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Muscle Powered hosts two hikes in Carson City this week

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 02:24:36 +0000

By Janet McDonnell

Join Muscle Powered on a hike or two this week in Carson City.

On Tuesday, July 9, hike the Clear Creek Connector Trail. Meet at the trailhead on Golf Course Drive off of Highway 50 at 5:30pm.

On Sunday, July 14, hike the Foothill trail and the V&T. Meet behind the Tahoe Carson Cancer Center by the Foothill Garden Greenhouse at a.m. (Yes, 6 a.m.!)

Check out the calendar in the Muscle Powered website, musclepowered.org.

Pine Nuts: Secrets to longevity

Jeff Munson — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 00:04:02 +0000

By McAvoy Layne

Isn’t it interesting that in this year’s happiest place in the world, Finland, half the Finns are taking anti-depressants. But why? My guess is they are suffering from a deficiency of music and humor, just like the rest of us.

Some health experts like to tell us the sweet spot for long life is 7,000 steps a day, but my untrained eye tells me the sweet spot for long life is 7,000 laughs a year, along with 7,000 songs a year. Still, I try to maintain a spring in my 7,000 steps a day, though sometimes I do find myself plodding around the house like an antiquated Lake Tahoe gander.

Little acts of kindness can make our day, for as that great Albanian, Mother Teresa, used to say, “Don’t look for big things, do small things with great love.”

A fellow I didn’t know stopped by my place the other day with a music box shaped like a steamboat. He told me he thought it should have a good home because it plays “Moon River,” which has a line in it, “My Huckleberry friend.” I play that little sidewheeler every morning as I pour my coffee, and am grateful for that gentleman’s random act of kindness.

Kindness and Grace: We will do ourselves a great service by placing those two words at the forefront of all political and diplomatic deliberations of the day.

In this turbid world of ours, nobody can afford to be complacent anymore. Eventually, we have to stand up for altruism and charity. And too, we could be more grateful for little adjustments, like General Motors recalling 740,000 SUV’s because their LED headlights were too bright and causing a debilitating glare, and I thought it was just me.

Then there Was That Little Debate: A Brief Review for Those Lucky Enough to Have Missed It

“You’re the worst president!”

“No, you’re the worst president! Na-Na Na-Na Boo-Boo!”

To me it was an overarching discomfiture, though in the airing of dirty laundry on television, it was also a small victory for democracy.

The president’s voice was missing in action, thus dramatically weakening his arguments, while the former president drilled down with the delivery of a Winnemucca auctioneer hawking seven straws of bull semen.

The losers? Well, Donald lost on paper, while Joe lost bigtime on television.

It was painful to watch, and I have yet to hear anybody bragging about having watched it twice. My take? Both candidates should do the country the favor of stepping aside. I guess that makes me a double lover, someone who would love anybody else.

As to presidential immunity, I maintain that a president who knows right from wrong will never have to appeal for immunity.

So what will November bring us? I don’t know, and neither does my Aunt Tilda, but one thing is sure, we will get the government that we deserve.

— For more than 35 years, in more than 4,000 performances, columnist and Chautauquan McAvoy Layne has been dedicated to preserving the wit and wisdom of “The Wild Humorist of the Pacific Slope,” Mark Twain. As Layne puts it: “It’s like being a Monday through Friday preacher, whose sermon, though not reverently pious, is fervently American."

Go here for the spoken word version of this and other columns.

Sheriff: Fire or dust devil believed to be responsible for Lyon County dispatch phone outage

Jeff Munson — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 22:23:50 +0000

UPDATE: Dispatch lines are back in service.
***
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office reports in a social media message Sunday that its dispatch center phone lines are down due to possibly fire and a dust devil in the county.

There were fires reported earlier off Dayton Valley Road and possibly one in Smith Valley. It is unknown if the phone issue is related. All dispatch lines are being routed through Carson City Sheriff's Office. LCSO advises people needing to use 911 or non-emergency dispatch to be patient with Carson City dispatch as they are not familiar with the Lyon County areas.

LCSO says it will post updates when they become available.

Carson City emergency crews called to vehicle fire on I-580 near South Carson Street

Jeff Munson — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 22:08:47 +0000

UPDATE: The fire has been extinguished, according to a battalion chief on scene.
***
Carson City Fire Department, sheriff's deputies and Nevada Highway Patrol were called Sunday afternoon to a vehicle fire in on I-580 northbound near South Carson Street.

