Publisher’s note: This first appeared in the December 2006 issue of the Tahoe Mountain News and is reprinted with permission. Hannah Teter hopes to repeat her 2006 performance in Vancouver next month.

By Kathryn Reed

Kobe beef, Mouton Rothschild Cabernet, Swiss chocolate — certain foods and beverages stand above the rest. For those who know syrup, nothing but the liquid gold from Vermont can cover a pancake, waffle or French toast.

Hannah Teter, 2006 Olympic snowboarding halfpipe gold medalist for Sierra-at-Tahoe, knows her syrup. The native Vermonter has been devouring the sticky stuff all of her 19 years.

“I grew-up eating pancakes and French toast. It was my daily breakfast,” she said late one morning as she waited for a film crew to arrive at the Meyers home she shares with her brother, Elijah. Another brother, Abe, lives across the meadow. She is the youngest of five kids. “My Dad has made syrup since I was little. Me and my brothers went out and would help him.

“With Vermont syrup, it has this sweet flavor. Once it hits your lips it’s sensational. It’s a sweet natural-like blessing from the Earth,” she said.

Breakfast isn’t the only time for syrup.

“After we were done making maple syrup when I was younger, we would get a bowl and pack snow in the bowl and pour freshly made syrup in it,” Teter said. “It would be a treat.”

Her Dad still bottles syrup for family and friends. Those same maple trees he taps into are being used by a company which is mass producing Hannah’s Gold. Since coming up with the creation, Teter has raised about $4,000 for World Vision, which helps underprivileged children in Africa.

“I wanted to do something special. In my heart, since I was younger, I felt an urge to give back and reach back out,”Teter said.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the bottles that are available online at www.hannahsgold.com and at Sierra-at-Tahoe go to the charity. Sierra is even serving Hannah’s Gold for breakfast in mini packets.

Teter Family Pancakes-Waffles

1 cup oat flour (grind or blended quick or regular works)

1 cup white and/or wheat flour (can be half and half)

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Mix above ingredients.

Beat 3 eggs

Add:

1¾ cups milk

1/3 cup oil, margarine or butter

¼ maple syrup, honey or sugar

Mix above with dry ingredients and let set for 30 minutes. Make into pancakes or waffles. Serve with plenty of real Vermont maple syrup.

“This mix will keep in the fridge most of the week, but works best the first few days,” said Pat Teter, Hannah’s mom and the woman who provided the recipe.

By Kathryn Reed

WHISTLER, British Columbia — No matter what an Olympic committee does, it can’t improve the mountain. And that’s OK when it comes to Whistler-Blackcomb.

Franz’s and Dave Murray’s runs – where the women and men Alpine skiers will race – were already there. Details about those runs will be divulged on Lake Tahoe News next week.

LTN's Susan Wood on Jan. 26 explains to the officer why she is in a secure area.

New to Blackcomb is the Sliding Centre. It was closed to the public Sept. 1 after a summer of letting people experience the Olympic venue.

It will open again Feb. 5 when the Olympic torch arrives in Whistler. There is a community cauldron at Skiers’ Plaza in Whistler where the unofficial flame will flicker.

(Vancouver is where the real cauldron and the five rings will be; after all, these are the Vancouver Games, not the Whistler Games.)

“The flame lights the Olympic Cauldron at the close of the Opening Ceremony. That signifies the start of the Games. How the cauldron is lit, what it looks like and where it’s located stays a closely guarded secret until the ceremony,” Suzanne Walters, Vancouver Organizing Committee spokeswoman, told Lake Tahoe News.

Of course people with tickets to the Opening Ceremony probably know where it’s located. Actually, the opening and closing ceremonies are at BC Place Stadium, which had $150 million in renovations. This will be the first time any Opening Ceremony has been inside.

Lake Tahoe News was able to get a glimpse of where the bobsleigh (what the Canadian’s call it), luge and skeleton events will begin. The area where spectators will be and tents are being erected.

The Canadian Royal Mounted Police stopped us just before we could get a good view of the venue. We were promptly told it was a secure construction zone. Apparently not that secure.

The facility will remain a permanent part of the resort after the Games in what is being called the Legacy Program.

