Truckee

Regional favorite Keith Shannon spins musical tales of love and heartache, crime and justice and living life to its fullest, 7 p.m. Saturday at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City as part of its Celtic Music Series.

You already know we here at Nevada Humane Society love to brag about our accomplishments and encourage you to support us in all of our lifesaving endeavors. But, what we probably don’t do enough, is offer up our gratitude to you, because without you, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

Go ahead and keep the Christmas tree up through the weekend but by Sunday night you may want remove the ornaments and take it down as curbside recycling in Carson City begins Monday.

What can you do with your Christmas tree once the decorations come down? Carson City is offering Christmas tree recycling in cooperation with Capital Sanitation and Waste Management Inc.
As in previous years, Christmas trees can be placed curbside on your regular trash collection day beginning Jan. 4 or taken to one of the drop-off locations.

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.

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.

Ready for more snow? Let’s just hope that the clouds clear by tonight because the Geminids Meteor Shower is at its peak tonight and tomorrow. Don your ugliest sweater for the Carson Victory Rollers’ Red and Green Scrimmage, and bring a toy for their Toys for Tots drive. If you haven’t caught Wild Horse Children’s Theaters production of Babes in Toyland yet, grab the kids and get down to the Brewery Arts Center for their final performance.

SUNDAY:

The clock is ticking for last minute shoppers. Luckily, Carson City has great options for everyone on the list. Telegraph Square in downtown will be hopping with a Santa parade, vendors, and a pirate ship, in addition to great shops. The Brewery Arts Center is hosting a weekend-long art sale with one of a kind options throughout the campus. Art is a great gift, and making it is even more fun. Carson City Pottery is holding an open house today; a gift certificate for a pottery class is perfect for all skill levels.

SATURDAY:

Happy Sunday. There’s still plenty of weekend left. Craft fairs at Carson Lanes and the Carson Colony are sure to have something for that hard to buy for person on your list. Fight the chill with chili at the Carson Bulldog Wrestling Club’s Chili Cook-off at Yogurt Beach. Sing some holiday songs at the Holiday Karaoke Sing-along Party at the Carson City Library. Dayton lights up its tree tonight at ‘Our Park,’ so dress in your ugliest sweater and enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies at their ‘Small Town Christmas’ celebration.

SUNDAY:

Have you been naughty or nice this year? You’ll have no problem finding Jolly Old St. Nick this weekend. At Debug Computers where, in exchange for a donation to Holiday with a Hero, you can get a photo with the man in red. The Santa Train at the Nevada State Railroad Museum is a good place to grab a candy cane, some hot cocoa, and tell him what you’d like to find under the tree. Photographs with Santa are available at the Carson Mall Wednesday through Sunday. Genoa’s annual Breakfast with Santa has three seatings beginning at 8:30 a.m.

SATURDAY:

Strong gusty winds are expected to arrive ahead of a winter weather system by Thursday prompting the National Weather Service to issue a High Wind Warning for the Carson City region and a Winter Weather Advisory for Lake Tahoe and the Sierra.

The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America celebrated six individuals, four Silver Spike awards and a number of other awards during its 2015 Silver Spikes banquet, held Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino.

The 29th Annual Silver Spike Awards ceremony celebrated the PR and communications profession and professionals with the theme ‘Reimagine, Reinvent, Repurpose.’

Sunday is always ideal for relaxing: comfy pajamas, turkey leftovers, and setting up decorations around the house are all good ideas. The football season is in full swing and you’ll find the game on just about everywhere. You have one last chance to catch the Nutcracker this year, so head to the Community Center this afternoon. Grab the whole family for a free concert at the United Methodist Church. Holiday favorites sung by women’s choir ‘Bella Voce’ will get you in the spirit.

SUNDAY:

• Nevada Artists Association Art Exhibit featuring Anna Louise Darden and Photography by Chas. H. McDonnell, III at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)
• Raiders Booster Club at the Eleventh Frame Lounge in Carson Lanes (vs Miami Dolphins; 10am; for more info contact Rick Good at 775-267-4271)

The long weekend continues, along with great shopping, friends, family, and fun. It’s Small Business Saturday, which is a great time to explore our downtown shops, and the local businesses throughout town. Don’t miss the Christmas Kick-off at Evergreen Gene’s, complete with a visit from Santa. Carson Valley Inn hosts its annual Kandy Kane Holiday Craft Fair. You will also find great Nevada items in our Museum Gift Shops and at the Chamber of Commerce’s Artisan Gallery.

Small Business SATURDAY:

Today is a day for leftovers and crazy shopping. If your family is in town, take them down to opening day at the Arlington Square Ice Rink. The Railroad Museum of Northern Nevada has rides on the McKeen Motor Car special for this weekend. Pinkerton Ballet begins its annual run of the Nutcracker at the Bob Boldrick Theater tonight. Get inspired for your own decorations at Candy Cane Lane: Carson Valley Inn’s drive-thru light show. Happy birthday to the Blue Bull; beer and cocktail specials start at noon.

