South Lake Schools – Award Winners in So Many Ways
Buying a home in the Lake Tahoe Area has many benefits. It is clear one benefit to living in the Lake Tahoe Area is having access to the award-winning Lake Tahoe Unified School District. Whether you currently live in the Lake Tahoe Area or are considering relocating here, it is worth cheering about the Lake Tahoe Unified School District’s recent news.
The Lake Tahoe Unified School District is receiving praise for its health and fitness advancements. A preliminary review of the 2011 Governor’s Challenge Competition results reveals that the Tahoe Valley Elementary School is once again ranked one of the top schools in the region, and one of roughly 100 schools being considered for recognition for health and fitness awards. The awards being considered for the Tahoe Valley Elementary School include the Governor’s Council Champion for Fitness award, the Governor’s Council Regional award, the Governor’s Council School of the Year award, and the Governor’s Council Live Positively award. Each award comes with a cash prize and new fitness equipment.
Speaking of great sports and fitness news, the Lake Tahoe High School had a number of students qualify for the state track meet in Las Vegas. The Lake Tahoe High School also had two golfers qualify for the state match. The Varsity Softball team won the league this year, and hosted the first round of regional playoffs in May. The softball team won the league this year as well, for the first time in the high school’s history. Go Vikings!
As of all of this good news wasn’t enough, the Tahoe Valley Elementary School also boasted a very prestigious award this year—Wendy Smalley was nominated for a 2011 Teacher of the Year Award. Ms. Smalley was nominated for this exceptional award because of her work with students on how to eat healthy and stay healthy with an active lifestyle. Congrats Ms. Smalley and Tahoe Valley Elementary!
In addition to health and fitness, the Lake Tahoe Unified School District is leading the way in technology advancements as well. The Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board recently announced plans to incorporate new technology, including new ebooks and netbooks, into Lake Tahoe School District classrooms. Next school year, every student in grades 3-12 will be utilizing netbooks in the classroom. The Lake Tahoe Unified School District is gaining notoriety as far away as England and China for its incorporation of advanced technology into the classroom.
The Lake Tahoe Unified School District continues to prove itself as one of the many benefits of owning a home in the Lake Tahoe Area.
Christmas in Lake Tahoe – Pure Magic
We’re going to go out on a limb here and predict a White Christmas in Lake Tahoe. Okay, we generally play it pretty safe but this feels like one prediction in which we are going to find success. Christmas in Lake Tahoe. Sounds magical doesn’t it? Well, it is. There’s nowhere else we would rather be. And as wonderful as this season generally is, the 2010 Christmas is shaping up to be extra special. I don’t know if it is having a three-year old in the midst, the back-to-back snow storms blanketing our homes, forests and streets, the full moon and rare lunar eclipse or simply a combination of all the above, but this holiday season seems to have a heightened sense of hope and joy. As I think about it, I don’t feel we are alone in this euphoria. The town is filling up with tourists which doesn’t typically happen until New Year’s. Our business partners are telling us that our company’s vacation rentals are seeing record bookings and friends that own local dining establishments tell us it feels “like the old days.”
Best of all, excessive spending does not appear to be a focal point. At least not this year. In fact, it seems as though everyone I talk to are making gifts, hosting potluck dinners or simply making plans to gather for game nights with family and friends. Simplicity and joy seem to be the recipe for this year’s Christmas in Tahoe. Take last night for example. We had just settled down for an evening of Monday night football when out on the street there arose such a clatter (actually very large honking noises and recorded Christmas caroling.) Of course, I sprang from my recliner to see what was the matter. I pulled up the blinds and peered out the door, to see the moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow give a lustre of mid-day to objects below. (hey – these words have been working for years. Why change now?) I couldn’t believe it. There in front of my astonished eyes should appear, but a Lake Valley firetruck with voices of cheer. “Any kids here?” That’s right, our local fireman had filled the cab of one of their festively decorated trucks with some kids and were venturing through neighborhoods handing out candy canes. Any kids in our house? Absolutely – they just happened to be over 50. You should have seen our smiles.
A turning of the tide? I sure hope so. I hope that the memory of the past decades of frivolous spending, materialism and “bigger is better” does not leave any of us. Our grandparents tried to talk to us of the hard times and the lessons were lost upon deaf ears. Please, please – let’s keep this rediscovered awareness of what is really important at the helm of our future plans and decisions. Loved ones, loving life and spreading love. This is my only wish for Christmas.
Merry Christmas everyone and if you have a chance – come experience a bit of the Tahoe magic.
“Pray for Snow” Parties Were Successful
Although this weekend’s storm was not the first of the unofficial winter season, it certainly was the one that kicked off the annual festive frenzy of WINTER’S HERE! We actually have a term here in Lake Tahoe that is used to describe the heightened energy surrounding the preparation for the coming “storm of the decade.” (“Storm of the year/decade/century are tossed about quite frequently and locals are known to murmur these words with somewhat of a snicker.) Never-the-less, year after year, the Donner Party Syndrome sets in. For those not versed in their history of the West, the Donner Party was a group of pioneers that were caught rather off-guard during a winter Sierra snowstorm. For many, the outcome was not so great.
