happiness

Andrew MacKenzie
1941-2018

Andrew, better known as Andy, was born on his family’s ranch in Yerington, Nevada. He was the fourth of five children of Albert “Burr” and Marion, including Al, Fred, Madeline and Mary Lou.

Andy enjoyed his upbringing in Yerington, making friends, working on ranches, playing football, excelling in scholastics and having more than his share of fun. His accolades from high school included being elected Governor of Boys State and later being inducted into the Yerington High Football Hall of Fame.

On Nov. 4, 1963, President John F. Kennedy issued Proclamation 3560, one of the Thanksgiving proclamations given by the U.S. president every year. Sadly, a little more than two weeks later, President Kennedy was assassinated.

This makes his final proclamation all that more poignant. In it he wrote, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

Don't let the Interstate 580 freeway closure put a damper on your Sunday. There is still plenty to do close to home in Carson City.

This weekend appears to have gone to the dogs — and cats — as Maddie's Pet Adoption Days continue Saturday at venues throughout the Carson City area.

Welcome to the last day of this work week. It is Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, which means it is Salvation Army's annual Turkey Drop Drive. Pick up a frozen turkey and drop it off at Max Casino, where your effort will help a local family enjoy Thanksgiving. Also today is the 24th CHS Holiday Craft Fair, which begins tonight and continues Saturday. Also tonight begins the last weekend of "Mamma Mia!" at the Carson City Community Center. Read on, there's more.

There's a lot of chatter right now about voting, especially with one particular statewide ballot initiative coming up for public vote on Nov. 6.

What’s happened to us? Many citizens of Carson City were whining after the results of the June 5 primary, even the complacent “registered” 3,305 non-voters, who didn’t brave the sunny weather.

Persistence. That's the difference between life's winners and its losers.

Winners don't quit, and quitters don't win. It's as simple as that.

One will never accomplish goals in life or realize dreams if one gives up the chase. I've had to learn some hard lessons about that over the years.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mike Smith, owner of Shiny Shoes in downtown Carson City, last Sunday to talk about his "Ideas on Tap" concept as a monthly community event in the Nevada state capital.

Being a real patriot these days takes true grit, like the United States Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis," the latin translation of "always faithful."

Authentic patriotism just doesn't seem to fit the modern political narrative.

Charters of Freedom Carson City, a permanent installation displaying bronze-plated replicas of the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence, was dedicated Thursday afternoon on the Carson City Courthouse plaza, 885 East Musser Street in Carson City.

Pennsylvania and Rhode Island Senates and Houses of Representatives will open their June 19 and 20 sessions respectively in Harrisburg and Providence with Hindu mantras, containing verses from world’s oldest existing scripture.

Reno based Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will deliver the invocations from ancient Sanskrit scriptures before the Senates and Houses of these states. After Sanskrit delivery, he then will read the English interpretation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.

Learn which simple changes you can make to your spaces to win in all areas of your life: relationships, money and happiness. Join us for Feng Shui, Change Your Space, Change Your Life on Sunday, June 24, 1 to 3 p.m. at Greenhouse Garden Center, 2450 South Curry Street, Carson City.

Another Memorial Day has come. Today we observe the sacrifices of men and women who gave the last full measure of devotion in defense of the United States of America.

I was going to write about how this year marks the sesquicentennial of Decoration Day, predecessor to the modern Memorial Day holiday.

Little Monsters Children's Resale Store in Carson City is closing permanently May 25 after almost five years in business, said the Chambers family, who opened the retail operation in the fall of 2013.

So, weekend is around the corner and you are looking forward to relax and calm your nerves from all the chaos that surrounded you throughout the week, right?

Want to hangout with friends or party it out? But, hey! doesn’t your tiring and oh-so-busy routine of five long working days leave you with a little energy to go outside and chill? Don’t you think it will exert you a little too much? So, what’s the alternative?

It seems, this week, so many I know have lost something. Whether it’s a job, health, a relationship, or an expectation, loss is real. It’s emotionally hard. In some cases, it’s a crisis. Loss of a client can hurt or kill a business if a contingency plan isn’t in place. Losing a job or a partner can be life altering. So, how can you recover faster?

If you experience a sudden surge of happiness while driving along North Carson Street between Park and Corbett, the reason may lay just inside Saffron Restaurant, a new eatery in Carson City that's on the verge of opening.

Okay. This is one of the hardest weekend lists I’ve ever had to do. This dump of snow has cancelled some events, but others are in full force. Best I can tell, St. Patrick’s Day parties are not deterred by a little snowfall. There will be no parade in Virginia City, but the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fest is on. Head to downtown Carson for more green beer, Irish music, and corned beef and cabbage than you’ll know what to do with.

SATURDAY: St. Patrick’s Day

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services is holding a foster parent information night on Wednesday, March 7 at Fremont Elementary School from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Many joys come with Christmas and the holiday season. Good food, the company of family and friends, observing the joy of children opening presents, good music and the anticipation of the new year to name just a few.

A special aspect of the season for us is the spirit of giving. We use this time to provide more help than usual for both folks less fortunate and for charitable organizations that do good works in our communities. We know we are blessed to have the means to do so.

A momentous congratulations goes out to the students who voluntarily and competitively placed in the 2017 Carson City School Board Sponsored American Citizen Essay Contest with first place at the high school level going to CHS 9th grade Honors English student Marissa Messmann, second place to CHS 12th grade College Readiness Senior English student Jessica Preston, and third place going to 9th grade Honors English student Matteas Klatt.

Nevada Day officials are seeking additional volunteers to serve as parade marshals for the 78th annual Nevada Day Parade on Oct. 28.

Americans Declaration of Medical Freedoms

I love taking clients on Monday mornings just before I write this column. I particularly enjoy the complementary consultations. Because, then I get to share with all of you! This morning, I was speaking with a lovely new client in Seattle.

The Brewery Arts Center in Carson City will feature “Burning”, a one woman show this weekend for Earth Day. Burning is a highly kinetic, semi-comic romp through the absurd landscapes of climate change where comedy, tragedy, activism and cautious optimism collide.

“All children are artists. The problem is to remain an artist once you grow up.” — Pablo Picasso, Painter, Sculptor.

In the Fall of 2015, I was teaching to a group of high school students on the topic of creativity and innovation in entrepreneurship. As examples, I shared stories about the imaginative minds of George Lucas and Steve Jobs.

“I made a decision that incarceration would not be my last destination. God is not done with me yet.” — Anonymous

I remember when I first met Alyssa, along with a dozen other students, in my class. As they were reading aloud, and under her breath, Alyssa politely corrected the girl reading in the chair next to her. She was shy, wise, and well-spoken.

For my leadership class at Pioneer High School, I was given a project of community change. I chose bullying because this has been an issue that has affected me and most of the community at some point.

Our school was given several anti-bullying books from a grant and the Carson City Library collection known as the “Bully Free Zone,” for students to check out if they would like one.

We have all had a dreadful dating experience straight out of a horror show that makes us question the very merits of searching for love. The Brewery Arts Center is bringing together some of Northern Nevada’s top comedians and storytellers to recount their worst and most excruciating dating stories on Saturday, February 18 at 8 pm (doors at 7:30) at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, located at 511 W. King St. Carson City, NV 89703.

Tickets are only $5 at the door with open seating and a cash bar. For more information please contact Nick Josten at 775-450-4772.