WNC news & notes

WNC to co-host welcome powwow at Lampe Park

Make plans now to attend a powwow at Lampe Park in Gardnerville Friday through Sunday, Sept. 25-27. Admission is free to the three-day event. It is partially sponsored by WNC and starts Friday afternoon at with a health and college fair beginning at 2 p.m. Later that evening, comedians will take the stage to entertain everyone.

The powwow will feature drum contests, dancing, singing, arts and crafts, and food booths.

The grand entry will take place at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Master of ceremonies will be Rocco Clark Sr. of Yakima, Wash. Arena director will be Michael Keats Sr. Head woman is Francine Tahonnie, host drum will be Echo Sky with host drum/head singer WaKanWaci Blindman from Wadsworth. Head man will be Rocco Clark Jr. from Toppenish, Wash.

Sponsors include the Washo Tribe; Washo Tribal Health Clinic/Community Health; Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada Domestic Violence Program; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; and the Western Nevada College Office of Student Life.

Western's Katie Leao, coordinator of student outreach, said the college is working with groups like the Washo Tribe to increase prospective student awareness about WNC and to spread the word about what the college can do to help Native Americans succeed in higher education.

Information: Lori Pasqua, Washo, 775-450-1355 or 265-4438; or Lana Hicks, Washo, 775-287-9978.

Faculty exhibit starts art gallery season

WNC art faculty who teach at the college's three campuses will display their own creative works at the Carson City campus to kick off the 2009-2010 college gallery season.

The exhibit runs Monday, Sept. 14, through Thursday, Oct. 8, in the Main and College galleries in the Bristlecone Building. An artists reception is set for 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Works will range from traditional to contemporary in painting, drawing, photographs, prints and sculpture.

Gallery exhibits are free and open to the public during building hours, generally Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Golf Classic in a spectacular setting

A spectacular setting and a chance to play a private golf course are two of the reasons to be part of the 12th annual Western Nevada College Foundation scramble golf tournament on Monday, Sept. 21.

The popular fund-raising event will be at Thunder Canyon Golf and Country Club with tee-off in a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The entry fee of $150 per person will include a continental breakfast, on-course refreshments, tee prizes, contests and a barbecue following the tournament. Reservations may be made at the WNC Foundation Office at 445-3240.

In addition to the tournament, the WNC Foundation is also having a raffle with tickets at $5 each or six for $25.

The grand prize is a foursome of golf once a month for one year at Eagle Valley Golf. Other prizes include a Precor home gym and gift certificates to many different area businesses. Winners need not be present to win.

Rare coin, telescope in observatory raffle

Collectors and anyone who would like a piece of Nevada and space history can purchase raffle tickets to win a rare find: a 1-ounce silver coin commemorating the effort to build the WNC Jack C. Davis Observatory, which opened in 2003. The prize has signatures by astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to set foot on the moon, and by the observatory's namesake, Dr. Jack C. Davis, the college's first president.

Five hundred coins were struck to kick off the fund-raising for building the observatory, and only five are left, the only ones to have both signatures. One of the signed coins will be raffled off, one will remain with the college in perpetuity, and three will be gifts to future major donors to the WNC Foundation. The coins were struck on the No. 1 press of the former U.S. Mint, which is now the Nevada State Museum in Carson City.

Or, take a chance on a window to the galaxy, a Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope, in a second raffle prize valued at $500. The four-inch telescope comes with StarBright XLT high transmission coating. It will allow viewing of bright objects such as planets, and has mirrors that are used to look toward deep sky objects.

Raffle tickets cost $20 each or six for $100. They may be purchased through the Foundation Office at 445-3240. The winning tickets will be drawn at the Davis Observatory on Saturday, Dec. 26, at 8 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Jack C. Davis Observatory, which is open to the public with free planetary and stellar viewing on many Saturday evenings.