Events Calendar

DJ Trivia Night at Reno Public Market

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:52:30 +0000

By Ian Sturtz

Get ready to test your smarts at DJ Trivia! Grab your friends and get ready to put your heads together for this team-based trivia night. We've got drinks flowing at the bar and all the good eats you could want while you rise to the challenge! We've got prizes for the top three teams, so there's more than just honor on the line.

A special thanks to our hosts, DJ Trivia Sierra Nevada!

This event is free and open to the public. An RSVP isn't necessary, but it helps us plan accordingly, and allows us to send you any event updates.

Go Fund Me page established for Michael Smith, fondly known around Carson area as 'Bread Man'

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 22:33:05 +0000

Submitted by Wendy Fox

Dear Friends and Family and Friends of Friends (please pay this forward and pass it on), my name is Wendy Fox. I am writing to you today to ask for donations for my brother Michael Smith. He is in need of a lung transplant and has 12-18 months to live without one. There is only a window of the next 6-months for the doctors to allow Michael to be a recipient of a lung donation due to his body struggling to cope.

We have established a Go Fund Me page to help. Go here for the page.

For those of you who live in Reno and Carson City; South Lake Tahoe and Sacramento, Calif., and cities in between, you have most likely seen my brother, Michael Smith. He is the one carrying an oxygen tank in one arm and his camera equipment in the other arm.

He is the guy filming on the sidelines of a ball game, a parade, a museum, a live music concert; a restaurant opening; and more. He is always on-hand to film and promote the local happenings to the viewers on the local public broadcasting television stations and his local You tube channel called Nevada Trails TV. See video by clicking here. You can also view the video below.

Michael Smith loves to get involved with the community. He has dressed up as “Casey the Crocodile” and “Lucky Duck” in Gardnerville, Nevada. The Kids and Horses Riding Center for the disabled is a program near and dear to his heart having had to face his own injuries and life of disability. The local firemen of the Gardnerville, Nevada, area fire department nicknamed Michael “The Bread Man,” because of his tireless efforts in gathering food for the poor. Here is a link of Michael on You tube sharing a bit about himself click here; Michael participating in tabs for kids.

We are reaching out today to ask for your help and support. As some of you may know, my brother has been struggling with health issues ever since his closed-head injury when he was a young man. The brain injury caused water to gather on his brain. The water pressure on his brain caused him to begin to lose the use of his legs. The brain surgery took place on June 23, 2021, at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California.

They put a stint in Michael's brain to drain the water off. The surgery was a success. After the surgery, Michael was doing well, all except for his lungs. The doctors, at the time, had thought that the water pressure on Michael's brain might have also contributed to his poor lung functioning. It did not turn out to be the case. Michael's lung capacity has steadily decreased since the brain surgery. The doctors determined that he needed a lung transplant and immediately placed him on the lung transplant list.

While waiting for his name to come to the top of the lung transplant list, Michael has experienced other set-backs which called for surgery/hospitalization and rehab which has included; a blocked intestine, hernia, pneumonia and most recent a brain bleed sending him to the hospital over Christmas 2023.

Michael's need is great. Michael's medical bills and needed care has exceeded what his family can provide. Right now, he is struggling just to keep going until the scheduled surgery date. Michael has been on disability since the brain injury years ago. He gets limited income when he is able to video record for local community gatherings and meetings. When his health fails, like it did over Christmas keeping him in the hospital and then rehab for almost 6-weeks, it eliminates any chance for Michael to make any supplemental income.

With his upcoming lung transplant surgery, tentatively set for May 2024, there is a great need for Michael to attend various doctor appointments to complete the required preliminary tests in San Francisco and Stanford facilities to prepare for the surgery. He needs help with the costs of transportation and gas getting him to and from the appointments as well as his hotel/motel and meal accommodations while there for Michael and a family member who escorts him there. This need will continue while he is in recovery at Stanford after the transplant with the need for transportation to and from hotel and the hospital as well as costs for transportation and gas (flights/car) accommodations for his family who will rotate as caregivers on-site while he is in recovery for 6-weeks at the Stanford Hospital.

