Oreo

Oreo is a very friendly little Dachshund-rat terrier mix who is 3 years old. Her tail goes a mile a minute, and she loves to go for walks. Oreo probably weighs about 15 pounds, the perfect size for just about any household.

Oreo is spayed, microchipped, tested for heart worm, and vaccinated. She is at the El Dorado County Animal Services shelter in Meyers, along with many other dogs and cats who are waiting for their new homes. Go to the Tahoe animal shelter’s Facebook page to see photos and descriptions of all pets at the shelter.

Call 530.573.7925 for directions, hours, and other information on adopting a pet.

For spay-neuter assistance for South Tahoe residents, go online.

— Karen Kuentz

By Sage Sauerbrey, Moonshine Ink Staff

Ninety-nine percent of the species to live on Earth are extinct. Meteors. Over-hunting. Low sex drive. Extinction has taken many forms over the years, but the uncontested winner is habitat loss. Enter the modern Lake Tahoe ski bum.

Shackled with an incompatible ratio between median income and median home price, the modern ski bum’s diminishing habitat is fueling an extinction that could mean the end of the ski town as we know it. (At least low sex drive isn’t the issue.)

The caveat to calling out extinction in this case, however, is defining the culture that is threatened. A bum is commonly viewed as existing on society’s periphery; their time spent goes by relatively unnoticed. But in ski towns this has never been the case.

Here, the ski bum has always been the protagonist, a cultural icon exemplify the reason we all shovel our way through Sierra winters and make the sacrifices necessary to live in a mountain town. But are we losing this unspoken hero? As ski towns become increasingly gentrified, the ski bum has two choices common in the natural world: disappear, or adapt and evolve. To find out which, we spoke with a handful of local icons to define this endangered culture, and how it’s holding on.

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By Donna de la Cruz, New York Times

Sit still. It’s the mantra of every classroom.

But that is changing as evidence builds that taking brief activity breaks during the day helps children learn and be more attentive in class, and a growing number of programs designed to promote movement are being adopted in schools.

“We need to recognize that children are movement-based,” said Brian Gatens, the superintendent of schools in Emerson, N.J. “In schools, we sometimes are pushing against human nature in asking them to sit still and be quiet all the time.”had daily physical education, did better in school.

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By Thomas Moore, Las Vegas Sun

Roulette, the iconic casino game featured in numerous Hollywood movies, is making a bit of a comeback in Nevada casinos, showing marked increases this year and through most of 2016, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The win from roulette was up 58.87 percent in Nevada in February compared to the same month last year, the most recent gaming revenue report said. The only other game that saw a similar year-over-year increase for February was bingo.

Roulette was also up 7.97 percent for three months ending Feb. 28, compared to the same period a year ago, and up 13.27 percent for 12 months ending Feb. 28, compared to the previous 12-month period.

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By Yvonne Gonzalez, Las Vegas Sun

A flower in one hand and a book in the other, Sarah Winnemucca’s sculpted presence in Washington, D.C., and Nevada pays tribute to a legacy that state lawmakers are looking to enhance.

Winnemucca is the first Native American woman to write a book, titled “Life Among the Piutes: Their Wrongs and Claims” and published in 1883. In it, she describes seeing Western settlement in the 1800s.

“I was a very small child when the first white people came into our country,” she wrote. “They came like a lion, yes, like a roaring lion, and have continued so ever since, and I have never forgotten their first coming. My people were scattered at that time over nearly all the territory now known as Nevada.”

In the 125 years since her death, Nevada has marked her legacy with statues of her in Carson City, Las Vegas and Washington. The most recent effort is a bill that seeks to designate Oct. 16 as the state’s Sarah Winnemucca Day.

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By Melinda Myers

Harvest and enjoy the garden-fresh flavor of tomatoes right outside your kitchen. Grow them in containers set on your patio, balcony, deck or stairs. You’ll enjoy the convenience of harvesting fresh tomatoes just a few feet away from where you prepare your meals. And your guests will enjoy harvesting fresh tomatoes to add to their salad or sandwich.

