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Over fifty hikers gathered at the Eagle Ridge trailhead to celebrate the official opening of the Genoa Trail Loop which connects three separate canyons on the eastern Sierra Nevada between Carson Valley and the Tahoe Rim Trail.

Washoe elder Dinah Pete offered a prayer in her native language to bless the trails. Then Forest Service Ranger Dan Morris presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the Carson Valley Trails Association (CVTA) for their completion of this 16-mile stretch of new trails.

Accepting the plague, CVTA co-president Bill Hayes told the group how much he appreciated all the volunteers. “It’s amazing to see people come out week after week to do such hard work.”

While machines dug into the mountainside to build most of the trail, much of the labor was done by humans where the slope was too steep and narrow to support machinery.

With this trail completed, Hayes said “we’re working and planning more trails for the other side of the valley.”

Three Trailhead Locations

• The Eagle Ridge Trailhead (1.8 miles north of Genoa, NV): From Foothill Road, follow Eagle Ridge Road to the driveway leading to the green water tank. The trailhead is next to this tank. Park below on Eagle Ridge Road.
  

• Centennial Street (Sierra Canyon): Follow this road to Snowshoe Lane. Park on Centennial and walk to the end of Snowshoe where the trailhead is located.
  

• Carson Street (Genoa Canyon): Just a block south of the main intersection in downtown Genoa, NV, is Carson Street. It’s marked with a quaint but not very visible street sign. Follow Carson to the end and park where indicated.
  

All these trails are steep and include many switchbacks to climb the sharp incline of the eastern slope. Most of the trail system is open to hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers, and dogs. Bikers and horses, however, are not recommended on the lower Genoa Canyon trail off Carson Street.

Trail Manager Jeremy Vlcan said that while bikers are allowed on the trails as well as horses and hikers, the trails are sandy “like the beach.”

“It’s unlikely there will be many mountain bikers using these trails because of the sandy soil,” he said.

The Eagle Ridge trail is exposed and quite sunny, allowing hikers to enjoy spectacular views of Carson Valley. The other two trails are shadier. Allow a full day to hike round-trip from Carson Valley to the Tahoe Rim Trail.

“Discovery Trail” Fundraiser in June

Tuesday, June 19, from 5 to 8 pm, the CVTA will hold a fundraiser in the CVIC Hall in downtown Minden, NV to continue work on the Discovery Trail.

According the the CVTA website, the Discovery Trail is a destination that will eventually encircle the entire Carson Valley.

“There will be a silent auction as well as a live auction,” said co-president Kerstin Wolle, “and entertainment by Foothill Road and the Hitchhikers.” Gourmet appetisers and a no-host bar will be available.

Several games, such as the Wine Toss, will give guests a chance to win prizes. “Admission is $ 10,” Wolle added, “because we need money to help build the trails.”

Whether same-sex marriage turns out to be an influential issue among voters in November remains to be seen. But between now and then, the issue is almost certainly going to remain in the headlines, simply because it’s such an easy topic to sensationalize. When the other issues are inherently boring – like the economy, foreign affairs and job creation – the media will wisely focus on the issues that will hold the attention of most Americans. And nothing is a better topic to focus on at the moment than gay marriage.

Following President Obama’s statement that his position has evolved to one of support for same-sex marriage, the media and political analysts are weighing in on exactly what that position means. Notably, the GOP has been fairly quiet on the issue, probably trying to get a handle on the public’s interpretation before establishing their own political narrative on the issue.

Many analysts seem to feel that gay marriage will not be a huge factor in the election, simply because the sides had already been fairly well established, even before Obama’s announcement. Even if gay marriage supporters had doubts about Obama’s personal beliefs, they were 100% of Mitt Romney’s and the GOP’s position on the matter, with few exceptions.

And while some rhetoric in support of the “institution of marriage” and other popular anti-gay-marriage talking points are sure to come out eventually, Romney and his supporters are wisely keeping quiet for now. In the broad forum of a general election, it’s far riskier for Romney to come out against gay marriage than it was for Obama to support it – even though the President surely would have preferred different circumstances to the hurried statement he was forced to make.

