Full speed ahead for Candy Dance weekend

It’s full speed ahead for Genoa’s annual Candy Dance weekend.

The town has been receiving calls from Californians concerned smoke from the King fire is causing unhealthy air conditions in Carson Valley, Town Manager Phil Ritger said.

While there was smoke in the Valley late Monday, shifting winds on Tuesday kept the Valley clear for the most part and were expected to continue to do so through the weekend.

The latest readings from the Gardnerville Ranchos air quality monitor showed good through the last 12 hours.

Kingsbury Grade will be open to through traffic by noon today and close again at approximately 9 p.m. Sunday in honor of Candy Dance.

“The closure to through traffic allows us to complete the project in approximately half the time we would otherwise be able to,” NDOT Project Manager Pedro Rodriguez explained. “But, in working with both the Tahoe and Carson Valley communities, we felt it was important to open the grade temporarily to allow visitors and locals to access the Genoa Candy Dance.”

Those visitors headed north on Foothill Road won’t have far to go before they run into a barricade though.

Foothill, Genoa Lane and Jacks Valley Road will be closed to through traffic 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for the annual fundraiser.

Motorists will be able to park at each of those locations for $5 a vehicle.

Free parking and a $3 round-trip shuttle ride into town will be available from the Carson Valley Inn in Minden to Nevada’s first settlement.

After Candy Dance, Kingsbury Grade will be closed to through traffic near the summit to October. During that time, non-permitted through traffic will not be able to travel over the Kingsbury summit area between Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley. Residences and businesses located on Kingsbury Grade will continue to be accessible by Highway 50 at Lake Tahoe.