Lake Tahoe Community College Writers’ Series is hosting a celebration for the publication of the college’s literary journal “The Kokanee” on May 15 at 8pm at the college library.

The event will feature short readings from student and faculty authors. Authors reading from their work include Frank Riley, Cece Cummins, Harper Dial, Bonnie Turnbull, Marcela de Lira Astorga, Karen A. Terrey, Ryan Row, and Alec Holmes.

The event is free.

“The Kokanee” will be available for purchase.

Two students will also be recognized for their writing with awards. Holmes won the Kokanee Award for his essay “Daunted by Bathrooms” and Row received an honorable mention for his short story “Johnny Copper Crime Stopper”.

The cover art of The Kokanee features artwork from Paula Chung. Her painting “Gregor and Friends” was the winner of the 2012 Kokanee Art Award.

For more information, contact Suzanne Roberts at robertss@ltcc.edu.

By Ted Long

I think it is safe to say this week’s session, session seven of the citizens’ academy, on gangs made the whole program worthwhile. This session was led by Deputy Carol Edwards.

She has been doing the job for over 20 years. Not only did she bring a professional touch to the issues, but a personal one. She definitely knows the problems and the people.

We saw, through a video presentation, gangs that are present in El Dorado County. And there are a lot. Everything from the Hells Angels to the Bloods.

Ted Long

Graffiti was also explained and for the first time I understood what I thought was meaningless waste of paint. While it is a waste for society, graffiti has great meaning and usefulness to the gangs. At one time, here at the lake I strongly supported program to give graffiti artists a place to paint other then our public and private building. While a great idea, it in no way will really affect gang graffiti, which is used to communicate, to mark territory and to honor their falling comrades.

Edwards is of the opinion that we will not stop the growth of gang activity and expressed our only hope in terms of the very young, to some how let them know what it really means to be in a gang. Most of the reasoning for the success of the gangs is placed on with the lack of discipline or the profit motive. There was little discussion of society’s role. For example our continued reliance on what our founding fathers gave us in 1776, the Constitution.

While I would be the first to argue, and have on many occasions, for the basic rights granted, such as free speech, religion and the right to bear arms I doubt that out founding fathers could or did foresee the world as we live in it today. Perhaps, it’s time to relook at all these rights with modern times and consequences in mind.

Laws are passed for what appears to be a “good reason” – a teacher abuses a student, a parent goes too far in disciplining a child, so we pass a law. The problem is that now no teacher dare discipline and no parent dare raise his hand or he they may end in jail, in other words we have “throw the baby out with the bath water.”

A parallel example that most people are familiar with is the laws to support the handicapped. Well indented and important, yet with them came a flood of attorneys that know sue people and create a mess.

Most of us who are over 50 remember walking through our neighborhoods actually talking to people. Today many neighbors don’t know who lives next door. The recent Cleveland discovery of three women held for 10 years makes my point.

The rise of gangs in my view is very much related to the break down of the family and the neighbor concepts in our society. We have literally made it a crime to be interested in someone else. Combing this with modern communication, travel and the need for two family income and you have a problem. Ask yourself, “If we could start over fresh, what would we do?” In there lays the answer.

Whatever we do or don’t do, the fact is gangs are a serious issue for us and the country. If you belong to a club or group, I strongly suggest you call Carol Edwards at (530) 621.6041 to schedule a presentation. This is information you need to know.

Ted Long is a South Lake Tahoe resident participating in the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Citizens Academy.

By Ky Plaskon, Capitol Public Radio

A South Lake Tahoe woman has beaten out nearly 600,000 other contestants from around the world to become a finalist for a dream job.

Victoria Ortiz, who works for the California Tahoe Conservancy, makes her pitch for what some have called the best job in the world with a 30 second video of her adventures.

Victoria Ortiz

“She fords raging rivers, she summits epic peaks and she takes herself very seriously. She is Australia’s next park ranger,” stated Ortiz in a video.

Ortiz is competing for one of six positions as a park ranger at the Great Barrier Reef. The job description includes checking water temperatures, patrolling the beaches and talking to tourists all day.

