“Lake Tahoe from Maggie’s Peak, Desolation Wilderness,” 2006, Woodcut print © Tom Killion

By Kim Wyatt

RENO – If you haven’t gone, go.

“Tahoe: A Visual History” at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno is a stunning achievement. The first major exhibit of Lake Tahoe, Donner Pass, and the nearby Sierra is a remarkable collection of work by 175 painters, photographers, printmakers, cartographers, sculptors, architects, basket weavers and more, spanning two centuries at our favorite place. Five years in the making, with more than 400 objects amassed from public and private collections, this exhibit is not to be missed. And there is still time; it ends Jan. 10.

It’s fascinating to see everyday Tahoe scenes as they were envisioned by a who’s who of artists. Ten galleries showcase the works; there are also exhibits in the lobby and research library. I would recommend starting on the third floor in the Robert Z. Hawkins Gallery, where you will find Washoe pieces, and ending on the second floor at the Maya Lin installation. This gives a sense of narrative to the exhibit; we begin and end at the lakeshore, with our history unfolding in between. It’s a transformative experience.

Michael Light, “Highway 89, Cascade and Emerald Lakes and Mount Tallac Beyond, Looking Southwest, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 2014,” Collection of the Nevada Museum of Art, The Altered Landscape, Carol Franc Buck Collection.

The Washoe exhibit begins with functional art: snowshoes, fishing nets, winnowing trays. But Louisa Keyser’s breathtaking degikup baskets are in the realm of fine art. Also known as Datsolalee, Keyser’s basketry was sought after for her innovation and skill. If you think you’re not into baskets, her artistry will likely change your mind.

Just around the corner, John C. Fremont and other early Western explorers kicked off Tahoe creative representation with the first surveys of the area. The resulting maps and sketches revealed to the world the features of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra. Map geeks will appreciate the detail of our first cartographers.

The precision of the maps is in marked contrast to the explosion of color in 19th century landscape paintings by Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Hill and others that anchor the “Golden Age” exhibit. Bierstadt, in particular, was among those to leave exactitude behind for intensity, lingering on clouds, light, and water.

As coach roads opened, artists began to widen their vistas. In the mid-1870s, trees begin to disappear from the works, or grow spotty—a reminder of the Comstock and its costs. By the time we get to Donner Pass, the presence of humans begins to dominate, with glimpses of dystopian landscapes. Idealism gives way to economics.

In “Surmounting the Summit: Donner Pass in the 19th Century,” the building of the transcontinental railroad is rendered in paintings and photographs that celebrate this engineering feat, with little of the blood and guts that went into the making of it.

“Harsh Realities” is one of the more powerful exhibits. In this, artists take on the history of the railroad with Chinese workers at the forefront. I won’t spoil the surprise of “Mountain of Fortune,” but it’s art that shocks and illuminates. There is also a fascinating rebuttal here by artist Zhi Lin to Bierstadt’s “View of Donner Lake, California (1871-72),” commissioned by railroad titan Collis Huntington.

Nick van Woets’ “American Pine Bark” ushers us into Lake Tahoe as seen through the eyes of timber barons: a source of 300,000 board feet removed daily. Tahoe as resource versus a source of inspiration creates a jarring feeling. There are familiar photos of denuded hills around Glenbrook punctuated by a few surprises like a Maynard Dixon sketch.

The second floor begins with tourism, and “The Rise of the Resort.” Once reliable transportation had been achieved via the railroad and steamers, visitors flocked to the lake and needed lodging. There is Tahoe Tavern memorabilia and advertising ephemera; oil paintings are replaced by posters and photographs, which then give way to architecture, impressionism and eclectic depictions of the region. Here, I loved learning about artists new to me, like Anne Brigman, Ruth Bernard and Frances Gearhart.

Albert Bierstadt, “Donner Lake from the Summit, 1873,” Oil on canvas, 72⅛ x 120 3⁄16 inches, Collection of The New-York Historical Society, New York.

The gallery leading to “Water Woes” is dotted with bright contemporary work by Phyllis Shafer, Gregory Kondos and Tom Killian. (If you’re into block prints, this exhibit is a real treat. I’ll be back for more.)

You’ll end at three commissions by Maya Lin, sculptor of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It’s a good place to wrap up the tour, as these pieces expand one’s perspective of the Lake Tahoe Basin, and our place in it.

There really is something for everyone in this exhibit. I’d give two to three hours; the museum has a café if you want to space it out. And you can get all of your holiday shopping done in the fantastic museum gift shop, which carries the work of local artists. You can also purchase the exhibit’s companion book, a 488-page tome that features the art in the collection and narrative that ties it all together. It’s a beautiful book, and would make a great gift.

