World War II vet visits Tahoma

Like some of the older vets, they don a baseball cap emblazoned with a few insignia and a vet status, like WWII. So, the Mayor sees this age appropriate gent walking out of the local espresso bar. I introduced myself and we talked. Who is "Guido" Mariani? He's the man who gave the name to 'Mariani Plaza' or downtown Tahoma. I always enjoy talking with these veterans, they all have great stories and are usually willing to share some if you give them the time. I do. I found out that Guido was in the U.S. Navy, aviation department. He flew as a crewman on the famous PBM patrol bomber/search and rescue in the Pacific Theater. He was a waist gunner, manning a .50 cal. machinegun as close-in defense. He said he was lucky: never got shot down, never crash landed, never lost a fellow crew man.
He came home, raised a family and became a builder, building over 120 homes around the west shore. Quite a few in Tahoma. He also bought some commercial property and now manages those properties. He's proud of his Italian heritage and speaks a little of the mother tongue: Che cosa fai? Tutto bene?
He has lots of grandkids, and can be found in the neighborhood all summer. He's enjoying the good life! A Tahoma personality.
Thank you, 'Guido', for your service years; years of open-ended commitment, in it for the duration, with victory the only option.

Local Fireworks All Natural

As predicted, a few thunderstorms rolled through Tahoma last night. The lightning started around 2am, with multiple bolts cracking across the peaks above Highway 89 and the West Shore. Billowing clouds could be seen in the flashing light as the fireworks continued. It seemed the cells of thunder clouds were hovering right over Ellis Peak above Blackwood Canyon campground. All the local campers were getting a bit of Tahoe summer fun! With a few sprinkles to start things off, those in the know covered up their belongings and got ready for a few showers.
And the showers began, about 4am. The heavy rains began. The activity heavy at times, followed by lulls of light rain, dumped maybe 1/2 inch of rain, enough to get the streets wet, the ground soaked, and puddles in the low spots. More today, and maybe tonight.
Ah, summer in the Sierra.

News Flash
The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor were witnesses to an unusual event in downtown Tahoma this morning. We saw a young woman, fully clothed, crawl into a mail box in the post office and disappear! True story. Shortly thereafter, she emerged from the front door with a big smile. What's going on here? Magic? A game of sorts? Who was the "mystery woman"? Apparently, she's a well known local. More investigation is warranted here.

Bankers Gone Wild

The banking business, a business most of us know only because we write checks, make deposits, get monthly statements, and have an ATM card attached to the account, has come under fire, again.
A major scandal is on the front page(s) and could blossom into the biggest financial debacle of them all. It has to do with the LIBOR. This acronym for the London Inter Bank Overnight Rate, is an interest rate charged on money loaned between banks, private banks not Federal Reserves or sovereign banks.
Barclays Bank, the venerable British institution, has agreed to pay a serious fine for attempts to manipulate the LIBOR to increase profits at their trading desks. Traders were enlisting the cooperation of bankers to set/change rates that would make instant profits for the traders in various ways, depending on the instruments(contracts, bonds,derivatives,etc) involved. The concept of LIBOR manipulation was not even on the radar of regulators on either side of the Atlantic. However, it came to light about 5 years ago, when Tim Geithner was headof the New York branch of the federal reserve. He sent a letter to the British Exchequer(Treasury) listing 6 steps to correct the methodology. The Brits saw fit to implement only 2 of the 6. Not good. So Barclays pays $453millions, 3 top officials resign, and there is more to come.

Those close to the investigation say there are potentially trillions of dollars involved, in losses due to the manipulation of the LIBOR.
So, brace yourself: more bad news from the banking sector is due to rain on our parade!

City of Thieves -the book

David Benioff wrote a fine novel of World War II, focusing on a topic rarely touched by Ameri can writers for many reasons. The war in Russia against the Nazis was a separate front, rarely experienced by any American troops until the very end of the war. The Russians suffered terribly at the hands of the German army, especially the civilian population without any defense.
The author carries the story on the backs of 2 protagonists: Kolga and Lev, 2 unlikely, but sympathetic Russians. Lev is a 17 year old, whose father was disappeared by the Russian secret police within the purge period of the late 1930's. His father was an intellectual, a published poet, recognized for his efforts by other poets and academics. Lev had been living in Leningrad when surrounded by Nazi forces after the summer attack of 1941. Trapped, the civilian occupants were pressed into service by Russian military forces for survival. Conditions were bad and only got worse. Kolga was an older young Army officer, who had been on unauthorized leave from his unit, visiting friends in the city when collared by local police and tossed into the dreaded prison that few escaped from. The 2 were thrown together by chance, and then the story begins.
It's a form of road trip, with a quest: a dozen eggs, somewhere, to be returned to the commandant or their lives would be forfeited. The story of their quest makes a good read. Of course, a good, cold Russian winter figures large in their quest, along with encounters of "monsters": Nazi death squads, trigger happy partisans, "sirens" in the form of Nazi comfort women; sympathetic advisors who help them along the way.
Benioff's book was a NYT's best seller, popular among readers old and young. Kolga, the former literature student, provided the source of quotes and citations across the literary landscape of Russian poets and authors. Lev, despite the efforts of his late father, had not found his calling in literary circles-he was still trying to figure it all out. Kolga was the worldly one, offering Lev advice for the inexperienced: how to make love to a woman, what every man must know. Lev was not the best pupil, trying to appear more worldly than actual fact.
Funny, sad, and depressing in parts, the author found a winning formula. With his other work, he's developing a following.
Mayor awards 3 1/2 stars to "CITY OF THIEVES".

note: the City referred to is Leningrad, formerly St. Petersberg. It was identified by Hitler as a city of thieves and reprobates, unworthy of continued existence.

