By Christopher Elliott

As I reviewed my hotel bill at Harveys Lake Tahoe recently, I noticed something unusual: Instead of charging me $11 a day for wireless Internet, they were asking for three times as much.

“This can’t be right,” I told the clerk.

She called a manager, who firmly explained it was right: Harveys charges for wireless access not by room, but by device. Although it isn’t disclosed on its website, it is on the terms and conditions when you log in. I had glossed over it when I got online.

As for reducing my bill, the manager was equally firm in his “no”: The property outsourced its Internet to another company, and if I didn’t pay, Harveys would be on the hook for the full amount. The bill was paid, but I’m still puzzled that it could cost more to check email than to park my car.

A survey by market research firm BDRC suggests wireless Internet costs British hotel guests $2.2 billion a year. Best Western, which offers free wireless access, released those numbers last week along with a petition to give guests free access.

The average hotel guest now pays an average of $22 for wireless access, according to BDRC. The study also noted that some hotels that used to offer free access have now reverted to a paid model. At the same time, the need for a reliable wireless connection has “surged” in recent years, according to Tim Sander, BDRC’s research director.

Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine.

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Darius Rucker is confirmed to replace Lionel Richie to headline the special “celebrity night” show at the Lake Tahoe Summer Concert Series at the Harveys Outdoor Arena on July 16.

Javier Colon, winner of NBC’s hit show “The Voice”, will open the show.

Darius Rucker

Richie is unable to perform due to an injury to his vocal chords.

Rucker first gained fame as the lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Hootie & The Blowfish.

In early 2008, Rucker signed to Capital Records Nashville and began his hugely successful career in country music. His first solo single, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” (which he co-wrote with Clay Mills), debuted at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Rucker also made his Grand Ole Opry debut in July 2008.

Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Tickets are $35, $85 and $125. Show time is 8pm.

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

On Sunday afternoon, November 9th, the Historical Society and the City of South Lake Tahoe jointly commemorated the City’s Tenth Anniversary with an informal reception in the new Recreation Complex.

A collection of memorabilia from the election campaign and the first year of city operation was displayed in the lobby. Who will forget the bright ping DON’T BE AN ABOMINABLE NO-MAN posters which sprouted up all over town that Fall ten years ago – or the hand-printed FOR stickers worn on one’s lapel. In addition to campaign posters, news clippings, and photos selected from a scrapbook compiled by Lauri Ames, the official 1965-66 City Scrapbook was displayed with copies of both volumes of Fourteen Thousand Planners, the City’s first general plan.

Former Mayor Norm Woods, one of the original councilmen, served as Master of Ceremonies, and noted there had been 17 Councilmen, 11 of whom served 13 terms as Mayor. Speakers were: Karl Lowe who recalled the first yearnings toward home rule and formation of F.A. C. T. which ultimately led into the Citizen for Local Government and the November 9, 1965 election which brought the 398th California city into being. John Williams remembered the tiny news announcement datelined Tahoe City in the Los Angeles Times the following day which led eventually to his becoming the first City Manager. He briefly led his listeners through the setting up of the departments and hiring the staff for the fledgling city. The fist elected City Clerk Evelyn Roberson, a legal secretary for the first City Attorney at the time, well remembered the election excitement. Frank Souza, chairman of the first Planning Commission, recalled when the only building inspector for the area covered five counties. First Police Chief Ray Lauritzen spoke of having a local tailor shop stay open until midnight to make all the uniform pant legs the same length for the new police force going on duty the next morning. Of the original 32 officer chosen from 235 applicants, five have since been appointed to Police Chief positions throughout the state. Don Clarke of the original Council and the first to serve two terms as Mayor, related his pride in having been a part of the city formation. Ed Sauer of the first Planning Commission told of his making the motion which started the program of undergrounding power lines on Highway 50, the fight for which was carried on so diligently by former Planning Commissioner Ray Petragallo. Closing remarks were made by Mayor Roger Capri followed by the cutting of the official birthday cake, beautifully decorated with the City Seal and flanked by floral decorations in blue and gold, the city colors.

