I am a huge fan of the Lake Tahoe Historical Society. When possible, I attend any presentation offered. Tonight's was incredibly interesting as the audience members were either retired teachers, former librarians, or grownup students from here. Their input made it extra special.

"Join the Lake Tahoe Historical Society as Larry Lambdin presents "From Lake Valley School to Lake Tahoe Unified South Shore Schools from 1952 to Present". Larry is a retired LTUSD teacher and LTHS museum volunteer. He will share a PowerPoint presentation of his legacy project about early education on the South Shore. Before there was a Lake Tahoe Unified School District, another school system existed made up of one room school houses, a warehouse, and a barn. Students rode the train to school. It was the Lake Valley School District."

Up until 1948, South Shore schools went from first to eighth grade. High school was typically sought outside of the area. High school students would leave Sunday night for Placerville, spend the week with a boarding family to attend classes, then return home on Friday night for the weekend. But the thought of sending their children away for weeks at a time was more than some parents could take.
What really caught my attention was this tidbit. I knew about this history but not how it tied into one of LTUSD's schools. Wow. So to replicate the high altitude of Mexico City, site of the 1968 Summer Olympics, officials from the United States Olympic Committee chose Echo Summit (13 miles west of our cabin) as the site of a high-altitude training camp as well as the 1968 U.S. Men's Final Olympic Track & Field Trials from Sept. 6-16. The National Forest Service allowed for the temporary construction of a 400-meter oval in the middle of the forest on top of Echo Summit.
This, it turned out, was incredibly fortuitous. These Trials featured four world records. The men's team selected at Echo Summit is widely regarded as one of the strongest in Olympic history, winning 12 gold medals in Mexico City.

Pictured are those amazing members of the 1968 men’s U.S. Track and Field team at Echo Summit.

As the decades went by, however, unaccountability and neglect took its toll on the city’s investment. Cracks, an uneven surface, pooling water — and even goose poop — trumped the rich history of the track, and the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association put a stop to STHS home meets for safety reasons, with South Tahoe High hosting its final track meet at STMS on April 4, 1992.
Each Lake Tahoe Historical Society's presentation is an extensive history lesson which covers more information than I could possibly absorb. Part of why this track history intrigues me so much (hence the deeper dive) is the fact that I walk by it quite often. How wonderful to have the background knowledge of such a familiar spot.
It was extra special being there with Cyndi since she had been part of the LTUSD from 1st grade until her high school graduation. She had her own history lessons to share. What a blast!

Today is the inaugural National Little Free Library Day, marking the beginning of Little Free Library Week, May 17–23. This day also commemorates my 10th anniversary of being a steward of my own "Little Bird Feeder for Humans". This is a day worth celebrating!

Observed on the anniversary of Little Free Library becoming a nonprofit in 2012, May 17 highlights the organization’s mission to build community, inspire readers, and expand book access via their global network of more than 200,000 book-sharing boxes. Through this nonprofit program, thousands of Little Free Libraries and books are provided to individuals and organizations in “book deserts”—areas with limited or no access to reading materials.

I actually hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony when my library was installed. The attendees were all literary and all very amazing (L to R) Dr. Peter Mires, Karen Cutter, me, Gary Noy, Stephen Robison, Joanne & Gene Abshier and Steve.
The most powerful indicator of my Library's worth came during COVID. Our public library was closed for quite some time. Everyday, I'd look out my kitchen window and see customers. Some would socially distance themselves while waiting patiently.
Others would arrive cutely dressed with matching face coverings. I took great joy watching readers depart with a literary distraction.

I have seen Little Free Libraries all over during our travels. This one, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, has to be my favorite. Talk about a giving tree! When this 110-year-old cottonwood tree needed to be removed, Sharalee Armitage Howard—a librarian, artist, and bookbinder—transformed it into an amazing Little Free Library. Now, instead of providing shade, the tree shares books. How incredible!

Our Saturday began in Folsom at la festa meravigliosa- Italy on Wheels. This free, annual car and bike show is hosted at the Murer House, a place we have been trying to get to for years.

As our conversation went on, Mr. Wright shared a great deal of this special car's history. You can read it here. Wow.
For those unaware, this is a very impressive compartment with a very valuable engine within it. Ferrari fans were duly impressed. 
In 2015, I had the opportunity to meet and hang out with Garth Stein. Oh man, I'm still incredibly in awe of this happening.




