The death of a child is devastating and it’s important to the family the child always be remembered. That’s why members of the Northern Nevada/Carson City Chapter of The Compassionate Friends will participate Dec. 12 in the annual Worldwide Candle Lighting to honor the memories of all children, regardless of age, who have died.

The closest candle lighting that will be part of a special 7pm Dec. 12 service is at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1202 N. Saliman Road in Carson City and will feature music, readings, and poems.

To contact the Northern Nevada/Carson City Chapter of The Compassionate Friends, call Delores Sherman at (775) 849.1979 or check out TCF’s national website.

Bilingual Story Time at the South Lake Tahoe branch library on Nov. 6 at 11am.

Hear stories, do crafts, play alphabet bingo, and learn a few words in Spanish.

By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal

Flight safety has been improved and the future of aviation at Reno-Tahoe International Airport will take off following the opening of a new air traffic control tower, officials said Tuesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s operation of the new tower started Saturday but was celebrated Tuesday at a ceremony outside the 195-foot-high structure.

“We have achieved a towering achievement,” said Krys Bart, president and chief executive officer of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority.

The new tower — three times the height of the airport’s old tower, which was erected in 1957 — gives FAA controllers a much-improved view of aircraft on airport runways and ramps. From the old tower, parts of the airport were not visible.

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To the community,

The South Tahoe Association of Realtors, South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association, and Lake Tahoe News sponsored a City Council candidates forum Oct. 14. The South Tahoe Association of Realtors would like to thank Inn by the Lake for hosting the event that was attended by more than 65 community members.

We would also like to thank the candidates for their participation, and David Kurtzman, who served as our moderator.

Our special thanks to Local Government Committee Chair, Jill Stanton-Bricker of RE/MAX Realty Today for her outstanding effort and coordination of this event, and to Ken Daley of RE/MAX Realty Today for contributing his energy and passion to this effort.

Sincerely,

South Tahoe Association of Realtors Executive Committee

To the community,

I want to write a little note to my community about why my mom, Joy Curry, is a perfect candidate for City Council.

I was raised in a household where the morals were based on treating everyone with respect and never thinking you are better than anyone else, finishing anything you have already started, and always doing everything to you fullest. I come from a family with an immense amount of determination, strong will and big hearts. I write this to my community to tell you about my mother because it’s hard to portray your true self in forums and interviews.

My mom has an affixation of things needing to be done right and done well; it is her passion, it’s in her blood. She jokes sometimes that it’s almost a disease, but obviously it’s a wonderful trait she has that can be channeled into helping our city become a better place to live and work. An example of her character I will always remember is when I was in high school and my mom would frequently be cleaning the senior patio by picking weeds and trash in her free time. This was so embarrassing for me, but everyone else seemed to appreciate it. Or when I would want to quit AYSO soccer mid-season and she would say, “You committed to this so you need to finish; if you don’t want to play next year that is your option.” I always kept playing.

I was very lucky to grow up in a well to do home, but my parents always taught me to give back. We gave our time with a lot of charity, and my mom actually made sure I gave a certain amount of hours every school year. One of my favorites was when my mom and I made big homemade meals and delivered them to the Safe Houses in Laguna Beach. Eating and talking with the mothers and children who were abused at home changed who I was as a person.

I have several stories that give examples as to why my mom is fit for a job in which its sole concentration is based on making our city a better place. I write this letter to communicate this because she has the time to give, and she likes to fill her free time doing good and doing right.

Darcy Rodriguez, South Lake Tahoe

By Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee

The prosecutor in the Jaycee Lee Dugard case has filed court papers opposing an effort by The Bee and other media groups to unseal grand jury transcripts that include the kidnap victim’s testimony, saying the documents should remain sealed until a jury is sworn in for a trial.

El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson, in papers filed in advance of a hearing set for next Thursday, said unsealing the transcripts would expose Dugard to revelations of “extremely private and violent acts” committed by the defendants, Phillip and Nancy Garrido.

Release of the transcripts would also “only provide the defense with more fodder” to claim that the Garridos cannot receive a fair trial, he wrote.

“The more publicity of the specific details of this case, the more likely it will be that the Defendants will seek a change of venue prior to trial,” Pierson wrote.

