Local briefly Nov. 24

Holiday art sale and open house

The Brewery Arts Center's Artisans Store will host a Holiday Art Sale and Open House from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.

There will be handmade artwork including jewelry, pottery, glasswork, jewelry, photography, metal artwork, soap, silk painted scarves, handmade ties, and oil, watercolor and silk paintings. All work is for sale.

Demonstrations in jewelry making, pottery-hand building/wheel throwing, painting and gourd making will also take place.

The Brewery Arts Center is located at 449 W. King St. Visit www.breweryarts.org or call 775-883-1976 for more information.

Bella Voce and Orfeo to perform at the Brewery Arts Center

Wrap up the long Thanksgiving weekend with a wonderful holiday concert. Bella Voce performs at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Brewery Arts Center. Reno's premiere women's vocal ensemble will perform both classic and contemporary holiday music.

Bella Voce, which is Italian for beautiful voice, has been performing for more than 20 years. Known for excellent vocal technique and a beautiful sound, this ensemble has earned a unique place among performing vocal groups in northern Nevada.

Joining Bella Voce will be Orfeo, a men's chorus. Together they will create an event the entire family will enjoy. So, come in from the winter cold or relax after a busy holiday weekend with Bella Voce.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for seniors, $5 for students. Children younger than 12 are free. Tickets are available at www.breweryarts.org.

The Brewery Arts Center is located at 449 W. King St. Visit www.breweryarts.org or call 775-883-1976 for more information.

Band offers coming home tribute to veterans

The Capital City Community Band will welcome home all returning servicemen and women and salute veterans with a concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Boldrick Theater in the Carson City Community Center.

This free concert will be directed by the band's founder, Richard Doede.  The band will perform a variety of music, including "A Salute to Bob Hope," "Armed Forces - The Pride of America," various holiday favorites and marches.

The band is an all-volunteer group founded in 1978 that provides adults a performance venue and the community free musical entertainment.

Members are from Carson City, Lake Tahoe, the Carson Valley, Dayton and Reno, and have a variety of occupations. The age of members ranges from 14 to 85.  Some members have been or still are professional musicians, but the majority learned to play in school and put the instrument away for a few years and decided to return to playing.

The hour of entertainment is free and the public is invited. For more information, call Richard at 775-883-2219.

Strings in Schools concert planned

Strings in the Schools, Carson City Symphony's after-school program, presents its second annual "This is Not a Christmas Concert" at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St., Carson City.

About 80 string players from Carson City public, private and home-schooled situations, and students from surrounding areas, will perform several pieces, from classics to folk and fiddle tunes. Admission is free.

The concert, directed by Carson City Symphony's Education Director, Sue Jesch, features beginning violins in grades two to five; a youth string orchestra for all ages, including adult mentors; and STRAZZ, advanced jazz and fiddle ensemble.

"These young musicians play to enthusiastic crowds." said David Bugli, music director of the Carson City Symphony. "You will be entertained and impressed with how well they play and the great variety of musical styles they have learned." Strings in the Schools, an educational program of the Carson City Symphony Association, is now in its seventh year. It is supported in part by grants from the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; Partnership Carson City; Sierra Philharmonic League; and private donations. For more information, call director Sue Jesch at 775-450-5584.

V&T Candy Cane Express offers rides in Virginia City

The Virginia & Truckee Railroad will host a two-week enchanted Christmas Train aboard vintage rail coaches on Dec. 3, 4, 10 and 11.

Departures are from noon to 2 p.m. from the F Street Station in Virginia City, but passengers are asked to arrive at least 10 minutes before train departure time.

Participants are invited to savor hot chocolate and enjoy festive candy canes while listening to "The Night Before Christmas" read by Mrs. Claus and her special friends from the North Pole, the Candy Cane Sisters.

On board, one of Santa's elves will record children's requests for holiday deliveries.

The Candy Cane Express is appropriate for all ages, young and old, and will be a joyful addition to the holiday season. Wear warm clothes and bring a camera.

Cost is $12 for adults 13 and older; $6 for ages 2-12 and free for 2 years and under.

For more information and departure times, call the station at 775-847-0380 or go to www.virginiatruckee.com.

Commission members sought for parks panel

The Carson City Board of Supervisors is seeking applications from persons interested in serving on the Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission.

The purpose of the Parks and Recreation Commission is to advise the Board of Supervisors on the use of city parks and protect the rights of all Carson City residents to enjoy the parks system.

There are four open positions for a four-year term which expires January 2016.

A minimum commitment of up to 10 hours a month is expected. The Commission meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m.