“I will tell them how excited I am to be there and hopefully about all the interesting species that are really endemic to that area,” Ortiz said.

The job comes with $100,000 in salary and living expenses. Ortiz will learn if she won on May 15.

By Rod Block

Pet owners’ vet bills are growing, which may explain why fewer are taking their dogs and cats to the animal doctor although more Americans than ever have pets.

To make matters worse, a 2.3 percent tax on medical devices that kicked in Jan. 1 includes equipment that’s used for animals as well as people. Items as basic as IV pumps and scalpels are now subject to the tax, which is to help fund the Affordable Care Act.

Even before the tax, the latest survey showed spending for dog care alone rose 18.6 percent from 2006 to 2012. And even though cat vet visits dropped 4 percent in that time, cat owners paid 4 percent more.

It’s important to pay attention to changes in your pet. Photo/LTN file

Add to that the new excise tax and I’m sure we’re going to see even more people torn between paying the light bill and taking their pet to the vet. But there are simple ways to keep veterinary costs down, while still providing excellent care for your pet – whether it’s a dog, cat, horse or guinea pig.

It’s important to always get appropriate care when your animal needs it, but you can easily prevent problems, or catch them early, by simply staying in tune with your pet’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

Here are tips for accomplishing that, and distress signals to watch for:

• Is your pet in pain?: Before X-rays and MRIs, health practitioners relied on these physical indications of pain: heat, redness, lumps or swelling, tremors, obvious discomfort. To recognize the first four, a pat on the head is not enough. Get used to taking some quiet time to place your hands on your pet, and work on honing your perceptive abilities. Being in a rush or having your mind on what you need to do next will impede your ability to perceive changes – use the time to simply be with your animal. If a joint feels warm, it may be inflamed. Mild localized tremors can indicate a problem in the area beneath your hand. Lumps or an asymmetrical feel when you have your hands on either side of the pet may indicate growths. Take your time and quiet your mind. Animals are keenly aware of intent, and they’ll work with you if feel your intent.

• Watch how your pet plays: It’s important that a pet gets physical and psychological stimulation, but those needs vary with temperament, age, and even how energetic the pet owner is. Pets tend to match their owners’ energy levels, for instance, very elderly owners will tend to have pets that like to nuzzle and curl up next to them. Take note of how your pet plays so you’ll be aware of changes. Is he becoming more aggressive? He may be telling you something’s bothering him. Has she stopped hopping up on the couch? Is he favoring a paw (or hoof)? Beyond the physical, your pet’s play can also communicate emotional distress. For instance, if he becomes fearful or timid, consider any changes in the home, routines, etc., that may be affecting him.

• Have a thorough neuro-muscular-skeletal exam done. A veterinary chiropractor can examine a pet’s frame, muscles and nerves for areas that may be pre-disposed to injury, and suggest ways you can help protect them. In dogs, cats and horses, joint injuries are common, with muscle and tendon strains and tears. Problems with the spine can lead to compressed or herniated discs, and neck issues can lead to mobility problems and even seizures. If you know your pet’s vulnerabilities, you can take steps to prevent injuries.

If you decide to take your pet to a chiropractor, make sure he or she is certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

Find one who is in tune with animals – a host of technical skills does not compensate if the practitioner is not in tune with his patients.

Rod Block serves as a chiropractic consultant to numerous veterinary practices in Southern California and is an international lecturer on animal chiropractic.

By Ginger Nicolay-Davis

Two years ago, my mother-in-law, Joanne, called me from the East Coast to tell me about a new play that had just debuted in Hartford, Conn., called “Motherhood Out Loud”. She told me that I really needed to read it and that I would love it.

Like all difficult daughter-in-laws, I had to question the advice of my mother-in-law. After all, I have read many more scripts than she has, seen many more plays than she will ever see, and have studied acting for years. But I figured since she was not giving me advice on how to raise her grandchildren, maybe I should flatter her a bit, and find out more about play.

I learned that it was written by 13 women, including Beth Henley, one of my favorite Southern writers, and decided maybe Joanne was right. I should at least read it. I emailed the writers to ask for a copy of the script. I found out it was not available at the time.