Just after 3 p.m. Carson City dispatch was notified of a vehicle fire. The circumstances are unknown. The fire department has arrived and is investigating.

Motorists can expect delays.

Northern Nevada backyards and gardens: How to get rid of roots naturally

Jeff Munson — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 21:35:54 +0000

JoAnne Skelly

I had a question about how to get rid of roots naturally. Doing things without inorganic chemical inputs usually requires physical work and diligence.

First, are the roots attached to a living plant/tree or are they remnants of something that died or was removed? If living, some sources say to cut the roots with loppers or a root pruning saw. I use a regular limb saw when I prune out a small root.

On the other hand, where the problem roots are located may mean hiring a professional; for example — if they are going under a foundation, if the roots are quite large; or if to help facilitate tree stump removal.

A professional should be able to determine if removing a problem root might cause the tree to become unstable or unsafe. A tree’s root system makes up almost 65 percent of its total biomass.

Therefore, root removal on live trees should be done as close to the end of the root as possible to keep damage to the tree to a minimum.

A problem with cutting roots on living trees, especially on strong growers such as poplars, is that new sprouts come up everywhere and more roots grow trying to replace those removed. This can sometimes lead to more root problems.

Eliminating roots of dead plants/trees, or those you have removed, means no real care is needed, because you are just trying to get rid of roots that might be in the way of new plants, irrigation, or some other desirable project. This type of clearing of old roots requires a strong back, good tools such as a pickaxe, saw, shovel and possibly chains and a strong vehicle. Hard work, I know.

Stump grinding is an option in trees that have been cut down. But, unless the tree was dead, all its remaining roots may continue to grow and produce multiple new trees. With dead roots, it can take years for them to decompose. When they do, they add organic matter to the soil, but in the meantime, it can be almost impossible to plant where the leftover roots are.

It can be difficult to kill living roots naturally. You have to starve them of nutrients, which requires pruning out any suckers as soon as you see them, day after day, week after week. Try not to provide water to where the roots are growing. This could be quite difficult if other plants nearby need water.

— JoAnne Skelly is Associate Professor & Extension Educator, Emerita, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at skellyj@unr.edu.

Chautauqua on Titanic survivor, talk on 1960 Olympics kick off July at Dangberg Historic Park

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 19:36:06 +0000

By Kim Harris - Events Manager

Chautauquas of Titanic survivor Violet Jessop, and Carson City teacher Hannah Clapp, as well as a talk on the 1960 Winter Olympics are featured as the first events of July, during the Dangberg Summer Festival.

On this 150th Anniversary of Chautauqua, Dangberg Historic Park is celebrating Wednesday night Chautauquas with the theme: "Follow Us on an Adventure!" All Wednesday evening Chautauquans have an adventurous tale to share with their audience.

On Wednesday, July 10, from 6:30-7:30 pm, Kim Harris will portray Violet Jessop, survivor of the sinkings of both the Titanic and Britannic ocean liners.

Violet Jessop was the only known rescued person with a toothbrush after the Britannic struck a mine and sank. Jessop had been on the Titanic four years earlier and remembered what she had missed.

Violet Jessop was there when Titanic sideswiped the iceberg and sank; four years later Jessop was a wartime nurse aboard the hospital ship Britannic. Service with the White Star Line put her in harm’s way, at the center of two epic maritime disasters.

Kim Harris is an accomplished Chautauquan with over 15 years’ experience, having presented local and national historical characters, from California to Bronxville, New York. Harris is the owner of Western History ALIVE! where she presents the lives of many famous and infamous historical figures.

Kim Harris is also a Titanic enthusiast and will have memorabilia on display for the audience to enjoy, prior to her presentation of Violet Jessop.

Wednesday evening Chautauqua ticket prices are $15 for 17 years and older. Youth 16 years and younger are free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the event. Members of Friends of Dangberg Home Ranch will receive special pricing so please contact the park for more information. Gate opens at 5:30 pm.

On Friday, July 12, from 10:00-11:00 am, Cora Johnson will portray Hannah K. Clapp, a teacher, activist, and feminist in Nevada.

