New York Times

Reno plein air painter Erik Holland will be out in all weather over the next two weeks painting some of the iconic features of Carson City for an upcoming reception, show and sale. The event is called "Art in the Afternoon" and will take place at the Jones Mansion in Gold Hill on November 9 and 10.

Consumer advocacy website NerdWallet says Carson City is among the best cities and towns in Nevada for young families. The website notes the capital city's proximity to Lake Tahoe, higher education opportunities at Western Nevada College and Carson City School District's reform-based Race to the Top grant as standout reasons for its choice.

New York Times best selling author Ellen Hopkins is this week's guest on It's Your City produced by Access Carson City Television. Hopkins discusses her books, including "Crank" as well as founding the nonprofit Ventana Sierra in Carson City along with her daughter Kelly. The house opened June 1.

New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins will lead a Meet the Authors dessert and wine reception in Carson City on Friday, June 14 from 6:30 to 9 pm in the Carson Nugget Community Hall in the Aspen Building on the Western Nevada College Campus.

The Sierra region’s own literary stars will be shining at the Ventana Sierra Advanced Writing Workshop Friday-Sunday, June 14-16, at Western Nevada College in Carson City.

New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins is the keynote speaker and the architect of the event, designed to help writers of all genres and skill levels to be successful. All proceeds benefit Ventana Sierra Youth Housing and Resource Initiative, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit foundation created by Hopkins to provide housing and resources to local youth.

North Lake Tahoe celebrates its long winter season with SnowFest, a 10-day carnival and one of the region’s most popular annual family celebrations. SnowFest is scheduled for March 1-10 and will be held at a variety of venues throughout North Lake Tahoe.

In its 32nd year, SnowFest, presented by the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/ Resort Association, is expected to draw thousands of attendees, with the majority of events free to spectators.

North Lake Tahoe announced today that the Wanderlust Festival, the world’s largest and fastest growing yoga and music festival, will return for a fifth year to the picturesque setting of Squaw Valley Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 21.

Alpenglow Sports has teamed up with Tahoe Cross Country to present the first-ever Lake Tahoe Nordic Festival Friday, February 8 through Sunday, February 10. All events are free, open to the public and take place at Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area in Tahoe City, California. A full schedule of events is available at www.tahoenordicfestival.com.

RENO, Nev. – Popular physicist and professor Michio Kaku is a co-creator of string field theory. He continues Einstein’s search to unite the four fundamental forces of nature into one unified theory and has published doctoral textbooks on quantum field theory. When he’s not working to explain the origin and evolution of the universe, he’s bringing science to the public.

The Western Nevada College exhibit "Always Lost: A Meditation on War" continues to travel the country, now with a stop at Wisconsin's Mount Mary College.
Marilee Swirczek, Emeritus Professor of English at Western Nevada College notes the exhibit at the college and an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

North Lake Tahoe pulls out all the stops to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of hosting the 1960 Winter Olympics with the Olympic Heritage Celebration beginning Saturday and lasting through Jan. 21 at venues throughout the region.

The event, which is sponsored by the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association, kicks off Saturday, January 12 with the REI Winter Trails Day at Tahoe Donner Cross Country Resort in Truckee.

Getting to North Lake Tahoe’s snowy ski slopes just got a whole lot easier with the launch of the region's first area-wide free ski shuttle serving North Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Donner Summit.

The service runs between area lodging properties to 9 different ski resorts on weekends and holiday weeks now through March 31. It was formed through a collaboration of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association in partnership with the Truckee/North Tahoe Transportation Management Association and Placer County, the town of Truckee and several ski resorts.

I’ll start tomorrow. How many of us have told ourselves this only to have tomorrow never come because the first step is so very daunting? Just 10, 15 or 30 pounds can harm a person’s health, self esteem and sometimes even affect the person’s work and family life.

Prestigious snow carvers from around the world will call North Lake Tahoe home February 8-12, 2013 for the region’s first-ever Carve Tahoe competition, with the judging take place February 13, 2013.

The weeklong international snow sculpture contest is specifically geared for spectators who will view firsthand 20-ton blocks of pure snow shaped and carved into breathtaking masterpieces. The competing teams are the best of the best – selected from the event’s top applicants and representing more than 20 countries.

It might have been raining across much of Northern California, but last week’s storm brought snow to Lake Tahoe ski resorts – more than 3.5 feet of the white stuff, making for a great ski weekend.

“You just never know how these storms are going to play out,” said Chief Marketing Officer Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association. “But Mother Nature cooperated and we’ve got new snow on the mountains.”