Celebration Plaza, which is under construction on the southwest end of Whistler Village, is where the medal ceremonies will be. Organizers for a while thought about giving medals out at the venues, but then switched back to the plaza idea.

Crews are out there at all hours of the night and day. The Games start Feb. 12. Presumably everything will be done before the nearly 2,500 athletes from more than 80 nations compete for 258 medals.

A platform for Canada Television has been going up for days at what seems like a painfully slow pace with little movement despite a gaggle of workers night and day.

From Monday to Tuesday a platform was put up in front of the village grocery store for purposes unknown.

Kiosks that will dispense information to tourists are scattered about the village – though shuttered right now.

A lift at Whistler Creekside is new this season. It’s not open to skiers now. It’s there to haul spectators to the grandstands at the base of the downhill courses. The men’s and women’s end at the same point.

Whistler Olympic Park, site of the cross country-biathlon-ski jump events, is all new. It, too, will be open to the public after the Games as one of the Legacy venues.

In Richmond, near Vancouver, an ice rink – the speed skating variety – is one of the new structures.

Some hotels, spas and restaurants have arrived in Whistler since Vancouver was awarded the games. But for the most part, the area is just like it was.

The Olympic Village for the athletes will be turned into workforce housing – something locals say is greatly needed.

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Ullr’s Jib Jam is Feb. 20 4-9pm at Lakeside Inn, Stateline. For more information, click on Jib.

Last One Picked plays Feb. 12-13 at 10pm at The Tavern at Lakeside Inn, Stateline.

No cover charge.

Robbie Allen and the Outer Edge on Feb. 5-6 at 11pm in The Tavern at Lakeside Inn, Stateline.

No cover charge.

Publisher’s note: South Lake Tahoe City Manager Dave Jinkens gave the following letter to the City Council on Jan. 25. He announced on Jan. 26 during open session at the council meeting in his report that he would not seek a contract extension. His contract expires in August. He turns 60 in March.

Dear Mayor Lovell and Members of the City Council:

I hope that in 2010 our City government will be successful in focusing attention, energy, and resources on needed community improvements to best serve the 24,000 residents who reside here. The City government’s competent management team is ready and able to assist you in this important endeavor. As local government officials, we must continue to focus attention and resources on the matters of most importance to our community’s health and prosperity. We must work in harmony to create a healthy governance model for small and big businesses, recognize and support our existing business community, develop rational and efficient land-use policies to encourage private investment, value and listen to our residents, and put the general interests of our entire community first.

After considerable thought, I am writing as well to inform you that it is my intention to not seek an extension of my employment agreement with the City this year. I will work with the City Council on a transition plan and assist in any way I can to make the transition a good one.

It has been my distinct honor and privilege to serve the City Council and the people of South Lake Tahoe as your City Manager. Since my appointment in August 2002, I have worked with many fine elected leaders to place the people of the community and their interests at the top of consideration on public policy matters. With the help, guidance, and support of able members of the City Council, City management, labor organizations and community members we were able to transform a dismal City government financial picture into a more stable City government operation with strong reserves while continuing to provide a high level of essential community services. Work underway for the City’s General Plan, Tahoe Valley Community Plan, Sustainability Plan, and Redevelopment Plan #2 will serve residents well into the future. The adoption of a storm drainage master plan and street master plan identify infrastructure work needed in the community.

We face new challenges today with a State government in fiscal disarray and a slow local economy. City government leaders will need to meet these economic and budgetary challenges while maintaining, to the greatest degree financially possible, essential services to the community.

I want to make a special point of thanking City employees from all departments past and present during my tenure for their commitment to the public service and their desire to provide the best services possible to the people of our community. All City employees in their varied jobs are important. I have been honored and privileged to work with them in support of the City Council and our community. I value them and the job they do, and I wish them good fortune and success. There is no greater honor than to be a member of the public service.

I was told once by a council member that I am not a politician. He was right. I respect the political process in our democratic republic. A city manager cannot and should not be a politician while he/she is in this capacity. The people expect good, clean, honest, effective, non-political and non-partisan service from local government irrespective of political considerations or affiliations, and I have worked to see that City government provides these types of services during my tenure.

While I am departing as an implementer of public policy, I will maintain a keen interest in the community and policies that will benefit it in the future.