This exhibit documents not only art and history, but also the utility of the lake: the Washoe used it for food, the Comstock for wood, the railroad barons for passage. This ambitious collection may very well inspire us to remain stewards of the lake, our lessons made visible.

Go. You’ll be glad you did.

—–

Notes:

• Tahoe: A Visual History runs through Jan. 10 at the Nevada Museum of Art, 160 West Liberty St., Reno.
• Admission is $10 general, $8 student or senior, $1 children 6-12; members and children 5 and younger get in free.
• Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10am-6 pm; Thursday 10am-8 pm. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and holidays.
• In conjunction with the exhibit, the museum is offering classes, lectures, and special events on making pine needle baskets, printmaking, Tahoe cartography, the history of the Chinese in the building of the transcendental railroad and more. For more information, go online.

Kim Wyatt is the owner of the independent press Bona Fide Books.

By Billie Greer

I’m a 77-year-old Biker Babe. When I first started riding Harleys about 10 years ago, my children and grandchildren shrugged and said: “Well, that’s it. She’s finally gone crazy.”

What possessed me? I’m mild-mannered, wear Anne Klein’s designs, and actually read the Los Angeles Times every day.

Here’s how it began. As a member of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s staff, I gave a speech on the state budget at a downtown Los Angeles club. Afterward, up came a guy named Mike to ask if the governor still rode his motorcycle and to invite me on a ride with his group of friends. My response was: Not sure about the governor and no!

But he persisted and I got on my first Harley-Davidson—behind Mike—with a borrowed helmet to go to Santa Barbara for the day. My legs were shaking and eyes fixated on the speedometer. I wondered if I had truly lost my mind—even though it turned out to be a sparkling day at the beach.

It wasn’t long before I was riding with Mike, wearing a smile on my face and full-on leathers, the best brand of helmets, and Harley glitter shirts.

I am the only woman who travels regularly with the group  of 10 longtime friends. We bring wine and luggage and are grateful when friends and spouses, including Mike’s wife, accompany us by car. Otherwise, it’s just a few changes of clothes for me. Our group includes CEOs, attorneys, insurance brokers, and the like. Mike is a senior vice president at a major brokerage house.

There are some tattoos among the group—including a full upper body’s work of art—but not many. I’ve learned motorcycle culture has its own traditions. One is determining nicknames for everyone. It’s a group decision, but be wary. If you say you actually like the new name you’ve been given, you’ve blown it. No nickname for you. Mine? The First Lady—with the upmost respect given to Michelle Obama.

Riding has given me 10 brothers who look out for me, and I love them. Each ride provides a new adventure. The focus is on the moment, with daily distractions set aside. Mike and I are not “wired” for sound because talking to each other or blasting music gets in the way of what we are seeing and feeling.

I’ve never been scared, as Mike is one of the best on the road. However, the risks heighten the experience. Yes, we do lane split, but with intense concentration. And, I will not forget a Death Valley trip when Mike said, “Hold on.” That was the first time I experienced traveling well over 100 mph. I feel pretty cool for a great-grandmother.

Harleys are people magnets. Whenever we pull up to a gas station, someone invariably comes over to ask where we are headed. At one motel we stayed in, a staff member was fascinated with our group. Before waving us off in the morning, she turned to me and whispered, “You are one badass.” I had to verify with my grandchildren that this was a major compliment.

Motorcycling can even be good for your wardrobe. We rode through Madrid, a small community not far from Santa Fe. It’s a former ghost town, full of artists, hippies, and bikers. And, what did I find there? A dress that cost next to nothing, which I wore two months later as I walked the Emmys’ red carpet.

The coup de grâce for me was our trip this summer to Sturgis, a small town in the Black Hills of South Dakota, for the 75th annual Harley-Davidson rally. There we were, along with 739,000 other bikers, to celebrate motorcycling. The noise was unbelievable. There were American flag pasties on breasts of all sizes. There were bars, bars, and more bars—some large enough to accommodate bikers riding in on their motorcycles.

I was asked once if I felt safe while in Sturgis. My answer was a strong yes. Good planning by the rally organizers carried the day. Bikers were respectful, as were the police, who were present in large numbers. DUIs were down this year, and no major incidents occurred. However, there were 13 fatal accidents in the Black Hills area related to the rally that saddened all of us.

What’s next? More trips. Adventure. Fun. I can’t wait to experience the magic of the open road again—and to tell my new great-grandson that yes, your great-grandmother is definitely one badass.