Hannah Keziah Clapp was born near Albany, New York, in 1824. While little is known about her childhood, at the age of twenty-five, Clapp appeared on the list of teachers at the Union Seminary in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In 1859, she joined her brother and his family as they made their cross-country wagon train journey to Vacaville, California.

Hannah Clapp taught in Vacaville for a year, then moved back across the Sierra Nevada to become one of the first professional educators in Carson City. Clapp is noted for being a pioneer in the fields of fashion, feminism, education, construction, women’s suffrage, and the University of Nevada at Reno.

Cora Johnson taught for thirty-six years in the subjects of Physical Education, history, English learners and retired as a high school librarian. Johnson’s lifelong curiosity in “what makes things tick” and how they are connected, along with wanting to know about the rich history of her new environs, prompted her to attend Dangberg Historic Park events where she discovered Chautauqua.

Cora Johnson chose a Chautauqua character in the field of education, thus relating her past career to northern Nevada. Johnson volunteers at the Dangberg Summer Festival events and the Nevada State Museum.

This event is free for all to attend.

On Saturday, July 13, from 10:00-11:00 am, David and Gayle Woodruff will speak on “Going for the Gold: The 1960 Winter Olympics”.

Alex Cushing and the State of California brought the 1960 Winter Olympics to the Lake Tahoe area, and Walt Disney brought the Olympics to the World. From hosting the first Olympics that truly utilized modern technology, to creating a world class Olympic training facility deep in the Sierra Nevada Forest, the Lake Tahoe region has played an important role in America’s success in both the Summer and Winter Olympics for generations. Using extensive research and seldom seen photos, the presentation will look back at “Big Blue’s” Olympic history.

David and Gayle Woodruff are the authors of several books on Eastern Sierra history, as well as presenters of a variety of local history programs.

This event is also free for all to attend.

Please bring your own seating and no pets allowed – certified service animals only. Guests are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy as no food or beverages will be sold at these events. All events are held outdoors. For more information on these events, or on visiting Dangberg Historic Park, please visit Dangberg.org.

Carson Valley Community Theatre presents 'Making God Laugh' weekends July 19-28

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 19:29:15 +0000

Carson Valley Community Theatre will feature "Making God Laugh" in July. The production is a heartwarming family comedy, spanning four distinct scenes separated by a decade each, all set against the backdrop of various holidays.

Kicking off in 1980, we witness the homecoming of the family's freshly launched offspring – a budding priest, an aspiring actress, and a former football star – each brimming with their own ambitions and dreams as they step into adulthood.

Meanwhile, the once bustling nest finds itself echoing with the quietude of change as the parents navigate their own transitions. Familiar family customs and questionable recipes resurface, triggering ancient tensions to simmer once more. Across 30 years of holiday celebrations — from Thanksgiving to Easter, with stops at Christmas and New Year's Eve — the narrative unfolds, revealing how, despite our best-laid plans, life often takes us on unforeseen journeys.

The show dates:
Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
July 19, 26, 27

Saturday and Sunday matinee 2 p.m.
July 20, 21, 27, 28

Performances located at:

CVIC Hall 1602 Esmeralda Ave, Minden.

Ticket info:
18 - Seniors and students (23 at the door)
21 General Admission (26 at the door)

Tickets available online at carsonvalleycommunitytheatre.org.

Box Office, July 10 - Wednesday and Friday 12 to 4 p.m.
Box office located at the Annex, 1572 Hwy 395, Minden.

How Nevada is attempting to tackle the growing food insecurity crisis for seniors

admin — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 18:10:08 +0000

Kelsea Frobes, The Nevada Independent

With pandemic-era public benefits ending and high prices on groceries, officials are sounding the alarm about a growing number of Nevada seniors going hungry.

CEO Beth Martino of food security nonprofit Three Square and Marie Baxter with Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada said a reduction of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — or food stamp — benefits as well as inflation are contributing to the post-pandemic increase in food insecurity among the state’s older residents.

“I think the senior crisis is truly its own sort of silent pandemic,” said Baxter, whose organization offers food pantries, home meal deliveries and other services. “And food insecurity is just one tiny, tiny piece of the massive crisis that we are seeing for seniors, … there are also a lot of unscrupulous people that take advantage of seniors who are vulnerable.”

