Tip-Top Ski Resort in High Sierra is Simply Heavenly

By Scott Andrews
Staff columnist
Lake Tahoe—
Heavenly is the name of the biggest ski resort in the Lake Tahoe region. And the name is no exaggeration.
I recently spent 10 days in the Lake Tahoe region, which straddles the California-Nevada border and includes seven major ski resorts. During my visit I skied Heavenly twice, and was profoundly impressed by the quality -- and the quantity -- of the experience.
Statistics tell only part of the story, of course, but it’s worth noting that Heavenly’s impressive numbers take the top spot in several key categories. With two summits higher than 10,000 feet, it’s the loftiest ski resort in the entire Lake Tahoe district. Heavenly boasts 3,500 vertical feet and its longest top-to-bottom run is five miles -- both tops in the region.
Total skiable acreage is 4,800 acres that sprawl across California and Nevada. In terms of lifts, acres and lodges, the split is about 50-50.
Twenty-nine lifts serve this terrain. About half of these are high-speed, including a 50-person aerial tramway and an eight-person gondola. There are four base lodges, two in California and two in Nevada.
Terrain ranges from mild to wild, distinctly skewed mostly toward intermediate skiers. Fine groomed runs radiate from most of the upper chairlifts. Many of these offer sensational views of cobalt-blue Lake Tahoe, one of America’s natural wonders.
Especially notable are the many tree runs -- glades. These are entirely natural skiing through wide-open forests, deep gullies and interesting rock formations. The all-natural terrain can be pretty rough in spots, but it’s mostly offset by the region’s annual snowfall of about 500 inches.
Want to boast? The most challenging runs on the mountain, rated “super expert,” are found in two adjacent sub-areas served by a double chairlift. Killebrew Canyon and Mott Canyon feature white-knuckle steeps and chutes that will severely test the skills of the most experienced skiers and riders.
Once on the mountain, there’s no need to return to base until the day is done. Six high-elevation eateries, accessible only by ski or snowboard, provide ample opportunities to refuel. A couple of these eateries are outdoor barbecues, a style of eatery that’s typical of California’s comparatively mild climate.
From the gourmet point of view, tops is Lakeview Lodge, spectacularly perched at 8,250 feet, a few dozen yards from the top of two lifts. The lodge’s sit-down restaurant boasts inspired fare that perfectly matches the inspirational viewpoint.
My Chicken Champagne comprised slices of breast meat sautéed in a medley of vegetables, finished with a cream sauce and served over angel hair pasta. And yes, it was heavenly!
One my second day, I ate at the Lakeview Lodge’s cafeteria and enjoyed the biggest helping of chili-cheese-fries I’ve ever seen.
During my two days, I only had one major complaint. The vast and sprawling size of the mountain makes it slow and awkward to ski between the sub-areas. But that issue is, of course, a product of Heavenly’s immensity.
Heavenly Mountain Resort is located in the adjacent towns of Stateline, Nevada, and South Lake Tahoe, California, about 60 miles from the Reno-Tahoe airport. An array of resort amenities, including restaurants that run from fast food to four-star, can be found in both towns. Stateline also offers many gambling casinos.
Heavenly is scheduled to stay open through April 18. For more information and ski-and-stay reservations, visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 800-HEAVENLY.
Heavenly is owned by Vail Resorts, a publicly traded holding company that also owns four top-tier ski resorts in Colorado: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone.
Photo caption: A group of skiers takes a break with Lake Tahoe in the background. (Heavenly Mountain Resort photo)

