Community Briefs for June 5

Pianist shares talents with community

Ron Williams, an 82-year-old pianist will perform Taccatas and Sonatas from Bach to Ravel at 7:30 p.m. June 17 at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, 511 W. King St. A reception follows the concert.

"This concert is a very special labor of love celebrating the 50th anniversary year of my first public recital in Nevada," Williams said.

Admission is free, but donations are appreciated to support the Carson City Symphony's Strings in the Schools program.

For more information, call 883-1976 or go to www.breweryarts.org.

Pine needle basket demonstration set

Join Master Artists Audrey Frank and her step-mother Brenda Frank at the Nevada State Museum from 1-4 p.m. today for a rare opportunity to learn more about the art of pine needle basket making.

The Franks pass on her family traditions of basket making through classes and workshops where they demonstrate weaving techniques and discuss their native heritage and culture.

Participants learn about traditional basket materials, techniques, processing, styles and their importance in the Washoe and other Great Basin tribes. Among Native Americans in the Great Basin, pine needle basket weaving has a unique story because it is primarily a one-family tradition and was initially learned from non-Native teachers.

The Frank family tree branches out to both the Summit Lake Paiute and Washoe Tribes of Northern Nevada. The Frank women weave a signature design into their basket lids; Audrey often incorporates a small pine cone on the top and Brenda's lids may include beads.

This program is provided in partnership with the Folklife Program of the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

The Nevada State Museum is located at 600 N. Carson Street in Carson City. For more information contact Deborah Stevenson at 687-4810 ext. 237.

Play to benefit Children's Museum

A locally written original musical play, "Finding Love," will be performed at the Carson City Children's Museum at 7 p.m. Wednesday with the proceeds of ticket sales benefitting the museum. This will be the first performance of the play, which is not recommended for younger children.

"Finding Love" is an offbeat look at some of the complexities of finding love. It includes original music. The Cutting Edge, an international award-winning acting troupe made up of actors and singers from Northern Nevada, will perform the production.

The musical was written by residents Norman Subotky and Marsh Brodeur.

"The production gives the audience a chance to laugh out loud and leave the theater whistling the outstanding music," said Temma Hammond of H&A Productions.

Tickets cost $10 for adults and $7 for students and seniors and can be purchased at the door or by calling 775-884-2226.

Pony Express celebration at Mormon Station

Nevada State Parks invites the public to visit Mormon Station State Historic Park 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday for a Pony Express celebration.

The free celebration includes a Pony Express rider arriving in Genoa, galloping into the stockade, exchanging the mailbag with the next rider who will gallop off into the sunset.

Each year the Pony Express Association re-enacts the actual ride that took place from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, Calif., in 1860 and 1861, which is a 10-day, 1,966-mile journey. Members of the Pony Express Association will be in Genoa as part of the 150th year celebration of the Pony Express.

The Gardnerville Volunteer Fire Department will cook a fundraiser barbecue of burgers and bratwurst in the park.

A short presentation on the Pony Express will be given while waiting for the Pony Express rider to arrive.

Both the Mormon Station and the Genoa Courthouse museums will be open during the program.

Mason Valley Boys & Girls Clubs will offer Dayton program

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley is opening a Dayton site. The club will be from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays from June 7 through Aug. 20 at Dayton Elementary School for youngsters ages 6-18 years.

The club will offer different program areas such as a multi-purpose/game room, sports art and a teen program for 13-18-year-olds. There will be special events every Friday, and field trips will be offered every Tuesday and Thursday for an additional cost. Breakfast and lunch are provided.

A yearly membership fee of $10 is required, and a weekly membership fee is required of $60 for the first child and $40 for every child thereafter. Kids 13-18 need only pay the yearly membership fee of $10.

For more information, call Dan McLaughlin at 246-1700 or Christina Hurt at 463-2334.

Desert Brushes to meet Wednesday

The Carson Valley Desert Brushes will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Johnson Lane Firehouse, 1450 Stephanie Way in Minden.

Painters of all levels and those who would like to learn to paint are welcome.

For information, call Ginger at 267-4712 or Pat at 883-7917.