Billie Greer is the co-founder of Greer Dailey, a public affairs consulting firm in Southern California. She served as a member of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s senior staff and is now a consultant on public policy issues.

There is a Santa Claus, just ask the U.S. Postal Service. How else could kids get letters with a North Pole postmark?

Here are the steps to ensure Santa writes back:

• Have your child write a letter to Santa and place it in an envelope addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole.
• Later, when alone, open the envelope and write a personalized response.
• Insert the response letter into an envelope and address it to the child.
• Add the return address: SANTA, NORTH POLE, to the envelope.
• Ensure the envelope is affixed with a first-class mail stamp.
• Place the complete envelope into a larger envelope with appropriate postage, and address it to: North Pole Postmark, Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Drive, Anchorage, AK 99530-9998.
• “Letters from Santa” must be received by the Anchorage postmaster no later than Dec. 15.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection Distict has the tips to offer whether in the kitchen, near the fireplace or stove:

·       Have a qualified professional install stoves, chimney connectors, and chimneys.

·       Stoves should have the label of an independent testing laboratory.

·       In wood stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood. In pellet stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood pellets.

·       Have your chimney and stove inspected and cleaned by a certified chimney sweep every year.

·       Clean the inside of your stove periodically using a wire brush.

·       Keep a close eye on children whenever a wood or pellet stove is being used. Remind them to stay at least three feet away from the stove.

·       Stoves need space. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from the stove.

·       Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection, interconnect the alarms. When one sounds, they all sound.

·       Allow ashes to completely cool before disposing them. Place ashes in a covered metal container. Keep the container at least 10 feet away from the home and other buildings.

No matter what type of device you use to heat your home, making sure that your heating devices and systems are in good working order is important. Many things can go wrong with heating equipment. Verify that everything you need to keep your home warm throughout the fall and winter months is in good working order.

— Tia Rancourt, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District

In the early morning hours of Thanksgiving 1998, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office lost its first and only dog in the line of duty.

As a way to remember Ranger and the sacrifice he made 17 years ago, the department is launching the first of what what it hopes is many videos on different topics meant to educate, inform and entertain.

Ranger, an Australian Shepherd, had been called to duty with his handler PCSO search and rescue volunteer Terry Butrym to assist Sacramento County in the search for a missing pheasant hunter. Ranger found the downed man near a phone utility box in the middle of a pitch-black field, where the current Sleep Train Arena stands today.

After locating the hunter, Ranger ran back to his handler, as he was trained to do. Butrym followed Ranger to where the hunter’s body laid next to the phone box. Then, the only thing Terry saw was what he described as a “fireball” igniting the black night. Ranger had run up and touched the man, as he was trained, and the shock from the electrocuted man shot through Ranger’s body, killing him instantly.

The man was not only hunting for pheasant, but for copper wire that was in the phone box. The man couldn’t have known that the wires inside the box were live; a nearby tree had caused an overhead wire to break and fall onto the box, the wire’s end resting on top of the box.

Butrym said it could have been much worse, as Ranger gave his life so other searchers didn’t suffer the same fate.

North Tahoe Public Utility District is reminding residents and homeowners to take precautions to make sure homes and water lines are prepared.

• For pipes that are known to freeze, insulate and heat tape them to be sure they don’t freeze. Leave them dripping as a last resort.
• Never completely shut the heat off when you are not at home.
• Leave cabinet doors open in places there are pipes to allow air to circulate.

All homeowners should have a water shut off valve installed in the home in order to completely shut off the water when not at home for any length of time. The shut off should also allow the water system to completely drain leaving no water in the pipes.

Make sure your water district has your most current contact phone number or email so you can reached in the event of a water emergency.

If you see water running out of a neighbor’s garage, down a driveway or anywhere else you don’t typically see running water, call your local water district.

When most people think about Thanksgiving, they envision turkey, pumpkin pie and time spent with their loved ones. Firefighters are thinking about kitchen fires.

“It is critical to not get distracted and to always stand next to what you are cooking. Thanksgiving Day is often one of our busier days responding to home cooking fires,” CalFire Director Ken Pimlott said in a statement.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, three times as many home cooking fires
occur on Thanksgiving as on a typical day. NFPA’s latest cooking estimates show that there were 1,550 cooking fires on Thanksgiving 2013, reflecting a 230 percent increase over the daily average.

