science

Last week we had the opportunity to attend a field trip at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Thanks to a grant written by STEEC member, Devin Middlebrook (TRPA Environmental Education Specialist), EPIC Promise (through Vail Resorts – Heavenly) covered the cost of transportation, lift tickets for the tram ride, use of snowshoes, and presenters. The day was well planned and all went smoothly.

We learned much about our environment including local animals, avalanche safety and snowmaking. And luckily we enjoyed a “blue bird” day at the top of the tram!

The Improv at Harveys – Howie Nave: Host & Emcee, Henry Phillips and Sandro Iocolano, Wednesday – Sunday, January 20 – 24, 2016 The Improv presents the funniest names in comedy every week in the Cabaret Theater at Harveys Lake Tahoe! Shows happen at 9 pm every Wednesday through Sunday.(775) 588-1728

Production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the South Tahoe High School

It's been almost two-and-a-half years since South Lake Tahoe native Mitch Underhill died unexpectedly at the age of 34. The firefighter/paramedic with Lake Valley Fire Protection District was passionate not only about his family and career, but for the mountains and community he left behind.

In his memory, the Mitch Underhill Mountain Fund has been created at Lake Tahoe Community College.

"He was so loved in the community," said his widow Sarah. "He was an inspiration."

Lake Tahoe Community College faculty member Dr. Walter Morris will give a talk on what science has revealed about exercise during the school's next featured lecture, “Exercise: A Potent Medicine?” on Wednesday, January 27 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board/Aspen room.

If you live in Nevada, chances are you felt an earthquake in 2015. The University of Nevada, Reno's Seismological Laboratory said there were 17,500 earthquakes in the state during the year, 231 of those recently in south Reno.

South Tahoe High graduate Graham Kent in the director of the Nevada Seismological Lab. "While the Reno shaking is fresh in our minds, what's really bumping the number up from the background rates is the energetic sequence in far northwestern Nevada, the Sheldon sequence," he said.

Diacetyl, a flavoring chemical linked to cases of severe respiratory disease, was found in more than 75% of flavored electronic cigarettes and refill liquids tested by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Two other potentially harmful related compounds were also found in many of the tested flavors, which included varieties with potential appeal to young people such as Cotton Candy, Fruit Squirts, and Cupcake.

Three local community groups were recently awarded grants form the South Lake Tahoe Rotary Club. The Drug Store Project was given $1,000, H.E.R.O Scholarship Fund $2,000 and the Sierra House Elementary 5th Grade Nature Bridge $1,500.

The Drug Store Project, which is operated under the guidance of Tahoe Youth and Family Services will use the money to continue its annual youth drug awareness and avoidance program in 2016. This is program is designed to reduce future drug experimentation/use/abuse and increase student knowledge about the dangers of drug and alcohol use.

Over the past 15 years, Cakes by the Lake owner and baker Don Ewing, has donated the parts to help students at Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet School make about 1,800 gingerbread houses. That means, he's used one ton of sugar, 1,440 cups of molasses and 11,100 egg whites to help the school's fifth graders raise money for their annual fifth grade field trip to the Lawrence Hall of Science and the Marine Science Institute.

Sheriff Ron Pierini announced his department's newest deputy Monday. Derek Short was sworn in as a Douglas County Deputy Sheriff during a ceremony at their office in Minden, Nev.

Derek Short graduated from Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and a minor in Criminal Justice. He will start his career with DCSO in the Jail Division.

Pipe Keepers is a citizen science program to address the threat of stormwater pollution entering Lake Tahoe. Runoff from rain storms and snowmelt is the largest source of pollution that degrades Lake clarity. League staff will train you to survey local neighborhoods and collect stormwater samples during rain and snowmelt events.

The Lake Valley Fire Protection District announced the swearing in of new Apprentice
Firefighter-Paramedic, Dylan Yuzbick, was given the oath of office by Board President Dave Huber and was welcomed to the District during their October 8 board meeting.

The community is invited to a free film screening of the movie, Latino Americans: 500 Years of History, on Monday, October 12 at 7 p.m. at Lake Tahoe Community College's Board/Aspen Room.

