri. & by appt. | Free (775) 881-7566 | tahoesciencecenter.org University of California, Davis, science education center at Sierra Nevada College. Exhibits include a virtual research boat, biology lab, 3D movies and docent-led tours. Ages 8+. TART

Truckee Railroad Museum OPENING TBD

Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS)

TROA.NET

Truckee

Sat.-Sun. & holidays truckeedonnerrailroadsociety.com Learn about the historic railroad. Located in a caboose next to the Truckee Depot. TART

Truckee

Tues.-Sun. | Locals’ first Tues. half price (530) 587-5437 | kidzonemuseum.org Interactive exhibits, science & art classes for kids up to age 7. BabyZone & Jungle Gym. TART

Find more places to explore

Lake Tahoe Museum

VISITORS’ CENTERS

South Lake Tahoe

Museum of Truckee History

High Camp OPENING TBD

TROA.NET

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

Tahoe Science Ctr OPENING TBD

Truckee

2 PROSSER 11,061 CAPACITY: 29,840 (530) 582-7892 | parks.ca.gov CAPACITY: C 9,500 5 features exhibits DONNER 4,690 The Emigrant Trail Museum and artifacts on the Donner Party (1846-47) at 8 INDEPENDENCE 1,3763 CCAPACITY: 18,300 Donner Memorial State Park. See the towering Pioneer Monument.

A TART 20,400 40 MARTIS 1,052 CAPACITY:

Thunderbird Lodge CLOSED

East Shore

Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS)

6,228.02

CAPACITY: C 226,500

Emigrant Trail Museum

(530) 541-5458 | laketahoemuseum.org Features Washoe artifacts and exhibits on early industry and settlers. South Tahoe

Parking fee | parks.ca.gov (530) 525-7232 Park | (530) 583-9911 Tours Sugar Pine Point State Park is home to the historic Ehrman Mansion (summer tours), see boathouses with historic boats and General Phipps Cabin built in the late 1800s. TART

(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com Aerial tram rides with views of Lake Tahoe, Olympic Heritage Museum, events and more.

Ticket required. TART

497

(530) 543-2674 | fs.usda.gov Features Stream Profile Chamber to view slice of Taylor Creek, nature trails & more. South Tahoe

May-October | thunderbirdtahoe.org The former Whittell estate. This magnificent lakefront home features the Lighthouse Room, Old Lodge, 600’ underground tunnel (with a former lion cage) and Boat House, home to the “Thunderbird,” a 1939 wooden boat. Ages 6+ only.

No on-site parking. Tours by reservation only.

Olympic Valley

STAMPEDE 19,9661

FLOW AT FARAD

IN 2019:

200,000 AF

North Shore

Summer | (530) 583-3279 | terc.ucdavis.edu This 1920s-era building features a history of the field station, current UC Davis research projects, interactive exhibits and demonstration garden. Ages 8+. TART

Taylor Creek Visitor Center South Lake Tahoe

(775) 586-7000 | skiheavenly.com Enjoy a 2.4-mile ride on the gondola to the top with panoramic views. Ticket required. South Tahoe

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion

Tahoe City Field Station

|

6,226.50 |

175

Eagle Rock, one of the lake’s famous natural sites, is a volcanic plug beside Highway 89 on the West Shore. Trail to top is on the south side. TART

Truckee River C PACITY CAPA CITY:: 40 CIT 0,870 0 BOCA 12,362

ELEVATION :

150,000 AF

West Shore

visittahoecity.com Popular for shopping and dining with historical sites. At the junction of hwys 89 & 28, visitors may see the Tahoe City Dam, Lake Tahoe’s only outlet, and Fanny Bridge. Peer into Watson Cabin (1909) for a glimpse at pioneer life. Free parking at Commons Beach, Grove St., Jackpine St. and 64 acres at Hwys 89 & 28. TART

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

Readings taken on Friday, September 25, 2020

125

Eagle Rock

North Shore

50

Drive through one of the area’s natural wonders at Cave Rock, the neck of an old volcano.

The area is named for the small caves above Highway 50 that were cut by waves when Lake Tahoe was 200 feet higher during the ice ages.

Tahoe City

CAPACITY: 18,300 C 8

LAKE LEVEL A 20,400 40 MARTIS 1,052 CAPACITY: Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

25

East Shore

CAPACITY: 29,840 2

The Glacier Meadow Loop Trail on Donner Summit is a 1.2-mile walk through the geologic past.

5 DONNER 4,690 CCAPACITY: 9,500 Read more at TheTahoeWeekly.com. | Katherine E. Hill

INDEPENDENCE 1,3763

Check schedules & openings before visiting.

Cave Rock

CAPACITY: C 226,500

100,000 AF

ATTRACTIONS

PROSSER 11,061

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

75

SIGHTSEEING

STAMPEDE 19,9661

6,228.02

225

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Truckee

Thurs.-Mon. | (530) 582-0893 | truckeehistory.org Housed in the original Depot, built in 1901. Exhibits cover different eras in Truckee history. TART

Old Jail Museum

Truckee

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Kings Beach Kings Beach State Rec. Area (Thurs.-Mon., July-Aug.)

Incline Village 969 Tahoe Blvd. (800) 468-2463 Stateline 169 Hwy. 50 (775) 588-4591 Tahoe City 100 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 581-6900 Truckee 10065 Donner Pass Rd. (Depot) (530) 587-8808 U.S. Forest Service | Incline Village

Open by appt. | (530) 659-2378 | truckeehistory.org One of a few surviving 19th Century jailhouses used from 1875 until May 1964 (summer tours). TART

855 Alder Ave. (775) 831-0914 (Wed.-Fri.)

Olympic Museum OPENING TBD

U.S. Forest Service | Tahoe City

Olympic Valley

(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com Squaw Valley, host of the VIII Winter Olympic Games in 1960, celebrates its Olympic History with the Tower of Nations with its Olympic Flame and the symbolic Tower of the Valley at the entrance to the valley. The Olympic Museum at High Camp features historic memorabilia and photographs. TART

U.S. Forest Service | South Lake Tahoe 35 College Dr. (530) 543-2600

3080 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 583-3593 (Fridays)

U.S. Forest Service | Truckee 10811 Stockrest Springs Rd. (530) 587-3558

TRANSIT North Tahoe & Truckee (TART) | laketahoetransit.com South Tahoe | tahoetransportation.org

Parking fee | (530) 541-3030 | (530) 525-9529 ADA parks.ca.gov or vikingsholm.com Tour the grounds of Vikingsholm Castle (summer), see Eagle Falls and Fannette Island (the Lake’s only island), home to an old Tea House. TART/South Tahoe

Watson Cabin

Tahoe City

(530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org Watson Cabin, built by Robert Watson and his son in 1909, is the oldest building in Tahoe City and on the National Register of Historic Places. (summer tours). TART

MUSEUMS Donner Summit Historical Society

Soda Springs

donnersummithistoricalsociety.org At the corner of Old Hwy 40 & Soda Springs Rd. 20-mile interpretive driving tour along Old 40. TART

Boots McFarland by Geolyn Carvin | BootsMcFarland.com

GET outside

September 30-October 6, 2020 GET OUTSIDE

the outdoors | recreation | events | mountain life

Clear Creek Trail FA L L C O L O R & V A L L E Y V I E W S S TO RY & P H OTO S BY T I M H AU S E R M A N

T

his summer I discovered a gem of a hiking trail that has been hiding in plain sight. The Clear Creek Trail heads from a junction with the Tahoe Rim Trail at the top of Spooner Summit down to Jacks Valley Road just outside Carson City. Primarily, I’ve known it as a popular springtime mountain bike route from the Jacks Valley side, with only the strongest riders making it all the way to the top of Spooner: 15 miles and 2,000 feet of climbing away. But if you start from Spooner, it makes for a great, fairly easy 6-mile round-trip hike through groves of aspen trees to a nice view of the high desert far below.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Mountain bikers along the Clear Creek Trail; Five Valleys View; The aspen will soon start their fall display.

