Featuring an eclectic mix of touring regional and national artists, as well as local bands, Concerts at Commons Beach music series will return to Tahoe City on Sunday afternoons this summer from June 17 through Sept. 2.

The free concerts are on Sundays from 4-7pm.

Food and wine are available for purchase from local vendors, and attendees are welcome to bring picnics, blankets and low back chairs.

The 2018 summer lineup features:

June 17: Dead Winter Carpenters
June 24: Groove Foundry | Drop Theory
July 1: Jimmy Leslie’s Guitarfish Family Band

July 8: Peter Joseph Burtt & The Kingtide | Sam Ravenna Band / Kai & The Monsters

July 15: Gene Avaro Jr. | Desert Rhythm Project
July 22: SambaDá
July 29: Todo Mundo | The Beer Gardeners
Aug. 5: Mumbo Gumbo
Aug. 12: Ideateam | Serina Dawn + Mark Sexton
Aug. 19: Poor Man’s Whiskey
Aug. 26: Midtown Social
Sept. 2: Joy & Madness.

The 2018 Hyundai Accent is affordable, fast and comfortable. Photos/Larry Weitzman

By Larry Weitzman

Hyundai continues its tsunami of fabulous automobiles with the overachieving, brand new 2018 Accent. No more is it to be considered a cheap little car, a throwaway. Something that is considered just basic transportation. Something that shouldn’t be fun to drive, lacking performance and styling. You can fuhgeddaboutit.

 All that is now history with the new Accent, a stylish, quality, high performing subcompact that is fun to drive. Something that you will want to drive, a car that will want you taking the twisty, long way home. A car that will be guilt free. That is the new Accent.

Styling will make it difficult to tell it from the new Elantra. The sleek shape is the same as is the grill, the window line and the rear end. The proportions are perfect. Dimensions are small, with a length of just 173 inches on a 102-inch wheelbase. Width is a narrow 68 inches and it stands a deceiving 57-inches-tall (it looks lower). Track, however, remains a wide 59 inches, which pays handling dividends.

Motive power is a simple, yet sophisticated 1.6L DOHC, 16 valve direct injected inline four cylinder that pumps out a solid 130 hp at 6,300 rpm combined with a peak torque 119 pounds at 4,850 rpm. This stingy unit drives the front wheels via a six-speed auto torque converter tranny. In the base SE model, a six-speed manual is standard but the auto tranny is available for an even grand.  

How quick you ask? Zero to 60 mph will come up in a tick above 8 seconds, with an average time of 8.11 seconds and that makes the sub-compact Accent about the quickest in the business. A 285 (gross) hp 1957 Dodge D-500 muscle car with a 5.3L V-8 could barely break into the eights with a time of 8.9 seconds. This little Accent, in other words is capable of embarrassing some so-called muscle cars from the ’50s and ’60s. Passing times are also very good, with a 50-70 mph run taking 4.64 seconds and the same run up a 6-7 percent grade slowing that time to 7.59 seconds.

Specifications
Price
$15,880 to $19,780
Engine
1.6L DOHC, 16 valve, direct injected inline four cylinder 130 hp @ 6,300 rpm
119 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,850 rpm
Transmission
Six-speed manual (SE model only)
Six-speed torque converter automatic (std on SEL and Limited)
Configuration
Transverse mounted front engine/front wheel drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase 101.6 inches
Length 172.6 inches
Width 68.1 inches
Height 57.1 inches
Track (f/r) 59.3/59.5 inches
Weight 2,502 to 2,679
GVWR 3,439 to 3,638
Fuel capacity 11.9 gallons
Truck capacity 13.7 cubic feet
Passenger volume 90.2 cubic feet
Steering lock to lock 2.8 turns
Turning circle 33.46 feet
Wheels 17X6.5 inches
Tires 205/45X17
Performance
0-60 mph 8.11 seconds
50-70 mph 4.64 seconds
50-70 mph (uphill) 7.59 seconds
Top speed — Well into triple digits, but does anyone really care? It will cruise comfortably at any U.S. speed limit.
Fuel economy EPA rated at 28/38/32 mpg city/highway/combined. Expect 32-33 mpg in suburban/rural driving and 42 mpg on a level highway at legal speeds.

