“Wonders of Water (WOW)” Week
We have a wonderful environmental program designed to reach over one thousand South Lake Tahoe students each year. The program is called “Wonders of Water (WOW) Week” and once again, the program is being held this fall with an expansive range of opportunities in which volunteers are greatly needed to help out with innovative, hands-on activities. These events focus on water quality and conservation and is based on the internationally acclaimed Project WET curriculum.
If you, or someone you know is interested in helping out with this program scheduled for the end of October and beginning of November, please check out the following:
WOW WEEK VOLUNTEER TRAINING ~ Tuesday, October 18th, 3:30 – 5:30pm at the Tahoe RCD. Contact
Sarah Ford, sford@tahoercd.org, 530-543-1501 ext. 114.
South Lake Tahoe’s 9th Annual Kids’ Fishing Derby
The South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge recently held the 9th annual kids’ fishing derby on Sunday, September 18th. The event took place at Lake Baron which is located in Tahoe Paradise Park in the Meyers neighborhood of South Lake Tahoe.
The lake is stocked with about 1,000 lbs of Rainbow Trout weighing 1-4 lbs. each for this event. Close to 100 kids took part in the fishing derby that day and competed for 3 top prizes including savings bonds in the amounts of $100, $50 and $20 for the 3 biggest fish caught. The savings bonds were donated by El Dorado Savings Bank. The South Lake Tahoe Moose Lodge also supplied the fishing poles, bait, tackle and a free lunch for each participant (food for the lunches was donated by Lira’s Market). The Moose Lodge also provided a free raffle for the kids with many prizes including new fishing poles.
There were many local sponsors which helped make this event a success including El Dorado Savings, Lira’s Market, Kiwanis Club of Tahoe Sierra, Bill Cherry and Steve Dunn from Tahoe Paradise park, Lake Tahoe Hi-Lo’s, The Sportsman and Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters.
The 2011 Reno Balloon Races
image by Theresa Souers
It was an emotional and moving ceremony that took place at this year’s Reno Balloon Races. Not only was it the 30th Anniversary but the Sunday event which we attended was on the 10th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attack. Neither of these two anniversaries were in our minds as my sister, Lynette and I headed off for a girls’ weekend of what we call a “StayCation” (basically staying at home for a vacation. After all, we live in Lake Tahoe which is a vacation destination.)
The last time we visited this event was shockingly, 18 or so years ago. Boy were we in for a shock when we found ourselves in the midst of a huge traffic and pedestrian pilgrimage at 4″dark thirty” in the morning. “Where did all these people come from?” In fact, it is reported that over 150,000 attended the three day event held at the San Rafael Park in Reno. So there we were, hiking through the dark with cameras and tripods in tow looking for a magical spot in which to put our shutters in motion. Turns out, one couldn’t miss.
Sometime after 5 am (still not quite awake and not sure of the time) the announcer let the massive audience know that the show was about to begin. And boy howdy, what a show. The dawn patrol which featured brightly illuminated balloons against a black sky was enhanced with a setting full moon. With the rising of the sun, music filled our ears and balloons were lifting off the ground. Throughout the morning, the announcer would remind the viewers and vendors to pause for a moment of quiet memory at the corresponding times to the terrorists attacks. At one point, as “Proud to Be an American” was playing over the sound system, balloons lifting over our heads, the morning sun rays beaming over our shoulders and planes flew overhead in the missing pilot formation, Lynette and turned to look at each other in total bewilderment. We were both overcome with emotion and literally sobbing. I can’t explain it but you would have had to have been there. And let me say, that song has an entirely new meaning for me. To top it all off, immediately following the planes in their missing pilot formation, the exact formation flew overhead yet this time, performed stunningly by a flock of geese. That’s when we knew we were in the midst of true magic. Check it out for yourself.
It’s Candy Dance Time!
If you are looking to kick off the Fall season in full “funtastic” style, grab the family and head on over to Minden this weekend for the annual Candy Dance Arts an Crafts Faire. This year’s event is being held on September 24th & 25th from 9 am to 5 pm at the Genoa Town Park. Many consider this to be one of the strongest community events to be found throughout the country.
The Candy Dance generally features approximately 300 exhibitors of arts and crafts as well as scrumptious food ( check out the 3,000 pounds of homemade candy at the Genoa Town Hall.) from vendors across the United States. No matter what you are seeking, you can plan on finding it there. Plants, quilts, clothing, Christmas decorations, (oh heck, let your imagination fly.) This year’s theme is “Proud to Say Made in the USA. Qualifications for entry into the faire include the vendors verifying that a minimum of 75% of the product must be made here in the states. Proceeds from the faire are used to fund town services which include roads, drainage and recreation projects.
Although admission to the Candy Dance is free, be prepared for a five dollar fee to park in the designated areas. There is also a shuttle service for only two dollars from Douglas High School. If you are looking for more information on the dinner dance, call 782-8696.
Preserving the Beauty of Lake Tahoe – A Community Effort
Jaime Hits the Trail
Owning a home in Lake Tahoe means you own property in one of the most naturally beautiful areas of the country, often referred to as a “national treasure” by the Associated Press. With mountain views, forest views, and lake views, and with access to almost any kind of sport you can think of, it makes sense why people want to live in the Lake Tahoe Area. Owning a home in Lake Tahoe also means belonging to a caring, engaged community, committed to making sure the Lake Tahoe Area remains beautiful.
The Lake Tahoe Area has several programs in place that help to preserve this pristine landscape. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), a government agency collaborative, is charged with protecting Lake Tahoe for the benefit of current and future generations. The TRPA’s vision is for a Lake Tahoe environment that is “sustainable, healthy and safe for the community and future generations.” In line with its vision, the TRPA has introduced Best Management Practices, which are methods to help developed properties function more like natural, undisturbed forest or meadowland. Best Management Practices for residential properties usually fall into four categories: vegetating and mulching undisturbed soils; infiltrating stormwater runoff from surfaces; paving dirt driveways and roads; and stabilizing or retaining steep slopes and loose soils. Best Management Practices help ensure properties in the Lake Tahoe Area remain naturally beautiful for generations to come.
The Lake Tahoe community has implemented other measures to help maintain the naturally beautiful environment in the area as well. Lake Tahoe Area residents have helped keep the Tahoe Area beautiful by participating in forest restoration projects. The Sugar Pine Foundation recently carried out two forest planting days, with the help of the Rotary Club of South Lake Tahoe, the Rose Foundation, the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of South Lake, and the Soroptimist Club of South Lake. The forest planting days centered on volunteers planting more than 2,500 sugar pine seedlings and saplings in needed forest restoration areas.
Furthermore, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery offers a Tire-Derived Grant Program to promote markets for recycled-content products derived from waste tires generated in California and decrease the adverse environmental impacts created by unlawful disposal and stockpiling of waste tires. The Lake Tahoe Unified School District applied for up to $91,434 for a new synthetic field at Viking Stadium in South Lake Tahoe. The new field will save over 500,000 gallons of water annually and utilize more than 24,000 recycled tires.
It is very easy to see why one would want to buy property in the Lake Tahoe Area. The Lake Tahoe Area boasts naturally beautiful properties as well as many ways to enjoy the environment, from taking in views to skiing or hiking; Lake Tahoe is a great place to call home.