Community briefs

Carson City

United Blood Services needs blood for the holiday season

The community blood supply is always low during the holiday season, due to the weather, sickness, shopping and celebrating. However, with cancer, operations, accidents and other trauma, blood is needed most during the holidays. United Blood Services is encouraging the community to join them in its Season of Giving campaign. An ornament representing each of their hospital patients has been placed on their Christmas tree. Each donor can choose an ornament to take home knowing that they have helped this patient. The goal is to have each ornament chosen by Christmas.There will be a drawing this month for an iPod Shuffle and an overnight stay at Harrah's, Reno. Scooter Santa will also be in attendance Dec. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Refreshments will be served and each child will receive a gift. United Blood Services is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Saturdays they are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the last Sunday of every month. Saturday morning donors receive continental breakfast and every other Wednesday is Pizza Night courtesy of Pizza Factory. For information or to schedule an appointment, call 887-9111 or visit www.bloodhero.com.

Singing, hot chocolate and winter fun downtown

There will be an evening of strolling singing groups and holiday characters from 6 - 8 p.m. Friday 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.

Youth Voice to hold wine tasting Friday

Youth Voice will hold its holiday wine tasting event from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada. Wine will be provided by Divine Wine, and there will be hors d'oeuvres, music, a holiday dance performance, a Youth Voice presentation, and a surprise guest speaker.

Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple. For information or to purchase tickets, call 884-2226 or 220-0420, or visit www.youthvoiceinc.org.

Antique show raffle to benefit local lymphoma patient

There will be an antiques, collectibles and flea show from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Carson City Elks Lodge, 515 N. Nevada St. Admission is $1.

The Carson City Emblem Club will be serving home-made food and a portrait painting by local artist Michele Gabler will be raffled, the proceeds of which will go to Alicia Smalley, who is fighting lymphoma.

For information, call 267-2557.

Virginia City

Fourth Ward School Museum raising funds for challenge match

The Fourth Ward School Museum in Virginia city has been given a challenge match for $50,000; they need to raise $12,845 to make up the balance by Dec. 31.

The museum has raised $37,155 to act as a match and the Foundation for Cultural Affairs has been asked to offer $2,000, provided the museum eliminates the remaining deficit by the end of the year.

All money donated will benefit the museum's endowment fund.