All kinds of critters will be on hand at the Mound House Family Fun and Safety Day to help educate visitors about safety, health, animals and other issues.
Smokey Bear, the crash-test dummies Vince and Larry, Ubie the blood droplet and some young wild horses will be featured at the event, slated for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Second Place, a thrift and consignment shop located at 10128-D Highway 50 East.
Smokey Bear and Vince and Larry, will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children can have their photos taken with the characters.
Michelle Fissori, owner of Second Place, said spreading safety information is not the only reason the event is being held.
"It's something we came up with to bring some things to Mound House and get more of a sense of community for the area, instead of it being just a drive-through place," she said.
With the help of the Nevada Division of Forestry, Smokey and company will be bringing a brush truck and educating attendees on fire safety. Also, the Bureau of Land Management's Fire Education Corps will talk about wildland fire safety and teach ways to create defensible space around homes.
Other safety demonstrations scheduled include a demonstration of how to effectively and safely use fire extinguishers by the Sierra Front Fire Protection District.
As Vince and Larry help educate drivers and passengers about seat-belt safety, staff from Dayton's CarQuest Auto Parts will discuss the proper use of safety items, including jumper cables, emergency flares, fuses, first-aid kits and lifetime flashlights.
Ubie will be on hand to help representatives from United Blood Services of Carson City take appointments for the July 23 Mound House Community Blood Drive as well as provide information on health issues.
Smokey Bear is the symbol for the National Forest Service's public education programs, and Vince and Larry were created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ubie the blood droplet is the mascot for United Blood Services.
The horses will be part of a demonstration by Least Resistance Training Concepts of Stagecoach.
Other area businesses will pitch in to offer important health and safety information, Fissori said.
Desert Rose Chiropractic will be represented and Bruno's Carpet Care will educate visitors on allergens and molds that can hide in carpets.
Lyon County health experts will give information on West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis, two mosquito-borne illnesses that have been found in the county recently.
Fissori also said the event will include a yard sale and food and beverage sales as a fund-raiser for the Mound House Business Association, sponsors of the event.
Opportunities to sign up for the September Memory Walk for the Alzheimer's Association will be available. The business association is looking to field at least one team for the walk.
And finally, an ewaste drive will also be part of the event, so visitors can bring their empty ink cartridges, unneeded cell phones, computers, monitors and other electronic items along to properly dispose of them.
- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.
Have a safe day
WHAT: Mound House Family Fun and Safety Day
WHEN: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Second Place, 10128-D Highway 50 E,, Mound House
CALL: (775) 721-9552
On the Net
www.SmokeyBear.com
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/kids/