Volunteer applications may be obtained from the Carson City Executive Offices, 201 N. Carson St. #2, or from the website, http://www.carson.org.

Applications will be accepted until Dec. 30.

Meetings for friends, family of alcoholics

Steps to Serenity Al Anon is a support group for the family and friends of alcoholics. The group meets every Sunday and Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Tahoe Room of the Carson City Senior Center, 911 Beverly Drive

Anonymity is protected at all times.

Participants are asked to use the back entrance. For more information, call Susan Dufrin at 315-0030.

Toys for Tots kicks off locally this weekend

The Toys for Tots Hotline is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1-4 p.m. between Nov. 28 and Dec. 20. The number is 775-884-8697

The Toys for Tots kickoff with the Marines will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at both local Walmarts.

For more information, call Joyce Buckingham, executive director of the Ron Wood Family Resource Center at 775-884-2269.

Help a child at Austin's House during holidays

Austin's House expects to have many children in crisis staying over the holidays.

The best donation to help a local child in crisis is a gift card to a store or cash. This allows Austin's House to purchase the exact gift that each child wants, even if the child arrives on Christmas Eve. A gift card to any local store that carries both clothing and toys, like Target or Walmart, is perfect. People can also donate gift cards for children's entertainment such as local movie theaters, fast food restaurants and bowling.

Austin's House also needs food to stock the pantry. Call to find out what specific items are needed.

The staff at Austin's House has produced a 2012 calendar featuring artwork drawn by children who have stayed at Austin's House. Each month brings a warm reminder of another young life that was changed for the better thanks to the care provided at this facility. This high quality spiral-bound calendar is ideal for the home and also makes the great holiday gift. The 2012 calendar is $10, and the money will directly benefit Austin's House.

Call 775-267-6711 to donate to Austin's House this holiday season or to order a calendar.

Austin's House is the only emergency children's shelter in rural Northern Nevada. The children are placed at Austin's House after being removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.

For more information, call 775-267-6711.

Volunteer help brings smiles to faces

On Dec. 17, volunteers from all walks of life come together for a great cause. They dress up in Santa suits and elf costumes and bring joy and happiness to homebound and senior citizens with limited financial resources by visiting them with gifts provided by business owners and members of the community.

Each year, the group visits 150-200 in the Carson area by working closely with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

"Friends to All, Inc." is seeking the names and addresses of seniors people may know who could use this caring visit. Call Gwen Pradere at 775-884-0180 in Carson City to add their names to the list.

The group also is accepting donations of cash, crossword large print puzzle books if possible, slipper socks, gloves, hats, scarves, handkerchiefs, lotions, lip balm, 2012 calendars, packaged small food items such as candy, cookies or nuts, and gift cards from grocery or gift stores, hair salons, barbershops, or restaurants that deliver - basically anything that a homebound senior may be able to use.

Donations may be mailed or dropped off at the Fountainhead Associates, Inc. office located at 312 W. Fourth Street, Carson City, NV 89703 during regular business hours of 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or a volunteer can pick up your donation, if necessary.

Raiders boosters to help homebound seniors

On Dec. 10, the Carson City Raiders Booster Club will honor its annual Christmas commitment to homebound seniors in the community by shopping for gifts at Walmart and delivering wrapped presents to the seniors the following day.

Club members are actively involved year-around in raising funds to make the holidays merrier for homebound seniors, and plan to adopt as many seniors as possible this year and provide them with gifts from their modest wish lists.

The club is seeking donations from the community to help make this event a success for the seniors.

Chili's Bar & Grill in north Douglas County also is offering their support by donating 15 percent of patrons' checks who bring in a flier between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Dec. 2.

To obtain a flier or to make a donation for the homebound seniors' Christmas gifts, contact Ed Cabello at eccabello@sbcglobal.net or call 775-246-4662.

Douglas hosting food drive Dec. 5-9

Douglas Disposal's 17th annual food drive is the week of Dec. 5-9. Donations of nonperishable food items in plastic bags should be placed beside trash cans to be picked up by a Douglas Disposal employee.

The collected food is weighed and delivered to the Carson Valley Community Food Closet. Donations may also be delivered to the Douglas Disposal office at 1653 Lucerne St., Suite A in the Minden Village.

In 2010, Douglas Disposal collected 9,660 pounds of food from their customers. Carson Valley Community Food Closet is located at 1255 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville. For more information call, 782-3711.

Reading tutors available

Does your child hate to read? Is your child bright in many ways but still struggles with reading and spelling?

Literacy Volunteers for Children offers one-on-one tutoring.

Call Jan Whitemore at 885-1010 for more information.