The Honda Civic Si is simply incredible. Photos/Larry Weitzman

By Larry Weitzman

Let’s get one thing straight, all Honda Civics are super cars. All Civics get the fabulous 1.5L turbo charged DOHC, 16 valve engine with a minimum of 174 hp. That’s a lot of moxie for cars that weigh 3,000 pounds or less.

The Si is Civic’s super super car with a six-speed manual and 205 hp at a low 6,000 rpm. Honda didn’t even stop at the Si as they also make an ultra-super, super car, the SR, with over 300 hp. After you finish with this Road Beat, you will able to imagine what the SR can do.

Back to the phenomenal Si. First about the only differentiation from the rest of the Civics, including the fantastic Hatch Sport version which stickers for a shade over $21 large, is some badging and a blacked-out grille. Inside are special seats and as with my Civic Coupe that I tested a year ago, this Si was done in energy green. If you want to be seen from five miles away or are extremely safety conscious, this is your color. No one will ever miss you. People with 20/400 vision will see this car from a good distance. OK, enough about the color.

Specifications
Engine
1.5L turbocharged, direct injected, DOHC, 16 valve inline four cylinder 205 hp @ 5,700 rpm
192 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2,100-5,000 rpm
Redline 6,500 rpm
Fuel requirement regular unleaded
Transmission
Six-speed manual
Configuration
Transverse mounted front engine/front wheel drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase 106.3 inches
Length 177.9 inches
Width 70.8 inches
Height 54.7 inches
Track (f/r) 60.5/61.2 inches
Weight 2,889
Weight distribution (f/r) 61/39
Fuel capacity 12.39 gallons
Trunk capacity 11.9 cubic feet
Passenger volume 88.6 cubic feet
Wheels 18X7.5 inch alloys
Tires 235/40X18W
Steering lock to lock 2.11 turns
Turning circle 37.8 feet
Performance
0-60 mph 6.20 seconds
50-70 mph 3.03 seconds
50-70 mph up a 6-7 % grade 3.92 seconds
Top speed 150 mph easy
Fuel economy EPA rated at 28/38/32 mpg city/highway/combined. Expect 33 mpg overall and 41 plus mpg on the highway at legal speeds.

This Civic Si is about driving fun, and I would have to give it a fun quotient on the 10 scale of about 12. Civics look quick standing still. Their design is sleek and slick with a strong, edgy character line giving it some shape along with some muscle, with strong wheel wells and shoulders. Best looking Civic ever, even though the grille might over power the rest of the design, at least in the SI, it’s done in black.

It has a spectacular powertrain, its 205-horsepower mill (at a low 5,700 rpm) plus a massive 192 pounds of twist from a low of 2,100 rpm to 5,000 rpm (at 5,700 rpm it is still pounding out 189 pounds of twist), demonstrates almost no fall off or loss of cylinder efficiency at peak hp meaning it’s still pulling like a freight train right to its red line of 6,500 rpm where a rev limiter interrupts the fun. It drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual cog-swapper via a limited slip differential. If rockin’ is what the Civic does then it’s theme would be Mississippi Queen by Mountain. Zero to 60 mph arrives in just 6.20 seconds. A level simulated pass from 50-70 mph happens in just 3.02 seconds and a six percent grade only slows that number to 3.92 seconds. Turbo lag isn’t, but its takes about 2,500 rpm before it begins to boil and by five grand things get nuclear. In normal driving 1,500 rpm will be ok in the first three gears and add about 500 rpm for each of the next three gears for reasonable performance.

While gearing appears to be similar to the Civic Hatch Sport tested a few months ago and while it sports only 25 less hp, its performance numbers while still very good are not as good as the Si by significant numbers. In my three parameters the Hatch Sport recorded 6.99, 3.80 and 5.09 seconds. The Si buys you a lot in the quickness department.      