The Clear Creek Trailhead at Spooner Summit starts just to the west of the Tahoe Rim Trailhead on the south side of Highway 50. The trail is well marked, starting on a dirt road, then in just a short distance it becomes single track and climbs away from the road to the right.

Here, a map of the trail gives you the lay of the land. The trail was built with mountain bikers in mind which means the grade is not steep and there are lots of twists and turns to keep that grade to a minimum.

THE TRAILS Five Valley View overlook 6 miles RT | Easy-Moderate

Jacks Valley Road 15 miles one way | Moderate-Strenuous

Spooner Summit is at the crest of the Carson Range, which gets quite a bit more moisture then just a few miles to the east. This hike, therefore, provides a good education on the transition from mountains to desert. It starts out in a deep forest and ends up in the open sage country of the high desert, although if you are just hiking 3 miles out and back, you will never leave the forest.

At first, Highway 50 is a loud presence to the north, but the trail quickly rounds the ridge and moves away from the highway. Then, it’s a pleasant, mostly quiet walk on a smooth tread that is a pleasure to walk on. This trail is well suited for almost any level of ability, there is not a ton of climbing or descending in those first few miles. The most challenging aspect of the hike might be dodging the regular parade of mountain bikers rolling by.

A highlight of the hike to the Five Valleys viewpoint are several large aspen groves, especially in the fall when the deep green leaves turn into a blaze of yellow. The trees are a welcome contrast with the brown dirt and gray trunks of the white fir and Jeffrey pine that are the predominant trees on the higher altitude portions of the trail. Take a sit on a log near the aspens and enjoy the sound of the quaking leaves and the singing birds.

Also entertaining are several interesting granite rock formations.

Keep your eyes peeled for snapshots through the trees of Snow Valley Peak, the East Shore’s highest peak at 9,20 feet,

6 six miles to the north. It is the bald peak topped with a radio antenna hiding behind a gray granite rock pile in the foreground. The Tahoe Rim Trail heads just to the left of that gray rock, and then follows the ridgeline up to the saddle below Snow Valley, enjoying stunning views of Lake Tahoe that last mile.

At Five Valley’s View you can see, from left to right, Highway 50 rolling down toward Carson City, which is hiding behind a knoll. In the foreground at the edge of the forest is Clear Creek, a luxury home development. Then to the right, Jacks Valley Road and the roof of the Jacks Valley Elementary School can be seen, which will help you to realize if you hike this whole trail, you have a long way to go.

Download the trail map for Clear Creek at TheTahoeWeekly.com The trail was built by the Carson Valley Trails Association in cooperation with both public and private landowners.

It is popular with mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians. On my Saturday trip, I saw walkers, runners, horseback riders, dogs and a ton of mountain bikers.

If you are looking for a more solitary experience, try midweek. The fall is a good time to check out the trail as the aspen groves should be sporting yellow leaves. | carsonvalleytrails.org 

ALL RIDES ARE FREE! Just hop on the bus.

TART Daily Regional Routes TART Night Service TART Truckee Local Route

Covid-19: Social distancing and safety precautions are in place to keep riders and drivers safe.

TahoeTruckeeTransit.com 5

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THE FUTURE OF

TAHOE MOUNTAIN BIKING TA M BA E N V I S I O N S BAS I N - W I D E T R A I L SYS T E M S TO RY BY S E A N M c A L I N D I N

The future of

Lake Tahoe mountain biking is in our hands. The leading area advocate for the growing sport and its popular trails, Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA), has released its first five-year plan.

In the document, the advocacy organization lays out its accomplishments, current projects and regional vision through 2025.

“I’ve been volunteering for 10 years now and it really turns into a second job that you’re not paid for,” says Fish. “It can be thankless. We don’t want to let the organization die and burn out. Having this document is about looking toward the future.”

A PRODUCTIVE HISTORY Founded in 1988 by area diehards from both ends of the lake, TAMBA built and maintained trails and educated the public for 15 years before volunteer burnout led to disbandment in 2003. The nonprofit was renewed in 2011 when several popular trails such as Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride Trail in South Lake Tahoe and others near Kirkwood and Caples Creek became part of proposed wilderness designations.

This was around the time current TAMBA president Ben Fish joined the effort.

“Fifteen years or so ago I used to ride illegal jump trails and the prospect of having those trails shut down caught my attention,” he says. “It was a motivator to look a little broader and not take for granted that something near and dear can get taken away very quickly if we don’t get involved and create a dialogue.”

TAMBA provides a voice for mountain bikers and trail advocates throughout the Tahoe Basin. It works as an intermediary between numerous land management and advocacy agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, Nevada State Parks and Tahoe Rim Trail Association, by providing an expert mountain-bike-specific angle on Tahoe trail theory along with the pure muscle and know-how for building sustainable lines.

“We’ve been pretty successful by winging it so far,” says Fish. “But right now we really need a guiding document to look to the future of what TAMBA can contribute to the trail system in Tahoe.”

The 12-page plan focuses on the construction of an interconnected basin-wide trail system, organizational stability, financial sustainability and increased community awareness while promoting values of trust, respect, collaboration and fun. It clearly reflects TAMBA’s growing ranks, pocketbook and influence in regional policy making.

Through a combination of events, grants and donations TAMBA has reached an operating budget of $350,000, the majority of which goes to trail building and maintenance. For the first time, there’s full-time staff including trails director Patrick Parsel and administrative manager Joan Wharton.

6

Beginning with the first successes at protecting classic routes from wilderness designation, TAMBA has pursued an ambitious path of multi-use trail building, volunteer training and community fundraising throughout the Tahoe Basin. Since 2011, members have rebuilt, rerouted, extended, maintained or outright created more than 40 trails, including one of the first legal jump trails on National Forest land at Corral Trail. A process like this can take upwards of three to four years and cost thousands for environmental scoping and governmental approval.

More recent accomplishments include Beaver Tail Trail in Kings Beach, Incline Flume Trail and Kingsbury Stinger and Valley View reroutes in South Lake Tahoe. Members have installed map kiosks and more than 100 signs regarding directions and etiquette basin-wide. One of their most popular creations for all ages is Bijou Bike Park in South Lake Tahoe.

“It’s been cool to see the organization grow from nothing to something significant,” says Fish. “We don’t want people to think that TAMBA is just this entity out there building trails. We’re made of members, supporters and volunteers. Some of our top donors are hikers. We’re stewards of the forest and trail lovers.”

TAMBA holds monthly leadership meetings to bring the trail community together every fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. through the website. There will a two-day volunteer crew leader training led by Parsel in the spring.

“We’re seeing trails are super important right now,” says Fish. “People can’t play a sport. A lot of people have turned to trails for an outlet. While it’s not necessarily your God-given right, it’s an honor to have the trail system we have in Tahoe and to have it endure for multiple generations.”

2020 TRAIL PROJECTS TAMBA’s biggest project for 2020 is the addition of an upper section to Tyrolian Downhill extending it up to Mount Rose Highway. It’s been funded by a $40,000 grant from Tahoe Fund with much of the heavy lifting being done by Cam Zink of the nonprofit Sensus R.A.D. Trails.

