Truckee / Tahoe Short-Sales on the Decline!

Below is a graph showing the number of short-sales listed on the market in the Truckee-Tahoe MLS, week-by-week for the past two years. The Short-Sales are shown on the graph from their Listing Date until either their Contract Date or Listing Expiration Date. The graph shows the peak of the Short-Sales in mid-July 2009, and then on the decline since then.

Notice:  The information contained herein is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Verification is recommended.

Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe Opens Today

The brand-new Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe hotel opened this morning.  Situated mid-mountain in the Northstar-at-Tahoe ski resort. The resort features ski-in, ski-out access in winter with ski concierge services, a restaurant by Traci des Jardins a renowned San Francisco celebrity chef, a 17,000-square-foot spa and fitness center and preferred access to the Old Greenwood and Coyote Moon golf courses. This hotel in Lake Tahoe is the first new-build resort development in the area in decades.

This North Lake Tahoe hotel is perched slope-side and within a 15 minute drive of both Lake Tahoe and the historic town of Truckee. It is a year-round destination resort that includes 170 guest rooms, 23 private Ritz-Carlton Residences and 25 Ritz-Carlton Club fractional ownership units.

 For the local newspaper opening story click here.

For photos of the hotel click here.

For the Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe website click here.

Truckee Community Center opens Saturday, December 6th

by Greyson Howard, Sierra Sun

TRUCKEE - Climbing walls, an elevated running track, basketball courts and exercise equipment - sounds like a modern gym.

Add classrooms, kitchens, fireplaces, dance studios and a picnic area, and you’ve got Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District’s new community center, opening Saturday.

“Everybody is invited to the grand opening - it will be a town party,” said Steve Randall, the district’s general manager. “We’ve been working on this a long time.

The district’s Board Chairman, Kevin Murphy, said the opening is just in time for the holidays.

“This is going to be the first gift of Christmas,” he said. “It’s going to be fantastic.”

The 40,000-square-foot center just north of Interstate 80 on Donner Pass Road will be a good place for a town party too, with the capacity to hold 1,000 people - about 700 more than anywhere else in town, Randall said.

“The feedback we’ve been getting from the community on a scale of one to 10 has been a 10 plus,” Murphy said. “I’ve never seen such overwhelming public response, and a lot of them haven’t even seen the building yet.”

The new building, which came in at about $18 million, or about $6 million under budget, will allow the district to expand its programs with the new classroom space and larger gym area, Randall said.

District residents can pay $20 a month to use the gym equipment and running track, or pay $3 per visit on a drop-in fee, he said, with the intent to cover staff and maintenance for those items.

And those activities and classes start right away, Randall said - the ribbon cutting is at 11 a.m. Saturday, and classes start at 11:30.

“People will be able to use the climbing wall, exercise equipment, there will be dance classes, and free food from the Lyon’s Club,” Randall said.

Murphy said the new center and expanded programs means great opportunities for children after school.

“Imagine your kids getting on the bus after school and having all these programs - climbing, soccer, volleyball basketball - in the past they just scattered - where did they have to go?” Murphy said.

Festivities will continue until 4 p.m.

Future plans
With the new community center, Randall said the district plans to turn the current building on Church Street into a performing arts center, with a 250-300 seat theater.

Of the $6 million that the community center came in under budget, the board has allocated $3 million to start in on planning and building for the performing arts center, Randall said.

“It will probably cost $6 to $8 million,” Randall said.

Then comes a potential aquatics center at the new community center, with swimming pools, a zero-entry beach-like pool, and maybe even water slides, he said, costing potentially $10 to $12 million.

“We didn’t have to go to the taxpayers for the community center, but we may have to put a bond measure to the voters for the aquatics center,” Randall said. “I’d like to see a retractable cover so it could be open in the summer but used year-round, but it comes down to cost.”

CHECK IT OUT
To learn more about the community center, go to www.tdrpd.com.