Her comments came during a recent meeting of the Nevada Silver Haired Legislative Forum, when agencies including the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH), the Governor's Council on Food Security, Nevada Medicaid and the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services came together to discuss how their respective programs are addressing the worsening food insecurity crisis that is affecting older Nevadans.

More than 35,000 Nevadans aged 60 and older and almost 44,000 Nevadans aged 50-59 were food insecure in 2021. Black and Latino senior Nevadans were disproportionately more likely to experience food insecurity compared with the overall senior population; the condition was almost four times more likely for Black senior Nevadans, and three times more likely for Latino Nevadans, according to Sarah Rogers from DPBH.

Older adults who are food insecure consume lower quantities of the key nutrients they need such as iron and protein and are “more likely to have chronic health conditions,” Rogers said. She noted that food insecurity is a strong predictor of poor health, including heart disease, stroke, lung disease and diabetes.

Along with a lack of funding needed for partners to supply food to seniors, barriers hindering them from accessing food include poor health, lack of support, challenges with transportation and fixed incomes. Seniors aged 60 or older who have a disability are two times more likely to face food insecurity than those without a disability, and adults 50-59 with a disability are three times as likely to face food insecurity than those without.

Baxter wants seniors to know that it’s “OK to ask for help” and that “often when we're working with seniors, they've done everything right. They worked hard, they raised their families, they had a plan for their retirement or their golden years, and the world has shifted in ways that I don't think any of us really anticipated.”

What government agencies are doing

In 2023, DPBH updated its Food Security Strategic Plan, which includes five pillars that aim to aid populations facing food insecurity. Among these are a “feed” pillar, with the goal of Nevada having an “efficient logistics, distribution, transportation, and storage system,” as well as a “growth” pillar that focuses on “supporting the expansion of state or local programs that promote the consumption of locally produced agriculture.”

The Governor’s Council on Food Security is working to oversee the implementation of that strategic plan and to develop an annual food security conference. Allison Genco, the chair of the council, said that these conferences aim to bring partners together to “talk through long-standing issues and create initiatives to continue to move the needle on food security.”

Although Nevada Medicaid serves 1 in 3 Nevadans, Kirsten Coulombe, social services chief with the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy, says that Medicaid only offers food services to those who are “unable to prepare or obtain nutritional meals without assistance,” which does “not necessarily [include] every senior.”

Meals from Medicaid are limited to two per day with either a breakfast and lunch option or a lunch and dinner option.

During the meeting, Coulombe also mentioned that Nevada Medicaid stopped utilizing the home- and community-based section of the American Rescue Plan on March 31 of this year, and is now absorbing the costs previously covered by pandemic aid into its budget.

“We felt it was important to keep those home-delivered meal services available to individuals on the elderly waiver, but in terms of permanently adding it, that would be the budget initiative that we would require and then a budget initiative to increase the rate over what it is currently,” Coulombe said.

Currently, the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services is working on a waiver so that it can start accepting food stamp applications over the phone as well as a restaurant meal program that allows elderly, disabled and unhoused individuals to use their electronic benefits cards at participating restaurants.

Kelly Cantrell, deputy administrator with the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, said that there are approximately 501,000 individuals currently receiving SNAP benefits in Nevada, including more than 77,000 seniors aged 60 and older.

Outside of government resources, nonprofits such as Three Square and Catholic Charities offer programs that aim to tackle food insecurity for senior citizens.

Among Three Square’s programs, “Golden Groceries” is designed to reach people who are 60 and older. A large facet of the program is having pantries designed just for seniors to come in and shop. Martino says that Three Square stocks these pantries with food that is specific to the nutritional needs of the senior community; Golden Groceries can also be delivered directly to seniors.

Three Square partners with public libraries to provide a hot meal during the weekdays. According to Martino, the program started because library officials were concerned about seniors becoming isolated coming out of the pandemic. This program not only offers seniors a hot meal, but also provides an opportunity for them to socialize.

Three Square also operates a call center through which seniors and others can get a ride to Three Square at no cost. The call center can assist seniors in applying for or making changes to other programs, such as Medicare.

Martino says that Three Square’s mission is to provide food to those that need it and to “engage in work that will lead to a hunger-free community.” Three Square serves four counties: Clark, Lincoln, Nye and Esmeralda.