Company Utilizes Tax Credit Program to Donate to Avis Goodwin CHC

SOMERSWORTH—
Avis Goodwin Community Health Center (AGCHC) today announced it recently received a $20,000 donation from Logical Innovations LLC. This is the first large donation to make use of the organization’s new Tax Credit Program which will give companies like Logical Innovations a seventy-five percent or in this case, a $15,000 state tax credit on the donation.
“This was a decision that made excellent business sense for our company and also allowed us to make sure that our tax dollars are used to promote a cause we strongly believe in— providing quality health care for the uninsured and underinsured population in our community,” said Michael Thompson MD. “We would strongly encourage other businesses or individuals to make a contribution. If you pay New Hampshire taxes, the tax credit allows you to essentially direct your taxes towards better healthcare within your own community.”
In October 2009, the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) awarded Avis Goodwin Community Health Center $600,000 in tax credits to consolidate its four locations into a new 28,500 square foot facility to be constructed in Somersworth with easy access to public transportation. With the additional square footage they will be able to hire two additional medical providers, add a sixth dental operatory, and add 48 hours of mental health specialist staff time. As a result they will be able to provide medical care for an additional 3,000 patients and dental care for 500 new patients, many of whom are un- or under-insured.
The nonprofits that are awarded state tax credits are responsible for raising donations in the amount of their tax credit award from for-profit businesses that have a New Hampshire state tax liability. The Tax Credit Program enables businesses to invest cash, securities, or real property to fund CDFA-approved projects in exchange for a 75% state tax credit that can be applied against the New Hampshire business profits, business enterprise, and insurance premium taxes. For instance, a business donating $10,000 to CDFA on behalf of an approved project will receive a tax credit in the amount of $7,500. The donation is also eligible for treatment as a federal charitable contribution.
Logical Innovations, LLC is a company which is dedicated to helping physicians, nurses and medical support staff using electronic medical records (EMR) to provide superior patient care. They develop and market software to customize content for Centrictiy® EMR marketed by GE Healthcare. They also provide consulting services related to development of forms for the EMR that can enhance patient care by providing decision support for physicians as they see patients. They have users throughout the United States and also in Canada. Logical Innovations, LLC is owned by Michael Thompson, MD and Ker Thompson. Michael Thompson, who developed the Visual Form Editor software program, is also a family physician practicing at Avis Goodwin Community Health Center.
To find out more about making a donation to AGCHC through the Tax Credit Program, contact Renee Allen, 603.516.2566, rallen@agchc.org.

Fundraiser Planned to Support Haitian Home for the Destitute

PORTSMOUTH—
Kent Allyn has never been to Haiti, but when the earthquake hit on Jan. 12, Allyn looked at a picture on his refrigerator of a 10-year-old girl and wondered, “Where did it hit? Was it near Judeline’s school in Milot?”
Allyn is one of hundreds of students, teachers and residents of the Seacoast area who for years have supported a school in Milot, Haiti, through Life and Hope Haiti, a nonprofit grassroots organization based in Long Island, with its sponsorship program based in South Berwick.
“Usually when things happen you don’t know anyone,” said Allyn. “But sponsoring a child in Haiti had put a face on the disaster.”
A Latin/Caribbean Dance Party featuring the music of Combo Sabroso will benefit Life and Hope Haiti March 27 at the VFW Hall in Portsmouth. A slide show and talk will feature pictures taken by local residents in Haiti, including photos of relief efforts and rubble after the earthquake. Pictures will show local donations being put to good use in Haiti.
Although Life and Hope’s school was not directly hurt by the earthquake in the south, the sister of the school’s founder runs a home for the destitute that was decimated, leaving the surviving 130 residents ages 8 to 109 without care or shelter five miles from the epicenter. Ticket sales will help pay to rebuild the Asile St. Vincent de Paul in Leogane, this home for the elderly, disabled and orphaned residents.
Combo Sabroso, one of Boston’s top Latin bands, features UNH grad Matt Jenson and local sax star Matt Langley. The slide presentation will begin at 7 p.m. with pictures by Amy Miller of South Berwick and Agnes Charlesworth of Kittery Point.
Music, dancing and a cash bar will run from 8 p.m. on.
Seacoast area residents are sponsoring several dozen children at Life and Hope’s Eben Ezer School in Milot and the South Berwick Eliot Rotary last year raised $4,300 to buy books for the school. Within two weeks after the earthquake, South Berwick and Eliot elementary students and teachers had raised $4,000 for relief efforts. Mitchell Elementary School children in Kittery raised more than $2000, and Marshwood Middle raised another $4,000.
Although the first few weeks after the earthquake brought in huge donations of funds, supplies and even planes, most of this has dried up. Life and Hope is committed to continuing to fund the 8-year-old school in northern Haiti, providing the education critical to the country’s future.
For more about this organization, go to www.lifeandhopehaiti.org. Also see articles about local efforts to support Life and Hope at the Maine Friends of Haiti website: http://www.mainefriendsofhaiti.org/mainefriendsofhaiti.org/Life_and_Hope_Haiti.html.
Tickets are being sold at Black Bean in Rollinsford, Ceres Bakery in Portsmouth or Fair Tide Thrift Store in Kittery. Checks, made out to Life and Hope Haiti, can also be sent to PO Box 185, Kittery Point, Maine. Tickets cost a suggested $20 donation, but will be sold for the amount people feel they are able to spend. Only 200 people will be able to fit in the hall. More information is available from sobobooks@earthlink.net or sengac@aol.com.