By Les Christie, CNN Money

NEW YORK — Forget about your GPA or paying for that graduate degree. What employers really care about are the skills you bring to the table.

While the vast majority of employees believe their college education has helped them in their career, 72 percent said getting trained in a specific skill is more highly valued by their employer, according to a survey of more than 2,000 adults by job listing site Glassdoor.

“Employees with college degrees believe that their education helped get them through the door, but about half say it has no relevance to the work they’re actually doing,” said Rusty Rueff, Glassdoor’s career and workplace expert.

The survey also revealed just how little attention employers pay to an applicant’s college performance, with 80 percent of respondents saying they had never been asked about their grade point average during a job interview.

Read the whole story

By Robert D. Dávila, Sacramento Bee

Ken Payton, a newspaperman and outdoorsman who covered the Lake Tahoe area and Sierra Nevada foothills as a longtime reporter for the Sacramento Bee, died June 21 at 87.

Ken Payton

Mr. Payton, who bicycled solo from his Citrus Heights home to St. Augustine, Fla., at 82, died after a recent muscle disease left him unable to swallow food, his daughter Susanne said. His health had declined since his wife of 61 years, Dolores, died last February.

A handsome, physically imposing man with a quiet and professional manner, Mr. Payton was a dedicated and dependable reporter for more than 25 years at The Bee. He started in 1966, when McClatchy Newspapers blanketed Northern California with stringers and reporters, and worked as the paper’s full-time staff writer at the north shore of Lake Tahoe.

“He was a good journalist, worked hard and never complained,” former Bee reporter Jon Engellenner said.

Read the whole story

By Dave Richards

This year’s Fourth of July marks the 237th birthday of the United States of America. Between then and now, the country and the world have changed in ways the Founding Fathers, including George Washington, likely never imagined.

From our vantage point in history we can appreciate how much things have changed; but, on the other hand, there are many national issues today that remain eerily similar to the problems faced 237 years ago.

History not only allows us to appreciate what those before us endured, but also reminds us of the lessons we apparently have yet to learn.

Here are some common denominators linking Revolutionary War-era America to the country we live in today:

• Desertions were such a problem that George Washington actually feared the Continental Army might dissolve. When the Revolutionary War began, soldiers were enthusiastic about fighting for independence. But once they realized that the war was not going to end soon and started to endure severe hardships, their enthusiasm to fight diminished and huge numbers of them deserted.

Now, of course, the subject of desertion is getting much attention. Despite the fact that we simply don’t know the full story behind Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s former status as a POW, many citizens are dissatisfied with the deal to free him in exchange for five prominent Taliban prisoners, because they perceive Bergdahl as a deserter.

• George Washington and Alexander Hamilton actually feared the Revolution might be followed by chaos or even a civil war. Of course, the American Civil War eventually did follow, and resentment from fringe groups lingers in the South today.

Additionally, contemporary separatist movements have emerged throughout the United States, including Texas, Alaska, North Colorado, South Florida, Upper Peninsula (Michigan), Baja Arizona, State of Jefferson (Northern California and southern Oregon), South California, Cook County (Illinois), Northwest Angle (Minnesota), Independent Long Island, Northern Virginia, Killington (Vermont) and Western Maryland.

• National lotteries were established by the Continental Congress as a way to help finance the war. By any standards of the 18th century, the American army was a rag-tag group with insufficient resources. So Congress resorted to try, among other things, national lotteries to pay for goods, which were sorely needed in Washington’s shanty army camps.

Today some states use lotteries to obtain revenue for educational purposes. But given the United States’ standing on educational standards among first-world countries, one could argue that what’s lacking is the kind of will, leadership and ingenuity that won us the war against the British.

• During the Revolutionary War we had term limits; no delegate could serve for more than three years during any six-year period.

As Congress’ low job approval rating has hovered around 15 and 16 percent between 2010 and 2014, according to Gallup, and with Tea party members and others calling for term limits, many are feeling closer to their Revolutionary-era roots. Various American interest groups would like to see a return of term limits.

• Soldiers and officers in the Continental Army went months, if not years, without pay during the war. In the autumn of 1782, many Revolutionary War officers in the Hudson Highlands were angry and frustrated that they had not been paid in months – years, for some. Eventually, the anger and frustration led to a budding army insurrection known as the Newburgh Conspiracy, which Washington fortunately snuffed out.

