NDOT: Section of State Route 342 temporarily closed for bypass construction

Winter is settling in, even if our mountains are lacking their snowy blanket. It’s chilly out there, but the members of Muscle Powered head out for a walk and a hike every Tuesday unless the rain or snow is falling. Join them tonight for a walk around downtown Carson City to take in the twinkling lights and decorations; there will even be a stop afterward for a warm beverage. If you’d rather exercise your brain, the Geeks Who Drink Pub Quiz at Sassafras and DJ Trivia at the Fox Brewpub are your choices.

Carson Valley’s first indoor play-park is cutting the ribbon this Wednesday, Dec. 20 for the official grand opening of Run, Rattle & Roll, an adult-supervised, children’s indoor play-park with a convenient parents’ lounge and healthy snack bar area.

‘Tis the week before Christmas / And all through the brain / The madness is roaring / Like a freight train.

I wrote this little spin on the Night Before Christmas to acknowledge you. A sparkling tree and stockings hung with care don’t come without someone putting up the tree and stuffing the stockings.

Weekly wages in Nevada averaged $900 during the second quarter of 2017, according to figures released this week by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

Contractors are hard at work in the Carson City Library, tearing out carpet to replace the flooring and paint the walls. While the library will not reopen until late January, limited services will be available during the closure.

A strong cold front will move through the Carson City region and Sierra from Tuesday night into Wednesday bringing the potential for damaging winds, widespread snow down to all valley floors and very cold temperatures, according to the National Weather Service.

The Carson City School District is pleased to report that all samples taken from water fountains and fixtures at school sites had lead levels well below the project Action Level for drinking water. The water quality threshold for lead in drinking water is expressed as an Action Level, which in this case is 20 micrograms per liter or higher (ug/L, also known as parts per billion).

It may be Monday, but the next one on the way is Christmas. If you still have some loved ones on your holiday shopping list, the Craft Fair at the Carson Mall is sure to have something for everyone. Monday also means football. Watch the Falcons take on the Buccaneers at Living the Good Life. You’ll find good food, good drinks, and the game on all of their screens. Put some swing in your step at Carson Lanes. The High Sierra Swing Dance Club meets weekly to learn some new dance moves and put them into action. Santa has been spotted at Red’s Old 395: from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Dayton, Nevada – This week’s Dayton Food Pantry news includes recognition for three groups that recently contributed to the Pantry: Volunteers in Policing (V.I.P.s), Girl Scout Service Unit 625, and the Misfits Theater Group. Dayton Food Pantry manager Alie Trier said, “This Thanksgiving we were so grateful for the hundreds of turkeys and hams, side items, and checks donated by the community. Now we even have enough to provide more than 500 more familes with spiral hams for Christmas. Thank you awesome community members!”

One thing was evident as the special Polar Express Train departed the depot east of Carson City: You don't have to have kids with you to enjoy the annual holiday favorite on the historic V&T Railroad.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Dec. 18-24, 2017. Lane closures or restrictions are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

It’s beginning to look, and sound, a lot like Christmas. Let the Tintabulations Handbell Ensemble entertain you with the in the warmth and magic of the holiday season during their free Winter Wandering concerts. ‘Elf’ is a modern holiday classic, and you’ll find it on the big screen today and Wednesday at the Galaxy Theater. Track down Santa at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada; a family membership to the museum makes a great gift for anyone with little ones. Keep reading for even more Sunday fun day activities.

Much of my gardening life for most of the year is about doing: fertilizing, mowing, watering, raking, digging, transplanting and pruning. Now, with winter upon us, I have more of a chance to reflect on how the landscape actually looks as I sit in a sunny window watching the birds, the sun rise or set, the deer wandering through, or the weather blowing clouds around.

This photo was taken by a Carson Now reader after the Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights state Christmas tree lighting ceremony earlier this month.