summer

This week's It's Your City host Cortney Bloomer welcomes Kyle Horvath, Brewery Arts Center board president. The two discuss upcoming plans for the arts center, including an outdoor performance venue that will begin this summer.

A wetter than average spring hasn't dented four years of drought, with fire agencies ramping up in preparation of summer fire season in the Sierra, Pine Nut Mountains and on public land throughout Nevada.

The Bureau of Land Management Carson City District, U.S. Forest Service and the Nevada Division of Forestry warn of the dangers looming this season, with temperatures climbing and tinder dry conditions on the ground and in the forests.

Happy Tuesday, Carson City. And happy Bloomsday to the James Joyce aficionados out there. June is National Soul Food Month, so my suggestion for today is a trip to Sassafras for some New Orleans inspired grub and a great free concert. Songwriter Bryan Hayes will be in house for one night to help promote his new album ‘Farther Down the Line.’ Check out the Official Video for his new Single ‘I Wanna Run.’ The song was written in Mosul, Iraq, and one of Bryan's soldiers, SGT Zach Tucker, is featured in the video.

TUESDAY:

• One Putt Jr. Academy at Silver Oak Golf Course (7:45am sign in, 8am-10am; $40 per class or $200 for six classes: includes Green Fees, Pull Cart, Golf Clubs, Gatorade; space limited, ages 7-12)
• Industrial Art at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)

The Nevada Department of Transportation begins construction today on the $42 million final leg of the Carson City Freeway project.

Road crews will pave and open the last four miles of the freeway to traffic between Fairview Drive and the Spooner, Highway 50 junction in south Carson City, including construction of sound walls and drainage features. The project is expected to complete, opening the final segment of freeway to traffic, in 2017, according to NDOT. It is being constructed by contractors Road and Highway Builders.

As part of a larger community effort to improve the quality of life in northern Nevada, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra will host its Tune Into Kids Fair on Tuesday, June 23 at the “town’s park” in Silver City as part of its annual Day of Action.

Today is National Nature Photography Day, so have at it. Find something beautiful and take a snapshot. It’s also National Smile Power Day, so you may as well take some pictures of smiling faces as well. Do something to make Monday a little brighter and the day will fly by. The Friends of the Carson City Library are having a half-off everything sale at Browsers Corner Book Store all week, so go in and find yourself a summer read. Don’t forget to head into Classy Seconds Thrift Shop this week and grab a ticket for Taste of Downtown: it hits the streets on Saturday.

MONDAY:

I visited a friend this past week who is an outstanding plant person. Peg’s landscape is filled with plant species or varieties that I have not used before. They are perennials with interesting foliage, flowers, form and often scent. They are also water-efficient and hardy for our area. I wandered around her little horticulture heaven being inspired to broaden my plant choices.

Blinky Man took over streets of the city on Saturday evening. The annual costume nighttime bike ride took to the streets at 7:30 p.m. and after stopping at a number of bars and pubs throughout Carson City, concluded around midnight. Riders dressed themselves in neon colors, tutus and crazy hats. They also also adorned their bikes in lights to illuminate their nighttime ride.

A lemonade stand continues until around 1 p.m. today, with to help a Carson City boy recovering from brain cancer.
Anthony Cox Jr., a 9-year-old Seeliger Elementary student, was at the stand to greet friends, neighbors and passersby by at the Boys and Girls Club in Carson City.

Carson City Library’s Summer Reading Program is getting help this morning from the Carson City Fire Department with a kickoff Breakfast for Books launch in the parking lot of the library. The breakfast runs until 10 a.m. Tickets are $3 and gets you a plate of pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs and juice.

This year’s program, Every Hero has a Story, will be hosted online, with participants signing up and tracking hours read at the carsoncitylibrary.com website. Each participant will be assigned an avatar. As that avatar progresses with minutes read and logged, prizes are unlocked for literary games, author videos and other rewards.

Here’s a reminder of something special that occurs today in the Outdoor world: Today, Saturday, June 13 is Nevada’s Free Fishing Day for the year 2015. On this day, you can fish anywhere you want, and you will not need to have a Nevada fishing license or a Nevada Trout Stamp.

Today is also Nevada State Parks Day. Today folks can enjoy free admission to all 23 Nevada state parks.

Cyclists with Journey of Hope, a Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity’s national philanthropy effort to serve people with disabilities, made a stop Friday in Carson City and Western Nevada College as part of its cross-country bicycle trek that began in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle, which will ultimately conclude later this summer in Washington, D.C.

David Ruf of Greenhouse Garden Center sent over a crew Friday to the Nevada State Prison to assist the Carson City Chamber of Commerce in “prettying up the place” ahead of the chamber's 70th anniversary party.

Nevada State Prison has not received any tender loving care since it closed in 2012 and the entry yard was full of weeds. While the Chamber doesn’t want to make the prison “too pretty,” since it is, after all, a prison, we want to make sure the facility at least looks somewhat presentable for the showcase event to take place within the prison yard on June 29.

I don’t mean to make this hard on you, but you have some decisions to make. All day, all night, all weekend long, there are numerous activities throughout our area. Take a good look at the list, grab your friends, family, and kids, and have a great weekend. The Experimental Aircraft Association is hosting the Ford Tri-Motor this weekend, and has Young Eagles flights for the kids: registration and orientation is at 8 a.m. Head over to Eagle Valley Golf for free family golf day.

