School compost project reducing landfill trash

Doing something very valuable for the environment, teaching a great lesson, and saving money — can all this be accomplished through just one project? Thanks to the Lake Tahoe Unified School District and South Tahoe Refuse it can.

Earlier this school year, Rebecca Bryson, John Friedrich, and Julie Lowe of the local initiative “Small World” introduced the composting program to three elementary schools. The goal of this program is to reduce the amount of solid waste that gets shipped via STR to the landfill. Unfortunately, many students do not finish their lunches and compostables used to get mixed in with recyclables and other garbage. By sorting each of their lunch items into three different bins, children learn about waste management, resource protection, and environmental ethics. It is amazing to watch how well the children adapted to this system.

Everybody is on board to make this project a success! Being a parent at Bijou, I am most familiar with the composting efforts there, but staff, teachers, and volunteers work equally hard at the other schools. Special thanks to Bijou’s Cindy Martinez, principle; Jeff Keyser, custodian; Pat Lefteroff and Tracina Lefteroff, cafeteria; Shelly Giannotta, director of LTUSD’s nutrition; Beth Quandt, LTUSD’s science coordinator; Jeanne Lear and John Marchini, STR; and Catherine Cecchi, Clean Tahoe. Our food waste is being composted by Full Circle, Minden — thank you! Latest estimates I heard were that our landfill trash amount has been reduced by nearly two thirds — I call that a success!

Silke Rover

parent volunteer

South Lake Tahoe

Heavenly serves St. Paddy’s dinner

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, members of Heavenly Mountain Resort’s Mountain Operations wore green and served corned beef and cabbage to Bread & Broth’s dinner guests on Monday, March 17. Thanks to the Adopt A Day sponsorship by Heavenly Mountain Resort and the generous donation of the corned beef by the Knights of Columbus, all those who attended the dinner at Grace Hall got a taste of the customary dinner.

Representing Heavenly’s Mountain Operations were Dave Hager, snowmaking manager; Todd Rudis, grooming manager, Kyle Henderson, grooming supervisor and Mike Thomas, terrain park manager.

They were an energetic crew and Dave described their involvement as an “experience of a lifetime and a chance to pay it back.” Mike also added that it was “eye opening to see this type of outreach in the community.”

Bread & Broth acknowledges that the meal service we offer to the community can only be realized by the generosity of our many donor and sponsors. Heavenly Mountain Resort and their employees are monthly participants in B&B’s Adopt A Day of Nourishment program and their involvement in the program is greatly appreciated.

Carol Gerard

fundraising chairwoman

Bread & Broth

Tahoe Derby Dames say thanks to supporters

The Tahoe Derby Dames would like to give a ton of derby love to the American Legion for hosting our pancake breakfast fundraiser on March 23. Many thanks for Blue Angel Cafe, Vaneli’s Coffee, and Rubicon Plumbing for their donations; and KTHO and Mountain News for their continued support in help spreading the word! Tons of appreciation to everyone that came to eat flapjacks.

See you at the Bijou track soon and thank you for your continued support.

Jolie Urushibata

South Lake Tahoe