I left my heart in Carson City: it's time to say goodbye
Hello. Danielle Cook here. I'm the person behind 'the list.' I’ve labored over how to write this - with multiple stops, starts, and pauses in the pursuit of getting these words out. In the end, I guess I should just be brutally straightforward: It’s time to announce my retirement.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with CarsonNow.org for four years, contributing my daily and weekend ‘things to do’ event listings, but at the end of this month I will be discontinuing the column.
My endeavor to bring you the most comprehensive list of just about everything in our valley, and her surrounding towns, was purely selfish. I love Carson City. I was dismayed whenever I heard “there’s nothing to do here, might as well go to Reno.” There was, and is, plenty to do around Carson City, just woefully inadequate awareness of it.
Enter Facebook. Six years ago, I began a Facebook page, aptly called “I Love Carson City.” It served as a useful way to consolidate the various events I saw shared and posted online, in order to make them easy to find. Two years later I was invited to join the Carson Now team, who I already admired for their focus on local information. I jumped at the chance to get my work to a larger audience, and for the last four years I’ve been doing just that.
During my tenure, I’ve witnessed more venues hosting live music and artists, larger attendances at all types of events, and non-profits gain members, donors, and volunteers. It makes my heart swell to witness what community can do, what my community has done.
My challenge to you is to keep it up. Continue to seek out ways to think local, shop local, and act local. Follow our local businesses, organizations, musicians and artists on social media; become a member of the museum or arts organization; volunteer for any one of the great nonprofits in the area. Most importantly, share information. Submit your events to local media, social media, and area calendars. Get the word out. It’s not a party if no one gets the invitation.
I grew up in Carson City, went to and graduated from the schools here, and know the roads (and off roads) like the back of my hand. It’s been the only hometown I’ve ever had, and ever will. Alas the cliches are true: all good things must come to an end and change is inevitable.
Due to a number of factors, I have recently relocated for the first time since my family moved from Las Vegas in January of ’81. Of all crazy things, I’m now living in the East Bay of California. Not going to lie, for this fifth-generation Nevadan, it’s a little different. But, not one to look down on adventure, I’ve been granted the opportunity to discover a whole new community - and that is exactly what I plan on doing.
I know how eventful summer is in Northern Nevada and felt compelled to continue my work for one last season. I apologize that I did not announce my departure earlier.
I’ve been trying to write this ‘Dear John’ letter since June, and still don’t know that I’ve found the right words. I have no clear successor for ‘the list.’ It was always just my own personal labor of love and I don’t know how to pass that on. This is where you must pick up the mantle by sharing events, seeking them out, and staying involved in our community.
I will always love Carson City fiercely, and I hope my event listings have helped you find a reason to love it, as well. The Labor Day weekend event list will be my last. The fun doesn't stop there, but I just won't be doing most of the work for you anymore.
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