Happy New Year to all our readers, and may 2007 be a happy, healthy, and prosperous year for everyone. May this year also be a very good one for our town and citizens. And may we all become more involved in decision-making processes that affect our way of life and our beautiful environment.

May we quote from the Earl Pitts America radio commentary last Wednesday morning: The only resolution that people can make that they surely cannot break, is to not make any resolutions at all.Thats pretty narrow-minded, but a resolution, made without commitment, is soon forgotten. Keeping this in mind, I (Norm) have decided to make a blanket resolution, rather than making a specific list of things that I may or may not be able to accomplish. My 2007 New Years resolution is to be a happier person and to have a positive attitude at all times. In so doing, I hope to reduce stress and to impact everyone I meet in a positive way. I am also committing to follow the Optimist Creed that I have recited hundreds of times since joining the Truckee Optimist Club in 1981: Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and to press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much time for the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.Good words to live by, huh?

For those of us who like snow and the recreational opportunities that come along with it Yeah. For those of you that dont like it, sorry, but it is our turn. I cant personally remember the last Christmas holiday when we have not had some weather, whether it be snow, or in the case of last year, rain. Therefore, the snow, wind, cold temperatures, power outages, traffic accidents, closed roads, etc. should not have been a big surprise. My early season prediction for a late start to winter, yet heavier than normal snowfall for the season, has started out correctly. Now well see what Mother Nature has in store for the rest of the winter.

---

---

Many of our ski areas and other businesses offer seasonal employment to young workers, many from abroad. They do their jobs well and always seem to be cheerful and polite. However, many of these enthusiastic young people arrive and find that housing is very difficult to find, and many have no means of transportation other than hitchhiking. Picking up hitchhikers is normally a no-no, but if it is obvious they are employees (i.e. they have their ski area jackets on), I say pick them up. The Town of Truckee and these employers need to resolve this problem soon.

We have written a few articles with winter tips in the past so we dont want to be redundant. However, we want to remind everyone about one of the best wintertime tools a hair dryer (and an extension cord). You can use a hair dryer to safely thaw frozen pipes and hose bibs (propane torches have been known to cause fires); to thaw all types of locks; to thaw weather-stripping on car doors and doors to your home; to thaw out the ice that has built up in the auger box of your snowblower and to aid in defrosting your car windows. You can also use a hair dryer as a bellows to get the wood fire going. What a tool.

---

---

Gooseneck Ranch was the original proposed name for the Lahontan subdivision located southeast of Truckee. Bill Palmer was our early bird winner and will get three chances in our 2007 drawing. The second-place winner was Rick Sylvester of Squaw Valley, who actually sold the 740 acres to Ron Parr, who created the subdivision along with other financial partners. Other players with the right answer included Bill Mullins, Pete and Teri Kolp, Jerry Blakely and Rick Maddelena.Norm and Alan Nicholls, of the Nicholls Real Estate Group, are affiliated with Dickson Realty at 11500 Donner Pass Road in Truckee.

Prior to the building of the present Safeway shopping center, there was a large propane storage tank located on the property. Who owned this tank? Call us at 550-5035 or e-mail us at nnicholls@dicksonrealty.com with your answer.