Nala

Nala is a 2-year-old Chihuahua who is very sweet. She is very happy and wags her tail all the time.

Nala is house trained and walks nicely on the leash. She likes other dogs, but would be best in a home without small children. Nala would love to have an owner who is home a lot and likes to cuddle.

Nala is spayed, microchipped, tested for heart worm, 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 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 to online or call the animal shelter. Vouchers are available there also: bring $25 and a copy of a photo ID and a local utility bill.

— Karen Kuentz

By Kyle Stock, Bloomberg

For Fed Pacheco, it was a long journey from motocurious to motorcyclist.

There was a ride years ago in Texas on his uncle’s Suzuki Boulevard, not long after Pacheco had emigrated from Venezuela. A few years later, he decided to take a riding course and got his motorcycle license, though he still didn’t pull the trigger. But when Honda unveiled its new Rebel 500 in November, the 27-year-old finally went all in.

Pacheco traced one of the first Rebels on the market to a dealership in New Jersey, walked in and paid $6,800 on the spot. The bike was still in its shipping box. With a starting price of $6,000, Honda’s Rebel 500 is aimed at younger, first-time riders.
 
Honda’s Rebel is the latest entry in a parade of new bikes designed for first-time riders; almost every company in the motorcycle industry has scrambled to make one.

Read the whole story

It is a dog party/fundraiser at Basecamp Hotel for a canine nonprofit. Photo/Justine Lureva

By Terra Breeden

The C word isn’t just something that afflicts humans. Dogs, too, can get cancer.

Victoria Rhodes knows this all too well.

Rhodes founded Wild Blue Dogs this year after losing her Welsh terrier Willy to canine cancer. Willy was diagnosed with cancer six years ago and given just six months to live. But Rhodes refused to accept that sentence. She spent a lot of time researching treatments for canine cancer, from oncology to homeopathy and provided Willy with the most advanced treatments and care for his cancer.

“My dog’s six-month sentence turned into 3½ years because of the care he received,” Rhodes told Lake Tahoe News.

Through the process of saving her dog, Rhodes discovered the devastating effects that cancer was having on canines nationally.

Six million dogs are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. each year. One in every three dogs in the U.S. gets cancer and most of the dogs who are diagnosed don’t survive the year.

Willy’s cancer diagnosis led Victoria Rhodes to help others. Photo/Justine Lureva

“You’re talking a very short life expectancy once diagnosed,” Rhodes said. “And a lot of people’s dogs are their companion. Over 70 percent of Americans own a pet and it’s a part of their family.”

One of the reasons canine cancer is causing such a high number of fatalities is because treatments like radiology and chemotherapy are so expensive. Most people don’t have health insurance for their dog and can’t afford to provide the care needed to extend their pet’s life.

Cancer treatment for dogs generally runs between $5,000 and $25,000. It’s extraordinarily expensive.

Alpine Animal Hospital in South Lake Tahoe works directly with Wild Blue Dogs to fully fund treatment for dogs with cancer and families who need help providing treatments for their beloved pets.

“Wild Blue Dogs is a really cool program because it focuses on getting treatment to the families who need it and supporting the community,” Rhodes said. “I really feel strongly that people should be able to keep their families together and my goal is to treat every dog that needs it.”

Through her experience with her dog Willy, Rhodes saw there were no resources to help people whose pets had contracted cancer. So she decided to start the Wild Blue Dogs nonprofit.

“If people have kids, homes and bills, Wild Blue Dogs will help. It’s a need-based provider not income-based,” Rhodes said. “I feel you should be able to keep your life intact and still provide care for your animal.”

Rhodes is passionate about helping dogs with canine cancer and she wants to do it in the Lake Tahoe community. Wild Blue Dogs helps fund treatment for Lake Tahoe dogs whose people need financial help.

“I want to help this community because I spent the last 20 years vacationing here with my dogs and I love it here,” Rhodes said. “Lake Tahoe is a dog-loving community, but there aren’t a lot of resources.”