Today we see Americans growing almost as angry and frustrated as they hear about the trouble with the Department of Veterans Affairs – its struggles to treat nearly 9 million vets, and the dozens of VA facilities now under investigation after complaints about falsified records and treatment delays, which may have led to patient deaths and a cover-up by top administrators in Phoenix. After the resignation of former department head Eric Shinseki, House Speaker John Boehner is calling for more action to correct the VA’s struggles.

Dave Richards is the author of “Swords in Their Hands: George Washington and the Newburgh Conspiracy”. Richards served seven years in the U.S. Army, primarily in military intelligence.

South Tahoe High grad Ethan Niven returns to the South Shore this month to direct Valhalla’s first theater production of the season.

“The Servant of Two Masters” is a family-friendly comedy. It is a high-flung/low-brow comedy about a hungry servant who hatches a scheme to double his wages (and his meals) by serving two masters at once.

It will run the weekends of July 10-13 and July 17-20 at Valhalla’s Boathouse Theatre.

Click here for times, prices and to buy tickets.

Valhalla is located at the Tallac Historic Site located two miles past the intersection of highways 50 and 89 next to Camp Richardson.

Valhalla’s first of four family friendly, free concerts on the Grand Lawn begin July 6 with the Empty Wallets.

The Empty Wallets are an Americana rock band driven by guitar and mandolin, with roots rising from the classic rock of the 1960s and 1970s. Their original Americana is intertwined with the blues, rock, soul, and country rock of the era.

Songwriters, guitarists, vocalists Paul Swagart and Matt Semonsen are joined by bassist Paul Griley and percussionist Robert Mills.

This free show runs from 11am to 1pm. Bring lawn chairs and a picnic.

Valhalla is located at the Tallac Historic Site located two miles past the intersection of highways 50 and 89 next to Camp Richardson.

U.S. residents are missing out on places like Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch because they choose to work instead of go on vacation. Photo/LTN file

By Ben Steverman, Bloomberg

The big difference between hoarders and collectors: One of them appreciates what they’re piling up.

The U.S. stands alone among developed countries by not mandating vacation time. Of those who get vacation time, four in 10 Americans stockpile them, failing to take all the days they’re offered. Those stay-at-work Americans leave an average of 8.1 days unused, according to a 2014 Oxford Economics analysis. That’s about 429 million unused days per year.

Those million-plus years are one big gift to corporate America — and a gesture that doesn’t do employers or their employees much good. Few cultures can match the U.S. for its ability to stigmatize vacation time. The irony amid the mix of sincere devotion to the workplace, job insecurity and false emblems of productivity (like, say, dropping by the office on a weekend just to say you did): All this obsessing over work can get in the way of getting stuff done. According to managers, HR professionals and behavioral economists, time off makes you not just happier and healthier but more productive on the job.

Skipping a vacation or working longer hours can make sense if you get something for it. Some workers are compensated for unused days, but that’s hardly the main reason people skip vacations. Since the recession, the fight for raises and promotions has gotten cutthroat and more workers fret over job security, says Penn State University economics professor Lonnie Golden. Extra time at the office may give you a tiny leg up. One 2013 study found that, for those who work more than 47 hours a week, five extra hours correlate with a 1 percent increase in yearly wages.

Read the whole story

North Tahoe PUD is putting on movie nights and bocce ball this summer.

Movie Mondays in the Park will run through Aug. 11 starting at 8:30pm each night.

The movies are free to the public, however parking is $5 per car at North Tahoe Regional Park in Tahoe Vista without a valid North Tahoe Public Utility District resident sticker.

North Tahoe Public Utility District had teamed with Spindleshanks to offer a bocce ball league at the Old Brockway Golf Course from July 11–Aug. 28. Scheduled games times are 6 and 7pm. Teams must have a minimum of three players and a maximum of eight.

League fees are $100 per team. Registration is online. Email parks@ntpud.org with any questions.

By Richard Chang, Sacramento Bee

Placer County Sheriff Ed Bonner has passed two milestones – 40 years serving in the same agency and winning a sixth term. Bonner began his career as a Placer County sheriff’s deputy in 1974 after graduating from UC Berkeley. The Placer choice was an easy one, and not just because he was a local product who grew up in Loomis and graduated from Del Oro High School.

