Business Briefs | November 14 – December 11, 2019

Dom Chipp • December 11, 2019

KidZone Loses Placer Funding

NORTH LAKE TAHOE

Editor’s note:  Though one of the criteria for future funding initially adopted by the First 5 Placer commission  did  require agencies be located in Placer County, this eligibility requirement was removed at its Oct. 30 meeting.

Placer First 5, which focuses on support for early childhood development, recently shifted funding requirements, now requiring organizations receiving grant funding to reside within Placer County. Truckee’s KidZone Museum, which is headquartered in Nevada County and has received First 5 funding for approximately two decades, is affected by this change.

“We were surprised after all these years that they decided to do that since a lot of organizations [First 5 funds] do not reside in either Nevada or Placer County, but do serve both audiences, especially up here in Truckee and Tahoe,” said Carol Meagher, KidZone’s executive director.

KidZone receives $32,000 from the First 5 program for expenses such as staff and outreach. With the changes, KidZone will need to add the gap to its fundraising efforts, raising the total to roughly $130,000. Meagher did say the KidZone board presented to the First 5 commission, asking them to reconsider the location requirement, and they’re awaiting a final response.


Alison Elder Recognized by WSJ

TRUCKEE

For the sixth year in a row, Truckee real estate agent Alison Elder of Truckee’s Elder Group Tahoe Real Estate was recognized by the Wall Street Journal’s prestigious The Thousand, their list of the 1,000 top real estate agents in the country. Elder made the list twice, ranking 194 for 139.50 transaction sides and 169 for her $93,768,448 in sales volume.


$99 lift tickets anytime in December

NORDEN

Sugar Bowl Resort is introducing new lift ticket and equipment rental specials in advance of the 2019/20 winter season. This year, when purchased online at least two days in advance, adult all-day lift tickets are $99 any day in December, including weekends and holidays. Youth and senior lift ticket prices are $79, and children ages 5 to 12 are $49. Skiers and snowboarders can also take advantage of affordable ski and snowboard rentals all season long.


Coalition Snow Opens Storefront

TRUCKEE

The region’s and the world’s first woman-owned and -operated ski company, Coalition Snow is officially opening a brick and mortar shop on Nov. 14. For the retail store’s first six months, they will be taking over the Palisade Avenue location of Bike Truckee as a shared space, and will stock Coalition’s self-branded boards and skis as well as those from other manufacturers. CEO Jen Gurecki told  Moonshine Ink  in an email that the company plans to host community events and speakers and encourage the store to become a hub for slope-culture enthusiasts.


Health Clinic Expands Services

RENO

Thrive Wellness of Reno, a comprehensive wellness clinic that offers many different approaches to mental health care, opened its doors in March of this year and is rapidly expanding facilities and services. The holistic treatment center is currently located on Plumb Lane but is slated to move into the historic Roy house on Court Street in January 2020. The clinic offers dual-diagnosis partial hospitalization programming and intensive outpatient eating disorder treatment, and extends specialized care in anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, perinatal mood disorders, and more.


New Tahoe Dave’s Location

TRUCKEE

Tahoe Dave’s Skis & Boards has announced that its additional location, known as Tahoe Dave’s Truckee West, is scheduled to open Thanksgiving weekend. The new location at 12047 Donner Pass Rd., is situated right off Interstate 80 in the Tri Counties Bank Plaza, offering convenient access to rentals and returns of skis, snowboard, and snowshoes, as well as demos and repairs.


Local Company Touts Natural Skin Care

SPARKS

AloeHydrate is a new online company based in Sparks, sharing personal care and wellness products. The business was born out of need for skin care products that are scientifically proven to be naturally effective at hydrating skin. AloeHydrate’s commitment is to lead the way in developing and marketing such products. Visit aloehydrate.com for information and products.


Online Farmers Market

TRUCKEE

Tahoe Food Hub announced its new online farmers market, Harvest to Order. Consumers can “build their own box” filled with seasonal, sustainably grown fruits and vegetables from local farms including pasture-raised meats, cheese, eggs, and other specialty products. For the fall and winter season, the online farmers market opens Mondays at 5 p.m. and closes Tuesdays at 4 p.m. On Wednesday, Tahoe Food Hub picks up from the farmers the items harvested that day and readies the orders for pick-up starting on Thursday. Orders can be picked up at the farm shop anytime between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, and Monday through Wednesday, noon to 6:30 p.m.

 

Main Image Caption:  LEGENDARY DAVE WILDEROTTER, owner of Tahoe Dave’s, said, “As Truckee continues to grow, and traffic becomes more interesting, this additional location right off the freeway and at the base of Tahoe Donner just made a ton of sense for our customers and staff.” Courtesy image

Download our free wellness guide.

