Old Year New year

Let's say goodby to 2010. It was a good year. Maybe not the best year, but a good one nonetheless. We'll look back sometime in the future as we are wont to do and recall those moments that stay bound up in memory: significant life events that affect our own lives, lives of family and friends, and some events that are thrust at us from the many media outlets that we seem to encounter now in an endless procession,

For the future: we wish all the members of our little community a happy and prosperous and healthy NEW YEAR 2011.

Griffeth Edward Tully,1936-2010

We sadly report the passing of long time Alpine Meadows resident, Griff Tully. Husband of the late Gayle fry Tully, Griff spent many summers around Tahoma/ Homewood. He and Gayle traveled extensively, helping international organizations provide medical assistance to the poor in Guatemala and Honduras. He will be sorely missed by his 3 grown children and his 10 grandchildren. He practiced law and served as a public defender in Alameda county until his retirement.
He will be missed by all his friends in the Lake Tahoe area
Rest in Peace

It is a submarine

The activities of the manned submersible were mentioned in today's Chronicle. Tom Stienstra noted that the 2-man sub made more than 40 dives in Tahoe and Fallen Leaf lake. On several dives, the crew noted ancient submerged trees rooted at depths of 100 feet. These trees suggest what may have been drought many years ago.
This spring's submersible missions may find even more evidence as this vehicle will dive deeper and actually take samples from the lake bottom for analysis. Results could provide significant data to support evidence of past droughts.
Stay tuned, our science minister will keep tabs on all diving activities, especially those in the neighborhood of Tahoma/Homewood.

TRPA Steps up Enforcement

Our dear friends at TRPA are at it again: smashing a moth with the proverbial sledgehammer. To wit- a boat-towing tourist--THE LIFE BLOOD OF THE TAHOE BASIN- was fined $5,000 for launching his ski boat w/o the required inspection last summer. The 29 yr. old owner would have suffered a higher fine, but that was the total of all his available funds. I wonder what they would have fined Larry Ellison? No doubt a figure north of a million dollars. You have to love these power mad bureaucrats: reason nor justice are found anywhere near their thinking. They are on a mission, as they have been for the forty years of their miserable existence: we shall prevail at any and all cost, nothing will stand in our way. Sounds a bit like a Frankenstein monster with unlimited power supply. Oh, good.
Sure the clams and mussels pose a threat to lake long term health. But, is this reaction justified? Hardly. But the environmentalists continue their dominance of any and all debates without regard for reason or cost.
Congress may take a serious look at TRPA and put it out of its misery sooner rather than later.

Minister Of Latin American Affairs

Tahoma's Minister of Latin American Affairs has returned from Brazil for a brief holiday stopover. He will enjoy spending time with family and friends, and perhaps get in some alpine activities he's been known to enjoy. The Mayor expects he will put on the slats and hit Alpine Meadows for some overdue powder skiing. The mayor has extended an invitation to the Minister to attend a lakefront meeting at the newly reopened West Shore Cafe on Dec. 26th,'10. It should be fun.
We expect to hear stories of the recent election of a replacement for President DeSilva in Brazil. The closely contested event resulted in the election of another female head of state in Latin America. Lula's replacement was hand picked and should provide a smooth transition for the new president.
The minister confirmed that he will be spending most of the spring in Washington,DC, that den of vipers and jackals. Fortunately, he will spend most of his time at the OAS, the Org. of American States, the Western Hemispheres' oldest international organization. He will provide insights from his yearlong stay in Sao Paolo and vicinity. He will also participate in many seminars, learning from other experts on Latin American affairs. This experience will serve him well as Minister of Foreign Affairs: South America.

Holiday Greetings

From the Mayor's Office:
Enjoy the holiday
Relax
Be Happy
Stay warm
Join friends and family
Embrace your guests
Spread the wealth of Good Cheer
Be Grateful

You're allowed to look over one's shoulder during the last week of 2010: gloss over the failures,
expand on the successes, blur the sadness, focus on the upbeat.
Now, turn to look ahead- the great unknown!

Submarine sighting

At a technology convention at Moscone center in San Francisco last week, a private company from Alameda, CA, announced plans to send an unmanned submersible under the Antarctic ice pack to gather samples and collect specimens to aid scientists in their quest for answers to climatic variables some call global warming.
In preparation for this event, the company announced that Lake Tahoe will be the site of tests on the function and operation of the vehicle at depths found in the lake basin. The plan includes investigation of the McKinney Bay collapse that geologists call the most significant event in the basin for the last 55,000 years. This collapse caused a seismic wave,or tsunami, that rippled across the surface, impacting the Nevada shoreline several times as the counter waves rippled west.
This series of tests will occur some time in March 2011, off Tahoma/Homewood. It appears that this submersible will be a boon to data collection for the Lake research center at Incline.
Full details are in today's Chronicle, or sfgate.com/tahoe

Lunar Eclipse

This is a special bulletin: within an hour, a total eclipse of the winter solstice full moon will occur over North America. This event is a rare occurrence for the winter solstice. Weather-cloud cover/visibility - is the main ingredient for the complete viewing experience. It may be partly visible, time will tell. Observations will be made all the way through to Central America.
Good Luck

rain or snow ? which is it

Well, fellow citizens, Mother nature is having some decision issues. Not uncommon at this season: will we have the light, white stuff or not? It appears that high up-light stuff, down low, the wet stuff. And so it goes.
The weekend left something to be desired. Not a lot of adventurous souls willing to take the time or effort to challenge the elements. better off to go shopping, this last full weekend of sales opportunity. Retail outlets are watching the weather, hoping for improved conditions, but, not much to cheer about. It seems the weather will be difficult fot at least a week, maybe more.
So, many events will see limited attendance and many will be canceled owing to the forecasts. Nothing new here for inhabitants of our lake basin.
Mayor's recommendation: add a log to the fire, grab a book off the shelf, pour a beverage suitable, and relax.
Christmas caroling has been canceled in downtown Tahoma for Tuesday. Perhaps it can be postponed to a later weekday, but it doesn't look good.
Drive safely, stay alert, keep your tank topped off, and your firewood dry and handy.

49er golden day

You had to be there. The 49ers of the NFL West Div. scored more points Sunday than in any game since 2003. Is this a breakout? Doubt it. Pundits say"Don't get your hopes up". Despite the lopsided victory, this team is not Joe Montana's team, not Steve Young's, nor Bill Walsh's either.
But, it was a fine day at the 'Stick. The day started with typical low fog surrounding the stadium. tailgaters were not hindered in the least and had their grills going in the lots by 10am, or sooner. The kickoff came @1:05pm and the Seahawks didn't know what happened for the next 45 minutes as the '9ers walked all over the folks from Seattle,forcing 3 interceptions resulting in 49er scores. The final was 40-21 , and it wasn't that close. Faithful fans didn't stick around as the final minutes ticked away. The sun came out about 2:30pm and put a glow on the south side stands. It felt good after the fog blanket burned off.
Let's wait until the end of the final game before deciding on the quality of the players and coaches. We wouldn't want to rush to judgment.
The Tahoma Sport and Fitness guru procured the tickets from a local fan who couldn't attend the event. We were happy to help out.

Red Fox Where

State biologists have reported another verified siting of the reclusive inhabitant of higher Sierra locations. Digital cameras rigged to be tripped by skittish foragers got results when a Sierra red Fox got within range and inspected the bait bag hung out to lure the nervous little fellows to the trip. With the photo on the front page of the Chron, it appears more sitings could be in the offing as scientists make efforts to identify more species members. Many scientists felt the Red Fox was on the way to extinction, but these recent sitings suggest otherwise.
So, I would ask the members of the tahoma family to be on the lookout for this fourlegged nocturnal inhabitant of our high Sierra neighborhood. You might see one when you least expect it. Remember: long, bushy tail, long, pointy snout, black nose, not aggressive, eats small animals and rodents. If you see one, whip out the cell and grab the photo. Send to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Biology Dept., or drop off at the mayor's office in Tahoma.
The article is under the byline of Kelly Zito, and is on sfgate.com

Envoy from Brazil

The Mayor's representative in Brazil has returned to the US and the basin with much information. He will be debriefed and a report will be prepared for distribution to locals interested in South America's largest economy and South America's future.
Stay tuned!

Front page bear

In Wednesday's Chronicle, the front page displayed a scene from inside the basin: the result of a human/ bear confrontation. The outcome a foregone conclusion: bear enters human space, confronts human w/ weapon, bear loses.
Bacchis' restaurant, an institution on the North Shore, has been broken into 4 times according to the owner. It seems that local bruins have had experience in the past at this location. One can't fault the animal for trying to access a necessary commodity: food. This event, while news worthy to some, is but a small footnote to an ongoing story of two expanding populations: residents and bears. Figures released recently indicate bears have tripled in the state in the last 30 years to north of 30k. California has grown from 33.3 million souls to 38.3 millions in the last 10 years. Granted, most of the growth of permanent residents is outside of the basin. The numbers illustrate the obvious: more bears + more people= more encounters.
And so, expect to read more such stories. Solution: be prepared to deal with any such encounter when in the basin. Carry bear spray when hiking, always. Harass the bears from a safe distance. Don't ever treat them as friendly cartoon characters but as the wild animals they are. Perhaps they, the bears need some training to instill an inbred fear of the two-legged, upright animal.
Residents have installed bear proof garbage cans, closing off a former source of food. The bears have moved on: to the lake front homes, to food purveyors of all sorts, and into the main portions of unoccupied and occupied structures. Will counties require bars on doors? Bars on windows? Be prepared for new requests of " bear control" methods within the basin.

Black bear siting

Rangers at the Golden Gate National Seashore reported a bear on the beach in the vicinity of Point Reyes last week. He was not tracked and the source was deemed reliable. There has not been a bear sighting at Pt. Reyes in over 70 years. Perhaps it's global warming, or bears hitchhiking, or bears traveling on vacation to the beach.
Now I must carry a bear bell when hiking in the seashore area of Marin/Sonoma. One more thing to carry, along with my GPS unit, water bottle, daypack, whistle, light stick, sunscreen, DEET, pocket knife, wind breaker, sun hat, polarized sunglasses, energy bar, guide to edibles on the trail, and notebook.
I don't worry about the bruins, really, it's a large park and there's plenty of empty space for each of us and the furry fellow(s).
So, keep your eye out for Smokie sans hat.