Truckee / Lake Tahoe December Events

December 1-20 - Sierra Nevada Dance presents “The Nutcracker”
Truckee High School Theatre. 7pm Community dance academy. Featuring local students and adults.
/www.artsfortheschools.org

December 3 - Noel Night in the Village at Northstar
5 to 8pm . Enjoy s’mores by the fire, free ice skating, hot cocoa, shopping specials, holiday carolers, and photos with Santa.
www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com

December 3 - Christmas Tree Decorating
Local Truckee Elementary School Students will be decorating the trees throughout downtown from Carmel Galley to Burger Me. There will be trees and students assigned to various locations. Cookies and hot cider will be served at Piper’s Patisserie, Coffee And, and Gioielli’s.
530-587-6858

December 3 - Bud Fish Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Historic Train Depot. 4 to 8pm. Local elementary students decorate festive evergreens that adorn the downtown for the remainder of the year. Cider and cookies, with carolers singing traditional holiday songs. Christmas tree lighting at 5:30pm.
530-587-8808

December 4 - First Friday in Brickelltown
10374 Donner Pass Road, Truckee. The theme is “Wrapped.” Enjoy refreshments, music, a festive atmosphere and genuine, unique art presented by area locals.
530-587-3789

December 4 - Holiday Boutique
Truckee Historical Downtown stores will stay open until 8pm for Holiday shopping. Carolers, Elves, Santa , Seasonal Beverages, Cookies and Goodies,

December 4 - Annual Holiday Fair & Tree Lighting Ceremony
North Tahoe Event Center Kings Beach

December 4 - Alumni Bake Sale Fundraiser
North Tahoe Event Center, 5 to 8pm. North Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program raising money for future program participants.
530-412-3312

December 5 - Christmas at the Cabin
Gateway Research Cabin 10115 Donner Trail Road, 5 to 8 pm. Presented by the Truckee Donner Historical Society.
www.truckeehistory.org or 530-582-0893

December 5 - Town Tree Lighting/ Family Winter Wonderland
Heritage Plaza,Tahoe City Visit Santa and have your holiday pictures taken with Lake Tahoe as the stunning backdrop. Hot drinks and other treats tree lighting followed by a Family Winter Wonderland 11am to 3 pm with Boatworks soiree 3 to 6pm 6pm town tree lighting

December 5 - Workshop : Feeding Your Demons
For Goodness Sake, 9:30am to 3:30pm. Teaching the practice and application of feeding your demons. An approach to life’s difficulties Suggested donation. $65.00 Please RSVP by phone or email. Please RSVP by phone or email,
www.goodnesssake.org or 530-550-8981

December 5 - Annual Holiday Fair & Tree Lighting Ceremony
North Tahoe Event Center Kings Beach gets into the festive winter spirit

December 5 - Book Launch Party and Truckee Donner Land Trust Fundraiser
Carmel Gallery. 4:30 to 6:30pm. Open to the public. Signed copies of new books will be available for purchase. Portion of the proceeds donated to the Truckee Donner Land Trust. Wine tasting by the Truckee River Winery and hors d’oeuvres by Dragonfly will be served
530 582-0557

December 5 - The Sierra Nevada Ballet Presents “A Peanutcracker ”
Carson City Community Center, 2:30 pm & 7:00 pm ” PEANUTCRACKER is a shorter, 45-minute narrated version that is “designed for families with younger children to introduce them to the wonderful world of ballet,” noted Rosine Bena, Artistic Director of the Sierra Nevada Ballet.
800-74-SHOWS

December 5 - Book Launch Event for THE CHANGING RANGE OF LIGHT
Carmel Gallery, 4 to 6:30pm. The event is open to the public. Signed copies of THE CHANGING RANGE OF LIGHT and BRILLIANT WATERS will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds of every sale donated to the Truckee Donner Land Trust

December 6 - Sierra Senior Services Pancake Breakfast
Estates Drive. 8 to 11:30 am. Contractor’s Association of Truckee Tahoe sponsors this month’s breakfast. ALL proceeds support local senior programs. $7 adults; $3 children.

December 6 - SiGBA’s home Winterization Workshop
McGeehee Residence in Olympic Heights, Truckee. 9:30am - 4:30pm. SiGBA Member price: $35 and non-SiGBA members $50. Learn how to winterize your home at minimal cost while getting maximum energy savings. All workshop attendees will receive an energy saving goodie box to take home.
www.sigba.org

December 6 - Holiday Cooking Demonstration
Coyote Moon, 5pm to 9pm. $60 per person, Proceeds benefit projet MANA. Call or Visit Florians to purchase tickets.
530-550-3803

December 9 - Victorian Christmas
Downtown Streets of Historic Nevada City. Street fair featuring arts and crafts, food, holiday entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides, and hot roasted chestnuts .
www.nevadacitychamber.com or 800-655-6569

December 9 - Holiday Cooking Classes
The Cedar House. 5:30pm The Complete Holiday Meal, $55.00 per person plus tax. Learn the finer points of creating a gourmet holiday.
www.cedarhousesporthotel.com or 866-582-5655