Throttle response feels even better than the excellent numbers as response to throttle inputs are instantaneous without feeling jerky while being easy to modulate. Nice job Hyundai. I’ve driven more than 1,000 cars in testing and the Accent was one I looked forward to driving.

Fuel economy is even better than EPA predictions, which are 28/38/32 mpg city/highway/combined. You can expect 10 percent better on the highway where at a constant 70 mph on cruise control the Accent averaged exactly 42 mpg. In my 200-mile round trip to Carson City over Echo Summit the Accent averaged 39 mpg in very aggressive driving. Overall fuel economy for the 400 miles of testing averaged 32-33 mpg, with less than 15 percent spent on the freeway. Accent is a true economy car. With a fuel capacity of just 11.9 gallons, I would like to see a bigger fuel tank.

Suspension is standard small car with MacPherson struts up front and a semi-independent torsion axle in the rear with coils in all corners. The electric power steering rack is just 2.8 turns lock to lock and standard with the Limited are 17-inch alloys shod with comparatively meaty 205/45 rubber. Adding to its creds are its relatively wide track and light curb weight of just 2,679 pounds.

Consequently, the Accent makes quick work of the twisties as its grip seems almost limitless and its accurate steering slices and dices each corner. There is some body roll when pushed to the limit, but handling is not just very good, but more important, fun. Powering out of corners is part of the overall package as you squeeze the go pedal on the exit approach. Chicanes are a blast. Accent’s turning circle is a very small 33 feet. Parking lots will never be so maneuverable.

About the only negative is road noise on coarser roads. I don’t know if its tires or a lack of sound deadening (tires are probably more of the issue), but it seems all small cars have this issue. If it were a bit quieter, this might have an almost luxo ride as it takes road imperfections so well. The engine spins about 2,250 rpm at 70 mph and on a smooth asphalt surface (or concrete, for that matter), the Accent is very quiet with no wind and mechanical noise.

Safety is all there with all the basic acronyms and with the top of the line Limited standard equipment includes automatic emergency braking and a driver’s blind spot mirror. Even the rear-view camera has dynamic guidelines. Four-wheel discs brakes are strong and the projector beam headlights are very good on low and high beam.

Inside is a comfortable interior with cloth seats that will go the distance. While not power, they are six-way manually adjustable. But everything else is standard power, mirrors and windows and even the front chairs are heated on the Limited, a nice touch in what must be considered an economy car, at least by price and fuel economy, but certainly not by styling, performance, handling and content.

Instrumentation is complete with a big speedo and tach flanking a center trip and info center which gives you three trip computers for fuel economy, a nice feature for data geeks like me. The center stack is also well done and simple to use with a touch screen and a decent sound system. And its so intuitive to use, it just adds to the pleasure of the Accent. Even both sun visors have lighted vanity mirrors standard on the base Accent.

Interior volumes mimic that of a larger compact and the trunk is huge for a vehicle of this size at nearly 14 cubes. Some mid-size cars aren’t that big and fold down rear seat backs add to the utility.

OK, so what’s the damage? This top of the line Limited Accent which has every factory option available stickers for $18,895, plus $885 for the train and truck from its Nuevo Leon, Mexico, assembly plant which totals $19,970. Carpeted floor mats add $125, which is still under $20 large. A base SE manual is $14,995. That is a bargain as is the Accent Limited. It’s a lot of car for the money and you get all the attributes, performance, economy, styling, handling, comfort and a long equipment list with it, but most of all, driving pleasure.

Larry Weitzman has been into cars since he was 5 years old. At 8 he could recite from memory the hp of every car made in the U.S. He has put in thousands of laps on racetracks all over the Western United States.

By Kathryn Reed

Proper tools can save lives – even those of four legged creatures.

South Shore fire departments are now equipped with kits that have seven different masks; some deliver oxygen, some force air when an animal is unconscious. The duffle bags come with tubing and other necessities.