Tahoe Lake Temperature

Now hear this: the water in the lake is getting warmer. According to scientists, satellite sensors have been collecting data on the world's largest lakes, some 367 of them. The data is recorded from a night time reading and stored for analysis. Figures released indicate a 0.81 degree temp. rise per decade over the last 40 years.
Tahoe, uniquely, has had a temp rise somewhat less: about 1 degree over the last 40 years. So, we local folks have been correct in assuming that the swimming experience(during summer months) has been different these past few decades. Why when I was a child, going in the water above your knees was unheard of- one couldn't survive such an effort-too,too cold! Now, not so cold. Over at Sierra Nevada College, researchers have been studying these data points and they are thinking deeply about the serious implications of them.
Could it affect the fish, the color, the forests, the bears? Maybe this temp rise is causing the bears to get a little crazy in the basin. Who knows? It must be something that makes them break into homes around the shoreline. More research is on the horizon.
Keep your eye out.

Football Mania in Reno

The game was hyped well in advance of the kickoff and fan interest was at a fever pitch. UN Reno's Wolfpack, ranked #19, were playing unbeaten, untied Boise State, their near neighbor to the north. No team has been able to play with Boise State and pundits made UNR a 14 point underdog, perhaps being generous with that figure. It was billed as the most important football game ever played in the State of Nevada. Heard on local radio talk shows recently, UNR's coach praised his players and the whole team for impressive results throughout the season. He stated without reservation, this is the best team he has ever put together. Starting with his quarterback, Krepenich, he lauded the work ethic of his players. He gracefully acknowledged the strengths of Boise St. and admitted the undefeated run of 24 games was impressive. But, his team was well prepared and had a game plan to counter the efforts of their northern rivals.
And so, with field temps near freezing, and a packed house, the Wolfpack began the game with high hopes. The local fans who attended and those who watched on TV were in for an emotional rollercoaster of a ride as the hands of Fate and Lady Luck passed from one shoulder to the next, creating euphoria and depression and despair, within moments of one another.
As in any hotly contested game, it's the unlikely event(s) that create the drama: the wrong way bounce of a ball, the slip and fall of a runner, the last second tip of a pass. In this game, filled with a surplus of such events, the fans could hardly hold their breathe much more. The final minutes lasted forever, and for UN Reno, just long enough. When the Wolves tied the score with a touchdown pass reception with barely a minute remaining, it appeared overtime was the next phase of the contest. However, Boise QB McKellon, launched a missile to the fleet-footed Titus what's his name that he caught on the 9-yd line. In came the kicker to ice the game and preserve the winstreak and keep Boise St. in the running for the BCS Nat Championship game. With a perfect position between the goalposts, he shanked his 26yd kick just right of the post.
Now, Reno had a prayer, another chance for a win.
In college ball, each team has a chance, starting at the opponents 25yd line. Boise got close and lined up for the field goal. The kicker returned with a shot at redemption. With another perfect lineup, he overcompensated for his earlier effort and shanked the ball wide left. The fans went wild.
Now the Wolfpack saw daylight at the end of this long and torturous path: get close enough for the kicker. Tony Hernandez came in and put the ball through the middle of the uprights. What a finish! A game for the millenium. Happiness bordering on delerium brought the fans to the field to embrace their gladiators who withstood the challenge and rose to the occasion. A win for Reno and its citizens. Finally, something to cheer about. Something to ward off the malaise of recession and economic uncertainty. Something to lift the spirits of locals worried about the future and their ability to survive. Now anything and everything is possible, again.
What a game.

Wonderful White Stuff

The Right Stuff is the white stuff, falling in copious amounts throughout the basin and its surroundings. Great news for all of us here in God's Country. Whenever the slopes are covered before Thanksgiving and the pattern is holding, we are happy.
It appears, as the snow continues to fall, that most ski areas will be up and running through the entire week. This is out holiday bonus, to be sure.
Drive carefully, don't forget school buses have students on board, and road conditions will vary, place to place. Many visitors will be making a stop here and there and everywhere so give them a break: maybe they don't have your level of expertise driving in the snow.
BUYING FIREWOOD
Remember a cord of wood = 4'X4'X8'=128 cubic feet! Not 100cu. ft., not 110 cu.ft. 128cu.ft!
Measure the pieces for individual length: if under 16", you're not getting a full cord and the seller has to make up for the difference in price or wood. I've yet to find a seller who provides a real cord of wood as advertised. Know any?

Movie Review ---Inside Job

So, you've wondered about the Recession and where its roots are, who started it and who benefited
from its transfer of wealth. Well, wonder no more! The film, "Inside Job" lays it all out there and has pictures,too. All the familiar faces are there: Henry "Hank" Paulson, Bill Clinton, Lloyb Blankfein, Sandy Weill, Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Tim Geithner, Larry Sommers, Robert Rubin, and a host of academics too numerous to mention.
Our esteemed congressmen, both senators and representatives do not get a pass here. Although they appear at several hearings putting the financiers on the hot seat, they look foolish when compared to their positions in the recent past when they passed laws removing controls on the banks and institutions that brought us down.
The revolving door through which many of them passed from Wall St. to the White House and Congress is clearly exposed. The lobbyist groups are highlighted as partners in crime as they lavished the funds on the members of Congress to bend them to their will. It is a sad testimony to the modern political environment we have to live under. Certainly Obama is aware but it seems he has little spine to tackle the real problems, ie. the laws removed and those that took their place. Perhaps he would look at the 2010 elections and think of some new approach to our pressing problems: financial deregulation and how to fix it.
But, when you consider that Larry Sommers and Hank Paulson were his 2 closest advisors, it does not give you much hope.
The 3 rating agencies(Moodys, S&P,Fitch) are clearly in cahoots with all the players,large and small. They forever stained their reputations by selling their souls for the almighty dollar. All the CDO's were rated by these scumbags prior to their sale to unsuspecting institutional investors(retail). That they in turn, had no clue as to what these instruments were or what their contents contained, was not a factor in the ratings assigned. Hence, the melt down in '08, when the insurer, AIG, could not pay off on some of their obligations to do so.
The academics at Columbia, Harvard, and other institutions of "higher" learning, looked like hired hands of the Wall St. bankers. Show me an instrument(derivative, CDO, mortgage tranche,etc.) and I'll have a favorable opinion published in no time, just send money.
Apparently, greed is the new god of Wall St., again.
Any hopeful signs? No, not really. No new regulatory environment has emerged other than the Dodd-Frank bill passed last month. What a joke!
Stay tuned for more turmoil, anxiety, deflation, and chaos. And you thought Iraq/Afghanistan were problems.

SF Restaurant Pick

In need of some late night fare? Try the Wayfare Tavern at 558 Sacramento St, near Montgomery, and Leidesdorf Alley. In tge quarters of the former Rubicon bistro, the tavern offers a great selection of hearty foods, either as entrees or appetizers. The mayor tried the Cheese ans Mac-excellent, the Braised Shortrib on Frittes, and a house salad. Washed down with a Anchoe Steam, it satisfied a hunger caried through the Italian films seen around the corner.
The upstairs has a billiard room/banquet room and another bar. The decor features dark wood paneling . and subtle lighting. It must have been girls' night out as the Mayor noticed a distinct super majority of ladies occupying most of the booths and bar tables.
The wait staff did a fine job and food was delivered with good timing- right away!.
Recommended

Movies Movies Italian Movies

The New Italian Cinema Film Festival is finishing up this week in SF at the Embarcadero Cinema. Two films were on the screen last evening, both entertaining. Producers, actors, and script writers were on hand to answer questions and provide flesh and blood to their presentations of recent works. The films," Marriage and Other Disasters", and "18 Years Later" were recently produced in Italia by young actor/writer/ producers. M & O D was produced by a woman, M. Majo. The other by Edoardo Leo, who acted in the film as a costar.
"18...." was a road trip with a tie to an Anglicized brother of a Romano he hasn't seen in 18 years since the accidental death of their Mother. They head off together to Scilla on the west coast of northern Calabria, on a mission. They are driving a restored British Morgan that had belonged to their recently deceased Father. The editing is crisp and the acting is excellent. The storyline holds one's interest and the ending is a satisfactory wrap. And the coastal scenery is an added bonus.
" Marriage...".is a light-hearted poke at modern marriage in Italy and the reality of some relationships that develop long term and short term. It's fun and the actors play convincing roles throughout.
The festival continues to display a knack for screening well received films that are warmly appreciated by San Franciscans, year after year.

Science at the lake

After talking about for sometime, the Mayor finally made it over to Incline Village to check out the Lake Tahoe Research Center at Sierra Nevada College. The building that houses the center is on the southwest portion of the campus, steps away from the library and a short walk from the student center. I was greeted by one of two docents working the guest desk for Veterans' Day. For the next hour the Mayor was given an overview of the work being done by the staff, a collection of scientists, students, and professionals, all dedicated to enhancing and expanding the basis of knowledge of our world class resource.
Starting with the static display of the stern portion of a vessel, complete with instrumentation, the docent described the data collection effort that results from the sampling and observing of the lake itself. I was able to handle a Secchi dish, used for clarity measurement(s). It was explained that the observations are taken every 10 days throughout the year, and now they are taken at the same location(better data sets!). The water sampling tube was available for handling also.
From here we went to the lab mock up for an explanation of the type of aquatic life being studied. We were shown the quagga mussel, the manila clam, and a shrimp, all non-nativr species affecting the lake environment. Videos were used to assist the docents with their efforts. A few visitors were then shown the lab, and others the 3D movie of the McKinney Bay collapse and it's tsunami that washed the Nevada shoreline about 50000 years ago. Very interesting. Our docent, Fred, gave detailed descriptions of the particulars on the screen. I asked about the work of the submarine that made an appearance last summer in the lake. He explained that the vessel is privately owned and supports private projects and is not part of current research at the lake.
The experience was a fine introduction to the research center, and it definitely warrants another visit, especially when the labs are humming with activities.

