Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce is hosting an ADA Compliance Workshop on July 13 from 9-11am at its Stateline office.

Businesses will be taught how to protect themselves from ADA lawsuits and what to do if they have already been served with papers.

This is free for members and $10 for non-members.

The ADA Compliance Workshop is in response to a plethora of ADA lawsuits on the South Shore.

Workshop presenters include Brian Shinault, CASp (certified access specialist) and architect from Shinault Architecture, Dave Walker the CASp and building inspector from South Lake Tahoe, and Cris Vaughan a CASp and attorney.

For more information and to register go online.

Jude

Jude is a 10 month old pointer/pit bull mix, which means he has lots of energy.

Jude will do best in a household where he gets lots of exercise. Jude is house trained and knows sit, down, and stay, and he walks nicely on the leash. He likes to play with other dogs, play fetch in the lake, and play with other dogs at dog parks.

Please ask to see Jude out of his kennel as he is a lot less bouncy and barky out in the yard.

Jude is neutered, microchipped, tested for heart worm, and vaccinated. He 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

Tahoe Art League’s 10th annual Artist Studio Tour is July 29-31 and August 5-7, 10am-5pm each day.

This is a free, self-guided tour that includes numerous open studios to visit with either individual artists or artist collectives showing their work and studio spaces, offering a glimpse into what inspires each of these talented Lake Tahoe residents.

This year’s event features 42 artists in 21 studios or studio collectives.

Attend 10 studios or purchase $100 of artwork to qualify to enter into a drawing to win a piece of artwork.

Artists offer creations as individual and varied as are the media presented in this tour, including: glass, metal, silver, fiber art, mosaics, mixed media, sculpture, strung and woven jewelry, wearable art, carved and painted gourds, collage, pottery, and book arts. Maps to this event are online.

Barton Health is offering a one-day intensive childbirth preparation class on July 9.

Parents are invited to attend childbirth classes at approximately 28 to 32 weeks. Learn about preparing for the hospital, when to check for admission, pre-term indicators, relaxation/breathing techniques, the birthing process, labor positions, and pain management.

Sign up online. Call 530.543.5549 or emailfit@bartonhealth.org for more information. Coast is $20 per couple.

The class is from 9am-4:30pm at 1077B 4th St., South Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Arts Project is bringing the Missoula Children’s Theater back to Tahoe the week of July 11.

Auditions for the production of “Pinocchio” are July 11 at the South Tahoe Middle School multipurpose room from 10am-noon. Plan to stay for the full two hours.

Some of the cast members will be asked to stay for a rehearsal immediately following the audition. Among the roles to be cast include Pinocchio, Blue Fairy, Jiminy Cricket, the Fox and Cat, Candlewick and Crew, Urchins, School Kids, Puppets and Toys. No advance preparation is necessary.

Assistant directors will also be cast to aid in rehearsals throughout the week and to take on essential backstage responsibilities. All students in grades 1-12 (at least age 5) are welcome to try out.

Auditions are free and if cast there will be a fee of $50 per child to participate in this weeklong theater program. A limited number of Rehearsals are 10am-2:30pm each day.

“Pinocchio” will be presented on July 15 at South Tahoe Middle School at 3pm and 5:30pm. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children and seniors.

The Kinsey Sicks, who combine award winning a cappella, sharp satire and over-the-top drag, will be in South Lake Tahoe for three nights.

In their all-new touring show, Chicks with Shticks, the dragapella beauty shop quartet provides an evening of politics, personal secrets and plain old raunch – and all in four-part harmony.

The will be at The Loft in Heavenly Village on July 12-14.

Tickets are $25, plus tax/fees. Doors open at 8:45pm, show starts at 9pm. The show contains adult humor and is for mature audiences.

Sierra State Parks Foundation is hosting a Conversation with History on July 7.

This fundraising evening at Vikingsholm includes a “behind the scenes” tour of the castle and wine and hors d’oeuvres in the courtyard. Longtime summer guest of Lora Knight, Helen Smith will share her memories at Vikingsholm.

Each attendee will also receive a signed copy of Smith’s booklet “Vikingsholm”. Tickets are $65 each and can be purchased online.

The Sierra State Parks Foundation’s fundraising efforts at Vikingsholm have most recently included the restoration of the sod roof, upgrading all electrical components in the castle, and providing free school group tours. SSPF is currently fundraising to stabilize the south turret of the castle.

By Marilyn Newton, Nevada 

The view of Highway 50 looking west toward the waning sun gives insight into why AAA once warned motorists “not to drive there unless they’re confident of their survival skills.” Photo by: David Braun
It was 30 years ago, in July 1986, that Life magazine used the term “The Loneliest Road in America” to describe the stretch of Highway 50—more commonly known as Highway 50—from Fernley to Ely across central Nevada. AAA even advised against traveling the highway, claiming there was nothing to see. For those who were crazy enough to travel that lonely road anyway, they were advised to carry survival gear such as water and cold-weather clothes.

Is the Loneliest Road in America really as bad as Life magazine claimed?

The moniker could easily have been a slap in face, but savvy state officials adopted the phrase and turned it into something positive. The state created a survival passport that same year, which travelers could get stamped at locations along Highway 50 and redeem for a certificate.

Suddenly, the loneliest road wasn’t so lonely as people sought bragging rights to “I Survived the Loneliest Road in America.”

Tourism numbers began to climb and are continuing to do so, and the passport program continues to this day. The state’s response became a help to the economy of the towns along Highway 50.

Read the whole story

By Denise Haerr

CHARLESTON, S.C. — When one approaches Charleston, S.C., you become aware of why this town is called The Holy City. Its skyline is defined by the spires of more than 400 places of worship.

When one of those holy places, the Mother AME Emanuel Church, was the target of a massacre one year ago, the entire town was rocked to its core. Nine souls were lost due to the hatred of one.

Upon an extended recent visit to Charleston, we were aware of the immense pain still being felt, yet also the healing that permeated its populace.

We were invited to an art gallery opening, The Holy City: Art of Love, Unity & Resurrection, created in the immediate aftermath. The community needed to focus its pain somewhere and the survivors, victims and their families turned to art. The exhibit space is a sanctuary for the healing to begin.

We were given a glimpse of the raw emotions of a year ago through works that encourages healing, provokes thoughtful discourse, promotes peace, and reveals community.

While in the gallery, surrounded by the people touched by personal loss, we felt such love and forgiveness radiating from the space.

If “art is a wound turned into light,” as artist Georges Braque has said, then The Holy City: Art of Love, Unity & Resurrection has shed light on the tragedy while also providing hope and peace to its community.

Mental health kiosks have been placed in several locations in South Lake Tahoe as an educational resource to help direct people to local services.

Each kiosk highlights local mental health services available and educational materials. Brochures are in English and Spanish, and will be updated regularly.

NAMI officials designed and implemented the kiosks in six South Lake Tahoe locations.

Locations include:

• Barton Community Health Center lobby – 2201 South Ave.
• Barton Family Medicine lobby – 1090 Third St.
• Barton Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department – 2170 South Ave.
• El Dorado County Probation and Sherriff Office – 1360 Johnson Blvd.
• Lake Tahoe Community College in the Commons Area – One College Way
• South Lake Tahoe Library – 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd.

The kiosks were funded by the Barton Foundation’s Community Health Grants.