Skyler Monaghan, Author at Tahoe Fund

8 Ways to Enjoy Tahoe During Quarantine

April 21, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

Thank you to everyone who is respecting the current requests to stay home until this passes. We know many of you are missing out on your favorite Tahoe traditions. Here is a list of things you can do at home to make you miss Tahoe a little less:

1. KT Powder Day Prep

This one can only be done with your current quarantine peeps. Gather together in a very tight space. If need be, feel free to hang nylon ropes on each side of you. Then practice creating personal space with your pointy elbows as you imagine that the gates to the KT-22 Chair miraculously open on the best powder day of the year. First one to the “chair” wins. Remember, there are no friends on a powder day.

2. Northstar’s Champagne “Tost”

Everyday at 2pm, sit outside in the sun on a comfy chair (or a bean bag in the color of Veuve Clicquot orange if possible) with a glass of bubbly. Close your eyes and imagine you are looking out across Martis Valley from the Tost Bar on the east ridge of Northstar after a day of quad burning groomers.

3. Tahoe Road Construction Season

This one requires a vehicle and possibly someone wearing a safety vest and carrying an orange flag. Go sit in your car. Pretend you have somewhere really important to be. You don’t actually have to start your car, as you won’t be going anywhere.

4. Wet Woody Wednesdays

On Wednesday, fire up the blender and puree strawberries with rum. When you are done, pour an excessive amount of rum on top. Now find the biggest straw you can (preferably made of paper) and suck down that imposter Wet Woody until you have a brain freeze or can’t remember what day of quarantine it is.

5. Ski Boot Time Trials

Looking for a good physical activity for the day? Need to meet your kids’ daily PE hours? Buckle up those ski boots and see how quickly you can run around your house or block. For extra bonus points, make sure you carry your skis and all of your kids ski gear.

6. Tahoe Blue Vodka Tahoe-tinis

At the end of a long day, take off those sweatpants and pour yourself a gourmet cocktail. We recommend a Tahoe Blue Vodka Tahoe-tini. Mix Tahoe Blue Vodka with a splash of vermouth and curacao. That blue sip of magic will make you feel like you are drinking up the blue of Tahoe.

7. Daily Sunset

Missing those Tahoe sunsets? Tune in nightly to the Tahoe Fund Facebook page to see a livestream of the sunset. Or binge Tahoe sunsets on the Tahoe Fund IGTV channel. Note, this can be done in combination with #4 and #6.

8. Zoom Backgrounds

Stuck on video calls all week? Download the Tahoe Zoom backgrounds provided by photog extraordinaire Justin Majeczky on the Tahoe Fund website.

Tahoe will still be here when this passes. And thanks to your continued support, the Tahoe Fund will be here working hard to improve the Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.

Special thanks to Squaw|Alpine, Northstar, Gar Woods, Riva Grill and Tahoe Blue Vodka for their long-term support of the Tahoe Fund. To support them and other local Tahoe businesses now, consider purchasing gift cards to use when Tahoe re-opens. Check out these North Shore and South Shore websites for more information.

Did we miss a favorite Tahoe tradition? Send your traditions our way at info@tahoefund.org or share on our Instagram or Facebook pages

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY ANYWHERE WITH ACTIVITIES FROM TAKE CARE TAHOE

April 20, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, virtual activities scheduled all week long

Take Care Tahoe partners are proud to share daily earth and climate action themed activities in celebration of Earth Day’s 50th anniversary. Check out the daily activities Monday, April 20 through Friday, April 24 at takecaretahoe.org. Through collaboration with environmental education organizations around Tahoe and Truckee, these activities are designed to be fun and educational for both kids and adults. Each day is themed and includes a climate fact, specific actions to take, an activity to take part in, and a color that can be worn to show support.

“Despite what’s happening in the world right now, the organizations that love Lake Tahoe and help plan Earth Day celebrations around Tahoe realized there are easy things that every one of us can do from home to honor the Earth and take action on climate initiatives,” said Crew Stover, program and outreach coordinator at the Tahoe Fund, a Take Care Tahoe partner. “We’ve compiled a variety of fun activities that participants of all ages can join in all week long to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.”

Join the Take Care Tahoe Earth Week challenge to make a difference. Take photos or videos throughout the week and share your experiences with your friends, family, teachers, or on social media using #TakeActionTahoe.

Mother Nature Monday: Help plan and eat three meals without any meat, and check-out the week-long scavenger hunt organized by the Tahoe Institute for Natural Sciences.

Transportation Tuesday: To be more mindful of greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation, take action by registering for the 2020 Tahoe Bike Challenge, and go for a walk or ride your bike instead of driving for errands.

Waste Free Wednesday: To combat plastic pollution, which never breaks down in the environment and is a major source of litter in Tahoe, prepare a meal with little or no disposable packaging. The League to Save Lake Tahoe is offering activities to help people understand how much trash they generate and how to reduce their waste footprint, along with a fun neighborhood clean-up activity to Keep Tahoe Blue.

