Washington

My snow dance worked! The weather should start clearing up for the next few days, so the roads should be clear. There’s no need to leave our valley though, great things are happening. The annual Share Your Christmas food drive goes on for most of the day: you don’t even need to leave your car, just drive up to the Governor’s Mansion, and someone will get your donation to the right place. Unwind, decompress and relax at a number of our great bars and restaurants.

Deck the halls with broken tree branches; the wind, she is a-blowin’. Hopefully we get some snow out of all of this bluster. Tonight is a good time for some ‘Joyful Noise,’ the 14th Annual Community Holiday Show at the Brewery Arts Center. If you’d rather make some noise yourself, check out karaoke at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar or at Living the Good Life. Turn the heat up with Salsa Dance at El Charro Avita. Santa’s waiting for you at the Carson Mall or at Red’s Old 395.

THURSDAY:

Oh, the weather out there is going to be frightful. A blustery storm is on its way in today, so you may want to bring in that inflatable snowman. Heading outside will be rewarded though. Ladies will find great specials at the Ormsby Club and Carson Cigar Co. Live music will be playing at Glen Eagles and Living the Good Life.

The Carson Library offers some great activities for the kids and Craft Tuesday today is one of them. While you’re there, head across the street to Browser’s Corner Book Store to check out the holiday offerings at their craft fair. ‘Break a leg’ to the talented students of Carson High Musical Theater: their Winter Ensemble Concert is at the Community Center tonight. Jazz and poetry return to Comma Coffee: the monthly performance of the Mile High Jazz Band begins at 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY:

The countdown to Christmas has begun. Our downtown is aglow in holly jolly lights and looks amazing. The weekend was jam-packed with holiday cheer: Silver and Snowflakes, the Holiday Crawl, craft fairs, and the Railroad Museum’s Santa Train. Monday’s offer some fun times, as well, with swing dancing at El Charro’s or karaoke at the Firkin and Fox. Shopping and wine await at 'Ladies Night Out' at the Holiday Inn Express in Minden. It's a benefit for the Family Support Council of Douglas County.

MONDAY:

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Dec. 7-13, 2015: The Nevada Department of Transportation will continue work on the construction of an auxiliary lane on southbound I-580 from the Eastlake Boulevard interchange to the N. Carson Street off-ramp.

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:

I love Carson City. Our downtown makes every season special: flower baskets in the summer, daffodils in springtime, the changing leaves of autumn, and winter means the Nevada Christmas tree at the Capitol. Tonight is the night when the light switch gets flipped. Join Santa and our community tonight at the annual Silver and Snowflakes tree lighting. Enjoy carolers, hot cocoa, and more in Telegraph Square during the Christmas Faire. Don’t miss the talented members of Wild Horse Children’s Theater: they’ll be singing at 4 p.m.

Carson City Library will host a holiday karaoke party, Sunday, December 6 at 3:00 pm in the Library Digitorium. This first-time-ever event will feature Rolling Thunder Entertainment DJ Ted Nagel. The community is invited to share in a sing-along of holiday favorites. Bring friends, family and neighbors and “sing-a-song”!

This program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

What a weekend in store for us: the Silver and Snowflakes Tree Lighting, the wine walk, Holiday with a Hero crawl, and more. First things first, though, Thursday fun stuff. Bundle up and head to Gardnerville for the Christmas Kick-off at Heritage Park with Santa, a tree lighting, and fireworks if the weather cooperates. Empty Bowls is hosting a preview night at the First Presbyterian Church; for a donation of $25 or more you get first pick of the handmade bowls that members of the community have made and decorated over the past year, and that includes admission to the soup fest tomorrow.

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Sen. Harry Reid released the following statement on the shooting in San Bernardino, California:

“Yet again our country is faced with another sickening act of gun violence perpetrated against innocent people. Today’s shooting is a heartbreaking tragedy. As the details of this horrendous event unfold, I extend my deepest sympathy to the victims and their loved ones. The country stands with the people of San Bernardino.

Don’t let hump day get you down, Carson City. Lunchtime blues with Dave Leather at Comma Coffee will get you through the workday. Geeks Who Drink trivia at Lake Tahoe Brewing Co. is a fun and silly way to pass an evening; and you can win prizes. Get some shopping done at the Carson Mall, and don’t forget your Hawaiian shirt: Hawaiian Santa will be there for photos. You’ll want your cowboy boots for line dancing at Carson Lanes.

WEDNESDAY:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House and Senate have reached agreement on a 5-year, $281 billion transportation bill that would increase spending to address the nation's aging and congested highways and transit systems, including an extension of the future Interstate 11 connecting Las Vegas to Interstate 80.

Carson City Symphony does some great things: one of which is the Strings in the Schools program. Join our talented STRAZZ students tonight at the Community Center as they perform the annual ‘This is not a Christmas Concert’ concert. Sassafras will be filled with some swanky jazz; Judith and Rocky are hosting this week’s jazz jam. Santa has been spotted at Red’s Old 395 and, naughty or nice, little boys and girls will get a photograph to take home. Stick around and enjoy Janet Leigh in Holiday Affair with the Carson City Classic Cinema Club.

TUESDAY: National Day of Giving Charity Drive

• Kit Carson Toastmasters Weekly Meeting at Grandma Hattie’s (6:30am; for info call Frank 775-885-7579 or KitCarsonToastmasters@gmail.com)
• World AIDS Day: Free HIV Test at Carson City Health and Human Services: 900 E. Long St. (8:30am-12pm, 1pm-4:30pm)

For the 17th Year Friends To All volunteers will dress up in Santa Suits and Helper costumes to bring joy and cheer to senior citizens throughout Carson City.

