The Fly Fishing Show 2011

The 2011 Fly Fishing Show opened in Pleasanton,CA yesterday to light crowds due to the stormy weather across the state. For those of us in attendance: lots of space at the casting pools to try new gear, improve technique, and show off. One 12 year old, off school this week, put on a demonstration of his casting skills that was terrific. He seemed as though he grew up with a rod in his hand-so effortless!
Today will be busy; although snow was predicted, it does not appear to have shown up on Bay Area peaks. The dawn has broken, cold, but clear. Get out your parka and go fish.
Truckee local, Frank Pisciotta, (SF native), will give several lectures on fly fishing the eastern Sierra and the Northern Sierra. He's worth the price of admission. Met his friend, Bob, a guide out of Grass Valley, talking shop. Always fun.
Any locals in the Bay Area, stop by the Alameda County Fairgrounds and pick up some outdoor advice and information-$15 @ door. What a bargain. You can even attend lectures by Gary Borger, the dean of Nymphing. He also will give seminars on casting, basic and advanced.
Gary always includes some anecdotes from his travels around the globe in pursuit of the elusive trout,etc.
The Mayor always appreciates a good fishing yarn and at the show, we always hear a new one.

I-80 CLOSED

Citizens: Feeling a little trapped? Seems Caltrans has decided to close the interstate from Colfax to Truckee/stateline,again. It is for safety sake, not your inconvenience. It will be lifted and reopened ASAP.
So, enjoy the light traffic. Yes, resort owners may be depressed by the restrictions on drivers-customers-skiers, but,hey, we cant control everything.
On the bright side: more snow-more days to ski for the locals. Easter skiing? Absolutely.
Highway 89 around Emerald Bay will reopen. When? NObody knows that answer. The Caltrans website puts up information regularly, so check it out if planning some shopping at South Lake/Meyers.
Be safe, driver carefully.
Long Live Winter.
Spring Training is just around the corner.

Good Job if you can get it

Recently, the office of the State Controller posted information regarding compensation of all special district employees in the State of California. These districts run the gamut from water districts to special districts focused on a very specific public service. These districts are for the most part autonomous, operating with a board of directors that supposedly scrutinize the employees and the public funds that come from district taxes on property owners that are located within the boundaries of the entity.
Tahoma is included within the boundaries of the Meeks Bay Fire District. The district is adjacent to the North Tahoe District and has a mutual response agreement in effect for assistance when needed across the boundary line. Meeks Bay Fire is one of the many small, rural districts that provide a very limited amount of service to a very small population of residents that live here year round. The district has 5 directors, elected by the voters to fixed terms after which they can run for re-election. The majority of district director positions are uncompensated. A small percentage offer a small stipend for the monthly meeting requirement, usually about 1-1 1/2 hours each month at the district headquarters/central station. At Meeks Bay, this station is located adjacent to Meeks Bay resort, on the south side of Meeks Creek, next to the camp ground which runs a few hundred feet to the lake shore. The U.S. Forest Service fire house in front of the resort is a seasonally staffed site that houses federal firefighters during the summer season when the area population swells considerably.
Of the 5 directors at MBF, one does not accept any compensation; 2 accept several hundreds of dollars; but the big winners are 2 directors who compensation runs to------$10,000/year!!!!!!!
Repeat for emphasis----$10,000/year for 1 hour a month effort, which involves listening to various proposals by the"Chief" to spend the remaining tax dollars received from El Dorado county general fund and district tax revenue.

WHAT A JOB! What a snow job! Who are these people??????
More to follow. Stay tuned, stay warm, drive safely.

