By Dawn C. Chmielewski, Los Angeles Times

Book sales rose 6.2 percent last year in the U.S., thanks to the continued growth of electronic publishing, according to newly released StatShot data from the Association of American Publishers.

Electronic books, which a decade ago represented a tiny fraction of the industry’s revenue, now are the fastest-growing segment of the publishing business. Indeed, sales of digital versions of books for children and young adults more than doubled in 2012 from a year earlier.

The digital transition has been gathering momentum since the 2007 introduction of e-readers such as Amazon’s Kindle, and accelerated with the soaring popularity of tablet computers that followed the 2010 launch of Apple’s iPad.

E-books account for an increasing share of the industry’s sales, rising from 1 percent of revenue in 2008 to nearly 23 percent of sales in 2012, according to data provided by nearly 1,200 publishers.

Total trade book sales in the U.S. reached $7.1 billion in 2012, up from $6.7 billion the prior year.

Sales of adult fiction and nonfiction reached nearly $4.9 billion last year, up 5.6 percent from 2011. Digital sales in those categories rose 33 percent to nearly $1.3 billion, with the digital revenue gains more than making up for declines in hardcover book sales, which fell 6.7 percent to $1.4 billion. Paperback book sales rose 6.2 percent to $1.5 billion.

Children’s and young adult book sales rose 13 percent to nearly $1.7 billion in 2012, compared with the prior year. Revenue from children’s and young adult e-books jumped 121 percent to $233 million. Hardcover books still dominate the category, accounting for nearly $830 million in sales.

Sales in the religion category fell 5.4 percent to $576.6 million in 2012. Digital book sales in the category rose 20 percent to $57 million in 2012, while publishers reported declines in paperback and hardcover revenue.

By Sara Schrichte

Donner Summit, like other areas, is seeing some trickle down effects of sequestration. In March, the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act mandated budget reductions totaling $85 billion across the federal government for fiscal year 2013. These mandated cuts, known as sequester, impact a number of federal programs including the Secure Rural Schools legislation.

Under this legislation, counties or the National Forest receive funding in several different titles, including Title II funding which goes to support projects that benefit National Forests; and Title III is slated for fire and emergency service projects.

In order to spend the funds, a Resource Advisory Committee has been established jointly for Nevada and Placer counties. The purpose of the RAC is to recommend funding for projects that benefit National Forest according to the legislation’s requirements.

The Judah Loop trailhead at Lake Mary may not get upgrades because of the federal government. Photo/Provided

Several Donner Summit projects were granted Title II funds by the RAC, but are now subject to a sequestration mandated 5.1 percent reduction. The Donner Summit Area Association (DSAA) was granted $1.300 for a bear-proof trash container at the Judah Loop trailhead at Lake Mary as part of a local effort to provide restroom and trash facilities to reduce trash and waste on and near the trails.

A portion of the Serene Lakes Property Association’s (SLPOA) $15,000 Donner Summit Fuels Reduction project for 2013-14 was to be funded by Title II funds. The project aims to reduce the threat of wildfire in National Forest service areas and complements the defensible space efforts made by owners of adjacent properties.

This summer’s trail maintenance and reconstruction along the Donner Lake Rim Trail and Summit Lake Trail were to be partially funded by Title II funds via the RAC. The project addresses repair of washed-out erosion control structures, reconstruction of “failing” sections of trail and improvement of drainage and sediment discharge. Included in this project are several Truckee Trail Foundation “Good Dirty Fun” volunteer maintenance projects and the replacement of a trail bridge along a portion of the Donner Lake Rim Trail.

Sugar Bowl Corporation’s Van Norden and South Yuba River Headwaters Enhancement and Forest Health Project began in 2012 and was funded, in part, by Title II funds. The project is designed to enhance the forest ecosystem, restore and improve land health, and restore water quality.

Although carryover funds from previous years can be spent, RAC grantees have been asked to stop spending current Title II funds until the state clarifies what funds will be available. That clarification will likely come before the end of April.