In the Si driving hard is guilt free. The EPA rates the Civic St at 28/38/32 mpg city/highway/combined, about an mpg less than the 180 hp Civic Hatch Sport. In reality the Civic Si returned 41.4 mpg in a two-way run on a level highway at a constant 70 mph. Overall in extremely aggressive driving for about 300 miles, the Civic averaged 32-33 mpg including the performance testing. But on a 200-mile round trip to Carson City from Placerville which included about 80 miles of aggressive two lane twisty driving and many full throttle passes, the Civic averaged an astounding 39.6 mpg. I told you this Si is absolutely guiltless. I could probably do 40 hard laps at Thunderhill Raceway and still have enough fuel to make it home (150 miles). Rpm is a reasonable 2,600 at70 mph.

And what an absolute blast this Si would be at Thunderhill. I think Si stands for simply incredible. It has all the creds, super quick, variable ratio electric rack and pinion steering (2.11 turns lock to lock), low profile, fat tires (235/40X18), fat roll bars at both ends, state of the art independent suspension, huge disc brakes, adaptive dampers and real sport tuning to give it a real edge, a true sports car feel and ability. It simply follows your commands and inputs perfectly with no vices, twitches or missteps. It follows orders to a Tee. It is water through a proverbial hose that just doesn’t want to let go in the twisties. All the time maintaining a flat attitude. Fabulously fun. Weighing less than 2,900 pounds helps too.

Ride quality won’t impress your grandmother. It sits low so getting grandma in the car and even out of the car might be a problem. The ride is firm and tire noise is an issue on rough or coarse roads. The body is solid and while compliant in the bumps, it is firm and reasonably quiet on smooth asphalt. Let’s leave it at that.

There is no compromise in safety with most of all the basic acronyms. But Civic, in addition, has that wonderful side view camera when making right turns. I love that feature. Headlights are very good, low and high.

Inside is a quality interior with Si exclusive buckets that are perfect for aggressive driving or the long haul. While they are heated, they are not power but have a height adjustment. All appointments are first quality and the instrumentation is complete. The center stack does its job and functions are now becoming second nature.

Now here is the deal, this sports rig stickers for the bargain price of $24,100 plus $875 for the truck/train from Alliston, Ontario Assembly plant. There are, as with most Hondas, no extras, $24,975 is the deal. It’s quick and its fun, lots of fun with no guilt, either in acquisition or gas consumption. Kudos to Honda and in Energy Green everyone within three miles will see you coming and mostly going.

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.

Are extreme weather events linked to global warming? Deciphering the science and providing answers is the job of national weather broadcasters and journalists. How do they decide what is aired? These topics and more will be addressed at the annual Operation Sierra Storm, a leading national weather conference Jan. 21-24.

Keynote speaker and Stanford University professor of earth system science Noah Diffenbaugh, and his lab team examined the connections between global warming and extreme events. They recently published their findings in a new framework.

A media panel will address results from the disbanding of the national climate assessment advisory committee, controversial positions on both sides, editorial polices, sources from scientists, and what is allowed. Speakers include Angela Fritz, deputy weather editor for the Washington Post; Brandon Miller, meteorologist and CNN supervising weather producer; Paul Goodloe, The Weather Channel; and Keith Stellman, meteorologist in charge of the Atlanta National Weather Service office.

The free presentations will be Jan. 23, 8-10:30 in the Cabaret Theater at Harveys. are encouraged.

Ty Dayberry at the Johnsville Longboard races. Photo/Provided

By Kayla Anderson, Tahoe Weekly
 
John Dayberry wants to make sure that the history of early Sierra Nevada mountaineering isn’t easily forgotten. He is using his experience in wood-shop instruction, environmental restoration, back-country ski-shop management in Hope Valley and a drive to share indigenous wisdom in the modern age to document that history.

“SST-X” is a home-grown documentary film project to preserve Tahoe Sierra mountaineering heritage that goes back hundreds of years.

On an archaeological quest to learn about the early mountaineers in the Eastern Sierra, the South Shore resident started reading books on Snowshoe Thompson, aka John Albert Thompson, who delivered mail in the snowy mountains of the Sierra in the 1800s, as well as the history of back-country skiing and the indigenous Washoe who were at the forefront of a sport that has gained great popularity today. “SST-X” stands for Snowshoe Thompson Expedition.

Eric Schenck

Placerville resident Staff Sgt. Eric Christopher Schenck died from injuries sustained in a traffic accident while returning from a field training exercise in South Korea. He was 33.

