By Sammy Caiola, Sacramento Bee

Don Hopkins, a former Davis police officer and professional ballroom dancer, is having some trouble staying on his feet.

Hopkins, 67, is still physically drained from an early May trip to Mercy Hospital at Folsom, where doctors pumped him with pneumonia antibiotics for more than a week before accurately diagnosing his Valley fever.

As Hopkins’ temperature soared and he began to hallucinate, his wife, Lizette, insisted the doctors test for the disease, which is historically more prevalent in the southern Central Valley. Though Hopkins’ test results would surprise many in the Sacramento region, experts say the fever is not constrained to the south state and can be carried to other regions via travelers and drought conditions.

“When doctors see somebody with what they think is pneumonia, they immediately give them antibiotic,” said Hopkins, who lives in the El Dorado County foothills. “Often the patient gets worse and the doctors don’t think about Valley fever. It can basically disable a person for the rest of their life.”

Valley fever is caused by a species of fungus called coccidioides, which lives in the soil in Southern California, Arizona, Mexico and parts of Central America and can be brought to the surface by construction, agricultural work and other activities that disrupt the terrain, said Dr. George Thompson, director of the Coccidioidomycosis Serology Lab at the UC Davis Medical Center.

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Local outdoor enthusiast and Opal Ultra Nightclub’s disc jockey David Aaron had a devastating parachute landing accident June 22.

Aaron sustained multiple injuries, including injury to his spinal cord and broken back, for which he needed eight vertebrae fused. He is diagnosed as an “incomplete paraplegic” and recovering at Renown Rehabilitation Center in Reno, where he could stay for another six to 10 weeks. Then he will need to continue physical therapy and rehabilitation.

A benefit auction on Aug. 20 at 6pm at MontBleu will help raise funds for medical bills and living expenses.

This event will feature performances by disc jockeys Chris English, Kennan, Rick Gee, DJ Mark Twyman, Half-Track, and MoFunk. The event will feature a live charity auction, silent auctions, raffle prizes, dance floor, and Red Bull bar. All proceeds, including beverage sales, will be donated to Aaron.

The event producers are looking for items for our silent auctions, live auction, raffles, as well as liquor to stock the bar.

Cash/check donations can be accepted at Bank of America under David Aaron Benefit Fund No. 3250-2946-3866 or mailed to 1165 Kulow St., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 c/o David Aaron.

For more information, email DavidAaronBenefit@yahoo.com.

Bona Fide Books awards annually the Melissa Lanitis Gregory Poetry Prize for an unpublished collection of poems.

The winner will receive publication, 10 copies, a $500 cash award, and a reading at Lake Tahoe.

Submissions are being taken until Aug. 31.

For more info, go online.

James

Tulip

James and Tulip are best friends who need to be adopted together.

James is a pug-chihuahua mix. Tulip is a chihuahua-dashchund mix. They play all day long; they like tug of war, chase, and hide and seek. They are both house trained if they get outside often enough. They love to cuddle and sunbathe.

A kind person paid part of their adoption fees, so their fee is $160 to take both of them home. They are good with children, and other dogs and cats. They have been at the shelter since May and would really like to find a family.

James and Tulip are spayed-neutered, microchipped, tested for heart worm, and vaccinated. They are at the El Dorado County Animal Services shelter in Meyers, along with many other dogs and cats who are waiting for their new homes.

Go to the Tahoe animal shelter’s Facebook page to see photos and descriptions of all pets at the shelter.

Call 530.573.7925 for directions, hours, and other information on adopting a pet.

For spay-neuter assistance for South Tahoe residents, go online.

— Karen Kuentz

Lady Gaga in one of her less elaborate outfits. Photos/Kim Wyatt

By Kim Wyatt

STATELINE – Entering the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys on Aug. 2, I was greeted by statuesque geishas, wigs in every color of the rainbow, and a phalanx of tutus, tails and spiked brassieres—clearly this wasn’t a Creedence concert. At Lady Gaga’s Tahoe debut, a diverse gender-bending crowd posed and pranced for 3½ hours, the aisles between the rows acting as catwalks, with audacious self-expression at every turn.

“Who needs opening acts with a pre-concert show like this?” said my friend Jan.

Lady Gaga’s “ArtRave: The Artpop Ball” is her latest tour for her third album “Artpop,” released last year. Although most of Gaga’s set was from “ArtPop,” songs from her previous releases like “Born This Way,” added gravitas to the evening. Fourteen dancers added a charged, racy element, and her five-piece band provided solid musicianship — the sum was a visual and sound explosion.

