environment

A federal grant aimed at providing permanent places to live in Carson City for veterans who are homeless has been awarded to the Nevada Rural Housing Authority, officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development announced Wednesday.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is preparing for the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebration at Lake Tahoe starting on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015.

Due to the high volume of celebrants within the Stateline casino core area during this event, U.S. Highway 50 may be closed to vehicle traffic in the evening if necessary for public safety.

Celebrate National Winter Trails Day by participating in a free guided snowshoe hike in Van Sickle Bi-State Park on January 9, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants will learn about Lake Tahoe’s pristine environment while experiencing the enjoyment of snowshoeing.

Whenever I go to The Greenhouse Project at Carson High School in Carson City, I learn something new. This week it was about which kinds of beneficial insects work best in a greenhouse at this time of year. Pests can be a constant challenge in the optimum environment of a greenhouse.

People at Lake Tahoe are working together like never before to restore our environment, revitalize our economy, and improve our communities. We saw significant progress all around the lake this year. And our progress is sustainable with continued partnership and collaboration, so critical to tackle the many challenges and important decisions on our horizon.

Celebrating its 27th year, the popular Santa Train took a new approach to this year’s programming by enhancing the event with upgraded amenities, expanding to 3 weekends, and optimizing participation by launching a new online ticketing system.

Dr. Todd Gray, DDS and Dr. Heather Parsons, DMD of Valley Pediatric Dentistry, thought this year provided an outstanding opportunity to assist the museum’s efforts by encouraging local businesses to help sponsor the event through donations for holiday decorations and supplies not provided by the museum budget.

Caroline Gabica slid activated hand warmers into her boots, picked up a bag of footballs and followed the coach out onto the field during the playoff game between Carson and Reed high schools in November. Soon Gabica, manager for the Carson High School Senators football team, was back on the sidelines, taping up the injured fingers of a player who got tangled up with another player’s face mask.

Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno have found that an instrument the scientific community commonly uses to measure mercury in the air yields inaccurate results.

Principal researcher Mae Gustin in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences has been leading the effort to determine the accuracy of a widely used mercury measuring instrument. The study is expected to support and inform regulatory decision-making aimed at protecting human and wildlife health.

What initially began as a holiday party for Carson Tahoe Health employees and their families has grown to include organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada through the efforts of the CTH events committee headed by Kayleen Fogleman, director of supply chain management.

CTH provided treats and activities, including decorating enormous sugar cookies, writing letters to Santa, mingling with Carson City firefighters and a visit with Santa at the annual Carson Tahoe Health Kids Christmas Party in the main hall of the hospital Dec. 10.

For a few hours one day each year, children of all ages are offered the opportunity to immerse themselves in the full spirit of the season, when Cafe at Adele’s hosts Cookies with Santa, a benefit event that combines all the best aspects of good cheer with helping to provide gifts for area children.

The five-year, $305 billion federal transportation bill passed by Congress and signed into law Friday, Dec. 4 by President Obama includes a provision that will steer additional money to Lake Tahoe communities for roadway improvements and enhanced public transit service.

Youth Theatre Carson City will feature the upcoming production of "Yes, Virginia: The Musical," an exciting new holiday classic based on the Macy’s and NBC Holiday special of the same name.

"Yes, Virginia: The Musical" has been adapted specifically for children and families by Macy’s, in partnership with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The show will run two performances, Dec. 19-20, 2015 in the Bob Boldrick Theatre at the Carson City Community Center.

Building upon a legacy of excellence, Carson Tahoe Health proudly celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the acclaimed Regional Medical Center in Carson City on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Over the past decade, Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center has grown into one of Northern Nevada’s premier healthcare destinations, earning numerous awards and accolades affirming its outstanding patient care, leading-edge medical expertise, and ultra-modern healing environment.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada is aiming high for the future. The Club has brought on a new chief professional officer, turned earth on its new Carson City teen center in October and partnered with a local marketing firm to create a new website and marketing plan.

