The Reno/Tahoe community has the opportunity to view “TAPPED”, an award winning documentary on the issues surrounding bottled water versus tap water. These screenings are presented by the Tahoe Water Suppliers Association.

The events are free and open to the public.

Summer dates:

June 11, 8pm: Free, Campfire Program, Galena Creek Regional Park, Reno. Co-sponsored by the Great Basin Institute.

July 22,7pm: Free, North Tahoe Events Center, 8318 North Lake Blvd., Kings Beach. Co-sponsored by the Squaw Valley Institute.

Aug. 21, 7:30pm: Free, Campfire Program, Martis Creek Lake Campground, Truckee. Hosted by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Martis Creek Lake.

Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce? Stephanie Soechtig’s award winning feature film “TAPPED” is an unflinching examination of the business of the billion dollar bottled water industry. From the plastic production to the ocean where so many of these bottles end up, this inspiring documentary trails the path of the bottled water industry, and the communities that were unwitting chips on the table. A powerful portrait of the lives affected by the bottled water industry, this revelatory film features those caught in the intersection of big business and the public’s right to water.

The website is www.tappedthemovie.com.

These screenings are presented by the Tahoe Water Suppliers Association in partnership with the Great Basin Institute, Squaw Valley Institute and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Martis Creek Lake.

For more information, contact Madonna Dunbar at (775) 832.1212 or email mod@ivgid.org.

The South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidates forum for the offices of El Dorado County judge, sheriff and assessor.

The forum is May 25 at 6pm at the South Tahoe Senior Center at 3052 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

Earlier this month Douglas County Search and Rescue hosted a three-day swiftwater rescue technician training event.

The instructor was Rachel Moore from Sierra Rescue. Sierra Rescue is California’s premiere Rescue 3 Swift Water Rescue Instruction Company; specializing in hands-on training. In attendance were eight members from DCSAR, one Carson City SAR member and a deputy and sergeant from Alpine County Sheriff’s Office.

Sienna Smith-Saeger, Nathan Smith, Rob Ranieri, Anne Thomas, Pat Fried and Instructor Rachel Moore. Back row (l-r) Tom Mapes, Greg Altringer, Jason Zona, Cary Olson, Jeff Bennett and Ron Michitarian.

The skills emphasized in the class included self-rescue, throw bag rescue, entrapments, thinking through a rescue, simple rope tricks, and rescue techniques that have been tested and proven successful in real rescues. The instructor played the victim in several scenarios which tested the participant’s abilities to plan and execute a swiftwater rescue.

The river portion of the class included defensive and aggressive swimming techniques and accessing eddies. Contact rescues emphasized rescuer safety and taught techniques to counter panic subjects. Participants learned about Live-Bait jackets which allow self-release if caught in a serious situation.

Shallow water crossings both singly and in small groups were practiced.

Entrapment rescues were emphasized and all learned that one NEVER tries to stand up when under downstream momentum–the quickest way to encounter possible foot entrapment.

Strainer drills were practiced as well as rescues involving the use of river boards.

Knots were reviewed and the use of ropes with and without mechanical advantage to aid in rescues were taught and practiced.

Freeing wrapped boats, righting overturned rafts, and the use of ziplines were all skills that were also taught and practiced. The course included a written exam and student skills demonstrations. Successful students received certification as a Swiftwater Rescue Technician.

Next SLTWHA meeting is at the Lakeside Beach Grill (4081 Lakeshore Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe) on June 2 at 5pm.

Open to the public, and no fee to attend. RSVP to natalieyanish@gmail.com or (775) 843.7142.

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Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Dan Gordon will present a three-hour safe driving seminar for teenagers May 22 from 9am to noon.

The class will be at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Minden Station.

The class is free. Students need not reside in Douglas County.

No pre-registration or sign-up necessary, interested teens can just show up.

It is suggested students arrive a few minutes early to accommodate the class starting right at 9am.

Refreshments will be served.

This is an educational seminar for current teen drivers; it is not a driving school for pre-licensed teens.

By Kathryn Reed

Redevelopment is going to happen – unless El Dorado County sues to stop South Lake Tahoe from going forward.

Judi Harkins was tasked with being the messenger for the county at Tuesday’s council meeting. She read a letter into the record from the Board of Supervisors stating that entity’s adamant belief the city should not go forward with its plans, and calling into question the city’s blight findings.

This was the second reading of the ordinance. It’s now official.

The council voted 3-1 to create the 3,100-acre redevelopment area that spans about 20 percent of the city from the airport, to the Y, to past Harrison Avenue.

Councilman Bill Crawford, a longtime vocal opponent of redevelopment, reminded the council, staff and nearly full house that although this is being touted as a funding mechanism, the Heavenly Village project resulted in the general fund being raided of $7.2 million to cover costs. This in turn took money away from roads and other common uses for that pot of money.

Councilman Hal Cole recused himself because of owning property in the area. He is working on a deal to change that status.

Until a lawsuit is filed, the redevelopment plan goes forward. No specific project is part of the plan. Eminent domain is not an option.

What it’s designed to do is create tax increment based on property tax values – with the county, South Tahoe Public Utility District and others having their share cut, thus the reason for the disharmony – and creating a pool of cash that property owners could use, per city approval, for improvements.

It’s similar to what the Ski Run Business Improvement District is doing as it taps into redevelopment dollars from that area.

• Veterinarian Kelly Doria is closing shop in mid-June. She will be leaving South Lake Tahoe for Santa Barbara.

Kelly Doria

• Douglas County commissioners barely made the deadline of sending a balanced budget to the state by the third Monday of May. Officials approved the $123.8 million budget May 17.

• Have you signed up for the Thin Air Festival? The Aug. 12-15 running event on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe has a variety of courses to choose from.

• Extra DUI roving patrols will be out in Placerville and South Lake Tahoe for Memorial Day weekend – May 28-31.

• Former Sierra Nevada College CFO Richard Rubsamen has been hired as president of the Incline Village school.

• Researchers at the University of Miami in Ohio are studying how UV and invasive species are related to the clarity of Lake Tahoe.

Proceeds from the  May 23 all-day car wash will help fund a trip to Los Angeles for members of South Lake Tahoe’s A Team.

The car wash will start at 8am at the Tahoe Quick Lube across from the Swiss Chalet Village on Highway 50.

More than a dozen at-risk students whose grades and attendance meet the requirements will tour the Museum of Tolerance and Homeboy Industries.

Grants, service clubs, fund raisers and PAL are paying for the trip.

For more information, contact Amy Jackson at (530) 307.4046.

The A Team was formed in 2007. Three counselors at South Tahoe High School recognized there were students at risk of making choices on the streets for their gang that would impact not only their lives personally withr eal and long-term consequences but also the safety of the school and community.

The “A” Team wrapped around these students with academic support, family strengthening, new opportunities, field trips, and counseling. They were shown that there were options in this life for them other than all they had been shown up to that point. The group proved to be successful as the majority of these students graduated from high school, left their gang ties and enrolled in college.

To the community,

We, Maestra Diana’s kindergarten class at Bijou Community School, would like to thank Pet Station for its generosity. This week, we learned about the different classes of animals in science … and to make it more real, we got to see real animals from each group. We were able to see a fish, a turtle, a frog, a hamster, and a chicken (we even got to touch a few).

This was so much better than just seeing pictures.

Thank you so much Pet Station.

Bijou Community School