By Kathryn Reed

For some reason I had not thought of putting quinoa in enchiladas. Thank goodness Denise enlightened me.

And these were no ordinary enchiladas. For one, they weren’t wrapped in tortillas and then they weren’t baked.

The concoction was cooked in a slow cooker. Crockpots are such great alternatives because they allow for cooking to go on all day and you don’t have to be in the kitchen for hours right before your guests arrive. Plus, it makes the house smell so good.

Denise served tortillas on the side so the mixture could be wrapped in it. That was great. It was also so yummy on its own.

I will be serving this to others in the future.  

Quinoa Enchilada Bake

1¼ C yellow onion, chopped

1¼ C red bell pepper, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1½ C dry quinoa

2¼ C vegetable broth

14.5 ounce can tomatoes with green chilies, undrained

8 ounce can tomato sauce

2 T chili powder

1½ tsp ground cumin

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

14.5 ounce can black beans, drained

14.5 ounce can pinto beans, drained

1½ C frozen corn

1½ C cheddar or Monterey jack, or Mexican blend cheese

Avocado, diced

Fresh tomato, diced

Cilantro, chopped

Tortillas, optional

Add all ingredients through the corn to a crockpot. Cook at least three hours. Ten to 15 minutes before ready to serve add the cheese. Serve when melted.

Place avocado, tomato and cilantro in individual bowls and let people serve themselves.

By Kathryn Reed

It’s official – the voters of South Lake Tahoe will decide in November the future of vacation home rentals outside the tourist core area.

Per the city staff report on July 17, “The initiative would ban VHR rentals in residential zones following a three-year amortization period, with exception of qualified VHR rentals totaling less than 30 days per calendar year. The initiative has no effect on vacation rentals in commercial zones and the tourist core area.”

There are roughly 1,300 VHRs outside the tourist area and another 450 in the tourist area. The tourist area includes much of the area from Ski Run Boulevard to the state line. The Gondola Vista condos being built by Van Sickle Bi-State Park would be considered tourist core VHRs, as are units in the Marriott properties, and residences scattered in the neighborhoods.

While backers of the initiative are seeking to get the rentals out of neighborhoods, they have ignored the residents near the state line. Through their ballot question they are essentially allowing unlimited units to go in this area. There are many who believe that limiting the land available for VHRs will in fact impact an area with lower income people who don’t always have a voice in city politics.

The tourist area is also seen as town centers; therefore, more developed and commercial.

This approach to putting VHRs in these areas is the opposite to what Douglas County is doing. As that jurisdiction looks to revamp its ordinance, the goal is to keep VHRs in residential areas and out of town centers. This is because their definition is the buildings are residences, not commercial entities.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council on Tuesday was faced with the decision whether to put the initiative that would ban short-term rentals over the course of three years or to implement it immediately. The electeds opted to send it to the voters; with Councilman Tom Davis recusing himself because of his business.

Prior to the vote the council heard a report from Hilary Roverud of the Development Services Department about what some of the impacts of the ordinance could be. With there being so many unknowns, like what people would do with their property if a VHR is no longer an allowed use, the actual ramifications are unknown.

Roverud said it’s estimated the city will lose more than $2.4 million a year in transient occupancy tax. This is one of the three main revenue sources for the city. TOT that was going to be dedicated to recreation could be cut by more than $450,000 a year. The Tourism Improvement District, which is made up of hotels within the city, could lose about $360,000 a year. Today that money is used for marketing this area. Vacation home rental permit fee collections could drop by close to $800,000.

If the ordinance passes in November and the city were to ignore the will of the voters “the city could be faced with a writ or injunction compelling it to implement and enforce the ordinance,” according to interim City Attorney Nira Doherty. She explained to Lake Tahoe News this would be done by “a citizen lawsuit to compel the city.”

The ballot language states that if someone were to operate a VHR after Dec. 31, 2021, the city could fine the property owner up to $1,000.

What remains to be seen is if the ballot question passes is if those who use VHRs will instead choose to stay in a hotel. It’s unknown if property owners will sell, operate illegally, keep the dwelling as a second home, rent it out full time or some other scenario.