Oahu, the final Hawaii holdout, has banned plastic shopping bags used by retailers. The entire state will be plastic shopping bag free as of July, 2015. On May 10^th, Mayor Peter Carlisle signed the bill that completed the ban for the state.

Setting the Oahu deadline three years away gives stores time to look into viable options to provide shopping bags for tourists, who may not know about the ban. Banning the use of plastic shopping bags is not a new practice as several European, Asian, and African countries already have laws banning plastic bags.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Parts of California have plastic bag bans in place. Hawaii now closes out the other side of the Pacific Ocean border of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with its ban. This enormous rotating, floating rubbish-made island is twice the size of Texas. Unfortunately, it has found a fairly permanent home between Hawaii and California.

Hawaii is hoping the new ban, along with the bans California has, will have a positive effect on the garbage patch. The new law can’t go into effect soon enough. A recent study has shown that the garbage patch is 100 times bigger than it was 40 years ago. The larger the garbage patch grows, the more marine life it will affect.

Affected Marine Life

Unfortunately, Hawaii’s marine life has already been affected by the garbage. The situation is especially concerning to Hawaii, which has the highest concentration of endangered species in the world.

While dolphins, whales, and other marine life have been found dead with plastics in them, the most affected animals have been sea turtles and birds. The endangered Hawaii marine life that may already be affected includes humpback whales, Hawaiian monk seals, and five different species of sea turtles.

What You Can Do To Help

Unfortunately, there is no quick, easy, practical way to recover all of the man-made garbage that is presently in our oceans. As scientists work on ways to reverse this situation, we must do our part to do all that we can to ensure that the problem doesn’t get any worse. Hawaii’s newest law is a step in the right direction.

If you want to do your part to help, use the following tips to help prevent the garbage patch from getting any larger:

• Minimize the garbage you put into the landfill by recycling everything possible.
• Volunteer for a community cleanup project and pick up trash wherever you see it and put it into a garbage can.
• Don’t buy items that use excessive packaging. When possible, buy in bulk so there is less packaging to throw away.
• Don’t use disposables. Bring your own utensils when you eat out, drink out of a reusable water bottle, and use reusable shopping bags.
• Tell your family and friends to join you in making these tips part of your everyday life.

Together we can make a difference, even if it’s just one small piece of garbage at a time.

Army Specialist Joshua Turner spent the last eight months in Afghanistan.

Through it all, he was missing his family.

“I think that’s the hardest part about being in the army. I can deal with the danger and all that. But it definitely makes everything a lot more difficult,” Turner said.

And his family has missed him too.

“He’s been crying in the morning, waking up, asking for Daddy. When is he going to see him again? Is he going to see him play t-ball? Will he make it to his preschool graduation; little events that are important to a five-year-old,” Stephene Turner said about their son, Elijah.

Five-year-old Elijah has no idea his dad is just yards away from him at his school. He didn’t even know he was coming home.

But he is. He’ll only be home for 15 days. And after that, it’s back to a war zone.

But for now, none of that matters. Instead of being on the battlefields of Afghanistan, Joshua is thousands of miles away in the tiny Central California farming town of Cutler. Dressed in his fatigues, he looks every part the brave soldier. Inside, he is shaking.

“It’s going to be a surprise for both of us just to see how he reacts. I’m a little nervous,” Joshua said.

Joshua and Stephene hide inside an office behind Elijah’s classroom while the preschoolers are outside at recess.

When they come in, they have story time.

On the rug filled with five-year-olds, Elijah very much stands out. The only blond head in the room, he’s dressed in a camouflage shirt and army green shorts; undoubtedly a tribute to his soldier daddy orchestrated by his mom earlier that morning.

It’s the end of the story and the teacher reads a special message for Elijah from his dad. Elijah sits, not moving a muscle, taking in every perfect word that comes from his teacher’s mouth. He doesn’t want to miss a thing, after all this is a message from Daddy.

His teacher reads the last sentence.