He was born in Nampa, Idaho, to Charles and JoAnne Schenck on Feb. 24, 1984. He grew up in Idaho and California, settling in El Dorado County at the age of 8. He graduated from El Dorado High School in 2002.

After graduation Eric worked at various jobs and attended Consumnes River College part time. He did volunteer work with the Boys and Girls Club and as a Big Brother to underprivileged youth.

In fall 2009, he joined the Army. He was a medic at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. From there he was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Wash. In 2012 he was deployed to Afghanistan as a senior line medic. He deployed to Suwon Air Base in South Korea in January 2017. He died there on Dec. 8, 2017.

Eric loved hiking, jogging, and exploring his surroundings, but his greatest love was spending time with his two sons, Hayden and Damian.

Eric is survived by his children, Hayden and Damian of Meridian, Idaho; father, Charles Schenck and wife, Tami, of Fair Play; mother, JoAnne Larson and husband, Ken, of Emmett, Idaho; sister, Chelsea Thompson and husband, Evan, of Reedsport, Ore.; stepbrother, Chris Denham of Fair Play; grandparents Charles and Donna Schenck of Nampa, Idaho; aunts: Trina Westberg and Tammy Chavez of Nampa, Idaho; aunt, Maureen Luther of Chester; uncle, Anthony Cahill of Renton, Wash.; uncle, Lester Cahill of Golden, Colo.; and numerous cousins.

A celebration of life with military honors was in Idaho.

By Vicki McKenna

Influenza, or flu, activity has increased significantly over the recent weeks in the South Lake Tahoe area. The majority of influenza cases this year have been typed as A(H3N2), a particularly nasty strain of the flu that has been associated with more hospitalizations and complications.

Do yourself, your family and your community a favor by recognizing flu symptoms and avoid spreading it.

Vicki McKenna

Influenza is characterized by the abrupt onset of fever, muscle aches, sore throat, and a nonproductive cough. Unlike the common cold, flu symptoms like fever and headache come on quickly. Each individual may experience symptoms differently.

Your best defense against influenza is getting a flu shot. Not only does this prevent the flu, it shortens how long you suffer from symptoms if you do get sick. There are plenty of vaccines available in the Tahoe basin at local pharmacies, and it is not too late in the season to get a flu shot.

Protect yourself using common sense measures – wash your hands frequently. If you suspect you have influenza, stay home. Get a diagnosis to confirm if you do have the flu by seeing your care provider immediately, or contact Barton Urgent Care at 775.589.8900.

If you do have influenza, antiviral drugs are available and work best when started within 48 hours of illness onset. Remember, healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning the day before symptoms develop and up to seven days after becoming sick.

Vicki McKenna is the infection preventionist at Barton Health.

By Howie Nave

I think we can all pretty much agree that Liam Neeson is an exceptional actor with range, but it wasn’t until “Taken” that Neeson became an exceptional action star with an extraordinary appeal. Not a super hero mind you no, but someone with that everyman kind of appeal that is instantly relatable.

There’s also something about a dramatic movie whose stage is shot almost entirely on that of a moving train. You know there’s no easy escape and you soon find yourself as one of the passengers on the train.

The thing is, do you belong on that train? Such is the premise of Neeson’s latest outing in “The Commuter.” Neeson plays 60-year-old Michael MacCauley, an insurance salesman who, for the last decade has been taking the same commuter train from his home in the New York suburbs to his work in Manhattan. Director Jaume Collet-Serra (who worked with Neeson on the movies “Unknown,” “Non-Stop” and “Run All Night”) creates an almost “Groundhog Day” routine showing Michael’s daily routine getting up every morning for work with his wife (Elizabeth McGovern) dropping him off at the station and wondering how they’re going to stay above water affording to pay for their son’s college tuition mortgaging the house. You know, everyday scenarios that life throws at you. Michael’s a good family man and lives a pretty non-exciting, ordinary life.

Then the dominoes start to fall. He loses his job and realizes he has no back-up plan because he lost all of his fortune in the Great Recession of 2008. You can feel his helplessness; a man at the age of 60 having no major savings plan (come to think of it this hits rather close to home). Not wanting to upset his wife he doesn’t tell her because life as he now knows it is pretty much at a standstill. He drops by a local pub after getting canned where he meets an old friend, Murphy (Patrick Wilson) who’s a cop. In fact, it turns out Michael used to be his partner before leaving law enforcement to go the insurance route. The movie doesn’t explain why he took this career path, but will serve him well later as things unfold. After a few drinks Michael heads for home getting back on the commuter train.

