Community

In the United States, the common strand that runs through our collective lives from ages 7 to 18 years is the experience that most of us call “School.” While each individual’s experience may be varied, education in the US is an expected activity that spans 13 years of our lives and culminates as a rite of passage to adulthood.

Please join us on February 7th at 10:00a.m. for the fifth annual Carson High School Safe Grad - Safe & Sober 5K Run/Walk. This event is organized by volunteers of the Safe Grad Committee and will be held, once again, at the CHS Track/Field.

Carson High Safe Grad program has been an annual tradition in Carson City since 1988. It provides our graduating seniors with a safe and sober, all night celebration on the evening of their graduation, followed by an optional trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom amusement park in Northern California.

Head down to the Friends of the Carson City Library’s book store tonight to hear author Mark S. Bacon speak about his newest book, Death in Nostalgia City.

A talk about the freeway art in Carson City by Mary Fischer, author of Carson City History in Motion is tonight, as well; sponsored by the Douglas County Historical Society, it will be held at the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center in Gardnerville. If you need to sing your heart out, check out karaoke at the Feisty Goat Pub or at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar.

THURSDAY:

Music isn’t just for the weekends in Carson City. Dave Leather will sing you the blues at Comma Coffee during your lunch hour and you will find live music at Glen Eagles Restaurant and at Living the Good Life Bistro and Nightclub in the evening. Take a look at the new art hanging up at Comma Coffee as they host their monthly Backseat Gallery Artist Reception.

WEDNESDAY:

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

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

My name is Alexander Kirsch and I am a 30-plus year resident of Carson City and homeowner in the City’s Historic District. My neighbors and I, with support from a number of property owners in the Historic District, are fighting to protect and preserve the integrity of Carson City’s Historic District.

The voting deadline has ended for a USA Today contest where Carson City is among several vying for "best travel worthy state capital." As of Monday morning before the contest closed, Carson City had been leading in the reader poll.

The announcement will be made 9 a.m. Wednesday morning here. Along with bragging rights, the result of a win would provide a nice shot in the arm for local tourism.

The first Monday of the new year means that we swear-in our newly elected officials. You can witness both Carson City's swearing in and the state's ceremony today. Also kicking off today is a week long recycling program for your Christmas tree; just place it outside with your garbage on your regular trash pick up day.

MONDAY:

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

Maintaining a lead through much of December, the voting deadline nears for a USA Today contest where Carson City is among several vying for "the best travel worthy state capital."

Now through Monday, readers can pick their favorite state capital city destination by casting a vote. A digital clock found here tells you how many days, hours, minutes and seconds are left to vote. As of Saturday morning, Carson City remained in the number one spot followed by Juneau, Alaska and Boise, Idaho.

It is truly an appreciated effort that the Sheriff’s Department has initiated a crosswalk surveillance program and it is one that the Downtown 20/20 Group supports.

New Year’s Day was especially important for Nevada Humane Society in 2015 — not only has the goal for Home 4 the Holidays been surpassed, but NHS in both Reno and Carson City celebrated the first pet adoptions of the new year!

In Reno, the first cat adopted was Tabby; the first dog, Harley; and the first rabbit, Raiden. In Carson City, the first adoption was Sally the dog. Each of these animals went home with loving families and will now be looking forward to a happy 2015 in a new home.

I don't know about you, but I am ecstatic to hear that this cold snap is on it's way out. It has been a chilly few days and I'm ready for my teeth to stop chattering. This first Friday of the year has plenty of options for fun. Join Mikey and Heidi at the Brewery Arts Center for Improv Night, enjoy some red-dirt country music at Caterpillar's Hookah Lounge (and make sure to wish proprietress, Dana, a happy birthday), or travel just outside our boundaries to see local favorites Notch 8 at the Genoa Bar.

FRIDAY:

Carson City is better positioned to draw in tourists after receiving $17,200 from the Nevada Commission on Tourism recently, said Joel Dunn, executive director of the Carson City Visitors Bureau.

“It allows us to build on and expand on the many ways we’re marketing Carson City to potential visitors,” Dunn said.

Today has a pretty short list, and to be honest with you, most of it is near Carson City, not actually in it. Enjoy the first day of the new year, make your resolutions, and go hiking if the chill doesn't scare you off.

THURSDAY:

• Opening Day- Fishing Season at Topaz Lake (a half hour before sunrise)
• Arlington Square Ice Rink: Winter Break Schedule (Sessions 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., 2p.m. - 5 p.m., 6 p.m. - 9p.m; $7/$5 kids, $3 Skate Rental)

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.

Kayden went up to her mom one afternoon in October and stated, "Mom, I want to go the orphanage and donate presents and sing for all the kids." Robyn replied "I don't think that's how it works anymore, a lot of the kids live in foster homes, but I can find out about adopting a family." "That sounds great!" And so she did.

Discover fungi, amazing organisms that are neither plants nor animals. Learn their symbiotic role in recycling nutrients and energy, how some are used for food and medicine, but others can be dangerous.

Make a cute mushroom craft to take home; view an exciting animated PowerPoint presentation.

No reservations needed. All ages welcome. Contact Deborah Stevenson: dstevenson@nevadaculture.org or 775-687-4810, ext.

