Time is running out to participate in the initial week of Taste of Tahoe.

Brook’s Sports Bar at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline is donating 10 percent of its proceeds through May 15 to the South Shore’s Relay for Life.

Dining at Brook's Sports Bar benefits Relay for Life. Photo/Provided

Relay for Lifes occur all over the country as a way to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Click on schedule to find out which restaurants are participating and when.

Relay for Life is Aug. 7-8 at Kahle Community Park in Stateline.

South Tahoe Legendary Run starts at 8am at Lake Tahoe Community College parking area.

For a registration form, go to www.tr4ck.org.

By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal

Late-season storms add to the mountain snowpack and regional water supplies but as temperatures rise this week, folks should notice some other changes.

Creeks and rivers will rise. Melting snow will translate to rushing water which will become a muddy brown.

Melting snow in higher elevations should have rivers peaking May 31. Photo/Kathryn Reed

“It should start ripping by this weekend, I would think,” said Dan Greenlee, a federal hydrologist and snow surveyor.

Monday’s storm, particularly strong for mid-May, dropped more than a foot of snow in parts of the Sierra. The Lake Tahoe Basin’s snowpack Wednesday was 132 percent of average for the date.

Read the whole story

• Emerald Bay will be open to boaters this summer even though some Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board members thought a temporary ban should be put in place because Asian clams have been found near the mouth of the bay.

• South Tahoe High senior Aimee Pitcher won the 2010 4th Congressional Art Competition. Her artwork will soon hang in the Cannon Tunnel in Washington, D.C., along with the other first place winners from congressional districts from across the nation.

• On May 21 at 10am the community is invited to South Tahoe High School for the groundbreaking of the Tahoe Arts & Design Academy and the Performing Arts Modernization projects.

• Northstar-at-Tahoe opens its golf course May 21.

• The Martis Fund, a Truckee organization created by conservationists and landowners committed to the long-term future of Martis Valley has launched a website to serve as a conduit of information to the public about its programs and grants.

By Kathryn Reed

Clint Curtis doesn’t want to make an issue of Tom McClintock living just outside the boundaries of the 4th Congressional District. Maybe that’s because he moved to the Roseville area in January from Florida.

Curtis spent most of his time Wednesday night talking to the Lake Tahoe Democratic Club about how he intends to wrangle votes in what for decades has been a predominately Republican district.

Congressional candidate Clint Curtis speaks in South Lake Tahoe on May 12. Photo/Kathryn Reed

He has reached out to the other parties to build a coalition. His promise to them is if elected, they will have representation on his staff of eight in Washington. Curtis said the Libertarians and American Independent Party are on board.

“If you don’t have the numbers, you don’t win. We run as a Democrat, but accept everyone else, too,” Curtis told the 15 people gathered in the loft at Blue Angel Café.

Curtis is running unopposed in the June 8 primary on the Democratic ticket. Michael Babich is challenging McClintock on the Republican side. The general election is Nov. 2.

It wasn’t until people started asking questions that Curtis offered any substance as to why voters might want to unseat the incumbent.

“(McClintock) doesn’t bring any money to the district. We will bring money to the district,” Curtis said.

He accused McClintock of leaving money on the table by not going after stimulus funds.

El Dorado County Supervisor Norma Santiago asked Curtis what he thought the key issue facing the district is. To which he replied, “Water.”

He is unequivocally opposed to the $11 billion water bond on the November ballot because “it will misdirect water.”

“Another issue that the bond does is gives water a price. The highest bidder can buy water,” Curtis said. “It is essential we don’t pass this.”

What was not mentioned is the $100 million in the bond that would go to the California Tahoe Conservancy and the $75 million for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Those dollars would fund a good share of California’s portion of environmental improvement projects tied to the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, which is winding its way through Congress.

Even though Santiago is on the CTC board, she didn’t challenge Curtis on his position regarding the water bond.

Sandy Myron asked Curtis what his stance on immigration is.

“We have to protect our borders, but we can’t breakup families,” Curtis said. “I would move some military bases closer to the border.”

To that, Bob Cliff pointed out the abundant military presence in San Diego and how that is not a deterrent.

“That’s a ridiculous idea,” Cliff told Curtis. “It would be a huge, huge expense.”

Then the conversation turned to the need to crackdown on employers hiring illegal immigrants.

This isn’t Curtis’ first foray into politics. He lost to Tom Feeney in a Florida congressional race in 2006.

Curtis said he got interested in politics when he was working as a computer programmer and was asked to devise a system that could flip an election. He later testified before Congress about electronic voting equipment and how it can be manipulated.

On his platform is election reform so votes cast electronically can be verified.