Self-expression was the story of the night Aug. 2 at Harveys.

Was it art? Not sure. But it was a lot of fun.

Prior to the show, rumors circulated about Gaga’s appearance poolside earlier in the day, ticket prices reaching hundreds of dollars and the enormous number of freight trucks that transport her stage. Some compared set lists, and even noted that opening band Babymetal had changed the order of their set — these were Gaga’s hardcore fans, coined “Little Monsters,” but there were plenty of others feeling the love.

Babymetal kicked off the show, priming the crowd. Although I didn’t understand a word they were singing, the ponytailed Japanese girl group was adorably raucous while making a hash of their songs. With manga and kabuki stylings, the cheerful metal band was feast for the eyes if not the ears.

DJ Lady Starlight leveled out the vibe with a techno beat, which went on a little too long, long enough to make me feel as though I had two competing hearts, or had possibly turned into a puma. Wearing a loose Laura Ashley-style dress, Starlight too defied expectations — you can be anything you want to be at a Lady Gaga concert, even a middle-aged lady in a grandma dress.

Finally, Lady Gaga took the stage in a gold-sequined butterfly leotard anchored by a huge Jeff Koons blue gazing ball on her chest, and held our attention for just more than 90 minutes. Seven costume changes and 20 songs later, the show ended abruptly with the lovely final track from ArtPop “Gypsy.”

In turns cool, frenetic or psychedelic, the cave-like set looked like the bar from Star Wars if it were made from a Frosty ice cream machine, just slightly hallucinatory, and Gaga occasionally played a piano tucked in what looked like a giant bed of crystals.

Costume changes set the tone for the songs to follow, with Gaga going from high fashion to Harajuku. Hardly anyone sat during the first third of the set. Songs mostly from “ArtPop,” and the Barbarella-eqsue swagger during “Venus” blew the roof off. Those dancing in the audience stopped to watch the spectacle of Gaga strapping a Gibson Flying V over her clamshell bra and little else. Here, her voice first rose above the spectacle, clear and strong and true. This was followed by “Partynauseous”– the back-up dancers in Dr. Seussian spaceship getups — and Gaga sauntering out in an enormous polka-dotted squid bustle to play a seahorse-shaped keytar. (Have I seen that before? No.)

Although an extremely polished and clearly expensive show — the lighting and video was fantastic — there was a disconnect after Gaga took the piano with the chanteusey “Dope,” leading into her hit “Born This Way.”

Lady Gaga did not disappoint with her multiple costume changes.

“Stay with me little monsters,” Gaga said, as if she knew.

Until then, the crowd was on its feet. The solemnity of Gaga’s speech about social justice turned into a request to help fund the Born This Way Foundation, “to foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated.” Many stopped to text donations, and then paused for Gaga’s extended piano play. The concert lost steam again after that. Soon after came, ironically, the most lackluster number of the evening, “Sexxx Dreams,” a rehash of tired sex tropes, in latex, no less.

The finale “Gypsy,” showcased Gaga’s vocals, piano, and songwriting skills. Although we had just witnessed a spectacle, here she stripped it down and her Little Monsters fist pumped until the end

Despite a few glitches, one thing was clear: People are desperate to be their true selves, and Gaga has created a family. There was a sincerity to this crowd that is sweet and surprising. They aren’t just dressing up; they are laying it all on the line. But here, everyone agrees you look fabulous.

In the end, Lady Gaga’s legacy will be not only her songwriting and catchy tunes — it will be those who have found sanctuary in her words, and under her sequined wing. And about “ArtRave: The Artpop Ball” — is it an attempt to merge high and low, art and pop? Is the tour just an expensive rave? Or freedom of expression that’s a bargain at any price?

Who cares? Let’s dance!

Publisher’s note: This letter was sent to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors in July.

Dear Chair Santiago and Members of the Board of Supervisors:

We are writing to you to express our concerns about the Meyers Area Plan process. We are writing not as land speculators seeking project approvals. We are not writing as paid consultants advocating land use changes to benefit clients. We are not writing to you as out-of-area advocacy groups seeking favors for large corporate interests. We are writing to you as people who live and work in Meyers and ones who care about the community’s character and future.

Our concerns and comments about the Meyers planning process and outcomes are not new. We want the community plan for Meyers to be one that is acceptable to a majority of the community and the result of a plan update process that actively engages the entire community in arriving at a plan acceptable to them. We do not want a staff-driven plan where deals are made behind closed doors between small groups of invitees in a non-transparent process. We want a community plan that is acceptable to a majority of the community that we can live with over the next 20 years. We want a Plan that is our Plan not a special interest and self-serving document for development interests in or outside our community.