Following the movie, the college's history, political science and ethnic studies instruction Dr. Albert Ponce will lead a bilingual discussion. LTCC is one of 200 institutions around the county who received funding resources and support to host festivals, collect oral histories, facilitate informed discussions and hold other public events about Latino American history and culture.

Lake Tahoe Community College is taking environmental course work to a new level with its new Environmental Technology and Sustainability (ETS) program, being offered for the first time starting this fall. The new ETS program offers three areas of concentration: biological resources, physical resources, and sustainability. Students can earn an Associate of Arts degree, as well as a Certificate of Achievement.

Before his gold and platinum selling albums, his 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and his induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame, Johnny Mathis held the high jump record for the University of Nevada, Reno’s Mackay Stadium. The famed singer and entertainer returned to campus Saturday, Aug. 22, to reminisce about his record 6’ 5 1/2” jump set in 1956.

The Tahoe Transportation District recently appointed Russ Nygaard as transportation capital program manager to oversee the planning, design and execution of the agency's capital projects.

With 26 years engineering experience in transportation and bridge projects, Nygaard will perform project management duties and assist with funding procurement and budget maintenance while ensuring all federal requirements are met and executed on schedule.

Join Tahoe Heritage Foundation and Tahoe Institute for Nature Science on Friday July 14 for "Birds of Lake Tahoe" and the "Tahoe Big Year." This event will be held at Taylor Creek Visitor Center at 8:00 p.m. and is open to the public. There is a $5.00 donation to the Tahoe Heritage Foundation.

July 17-Aug 23 Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival: "Romeo and Juliet" @ Sand Harbor
July 29-Aug 02 Shayla Rivera / Pete Banachowski @ Improv at Harvey's
July 31-Aug 16 Lake Tahoe Summerfest classical music series @ Sierra Nevada College
July 31-Aug 01 Lisa Marie Johnston @ Moodys Bistro
Coburn Station @ Bar of America
August 01 Three Dog Night @ Montbleu
Robert Cray @ Harrah's
Forget the Roses @ Hard Rock Hotel
Drought Relief @ Heavenly Village
DJ Rick Gee / DJ Rockwell @ Peek Tahoe
Daze on the Green @ Cabo Wabo
JKC Band @ Steamers
Darren Senn @ 968 Park Hotel

The Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association will host an expert panel and public workshop on August 11 on their plan to fight aquatic invasive weeds, which will be the best opportunity for interested community members to learn more about the problem and proposed solution.

Location

The controversial bill that would give California one of the country's strictest vaccination laws headed on Monday to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk, with supporters urging him to sign it and opponents promising to stand vigil around the clock to convince him to veto it.

On Monday, a majority of the California state Senate again passed Senate Bill 277, incendiary legislation that would require almost all schoolchildren to be fully vaccinated in order to attend public or private school, regardless of their parents' personal or religious beliefs.

The only exception would be for medical reasons.

Chautauqua performer Michael E. Fischer will portray Carson Valley rancher Heinrich F. Dangberg in a free presentation at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

Location

The Lake Tahoe Unified School District will be holding a public hearing Tuesday on how to spend an estimated $2,159,294 in LCAP funding. They want parents to participate in the decision making and have invited everyone to the June 9 School Board meeting to encourage participation.

The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will host the sixth annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival on Saturday June 13, 2015 at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89.

Residents and visitors are invited to attend this free family event from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

The Lake Tahoe Community College Foundation’s Speaker Spotlight Series continues on Monday, June 1 at 6 p.m. in the Board/Aspen room inside the library building. In the spotlight will be Dr. Beachy Orr, LTCC’s longtime Biology and Anatomy & Physiology instructor. All members of the community are welcome to this free event, and refreshments will be available.

Raul E. Moreno Campos, a doctoral candidate and teaching fellow at UCLA’s Department of Political Science, will be at Lake Tahoe Community College on Tuesday, May 26 at 12 p.m. Campos will give a presentation on “State-Sponsored Violence, U.S. Imperialism, and the Salvadoran Civil War” in the LTCC Commons, inside the main building. This is a free event, and the community is welcome and encouraged to participate.