The project repurposes old logging roads into 2 miles of sustainable single track linking the current entry point to an official start at Tahoe Meadows.

Zink drew up detailed plans for proposed jumps in an effort aimed at getting another expert-level trail approved on National Forest land.

“This kind of sets the standard,” says Fish. “Each and every feature has to be approved by the Forest Service.”

Other projects underway this summer and fall are the continuing Stanford Rock reroute near Alpine Meadows, an upgrade of Kingsbury to Keller in South Lake Tahoe and the aspiring Lily Lake Trail ,which connects Angora Lakes and Glen Alpine parking lots via 2 miles of new trail above Fallen Leaf Lake.

The organization remains energized, but unfortunately the pandemic has put a damper on fundraising and volunteer efforts. While groups of 60 strong used to grab beers after a hard day’s work, crews are now limited to 10 by updated Forest Service rules.

Popular events such as Rose to Toads 62-mile race, the uproarious Tahoe Mountain Bike Festival and Corral Night Ride raised upwards of $20,000 a year and helped to weave the social fabric of the trail com-

“We don’t want people to think that TAMBA is just this entity out there building trails. We’re made of members, supporters and volunteers.

Some of our top donors are hikers.

We’re stewards of the forest and trail lovers.”

–Ben Fish

munity. While a few dozen folks have kept the energy alive by raising thousands of dollars with epic rides done in the spirit of the festival, all in-person events were canceled for 2020.

“We were kind of born out of doing fun community gatherings and celebrations of trails,” says Fish.

“It’s woven really deeply into us, so we are figuring out how to do community events and getting people together virtually.”

September 30-October 6, 2020 FEATURE

TAMBA regularly updates maps and conditions of trails on trailforks.com. In April, the TAMBA website posted guidelines for Sensible Riding in COVID Times.

“One of the problems we’re seeing especially this year is people that are new to trails,” says Fish. “Who knows where they are getting their info? Unfortunately, we can’t reach all the trail users. Now with more and more people using the trails, trails are getting blown out way faster than they were five years ago. So we are constantly narrowing down trails and working on them.”

Another dilemma TAMBA has weighed in on is the proliferation of e-bikes on non-motorized trails. Due to a 2019 ruling by the Department of Interior, current federal guidelines allow them to ride on Bureau of Land Management and National Park holdings. Yet e-bikes continue to be prohibited by the Department of Agriculture on National Forest trails, which make up the overwhelming majority of rides in the Tahoe Basin. E-bikes are also not allowed on the Tahoe Rim Trail.

The supposed discrepancy and general lack of knowledge has led to friction between motorized and non-motorized bikers in the region. Along with trail overcrowding and illegal builds, this is one of the biggest concerns of the mountain-biking community today.

The view south along the Pacific Crest from Andesite Peak.

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“We don’t support them or discourage them,” says Fish.

“We try to follow in line with what the land managers are doing. It certainly is a challenge. There are a lot more people getting further out and on more dangerous trails without the skills it typically would’ve taken to get there.”

VISION FOR THE FUTURE Along with its continuous trail building and outreach eff orts, TAMBA is working with the Forest Service, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Tahoe Fund and other partners to define the vision of a sustainable, interconnected, basinwide trail system. The gem of this project will be a bikeable dirt trail that loops around the whole of Lake Tahoe, called simply the Lake Trail.

As the rejuvenated reincarnation of TAMBA 2.0 tilts toward the future, Fish insists that the key to the success of all partners comes down to trail-user participation.

“The No. 1 thing that we want to see is more leader-ship in the community,” he says. “We’re blessed with great community support, but we’re still not there at all. If we had 200 crew leaders around the basin and way more supporters volunteering, that would be the No. 1 goal of the plan. In fear of TAMBA going away as it did in the early 2000s, the best way to keep us alive is to have the most support pos-sible. We are just asking people to get involved. We’re really happy about this plan and seeing where the next years take the new version of TAMBA. Th ere’s definitely a lot of room for growth.” | tamba.org.  PHOTOS LEFT TO RIGHT:

Riders Max Fish and Amy Fish on Valley View. | Courtesy Ben Fish Rider Ken Raspen on Kingsbury Stinger. | Courtesy Ben Fish Rider Griffi n Gregory on Bijou Meadow. | Courtesy Dave Clock

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Harvey Gross:

MARK’S COLUMN IS

SPONSORED BY

S O U T H TA H O E C A S I N O P I O N E E R S TO RY BY M A R K M c L AU G H L I N

hen an extortionist’s bomb heavily damaged Harveys Casino Hotel on Aug. 27, 1980, Harvey Gross took it like a punch to the gut. Gross and his wife Llewellyn had built a multimillion-dollar casino empire from scratch over years of hard work.

Capt. Ron Pierini of the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office was with the gaming pioneer at the time of the massive explosion.

Capt. Pierini said, “Harvey started crying and said, ‘Thank God we didn’t hurt anyone.’ ” Gross was more concerned about his employees losing work than the potential damage to his casino. Not one to fret, Gross quickly looked to the future. He took advantage of the disaster to refurbish his club to make it bigger and better than ever. Although near the end of his life —Gross died in 1983 — he showed up for the casinohotel’s grand re-opening nine months later.

Lake Tahoe has a long history of gambling, especially on its Nevada side where it’s been legal since 1931. But dating back to the late 1800s, Tahoe’s remote location, seasonal tourism and lack of law enforcement lent it an anything-goes atmosphere on both sides of the state line. The first casino at Big Blue was Cal Neva Lodge in Crystal Bay, which opened in 1929, two years before Nevada legalized gaming in the state. During a short summer visit in 1930, famed actress Clara Bow lost $13,900 at the card tables. Furious, she tried to cancel all the bank checks that she had written to the unlicensed casino.

Read Mark’s series on the plot to bomb Harveys at TheTahoeWeekly.com When Cal Neva Lodge went legit in 1931, it quickly attracted crowds of wealthy Californians and celebrities to its rustic, scenic resort. The following year at South Lake Tahoe, the Nevada Club and the State Line Country Club secured gaming licenses for their establishments east of Highway 50 at Stateline, Nev. Similar to the Cal Neva Lodge, gambling was also going on before the 1931 legalization legislation.

Meat wholesalers Harvey and Llewellyn Gross moved from Sacramento to South

Lake Tahoe in 1937 where they established a meat market and butcher shop. During World War II, the Gross’ concluded that gaming could be profitable and help support the area’s seasonal, recreation-based economy. Other local businessmen disagreed, pointing out that previous casino attempts had struggled financially or moved to Reno. But the couple was willing to invest their savings and hard work in their vision.

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“They secured a gaming license, bought a small log cabin and outfitted it with a few slot machines and a couple of card tables.”

They secured a gaming license, bought a small log cabin and outfitted it with a few slot machines and a couple of card tables. They installed a six-chair lunch counter; Llewellyn did most of the cooking in the kitchen of their nearby family home. Above the front door they nailed a salvaged wagon wheel and on June 1, 1944, they opened the door to Harvey’s Wagon Wheel Saloon & Gambling Hall. To ensure that motorists would stop, they added the only 24-hour gasoline station between Carson City, Nev., and Placerville, Calif.

Business was good during the busy summer months but dropped like a rock as winter approached. Unpaved and unplowed, Highway 50 up from Placerville and over Echo Summit followed the old Pony Express Trail, which was challenging for motorists in the summertime. If everything went well, it took between two to three days to get to South Lake Tahoe from San Francisco. During the six-month winter season, Highway 50 was mostly closed in the mountains. Those first winters tested the Gross’s resolve, but they persevered. One year they flooded the unused parking lot for their bored employees and Tahoe locals to enjoy as a skating rink.

