By Lisa Huard

Each year I become more appreciative of the community in which I live and work. Tuesday’s Drug Store Project was one of the reasons why.

Again, we provided a meaningful anti-drug program for the 6th grade youth of South Tahoe Middle School, Zephyr Cove Elementary, St. Theresa, and Diamond Valley School. On the LTCC campus, 350 students were joined by 160 volunteers represented by over 50 agencies and businesses.

I’d first like to thank Tahoe Youth & Family Services as the lead agency in this project, one that continues to benefit our children and saves lives.

For those that pay attention to the list of participants in this program, consider this…..the list of thanks continues to be a consistent one. This program is truly community owned.

Thank you to: AK Entertainment, Arizona National Guard/DDR, Barton Health, Blackie Gonsalves-Photography, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, California Conservation Corps, CALSTAR, California Highway Patrol, California National Guard/DDR, Camelot Rentals, Diamond Valley School, Douglas County Probation, Douglas County Sheriff, El Dorado Community Foundation, El Dorado County District Attorney, El Dorado County Mental Health, El Dorado County Probation, El Dorado County Public Defender, El Dorado County Public Health Department, El Dorado County Sheriff, El Dorado County Superior Court, Embassy Suites Hotel & Resort, Harrah’s Harvey’s Lake Tahoe-HERO Team, Kiwanis Club of Tahoe Sierra, Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe, KTHO, Lake Tahoe Community College, Lake Tahoe Unified School District, Lake Valley Firefighter’s Association, Lake Valley Fire Protection District, McFarlane Mortuary, Optimist, Outside Television, Partnership of Community Resources, Pro Leisure, St. Theresa School, Sierra Community Church, Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe, Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra, South Lake Tahoe Fireman’s Association, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department, South Lake Tahoe Police Officer’s Association, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, South Lake Tahoe Rotary Club, STHS-Friday Night Live, Tahoe Douglas Elks, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club, Tahoe Youth & Family Resources, Vitality Lake Tahoe, Zephyr Cove Elementary AND the many, many wonderful volunteers to who took time out for the benefit of our kids and our community. We are all very lucky to live in such an amazing community.

Thank you everyone,

Lisa Huard, Drug Store Project Coordinator

By Natalie Armstrong, Reuters

BOULDER, Colo. – Trying to make some extra money during the recession, Michael Joseph decided to rent his South Lake Tahoe vacation property. After being frustrated by the online options available to him, Joseph designed his own rental booking website.

“If an owner wants to maximize their exposure by advertising on lots of different travel sites, they have to build a separate ad on each site which takes 30 to 45 minutes and costs between $100 and $700 a year,” said Joseph, who founded Boulder, Colorado-based Vacation Rental Partner (www.vacationrentalpartner.com) in 2009. “Most of these vacation rental owners don’t have the time to build these ads much less research which of the sites will actually give them a good return on their investment.”

Joseph said his company targets owners already renting their properties online, but who want to make more money and save time. He hopes to lure owners using vacation rental management companies, which take anywhere from 30 percent to 50 percent of the owners’ revenues.

Read the whole story

All high school students in the Fourth Congressional District are invited to participate in the Congressional Art Competition, An Artistic Discovery, a nationwide high school art competition sponsored by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

First-place entries from each congressional district will be displayed for one year in the Cannon Tunnel, leading to the U.S. Capitol. Each winning student will be invited, along with one guest, to the unveiling of the exhibit and a reception for all winners in June. Two round-trip airline tickets will be provided to the winning student.

Contest guidelines and release forms are available online.

Artwork should be sent to the following address no later than April 29: The Fourth District Congressional Arts Competition, PlacerArts, 808 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603.

By Susan Wood

It was a win-win Saturday.

Thousands of the orange-and-black faithful enjoyed a dominant 10-0 win by San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain over their rival Los Angeles Dodgers, while hundreds of fans remembered last year’s performance by coming out to view the World Series Championship trophy on tour in South Lake Tahoe that afternoon.

The line to see the cherished symbol formed at 9am when the city recreation complex opened with first-in-line, die-hard fans Paula Bruyn and Jahn Henderson of South Lake Tahoe. It wrapped around the building, which was decorated in orange and black along with a sea of fans adorned in Giants gear.

“Matty’s gonna do it,” Henderson predicted of Saturday’s game, while waiting in line. He had the confidence that Cain would bring home a win on such a big day for he and Bruyn.

A line of Giants fans wrapped around the city Parks and Recreation complex to view the World Series Championship trophy on Saturday. Photo/Susan Wood

At the 2pm trophy showing start time, both Giants and city parks staff allowed the loyalists to enter the room to the sounds of whoops and whistles. In sheer Tahoe style, dogs, babies and others reading books or watching Saturday’s game passed the time until it was their turn to have a photo taken with the trophy.

