Community Briefly

VFW conducting membership drive

The Carson City Veterans of Foreign Wars is continuing a membership drive today at Raley's on Highway 395 in south Carson City.

In addition, the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW will be instituting a charter here in Carson City and looking for members. Anyone interested can contact Shirley Amundson at 775-883-4736 or Carol Hagen at 702-241-3836.

Smith's donates to Dogtown Canine Rescue 

Smith's Food & Drug is donating $1,871 to Dogtown Canine Rescue from proceeds received from customer support of Smith's Pet Club program over the past 12 months.

During that time $1 of every $100 a customer spent on pet supplies at Smith's using a Fresh Values card was contributed toward this total.

A check presentation was held June 14 at the Smith's store at 599 E. William St. Lorayn Wasler, executive cirector of Dogtown accepted the check on behalf of the organization.

The shelter will use the funds to provide transitional housing for dogs scheduled to be euthanized in public shelters, dogs that have been abandoned, or dogs coming from homes that can no longer care for them. The shelter has successfully rescued more than 600 dogs in its first three years of existence.

For more information visit: www.dogtownrescue.com.

Smith's Pet Club members in Northern Nevada generated a total of $13,312 in donations that will be shared with Douglas Animal Welfare Group and the Nevada Humane Society.

"These much needed donations assist pet agencies in their mission to care for homeless and stray animals, and educate owners on responsible pet ownership," said Marsha Gilford, Smith's vice president public affairs.

Volunteers needed to help with LEGO exhibit

The Children's Museum in Carson City is in need of docents to assist during the summer-long LEGO art exhibit.

The museum takes delivery on the exhibit today, and Nathan Sawaya's "The Art of the Brick" LEGO sculptures will be on display at the museum from June 24 until Aug. 19.

"We expect to have 33 pieces on display," said Jim Peckham, executive director for the museum. "This is a collection to look at, and not play with. We cannot even have loose LEGOs in the area, so no one will be motivated to add to or modify the sculptures."

Art pieces will include Rushmore, Kiss, Pop-up Book, Despair, Blue Sky, Blackwhite, Yellow, Balancing, Gray Cat, Think!, Puddle, Courtney Gold, Crayons, The Writer, Skulls, X-Ray, Hundred Dollar Bill, Peace by Pieces, Tall Pencil, Pointing, Green, Lonely Night, Gray, Shocking Self-Portrait, Hands, Ideas, Skateboard and a number of untitled pieces.

Partnership Carson City, Soroptimists and the Nevada Arts Council have contributed to make the exhibit possible.

Adults interested in helping visitors through this exhibit are asked to contact the museum at 775-884-2226. Docents selected to assist will receive free museum passes, and will function on a volunteer basis.

For more information about the artist or exhibit, go to www.brickartist.com.

Veterans reemployment assistance offered

Nevada Job Connect will assist military vetrerans with return to work support at no charge five days a week.

The state agency is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at 1929 N. Carson St. in Carson City.

For more information contact Steve Turley at swturley@nvdetr.org or 775-684-0400.

Swim to end diabetes

"WE CAN" (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition) has teamed up with the Carson City Aquatic Facility to raise money for the American Diabetes Association Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Did you know that 24 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes? Diabetes contributes to the deaths of more than 230,000 Americans each year. One in three American children born today will develop diabetes if current trends continue.

Open swim will be held in the indoor or outdoor pool at the aquatic facility behind the community center at the west end of Mills Park at 841 N. Roop St.

The day includes refreshments, giveaways, raffle prizes, games for the kids and information for adults,

The community is invited to come out to swim or just to support the cause. Cost will be $5 at the door.

For more information, call the aquatic facility at 887-2242.

Carson Water Subconservancy District offers free program

The Carson Clear Water Revival Program is a free educational program to help Carson City property owners install Best Management Practices to help protect the streams and the Carson River. BMPs can reduce flooding and erosion problems on property and enhance landscaping.

