storytelling

Nevada’s New Year’s resolution is to ensure that travelers go home with more stories than souvenirs. With the lineup of events scheduled in early 2016, that is sure to ring true. As always, Nevada will offer fun, unique events for visitors of all interests and ages that will guarantee unforgettable experiences. Kick off the New Year at one of these Nevada-only events:

Puppet stories, animal stamp crafts and studying the signs of scat are all on the menu from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, as the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, celebrates “Beastly Encounters and Coyote Stories,” an educational and fun program for all ages.

A fun family program for all ages, designed to enhance awareness of animal behavior and habitats in Nevada and the role of animals in American Indian culture and storytelling. We will share coyote stories and allow children to participate using animal puppets depicting coyote, rabbit, and other favorites.

This will be our last column until after the school break. Congratulations to all of our students and staff for surviving finals and finishing up this semester. This column will return on Jan. 10, 2016. I hope everyone has a restful break.

Alum Presents Refugee information
CHS alum, Kaitlin Brush (class of 2004), presented to social studies classes this past month. Her informational presentation focused on the definition of refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons, and the current refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe and how different European countries are working to address the growing number of refugees.

The Polar Express on the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad has sold out for the fifth consecutive year, with more than 15,000 passengers securing rides to the North Pole.

A wait list sign-up is available online here that could offer a last chance to ride the Polar Express in 2015. Tickets for next year’s holiday train go on sale in August 2016.

Last weekend HOSA members, also known as Future Health Professionals, volunteered at the RAM medical event held at Carson High School. HOSA students served as interpreters, place holders, registration assistants, dental scribes, and vision care assistants.

The students were able to put the skills that they learn in class to use. They also gained valuable experience by working alongside dentists, doctors, nurses, and optometrists. The RAM event served more than 900 people in the Carson City area.

Thomas the Tank Engine will be arriving at the Virginia & Truckee Railroad on October 23, 24, 25; 30, 31, and November 1 as part of his 2015 “Celebration Tour.” This year marks a special year for Thomas the Tank Engine as organizers celebrate his 70th birthday and the 20th anniversary of Day Out With Thomas. This is also the first year that Thomas the Tank Engine will be visiting the Virginia & Truckee Railroad.

Writers, readers and performers from all around the country will appear at South Lake Tahoe this weekend for WordWave, a three-day festival held on the grounds of Valhalla at the Tallac Historic Site.

This literary mash-up features oral storytelling, theater performances and free readings, panels on craft, yoga, and a novel writing camp for kids.

Peep! Peep! Thomas the Tank Engine is celebrating friendship at Day Out With Thomas: The Celebration Tour 2015, and families across North America are invited aboard! Little engineers everywhere are invited to join Thomas when the No. 1 Engine pulls into the Virginia & Truckee Railroad for Day Out with Thomas: The Celebration Tour 2015, presented by Fisher-Price and sponsored by MEGA Brands and all inclusive Hard Rock Hotels.

Ready, set, GO! Whether you want to watch camels race, or hot air balloons light up the sky, this is a great weekend in Northern Nevada. If cool cars are more your style, join the Freaks of Nature Car Club at a show and shine in the parking lot of Yogurt Beach in North Carson. It’s root, root, root for the home team as the WNC Wildcats play a double header at Harvey Field.

SATURDAY:

Storyteller Juanita Westbrook presents “The Moral of the Story” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday September 30, at 6:30 pm. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Juanita Westbrook returns to Dangberg Historic Park, this time as a storyteller. Westbrook will present both original and familiar stories and poems, incorporating her own unique creative style. Her stories are interactive, have morals, teach important social-skills, build and foster cooperative learning and are fun for all ages.

Storyteller Tom Wade presents “Jumping Cows, Snarling Bobcats and Other Farm Adventure Stories” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday September 16, at 6:30 pm. The event is open to the public and free to attend.
Tom Wade grew up on a small farm in Michigan as the oldest son in a family of ten children, and honed his storytelling skills at the family dinner table. An energetic teller of mostly-true tales, Wade’s farm and family stories engage and delight people of all ages.

The Jazz & Beyond - Carson City Music Festival concludes with nine events on Saturday, August 22, and four events on Sunday August 23.

Saturday events are:

Music in the Market – Barbara Baxter - 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Third & Curry St. Farmer's Market. Barbara Baxter sings soul-laced jazz with Jimmy Vermilion on piano.

Storyteller Tom Wade presents “Jumping Cows, Snarling Bobcats and Other Farm Adventure Stories” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday September 16, at 6:30 pm. The event is open to the public and free to attend.
Tom Wade grew up on a small farm in Michigan as the oldest son in a family of ten children, and honed his storytelling skills at the family dinner table. An energetic teller of mostly-true tales, Wade’s farm and family stories engage and delight people of all ages.

