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Wholesome Family Time under the Stars: Live Jazz and Movie brightens the night in Carson City

The favored Jazz player Ray Brown once said, "Jazz is something you have to feel, something you have to live."

During the family movie night at Mills Park on Friday, the audience experienced jazz music and the animated Pixar movie Soul, whose main character Joe Gardner is a school jazz instructor. The movie tells a story about Joe's passion for jazz and how music can carry life to one's soul.

Carson City Classic Cinema partnered with Garrett Lepire and Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space to host their annual summer family night, including live jazz music from David and Friends.

David and Friends is a part of a seventeen-piece band, the Mile High Jazz Band, established in 2001, led by David Bugli.

"Music is important; it kept people going during the pandemic, and it's a significant part of education for the kids," said Elinor Bugli, David Bugli's wife.

"Growing up in Carson City, I was frustrated that there wasn't much to do here," said Rhonda Abend, founder and director of Carson City Classic Cinema.

Rhonda wanted to create a space for families to come out, enjoy, and grow creatively together.

Carson City Classic Cinema has been putting on Family Movie Night and activities for wholesome family fun for six years.

"We have also included crafts before the movie to help grow arts in our community," said Abend.

Carson City Classic Cinema team tries to include activities that coincide with the movie's theme.

Abend thought pairing live jazz music with the Pixar animated movie Soul would help kick off the Jazz and Beyond Carson City Music Festival starting on Aug. 5.

To help celebrate jazz legend William "Count" Basie's birthday, the Mile High Jazz Band started as a one-day celebration which later turned into a two-week festival.

The festival presents over 25 events around Carson City from Aug 5 - 21.

With the help of Garrett Lepire, a real estate broker for Berkshire Hathaway, Carson City Classic Cinema can hold their Family Movie Night and activities for the community.

"Minus the bowling, there isn't much to do here, and I wanted to see a space for the kids to come out and enjoy themselves," said Lepire.

Lepire has been sponsoring Family Movie Night for the last six years.

"All of this wouldn't happen without the help from Garrett; he helps pay for all the outdoor license fees," said Abend.

For the future, Carson City Classic Cinema hopes to gain more sponsorship and venues to help put on more Family Movie Nights for the community.

Carson City Classic Cinema will host the animated movie UP on Aug. 5 at Mills Park for their next family movie night. Carson City Classic Cinema will also be hosting the move Invasion of the Body Snatchers, a 1978 Sci-fi/Horror classic for those who love classical movies.

Please visit their website for more information about the Carson City Classic Cinema and their upcoming movies.

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The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld the state’s contentious “ghost gun” ban, reversing a lower court’s ruling that the law banning the sale of unfinished frames and receivers of a firearm was unconstitutionally vague.

By state law, once Carson City’s population reaches 60,000 residents, they will be mandated to create a new courtroom complete with a new judge and staff.

However, that comes with a price tag of at least $800,000 in staffing alone — and doesn’t include the price to expand the courthouse.

Reno Tahoe Comedy is proud to present Bobcat Goldthwait at Piper's Opera house in Virginia City on Saturday, April 27. Since his first appearance on the David Letterman Show at the age of 20, Bobcat has gone on to maintain a thriving career as a writer, director, actor, voice actor and stand-up comedian.

The Nevada State Prison Preservation Society is once again offering tours to the community beginning in May and continuing through the month of October.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Carson City will host its first "Walking as One at 1" labyrinth walk on Saturday, May 4 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at 314 N. Division at Telegraph.

"Walking as One at 1" happens on World Labyrinth Day each year where participants across the globe engage in a labyrinth walk at 1 p.m. local time. This synchronized practice creates a 24-hour rolling wave of peaceful energy that passes from one time zone to the next across the world. The idea is to collectively contribute to a sense of unity and harmony.

The Carson City School District will host a quarterly Community Connections event next week, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, from 5:45-7:30 p.m. at Carson High School.