December 9 - Resort at Squaw Creek Locals’ Evening with Family and Friends
Resort at Squaw Creek Pavilion. 4 to 8pm - Ice Skating - Hot Cocoa & Cookies - Discounts in Restaurants and Retail Shops.
www.squawcreek.com

December 9 - SIGBA Announces Sustainability Panel and 2010 Forecast
Lake Tahoe Community College, Aspen Room,5:30 to 8pm A panel of industry experts will debate trends in renewable energy and sustainability and give a forecast for 2010.
www.sigba.org. or 949- 306-3465

December 10 - Noel Night in the Village at Northstar
5 to 8pm . Enjoy s’mores by the fire, free ice skating, hot cocoa, shopping specials, holiday carolers, and photos with Santa.
www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com

December 10 - Squaw Valley Institute Presents: Telluride Mountian Film Festival
Resort at Squaw Creek. 6:30pm . Will feature six films varying from 4 to 58 minutes from the 2007-2009 Mountain Film Festival. Feature film will be a 2009 Film titled Solo.
www.squawvalleyinstitute.org

December 11 - Tahoe Dance School presents “Seasons & Celebrations”
North Tahoe High School Theater 7:00 p.m. Enjoy Tahoe Dance School’s presentation of an original choreographed performance with local students.
www.tahoedanceschool.com

December 11 - 3rd Annual Coogan Kelly Memorial Rail Jam
Squaw Valley USA. In memory of Charles “Coogan” Kelly. SnowBomb will donate all registration fees to the Coogan Kelly Memorial Foundation. Event details found online
www.snowbomb.com

December 11 - Holiday Boutique
Truckee Historical Downtown stores will stay open until 8pm for Holiday shopping.

December 12 - Tahoe Dance School presents “Seasons & Celebrations”
North Tahoe High School Theater 7:00 p.m. Enjoy Tahoe Dance School’s presentation of an original choreographed performance with local students.
www.tahoedanceschool.com

December 12 - Saturday Evening Bonfire/S’mores Roast
Resort at Squaw Creek. Chuckwagon, 5 to 8pm, Snuggle up by the fire.

December 12-13 - Learn to Ski or Board In North Tahoe
at any of the nine resorts: * Alpine Meadows, Diamond Peak, Homewood, Mt. Rose Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, Squaw Valley USA, Sugar Bowl, Boreal Mountain, Granlibakin. $25 includes all day lift ticket, gear and group lesson packages can be purchased at each individual resort.
www.gotahoenorth.com/ or 877-949-3296

December 12-13 - Truckee Tahoe Community Chorus Holiday Concert “Classically Christmas”
Resort at Squaw Creek. 7pm Saturday; 4pm Sunday. Classically Christmas, the chorus and strings will feature Mozart’s Solemn Vespers and selections from Handel’s Messiah. .
www.singttcc.org

December 13 - Victorian Christmas
Downtown Streets of Historic Nevada City, Street fair featuring arts and crafts, food, holiday entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides, and hot roasted chestnuts.
www.nevadacitychamber.com or 800-655-6569

December 13 - Tahoe Dance School presents “Seasons & Celebrations”
North Tahoe High School Theater 3:00 p.m. Enjoy Tahoe Dance School’s presentation of an original choreographed performance with local students.
www.tahoedanceschool.com

December 13 - Rotary Santa Sled Day
Granlibakken Resort Guests enjoy free sledding and a visit from a toy-bearing Santa

December 16 - Gioielli’s Bead Night Out
Gioielli’s . 5 to 8 pm. No pre-registration required. No charge.
www.specialtybeads.com or 530-582-4464

December 16 - Victorian Christmas
Downtown Streets of Historic Nevada City. Street fair featuring arts and crafts, food, holiday entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides, and hot roasted chestnuts.
www.nevadacitychamber.com or 800-655-6569

December 16 - Resort at Squaw Creek Locals’ Evening with Family and Friends
Resort at Squaw Creek Pavilion. 4 to 8pm - Ice Skating - Hot Cocoa & Cookies - Discounts in Restaurants and Retail Shops.
www.squawcreek.com

December 17 - Noel Night in the Village at Northstar
5 to 8pm . Enjoy s’mores by the fire, free ice skating, hot cocoa, shopping specials, holiday carolers, and photos with Santa.
www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com

December 18 - Sierra Nevada Dance presents “The Nutcracker”
Truckee High School Theatre. 7pm Community dance academy. Featuring local students and adults.
/www.artsfortheschools.org

December 18 - Exhibition: Patings by Brooke Bishop
Spirit Gallery. 4 to 8 pm. Holiday fundraiser for the Truckee Trails Foundation (10% of all sales will go to Truckee Trails Foundation).
www.spiritgallery.info or 530-587-0948

December 18 - Holiday Boutique
Truckee Historical Downtown stores will stay open until 8pm for Holiday shopping.