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To the community,

I am writing to endorse Claire Fortier for City Council. It is my belief that a vote for Claire is a vote to bring prosperity and prestige back to our city of South Lake Tahoe. Claire has the strength of character, the honesty, integrity and work ethic it requires to pull our council together in a collaborative effort to move our city forward.

As a 21-year resident of South Lake Tahoe, I have owned a small business, and I have raised my children in this town. It is a good place to live, and I want to take back our town so that my friends, my children and my grandchildren will also have a good place to live: Claire Fortier is the person I trust to turn our town around and point it in the right direction again!

Please vote for Claire Fortier on Nov. 2, and show that you want to take back our town too.

Sincerely,

Maria A. Pielaet, South Lake Tahoe

To the publisher,

Those who hoped that the current crop of council candidates

would offer refreshing new ideas about the future of our town must surely be disappointed.

Angela Swanson, however, has the intelligence, experience and dedication to provide leadership on a path different from that in which our community has been mired for too long.

Among the others, I will cast my ballot for Adrian Gooch and Alice Jones in hopes that they will bring reality-based thinking to the council, something that has been missing for too long.

Jerome Evans, South Lake Tahoe

By Kathryn Reed

SAN FRANCISCO — Torture never felt so good.

It’s stressful being a Giants fan.

For a game with two stellar pitchers – Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee – it was touted to be a low scoring pitchers duel. Not exactly. The Giants rocked the Texas Rangers 11-7 Wednesday in the opening game of the World Series.

It's an emotional experience being a Giants fan. Photos/Kathryn Reed

Life as a Giants fan was a wild roller coaster of emotions for most of the 162 regular season games. It’s continued through the postseason. It doesn’t look like the World Series is going to provide any relief to fans.

Looking around the orange and black mass of more than 43,000 people gathered at AT&T Park on Oct. 27 the expressions throughout those nine innings ranged from pure ecstatic glee (think three-run homer) to hands over the eyes (runs are scoring in the top of the ninth off closer Brian Wilson).

I really didn’t think I was going to be back at the ballpark this season. Thank you Padres for imploding. Thank you Bruce Bochy for making pitching changes that manager Dusty Baker never seemed to be able to make. Thank you Buster Posey for becoming a catcher in college. Thank the beards.

Starting the season at the ballpark on opening day and being there for the first game of the World Series has made this a special season for this fractional owner of season tickets. A buzz is in the air for both events that just isn’t replicated, at least any time during the regular season.

Fans are decked out in the favorite Giants garb. (One section of the third deck on the right field side was a sea of Texas red.) Military flyovers, the unfolding of a massive U.S. flag that covers most of the outfield – it’s all a reminder this is America’s pastime.

And with Tony Bennett with the mic, clearly this was San Francisco. At 84, what a voice he still has.

The crowd roared when on the Jumbotron a shot of Steve Perry from Journey appeared with him cupping his ear in one of the luxury boxes to better hear the crowd singing his former group’s hit “Lights”.

The City by the Bay was electric.

All those food vendors selling things usually not brought into the stands proved the powers that be knew people wanted to stay in their seats for this game. Good move.

Families were taking it all in. The same older couple that has been in the next row for all these many years is there again. And even though it’s the World Series, they still leave early to beat the crowd. Men are in ties – it was a workday after all for some people. Some people dyed their hair, others are wearing fake beards to fit in with the bullpen.

In the Public House, a group without tickets drove down from Sacramento to be surrounded by their brethren while watching the game next to the park. The streets surrounding the park are full of boisterous fans – before and after the game. It’s one big party.

Inside it’s much the same – only more so. The energy is intoxicating. This is it. It’s what the players dream of as little boys. It’s what the fans dream of each spring.

One down, three to go.

Go Giants!

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)

By Carlos Alcalá, Sacramento Bee

When Matthew Boger was 13, he told his mother he was skipping school because he was being bullied, and that he was being bullied because he was gay.

“I was sort of seeking her help,” he said.

He didn’t get it.

After trying to convince him that he couldn’t be gay, she grew angry and “dragged me across the room and pushed me out the door,” said Boger.

Now, at 44, Boger lives on 20 beautiful acres over the Cosumnes River in El Dorado County. But he was homeless for most of his teen years, because his mother kicked him out of their Bay Area home.

That may not have been the worst of it.

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