By Kathryn Reed

Expect some changes at the beaches this summer on the Nevada side of the South Shore.

Now that the Forvilly family does not have the concession at Round Hill Pines Beach it also means the Bleu Wave boat is not docked there. It is at Zephyr Cove.

Frank Forvilly, who with his wife Susan for decades operated the Round Hill Pines operation under the oversight of the U.S. Forest Service, told Lake Tahoe News their son, Ryan, is taking over the business.

Round Hill Pines Beach will be under new operators this summer for the first time since 1968. Photo/LTN file

Aramark, which runs the operations on the USFS owned-Zephyr Cove site, and Forvilly solidified a contract this month. Neither returned phone calls.

The Bleu Wave is a luxury yacht. This compares to the M.S. Dixie II that Aramark runs which is an old-fashioned paddle-wheeler.

Aramark has a permit from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to run four boats out of Zephyr Cove.

“Regarding the operation at Aramark, TRPA is not monitoring how many boats they are running out of Zephyr Cove. They might have four, but if not, then theoretically they could bring the Bleu Wave in under their permit,” Jeff Cowen, TRPA spokesman, told Lake Tahoe News. “We would need to document it, but it may require a permit revision.”

Forvilly is also looking to conduct weddings at Nevada Beach this summer.

“Forest Service concessionaires do have the ability to sublease services, like kayak rentals, etc., but we don’t have any information about a new wedding concessionaire at the Nevada Beach pavilion,” Lisa Herron, USFS spokeswoman, told Lake Tahoe News.

Forvilly will be subleasing from Steve Lannoy, who owns Kayak Tahoe. Lannoy has the concession at Nevada Beach and other South Shore locations.

This will be the first season Bob and Tammy Hassett have operated Round Hill Pines Beach. Bob Hassett has run several marina operations on the California side for years, as well as being owner of Beacon restaurant at Camp Richardson.

Herron said potential improvements at Round Hill Pines are still in the permitting phase.

“Nothing has been submitted for the Round Hill Pines Beach location. It remains to be seen if they will need a TRPA permit. Minor modifications and maintaining the current uses are usually exempt from TRPA requirements,” Cowen said.

Lady Gaga and the Eagles are the latest headliners to be added to the Harveys Outdoor Concert Series lineup.

Lady Gaga will be in Stateline Aug. 2 The Eagles will be making a return engagement on Aug. 29-30.

Lady Gaga tickets are $89.50 to $225, while Eagles tickets range from $99.50 to $255.50. Tickets for both concerts go on sale March 28 through Ticketmaster.

These artists join the list of confirmed concerts:

• June 24 – Sarah McLachlan

• July 18 – Carrie Underwood

• July 20 – Zac Brown Band

• July 30 – Journey-Steve Miller Band

• Aug. 3 – Boston-Doobie Brothers

• Aug. 14 – Bruno Mars.

South Lake Tahoe Firemen’s Association is sponsoring a hands only CPR training on March 22.

There will be 15-minute training sessions between 11:30am and 2pm at Basecamp Pizza in the Heavenly Village.

It is free.

By Kathryn Reed

MEYERS – Passion for their community is one thing Meyers residents have in common. Oh, and most also think any future buildings should not be more than 35-feet tall.

What started Wednesday night as a meeting to address six issues turned into a 2½-hour opportunity for about a dozen of the more than 100 attendees to give their two cents about what they want this small enclave at the base of Echo Summit to be.

It all has to do with Meyers trying to create an area plan that will be the planning tool for the next 20 years. It will also be incorporated into the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Regional Plan. That bi-state regulatory agency and the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors must each approve the plan.

Dave Reichel of the Meyers Community Advisory Council talks March 19 as fellow members John Garofalos, Rebecca Schwartz and Rene Brejc listen. Photo/LTN

The issues on the March 19 agenda included:

• Should there be an incentive program for developers

• Maximum height

• The number of hotels per acre and where those tourist accommodation units should be located

• The composition of the Meyers Community Advisory Council and how it is selected

• What to do with the Tveten property

• Promoting local businesses.

These subjects came about as the most pressing issues from the more than 100 comments submitted to the county since the Feb. 26 meeting.

By a show of hands people were overwhelmingly in favor of 35 feet being the basic height limit in the commercial and industrial areas.

But when it came to incentives for developers the audience was not as cohesive in its beliefs. However, most came around to believing there could be a time when fewer restrictions on height and density may be needed to attract the ideal business to Meyers. A recreation oriented business or broader tourist entity like a discovery museum had people getting on board with realizing that type of facility would need to be larger in size.

While “variances” was used, that word will have to change. This is because in TRPA’s world variances are not allowed.

And another reason to have “variances-incentives-exemptions” (call it what you will) in the area plan is because if they weren’t, the proposed project seeking the exemptions would have to do an environmental analysis. This is because it would in essence be changing the Regional Plan because the area plan becomes part of the Regional Plan.

County and TRPA reps will devise, again, verbiage for a potential incentive program and the potential types of development that could be allowed outside the 35-foot limit.