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires

CalFire offers these tips:

• Remain in the kitchen while you’re cooking, and keep a close eye on what you fry. Always stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling food. If you have to leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Regularly check on food that’s simmering, baking or roasting, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Someone walking by is less likely to bump them or pull them over.
• When using a turkey fryer, be sure to follow instructions closely. Don’t exceed the recommended oil level and only use the device outdoors.
• Make sure a fire extinguisher is handy at all times. Never use water to put out a grease fire.
• Ensure you have working smoke alarms installed in your home.

By Howie Nave

I’ve been waiting for the fourth and final installment of this franchise (although I still consider it a trilogy with the last one broken into two parts) for so long that I was hoping it would end with an amazing climatic experience. Well, it almost got there, but maybe that was just me anticipating too much.

It does gets there eventually and some of the special effects were mind-bending, yes, but I guess not all movie finales can live up to what one would hope for.

Still, seeing Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) shooting her arrows one last time was exhilarating. I’m bummed the story has come to a close.

Director Frances Lawrence has done a yeoman’s job taking Suzanne Collins’ post-apocalyptic series of books and turning the final, fourth installment into what will undoubtedly be one of the more successful box office conclusions to a franchise. And all along carrying that franchise has been Jennifer Lawrence who is virtually in every scene.

Katniss is still the reluctant leader of the rebellion on the war of Panem and wants to overtake the capital and kill President Snow (Donald Sutherland) but rebel organizer Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) wants to use her more as a media tool, the face, if you will, to rally the other districts to form one cohesive army to battle Snow’s. Katniss may be the mockingjay, but she has other plans.

So much has transpired since Part 1, especially the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman who didn’t live long enough to finish his role as the game master/public relations sidekick to Coin, Plutarch Heavensbee. It’s kind of obvious when watching the movie and the filmmakers must have scrambled to use whatever footage was unused from Part 1 to utilize here in Part 2. The filmmakers were, however able to stretch his presence in select scenes and his final words were read in a letter through Woody Harrelson’s character, Haymitch.

For diehard fans of Katniss hoping for a love angle to blossom the movie teases with this love triangle instead pitting Katniss, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and her old flame Gale (Liam Hemsworth) as a sort of throw away, threesome element that never really gets defined (which I’ll leave at that when you ultimately go see the movie for yourself). Yes, Peeta is still a risk to the rebels after being tortured by Snow’s thugs and we don’t know when he’s going to snap at any given time. There are some new cast members, including Gwendoline Christie from “Game Of Thrones” (in an almost cameo role as a rebel commander). I enjoyed seeing the familiar faces such as soldier Boggs (Mahershala Ali from “House Of Cards” again, too briefly), Jeffrey Wright’s Beetee, and Stanley Tucci’s Caesar Flickerman who I wish was given more screen time as well.

In the end, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2” centers around Katniss and her drive to get to President Snow and as we all know the journey is the best part (be prepared to jump out of your seats when her band of rebels go underground). And what a journey it’s been. When “The Hunger Games” opened back in 2012 it was directed by Gary Ross. There was little voice over narration with that one just you, as the filmgoer taking it all in as it happened with your own mind interpreting the scenes as they happened. When director Francis Lawrence took over the series starting with No. 2  (2013’s “Catching Fire”) he established this visual narrative and design that continued through all three of his other films. At least the narration is coming from Katniss, which kept my attention during some of the lag time (mainly at the beginning of this movie).

Don’t get me wrong, I’d follow Lawrence in any movie she does and I know “The Hunger Games” franchise has done very well because of her. I mean, c’mon she won an Oscar for best actress in 2012’s “Silver Linings Playbook” and played the character of Raven/Mystique in 2011’s “X-Men: First Class” and last year’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (my personal fav in that franchise) so yeah, Jennifer was the perfect casting choice as Katniss in this franchise. The last three have already garnered close to 2.5 billions dollars at the box office so how much do you wanna bet that the studio heads are already envisioning a prequel, huh?

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and for some thematic material and clocks in at 2 hours, 16 minutes.

Howie Nave is host/emcee/manager of The Improv at Harveys. You can hear him Monday-Friday 6 to 10am on KRLT FM-93.9.

Gail

Gail is a 7-month-old terrier mix puppy. She is tall and lanky and full of fun.

Gail arrived at another shelter with a broken leg and had to be crated for six weeks for her leg to heal, so now she is ready for her new, hopefully active, forever home.

Gail is spayed, microchipped, heart worm negative, 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 Nicholas Bakalar, New York Times

Sleeping later on weekends may be bad for you.

Several studies have shown that there is an association between shift work and an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes. Now a new study, in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, has found a similar association in people whose sleeping schedules change on the weekend.

For seven days, 447 men and women ages 30 to 54 wore devices that measured movement and tracked when they fell asleep and woke.

Read the whole story