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.