Community Briefly Aug. 2

Applications sought for volunteer positions

The Carson City Board of Supervisors is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving on the Board of Appeals in the following categories:

• Civil/structural engineer

• Mechanical engineer

• Electrical engineer

• Registered architect

Applicants may need a business license to do business in Carson City. The board provides advice on matters involving building codes and fire codes in Carson City. Each position is for a two-year term set to expire in January 2013 excluding the registered architect position, which will expire in January 2012.

Serving on the board may require a minimum commitment of up to five hours a month. All members will serve without compensation. The Board of Supervisors will interview and appoint new members. Volunteer applications may be obtained from the city website at www.carson.org or by contacting the Carson City Executive Offices at 887-2100. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Aug. 12.

Red Cross to establish West Coast disaster relief center

The American Red Cross is set to begin moving disaster relief supplies into its new 130,000-square-foot facility in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. While primarily established to serve the Western U.S., it can also provide relief services to other regions of the country.

"We expect to have the warehouse completely stocked by the end of the August," said Red Cross spokesman Roy Jensen. "In all, we will bring in about 6,500 pallets loaded with approximately 12,000 disaster relief materials and equipment."

The Red Cross operation is located in a building owned by ProLogis on USA Parkway. Red Cross officials selected this location due to its easy access to major transportation facilities including Reno Tahoe International Airport. This will become only the fifth operation of its type in the United States, with three on the East Coast and the fourth in the Midwest.

Although the Red Cross is not a government agency, it is chartered by Congress to provide special services to members of the U.S. armed forces and their families in emergencies. It responds to more than 80,000 disasters a year, such as fires, floods and tornadoes.

Dayton Valley Days seeks booth vendors

The Dayton Valley Days Committee is seeking crafters, vendors, food, political groups, nonprofits and businesses to participate in its 23rd annual two-day street festival in Old Town Dayton on Sept. 17 and 18.

The festival will feature booths lining historic Pike Street, special events each day, including a parade, pet parade, children's activities, and a variety of food and beverages, and this year, the Boys and Girls Club will put on a chili cookoff. For cookoff information, call 775-771-9848 or 775-246-4350.

Call, write or visit www.daytonvalleydays.org for booth information or parade application. Contact David or Ruth Small at 775-246-3378 or Patty Polish at 775-246-3199. By mail, write to Dayton Valley Days, P.O. Box 1758, Dayton, NV 89403-1758, or download an application from the website.

All proceeds from Dayton Valley Days go toward helping the Boys and Girls Club and youth organizations, providing Christmas gifts to those in need, offering prevention and intervention, provide scholorships, and support to various other needs of the community.

Dayton Valley Days is one of the largest events in the community, and each year draws thousands of visitors to the area from throughout the region. According to organizers, this year's festival is shaping up to be the largest in the event's history.

Powerspeak Languages now available at the Carson City Library

Powerspeak Languages is a new online language learning course that uses a variety of methods to engage learners. The core languages available are Spanish, French, German, Mandarin and English as a Second Language for Spanish-speakers.

Each course uses a variety of multi-sensory activities to take full advantage of the brain's ability to learn language. Designed specifically for use by the diverse audience of library users, the courses include a combination of scored online activities, exercises, lessons and games.

Course lessons are bound together with rich graphics, audio, video, music and an intuitive way to check answers and track progress. Learners find a friendly structure that introduces vocabulary and are challenged to practice speaking and writing in a variety of interactive modules designed to simulate real conversations with native speakers.

Powerspeak Languages is the only language learning resource that uses a virtual coach - a knowledgeable, engaging speaker whose guidance explains the concepts for each lesson, offers encouragement and shares interesting cultural notes about the language and its speakers.

"This type of online language-learning program has been in demand among libraries for some time," said Susan Antipa, adult services librarian. "We get many requests from library users who are interested in improving language skills, learning a new language for business, school, travel or simply interested in learning a foreign language for the pure joy of it."

For more information, contact Antipa at smantipa@clan.lib.nv.us or call 887-2244. The library is at the corner of Roop and Washington streets.

Dayton Valley Dog Park vendors sought

The Dayton Valley Dog Park is holding its third annual flea market and crafts fair on Aug. 20. Sponsors also are looking for gently used items to sell at the dog park booth. Raffle tickets are available for homemade afghans, a wild-horse picture, rounds of golf and more. They are 15 for $20, three for $5 or one for $2. 