Now she needs the community’s support to raise money for the nonprofit. On July 17 and Aug. 21 Basecamp Hotel in South Lake Tahoe is hosting Yappy Hour from 4:30-7:30pm.

“The money raised at Yappy Hour goes directly to treatment of dogs in the Lake Tahoe community and helps dogs in need here,” Rhodes said. “You’re raising money to help your neighbors.”

The event at Basecamp Hotel features drinks and yard games for guests, a photo-booth where you can take a glamour shot with your canine companion, and a chance to meet with other likeminded dog lovers in the South Lake Tahoe community.

“It’s the most fun cocktail party in the world. You get to go with your dog and believe me, the dogs have the most fun, this is their social hour,” Rhodes said.

Basecamp Hotel will donate a percentage of sales from food and drinks sold at Yappy Hour to Wild Blue Dogs. People may also donate directly to the nonprofit.

By Karl Vick, Time

It’s not like the jobs aren’t there. The ice cream still needs scooping. A Tilt-a-Whirl doesn’t run itself. And that floppy, weirdly heavy rubber frog that somersaults toward the rotating lily pads? Hit or miss, someone’s got to bring it back to the catapult for the next lucky player. The work of an American summer remains, sticky and sweet as cotton candy, which doesn’t sell itself either.

But when Jenkinson’s Boardwalk went looking for seasonal employees last year, the response was not at all what the company expected. To fill some 1,200 summer vacancies, an Easter-time job fair drew just 400 people. Applications did bounce up this year, but not nearly enough to reverse a grave trend that summer employers have noticed well beyond the Jersey Shore.

“It is getting harder to find students that will work,” says Toby Wolf, director of marketing at the boardwalk. “Each year it’s getting harder and harder. None of us has been able to pinpoint why. Is it a change in society as a whole?”

The numbers are not encouraging. Forty years ago, nearly 60 percent of U.S. teenagers were working or looking for work during the peak summer months. Last year, just 35 percent were.

Read the whole story

The North Tahoe Business Association has installed 15 original art banners on the streetlights throughout downtown Kings Beach.

The art banners are throughout the one-mile commercial core, interspersed between promotional-style banners.

The new art banners are the result of a call to artists issued by NTBA, inviting emerging and established artists, young and old, to submit their designs. Fifty-six art piece concepts of diverse subject matter, mediums and styles were submitted for jury selection.

The works represent art created by pre-kindergarten and elementary students from local schools, as well as by professional local and regional artists. The featured art banner artists are: Jude Bischoff, Mike Bond, Anastiscia Chantler-Lang, Jennifer Eyzaguirre, Sue Gross, Pamela Hunt Lee, Kings Beach Elementary School students, Kaio Martin, Cathy McClelland, Tahoe Expedition Academy Pre-K Class, and Carrie White.

By Tamara Burns

It’s that time of year where heat-related illnesses are on the rise for locals and visitors alike. Heat illnesses include dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Tamara Burns

It is important to understand the differences, especially when exercising in an area like Lake Tahoe with higher altitudes and higher temperatures. 

Dehydration occurs when the body does not have enough fluid to carry out normal functions. Young children, older adults, and people with chronic illnesses are most at risk. Common causes include intense diarrhea, vomiting, or excessive sweating.  Not drinking enough water during hot weather or exercise also may cause dehydration. 

Mild to moderate dehydration symptoms include:

·       Dry, sticky mouth

·       Fatigue

·       Feeling thirsty

·       Headache

·       Not urinating

·       Dry skin

·       Constipation

·       Dizzy/lightheaded.

You may reverse dehydration by drinking more fluids, but severe dehydration requires medical treatment. 

Heat exhaustion can occur after a prolonged dehydration period. Triggers that cause the body to overheat include extended time in higher temperatures, and strenuous activity. Symptoms may appear suddenly, or develop over time, particularly after extended periods of exercise. 

