It’s a tight time line, but Lake Tahoe Unified School District officials believe the football field at the high school will be ready for the first home game on Sept. 2.

Construction was pushed back to allow for graduation to continue the tradition of being conducted on the football field. This will be June 10 at 4pm, with crews starting the renovation June 13.

Donations are being sought to help with renovating STHS' football field. Photo/LTN

“There is a certain amount of anxiety, but this is not a complex project,” Steve Morales, LTUSD facilities director, said.

The field will be synthetic turf. A concession stand and restrooms will also be built.

However, the biggest change is lights will be on the field. This will allow the football team to play Friday night games, and have the field open to soccer on Saturdays. The goal is to have the lights in before the beginning of August.

Morales said if work is not done on time, the Sept. 2 game will be moved to Sept. 3 as a day game.

This is the complete Viking Stadium renovation schedule.

— Kathryn Reed

By Laura Weislo, Cycling News

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California has only just wrapped up, and organiser Andrew Messick of AEG has already announced one detail for next year’s race: it will commence in Santa Rosa, the home of three-time champion Levi Leipheimer.

“The future starts 51 weeks from now in Santa Rosa, the start of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California,” Messick said at the closing press conference in Thousand Oaks, California. “It’s been an excellent home to the race as a venue, and for bringing the cycling community in North America together, there’s no place better.”

Even though the would-be start of the 2011 Amgen bike race had people waiting in the snow May 15, Tahoe could be part of the mix in the future. Photo/Lisa J. Tolda

Messick and the race director Jim Birrell of Medalist Sports looked back on this year’s race, the high points – both literally and figuratively – being the two summit finishes on Sierra Road and Mount Baldy, and the lows of cancelling stage one at Lake Tahoe and moving the start of stage two from Squaw Valley.

“If you look at the two summit finishes, you have to be impressed with the work of Jim’s team. There was nothing on top of Sierra Road – it was a cow pasture. There was no power, no cell phone, no plumbing. Overnight they built a village. Same on Mount Baldy. It was really impressive,” Messick said

Birrell pointed to the huge crowds, especially on Sierra Road, as a reason to look at continuing the trend of including summit finishes in the race.

“We saw some unbelievable dynamics unfold in the race, and our crowds on Sierra Road far exceceded those we’ve had in downtown San Jose in the past. It will be something to evaluate for the future.”

Messick said that one feature which will be a part of the Tour of California in the future is Lake Tahoe. “It didn’t work out this year because of factors outside our control.

“There is a place for Tahoe in this race. The teams that came early were rewarded with exceptional riding and great weather – we were hit with a fluke storm this year, but it is a fantastic venue that showcases an exceptionally beautiful part of California.”

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This spring a 300-member unit of the Northern Nevada National Guard was deployed to Afghanistan. Although the name of the unit is Northern Nevada, it also includes soldiers from the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Sue Jackson of the American Legion Post 795 South Lake Tahoe is heading up the project to send packages from the Lake Tahoe Basin to this unit. Members of the Boys & Girls Club recently wrote letters and made heartfelt cards expressing their appreciation for these folks.

Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls Club members write to the troops. Photo/Provided

You can help too by donating something for these packages. Suggestions include: personal letters and cards of gratitude and appreciation, phone cards, sports balls, toiletries, CDs, DVDs, and T-shirts, baseball caps and other souvenirs with Lake Tahoe printed on items.

Monetary donations are welcome to assist the American Legion in covering the cost of shipping. Drop off your donations at the Boys & Girls Club (1100 Lyons Ave.) 2-6pm Monday-Friday until May 31.

For more information, contact the Boys & Girls Club at (530) 542.0838 or Sue Jackson (530) 544.4007.

By Rob Stein, Washington Post

In case you needed one, here’s another possible reason to have that cup of coffee in the morning: Men who regularly drink coffee appear to be less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, especially the most lethal kind, according to new research.

Lorelei Mucci of the Harvard School of Public Health and colleagues analyzed data collected from 47,911 U.S. men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, a large, ongoing examination of a variety of health issues for men. As part of the study, the men reported their coffee consumption every four years between 1986 and 2008. During that period, 5,035 cases of prostate cancer were reported, including 642 fatal cases.

