Carson, etc.

The 3rd Street Salon and The Firkin & Fox have teamed up to give back to the community. From Sept. 30 through Oct. 5, the salon will give employees of the Carson City Fire Department, Carson City Police Department or the Nevada Highway Patrol a free haircut. They can then go the restaurant for a "tall cold one, on the house!"

What it's all about: "We are so grateful for all of the public service men and women that help protect Carson City. We want to show our appreciation ...," wrote Gina Gann of the 3rd Street Salon. Same goes for The Firkin & Fox, said owner Jim Phalan.

The salon requires an appointment. Call 882-0300, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The restaurant is open daily at 11 a.m.

City National Bank has donated $5,000 to Capital City Circles Initiative, a nonprofit group dedicated to fighting poverty and ending homelessness in Carson City. City National is challenging other banks and businesses to do the same.

The donation will be used as seed money to get the program off the ground. Carson City was chosen to be a test city for the program which was started in the Midwest.

The Circles Initiative helps its clients find mentors and other resources that can help them thrive. The intent of the program is to bring community volunteers together to partner with families in pursuit of economic advancement.

Shelly Aldean, board president of the Capital City Circles Initiative, wrote that the donation will make a difference: "There is a real need for this kind of program given today's economic challenges. With the generous support of our community we can bring about positive change in the lives of families who are struggling to survive."

Participants in the program are given training such as personal finances, budgeting, credit reports, tax returns, financial statements and bank accounts.

"The main focus of this program is to empower people in poverty to help solve community problems while transitioning themselves out of poverty," wrote Lori Haney, senior vice president and branch relationship manager of City National's Carson City office and a Circles board member.

Unity Church of Today, 1219 South Carson Street in Carson City, was formally inaugurated last Sunday by a Hindu tradition of breaking a coconut, as well as prayers from Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism faiths. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, accompanied by Reverend Larry Edward Schneider, Minister of the church, lit the traditional Hindu deepak (lamp) after they broke the coconut. Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, later read blessing prayers from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, dated from around 1,500 BCE, and other ancient Hindu scriptures in Sanskrit, concluding with "Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti," which he then translated as "Peace, Peace, Peace be unto all." Others offered Jewish, Buddhist and Muslim prayers.

Said Rev. Schneider: "We are dedicating the Unity Center as a place for Spiritual Transformation " one where we are working together in lighting the infinite paths to awareness."

United Blood Services is sponsoring a Hispanic Blood Drive noon-6 p.m. Monday in Carson City.

The event is designed to increase participation among the local Hispanic community.

There will be Spanish interpreters on hand to help with those who don't speak English.

There will also be food, decorations, music and dancers.

The event takes place at the United Blood Services offices at 256 E. Winnie Lane. For more information, call (775) 887-9111.