Prison Hill

This winter’s abundant precipitation is resulting in a prolific display of a little yellow flower native only to western Nevada. The Carson Valley monkeyflower (Erythranthe carsonensis) is only found in the foothills and valley bottoms from the Red Rocks area north of Reno to the little town of Dresslerville, west of Gardnerville.

The annual Eagles and Agriculture event kicks off this week in the Carson Valley, a wildlife viewing exhibition that attracts hundreds of visitors to the area to see birds of prey feeding and nesting below the eastern slopes of the Carson Range.

But Carson City residents don't have to leave the Eagle Valley to catch glimpses of raptors. We've got them in our own backyards.

Okay all you procrastinators, if you planned on making it to the Arlington Square Ice Rink, then today is your last chance. With a temperature around 50, it should be a perfect day to skate one last time. Show some Senator Pride tonight at the Community Center as 24 seniors compete for ‘Mr. Carson High.’ There’s a lot going on this weekend, so take a look at the list and go have some fun.

SATURDAY:

Meet in the large parking area about 1 mile south of Carson River Road on the east side of Sierra Vista Lane. This is a dirt trail area and if we get high enough we can see over Prison Hill.

Conditioning Hike Program:

There have been more reported cases of coyotes attacking dogs along city hiking trails in east Carson City, according to the Parks and Recreation Department.

Many of these incidents have happened on trails along the Riverview Park Wetlands Trails at the east end of Fifth Street and Marsh Road, and the trails on Prison Hill east of South Edmonds Drive, according to the Parks and Recreation Department.

Happy Tuesday to you, Carson City. The smoky days continue, so do what you can to think rainy thoughts and send some well wishes to our neighbors battling fires. Celebrate International Dot Day at the Carson City Library with some crafts for the kids. It’s also National Linguine Day and National Double Cheeseburger Day in case you needed a dinner idea.

TUESDAY:

• Kit Carson Toastmasters at Grandma Hattie’s (6:30am; for info call Frank 775-885-7579 or KitCarsonToastmasters@gmail.com)

The long weekend is over, and we won’t have another three day weekend until Nevada Day. Weather is heating back up, so at least it won’t feel like autumn, just yet. If you want to break out of your routine, try swing dancing. Beginners lessons are taught on Tuesdays at El Charro Avita. If country is more your thing, Carson Lanes offers lessons on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Jazz and Poetry at Comma Coffee with the Mile High Jazz Band is sure to be a good time.

TUESDAY:

The next evening conditioning hike is September 8 at 5:30 PM, Prison Hill Koontz Lane. Meet in the dirt parking area, left of the water tanks, at the end of Koontz Lane.

Muscle Powered - Citizens for a walkable/bikeable Carson City sponsors a different hike every week. Hikes are moderately paced, usually with some elevation gain, of 1 ½ to 2 hour duration. Participants are responsible for their own transportation and leader may request physician’s release if needed. Please check out our website www.musclepowered.org.

Leader Donna Inversin 775.315.6763 donnanv1@gmail.com.

September has arrived, and with it a hint of autumn to come. The nights are starting to get chilly, so sweaters, scarves, and pumpkin everything are on the way. Crisp fall evenings are perfect for movie watching. Develop a love of old movies with the Carson City Classic Cinema Club. They meet tonight at Red’s Old 395 and will be watching noir classic ‘Suddenly’ with Frank Sinatra. Or kick up your heels and head to Carson Lanes for some line dancing.

TUESDAY:

Meet at the dirt parking area, left of the water tanks at the end of Koontz Lane. Bring bottle water.
Conditioning Hike Program:

Muscle Powered - Citizens for a walkable/bikeable Carson City sponsors a different hike every week. Hikes are moderately paced, usually with some elevation gain, of 1 ½ to 2 hour duration. Participants are responsible for their own transportation and leader may request physician’s release if needed. Please check out our website www.musclepowered.org,

Leader Donna Inversin 775.315.6763 donnanv1@gmail.com.