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services will hold foster and adoptive parent training sessions in Carson City on three dates in early December.

The Geminids- the king of meteor showers- is soon approaching. On December 13 and 14, the sky will glow with up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour.

Looking for a great way to get away after Thanksgiving, have some fun and create some fabulous Christmas gifts? Well, come join us in this three hour jewelry making class where we'll be making "Bold and Funky" wire wrapped necklaces that are eye catching AND as fun to wear as they are to make.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) released the Buy Nevada Holiday Gift Guide for the 2015 holiday season.

Available online, the Buy Nevada catalog highlights Buy Nevada members. With more than 100 businesses from around the state, showcasing the many food and agriculture products produced or processed in Nevada to help consumers shop local on “Shop Local Saturday.”

A Bay Area plastic manufacturer will relocate to Dayton with plans to create up to 70 jobs, the Northern Nevada Development Authority announced Tuesday.

Peterson Products will move its production facility and headquarters from Belmont, Calif., to Lyon County. The company recently leased a building and plans to create up to 70 jobs in Northern Nevada and adding another manufacturer to the region.

Snow flurries have begun. The first storm dropped heavy “Sierra cement,” that wet slushy snow whose weight often damages plants. Here are a few tips for preventing winter injury to plants.

Northern Nevada Development Authority on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lubelskie Region of Poland as part of an ongoing effort to increase economic ties between Poland and the Sierra region of Nevada.

This past summer was Lake Tahoe’s busiest tourist season in recent memory. With the economy rebounding and major population growth projected for nearby metropolitan areas, this summer is also a harbinger of change. We must be prepared to meet the challenges of increased visitation in the future.

On November 22nd from 9:30-11:00AM, Caring Santa will be visiting Meadowood Mall. Caring Santa provides a subdued and welcoming environment for children with special needs and their families to visit Santa.
Reserve your spot at: meadowoodmallcaringsanta.eventbrite.com.

For more information please call (775) 827-8450 or visit http://www.simon.com/mall/meadowood-mall.

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) will hold foster/adoptive parent training on Dec. 5, 6 and 12 in Carson City. Each day runs from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Training sessions will be held at Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center, Valley View Room, 3rd Floor, at 1600 Medical Parkway, Carson City, NV 89703 (lunch and snacks will be provided, courtesy of Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center).

Science is a process, not a doctrine. It asks questions and sets out to test them for answers. But our culture seems to regard science in an animate form, like a guru seated atop a mountain.

We put science on a pedestal and submit to it as the final authority on all of our problems and important questions. We rely on science to give us the answers.

We even permit science to be the driving force behind public policy, in spite of the fact that science is a search for questions that remain unanswered.

Take the issues of climate change and global warming.

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid announced Wednesday that the USDA has awarded $9 million in grant funding and a $4 million loan to Storey County to improve its wastewater infrastructure. The money will go toward replacing more than 13 miles of sewer lines in Virginia City and the failing community septic system in Gold Hill.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Nov. 2-8, 2015. Division Street will be closed between Fifth Street and King Street during daytime hours Monday through Friday due to road construction. Detours will be signed.

In the age of hipster coffeehouses springing forth on every corner, sometimes you just want the original. For Carson City residents that’s Comma Coffee, that celebrated 15 years of brewing bliss, on Saturday following the Nevada Day Parade.

More than $177 million has been invested through the USDA into rural Nevada communities in the past year, assisting more than 700 families in either helping them buy homes or to make improvements to their properties, and investing more than $28 million for community water and sewer system repairs, officials said Friday.

A rubber and plastic manufacturer will move its plastic division from California to Carson Valley in Douglas County and bring 40 jobs along with it, officials with Northern Nevada Development Authority announced Thursday.

VIP Rubber and Plastic has purchased a building near Johnson Lane and plans a Jan. 4, 2016 opening. The company's main manufacturing facility will remain in La Habra, Calif.