Thrifty Thursday: We all have the opportunity to reduce our impact on the planet. On Thursday, take action by turning off the lights and unplugging appliances to save energy and learn how to make a reusable grocery bag out of an old T-shirt.

Flourishing Friday: Forests and other non-agricultural lands absorb carbon dioxide emissions, so why not plant a tree! Plant a seed from your lunch (try an apple, cucumber, lemon, or tomato) and make a simple homemade hummingbird feeder to help pollinators.

As “extra credit,” on Friday, April 24 pick up a sugar pine tree seedling from one of five locations around Lake Tahoe and Truckee and plant it. Pick-up locations and planting instructions available online. For more details and to get involved in Take Care Tahoe’s Earth Week activities, visit takecaretahoe.org/earth-week/ and tag @takecaretahoe and #TakeActionTahoe.

Lake Tahoe Fun Fact: 13 Ounces

April 2, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

Today’s Fun Fact is a shout out to one of the many businesses who support our $1 for Tahoe program. Alpen Sierra Coffee is a local coffee roaster that supplies delicious coffee to most of Tahoe’s favorite coffee shops. Now you can sign up for their “Coffee of the Month” for just $13 for the month of April. It has never been more important to support local businesses, especially ones that have supported our mission to improve the Tahoe environment for all to enjoy. Cheers!

Artists Selected to Create New Mural in Tunnel on Tahoe East Shore Trail

March 31, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

Local nonprofits, private sector and government agencies collaborated to name winning artists after 34 responded to the public call for artists

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (March 31, 2020) – In response to the Tahoe Fund and Tahoe Public Art’s call for artists earlier this year, 34 artists submitted proposals for the chance to paint the mural that will complete the tunnel on the new Tahoe East Shore Trail. Tyler Rivenbark and Frida Ticehurst-Rivenbark, a husband and wife art and design duo based in North Lake Tahoe, were selected to paint their mural concept by a panel of judges composed of representatives from the Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Public Art, Nevada State Parks, Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), Raley’s, and Kelly Brothers Painting. Raley’s is providing a $5,000 stipend to the artists and Kelly Brothers Painting will donate all of the paint required for the mural.

Submissions came from as far as the UK and Canada with the majority coming from local and regional artists. “Our partners and sponsors held two panel meetings in February to determine the top three artists,” said Marina Lowe, program administrator for Tahoe Public Art. “Factors we considered included the artists’ concepts for community involvement, overall design, budget and maintenance.”

Artists were encouraged to focus the theme of their submissions on community and the surrounding environment. Requirements of the project asked artists to depict local life, involve local youth in the creation of the mural, and ensure its completion could be accomplished with minimal closure of the tunnel and trail.

Most of Tyler’s work involves mixed media. Frida’s art practice focuses on sustainable and regenerative systems for creative expression. “Our intent with this art piece is to convey the natural beauty of this region,” said Tyler and Frida. “We want to remind people of the gift we all share by living or visiting this region, amplifying the sense of belonging, and encouraging participation in keeping this place beautiful and full of enjoyment.”

Painting of the mural begins later this spring following NDOT approval of the permitting process. Local youth involvement is also expected, pending the status of government regulations related to COVID-19. When painting is underway, the Tahoe East Shore Trail will be closed for 2-3 days by NDOT and Nevada State Parks. Trail closure details will be announced in advance through local media and postings at the trailheads and @nevadadot and State Parks social media.

The Tahoe East Shore Trail connecting Incline Village to Sand Harbor State Park quickly became an attraction for both residents and visitors interested in exploring Tahoe’s famed East Shore on foot or by bicycle since it opened in June 2019. The Tahoe Fund and Tahoe Public Art joined together to commission the mural to augment the natural beauty of the immediate surroundings and transform a utilitarian tunnel into an enjoyable, relevant art experience.

A GIFT FOR YOU: New Tahoe Backgrounds for Zoom Conferencing

March 30, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

We know many of you are now spending long days on video conference calls, when you would probably rather be in Tahoe. While we practice safe distancing and try not to stress our small but mighty healthcare systems, we have another option for you! Thanks to a fun background feature on Zoom and our good friend, photographer Justin Majeczky, now you can take your video calls from the mountains of Tahoe.

To download the photos scroll to the bottom of this post. Remember where you saved them so you can easily navigate to them when you get to the step to upload new backgrounds.

Open a video and click the small up arrow next to the “Video” icon

Once you click on the little arrow select “Choose a virtual background”

Now you can add photos to your virtual background by clicking on the “+” and selecting the files you downloaded from Tahoe Fund. Remember to navigate to where you saved the files.

One last small tip- click on the video tab on the left menu bar, then unselect “mirror”

We know it is not the same as being in Tahoe, but we hope this brings a little joy to your days. Thankfully, the mountains and Lake will still be here when this passes. And with your continued support, Tahoe Fund will continue to work to ensure their long term preservation.

To save a file to your computer, right click on any of the images below and choose save image.