The workshop is from 10 a.m. to noon June 18 at Hampton Inn and Suites. The agenda will include:

• Dirt Hurts - How and why this program got started

• BMPs Rock! - What are BMPs and what do they have to do with you and your property

• Rock-It Science - Designing BMPs for your location

• How you can win up to $2,500 in BMP materials and labor

Refreshments will be served and a number of useful items will be raffled off during the workshop. Raffle tickets will be free to all workshop participants.

For more information about the program, go to the website: http://www.cwsd.org.

For those who have property drainage or erosion problems on their property or just want to learn more about the program should plan to attend this workshop.

To sign up, call the CWSD at 887-9005. The Carson Clear Water Revival Team looks forward to working with residents.

NARFE hosts annual picnic

Nevada Association of Retired Federal Employees Min-Gard Chapter 2167 will hold its annual picnic on June 28 at Aspen Park, 1380 Centerville Lane, in Gardnerville from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

A salad or dessert dish is appreciated. Bring tableware and own drink. All federal active and retired employees are invited.

For more information, call John Palen at 265-9500.

Jenny Craig celebrates with month-long promotion

Jenny Craig was just named the No. 1 diet program in America, according to a spokesperson for Jenny Craig.

Carson City residents are invited to join them for a month of celebration with a free 30-day membership.

Jenny Craig has been in Carson City across from Smith's for more than 15 years.

For more information, stop in or call 884-0400.

Volunteers needed to help tutor

Literacy Volunteers for Children is seeking volunteer tutors to work with struggling K-12 students 1-2 hours per week.

"We have been getting referrals for our tutoring services from Carson City School District Support Services, in addition to word of mouth, and have used up all available volunteers. We have a few people lined up but need many more," said Jan Whitemore.

Volunteers will need to have a background check completed or show proof of one already on file with the state. A six-hour training session will be held June 21 and 22 from 6-9 pm. A $25 donation to the program is requested.

To register call 885-1010.

Register online for kids' Summer Kamp 2011

Online registration is available for Carson City Recreation Division's new Summer Kamp 2011.

Summer Kamp offers parents supervised activities for their children throughout the summer, said Meagan Soracco, recreation program manager for youth.

Kamp is held weekdays for nine weeks - plus an extra three days so parents only have to find child care for two days before school starts. It runs from June 13 through Aug. 17. Hours are from 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. to make dropoff and pickup convenient for parents.

Cost for residents is $85 per week per child, and scholarships are available to those who qualify.

There are programs for children entering kindergarten through ninth grade. Carson City Recreation Division also offers a leader in training program for students entering ninth grade, or older.

Soracco said about 200 kids participate in the annual kamp. Activities include a lot of outdoor games, swimming, in-town and out-of-town field trips, arts and crafts, bowling, archery and, for an additional cost, swim lessons.

To register, go to www.carson.org/ccpr. Those who don't have computers may register in person at 851 E. William St. For more information, call Soracco at 887-2290, Ext. 7428 or email to mssoracco@carson.org.

Camp Intervention teaches STEM skills

Bethlehem Lutheran School will host the nationally recognized Camp Invention June 20-24.

Local children will construct life-sized clubhouses, investigate polymer science to understand balls technology, and explore innovative survival traits of the planet's wildest animals at Camp Invention's SPARK program this summer.

Created for children entering grades one through six, the Camp Invention program is a weeklong adventure in creativity that immerses its participants in engaging, hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, and math, as well as history and the arts.

Every program participant receives a Camp Invention T-shirt that features clever, new artwork each year. Discounts are available. To register a child for the program or to learn more, visit www.campinvention.org or call 800-968-4332, or contact local Program Director Tracey Taylor at monkeygirlnv@gmail.com.

Bethlehem Lutheran School is located at 1837 Mountain St in Carson City.

Help available for vets returning to work

Nevada Job Connect, Veteran Services, assists military veterans with returning to work, including help with resume composition, job search and interview skills.

The state agency does not charge a fee.

Go to 1929 N. Carson St., or call 684-0400 for more information.

