Minister of Music and Culture

The Mayor had a meeting with the minister of M&C in Truckee last week and discussed the upcoming events and programs for 2011/12. It appears that this season could be the best yet, with many ideas for new music, drama, and photography waiting for final decisions.
The minister was in fine fettle, ready to tackle a challenging calendar of events.

Homewood Summit

So, children, did you attend the 2011 Summit on Tahoe? Not many did. Evidently, if you blinked, you'd have missed it. 2 1/2 hours of summit, hardly enough time to do the intros. Harry Reid and DiFi would need that much time to walk up to the podium. What a stunt! It seems like the idea of a Tahoe vacation is a nice draw, even for jaded Senators, governors, and other assorted lackeys, bootlickers, and hangers-on.
UC Davis also took this time to announce water clarity in the lake has deteriorated 3.6' in the last 12 months, the first in 10 years. Probably too many fish fouling the lake. It was claimed that lack of development has kept older buildings from being eliminated and or cleaned up. Or maybe it was the higher than average precipitation?
When will the money come fluttering down to Westshore? Don't hold your breath.

Rafting on the truckee river

Finally, they've opened the gates at the Tahoe City dam. The lake level has been high for months, to the point that it would soon pour over the dam on its own. ON Thursday last, I looked over the dam and the water level was right below the lip, almost ready to crest. The federal powers to be decided now is the time. So some time Friday or Saturday, the gates opened(not all) and the clear, cold water from Tahoe began its run to Nevada and Pyramid Lake.
Rafters : man your rafts.
After a long dry summer, the local rafters were more than ready to provide rafts to visitors and guests. With weather just perfect, it seems ready made for some great days in August, rafting on the Truckee River.
Company owners have had to sit and wait all summer for the decision to be made, and it was. Perhaps the summer won't be a total loss after all. While the local college kids won't return to campus for a few weeks, K-12 will probably go back by the 15th, with some exceptions. So, there's your summer: about 2 weeks if you're a rafter or raft owner.
Don't forget to duck under the bridge!

Mt. Tahoma

Well, children, I must admit I've been derelict in my duties as mayor. I've neglected for too long to provide background content on the origins of "Tahoma".
Yes, it sounds like a word from a native American language. Could it be a Washoe word, such as 'tahoe'? It seems that the Klikitat tribe from Washington state have used the word "tahoma" to describe a feature on the landscape of their tribal area for some time. That landscape feature is none other than Mt. Rainier, that famous mountain that has provided a memorable scenic backdrop to the city of Seattle since its founding.
Just why they called it Tahoma is a mystery, without definite facts to support any position regarding the naming. But, the local history is supported by local names: Mt. Tahoma senior high school in Tacoma. And, The Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent , Washington. This is part of the veteran's Administration system, providing a burial ground for U.S. veterans and their loved ones. A closer look is available on line at tahoma national cemetery.

So, now you know!