Being a student at Mt. Tallac High doesn’t require being on probation or having a baby.

Those were two key points Karina Aldana made as she spoke to the Lake Tahoe Unified School District board of education Tuesday night.

Joining her were students Luis Cervantes and Maricela Prieto. The three are part of the school’s leadership team. They talked a bit about life at the school, what it means to them and then invited the board to the school’s open house.

Open house is Oct. 21 from 9am-noon.

Read Lake Tahoe News next week as Mt. Tallac students write about their experience at the school, dispel myths and share dreams.

Lake Tahoe Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Drop-in Open-House, South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, on Oct. 19 from 2:30- 8:30pm.

North Shore Open House is at the TCPUD Administrative Board Room, 221 Fairway Drive, Tahoe City, on Oct. 22 from 2:30-8:30pm.

For more information, go to www.TahoeMPO.org.

By Susan Wood

Even after the tourists have left and operations have shut down for the season, Fallen Leaf Lake residents are continuing to make waves – with some citizens taking their dispute over who runs the marina and general store to the ballot box.

A petition was certified by the El Dorado County Elections Office challenging the Community Services District’s earlier decision to run the marina and general store in 2010, essentially ousting its longtime operator John Rich.

When it will actually be put before the voters of Fallen Leaf Lake has yet to be determined.

The petition needed signatures from 10 percent of those who voted in the last district election, which was less than 100 people. Double that qualified the petition.

The referendum will be discussed at a meeting slated for 11am Sunday at the Fallen Leaf Lake firehouse. The agenda item starts at 1pm.

The controversy that has dragged on since April involves the district seeking to take over the marina operations because a contract could not be met between its board and the Rich family, which has run the hub of the lake for 14 years. The district claims it needs more rent and accountability over operations practices from Rich. But a vocal segment of the community wants to keep things in his hands.

A last-ditch effort to find common ground was unmet. So, the board insists its Sept. 5 motion stands. It declares “should an agreement in principle not be reached between (board) directors (Mike) Kraft and (Terri) Thomas and Fallen Leaf Landing by Sept. 19, 2009, the CSD will proceed to execute their decision made at the April 25, 2009, board meeting or submit to the registered voters of the district at the next regularly scheduled district election.” A special election could be called to settle the dispute since it’s too late to make the Nov. 3 ballot.

The residents who support the Rich family aren’t buying the changing of the guard and the district’s flimsy figures and plans to hire a general manager under the direction of the five-member board. They cry foul.

“This is disappointing to all of us who have been involved that it had to come to this. We were hoping our elected officers would listen to the people they represent. Unfortunately, this was our last resort,” Fallen Leaf resident Debra Barnes said.

At earlier meetings and encounters, shouting matches and threats ensued. The last CSD meeting was standing room only and ran on for hours.

Rich claims he would still like to work for the district.

Susan Wood is a freelance writer based in South Lake Tahoe. She may be reached at copysue1@yahoo.com.

Associated Press

CAMPTONVILLE — An 83-year-old hunter is recovering from severe arm and shoulder wounds after a black bear mauled him in the Tahoe National Forest.

State officials say Orval Sanders of Oroville was hunting with six other men and some dogs near Camptonville in Sierra County when they encountered three bears Monday.

Read the whole story

Publisher’s Note: This is reprinted from the February 2009 Tahoe Mountain News with permission.

By Kathryn Reed

Ingredients I don’t know and complex steps are two reasons for me to ditch a recipe. Even though the recipe below looks complicated, it’s not. The work involved will have those at the table begging for more.

Because the recipe makes so much, we were happy to be eating it for the better part of a week. Sue took some to work for Hedy. The three of us rate it as one of the best soups we’ve ever had. We have Teena Hildebrand of Narrow Gate Vineyards in Placerville to thank for this fabulous ensemble of flavors.

“I traditionally make a seasonal soup for many of our wine pairing events and personal dinner parties. It’s a great way to start the evening and an opportunity to show off white wines,” Hildebrand said. “I put all of my favorite flavors (looking for a balance of sweet, salt, acid, etc.) that will highlight, rather than flatten, the flavors in the wine. The slightly natural sweetness from the seasonal vegetables and the intensity of the fresh apple cider reduction balanced the pungent, nutty, savoriness of the fresh sage leaves crisped in brown butter.”

I swung by the winery during the annual Barrel Tasting festivities that were going on throughout El Dorado County the weekend of Jan. 24-25. There I was able to taste some of the wines Hildebrand recommends for this flavorful soup.

Now I will be able to pour a glass or two of the Melange del Sol Blanc when I make this soup again. We’ll see how long the bottles last. I may have to go back during another fun event — Passport Weekend (March 28-29 and April 4-5). Of course wineries are happy to have people visit on non-event days as well.

Hildebrand isn’t for giving up on white wines in winter.