The men who consumed the most coffee, which was defined as six or more cups every day, were nearly 20 percent less likely to develop any form of prostate cancer, the researchers reported in the May 17 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

But, most strikingly, the heavy coffee drinkers were also 60 percent less likely to be diagnosed with a lethal prostate tumor. Those who drank between one and three cups a day were 30 percent less likely to develop a lethal case.

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To the community,

The recent post on this site and the article in the Tribune that reported my brush with law enforcement was so highly inaccurate as to be silly. But that is not my point in responding. Bias, inaccuracy and sloppy reporting in the media are so widely accepted and broadly understood that, to most people, it no longer merits a comment.

I am writing to thank the large number of people who understood the actual facts of the situation and provided unwavering support to me and my family during the less than 48 hours that it took before it was resolved. I cannot thank enough the people who came to Barton Hospital ICU to show their support – members of our church family, relatives, church pastors, and those how have been our friends for years. To my business partner who was standing ready to put up whatever amount of money necessary to see that I was home with my family. And thanks to the deputies of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department who provided security for me at Barton and showed the highest level of professionalism and dedication to service.

Joseph Scanio

Also, thanks to my attorney who was tireless in his defense and to our community leaders, elected officials whose support I so much appreciated. Friday evening was our 11th wedding anniversary and the dinner and show at a local casino was fantastic and our thanks for that great experience. And, finally, to all the people of our church who joined with us this past Sunday to offer their support and encouragement and to so warmly welcome us to our shared fellowship with Christ.

The anniversary card my wife gave me this past weekend I think sums up how we should look at the situations that cause us pain or bring turmoil to our lives. I want to share her words with you. I think they can give us and our partner the love and strength to endure when there is darkness and despair –as there always will be:

Sometimes life can get a little messy, a little crazy around the edges. But that’s okay. It’s still wonderful … and there is no one I’d rather be sharing it with than you, amazing you. I’m so glad our life isn’t about seeking perfection. Instead. We find happiness in everyday moments and real satisfaction in our home, our love, and our family.

Jennifer, I love you – and to all our friends and family, we love you more than you can ever know.

Joseph Scanio, South Lake Tahoe

By Stephen Ward

With summer approaching, residents and vacationers are beginning to flock to the lake and its resorts, basking in the sun and enjoying the season.

Unfortunately, they’re not the only ones who love the warm weather; mosquitoes are starting to pervade the Lake Tahoe region, and counties are stepping up their defense to ensure this mosquito season isn’t a nasty one.

Tahoe's other season -- mosquito season is about to arrive.

Ada Barros, public information officer for Placer County’s Vector Control District, said Tahoe’s wet winter might result in this mosquito season being worse than in previous years.

“When the water pools earlier, that gives (mosquitoes) more habitat to develop,” Barros said.

Barros’ district covers the Truckee, Kings Beach and Tahoe City, as well as the northwest region of the lake.

Karen Bender, supervising environmental health specialist for El Dorado County Environmental Management, agreed with Barros, saying this summer is susceptible to an influx of mosquitoes.

“(El Dorado County) is expecting this season to be heavy with mosquitoes due to the large amount of moisture in the basin over the winter and into spring,” Bender said.

County officials aren’t the only ones predicting an escalated mosquito season. Gary Barbato, hydrologist for the National Weather Service, said this past winter created a lot of stagnant water in the area through snowmelt.

“Whenever there’s a lot of snowmelt, you’re going to have more ponding, and more mosquito activity,” Barbato said. “From what I know about water, that’s primary mosquito breeding ground.”

Barbato, in fact, does know quite a bit about water. He received a master’s degree in water resources from the University of Wyoming and has worked for the NWS for 30 years. He said the high water mark for runoff, an indicator of when the mosquito season will be at its apex, is estimated to be about June 6.

In order to prevent large mosquito infestations in the region, El Dorado County technicians check breeding sources and treated areas where mosquito larvae are found, Bender said. Some areas, such as Trout Creek, are not accessible for monitoring since logging activities are taking place, Bender said.