Donations for Michael would help cover not only the initial medical bills but also the additional cost of getting Michael's family members to California (via flight/car), hotel/food cost for caregivers, transportation costs for caregivers while there and living expenses for Michael and his caregivers following the surgery which initially is 6-8 weeks in the hospital/rehab facility; then another 2-3 months for his home care. His need is great. Our needs as caregivers to help Michael are great. Your donations no matter how big or small will make a big difference in my brother's life.

Michael is one of the good guys. He does so much good for the community. Michael has a huge heart for the underdog. He goes out of his way to help others. Michael is a big advocate for those in need. He gathers food from local merchants and distributes it to the local food banks. In the summer months, Michael packs up lunch bags to distribute to homeless in need that he encounters throughout his day.

Michael loves music and has offered to many new singing artists the opportunity of helping them with their first demo. His payment was two-fold being first to pay it forward to someone else when you are a success; and second to refer a friend after the session. Michael would contact the friend and continue with his own version of paying it forward.

Michael shared a video of his initial brain injury that was filmed when he was a young man, but was uploaded to his YouTube site years later. See video below. Health talk featuring Michael Smith. He shares at that time the beginning stages of his life following his brain injury. Even with his new found situation in having a disability, Michael was trying to help others in the same situation.

Despite Michael's hardships in struggling during his wait for his lung transplant surgery, Michael remains optimistic and positive. He has a great sense-of-humor which I believe has been pivotal in getting him through the lows, but most of all he has great faith.

I am pleading to all of you angels out there, please help my brother. He needs some bread to make it until his lung transplant which is just around the corner. He has done so well. He has been so brave. Please have a heart for the underdog and give what you can today. I ask also that you “pay it forward” and share this message with your friends and family about Michael.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Michael's story. Thank you for your donations.

Sincerely,

Wendy Fox (Michael's little sister)

Go Fund Me page can be found here.

DJ Trivia Night at Reno Public Market

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:52:30 +0000

By Ian Sturtz

A special thanks to our hosts, DJ Trivia Sierra Nevada!

This event is free and open to the public. An RSVP isn't necessary, but it helps us plan accordingly, and allows us to send you any event updates.

Go Fund Me page established for Michael Smith, fondly known around Carson area as 'Bread Man'

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 22:33:05 +0000

Submitted by Wendy Fox

We have established a Go Fund Me page to help. Go here for the page.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Michael's story. Thank you for your donations.

Sincerely,

Wendy Fox (Michael's little sister)

Go Fund Me page can be found here.

FISH student housing in Carson City opens; partners with historic prison preservation group for fundraiser

Jeff Munson — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:21:41 +0000

Event Date:

May 18, 2024 - 3:00pm

FISH news release

Two major issues in the region are: 1) a lack of trained workforce and 2) the lack of affordable housing. Nearly two years ago, Friends In Service Helping, also known as FISH, demolished a crumbling motel and began building new Student Housing to improve these two issues.

Now people who probably should have gone to college, but didn't, have a chance to compete for skilled jobs in the trades and medical field. Our rental costs are significantly below market rate, and students (with their family members) pay rent on a sliding scale or take advantage of grants/vouchers so they can afford to focus their studies. One of the other great benefits we saw in our pilot program, is that when kids see their parents do homework, the kids do the same thus improving their grades in K-12 classes.

Students are starting to move in. Unfortunately, we received occupancy in early March, more than a month after most colleges started spring semester. Some students on our waiting list needed to find other housing since we could not reliably predict move-in dates. Fortunately, we were able to place a few students in our transitional housing units, and now we can have others directly move into the Student/Family Housing.

FISH also provides wrap-around services from our free medical clinic, and our assigned caseworkers; and our food banks/family dining room are helping to take the financial stress off of these students.