Similar to what Truckee residents had done at Donner Pass before 1932 when

MARKETPLACE

Harvey Gross’ first casino, circa 1950s. | Courtesy Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection

California began plowing snow on Highway 40, Harvey Gross organized a shoveling brigade to remove the stubborn snowpack at Echo Summit when temperatures warmed in the spring. The effort cleared narrow lanes for automobiles weeks before state plows would have achieved it. Gross was 40 years old in 1945, but that didn’t stop him from rolling up his sleeves and joining in the tough physical work to accelerate tourism dollars. He respected men with a can-do attitude. His lawyer, Paul Laxalt, the son of Basque immigrants, was a young attorney destined to serve as a Nevada governor and U.S. Senator.

World War II had been hard on everyone and now that fuel and travel restrictions had been lifted, people were ready to enjoy life again. Lake Tahoe was a powerful draw in northern California, whether for winter sports or summer recreation. In the mid-1950s, Harvey signed a deal with Greyhound Bus Co. to run charters from 31 California cities to South Lake. Free food, alcohol and a complimentary $2 roll of nickels on arrival at the casino made it irresistible. Soon there were more than 40 busloads arriving every day. In 1963, Gross built the first high-rise hotel-casino on Tahoe’s south end.

In 1954, Harvey and Llewellyn’s only child, Beverlee Ann Gross, married the casino’s long-time general manager, William Barton Ledbetter. Beverlee had worked her way to vice chairman of the corporation.

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As Harvey’s right-hand man, Bill Ledbetter managed the enterprise for decades before his death in 2007. Harvey Gross was a quiet, behind-the-scenes owner, but like his boss, Ledbetter realized the importance of their employees and knew many by name. On holidays the company presented employees with a turkey in recognition of their contribution to the success of the business. The Ledbetters were a generous and influential family at South Lake Tahoe. In 1960, they donated land for Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe and Bill served on the community hospital’s board.

Among his properties, Gross owned Harvey’s Inn at Stateline, (the former Lakeside Inn) along with a unique bison ranch in Carson Valley. The entrepreneur was among the foremost business boosters at Lake Tahoe. Harvey and Llewellyn Gross believed that they should give back to the community as much as it had given them.

Their altruism included sponsoring scholarships, supporting schools, jobs for disabled and handicapped veterans and financial grants to clubs and organizations. Their leadership in generous philanthropy inspired other gaming businesses to also become active with community contributions.

In 2001, Harveys Casino Resorts was acquired by Harrah’s Entertainment for $625 million, which sold again in 2019 to Eldorado Resorts — not bad for a butcher and his wife willing to invest in a dream.  Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin is a nationally published author and professional speaker. His award-winning books are available at local stores or at thestormking.com.

You may reach him at mark@thestormking.com.

Courtesy Clean Up the Lake

September 30-October 6, 2020 GET OUTSIDE

Come Play With Us!

Fu l

8,813 lbs. of trash removed The nonprofit Clean Up The Lake has removed 8,183 lbs. of trash from Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake as part of its underwater litter removal project.

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Clean Up The Lake has worked with staff and volunteers this summer to further develop its strategic approach of SCUBA clean ups that involve teams of divers, free divers and snorkelers, surface support on kayaks, zodiacs, personal watercraft and boats. Clean Up The Lake’s is also working with microplastic research teams from UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center and Desert Read our series on litter & its impacts Research Institute to analyze the trash. at TheTahoeWeekly.com | cleanupthelake.org

No appointments for

boat inspections

Beginning October 1st, watercraft inspections for aquatic invasive species will change locations and shift to a first-come, first-served basis rather than by appointment.

AIS inspections and decontaminations will continue to be available at the Meyers and Truckee stations from Oct. 1 to 12 Thursday through Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Inspections will also be available at the Lake Forest boat ramp in Tahoe City and at the Cave Rock-Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park boat ramp from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Beginning Oct. 13, inspections will be available only at the Lake Forest and Cave Rock boat ramps. | tahoeboatinspections.com

Recreation plan for

Hwy 89 corridor available The State Route 89 Recreation Corridor Management Plan has been released following several public meetings and a comment period. Read Tahoe Weekly’s story on the plan, “The future of recreation from Tahoma to Camp Richardson,” at TheTahoeWeekly.com.

Food Bank Garden | Truckee | Sept. 30 8 a.m. Free | facebook.com

SEPT. 19 - OCT. 18 A new adventure challenge competition full of team bonding, discovering new places, learning new things, and having fun!

COMPETE & WIN PRIZES!

Register your team and learn more at visittahoecity.org/explorathon

Lily Lake Trail building

Angora Lakes Road South Lake Tahoe | Sept. 30, Oct. 2, 4, 7 8:30 a.m. Free | facebook.com

Tahoe Rising

Virtual | Incline Village | Sept. 30

10 a.m.-12 p.m. $20-$35 | tahoeprosperity.org

Mommy and Me

Barton Health | South Lake Tahoe | Sept. 30, Oct. 7

1-2 p.m. Free | (530) 539-6620, bartonorthopedicsandwellness.com

Tahoe City Explorathon

Downtown Tahoe City | Sept. 30, Oct. 1-7 Free | visittahoecity.org

Preschool Storytime

Instagram | Truckee | Oct. 1

10:30-11 a.m. Free | placer.ca.gov

BOAT RENTALS & FUEL DOCK Fuel dock 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Boat Rentals 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WEATHER PERMITTING

Community Flu Vaccination Clinic

Bijou Elementary School | South Lake Tahoe | Oct. 1

3-6 p.m. $10 | (530) 541-3420, bartonhealth.org

Full Moon Kayak Tour

Tahoe Vista Recreation Area | Oct. 1

5:30-8:30 p.m. $65 | (530) 913-9212, tahoeadventurecompany.com

Truckee Cleanup Days

Area venues | Truckee | Oct. 3

8 a.m. Free | keeptruckeegreen.org

Raising Healthy Eaters-Toddlers Zoom | Truckee | Oct. 3

1-2:30 p.m. $35 | (530) 587-3769, tfhd.com

“Wilder Than Wild” showing Virtual | Oct. 4

5-7 p.m. Free | http://bit.ly/WilderThanWild

Baby Storytime on Facebook

Truckee Library | Truckee | Oct. 5 Free | facebook.com

Truckee Community Storytime Facebook | Truckee | Oct. 7

TA H O E C I T Y

MARINA

TA H O E C I T Y, C A Truckee Wye

Grove St.

The plan will be presented at the TRPA Governing Board on Sept. 30 and the Tahoe Transportation District Board on Oct. 9. A webinar on the plan is available on vimeo.com. The plan can be viewed at trpa.org/SR-89.

Workday Wednesdays

ADVENTURE CHALLENGE

Homewood

Jackpine

The targeted corridor along Highway 89 is a twolane mountain highway that provides access to many of Lake Tahoe’s most popular recreation areas and to residential neighborhoods. The corridor is lined by nearly 12 miles of undeveloped shoreline, beach access to popular recreation sites and trailheads used year-round. The plan calls for frequent transit service to popular sites like Emerald Bay, parking management, public facility enhancements and other infrastructure improvements.

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THE makers

creative awareness | arts & culture | the makers movement

Elisa Cutler C R E AT I O N S F R O M L O C A L , ET H I C A L LY S O U R C E D S TO N E S S TO RY BY K AY L A A N D E R S O N | P H OTO S C O U R T E SY E LSA C UT L E R

I

read somewhere that taking crystals and minerals from the earth in an immoral way affects the energy that the stone emits — and no one understands this better than local jeweler Elisa Cutler.

