By Rob Sabo, Northern Nevada Business Weekly

The new owner of David Walley’s Hot Springs near Genoa in the Carson Valley plans to build up to 100 single-family and condominium time-share and rental units at the historic resort founded in 1862.

Pat Joyce, president and founder of Summerwinds Resort Services of Branson, MO., purchased the resort and adjacent lands out of receivership from Bank of America last year for about $12 million and has invested more than $1 million upgrading the restaurant facilities, which reopened in December after closing in 2009.

“When Bank of America gets a troubled asset they call me and other investors,” Joyce says. “I took at look at the property and realize that it is going to be a while before I see any cash coming out of it, but the potential is there, especially with Lake Tahoe and the hot springs.”

Read the whole story

By Kathryn Reed

FALLEN LEAF LAKE – Snow glistens as though ice crystals are diamonds in the wild. Wind gusts send clouds of snow off the top of Mount Tallac. Fallen Leaf Lake is still, beckoning the dogs to swim in the icy water.

It’s one of those postcard days in Lake Tahoe. Everywhere you look it’s a Kodak moment.

We have the trail to ourselves – the eight of us, plus four dogs.

Dormant aspens line part of the trail near Fallen Leaf Lake. Photos/Kathryn Reed

Strapping on our snowshoes in the Cathedral Road parking lot off Highway 89 we begin our journey into the wild. At least it seems that way as the quiet envelops us.

The snow-covered road is wide enough to stride along in pairs and not be knocked over by one of our four-legged friends.

At times the trail closes in from the thick conifers, then suddenly it’s as though there is a meadow of snow.

Not far in we veer to the left to take the trail to get off the road even though no motor vehicles can drive on it this time of year.

It becomes single track. One by one we saunter forward. At times water crosses our path and we do a bit of improvising. With it being one of the wettest Decembers on record, water seems to be everywhere.

Taylor Creek is heading toward Lake Tahoe at what looks like capacity. Though it’s not rushing, the level seems high – especially for late December.

Onward we go, deciding to head to Fallen Leaf Lake to the left instead of going right which would have us loop back to the parking lot. Good choice.

Up and over the dam with snowshoes on takes a bit of dexterity and concentration. No problem.

Contrails line the blue sky, crossing through the wispy clouds to create a one-of-a-kind canvas. The still water reflects the mountains of Desolation Wilderness until the canines send ripples across the alpine lake.

Break time means peeling off clothes as the sun beats down on us. Most of the dogs venture into Fallen Leaf Lake to retrieve sticks, unfazed by the ice floating nearby.

Back we go, though not exactly as we came. We end up making a loop to our left through what during late summer is one of the most incredible patches of lupine. This day it’s the stark white bark of this grove of aspen that captures our attention.

The whole time it’s just the 12 of us. What a Christmas Eve to remember.

Getting there:

Head north on Highway 89 from the Y in South Lake Tahoe.

Go past Camp Richardson. Pass the turn for Fallen Leaf Lake.

Cathedral Road is on the left. A Sno-Park permit is required or take the chance of being fined. The permits may be bought at various locations or online. They are $5 for the day or $25 for the season.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)

By Freddy Perryman, U.S. Ski Team

ST. JOHANN, Austria – John Teller of Mammoth Mountain made history scoring the first World Cup win for an American in Thursday’s skicross race.

Thursday’s result was a career best for the American Skicross Association skier as he landed on the podium for the second straight event. He started the podium trend in Innichen, Italy, last month with third before taking top honors in St. Johann. Teller’s win will go down in the history books for the USA as the first ever American skicross World Cup victory.

“He absolutely killed it! I had a good feeling yesterday when he qualified in fifth,” said American Skicross Association’s and five-time Olympian Casey Puckett. “I know that course. If you have a good start position you have a good chance.”

Teller qualified in fifth position for the final rounds. Once in the finals, he didn’t look back sweeping the three heats including his quarterfinal and semifinal on the way to the final four man race. Teller’s competition in the final heat was Nick Zoricic of Canada, who finished second, Thomas Zangerl of Austria in third, and Austria’s Andreas Matt who came in fourth.