Bears aware beware

Locals in the vicinity of PDQ market report bear break-ins between Homewood and Tahoma. It seems the bruins have discovered/learned that lakefront properties are: 1) full of food,2) usually empty during the fall carbo loading season, and 3) entry is available through many portals.
A large member of the Bruin community was seen days ago strolling down Wilson st. during the day, very relaxed, just out for a look and sniff.
Keep your bear boxes closed, dog food locked up or tossed, and keep your weather eye out. Boreal's parking lot was half full this morning, a good sign-skiers are aware.
Traffic was at a standstill at the 680/80 junction in Fairfield as weekenders headed for?????
Perhaps a few are on their way up.

Snow falling early

Locals were greeted with 6" of early powder, giving the morning a winter look. The forecast is for improving weather, so it won't stick. Controlled burns continue to give the basin the look of midwinter mornings with low, smoky bands defining the Rim Trail, about mid level between lake shore and peaks.
The quiet time is definitely here, with little traffic and empty parking places . Even the Firesign has ample parking midmorning. So, look to the upcoming events on the calendar, especially the big ones, scattered far and wide. Ski swaps are still out there, check the Sierra Sun for particulars.
Rec'd the Tattler today, contained minutes of the last summer neighborhood meeting.
Wax your boards, get ready.

Job fairs

Job Fairs are popping up around the basin as resorts get ready for the season. Squaw says they'll look closer to home for help, given the high unemployment rate in the county. Usually, they'd hire seasonal workers from a variety of foreign source countries. We'll see this season.
As the elections fade and reality pursues the local economy, businesses will do their best to stay afloat. many local eateries are offering 2 for one meals(or half price) to stimulate some action. Does it work? Maybe, since it's been done routinely in the past.
Smoke can be seen in various places as crews jumpstart wood piles, anticipating rain in the forecast. Hopefully, things will stay under their control.
Truckee Fire Dist. Board has a new look after the votes were tallied. No doubt the past actions, especially regarding the former chief, lead to a voter backlash. Perhaps they needed a new take on emergency medical care for the district. Stay tuned.

New World series Champs

Contrary to popular opinion, the San Francisco Giants made a mockery of the Texas rangers and their vaunted hitters. Ron Washington, manager of the rangers lauded Bruce Bochy and his feisty mix of kids, veterans, late arrivals, and back office staff that cobbled together a winner: their first Series victory in 56 years. Their last win was in 1954 in New York when they defeated the Cleveland Indians.
So now, the ghosts of 1962, 1989, and 2002 can be buried. No more will those haunting ghosts dominate collective thinking. Willie Mays lived long enough to bear witness to the victory. Some of his teammates will share the moment as the kids celebrate. When they return from Texas, the City will organize appropriate ceremonies to mark this historic day.
Save your newspapers for the grandchildren, who knows when they'll win again? It's never easy, just ask the new York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox or the Florida Marlins.
Enjoy the moment baseball fans.
WestSide Pizza had its share of fans on scene to relish the victory in Game 5 as Tim Lincecum won for the 2nd time during the series. What a remarkable athlete! MVP Edgar Renteria, a native of Colombia, overcame his injuries to deliver the game winning home run scoring 2 of his teammates Cody Ross and Juan Uribe after they had been advanced on a beautiful bunt by Aubrey Huff. It was definitely a team effort. Closer, Brian Wilson, using his arm with attitude delivered the final 3 outs. Great game, great Series.
Go Giants.

Vote 2010

Well, did you vote yet? There's still time, until 8pm, PDT. No matter where you stand, even if you like the OLD Retread for Governor, vote. The more the merrier. Statistics even applaud the idea that Democracy benefits when people vote. Imagine that.
El Dorado County has been beaten down of late, due to some real estate/ property tax woes. But, with some time, and voters action, we will come out of this recession.
See you at the polls.

Miracle Giants

The Giants have done it again. They have put the rangers on notice that they must overcome considerable odds to deny them a championship. Bruce Bochy's brats and bums, bearded and beaded, will be gunning for a finale win tomorrow-in Texas. Nobody could have written this script. It will make a great story, from cover to cover.
Watch history, live, from Arlington, Texas.

Happy Halloween

Snow! Yes, a little of the white stuff made it below 8K'. So, Boreal Ski Resort opened---- sort of.
One run does not a ski resort make, but, hey, they got some ink in the print media and that's something.
Rug rats were seen scampering about various locales around sundown. Lots of facepaint and headgear to go with all kinds of get ups.
Maybe this year will be like last year- lots of snow and at the right time. We'll see.

Giants do it first

With a standing room only crowd, and the weather threatening to rain, delirious fans watched their odd lot Giants trash the RANGERS ace, Cliff Lee, driving him to the dugout in the 5th. The game had many high points for the fans, including three straight doubles off the bat of Freddie Sanchez, the agile second baseman.
With rain a strong possibility for tomorrow's start, it's a nice beginning for the home team that hasn't been in the series since '02, when it was all about Bonds.
Go Giants!

FEAR THE BEARD

World Series 2010

The Mayor congratulates the SF Giants on winning the 2010 Nat. League Championship-their 1st in 8 years, and only the 4th since arriving in SF in 1958. Game 6 was a nail biter, right down to the last pitch. Brian Wilson and his beard prevailed, despite putting a couple of men on. He relieved Tim Lincecum in the 8th and got a key double play with help from Aubrey Huff at first base. Turning that play put the Giants in the driver's seat, up by 1 run in the bottom of the 9th. Having thrown only a few pitches to finish the 8th, Wilson was still fresh when he took the mound in the 9th.
Drama preceded the end of the game, when in the top of the 9th, the Giants loaded the bases after Charley Manuel, the Phillies manager decided to walk Buster Posey . That brought Brian Wilson to the plate, a rare appearance for the closer. Not to be a statue during his appearance, he made contact and grounded out to second to end the threat, keeping the Giant lead at 1 run.
Juan Uribe's solo homer would stand the bottom of the inning and the Giants handed the Phillies another rare loss at home. So, the Phillies fans went home with the long face of a loser.
The Giants, meanwhile, celebrated as best they could 2500 miles from their home by the Bay. The improbable winners of the NLCS could hardly restrain their collective joy and relief that there would be no 7th game. A road win under the circumstances was almost too good to be true. Cody Ross was the hands down winner of the series MVP.
Now, for the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. Tickets, probably north of $1000 per each. Good luck.

Bear stats 2010

In Sunday's Chronicle, writer Tom Stienstra talks about California's expanding population of ursine creatures. He points out that it appears that the back country population of bears is stable and apparently non-threatening to hikers and backpackers: the bears avoid contact and survive on a normal diet found in the back country. On the other hand, bears in the Tahoe Basin and in the National parks behave quite differently. Those bears associate food with people. Find a human, find a meal, maybe as benign as dog/cat food.
His stats imply what Tahoma residents know already: bears are becoming better burglars, able to get through doors, windows, and sheds without difficulty. According to Stienstra, 40 bears have been killed this year, 29 on the Nevada side, 11 on the California side, either destroyed after repeated food raids or hit by cars, far higher than prievious years.
His complete article can be found in B Section, Oct. 24,2010. , @ sfgate.com.

Grape Harvest

The harvesting of the 2010 crop reached its peak this week as growers scrambled to haul in the bounty from the vineyards. With serious rain forecast for the weekend, the fields were hopping with activity from the Sonoma Coast all the way to the Central valley and everything in between.

Bin haulers were all over the highways with their loads, heading to the crushers for a quick dump and a return for more. Early word is good news for growers and wine makers. The late heat provided some hot days, concentrating sugars and removing moisture, depending on exact microclimate conditions.
My grapes, both of them, tasted very sweet. After a final pruning, weeding, and grooming, we left the vines to themselves. We'll observe the situation and make appropriate midwinter changes to improve the rootstock come springtime.

Go Giants

Today is Game 6 of the NLCS. The first 5 games have been exciting, decided by only 1 or 2 runs. Both pitching staffs have worked hard, with many stints lasting several innings. Some stints only one or two outs!
Now the series are back in Philadelphia, home of the cheesesteak sandwich and the Liberty Bell. And the Eagles of the NFL. It will be interesting, given the Phillies home record over the last 3 seasons. But, the Giants have proven themselves to be a resilient team, able to come back and hold on. Can Jonathan S. work some magic? Can Oswalt carry his team to a Game 7?

Don't forget the start time has changed because the rangers beat the Yankees in Arlington in Game 6, so today's game is the only game. 5 O'clock start. Watch it.

Early Winter

Looks like some snow may fall lakeside this weekend. R U ready? The end of October can be difficult when it comes to predictions, but mountain folk know the mountains- weather changes!
Bring in some wood,, stock up on fuel and enjoy some sports on the tube.
For cheap entertainment- read your Official Election Pamphlet. You'd be amazed at what you can learn.

Gerrymandering California

The Mayor's office would like to inform locals of some very important issues on the upcoming ballot. Two propositions, among the group of, require some attention on the part of voters. Only 2 years ago, voters passed an initiative to take redistricting, in California away from seated pols. The Dems don't like this situation because it makes them vulnerable in any given election. With vulnerability comes discomfort. This is always the goal of responsible voters: make pols uncomfortable, because if you don't, they get fat, sloppy, disrespectful, and they feel entitled to their "place". NOT GOOD !
The 2 Props are : PROP 20 and Prop 27. Simply put- VOTE YES ON 20 and VOTE NO on 27.
Let's review: YES on 20 and Vote NO on 27. Got it?

Why yes on 20? It takes district line drawing for congress away from politicians and places the responsibility into the hands of a citizen committee that has no interest in the outcome other than ensuring equitable representation : IN EACH DISTRICT.

Nancy PELOSI doesn't like this idea. It places her POWER in jeopardy. Like any power hungry pol, she treats threats with direct action. She and her fellows placed Prop 27 on the ballot to confuse voters and to allow her to continue in the role as the nation's ultimate power broker. Schooled at her father's knee in Maryland all those many years ago, she honed her skills in none other than the liberal haven- San Francisco, home to the most embarrassing collection of Dems on the planet.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat recommends voter approval of Prop 20 and rejection of Prop 27. They say there is a public price to pay for letting legislators draw their own districts, in effect choosing their voters.(Aug. 29, 2010).