“There are so many wonderful, seasonal dishes that really bring out the warmth, white floral aromas (orange blossom, plumeria, honeysuckle) orchard flavors (sweet, ripe, late harvest apples) and spice that are characteristic of the white Rhone varietals like Narrow Gate Vineyards’ 2007 Estate Viognier Roussanne,” Hildebrand boasts. “This pairing is a sensory explosion and a delicious ushering in of winter.”

Hildebrand also suggests serving Narrow Gate Vineyards’ Chardonnay, Melange de Sol Blanc (blend of Chardonnay, Viognier and Roussanne) and Cotes Rose (Grenache Rose) with this soup.

She uses homemade veggie stock and says it makes a world of difference. I used store bought and was more than satisfied. All the comments below are from Hildebrand.

Butternut Squash, Golden Delicious Apple & Sweet Potato Soup

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, divide into 2T and 6T

2½ lbs butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into ½ inch pieces (about 6 cups)

1 lb sweet potato or yam, roasted and removed from skin

2 cups chopped white or yellow onion

1/2 cup chopped carrot

1/2 cup chopped celery

2 small golden delicious apples, peeled, cored, chopped

1½ teaspoons dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh

½ teaspoon crumbled dried sage leaves or 1 teaspoon fresh

6+ cups vegetable stock (can also use chicken stock)

1½ cups fresh or unfiltered apple cider (I use Boa Vista un-pasteurized from Apple Hill)

2/3 cup creme fraiche (can substitute good quality sour cream)

½ cup heavy whipping cream (optional, can also use half&half or tempered sour cream)

12 to 24 fresh small (1/2-inch long) sage leaves

Melt 6T butter in a heavy large stock pot or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add butternut squash, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots and celery; saute until slightly softened, about 15 minutes. Mix in chopped golden delicious apples, dried thyme and dried sage. Add stock and 1 cup of the cider; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until squash and apples are tender, stirring mixture occasionally, about 30 minutes. Remove from burner and cool.

Puree soup in blender, food processor or with a hand held stick blender to a smooth consistency. Return soup to stock pot or saucepan and whisk in ½ cup whipping cream, thin with more stock if too thick. Season with sea salt and white pepper (optional).

Apple Cider reduction Creme Fraiche:

Boil remaining ½ cup of cider until reduced to ¼ cup. Cool. Place creme fraiche in small bowl and whisk in reduced cider.

Crispy Sage leaves in Brown Butter

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small saute pan over med-high heat. Heat until butter just starts to brown (do not burn) and add fresh sage leaves, cook until crisp and remove to paper towel lined plate.

Bring soup to a simmer, ladle into bowls, drizzle with apple cider reduction creme fraiche and top with a crispy brown butter sage leaf.

Soup and apple cider creme fraiche can be made up to 3 days in advance, covered separately and refrigerated.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee (LTFAC) is scheduled to meet from 1-4pm Oct. 14 at the U.S. Forest Service office, Emerald Bay Room, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe.

LTFAC will address issues related to federal activities at Lake Tahoe.

Items on the agenda include:

Aquatic Invasive Species funding, Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) Round 11 process updates, and public comment.

LTFAC consists of 20 members representing a broad array of constituencies. The secretary of Agriculture chartered the first LTFAC inJuly 1998 to advise the Federal Partnership on programs and projects within the Lake Tahoe Basin. LTFAC’s charter has been renewed every two years with the most recent renewal occurring in August 2008.

All Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. Interested citizens are encouraged to attend. Issues may be brought to the attention of the committee during the open public comment period at the meeting, or by filing a written statement with the committee through Arla Hains, at the address above.

For more information on the Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/.

Lisa Campbell and Ally Jacobs

Oprah Winfrey’s show on Oct. 13 at 4pm features the two UC Berkeley police officers who are credited with breaking the Jaycee Lee Dugard case.

Rain doesn't keep Lake Tahoe Community College student Andrea Killebrew from class Tuesday. Photo/ DanThriftPhotography.com

A high wind advisory is in effect for the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond. Rain has been coming down much of the day at lake level, with snow at the higher elevations and at the ski resorts.

Webcams for most of the Lake Tahoe ski resorts are showing white stuff in abundance.

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a high wind warning from 5pm today to 5am Wednesday. The lake wind advisory is in effect until 5pm today.

The 2:30 and 6pm MS Dixie paddle-wheeler cruises out of Zephyr Cove have been canceled.

Sand bags are available to the public at two locations in South Lake Tahoe; 1160 Rufus Allen Blvd. and near the intersection of David and Ruby lanes. If needed, additional locations will be added.

Residents are responsible for filling their sand bags. The city will provide shovels, but residents are also encouraged to bring their own shovel.

City crews do not normally respond to flooding on private property as crews are busy clearing drains and inlets.

Any street flooding issues should be reported to Public Works at (530) 542.6030 or to Public Safety Dispatch.

From the National Weather Service:

* Timing: locally gusty winds early this morning will increase and become strong by mid-morning. A brief decrease in the wind will occur during the heavy rainfall this afternoon. However, a few hours of even stronger winds are expected this evening and overnight.