“No Matter where I am, near or far, I will always believe…”

But then a familiar voice from the back finishes the message.

“I have one amazing son to come home to,” Joshua says.

Elijah turns around, rubs his eyes as if it’s a dream.

“Hey Elijah!”

The little blond haired boy donned in camo stands up, still puzzled.

“Who is that Elijah?” His teacher asks.

“It’s my daddy.”

And that’s all it takes. He jumps into Joshua’s arms and doesn’t let go; holding his daddy’s face with his hands.

“I’ve been waiting to see my family for so long now,” Joshua said, eyes filling up with tears.

“I missed him,” Elijah said, not letting go of his dad’s neck for one second.

Elijah says what he missed most about his dad was the horseplay.

“Him doing push-ups with me,” he said.

Elijah gets to leave school early on this day. He and his dad take off racing down the sidewalk; off to make up for eight months of no push-ups.

Top U.S. officials reiterated the American position of refusing to negotiate with al Qaeda in hostage situations. White House spokesman Jay Carney said that authorities were still trying to coordinate Weinstein’s release, but provided no details as to what efforts were in place. The video, which shows Weinstein being held against a white backdrop, was directed at U.S. President Barack Obama and Weinstein recites what sound like prepared remarks asking for the president to step in and give his captors what they want in return for his freedom.

It is believed that the al Qaeda group holding Weinstein wants the release of specific prisoners in exchange for releasing Weinstein. Weinstein has been held by al Qaeda since August, when he was kidnapped from the Pakistani city of Lahore. He was living there as an advisor and consultant for J.E. Austin Associates, a U.S. firm that works with various Pakistani government agencies and private corporations.

Although the video showed Weinstein in what appeared to be reasonable health, it’s unclear exactly when the video was shot. He does note in the video that he has been given his required medication and that he has been cared for by his captors. The only realistic option on the table from the U.S. perspective is to try to establish back-channel communications with the al Qaeda cell holding Weinstein and to try to quietly negotiate his release via alternative means. A rescue attempt would seem unlikely, unless Weinstein’s location is determined to be outside of Pakistan.

New French President-elect Francois Hollande has made many announcements and speeches since winning the presidency of his nation, but one of particular interest to Americans looking on is that Hollande is not seeking to “make things difficult for Barack Obama.” Hollande referred to issues such as Afghanistan and others that Americans and the French have not always seen eye to eye on. He also was quick to note that he speaks English very well and wishes to maintain good relations with the U.S.

Noted Hollande, “Yes, I speak English, more fluently than the former president. But a French president has to speak French!” Hollande made his comments, in English, to a French publication. Hollande, a socialist, will meet with President Obama next week prior to two international summits – the G8 meeting that will focus on the world economy, and a NATO meeting about policy in Afghanistan.

Hollande also praised Obama for improving relations with his country after the presidency of George W. Bush saw a constant erosion of cooperation between the two countries. He noted, “I will therefore assert France’s independence without making things difficult for Barack Obama.” Hollande also promised that France’s roughly 3,600 troops in Afghanistan would be removed by the end of the year, but that he would make that move in coordination with NATO allies. That promise is, ironically, identical to the one Obama made when he was running for president in 2008, and one on which he has thus far failed to deliver for over 3 years.

As in any bustling college town, Norman, OK is packed full of wonderful restaurants. Some, however, stand out more than others. With their great food, variety, and “local charm”, these eateries are part of the best Norman has to offer!

1. Tarahumara’s Mexican Cantina and Cafe -
Located just north of downtown, this family-owned Mexican restaurant is MUST on your next visit to Norman. Serving very authentic Mexican food, Tarahumara’s is a big time favorite of locals. The huge food portions are filling, and comforting, and the service is outstanding! It is also not uncommon on a packed Friday night, for the owner to walk through the isles singing traditional Mexican folk songs. Be prepared for at least a 20 minute wait when you go, this place is so popular that there is always a wait. Never fear though, the service is so fast you won’t have to wait long!