FRIDAY:

The Polar Express on the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad has sold out for the fifth consecutive year, with more than 15,000 passengers securing rides to the North Pole.

A wait list sign-up is available online here that could offer a last chance to ride the Polar Express in 2015. Tickets for next year’s holiday train go on sale in August 2016.

Heritage trains at the Nevada State Railroad Museum, a capital tradition, are all set for the holiday season.

Trains operate during the weekends of December 5-6, December 12-13, and December 19-20. To order your tickets now click the "Get Tickets" tab on the NSRM Facebook page here.

The Polar Express takes its first trip of the season today, and I hope you got your tickets. The annual event always sells out. Check here for ticket information; you may get lucky. Take the kids to the Carson City Library for weekly story time and check out CCAI’s Industrial Art Exhibit while you’re there. Today is the last day it will be on display. Hear stories of Old Virginia City at the Gold Hill Hotel. Or take a trip to the Nevada State Museum: the bombing of a Basque village during the Spanish Civil War and the affect it had on the United States is the topic of this month’s Francis Humphry lecture.
THURSDAY:

• American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout: Take a One Day Stand Against Tobacco at Western Nevada College (college campus is smoke-free for the day)
• ’Lines and Fields: Abstract Narrative Paintings’ by Liz Penniman at the Western Nevada College Main Gallery in the Bristlecone Building

It can be difficult to get away from the commercialism of Christmas and the holidays with all the fuss about best deals and “red cups.” Step back in time this season and capture the family-friendly spirit of Christmas with a trip to historic Virginia City, Nev.

All aboard, Carson City. The Polar Express returns to the Virginia and Truckee Thursday. This annual tradition features hot chocolate, caroling, and a read-along of Chris Van Allsburg's Christmas story, in addition to a visit to Santa at the North Pole.

North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts, the Nevada Division of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service will continue widespread prescribed fire operations around the Lake Tahoe Basin over the next several weeks as conditions allow.

More than 15,000 cans of tuna were collected with the help of an area real estate agency that will go to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada as part of its Run on Tuna campaign, a canned food drive that’s part of Hunger Action Month.

Two weeks before The Polar Express takes its first ride from Carson City to the completely reimagined North Pole aboard the Virginia and Truckee Railroad 88 percent of tickets have already been sold.

A testament to the popularity of the Polar Express — the train ride has completely sold out each of the previous four years — now’s the time to secure tickets so the kids aren’t disappointed.

Representing this year’s Nevada Day theme, “One state, many cultures,” Native American advocate Sherry Rupert and Old West actor Jack Waggon are sharing the title of grand marshal of this year’s parade.

Rupert — whose husband’s great-grandfather, Henry Moses Rupert, was the first American Indian grand marshal — will be the first female American Indian to marshal the 77th annual parade Saturday, 10 a.m. in downtown Carson City.

Here’s the 2015 Nevada Day event lineup and Halloween happenings, Thursday through Sunday. For all Halloween events go here. For everything Nevada Day, check out the official Nevada Day website here. Otherwise, see the event listing below.

THURSDAY
RSVP NEVADA DAY CARNIVAL, MILLS PARK IN CARSON CITY
Carnival rides for adults and children, live music, food booths, craft vendors & more. Hours: 10/29: 5pm - 9pm; 10/30-31: Noon - 9pm; 11/1: Noon - 8pm

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and California. This report is for the week of Oct. 28, 2015 and beyond.

Hello fellow anglers. Another season has come but not over yet. There are plenty of places to fish in our local area, the rivers in Alpine County do not close until Nov. 15, 2015.

I would like to give you some background on all those fish that are planted each year in Alpine County. There is a lot more to planting fish than just calling up the truck and telling them where to put fish. It takes team work from many individuals and most of all, money.

One last weekend until Nevada Day, and the ghosts and ghouls are coming out of the woodwork. Learn our haunted history with the Downtown Ghost Walk. For thrills and chills, don’t miss the Second Annual Carson Creepy Short Horror Film Competition in the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall. For a complete list of all Halloween activities this week go here.

SATURDAY:

Thomas the Tank Engine will be arriving at the Virginia & Truckee Railroad on October 23, 24, 25; 30, 31, and November 1 as part of his 2015 “Celebration Tour.” This year marks a special year for Thomas the Tank Engine as organizers celebrate his 70th birthday and the 20th anniversary of Day Out With Thomas. This is also the first year that Thomas the Tank Engine will be visiting the Virginia & Truckee Railroad.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Oct. 21, 2015 and beyond.