Karen Abowd

It was an eventful year around the Carson City region notwithstanding the limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's some notable stories that were not pandemic related that happened in 2020.

In these different times, The Greenhouse Project will host the annual Celebrity Chef Dinner as a 'MaskurAid Ball' on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 at Cucina Lupo in Carson city due to a last minute glitch at the Governor's Mansion. Thank you Mark Estee and team for providing this venue on such short notice. There are only six tickets left!

On Friday, the Greenhouse Project held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new outdoor classroom which will be used to host both students from Carson High School as well as community classes on gardening and agriculture.

The Greenhouse Project is proud to announce the first MaskurAid Ball, taking place Jan. 4, 2021 in an event where masks are mandatory and costumes are optional.

Taking place at The Governor’s Mansion Nevada Room, the event will observe all social distancing and restricted capacity guidelines.Doors open at 5 p.m., a prize will be awarded for the Best Decorated Mask.

While the seat for Ward 2 will be filled following the election on Nov. 4, another seat is open and will be filled by appointment.

The seat for Ward 3 is currently held by Supervisor Lori Bagwell, who will be vacating now that she has been elected Carson City’s mayor.

On Tuesday, the Carson City Greenhouse Project broke ground on a new outdoor classroom at the Carson High School site, which will allow the Greenhouse Project's dream of continuing agriculture education to students year round in the Carson City community.

An expansion is underway at Carson City’s own The Greenhouse Project, which will provide more learning opportunities to those who are inclined toward agricultural science.

The Greenhouse Project hosts the Social Distancing Plant Sale, a re-imagined continuation of its annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale, with all plants available by pre-order only, by phone and email.

Today, the Carson City Department of Arts & Culture in partnership with the Carson City Clerk-Recorder’s Office announced the winners from the ‘I Voted’ sticker design competition.

The competition was open to students grades 9-12 enrolled in any high school in Carson City, Nevada. Students were encouraged to submit creative designs that excite and encourage voting participation.

The landmark Carson City building that was Cafe at Adele’s at the corner of North Carson and John Street was demolished Wednesday.

To our Community: The Greenhouse Project board in conjunction with John Procaccini and Chili Bop Productions, has concluded that in light of the current COVID-19 situation, this year’s Concert Under the Stars is cancelled. This event has taken place the last 11 years in order to grow a thriving agricultural education program on the campus of Carson High School.

A year ago today, firefighters were called to the historic Adele's restaurant at 5:19 a.m., during a freezing morning before the sun had even crested the hills. It wasn't a large blaze, most of it had actually been confined to the laundry room in the back of the building. But over the next several months while the popular cafe stood empty, it's doors and windows boarded shut, it was determined that the smoke damage to the building was too great to save.

Heading into the start of the work week, temperatures will be comparatively cool compared to last week with daytime highs near 55. The Greenhouse Project will be in the spotlight at a Carson City Democratic luncheon, plus fitness events, West Coast swing dance lessons at Carson Lanes and a Carson City Parks and Rec led full moon hike up Dead Truck Canyon. Read on for details.

Featured speakers at Monday's Democratic luncheon will be Jon Ruiter, Executive Director of The Greenhouse Project, and Cory King, the project's greenhouse manager and garden educator.

According to Shannon Cord with the Carson City Historical Society, the historic Adele’s building will not be saved despite the efforts of many volunteers and contributors.

The historic building suffered a fire in 2019 that, due to smoke damage and insurance issues, was not able to be recovered. It was set for demolition, until a group of activists form the Carson City Historical Society sought to save the building and have it moved to a new location.

Eric Steven Abowd left this world all too early at the age of 39 on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.

Eric was born March 28, 1980 in Seattle, Washington but moved to Carson City shortly after, where he spent all his growing-up years. Eric bled Nevada blue and white as a wrestler, running back and Captain for the Carson High Football program. He was always happiest driving the ball up the field.

Just seven tickets remain for the 11th annual Celebrity Chef & Harvest Dinner, to benefit The Greenhouse Project takes place Monday, Nov. 11 at the Governor’s Mansion, Nevada Room in Carson City. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $200 and must be purchased in advance; none will be sold at the door.

The 11th annual Celebrity Chef & Harvest Dinner, to benefit The Greenhouse Project takes place Monday, Nov. 11 at the Governor’s Mansion, Nevada Room in Carson City.