Thus, here we were, the week prior to the 2010 Thanksgiving holiday, with a full blown Donner Party Syndrome running rampant throughout the South Lake Tahoe community. While many were muttering, “oh please, not yet,” an atmosphere of fun filled the air. Around the lake, “pray for snow” parties were taking place. For a week, all weather watchers were warning, “It’s coming – it’s coming.” At first, the warnings focused on snow levels of 1 foot at lake level and 2 – 3 in the higher elevations. As is typical, the closer the storm arrival date approached, the greater the anticipated levels of snow. The lines at the tire shops extended down blocks as folks waited to participate in the annual switch from everyday tires to mud & snow. Those of us with less typical mountain-style autos proudly mounted the “studs.” The grocery lines were long as folks stocked up on the basics. Coats, snow pants and boots were brought to the front of closets. Snow stakes were mounted to mark the boundaries of driveways. Snow shovels were brought up from storage. Gas cans were filled for the snow blowers, etc. etc. Most notable for those of us in the real estate industry was the removal of sign posts in front of homes for sale. Most of the FOR SALE signs are now posted above garage doors, upper decks, etc. As durable as today’s real estate signs might be, the snow plow wins every year. It’s a rather sad feeling for us to find our mangled smiley face signs trampled in the mud each Spring. Not this year! We are prepared.
Winter is here – let the games begin.
Resort Living – A Frame of Mind (or is it?)
Jazz on Lake Tahoe
I was driving home the other evening, singing along with the old classic (by the way – what is the cut-off date to become a classic) “Bye, Bye Miss American Pie” and influenced by the tune, I found myself reflecting on mental images of some of this summers’ highlights. Not too surprising was the realization that the stage in which every event took place was outdoors. Seriously, there was only one event that I could remember having been held indoors and that was an in-house concert. Okay – music is also a repetitive theme.
Throughout the summer we held our weekly Tuesday Night Beach dinner without fail. This particular week was incredible with food beyond belief, warm breezes even after the sun went down and a rising full moon simply forced us to howl with delight. On Thursday nights, there was jazz on the beach (see attached image,) Stateline held their outdoor concerts such as Elton John, Northstar found us riding up the gondola to see Natalie Cole perform on the mountain side and we enjoyed the biggest laugh we have had in years at Shakespeare At the Lake. Believe me, these mental images are as lovely as a Monet painting. I can’t help but smile from the joy they bring me. I mean a big old, ear-to-ear grin.
As I reflect on these memories, I can’t help but wonder if living in a resort town contributes to the magic surrounding these various outings. After all, these types of activities take place throughout the world and I have lived in a wide variety of cities within California. Yet, I just don’t recall being so in awe of that which I find myself experiencing on nearly a day-to-day basis. Would the music (sound) combined with fresh air (smell), splashes of vivid colors (sight), comfortable temperatures (touch), yummy food & beverages (taste) be as effective in embedding these memories deep in my brain cells if the backdrop of the Sierras and the waters of Lake Tahoe weren’t as part of the package? Or is it just easier to reach out and connect when nature is hosting the environment? OR – does the aging process simply find dwelling on pleasantries more comfortable? I don’t know the answer but boy – I like the outcome!
Resort Town Living – Perhaps a State of Mind
When attending social events in Tahoe, one is more likely to hear the question, “What do you like to do?” instead of ”What do you do? It is is common knowledge that most of our local residents chose to move here at one time or another in their lives. And furthermore, most of the transplants did not make their decision based upon financial gains. Far from it.
We may not have an endless variety of dining choices but we do taste fresh air on a daily basis. We may not drive high-end luxury vehicles, but we only sit in traffic for a few minutes at any given time. We may not have renown museums and theaters, but we do have a Mother Nature production every day. And while locals are cautious in planning an event two months away (gotta keep those options open) they are famous for jumping to action when the word spreads about a beach-side picnic or a fresh powder run. They smile more often than not and they just don’t take themselves too seriously.
Case in point, our “gourmet” food club. Are we true gourmets? We’ve been told NOT. Well, we googled the meaning of gourmet and found the following: A gourmet is a person with discriminating taste in food and wine, as is a gourmand. Because gourmand can also mean “one who enjoys food in great quantities” or even “a gluttonous eater.” Discriminating? Hmmm. If it tastes good, we eat and drink it. If it’s bad, we don’t. I suppose that is pretty discriminating. And, I can attest that this group certainly enjoys the food. In fact, we are definitely gluttons! We come up with some incredible meals (pot luck style,) share our “secrets” (where we ripped off the recipe,) can sit at a dining table for hours (not possible in most restaurants) and no tips required (other than ideas for the next event.) Check out the following small video of the most recent event. You’ll get our drift. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIiixo_IpAs
Speaking of tips – here is one to pass along. Whether or not you live in a resort town, try a taste of the “resort life spontaneity.” Pick up the phone, text or email some of your closest friends and family and throw together a quick game of . . (fill in the blank). . ., name the time and place and make it a pot luck with no assignments. If everyone brings a dessert, so be it. Take lots of photos and make your own memory. We guarantee more will follow. That’s just how it is in a resort town.