“A lot of pets go hide and get injured, or have smoke inhalation,” South Lake Tahoe fire engineer-paramedic Mike Mileski told Lake Tahoe News. “The masks are reusable. We’ll have these for many years.”

Mileski was the liaison between the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department and the donor who wants to remain anonymous. They were donated in memory of John Nemes, a longtime elementary teacher with Lake Tahoe Unified School District. Nemes was a lover of animals.

Nine pet rescue bags were donated to four South Shore fire departments in the name of John Nemes. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Each kit has a patch saying “In memory of John Nemes.” SLTFD has two kits, Lake Valley Fire two, Fallen Leaf Lake Fire one, and Tahoe Douglas Fire four.

Mileski said the kits will be able to be used for a range of animals. “For small rodents you could put them in the whole mask.”

If an animal is rescued from whatever the emergency is, they may be unconscious. While saving the life of a dog or cat is similar to humans in distress, it does take some training and specialized equipment.

South Lake Tahoe firefighters just received training in how to use these specialized masks for animals, what to do if a dog is choking and other tips to save a person’s fur baby.

As Neil Powell, veterinarian at Blue Lake Animal Care Center said, it’s important for first responders to understand the animal will be scared, and that it will want to lash out in fear. They can’t be talked to like a human to explain what is going on. That’s why it’s important for the firefighters to know how to protect themselves while delivering care.

Zoe Hill, a nurse at Blue Lake, demonstrated the various apparatuses, how best to position a large dog, as well as small dog or cat, and suggested ways they could use tools on the fire truck to help.

Zoe Hill and Neil Powell with Blue Lake Animal Care Center use a stuffed dog to demonstrate care in an emergency situation. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Having a large dog’s back to the person is key to avoid being lashed out at when the animal comes to. It can be easier to hold a small dog or cat. If a towel or blanket is nearby it’s a good idea to put a cat on it so its claws can be wrapped up for protection.

“You need to make sure the head is extended so they have an air way,” Hill told the firefighters. “I’d do mouth to snout on a big dog.” Sweeping the animal’s mouth for obstructions is a good idea, just like with humans.

When using the air bag a tight seal is mandatory to be effective.

It doesn’t matter which side the animal is on for compressions. It’s near impossible to break a cat’s ribs, and is only a real concern in dogs 13 and older because theirs are more brittle.

“If they are unresponsive, do CPR,” Powell advised. But he said after 10 minutes saving the animal is not likely to happen.

With smoke inhalation, the animal’s airway swells, which is why it is difficult for them to breath.

Hill talked about how IV tubing or a leash can become a muzzle of sorts. She stressed not putting a hand or head under a table to retrieve an animal fleeing a fire or some other emergency because that is likely to result in a human injury. Instead, she suggested making a lasso out of leash or other device and coaxing the animal into it.

Getting the animal to a veterinarian as soon as possible is the best course of action.

Battalion Chief Karl Koeppen recalled how when a dog was hit he got into his vehicle and took it to Powell.

That can’t always happen depending on the emergency.

If an owner is not available to authorize veterinary care, then at least in California it is the county animal control officer who may grant permission. Animal control is supposed to be available 24/7. An animal hospital is not always available after hours on the South Shore, but they all have a recording suggesting where to go.

Statistics provided to the firefighters from Blue Lake Animal Care said that 40,000 pets die in house fires in the United States each year, with another half million affected by the event.

By Nic Abelow

What makes a company a good investment? Investment professionals consider several factors when they’re selecting companies to include in a stock portfolio. Here are some of the criteria they’re likely to use.

Nic Abelow

A company’s finances

A strong financial position on the part of the issuing company can make a stock attractive to investors. Analysts typically look at the company’s cash flow to evaluate how much money the company spends, how much it brings in, and how much “free” cash is left after the bills are paid. Reviewing revenues, net income, and earnings per share helps analysts assess the company’s history of sales and earnings growth. Another gauge of financial health is the amount of debt the company has compared to equity.

A look at the business

Stocks of companies that are leaders in their industries generally are desirable choices for a portfolio. Analysts look for profitable companies with limited competition whose products or services are valuable to customers. Keeping an eye on earnings estimates helps analysts determine whether the company is likely to experience rising profits or unexpected slowdowns in the future.