Following graduation and job placement in new careers, we will work with each family/individual to determine when they can transition to more permanent housing.

These new apartments will provide housing for individuals and their families, once they are accepted in a technical, certificate training program in the trades or medical field, i.e. Nursing, Construction Management, IT, Advanced Manufacturing, Journeymen Electrician, HVAC, CDL Truck Driving, Auto Mechanics, and more. We are looking at students who are attending regional community colleges, and those in internships/ apprenticeships with local companies including auto dealerships and HVAC companies. We are looking for career paths that will result in employees earning $27/hr or more.

Sometimes, this will require "stacking" one or more certificates so they have a wage to be self-sufficient in our region.

The commercial building on Carson Street is expected to be ready in May, and to obtain occupancy, we need to finish the landscape/sidewalks and install our playground & gazebo equipment on the East side of the apartments. The grills, tables, swings, play structures, and gazebo will cost about $100,000.

Fundraiser tour with Nevada State Prison Preservation Society

We are starting fundraising for those items now so occupancy of the entire site will not be delayed. For details, see playground fundraising on our website nvfish.com. Also see the flyer attachments below.

We are also announcing a brand-new region-wide fundraiser. This one has a two-fold purpose. Primarily the fundraiser is to help fund the final $1 million construction costs for the FISH Student Housing project that is nearing completion. The final cost of the project is projected to be above $17.5 million.

The secondary purpose is to recognize the work done in Carson City by the Nevada State Prison Preservation Society. The Historic Nevada State Prison was first used in 1862, and tours now provide revenue to enhance the site's educational programs and staffing. That way, tours can be offered more frequently. The event venue, including tours, live music, videos from "para-normal" experts, auctions, dancing, and fabulous food; will certainly draw visitors from Sacramento to Ely, and from Battle Mountain to Vegas.

This new fundraiser will be on Saturday, May 18, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Historic Nevada State Prison (NSP). We will provide a shuttle service to the prison for those who are unable to get premium ticket packages that include on-site parking. Get more details on our website here.

FISH is not dependent on government funding, and we are very thankful for our generous community! Many thought that funding this project through donations was a long shot at best. So, be proud that you and your neighbors are a part of something truly unique… helping single parents and others get the education needed to be self-supporting. Revitalizing our community, that's what we do at all levels, and with all of our clients.

Fish Sponsor 2 by Carson Now on Scribd

Fish Sponsor 1 by Carson Now on Scribd

DJ Trivia Night at Reno Public Market

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:52:30 +0000

By Ian Sturtz

A special thanks to our hosts, DJ Trivia Sierra Nevada!

This event is free and open to the public. An RSVP isn't necessary, but it helps us plan accordingly, and allows us to send you any event updates.

Go Fund Me page established for Michael Smith, fondly known around Carson area as 'Bread Man'

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 22:33:05 +0000

Submitted by Wendy Fox

We have established a Go Fund Me page to help. Go here for the page.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Michael's story. Thank you for your donations.

Sincerely,

Wendy Fox (Michael's little sister)

Go Fund Me page can be found here.

DJ Trivia Night at Reno Public Market

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:52:30 +0000

By Ian Sturtz

A special thanks to our hosts, DJ Trivia Sierra Nevada!

This event is free and open to the public. An RSVP isn't necessary, but it helps us plan accordingly, and allows us to send you any event updates.

DJ Trivia Night at Reno Public Market

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:52:30 +0000

By Ian Sturtz

A special thanks to our hosts, DJ Trivia Sierra Nevada!

This event is free and open to the public. An RSVP isn't necessary, but it helps us plan accordingly, and allows us to send you any event updates.

DJ Trivia Night at Reno Public Market

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:52:30 +0000

By Ian Sturtz

A special thanks to our hosts, DJ Trivia Sierra Nevada!

This event is free and open to the public. An RSVP isn't necessary, but it helps us plan accordingly, and allows us to send you any event updates.