Tomatoes need warm air and soil to thrive. Containers give you the ability to jump start the season. Plant tomatoes in containers earlier than in the garden and leave them outdoors when it’s warm (but bring them inside whenever there’s a danger of frost.) Protect your plants with the help of season-extending products like cloches, red tomato teepees or garden fabrics. These will help warm the soil and air around the plants, reducing the number of days to your first harvest.

Select flavorful and disease-resistant varieties for your container gardens. Consider “determinate” tomatoes that are more compact and generally less than 4-feet tall. But don’t eliminate your favorite indeterminate tomato. Just provide a strong tall support for these plants that continue to grow 6 feet and taller throughout the season.

Growing tomatoes in container gardens enables gardeners to jump start the growing season. Photo/Gardener’s Supply Company

Grow your tomatoes in a sunny spot that receives at least eight hours of direct sunlight. You’ll grow the biggest harvest and reduce the risk of disease.

Fill your container with a quality well-drained potting mix. Add a slow release organic fertilizer to your potting mix if needed. This type of fertilizer feeds the plants for several months. Give the plants an additional feeding midseason or as directed on the fertilizer package.

Check soil moisture daily, water thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil slightly moist.  Maintaining consistent soil moisture means healthier plants and fewer problems with blossom end rot. This disorder is not a deadly disease, but it causes the bottom of the first set of fruit to turn black.

Reduce your workload by using self-watering pots. These pots can have a 5-gallon reservoir for holding water that moves up into the soil to the plant roots as needed. This means you’ll be filling the reservoir less often than you would normally water other planters.

Stake or tower your plants to save space, increase air circulation around and light penetration into the plant. You’ll further reduce the risk of disease and increase productivity by growing vertically.

So start gathering your favorite tomato recipes now, as soon you’ll be harvesting armloads of tomatoes to use in salsas, salads, sauces and of course BLTs.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including “Small Space Gardening.” She hosts “How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening For Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” TV and radio segments.

Friends of the South Lake Tahoe Library are putting on two event later this month.

The first is April 25 at 6pm – the Tahoe Rim Trail geology talk.

Dave Schnake, a Tahoe Rim Trail Association board member and crew leader, is a trained geologist and geochemist. He will give the low down on Tahoe geology, answer questions, and maybe even talk about those strange rocks. This presentation is free and open to all. Seats are limited.

The next free talk is April 29 at 3pm. Sierra Nevada native Gary Noy returns to present an illustrated lecture on historical material from his newest book “Gold Rush Stories: 49 Tales of Seekers, Scoundrels, Loss and Luck,” which features 49 unique and sometimes hard to believe stories from the California Gold Rush. Books will be for sale and he will sign them afterward.

The library is at 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd.

Concerts at Commons Beach music series is scheduled to return to Tahoe City on Sunday afternoons this summer from June 18-Sept. 3.

Featuring a mix of touring regional and national artists, as well as local bands, concerts are every Sunday from 4-7pm, with the first and final concerts starting at 3 p.m.

Presented in partnership with the Tahoe City Downtown Association and Tahoe City Public Utility District, Concerts at Commons Beach is North Lake Tahoe’s largest free live music event. Food and wine are available for purchase from local vendors, and attendees are welcome to bring picnics, blankets and low back chairs to enjoy a fun, relaxing evening by the lake.

The full lineup is online.

By Rick Gross

If you are just getting started on investing, it’s important to get a grasp on the basics. A proper perspective from the beginning may improve your opportunities for long-term investment success. Here are five concepts that can be helpful for new investors to understand:

1.     If you are young, time is on your side

Building wealth through investing is not about getting rich quickly. Rather, it’s about taking advantage of what works best for your circumstances. If you have recently entered the workforce and desire to set money aside for the future, your biggest advantage is time. Earnings generated in your portfolio, even if modest in the beginning, can compound over time. Compound interest is a very powerful concept for investors. The more time you give your money to grow, the greater the potential for positive rewards.

Rick Gross

2.     Be prepared for market swings

Any variable investment you choose – such as stocks, bonds or real estate – is subject to fluctuation. History shows that markets move up and down over time. Be prepared to see your portfolio suffer losses at various points throughout your investing life. Historically, markets have recovered from negative periods (although in some circumstances, individual investments such as a specific stock can suffer losses and never recover). Try to maintain a long-term view with your investments by not reacting to day-to-day events. If you have significant time to let your money work for you, this can be to your advantage.