“Placer County called first,” Bonner said, chuckling as he explained that he had also applied to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and Roseville Police Department.

On June 3, Bonner was elected to a sixth term after running unopposed. The 63-year-old sheriff has never faced a challenger.

The Sacramento Bee sat down with Bonner to talk about his career and other issues facing the sheriff’s office.

How did you rise through the ranks?

I was always a good student. In the sheriff’s office culture back then, education was not required. Having a university education helped me prepare for advancement. When I started, I was the most junior deputy, badge No. 39, but in six years was promoted to sergeant. As a deputy, I worked in patrol, at the jail and as a detective. Each experience was challenging and increased my potential to be promoted.

Read the whole story

Holton

Holton is one of several beautiful big cats at the shelter right now, and the only one who isn’t orange.

His owner died. Holton was living outside for a while until he was brought to the shelter, so he had to have some matted fur clipped — but it will grow back very nicely.

Holton is a little shy right now, but very sweet, and he loves to be petted and scratched.

Holton 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 online 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 Meriflor Toneatto

Everyone has a relationship with money, but for women, it’s much more fraught with emotion.

When we avoid and ignore those emotions, we allow them to quietly guide our decision-making – which inevitably holds us back.

Understanding our emotions, fears and doubts about money and how they affect our behavior can help us heal them so we can experience financial and personal freedom.

For women, money is an emotional currency. It’s tied to our sense of self-worth and self-confidence, and our feelings of safety and security. These feelings often translate into self-limiting decisions.

The effect can be profound. Consider female entrepreneurs. The number of women-owned U.S. businesses is growing 1.5 times faster than the national average, but a 2013 report found that they’re still contributing less than 4 percent of overall business revenues, about the same as in 2007.

Our businesses are smaller because we’re less likely than men to borrow in order to expand. We’re afraid to take financial risks.

And in the corporate world women comprise half the work force, yet hold the majority of lower-wage jobs in the United States, according to the 2014 State of the Union address.

What are the emotions shaping so many of our decisions?

• Fear: The most common emotion among women is fear. With money, we fear not having enough of it; that someone will take it; that we’ll lose it all and never get it back. Nearly half of all U.S. women fear becoming a “bag lady” – including those in households earning more than $200,000 a year, according to the 2013 Women, Money and Power Study.

And we fear an abundance of money. We may fail to negotiate a higher salary because we fear we can’t live up to it. Successful women may be reluctant to reach higher because we fear failure — and losing it all.

These fears often have roots in situations we were exposed to growing up, and feelings of vulnerability and self-worth. They send a strong signal that we need to root out their source and heal it.

• Guilt: People who say things like, “I feel guilty when I spend instead of save” or “I never buy anything unless it’s on sale” have guilt feelings associated with money. These, too, are often rooted in the fears and messages we saw and heard in childhood about not having enough money. Many of us are natural nurturers who’ve gotten the message that “good” women are selfless, and so we may freely, even recklessly, spend on others while withholding from ourselves.

• Shame: This painful emotion cuts to the core because it springs from how we feel about who we are – whether we’re “good enough,” worthy and deserving. We avoid talking about shame, and so it exerts control over us. With money, shame is commonly connected to amassing a lot of debt and hiding it because we fear being judged, humiliated, and disliked.

• Anger: This emotion repels money, opportunities and people because it can leave us closed off emotionally and physically from others. It’s based in a belief in the unfairness of life and/or the unfairness of money. A person who becomes angry about money may be angry at herself for missing an opportunity or for mishandling money in the past. Anger can lead to trust issues and to over-protecting every cent – even hoarding money.

• Blame: Anger and blame often go hand in hand. It stems from feeling disappointed or wronged because you believe your life would have been easier and/or better if someone – maybe parents or a spouse — had been able to provide you with more money. Blame can sabotage relationships with both people and money for years.

At some point in our lives, we all have felt one or more of these emotions. The good thing is, once you begin to recognize them, they’re like a flashing yellow caution light.

Meriflor Toneatto is the founder and CEO of Power With Soul, a company dedicated to empowering female entrepreneurs and professionals by helping them transform their relationship with money.