In addition to being once named “Top Female Vocalist of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music, Wynonna has also been referred as “the greatest country singer since Patsy Cline” by Rolling Stone Magazine. And this year she is making history at the Lake Tahoe Music Festival by being the first country music performer in 28 years to join the festival lineup.

“An Evening with Wynonna” takes place at Northstar-At-Tahoe July 31 as part of the season’s 2010 three-week concert series July 22–Aug. 7.

Known as one of country music’s most popular and well-respected artists, Wynonna will share her intimate and charismatic stage show with festival attendees.

“Adding a country star to our concert series is a first for us but we wanted to do it right and Wynonna fits the bill perfectly,” Lisa Krueger, chief executive officer of the Lake Tahoe Music Festival, said in a press release. “In the past five years we’ve booked our concert lineup based on feedback from attendees and in our last annual survey a majority of respondents asked for country music and we listened. Wynonna’s a talented and industry-recognized sensation who goes beyond country, offering a diverse musical range that we’re certain our attendees will embrace.”

Ever since her record-breaking, quintuple platinum debut solo CD, 1992’s “Wynonna,” which reached No. 1 on the country chart and loomed in the top five of Billboard’s “Top Albums” chart, the singer has remained a recognizable, yet unpredictable icon. Wynonna’s latest album, “Sing: Chapter 1” pays homage to country, rock, blues and soul-baring standards originated by legendary artists that have formed the unique soundtrack to her own life.

In addition to Wynonna, the Lake Tahoe Music Festival’s 2010 season builds upon the growth of the past two years and brings America’s 40th Anniversary Tour, Natalie Cole and Michael McDonald along with Broadway’s Best with Debbie Gravitte and Simply Sinatra featuring Steve Lippia. The festival also adds two “Strictly Classical” concerts July 21 and 28 featuring the premiere of the Orchestra Academy and guest soloists and Academy instructors Ariana Ghez, principal oboist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Jerry Grossman, principal cellist for the Metropolitan Opera.

Tickets for Wynonna are $42 for general admission and $54 preferred and are on sale online or by phone at 877-772.5425.

Eager to ride the social media wave but just not sure where to start? Join the PCC for our Hands-On Social Media on Aug. 3, 10 and 17 from 6-7:30pm.

What: Hands-On Social Media Training Series; click flyer for more details.

Where: DWR Center, 948 Incline Way, Incline Village.

Who: Instructor is Jaime Olive, AmeriCorps Member, Parasol Community Collaboration.

El Dorado County and South Lake Tahoe Law Enforcement Canine units benefit on June 17 at Dory’s Oar/Tudor Pub in South Lake Tahoe from 6-9pm.

The Douglas County Public Library in Zephyr Cove is sponsoring a special summer reading program on June 25 at 1:30pm.

Children ages 6 and up will build a water bottle rocket and launch it. Awards will be given for the highest flyer, farthest flight and coolest design.

Bring two 2-liter plastic bottles and three small personal-size water bottles clean and dry with labels removed for rocket building. Sign up by June 24 to participate.

The Douglas County Public Library is located at 233 Warrior Way in Zephyr Cove. For more information, call (775) 588.6411 or visit douglas.lib.nv.us.

The North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Human Resources Association are offering “The Generations and Sexual Harassment” workshop June 23 from 9-11a, at the Cedar House Sport Hotel, 10918 Brockway Road in Truckee.

The workshop, required as per California’s AB1825, brings businesses into compliance regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. The topic is presented in an engaging and provocative way, from the perspective of generations working side-by-side.

The speaker is Laura Moriarty, president of Tahoe Training Partners.

Registration is $50 for North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and SHRA members and $60 for non-members. Seating is limited.

To register and for more information about the workshop, call Moriarty at (530) 573.0224 or Kym Fabel at (530) 581.8764. Attendees can also register online at www.sierrahra.com.

A slew of events are coming to the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena.

The inaugural Skate at the Lake Figure Skating Competition is June 19-20. More than 230 Northern California skaters, ranging from 4 years old to 70 will perform.

Western States Police and Fire Games Hockey Tournament is July 26-30. This “guns and hoses” event will explore the long standing love/hate relationship between police and firefighters as they wield sticks and blades to determine the victors/survivors.

The 8th Annual Hat Trick Summer Jamboree Hockey Tournament is Aug. 12-15.

Spectators are encouraged to attend and admission is free.

For more information, come by the arena at 1176 Rufus Allen Blvd., or call (530) 542.6262.

By Kathryn Reed

Planned Parenthood has cutback its services to the Tahoe-Truckee area. Gone are the programs at the California Conservation Corps in Meyers and at Sierra High School in Truckee.

“Because of budget constraints and issues with the entire state we are restructuring,” said Alison Gaulden, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood in Reno.

In South Lake Tahoe, services offered twice a week at Tahoe Youth & Family Services will remain, as will the regular visits to Mount Tallac High.

Gaulden said Sierra High students could access the nearby public health clinic.

Sierra High counselor who is also the school district’s intervention counselor said the Nevada County clinic is open Wednesdays form 1-4pm and requires a car to get there from campus.

“It’s a huge loss to us,” counselor Debi Spohr said of Planned Parenthood’s departure. “Not only do we have the asterisk students here, we have the teen parenting program.”

She worries about the incidents of repeat pregnancies without easy access to birth control. Planned Parenthood was on the Sierra campus twice a month.

“I think we need to go lower with educating kids, not getting rid of it,” Spohr said. An eighth-grader in her district gave birth this month.

Planned Parenthood hopes the expansion of its Tahoe City site into a full-fledged center will help the area. Right now services are offered less than 20 hours there.

“With more hours, we’ll have the ability to do the full spectrum of service. Right now a lot of what we do is consultations,” Gaulden said. “We will be able to do full annual exams, and the full gamut of reproductive health care.”

This includes breast and cervical cancer screenings, pap and pelvic exams, sexually transmitted disease testing, pregnancy testing and counseling.

“Two-thirds of our students are from the Kings Beach area. It’s so hard for them to get to Tahoe City,” Spohr said.

But Gaulden said at some point decisions are based on dollars, not client needs.

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 July 8 from 5:30-7:30pm at 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.

By Stephanie Tavares, Las Vegas Sun

NV Energy’s experimental use of wood chips in one of its coal plants was a bit of a flop, but the utility and state officials are hoping it will wind up being the first step toward using waste wood that is stacking up in Nevada.

The test, which began late last year, found that wood could be burned to generate electricity, but the timber would need more processing first and possibly a change in plant design to make it worthwhile.

The utility conducted the tests as part of its efforts to find new sources of renewable energy.

Read the whole story

By Steve Timko, Reno Gazette-Journal

Wine lovers fear a new law being reviewed in Congress will end their convenient access to high-end wineries.

Industry groups pushing the law say the fear is unfounded. The goal isn’t to restrict shipping but to end a string of costly lawsuits they feel is chewing away at alcohol regulation, the groups say.

Wineries have sold directly to consumers for decades, but access was limited based on state law. In 2005, wineries won a major decision when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that if a state allows direct shipment of wine inside its borders it must also allow direct shipment to customers outside state borders. The number of states allowing direct shipment is now 38.

Read the whole story