“The course is St. Johann is the most technical course on the World Cup and the only course that injects the snow with water,” said Puckett, who was on the USA’s first Olympic skicross team last year.

Injecting water into the course makes it much harder, in turn increasing the difficultly level and requiring better skiing abilities. Also, with injection, the landings become much firmer and less forgiving furthering the difficulty.

Teller crossed the line first with Nick Zoricic of Canada in second and Thomas Zangerl of Austria in third place.

Official results, FIS Freestyle World Cup, St. Johann, Austria, Skicross

1. John Teller, Mammoth, CA

2. Nick Zoricic, Canada

3. Thomas Zangerl, Austria

–

45. Pat Duran, N. Fayston, VT

49. Jean Christophe Rudigoz, Ketchum, ID

Reno’s National Automobile Museum will be featured on the Travel Channel’s “Mysteries at the Museum” next week. The show takes a look at the strange and curious remnants of America’s past, often accompanied by scandal, mystery, and intrigue.

On Jan. 11 Travel Channel will be airing two all-new episodes of “Mysteries at the Museum” beginning at 8pm and will feature some of the nation’s most revered museums, including the National Automobile Museum.

Also featured in the show are:

Sterling Memorial Library: An old letter, accidentally discovered in Yale University’s Sterling Memorial Library, describes a crime of horrendous sacrilege, purportedly carried out by a group of Yale students in the days of World War One. What unspeakable scandal does this letter describe and did the members of this Nation’s most powerful secret society actually pull it off?

Museum of Science and Industry: Inside the Museum of Science, a mechanical relic is also at the center of a shocking story. It’s a prototype of an early electric motor and it sparked a war between two of the world’s greatest inventors, each racing to become the FIRST to distribute electricity to millions of homes across America. Who won “the war of the currents”? And how did this motor utterly transform our world?

National Automobile Museum: One of the coolest cars at the National Automobile Museum of America, is an ultramodern sports car best remembered for its starring role in the 1985 Hollywood blockbuster, Back to the Future. But the real-life story of the DeLorean is more dramatic than any movie. How did one of the most anticipated, most hyped become one of the biggest blunders in automotive history?

Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum: The most interesting exhibits inside The Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum are related to this legendary warships own service at sea. In its collection are 4 mysterious objects. At first glance, they look like mere mechanical debris, but these are actually the twisted remains of one of the most dreaded weapons of World War Two — one that nearly destroyed this very ship.

Museum of History and Industry: The Museum of History and Industry tells the story of Seattle’s rise to prominence. Of the numerous items on display, a simple 120 year-old pot played a bigger role in shaping Seattle’s history than any other — but, in doing so, it had to destroy the city first.

The Henry Ford Museum: In Dearborn, Mich., the Henry Ford Museum specializes in trains, planes and automobiles of all kinds. But one of the most important machines on display is an old wooden airplane called a Curtiss JN4. How did this primitive plane launch one of the most bizarre chapters in aviation history and help revolutionize air transportation along the way?

Caregiving is a difficult and often challenging role that one can undertake, and taking the opportunity to share information and feel connected to others who are providing care is a vital step to perform this task to the best of your ability.

Take the opportunity on Jan. 13 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, 3050 Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe to become connected and rejuvenated at your local support group.

Refreshments will be served.

Free respite care is available to qualified caregivers. Pre-authorization is required for respite services. Questions? Contact the Family Caregiver Support Program at (530) 621.6151.

Conditions today are expected to be gorgeous. Check out the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

Publisher’s note: This is from the September 1973 Lake Tahoe Historical Society newsletter.

Speaker at the August meeting was Joan Benner, Ranger for the California State Parks and Recreation Department at Lake Tahoe. Joan gave a delightful talk on the history of Sugar Pine Point from the development in 1903 of the I.W. Hellman summer estate to its present use as a State Park.

