Talk Talk for Nov. 20-23, 2008

Talk to us Tahoe

Tell us what’s going on around town so we can talk about it. E-mail tahoetalk@tahoedailytribune.com Or call us at (530) 542-8012. See our blog online at www.TahoeDailyTribune.com

Got a tidbit? We take info from your business or organization about people and happenings. We welcome all photo submissions. Send them to us in jpg form.

A Poet writes

Congratulations are in order for Bob Poet of Stateline who answered the Tahoe Talk Question of the Week. In the spirit of the recent election we asked: If you had the chance to speak with President-elect Barack Obama, what is one suggestion or piece of advice you’d give him?

Here’s what Poet wrote:

“If I had the ear of the president-elect, but only one idea to share it would be: Harry Reid wants to dance, but remember: You lead. Move to the common-sense center of the floor, bring your Demo colleagues along. Invite the conservatives to meet you there. Govern as you campaigned — to the middle.”

Poet is the winner of two movie tickets for a show at the Horizon Casino Resort.

Write it now

Speaking of poets, we’re looking for one in today’s contest. Here’s the idea: Write a haiku about your best experience at Lake Tahoe over the holidays.

A haiku is a form of Japanese verse, written in 17 syllables divided into 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, and employing highly evocative allusions and comparisons, often on the subject of nature or one of the seasons, according to www.dictionary.com

The winner picked randomly by our staff will win two movie tickets for a show at Horizon Casino Resort.

Send your haiku to tahoetalk@tahoedailytribune.com or bring it to our office at 3079 Harrison Ave., South Lake Tahoe. Good luck.

Not forgotten

It was slightly amusing in a excruciating way to watch as the announcer passed over Philip Sturgeon’s group during the Northern Nevada Special Olympics Regional Bowling tournament on Saturday at the National Bowling Center in Reno.

Sturgeon, a natural athlete, had rolled one of his best series ever and was assured a first-place medal.

As the announcer worked her way down the lanes to Sturgeon’s group giving out medals and congratulations, she breezed right by his group.

Still polite, but you could see the tension mounting and his face growing more concerned as he stood by silently.

After a couple more awards the announcer realized her mistake and headed back to Sturgeon’s group. Even knowing all along he placed first, when his name was called he reacted in the way a natural athlete would, two fists’ thrust into the air.

Architect goes digital

Robert Mason Architect was an architectural firm in South Lake Tahoe for nearly 40 years with more than 5,000 clients. Bob drew plans for a variety of homes in California and Nevada, businesses, motels and banks. Since his death in 2001, Brian Shinault, an architect who worked with Bob, has taken over all the original drawings and scanned them into a digital archive.

Shinault is ready to distribute original drawings to property owners of record free of charge. Anyone having plans made by Robert Mason Architect is welcome to call Shinault at (530) 541-5116.

A salute

Ernie Claudio wore an American flag tie at the Tuesday South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting in honor of Council member Jerry Birdwell, who protested the passage of Proposition 8 last weekend. Claudio said he’d picketed before, and respected Birdwell standing up for a cause.

Bike on

On Tuesday Ty Polastri, of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, presented the City of South Lake Tahoe the re-designation of the Bicycle Friendly Community Bronze Level Award on behalf of the League of American Bicyclists.

Bus drivers recognized

Steve Morales, Lake Tahoe Unified School District facilities director, said four of the district’s bus drivers competed in the El Dorado County School Transportation Council’s School Bus Training Day and took second out of 13 teams.

School bus drivers Doug Graham, David Brown, Eric Aquino and Kris Caputa traveled to Placerville to represent the district, Morales said.

“All four are great guys and we’re proud of all our drivers,” Morales said.

New chamber chair

After more than two years, Carl Ribaudo passed the leadership torch to Patrick Atherton.

Ribaudo, the former Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce Board chair, made way for Atherton, who is the new chairman.

“Think how far we’ve come,” Ribaudo said. “We’ve come so far and we still have a long way to go.”

When Ribaudo finished his parting comments, LTSSCC President Betty ‘B’ Gorman presented a book on the New York Yankees as a thank you gift from the board.

“Growing up in New York, I’ve been cursed with a like of the Yankees,” Ribaudo said.

This led into an amiable roast from many board members who teased and thanked Ribaudo for his years of leadership.

“I’ve got big shoes to fill,” Atherton said.

Mini Relay for Life

George Whittell High School hosted a Mini Relay for Life last Friday at Zephyr Cove Park.

Whittell teacher Lindsey Wines, along with WHS students, helped create the event which was a smaller version of the Relay for Life event conducted every summer at Kahle Park.

During the past few weeks students from Whittell helped elementary students raise money for the fight against cancer. Last Friday, they walked for the cause.

Funds raised for the event benefited the Relay for Life event of South lake Tahoe that is scheduled for Aug. 8, at Kahle Park. For more on Relay for Life of South Lake Tahoe visit

www.relayforlife.org/southlaketahoenv.

If interested in helping out with the event contact Jenn Boyd at (702) 278-1932.