You realize watching the movie at this stage that the good stuff is about to happen because once that train is in motion things are about to get anything but routine and ordinary. You know the adage that if something is too good to be true, it probably is? Well, that gets tossed out by the wayside when a mysterious woman named Joanna (Vera Farmiga) takes a seat across from him on the train and strikes up a conversation. Michael just assumes she’s hitting on him and he reminds her that he’s happily married. She doesn’t want to have sex with him but makes him a proposition nonetheless. There’s a total of $100,000 waiting for him in a package in one of the train’s lavatories and all he has to do is find someone on the train named Prynne who is carrying a bag and plant a tracking device on that bag.

Joanna gets off at the next stop and Michael now has a moral dilemma to deal with because once he crosses that line there is literally no going back. He finds the money and it seems almost too easy. She’s off the train so why not just skip with the money and be done with it? Wrong. Things amplify at this point because she is now monitoring his every move and strangers in and off the train are watching him. Oh, did I mention that if he fails to go through with her proposition that his family will be murdered?

It would be too easy to call this movie “‘Taken’ on the Train” but in some respects that’s exactly what it is as things start to unravel. Neeson followed a similar plot in the movie “Non-Stop” but that was set on a commercial plane. I know, it sounds at first like a tried and true formula, but it’s a winning one because the plot here in “The Commuter” doesn’t give you a clear-cut answer where you feel “taken,” that you know what is going to happen next.

Credit the storytellers (Byron Willinger, Philip de Blasi and Ryan Engle) for not making it too easy to connect the dots and for making Neeson’s character one you immediately like and cheer for. There’s been so many movies that I feel insulted as a moviegoer. There have been movies where the whole story is told just in the trailer giving us characters that you could care less what happened to them. Truth be known I tend to go for complete escapism in my movies because for a couple of hours I don’t want to see what’s going on in the outside world on the big screen. That’s why I’m sitting here in this theater: to escape my life in the real world and implant myself in another world happening on that big screen and in this case on a train. Oh, and I want to add too that the action sequences on this train are pretty intense. I haven’t seen this much drama on the railroad since Denzel Washington and Chris Pine in 2010’s “Unstoppable.” If this movie is a huge hit at the box office for Neeson, expect to see a sequel but it won’t run as long time-wise because the plot this time will take place nonstop on a bullet train.

“The Commuter” is rated PG-13 for some intense action/violence, and language and clocks in at a tight 105 minutes.

Howie Nave is host/emcee/manager of The Improv at Harveys. You can hear him Monday-Friday 6 to 10am on KRLT FM-93.9. He has been reviewing movies for years. They may be heard on four other stations each week where he does “A Jew Doing a Movie Review,” and he occasionally writes reviews for Lake Tahoe News.

There will be a trio of free artist receptions and exhibit openings at Lake Tahoe Community College on Jan. 18 from 5pm to 7pm.

In the Haldan Art Gallery inside the library building will be Tony King and Pamela Glasscock’s “Recent Works.” The couple will also host a free artist talk at 5:30pm.

In the Foyer Gallery located in the Fine Arts building will be photographer Les Allert’s “Tailings.”

In the Student Gallery centered in LTCC’s Main Building Commons will be new works of art by

members of the Tahoe Art League. All of these exhibits are free to attend, and will remain open until March 23. The Haldan Art Gallery hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11am-5:30pm, and Fridays from 11am-2:30pm. The Foyer Gallery and Student Gallery can be accessed Monday through Friday 8am-8pm, and Saturdays 8am-4pm.

By Rick Gross

The average refund for individual income taxpayers who received one for the fiscal year ending in September 2016 topped $3,000, according to the IRS. If you expect to receive a refund on your 2017 tax return, will you save or spend it? While you may be tempted to indulge, consider using the money to solidify your long-term financial position.

