The Animal Coalition of Tahoe has planned a fun, family event where you can get a little exercise with your pooch, play poker, and maybe win some prizes.

The Sixth Annual Mutt Strut Poker Run will begin at the Super 8 Motel at 3600 Lake Tahoe Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe on Oct. 10 between 11 and 11:30am.

Participants will pick playing cards at stops along a 1.2 mile route, hoping for the best poker hands. No experience is necessary.

The fun continues after the walk, with a party at Timber Cove Marina featuring music, giveaways, raffle drawings, and contests such as best trick, best smooch, and musical sit.

Poker hands may be purchased for $10 each, or three hands for $25. One free raffle ticket with each poker hand purchased.

ACT was established in January 2004 as a nonprofit, all-volunteer corporation with the goal of raising funds to support a low-cost spay-neuter program for local residents. ACT also donates 10 percent of funds raised to the El Dorado County Animal Shelter.

For more information on the Animal Coalition Mutt Strut Poker Run, call (530) 400.4766 or click here.

Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation’s Food Fest netted $23,000 in 2009 and is looking to exceed that mark at the Oct. 15 fundraiser.

The event is from 6:30-10pm at Harveys in Stateline.

Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door.

Email lake.tahoe.educational.foundation@gmail.com for more information.

There are many children in South Lake Tahoe who are in need of a special “voice”. These are children who have been abused or neglected and have not had a voice to speak for their own safety and needs.

The South Lake Tahoe branch of CASA El Dorado County is offering a fall training class starting in October for those adults interested in becoming a volunteer advocate and a powerful voice in Court for children.

There will be an informational meeting on Sept. 21 from 3-4pm at the EDC Superior Courthouse conference room. You will learn about CASA El Dorado and what it means to be a child advocate, pick up an application for the training and ask questions of case managers.

CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge and advocate for a child’s best interest in court. Many of these children have been removed from their homes and are placed in foster care. The CASA volunteer is often the only consistent person in their life during a traumatic time, serving as an advocate, a mentor, and a friend. CASA volunteers are truly making a difference in the lives of children every day.

Call Kelly Edmundson or Amanda Morozumi at (530) 573.3072 for more information and to sign up for the fall training.

With three home bouts under their belts, the Tahoe Derby Dames will end their home season Sept. 18 when they play the Mountain Derby Girls from Sonora.

The final home bout for the Dames will again blend full-contact athletic roller derby action with philanthropy. A portion of the bout proceeds will go to support the St. Theresa Food Pantry, which recently announced its cupboards were bare. The Dames will also have a canned food drive at the bout, providing a free raffle ticket for every two cans donated to the cause.

The Tahoe Derby Dames last home bout is Sept. 18. Photo/Austin Fay

As always, the bout will feature a beer garden, half-time show and a raffle, along with ample opportunity to cheer on your favorite derby girls.

Bout tickets are $10, and kids under 10 are free. Tickets can be purchased from any derby girl, at Brothers Bar & Grill, or at the event. Gates at Bijou Community Park in South Lake Tahoe open at 3pm and the roller derby bout kicks off at 4pm.

For more information, visit the Dames online.

If you’ve wanted to try backpacking, join the TRTA for the Women’s Backpacking 101 course.

Led by volunteer Tahoe Rim Trail Associaton guides and experienced backpackers Ellen Goldsmith and Sue Henson, this class will introduce the basics of backpacking, trip planning, how to pack, bear awareness, campsite selection and set up, meal preparation and Leave No Trace principles.

Beginning backpackers are welcome, but should be able to hike at elevation with a 20-30 pound backpack. Participants must provide their own gear, food and clothing. Gear can be rented for a small fee from the TRTA or outdoor stores, such as REI. A gear list will be sent to participants.

This course will start with a review of participant gear. The guides will assist in fitting participants with their packs for best performance. Participants will follow the Tahoe Rim Trail through Big Meadows toward the western shore of Dardanelles Lake for an overnight camp. The total mileage for two days is 8 miles.

Dates-times: 10am Sept. 18-2pm Setp. 19

Meeting place: Big Meadows Trailhead

Cost: Free

For more information, and for prerequisites for this course, call the TRTA office at (775) 298.0238 or email programs@tahoerimtrail.org.

By David Bruce, Otago Daily News

A possible sister-city link between two “world mecca” gliding centres – Omarama in North Otago and Minden in western Nevada – is being investigated.

As well as gliding, both regions have much in common, including the recent introduction of centre pivot irrigation on to dryland areas and recreational attractions such as boating, fishing and hunting.

The proposal, from Glide Omarama’s Gavin Wills, has won the support of the Omarama community and now the Ahuriri Community Board has asked the Waitaki District Council to investigate the possibility.

Wills has regularly visited Minden (population 2,500) in Douglas County for the past 12 years to fly gliders and teach cross-country soaring.

Read the whole story

Thank you.

Without all of you, Lake Tahoe News would not be celebrating its one-year anniversary today.

The proverbial they say it takes a village to do just about anything. That sentiment is certainly true when it comes to operating a successful 24/7 news site.

It’s readers, sources, writers, comment contributors, advertisers, financial donors, news tipsters, friends and family who make LTN what it is. It’s a collaborative effort – even if your contribution is only to read stories. I use the word “only” lightly because if no one is reading the stories, then there is no point in what we do.

Lake Tahoe News has more than 25,000 readers a month in more than 50 countries and more than 1,000 cities. It’s not just people living in Lake Tahoe who care about Lake Tahoe. This point is evident by the millions who visit each year, the thousands who have second homes, and the billions of dollars that are spent in keeping the water pristine and the mountains healthy.