Here are 2 web sites which offer more data and information explaining the situation with and without gerrymandering by politicians.
Yes20No27.org
gerrymanderingmovie.com

Many organizations favor Prop 20, but few union locals will oppose Frau Pelosi. Supporters include AARP(Cal),NFIB(Cal) assoc. of indep. businesses,and Common Cause, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Assoc.

The movie about gerrymandering in the State of California will open in select theaters this month, October. Or you can watch it on the web, or they'll send you a DVD.

One more time: VOTE YES ON 20 VOTE NO ON 27

October equals baseball

The Giants have won, to many a surprised fan, the division series, beating the Atlanta Braves, 3 games to 1. All the games were decided by 1 run, and they showcased some terrific pitching. Winning 2 games in Atlanta was not often done by visiting teams during the 2010 regular season. In fact, the Braves have the best winning record at home in the major leagues. But, as fans know an understand, it's all pitching.
And now, it's on to Philly, for the NLCS game 1. And, we'll see some good pitching.
With Indian Summer in full bloom- warm, clear days, punctuated by crisp, cool nights, life is good in the basin.

1099 forms for everybody

Well, Children, are you sharpening your pencils? No? Shame on you. Barbara B., Diane F., Nancy Pelosi, and all the other little Dems who voted(through the reconciliation process) to pass ObamaCare, want you to be good little accountants. That's right boys and girls: accountants. You see, rules of Obamacare require us, as in ALL OF US, to send forms to the government everytime we make a payment of $600. or more to anyone and everyone for goods OR services. ObamaCare doesn't trust YOU or Them, so he wants to know because he's curious about where you spend your after tax dollars and to whom they're are going.
This no doubt is a lead up to complete control of ALL spending, especially, private spending outside of Federally controlled institutions.
More to come. Can't wait.
The Minister of Finance will meet with the Mayor to discuss a currency reform measure for the 2014 ballot in El Dorado County that may preempt Federal reporting rules by banning all paper in El Dorado County.

Helicopters at Emerald Bay

You Tube posted a video of not one but 2 military choppers touching the surface of the water in Emerald bay on Aug. 13. Was it part of an exercise or just an impromptu happening? The local military authorities are investigating and 2 pilots are preparing appropriate responses.S

Good Vibrations

Saturday, Sept. 25
Do you hear that noise, that rumbling, that staccato pop announcing the arrival/passage of convoys of motorcycles? That was Highway 89, all day Friday and all day Saturday, the 25th. As the Mayor was working on a home project, outside(winterization, part IV), the noise level was very distracting. I thought it was a brief passing, but, the persistence and decibel level soon led me to believe otherwise. Sure enough, word was out that participants in Reno's good vibrations had mentioned the beauty of the Highway 89 corridor from Myers north to Tahoe City. As a result, local Tahomans were rattled by a continuous roar both days. No doubt, the internet played a hand in this congregation of bikers at Tahoe and Reno. For many, I'm sure it was a first look at our spectacular surroundings; for some, a timely return to a familiar backdrop.
This event was followed by the lakeshore Tahoe Marathon, run Sunday morning. This great event required some driving restrictions, easily absorbed by our community. This running event is one of many fall events that bring many visitors to the basin. Congrats to the platoons of organizers, volunteers, and participants that make the effort to ensure success.

Proposition 19 State Ballot

Proposition 19
So, here we are again. Do we desire prohibition or education/control? Most citizens would agree that prohibition doesn't work; and it's corollary, the war on drugs is a failure, and an expensive one at that. The SF Chronicle editorialized that prop. 19 is poorly written. They didn't mention the reams of laws involving prohibition, the deteriorating court system designed to deal with the violators, or the costs borne by taxpayers to house the convicted felons sentenced for growing, selling, using marijuana.
Can reason/reality prevail? Can California voters lead the nation away from failure to a common sense approach? Now is the time to vote yes, to vote for sanity instead of incarceration. Our youth, that oft mentioned class that is to be protected and nurtured, should be educated, not threatened and terrorized by the Police State we are fast becoming. The Wall St. Journal reported today that almost 50% of deported immigrants had criminal records. No mention how many convictions were for drug-related crimes.
Mexican growers have found many areas of California conducive for growing pot. Duhhh!
With many legal issues caught in the Fed/State tug-o-war, many citizens are working the seams, trying to stay below the police radar. With ObamaCare ready to criminalize health care(ie. if you don't sign up, you're a criminal), it makes sense to decriminalize marijuana now, before ObamaCare takes hold in 2014.
So, Tahoe voters, get out there: register, vote, and restore some sense to this 20th Century cultural aberration.

Meeks Bay Fire District

The monthly meeting of the district board is today, Oct. 1, @400pm at the firehouse at Meeks Bay. A discussion of a vacant lot ordinance is on the agenda.

Autumn Days on Rubicon Trail

The days have been perfect for hiking on the lakeshore. The high pressure zone that sits over most of Nevada and northern California has produced extraordinary weather for locals to enjoy. After one of the coolest summers in awhile, warm temps have finally arrived. The lack of wind has kept lake surfaces glassy and flat, ideal for wake borders, skiers, and the usual hopeful fishermen. There are still plenty of boaters about the West Shore, although many trailers are positioned to pickup their various craft. The aspens are starting to show their colors and we know that first snowfall is just around October's corner. The photo on the rock is located just south of the old Rubicon Point lighthouse, south of D. L. Bliss State Park. The Tahoe Queen river boat was making one of many trips into and around Emerald Bay, along with assorted craft from jet skis to Tahoe Thunder, an offshore type inboard engine boat.(w/ 2 passengers. Photo taken on Tuesday morning, Sept. 28,2010, 1100am.

book review

The House of Mondavi
If one has lived in California for awhile, or if one is a drinker of fine red wines, the name Mondavi will ring a bell. Just a few years ago, a writer published a history of this storied family whose Italian roots played a large role in the dynamic that contributed greatly to the trials and tribulations of 3 generations of winemakers. The humble beginnings are familiar to many Americans whose parents/grandparents immigrated from abroad to the States in a quest to improve their lot in life. Hard work was the formula used over and over again. The founder(s), Cesare and Rosa, were the models who followed the formula that paid dividends for their offspring in the mid-20th century.
The book is a NYTimes bestseller and the author, Julia Siler, writes for the Wall St. Journal. It is immediately apparent the author had amazing access to family discussions, decision making, and dirty laundry. The generational rise and fall of a Napa Valley wine making dynasty is both fascinating and sad. When the sons of the founder take over, trouble begins. Their mother, Rosa, still maintains some control, but does not understand what the future could be nor does she have a clue as to what is happening in the industry.
It reads like a novel, with a cast of characters that includes Joseph L. Alioto, the famous San Francisco lawyer famous for his anti-trust work. He has his own problems, and it appears that associating with the Mondavis taints any and all relations.
In the end, the family survives, after much litigation, division, and breakup. Anyone who drinks wine, especially California wine, will enjoy this read. In the capable hands of this particular author, the story never becomes morose or tiresome. It is divided into appropriate timeline sections, relating to the development of the business. The scope of operations, reaching to the famous wine growing regions of France, is truly a story in itself.
I recommend this book as a terrific addition to California history in general and wine making in particular.
Salute!

Meeks Bay Fire District

The mayor's office received a request that the budget of the MB district be closely scrutinized for excessive spending on salaries and benefits. A copy of the 2009/2010 was requested and the numbers will be looked at and analyzed. A report will be made to the citizen who made the request.

Safety Alert
Days are getting shorter and nighttime temps are beginning to approach freezing. Driving habits must adjust to the seasonal changes in road conditions. drive carefully!

FIREWOOD ADVISORY
Residents are stocking up for winter with firewood. Remember: a cord of wood= a tightly stacked load of cut wood that measures 4'X 4' X 8'. This measure is not "nominal". In other words, anything less than these measurements is a "short cord".
Lately, much of the wood sold in the basin, in Truckee, and in South Lake comes from the Valley. Much of it is almond wood that comes from old orchards. Unfortunately, much of the wood is cut short, ie. under 16". The results are a high percentage of pieces that measure less than 16". At 4 feet across, or 3X 16"end to end=48"=4'. It seems it is rare to find a cut piece that actually measures 16". The net result is a high % of smaller pieces in the 12"-14" range. This means that the customer is being shorted 15-25%! This is never balanced by a high % of pieces measuring over 16".
So, use your tape measure, don't accept a"cord" that is short. If you pay $350.+ tax for a full cord-MEASURE IT! If it's short- tell the CHEATER to put it back on the truck or pay them $275+ tax.
A survey and its results will be posted next week. NO SHORT CORDS IN TAHOMA in 2010.

September 11

The Mayor visited San Francisco Saturday morning, at the crack of dawn of a fine late summer day. A slim tongue of fog hovered over the deck of the Bridge and reminded drivers of the oft changing conditions there. While waiting for the appointment time to arrive, a long delayed visit to the Christopher Columbus statue on Telegraph Hill was called for. A few locals were about, dog-walking, strolling, and clicking their cameras as the sun winked above the eastern Contra Costa hills.
We met in front of SFFD Station 28 on Stockton St. The 7am ceremony began promptly, and the crew read the names of the 343 New York City firefighters who died at the World Trade Center collapse. The twin spires of Saints Peter and Paul's were bathed in the early morning sun, reflecting the celestial light on the somber gathering. The guests thanked the men for their effort and an invitation was extended to all to join the crew inside the Station for coffee and-pizza! So Italian.
The chatter covered a variety of topics, including how the SFFD EMS division was changing rapidly, again. The operations model of the last 10 years is being scrapped for the old model of the pre 2000 period. The paramedic present expressed concern that this change is not an improvement, in his opinion.
As the oncoming crew took over duties, the Mayor and his entourage departed for a nice breakfast @ Pat's on Taylor St.(2330 Taylor). The able staff was very pleasant, and the food - comfortable and hearty. The Colonel, out of North Carolina, proclaimed the grits as good as any from the Tar heel State. Bravo Pat!

The Mayor enjoyed leading his group around the neighborhood, commenting on architecture, tree planting varieties, and the overall amenities found in the Lombard St vicinity. It was a good day in North Beach.