Rick Gross

No matter the size of your refund, there are ways you can use it to help reach your current and future financial goals. Here are a variety of ways you might be able to apply a refund based on your life stage:

For people starting out in their careers:

·       Add to your emergency fund. Consider saving enough to have the equivalent of at least three-to-six months’ worth of income in an emergency fund. This could come in handy if you experience a sudden interruption to your income or a major unexpected expense.

·       Pay off student loans. If you are carrying college debt or other loans, applying your refund to the balance can help reduce the total interest you pay or eliminate the debt entirely. Once you pay off your loans, allocate the amount you spent each month on student loans to another financial goal to keep building your financial foundation.  

·       Invest in an IRA. Think about starting a habit of investing your tax refund each year into an IRA, where any earnings can accumulate on a tax-deferred basis. While you are limited to contributing $5,500 annually ($6,500 for those age 50 and older), the savings can add up. For example, investing a $3,000 refund each year from age 26 to 65 earning seven percent annually would build to more than $640,000.

For those starting families:

·       Save for a down payment on a home. A tax refund can make a meaningful impact as you accumulate enough to purchase your first home. Consider saving enough to cover at least 20 percent of the home’s value. Doing so will eliminate the need for private mortgage insurance, which will cost you extra in interest payments.

·       Start or add to a college fund for your children. With the cost of higher education continuing to rise, starting early and saving often can help you make funding tuition a reality. Many options may provide tax advantages so work with your financial and tax professionals to find the best strategy for you.

·       Invest your refund. Consider adding your refund to your portfolio, using it to accelerate progress toward your long-term goals. Your refund could be used to purchase stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other investments that are aligned with your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.

·       Create or update your legacy plan. Developing a will, trust, or other estate documents is important so that your wishes are clear in the event of your death. If you need to create or update legal matters, use your refund as a reason to take the next step.

For those who have a solid financial foundation:

·       Apply to home improvements. If you are planning to remodel your home, you may want to use the money to fund specific upgrades, or to keep as a contingency fund throughout the project.

·       Save for starting a new business. If you want to start your own business now or in retirement, the refund can provide a cash buffer to help you get started. It can either replace some of your regular income or be used to fund expenditures required to get the business up-and-running.

For those approaching retirement:

·       Increase your retirement savings. As your retirement date and goals get clearer, maximizing your retirement savings should take priority. Your refund can help you make an additional investment towards your financial future. If you are 50 or older and have earned income, current tax laws allow you to invest extra dollars in your IRA and workplace retirement plan. Work with your tax professional to learn what the opportunities and limitations may be for your situation.

·       Pay down your mortgage. Consider using your refund to make an additional principal payment to your home mortgage. Erasing debt prior to retirement can minimize a major financial burden.

For retirees:

·       Spend it on your retirement dream. If you plan to travel or pursue a hobby in retirement, use the refund as a trigger to make your dream happen. Allow yourself to spend the money without guilt – after all, you’ve earned and planned for this opportunity.

·       Invest in a Roth IRA. If you have any earned income that allows you to make retirement contributions, your tax refund can potentially be placed into a Roth IRA. This vehicle allows contributions after age 70-1/2 (contributions are not possible in a traditional IRA) and provides potential tax-free growth of any earnings.

·       Pay health care expenses. Today’s rising health care costs are often one of the biggest expenses for retirees. Consider applying the funds to Medicare or long-term care policy premiums. If your health care expenses are manageable, save the refund to pay for future expenses.

Review your tax withholding

If you regularly receive a large tax refund, you may want to adjust the withholding on your paycheck. Decreasing your refund may increase your monthly net pay, allowing you to allocate extra income each month to your financial goals. This strategy isn’t right for everyone. Consult with your tax attorney and financial advisor before making adjustments or decisions on how to use your windfall.

Rick Gross is a financial advisor and private wealth advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. in South Lake Tahoe.

By Alysone Hussmann

The question I get asked the most when sharing that I’m a member of PATH (Partners Against the Trafficking of Humans) is: Is human trafficking happening here in South Lake Tahoe?  The answer is yes, although solid numbers are hard to come by. 

Recently, it was reported in local media that 14 people were arrested and one 17 year old girl rescued from a trafficking ring in El Dorado County that included South Lake Tahoe, Placerville, and El Dorado Hills.  This sting operation began by looking at escort and dating sites on the internet, one of the main ways that traffickers target young girls and boys. 