It’s time for Blinky Man Summer 2015! This annual costumed night time bike ride with lights will be stopping at tasty and refreshing businesses around Carson City on the evening of Saturday, June 13th. Dress your bikes and bodies, and get ready to parade around town in one biking mass of awesome. Th...

Rattlesnakes have already been active for months due to the mild winter and low precipitation, fostering an earlier and longer snake season. If you enjoy activities that take you and your dogs outdoors, you and your pets may be at risk for encountering rattlesnakes.

The weather app on my phone says that it’s supposed to be a sunny weekend hitting a high around 91 degrees. That sounds like summer to me! Get out and enjoy our valley and the surrounding towns, there will be plenty of good times. Carson Valley Days has begun in our neighbor to the south, complete with carnival at Lampe Park. Tonight, welcome a new exhibit in the CCAI Gallery at the Courthouse: a reception for the artists of ‘Industrial Arts’ begins at 5 p.m. Meet the Journey of Hope bike riders at Western Nevada College; plenty of activities for everyone.

FRIDAY:

• Industrial Art at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)
• Annual Rummage Sale for the Dayton Valley Historical Society at the Carson and Colorado Depot at the corner of Hwy 50 East and Main St., Dayton (8am-6pm)

Carson City Library’s Summer Reading Program will kick off with the Breakfast for Books at 8-10 a.m. Saturday.
“It’s important kids keep reading in the summer so they start off strong in the fall,” said Heather Butler, youth services librarian. “This bridges the gap at the end of the school year.”

The weekend is getting an early start. Carson Valley Days in Gardnerville kicks off with their Lampe Park carnival, and Dangberg Historic Ranch Home off Highway 88 hosts the first of their Twilight Concerts with Ciana. You can meet Author Laura Lea White at the Browser’s Corner Book Shop tonight; copies of her book ‘Generational Gifts: The Legacy of Evelyn Marie’ will be available. Silver Dollar Cruise Night is at Dunkin' Donuts; every Thursday through summer you'll find hot rods, street racers, and cool old cars at a different location.

THURSDAY:

• One Putt Jr. Academy at Silver Oak Golf Course (sign in 7:45am, 8am-10am; $40 per class or $200 for six classes classes includes Green Fees, Pull Cart, Golf Clubs, Gatorade; space limited, ages 7-12)
• Industrial Art at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of June 10, 2015 and beyond.

Megastar and multi-talented artist Justin Timberlake will join superstar athletes and entertainers for the first time this summer at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. The much-decorated performer is an avid golfer who plays to a six handicap and is renowned in the sport for his philanthropic endeavors.

Well Being Massage and Functional Fitness in Carson City will launch its next Boomers’ Bootcamp on June 16. The eight week summer program is designed for men and women ages 50 and up who look for a challenge and a plan to take their fitness to the next level.

Many grandparents are interested in helping pay for part of the grandkid’s college costs. Direct gifts and direct payment of tuition to the college are common ways to help. Section 529 plans are also popular.

Neither of those actions give the grandparents an income tax deduction and are not taxable income to the grandkid. However, either option can affect your grandkid’s eligibility for financial aid. One option to consider is to hold off doing any action until the child has filed the last financial aid form.

On Wednesdays throughout July and August, Yoga Squaw’D returns to First Street in the Village with complimentary community classes led by esteemed and well-known local yoga instructors. Hosted by Squaw’s Wanderlust Yoga Studio, 75 minute classes will take place rain or shine at 5 p.m. Breathe, contour and stretch in the summer mountain air during this healthy mind-and-body experience.

The new CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Carson City Volunteer Training class for the Summer Session will start on Sunday, June 21, 2-5pm. 10 classes total through summer at the CASA office 1539 E. Fifth.

Please feel free to tell anyone you know that has expressed an interest in CASA Volunteering that everyone is welcome to the first class. Current CASA Volunteers, Foster Parents, Social Workers, etc. are welcome and encouraged to attend the first class.

Please call the CASA office at 882-6776 or email Chris Bayer (CASAofCC@earthlink.net) if you have questions.

The Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, Project Empty Bowls Carson City and Deloitte Consulting partnered Friday for a pottery event that brought dozens of children who created and crafted more than 150 clay mugs and bowls.

Deloitte Consulting provided 10 volunteers for the event and has donated 600 pounds of clay that will be used for bowl making projects throughout the year. Friday's event brought nearly 100 children, plus their parents, grandparents and family members.

Attorney General Adam Laxalt will host a presidential candidates event in Northern Nevada this summer, with half a dozen White House hopefuls already confirmed....

The Sierra Nevada Association of REALTORS® will be hosting the “Alyce McCracken Scramble for Scholarships” on Friday, June 19, at the Eagle Valley Golf Course in Carson City.

The Tantabulations Hand Bell Ensemble began their "How the West Was Rung" summer 2015 tour with a performance at the Governor's Mansion Saturday evening. The ensemble performed a variety of classical, jazz, pop tunes and original handbell compositions.

The Carson City Wine Walk began Saturday with community members toasting the end of spring and spending the afternoon together.