Minden Families

by Sheila Gardner

Families are moving to Minden for the same area- son that attracted settlers 100 years ago. "My husband was looking for a better life for his family," said Barb Sigler, 41.

She and her husband, Gray, 48, and his children Andy, 10, and Madison, 8, live in Westwood.

Gray Sigler moved to Minden 18 years ago. He works for Sprint Nextel handling government accounts.

"He came here from Covina, Calif., and fell in love with the place," she said. "He drove halfway back home and decided to live here."

Barb and Gray met in Alaska, but she was no stranger to Lake Tahoe.

"I'd been down here on ski vacations before and thought, 'I'd move here in a second,'" she said.

Both Siglers are active at Minden Elementary School where Madison is in second grade and Andy is in third.

"The teachers are just so approachable," she said. "They invite you into the classroom. They just really love the kids. They're concerned with development."

The Siglers take advantage of the activities the area has to offer.

"Traffic is not too hectic. It's really nice for the kids," she said. "The neighborhood is really full of kids they can play with all the time. It's safe," she added.

"It really has a small-town feel even though we have all the conveniences of Reno and Lake Tahoe close by," she said.

Teresa and Marc Tompkins and their four children have lived in their Mackland home for 12 years.

"I just love it. I absolutely love it," said Teresa, 45.

Teresa and Marc came to Nevada from the East after Marc, 54, was transferred from Pittsburgh, Pa., to the strategic marketing department at Bently Nevada, now GE Energy.

"We grew up in small towns very similar to this, 40 minutes from New York City," Teresa said.

"I love the convenience of everything. The traffic is getting a little bit worse. We try to patronize the local stores. You can't beat the mountains and the sun."

Minden Elementary was a brand-new school when Sarah and Matthew, now 16 and 15, were enrolled. Matthew, now at Carson Valley Middle School, was in the first kindergarten class.

The Tompkins stay busy at MES with Kelly, 11, and Eric, 7.

"My husband has been on the strategic plan and accountability committees. We just find the teachers are wonderful, well-educated and terrific with the kids, and the facilities are just awesome.

"One reason I like living in town is the accessibility. My daughter can walk to school on bad days, it's a great neighborhood to ride bikes," she said.ß