JUDGES

Kelly Ranasinghe, JD, senior program attorney for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges will speak on the important issues of domestic child sex trafficking, trauma and victimization at the Soroptimist International Sierra Nevada Region’s Annual Development Retreat to approximately 150 members from Nevada and northern California on July 9th at Atlantis Casino Resort Spa.

The Nevada Division of Tourism, also known as TravelNevada, has been awarded the public relations industry’s most distinguished honor — an elusive Silver Anvil — for its “Don’t Fence Me In” millennial marketing campaign.

Every year since 1981, tribal members from across the United States have gathered at the Stewart Indian School on Snyder Avenue in Carson City.

Memories.

They are what Penny Reynolds takes with her as she approaches her last day at Carson High School.

The 31-year veteran teacher is retiring from the Carson City School District at the end of this week, leaving behind a legacy of unprecedented success in the CHS Culinary Arts Department.

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) has announced Joey Orduna Hastings as the new chief executive officer after a nationwide search. She will start on July 15, 2016.

“I am thrilled to be part of an organization I so deeply believe in. I look forward to working with the dynamic NCJFCJ staff and membership to continue to achieve monumental strides on behalf of children and families nationwide,” said Orduna Hastings.

(Reno, Nev.) – On May 11th and 12th, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) held its third National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking: Improving Outcomes for Vulnerable Children Through Judicial Action in Reno, Nev.

The Nevada Judges Association consisting of over 80 Justices of the Peace and Municipal Court Judges from the Justice and Municipal Courts throughout the State of Nevada honored Carson City Justice of the Peace/Municipal Court Judge John Tatro with the Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Constitution is the greatest achievement of man to date in defining a government to sustain Liberty for its people. Governments exist between two poles of thought. One pole is the Government is all important and powerful and people exist to serve the Government (slave). The other pole is People create governments to protect their Rights (free). See the Declaration of Independence paragraph two.

For his senior project Shane Johnson, 18, wanted to do something practical, something that would be beneficial to his life and education goals.

“I designed and built a windmill,” he said. “It tied straight in to what I want to do, and it looked a lot of fun.”
Johnson joined his fellow Carson High School seniors on Monday, presenting their final projects to a of panel judges made up of Carson City community members.

The seniors of Carson High School will deliver their Senior Project speeches on April 18. Each student must deliver an 8-12 minute speech in front of 4-5 Carson City Community members, and this is no easy task as, statistically, many fear public speaking more than death.

Congratulations to Scott Vickrey, the 2016 CHS Teacher of the Year, and Tami Burgoon, the CHS Classified Employee of the Year for 2016. Becoming Teacher of the Year is no easy task at Carson High School. With 104 teachers, not including other staff members, the CHS Teacher of the Year Award is an accomplishment most teachers will never receive, so winning an award like this required a great many people to say a great thing or two about Scott Vickrey.

Carson High School students are not only given myriad opportunities in which to participate, they are afforded these privileges by parents, teachers, and local and national non-profit organizations whose sole purpose is to give elementary, middle, and high school students the freedom to shine like the sun.

Community members from all over Carson City are getting ready to evaluate the Senior Project portfolios and speeches of Carson High School’s 2015-2016 soon to be graduating class, and it is an unforgettable highlight for everyone involved.

Affairs of the Vine has partnered with the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa to bring the 10th Annual Cabernet Shootout and Cabernet Cabaret Gala to the high country of the Sierra and the spectacular Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno on Sunday, March 13.

On Tuesday night at the annual Jalé and Warren Trepp Business Plan Competition, three teams of young entrepreneurs studying at Sierra Nevada College competed for $6,000 in cash prizes.

This event is one of the most exciting celebrations of the academic year at SNC Tahoe. After each team presented twenty-minute oral presentations to a panel of live, external judges and a public audience of more than 100 people, the room waited in anticipation for the announcement of the winners.

Getting involved with the activities at Carson High School, whether directly participating or simply watching, comes down to a decision to act upon the many opportunities available. Look at the exciting events in which students directly participate and businesses and parents indirectly participate and decide to engage.

Much of Carson High Schools’ success flows from the voluntary assistance of individuals and businesses selflessly giving of their time, their effort, and their resources to the advancement of Carson City’s youth and local community.

The Juvenile Court which handles juvenile delinquency cases, cases involving the protection of children, and child support cases, agreed to be audited by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in July of 2015.