Remembering Lucille

The Mayor's Office received news that long time resident, Lucille McCulley passed away in Manhatten, NYC, in April. Lucille bought a home in Glenridge in 1980 after several trips to Tahoe. She had found one of the fairest locations on the globe. She spent quite a bit of time here while working, and even more after her "retirement" in 1988.
Lucille loved traveling and there was ample evidence throughout her home: photos on location in South America's most remote areas; exotic sites in Asia and Europe; and not a few of our own USA.
She was a Francophile, enjoying the art, literature, history, cuisine, and culture of our European ally. She studied art and language in France after getting her degree in Omaha, Nebraska during WWII. While a student in France, she collected quite a library of books, in French, covering a range of topics dealing with her cultural interests.
Upon returning to the USA, she landed in New York City where she began her career in Industrial Design, specializing in transportation. She achieved great success and was often the recipient of industry accolades for her work.
She was a talented, trained artist, and her home(s) were decorated with many examples of her work: charcoal sketches, pen & ink drawings, pastel landscapes, and watercolor still life drawings.
The home in Glenridge was purchased from the original owner, an architect. The home's 3 stories had magnificent views from each room, looking south above the lake at Meeks Bay. With its expansive deck space on each level, guests enjoyed outdoor access from every room. The living room and each master suite had its own fireplace. Street level access to the 2-car garage was a luxury found if few Tahoe locations.
In later years, as Lucille traveled less between coasts, she offered her home to vacationing guests, who enjoyed the surroundings of Tahoe and Glenridge.
Lucille was a Renaissance woman, a working professional ahead of her time. Unmarried, she leaves many relatives in the Bay Area and New York. She also leaves many friends attracted to her warmth, intelligence, and world traveling experiences. Her gracious conversation and natural curiosity made her a sought after personality.
She will be missed by all who knew new her.

The Cinnamon Bear

Our local regular bear, the Cinnamon bruin made a grand showing on the 4th. Visited a family house at 2pm, resting on a cooler in the driveway off Hi 89. The residents watched the show while waiting for the Sheriff to come by and send the animal back into the forest. He is pressing his luck, being so bold on our holiday. But, he is local, just needs a little herding.
Perhaps it's time for the stinging pellets of a Daisy air gun. That would give him something to think about.

FIREWORKS
Watched the show from the deck-it was fantastic, as usual. Great combinations from the 3 different launching sites. I especially liked the heart-shaped displays. The Roman candle fountains were great. Lots of watercraft were on the Lake, taking advantage of good viewing sites.
South Shore/Stateline had the best collection.

4th of JULY

The big day is here, finally. The summer kickoff holiday 2012. Although falling midweek , Wednesday, we can adjust. It spreads the celebration over the whole week. Fireworks will be noted around the various towns on the lake, north and south.
Be careful, have fun, celebrate!

Property Tax Relief

Once in awhile, the government surprises me. Hard to believe it, but some good news has been received from the powers on high. The IRS, the most reviled institution ever conceived, made a decision! Eureka! After years of prodding, they decided(they are The Deciders) that certain tax assessments on property owners are DEDUCTIBLE ! Once more: certain assessments are now deductible on your 1040 Return. This means several things to homeowners:
1. You must review your returns.
2. You must consult with your preparer
3. An amended return must be filed for Tax Year 2011
4. Depending on which special districts the property is situated, dollar amounts will differ widely.
5. There might not be any change in amount owed
6. There might be significant money returned to you
7. Estimated tax for 2012 can be affected immediately

This decision will mean a significant reduction in money flowing to Sacramento and Washington. They are not happy! Their budget fantasies will now take a big hit. ON the positive side, the money returned/not paid to the gov. will stay in the hands of, you got it, CONSUMERS, You and me, who can spend it where we want to, when we want to without having it pass through the filter(s) of the Franchise Tax Board(Cal. State) or the IRS. The decision was basically an agreement between to tax authorities, the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board of California. All the additional taxing agencies and districts in California collect their revenue from fees and parcel taxes assessed on property owners situated in the district. Most often, these taxes and fees were not deductible. Now they are deductible. Is there a cost involved?
If you use your tax preparation service, yes, but it should be minimal as they have your records(2011 Returns) and can cull out the deduction using the program they use to compile the 1040 Form sent in on April 15. A quick glance noted quite a savings for the Mayor's office.
I would strongly recommend a review of all 2011 tax data and discuss the issue as soon as possible. If you are not a property owner, this ruling/decision should not affect your returns. Although it will affect the bottom line of the landlord if the property is located in California.

This is a case of a no-brainer: review your 1040 Form and Cal 540. You may have a tax refund due from taxes already paid. I hope it makes your 4th of July.

Score 1 for the good guys!