Who exactly would determine if the project were “right” for Meyers remains an unknown. But the masses leaned toward a more substantive Meyers Community Advisory Council (MCAC) that would be appointed by Meyers residents. But whether that is legally possible remains to be seen. It is not the common protocol. Nor would it be realistic for MCAC members to be elected because of the cost and time involved.

Normal procedure is for the Board of Supervisors to appoint people to advisory panels.

The goal, though, is this advisory body will be more formal. This includes being subject to state open meeting laws. It’s possible it could have a significant say in design review.

Ultimately, though, projects are the decision of the county and TRPA, depending on the size.

People seemed more amenable to hotels having fewer units per acre – more like 15 units per acre instead of 40.

What were lacking from the presentation were visual examples of buildings of certain heights as well as designs. At the Tahoe Valley Area Plan meeting for South Lake Tahoe last month photographs were shown depicting various types of alpine architecture at various heights, as well as density.

A comment form was passed out Wednesday night asking people their preference on the incentive program, height regulations, and hotel locations and density.

The verbal and written comments will be taken for a limited time that has yet to be determined. After that the county will come up with a final draft document that will be circulated. Then environmental paperwork will be created. Eventually this all goes for a vote before the governing bodies, with public comment taken at those meetings.

Meyers Area Plan documents and other information are on the county’s website. Comments may be emailed to MeyersAreaPlan@edcgov.us.

By John Rice

To create an Olympic level athlete you need first a gifted, talented athlete, then a strong sense of family support, a good support system of friends, a good coaching base, a great playground to hone their skills, financial assistance and sponsors for coaching, travel and fees, and a community that supports them in their overall education and growth as well as roots them on to success.

Some kids are just born with it, get the breaks and stay healthy, and ultimately have great timing when it comes to being at their best when the games come around. Support comes in many forms, and financial support is only one kind. I would argue that the other forms of support are more important to building the whole athlete.

John Rice

How many times have you seen talented kids burn out, or make it to the big event and cant deliver.

Sierra has produced four Olympians since 2000, an impressive statistic for a smaller boutique resort that does not boast a million dollar support system. At Sierra, athletes are not pressured into performance, or subjected to the politics of racing and competitive organizations. Sierra simply provides the resources they need, and “removes the rocks” from their path.

It starts with the athlete having a dream, they have to want it, and they will ultimately make many sacrifices to get to the narrow part of the funnel. The resort can help shape that journey, but the athlete and their support system are key to their chances of getting to the next level.

If the kid has a dream, they have the talent and the family support, what can the resort do? Here are five things we do to provide the support that a driven, talented kid needs to make it to the top:

1) Commitment to a great playground –- the resort where the kids grow up has to have the dedication to providing the place to play, whether it be a groomed race course, a terrain park or a halfpipe. The resort needs to commit the resources and personnel to keep these areas consistently in great shape for their athletes. There are days when a race or event might close the trail or the park to the public –- a tough decision to make, but important to show the commitment. Kids will learn to have fun first, can be taught the right way to shape their skills if the playground is built and maintained. That means commitment to snowmaking, grooming, terrain, race hills. They have to have a place to play. In the off season it might be helping them with physical training, gymnastics or Woodward style camps. It might be building that special jump for them to learn the new trick on. At Sierra we have seven terrain parks for all abilities and levels. It helps to keep it fun and challenging at the same time.

2) Support youth competition programs –- from the very beginnings, developmental programs in the ski school and competition services should be focused on fun. Terrain based teaching helps them learn at the earliest stage how to use the mountain to turn, slow down, speed up and stop. Animated, themed learning terrain is best to keep their attention and fun factor high. At Sierra, the Riglet park (Star Wars themed) and the adventure zones (history of California themed) give instructors a fun/interactive environment for learning skills. The next level of learning comes with Buddy Werner (volunteer coaches) weekend programs and the Rippers (ski school developmental, paid coaches) programs where kids showing abilities are given a place to start light competition against their peers. Sierra identifies those with higher skills and will encourage the parents to consider the D-team. The next level has costs associated with it, but there is a 501(c)3 in place called the Sierra at Tahoe Education Foundation that provides financial assistance for event fees, coaching and other costs as the kids move up the system. Incentives are given for podium finishes, with the goal of becoming one of Sierra’s amateur athletes.

3) Hire and keep great coaches and instructors –- key to the athlete development, instructors and coaches not only teach the kids how to ski and ride, they become mentors in many ways. At teen years kids find it hard to accept authority figures, parents and teachers, but they listen to their coaches. Sierra has developed a team of coaches in all disciplines who understand the focus needs to be on the whole development of the athlete, how to be a good winner and an good loser, how to be their best when their best is needed. At Sierra we often give our young athletes access to our pro athletes. Jamie Anderson, Maddie Bowman and Hannah Teter have ridden and skied with the kids, sharing the fun aspects as well as mentoring the kids.