Among other original city officials seen at the gathering were Planning Commissioners Clancy Kirk, Walt Kashuba, Ray Petragallo, Recreation Commissioner Ethel Clarke, Council Secretary and temporary City Clerk Grace Carriker, and Jerry Martin, councilman and second Mayor. Also former Mayor Dr. Ken Smith.

Out of town guest were Bob Norris (the very first City Staff member), of Meeks Bay, Ray and Margy Lauritzen and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Sauer, Sacramento; John and Lois Williams, San Francisco; Mr. and Mrs. Murray, Colfax and Walt Wilson, Santa Rosa.

Regretting they were unable to attend but sending good wishes were First Planning Director and later City Manager Gary Chase of Moraga, former Assistant City Manager Howard Nies of Sacramento, and first City Attorney Mel Beverly.

Presiding at the refreshment table were Pat Amundson, Linda Mendizabal and Jeanette Porter, assisted by Suzanne Northrup and Ron Porter. Punch was provided through the courtesy of Harold Heiser of Inks Market.

Sierra-at-Tahoe gave back nearly $300,000 to the community during the last ski season.

Some of the entities benefiting from the ski resort include:

Barton Memorial Hospital Foundation

Sierra Resort donated $142,000 in lift tickets to Barton Memorial Hospital Foundation during the annual Snowsports Week in February. Barton Foundation then sold the tickets through local retail shops for a discounted price of $35, raising $70,000 for local organizations benefiting children and wildlife.

Buckle Up Big Air

To honor the memory of Greg Smith, one of Sierra’s freestyle team members, Sierra hosted a memorial slopestyle event, Buckle Up Big Air, raising $1,757. Part of the funds raised went to the Greg Smith scholarship fund for the Sierra Foundation. The remaining funds will go to create a memorial terrain feature at Sierra.

World Vision

In efforts to help relief efforts in Japan, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort partnered with World Vision and raised $650.

Local students

More than 450 complimentary season passes were made available to local students with a straight A report card. Ninety percent of these students picked up their passes, a donation valued at more than $71,166.

Ryan Shreve Memorial Firefighters Race

In memory of Ryan Shreve, a South Tahoe local and firefighter, Sierra hosts an annual race. Proceeds from the annual race are used to produce flyers that educate people about second impact syndrome.

Mikuni Sushi

Sierra and Mikuni Sushi actively worked together in order to help the people of Japan immediately after the disaster. Donating more than $1,500 in tickets, Sierra partnered with the Mikuni Restaurant Group that raised over $50,000 in order to meet the needs of those affected by this tragedy.

Local sports

On the first day of the season and Customer Appreciation Day, Sierra raised $8,310 from lift ticket sales to donate toward youth recreation and education in South Lake Tahoe.

By Kathryn Reed

Aaron Rodgers has played the American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament in relative obscurity for the past six years. That’s not likely to be the case this year for the quarterback who spearheaded the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl win.

Rodgers is not letting his fame influence who carries his clubs during the July 12-17 tournament. It will again be Todd Echan. The 2000 Whittell High School grad is back in Zephyr Cove after getting his MBA last month from the University of Hawaii.

Echan grew up playing the links at Edgewood Tahoe. He knows the lay of the land, the water features, the greens, the fairways, the hazards.

Todd Echan watches Aaron Rodgers make a putt at Edgewood Tahoe. Photos/Provided

“The number of people following us on the course will be a huge difference,” Echan predicted. Other than that, he doesn’t expect much to be different.

“It’s amazing how grounded and real of a person he is,” Echan said of Rodgers. “He doesn’t take anything for granted. He is real thankful for everything that comes his way.”

Chico, the town where Rodgers grew up, wanted to put on a parade for him after the Super Bowl. He didn’t want the city to go to that expense or have that kind of attention thrust upon him. Instead, Rodgers bought a full-page ad in the local paper to thank the community for its support.

