An event to raise money to find a missing South Lake Tahoe woman is scheduled for July 24 fro 5-8pm at Classic Cue, 1961 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Tahoe.

On July 1, Marie Hanson left with her neighbors to go to the annual Rainbow Gathering near Stevenson, Wash. The last tim she was seen at the gathering was July 6 or July 7. Her neighbors lost track of her and returned to Tahoe without her, bringing her camping gear, her wallet, phone and medicines home with them.

Marie Hanson

Hanson is still missing. She is a loving wife, mother and grandmother, who is active in her church and community.

A website has been set up to help get the word out.

The money raised from the event will go to hiring a private investigator.

Publisher’s note: This is reprinted with permission from the November 1975 Lake Tahoe Historical Society newsletter.

Approximately 90 people viewed the September 24 showing of the documentary Washo. The hour-long film was made by Veronika Pataky who spent many years in Carson Valley, Jack’s Valley and Dresslerville making friends with the Wahoe tribe before producing the film in 1968.

Among the ancient rituals portrayed was the Pine Nut Dance which heralded the annual harvest of the pinion pine nuts which has been the staple food of the Washoes for thousands of years. In this ceremony the Washoes dance the shuffling type of round dance which has served the tribe in all ritual and ceremonial occasions, and pray to the Great Spirit to make certain they have not offended and to insure a bountiful harvest.

Men and women are shown separately enjoying a betting game played with sticks and bones – a sort of Washoe “Button, Button, Who has the Button?”

The coming-of-age ceremony for a girl entering womanhood was also shown. During a 4-day fasting period the girl may only drink water and perform various feats of endurance culminated by a great feast and receipt of gifts. Most interesting was the preparation of acorn biscuits with heated stones on the riverbank below Dresslerville, sharply contrasting with the pies and frosted cakes brought to the feast by friends and neighbors who then ate from paper plates.

Today the world of the older Washoes is much the same as always; they speak their ancient tongue, they enjoy the beauty and strength of the traditional rituals; they listen to the sounds of nature and observe the passing of the seasons. But the world of the younger generation is that of the space age as they become more and more assimilated into modern life.

Nevada State Parks invites the public to a day of free presentations on the Emigrant Trail at Mormon Station State Historic Park on July 23.

The outdoor presentations is form 10am-5pm.

Each presentation will be approximately 45 minutes, with time for questions.

Visitors are asked to bring lawn chairs and a beverage. Dogs will not be allowed.

Schedule:

10am – Jeff Kintop, State Archivist, “The Early Settlement of Genoa”

11:30am – Doris Dwyer, Professor of Women’s History, “Women’s Voices from the Overland Trail”

1pm – Fred Horlacher, Historian, “Tales from the Emigrant Trail/40 Mile Desert”

2:30pm – Chris Bayer, Historian/Musician, “Music and the Emigrant Trail, Stories and Songs”

4pm – Stan Paher, Historian/Author, “Early Settlements of Genoa/Dayton/Nevada Ghost Towns”

Additionally, Dave Jamiel, director of the California Trails Center, will be on-site to answer questions and provide information about the California Trail.

Mormon Station State Historic Park in Genoa is a 20 minute drive from Carson City via Highway 395 and 20 minutes from South Lake Tahoe via Kingsbury Grade and Foothill Road.

Embark on an adventure with the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot and a host of others on July 23 as the Missoula Children’s Theatre and 50 local students present “King Arthur’s Quest” at the Lake of the Sky Amphitheater at the Taylor Creek Visitor’ Center on the South Shore at 2pm.

This production is part of the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s unique international touring project and is presented locally by Tahoe Arts Project.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

For more information, call Tahoe Arts Project at (530) 542.3632.

By Ben Miller, Reno Gazette-Journal

When Julie Peterson’s children asked her if they could have a pet eight years ago, she didn’t just want a cute critter to pet. She wanted a pet that would give back.

She came home with chickens.

“I thought they’d be utilitarian,” the Galena resident said.