Born and raised in North Lake Tahoe, Cutler learned about the healing power of crystals because her father owned a gift shop in Incline Village, Nev., called Northern Lights that sold books, jewelry and stones. Her grandmother also owned a shop that focused on the metaphysical realm and her mother practices Reiki and performs angel readings.

“ I’ll go out 10 times in a row and find nothing, then I’ll go out twice in a row and find a ton of them all sitting together.” –Elisa Cutler “People would come in and sell [my dad] crystals and I became interested in it,” she says.

Cutler started making beaded jewelry, wire wrapping and bone necklaces when she was age 10 and kept at it as a hobby.

When she got older, Cutler took a sauntering class in 2014 with the Reno Gem & Mineral Society. Cutler believes that some of the traditional techniques of making jewelry has been lost with the advent of 3-D printers, which allow one to make carbon copies of the same thing. She wanted to learn casting and sauntering the old-school way.

She also started going out to dig up minerals and crystals within the RenoTahoe area.

“I’ve found smoky quartz in Incline Village and clear quartz up on Crystal Peak,” Cutler says. Crystal Peak is a famed public rockhounding spot between Truckee and Verdi, Nev. Explore Tahoe’s vibrant arts scene

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

She’s also found amethyst and citrine on private land, with permission from the owner, north of Reno.

“The longer I’ve been digging, the more I’ve gotten,” she says. “I’ll go out 10 times in a row and find nothing, then I’ll go out twice in a row and find a ton of them all sitting together.”

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Email news to editor@tahoethisweek.com

Virginia City’s

seamy history “Wicked Virginia City” by Peter B. Mires will be released from Arcadia Publishing on Oct. 5. Perched on the side of a mountain in the Nevada desert, Virginia City existed for one reason only: to make money. The mining frenzy of the mid-19th Century uncovered veins of precious metals that would be expressed in billions today, attracting the enterprising madam Cad Thompson, the charismatic highwayman Nickanora and a plethora of swindlers. Miners, flush with their wages, supported a healthy economy of gambling, drinking and prostitution and even launched a few political careers.

Sam Clemens, who became Mark Twain while reporting for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, called it “the livest town that America had ever produced.” | arcadiapublishing.com, petermires.com

Fall photo contest To celebrate the change in seasons, Alpine County is hosting the 2020 Fall Colors Photo Contest through Nov. 1. Photos that capture the people, places, animals, activities and/or natural beauty of Alpine County in the fall will be accepted.

Using diamond bit saws, polishers and drills, Cutler then turns the stones into cabochons and beads or will sometimes send them away to be faceted. She also uses her tools to cap the stones and trap them in a silver bezzle, transforming them into beautiful one-of-a-kind rings, necklaces and earrings.

Also in 2014, she launched an Etsy website to sell her hand-dug, handmade, crystal jewelry and started participating in craft shows. She sells her goods at Well Being Massage & Skincare in Kings Beach and Healing One in Reno. This was also around the time when Cutler worked for Truckee jeweler Lorien Powers for two years, who helped her improve her craft.

“Lorien is an amazing goldsmith and silversmith. She helped me home in my techniques when I worked for her. She had a very finished look, an industrial kind of style and a wealth of knowledge about how to set stones,” Cutler says. “My jewelry became more well-rounded. I started making things that made more sense to me.

And no one else around here is really using locally sourced stones.”

A big part of mining her own gems comes from her upbringing, since both of her parents instilled in her the importance in the energy and healing power of crystals.

Cutler believes that mining clean crystals comes with a clean conscience.

“Most crystals, minerals and diamonds are not ethically sourced. They come from China and Brazil and they’re using heavy machinery and chemicals that hurt the earth,” Cutler says. “It’s a crazy trade because these stones are worth so much because they’re in high demand.”

Anything that Cutler can’t find in the Sierra Nevada, she turns to a group that she belongs to that shares stones ethically mined in the United States such as sapphires from Montana, garnets from Idaho and turquoise from Nevada.

“My goal is to be able to support myself doing what I love and bring awareness to the community about the power of stones and ethically sourced jewelry,” she says. | elisacutlerhandmadejewelry.com 

The rules are simple, photos must be: of Alpine County, the original work of the entrant and submitted before Nov. 1. Only three photos per entrant will be accepted. Entries must include: the photo title, the photographer’s name, the date the photo was taken and the location of the photo. Read the guidelines online. | (530) 694-2475, alpinecounty.com

the art s Alpine County Fall Photo Contest Alpine County | Markleeville | Sept. 30-Nov. 1 (530) 694-2475, alpinecounty.com

Call for Artist Submissions Glass Garage Collective Stateline | Sept. 30-March 6

1 p.m. | glassgaragecollective.com

Rasjad Hopkins art exhibit Scott Forrest Fine Art Studio South Lake Tahoe | Sept. 30-Oct. 31

10 a.m.-4 p.m. | (310) 213-3333, facebook.com

Virtual Art Hike “Full Circle” Virtual | Tahoe City | Sept. 30-Oct. 1 trailsandvistas.org

September 30-October 6, 2020 THE LINEUP

THE lineup

live

live music | shows | nightlife

SEPTEMBER 30 | WEDNESDAY Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Anne Roos

OCTOBER 1 | THURSDAY Live Music Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar, Truckee, 6 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Live Music Under the Tent Bar of America, Truckee, 8-11 p.m.

Open Mic Classic Cue, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

OCTOBER 2 | FRIDAY Dylan Casey’s, Zephyr Cove, 5-8 p.m.

FunKeys Alibi Ale Works/Incline Public House, Incline Village, 5-7 p.m.

Live Music Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar, Truckee, 6 p.m.

Live Music Gar Woods Lake Tahoe, Carnelian Bay, 7-10 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Live Music Under the Tent Bar of America, Truckee, 8-11 p.m.

OCTOBER 3 | SATURDAY Live Music Wylder Hope Valley Hotel, Markleeville, 2-5 p.m.

Live Music Gar Woods Lake Tahoe, Carnelian Bay, 7-10 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Live Music Under the Tent Bar of America, Truckee, 8-11 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

OCTOBER 4 | SUNDAY Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 4:30 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

OCTOBER 5 | MONDAY Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

OCTOBER 6 | TUESDAY Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

OCTOBER 7 | WEDNESDAY Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

festivals | entertainment

M A G I C O F T H E C E LT I C H A R P S TO RY BY S E A N M c A L I N D I N

Oct. 1 | 11 p.m. || Oct. 9 | 7:30 p.m. || Oct. 17 | 8 p.m. || Oct. 25 | 4 p.m. || crowdcast.io/harpistanneroos

“I

’m trying to think outside the box,”

says South Lake Tahoe harpist Anne Roos. “My one mission is to prove that the harp is not boring.”

The sprightly Roos grew up in Los Angeles attending North Hollywood High School and University of California, Los Angeles. While wandering through a winter solstice festival at Cal State Northridge as a young woman, she encountered the an-

“Most people who aren’t familiar with the harp think it must only play classical music.

They don’t know it’s so adaptable. It serves the function of really telling people the Celtic harp is not limited.”

–Anne Roos cient, reverent tones of celebrated harpist Sylvia Woods. Roos worked as a television ratings analyst at the time. The harp was the perfect reprieve from toil, tube and stress.

“I needed something else to do,” she says.

“My father used to take me to the Hollywood Bowl to listen to the L.A. Philharmonic play Bach and Beethoven every summer. I have very fond memories of that.”