Echan calls it a fluke that he was paired with Rodgers a handful of years ago. Since then the two have become friends. And Echan is now a Packers fan.

Most of the players travel with a caddy – who is likely to be a friend. Others take a recommendation from a pro at Edgewood and wind up with a local like Echan.

When it comes to offering advice, Echan said each celebrity is different. Some just want the caddy to carry the clubs, others want pointers, some need to be calmed down after a bad shot.

“I remember one time Aaron hit his golf ball into a hazard. The ball was in a Safeway shopping bag. He had to play it,” Echan told Lake Tahoe News. “He hit the ball out of the shopping bag and licorice went flying everywhere.”

What was amazing it the ball landed pretty close to the hole.

Caddies see it all on the course. Bad behavior by players gets back to tournament officials.

Echan witnessed a celebrity push over a little kid, others who blatantly ignored people wanting autographs, and some who have thrown clubs at caddies.

Todd Echan follows Jerry Rice and Aaron Rodgers at the 2010 tournament.

“The No. 1 thing is it’s always the caddy’s fault. We won’t say anything and it’s the caddy’s fault,” Echan said.

While there is serious money to be made by the top echelon at this tournament, it’s not the PGA. This isn’t the players’ career after all.

When the likes of Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan are puffing away on cigars on the course, it’s clearly not about setting a healthy lifestyle image. Barkley is still “threatening” to play left-handed this year. And sometimes the headlines are more about the girlfriends’ of the players – like the year Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson were an item.

For many fans it’s all about seeing their sports, political, TV, movie or comedic hero in person. Maybe it’s saying a few words, getting that person’s signature or even a photo together.

And when it comes to partying, the 17th hole at Edgewood Tahoe is always the place to be. Beach, boats, half naked bodies and that white ball on that pristine green lawn, um, fairway.

“The football players are throwing footballs and people on the boats are diving and trying to catch it,” Echan said.

Look for Rodgers to be hamming it up again with the throngs of spectators.

Aaron Rodgers looks for a receiver on the beach on the 17th hole of Edgewood.

“Aaron is on a personal level with everyone. He remembers names. A lot of celebrities, a week later, they will forget,” Echan said. “You can see with the Brett Favre situation he handled that like a dream. He makes good decisions and treats everyone well.”

As for Echan, he plans to do some networking while he’s on the course this year in hopes of putting that MBA to use. After all, this five-day caddying gig doesn’t pay a dime.

Angelina Marie McFarlane passed away peacefully at her home in Hanford, Calif., on her birthday, July 6, 2011.

Angie was born in Springfield, Ill., on July 6, 1925, to Giovanni and Virginia Bovaresco. She moved to Santa Barbara in 1938 with her parents and brothers Victor and Geno. They were met at the train station by her sister Gina, who had arrived there ahead of the rest of the family.

Angie graduated from Santa Barbara High School, and afterward went to work checking groceries for Safeway. Later she met her husband, Carl, when he was stationed in Santa Barbara during World War II. Carl had just returned from the South Pacific and his new assignment in Santa Barbara was guarding Italian prisoners of the war.

Angie McFarlane

Angie and Carl were married on March 4, 1945, and had 65 years of marriage together.

Angie and Carl and their seven children moved to South Lake Tahoe in 1961. In 1963, the eighth child was born there; completing their family. Together she and Carl served the community for 38 years as owners and operators of McFarlane Mortuary.

Ten years ago, after their retiring, Angie and Carl moved to Hanford to get out of the snow and be near their youngest son, Tom. Before and during retirement she enjoyed traveling in her motor home with her husband. Angie loved to fish, whether she caught anything or not. She was also a great cook — preparing large Italian meals for her eight children. Angie also loved hummingbirds and was known for hanging many bird feeders in her yard. Animals were also a big part of Angie’s life, and she especially loved Peanut, Keno, Rosa and Dixie. Angie was a founding life member of Soroptimist International South Lake Tahoe, and had also been active in the South Lake Tahoe Yacht Club.