The ballot has his occupation as computer programmer, though he just finished classes at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. He will take the California bar exam in July.

Curtis, 52, is married and has no children.

Sierra and Northstar-at-Tahoe resorts continued their longstanding commitment to their communities and constituents during the 2009-10 season with charitable contributions in excess of $225,000 to community and environmental programs.

“Part of our role as members of the Tahoe business community and as global citizens is finding ways to give back throughout the season. We look for ways to make meaningful contributions to the organizations that surround and support our guests and employees during the entire year,”  John Rice, general manager of Sierra-at-Tahoe, said in a statement.

Buckle Up Big Air at Sierra 2010

Throughout the winter season, Northstar and Sierra responded to requests for donations from regional schools and nonprofit groups with more than $78,000 in lift tickets and other products. Each resort then also supports local organizations with targeted donations.

The following is a summary of the philanthropic efforts for Sierra:

Barton Memorial Hospital Foundation – Sierra Resort donated $70,000 in lift tickets to Barton Memorial Hospital Foundation during the annual Snowsports Week in February. Barton Foundation then sold the tickets through retail shops in town for a discounted price of $35, raising approximately $30,000 for local organizations benefiting children and wildlife.

Local Sports – On Community Day, April 19, Sierra raised $5,100 from the day’s lift ticket sales. The money was donated to sponsor local sports teams including South Tahoe High School’s baseball, softball, basketball and football teams, as well as the High Sierra Soccer League, to name a few.

Buckle Up Big Air – To honor the memory of Greg Smith, one of Sierra Resort’s freestyle team members and friend to many local skiers and riders, and bring awareness to seatbelt safety, Sierra Resort hosted the 4th Annual memorial slopestyle event, Buckle Up Big Air, raising $2,500. Part of the funds raised went to the Greg Smith scholarship fund for the Sierra Foundation, a non-profit organization that assists families whose children want to be a part of Sierra Resort’s competitive teams. The remaining funds will go to create a memorial terrain feature in Sierra Resort’s terrain parks, where Smith spent many days with his friends.

Local Students – More than 332 complimentary season passes were made available to local students with a “Straight A” report card, a donation valued at more than $33,000.

Ryan Shreve Memorial Fire Fighters Race – In memory of Ryan Shreve, a South Tahoe local and firefighter, Sierra Resort hosts an annual race for South Tahoe firefighters. Proceeds from the annual race are used to produce flyers that educate people about Second Impact Syndrome. The flyers have been placed on all ALS equipment in El Dorado County and the Sierra Resort first aid clinic.

The following is a summary of the philanthropic efforts of Northstar:

Excellence in Education – Northstar  hosted “Ski for Education Day” on Jan. 3 to benefit Excellence in Education, a local education-based foundation that provides grants, resources and partnerships to benefit local schools. The resort donated approximately $25,000 to the nonprofit organization.

Truckee Community Christmas – In an annual tradition, Northstar initiated a contest between employees on the mountain vs. those in the Village at Northstar aimed at which area of the resort could collect the largest contribution on behalf of Truckee Community Christmas. This season, Northstar Resort employees donated canned food that filled a 10-foot x 20-foot truck and more than $1,800 in cash to Truckee Community Christmas, a local project that has helped hundreds of families and seniors at Christmas time with food, toys, gifts, warm coats and food gift cards.

Tahoe Women’s Services Ski Day – Nearly 900 skiers and snowboarders came out to support Tahoe Women’s Services at Northstar. Full-day adult lift tickets were sold at a discounted price of $25, resulting in nearly $22,000 raised for the organization. Tickets were valid April 1 through the end of the winter season on April 18. Tahoe Women’s Services provides delivery of emergency food and shelter, counseling, legal assistance and advocacy to women and families in need.

Truckee Humane Society – Northstar Resort raised $330 to benefit the Truckee Humane Society through the sale of pet “season pass” photos. The resort also hosted a $25 ski day on Feb. 7 that raised an additional $6,500 for the Humane Society. The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is dedicated to saving and improving the lives of pets through adoption, community spay/neuter services and humane education programs.

Skate for Local Students – Northstar raised $500 to benefit programming at Donner Trails Elementary School located on Donner Summit at an ice skating fundraiser at the resort on Dec. 14.

Sierra Avalanche Center – Northstar Resort donated the proceeds of 300 ticket sales priced at $40 each to the Sierra Avalanche Center, a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers who are dedicated to promoting safe backcountry travel. The donation of $12,000 helped to provide funding for the daily avalanche forecast for the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains between Yuba Pass on the north and Sonora Pass on the south.