Barros said her group sprays two types of insecticides across Placer County, larvicide and adulticide. Larvicide is sprayed primarily in water and is used to kill premature mosquitoes, while adulticide is used to prevent mosquitoes capable of flight. Barros said her group has never needed to spray adulticide in the Tahoe region.

As well as spraying, Barros’ group tests dead birds for West Nile virus and has a sentinel chicken coop that it takes blood samples from regularly.

No cases of the West Nile Virus were discovered in humans last year in the Tahoe area, however three cases were found in the foothills of Placer County.

“A lot of folks don’t realize there are different types of mosquitoes,” Barros said. “Although there are some right now in the foothills, they’re not necessarily the ones that carry disease.”

Brooks Martin, a physician who specializes in family practice at Barton Family Medicine, said West Nile Virus symptoms are difficult to pinpoint, but no cases of the virus were discovered in his office last year.

“Unless people come in with meningitis-like symptoms, we generally don’t believe West Nile virus is the cause,” Martin, who has been practicing medicine in the area for more than 20 years, said.

Bender said no cases of West Nile virus occurred last year in her group’s area of the Tahoe basin, but warned that dogs and other pets can be exposed to West Nile in the same way humans can. Animals are resistant to the virus and rarely become ill, she said.

As for what people can do to prevent mosquito bites, Bender suggested eliminating all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding, including old tires and kids’ play toys. Another tip Bender said is to use insect repellent containing DEET.

Barros’ group advises people to exercise the three “D’s” — drain standing water, defend with repellent and long-sleeved clothing, and to call her district with any questions.

Caltrans will be closing the Gold Run Safety Roadside Rest Area on Interstate 80 eastbound on May 24 from 6:30am to 4pm and westbound May 25 from 6:30am to 4pm

This is for routine plumbing service and repairs. Signs will be posted to alert the traveling public.

The Gold Run SRRA will be open for the Memorial Day Weekend travelers.

The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association in collaboration with the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce recently awarded $12,300 in grants as part of the second cycle of its 2010-11 Community Marketing Grant Program.

The NLTRA awarded nearly $50,000 in grants last fall as part of cycle one.

Those receiving grants in the second cycle are:

Lake Tahoe Trail 100K – Northstar-at-Tahoe ($4,600)

2011 Tahoe Expo – Sustainable Tahoe ($4,600)

Tahoe Trail Running Series – Big Blue Adventure ($2,000)

Living History Day – California State Parks ($1,100).

The Community Marketing Grant Program provides marketing and promotional support to special events or projects and programs that bring visitors to the region, generate local and regional business revenue, provide local and regional media exposure, and opportunities for public relations. Grants cannot be used for capital investments, salaries, operational overhead, food and beverage, entertainment and supplies.

Classic chrome polished cars, rock ‘n’ roll and Lake Tahoe will make for a Hot August Nights to remember, Aug. 6-9 at MontBleu in Stateline.

MontBleu will be the headquarters for show-n-shines, car exhibits, exclusive car auctions, cruises and an outdoor pavilion with food, beverages and great oldies music. Take in the sun with the top down, and then at night step inside MontBleu to unwind Tahoe-style, with music, dining and a host of shows, including Aaron Lewis Aug. 6 and KC & The Sunshine Band Aug. 7 in the MontBleu Theater.

The KidZone Museum, a nonprofit organization nationally recognized for its exemplary children museum efforts, partners with Squaw Valley Institute to offer a lively, fun and informative presentation by Stuart Brown on the importance of play in an individual’s life.

The presentation, which includes a Q&A, is June 5 at 4:30pm at the Resort at Squaw Creek. The cost is $10. Tickets may be purchased online.

Brown will discuss topics such as what triggers an adult or child’s emotional engagement with the world, holds our attention and helps to craft each person’s unique human brain. He’ll also explore the growing data on the relationship of play to an individual’s performance, emotional regulation and overall well-being. Attendees will learn what highlights the evolution, neurobiology and characteristics of play behaviors and their embedment in the survival circuitry of the brain. The consequences of play deprivation will also be discussed.

Brown is director of the National Institute for Play and author of “PLAY: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul”.

For additional information about Brown’s presentation, contact Carol Meagher at director@kidzonemuseum.org or (530) 320.5613.