Singing, hot chocolate and winter fun downtown

There will be an evening of strolling singing groups and holiday characters from 6 - 8 p.m. Dec. 8 in downtown Carson City.

Participants can have their pictures taken with Father Christmas, shop, and enjoy a cup of cider or hot chocolate. Several downtown merchants are participating.

For information, call 882-6547.

College theater opens season-ticket sales for 2007

Think of it as a holiday gift basket full of laughs. The Western Nevada Musical Theatre Company is opening sales for its Spotlight on Broadway 2007 season tickets, offering holiday shoppers economical season ticket packages for a year of great entertainment. Slated are;

• "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," the musical animation of Charles Shultz' lovable comic strip, plays in Western Nevada Community College's newly renovated Sarah Winnemucca Hall, weekends, March 30-April 8.

• "Thoroughly Modern Millie," 2002 winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, comes to the Carson City Community Center weekends May 11-20. This high-spirited story of a young girl trying to make it in New York in the Roaring '20s is full of comedy, romance and sparkling production numbers.

The season closes in November with the Broadway favorite, "Guys and Dolls." When crafty Nathan Detroit needs to raise money for his floating crap game, he bets high-roller Sky Masterson that he can't woo a beautiful missionary girl. Bets turn to romance with what critics call a perfect musical comedy score: "Luck Be A Lady," "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," and more. The production plays at the Carson City Community Center weekends, Nov. 3-18.

Season-ticket packages start as low as $36 to $45 for those who can commit to show dates when they buy tickets (Pick-a-Color Tickets). Prices for those who prefer to reserve their performance date two weeks before the show range from $39 to $48.

Season-ticket holders come from California and Nevada, including Reno, Minden, Gardnerville, Carson City, Wellington, Fallon, Penn Valley and Susanville. Some travel from as far away as San Jose, according to WNMTC Producer and Artistic Director Stephanie Arrigotti.

Ticket sales for the company have been strong, despite a national downward trend in theatre subscriptions.

"We keep prices low to make the shows affordable for our audiences, but work hard to keep the quality high," added Arrigotti. "Our season ticket holders also enjoy the benefit of getting first pick of seats when we open the house. They are important to us, and we do what we can to let them know that."

Tickets may be purchased by phone or in person at the WNCC Performing Arts Office, 2201 W. College Parkway, 775-445-4249.

Register for WNCC new-driver education classes on the Internet

Starting today, students can utilize Western Nevada Community College's online-registration system, "Web-REG," to register for upcoming New Driver Education classes. In the coming months, a dozen classes that meet the requirements for a Nevada driver's license are planned in Carson City, Fernley and Minden.

Upcoming sessions:

Tuesday-Friday, Dec. 26-29, at WNCC Carson City

Tuesday-Friday, Jan. 2-5, at WNCC Carson City

Tuesday-Friday, Jan. 2-5, at WNCC Fernley

Saturdays, Feb. 3-March 3 at WNCC Carson City

Saturdays, Feb. 3-March 3 at WNCC Fernley

Saturdays, March 10-31 at WNCC Carson City

Saturdays, March 31-April 21 at WNCC Douglas

Monday-Thursday, April 2-5 at WNCC Carson City

Saturdays, April 7-28 at WNCC Carson City

Monday-Thursday, April 9-12 at WNCC Carson City

Saturdays, May 2-June 2 at WNCC Carson City

Saturdays, May 12-June 2 at WNCC Douglas

Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

In the new registration process, students fill out the WNCC Community Education Admission Application at www.wncc.edu/drivereducation, then mail, fax or bring it to the New Driver Education office in the WNCC Reynolds Center for Technology, 2201 W. College Parkway. Once this application is processed, normally two days after it is received, students may proceed with Web-REG. By using this application, students will not be accessed a $15 application fee.

The four-day, 30-hour non-credit class combines lectures, class discussion, guest speakers, films, and, in Carson City, a computerized driving simulator, to cover Nevada driving regulations, basic vehicle control, and driving maneuvers in various environments and situations. The Nevada Public Agency Insurance Pool, the Public Agency Compensation Trust, and State Farm Insurance all support the course.

Classes are open to anyone age 15 and older.