Yet unlike the imposing, classical concert harp most people know, the Celtic harp (or folk harp) is made of wood, lacks pedals, has only 38 strings and tops out at around 5 feet tall.

“I like the tone better,” says Roos “It’s easier to haul around and I can bring it to the beach without getting sand in the pedals. It’s sort of like the difference between an automatic and a stick shift. Can I go up three flights of stairs with my harp?

It’s not easy, but yes.”

Shortly after she and her husband departed L.A. for the Sierra Nevada, Roos left her public-school teaching career to pursue harp full time. Twenty years ago, there were enough quickie wedding chapels in South Lake Tahoe to keep her busy from the start.

“I decided I was going to make it work,” she says. “It wasn’t a realization; it was a determination.”

Before 2020, Roos typically played around 100 weddings a year alongside proposals, elopements, wine tastings, cruises,

Anne Roos performs ethereal pop, jazz and traditional music on the magical and mysterious Celtic harp.

Celtic festivals, educational assemblies, workshops, perfume shops and casino lobbies.

“I really want to prove the harp can go anywhere,” she says. “It can be a hot-air balloon for all I care.”

Now, in the age of COVID, she’s focused primarily on live streams and private lessons. Her student roster has nearly tripled since the pandemic hit.

“My opinion about learning an instrument is you gravitate toward something you know you’re going to get over,” she says. “The harp is no different. It looks big and complicated and hard to haul around, but it’s really not.”

Roos has opened a Patreon channel where members can see her perform three to four live streams a month. For drop-ins, the cost of a concert is $9.

“It’s kind of an experimental thing for me because I’m used to playing with people in front of me and you have to trust they are there on the other side of the camera,” she says. “It’s definitely keeping up my chops.”

you want me to play? Most people who aren’t familiar with the harp think it must only play classical music. They don’t know it’s so adaptable. It serves the function of really telling people the Celtic harp is not limited.”

In 2015, Roos won a Grammy for her performance on New Age Album of the Year “Winds of Samsara” with Indian composer Ricky Kej and South African flautist Wouter Kellerman.

“That was kind of amazing,” she says.

“It’s part of the wonder of the Internet.

You can work with people across the world.

It was an absolutely fantastic experience.

It’s opened doors and I’m still in touch with many people.”

Listening to Roos play the songs we all know and love on three dozen strings swiftly elucidates the harp’s distinctive power: it’s knack for drawing out the absolute purest quality of any composition.

“Harp is really mysterious,” says Roos.

“It certainly doesn’t sound like anything else. The tonality is what if offers. It’s a healing instrument.”

“It’s one of the few instruments that you actually hold against your body,” says Roos. “You can feel the vibrations, so it does have an unusual, magical quality.” | harpistanneroos.com n Sean McAlindin is a writer and musician living in Truckee, who loves a secret powder stash just as much as a good jam. You can reach him at entertainment@tahoethisweek. com. Other writings and original music are available at seanmcalindin.com.

Now open at

25% capacity Major Motion Pictures · Independent Films Live Music · Dance Performances

Watch Anne Roos play

“Stairway to Heaven” at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Roos has released nine albums of harp music since 2004 including interpretations of Olde English and Celtic traditionals, sailing songs, jazz standards and pop classics. Her 2017 compilation “Blue Jeans and Velvet” includes covers of “Stairway to Heaven,” “Free Bird” and “Desperado.”

She delivers beautifully on everything from Mancini to Metallica, Gershwin to The Rolling Stones.

“I like being a chameleon in music,” says Roos. “I play the Celtic harp, but what do

The Dark Divide Oct. 1-8 Disrupted Oct. 9-15 Stevie Nicks 24k Gold Concert Film Oct. 21 No Time to Die Nov. 20 Visit TahoeArtHausCinema.com for showtimes, schedule, events + tkts THE COBBLESTONE CENTER 475 N LAKE BLVD., TAHOE CITY, CA | 530-584-2431

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Horoscopes Puzzles Michael O’Connor, Life Coach Astrologer SunStarAstrology.com

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Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)

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You have entered a transformational cycle.

Over the next few weeks, you will undergo something of a metamorphosis. Much of this will be linked to your determination to dive deeper into knowing and understanding. Yet, you will have to push yourself out of your comfort zone if you are to hit your desired mark.

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20) FIRE

EARTH

AIR

WATER

Libra (Sep 22-Oct 22) The Sun in your sign will activate the urge to take new strides and leads. Dealings with others of late, however, may prove more complicated than usual and you will be that much more likely to meet them headon. This will prove especially true regarding themes and discussions centered on rights and freedoms. A revolutionary impulse will reveal ardent passions.

Scorpio (Oct 22-Nov 21) Over the past several weeks you have likely been feeling called within. However, you have also wanted recognition or at least attention from significant others. The result could have altogether manifested as a time of relative peace with spikes of disturbance interrupting.

Sagittarius (Nov 21-Dec 21) Themes of truth, justice, and freedom are ringing in your ears and probably those of others in your life, as well. You feel the need to be heard and heeded and feel very passionately about your views. Where others do not agree is where you will either dismiss them altogether or perhaps you will take the higher road and do your own research.

Capricorn (Dec 21-Jan 19) You are eager to gain recognition and to be respected for your efforts. Yet, this won’t be easy as you contend with rather aggressive opposition both within yourself and from others. So, you feel torn between advancing and retreating. Consequently, you feel the need for support, and others may feel drained by you.

The challenge is to summon the courage to persevere.

A process of completing what you have started, or of consolidating, or strengthening your core, are all likely themes playing in the background. These have to do with feeling powerful in the world and secure within. A new emphasis in your relationship’s life is bringing forward matters that need to be healed.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 21) Making improvements close to home may well be more fully directed at yourself. The world is not a peaceful place currently and you are sensitive to it. But what you can do is create beauty and harmony close to home. You are open to discussion but may feel that you are engaged in your own search for truth rather than in the mood to engage.

Gemini (May 21-Jun 21) Life is but a dream, but it does include nightmares too. You may be experiencing a mix of both these days. Even the day to day reality can have a bite. So, the challenge is to be grateful for what is. Hang in there and take things one day at a time to not feel overwhelmed.

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22) With so many powerful and frightening elements at play this day, it can be hard to see the blue sky beyond the clouds. Your sights now are set on a brighter future. You realize that doing so requires investments of various kinds, of your money, will, and heart. Positively, you feel more energized and determined to succeed.

Leo (Jul 22-Aug 23) Many thoughts are running through your mind.

Positively, many of them are woven with creative inspiration. Harnessing these and directing them towards creative expressions is the other challenge. Escaping or losing yourself in projects may be a perfect balance, especially if you can be productive.

Aquarius (Jan 19-Feb 19) Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22) Tapping your imaginative wellspring will prove important starting this week. You will notice that your insights get both deeper and sharper this week. This could also lead you to feel more combative. Sublimating your desires and directing them to a more specific focus could result in some significant achievements.

CryptoQuip

Your sights are set on the future and seeing a bigger picture. At worst, you feel perplexed about why some people think and believe what they do.

Recognizing the influence of conditioning and bias will help. As eager as you are to be heard, you are reluctant to engage in any discussion that does not meet your standards of intelligence and awareness.

If Australian marsupials drank soft drinks, they should most likely prefer Coca-Koala.

Hocus Focus differences: 1. Rug is missing, 2. Hat is backward, 3. Blanket is shorter, 4. Man’s hair is different, 5. Sun has fewer rays, 6. Shrubs have been added.