Angie was gentle and loving person who loved people and never said an unkind word about anyone. She had a personality that put others at ease around her. Angie will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

Angie is survived by her eight children, Michael McFarlane (Rhonda), South Lake Tahoe, Bernadette Vilicich (Ed), Marshall, Calif., Daniel McFarlane (Janice), Monterey, Katie Jackson (Jeff), Gardnerville, Carla McFarlane, Carson City, Mary Ann Sokoloski (Keith), Carson City, Patrick McFarlane, San Jose, and Thomas McFarlane (Janette), Reedley, Calif.; 10 grandchildren, Marla, Brian, Andrew, Andrea, J.P., Lindsay, Michael, Matthew, Sean Paul, and Noah Alan; three step-grandchildren, Shannon, Tamara, and Danielle; five great-grandchildren, A.J., Elise, Parker, Joyie and Anna Marie; four step-great-grandchildren, Tessa, Luke, Matthew and Tammy; and niece, Barbara Cadam.

Angie was predeceased by husband Carl in June 2010.

Angie’s family is having a visitation at McFarlane Mortuary on July 12 from 4-6pm, followed by a rosary at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church at 7pm. On July 13, a Mass will be celebrated at St. Theresa’s at 10am, followed by the burial at Happy Homestead Cemetery. Anyone interested in attending is welcome.

The El Dorado County Health Services Department is offering Tdap vaccine at low-cost this summer for middle school and high school students who will need proof of the vaccination to start school.

The Tdap vaccine, which helps protect against pertussis, will be administered to 7-12 grade students at the following student vaccination clinics:

* Every Tuesday during July and August from 8am-1pm at the farmers’ market in South Lake Tahoe (American Legion parking lot), 2748 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

* July 16 from 11am-3pm at the fairgrounds in Placerville, in the Organ Room, 100 Placerville Drive.

* July 28 from 3-6pm at the Community Church in Grizzly Flats, 5061 Sciaroni Road.

* Aug. 2 from 3-6pm at Light of the Hills Lutheran Church in Cameron Park, 3100 Rodeo Road (behind Applebee’s).

* Aug. 4 from 3-6pm at the Pollock Pines Community Church in Pollock Pines, in the Evergreen Room, 6361 Pony Express Trail.

* Aug. 10 from 3-6pm at the Georgetown Community Center in Georgetown, 6329 Lower Main St.

The Health Services Department is requesting a $10 administration fee for the Tdap vaccination. However, no child will be denied the vaccination due to inability to pay. Parents are urged to bring their child’s yellow immunization record to the vaccination clinic.

The Tdap vaccine protects against pertussis (also known as whooping cough).

In addition to the student vaccination clinics, the Health Services Department also offers the Tdap vaccine by appointment. To schedule a vaccination appointment, call (530) 621.6100 in Placerville or (530) 573.3155 in South Lake Tahoe.

By Robert Salonga, Contra Costa Times

Nearly two years after she was freed from the captivity that robbed her youth, Jaycee Dugard looks to a pinecone as both a link to life before her horror and a symbol of hope for her future.

“Back then (the pinecone) was the last thing I touched. You know, the last grip on me. Now, it’s–it’s a symbol of hope and new beginnings. And that–there is life after something tragic,” Dugard, 31, said in an excerpt released by ABC News on Thursday from her yet-to-be-aired exclusive interview with Diane Sawyer.

In the excerpt, Dugard said after she was zapped with a stun gun by kidnapper Phillip Garrido, she tried to scoot into some bushes and remembers touching something sticky before lapsing into unconsciousness. After the liberation of Dugard and the two daughters she bore from Garrido’s sexual abuse in a home outside Antioch, the internationally recognized survivor said she asked people to bring her pinecones.

She would later realize that the pinecone was the sticky thing she remembers touching before she was whisked from her South Lake Tahoe neighborhood in 1991 to the home of Garrido and his wife Nancy, where the 11-year-old was forced to satisfy the sexual desires of Phillip, already a convicted kidnapper and rapist.