Sara Schrichte is with the Donner Summit Area Association.

By Shelly Aldean and Casey Beyer

As chair and vice chair of the Governing Board of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, we are no strangers to negotiation and compromise. While the serene beauty of Lake Tahoe often can calm even the most agitated bystander, finding compromise over land use policies at this bi-state lake has never been easy.

Yet just four months ago, we witnessed a revival of cooperation when tough negotiations and hard-fought compromises successfully produced an updated Lake Tahoe Regional Plan. Despite unprecedented levels of support for the plan, activity in the California and Nevada legislatures have spurred questions about the future of the lake and the TRPA.

While the states sort out their differences about the lake’s future through the legislative process, the members of the TRPA Governing Board, who represent the interests of both states, continue to work collaboratively to implement the newly updated Regional Plan. This new plan is the child of compromise and represents a new era of public-private cooperation. After years in the making with thousands of hours of stakeholder input, this new blueprint for the future deserves a chance to succeed.

The compromises that underpin the plan are reflected in the details. While maintaining the strict growth control system that’s been in effect since 1987, the plan is projected to eliminate 10,000 vehicle miles traveled annually in the Tahoe basin. Approximately 27,000 parcel owners will be able to access incentives to install stormwater infiltration measures while at the same time the plan cuts the rate of residential grown allocations in half and anticipates an additional 1,200 private parcels will be protected or restored.

The intent of this updated bi-state regulatory system is to accelerate environmental gains while at the same time helping to improve the health of our communities. In this era of diminishing public sector revenues, the salvation of the environment may well depend on our ability to encourage private investment in ecosystem restoration. It is no longer effective to use only a regulatory compliance approach. We must seek new ways to educate and engage the public by forging partnerships with allies and adversaries alike. Aristotle once observed, “A common danger unites even the bitterest of enemies.” In the Tahoe basin that “common danger” is aquatic invasive species, catastrophic wildfire, and uncontrolled runoff from older urban upland areas – it is not the private property owner, the conservationist, or the neighbor down the street. Rather than focusing our energy and precious resources fighting one another we must unite in a common cause: preserving the environment, strengthening the health of the local economy, and maintaining the social fabric of our communities. To do less would be an injustice to those we serve.

As representatives on the Governing Board from both Nevada and California, we remain convinced that preserving the bi-state Compact is the best protection for Lake Tahoe. We believe that to fulfill our responsibilities we must shed the old and tired paradigms of the past and adopt a more progressive and realistic approach to environmental stewardship. We are committed to a more inclusive and collaborative bi-state approach to governance and will lead by example with a renewed commitment to preserve the basin for current and future generations.

Shelly Aldean is Carson City supervisors’ appointee and chair of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board. Casey Beyer is Governing Board vice chair and the California governor’s appointee.

On April 30 at 6pm, the Friends of the Library is hosting “The Humane Movement: Past, Present, and Future” presented by the Lake Tahoe Humane Society and S.P.C.A.

Dawn Armstrong and Liz Maul will give a brief history of the humane movement, past, present, and future, while sharing how a local humane society reaches every member of the community.

The free event is at the South Lake Tahoe Library, 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd.

For questions, email Tahoe.Programs@gmail.com or call (530) 573.3185.

By Barbara Barte Osborn, Sacramento Bee

One of Truckee’s most historic buildings, the C.B. White House, was damaged in a fire early Thursday.

Donner Pass Road between Spring Street and the downtown roundabout was closed from about 4-8am to accommodate firefighting equipment from local fire departments, said Paul Spencer, fire prevention officer for the Truckee Fire Protection District.

The fire, which was called in at 3:45am, started on an outside rear wall of the structure, Spencer said. No one was in the building at the time.

“The fire was fully contained, but it’s hard to say the extent of damage to such an old, historic building,” Spencer said. The fire is under investigation by Truckee fire and police officials.