We acknowledge that there is a great diversity of opinion regarding how residents, property owners, and business owners and operators view the future of Meyers as well as great confusion and lack of understanding of proposed land-use changes. This diversity of opinion about the future is in itself the core condition that must be assessed and evaluated in a manner that helps County officials to arrive at a verifiable and democratically-based decision on land use and restores faith that the entire community has had its voice heard.

Specifically, we continue asking for the following:

1. To be placed on the agenda of the Board of Supervisors on an item to discuss our concerns below at a time that is convenient for the board and those of us who work for a living;

2. A verifiable method for the county to determine that it has gained a wide-range view from the community within and directly impacted by the proposed Meyers Area Plan.A “validated” community-wide survey of all residents and property owners is needed to guide and shape the final Meyers Area Plan. Such a survey would allow all interested parties in Meyers to have a voice in this 20-year plan. It would also provide the opportunity for all community voices to be heard. This request has been made in the past and is reiterated herein. We are researching the cost of such a survey by a nationally-recognized survey company at this time.

3. Defer any final action on the plan until a new county supervisor is elected and seated to allow him or her input on the new 20-year plan. The voters of the 5^th District will elect a new supervisor in November and the man or woman elected should have an opportunity to be heard and decide on a final area plan. Our new supervisor will have the benefit of being recently elected and accountable to the people of the district.

4. Verification in the plan document that available incentives provided under the plan will be applicable to existing business and property owners.

5. Specifically define height limitations in all planning areas. The previously staff agreed height standard of 35 feet should be made part of any final. Include specific language in the Meyers plan that limits height and density to those selected by the Meyers community. In other words, variances allowed by TRPA’s Code, but not discussed in the Meyers plan, cannot be used to exceed the maximum heights desired by the Meyers community. This request is of course subject to the results of a validated community survey that we are requesting.

6. Affirm in writing in any adopted plan verbal assurances made by staff to make available to all existing business and property owners incentive allowed under an area plan.

7. Eliminate mixed land-use additions to the plan that could compromise existing business uses (e.g. motel next to an industrial use). Do not allow the creation of uses near existing businesses that compromise the ability of owners to conduct their businesses.

8. Ensure in language of the plan that all existing business will be permitted uses in any new Plan adopted and that the owners of the businesses can sell their property for the same use to a subsequent owner.

9. Include in specific language in the clan that the County does not support and will not use eminent domain (acquisition of private property over the objection of the property owner) to achieve plan goals and objectives nor will the county support the use of this extraordinary confiscatory power by other agencies.
10. Include specific language in the Plan that maximum new Commercial Floor Area will not exceed the 33,650 sq. ft. noted in the Meyers Plan, period. We have been told by TRPA staff that although the community discussions and presentations have centered on a 33,650 sq. ft. limit, in reality, the TRPA would not prohibit CFA above this limit if it were transferred or converted per TRPA’s Code, Chapter 50. If the community wants a limit, it should be a true limit.
11. Define in the Plan that County and TRPA officials must carefully explore with Caltrans alternative ways to ensure safe passage of pedestrians and cyclists across SR 50 including installation of a traffic signal.
12.  Maintain community character while striving for community improvements. Community members do not oppose new development in Meyers. They do want to retain the rural character of the community and help existing and new small businesses flourish.
13. Write the language of the Plan in plain English, not “planners speak.” Make the document user-friendly and informative.
14. Let the people of Meyers decide if current open space lands owned by the California Tahoe Conservancy should remain open space or sold for development. We have been told that CTC officials have made this commitment in the past.
15. Formation of a community-selected advisory council or group that operates under California’s Open Meeting Law and is subject to the Brown Act.The existing Meyers Community Advisory Council is not subject to the Brown Act. This lack of public notice requirement in the past has helped to create the lack of awareness of the community to date about important issues relating to Plan development. The currently comprised MCAC Board is made up of good people but not structured in a way commonly accepted to conduct the public’s business.
16. Let the people of Meyers decide their future. Comments have been made to Meyers’ owners and operators over the course of the current planning process by certain policy makers and planners that Meyers should be changed and allowed to develop like “cities” in Europe living and working in a “Pack & Stack” world. Meyers is of course not a city. This “Pack & Stack” notion and “European” future scenario needs to be tested against what the people who live and work there think and want. It is the people of the community’s future that is being planned, and they need the ultimate say in the decision.