12

EAT &drink

September 30-October 6, 2020 EAT & DRINK

food & libations | recipes | delicious events

Putting Up the Harvest CANNING AND QUICK PICKLING S TO RY & P H OTO S BY P R I YA H UT N E R

I

EASY APPLE BUTTER

’ve always been intimidated by the idea of canning and yet was called to embark in the process. I felt this way about making homemade bread — and now I do it routinely.

When I was young, I loved visiting my grandparents’ house. Their garden was immense, surrounded by several apple trees and rolling hills. Each year they canned green beans, stewed tomatoes, applesauce and the overflow of vegetables yielded from their garden. I loved going to their basement and foraging through the jars on the dusty shelves.

From the kitchen of Priya Hutner 3 lbs. medium apples, stems & worms removed 3 t lemon juice 2 t ground cinnamon 1 t cloves 1 t ground ginger 1 t ground cardamom ½ C sugar, honey or maple syrup

Stir all ingredients together in a medium-sized pot. Cover and cook on low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove pot from stove and let cool. Run apples through food mill and return to heat to thicken the apple butter for about 45 to 60 minutes. Let cool and jar or can.

My good friend Moni Monteverde has the

gardens and fruit trees were ripe for the picking.

We decided to spend the day harvesting and canning.

My good friend Moni Monteverde has the ultimate green thumb and her vegetable gardens and fruit trees were ripe for the picking recently. We decided that we’d spend the day harvesting and canning some of her bounty. On the list of our projects were chokecherry syrup, apple butter and pickles.

Canning supplies seem to be in high demand of late. I had a canning pot and rack, jars and lids but, alas, no tongs. I arrived at her house and we set out to find recipes that we would use to ensure we didn’t kill anyone or ourselves with our method. We came across a YouTube channel of Homestead Tessie’s Survival Mobile Home Living. Her ethos of not wasting any parts of the produce called to us and we loved her canning advice.

The book “Put ‘em Up!” by Sherri Brooks Vinton was also a great resource.

I realized I am definitely less methodical than Moni when it comes to cooking and recipes but when it comes to canning it’s important to follow instructions. Moni pointed out that when canning at an altitude over 1,000 feet, we needed to adjust some of our ingredients and timing for some of the foods we were planning to can.

Our first recipe was a chokecherry syrup. We started with a large pot and cooked down the fruit and then mashed it through a sieve. We got about 4 cups of

Photo Credit | Photographer?

and her vegetable

juice. Moni handed me a flour sack towel and I squeezed the mashed berries to get a bit more juice. Once ready, we put the liquid back in the pot. We used Pomona’s Universal Pectin, which included a calcium packet. We mixed the calcium in the water and added that and the lemon juice to the pot. We measured the honey for sweetener and mixed in 1 teaspoon of pectin. We were making syrup, so we didn’t want it to thicken to jelly. We added this to the pot and brought it to a boil. In the meantime, we boiled the water for the canning process and sterilized our jars and lids.

Once our syrup was ready, we poured it through a funnel into pint jelly mason jars. Moni dipped a chopstick into the jar to remove any air bubbles and wiped down the jars’ tops, as Homestead Tessie suggested, so no mold will form. Moni then used a finger-tight method to tighten the outer ring, twisting it only until the jar moved. We placed the jars on the rack and submerged them in boiling water for 15 minutes. While that was happening, we went to the yard and picked 6 pounds of apples for applesauce and apple butter.

APPLESAUCE & APPLE BUTTER The jars of syrup were done; we pulled them out and let them cool. The seals were tight, and all looked good. We removed the outer rings for storage. We both deemed that our syrup was a successful venture.

To prep the apples, we removed the stems and worms and cooked them in water. We ran the apples through a food mill and split them into two different pots.

For the batch of apple butter, we added cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, allspice, sugar and lemon. For the applesauce, we kept it simple using only apples and lemon juice. We returned the milled apples for apple butter to the stove and cooked for another 45 minutes to enable the apple butter to thicken.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Placing jars in the canning pot; Jars of quick pickles; Jars of chokecherry syrup, apple sauce and apple butter.

We attempted another method of preserving using canning wax. We placed the applesauce into jars and sealed them with melted wax. Both the applesauce and apple butter were delicious although we were disappointed in the yield — only 4 pints of each.

Foam Fest

Goes virtual

QUICK PICKLES While things cooked and boiled, we harvested cucumbers and prepared quick pickles for the refrigerator. We sliced them lengthwise and added distilled vinegar mixed with salt and a tad of sugar, coriander seed, black peppers, fresh dill and some of Moni’s Japanese Santaka Peppers, which were hot. We sealed the jars and refrigerated them. They were delicious and some of the best pickles I’ve tasted.

While it does take a fair bit of time to can, it was delightful day spending time with a friend, putting up fresh fruits and vegetables. I’m looking forward to when we to harvest tomatoes for another round of canning.

I am less intimidated, and Moni was a pro for her first time. I loved the idea of canning produce to enjoy in the winter months to come.  Enjoy the tastes of Tahoe

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Priya Hutner is a writer, personal chef and workshop facilitator. She is the owner of the Seasoned Sage, which prepares organic artisan meals for dinner parties and events. She also offers in-home cooking classes, parties and local pop up dinners. As a breath meditation teacher and long-time yogi, she facilitates workshops and classes that focus on gaining a deeper awareness of self. Send story ideas to priya@tahoethisweek.com. | (772) 913-0008, pria78@gmail.com, seasonedsage.com

Courtesy Alibi Ale Works

ultimate green thumb

Support Achieve Tahoe through an alternate, COVID-friendly Foam Fest this year. In lieu of the annual beer tasting and music festival, participants can support Achieve Tahoe programs with local breweries Truckee Brewing Company, Alibi Ale Works Truckee Public House and Fifty Fifty Brewing Company. Included in the $30 ticket purchase is a Foam Fest mug and one 16-oz. beer at each participating location.

Purchase a ticket online and pick up the mug and punch card at any of the three participating locations during business hours any day in October. Show the punch card for a free beer of your choice.

Use the punch card any day; participants do not have to retrieve all three beers in the same day. | (530) 581-4161, achievetahoe.com

13

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FROM CHEF SMITTY’S KITCHEN

Apple fritters

tasty tidbits Tahoe City Farmers Market

BY C H E F DAV I D “ S M I T T Y ” S M I T H

Commons Beach | Tahoe City | Oct. 1

Until Oct. 8. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | tahoecityfarmersmarket.com

Foam Fest Truckee | Oct. 1-7

Support Achieve Tahoe programs at Truckee Brewing Company, Alibi Ale Works Truckee Public House and Fifty Fifty Brewing Company. Ticket includes a Foam Fest mug and one 16-ounce beer at each participating location. 3 p.m. $30 | (530) 581-4161, achievetahoe.com

Cazadores Tequila Tasting Caliente Lake Tahoe | Kings Beach | Oct. 1

Fine Italian Food & Spirits

Purchase one of our signature cocktails for complimentary entry or $10 ticket.

Complimentary pairing appetizers provided.

Must be age 21 to attend. 5:30-6:30 p.m. $10 | facebook.com

Truckee Certified Farmers Market Truckee River Regional Park | Oct. 6

Until Oct. 15. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | truckeecertifiedfa.wixsite.com

El Dorado County Certified Farmer’s Market

Locals Love Lanza’s!

(530) 546-2434 BAR - 4:30 p.m. DINNER - 5 p.m.