The C.B. White House is a Queen Anne-Eastlake-style Victorian built in 1874 in downtown Truckee by a mill owner, W.H. Kruger, as his family residence.

In the late 1970s, Zena Krakowsky restored the mansion, earning it the area’s first listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

After another long period of sitting empty, the building had recently been purchased by new owners and reopened as a restaurant, Spencer said.

This will be the final weekend for many resorts. It’s time to get out and enjoy spring conditions and make turns while you can.

Here is the April 12 ski report.

— Curtis Fong

The Family Resource Center’s Cinco de Mayo party is May 3 from 5-10pm at Heavenly’s California Lodge.

Adult tickets are $20 or $25 at the door, and children’s tickets are $10 for 6 to 12 years of age; 5 years and under are free.

Tickets may be purchased at the Family Resource Center Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm.

All proceeds raised from this event will help support family programs and basic services for all in need in South Lake Tahoe.

For more info, call (530) 542.0740.

By Kathryn Reed

Even with Gino DiMatteo being formally sentenced April 10 to five years in federal prison, the case is not completely closed.

Still blowing in the wind is Angela Swanson. The South Lake Tahoe City Councilwoman was caught up in the DiMatteo mess in August when she was questioned, had her house searched and electronic devices confiscated because at the time DiMatteo was suspected of bribing her.

The state bribery charge against the 43-year-old DiMatteo was dropped when the feds took over. The feds only leveled drug charges against the South Lake Tahoe resident. Earlier this year he pleaded guilty to all charges.

Angela Swanson — Vern Pierson — Gino DiMatteo

No charges have ever been brought against Swanson, but she is still under suspicion.

“We are not making any comments on the Angela Swanson matter at this time,” Nancy Anderson, secretary to El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson, told Lake Tahoe News this week.

Swanson and DiMatteo knew each other because he at one time ran the City of Angels II medical marijuana dispensary in town and several times had business before the City Council.

Swanson along with Nancy Rollston, the head of the Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation, accepted more than $1,000 in cash for the foundation from DiMatteo that was delivered in an unmarked brown bag. (Despite its being drug money, the foundation has never returned it. Swanson is on the nonprofit’s board.)

Swanson told Lake Tahoe News she has had one phone conversation with the district attorney since August. That, she said, was not recent and it was to clarify paperwork.

“Nothing new is happening with me,” Swanson said on April 11. “I’m not accused of anything at this point.”

She is seeking from the Fair Political Practices Commission a written opinion exonerating her of any ethics violation. She said early on she received a verbal opinion saying she did nothing unethical.

Multiple phone calls to the FPPC were not returned.

Swanson said if ethics charges were filed against her by the district attorney, she would fight them.

People have told Lake Tahoe News that Swanson has a legal defense fund going to fight what they have been told will be an ethics case. As an elected official, Swanson must report all of those dollars and disclose donors’ names.

By Mandy Kendall

Isn’t wonderful to see all the buds and blooms coming out with the first few days of spring?

Isn’t it not so wonderful that all those pesky allergens (foreign substances that cause allergies) have to come with them? I woke the other morning with the first signs of a dripping, itchy nose and scratchy red eyes. I felt absolutely fine, so could only presume that this was my immune system detecting things in the air that it was not too happy about.

Mandy Kendall

It’s only our third spring here, so I’m still getting used to all the different pollens and itch-making things, but each year I react less and less. I already have my favorite natural allergy buster (which I will share with you below) but there are many natural remedies that can be tried before, or in conjunction with, the over the counter remedies.

So the Qwik-e tips for today are a few of the most common ways to help your system from reacting adversely to Mother Nature at this time of year.

Fans — Try to avoid using fans to cool a room as they can actively pull pollen into the house.

Driving – Keeping windows closed while driving will help you from being blasted by allergens. It also helps to have your cabin air filters checked too.

Foods that boost immunity — A German study published in the Allergy journal found that those people who regularly ate food rich in Omega 3 fatty acids were less likely to suffer from allergy symptoms that those who didn’t. Omega 3 foods include; cold water fish, walnuts, flaxseed oil, eggs and grass fed meats.

