writing

Lake Tahoe Community College’s Writers’ Series continues on Friday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Roberta Mason Library with visits from poet and journalist Ilyse Kusnetz, and teacher, farmer, and poet Julia Shipley.

The two writers will read selections from their works, answer audience questions about their writing process, and sign copies of their books for sale that night. This event is free and the public is welcome to attend!

Get ready for Tahoe WordWave, a literary event the likes of which has never before been seen in South Lake Tahoe, and the rest of the country is taking note.

Modeled after San Francisco's LitQuake, organizers of Tahoe WordWave have gathered creative and inspiring writers, musicians, and performers from around the country to share their talents over a three day experience at Tallac Historic Site. The festival will be interactive, featuring readings, workshops, plays, open mics, guided hikes, and oral storytelling.

Last spring, Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) students in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 11th grades took a new style of state testing. The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) was an on-line assessment that measured their problem solving and critical thinking skills.

LTUSD Superintendent Dr. James Tarwater will present the results to the School Board Trustees during Tuesday's board meeting.

A Sacramento County man accused of kidnapping a Vallejo woman in March allegedly confessed to the crime in a recorded jailhouse interview and said he did it alone, according to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court.

Matthew Muller, 38, of Orangevale, is charged with kidnapping physical therapist Denise Hoskins at the Vallejo home she shared with her boyfriend on March 23 and keeping her captive for two days before dropping her off near her mother's house in Huntington Beach.

The students at Mt. Tallac High School may not be experiencing the traditional path to graduation, but they are now going to experience a new one focused on work ethic and careers.

The dynamic duo team of Holly Greenough and Amy Jackson are beginning Phase Two of what they started last year, a program that takes students from school to career. The students that attend Mt. Tallac are the ones that stay in town, unlike others who take the college path and leave town and start a career and families elsewhere.

STOP RIGHT THERE. Don’t move a muscle, buster. Stay out of this book or I WILL CHOMP YOU!

Meet Bear. He's exhausted. All he wants is to go to sleep. Meet Duck, Bear's persistent next-door neighbor. All he wants is to hang out . . . with Bear

If you're a dinosaur, all of your friends are dead. If you're a pirate, all of your friends have scurvy. If you're a tree, all of your friends are end tables.

These are just a few lines out of books written by South Tahoe High School graduate Jory John who's ninth book, "I Will Chomp You," is being released on Tuesday.

Internationally bestselling author Garth Stein, whose book “The Art of Racing in the Rain” has sold more than 4 million copies and been published in 35 languages, will appear at Tahoe WordWave Oct. 9-11 at the Tallac Historic Site in South Lake Tahoe. His newest book, “A Sudden Light,” is set in a large historic house in the woods similar to Valhalla’s Grand Hall, the site of WordWave’s Friday night steampunk ball, held from 6-10 pm, kicking off with a Champagne reception with Stein. On Saturday, Oct.

WordWave is a three-day festival held from Oct. 9-11, 2015 on the grounds of Valhalla at the Tallac Historic Site in South Lake Tahoe, CA. This literary mash-up will feature oral storytelling, theater performances and free readings, panels on craft, yoga, and a novel writing camp for kids. Highlights include a one-act playwriting contest, a Maker’s Station demo with bookbinding, letterpress, drum making, and found poetry and art. Ticketed events include a steampunk ball, workshops, and even a hike.

Location

Mystery, intrigue and entertainment South Lake Tahoe style. That's what you can expect when you join the Friends of the Library for an evening of food, wine and mystery at the South Lake Tahoe Library when they present "A Toast to Die For: An Evening of Mystery."

On Sunday, August 23 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. you can enjoy choices of hearty appetizers, beverages, a silent auction and music, all surrounded with an aura of mystery pervading the scene, both inside and out.

Author Todd Borg returns with Tahoe Blue Fire, his 13th Owen McKenna Tahoe Mystery.

Tahoe Blue Fire is about former pro football player Adam Simms who is suffering Traumatic Brain Injury from his days on the gridiron. When Simms becomes the prime suspect in a series of brutal murders in Tahoe, Detective Owen McKenna can’t tell if Simms is being framed or if he is a diabolical killer who is faking brain injury... He shares his writing techniques and storylines in a very entertaining way.

This is not to be missed.

Book sale and signing to follow. Free.

Location

Safety for cyclists and pedestrians is a big concern for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD), cycling groups and those enjoying these activities.

In the last six years, 12 people have died in South Lake Tahoe while cycling or walking. In that same time, 42 people were injured while riding bikes on the road while 37 pedestrians were hurt.