Michelle Hirschfield, from left, Pam Taylor and Ginger Nicolay-Davis star in “Motherhood Out Loud” at MontBleu. Photo/Provided

Over the next couple years I kept my eye out for the script, and it finally became available in manuscript form last fall. I ordered a copy and read it no less than 15 times. I laughed, I cried and I called my mother-in-law to thank her for suggesting it to me. (She was shocked I called. I probably should call my mother-in-law more often.)

I called some of my favorite actor friends in town and invited them to do a reading of the script over a bottle of wine — the offer of wine will always get actors to a table reading. We read the script, laughed, cried, and discussed all of the amazing aspects of motherhood this play touches upon.

My friend, Michelle, without hesitation said, “We have to do this show.”

They were hooked on the script the way I was the first time I read it. The day the rights became available I snatched them up, making us the first theater group in Northern California to produce this important and relevant piece of work about motherhood. My theatre partner-in-crime, Diana Evans, decided we should try to find a space to do this show over Mother’s Day weekend. MontBleu agreed and we were on our way!

Through the rehearsal process we have had many discussions about parenting, our own parents, our grandparents and stepparents and how they have made us who we are. It has been a project of love. This play touches upon every aspect of motherhood – from birth to adulthood, the challenges of raising children and being a child, the challenges of raising teenagers and then watching them leave the home, seeing the adult child get married, go off to war, and, finally, being an adult child taking care of a sick parent.

“Motherhood Out Loud” reveals many of the raw emotions and rocky roads we experience in life.

“Motherhood Out Loud” is sure to challenge traditional norms and unite generations with its unpredictable comedy.

—

Notes:

• “Motherhood Out Loud” will be at MontBleu in Stateline on May 9 and 10 at 7:30pm and May 12 at 3pm.

• For tickets, go online, call (530) 541. 4975 or stop by the MontBleu box office.

• The proceeds from the shows will go to the nonprofit Tahoe Tallac Association that produces the annual summer Valhalla Arts & Music Festival.

Ginger Nicolay-Davis is president of the Tahoe Tallac Association.

Krista Lukas of Minden has published her debut poetry collection “Fans of My Unconscious”.

She describes the work as putting a microscope’s eye view to the poignancy and absurdity in everyday life by observing the meaning and the meaninglessness in the mundane like the post office, a campfire, and a bulletin board.

This poetry collection is designed for a seasoned reader of poetry as well as someone who has yet to take up the genre.

Born in Truckee, Lukas grew up in the Lake Tahoe area. She did the coursework for her K-12 teaching credentials at Sierra Nevada College. She has taught English and English as a second language at various levels. Currently, she serves as the gifted and talented specialist at Zephyr Cove and Jacks Valley elementary schools.

Lukas has published poems in “The Best American Poetry 2006”,” Creative Writer’s Handbook”, “New Poets of the American West” and literary magazines including 5am and New Millennium Writings.

Lukas will read from her collection at two venues in June: the Mile High Jazz Band’s Jazz and Poetry event at Comma Coffee in Carson City on June 11, 7:30pm, and the Ventana Sierra Advanced Writers Conference at Western Nevada College in Carson City on June 14 at 6:30pm.

Bernadette

Bernadette is a nice 9-year-old Husky mix with one blue eye and one brown eye. She is house trained and likes to play with other dogs.

Even though she is a little older and very well-behaved, as a Husky mix, she is great at escaping and needs to be on a runner when left outside alone.

Bernadette needs a home without children as they scare her.

Bernadette is spayed, microchipped, 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 online to see photos and description 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 Kathryn Reed

VINA – Wine and religion have long been partners. One only needs to think of the Last Supper or today’s communion. Franciscan monks have been cultivating grapes in California since the 1800s. But it’s the Trappist monks who are the newcomers to the wine business – at least in California.

New Clairvaux Winery first planted grapes in 1990. However, the 580-acre spread north of Chico has some famous names associated with the land and structures on it – like those of Leland Stanford, Peter Lassen and William Randolph Hearst.