In an article by Awaken (an anti-trafficking organization based in Reno), “Mapping Commercial Sexual Exploitation around Reno,” Lake Tahoe is a hot spot for sex trafficking. It is part of the Highway 50 corridor from San Francisco, Sacramento, to South Lake Tahoe, and an easy cross-over state lines into Nevada.  According to the Human Trafficking Initiative Data Science Lab, in 2016 there was one case of trafficking at Emerald Bay, 200-225 cases in Lake Tahoe, with 50-55 cases specifically in South Lake Tahoe, and 900-1,000 in Reno. 

In the United States alone, it is estimated that between 100,000 and 300,000 people are trafficked annually.    According to a report by the Polaris Project, who maintains a national human trafficking hotline number, they had 8,742 cases of human trafficking reported to them in 2016 – a 35 percent increase over 2015.  These identified cases comprise the largest available data set on human trafficking in the U.S., but is estimated to be significantly underestimated, as many are not aware of the national hotline number (Hotline Number: 888.373.7888). In 2016, sex trafficking first started 49 percent of the time between the ages of 12-17, with the average age being age 18.

Globally, it is estimated that there are 4.8 million victims of sex trafficking, according to the International Labor Organization. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by human trafficking, also called modern slavery, accounting for 28.7 million or 71 percent of the overall total. More disturbing, is the estimate that one in four children is a victim of modern slavery, with 21 percent of the total victims in this category being children who were commercially sexual exploited. The average length of time of forced sexual exploitation is two years.

So how do traffickers find their victims? They use social media sites and online advertisements to market minors and trafficked victims. These traffickers’ tactics are very sophisticated and persuasive. According to the Polaris Project, the top recruitment tactic (36 percent in 2016) is by developing an intimate partner relationship (called a Romeo pimp) with their potential victim. Familial trafficking represents 21 percent of the tactics – yes, parents traffic their children. And 11 percent are promised a job (such as modeling). Traffickers lurk at public recreation facilities, and casinos, (basically wherever teenagers like to hang out), and large sporting events are also a hot spot for trafficking.

What can we do about human trafficking in our community? Local, South Lake Tahoe Coalition PATH (Partners Against the Trafficking of Humans), partners with other organizations to bring awareness and education to the South Lake Tahoe community. Our website is updated regularly. PATH’s mission is to increase community awareness of human trafficking through prevention education. For two years we have partnered with 3 Strands Global to educate the ninth-grade classes at South Tahoe High School, and we are working to expand that program, in an age appropriate manner to 5th-, 7th-, 9th-, and 11th-graders. 

To increase community awareness – PATH is sponsoring an event, in partnership with Live Violence Free and Tahoe Youth & Family Services,  as January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. There will be a short film about human trafficking and how it can happen in a small rural town with a straight A student. It will be followed by a panel from our partner 3 Strands Global (who provides our school prevention education), and they will share a survivor’s story from someone right here in El Dorado County. The event will take place on Jan. 30 at 6:30pm at the Duke Theatre at Lake Tahoe Community College for a $5 donation to PATH (no one will be turned away). 

We encourage all members of the community to attend, especially parents of middle and high school kids, teachers, health care workers, and anyone interested in learning more about human trafficking. 

Again, the National Human Trafficking Hotline Number is 888.373.7888.

By Nellie Bowles, New York Times
 
SAN FRANCISCO — At Rainbow Grocery, a cooperative in this city’s Mission District, one brand of water is so popular that it’s often out of stock. But one recent evening, there was a glittering rack of it: glass orbs containing 2.5 gallons of what is billed as “raw water” – unfiltered, untreated, unsterilized spring water, $36.99 each and $14.99 per refill, bottled and marketed by a small company called Live Water.

“It has a vaguely mild sweetness, a nice smooth mouth feel, nothing that overwhelms the flavor profile,” said Kevin Freeman, a shift manager at the store. “Bottled water’s controversial. We’ve curtailed our water selection. But this is totally outside that whole realm.”

Here on the West Coast and in other pockets around the country, many people are looking to get off the water grid.

Read the whole story