Writers, readers and performers from all around the country will appear at South Lake Tahoe Oct. 9-11, 2015 for WordWave, a three-day festival held on the grounds of Valhalla at the Tallac Historic Site. This literary mash-up will feature oral storytelling, theater performances and free readings, panels on craft, yoga, and a novel writing camp for kids. Highlights include a one-act playwriting contest, a Maker’s Station demo with bookbinding, letterpress, drum making, and found poetry and art. Ticketed events include a steampunk ball, workshops, and even a hike.

Once again, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department is reminding motorists to Click It or Ticket. As part of the national seat belt enforcement campaign, law enforcement agencies around the country will be stepping up enforcement May 18-31, including one of the busiest travel weekends of the year that kicks off the summer season.

Families, art and music lovers, and history buffs can expect a spectacular season of entertainment on the shore of Lake Tahoe at this year’s Valhalla Arts, Music & Theatre Festival, June 17 – August 26, 2015. Free music on the lawn, boot stomping roots music in a 1920’s boathouse, classic theatre productions, outdoor art camps for kids, cultural dance performances and fine art shows are some of the many highlights that await 2015 festival goers. Tickets are on sale now at ValhallaTahoe.com.

Reno's first-ever poet laureate, Gailmarie Pahmeier and poet/teacher Shaun T. Griffin will be the next featured artists at the Lake Tahoe Community College's Writers Series on April 21 at 7 p.m.

The poets will read selections from their works, answer questions from the audience and sign copies of their books at the event which will take place at the college'e Roberta L. Mason Library. Their books will be available for sale.

Across the nation, adjunct faculty at colleges will be walking off the job Wednesday in recognition of National Adjunct Walkout Day. In South Lake Tahoe though, full and part-time faculty at LTCC will host a "Teach-In" to educate students and the public about adjunct positions.

From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., faculty, students and the public will meet in the Main Building's Commons to discuss part-time faculty concerns nationwide, including fair wages, improved job security, and better working conditions.

The Lake Tahoe Community College Writers’ Series proudly presents an evening with novelist Gayle Brandeis and short story writer Dimitri Keriotis on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. in the Aspen Room, inside the library building. The two writers will read selections from their works, answer audience questions, and sign copies of their books, which will be available for sale. This event is free and open to the public.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners have a new clerk after Laure Penny was hired to replace the retired Lorraine Kabat.

Penny, who began work Monday, was most recently was a paralegal for Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers with prior employment as a Supreme Court Clerk and legal secretary.

“Douglas County is one of my favorite places to be and I am very excited to be able to work for and serve the wonderful people who live here,” said Penny.

The anticipation from youngsters was contagious on Friday night during Barton's Festival of the Trees. Not only did they have hot chocolate and popcorn, but kids were making ornaments, writing letters to santa, watching the performers from Marcia Sarosik Dance and South Tahoe high, but the jolly guy himself was there, listening to all of the wish lists.

Teddy bears of all shapes, sizes and conditions were taken to the Teddy Bear Hospital where doctors and nurses from Barton Health examined, x-rayed and bandaged the bears who weren't feeling too well.

"After a mistake late in the second half by our goalkeeper, the LTCC men's team found themselves down 2-0 with 6:46 seconds left to go in the game. Coyote players lay on the pitch with their hands over their faces in shock that we had let in a SECOND goal, and defeat seemed imminent.

And then something happened.

THE CROWD STARTED CHEERING!!!

I thought to myself on the sidelines, "Wow, that's a nice gesture since their team is being beat 2-0." Everyone on the bench and on the field thought the game was most likely over.

Being touted as "The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act" by proponents, Proposition 47 will mandate misdemeanors instead of felonies for “non-serious, nonviolent crimes," unless the defendant has prior convictions for murder, rape, certain sex offenses or certain gun crimes.

The reason Prop 47 got this name is because a fund bearing it's name will be created by the estimated savings of $150M to $250M the state will receive by not having to prosecute crimes that would become misdemeanors.

This letter was given to South Tahoe Now for publication.
September 26, 2014

Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, California 95814

Re: Support for SB 850 State Senator Block – Pilot Baccalaureate Program for
California Community Colleges

Dear Governor Brown:

I am writing to you to urge your signature into law of SB 850 (“The Bill”) by State Senator Block. The Bill as is valuable to our State’s future to increase the education and training of residents of our State.

An environmental impact report on the Heavenly Epic Discovery Project is ready for public viewing. The new project, located at Heavenly Mountain Resort, will expand their summer activities to include more canopy tours, hiking and biking trails as well as interpretive activities.

Since 2011 the U.S. Forest Service has allowed more summer activities on national forest lands.

The following increase in activities are being proposed:

The Tahoe Prosperity Center (TPC) wants to facilitate the expansion of high speed internet in the Lake Tahoe Basin, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. In order to see where the need is, a speed test of your current internet service and a survey is being conducted.