Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels: Dollars to those who honor veterans, troops

The Nevada Appeal's "Silver Dollar" and "Wooden Nickel" feature recognizes positive achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out others that missed the mark.

Silver dollar: To barber Adam Baker, Applebees and the many other businesses that had special deals for our veterans this past week. In addition to the free haircuts and free lunch, vets got free entry to a concert at the Carson Nugget. Other stores offered discounts. A dollar, too, to Virginia City, for honoring veterans with the spirit and patriotism of a good old hometown parade.

Silver dollar: To P.J. Degross and her organization, Web of Support, for their efforts to give a "night at the movies" to soldiers serving overseas. Degross is collecting new and used DVDs, microwave popcorn, drink mix, candy and greeting cards to send to military personnel. If you'd like to donate, please include $2 to help with shipping and drop off the items at Charley's Grilled Subs in the Carson Mall. If you need more information, e-mail pjdahling@aol.com.

Wooden nickel: To Carson City residents who still don't get it: Cleaning up around fruit trees and keeping garbage locked up isn't just a nicety - it's a necessity, for the safety of everyone. Bears are wandering down from the hills to dine on fallen apples and whatever garbage they can find. A young man's close encounter with a bear last week could have turned deadly very quickly if the bruin had decided a lasagna box was worth fighting for. Please heed the warnings and clear out your trees of remaining fruit, and keep those cans locked up and out of reach. The next resident to find a bear in his or her garage might just be you.

Wooden nickel: Speaking of not getting it, let us say this slowly and clearly: Slow down, drivers. At least five cars rolled on U.S. 395 in Washoe Valley last Monday morning, after a cold night of freezing rain. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. Remember, folks, being behind the wheel of a four-wheel drive doesn't suspend the laws of physics: When ice covers asphalt, that big old SUV will just careen off the road with more force. So please, on these cold mornings, take it slow.