7739 N Lake Blvd - Kings Beach

LanzasTahoe.com

American Legion Parking Lot South Lake Tahoe | Oct. 6

Through Oct. 13. There are new procedures due to the coronavirus that line up with the state and county guidelines for outdoor events serving prepared and fresh food. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Free | eldoradofarmersmarket.com

Sierra Community House Food Distribution

ow that the weather is getting cooler, I’ve gotten a lot more recipe requests.

I am constantly being asked what the next recipe is going to be and a lot of the time I have to think about it because I’m one article ahead of the publishing date.

When my coworkers ask me what recipe I’m writing, it’s three weeks ahead of what will show in the next issue.

A few of us were talking about it because I had to write the article instead of going out for a beer and someone asked if the Melba sauce was good for any other type of dessert. One of the others thought he heard it also was a standard sauce for apple fritters — they all said that sounded pretty tasty.

was the same for both. I’m only including the fritters, but I do want to mention that if I’m making the Peach Melba and the peaches are nice and ripe with lots of flavor, I will use a sharp paring knife and skin them without poaching them first. It is a little messier, but I hate to alter the natural flavor of the peach. Enjoy. 

Both the Peach Melba and Apple Fritters were desserts we would have when I was working at Anderson’s Lodge in Stowe, Vt.

Find more of Chef Smitty’s recipes

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

We’re delivering perishable food bags weekly

David “Smitty” Smith is a personal chef specializing in dinner parties, cooking classes and special events.

Trained under Master Chef Anton Flory at Top Notch Resort in Stowe, Vt., Smitty is known for his creative use of fresh ingredients. Contact him at (530) 412-3598 or tmmsmitty@gmail.com.

As a matter of fact, both the Peach Melba and Apple Fritters are desserts we would have when I was working at Anderson’s Lodge in Stowe, Vt., when I was just getting into cooking and the Melba sauce

in Truckee & North Lake Tahoe.

Delivery staff and volunteers are following best practices and wearing masks. Please follow social distancing and NOT interact.

To sign-up or cancel, e-mail food@sierracommunityhouse.org or call 775-545-4083; Provide full name, address, phone number, birthdate and number of people in the household.

N

Famous for our Mexican Dinners (530) 587-3557 10186 Donner Pass Rd - Truckee

APPLE FRITTERS

From the kitchen of: Chef David “Smitty” Smith 4 apples, peeled & cored 2 C flour ¼ C sugar ¾ C baking powder ¼ t nutmeg 1/8 t cinnamon (optional) 1 t salt 2 eggs 1 C milk Powdered sugar to dust with Enough oil for 3 inches deep in a heavy pan for frying

Combine all the dry ingredients completely. Beat the eggs with the milk and then add this to the flour mixture and gently mix until smooth.

Cut the apples into rings about half-inch thick, dip in the batter and fry in oil that is 375 degrees F. Cook until golden and flip to cook the second side. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with Melba sauce or as is.

MELBA SAUCE Food, Beer & Wine

Takeout 7 days a week. 11:30am-7:30pm

Truckee, CA 10089 W. River St. (530) 582-5000 MorgansLobsterShack.com 14

1 lemon (zest the peel into a bowl) 1½ C water 1 12 oz. bag frozen raspberries ¼ C sugar 2 T cold water

1 C sugar 1 t vanilla 1 small jar currant jelly 2 t corn starch

Combine the water, sugar, vanilla and juice of half the lemon and bring to a boil. Combine raspberries, jelly, ¼ t lemon zest, 1/8 t lemon juice and half the sugar. Bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 2 minutes adding sugar to taste. Combine the cold water and corn starch and add stirring until sauce is thickened. Let cool.

September 30-October 6, 2020 EAT & DRINK

W I N E R IE S O F T H E S IE R R A FOOTHILLS

Twisted Oak Winery S TO RY BY BA R BA R A K E C K | P H OTO S BY J O H A N M A R T I N

FOR TAKE OUT OR DINE IN, SEE MENUS BELOW BRUNCH & LUNCH

WINE LIST

DINNER

Plenty of Outdoor Seating Spindleshankstahoe.com | 400 Brassie Ave, Suite B · Kings Beach | (530) 546.2191

W

ine should be fun. This is the credo of winemaker Jeff Stai of Twisted Oak Winery in Calaveras County, who prefers the title El Jefe.

Not far from the town of Murphys, where Twisted Oak has a tasting room to accommodate those who don’t want to drive around the twisty roads of this part of the Sierra Foothills, Jeff makes intense wine that he describes in a single word, “Yummy.”

Presenting the wine-drinking public with a diversity of tastes is one of Jeff’s goals. His wines are balanced, produced with minimal intervention.

Twisted Oak specializes in making wines from Rhone and Iberian varietals that do well in this part of the Foothills.

The grapes from the Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Mourvedre, Viognier and Syrah vines planted on part of the land he and wife, Mary, own near the winery in Vallecito find their way into wines fancifully named with fun in mind: The Spaniard, River of Skulls, *%#&@!, Murgatroyd, Ol’ Chumbucket, Torcido, as well as some wines with mundane names.

Jeff always wanted to grow grapes and Mary always wanted to buy land, and neither of these things were happening in Orange County where Jeff worked as an engineer on data storage products and Mary created handcrafted gifts.

They took a leap of faith and bought 120 acres in Calaveras County because they decided to live where everybody else comes to vacation. So, they moved, dug test plots, planted vines, found help and began to unleash their creativity in marketing wine.

Now, about that rubber chicken thing.

That started when Jeff and Mary were trying to write something interesting for the back label of their first wines in 2003. “It wasn’t really conscious marketing,” said Jeff. “We were stumped, and I said that this was a wine that should be enjoyed with a bunch of friends and a rubber chicken.”

Jeff and Mary Stai.

The truth of Twisted Oak’s wines is that Jeff is serious about making good wine, and once in the bottle, he and Mary want people to have fun with the wine. Jeff extended the fun element by putting up silly signs on the twisty road to the winery to make sure visitors took the correct turns; the road runs past the original 350-yearold twisted California blue oak from which the winery took its name.

Then, El Jefe decided to hang some rubber chickens from the signs and the trees. The Rubber Chicken National Forest was born.

When visiting, enjoy the flagship wine, The Spaniard. This is a big, Rioja-style blend of Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha with lots of cherry and black currant and a nice, long finish. It is a consistent award winner. A next tasting might be of the River of Skulls, an appealing Mourvedre with grapes from a vineyard in nearby Angels Camp.

Kings Beach Full Service on Patio & Takeout orders 12:00pm-8:00pm

Full

Bar

(530) 546-4539 8345 North Lake Blvd. - Across from the State Beach in Kings Beach

Explore more wines with Lou

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Of the 6,000 cases that Twisted Oak Winery produces each year, no one wine comprises more than 600 cases. Presenting the wine-drinking public with a diversity of tastes is one of Jeff ’s goals. His wines are balanced, produced with minimal intervention. Some wines are crisp, some are full bodied.

Twisted Oak is located in Vallecito and operates a tasting room in downtown Murphys. Reservations are recommended and check the schedule before visiting. | (209) 736-9080, twistedoak.com  EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an excerpt from the

second edition of the popular guidebook “Wineries of the Sierra Foothills: Risk-Takers & RuleBreakers” available now on Amazon.

All sales support Tahoe Weekly.

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Follow the table being made @tahoeslabfurniture on FB, @tahoeslab on IG. For every $20 donated, you will have a chance to win.

The more you donate the better your chances for bringing home a gorgeous heirloom quality table.

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Donate at PayPal.me/TahoeWeekly | PayPal.com or PayPal app publisher@tahoethisweek.com or mail checks to P.O. Box 154, Tahoe Vista, CA 96148. Email addresses are required for notification.

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