4) Hosting event at the resort -– Sierra has historically hosted USASA weekend events of all kinds: pipe, slopestyle and boarderX, Tahoe league and other alpine racing events to expose the athletes to the first stages of competition. These local events give the young athletes a foundation for learning to compete against friends, against other mountains, and ultimately try to make it to Nationals. The level of parent and coaching support for these programs makes it much more than simple competition, the social aspects, rooting for each other, sharing condos and meals, helps shape the kids in many ways. Having home resort events helps the kids and their families keep the costs in check as well.

5) Advocate for the athlete -– Help them find the right sponsors, agents and opportunities to move to the next level. That can be as simple as finding them equipment, or as complicated as helping them secure a contract to help defray the cost of their travel. Once the kids start to win events, they start to build their brand, and we help them by including them in video and facebook posts, photo shoots, incentives, and other means to share them with the world. We support their causes, their charities, we care about their goals and help them reach their dreams beyond simply wearing a logo and competing. Getting on Team USA isn’t automatic, negotiating the political challenges of that process can be distracting. At Sierra we help get the kids to right high profile events where they can get the attention of the team. Finally, showing up at the events and rooting them on, bringing the support of the mountain and the community lets them feel the joy of representing not only their mountain but their home.

There are stories within the stories, but this is the framework for how we have done it. Our first two time Olympian (Nagano and Park City), Travis Cabral was the youngest ever to win the U.S. Freestyle Championships and the Overall World Cup at age 15.

Hannah Teter came to Sierra before her first Olympic Games and asked for us to be her home training grounds (she is from Vermont), and then went on to compete in the next three Olympics (Torino, Vancouver and Sochi) winning two medals.

They paved the way for Jamie and Maddie to not only compete in Sochi, but come home with the top prize in their disciplines.

The low pressure, high support style has proven to be a winner. As we look on our next generation of future athletes, we hope to see some of them follow in their footsteps.

John Rice is general manager of Sierra-at-Tahoe.

By Jillian Berman, Huffington Post

America’s recovery since the Great Recession has been fueled largely by jobs that typically pay close to the minimum wage, and women are suffering disproportionately as a result.

Between 2009 and 2013, 35 percent of women’s job gains have been in low-wage sectors — like retail, fast food and housekeeping — while 18 percent of men’s jobs gains were in those fields, according to an analysis released Tuesday by the National Women’s Law Center. The NWLC defined low-wage industries as those with a median wage of $10.10 or less.

The trend has worsened a troubling disparity: Today, women make up 76 percent of the low-wage workforce, but only 47 percent of the workforce overall.

Read the whole story

By Jeremy B. White, Sacramento Bee

Foreshadowing a clash between carmakers and a prominent auto insurance company, Sen. Bill Monning on Tuesday unveiled a bill to loosen car manufacturers’ grip on data generated by vehicles.

Framed by a computer-equipped car parked on the steps of the state Capitol, the Carmel Democrat said his Senate Bill 994 would allow consumers to see what data their car emits and decide with whom they want to share the information. The measure is sponsored by AAA Northern California and its south state counterpart, the Automobile Club of Southern California.

One car in five sold this year can disseminate such information and connect with personal devices like smartphones, Monning said, and estimates suggest all new cars will have the capability by 2025.

Read the whole story

By Stephen Siciliano, Bloomberg

State actions on climate change are reducing emissions and offering templates for effective federal standards, according to Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board.

Currently, Nichols said, climate regulation is on dual tracks, one state and one federal.

California, she said, is on pace to achieve the 80 percent emissions reductions by 2050 called for under its greenhouse gas emissions law, AB32. Its 33 percent of energy supply mandate, “now begins to look like business as usual” while cap-and-trade allowance auctions have become routine.

Read the whole story

Lake Tahoe Community College is offering instructors a chance to retire early.

The college board this month approved the package based on number of years taught.

“The district retains the right to determine if the actual retirement is cost effective,” LTCC President Kindred Murillo told Lake Tahoe News. “When you offer early retirement and you are paying out money to someone to leave it is required by law that if you are not saving money, you can’t do it. The most effective early retirement is when you are not going to replace the retiring positions.”

It’s possible a faculty member high on the pay scale could retire and that position would be filled by someone making much less. But recruiting and getting people up to speed are added costs.

The South Lake Tahoe institution is hoping people in disciplines where the student enrollment has declined will be the ones applying for early retirement.

The retirements would be effective June 30.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

By USSA

SQUAW VALLEY — Olympian Tim Jitloff (Reno) sliced a wire-to-wire FIS giant slalom victory Wednesday to open five days of Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships competition in sun soaked Squaw Valley.

“It was actually just nice to get the feel on the hill. It’s a very nice hill and they could certainly run the World Cup on this if they wanted. That’s a tough hill, you have to bring a lot of intesity,” Jitloff said.

The race, a precursor to Friday’s U.S. Championship event, was on Red Dog with incredible snow conditions and a large crowd of fans, friends and families on hand to enjoy the annual alpine skiing end-of-the season celebration.

2014 NCAA giant slalom champion Mark Engel (Salt Lake City) of the University of Utah was second, followed by two-time Junior World Champion and current NorAm overall champ Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, VT.).