Lake Tahoe isn’t perfect. No place is. Lake Tahoe News isn’t perfect. No media outlet is. But what the basin and LTN have in common are the desire and struggle to be better than we were the day before.

Our first major story was the parade through South Lake Tahoe celebrating the release of Jaycee Lee Dugard after 18 years of captivity. It’s a story that is likely to be on the website for years to come. It’s a story that touches the core of humanity.

We will continue to bring you a mix of stories that capture what is going on in the basin, along with articles involving issues that affect people connected to the basin.

We are always looking for contributors via guest columns, freelance writers or story ideas. Email info@LakeTahoeNews.net if you want to contribute.

We are also always looking for advertisers. With Lake Tahoe News being the only place to get news about Lake Tahoe seven days a week, and the readers near and far, it’s the logical medium to reach your clients/customers. Rates are on the website – just hit the Advertise button.

We are always grateful for checks that arrive in the mail or cash via PayPal as a donation.

We will continue to offer free subscriptions. Just go to the Home page, near the bottom right add your email address. This will give you an email every morning listing what has been posted in the last 24 hours. Scan the headlines or click on one to get the full story.

Personally, the biggest story of the year was losing my Dad unexpectedly in April. He was a faithful reader of LTN – a subscriber. He and Mom made the first monetary donation to LTN. But it wasn’t ever about the money. It was great to discuss stories with him. He was a retired construction consultant, an engineer – oh, the dialog we had about the stalled convention center. He read the whole operating agreement. I wonder how many council members or city employees have. He would call to say a link was broken. He would want to know stats about readers. He asked about ad sales. Sometimes I felt like he should have been the publisher. Mom brought a bottle of Champagne with her this past weekend to toast Lake Tahoe News’ first year. Both of my parents have a lot to do with the success of Lake Tahoe News. I can’t thank them enough.

I can’t thank all of you enough. Here’s to all of you!

Kathryn Reed, Lake Tahoe News publisher

By Richard N. Velotta, Las Vegas Sun

Former Nevada Gov. Richard Bryan, who developed the first Governor’s Conference on Tourism more than two decades ago, will be honored at December’s revamped two-day event.

But a representative of the Nevada Commission on Tourism’s marketing committee warned that if the event is more fluff than business, it could be the state’s last Governor’s Conference for the state’s leading industry.

“The Governor’s Conference took a hiatus, and it’s coming back in a new format,” said Commissioner Ferenc Szony in this week’s marketing committee meeting. “But when people come back to their businesses after the event, they’ve got to be able to say that this either taught me a lot or ‘I met the right people.’ If this gathering is a boondoggle, it’s going to be the last one we ever do.”

The conference has been the top gathering of tourism professionals in the state for 24 years. But in 2008, the event was abruptly canceled when Gov. Jim Gibbons called lawmakers into a special session to solve the state’s budget woes days before the event.

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Dear Publisher,

Thank you to all members of the South Shore community and visitors who attended the inaugural Sample the Sierra on Ski Run Blvd last month.

The event, presented by Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and El Dorado County, drew more than 600 people who enjoyed the delicious foods offered, as well as sipping the various wines and beer that were paired. The “local” aspect undoubtedly reinforced the value and importance of community partnering together to celebrate the diverse bounty that the Sierra Nevada region has to offer.

Sample the Sierra featured food, produce, wine and beer tastings from the following, Bear Moon Bar & Grill, Harris Tree Farm, Mad Dog Mesa, Jodar Winery, Black Bear Inn, Rainbow Orchards, Latcham Vineyards, Blue Angel

Café, Perez Produce, Wofford Acres Vineyards, Bistro Danielle, Beals Orchard, Storm Valley Ranch, Chevalier Winery, Latin Soul at Lakeside Inn & Casino, Z &

B Ranch, Perry Creek Winery, Kids Inc Pie Shop, Tahoe Tallac Brewery, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lava Cap Winery, 4 Seasons Soup & Salad Café, Sacred Paths Farm and Madrona Vineyards. Thanks to all for participating.

Sample the Sierra could not have happened without the support of generous sponsors including, the South Lake Tahoe Endowment funded by El Dorado Community Foundation, Weldon Wulstein Financial Services,

Buckingham Tahoe Rentals, Winter’s Electric, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Deb Howard & Co Real Estate, Tahoe Beach & Ski Club, K‐Tahoe, Tahoe Daily Tribune, Lake Tahoe/Outside TV and laketahoenews.net.

Kudos to the Boys & Girls Club, California Conservation Corps, Whittell Leadership Class, South Tahoe High School Cheer Squad, South Lake Tahoe Sustainability Commission, LTCC Future Business Leaders Club and all

the other volunteers who helped. Additional kudos to Pine Tree Printing, DIY Center and Kelly Moore Paints for donating supplies for the event.

Once again, thank you very much to everyone who helped make the inaugural Sample the Sierra a success. See you next year.

Sincerely,

Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce

By Matt Weiser, Sacramento Bee

A rare Sierra Nevada red fox has been located in the Stanislaus National Forest near Sonora Pass, confirming that the species continues to survive in a region where it was thought to be extinct for nearly a century.

“It’s really exciting,” said Adam Rich, a wildlife biologist with the Stanislaus National Forest. “It’s one of the Holy Grails for a wildlife biologist in California.”

A rare red fox. Photo/CDFG

The Sierra Nevada red fox is one of the rarest mammals in North America. Until now, only about 20 were known to exist in a small area of Lassen Volcanic National Park – a number considered too small to support the species long-term.

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