Discover the power of small, sustainable changes with "How to Thrive: 10 Simple Habits for Healthy Living." This guide offers practical, easy-to-follow habits that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

August 21, 2025
When Emma was 8, her parents noticed her food choices shrinking. At first, they assumed it was just picky eating — “She’ll outgrow it,” friends said. But by 10, Emma would only eat crackers, cheese, and chicken nuggets. Family dinners became nightly struggles, her growth slowed, and she skipped birthday parties to avoid “strange food.” Her parents felt powerless, her brother grew frustrated, and outings dwindled. What began as food avoidance soon reshaped the rhythm of the entire household. When children avoid food, most parents expect it’s a passing stage. But when restriction deepens, shrinks to only a few “safe foods,” and begins affecting growth or health, families suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar territory. This is often where Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) emerges — with effects that extend far beyond the plate. As providers, we need to be attuned to these patterns. It’s tempting to dismiss them as “no big deal,” yet for many families, they are life-altering. Sadly, Emma’s story is not unusual. Mealtimes as Battlegrounds Families living with ARFID often describe mealtimes as emotionally charged, exhausting, and unpredictable. What should be a chance to connect around the table can feel more like a negotiation or even a standoff. Parents wrestle with whether to push their child to try a new food or give in to the same “safe foods” again and again to avoid tears, gagging, or complete meltdowns. This ongoing tension can make mealtimes dreaded rather than cherished. Siblings, too, are affected. Some may feel resentful when family meals are limited to what only one child will tolerate. Others may act out in response to the constant attention the child with ARFID receives. Over time, the dinner table shifts from a place of nourishment and bonding into a stage for conflict, anxiety, and guilt — a pattern that can erode family cohesion and resilience. Social Isolation and Missed Experiences ARFID impacts more than what happens at home; it influences how families engage with the world around them. Everyday events — birthday parties, school lunches, vacations, even extended family dinners — become sources of stress. Parents may pack special foods to avoid confrontation or, in many cases, decline invitations altogether to protect their child from embarrassment or overwhelm. This avoidance can lead to an unintended consequence: isolation. Families miss out on milestones, friendships, and traditions because of the unpredictability surrounding food. The child may feel left out or ashamed, while parents grieve the loss of “normal” family experiences. This social withdrawal can compound the anxiety already present in ARFID and deepen its impact across generations. Emotional Toll on Parents The emotional strain on parents navigating ARFID is significant. Many describe living in a constant state of worry — Will my child get enough nutrients? Will they ever grow out of this? Am I doing something wrong? This worry often spirals into guilt and self-blame, particularly when outside voices dismiss the disorder as mere “picky eating.” In addition, the pressure to “fix” mealtimes can strain marital relationships, creating disagreements over discipline, feeding strategies, or medical decisions. Parents may also feel emotionally depleted, pouring all their energy into managing one child’s needs while inadvertently neglecting themselves or their other children. Without support, this chronic stress can lead to burnout, depression, and disconnection within the family system. The Role of Providers For clinicians, ARFID must be viewed not only as an individual diagnosis but as a family-wide challenge. Effective care requires attention to both the clinical symptoms and the family dynamics that shape recovery. Parent Support: Educating caregivers that ARFID is not their fault, offering psychoeducation, and helping them reframe mealtime struggles as part of the disorder — not a parenting failure. Family-Based Interventions: Coaching families in structured meal support, communication strategies, and gradual exposure work so parents don’t feel powerless. Holistic Care: Involving therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and medical providers ensures that the family does not shoulder the weight of treatment alone. When families are validated, supported, and given practical tools, the entire household can begin to heal. Treatment is not only about expanding a child’s food repertoire but also about restoring peace, resilience, and connection at home. Moving Forward ARFID may begin with one individual, but its ripple effects are felt across the entire family system. By addressing both the psychological and relational dimensions, providers can help transform mealtimes from a source of conflict into an opportunity for healing and connection. For those who want to go deeper, we invite you to join our upcoming training on ARFID , where we will explore practical strategies for supporting both clients and their families.
July 30, 2025
How to Recognize Overlapping Behaviors + A Case Study and Screening Tools to Help
July 17, 2025
As a parent, noticing alarming behaviors around food or routines in your child can raise some important questions. You might be asking yourself, “Is this an eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or something else entirely?” Understanding the signs and differences between these disorders is key to getting your child effective, timely treatment. In this blog, we’ll break down the overlap between OCD and eating disorders, what signs to watch for, and how to get professional help. If you're a parent wondering “Is my child’s eating disorder actually OCD?” or “OCD vs eating disorder in teens,” know that you’re not alone and you’re in the right place to find specialized care for your child. What Is OCD? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause anxiety, leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) intended to ease that anxiety. OCD can be focused on any subject. Common obsessions include contamination, perfectionism, scrupulosity, and harm, but sometimes, the content of obsessions can be focused on food, body image, or weight. What Is an Eating Disorder? Eating disorders , like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) involve disturbed eating behaviors and intense concerns about body weight or shape. These conditions go beyond dieting or “picky eating” and can become life-threatening without professional intervention. The Overlap: Why It Can Be Confusing OCD and eating disorders often share similar symptoms : Ritualistic eating (e.g., needing to eat foods in a certain order or at a certain time) Rigid rules about food (like only eating certain food groups or certain amounts of food) Excessive checking (like weighing food or body or repeated checking of expiration dates or thorough cooking) Avoidance behaviors ( like avoiding carbs, fats, or other food groups or avoiding places or objects that can trigger obsessions) Distress when routines are disrupted (either around mealtimes or exercise routines) So, How Can You Tell the Difference? Use the following chart to compare and contrast symptoms of OCD and eating disorders.
More Posts

Start your healing journey today

NEXT STEPS

Are you ready to find hope? We can't wait to connect you with the care you need. To get started with us, please reach out using the link below.   

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Learn more →

Perinatal

Mental Health

Learn more →

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Learn more →

Perinatal

Mental Health

Learn more →