The Art of San Francisco

The Mayor and his security chief visited that most democratic City of Cities: San Francisco by the Bay. This day was like most others this summer:cool with a light coat of fog, feinting here and there, teasing tourists with a jacket in one hand and a sweater in the other. Our goal was the MoMA, on 3rd St. We arrived early before the crowds that would certainly be there on this Labor Day weekend. Our mission was to take in the exhibit featuring a sample of the Fisher Collection of Modern Art that was donated to the Museum a few years ago. Originally, a different location was sought in the Presidio. It did not happen for a variety of reasons put forth by opponents. Fortunately, the compromise should work well. The Museum board worked a deal with the FIRE DEPT. to build another station to replace the adjacent structure now occupied by Engine Co. 1. All agreed it is a workable plan. The new structure on Howard St. will house the Fisher Collection.
The Fishers, founders of The Gap stores, began collecting art in earnest in the '70's and 80's. They did not rely on the advice of others, but instead pursued art at a personal level, getting to know art through the artist themselves. An example is found in the work of Alexander Calder. The collection includes many pieces of his mobiles, static and active. Andy Warhol is there with some Marilyn works. It was an enjoyable visit to this high visibility landmark, South of Market. Having passed through the noon hour without a bite, a short walk from the museum, up Mission St. to 5th, brought us to the Old Mint and it's new/old plaza the alley known as Jessie St. since the Civil War. Now paved over with quarried stone, it is home to 4 restaurants and a number of condo building converted from old warehouse and office buildings and the 2 buildings that the SFFD used as Station 1 with its 3 apparatus(engine,truck, and rescue cos.)
We chose the Italian restaurant at what was 54 MInt St. It was owned by the real estate magnate Sam Kalman before he bought the India Basin Buildings south of Townsend in the '70'`s. George Moscone had his campaign HQ's here when he ran for Mayor in'76. THe Old Mint looks the same as she did after the restoration in the late '70's when budget money was found to restore the '06 Quake survivor to landmark status. As a museum, it was not a great draw, and monies were cutoff and she closed a number of years ago. The old Oakwood Hotel on the corner of 5th and Jessie still looks the same:shabby, lived in, and very tired. After a light lunch, we made a bee line for the 4st. garage and headed back to our bayside quarters to enjoy the rest of the weekend. Photos will be posted of the Mayor wrapped up in " modern art".

Weather Changes

This past week saw unseasonably cool weather around the basin. Deck diners were seated inside @ Sunnyside to escape the showers falling on the outdoor seats. But, warmer temps appear to be coming for the last big weekend- Labor day. What used to be the climax of the long summer season is now but a shadow of its former self. Yes, there are crowds, but during the week prior, the numbers of vacationers are way down, almost 'tween season figures. With schools starting earlier and earlier, the summer season is much abbreviated. The windy days had the distinct odor of fall: pine scents punctuated by raindrops and rolling thunder. Don't leave us yet Summer, you were here but briefly!
The Truckee appears to be at a good level for September, with all gates open wide at the outlet. Not many rafters were in evidence, and the holiday may be the last gasp for 2010 for the Blue Fleet.
We are hoping for a good weekend crowd to give our businesses a final boost before the second season begins in November. Lack of visitors at Squaw Valley highlight the difficult conditions for owners and workers alike. Calls for a 2nd Stimulus are not encouraging, and have the opposite effect, underscoring the recession that won't quit.
Fishin' Boats
Spotted two boats with many anglers onboard vic. Meeks Bay. With a slight breeze to ripple the surface, conditons looked good. I'll check my fish guide to see if the moon is right.

Where's Bubba

When local bears make the front page of the WSJ, it's local news. So, we have an article, complete with photos that show bears just want to have fun: driving a red convertible, and swilling a half gallon of pepsi- in broad daylight. This past week, while out and about, it seems everybody was talking about"their" bear experience. Most seemed to include a bear making house calls uninvited. Clearly, we have a problem. What to do? What to do? We all want the humane solution. After early summer's bad outcome bear story in Homewood, nobody wants to duplicate that scenario. The bear boxes are working- too well. The bruins know-from experience- the chow is in the house through1) the door,2) the window, 3) the garage door,4)the cellar door. The nose knows, and they are strong enough to get through any residential obstruction. Now for the defense: air horns, bear spray, pepper spray, other obnoxious odor products. 100% effective? No, but unless you want to start packing artillery, these are the humane alternatives.
If you call the Sheriff, bad things can happen. If you call the Bear League-wait. So, look upon it as a man/animal contact, with rare serious outcomes. Don't leave foodstuffs in garages, vehicles, or on porches and decks. It's a seasonal condition that we can all live with.

Trouble on Pine St.

Red Tagged! The local Lake Nazis, the TRPA, have turned the heavy hand to a project @ 204 Pine St- the mega bucks lakefront that is nearing completion after a lengthy delay. It seems the neighbor on one side is a little pissey about the fence that is encircling the lot/compound. Horrors!! Perhaps the fence was off an inch or two. Or maybe the neighbor is off an inch or two. Nonetheless, the phone call was made and now the 2 parties will have years of conflict and ill will to put a frown on their faces. Could this have been resolved before hand? Of course, but, it would have taken some effort on the part of each one.
Everybody knows dealing with the bi-state Fascist organization is difficult. The legislator who sponsored the bill creating the TRPA said he wished he could reverse the vote and kill the organization! He had no idea it would evolve into a monster that operates on the principle that " We have the power and we will use it, no matter what". Too often today, that's the attitude of all government agencies. THat attitude and its corollary: "Take it or leave it, you have no other choice".
You gotta love those modern Fascists.
How long does it take to remove a red Tag? Drive by, and count the days.
I wonder how the owner feels? Does he care? HOw about the offended neighbor? Does she have any remorse for being a snitch / tattletale? Doubt it.
So, life in Tahoma rolls along, summer 2010.

Bay Weather Cool

The Mayor's move down the hill exposed him to the latest summer treat along the Coast: cool, damp, fog, in copious amount throughout the SF Bay Area. What a summer they're having in the City! Have you watched a Giants' home game? All the fans have heavy jackets, hats, some gloves even: it's cold at AT&T Park. Last night's game featured flags whipped straight out on their poles, fly balls were a serious challenge, even for the Giants outfielders.
The lowly Cubs put the hurt on Cy Young winner Lincecum, sending him home with a loss and the worst 1st inning of his brief career. Tomorrow, they'll do better.
Meanwhile, the Mayor is gearing up for a jarring climate change. No, not global warming, but a visit to the Gulf Coast for a follow up inspection of oil blow out cleanup efforts by government/private operations. The mayor does not relish the weather at this time in Louisiana: high temps, high humidity(90+%), and rain-thundershowers. But, hotel rates are at their yearly rock bottom prices. Who would go there otherwise?
On the other hand, tourists will be in scarce numbers and many locals will have fled. However, schools have reopened, so the Big Easy will be functioning normally in most respects. The two named hurricanes so far have been weak systems, causing nothing more than temporary interruptions of offshore cleanup efforts by BP,etal.
My next report will be from River City!

August 2010

Ahhhh, summer.
Defined as consistently good weather, crowds of visitors and seasonal residents. Businesses busy, boats anchored in clusters off all beaches; and a little traffic. The traffic does go away in the earl evening, so it's acceptable.
The Mayor witnessed an amazing sight last evening, as a thunder storm, moving east to west, crossed the Lake. In slow motion, the Tahoe Princess, heading south, was illuminated in her crossing by the setting sun, reflecting light only from the boat while maintaining an absence from the lake surface. It would have made a great foto, but, alas, the battery was dead! Next time, a backup.
The Tahoe Cedars Home Owners held their annual meeting at Marie Sluchak Park, and to everyone present, Marie got up and said a few words. She praised the amenities of Tahoma and reminded all of its special place in the universe of places.

Mayor in Alaska

The Mayor and his Deputy of Industry and Manufacturing spent a few days in the far north, examining the local fishing industry in the Kenai River area. The trip was most informative and the taxpayer got a lot for a little because the trip was paid for by Alaska State Tourism Board through its fund for public information and education.
The Kenai River, home to many annual salmon runs, was in the midst of the 2nd king salmon run of 2010. From all indications, it's a good run, with over 500,000 fish counted by July 21. The lower river, from the mouth to Soldatna, was choked with powered boats loaded with sport fishermen; the shore, in places, was lined with casters, hoping to hook one of the many sockeye reds. The weather is typical JUly: warm temps, slight overcast with sunshine a real possible event. Camp grounds were bursting at the seams with trailers, camper vans, p/u trucks of every stripe, and Harry and Irma relaxin' in their camp chairs. Redoubt volcano glistened in the morning sun on Tuesday as the clouds separated and the snow capped peak, with its steam jet, caught the rays. What a sight! Reminded me of Mts. Shasta and Lassen, although Redoubt has more snow.

We got a close look at Portage Glacier as we turned the corner of Turnagain Inlet on our way down the Kenai Peninsula. The toe of the glacier was a dirty brown color as it retreats during the summer thaw. Traffic was light on Monday after the weekenders returned to Anchorage on Sunday night. I've never seen so many campers caravanning in one direction-that's Alaska.
The Deputy accompanied the Mayor on a trip up the Cook Inlet to observe deep trolling near the town of Homer. The weather was actually pleasant: in the 50's, calm waters, no wind, and almost no swell, which can be a real problem for small fishing boats, commercial or sport type. Other folks on board the vessel put lines in the water to 300' and caught limits(2) of the famous bottom dwellers- the Alaskan halibut, known all over North America as the great game fish that it is. Our guide, Brian, and his deckhand, Tyler, proved able seamen, as they expertly handled the anchoring, navigation, and positioning of the boat for best results. With one exception, all passengers held up well during the 3 1/2 hour trip. Entry and exit was accomplished over the beach at Anchor River with the help of giant wheeled tractors, piloted by young men, probably just out of high school. These diesel behemoths push the trailered vessels through the surf out to deep water for launching; and then, upon our return, set the trailer on a perpendicular line to the surf waiting for the Captain to steer the vessel at high power onto the skids-very tricky. Sometimes, it's not always possible to keep everything lined up and many attempts are made before success is achieved.
Our day's activities were managed by a local legend, master of the Irish Lords Charter Company: Robbie Carroll, a character out of any description of fishing on the Inlet. This grand old man of Kenai revels in his role as provider of extraordinary excursions up and down the Cook Inlet. He's been doing it for so many years he's lost count. With a glowing cigarette hanging from his lip and a frosty Bud light in his hand, he is the consumate host, keeping his guides on their toes and all of his many clients happy and well looked after. At the end of the day, the Mayor and the Deputy enjoyed some of Robbie's homemade clam chowder, New England style, with a Bud Lite, too. It was a great day.
More on Alaska tomorrow.