Local honey – This one is my favorite! I found it a highly effective defense against the showers of pollen we get around here. Make sure it is from a local beekeeper and raw is best.

Probiotics — WebMD states that, “Probiotics are organisms such as bacteria or yeast that are believed to improve health.” Our inner ecosystem is a fine balance of good bacteria that help protect us from the outside world, and there is evidence that probiotics help “maintain a strong immune system.” Live cultured yogurt and dark chocolate are just two food sources rich in probiotics. Consuming probiotics (especially those that are native to the human digestive tract) can help boost your inner ecosystem and your immunity. Many supplements will contain them too.

Keep them out — A little Vaseline wiped around the inside of each nostril can help trap allergens before they get up your nose and cause trouble.

Flush them out — Neti pots, an ancient form of nasal cleansing, are reported to be very effective at keeping the irritation at bay. Nasal flushing definitely needs practice and there are many recommended techniques. Sezelle Gereau Haddon, an attending otolaryngologist at the Beth Israel Medical Center Department of Integrative Medicine in New York City, tells patients to “pant like a puppy, which lifts the palate and closes off the back of the nose so you don’t get that drowning sensation,” which sounds like great advice to me.

Holistic therapies — Are all geared toward getting your body, and immune system, into fully functioning mode, and therefore significantly more able to deal with allergens without causing you discomfort. Have a chat with a few therapists in your area and see which approach, and practitioner, resonates with you the most.

Antioxidants — Are a great way to ward off irritants and there are many everyday natural foods and drinks that are full of them. Green and herbal teas are a great way to get more anti-oxidants into your body. Most herbs and spices are full of antioxidants as are fruits (especially the dark berry family) and vegetables.

Avoid processed sugar — Sugar suppresses your immune system that fights off allergens that cause allergic reactions. Studies show that 3 ounces of sugar can suppress your immune system within 30 minutes of consumption and keep it down for up to 5 hours.

Keep outer clothes outside — Try and keep coats, shoes and outer layers that you have worn outside in an outer room or cloakroom. This will help from tracking natures little allergens inside your house.

Hair — Try brushing your hair with a damp brush or comb, to wipe away allergens that are clinging to your head, especially before you go to bed to keep them from being right under your nose all night.

Please share your tried and tested remedies below.

Until next time.

Mandy Kendall operates Health Connective in South Lake Tahoe, which aligns wellness seekers with their ideal wellness provider. If you have questions, would like some advice, or would like to request some Qwik-e tips on any health and well-being topic, drop her an email at connect@healthconnective.com or keep an eye out on Lake Tahoe News for regular Qwik-e tips on how to make healthy changes one Quick and Easy step at a time.

To the community,

On any subject to have a discussion, bona fide discussion, it is necessary to define the terms. When we speak on the subject of the city of South Lake Tahoe and its relationship with the Forest Service and the California Tahoe Conservancy, especially on the subject of land use and land management and maintenance, it’s necessary to ask what is a city?

Webster’s defines a city as 1) a center of population, commerce and culture, 2) an incorporated U.S. municipality with definite boundaries and legal powers set forth in a charter granted by the state.

Bill Crawford

Webster says a forest is a dense growth of trees, together with other plants covering a large area. And conservancy is conservation, especially of natural resources.

And wilderness is 1) uninhabited region left in its natural condition, especially a large wild tract of land covered with vegetation or forests.

So what is the point? When I look at the lots owned by the Forest Service and Conservancy in my neighborhood, it appears they are managed as if a wilderness. That’s a contradiction because they are within the city, small lots in an urban area that are subject to fire. And that’s the sticking point.

We live in a city that has no authority within its boundaries over land owned by the federal government and the state of California. So things are in a muddle. They are free to thumb their noses at the city. They do not have to conform to the legal powers of the city.

That’s not right. But that’s how it is.

Bill Crawford, South Lake Tahoe