Giants tour organizer Casey Conroy said it’s like bringing a rock star to town. The trophy is wrapping up its multi-city tour that has taken it from San Francisco to New York and back. It’s the first time the Giants have won the World Series in the Bay Area. The team left New York in 1957. Three years before, the New York team won the World Series.

Mick Flaire, “Bowler Bob,” remembers that time as if it were yesterday. He happened to catch opening day in 1962 when Willie Mays hit a home run during a 6-0 shutout. Hence, the true baseball fan recalls statistics like a family recipe.

“I literally waited since I was 3 months old for this championship,” said the Brisbane resident, who came up to Lake Tahoe for the weekend. He now has a place to perhaps stay as he made friends waiting in line with local sports enthusiast Don Bosson, who taught Little League baseball for 16 years.

“Here’s my card,” Bosson said, as he handed Flaire his business card. Flaire was holding a “Giants” labeled bowling ball. Bosson said he feels like he knows Flaire because the Bay Area resident frequently calls in to KNBR, the station with a Giants radio show.

“I’ve listened to him on the radio forever,” Bosson said.

After she viewed the trophy, Lyn Maher of Incline Village moved over to a cardboard cutout of veteran first baseman Will Clark to have her photo taken with the Giants prop.

“I’ve been heartbroken since 2002. But all the pain and suffering is gone now,” she said, referring to when the Giants lost the Series to the Anaheim Angels, which later became the Los Angeles Angels. With a photo of the trophy now, Maher has even “one-upped” her sister who got to see the Giants win in Game 2 of the World Series at home.

She has the right to claim the fame.

“I named my cat after him,” she said, pointing to the life-size Clark cutout situated behind the trophy presentation.

All types got to have their photograph taken.

There was Argo, the police dog on a break from duty. Sandra Sandoval of Sacramento brought “Clutch” the boxer up for the weekend. Dustin Robinson pulled into the recreation center parking lot and asked if he could bring 1-year-old Roscoe in for a photo op. His request was granted, and it appeared the pit bull was happy.

The award for the youngest person might have gone to 7-month-old Zephyr, who showed up in Giants fashion gear reading: “My first Giants T-shirt.”

“They’ve been world champions his entire life,” said a wild-eyed father, Bill Pappani of Nevada City as his wife, Laura, took in the long-awaited moment by fixing the baby’s shirt.

Once wasn’t enough to go through the line for South Shore resident Sue Novasel – despite her husband Robert not accompanying her. Being from Cleveland, he’s an Indians fan.

“He’s just jealous,” a defiant Novasel described her husband. She returned the second time around with her Giants buddy, mom Vernice Rianda. Mom knew to hold up the strike-out “K” foam finger ornament, while her daughter watched Saturday’s game on a Sling Box program. A crowd had gathered around Novasel to watch the tiny screen on her smart phone.

Outside the recreation center, another attraction was two San Francisco men – one referring to himself as Ira Supreme – who have followed the trophy on its multi-city tour. Wrapped in full Giants gear including a cape, “Supreme” said they’re groupies “trying to sleep with the trophy.” At the same time, the buddies were making money selling Giants shirts.

After all, the team is based in San Francisco – the city of character. South Lake Tahoe seemed to fit right in.

Graphic novelist Jared Manninen

Bona Fide Books is offering a three-week class, “An Organized Mess: Making Graphic Novels” at its office in Meyers. The three-hour sessions will be held on April 16, 23, and 30 from 1-4pm. The cost is $119 for the series, and those 15 years and older are invited to attend.

Class instructor Jared Manninen is a graphic novelist and co-founder of Makoto Press. Manninen was an artist for years before publishing his first graphic novel, the recently released Gruesome Tales to Tickle Your Terror Bone. In this class, students will learn the process of creating graphic novels. Through practical application and discussion, students will explore script writing, illustration, lettering, scanning and printing. Other topics include contemporary comics history, self-publishing and graphic novel resources.

The class is geared toward people who want to write and draw black and white books, but anyone who is interested in the medium is welcome. Class size is limited, so early registration is recommended. Register for the class by calling 530-573-1513 or send an email to erin@bonafidebooks.com. For more about Jared Manninen, go to his website.

A book launch for Gruesome Tales to Tickle Your Terror Bone will be held April 15, 7pm, at Bona Fide Books in Meyers. This event is free and open to the public – come find out what graphic novels are all about.

By Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee

CalPERS replaced another outside investment partner Friday.