Auburn Ski Club – Northstar Resort donated 100 lift tickets to the Auburn Ski Club for the Biathlon Race they held at the Northstar Resort Biathlon Range on March 21.

Girls on the Run – In thanks to the LUNA Chix organization for their assistance with winter clinics, Northstar donated $100 to the local Girls on the Run chapter that encourages preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running.

For donation criteria or to submit a donation request from either resort, visit www.sierraattahoe.com/donations or www.northstarattahoe.com/donations.

To the community,

Now that the snow has melted, it is a good time to take a walk around your house, and look for any damage that icicles may have caused. Be sure to check the gas meter and any other utility lines that may have been damaged. It’s time to begin cleaning up any loose debris on your roof, gutters, and around your property, such as pine needles, pine cones, and dead vegetation.

Be sure to properly store any snow removal equipment properly, and get your chimney and your furnace cleaned.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department wants to thank you for making your property fire safe.

Sallie Ross-Filgo, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department

By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal

Nevada’s cloud-seeding program, almost killed by the state budget crisis, produced nearly 13 billion gallons of extra water over six months ending in late April, experts said.

“That’s nothing to sneeze at,” said Sparks Councilman Mike Carrigan, who chairs two water commissions that voted to provide money to keep the cloud-seeding program alive last winter.

Now, officials at the Desert Research Institute hope to convince providers that the program squeezes enough extra moisture out of winter storms to justify the expense of about $1 million per year.

The cloud-seeding program was in big trouble after the 2009 Legislature, facing a record budget deficit, dropped state funding for DRI’s efforts. Last summer, DRI went so far as to dismantle its five cloud-seeding generators in the Lake Tahoe area.

Read the whole story

By Kathryn Reed

The investor developer Randy Lane lined up to take over the stalled South Lake Tahoe convention center project backed out of the deal this week.

“The Investor is no longer pursuing an investment in the Debtor or otherwise pursuing a plan in the Case,” reads Michael Rosenfeld’s May 12 letter to the bankruptcy court in Sacramento.

The would-be convention center took another hit this week. Photo/Kathryn Reed

That is the letter in its entirety.

Lane, the principle with Lake Tahoe Development Company, filed for bankruptcy last fall on the $400-plus million endeavor to create two high-end hotels, a convention center and retail space on the northeast corner of Highway 50 and Stateline Avenue.

He brought in Rosenfeld earlier this year to create a plan to resurrect that project that has not had a laborer on the 11-acre site in a couple years. Although some in the city saw Rosenfeld as a savior, others considered him nothing more than a salesman with glossy photos to show for his credentials.

Lane was not available for comment, nor was Mayor Kathay Lovell.

The court had given the Zephyr Cove developer exclusive rights to come up with a plan. The deadline was June 2. That exclusivity goes by the wayside with Rosenfeld’s withdrawal.

South Lake Tahoe City Attorney Patrick Enright said now any creditor may come up with a plan.

“(Rosenfeld) did submit a term sheet on May 1. It was an outline of what the deal would be without substance. It was a bullet point,” Enright said.

The city learned about Rosenfeld’s decision to end his involvement with The Chateau project at the close of business Wednesday. As of Thursday evening the city had not connected with Lane.

“I’m not sure if we were surprised. We knew it was a possibility,” Enright told Lake Tahoe News of Rosenfeld’s decision. “I want to talk to the creditors. I think they have been in contact with other people who may have an interest in the project or something similar.”

It’s possible the judge could say liquidate the property. The problem is rebar and concrete cover the 29 parcels. A final map was not filed with the city before permits were issued to allow construction to begin. This muddies the waters in being able to return property to the original owners. Plus, structures that were there have long been bulldozed.

The city is not one of the creditors. The money South Lake Tahoe has spent relates to consultants and planning costs. Until a little more than a year ago Lane picked up those costs. A dollar amount for what the city has spent on the convention center project could not be tracked down Thursday night.

South Lake Tahoe continues to receive its share of property tax on the land from El Dorado County because of the Teeter law even though Lane isn’t paying his tax bill. With the assessed value more than what it was before construction started, the city is making more on the property now in property taxes compared to when businesses were open near Stateline.

Chevys restaurant in South Lake Tahoe will donate 25 percent of a portion of its proceeds to Tahoe Arts Project on May 21 from 11am to 11pm.

Guests must provide a coupon in order for TAP to receive the donation. Coupons can be picked up at the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Education Center at 1021 Al Tahoe Blvd. or call Tahoe Arts Project at (530) 542.3632.

All proceeds will support TAP’s mission of bringing professional performing arts into the schools and community of South Lake Tahoe.