It came to our attention during our community-led meeting last February, and in subsequent meetings, that many community members are unaware of the land use/zoning changes plugged into the Meyers Plan through the 2012 RPU Update, including this mixed-use/pack & stack concept and changes to boundaries and special districts in the plan. We believe the community should have the opportunity to be adequately informed of any changes, and to discuss and decide upon them, before any land uses not prescribed in the 1993 Meyers Community Plan are adopted or implemented.

The Board of Supervisors needs to hear from the community in a verifiable and inclusive way before making changes that impacts them. We look forward to hearing from you on our request for a meeting date before the Board of Supervisors and for the remedies we seek in the Meyers Area Planning process.

Sincerely,

Angela Olson, Jennifer Quashnick, Moya Sanders and Diane Verwoest

Lakeside Park Water Company let its water run into a South Lake Tahoe street for about 36 hours.. Photo/LTN

Updated Aug. 3 9:45pm

A landscaping water line ruptured this weekend in South Lake Tahoe, spewing unknown gallons of water down the drain.

Lakeside Park Water Company was going to wait until Monday to fix the leak on Pine Boulevard, but city officials said it was imperative they fix it ASAP. The water had been obviously going into the gutter and buckling the sidewalk since early Aug. 2. The line was fixed about 36 hours later.

It meant customers near the state line being without water from 2-6:30pm Aug. 3 while the repairs were made. It is not known how many were without water, but a number of hotels were affected.

“Upon investigation it is a landscaping irrigation line. We will confirm ownership in the morning,” City Manager Nancy Kerry told Lake Tahoe News on Aug. 3.

Lakeside officials are confident it is a city-owned water line.

“It is a city line on city property; a fact that apparently escaped the city,” Jack McLaughlin, president of Lakeside Park Association, told Lake Tahoe News.

The city has vegetated drainage basins throughout town, so this could be what was being irrigated.

While McLaughlin didn’t have the number of gallons that were lost, he said, “It wasn’t a lot of water, it wasn’t a major break.”

— Kathryn Reed

Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care will be receiving bear cub No. 10 on Monday.

The cub will be arriving by plane at Lake Tahoe Airport. It is coming to the South Shore animal rehab center from Washington.

“The situation of this cub is very similar to Li’l Smokey from 2008 in that it was in a forest fire and has burned paws. The main difference is that this cub is 20 pounds. Li’l Smokey came in at 8 1/2 pounds,” Tom Millham, secretary of LTWC, said.

Li’l Smokey went on to fame with the firefighter who rescued the cub writing a book about it. It was released back into the wild.

By Katherine Hobson, NPR

After winning the Tour de France last month, Vincenzo Nibali was tested for a bunch of performance-enhancing substances. But Nibali and his fellow competitors were welcome to have several cups of coffee (or cans of Red Bull), before their ride into Paris; caffeine is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list.

Still, the drug is definitely a performance booster. Just in the past few months, studies have shown that caffeine helps female volleyball players hit the ball harder and jump higher, rowers go farther, and cyclists go fasterin a 20K time trial.

A large body of research shows caffeine helps in “pretty much every kind of endurance exercise,” giving a performance advantage of 1.5 percent to 5 percent, says Mark Gleister, an exercise physiologist at St. Mary’s University in Twickenham, U.K., and an author of the recent cycling study.

“Of all the legal supplements an athlete could take, it has the biggest effect on performance,” he says. It’s not clear why, but the suspicion is that caffeine increases the frequency or size of neural transmissions and suppresses pain, he says. It’s not clear that it speeds very short sprints — Glaister is studying that — but it can help in any burst of activity that lasts longer than about a minute, he says.

Athletes see a benefit with a dose of between 3 to 6 mg. per kg. of body weight, which means that if a 140 pound cyclist were drinking an average cup of coffee, he’d get a lift after drinking about two to four cups.

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By J.D. Morris, Las Vegas Sun

In another sign that the American public is embracing soccer more than ever, the Nevada gaming industry appears to have cashed in on this year’s World Cup at a record level.

It’s difficult to say with certainty that betting on soccer hit a record this year, because the Nevada Gaming Control Board doesn’t break down revenue for the sport specifically, but the category that includes soccer was up. That category is labeled “other” and includes such sports as boxing and auto racing.

But data from 1994 through last month show that “other” revenue in June is usually higher during years when the World Cup is held. And it’s grown tremendously.

In June 1994, when the United States hosted the tournament, Nevada reported $1.05 million in “other” sports betting revenue. Last month, that figure was $5.9 million — the highest “other” June since 1997, when heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson was disqualified for biting off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear during an infamous fight in Las Vegas.

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