In the aftermath of the super storm that battered the Northeast, many have found themselves with no transportation. Cars were destroyed, roads were washed away, subway tunnels were flooded, and due to interrupted supply lines and power outages, many gas stations are now without fuel or simply unable to run their pumps. Long lines are forming at the stations that are open, and rationing is even being enforced in some places.

Kids have a greater chance of being fatally injured by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year, including the Fourth of July and New Year’s Day. State Farm®, the nation’s leading auto insurer, teamed up with research expert, Bert Sperling of Sperling’s BestPlaces, to better understand the risk kids face as they take to the streets in search of treats. Sperling’s BestPlaces analyzed more than four million records in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) from 1990 – 2010 for children 0-18 years of age on October 31.

Library Habits, Library Innovations

Lake Tahoe will be thrust in the spotlight again when scientists, public agencies and elected officials meet Aug. 13 for the 16th annual Lake Tahoe Summit. To be discussed with great interest is the protection and health of Lake Tahoe's fragile environment and economy.
“The health of the environment and the health of the economy at Tahoe are linked,” Derek Kauneckis, political science professor and researcher at the University of Nevada, Reno said. “And the collaborations that have been established at the Lake have set the stage for future efforts.”

CARSON CITY – With U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s 5^th annual National Clean Energy Summit set to kick off today in Las Vegas, the debate over alternative energy development and the government’s role in its future rages on.

A series of classical music concerts featuring a 38 piece symphony orchestra of world-renowned artists highlights Lake Tahoe SummerFest in August. Weekend performances include Friday and Saturday night symphonies and Sunday programming for families.

CARSON CITY – The House Ethics Committee announced today that it has established an investigative subcommittee to review ethics questions raised about Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and whether she inappropriately furthered the business interests of her husband, Dr. Larry Lehrner.

The committee voted unanimously on June 29 to establish the subcommittee.

CARSON CITY – U.S. Senate candidate and Rep. Shelley Berkley defended her efforts to preserve a kidney transplant program in Nevada in 2008, saying she never advocated for anything that was not in the best interests of patients and patient care.

Berkley, D-Nev., defended her role in preserving the program in response to questions in an interview on the Face To Face television program.

Carson City celebrates National Library Week, Mon.-Fri., April 9-14 with engaging discussions, community conversations, poetry readings and film best-selling authors.

In recognition of National Adoption Month, Carson City Library will host author Jennifer Lauck on Friday, November 18th, at 6:00 p.m., at the Business Resource Innovation Center (BRIC), 108 East Proctor Street in downtown Carson City. Her personal journey tells the story of heartbreak and tragedy. Her early childhood was spent living in Carson City. The telling of her story is about perseverance, courage and the remarkable capacity of humans to transcend the worst of losses with grace.

"The Ides of March," currently showing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, is a welcome change from the summer fare of bare-chested shoot 'em ups. It's a serious film about American politics with a fine cast headed by Ryan Gosling as Stephen Myers, a sleazy press secretary to George Clooney's Mike Morris, seeking the Democratic nomination for president at a hotly contested Ohio vote.

Clooney is almost just a supporting actor but even in his shorter screen time manages to impress. He also directs, produces and co-writes the script, which is tight and intelligent.

– On Saturday, Sept. 17, experience Immaculée Ilibagiza, a compelling storyteller, author and inspirational speaker who will present "Left To Tell: Discovering God amidst the Rwandan holocaust” at the Truckee Community Recreation Center at 7 p.m. “Left to Tell” is presented in honor of the international day of peace and in support of Peace One Day and the upcoming Truckee Tahoe Peace Day by For Goodness Sake with generous support from the Kling Family Foundation.

Teachers are college graduates many with a Master’s Degree who are in the trenches educating our K–12 students. Carson City School District salaries range from $33,106.70 to $64,699.98. The average is $45,000 a year.
Every time Nevada has a budget shortfall, there are people, usually males, who are negatively vocal regarding “all the money teachers make.” “Teachers work half a year.” “Our children are failing because teachers are not doing their job.” Blah Blah Blah…

Skiers and riders can enjoy a full month of Lake Tahoe spring skiing for less than $7 per day with Squaw Valley's Spring Pass, on sale now for $199. In addition to spring skiing and riding starting April 11, 2011, this year’s Squaw Valley Spring Pass includes free access to the High Camp Swimming Lagoon and Spa for Spring 2011 and free Summer Cable Car access — all for less than the price of three full-day lift tickets. Squaw Valley’s Spring Passes are on sale now at www.squaw.com.

“I don't set out to offend or shock, but I also don't do anything to avoid it,” a mantra by and for comedian Sarah Silverman who will be performing at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa at Lake Tahoe on Saturday, April 9. The actor/comedian is taking a mid season break from her Comedy Central TV show to get back to her stand-up comedy roots.