Thank you again for the privilege to serve. I wish you and the people of our community success, happiness, and good fortune

David M. Jinkens, MPA, South Lake Tahoe city manager

By USSA

PARK CITY — Four World Champions and an Olympic medalist were among 18 athletes announced Tuesday by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association to compete on the 2010 Olympic Freestyle Ski Team.

USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt, together with the U.S. Olympic Committee and Team partner Visa, announced the roster of athletes to compete in the freestyle events at Cypress Mountain near Vancouver.

“We have a good mix of experienced veterans and some exciting young skiers making their first Olympic appearance,” said Freestyle Head Coach Jeff Wintersteen.

The moguls team is headlined by 2009 season-long World Cup champion Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT). Kearney, who qualified in the Olympic Trials a month ago, leads a strong group of women who all posted World Cup podium finishes. First time Olympian Heather McPhie (Park City, UT) had a win and two seconds, while 2002 Olympic silver medalist Shannon Bahrke (Tahoe City, CA) was second and third. Michelle Roark (Denver) rounds out the team based on her third in Deer Valley.

The 2009 World Champion Patrick Deneen (Cle Elum, WA) leads the men’s moguls squad following his victory in the Olympic Trials last month. Rookie Bryon Wilson (Park City, UT) took advantage of a pair of seconds in the season opener while 2005 World Champion Nate Roberts (Park City, UT) picked up a third that same weekend in Finland to make the Team. Michael Morse (Duxbury, MA) pieced together a fifth and two sixths to join the team. All four men are making their first Olympic experience.

“We’re really excited for all the Olympians. We have a great mix of veterans and youth,” Moguls Head Coach Scott Rawles said. “It’s been a tough road to make it here. But, I’m really looking forward to Vancouver, so are our athletes and we want to get up there and get the job done.”

Two-time Olympian Jeret “Speedy” Peterson (Boise, ID) and newcomer Lacy Schnoor (Draper, UT) head the aerials squad following their victories in the Olympic Trials in December. Veterans Ryan St. Onge (Winter Park, CO), the reigning World Champion, Jana Lindsey (Black Hawk, SD) and Emily Cook (Belmont, CA) will be making return trips to the Olympics.

They will be joined by first-time Olympians including Dylan Ferguson (Amesbury, MA), Matt DePeters (Hamburg, NY) and Ashley Caldwell (Hamilton, VA). Caldwell, just 16, is the first skier to come out of the USSA’s Elite Air Program in Lake Placid, NY, designed to fast track talented gymnastic or acrobatic athletes and train them in freestyle aerials.

“I’m very pleased with this Team,” said Aerials Head Coach Matt Christensen. “It’s a really good feeling when you look at veteran athletes like Ryan, Speedy and Emily who have all won World Cups. When Ryan does his jumps the best he can, he is so far ahead of the field ? same with Speedy. Emily has been on the podium many times and has a new triple-twisting double she started last year and is looking to perfect for Vancouver. And both Jana and Lacy are performing the same trick.”

It has been a tough year results-wise for the aerialists, but Christensen remains optimistic. “So far our results have been less than what we would have liked. But our focus is on perfection and preparing for the perfect jumps in Vancouver.”

Veteran ski racers Casey Puckett (Aspen, CO) and Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, CA) will represent the USA in the debut of ski cross in Vancouver. It will be Puckett’s fifth Olympics and the fourth trip for Rahlves, a 2001 World Champion in alpine super G. Both were former U.S. Alpine Ski Team racers who have had strong success in ski cross on the World Cup and in the X Games.

Rahlves will be competing this week in the X Games, while Puckett is resting a shoulder injury but is expected to be ready to go for Vancouver.

“I’m confident and excited for Daron and Casey,” said Ski Cross Head Coach Tyler Shepherd. “We are all honored and proud to be Vancouver Bound with the first U.S. Olympic Ski Cross Team. Both Daron and Casey are skiing extremely well and there’s no reason they can’t challenge for the podium.”

Shepherd expects an exciting debut for the newest Olympic sport. “I think the audience will be amazed at the athletes’ abilities.”