Record Snow Storm

News reports indicate that the storm(s) that rolled over the basin ranked in the top ten all-time dumpers. No doubt, meteorologists across the country stood up and took notice of the 10' feet of fresh powder that covered the Sierra from Quincy to Mammoth Mountain, blotting out the granite face above the treeline and causing the limbs of many trees to give way under the load.
It is a result of the La Nina phenomena we read about quite often on the West Coast. Unlike her sibling, El Nino, this little girl has a lesser effect, concentrating that effect at irregular intervals during the winter months. Nobody is complaining as the numbers still are somewhat greater than long term averages. More snow is forecast this week, but a lesser amount.
In the Bay Area, local peaks were wearing the white mantle. Mt. Tamalpais in Marin had a light dusting. Mt. Diablo in Contra Costa had a little bit more, and the big winner was Mt. St. Helena in Napa. Mt. St. Helena had several inches on top, and several more covered the adjacent hills, creating a visual treat for locals and visitors alike. Wine train passengers got a rare bonus at no extra charge. Cold day time temps will keep this around for awhile.

Storm is over

Get out the skiis. Get into the powder. Best conditions prevail for the year. No excuses.
Now is the time to enjoy the slopes. A window of opportunity has opened here and it will be a brief opening at that. With almost 10' of powder on the ground, conditions are the best for all forms of winter activity.
Get on it!
I expect to read of legendary exploits around Tahoma, Homewood, and even Tahoe City. Traffic #'s indicate the presence of visitors(skiers), so the $$$$ have arrived.
Let us know how it went, send us an email.

Woodpeckers in Angora?

The Angora Fire continues to produce fall out of various types. The insurance issues, building permits, fire protection requirements have all been aired here,there, and everywhere. And now:
Woodpeckers!!!!!!
If you have lived in the Basin for more than a week, you know that woodpeckers abound. Their evidence is not hard to recognize: holes in your house: holes in the eaves, holes in the roof, holes in the siding, and holes in the occasional tree(living or dead). Now I recently interviewed a local resident from the West Shore, and he assured me that a well painted house is a deterrent to woodpecker activity. Why all this concern for woodpecker activity?
Lawsuit.
Environmental organizations have filed suit in federal court to halt the harvesting of burned trees in the Angora Fire area near Meyers?South Lake Tahoe. The area consists of over 1200 acres with a large number of trees that were scorched/burned during the active fire. Foresters and firefighters are prepared to remove this unburned fuel to ensure the growth of a healthy forest where none exists due to the burn over. Most locals know that woodpeckers like dead tree stumps(snags) to create nests: makes sense if you're a pecker!
Locals also know that woodpeckers often delight in pecking one's house-looks like a tree, smells like a tree, tastes like a tree=tree! But the issue is, in this case, fire safety and forest health versus a few birds. We are talking 2-3 or 22-24 pairs of woodpeckers. Not large numbers at all. The black-backed pecker is not endangered, although the request has been made for such designation. It will be interesting to see how the judiciary looks at this little issue: pecker heads and dead logs.
Stay tuned for more updates on Angora's woodpecker problem.

California Watch

The ,Mayor wants to spread "The Word". The word, of course, is information that local citizens can use to stay informed about the operations of government that affect the lives of all of us. We are in 'this' together and the more information we have, the better the decisions we make and the better the outcomes of dollars(taxes) spent at all levels. California is a big spender-too big apparently. With a 25 billion dollar deficit, one can assume that the State of California spends too much money, money it doesn't have. The Democrats have had a lock on Sacramento for years, enjoying a legislative plurality for years. The results speak for themselves: $25,000,000,000. of red ink spread over the golden landscape of the Golden State.
For generations, newspaper reporters held the feet of the pols to the fire, exposing gimmicks and deals in the budget arcana, backroom shenanigans, and bald-faced lies to an unwary electorate. Journalists have done great work, but the message seems to be losing its strength. Voters are walking away from the polling booths, with barely 60% taking the time to vote. The Internet has become a powerful economic force, and it is now a platform for voters to stay informed, educated, and aware of what's happening at local and community levels of government,
Now, the payoff. California Watch is an organization dedicated to information, information for all. It is for the benefit of citizens who want a better life, for citizens who understand the demands of urban living, who appreciate the idea of community and public welfare. Working citizens see taxes extracted from their paychecks, they see income tax forms containing all the details of their lives sent to anonymous collectors who analyze those details, and they see the politicians overspend again and again.
California Watch is just one news gathering organization, but it is well connected to many others. It is tied to the various State schools of journalism and to established newspapers around the state.
I recommend that each resident of the West Lake Tahoe community familiarize themselves with California Watch. Reading and understanding this information will benefit us all.

