By Susan Wood

If there were any doubt Lake Tahoe tourism through the generations is as much about the synergy between its beauty and recreation as its leisure activities and nightlife, consider this: even the bands who play here want to take part in its splendor.

Hence, New Zealand’s Sola Rosa band leader Andrew Spraggon telling Lake Tahoe News before his recent late-night performance at MontBleu’s Blu Nightclub that as a first-timer to Tahoe he was just as interested in playing on his snowboard as he was his multi-track techno keyboard. The band, which stands for “sun and rose” in Spanish, brings out a vibrant following of young dancers enjoying what Spraggon calls a “groove music rally.” The “winter welcome” party for ski resort employees was no exception.

It's not unusual for music at Blu inside MontBleu to start close to midnight. Photo/LTN

“I can’t think of a place to have three free days between dates than Lake Tahoe. I’ve always wanted to come here,” Spraggon said. A change in schedule cut the visit short, but he pledged to return – with his board.

Tahoe offers that perfect mix of daytime sport and after-hours frolic. And as summer’s distant past gives way to winter’s promise, some of the South Shore’s largest players in activities, and specifically the music scene, are hosting a huge lineup of bands and acts.

Warning: If you’re older than 40, you may not recognize the band names.

During the three days leading up to the new year, South Lake Tahoe’s city officials have teamed up with Lake Tahoe Community College to bring to campus the inaugural SnowGlobe festival, which city spokeswoman Nancy Kerry says is “definitely targeting a younger crowd.” Billed as a “mix of mountains and music,” the featured bands include: Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Thievery Corporation, Glitch Mob and Childish. (Note: Doctor P won’t make it.)

There’s no secret here in Marketing 101. The casinos and the ski resorts – working hand in hand – have noticed the consistent double-digit growth of the snowboarder market, which brings a younger demographic of millennials and Gen Xers from November to April. In line with the U.S. Census’ 9.7 percent population growth, sports participation went up 6.9 percent in the last decade, the National Ski Areas Association reported last year.

Baby boomers had their day, or season, with Delta Blues singer Keb Mo at Harrah’s South Shore Room and Florida-based disco group K.C. and the Sunshine Band at MontBleu this year.

In winter, the young rule. The Cataracs play Dec. 30 at MontBleu. Others include The Expendable Winter Blackout Tour 2012, Iration/Trevor Hall/Thrive and 311/Dirty Heads.

“There is definitely a seasonal strategy when promoting shows in Tahoe. I like to bring in acts that will cater to the majority of visitors in the market, so during ski-snowboard season it just makes sense to present headliners that would cater to a younger demographic. Acts like 311, Whitney Cummins and Iration definitely will hit that core group of young people who are here for the snow activity,” said Paul Reder of PREpresents, a longtime entertainment booking agent on the South Shore.

Even young families will find something in it for them. Magician Tony Clark will return to Tahoe at the Horizon for a show called Illusion Fusion.

Still, you’ll need to be 21 or older for a few shows down the street at Harrah’s this winter. Fitz and the Tantrums and G. Love & Special Sauce for example are expected to bring out large crowds numbering more than 1,000 for the weekend Winter Snow Blast events, so the casino would like more control on alcohol consumption.

Come Jan. 21, Young the Giant is expected to bring out the younger set at Harrah’s as the main event for Tahoe Snowcial, a coordinated effort with Heavenly Mountain Resort. The ski resort is focusing its marketing on the deemed “trendsetters” – those who want “to pack as much into their vacation as possible,” Heavenly spokesman Russ Pecoraro explained.

“This type of music is more like alternative or even college bands,” Harrah’s entertainment guru John Packer said.

With what the show Rain did with the Beatles music, Harrah’s is continuing a legacy of mixing generations. The Hollywood Stones tribute show to the Rolling Stones slated for Jan. 7 will kick off an exuberant lineup to the casino’s South Shore Room.

The South Shore Room does include acts for the boomers. Expect Kenny Loggins to continue going footloose Feb. 18. And one may only hope rocker George Thorogood, slated for March 17, can still play his guitar behind his head.