Library to support youth in national competition

The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Ill., has launched a Summer App Challenge, a national contest for teens to design a mobile app that gets other teens to be physically active in whatever way that they like. Five finalist ideas will be built into working app prototypes, and one winning concept will be professionally produced and published as an iPhone and Android app by MSI.

The Carson City Library is supporting local youth who are interested in entering the contest. The Summer App Challenge is meant as a creative exercise for teens who may not think of themselves as programmers to experiment in a new medium. It is also an opportunity to gain the real-world project skill of developing, refining and communicating a creative concept effectively enough to be executed.

To enter, teens will develop a proposal that communicates their idea in the same way real designers do - including a conceptual overview, clear goals, user research, storyboards, and a pitch on how and why teens would use it.

The Challenge is open to all teens entering grades eight through 12 in the 2011-12 school year. The library is hosting an entry clinic from 6-8 p.m. June 20.

"What we love about this competition is that kids get a chance to unleash their own power of imagination in this real world way. We are happy to help them ... so those good ideas are taken seriously," said Carson City Library Deputy Director Tammy Westergard.

Full contest details and entry forms are available at www.msichicago.org/appchallenge. For more information, call the library at 887-2244.

Fundraiser to benefit Girls State delegates

The American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 4, Carson City, will host a Girls State Tea at the Governor's Mansion from 5-7 p.m. June 17.

Proceeds from the Tea will benefit Girls State delegate scholarships from Carson, Dayton and Douglas high schools. These delegates have been interviewed and selected based on leadership qualities both in school and in thier communities.

There will be a silent auction and raffle, and admission tickets are $5. Tickets must be purchased prior to the event. For information, contact Louise Seidel 885-0269 or Chris Ritger at 782-9791.

Roadrunners plan June campout

The Carson City Roadrunner RV group will go to Walker Lake on June 21-24 for a campout/meeting.

Nonmembers wishing to attend may call Paul Bachman at 267-3021 for further information prior to June 17.

Nevada State Museum presents Long Beard: Warren Wasson

Author and historian, Robert W. Ellison, presents a lecture, Long Beard: Warren Wasson, Indian Agent & U.S. Marshall, from 7-8 p.m. June 23 at the Nevada State Museum.

The lecture is based on Ellison's book, "Long Beard: Warren Wasson, Nevada Pioneer, Indian Agent, U.S. Marshall, Inventor and Enigma," published by Hot Springs Mountain Press in Minden. A limited number of books are available through the Museum Store.

Ellison is a resident of Carson Valley, an area rich in history. A lover of heritage and a good story, Ellison spent more than four decades traveling the Nevada and California ground that Warren Wasson and his contemporaries traveled.

He received his bachelor's degree from Cal State at Fullerton, his master's from UNR, and did doctoral work at Claremont Graduate School. Ellison previously published two other works about Nevada's past: The Territorial Lawmen of Nevada, Vol. 1 and First Impressions, a history of the Emigrant Trail through Carson Valley.

Warren Wasson was a frontiersman, a 49er, a scout, an Indian Agent, a deputy U.S. Marshall, then U.S. Marshall, a U.S. tax assessor, a delegate to two constitutional conventions, and a military advisor to three of Nevada's Governors. In his spare time, he was a father, farmer, miner and inventor. In the end, with his disappearance, he became an enigma.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for exhibit viewing in the main building. Museum members and children 17 and under are free; nonmember adult admission is $8. For more information, contact Deborah Stevenson, curator of education: dstevenson@nevadaculture.org or 687-4810, Ext. 237.

Carson City Rifle & Pistol Range to be closed for cleaning

The Carson City Rifle and Pistol Range in Carson City will be closed to the public on June 22, from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The range will reopen for normal operations after 3:30 p.m. the same day.

The Carson City Parks and Recreation Department will be cleaning the facility and hauling trash and debris from the site.

The range is located at 4000 Flint Drive, Highway 50 East to Rifle Range Road.

For information contact Scott Fahrenbruch, Director of Operations, at 283-7340.