Powder BIG TIME

Now this is winter! We know this because we've seen it before: mid-winter dumping creates ideal conditions for outrageous Spring skiing. This week will firm up the base for a run to Easter.
Record low temps could prolong the Spring season.

El Dorado County was featured this AM on The Weather Channel's national broadcast-key word-snow! So, doubting Thomas's, here's the snow you've been waiting for. Enjoy the white stuff.
This heavy weather will not alter economic conditions statewide much. Despite an uptick in resort spending over the holiday weekend, red ink flowing in Sacramento and Washington will continue to affect the lives of locals across the spectrum of citizens. We can only hope that the voters are waking to the fact we cannot sit idly by and allow elected representatives carry on with business as usual. It doesn't work without constant vigilance by all of us. The merging of news media outlets has not assisted our efforts to monitor performance of officials. Yes, the internet has provided access to more information but it has to be collected, read, and presented to a concerned electorate.
Homewood/Tahoma/MeeksBay/Rubicon residents continue to look at local county issues that have directly affected the quality of life at the Lake.
More to follow-stay tuned.

Winter Part II

Finally, some timely snow! With the last "BIG" weekend imminent, resort operators can breathe a sigh of relief as they look forward to putting a plus sign in the books for 2010-2011. While the season was off to a great start, covering the December -January segment with above average powder, January itself was very dry and February looked to be as well. But now, the hand wringing and concerned looks have given way to smiles and high fives.
It is possible that the season could make it to Easter /Ski Week, but it is unlikely due to the late dates for both. Now Mardi Gras is coming up and hopefully, the locals will celebrate as appropriate: costumes, music, and lots of good food. Maybe even a Parade and a second line.

Financial discussions in Sacramento underscore the severity of the recession and its effects on the operation of government at all levels, city and county included. It will take awhile to return to a normal budget climate, but that will only happen if the clowns in Sacramento recognize that spending cuts have to be made, and made now. Let them know that there are no "sacred cows".
Spending must be cut across the board, including that fiscal monster: Redevelopment Agency. This government created monster has swallowed much needed funds while providing results that often would be better done by private funding/investment. Another good idea that has lingered beyond reason, stealing funds from worthwhile segments as education and MediCal/Medicaid.
Governor Brown wants voters to extend the taxes that were to be a one time event. Sounds familiar. Find a tax and find a politician who says its necessary!
Let's pay attention and tell Sacramento: No More Tax Extensions-Enough.

More bear stories

The Mayor had lunch in Mill Valley, that infamous village in marvelous Marin County. It was a signature day: sun shining in every nook and cranny, locals running about as though it were summer and not the middle of winter. The Square was filled to over flowing. Tyler Florence' boutique was busy as shoppers went in to inspect high priced French cookware of copper and stainless steel.
I met four cousins at Piazza D'Angelo for brunch. We sat outside, but within range of their portable heaters. My cousin Bill, brought an old family album and we all commented about the various aunts and uncles and cousins on vacations, at holiday parties, and just hanging out. My cousin Jimmie, who has a cabin near Sunnyside told of visits by the bruins. Seems they broke through a side window and helped themselves to stored foodstuffs. He now has an alarm system in place and no more break-ins. His near neighbor told even a better story: the bears broke in, ripped cabinets off the walls, ate everything and then climbed the stairs and ------crawled into bed for a nice nap, that was undisturbed!!!!!! You gotta lov'em.
These events happened 3 years ago before the culling of the offenders from the neighborhood. They were getting pretty bold. Incidentally, the bear(s) went through the front door, knocking it off the hinges. When you're hungry-you're hungry! We also talked about the old homestead at 7th & Pine sts, Tahoma. The cabins are still there, but definitely need some upkeep. Current owners are not in a mood to spend much money, not in this economy.
Weather forecasts indicate the white stuff could be coming, maybe by Monday. We need some, it's been too long for this time of year.
Don't feed the bears!