Mr. Hellman’s daughter married Mr. Sydney Ehrman and the term “Ehrman Mansion” is still used to describe the large home. The building was designed by Walter Danforth Bliss who also did the Tahoe Tavern. The Ehrman family used the property as a summer residence and employed a large household staff. The grounds were beautifully kept with native plants and large lawn on the lakeshore. Eight gardeners were employed to tend the grounds. Outbuildings include the “Phipps Cabin” near the outlet of General Creek, built in 1870, caretakers cabins, two boat houses, a carriage house, a water tower-residence building, bath houses, and a smaller three bedroom home near the tennis court.

Guests breakfasted in their rooms but dining was served formally. The original table in the large dining room seated 30. The first floor of the home is cold with the only heat originally from fireplaces in the dining room and living room. The second floor had heat only in the two end bedrooms, which have fireplaces. As electricity was installed heaters were used and in later years an elevator was installed from the first to the second floor for Mrs. Ehrman’s use.

The State of California acquired this property in the 1960s with a total of 1,925 acres with 7,700 feet of lakeshore. The property is in two parcels with approximately 235 acres between Highway 89 and the lake and the remainder west of the Highway bordering General Creek. The State recently opened the General Creek campground on the property west of the highway and now maintains the lakeside property as a day use facility. The mansion is open for tours afternoons through the summer with the cooperation of the Advisory Committee to the Tahoe State Parks. The Phipps cabin is open when possible and has been restored to its original condition, furnished with pieces appropriate to its use.

We are fortunate to have this beautiful property available to State Parks visitor and grateful to Joan Benner for her informative talk.

• Alpen Sierra Coffee is branching out into other beverages. The company is applying for a permit to sell alcohol.

• Fitch Ratings upgraded the joint powers agency that makes up Measure S on the California side of the South Shore from A+ to AA-.

• Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Granite Bay, has been appointed chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee.

• The Tudor Pub in South Tahoe now has the name MacDuffs Public House.

• Sierra-at-Tahoe’s 8th annual Telegrass Festival is March 26 and 27.

Publisher’s note: The following editorial is from the Jan. 3, 2011, Las Vegas Sun.

Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice presidential candidate, never misses an opportunity to take a potshot at President Barack Obama. Because Palin is weighing a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, partisan attacks against the Democratic administration’s policies are to be expected. And although Palin typically ends up making a fool of herself when she tries to take on the president, she nonetheless really topped herself recently when she mocked first lady Michelle Obama’s popular anti-obesity campaign.

On a recent episode of her television reality show, “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” Palin had this to say while on a camping trip: “Where are the s’mores ingredients? This is in honor of Michelle Obama, who said the other day we should not have dessert.”

It’s not the first time Palin has sought to ridicule the first lady’s anti-obesity campaign, and it’s not clear exactly what Palin was referring to on the reality show, but news accounts said that Obama recently said, “The problem is when things get out of balance, when dessert is practically a food group.” For months, many Republicans and conservatives have walked on eggshells, fearful of criticizing Palin. But apparently, even for them, there are only so many Palin inanities they can take.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has struggled with his weight and is believed to be eyeing a run for the GOP presidential nomination, was the first Republican of note to criticize Palin’s remarks. “Michelle Obama’s not trying to tell people what to eat or trying to force the government’s desires on people, but she’s stating the obvious: That we do have an obesity crisis in this country,” he told a radio host. “The first lady’s campaign is on target. It’s not saying that you can’t or should never eat a dessert.”

Read the whole story

Holly George will be the keynote speaker for the 2011 PlacerGROWN Food & Farm Conference at Lincoln High School, 790 J. St. in Lincoln on Feb. 5.

George is the UC Livestock and Natural Resources advisor for Plumas and Sierra counties. Her talk is titled “The Power of Personal Stories.”

George spearheaded a collaborative effort to develop the Passion for the Land project that includes UC Davis Art of Regional Change, UC Cooperative Extension and farmers and ranchers in Sierra Valley. Passion for the Land consists of 12 personal stories that explore the interconnections between our environment, agriculture, the people and local communities.

Following the keynote speech, Holly and Jesikah Maria Ross of the Art of Regional Change will conduct two workshops: Digital Storytelling 101 and Digital Storytelling: Getting Started.

The conference will feature a trade show, workshops and lunch prepared by the Lincoln Future Farmers of America (FFA). For more information, see PlacerGROWN.