December 19 - Sierra Nevada Dance presents “The Nutcracker”
Truckee High School Theatre. 7pm Community dance academy. Featuring local students and adults.
/www.artsfortheschools.org

December 19 - Northstar Resort Snowshoe Social & Race
Northstar-at-Tahoe. 11:30am, Cross-Country, Telemark & Snowshoe Center will expand its snowshoe event, introducing a snowshoe social and running race series.
www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com

December 19 - Saturday Evening Bonfire/S’mores Roast
Resort at Squaw Creek. Chuckwagon, 5 to 8pm. Snuggle up by the fire.
www.squawcreek.com

December 19 - 17th Annual Snow God’s Ball
Olympic House. A benefit for the Squaw Valley Avalanche Awareness Education Fund. Live music, door prizes, raffle prizes and silent auction items. Tickets $20 at the door/$15 in advance. 21 & older only.
530-452-7260.

December 19 - Skiing for Schools Discount Lift Tickets
Sugar Bowl, $25 lift tickets available the week prior at Porters Sports
www.exined.org

December 19 - The Reno Baroque Ensemble Presents “Handel’s Messiah”
The Lakeside Ballroom,7:30pm Hyatt Regency at Lake Tahoe Reno Baroque Ensemble, Music Director Eric Gault and members of the Reno Philharmonic, American Bach Soloists and Chicago’s Callipygian Players as they join nationally acclaimed vocal soloists
800-74-SHOWS

December 20 - Victorian Christmas
Downtown Streets of Historic Nevada City, Street fair featuring arts and crafts, food, holiday entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides, hot roasted chestnuts and much more.
www.nevadacitychamber.com or 800-655-6569

December 20 - The Reno Baroque Ensemble Presents “Handel’s Messiah”
The Lakeside Ballroom, Hyatt Regency at Lake Tahoe. 4pm Reno Baroque Ensemble, Music Director Eric Gault and members of the Reno Philharmonic, American Bach Soloists and Chicago’s Callipygian Players as they join nationally acclaimed vocal soloists
800-74-SHOWS

December 22 - Luna Chix Skate Ski Clinic with Katerina Nash
Northstar Resort Cross-Country, Telemark & Snowshoe Center. 11 to 1pm. The clinic will be free of charge however Luna Chix will accept $10 donations from participants. All participants must have a lift ticket and equipment.
www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com

December 22 - Turtleneck Tuesdays
Northstar-at-Tahoe. Free skating. Skate rentals $5. 5 to 8pm. Drinks and S’mores from the Cabana Bars.
www.northstarattahoe.com

December 24 - Holiday Torchlight Parade
Squaw Valley USA. 6pm. Viewable from the base area and Village. Beautiful and festive procession of lights. Please note, no night skiing/riding on this evening.
www.squaw.com

December 25 - Meet Santa
Diamond Peak Ski Resort in Incline Village The man in red makes yet another appearance

December 26 - Saturday Evening Bonfire/S’mores Roast
Resort at Squaw Creek. Chuckwagon, 5 to 8pm. Snuggle up by the fire.
www.squawcreek.com

December 27 - Reception for Sculptor Milton Heifetz
Carmel Gallery, 4 to 6pm. opportunity to meet a true “Renaissance Man” and hear him discuss his artistic process.

December 29 - Turtleneck Tuesdays
Northstar-at-Tahoe. Free skating. Skate rentals $5. 5 to 8pm. Drinks and S’mores from the Cabana Bars
www.northstarattahoe.com

December 31 - Fire & Ice New Year’s Eve Celebration at Northstar
The Village at Northstar. Live music, fire dancers, ice skating, hot cocoa, s’mores and a fireworks show.
www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com

December 31 - Coast to Coast Gold & Silver New Year’s Eve at High Camp
Squaw Valley USA. Come dressed in gold and silver. Includes a starry-night Cable Car ride, ice skating, entertainment, delicious dinner and a 9pm East Coast New Year’s champagne toast.
www.squaw.com or (530) 452-7278