Stan's Reno / Tahoe Blog

Had enough of high gas prices yet? Some people around Reno / Tahoe have, and they are trading petroleum power for peddle power in increasing numbers. Information about this particular effort to encourage bike commuting is available from GetHealthyWashoe.com / Bike To Work Day.

If you are going to ride, register for Bike To Work Day to get free commuter coffee from several Reno and Sparks coffee houses and be entered to win $500 toward a new bike.

Has your bike been sitting in the garage for a while? A number of Reno and Sparks bike shops are offering free safety checks to those mentioning Bike To Work Day. You can also brush up on your urban cycling skills at some of these same shops. That takes care of a couple of excuses not to mount up on Friday.

Need more incentive? Use this savings calculator to learn more about the advantages of getting out of your car.

Photo © Stan White

More Wordless Wednesday blogs...

According to press releases from Reno resident Rajan Zed, the upcoming release (June 20) of The Love Guru, a Paramount Pictures movie starring Mike Myers, is raising strong objections among some religious leaders in Reno and well beyond. Hindu representative Bhavna Shinde has contacted FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin to express concern that the movie is likely to "hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus worldwide, who hold the 'Guru-disciple' relationship as sacred."

Rajan Zed is a Hindu chaplain who is active in northern Nevada interfaith associations, teaches college courses on Hinduism, and actively promotes tolerance and understanding among world religions. He has opened legislative sessions with Hindu prayers in several states, including Nevada. He received national attention on opening a session of the U.S. Senate in 2007 while being harrassed by hecklers.

Go to the Reno / Tahoe Community Forum for more on this story and to read the Rajan Zed press releases titled Hindus urge FCC intervention in "The Love Guru" movie and Hindus urge India Censor Board to halt Hollywood movie "The Love Guru". Let us know what you think about these efforts in regard to this film.

See the trailer on The Love Guru website.

The Love Guru on About.com: Hollywood Movies

Starting May 16 and lasting through the summer season, boaters launching from any of Lake Tahoe's public ramps will be subject to random inspections as part of efforts to prevent the introduction of quagga and zebra mussels into the lake. Boats that are moved among different bodies of water are of particular concern since owners may not realize they are also transporting the mussels. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and other agencies from Nevada and California are teaming up to keep the invaders at bay.

According to TRPA officials, these mussels are nasty customers. Once established, they can literally take over their environment, resulting in harm to native species, clogged water pipes, and various other adverse economic impacts. They are already established in some southern Nevada and California waters. The TRPA Invasive Aquatic Species Management & Invasive Mussel Action Plan explains what is being done and how boaters can help prevent the spread of these invasive species.

TRPA also has information on boating in Lake Tahoe, including how to inspect and clean your boat and a listing of watercraft and motors approved for use in the lake's waters. To learn more, call the Tahoe Aquatic Nuisance hotline at 1-888-TAHO-ANS.

Mother's Day is this Sunday and there are plenty of Reno / Tahoe things to do with mom. There is always shopping and eating out, but for something different try a Mother's Day train ride at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, or a cruise on Lake Tahoe aboard the M.S. Dixie II paddlewheeler out of Zephyr Cove.

The 5th Annual Reno River Festival continues through the weekend at the Truckee River Whitewater Park in downtown Reno. Admission is free. A new event this year is Run Amuck, a two-person relay race between Idlewild Park and the Truckee River Whitewater Park. Find out where to park and more about the event at our Reno River Festival web page.

Photo © Stan White

The 5th Annual Reno River Festival hits the rapids in downtown Reno starting this Friday, continuing through Mother's Day on Sunday. This has become one of Reno's big events and is major fun for everyone. In addition to pro and amateur kayaking competition, there will be a charity raft race, an expo featuring the latest in outdoor gear, lots of food and drink, and music at the Wingfield Park amphitheater. A new event this year is Run Amuck, a two-person relay race between Idlewild Park and the Truckee River Whitewater Park. Admission is free. Find out where to park and more about the event at our Reno River Festival web page.

Mother's Day is this Sunday during the Reno River Festival. If water sports aren't her thing, check out our article about Mother's Day in Reno / Tahoe to find more ways to treat mom, from fun outings to numerous choices in Mother's Day dining.

Here's our chance to make a difference by helping to clean up trash and debris at one of several sites around Reno and Sparks. The Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) organization, together with numerous public agency and private business co-sponsors, is seeking volunteers to spend Saturday morning, May 10, making Reno / Tahoe cleaner and nicer for everyone. Volunteers are invited to a thank you picnic following the clean up at Rancho San Rafael Park.

I participated in past clean ups and am still shocked by how much junk people toss out willy nilly. We do have a trash collection service, transfer stations, and a nearby landfill (formerly known as a dump), but the trashy evidence shows some people can't be bothered. Illegal dumping remains an ongoing problem

Nine sites have been chosen for the 2008 spring cleanup. KTMB has an online volunteer registration form where you can sign up and pick your site. Get more information by calling (775) 851-5185.

Cinco de Mayo 2008 arrives in Reno / Tahoe during the weekend of May 3rd and 4th. With 100,000 people expected, the biggest celebration is a two-day fiesta at Victorian Square in Sparks. Admission is free and the event is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days. Look for authentic Mexican food and entertainment, including Mexican-style wrestling called Lucha Libre. If a huge crowd isn't for you, there are other Cinco de Mayo events around the area.

If Cinco de Mayo isn't your thing, check out the Reno Film Festival, playing from May 1st to May 4th. Various venues around town will be hosting films, workshops, parties, and guest celebrities. If you like the movies, this could be the event for you.

It's already starting. The first significant Reno / Tahoe wildfire of the 2008 season struck on Sunday, April 27, burning through about 18 acres of the Oxbow Nature Study Area by the Truckee River in west Reno. Firefighters knocked it down quickly and no homes were seriously threatened. In a press release from the City of Reno, fire investigators said the blaze was human-caused and asked anyone with information to call the Reno Fire Department at (775) 334-2300, or the Secret Witness Program at (775) 322-4900. The area will remain closed until further notice.

This relatively minor incident is a reminder that wildfire season is about to start in earnest. It seems that all of us need a reminder now and then, but newer Reno / Tahoe residents should learn about living in fire country and know how to be prepared for the summer's inevitable wildland fires.

It's that time again. Hungry bears are coming out of hibernation with only one thing on their minds - food. If you live in the mountains around Lake Tahoe, the food they come looking for may be yours. Long-time Tahoe residents already know this, but people new to the area should know what to do if black bears decide your house and property are their newest diner. Not only is knowing how to deal with bears vital for human safety, it is critical for keeping these magnificent animals wild and safe as well.

This is not a trivial problem and it is trending the wrong way. In 2006, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) received 350 bear complaints; it grew to 1,531 in 2007. The NDOW Be Bear Aware website shows bear country residents how to stay safe, minimize bear trouble, and keep wild bears wild. The NDOW Dispatch Center in Reno now has a hotline for reporting bear problems - (775) 688-BEAR (2327).

If you live in Reno / Sparks and don't think this applies to you, think again. As reported recently in the Reno Gazette-Journal, a bear was sighted chowing down on garbage next to a home in the Evans Creek subdivision of southwest Reno. Other parts of Reno also get ursine visitors, and there's no reason it won't keep happening.

The Bear League at Lake Tahoe has more information about living with bears, learning about bears, and eliminating unpleasant encounters. The phone number is (530) 525-PAWS (7297).