And utilitarian they are: Today, Peterson’s flock of more than 100 chickens, about 25 ducks and two geese yield 15 to 20 eggs per day. Besides having a steady supply of eggs to cook with, Peterson trades them to friends, neighbors and coworkers. Her family regularly enters the birds into show competitions for prize money and has raised two to be eaten. The chickens eat her weeds, clear bugs from her yard and leave fertilizer on the ground. They also chow down on scraps from her kitchen and the hospital where she works.

“I probably take home 20 pounds of green garbage a week that I give to my chickens,” Peterson said. “And they love it.”

Though she lives in Reno, Peterson is hardly alone when it comes to raising poultry.

While Nevada doesn’t see quite as many chicken enthusiasts as California and the eastern half of the country, the chicken culture is growing — fast.

“It’s new, it’s growing and it’s growing rapidly,” Peterson said.

For example, Peterson belongs to the Northern Nevada Poultry Fanciers Association, which involves about 20 families spread across Northern Nevada and parts of California, she said. When she got involved with the group five years ago, the organization got about five inquiries a year about raising chickens. These days, the association is more likely to get five inquiries a month.

Read the whole story

Born and raised on the Scripps Estate at Glenbrook, at age 14 Robert C. Amundson received a driver’s license and drove schoolchildren from Glenbrook to South Lake Tahoe.

Bob was born April 25, 1938. He died July 13.

During the winter of 1951-52 he and his skimates skied over Echo Summit to Strawberry and back to obtain needed medical supplies because Tahoe was snowed in. Bob qualified for the 1955 winter Olympics as a ski jumper – skiing with Spider Savage and Jill Killmont Booth.

Bob, along with his father, developed the Logan Shoals Harbor, Logan Creek Estates and Cedar Brook subdivisions, all in the Glenbrook area. He also was instrumental in creating the M.S. Dixie and served as captain for 10 years. He often spoke of many of the charter cruises which he cherished, such as the Governor’s Manpower Conference where he met Jimmy Carter; the Apollo-Soyuz cruise where he met the astronauts and cosmonauts; the Maharaja; and the memorable graduation groups and weddings. He loved it when he was referred to as “Mr. Tahoe.”

He served in the U.S. Army for three years. He worked construction in Okinawa and Liberia, owned an 18-wheeler and drove for many local companies as well as long line trucking.

Bob loved his shop where he spent hours building and repairing anything. If he wasn’t sure how to do a job, he would “jerry rig” it and somehow it always worked out. He was fondly called “Big Bob” by the neighborhood children and “the Honey Do man” by his wife’s widowed friends. He went out of his way to help anyone he could.

Bob was a past member of the Tahoe-Douglas Sheriff’s Posse; American Legion; Nevada Antique Tractor and Engine Club and Order of Ahepa. He was a member of the St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church.

He was predeceased by his parents, Margaret and Ken Amundson and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Tom and Lorna Poulakidas.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Shirley Amundson; his children and grandchildren Nicole (Mike, Brandon, and Logan Zaza), Robert Charles Amundson II (Terry), Melanie (Morgan) Petrelli, and Lisa (Frank, Brenna Long and Carmen Greaves); sister Suzanne (Roland) Werner; sister-in-law Judee (Ben) Price; friends Joyce Hinton and Rozanne DeLeau; many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, and his dogs Duke and Bruiser.

A memorial will be at 2pm July 22 at Walton’s Chapel of the Valley at 1281 N. Roop St. in Carson City.

In lieu of flowers, make contributions to the American Cancer Association.

Solve the murder at this authentic Tahoe-based radio theater performance. This audience-interactive play with local actors celebrates the Roaring 20s’ South Shore lifestyle.

Mystery Radio Theatre is at the Valhalla Boathouse Theater on the South Shore Aug. 13 at 7ppm.

Reserve seats early, as this event always sells out. Wine and hors d’oeuvres are included in the ticket price.

Cost is $45 for adults,
 $20 for children (12 and under), $35 for Tahoe Tallac Association members, and free for 2011 TTA season passholders.

By Kathryn Reed

Whimsical, practical, lush, inviting, colorful – that’s what people will find as they meander through the six gardens on the annual Lake Tahoe Historical Society Garden tour.