The moguls team will conduct a final pre-Olympic training camp in Steamboat Springs next week while the aerials team is training in Park City. The Olympics will open with women’s moguls in Vancouver Feb. 13.

The team is subject to final review by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

2010 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Ski Team

Aerials

Men

Matt DePeters, Hamburg, NY, 22

Dylan Ferguson, Amesbury, MA, 21

Jeret “Speedy” Peterson, Boise, ID, 28

Ryan St. Onge, Winter Park, CO, 26

Women

Ashley Caldwell, Hamilton, VA, 16

Emily Cook, Belmont, MA, 30

Jana Lindsey, Black Hawk, SD, 25

Lacy Schnoor, Draper, UT, 24

Moguls

Men

Patrick Deneen, Cle Elum, WA, 22

Michael Morse, Duxbury, MA, 28

Nate Roberts, Park City, UT, 27

Bryon Wilson, Park City, UT, 21

Women

Shannon Bahrke, Tahoe City, CA, 29

Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT, 23

Heather McPhie, Bozeman, MT, 25

Michelle Roark, Denver, 35

Ski Cross

Men

Casey Puckett, Aspen, CO, 37

Daron Rahlves, Sugar Bowl, CA, 36

By USSA

PARK CITY -– Double World Champion Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) and two-time Olympic silver medalist Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) join 2006 Olympic gold medalists Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) and Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) as the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) announced the 2010 Olympic Alpine Ski Team Monday.

USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt, together with the U.S. Olympic Committee and Team partner Visa, announced the roster of 22 athletes to compete in the alpine events at Whistler. The team is a mix of nine Olympic veterans and 13 first-timers.

Vonn’s 2008 and 2009 seasons accounted for five World Cup titles and she set numerous ski racing high marks, yet her genuine approachability by fans and media alike have rocketed her to the forefront of Olympic sport, including a recently announced honor as 2009 USOC SportsWoman of the Year. Vonn has won every World Cup downhill this season and currently leads the overall, downhill, super G and super combined points standings.

“With Lindsey, there’s potential in every event,” said women’s Head Coach Jim Tracy. “She’s put in the hard work to make it happen and has proven she can. But the cream of the crop will be there and they all have the same goal. She’s said it better than anyone, if she wins one medal of any color, she’ll be happy. Everything else will be a bonus.”

Joining Vonn and Mancuso in the Olympic spotlight is World Cup winner Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) who becomes a four-time Olympian after missing the two seasons directly after the 2006 Games due to injury and the birth of her nearly 2-year-old son, Lasse.

“Sarah has achieved a huge goal that a year ago might have been unrealistic,” added Tracy. “But she has a spirit like no other. If you look at the Olympics there’s always someone who comes out of nowhere. It’s exactly what Julia did in 2006 and now Jules has something that a lot of people will never have – an Olympic gold medal.”

Sparked by solid early season finishes in speed events and a January super combined victory in classic Wengen, Switzerland, Miller – also a four-time Olympian and a double silver medalist from 2002 – is poised to charge on North American snow.

Ligety’s big race success began in 2006 when he became the Olympic combined gold medalist. He has since continued the trend with multiple World Cup wins, a World Cup giant slalom title in 2008 and a World Championships giant slalom bronze in 2009.

“As a Team we’re proud of this group of guys,” said men’s Head Coach Sasha Rearick. “It’s an impressive mix of veterans like Ted and Bode, who’ve shown they can perform when it counts. But then we’ve got young guys like Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) and Tommy Ford (Bend, OR), who have consistently made progress all winter.”

Rearick noted World Cup veterans Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA), Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT) and Jimmy Cochran (Keene, NH) for putting in the hard work to earn yet another appearance at the Olympic Games. He also praised the Team’s European Training Base in Pagenella-Trentino, Italy for being instrumental in helping prepare his group with perfectly prepared training slopes all season.

“Each one of these guys has put in the work and effort to represent America in Vancouver,” said Rearick. “This staff has done an amazing job day in and day out taking care of all the details to make that happen. We’re a tight family who has been working together for many years and we’re looking forward to the opportunity to inspire Americans about the great sport of ski racing.”

Following a series of three World Cup speed races next weekend in St. Moritz, Switzerland, women’s speed will train at their European Base at Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria until Feb. 5 before arriving in Vancouver on Feb. 9, while the tech athletes will prepare in Jackson Hole.