* Wind speeds today: south to southwest winds of 20 to 30mph with gusts up to 45mph on Lake Tahoe. Gusts up to 110mph over Sierra ridges this afternoon.

* Wave heights on Lake Tahoe: 3 to 5 feet will be common with 6-foot waves possible along the East and North shores.

* Wind speeds this evening and overnight: south to southwest winds of 25 to 35mph with gusts up to 60mph. Stronger gusts are possible in wind prone areas. Gusts up to 120 mph over Sierra ridges.

* Impacts: boats on Lake Tahoe will be prone to capsizing and should remain off lake waters through tonight. Winds will be capable of producing damage to trees, power lines and fences.

Precautionary/preparedness actions:

Damage to trees, power lines and property is likely with winds of this magnitude. Unsecured objects such as lawn furniture and construction materials should be secured or moved indoors before the strong winds today.

Driving will become hazardous for high profile vehicles, especially on Interstate 80 over Donner Summit and Mount Rose Highwa. Use extra caution and remain alert for sudden gusts or cross winds.

The merging of a storm system and remnants of a typhoon from Japan created the blustery, wet weather.

Today’s high in Lake Tahoe is expected to be 47 degrees, increasing to 56 degrees on Wednesday. Dry, warmer weather will follow, with Friday’s high expected to be 71 degrees at Tahoe.

By Kathryn Reed

As footage from the Columbine shooting unfolded on screen, not a word could be heard, no one fidgeted — eerily, it was dead silent except for the 911 call.

“As far as I know I lost everyone in the library,” the dispatcher says as the phone goes silent on the other end.

This may have been the first time these 300 people had heard the word Columbine, let alone seen anything from that fateful day in April 1999. They are too young to have been affected by the mass school shooting.

It was not an assembly to scare kids or expose them to violence. It was all about empowering them to make a difference.

South Tahoe Middle School students watched “Teen Truth Live: Bully” on Monday. The sixth-graders had a slightly edited version to eliminate some of the more graphic details.

“If you aren’t making a difference, what are you doing?” asked filmmaker JC Pohl as he talked to the students after the 20-minute movie ended.

“Nothing!” was the resounding reply.

That was the point. Doing nothing is bullying. Bullying comes in many forms — it includes excluding others, spreading rumors, intimidation and physical attacks.

Bullying causes anxiety, anger and may lead someone to kill.

All of this was part of the message.

The students in the movie talk about life being complicated and empty — with more pressure than when their parents were their age. School is a place of status. Changing to fit in is common. Alienation can be routine.

The U.S. Department of Education says 30 percent of students claim to have been bullied. Pohl says 99 percent of the kids he talks to have been bullied.

“The No. 1 reason people bully is because they don’t have empathy,” Pohl told the kids. “They don’t care. They don’t know how to show respect.”

Pohl and Erham Christopher developed Teen Truth Live when it dawned on them that after the deadly Columbine shooting in Colorado 10 years ago, the adult experts kept spouting about why the two boys did what they did without anyone asking the kids why this may have occurred.

“No one was giving a voice to teens,” Pohl said.

Thus began a yearlong project where high school seniors filmed what life was like. That and more became the film STMS students saw Monday.

At the end of Pohl’s presentation he asked the students if they had been punched, kicked, hit or shoved by someone. Everyone stood. Had a rumor been spread about them? Yes, was the overwhelming response. What about making a derogatory comment? Yes.

The point was the majority of students had been on one side or the other of bullying.

Then it was illustrated that negative moments in ones life last longer than positive. The adults in the room were asked to stand if they remembered a time when they were bullied. They all stood. Everyone remembered who did it.

“A bad thing that happened can last a lifetime,” Pohl said, in an attempt to emphasize that an act of bullying today is not soon, if ever, forgotten.

Teen Truth Live has three messages. The one on drugs will come to STMS in the spring. This is because sixth-grade teacher Cindy Cowen won the opportunity.

The third film the company has made is about body image.

Principal Beth Delacour was excited Soroptimist International Tahoe Sierra paid for Monday’s movie and talk.

“There is so much pressure on kids to look a certain way, be in a certain group, to do certain things,” Delacour said. “If we can rearrange that thinking to be one of inclusion, then we could see a change at our school (and beyond). It’s all about empathy. It’s an important message.”

For more information, go to www.teentruthlive.com.

Fall colors in the Sierra Nevada. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Leaves are changing a bit late this year in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Snow the first weekend of October has caused some of the aspens to go brown before turning their bright yellow, orange and red.

Trees that are apt to turn color are doing so now at lake level. The spectrum of color is just beginning to show up in Hope Valley, with Sorensen’s Resort boasting the most color.

North of Stateline is the Bourne Meadow — which is just now beginning to show its fall colors.

Farther up Highway 50, shades of orange and red are sprouting near Spooner Summit.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder