Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is hosting meetings this week at both ends of the lake to gather input from residents about unmet transit needs.

The first gathering is Sept. 30 at 1pm at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

The Tahoe City meeting is Oct. 1 at 1pm the transit center on West Lake Boulevard.

For those who cannot attend, comments may be emailed to jweber@trpa.org.

How can we improve transit options to trailheads and other dispersed recreation areas? That is the topic of the next Tahoe Talks Brown Bag Lunch series.

The free talk is Oct. 21 from noon-1:30pm at Lake Tahoe Community College in the Aspen Room.

This panel will discuss barriers to improving transit to trailheads and other dispersed recreation areas, plans in the works, the role of technology in improving transit, and how different groups can work together to improve transit.

The speaker panel will include; Mary Bennington, executive director Tahoe Rim Trail Association; Carl Hasty, district manager Tahoe Transportation District; and Daniel Winegar, director of recreation for Marriott Timber Lodge and Grand Residence Club.

The FBI is looking for high school juniors within the 34 California counties served by the FBI’s Sacramento field office to participate in the Sacramento FBI Teen Academy.

The academy is Nov. 20 in Sacramento.

Prior classes engaged in classroom discussions offering insight into a number of topics and specialties such as the importance of making good choices when using online communication platforms, the difference between freedom of speech and violation of federal law, what is required of all FBI applicants, the FBI’s domestic and international roles, and discussions about adjudicated cases. Hands-on experiences involving the evidence response team, bomb techs, and auto shop also offered students the opportunity to learn about a limited number of FBI tools and techniques firsthand.

Application packages are available online. The deadline to apply is Oct. 23.com

·      Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care on Sept. 25 received a 5 months old bobcat that had just been hit by a car near Truckee. Someone picked up the cat, took it into the nearest vet clinic, where an LTWC volunteer happened to be working. They took X-rays and sent him to Kevin Willitts, LTWC’s vet.

·      All three South Lake Tahoe fire stations will be hosting interactive activities for community members on Oct. 10 starting at 10am. For more information, call 530.542.6160.

·       Here are the Caltrans roadwork schedules this week for El Dorado-Tahoe and Sierra.

·       Stewards of storm water drains are needed to sweep storm drains free of debris and pick up trash, and install English and Spanish markers onto storm drain grates. Meet at Regan Beach parking lot in South Lake Tahoe on Oct. 17 at 9am. End time is 5pm.

·      Check out this video from Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows of Jonny Moseley getting ready for ski season:

Tahoe Beer cans and bottles through the years since the mid-1800s. Photo/Bill Kingman

Various microbreweries have produced beers with Tahoe-like names, but the original 1860s patented brand “Tahoe Beer — Famous As The Lake” has been dormant for decades.

This National Park Service website offers an enlightening one-page pictorial history of Tahoe Beer and its origination in Carson City, two years before Nevada became a state. Today, the Tahoe Beer brand is being restored, albeit gradually.

Chris Bayer, a musician and historian in Carson City, says that one of the succeeding owners of the Carson Brewing Company in 1910 was a German vaudeville yodeler and brewer named Max Stenz. Stenz came to Carson City from Goldfield, Nev., and from a brewery in Santa Cruz. His Carson Brewery on King Street was on the “Tahoe Auto Route” of the historic Lincoln Highway which Stenz believed was a concept of romantic adventure important to Tahoe. But when nationwide Prohibition was imposed, the brewery briefly closed.

Brewer’s Cabinet new Tahoe Beer label. Photo/Bill Kingman

A year later, the clear glass Tahoe-brand bottle (shown second from left) omitted the word beer because Stenz was bottling only soda pop and drinking water, primarily for central Nevada and hard rock mines.

Then Arnold Millard, also an owner, began producing near-beer by boiling-off the alcohol content of actual “Tahoe Beer.”

Carson Brewing Company survived after Prohibition ended in 1932. But during World War II, the shortage of metal to make bottle caps and beer cans hampered production, and as mentioned in the above website, large breweries were absorbing small independents. Arnold Millard closed the Carson Brewing Company in 1948.

Brewer’s Cabinet sell T-shirts touting Tahoe Beer. Photo/Bill Kingman

In 1982, the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company of Wisconsin produced a short-lived re-incarnation of Tahoe Beer for CBC Incorporated of Carson City. A six-pack typically sold for $2.60 (far-right can in above photo).

Today, a microbrewery in Reno named Brewer’s Cabinet exhibits ownership of “Tahoe Beer – Famous As The Lake,” which it currently serves on-tap only.

A new Tahoe Beer label design is depicted in their bar and on T-shirts. Retaining the classic logo lettering, the new design includes a waterskier and “BC” notation. Plans to initiate distribution of Tahoe Beer are yet to be announced.

— Bill Kingman

Placer County is having a meeting Oct. 19 to gather feedback for the Speedboat Beach Master Plan.

It will be from 6-7:30pm at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association provided $50,000 in March to develop a master plan for Lake Tahoe’s Speedboat Beach. The public beach is located at the intersection of Harbor Avenue and Lake Street in Kings Beach, near the Nevada state line.

There are concerns about traffic circulation and parking, along with general misuse of the beach and surrounding areas. Enforcement of rules, informational and interpretive signs, the potential for a kiosk and options for restroom facilities will be topics of discussion presented by multiple Placer County agencies.

·       Beginning Oct. 5 Douglas County Commission meetings will be able to be seen live via computers or mobile devices.

·       Barton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is sponsoring a blood drive Oct. 16 from noon-5pm at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be 17 years old (16 year olds need a signed BloodSource Parental consent form) and be generally healthy. Bring a photo ID and drink plenty of fluids before donating.

·       Placer County Health and Human Services has been recognized with two merit awards from the California State Association of Counties.

·       The Alpine Aspen Festival is Oct. 10-11 in Hope Valley from 10am-4pm. Some events are free, while others cost some money. For more info, go online.

·       The 26th annual World Championship Outhouse Races are Oct. 3-4 in Virginia City. For more info, go online.

·      Edgewood Tahoe Resort officially breaks ground Oct. 1 at 11am in Stateline.

·      High Fives Foundation raised $10,225 at the 7th annual Bocce Tournament at Truckee River Winery. The money goes toward supporting the dreams of mountain action sports athletes with injury prevention awareness, while also providing resources and inspiration to those who have suffered life-altering injuries.

·       Students in Douglas, Carson City, Clark, Washoe, Lyon and other counties are expected to participate in the International Walk to School Day on Oct. 7.

·      The Douglas County Public Library introduces First Saturday of the Month Family Movies starting Oct. 3 with “ParaNorman” at 2pm in the library meeting room in Minden. Movie and popcorn are free.

If the predicted big storms come this winter, they could have big impacts on Lake Tahoe’s clarity.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe is gathering an expert panel to discuss how runoff from big storms can convey pollution to Lake Tahoe.

Attendees will hear what Tahoe’s communities are doing to address stormwater pollution and find out how they can get involved in the League’s Pipe Keepers program.

There will be two events: Oct. 6, 6-8pm at North Tahoe Events Center, Kings Beach and Oct. 13, 6-8pm, Lake Tahoe Community College board room, South Lake Tahoe.

RSVP online.

·       The final section of the Sawmill bike trail in El Dorado County officially opens Oct. 14 at 3pm.

·      There will be a free wildflower slideshow at Lake Tahoe Community College on Oct. 6 at 7pm in the Aspen Room (inside the library building). Photos are by LTCC English faculty member and wildflower enthusiast Lisa Berry.

·       Randy Llewellyn, owner of Integrity Locksmith in South Lake Tahoe, is celebrating 30 years in business.

·       Placer County Sheriff’s Office is offering a free identity theft prevention class on Oct. 13 from 6-8pm at the Auburn Justice Center. Reservations are required. Call CSO Kim Rivera at 530.889.6922 or krivera@placer.ca.gov to reserve a seat.

·       Fire Fest is Sept. 26 at Lake Tahoe Airport from 10am to 3pm.