Summer Season Peak ?

Mayor observes eastbound traffic jam
Well, boys and girls, this weekend could mark the high point of visitor trips to the basin. Interstate 80 was a parking lot, eastbound Friday, as travelers sought relief from valley heat and day-to-day humdrum. The basin is showing signs of near capacity crowds at every venue: campgrounds-full; beaches packed; boat ramps backed up, restaurants-full; stores running out of-fill in blanks; hotels:No Vacancy signs everywhere; rental shops:jammed; traffic:creeping; boaters all over the Lake. Now, this is summer!
The Chronicle helped out,too. The front page of the Travel section featured a spread on Lake Tahoe- at three levels of comfort: luxury,bargain/casino, and rustic/nostalgia. John Flinn, veteran travel writer, reminisced about camping at D..L. Bliss during his youth. He also described the venerable Zephyr Cove Lodge in Nevada, and nevada Beach near Harveys'. From there, he went to the Ritz Carlton Highlands at Northstar, an overdone hangout for the new rich of California. Finally, a glance at Harvey's completes this capsule view of basin accommodations. The article is full of current fotos, including a peek of the Truckee River complete with rafters enjoying a float down to River Ranch and it's burger patio grill. Check them out. Nice job, John Flinn!

Bear Story: Tahoe Vista

The Mayor had a discussion with a local builder yesterday and was told the following story:
3 weeks ago, Bob received a call on the job from his wife at about 10:30 in the morning from home. She reported that a large mountain lion, complete with long, thich tail, was walking slowly through the front yard(in Tahoe Vista). What should I do was the question. Don't disturb him/her was the reply, and the feline moved on. A few hours later, Bob's wife called again to the job site. This time, she reported a full grown bear was attempting to open a patio door. Remain calm, was the reply, she'll go away. Minutes later, the wife called again: the bear was now walking up the stairs into the Kitchen, what now? With a rattling of pans, the bear walked down and out the door to the 2 cubs waiting for lunch. Then they moved on. Ah, summer at the lake.

On Clams

The Mayor has taken note of the wider media attention given the recent recognition of the invasive species of clam that has been found in increasing numbers in the Lake. The Chron had a article(7/10/10) under a Hecht byline from the Sacto BEE that detailed the plans for intervention to forestall the negative effects of the clam(s). UC Davis scientists are working on the problem and will soon introduce a rubber matting that will cover 1/2 acre of sandy inshore lake bottom in an attempt to kill the clam by cutting off oxygen. It is an experiment with long term implications.
Meanwhile, TRPA is continuing boat inspections to keep the lake free of clams, mussels, and non native aquatic plants

Post 4th days

So, here we are! Listening to the Beatles: " The long, and winding road". A melancholy lover's lament for the loss of friend. It always evokes a feeling of times lost and gone. but I always enjoys the chorus, perhaps it has to do with the line: a long, long, time ago. But, now, Obexer's is hummin' with the stable of its many seasonal visitors, congregating on the doorsteps, catching up on another year's activities, and all those events to come. Welcome to our world.

The Lake looks about the same as it did a month ago: how come? Where's all the run off? The snow is about history, the stream flow volumes have become diminished, and the gates at Fanny Bridge have remained closed. Rafters are absent except for the few individuals on their own. So, are we saving water? Apparently. The water gods have awakened and they're taking no prisoners( a frightening experience when you think about it!)Providers are asking for rate increases and the natives are restless. This follows a report of a study that spelled out the pay scale differences between private employers and the Federal Gov. There exists a 14% pay difference with Fed employees making the most money, when one accounts for education and experience. Not good.

Bear Notes
A mature bruin loped down Sunnyview Dr the other evening around 8pm. Locals took note and stayed indoors for the moment.

USA Going Home

Yes, the Yanks are homeward bound. Yes, they did win the group and pulled out of group play with a memorable victory 1-nil over a scrappy Algerian side. Yes, they were confident going up against Ghana. And now, disappointment, soul searching, and a future with the inevitable questions with improbable answers.
Now, Germany and England play on; only one will continue. The European heavyweights will perform at a vigorous level, but only one can advance. Good Luck to the both of them.

USA v. Algeria

Sports fans: Do Not Despair, USA will pull this out. They are traditionally a second half team. They have been denied in the 1st half, bad luck and poor officiating, again. England has scored against Slovenia, so it's a must score situation.
Hopefully the center ref will slap his AR about and tell him to shape up. With 45 mins left to play, the USA team does not want to go home after group play. Can they do it?

Summer officially here

Well, that long awaited solstice has arrived. It seems as though it has taken forever to shake the grip of the "El Nino" winter. But, on the bright side, the Lake will be @the rim in a few morw weeks as the heavy runoff cascades into the basin from every direction.
It's a joy to observe the 2nd springtime of the year: above 7000', the alpine environment is coming alive. The heavy blanket of snow is melting at the rate of 6" per day. This moisture combined with the heat of summer will give the high meadows and slopes some longed for color. Get out your hiking boots.

Noticed some youngsters carrying vuvuzelas around downtown Tahoma yesterday. They must be soccer fans/players getting caught up in World Cup fever. Our representative in Argentina reports soccer mania taking over. Another rep in Brasil reports more of the same. I enjoy the games and our Minister of Sport and Recreation has watched every game, getting up at 4:30am everyday during group play to watch.
Group play is ending with many game 3's being played, starting at 7am(2 games at the same time to preclude collusion.)
Tomorrow the USA v. Algeria will get the locals all wound up. The Argentinian @ WESTSIDE PIZZA will be very attentive, I'm sure.

Go Giants

The Mayor and his minister of Sports and Fitness went to a Giants game Sat. nite. They played the Oakland A's @ AT&T Park IFO 36,089 fans. It was one of the warmest June nits on record in SF-in the 80's! The Gigantes won, although the outcome was in doubt until closer Brian Wilson came in the 8th inning and shut them down with the bases loaded. He gave up 2 hits in the ninth, but still prevailed and held on to a one run victory.
We took the GG Ferry in w/ 500 other fans and enjoyed the comfort going and coming. We topped off the nite with a snack @ the Brick & Bottle in Corte madera(old IZZY's).
We dropped early so the Mayor could rise early to watch world Cup soccer at dawn.
The mayor has enjoyed the World Cup, but, the vuvuzelas are making me crazy. The noise is obnoxious and I'm watching at home!
The players are having problems communicating, and I'm sure this noise maker issue will come up for discussion @ FIFA meetings soon.
I love the costumes and head dresses of the fans: looks like Mardi Gras.

Tahoe Swiss Village Water Rate Increase

Owner asks CPUC to approve request for rate increase

In a letter forwarded 2 days ago, a resident informed our office that the Swiss Village Water Co. asked for a rate bump up of 20%. This hardly seems related to anything but a need for more money in the coffers to increase the returns. Here we are, in the worst recession in 78 years, with serious deflation a reality(in housing), and he cites a few bills as a reason for the increase. This could force the issue to a head.
The line items are nothing short of operational costs. Are we to continue paying above the allowed rate of return?
What about all the money received for new accounts, 1e. the new structures added in the neighborhoods?
The usage rate is probably the lowest for any district, and that's probably a high figure. Like all utilities these days, Tahoe Swiss bears watching, constantly.
This increase would come on the heels of the Tahoe Truckee Waste Mgmt Co's 100% increase, spread over 5 years(we're in the 3rd years!) And this follows the Meeks Bay FD's 2nd parcel tax that they took to the bank last fall. Folks, we are under assault by these various agencies as they seek to protect their own pay and benefits when the rest of us are looking for work and tightening our belts.

Wine Country sojourne

The mayor went to Sonoma Valley to investigate the tourist areas: wine tasting sites and B & B's. My driver and I stopped at a hacienda on Linden Lane off of Arnold DR. This recently constructed home with guest quarters looks like a classic adobe style home with all the features: plastered walls, large, wood beam lintels, plastered columns supporting rafters, and generous use of tiles and flagstones. The extensive gardens and patios transport the guests to Sinaloa, Chihuahua, and points south. The affable owners, Roger and Cena, have created a unique experience right here in Sonoma. Roger, the designer of the main home, has included many authentic details: open beam ceilings, stained concrete floors, stone fireplaces, wood casement windows, and accessible terraces reached through classic glazed wooden doors.
The grand dining table, made of redwood slabs is a focal point inside and out. It features a wheeled base that allows the owners to roll it inside or out, depending on the weather.
The guest cottage is an independent unit with a complete kitchen and sitting area, and a covered patio. The arched entrance welcomes the guest into a private world away from real life. It is truly a special place. The mayor was unable to sample the food prepared for guests every morning; that will require another visit.
Bravo Roger and Cena!