The pension fund said it’s switching management of a $570 million real estate portfolio to Canyon Capital Realty Advisors, a prominent Los Angeles firm. The portfolio, which includes office, industrial and apartment properties, has been managed by Deutsche Bank subsidiary RREEF.

Although the California Public Employees’ Retirement System announced the switch in a news release, spokesman Wayne Davis said the move hasn’t been finalized.

CalPERS didn’t say why it’s making the switch. Canyon and RREEF declined comment.

The pension fund has been overhauling its battered real estate portfolio. In February it formally adopted a more cautious investment strategy. And it has dumped several big outside partners in the past 18 months, including prestigious firms like Blackrock and LaSalle Investment Management.

“We have confidence in Canyon and expect excellent management,” said Ted Eliopoulos, CalPERS’ senior investment officer for real estate, in the news release. The portfolio includes properties in California, Florida and Illinois.

RREEF will continue to manage a portfolio for Cal-PERS called CalWest. That’s a small collection of industrial properties that, ironically, RREEF was hired to manage in one of CalPERS’ investment shuffles last December.

Canyon manages and has developed billions of dollars worth of property. One of its assets is the Cal Neva Resort at Lake Tahoe. Once owned by Frank Sinatra, it was taken over by Canyon two years ago in a foreclosure proceeding.

A Canyon affiliate invests in urban real estate projects with basketball legend Magic Johnson.

WINTER PARK, Colo. – Squaw Valley’s Julia Mancuso took charge again Saturday to win the super G at the 2011 Putnam Investments U.S. Alpine Championships in sunny Winter Park.

It was the record 13th U.S. title of Mancuso’s career, third in super G and second in two days after winning the giant slalom on Friday.

Leanne Smith (Conway, NH) was second followed by Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) for her second podium of the weekend. Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard club’s Katie Ryan (Aspen, CO) finished ninth overall, yet took top junior honors as the technical course forced 18 racers off course. The Putnam Investments U.S. Alpine Championships conclude Sunday with men’s and women’s slalom.

Official results, Putnam Investments U.S. Alpine Championships, Winter Park, April 2

Super G

1. Julia Mancuso, Squaw Valley, CA, 1:13.34

2. Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 1:13.54

3. Stacey Cook, Mammoth Mountain, CA, 1:13.69

–

Juniors

1. Katie Ryan, Aspen, CO, 1:17.56

2. Libby Gibson, Bondville, VT, 1:18.80

3. Taylor Rapley, New Zealand, 1:19.29

— U.S. Ski Team

WINTER PARK, Colo. – Tommy Ford (Bend, OR) boosted captured his second U.S. title in three days and boosted career total to five with a super G victory at the 2011 Putnam Investments U.S. Alpine Championships.

Ford closed the 2010 season with U.S. championships in giant slalom, slalom and super combined and has now captured the 2011 crowns for giant slalom and super G. NorAm overall champion Tommy Biesemeyer (Keene, NY) was second followed by NorAm super G winner Ryan Cochran-Siegle in soft snow as Winter Park boasted a bluebird day.

Cochran-Siegle, who was also the top junior on the day, called the race special as his uncle Bobby Cochran will be inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame later tonight in a ceremony held in Sun Valley, ID. The Putnam U.S. Alpine Championships conclude Sunday with men’s and women’s slalom.

Official results, Putnam Investments U.S. Alpine Championships, Winter Park, April 2

Super G

1. Tommy Ford, Bend, OR, 1:10.10

2. Tommy Biesemeyer, Keene, NY, 1:10.20

3. Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Starksboro, VT, 1:10.52

Juniors

1. Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Starksboro, VT, 1:10.52

2. Brennan Rubie, Salt Lake City, UT, 1:10.55

3. Mark Engel, Truckee, CA, 1:11.95

— U.S. Ski Team

By Barbara Barte-Osborn, Sacramento Bee

Some Placer County communities atop Donner Summit and on Lake Tahoe’s west shore are beginning to experience gas leaks caused by heavy snow, as some Truckee-area neighbors did earlier this month.

Robert Miller, a Placer public information officer, reported about half a dozen leaks, caused by snow covering propane tanks.

Propane gas becomes liquid when cold enough and can travel through snow and/or under houses, where it can explode if it meets an ignition source, Miller said.

That fact is keeping workers from using snowplows, which could trigger a spark, to reach the tanks and shut them off.

Read the whole story

South Lake Tahoe AAUW will host Dr. Jenifer Norris, a family medicine practitioner with Alpine Family Practice and Barton Memorial Hospital who is also trained in acupuncture.

Norris will discuss her understanding of the practice and its place in medical care on April 9 at 10 am at the Aspen Room, Lake Tahoe Community College.

For more information, call 530-541-2799 or email slocumsrus@msn.com.