It was here, at the Murer House, where we got to meet Giuseppe (Joe) Murer. Born in Crespano del Grappa, a small town about 30 miles east of Venice, as a 12 year old, he was apprenticed where he mastered cabinet making and finish work.
It was also here where we met up with our old friend/neighbor Linda. What fun to be somewhere new to learn its history with someone withwhom you already have history.
Back to Joe... After the San Francisco earthquake of April 12, 1906, news quickly spread to Italy of the plentiful work available for carpenters to come and rebuild the city. Murer, then 21 years old, decided overnight to go to California with three other young men from his hometown.
After a few years, with money he had earned building small hotels, he came to Folsom. Once in Folsom, Murer became a hotelier, followed by earning his American citizenship in 1913. He became involved in the local community, developing long-lasting ties.
"Giuseppe was a builder/owner/manager, responsible for most of downtown Old Folsom. During WWII, he sold his hotel and sent the money to help family members in Crespano del Grappa, ravaged by Nazi aggression. He continued to own and operate other properties for the rest of his life. He gathered the spring asparagus, summer cherry, fall grape, and winter chestnut and walnut harvests at his home every year. Through all those years, he also had big steak dinners on the grounds of his home with fellow expatriated Italians from his region of Treviso, creating strong friendships with the Italian community in Sacramento. Joe passed away in November 1972." What a neat sounding guy. I am so glad we came here to learn about his accomplished life (and get to sit in that Ferrari).

We took a roundabout route for our way home, stopping at one of our favorite patios, that of River Ranch.
Live music, a pop-up market, and a river view seemed an idea way to end this day.

We just had to accept this invitation, "Join us for an exclusive evening with the visionaries behind the Spurlock/Evers Environment & Education Center. Discover groundbreaking sustainable design concepts, innovative building materials, and experience a live timber demonstration."

"Learn how this once-dated structure was transformed into a modern, community-focused space, and what homeowners, builders, and designers can take from the project. From recycled denim insulation and a living roof to salvaged wood from the Caldor Fire, the panel discussion will spotlight practical building strategies that are beautiful, durable, and better for Tahoe." All very cool, right?
The League to Save Lake Tahoe’s new home is the Tahoe Basin’s premiere environmental facility and a hub for collaboration, volunteering and community engagement focused on fulfilling the League’s mission to Keep Tahoe Blue. It is a LEED-certified showcase of Lake-friendly urban redevelopment. The site features an outdoor amphitheater, native plant educational garden, citizen science laboratory, and environmental center... All open to the public. This was our first visit and I'm now a fan.
This evening was incredible. First, we were fed. We were blown away by the visually stunning, and equally delicious treats provided by Tahoe Charcuterie Co. Their motto is "Grazing Made Gorgeous".

Sitting on the gorgeous patio was a delightful way to spend our afternoon.
That said, we came to learn and of course we arrived early for a live demonstration by Erika with the Tahoe Earth Institute. We were shown how to make nail-laminated timber, a low-cost engineered wood product with inherent fire-resilient qualities that can make use of wood sourced from local forest restoration and wildfire risk mitigation activities. She provided a brief overview of code-compliant manufacturing techniques, how this product can be used in local construction, and how strengthening local wood supply chains can support a range of local environmental, economic, and community resilience goals. What I found most interesting is that this process is utilizing wood that is stock piled and not loved. I was so intrigued by this repurposing/upcycling. Very, very interesting.


The panel included Cory Hannaford, Sierra Sustainable Builders (construction); Ron Larkins, Ward-Young Architects (design); Kristiana Almeida (COO); and Darcie Collins (CEO). What a panel!
We learned so much about how this beautiful building came to be. Each stressed the importance of early collaboration and true sustainability.
Since 1957, the League to Save Lake Tahoe has been the leader in environmental protection, preservation and restoration in the Tahoe Basin. Also known by its slogan “Keep Tahoe Blue,” it is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that protects and restores the Tahoe Basin’s unique natural beauty and environmental health – today and for future generations. The League is dedicated to community engagement and education, and collaborating to find solutions to Tahoe’s environmental challenges. It seems the League has found its perfect home. We can't wait to come back.