Concentrated mostly near the Y in South Lake Tahoe, the property owners have been working hard to get their gardens in tip-top shape for the July 31 event. With such a long, wet spring, it means not as much color in some yards because blooms are late this year. But it also means irises are still out, which is unusual.

The Piscitellis have more than plants decorating their yard. Photos/Kathryn Reed

“Everything is late,” Lynne Bajuk, with the historical society, said walking through one of the gardens during the preview.

Three of the six gardens belong to people who are or were employed by Lake Tahoe Community College. A fourth LTCC gardener was to be on the tour, but Trout Creek flooded the yard, which prevented the homeowner from being able to participate.

A little bit of everything is presented this year. One yard in Tahoe Keys is an example of what can be done with an extremely small space. It’s a good showpiece for people who don’t want to spend much time in their yard.

Creeping thyme acts as a ground cover, lupine brings color, as will the ragosa when it blooms.

Another yard on the water is just the opposite – open, sunny, and more work. It’s a bit more traditional, with several potted plants. Jim Duke said his back still hurts from all the bending over.

Vibrant orange poppies sprout from the rocks near the water’s edge. Taking a peek from the dock, it would be a reason to paddle through the Keys – as kayakers were doing that day – to get a view of all the backyards along the canals.

Once the daises come out, this yard will be even more eye-catching.

Nearby, but not on the water, is a home in the Keys with a yard that definitely takes a lot of work.

Jim and Pam Jennett have lived here for eight years. It’s impossible to tell they started with a dirt lot.

Jennifer Cressy with the Tahoe Resource Conservation District described their yard as a “classic cottage garden.”

Erigonium – a purple thistle that looks like a miniature artichoke plant – is one of the more rare plants on the tour. The back is full of flowers, but not overdone.

“So much comes up naturally,” Pam Jennett said. “We are always needing to thin things. All of the columbine is volunteer.”

Bearded tongue dot the front yard, along with an array of other plants circling the lawn.

Tony and Shelley Piscitelli for 10 years have been working on various aspects of their yard.

“There are a lot of fun things in the yard,” Tony Piscitelli said as he took people from the front to the back.

Old bicycles and a Tonka truck have been incorporated into the yard in a decorative, creative manner. Reusing things is what they like to do.

A greenhouse helps be able to keep things alive through the winter and to be able to have color in their yard sooner than a lot of neighbors.

A couple miles away Becca Harper Cunningham also uses a greenhouse to work her magic. That’s the only way a lemon tree can survive in Lake Tahoe. She has the largest vegetable garden in the tour – with tomatoes that are already red, beans, broccoli, lettuce, asparagus and Swiss chard.

Her hollyhock is about 3-feet tall, but by August when it’s blooming will have doubled in size.

“This is all play. I have a hard time leaving the yard,” Cunningham said.

Tickets for the July 31 tour, which is the historical society’s main fundraiser, are $20. They may be purchased at the museum (3058 Lake Tahoe Blvd.) or at Aspen Hollow, Nels Garden Center, Sun Basin and Tahoe Outdoor Living.

Music and refreshments will be served at the Lake Tahoe Community College demonstration garden.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Blotter and Stone are two nice older cats whose owner could no longer look after them. They would like to be adopted together to a home without other cats, but they like children and would tolerate a well mannered dog.

They are both fit and healthy (Blotter has a scratch on his nose that is almost healed) and like to play. Their adoption has been sponsored so the fee is only $40 for both of them.

Blotter and Stone are neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated. They are at the El Dorado County Animal Services shelter in Meyers, along with many other dogs and cats who are waiting for their new homes.

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 Merrie Leininger, Reno Gazette-Journal

If you’re looking to learn a new skill, trade, language or craft, Northern Nevada is filled with successful professionals from every background and field who also are terrific resources for anyone willing to learn. Everything from the University of Nevada, Reno, to the Nevada Museum of Art’s museum school offers classes taught by experts who practice what they preach.

“People are usually pleasantly surprised when they come to the college,” said TMCC’s media relations coordinator Kelly Frank. “They don’t expect to find experts. But these are people who want to give back. They’re not doing it to get rich and famous.”

Here are just a few Northern Nevada residents from whom you can gain from the benefit of their experience.

Read the whole story