Dugard told Sawyer that she now wears a symbol of a pinecone around her neck to remind her of the hope that helped her endure 18 years of captivity and the long-delayed freedom she now enjoys.

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

Willard Ball, Judge of the Lake Valley Judicial Court, recalled his 21 years at South Shore during the Society’s April 1975 meeting. Like so many others, Bill Ball started his residence at Tahoe in the midst of a blizzard in March 1953 as a California Highway Patrolman transferring from eleven years on motorcycle patrol in Contra Costa County. The only paved road was Highway 50 and a sign on the highway in Bijou stated the population was 1800 – obviously only in summer.

Bill, who lived at Blackwood Road and Pioneer Trail, frequently found it necessary to plow out the road with his own equipment first, before he could move out with the patrol car. No radio communication was available; the telephone was the only means of getting a call and frequently there was a lapse of time before the call would reach the officer. Even though he endeavored to keep in touch, it was not unusual for Bill to come home to lunch to have his wife relay a message about a wreck occurring as much as two hours earlier. He eventually arranged with the Sheriff’s office to set up a red light in front which they would turn on whenever they had a message for him, so he would see it when cruising by.

There were only two resident patrolmen at the time, covering the area from Lake Valley to Riverton until 1958 when the CHP substation was established, after which there was always a complement of six to seven patrolmen.

In 1964, Bill retired from the CHP and was elected to the judgeship, his erroneous assumption being that it would never be more than a two-day a week job. He noted in 1965 the Lake Valley Court was 29th out of 250 California judicial courts; by 1968, it was up to 5th place. He recalled Judge Lawson as being on the bench on his arrival in Tahoe, having been preceded by Judge Palmear, the first such judge in the area. When Judge Lawson died in 1954, Rudy Buchannan was appointed, and served until Judge Ball was elected. For many years this judgeship was termed “Justice of the Peace” with the incumbent also considered a peace officer. However, in 1950, all such justices in California became Judges of the Judicial Court. Presently, there is pending legislation to create a Municipal Court at South Lake Tahoe and at Placerville.

Mike Willis, former Highway Foreman, Sheriff Dick Pacileo, and Sheriff’s Captain Dick Lowe were on hand at the meeting to help Bill remember such occasions as the time a deer, hit by a car, was dressed out and hung up in the drunk tank. The next drunk arrested was suddenly sober and wanted nothing so much as to plead guilty and get out of the place. The Judge recalled the days when a dozen or more deer could be seen almost anytime in the meadows and in the trees off Pioneer Trail. “Now there are dogs down in the meadow,” he said. “The dogs run the deer off.”

He mentioned many familiar names to old timers on the South Shore: Lew Pilot, the fist resident CHP officer in 1945; Captain Brewster, the first CHP Captain at the Lake, followed by Captain Personus, and Captain Jim Brewer; CHP Lt. Ball, recently retired, who was a cadet when the Judge was learning to ride motorcycles; Bill Turman, now City Judge at Fallon; Bill Timm; Game Warden Alec Sears, headquartered in Placerville

The Judge opined that law enforcement in general has deteriorated over the years with a lack of respect developing among the people. He noted approximately 16,000 warrants presently outstanding for those who have failed to appear in traffic court over a six year period, and detailed the administrative problems concerned with this backlog. Contrary to a popular impression, he estimated that 90% of the warrants are for local residents, not for the tourists.

The judge noted he will soon be retiring again inasmuch as California statutes have decreed that, after December 31, 1976, all judges must be attorneys with five years experience, marking the end of the lay judge in the California court system.

By People magazine

The memories are vividly clear for Jaycee Dugard. From the day she was kidnapped by Phillip Garrido in June 1991 to her miraculous rescue 18 years later, Dugard’s will to survive never faltered.

People has covered her kidnapping, years of captivity in Antioch, Calif., her tearful reunion with her family and the revelation that years of sexual abuse resulted in two pregnancies, the first when she was only 14.

People’s latest issue has exclusive excerpts from the now 31-year-old’s memoir, “A Stolen Life”.

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