It was Lassen who in 1846 first planted grapes here. Stanford bought the land in 1881 and then turned it into the world’s largest winery and vineyard at 4,000 acres of wine grapes and 55,000 acres in total. In 1919, 23 years after Stanford’s death, the Great Vina Ranch was sold.

The Chapter House at the Abbey of New Clairvaux is a window from the old world to the new world. Photos/Kathryn Reed

The Abbey of New Clairvaux started in 1955.

The monks and their winemaker use the 100-year-old brick wine cellar today.

New Clairvaux winemaker Aimee Sunseri comes from some impressive pedigree. Her family’s Nichelini Winery in St. Helena is the oldest family-owned winery in Napa County. She is also the winemaker there; making her the fifth generation to be part of Nichelini.

Sunseri has roots in El Dorado County, too, having worked at Boeger Winery in Placerville.

(Besides wine, the monastery also has a partnership with nearby Sierra Nevada Brewery to produce Ovila beer in the Belgian tradition.)

While the winery is a draw for many, the entire monastery is worth a visit even if one is not religious or is of a different faith. The Ovila Chapter House is being constructed from stones from the Ovila monastery in Spain. Hearst bought the Spanish Chapter House in 1931 with plans to use the stones at his property in Wyntoon. That never happened and he eventually gave the stones to the city of San Francisco with the intent the Chapter House would be reconstructed in Golden Gate Park. That also never happened.

The Abbey of New Clairvaux was given the stones in 1994 by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco with the agreement they only be used for a Chapter House.

It is now a work in progress. The Ovila Chapter House is the only place to see Cistercian-Gothic architecture in the United States.

Walking through the vacant structure under construction it’s like being transported back in time. The craftsmanship of the hand-carved stone is exquisite, the arches providing views onto vineyards and open space, the nuances of light and space creating a sense of serenity.

It is purely spiritual.

—

Notes:

• More info about the abbey may be found online.

• New Clairvaux Vineyard info is also online.

• The winery is open seven days a week from 11am-5pm except for holy days.

• This is a link to directions. Vina is 20 miles north of Chico and 20 miles south of Red Bluff.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Each year at this time the Lake Tahoe Community College Art Department comes out of its studios and permeates the college with a cornucopia of visual delights. In other words, it is time for the Annual Student Art Exhibition.

The opening reception for this year’s exhibition will be on May 19 from 2-5pm, with an awards ceremony starting at 3:30pm. There will be approximately 400 works of student art on display, ranging from digital art to printmaking and sculpture. All of the artwork displayed represents student production over the past year.

As usual, the range of technical, stylistic, and conceptual explorations is staggering. Much of the work reflects the Art Department curriculum, but also includes work created independently by our students.

The work submitted for this exhibition will be juried for special honors in 17 categories. A first, second, and third prize, as well as honorable mentions, will be awarded in each category. A “Best of Show” recognition will also be awarded for the one work of art that is most outstanding according to the juror’s opinion.

Selecting this year’s special honors will be guest juror, Katie Lewis.

Also included are various cash awards given for outstanding achievement. These awards are donated by local businesses that support our students’ artistic endeavors.

There is also the People’s Choice Award. There will be a ballot process provided for you to decide what works of art you feel deserve special recognition.

The exhibition will continue through June 22.

The college is located off Al Tahoe Boulevard at 1 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe. This exhibition is free and open to the public during regular college business hours.

For more information, call (530) 541.4660, ext. 335.

The Lake Tahoe Community College Theater Department’s Random Acts of Improv group is bringing in television performers Rick and Laura Hall for a musical improvisational workshop and live performance May 18 in the Duke Theatre.

Laura Hall (musical director for TV’s “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”) and her actor-musician husband, Rick (HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”), will share their musical improvisation techniques in the workshop from 12:30-4pm.

They’ll then take the stage at 7:30pm with LTCC’s improvisation group, Random Acts of Improv, for a night of comedy on the fly.

For more information about the improv show and workshop, call (530) 541.4660. ext. 240 or email boulanger@ltcc.edu.