The Dayton Valley Dog Park is at Dayton Valley Road and Como Road. Donations can be sent to Dayton Valley Dog Park, P.O. Box 995, Dayton, NV 89403. The Dog Park booth will be set up at Smiths, or those interested can contact Mary at 450-0256 or Freya in Carson at 841-7878. Those who want to secure a space for a $10 donation call calll Andrea at 246-0814.

New bicycle shop planning grand opening

Bike Carson Tahoe will celebrate with a grand opening Saturday and Sunday at 385 Hot Springs Road between Carson and Roop streets.

On Saturday, bicycling enthusiasts are invited to get together for a road bike ride. The group will leave from the shop at 9 a.m. Then, from noon-5 p.m. the shop will host an open house with food, drinks and prizes.

On Sunday, owner Chris Huber will lead a bike ride on the Flume Trail at Lake Tahoe, leaving from the shop at 9 a.m.

Bike Carson Tahoe, owned and operated by former U.S. professional cycling champion and land-speed record holder Huber, is an all-inclusive bike shop and training center with friendly, expert advice. Go for a spin on the new bikes from Cannondale, Ibis, Leopard, Serrotta and Surly and enjoy free food, drinks and raffle prizes. One winner will receive a hotel package from Gold Dust West to include a one-night stay in the casino hotel's luxury two-room suite, dinner and breakfast for two, and a free night of bowling.

For additional information, contact Chris at 808-936-3762 or the website at www.bikecarsontahoe.com.

City seeks planning commissioners

The Carson City Board of Supervisors is seeking applications from people interested in serving on the Carson City Planning Commission.

This commission oversees all matters pertaining to Carson City's planning and zoning, land use and growth management. Meetings are at 5 p.m. on the last Wednesday in the Sierra Room of the community center.

There are two openings to fill a term that will expire in June 2015.

Appointees must be residents of and registered voters in Carson City.

Volunteer applications may be obtained from the Carson City Executive Offices, 201 N. Carson St., Suite 2, or on the city website www.carson.org. Applications will be accepted until Aug. 26.

Evening of music and memories offered

"Silvertown, an Evening of Music and Memories" will be offered by the Comstock Residents Association from 3-11 p.m. Saturday at the Washoe Club, 112 N. C St., in Virginia City.

Entertainment includes Sopwith Camel, The Woodys, Red Rose, The Klaptones and Guitar Woody. Special guest will be Darius and the Various Cocktails. The $15 admission includes dinner and an evening of music. There also will be raffle prizes.

The event is also presented by KLAP FM, The Hayseed Hoot, The Reno Blues Society and Tahoe House.

Proceeds will go toward fighting open-pit mining in the Virginia City National Historic Landmark and efforts to preserve the Virginia City National Historic Landmark. For more information, call Darlene Cobbey at 847-0639.

'Summerfest' to replace Nevada State Fair

RENO (AP) - There won't be a Nevada State Fair this year, but that doesn't mean there won't be something to do that weekend in Reno.

"Summerfest 2011" will be held Aug. 25-28 at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center.

State fair organizers in March pulled the plug on the money-losing event after 136 years.

Summerfest will be produced by the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority and will feature concerts, rides, monster trucks and demolition derbies and food vendors, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

There won't be any livestock.

Convention authority officials said the loss of the state fair would mean a $25,000 hit in revenues from the events center. With a projected attendance of 14,000 over four days, officials hope Summerfest can turn that loss into a potential profit.

'Durga and Story of Drum' presented at Tahoe

"Durga and the Story of the Drum," featuring Liz Broscoe, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Duke Theatre on the Lake Tahoe Community College campus.

Tickets are $15, and doors open at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available by phone or in person at GaiaLicious, 987 Tallac Ave., South Lake Tahoe, or call 530-542-4244. Tickets also will be available at the door.

Showcasing film, narration and performance, Durga celebrates community, unity and life. For additional information, go to www.drumchik.com or send an email to Broscoe at lizbroscoe@aol.com or Jeri Wilkins at infodrumchik@aol.com.

Earn a high school diploma or GED

Registration begins Aug. 10 for classes to earn a high school diploma or GED through the Carson City School District. Classes begin Aug. 29. All classes are from 6-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Free child care is available.