3.     Find your comfort level in the markets

Markets are unpredictable, so it’s important that you’re intentional about the level of risk you’re willing to accept. You can choose investments that are less susceptible to fluctuations if you wish. When selecting conservative investments, be sure to consider the effects of inflation. Otherwise you may inadvertently be taking on more risk than you realize. Or, if you are willing to ride those swings, you can take more risk with the hope of earning higher returns. But remember, there are no guarantees. To maintain a consistent investment approach, find a level of risk you can live with over the long-term and invest accordingly.

4.     Spread your wealth through asset allocation

Asset allocation is the process of spreading your investment dollars across several categories of investments. The mix of categories, or asset classes, you own is an important factor to your overall portfolio performance. In other words, how you divide your money between stocks, bonds, cash, cash alternatives, mutual funds, and other asset classes will determine the outcome, and hopefully return, you realize.

As you select your investments, consider dividing your money among asset classes that respond differently to market forces. This investment concept, called diversification, can help you minimize the effect of market swings. If your investments in one class are performing poorly, there’s potential for your investments in another class to be performing better. Ideally, gains in one class can help offset losses in another, which can help minimize the overall impact of volatility on your portfolio.

5.     Make your long-term financial security a priority

It can be challenging to focus on the long-term when you have other pressing financial obligations, such as paying off student loans or building an emergency fund. However, if you can allocate a small portion of your budget to your future goals, you may ease your financial burden down the road. Consider investing a percentage of each paycheck into a workplace retirement plan or an individual retirement account (IRA). You’ll become accustomed to living within the rest of your paycheck while the amount you have earmarked for retirement is given time to grow.

A successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss. Though there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be effective, and all investing involves risk, keeping these basic principles in mind may help you invest more successfully.

Rick Gross is a financial advisor and private wealth advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services in South Lake Tahoe. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 20 years. 

Jeannine Naylor Ferguson

Jeannine Naylor Ferguson passed away peacefully on Jan. 1, 2017, at Barton Skilled nursing facility in South Lake Tahoe. She was 84.

Born Oct. 16, 1932, in Detroit, Mich., Jeannine grew up in North Hollywood. Jeannine played the French horn in the band and performed at the Hollywood Bowl. She graduated from North Hollywood High in 1950.

 Jeannine lived in the East Bay of San Francisco for many years and was part of many service clubs. She made South Lake Tahoe her home in the 1970s. Jeannine was instrumental in bringing the R.I.F (Reading is fundamental) to Al Tahoe Elementary School. She ran the snack bar for swim meets at South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation Department’s center. Jeannine was a life-long member of the National PTA, a South Tahoe High Vikings Booster Club member and a dedicated fan of the San Francisco 49ers.

 Jeannine started her career as a librarian, however, she changed careers and is known in South Lake Tahoe for owning and operating the Ferguson daycare. She watched and educated  multiple generations of children for over 30 years in the Sierra Tract. She was provider of the month several times for Choices for Children/Child and Adult care food program (CACFP). She took great joy in caring for and teaching the communities children. Her patience and loving character was inspiration for many children who started their learning from her.

She is survived by her sister, Marlene, two sons, two daughters, two sons-in-law, three daughters-in-law, and  14 grandchildren. She is preceded in death by husbands Russell F. Ferguson and Robet Tyo, son Mark, daughter Susan, sisters Vivian, Connie and Jane and brother Mark. 

Per Jeannine’s request she is to be buried with her husband Frank at sea. A celebration of life for friends and the community is being planned for later in the year. Memorial donations can be made to Barton Hospice and the grow our library initiative at the South Lake Tahoe Library in her name.

Jeannine was a warm hearted, caring and unselfish woman. She is now resting in God’s care so dearly loved and so sadly missed. Your memory is our greatest treasure to have and to hold in our hearts forever.

 Please contact Colleen at ty_colleen@hotmail.com if you would like to be notified about the celebration of life.