Auditions for “Tartuffe: Born Again,” a contemporary adaptation of Moliere’s classic French comedy, will be Jan. 3 at 7pm in the Duke Theatre at Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe.

Scripts are available on reserve in the LTCC library. Opportunities to work in the scene shop building sets or to be on backstage crew are also available.

Performances are: March 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 at 8pm; March 11 and 18 at 2pm.

Sierra Nevada College Brian Turner has spent the last year assembling writing talent to teach in the program which kicks off this January. Eleven writers join Turner as faculty members, each with published works and accolades of their own: Kelle Groom, Nathalie Handal, Lee Herrick, Joanne Meschery, April Ossmann, Gailmarie Pahmeier, Suzanne Roberts, June Sylvester Saraceno, Patricia Smith, Laura Wetherington.

Together they have designed the low-residency MFA in creative writing program as a challenging and inspiring two-year program committed to a student’s art and artistic development. The program is designed to bring writers together in order to foster unique, individual voices within a dialogue of global dimension. Over the course of four semesters and five residency periods, students will focus on their chosen genre – fiction, poetry, or literary nonfiction – while testing the mixed-genre boundaries of artistic form and intent.

Each residency is an eight-day intensive series of workshops, seminars, readings, and more—all intended to expand a writer’s sense of possibility within the written and spoken arts. From the practical need-to-know tricks-of-the-trade to the heights of conceptual nuances, residencies will explore the wide landscape of the writing life. Residencies will take place in early January and early July. Every fifth residency will be located overseas.

Turner this week was selected as the Poet of the Month by Radio 1 in Sweden.

Even though his poetry and essays have been published in the New York Times, National Geographic, Poetry Daily, Georgia Review, Virginia Quarterly Review and other journals, the recognition never gets old, not does the challenge of a being a professional writer.

Turner earned his MFA before serving for seven years in the Army. He is now director of the Low Residency MFA program at the college.

Many people experience unpleasant physical effects from scented products, such as perfumes and colognes. Sometimes it might be a headache or nausea when passing by a department store’s fragrance counter or riding in an elevator with someone wearing a certain fragrance.

However, there is a growing number of people who suffer more severe reactions to these and many other types of products and chemicals. This condition is known as multiple chemical sensitivities and involves people who have developed an acute sensitivity to various chemicals in the environment.

People with MCS experience a range of debilitating physical reactions, some even life-threatening, to chemicals used in a variety of products, including fragrances and personal care products, deodorizers and cleaners, pesticides, wall and floor coverings, and building materials. It’s a complex issue with a variety of triggering agents and physical reactions. Different people are affected by different products in different ways. The common factor is that the reaction, whatever the type, is very strong and disabling.

To better understand what drives people to use (or not to use) fragranced personal care products, a group of UC Davis researchers conducted a nationwide survey on this and other emerging environmental issues. They will share the results of the survey, what science can tell us about fragrance chemicals and environmental and human health, and where you can go to learn more about the ingredients in your favorite personal care products.

Fragrance chemical research will be presented Jan. 26 from 6-7pm by UC Davis graduate students Carmen Cortez, Jessica Abbott, Jennifer Balachowski, Susan Chen, and Meredith Niles of the UC Davis Responding to Rapid Environmental Change Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (REACH IGERT) program, a multidisciplinary group of graduate students who work on issues related to rapid environmental change.

A $5 donation is requested. No host bar opens at 5:30pm. Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences is at 291 Country Club Drive, Incline Village.

Heavenly Mountain Resort this week announced it is giving 47 local nonprofit organizations cash grants and in-kind donations for the 2011-12 season.

Vail Resorts Echo, the company’s corporate sustainability program, was established in 2008 to bring a more focused approach to local charitable giving and, since its inception, has contributed more than $6 million annually to more than 150 organizations surrounding its six resorts.

Through Echo, 24 nonprofit organizations in the South Lake Tahoe area will receive cash grants in the coming year, including Bread & Broth, a weekly dinner program at Saint Theresa Catholic Church. Heavenly will serve as a monthly sponsor of the “Adopt-A-Day of Nourishment” at Bread & Broth, which provides a hot meal to approximately 125 less fortunate local residents every Monday.