On the return drive, my driver, Gomar, indicated by signing that he was thirsty and wanted some refreshment. As we approached Cline Vineyard Estate, I motioned for him to pull in. We took a chance that they were still open. To our surprise, they were wide open and busy. The lot was half full! We were welcomed by the staff who were in a pouring mood. Here's the list of our tastings:
2009 Sonoma Coast Viognier
2009 Mourve'dre'- a rose'
2008 Cashmere- a blended red w/ syrah and grenache
2008 Old Vine Carignane- COCO Cty
2008 Syrah Sonoma Cty
2008 Zinfandel- Silver Medal 2010 SF Chron Comp.
2008 Old Vine Zin
2007 Sonoma Zin -Healdsburg vineyards
2008 Big Break Zin CO CO Cty
2007 Live Oak ZIN CO CO Cty
2007 Heritage Zin CO CO Cty
2006 Los Carneros Syrah- priced to sell @ $16.80
The last 5 are their premium wines.
Most of their wine is very affordable @ prices ranging from $11. -$18. Club members get a 20% sconto.
The mayor had to take the wheel after this adventure.
200

MATTERHORN Part II

Author Marlantes felt his story needed some focus on his own actions as a new member of the officer corps of marines. A new, inexperienced 2nd Lt is not much more than a college student who has been taught to shoot a few small arms, read a map, and follow orders of his superiors. He is also expected to listen lots and keep quiet.
The Malles character gets in the head of a few superiors and reflects his own lack of experience in the field and in life. Reading these parts made me think I was reading the diary of a young man who wants to grow up in a hurry. Of course, young men often choose to grow up by drinking a lot and often. Malles and his junior officers find a few times to get very drunk. It is during one of these episodes author Marlantes takes a huge leap of faith: a fragging incident kills a drunk Lt. who was the unintended victim of unidentified black Marines. Fragging, the attempt by individuals to silence(kill) other Marines, had become a factor in officer/enlisted relations before 1969. (The term relates to the act of throwing a M-26 fragmentation grenade into the sleeping quarters of the victim at night.) Fragging usually occurred in base camps, not in the field. It is not the fragging that defies belief, but the aftermath: Malles lets it slide because the investigation would be too disruptive, would lead to divisiveness among his Marines and bog down operations. The investigation would also taint the reputation of his unit.

Sorry Marlantes, a 22 year old Ivy Leaguer doesn't pass on murder wherever it occurs. If he sincerely felt this need to look the other way, he is a soulless, amoral individual worthy of contempt! Having walked in his shoes up to this point, I cannot accept the scene as anything more than a plot device to shock naive readers into believing that is how combat Marines behave under stress. It is an accepted truth that certain casualties in the field were suspicious, but the fragging incidents were investigated fully.
The post battle scene involving Malles' own actions seeking revenge against the Colonel, only to be thwarted by his peer lieutenant, is another plot device that leaves me scratching my head. Come on, are we that gullible?
The climatic battle scene, a singular event over a singular day has many elements that ring true for this reviewer: artillery support questionable, weather causing delays of helicopter resupply, weather causing delays of close air support(bomb laden F-4 Phantoms), difficult terrain features, and lack of coordination in the attack. Marlantes own citation for the Navy Cross highlights some of these same elements, testifying to the veracity of facts.
Marlantes survives and continues on in his roll as a Lt. platoon commander, albeit, now with a little seasoning. He stayed in the field for a few more months and then transferred to an aviation unit where he became an airborne artillery observer, flying in the backseat of an OV-10 Bronco, the Marine aircraft used in this era. This is not mentioned in his story.
This is not a book for combat veterans, it's a book that helps a combat veteran shed the burden of his experiences and put his demons to rest. It is a story told for civilians who desire to read historical novels set in the mid- 20th century. Perhaps Marlantes' editors cut the politics and training environment out for the sake of the reader. What a blessing!

Note: The reviewer served in an identical role as the author in the same setting described in the book a year earlier, 1968- the pivotal year of the war.

book review

MATTERHORN by Karl Marlantes
This memoir/ novel , set during the later phase of the Vietnam war, tells the story of a recent graduate from an ivy league university who is sent to Asia, assigned to the 3rd Marine Division's 1st Battalion/ 4th Marine Regiment. The year is 1969, and the months are January and February. The narrator/ 2nd Lt. is given his first assignment as platoon leader in Bravo Company.
The story captures a brief time frame:from arrival to aftermath of the battle in which Bravo Company is decimated by a confrontation with North Vietnamese Army regulars on a hilltop set in the farthest north corner of then South Vietnam. The hilltop, called Matterhorn, is the site of an outpost or landing zone, that according to higher ups, provides a perch that oversees the route(s) to be used by the North Vietnamese as they mount an attack east, toward the coast with its densely populated cities, harbors, and supply centers used by American forces and South Viet forces alike. For anyone familiar with the course of the war, this is deja vu all over again. One could turn the clock back to 1967, and find the same tactics and strategy. Or, one could glance back to 1968, find similarities during the famously reported Tet Offensive of February,1968.
The author is not breaking new ground in terms of the warfighting timeline: it's the same war, over and over again. But 1969 brings new elements into the field with the Marines. A new attitude among the troops is detailed in repeated conversations with the enlisted men by the lieutenant. He is aware, like his peer group, that hostility to the war is at fever pitch back in the States; and the racial divide that has followed years of civil rights struggles has been accentuated by repeated violent confrontations.
Marlantes gives the characters the racial voice in the members of his platoon who are African American. They are now Brothers first and Marines second. The many scenes with Blacks discussing racial politics, at a grassroots level, add a flavor that borders on disbelief. Can these young men be more concerned with politics when their very lives are in jeopardy every waking minute? The Lt. character, Malles, seems to think that he can work with these platoon members and still do his job. There are several other characters: some NCO's, some superior officers, and some other lieutenants that enter into the story to some extent to fill out the texture of the narrative.
Marlantes included a scene that has a patrol member killed by a tiger. There was one recorded incident, verified, during 10 years of war: a Marine on recon patrol was attacked and killed by a large animal, believed to be a tiger. It sounds dramatic in any retelling. He also includes the various scenes with colonels and majors who make the decisions, sending the Marines hither and yon to find and destroy the NVA.
The back story about the book is that it was written 30 years ago or more, and was edited down from 1600 pages. It then followed a torturous path, following the author on his own life path. A small press took a chance and published it and then it was picked up by the larger house for general distribution. This is not uncommon in today's book selling strategies.

to be continued

Bear Cub Incident update

The June 2 issue of the Sierra Sun updates the west shore bear cub story. After investigating the incident, the Fish & Game has dropped all charges against the suspect, Mr. Wilkerson. The facts indicate this to be the prudent response to the event. The family asked for understanding regarding some strident voices from some residents and non-residents alike.
This is the end of the incident, as far as Tahoma is concerned. We will, as local residents, remain aware of our position as forest dwellers who share the local environment with many a wild creature. As an example, spring has arrived and with it, platoons of woodpeckers are making their presence known as they repeatedly attack wood siding, carving out circular holes, in an attempt to open up potential nesting sights. Oh, well, get out the owl figures, again!

The Cub Story part 2

Tahoma on the map
The AP put Tahoma on the world map yesterday when they put the bear cub story in a capsule news item on the wire/net. John Wilkinson was identified in the story as the perp. F& G has charged him with the illegal take of a bear, wanton waste of a carcass,and failure to notify Fish and Game of the shooting. Each has a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $1000. fine.
All these penalties are sufficient in dealing with the miscreant. Stupidity cannot be legislated, it is oft said. The Mayor agrees.
While the local buzz will continue over this incident, we hope it does not deter visitors from making plans to vacation on the Westshore.
Summer is here, and we look forward to an enjoyable experience despite the bad press.
More on the backstory later.

Sao Paolo Today

On the ground in Brazile
Our Minister of Foreign Trade and International Business Skyped the mayor's Office yesterday to fill us in on the latest Brazilian happenings. It's all about World Cup 2010. South Africa has become the official focus of the entire country. Little if anything will be accomplished from June 11th to July 10, 2010. Football, as the world knows it, will dominate conversation from the beaches to the capitol of Brasilia. Lula will be trotting out some retired players to have his photo taken with national heroes. What else is new?
For those interested in business: take some time off, there will be no business done during world cup!
The Mayor's office supports sports in general and soccer football in particular, but we must follow our obligation to the citizenry by conducting the people's business in an orderly fashion. We will be available throughout world cup during business hours.
The Minister of Trade in Sao Paolo will be allowed time off to watch games as he feels necessary to conduct his mission with Brazilians. Local business has reported slower sales do to a shift in consumer focus from needs to wants, ie more football, less work.
One might say this is the Latin American response to a call for more work, in general.
With World Cup kickoff in 11 days, we can understand the buildup of interest. We'll be watching, too, in downtown Tahoma.

Memorial Day

Back to the Future
Citizens of this great country: today, recall the efforts of those who gave all for the principles we live by, and recall the efforts of those who continue to give daily in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As we meander to our places of repose and relaxation, reflect momentarily on the history wrapped around this holiday: reasonable people thought we could collectively benefit in remembrance.
Enjoy a safe, peaceful day.

Mary Stegner

It is with sadness we report the passing of Mary Stegner, the widow of that American literary lion, Wallace Stegner. Her son reported she passed away in Portola vally, CA, where she has lived recently, not far from the Stanford campus where she and her late husband spent so many wonderful years of their lives together. She always asserted that she chose to support her husband's genius, and he loved her dearly for that support.
She was an accomplished violinist and played in the Stanford Symphony while he taught in the English dept.
She was 99 years old. A more detailed obituary was published in a Utah newspaper.

Moon over the mountains

Can't sleep, take a moonlight stroll and gaze on a serene landscape. As the last clouds move east from the last system and the skies clear, the moonlit night views offer a breathtaking sight: reflected light from snow covered mountainsides creates a rarely seen picture for the Memorial Day weekend. The mayor is truly in awe of Tahoe, at night, again. Enjoy!

skiing on the holiday

Ladies and Gentlemen:
Wax your boards, it's time. There's still time left on this season's calendar. Donner Ski ranch will be open for some unexpected good rides. Get there early, enjoy. The bar b que starts at 12 NOON. Good eats.
The mixed weather report is causing some nervousness among business owners looking for a jump start to summer. Although the Sat/Sun looks good, Thursday and Friday are dicey. Keep your eyes open when traveling toward the end of the week.
The Mayor will be on Campus shortly, and will be taking notes.

Jazz trombone

Mayor's Conference in New Orleans
If you visit NOLA, as many are doing as we speak, music is high on the list of things worth seeing/listening. And the hot ticket? Trombone Shorty! Thanks to well developed talent, great support, and some luck(as always), a native born young musician is getting some notoriety. Thanks to the new TV series" Treme'", the music of New Orleans is getting some overdue exposure. Trombone Shorty is a member of a new talent pool of trained, educated traditionalists who are emerging from various venues to display their fine talent.
His music can be found on Itunes, Amazon, Pandora, etc. I recommend him.