There is one theory that the VHRs will be filled with full time residents, which will fill schools. On the flip side is the belief the schools will be hurt by this initiative as will businesses tied to VHRs because there won’t be jobs.

It people want to unload the VHR because they can no longer use the house as they desire, this could detrimentally impact the housing market by flooding it. The resulting impact to the property tax, another key revenue source, is unknown.

The initiative says that after 2021VHRs will not be allowed on multi-family properties.

The staff report says, “There are currently 119 single-family residential units in the commercial zones and 371 condominiums and 37 single-family residential units in the tourist core area, a total of 527 units, which would have the ability to become VHRs if permitting requirements are met.”

Assuming voters want to ban VHRs, there is nothing to stop other people from coming back with a different ballot proposal to undo all of this – with the voters backing.

By Steve Keating, Reuters

Sarah Hirshland landed her dream job when she was named chief executive of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) on Thursday, but she faces a nightmare situation in her new role dealing with the aftermath of a massive sex abuse scandal.

She fills the post previously held by Scott Blackmun, who resigned for medical reasons amid criticism stemming from the sex abuse scandal involving ex-USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

Described as passionate, innovative and a skilled negotiator, Hirshland’s ability to make deals will be a huge asset with sponsorship and marketing rights to be put in place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Read the whole story

The El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency, Senior Health Education Program and Family Caregiver Support Program will be presenting a Powerful Tools for Caregivers educational series for older adults in August.

This six-week program will be from 2-3:30pm each Friday afternoon from Aug. 24-Sept. 28 at the Cameron Park Community Center located at 2502 Country Club Drive in Cameron Park. 

The trainings in the educational series will provide caregivers aged 60 or older with tools and strategies to assist them in handling the unique challenges they face. The series topics include: 

Aug. 24 – Taking Care of You
Aug. 31 – Identifying and Reducing Personal Stress
Sept. 7 – Communicating Feelings, Needs, and Concerns
Sept. 14 – Communicating in Challenging Situations
Sept. 21 – Learning From Our Emotions
Sept. 28 – Mastering Caregiving Decisions.

Participants are asked to attend all six sessions; certificates of completion will be presented at the end of the series.

Class size is limited and registration is required. The training series is offered at no cost; donations are accepted. Call 530.621.6192 to register or for questions.

The 100th birthday of Sandy Poulsen and the 75th anniversary of her 22 kick-turns and the resultant naming of KT-22.

The event will be Aug. 11 at 1pm at the Poulsen estate in Squaw Valley. There will be a barbecue, cocktails, games, music and more.

Money raised will go toward a project that is important to the family — a museum of the 1960 Olympics and Sierra Nevada Ski History.

The vision of the Squaw Valley Ski Museum Foundation is to establish a local place where the evolution of winter sports and the legacy 1960 Winter Olympics can be researched, studied, and displayed and where local legends can be recognized and celebrated.

Tickets are available online. Tickets are limited to 150. 

Douglas County is looking for entities to apply for the Community Grant Program.

Applicants are encouraged to attend the Board of Commissioners meeting where the electeds will discussed and announce the awards.

Grant applications are available at the county manager’s office and treasure’s office in Minden, as well as the general services office at the Lake Tahoe Administration Building in Stateline.                                

Applications are due Sept. 28.

For more info, contact Kathy Kaiser at 775.782.9029.

By Emily Cadei, Sacramento Bee

Democratic challenger Jessica Morse outraised Republican Rep. Tom McClintock by a more than three-to-one margin as the two geared up for a general election clash in the 4th District congressional race.

McClintock, however, started July with slightly more money in the bank.

The five-term incumbent raised $112,000 in the six-week span between May 17 and June 30, a fraction of the $392,000 that Morse, a first-time candidate, raised. It’s the fourth quarter in a row that Morse has outraised McClintock, who has not faced a competitive challenge since being elected to Congress in 2008.

Read the whole story

Two people died July 17 in a plane crash outside of Truckee airport. Photo/Provided

Update 7:38pm:

By Jordan Cutler-Tietjen, Sacramento Bee
 
Two victims have died and another was transported to a hospital after a small private plane crashed in a meadow south of Truckee, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office tweeted.