Valuing stock

Analysts use different calculations to assess a stock’s relative value. Some of the most common include:

Price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) shows the relationship between the current stock price and the company’s projected earnings. The P/E is one of the most widely used ratios, and it is used to compare the financial performance of different companies, industries, and markets. The company’s forecast P/E (its P/E for the upcoming year) is generally considered more important than its historical P/E.

Price-to-book ratio (P/B) is a stock’s current price divided by its book value (i.e., total assets minus total liabilities) per share. Both can help identify potentially undervalued stocks and also may be reliable indicators of investor sentiment. Like most ratios, it’s best to compare P/B ratios within industries. For example, tech stocks often trade above book value, while financial stocks often trade below book value.

Return on equity (ROE) is calculated by dividing a company’s earnings per share by its book value per share. The ROE is a measure of how well the company is utilizing its assets to make money. Understanding the trend of ROE is important because it indicates whether the company is improving its financial position or not.

Dividend payout ratio is calculated by dividing the dividends paid by a company by its earnings. The dividend payout ratio can also be calculated as dividends per share divided by earnings per share. A high dividend payout ratio indicates that the company is returning a large percentage of company profits back to the shareholders. A low dividend payout ratio indicates that the company is retaining most of its profits for internal growth.

The personal factor

While metrics are critical to analyzing a company’s stock and whether it may be a good addition to an investor’s portfolio, personal circumstances — e.g., an investor’s other portfolio holdings, goals, time frame, and risk tolerance — should always be considered when determining whether a stock is right for a particular portfolio.

Nic Abelow is a certified financial planner and LPL financial advisor with Abelow, Pratt & Associates Financial Advisors and Wealth Management in Lake Tahoe.

Unpacking Life’s Chaos: Simple Ways to Create a Life that Energizes Instead of Exhausts You will be the topic of a May 5 workshop on the South Shore.

Karin Finkler, a Lake Tahoe native, will lead a half-day workshop to help people create an individual life rhythm. Her training in business and life coaching, as well as her experience in the foreign policy and international human rights arenas, has given her a deep desire to help women around the world create an inspiring and energizing life of contribution stemming from their innate value.

Each year, the Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church hosts a workshop or seminar to support the Tahoe community. 

Finding the space and time to breathe a bit and figure out what will work best to refresh and re-boot our lives often can seem impossible, so LTCPC is creating that space and time.

Every woman in the Lake Tahoe region is invited to attend. Child care will be provided.

The event is May 5, 9am-12:30pm at Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church, 2733 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

Register online for $10. All proceeds will go to the Tahoe Women’s Community Fund.

For questions, email TahoePresChurchEvents@gmail.com or call 775.392.1715.

In conjunction with the National Peace Officer’s Memorial Week, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department will have its annual award ceremony on May 17 at 4pm.

Everyone is invited to attend. The presentations will be made in front of the police department located at 1352 Johnson Blvd.

The employee’s and volunteers receiving recognition at this year’s award ceremony are as follows:

• Officer Cory Wilson – Bravery
• Officer Joseph Acker – Bravery
• Officer Chris Webber – Bravery
• Officer Anton Kushlan – Bravery
• Officer Timothy Peterson – Bravery
• Detective Justin Brock – Bravery
• Sgt. Jason Cheney – Bravery
• Detective Jake Herminghaus – Distinguished Service
• Maureen Stuhlman – Community Service Award
• Marshall Johnson – Citizen Award of Merit.

Each week Unity at the Lake offers a youth empowerment program concurrent with their regular Sunday service.

This is because the South Lake Tahoe church believes every child is special, that they make a difference and that they have infinite resources within them.

In keeping with this, all children in the community are invited to a special musical program facilitated by Jodene Hurt, a local child educator, on April 29 at 10am.  

This musical program is intended to be a fun, positive, universal and non-denominational, and will offer group participation. Suitable for ages 4 and up.

UATL is located at 870 Emerald Bay Road. For more information, email unityatthelake@sbcglobal.net.