Chautauqua performers Chuck Baldauskas and Doc Durden will present “Buffalo Bill & Wild Bill: Pals Together Again” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday September 2, at 6:30 pm. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Dust off your bowler hat, lace up your high-heeled boots and join us for the first ever Tall Timber Ball. On Oct. 9 from 6-10 pm you can style it steampunk or go grunge and join us under the timber beams of Valhalla’s Grand Hall while the DJ spins from the massive stone fireplace. Cool prizes will go to the most interesting looks of the night. This event kicks off the inaugural Tahoe WordWave festival and will benefit art and culture in South Lake Tahoe.

Karla Huntsman will combine the art of storytelling with her talent as a musician, in a performance at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday August 26, at 6:30 pm.

The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Making meaning through story and theater activities has been Karla Huntsman’s life work. Huntsman believes in the power of storytelling to infuse life, joy, connection with self, and connection with others no matter the age of the listener. She sings, plays guitar, autoharp, washboard and djembe drum as part of her storytelling performances.

Chautauqua performer Lisa Bommarito will present “The Extraordinary Life of Eilley Orrum Bowers” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday August 5, at 6:30 pm.

The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Returning for a second year, storyteller Joel ben Izzy will present his newest tales in "Buried Treasures - Stories to carry you around the world and back again." at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday July 29, at 6:30 pm. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Chautauqua performer Juanita Westbrook will present “Elizabeth ‘Bessie’ Coleman: Pioneer Aviator” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday July 8, at 6:30 pm. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman, popularly known as “Queen Bess”, was the first Black woman to become an airplane pilot, and the first American woman to hold an International pilot’s license. While many people know about early aviator Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, a black woman who got her pilot’s license even before Earhart did, is little known.

Writers, readers and performers from all around the country will appear at South Lake Tahoe Oct. 9-11, 2015 for WordWave, a three-day festival held on the grounds of Valhalla at the Tallac Historic Site. This literary mash-up will feature oral storytelling, theater performances and free readings, panels on craft, yoga, and a novel writing camp for kids. Highlights include a one-act playwriting contest, a Maker’s Station demo with bookbinding, letterpress, drum making, and found poetry and art. Ticketed events include a steampunk ball, workshops, and even a hike.

Mary Bennett first went on the Carson City Ghost Walk as a reporter for the local radio station 23 years ago. With a theater background and storytelling instincts, she was immediately drawn to the historic production.

“I loved it so much,” she recalled. Bennett joined the cast right away, becoming one of the characters from Carson City’s history to give a tour of the city as it was in its early days. This year, the Carson City Ghost Walk and Ghost Walking Tours kicks off May 23 with six tours to follow throughout summer and fall.

We are now 100 days into the year 2015; where does the time go? Hopefully, with help from my list, you've spent it exploring the food, drink, music, theater, art, museums, and outdoor fun stuff that Carson City has to offer. Let me tell you, there’s plenty of fun to come! Tonight, you can check out Mo’z Motley Blues at the Brewery Arts Center or the Whitehats at Westside Pour House. It’s also opening night for the kids of Youth Theater Carson City: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is at the Community Center at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY:

• Carson School District Spring Break
• CCAI Exhibit: BRIC Art 5 at the BRIC: 108 E Proctor Street (8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm)
• ’Second Skin’ by artist Sarah Lillegard at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)

With a rhythmic choo-choo the Virginia and Truckee Railroad will come alive this Mother’s Day weekend as the vintage diesel engines offers a chance to take a trip back to the Wild West.

Last fall marked Steve Simeone's Comedy Central debut on Gabriel Iglesias' “Stand Up Revolution" as well as the release of his eagerly anticipated CD "Remember this for when you get Sad,” a compilation of some of his most loved material.

The CHS Ski Team will be hosting the latest Warren Miller Film, “No Turning Back” on Dec. 12, 7 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center. Tickets can be purchased from any ski team member or from their advisor Adrienne Schneider.

Tickets are $8 for students and $12 for adults. They are also selling raffle tickets in conjunction with the movie. A multiple of prizes are available that evening at the showing of the film. Raffle tickets cost $1 each or 25 tickets for $20. Doors open at 6 PM.

Debate Results

The Carson City Plaza Hotel and Event Center has the privilege of hosting Marty Brounstein, talented speaker and the author of “Two Among the Righteous Few: A Story of Courage in the Holocaust” on Monday, Sept. 29 at 6:00 pm. Doors will open before 6:00 pm, space is limited: RSVP to kelley@radow.net

This year’s Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival comes to the Sand Harbor State Park shore July 11-August 24, with William Shakespeare’s As You Like It as the featured production of the summer.

Many events are scheduled throughout the Silver State in the month of June. These Nevada 150 events help celebrate all things Nevada and bring awareness to the state’s 150th statehood anniversary. The following are events held June 16 through June 28.

The Historical Society of Dayton Valley hosts “Discover Gold in Dayton, Again,” as part of the Nevada 150th celebration, Saturday, May 17 in Old Town Dayton. Everyone is invited to come celebrate the community’s “firsts."

It is the location of Nevada’s first gold discovery which took place in 1849. It was the Silver State’s first permanent settlement, founded in 1851 and is the site of Lyon County’s first courthouse, opened in 1864. It is also the site of Nevada’s first marriage and ironically, the first divorce, as well, Docent Lauri Emerich, said. “We have a lot to celebrate.”