Heavenly and Northstar will team up to financially support the Snowboard Outreach Society, a nonprofit organization that builds character in youth through outdoor adventure.

Heavenly will also make in-kind donations to local organizations including: South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center, Douglas County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, and Bijou Community School.

The recipients were selected by the Heavenly Echo Giving Council, which identifies important local organizations with successful programs that change the lives of children and protect the outstanding natural resources that make South Lake Tahoe unique.

The following organizations will receive donations from Heavenly:

· American Youth Soccer Organization Region 282

· Tahoe Baikal Institute

· Barton Community Foundation – Festival of Trees and Lights

· Bijou Community School

· Bijou Community School PTA

· Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe

· Bread & Broth

· Carson Valley Children’s Center

· CASA El Dorado

· Christmas Cheer

· Clean Tahoe Program

· Douglas County Education Foundation

· Douglas County School Race Training Program

· Douglas County Sheriff Search and Rescue

· El Dorado Fish and Game

· Forest Service Winter Trek Program

· Get in the Act! Arts in Action

· Heavenly Valley Ski Foundation

· Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation

· Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School

· Lake Tahoe Humane Society

· Lake Tahoe Unified School District

· Lake Tahoe Unified School District – Summit to Sand Program

· Marine Research & Education

· Mefiyi Foundation

· Sierra Avalanche

· Sierra House Elementary School PTA

· Snowboard Outreach Society

· Sober Grad Night

· South Lake Tahoe Amateur Hockey Association

· South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center

· South Lake Tahoe 5th Graders on the Hill Program

· South Tahoe High School Tennis Team

· South Tahoe Middle School

· South Lake Tahoe Police Activities League

· South Lake Tahoe Women’s Center

· St. Theresa School

· Sugar Pine Foundation

· Tahoe Arts Project

· Tahoe Heritage Foundation

· Tahoe Parents Nursery School

· Tahoe Tallac Association

· Tahoe Turning Point

· Tahoe Valley Elementary

· Tahoe Youth & Family Services

· Recreation Club at South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center

· Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.

By Siobhan McAndrew, Reno Gazette-Journal

It’s hard to be Santa Claus.

The commercialization, the money-making department store Kris Kringles and the people who don’t realize the greatest gift you can give a child comes from the heart might make even the jolliest man in a bright red suit want to scream, “Bah humbug.”

And then there are the commercials that endlessly use Santa to encourage spending. The worst is by electronics retailer Best Buy.

In the ad, an overzealous and vindictive shopper, played by “Parks and Recreation” actress Jama Williamson, mocks Santa. Santa tries to fit a simple wooden toy into a stocking. The shopper looks on, proud that she outdid Santa by scoring great deals.

“Oh, I guess I didn’t leave any room for you,” she says, as a frustrated Santa stands in front of her family’s Christmas stockings. “Maybe you can fill his,” she smirks, as she points to the dog, who is holding an empty stocking in his mouth.

The commercial ends with the line, “Game on, Santa.”

“Gifts are not what the holiday is about,” says Santa Claus, an Incline Village man who legally changed his name from Patrick O’Conner to Claus in 2005.

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The Downtown Truckee Wine, Walk & Shop is seeking beneficiary request applications from area nonprofit organizations, with the hope of creating a partnership that will benefit the selected organization.

The Downtown Truckee Wine, Walk & Shop has established itself as one of Truckee’s preeminent events. Set for Oct. 6 from noon to 4pm, this annual favorite, brings more than 1,000 locals and visitors to historic downtown Truckee to sip wine, taste scrumptious food samples and enjoy shopping.

The event, which has steadily grown since 2004, not only benefits the community through marketing efforts and a boost in tourism during the shoulder season, but also benefits a different local nonprofit each year. In years past, $3,000-$5,000 has been donated to the chosen nonprofit partner. Past beneficiaries have included Girls on the Run Sierra, Sierra Senior Services, Tahoe Women’s Services, Truckee and Glenshire Elementary Schools’ Special Friends Program, Truckee High School music program, Truckee-Tahoe Humane Society, Lake Tahoe Music Festival and InnerRhythms Dance Theater.