2. Ray’s Smokehouse BBQ -
One thing Norman has a lot of, is BBQ joints. Picking a stand-out of all the choices definitely was not easy, but Ray’s is worth a try! With their wide selection of meats and sides, Ray’s is great for any traditional BBQ lover. They also offer catering for special events. A word of advice from a local, “Make sure you try their desserts!”.

3. Pizza Shuttle -
Take it from someone who knows, this is the best delivery place in town! Offering not only any type of pizza you can dream-up, but also a variety of hot subs, sides, and desserts. Ask any student in town and they’ll also tell you that Pizza Shuttle is the cheapest delivery in town, a definite plus! With three locations across Norman, they are quick and accessible from anywhere!

4. La Baguette Bakery and Cafe -
This place has it all! From lunch entrees and quick deli sandwiches to gourmet dinners, and ohh those homemade desserts! With ever changing daily specials, La Baguette is the perfect choice for a quick soup and sandwich lunch or a cool after-hours coffee and dessert. La Baguette home makes everything in-house, and can even design a wedding cake for your special day. Even if you can’t make it for lunch or dinner, definitely make the room for dessert from La Baguette!

5. The Diner -
This is the very definition of “hole in the wall” restaurant. Located on Main Street, right in the heard of Norman, The diner is the place to go for a big hearty breakfast or lunch. Their specials include the breakfast “mexi-scram”, or their “championship chili”, which you can order on just about anything on the menu. The Diner has also been featured on “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” with host Guy Fieri. Be prepared for a wait though, the place is small with not a lot of seating, but they pack ‘em in!

So the next time you’re in Norman, OK for a visit, make sure you stop by one of these amazing places!

The Global War on Terror, if you will, has been going on for well over a decade, employing an all-volunteer force of mostly very young and very naive men and women. Those same young people, after brief and intense periods of training, are shipped off to active war zones to fight a faceless enemy that is often indistinguishable from the peaceful civilian population. The stress is enormous and the leadership on the ground is also composed of very young soldiers, with only slightly more experience and training.

When those factors are coupled with a general mission that is difficult to define, with gains seemingly impossible and every loss magnified, many young soldiers start to break down emotionally and psychologically. When those breaks occur, bad things happen. Recently, there have been a growing number of incidences of U.S. troops acting in ways that are in gross violation of any ethical or moral standard.

And whenever such incidents occur, they are almost immediately headline news events across the world. The problem U.S. military leaders face is that there is really no way to stop these incidents from occurring within the current structure of the ongoing War on Terror. Military conflict – human warfare – is an act that requires a purpose and a defined objective. The current circumstances don’t meet those requirements. And without those requirements, military conflict simply becomes a prolonged and unnatural state of constant angst and anguish, periodically interrupted by direct combat. In the current situation, even healthy, clear-thinking young people will break. And when they do, bad things will happen.

Prior to giving his endorsement to his very recent opponent in the GOP primary race, Rick Santorum wants some assurances from Mitt Romney. Specifically, Santorum has noted that he wants the policy platform of the party to represent the interests of conservatives. While both Santorum and Newt Gingrich are expected to follow the party line and endorse Romney for the sake of unity, it’s not going to be without a certain quid pro quo, apparently.

Ron Paul, on the other hand, remains in the race and has not acknowledged Romney as the Republican nominee. On top of that, Paul’s vast differences with most mainstream politicians – he prefer individual freedoms to meddling and tells the truth, making him something of an anomaly among political types – makes it unlikely that he’ll ever endorse Romney. It’s going to be a tough road for Santorum as well, who one time called Romney “the worst Republican in the country” to run against Obama.

Gingrich has been most obvious about what he’ll do, noting in one speech, “It’s clear Romney is the nominee and the focus should be on defeating Obama. We should not focus on defeating ourselves.” Before he gives his endorsement, however, Santorum will seek assurances from Romney that he will toe the conservative line on issues such as abortion, gay rights and, probably most importantly for Santorum, the issue of public healthcare. It remains to be seen when either Gingrich or Santorum will actually come forward to endorse Romney, but it seems almost inevitable at this point.