John Hunsberger, 60, of South Lake Tahoe died from the injuries he sustained this month when he stepped from a Nifty Fifty Trolley, according to police officials.

The incident occurred July 11. Hunsberger died at Renown Medical Center in Reno on July 15.

He is the fourth person this year to die in a traffic related accident in South Lake Tahoe.

To help combat traffic incidents, South Tahoe officers will be out in force in the Al Tahoe neighborhood this coming week.

Between July 11-24 South Lake Tahoe police officers conducted a concentrated traffic enforcement program within the Tahoe Keys neighborhood as part of its Neighborhood Traffic Enforcement Program. During that time, 54 traffic stops were conducted by officers, with 10 citations written for speed, 17 for stop sign violations, three for other traffic violations and 37 written warnings were issued.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

By Susan Voyles, Reno Gazette-Journal

Twenty-five years ago, Wolfman Jack took to the stage in the parking lot at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, and Hot August Nights was born.

“When Wolfman Jack got on that stage, the crowd went crazy. Everybody went nuts,” said Willie Davison, event co-founder. “That first night was something. We had to get a hold of that tiger by the tail. It was unbelievable.”

While only about 3,000 people were expected, Davison said 10,000 people showed up that first night and emptied a Coors truck loaded with a hundred kegs of beer. That was Aug. 1, 1986.

Davison said people jumped at the chance to relive the good times, classic cars and rock n’ roll from their high school years in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Hot August Nights drew 28,000 people for three days that first year in 1986, nearly three times more than expected. Today, it’s the biggest event in Reno and Sparks.

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Fire restrictions went into effect Saturday in the Bureau of Land Management’s Carson City District, Sierra Forest Fire Protection District in Carson City and Storey County.

Campfires outside developed campgrounds or picnic areas, smoking outside such areas or vehicles, welding, charcoal grills, open burning and the use of tracer rounds and steel-core ammunition while recreational shooting are all prohibited.

To the community,

Lake Tahoe, you rock!

Hard Rock Cafe Lake Tahoe’s anniversary event was May 18 through June 26. Hard Rock Cafe Lake Tahoe partnered with Bread & Broth; an all-volunteer program in South Lake Tahoe that provides hot, well-balanced meals to those in need; to help collect food in 40 days.

Hard Rock Lake Tahoe, along with community partners, friends, staff and guests, collected 26,234 pounds of food to present to Bread & Broth.

We are very proud of the way our community, staff and partners have rallied together to make a difference even during difficult economic times. The Hard Rock Cafe Lake Tahoe and Bread & Broth would like to thank everyone who came out to support this effort. One of Hard Rock Café’s long standing mottos, “Take Time To Be Kind”, is truly reflected in these actions.

We would also like to single out and thank those who rose to the occasion in donations and support:

*Kim Templeton, sales and marketing Hard Rock

*Safeway Northern California

*Harrah’s and Harveys employees

*MontBleu

*Hard Rock employees

*Barton Memorial Hospital

*All those in our community who donated above and beyond.

Because of the nature of our cause and the generosity of those who donated, Bread & Broth is donating a portion of the food collected to Back Door Pantry and Christmas Cheer so those they feed are taken care of as well. Hopefully, more events like this one will pull us all closer together still, and allow us to “Feed the Need”. Our goal is simple: One lake, One cause, Feed Lake Tahoe.

This was a great event in our town. But, every day, of every year, we have those in need in our community to help. If you missed this event, or wish to donate to Bread & Broth in any way, contact Connie Blue at (530) 208.8707 or midwest2tahoe@yahoo.com

David Smith, Zephyr Visions Marketing & Consulting

The 26th annual Great Gatsby Tea and Fashion Show is Aug. 14 from 2-4pm on the lawn behind Valhalla Grand Hall. There are still a few tickets available for $35 per person. For tickets and information, contact Leslie De Tarr at (530) 541.0332 or email Leslieslt@aol.com.

The menu includes English tea, fresh fruits, finger sandwiches, small cakes, canapés and an assortment of desserts, and of course “bootleg” Champagne. There will also be gluten-free options.

The Fashion Show is presented by Deborah Rush of Fashions of Yesteryear — The Fashion Faces the Music. Twenty-four authentic vintage outfits related to music of the times.

Profits are used by Tahoe Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to help protect and preserve the cultural heritage and natural history resources in the Lake Tahoe Basin through restoration, education and interpretation.