Nevada Humane Society wants you to ring in the New Year by making a resolution to neuter your male dog or cat during their Happy Neuter Year campaign.

Sponsored by PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, the Happy Neuter Year campaign will provide a limited number of $20 neuter surgeries for male dogs and cats during the month of January.

CASI would like to thank the employees at Southwest Gas for their incredible $6,486 dollar donation, made through the "Fuel for Life" charitable giving program. This generous gift will assist Carson Animal Services Initiative in its efforts to ensure that homeless and neglected pets have a safe and humane shelter in which to wait for a loving family.
A special thank you to Randy Spiker, Rosie Elizarraras and Brad Harris for the check presentation. We are extremely grateful to you and all of the Southwest Gas employees who made this possible.

It has finally arrived, the last day of 2014. It is also a Wednesday, so there are some typical Wednesday things going on about town, but New Year’s is the big deal today. Below is listed a plethora of local New Year’s activities, so take a gander, get yourself dressed up, and have a fantastic (and safe) night on the town! At risk of sounding cliché, see you next year, Carson City!

Wednesday:

• Arlington Square Ice Rink: Winter Break Schedule (Sessions 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., 2p.m. - 5 p.m., 6 p.m. - 9p.m; $7/$5 kids, $3 Skate Rental)
• Blues with David Leather at Comma Coffee (12pm-2pm)
• ’Wine-down Wednesday’ All day happy hour at Bella Fiore

Ring in the New Year in Carson City! No need to fight the crowds in Reno or Lake Tahoe, there are many options right here in our valley. Have a great night and please stay safe: call a taxi, AAA, or designate a driver if you plan on drinking.

AAA TIPSY TOW: 1-800-222-4357 (Free Tow from AAA 6pm until 6am Jan. 1 – you do NOT need to be a AAA member. Stay safe tonight!)

Family Friendly Fun:

• Nevada Christmas Light Show Display at 1176 Chaparral Court (cul-de-sac off Santa Barbara Dr., off Stephanie Way), Minden (5:30pm-9pm)

With one week left in USA Today’s competition for best capital city in the nation, the Carson City Visitors Bureau is urging Nevadans to continue to cast their votes.
In the weeks since the contest was announced online, Carson City has bounced between first, second and third places. However, it is now holding steady in the top position.

Once again New Year's Eve is upon us and as in the past, many individuals will choose to drink and drive and not utilize a designated driver or taxi cab. With the amount of traffic that is expected to be out on the roadways why take the risk of getting involved in a vehicle crash or being arrested for Driving Under the Influence?

The beginning of the workweek doesn’t mean that there is nothing to do in Carson City. Lunchtime music at Comma Coffee and Karaoke at the Firkin and Fox are just two of the ways you can shake off the back to work blues.

MONDAY:

• Snow Globe Music Festival, South Lake Tahoe
• Arlington Square Ice Rink: Winter Break Schedule (Sessions 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., 2p.m. - 5 p.m., 6 p.m. - 9 p.m; $7/$5 kids, $3 Skate Rental)
• Live Music with CW and Mr. Spoons at Comma Coffee (11:30am-1pm; free)
• Family Day: $1 Specials at Carson Lanes

Carson City and Waste Management again offers their annual Christmas tree curbside recycling service this season. As in previous post-holiday years, Christmas trees can be placed curbside on your regular trash collection day or taken to drop off locations beginning Jan. 5, 2015.

It was the night before Christmas in the capital city which, for a brief time at least, threatened slick and snowy roads but instead brought rain showers as Santa made his way to 86 homes via patrol cars in a caravan led by the Carson City Sheriff's Office Reserve Organization.

In a tradition that spans nearly 30 years, a legion of sheriff’s office volunteers dressed as Santa and elves made pre-arranged home visits around Carson City, delivering mighty roars of “Merry Christmas,” candy canes and gifts for children.

Professional Saleswomen of Nevada ended the year with all smiles as they enjoy their Christmas Luncheon at Reds Old 395.

Angela Logiurato (Left) PSN Activities Chair, presents a check to Shelly Rosario a PSN member from Home Instead for $145 to help with the Santa to a Senior program.

For more information about the Carson City or Reno PSN Chapters please visit our web site, www.psn-nevada.com

Carson City fans of the Green Bay Packers won a challenge against San Francisco 49ers fans Monday as Salvation Army bell ringers rang their bells at a Red Kettle Ring Off.

The Packers fans raised $226.51 and the 49ers fans raised $143.34. The protest kettles for “Any other Team” raised $14.25. The challenge took place at the Wal-Mart on Topsy Lane from 4 to 6 p.m.

The Salvation Army Red Kettles at Walmart on Topsy Lane will have a challenge between the Green Bay Packer’s fans and San Francisco 49ers fans Monday, Dec. 22 from 4 to 6 p.m. The Packers fans will be “bell ringing” at the grocery entrance and the 49er fans will be “bell ringing” at the household entrance.

The Salvation Army is not taking sides on this challenge, but is excited to see some of the local NFL fans come out and help them serve the community.

This is the season for giving. Our students and staff at CHS have big hearts. Many Carson High School clubs and teams adopted families from the Empire School District for the Christmas holiday. Thank you to HOSA, FBLA, Boys’ basketball, boy’s baseball, Key Club, Link Crew, and Leadership classes for providing gifts and essentials to these families.