Martino says that because of the size of Three Square’s facility, it is able to get larger quantities of food that smaller food pantries might not be able to accept. Last year, Three Square distributed about 45 million pounds of food across Southern Nevada through a network of more than 150 nonprofit organizations that work to serve those in the community who are food insecure.

Baxter, with Catholic Charities, said her organization also offers a range of programs for seniors, such as food pantries, home deliveries, a home modification program that aids older adults stay in their homes longer, and a program that helps them apply for benefits that assist with their specific situations.

Seniors can visit Catholic Charities food pantries twice a month and receive a 65-pound box of food each time that they come. These boxes include shelf-stable items as well as fresh food such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products and eggs. The senior home delivery program consists of health and welfare checks as well as immunizations.

Baxter said that the home modification program is for seniors who are in need of repairs or modifications such as grab bars, ramps, or removal of trip hazards such as old carpet that would help them stay in their homes. These repairs are provided at no cost to the senior.

Baxter said that in order to enroll in federal benefits, seniors meet with a Catholic Charities benefits enrollment specialist to assist in covering their financial needs. Baxter described this as a great program because these benefits “free up their Social Security dollars” to help with things such as rent, additional food resources, paying for medications and more.

Although “Northern Nevada” may be in the name, Baxter says that her organization assists everyone in Nevada outside of Las Vegas.

— This story is used with permission of The Nevada Independent. Go here for updates to this and other Nevada Independent stories.

Tales Along El Camino Sierra, Highway 395 highlighted Tuesday at Carson City Senior Center

Jeff Munson — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 14:55:05 +0000

Event Date:

July 9, 2024 - 1:30pm

Using seldom seen photographs and extensive research, local historians and authors David and Gayle Woodruff recount the impressive and fascinating efforts promoted by boosters in Eastern California and Western Nevada to get a modern roadway (Highway 395) built in their region in the 1900s.

From record setting flights over Mt. Whitney to partnering with two World Fairs, the ballyhoo created by Eastern Sierra Good Road Club enthusiasts was amusing, improbable and effective.

The program is on Tuesday, July 9 at 1:30pm. The event is free and will be in the Nevada Room at the Carson City Senior Center, 911 Beverly Drive. RSVP’s for the event are not necessary. Call the Senior Center for more information (775) 883-0703.

Carson City area road report for week of July 8-14

Jeff Munson — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 14:23:13 +0000

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of July 8-14, 2024. Closures are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work:

— 2nd Street between Carson Street and Curry Street will be closed to westbound traffic from April 8, 2024 to June 30, 2025 for construction.

— Curry Street between 2nd Street and King Street will be closed to traffic on Thursday, from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm.

— Winnie Lane between Mountain Street and Carson Street will be closed to traffic from July 8, 2024 to July 19, 2024.

Lane restrictions are expected at the following locations due to road/utility work:

— 5th Street between Hells Bells Road and Marsh Road will be closed to westbound traffic from Monday and Tuesday, 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. Eastbound traffic will have flagger control from Monday and Tuesday, 7:00 am to 5:30 pm.

— 5th Street between Hells Bells and Marsh Road will be closed to eastbound traffic from Tuesday through Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. Westbound traffic will have flagger control Tuesday through Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:30 pm.

— Curry Street between Adams Street and Park Street will be reduced to a single lane from June 3, 2024, to July 12, 2024, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

— Mallory Way near 800 Mallory Way will have reduced lanes Monday through Friday, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

— Mountain Street between Fleischmann Way and Marlette Drive will have shoulder work from July 10, 2024 to July 20, 2024, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

— Musser Street between Plaza Street and Stewart Street will have reduced lanes from Tuesday through Wednesday, 7:00 am to 4:30 pm.

— Robinson Street between Valley Street and Roop Street will have reduced lanes from Monday - Friday, 7:00 am to 4:30 pm. Bus Stops will be closed during construction. Robinson Street between Anderson Street and Walsh Street may be closed during this time. Detours will be provided.

— Saliman Road near Seely Loop will have narrow lanes from Monday through Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:30 pm.

— William Street between Roop Street and Saliman Road will have shoulder work on the eastbound side of the street. Use caution. The bike path will be closed and trucks will be entering and exiting the roadway from Monday through Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:30 pm.