The Tahoe Symphony Orchestra (Toccata) continues 2011 Big Blue Summer MusicFest with a series that celebrates Baroque Masters. The program includes works by G.P. Teleman, Handel, Vivaldi, and features J.S. Bach’s Cantata No. 140 – “Wachet Auf” featuring the Toccata Chorus and vocal soloists.

Concerts are:

Aug. 13 at 7:30pm at St. Patricks Episcopal Church in Incline Village

Aug. 14 at 3pm at St. Theresa Catholic Church in South Lake Tahoe

Aug. 16 at 7:30pm at St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in Reno

Aug. 21 at 4pm at Trinity Episcopal Church in Reno.

Tickets are $25 adults, $20 seniors, (62 and up), and $5 students. Preferred seating is $35. Children under 12 enter free with a paying adult. Tickets can be purchased in advance by credit card online or at the door by cash or check.

For more information, call (775) 313.9697.

Reno Gay Pride festival is 15th annual event is Aug. 19-20.

With each passing year, the festival has grown as Reno shows off its LGBT Pride.

Go online for the event schedule.

• On July 20 state Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, filed papers to get rid of the $150 annual firefighting fee for people living in rural areas. Right now the fee is part of the approved budget. People living in rural unincorporated areas of the state would pay the fee — so Meyers residents pay, South Lake Tahoe residents wouldn’t. Here is a link to a map that details areas that pay.

• Performance eyewear Revo and Tahoe Stand Up Paddleboards have partnered on the Tahoe Explore Project, a short-film series inspiring stand up paddleboarders to use the sport as a way to explore global destinations as well as their own backyards.

• Chevis Hosea has been hired as Squaw Valley’s vice president of development.

• Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association is accepting memberships on its website. The annual fee is $10.

• R.O. Anderson engineering firm of Minden is opening an office in South Lake Tahoe, with Coleen Shade the principal planner. A grand opening is slated for September at the Tahoe Keys office in the professional center on Venice Drive.

• The July 25 Douglas County School District board meeting has been canceled.

By Kathryn Reed

It wouldn’t stop. The lupine just kept going on and on and on.

Instead of pedaling through our favorite patch of wildflowers two weeks ago, we walked our bikes because the water on the trail was midway up our calves.

Lupine are more prolific this summer. Photos/Kathryn Reed

The appropriate superlative has not been created to describe this lush, picturesque, tranquil, gorgeous and mesmerizing sea of purple.

What is spectacular about the field of lupine is how much of it there is this year. All this water is allowing flowers to pop up in places not before seen as well as in greater quantities.

We aren’t ever quite sure how to get to the lupine because of all the trails that exist in this area. That’s also one of the fun things about riding mountain bikes on the north side of Fallen Leaf Lake – all the routes make it an adventure each time.

One of the benefits of all the water was not too many mosquitoes were out. But as the water dissipates, the skeeters are bound to be a nuisance, especially for anyone lingering to take photos.

Not only was the section of trail where the lupine are under water, but other parts also required either finding a completely different route or walking our bikes around the obstacle.

Leading up to Fallen Leaf Lake is Taylor Creek – normally a rather subdued body of water that eventually flows into Lake Tahoe. Not earlier this month. It was raging like a river.

Getting there:

From South Lake Tahoe, go north on Highway 89. Turn left on Cathedral Road, which is just beyond Fallen Leaf Lake Road.

The trail starts as a road, but then up a bit a dirt trail veers off to the left.

I’ve never found the lupine patch the same way – so good luck.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)

By Janet Fullwood, Sacramento Bee

Does anybody really know how green their hotel is? Does anybody really care?

The acronym “LEED” has flashed across the public radar screen often enough to make an impression as … well, something or other to do with energy efficiency.

But even if you know that LEED is shorthand for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and that LEED certification is sparingly bestowed by the U.S. Green Building Council for sustainable building performance and business practices, should it matter?

You may or may not rest easier on your next weekend getaway knowing that your hotel bathroom is equipped with low-flow plumbing, that your garbage is being recycled and composted, or that a switch in light bulb technology has cut the hotel’s energy bill in half. You might even be irritated by that little sign on the counter guilt-tripping you into using your towels and sheets for a second day. (Then again, you might be impressed to know they’re being laundered locally with nontoxic cleaning products rather than being trucked to a regional processing facility 100 miles away.)

The point is, there’s something to be said for being made aware of your choices.

With California at the forefront of investment in green energy, hotels are changing their wasteful ways – and most want their patrons to know about it.

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