Pilot Kenneth Whitall-Scherfee, 60, of Carmichael was identified as one of the dead by the sheriff’s office Tuesday afternoon.

Around 7:35a , a single-engine, four-passenger Navion-B plane crashed less than a mile from the Truckee-Tahoe Airport, said Sgt. Dave Hunt of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. The debris field is located in the west of Highway 267 near Mercer Flats, said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Pacific Division.

Read the whole story

By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE – While the word “bankruptcy” has not been floated publicly among the Tahoe Transportation District staff and board, the bus system it runs on the South Shore is sputtering to stay solvent.

Interestingly, Carl Hasty, who manages the bi-state transit agency, mentioned at the July 13 meeting that it was eight years ago this month that TTD took over for the now defunct South Tahoe Area Transit Authority, or STATA. That nonprofit ended up in bankruptcy court and collectively costing local member agencies hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Many of the same complaints that were heard eight years ago and longer are still being voiced today – from all sides. Money still is at the crux of most of what ails the bus system, which then impacts routes and frequency.

How funding works it is not just a free handout from the states or feds, so to speak. George Fink, who manages the buses, said $687,000 more in fare box revenue is needed to meet the requirements.

TTD realizes it needs to figure out a better revenue stream. That is why the board has agreed to hire a consultant, maybe more than one, to provide a suite of options.

While the ski shuttles are a huge draw, with about 358,000 rides in a good winter, no fare box is collected from them. There were people at the meeting wondering why the tourists are not charged.

Heavenly Mountain Resort has been subsidizing this amenity for years.

Andrew Strain who works for the ski resort in government affairs is also on the TTD board. He did not participate in the board discussion, but instead spoke during public comment. He said given the planned cutbacks to the winter buses, Heavenly is looking at how it can provide service to its customers and to coordinate with TTD. He admitted the resort doesn’t have firm plans right now.

Heavenly doesn’t have enough parking if everyone were to drive themselves. There is also the fact many people would not be comfortable driving up Kingsbury Grade to Boulder or Stagecoach lodges. Plus, many who travel on ski vacations are used to excellent bus service in other locales, which is also often free.

Tahoe’s problems are confounded by not being able to hire enough drivers for the routes. They either can’t pass a drug test or can’t afford to live here. Housing, though, is an issue for nearly every employer in the basin.

At last week’s meeting the board put off final decisions on revamping the system for another month, with comments being taken into August as well. As of July 8 the district has received 95 comments since May 11, with them divided into those supporting specific services or making general comments about TTD or transit.

Early last week the district was surprised with good news. It received $1.6 million from the Nevada Department of Transportation for the 19X route, which goes between the lake and the valley. This is huge for commuters to the lake as well as those who take transit to the valley for medical appointments.

The plan is for staff to come back to the board at the August meeting with a modified action plan for routes 23 and 20 that include 19, continue to work with the Ridge and Heavenly, and to relook at how it is dealing with CEQA based on comments from the League to Save Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

Exactly how the changes will impact door-to-door bus service still remain to be seen. As it stands now about 16 riders in the North Upper Truckee and Christmas Valley areas could be out cut off.

“I’m here to be the voice for the disabled and the elderly who live in North Upper Truckee. I have a son with disabilities,” a mom said. “This transportation is critical to his life.”

By Sage Sauerbrey, Moonshine Ink

“Speak softly and carry a big stick.” That was Teddy Roosevelt’s both subtle and crude approach to foreign policy — when diplomacy doesn’t work, break out the big guns.

While covering the multitude of developments working through the public process across Truckee/North Tahoe, I’ve noticed a one-sided parallel to Teddy’s philosophy in how our community often approaches decision making and growth: When negotiating compromise on difficult land use planning issues, we always carry a lawsuit in our back pockets. This is an expensive and time-consuming adaptation of the big stick.

The ability to sue is a deserved right, and the California Environmental Quality Act has made legal action a far more accessible tool for the everyday person to use when standing up against overdevelopment of our land and environment.

Read the whole story