Commandant Speaks

The Mayor visited San Francisco for some highlife on Tuesday: for some politics at the national level. An event was staged by the Norcal chapter of The World Affairs Council. The current commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps was giving a lecture on the state of his Corps.
It was difficult not to be stirred, sitting among an audience that included several hundred young men and women in their dress blue uniforms. General Amos, a four star general, gave a fine accounting of the readiness of the "tip of the spear". He displayed a keen intelligence and a sense of humor. He took questions and answered readily and candidly with great detail and insight.
He was introduced by the venerable statesman, George P. Schultz, former Marine and about everything else in Washington. He's 90 years of age.
Saw some old friends and shared a few stories from Lake Tahoe and there abouts. I always enjoy excursions to the City- it's always interesting checking the "face " of the town.
The Marine Club Hotel looked great, CEO Gen. Mike Wyatt is doing a fine job, keeping the standards high and the atmosphere cordial. I'd recommend it for any stay in the City.
Next week, the Chief of Naval Operations will speak at the same locale. Interesting line up in a city known by its radical left wing politics.

Carlo on the River

The Mayor and his Minister of Latin American Culture and Politics, met Carlo, the Italian pescatore(fisherman), on the banks of the famous Russian River. Now known more for its wine than for fish, the river is enjoying ideal conditions for February's steelhead season. Under Carlo's tutelage, the Mayor would sharpen his conservationist's skills as a worthy steelhead collector.
The river is running clear in this section(vic. Monte Rio/Austin Creek), but there is llittle evidence of steelhead. There are no line ups of sportsmen testing their luck against the wily fish, no full parking lots, and the tackle shops are empty. Word on the river is , "Go north,young man". North is the Gualala River, Eel River, and the Smith. Maybe next week, the ocean travelers will begin something of a sustained run, back to their hatchery origins, or in some cases, back to their native streams.
But, oh, the conditions-they don't get much better. It's a fine day when you can walk into knee deep, cold water, gaze into the willows along the river bank, and proclaim it good.
It is still a revelation to find so few folks in the vicinity. How can they pass up such an opportunity to enjoy such spectacular conditions? Beats me!
Get out to the Russian River and have some fun.
Cassini's Campground was near empty with only a few campfires blazing away in the early evening. I'm sure the hardy souls on the ground were quite pleased with their efforts to find a riverside campsite available on the weekend. But it is Super Bowl weekend, and sadly, many families will be held hostage to this overhyped, banal event that frustrates many a sociologist's attempt to explain it.
You could be camping tonight on the river in less than two hours. Think about it.
The Mayor returned to his bayside habitat, grateful for the day. The Minister of Latin Affairs said conditions reminded him of Patagonia in the springtime. Ah, Patagonia.

We can talk about the weather but......

Is it climate change? or is it something else?Here we are again, waiting for springtime to begin and, lo, here it is! The East and Midwest are freezing, Texas is dealing with ice and snow, more storms are on the way, and we Californians(and Oregonians and Washingtonians)bask in summer-like conditions, 15degrees above normal for the period. Without the morning dew, the trip to the morning paper is like a stroll at the beach.
Vineyard owners are getting concerned: the groundhog followers say it will be an early spring-bud break could be just around the corner. Timing, it's all about timing. Ag workers are still on vacation break: will they be recalled? Alas, wine sales volume is down, prices are soft, lenders are wringing their hands, and private labels are causing grief among the large producers: how can we maintain our margins when these upstarts give it away?
I drove through the Russian river valley yesterday, another gorgeous day, and saw many vines still with their canes intact. Could be that managers are waiting to see what the economics will be for the coming season. How much will be spent on maintenance/care before the growing season begins?
The vineyards appeared as they normally would in the middle of winter: serene, stripped of foliage, transparent, waiting for the surge of spring to begin. Absolutely no work is in progress and all equioment is in the barn or in the shop, all perfectly normal. But without a return to winter conditions, it could all change in a matter of weeks.