Summer days are perfect for a walk in the park, or among any one of Carson City’s many paths. There is the Parks and Recreation easy walk in the morning, or the Muscle Powered Conditioning hike in the afternoon. These happen every Tuesday and the location always varies, so you get the chance to explore various trails in our valley. Get your swing on at Eagle Valley Golf Course. It’s Ladies night, so you get some instruction, a few holes, and refreshment.

TUESDAY:

• Share a Smile Day: $1 Shortstack at IHOP (7am-7pm; fundraiser for No Kids Hungry)

Motown and art hit the stage today at the Community Center as part of the ongoing Jazz and Beyond festival. Well, the CCAI art show and sale opens at 5 p.m. in the theater lobby. The Carson Animal Shelter Initiative has a meeting this evening, and there is sure to be a lot to cover. Their major fundraiser, ‘Bark, Whine, and Dine,’ hits Fuji Park on August 29.

Saturday afternoon, 17 teams gathered at Mills Park in Carson City with one goal on their minds: to help finish the fight against cancer. The Carson City Relay for Life brought the community together to raise money, awareness and to educate each other on the battle against cancer.

UPDATE: A report at 4:33 p.m. from Carson City Fire department is that a single tree was smoking, presumably from a lightning strike, and that it doesn't appear to be spreading.
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UPDATE 4:22PM: According to Carson City dispatch the fire started by a lightning strike around the Prison Hill area. It is not spreading and local resources have been assigned to it.
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A brush fire was reported this afternoon near the Nevada National Guard complex, in the 2600 block of Fairview. Carson City fire crews are responding.

Brett Fisher is a Carson City resident, who enjoys authoring and illustrating in his spare time. He and his wife, Lisa Fisher, have lived in Carson City for seven years.

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A patent and deed for transfer of public lands from the Bureau of Land Management to Carson City should be finalized by the end of May 2015.
Approximately 5,400 acres will be included in the transfer and are located throughout Carson City. The lands include the Prison Hill Recreation Area, Silver Saddle Ranch, parcels in the Goni Canyon area, parcels near Carson City's Sanitary Landfill, and others.

A runner reported missing in Saturday’s Escape From Prison Hill Challenge was found after becoming lost, according to Carson City Sheriff's Office dispatch.

Carson City Search and Rescue was called Saturday afternoon to the area of Silver Saddle Ranch east of Carson City for the participant who had not checked out after the race. The man’s vehicle remained in the parking area and he had not check out, according to dispatch.

What gorgeous weather we have this weekend! Head over to Eagle Valley Middle School for a rummage sale benefiting their LEGO Robotics Team; you may find something fun for your patio. The Spring Fling Stop and Shop at the Plaza Hotel will help you spruce up your wardrobe. Or head up to Silver City for the big closing sale at Doodad’s Emporium. If you find yourself in Gardnerville, the First Annual Summer Splendor Showcase and Expo features vendors galore.

SATURDAY:

• Last Day to buy tickets for High Sierra Swing Dance Club Spring Ball Dinner and Dance on April 25 ($35; To reserve a will-call ticket, call Rika at 530-307-8937 or Idie at 775-443-8870 by; no tickets will be sold at the door.)
• Escape From Prison Hill Half Marathon and 10K begins at the Silver Saddle Ranch (8am-12pm; Half-Marathon: Packet Pickup/Race Day: $50, 10K: Packet Pickup/Race Day: $40)

It's back and better than ever! The 2015 edition of the Escape From Prison Hill trail half marathon and 10K races.
The Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon and 10K in Carson City, Nevada, is happening on Saturday, April 18, 2015.

The Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon is a challenging trail run with great views of the Sierra Nevada, Nevada valleys, and the Nevada State Prison! The 10K packs the same views and less challenging terrain in a shorter distance. More information and signup links can be found at the Tahoe Mountain Milers web site, www.tahoemtnmilers.org/efph.html.