Carson Animal Services Initiative, also known as CASI, welcomes the community to enjoy an evening of great music, delicious food and wonderful live and silent auction items to support animals in need.

Earlier this month it was announced that Carson City’s Burlington Coat Factory would be closing. Rumors of a potential Hobby Lobby taking its place have now been substantiated.

The popular craft store applied for a permit for the location Wednesday, according to the Carson City Planning Division.

MINDEN — The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that it has published preliminary copies of the revised Flood Insurance Rate Map and Flood Insurance Study report for Douglas County and incorporated areas. These materials are available for public viewing on FEMA's website.

Hello fellow anglers. Yes, it is that time of year for the California opening day fishing season. This year we actually will have an opening day. Last year with our excessive snow pack, we were not able to get on many rivers until mid summer due to runoff.

Carson City Fire Department and multiple agencies will host the 2nd annual wildfire education and preparedness workshop for the community Tuesday, April 30.

Nevada Humane Society, Carson City branch Pet of the Week is Macy, a 6-year-old gal who has been at our shelter since the end of January. She was surrendered because her owner could no longer have animals.

Nevada State Museum staff invite all to contribute to a bee hotel this Saturday, April 20 as they celebrate Earth Day in Carson City. Participants are encouraged to contribute to the bee hotel, a nesting place for solitary bee friends, and learn about other ways you can help native pollinators.

Drawing on humor splashed with insight, nationally recognized syndicated cartoonist Brian Crane, also known as “Mr. Pickles,” packed the house as guest speaker Tuesday at the Carson City Senior Center.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office would like to provide some tips related to online safety for juveniles. It is important for parents to know how to set up their children’s devices for several reasons.

Carson Area MPO

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While waiting in line I always carry along a little Kipling, mainly to call upon this one little snippet to sustain me, “If you can wait and not be tired by waiting.” I do love his epic little poem, “If.” That poem has helped me to maintain my balance on more occasions than I can count.

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Lane reductions will take place Fridays through Mondays on U.S. 50 in Dayton beginning Friday, April 19 as the Nevada Department of Transportation replaces concrete barrier rail in the highway median.

The four Douglas County School District board members who have been front and center through controversy since being elected in November 2022 all pulled out of a decision to accept a settlement agreement on a Writ of Mandamus during their meeting last Tuesday.

The 42nd annual Chili on the Comstock returns to heat up Virginia City on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19. As a qualifier for the International Chili Society World Finals, guests can indulge in a diverse array of chili styles, from spicy to mild and chili verde, all expertly crafted by some of the finest chili cooks in the West.

The next Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2024 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Bob Crowell Boardroom of the Community Center, located at 851 E. William Street.

Two were arrested Monday for possession of stolen personal and business checks amounting to more than $555,000, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Looking for a place to take your little ones this week? Look no further! Here is a list of family-friendly (and fun!) activities and events happening this week around the capital city.

Carson City Sheriff's Office deputies made four arrests on Monday for warrants and one arrest for alleged possession of drug paraphernalia, according to booking reports.

Common Ground Church Youth Group did volunteer work at Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City on Saturday to wrap lilac bushes with wire fencing in order to protect them from deer.

Carson City will be front and center Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18, when it hosts the 2024 NIAA State Track & Field Championships at the Jim Frank Track Complex at Carson High School. The two-day event will draw more than 1,000 athletes (from four different classifications) and countless fans and spectators from across the state to the capital city.

Photo courtesy of Friend of the Nevada State Railroad Museum

The Carson City Historical Society hosts Adam Michalski, who will present a talk called "The Railroad and Carson City," on Thursday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the Carriage House behind the Foreman-Roberts Historic House located at 1207 Carson Street, Carson City.

Carson City Community Development Director Hope Sullivan encourages all residents, business owners, and visitors to participate in the Land Use Master Plan Update Virtual Meeting on Thursday, April 18, at 5 p.m. More information about access to the meeting can be found at envisioncarsoncity.org.