Angle of Repose

Have you read any Wallace Stegner lately? What? You haven't, but you mean to read him, soon? Well, why wait, you're missing a good one. After putting the book down several times, I finally had the wherewithal to stay with it. It was worth it. This gem of a prize winner, published over 40 years ago, has all the elements of a perennial favorite: strong elements of locale-the West; focused characters with well developed traits and sympathetic lives; conflicts, tragedy, dilemmas, lost love,lives lived; reflection and redemption. If you've ever thought about the West, read it, enjoy it. Mr. Stegner weaves a wonderful tale, blending time and generations(3) to great affect.
He captures the essence of relational conflict including the difficulties found with couples that include talent on both sides. His story almost foretells the future of modern culture where one can find 21st century couples wrestling with the same dilemma: How does one behave with the equal partner? Who gives more? who gives less? How is compromise made when breaking new ground in not one but two career choices? Which solution works best: the goal of economic independence or the goal of job satisfaction? Is the artist just as valued as the engineer? Can the artist adapt his goals to match the real world? All valid questions and the answers are subject to ongoing debate during this new millenium.
The Pulitzer Prize awarded to Stegner was the capstone to a stellar career as professor/author. A generation of students(at Stanford) benefited from his remarkable talents. Californians and those living here can find many many familiar places and names: New Almaden, Santa Cruz to mention a couple.
I was reminded, yes there was a town of Santa Cruz before the surfers arrived.
This book and Stegner come highly recommended.

winter: still here

The Mayor is reviewing weather data to seek answers to the many ?'s regarding the end of winter. Apparently, winter will end sometime this summer, which is scheduled to begin in 1 month: June 20.
In the meantime, bear with it. It will end.
Forecast for next week: snow showers, rain, and cooler than normal temps. Keep the firewood handy, and dry!

Spring Forecast

Residents Brace for new storm
The reports of the end of the Winter of 2010 were premature. The 10-days forecast includes at least 5 days of precipitation to include rain and snow. Don't put the boat in the lake just yet. WAIT a little longer.
Keep the snow shovel handy, along with the salt and sand. Oh, well.
Noticed snow on the east face of Rubicon peak on Saturday. That is quite rare for May Day. Duly noted.

Movie Review: Mid-August Lunch(Pranzo Di Ferragosto)

Italian Delights
For italophiles, this film is a treat! Absent are the sensuous actors, lush landscapes of Tuscany,and coastside fishing villages of traditional films. Here we find a Roman condo(or any condo) and its two inhabitants: aging Mamma and doting, unemployed, unmarried son. Life has not been easy of late for either of them, but, they're getting by. Now, it is mid- summer, the City is empty, its residents fleeing the heat for the coast, either one.
By simply squeezing the son, a few acquaintances coerce him into accepting their own mothers as house guests while they join the hoards at the coasts. Within a few hours, the condo is now the temporary home of 3 more aging Mammas. Their personal interactions, their individual characters, and their angst and humor are artfully followed by hand held cameras as they adjust to their new surroundings.
As one who was raised with grandparents close at hand, it is an easy reach to the empathy position with the son: it is a duty to be there, despite the difficulties coupled with aging. We know them-physical deterioration, forgetfulness, selective memory,confusion, and often pain.
Director Di Gregorio is called by some an advocate of Neo-realism. But I believe his style and others like it are in the van of changes brought by, what else? technology! With video capabilities in almost every electronic gadget, and everyone a man w/ camera, films will undergo rapid, dynamic change. Couple this with the popularity of reality entertainment and we have the making of a new age of film.
The characters in the film: Valeria de Franciscis, Marina Cacciotti, and Maria Cali are all untrained performers. Shortly after production started, Di Gregorio threw away the script and did an adlib, with the women making the most of it. Humorous, touching, and sympathetic, the film warms the heart, treats the eyes, and brings a smile to one's face.

Spring Moon over the Lake in the Sky

For those still up at 2am, the view south provided a glimpse of the full moon for May Day. Rising to a point about 22 degrees above the horizon, La Luna provided sufficient light for reading. With the reflection off the calm surface of the lake, the effect was extraordinary- a real visual treat for any observer. The Mayor appreciates these phenomena!

On the "In between Season": many complaints from local businesses that the down economy is more in evidence now than a year ago. Coming off a terrific winter season, locals can only hope to hold on until Memorial Day/ 4th of July. There were no boats in the Obexer's marina, but a few sailors were seen preparing craft for impending good weather.
Homewood Resort looked forlorn with its empty parking lot, but that should change within weeks.
Meeks Bay Fire Dist. will continue prevention operations with controlled burns in the Meeks Creek basin. Successful efforts have left telltale burned over areas on the south facing side of the canyon. Not much left to burn there indicating a considerable amount of fuels. The snow levels are high for May and there could be more coming on Mothers' Day Sunday: not what we wanted to hear.

Squaw valley update
Squaw valley Corp. has taken over the Intrawest Development after some very bad years. THis should provide better on scene management for residents and guests. Time will tell.

The weekend was a warm one, and appears to harbinger more springtime weather to come. Builders may start to show up in their signature T's this week.
Look out for the boat tractors around Obexers' in coming weeks as yachtsmen get the urge to return to the Deep Blue. By the way, The Chron reported a free diving record set in the Bahamas-285', a man w/ a single fin! What is the free diving record @ the Lake? More research necessary here.

Read the letter to locals from the director of TRPA. She stretches her credibility by stating TRPA wants to promote better economic conditions w/i the Basin. Her nose is starting to grow again. As always, TRPA speaks through many filters and rarely comments with any understandable language. They all could take lessons from the Mayor.

Mayor Acts As Arbiter in Contest

Thursday last, the mayor's office received a request for assistance in a local contest down hill, near the Big Blue. The parties involved anticipated a challenging event that could escalate to a confrontation if an arbiter was not available. The mayor stepped up and proceeded to referee the contest, which ended in a tie, neither side scoring any points. While the outcome did not satisfy either party involved, both were able to walk away with their pride intact. This contest was between Tamalpais and Novato High's soccer teams. The Mayor was ably assisted by a traveling beef salesman(Prather Co.) He did an excellent job.

Tomorrow, there's a possibility of rain, but, conditions can change dramatically on the local scene.

Still Snowing

Yes, that white stuff falling is the same stuff: snow! Late winter/early spring snow. It will soon be summer. Will it ever arrive?
Don't despair, the above average snowfall always has a long term benefit: lots of water runoff into the Lake. This we all agree is a good thing.
So, keep your chin up, be patient, full spring will be here shortly.

Civic notes
Police report
The investigation into the details surrounding the shooting in Meeks Bay is continuing. No new details have emerged and the El Dorado County Sheriff is working closely with Placer County to solve this crime. We will continue to follow this very important case.
Animal Control
A bruin was spotted in a vehicle near Sugar Pine Point early Sunday morning. The animal was small, maybe a year old, more or less, and appeared healthy and at normal weight for spring. Remember: these locals are cut, but they are WILD,WILD, WILD. They are not cartoon characters and have not been on TV. Generally, they'll move of their own accord without harassment. When in doubt, call animal control.
Sportsmen Arrive
With the end of ski season giving way to summer outdoor activities, be aware of cars & trucks hauling trailers, campers, boats, ATV's,etc. They move slowly, as they should around the lake, and often are not the most experienced drivers. Welcome them.

Spring Cleanup efforts
As property owners open cabins for the next season, be aware of the Truckee Landfill. They have a recycling center that accepts the usual items: glass, aluminum cans, yard waste, appliances, and large bulk items. Better there than in the basin.

Front Page Publicity:Again

Giddy locals reacted to today's Chronicle front page story. Entitled"New help to save'Jewel of Sierra', the article, w/ byline Carolyn Lochhead, outlines recent Congressional efforts to improve water clarity and quality, and to improve the basin environment, to include reduction in fire fuels,ie. deadwood; reduce infestation of Asian clams, and a similar invasion of quagga and zebra mussels.
The bill was pushed through by California's own Babs Boxer, our fearless little chihuahua from San Francisco. With support from Sens. DiFi, Johnny Ensign from Nevada and majority leader, Sen. Harry(Don't Call Me Hank)Reid, the bill is certainly going forward, despite the recession and its snail-like recovery.
The article notes the vast sums already spent since 1968: State of Cal.:$612.mil;Nev.$87 mil.;local govs.$59mil;and private sector$250.mil. The Feds have spent $424. millions with$68 millions left. Lady DiFi noted that the North
lake Tahoe Resort Assoc. has committed to $250 millions in private contributions. This Senate bill joins a House bill introduced in November '09 sponsored by Rep. Dean Heller of Nevada. This bill allocates more than $310 millions to help restore wetlands, control erosion, and control storm runoff(?).
So, friends, the Mayor's Office expects to see lots of money being thrown to the lakeshore soon. Get out your biggest nets to grab some of this free government money. Why? It's money that they took from you in the first place!: your tax dollars, coming Home.
Isn't that nice of 'em?
Stay tuned as we watch these bills go through the torturous process of passage into law.

Movie Review: VINCERE

Italian movie hits mark with side story of Fascist Era and Dictator Benito Mussolini. Director Mezzogiorno artfully mixed archival footage from the pre-WW II era when the dictator was flexing his muscles and attempting to restore some lost glory to the Italian peninsula. The story is focused not on his regime, but on his private life and the shameful details of a love affair early during his rise to power. The relationship produced a child that was essentially rejected by his father. The mother was harassed by authorities and institutionalized with the complicity of the Vatican, a newly formed independent state as a result of the dictator's Lateran Treaty of 1929.
The sad quest of the abandoned mother and child illustrates the inconvenience of personal histories when confronted by powerful political forces. Mussolini had a public marraige and fathered 4 more children. Later, he took another mistress who died with him near the end of the world war.
The film ran more than 2 hours and 5 minutes and was accompanied by blaring sound effects. It could easily have been cut to less than 100 minutes w/o great loss. The acting was superb and the editing was effective in aiding the depiction of power: Church and State in combination. The close ties of the King of Italy and the government of the country itself with the Pope is readily understood with the footage from the period between the wars.
This historical docudrama is well worth the time and effort.
Rated by the Minister of Culture: ****!