The purpose of the audit is to assist the court in creating a trauma-responsive environment, develop and implement best practices and policies. The final version of the audit report is anticipated to be released in early 2016.

For more than two decades, the historic mining town of Virginia City, Nev. has gone nuts over St. Patrick's Day weekends. Literally. The Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry, known around these parts as the Comstock's own testicle festival, is a play on words.

It is my pleasure to take over for Angila Golik as the new “Senator Square” column writer, which for me is right up there with winning an election, winning a game, and winning a prize in a contest all at the same time. Though I will not be reporting on cures for warts or offering advice on marriage, I will be delivering current news and upcoming events for Carson High School.

Michael Fondi, a former Nevada First District Court Judge in Carson City, died at his home this morning, according to Fitzhenry’s Funeral Home. He was 78.

Fondi had been in home hospice care when he died, said Fitzhenry’s General Manager and Funeral Director Jim Smolenski. No funeral arrangements have been made at this time and will be forthcoming.

Judging for the annual PTA Reflections Art Contest held at Carson High School began Thursday and runs through today.

The nationwide event, sponsored by the national Parent Teacher Association, is now in its 47th year and strives to “support student success and serve as a valuable tool for building strong partnerships in your school community,” according to the national PTA web site at www.pta.org.

Geoff used to subscribe to Sports Illustrated.

Since he decided not to take the magazine, he no longer has to pay its subscription fee.

Overwhelmingly, folks agree that people should be free to make the perfectly sensible decision not to buy something they don’t want.

Family, safety and confidence were the topics of the day as three Carson City teens competed in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada’s Youth of the Year competition on Friday, Jan. 8.

Carson High School senior, 18 year old Autumn Cuellar, and freshman Natalie Ontiveros, 15, and McKenzie Malone, also 15, delivered speeches discussing what the Club means to their lives before spending over an hour meeting with members of the judging panel in private interviews.

This will be our last column until after the school break. Congratulations to all of our students and staff for surviving finals and finishing up this semester. This column will return on Jan. 10, 2016. I hope everyone has a restful break.

Alum Presents Refugee information
CHS alum, Kaitlin Brush (class of 2004), presented to social studies classes this past month. Her informational presentation focused on the definition of refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons, and the current refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe and how different European countries are working to address the growing number of refugees.

Minnesota wildlife artist Mark A. Thone has done well in the previous art contests he has entered, but after getting close several times and never winning, he was starting to wonder if it was ever going to happen. Well, he can stop wondering because Thone’s entry has been selected as the winner of this year’s Nevada Duck Stamp Art Contest.

“My first reaction to your announcement of my selection as Nevada Duck Stamp winner was an ear to ear grin,” said Thone. “Then I played my poker face told my wife the news…As her face lit up, I admit to doing a little touchdown dance.”

Allison MacKenzie Law Firm is pleased to announce Ryan Russell, a partner at Allison MacKenzie Law Firm in Carson City, Nevada, has been elected as a member of The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. Ryan’s new membership follows the endeavors of notable attorney and co-founder of Allison MacKenzie Law Firm, Andrew “Andy” MacKenzie, who is also a member of The Fellows. Andy holds the distinguished status of Life Fellow with the American Bar Foundation.

You are invited to the CASA of Carson City Information Hour, November 23rd 2015 at 5:30 pm. We are located in the Family Court complex at 1539 E. 5th Street. Drive straight in to the back of the parking lot and you will see our big CASA sign on the door.

You will be able to ask all of your questions about who CASA Volunteers are and the important service they provide for our community's children. There's no pressure, just come and learn.

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Carson City business owner, Monica Pappas of Fingerprinting Express, was honored by the Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network’s Twenty Under 40 awards for exceptional leadership Wednesday, Nov. 4 at the Peppermill Casino and Resort in Reno.

Here’s the 2015 Nevada Day event lineup and Halloween happenings, Thursday through Sunday. For all Halloween events go here. For everything Nevada Day, check out the official Nevada Day website here. Otherwise, see the event listing below.

THURSDAY
RSVP NEVADA DAY CARNIVAL, MILLS PARK IN CARSON CITY
Carnival rides for adults and children, live music, food booths, craft vendors & more. Hours: 10/29: 5pm - 9pm; 10/30-31: Noon - 9pm; 11/1: Noon - 8pm