“I am thrilled this year to be working with chefs and sponsors Collin Smith and Chris Nealon of Roundabout Catering,” said Chef Charlie Abowd, who first started the dinner 12 years ago as a tribute to his father, restaurateur Paul Abowd, and 11 years ago, decided to turn the event into an event that provides a large part of TGP’s annual operating budget.

With the closing of Cafe at Adele’s, Carson City and its community will witness the end of an era.

This decision by owners Chef Charlie and Karen Abowd, comes in the wake of a fire that occurred March 28, and the subsequent inability to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company that would cover reconstruction costs.

Money begets money. And, that statement is true when it comes to the Carson City Parks & Recreation Foundation.

Recently, the Foundation was the recipient of a $20,000 matching grant from the Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation to continue to refresh the Bob Boldrick Theater lobby within the community center that started in February allowing then Chamber Chairman of the Board Bob Fredlund to present the Foundation with a check for $20,300.

Using funds left over from their successful project to provide Carson City with its first bee habitat, 2019 Carson City Leadership class representatives Angela Holt and Steve Jones presented a check in the amount of $634.01 to Greenhouse Project founder Karen Abowd, board member Cheryl Rotter and Foothill Garden manager Will Pierz.

The 11th Annual “Concert Under the Stars” fundraiser on Wednesday, July 10 for The Greenhouse Project of Carson City raised $53,000 that will go to the project's education and agriculture program operations.

A Carson City live music favorite, Concert Under the Stars, is set to soar this Wednesday night. With hours ticking, construction was well underway Tuesday at Eagle Valley Golf Course at Centennial Park, a new venue for the show and its future.

Helping with set up was John Procaccini, who produces the concert for The Greenhouse Project and helped start the blockbuster event with Charlie and Karen Abowd more than a decade ago, with its beginnings in the Cafe at Adele's parking lot.

Editor's Note: The 11th annual Concert Under the Stars, a benefit for The Greenhouse Project, is this Wednesday at Eagle Valley Golf Course in Carson City and features a legendary headliner lineup of Poco, Firefall and Pure Prairie League. This article from June highlights organizations that benefit from the concert fundraiser, including the Ron Wood Family Resource Center.

When families come to the Ron Wood Family Resource Center, they are typically in desperate conditions.
“We see 80 percent of our clients in the last couple of weeks of the month,” explained Joyce Buckingham, executive director. “They have reached the end of their SNAP benefits or their social security or other benefits.”

The live auction at the Concert Under the Stars, a benefit for The Greenhouse Project, is anticipated each year and has grown to include an even greater array of experience packages and service items.

Now in its 11th year, the Concert Under the Stars begins 5:30 p.m. July 10 at the Eagle Valley Golf Course, 3999 Centennial Park Dr. in Carson City. The evening includes world-class and legendary music by Poco, Pure Prairie League and Firefall — as well as the live auction which takes place between performances.

The Fox Brewpub and the Greenhouse Project partnered to create the Greenhouse Project Brut-Session IPA, available now until it's gone at The Fox and at the July 10 Concert Under the Stars.

One dollar of every beer sold goes to the Greenhouse Project (TGP). At the concert, growlers and kegs will be donated as well as 32-ounce crowlers at each of the VIP dinner tables.

Zion Belcastro, 16, moved from Oroville, Calif., to live with her aunt in Carson City to be a part of Carson High School’s agriculture program, specifically the Greenhouse Project.

“Where I’m from, it’s cows, sows and plows,” she explained. “Here, it’s more than that. It’s public speaking. It’s leadership. It’s the greenhouse. It’s a lot more than ranching.”

When families come to the Ron Wood Family Resource Center in Carson City, they are typically in desperate conditions.

“We see 80 percent of our clients in the last couple of weeks of the month,” explained Joyce Buckingham, executive director. “They have reached the end of their SNAP benefits or their social security or other benefits.”

Stacey Giomi is a long-time Carson City resident, and the newest member on the Board of Supervisors after being voted into the vacancy left by Karen Abowd. Giomi spent 30 plus years as a firefighter for our community before retiring as Fire Chief. During this series of Five Questions, Giomi discusses his time as fire chief, issues facing Carson City, and what he plans to accomplish during his time on the Board of Supervisors.

From May through November each year, Pure Prairie League hits the road, bringing music to communities big and small.

The Greenhouse Project welcomes them as they play the 11th annual Concert Under the Stars on July 10 at Eagle Valley Golf Course in Carson City, for a hit-driven evening that also includes bands Poco and Firefall.