The National Park Service has listed the Wilhelm Lampe Ranch in Gardnerville in the National Register of Historic Places.

The NPS also approved a special report on ranching in Douglas County and Carson City (formerly named Ormsby) County. The report, called a multiple property documentation form, provides a history of ranching in the area, and establishes registration requirements for historic ranches, making it easier for property owners in the area to nominate their eligible agricultural property to the National Register. The National Register is the nation’s official list of places worthy of preservation, recognizing important places and potentially qualifying them for certain grants and tax incentives.

Carson and Eagle Valleys have long been home to people making a living from the land, beginning with the Washoe and Paiute. Euro-American settlement on Washoe lands began in the 1850s alongside Mormon settlement and travel along the California Trail to the gold fields of the western Sierra. The earliest settlers made their living from trading, mostly selling food and hay to those headed to California.

As Nevada experienced its own gold and silver booms by the 1860s, farmers and ranchers supplied mining towns and camps instead. Since that time, amid ebbs and flows in produce markets, extended droughts, and other challenges, agriculture has been an important part of the regional economy in northwest Nevada. Today, dozens of historic ranches dot the Nevada landscape between Douglas County and Carson City, many of which are still in use.

Among these was the Wilhelm Lampe Ranch in southeast Gardnerville, a 5-acre remnant of what was once a 300-acre operation. Lampe purchased the ranch in 1872, mostly growing alfalfa and raising dairy cattle and sheep, but supporting other crops, including wheat and barley. Lampe became a prominent leader in the German immigrant community of Carson Valley, becoming the land donor in 1885 for the establishment of the Lutheran Church’s first building, just south of his ranch.

Under the operation of Lampe’s son, William, in the early 1900s, the ranch grew to more than 300 acres. The ranch also includes unique architectural landmarks, including the latest known construction of a Gothic Revival ranch house in Carson Valley, and an impressive barn that has been previously highlighted on the annual barn tours of the Douglas County Historical Society.

Today, most of the former lands of the Lampe Ranch have been development for neighborhoods and churches, but the main complex and a small section of farmland remains, although berries have replaced the alfalfa. Jack and Diana Jacobs operate the Jacobs Family Berry Farm at the property, and continue to preserve this important piece of Carson Valley’s history.

The El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency, Senior Health Education Program and Family Caregiver Support Program are putting on a series of classes titled Powerful Tools for Caregivers.

This six-week program will be from 2-3:30pm each Wednesday from May 25-June 29 at the Placerville Senior Center.

The training will provide caregivers aged 60 or older with tools and strategies to assist them in handling the unique challenges they face. The series topics include:

• May 25 – Taking Care of YouJune 1, 2018 – Identifying and Reducing Personal Stress
• June 8 – Communicating Feelings, Needs, and Concerns
• June 15 – Communicating in Challenging Situations
• June 22 – Learning From Our Emotions
• June 29 – Mastering Caregiving Decisions

Participants are encouraged to attend all six sessions; certificates of completion will be presented at the end of the series. The training is comprehensive and evidence-based. Respite is available to qualified caregivers; pre-authorization is required.

Class size is limited and registration is required. The training series is offered at no cost; donations are accepted. Call 530.621.6192 to register or for questions.

Participants in El Dorado County Wellness Center programs will have a chance to show off their artistic skills in the Each Mind Matters art exhibit hosted by the Tahoe Art League.

The exhibit will take place at Lake Tahoe Community College from April 30-May 4, in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.

The art that will be on display has been created through Art Angels, a program of the Tahoe Art League. Each week Charisse Sotto, a volunteer with the Art League, teaches Wellness Center participants various techniques in artistic expression. Funded by the South Lake Tahoe Endowment, a fund of the El Dorado Community Foundation, together with the Art League, the program develops artistic skills, and allows participants to focus on a positive, creative process that builds confidence and pride in their accomplishments.

Lake Tahoe Community College Art Director Phyllis Shafer will be the jurist.

An artists’ reception and awards ceremony will be April 30 from 6-8pm in the commons area of the college.