On the men’s side two giant slaloms and a slalom are set for Kranjska Gora, Slovenia before both men’s speed and technical groups move into a pre-Olympic camp in Park City. U.S. men will also arrive on Feb. 9 in time for the first downhill training run set for Feb. 10.

There are a total of five medal events for each gender with downhill, super G, super combined, giant slalom and slalom all on the Olympic calendar.

The team is subject to final review by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

2010 U.S. Olympic Alpine Ski Team

Men

Will Brandenburg, Spokane, WA, 23

Jimmy Cochran, Keene, NH, 28

Erik Fisher, Middleton, ID, 24

Tommy Ford, Bend, OR, 20

Tim Jitloff, Reno, NV, 25

Nolan Kasper, Warren, VT, 20

Ted Ligety, Park City, UT, 25

Bode Miller, Franconia, NH, 32

Steven Nyman, Sundance, UT, 28

Marco Sullivan, Squaw Valley, CA, 29

Andrew Weibrecht, Lake Placid, NY, 24

Jake Zamansky, Aspen, CO, 28

Women

Stacey Cook, Mammoth Mountain, CA, 25

Hailey Duke, Boise, ID, 24

Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, CA, 25

Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 27

Megan McJames, Park City, UT, 22

Alice McKennis, Glenwood Springs, CO, 20

Kaylin Richardson, Edina, MN, 25

Sarah Schleper, Vail, CO, 30

Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 22

Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 25

The Travelocity Roaming Gnome is continuing his search for a cure to winter cabin fever, and from a recent vote, it appears Banff locals are doing the same.

Not letting frigid temperatures or tightened budgets stop him from experiencing a one-of-a-kind adventure this winter, the Roaming Gnome is taking advantage of the amazing seasonal deals and hopping on a plane to one of the most popular ski destinations in North America – Banff. Hoping to inspire others, the Roaming Gnome is letting his fans map out his winter tour and follow his journey online, so they too will be compelled to choose an adventure of their own.

Tour details

On Jan. 12, the Travelocity Roaming Gnome started a winter adventure relying heavily on the social media networks of Facebook and Twitter to spread his message. Each week, the Roaming Gnome’s fans vote on Facebook between two rival ski destinations to decide where he travels to for his next great adventure:

* Whistler vs. Banff (Winner: Banff)

* Utah vs. Lake Tahoe (Voting starts Jan. 27 and ends Feb. 3 at 9am)

Whistler and Banff was the first pair of rival destinations up for voting, with Banff the winner with 69 percent of the vote.

Voting details

Through Travelocity’s Facebook fan page, as well as the Travelocity (@Travelocity), Travelocity.ca (@TravelocityCA) and Roaming Gnome (@RoamingGnome) Twitter pages, the online travel agency announces when a ski resort pair is up for voting. Voting on the Travelocity Facebook fan page lasts one week, and the winning resort is revealed on the Wednesday voting ends.

Immediately following the results of each contest, the Travelocity Roaming Gnome will travel to the winning destination to visit friends and locals, pose for pictures and participate in some of the most popular activities that resort has to offer, including skiing, ice skating, snowmobiling, flying down the luge, and snow tubing. As with all celebrities, he will have a “personal assistant” who accompanies him along the way.

In an effort to support nonprofits in the Lake Tahoe Basin, Becky Bell has released a new bumper sticker — “Keep Tahoe Culture”.

Every four months, Bell will donate a percentage of every sticker sold to a new local nonprofit organization in Lake Tahoe or Truckee.

To kick off the long-term charitable initiative, Bell selected the Arts & Culture Council of Truckee Tahoe and the Tahoe Arts Project in South Lake Tahoe as the January-March beneficiaries. “Keep Tahoe Culture” stickers can be purchased for $3 online at www.TahoeCulture.com.

Bell uses her website to promote the local artists, individuals, businesses, nonprofits and events that give the mountain destination life and distinction. Regular features include the burgeoning Tahoe-Truckee art scene, resident artists, cultural heritage, community events and performances, locally made products, hidden hot spots, green businesses, eco-tips, mountain health, local profiles, and outdoor recreation.