Organizations may pick up an application at the Switchback Public Relations + Marketing Inc. office (10075 West River St., Ste. 206) or call (530.550.2252) to request a copy to be sent via email, mail or fax. Applications are due Jan. 13 by 5pm.

Retail sales by the nation’s department stores (including leased departments) in December 2010 hit $27. 2 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This represented a 44 percent jump from the previous month (when retail sales, many holiday-related, registered $18.8 billion).

Value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in December 2010 was $34 billion ─ the highest total for any month last year.

The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and September 2011 was $983 million. China was the leading country of origin for such items. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees shipped to the United States ($79.7 million worth) during the same period.

California led the nation in 2009 by having 15 of the 88 U.S. locations that primarily manufactured dolls and stuffed toys.

China was the leading country of origin for stuffed toys coming into this country, as well as for a number of other popular holiday gifts. These include roller skates ($24.6 million), sports footwear ($253.8 million) and basketballs ($38.9 million). China leads Thailand as the leading supplier of ice skates ($17.7 million vs. $9.8 million), with Canada ranking third ($4.2 million).

Place names associated with the holiday season include North Pole, Alaska (population 2,117); Santa Claus, Ind. (2,481); Santa Claus, Ga. (165); Noel, Mo. (1,832); and — if you know about reindeer — the village of Rudolph, Wis. (439) and Dasher, Ga. (912). There is Snowflake, Ariz. (5,590) and a dozen places named Holly, including Holly Springs, Miss. (7,699) and Mount Holly, N.C. (13,656).

The worlds of digital storytelling, snowsports and technology will converge at Heavenly Mountain Resort Jan. 18-21 for the fourth annual Tahoe Snowcial, a one-of-a-kind winter festival that celebrates the global community who live their passion on the snow and tell their stories online.

The speakers for Jan. 19 are:

· Joe Fernandez, CEO and co-founder, Klout

· Hope Frank, CMO, Webtrends

· Porter Gale, former-CMO, Virgin America

· Rob Katz, CEO, Vail Resorts

· Jonathon Crowley, director of media partnerships, foursquare.

The topics for Jan. 20 are:

· Creating Engagement

· Social Media and Action Sports

· Location-based Applications

· Igniting Advocacy

· The Science of Social Media.

The on-mountain activities are highlighted by the Saturday scavenger hunt powered by EpicMix.

Young the Giant has signed on to headline the Jan. 21 entertainment lineup.

Early bird rates for Snowcial end Dec. 16.

By Michael Doyle, McClatchy

WASHINGTON – Meet John Doolittle, working stiff.

Sacramento-region residents once called him Republican state senator, then congressman. He was Lake Tahoe’s congressman, too.

Federal prosecutors once called him, ominously, Representative 5. Now, starting over at the age of 61, he unashamedly calls himself a lobbyist.

John Doolittle

“It’s funny,” Doolittle said. “That’s such a negative term, but if people ask, that’s what I say I am.”

He laughed. He laughs easily, which is saying something, given all that’s transpired.

“I know,” said his former colleague Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., “that he and his wife went through a great deal.”

Doolittle was one of several lawmakers caught up in the turbulent wake of Jack Abramoff, the Republican uber-lobbyist who was released recently after serving 3 1/2 years in prison on mail fraud and conspiracy charges. More than a dozen other individuals were convicted or pleaded guilty to assorted charges, though no charges were ever brought against Doolittle or his wife, Julie, who did event planning for Abramoff’s firm.

Doolittle’s former legislative director Kevin Ring was among those convicted of corruption-related charges. Ring’s indictment referenced an email in which he told Abramoff that Doolittle was a “good soldier, doing everything we asked of him.”

The Doolittles watched Ring sob as he was sentenced to four years in federal prison.

John and Julie Doolittle estimate they paid more than $400,000 for attorneys’ fees during the long-running corruption investigation, which left them poorer but in the clear. They endured what was essentially the involuntary end of John Doolittle’s 28-year career in elective office.

“It was painful to leave” Congress, Doolittle acknowledged, but “I’m going forward. Honestly, I don’t look back.”

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