It's here and better than ever! The 2015 edition of the Escape From Prison Hill trail half marathon and 10K races.
The Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon and 10K in Carson City, Nevada, is happening on Saturday, April 18, 2015.
The Escape from Prison Hill Half Marathon is a challenging trail run with great views of the Sierra Nevada, Nevada valleys, and the Nevada State Prison.
The 10K packs the same views and less challenging terrain in a shorter distance. More information and signup links can be found at the Tahoe Mountain Milers web site, www.tahoemtnmilers.org/efph.html.

The Carson Canyons half marathon is slated for Saturday and will kick off a series of three half marathons in as many months.

“Doing a half marathon now is good for training as far as doing something longer for the summer,” said Kevin Bigley, owner of Ascent Physical Therapy in Carson City, which is organizing and sponsoring the runs. “You’re getting a good base in for your running calendar.”

It's Random Act of Kindness Day. I think the inventor of the smiley said it best.

"The catch phrase for the day is 'Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.'"
Harvey Ball

Have a great day, Carson City. Do something nice for no reason.

TUESDAY: Fat Tuesday – Mardi Gras:

• Catholic Charities Day at the Legislature

Where to start? This weekend is chock-full of options. The local 4-H club is hosting their annual Fabric and Rummage Sale at Fuji Park. The Annual Feast of Chocolate, hosted by AAUW, is Saturday afternoon at the Plaza Event Center. The Vagina Monologues and One Billion Rising are both raising awareness this V-Day weekend for women’s issues.

Don’t miss the Mile High Jazz Band at their monthly appearance at Comma Coffee tonight, make sure to bring your sweetheart. Today at the Legislature, they will be celebrating Nevada Tribes. A cultural presentation is in Room 3100 if you want to learn more about the Native people of the Great Basin.

TUESDAY:

• Nevada Tribes Day at the Legislature; Cultural Presentation and Information in Room 3100 (10:30am-1:30pm)
• Roseman University of Health Sciences Health Fair in the front foyer of the Legislature (8am-3pm)

Thanks to Muscle Powered and the Carson City Parks and Recreation Department, Tuesdays are a good day to go for walk and explore some great trails and paths around town. You can find the schedule online here, and I always include them in my list.

It’s a Jazz Extravaganza tonight as the Mile High Jazz Band teams up with Carson High School’s Jazz Band at the Community Center.

It’s National Rubber Ducky Day! I have no idea how that is relevant to anything, but now I've got the ‘Rubber Ducky’ song from Sesame Street in my head. It’s also Stephen Foster Memorial Day, so feel free to sing ‘Camptown Races’, one of the prolific song-writer’s most famous songs, instead. Keep the musical theme going today with the Carson Feet Warmers during lunch and the Mile High Jazz Band playing this evening, both at Comma Coffee.

The kids are back in school, the workweek is underway, but Carson City still stays fun. Check out the Carson City Classic Cinema Club at Red’s Old 395 tonight as they show Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, get your swing on at El Charro Avita’s, or take a hike with Muscle Powered up Prison Hill.

TUESDAY:

• Curbside Christmas Tree Recycling: cut them if over six feet; put it out on your regular trash day

The Centennial Slug it Out 5/10K is part of the Winter Trail Series offered by Ascent Runs. Starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at Centennial Park, this run will get your blood pumping and your New Year's resolution off to a great start.

You'll want to park north of the baseball fields, past the tennis courts. Look for the blue truck and pop-up tents. It is predominantly a single track trail with some technical rocky sections. This is wild horse country. If you don't run into some wild horses, you will definitely run into some wild horse manure.

Happy 2015, Carson City! Let’s whet your appetite for some of the fun to be had in the next twelve months.

January: Youth Theater Carson City’s Annie, Jr; Winter, Wine, and All that Jazz at the Brewery Arts Center, and the Thirsty Boy Home Brewing Competition.

Happy Friday, Carson City! I am once again pleased to bring you the event list that is featured on my Facebook page, I love Carson City. I follow the pages of local businesses and organizations, search website calendars, and compile a list of anything and everything going on in this community weekly. Some of it is family friendly, some is just for adults, but all of it is nearby.