On Saturday, December 19th these festive groups will log between 150 and 200 stops as they make their rounds visiting and delivering gifts.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Nov. 30 through Dec. 6: The Nevada Department of Transportation will continue work on the construction of an auxiliary lane on southbound I-580 from the Eastlake Boulevard interchange to the N. Carson Street off-ramp.

The annual Turkey Trot is a fun 5 or 8K run around the west side of town Thanksgiving morning. Costumes, silliness, and good times had for all. Sign up this afternoon at St. Teresa school. Living the Good Life is a good go-to for Tuesday night fun with bar games and trivia. Pizza lovers should head to Brugo’s for their weekly beer specials and a special tasting with High Sierra Brewery.

TUESDAY:

• ’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)

It’s Monday, but this week should fly by. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, so you probably want to start thawing your bird. There are still many organizations collecting food for families, so consider dropping off a frozen turkey at Salvation Army, or something non-perishable in one of the many bins around town. If helping kids is a passion, you’ll want to attend the informational meeting at the office of the Court Appointed Special Advocates this evening. CASA is always looking for people who’d like to make a difference to a child.

MONDAY:

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Nov. 23-29: NDOT will begin construction work Sunday night on the auxiliary lane of southbound I-580 from the Eastlake Boulevard interchange to the N. Carson Street off-ramp. There will be nightly lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. through Wednesday morning, Nov. 25.

CHS competed at the Spanish Springs tournament last weekend for speech and debate. Twenty-one Carson High debaters competed on Friday and 16 students competed Saturday. Several students brought home top honors at this tournament which had roughly 470 entries. Competing in senior level debate for the first time Evan Cherpeski took tenth place in Public Forum speaking point.

The countdown to Turkey Day has begun, and living in Carson City gives us plenty to be thankful for: Beautiful views, our own deer herd, great shops, yummy restaurants, talented actors, artists, and craftsmen, and wonderful people. Get in the spirit of giving with a new tattoo from Hooligan’s Ink to benefit the Austin House. For something less permanent, drop off a turkey at one of the contenders in the Salvation Army’s Battle of the Bars. Giving your time is valuable, too. The Muscle Powered Trash Mob meets once a month to help keep Carson’s trails clean and litter-free.

Happy Friday, Carson City. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly suggest tracking down some tickets for Mary Poppins. The cast and crew of the Western Nevada Musical Theater Co. knock it out of the park with this production. Carson High School’s annual Craft Fair begins tonight; a plethora of crafters, artisans, and vendors will be there to help with your holiday gift list. It’s West Coast Swing night at Yaple’s Ballroom, so put on your dance shoes and kick the weekend off right.

FRIDAY:

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

We have plenty of things to look forward to this weekend: Mary Poppins' final shows, the annual Craft Fair at Carson High, the opening of the Polar Express. Just don’t forget that fun can be had every day in Carson City. Tonight, enjoy line dancing at Carson Lanes. Ladies enjoy pool and drink specials at the Ormsby Club. The ever-popular Geeks Who Drink trivia game makes its weekly appearance at Lake Tahoe Brewing Co. And Living the Good Life is proud to bring Liam Kyle Cahill to the stage as part of his acoustic folk rock ‘Turkey Tour.’

WEDNESDAY:

• ’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)
• Nevada Artists Association Art Exhibit featuring Anna Louise Darden and Photography by Chas. H. McDonnell, III at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)

You could almost bet on strange weather in Northern Nevada. The Sierra Valley Forums are hoping to answer some of your questions about the extreme weather at the Brewery Art Center this evening. Get to toe-tapping at El Charro’s tonight; beginning swing dance lessons are on the menu. Flex your mind with trivia at Living the Good Life. Get your jazz fix at Sassafras: Rocky and Judith are hosting a jam.

TUESDAY:

• Kit Carson Toastmasters Weekly Meeting at Grandma Hattie’s (6:30am; for info call Frank 775-885-7579 or KitCarsonToastmasters@gmail.com)
• ’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)

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.

Carson City Library and Nevada Center for the Book will host Laura McBride, author of the 2015 Nevada Reads selection “We Are Called to Rise” on Friday, Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m. in the Library Digitorium.
“We Are Called to Rise” is told in four distinct voices: An immigrant boy whose family is struggling to assimilate, a middle-aged housewife coping with an imploding marriage and a troubled son, a social worker at home in the darker corners of Las Vegas, and a wounded soldier recovering from an injury he can’t remember getting.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Nov. 16-22, 2015. Division Street will be closed, due to road construction, between Fifth Street and King Street on Monday until Friday. Detours will be signed.

David S. Cook reached the end of his journey Oct. 12, 2015 at Renown South Meadows Hospital in Reno. Born May 24, 1950 in Las Vegas to Robert E. and Jeanette (Stanton) Cook, he was fourth generation Nevadan. He graduated from Bishop Gorman High School in 1968.

Here is the winning team of the Honor Flight Nevada Kilroy Klassic Golf tournament held at Dayton Valley Golf Course November 1, 2015. From left to right are: Big John Konvicka, Bob Moon, Tiffany McGuinn, and Paul Windt. All dressed up in Knickers and smiles.