Possible symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

·       Confusion

·       Headache

·       Muscle cramps

·       Nausea

·       Pale skin

·       Fatigue

·       Rapid heartbeat.

Treatment for dehydration and heat exhaustion is straight forward. If you, or anyone else, has mild or moderate symptoms of a heat-related illness, I recommend:

·       Drink plenty of fluids (avoid caffeine and alcohol)

·       Take a cool shower/bath/sponge bath

·       Remove any tight or unnecessary clothing,

If this does not provide relief within an hour, contact a doctor because heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke.

Heat stroke is the most serious heat injury. If the body’s core reaches 104 degrees, this is a medical emergency. If you suspect someone has heat stroke, also called sunstroke, call 911 immediately. Help cool the patient until paramedics arrive. The National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) released new guidelines in June suggesting that heat stroke victims need immediate cooling before going to a hospital.  

Symptoms of heat stroke:

·       Fainting (may be first sign)

·       Nausea

·       Altered mental state: person agitated, aggressive, or confused

·       Dizziness/lightheadedness

·       Red, hot, and dry skin

·       Rapid heartbeat

·       Muscle weakness, cramps

·       Throbbing headache

·       Seizures.

The safest approach is prevention and education. In hot weather, drink fluids regularly to help prevent dehydration and heat-related illness. Avoid waiting until you feel thirsty, you may be dehydrated.  Monitor fluid loss during hot weather, illness, or exercise, and consume liquids to replace water loss. Sports beverages can replace salts and minerals after you sweat. Wear sun protection, including a brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Take breaks in the shade and wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.

Tamara Burns is a nurse at Barton Family Medicine.

By Judi Dash, Los Angeles Times
 
Would you like sand with that drink, beach boy or girl?

Probably not. You can keep the grains out of your cup with the Spiker Sand Drink Holder.

The bottom half of this 8-inch-tall by 4-inch-diameter heavy-duty plastic cup holder has four integrated slats that anchor it into the sand with a twist of your wrist, steadying and elevating the cup.

The Spiker is just the right size for a can of beer or soda, pint or quart bottle or tapered plastic cup.

Read the whole story

Whittell High School standout student athlete Nic Buccholz was honored July 12 at the American Century Championship with the 8th annual Gene Upshaw scholarship.

Buccholz, a five-sport athlete, graduated this year with a 4.09 grade point average. He plans to study biology at UNR in the fall, complete the pre-med course of study and continue to medical school. During his high school career, Buccholz played football, basketball, baseball, golf, and soccer.

Upshaw was an Oakland Raider, NFL Hall of Famer and executive director of the NFL Players Association.

Buccholz was selected for exemplifying Upshaw’s defining characteristics of leadership, community service, athletic and academic excellence. The $5,000 college scholarship is funded equally by NBC Sports and Edgewood Companies.

Tahoe Art League’s 11th annual Artist Studio Tour will be  July 28, 29, 30 and Au. 4, 5 and 6. 

This year 49 local artists will be showing and selling their inspired creations at 24 studios located all around the South Shore.

The free, self-guided tour will include works of fine art including oil, watercolor, and acrylic paintings, jewelry, ceramics, metal and other sculptures and more. 

It’s an opportunity to meet the artists and catch some of them in the act as they work on their latest creative endeavors.

For more info, go online.

The annual state of the lake address will be given by Geoff Schladow on July 27.

Schladow runs the Tahoe Environmental Research Center in Incline Village.

The presentation will focus on the most important factors that affected the health of Lake Tahoe last year.

Registration for this event is required. The program will begin at 6pm, with refreshments and no-host bar from 5:30-6pm at 291 Country Club Drive on the campus of Sierra Nevada College.

Seating is open at 5:30pm to guests who have preregistered, open seating starts at 5:50pm. A $5 suggested donation will be collected at the door.