families

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation provided an update Thursday to Nevadans about a federal stimulus bill and how the delay in the passage and enactment of the stimulus bill will adversely affect Nevadans.

This December, dozens of Bently Nevada employees came together once more to support local families in need through the Adopt a Family Program.

Carson City-based DeBug Computer faced a Christmas challenge. Every year, the company hosts a Photos with Santa event with proceeds going to a local non-profit. The DeBug team huddled with Santa to discuss how to reach the children safely during the coronavirus pandemic. They decided to ask children, with their parents’ consent and supervision, to email a letter to Santa@debugcomputer.net.

This holiday season, The Salvation Army’s Del Oro Division, which covers Northern Nevada and Northern California, has raised $800,000 less with its iconic Red Kettle Campaign compared to last year. In 2019, the nonprofit brought in $2.4 million to support Christmas assistance and fund programs throughout the year. So far this year, The Salvation Army has brought in just over $1.6 million. With just two days left in the campaign, the nonprofit is asking those in the community who are able, to please give and support their neighbors in need.

The Rotary Club of Carson City is helping spread holiday cheer to many Carson City families this holiday season. This week club members donated $2,650 to the Salvation Army serving Carson City and Douglas County.

This week's Senator Square features guest writers Ananda Campbell and Bridget Gordon-Johnson who explain Monday homeroom academic strategies. Campbell is a CHS Library Media Specialist and Carson City School District Library Coordinator. Gordon is a CHS counselor. This is their report:

On Friday, December 18, 2020, the Carson City Democrats delivered $686 to Joyce Buckingham, coordinator at Ron Wood Family Center for the Carson City Toys for Tots program.

In recognition of the fact that many families in our community, especially those with children, are struggling in this holiday period, the Carson City Democrats conducted a blazingly fast appeal to its members to support a cash drive for the Toys For Tots program.

"With this past year challenging our families, businesses and educational systems with historically unforeseen trials, we want to wish everyone the best of holidays. While we give our condolences to the families and friends that have lost loved ones this year and have an empty chair at the table, we likewise give our hopes, dreams, and prayers for a better and prosperous new year.

Carson City is facing the same problems other growing communities throughout the nation are: a lack of affordable housing which in turn is causing a gap in the workforce for important careers that require technical training.

While this year’s safe and sober celebrations may look different, Partnership Carson City, in collaboration with Carson City Sheriff's Office School Resource Officers, is encouraging students to celebrate safety and responsibly this New Year’s Eve by offering gift cards as a token of appreciation.

During a special session last night, the Carson City School District School Board of Trustees voted unanimously to offer in-person, on-campus instruction for third to sixth graders, four days a week, Tuesdays through Fridays. The first official day of this more traditional education model will begin Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. The district previously announced a return to 4-days-per-week, in-person learning for Pre-K to second grade students Oct. 20, 2020.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — Real estate leader Garrett Lepire has been appointed the Carson City office Branch Manager for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Drysdale Properties.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation announced Thursday it has started borrowing money from the federal government to help ensure Nevada residents who are eligible for regular unemployment benefits continue to receive payments without interruption during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Youth Theatre Carson City is thrilled to announce its upcoming production of Macy’s "Yes Virginia: The Movie Musical," which will be available to view On-Demand from Dec. 18-31.

A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously Tuesday in favor of a Lyon County church that argued Gov. Steve Sisolak's pandemic restrictions on places of worship were a violation of the First Amendment, reversing a lower court's ruling and prohibiting Sisolak from imposing further restrictions on churches.

As the risk for COVID-19 transmission continues to increase, Carson City Health and Human Services is encouraging residents to avoid attending or hosting holiday celebrations with those outside of your household and utilizing lower risk activities to celebrate the holiday with those outside of your household.

The Carson City School District will hold a special school board meeting Thursday, Dec. 17 in order to discuss reopening schools for third through fifth grade students at the elementary school level, as well as sixth grade students at the middle school level.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed and issued an emergency directive Monday that implements a moratorium on most residential evictions in Nevada through March 31, 2021.

Gov. Steve Sisolak announced on Sunday that he is extending current coronavirus health and safety restrictions for another month and putting in place a new moratorium on evictions through the end of March.

Editor’s Note: Margarita Portillo-Hernandez is a school social worker and safe school professional at Eagle Valley Middle School in Carson City. The following is her report:

This year has been extremely challenging and with the impact of Covid; many of our families are struggling to ensure they can celebrate Christmas. However, generous community members have come together determined to help these families have a Christmas celebration not even Covid can stop.

KTVN will host its annual Share Your Christmas Drive-By Food Drive this Friday, Dec. 11 with food drop-off locations in Carson City, Minden and Reno beginning at 6 a.m. and running until 6 p.m.

The Sertoma Coat Drive is in full operation for its fourth year of collecting and distributing clothing to the people in the community who are without warm outerwear. With 19 blue barrels in Carson Valley and 7 in Carson City, everyone who wants to donate new and gently used coats, blankets, and warm outerwear is finding a donation spot.

Two Carson City leaders have teamed up to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and provide information on how families can protect themselves and others during the holidays.

The Carson City Sheriff's Office Reserve, which has hosted an annual Christmas Eve program for decades with pre-arranged visits by Santa and elves to local homes, has been canceled and replaced instead with a virtual message greeting for families. The reason for the change this year is due to COVID-19 concerns.

GARDNERVILLE — RE/MAX Realty Affiliates of Gardnerville, Realtor Ginger Easley is working once again to raise funds for the Carson Valley Food Closet.

Easley has raised thousands of dollars for the food closet, along with hundreds of pounds of food through annual client gatherings and online fundraisers since 2016.

Sometimes to make things happen, you must just reach out and ask for help. With so many unusual challenges and disappointments facing us this year, the thought not being able to light up our capitol or the Governor’s Mansion for the holidays due to the pandemic was unacceptable.

Many in Carson City do everything they can to help the less fortunate, and those opportunities never cease being opportunities. With this in mind, the holidays are here, the semester at Carson High School is almost over, Christmas vacation, also known as winter break, begins Dec. 19, and there is another opportunity to be generous for those who have plenty.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Putting gratitude into action by helping others is an authentic way to express an attitude of thanksgiving. Students at Pioneer High School (PHS) “lost themselves” in service by assembling Thanksgiving dinner baskets for those in need.

The Carson City Seventh-day Adventist Church Pantry is looking for donations of new, unwrapped toys for children. We are looking for things like dolls, crayons/coloring books, games, toy cars, puzzles, etc. Little things make such a big difference to children whose families don't have much.

Will you please help us make a child's Christmas happy? If so, please call or text 775-434-5786 and we will make arrangements for a drop-off, or we will even pick up for you!

Thank you for helping us to help families in need this Christmas!

Heading into the weekend, there’s a bevy of activities around the Carson City region. The annual Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights holiday celebration goes virtual on Friday. Santa Claus will arrive virtually at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada and in-person at Battle Born Harley Davidson on Saturday for pictures with families and kids of all ages. Combined with live music and dinner specials at Living the Good Life, the state capital has events lined up for the holidays! Read on for more information.