Community Briefly Oct. 5

Seeliger to become a pumpkin patch on Saturday

The 19th annual Al Seeliger Elementary School Pumpkin Patch will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the school located at 2800 E Saliman Road.

This year's event will include the usual carnival type games and prizes, bounce houses, face painting and craft booths along with food and of course a pumpkin patch ready to pick from.

New to the event this year will be tethered hot air balloon rides, provided by Re/Max, Steven Lincolns office.

State nursery in Washoe Valley offers fall plants

The Nevada Division of Forestry State Tree Nursery in Washoe Valley is holding a 25-percent-off sale of low-cost, conservation plants.

The nursery will sell its remaining stock at the discounted price Oct. 14 and 15. The nursery is closing for the season Oct. 15 and will re-open May 10.

Fall is an optimum time for planting. Warm soils encourage root growth before the ground freezes. Fall plantings with an already established root system will be more tolerant of the summer heat.

The nursery will be open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Plants are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For a list of available species, call the nursery at (775) 849-0213 or visit http://www.forestry.nv.gov.

Most species are available in D-pots for the sale price of $1.69 or T-pots for $2.63.

The nursery is designed to assist landowners by providing plant material suitable for conservation uses such as, but not limited to, windbreaks, soil erosion control, water conservation and wildlife habitats. Plants purchased at the Washoe Nursery must be used for conservation purposes as provided for by NRS 528.105.

The plants are all grown and maintained at the nursery and are conditioned to survive Northern Nevada's cold winters and hot summers.

The nursery is at 885 Eastlake Blvd., Washoe Valley.

Benefit concert to protect national historic landmark

Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks will play Pipers Opera House in Virginia City Oct. 22 to benefit preservation of the Virginia City National Historic Landmark currently under threat of open pit mining.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and showtime is at 7:30 p.m.

Showcased in Virginia City will be songs from DH & HL's latest album, Tangled Tales, as well as brand new tunes served up with the unique fashion, attitude and swagger that are embodied in Dan's eccentricity and unique sound.

Hicks' history on the Comstock goes back more than 45 years to the summer of 1965, a time which pre-dates the music and cultural revolution which occurred in San Francisco the following year. The Red Dog Saloon was being born in Virginia City by a group of Bay Area bohemians, artists, musicians, poets, plumbers, house painters and Indians among others.

Hicks took a special interest when he heard of the threat that looms over the Comstock Historic District from open pit mining.

In June, via Jeff Cotton, Dan suggested a concert at Piper's Opera House to help benefit and create awareness of the Comstock's plight. This "Landmark Performance" is his contribution to the cause.

A meet & greet will be held at the Red Dog Saloon following the concert and is limited to 100 guests.

Advance tickets are $35 at The Bead Store in Carson City or Recycled Records in Reno.

Tickets for the concert and the post concert meet & greet are $42.50

See www.comstockresidents.org for more details. For more on Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks see www.danhicks.net

The Piper's show is being sponsored by Comstock Residents Association, with the support of Open Sky Radio; KLAP-FM, 89.5.

For more information, call Beau Guthrie 619-884-1392 or 775-847- 0759.

Two city committees have openings

The Carson City Board of Supervisors is seeking applications from persons interested in serving on the Shade Tree Council.

There is one volunteer opening to be filled. The Shade Tree Council provides advice to the Board of Supervisors on matters concerning the development, maintenance, management and promotion of a safe, healthy and attractive urban forest in Carson City.

Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every other month at 5:30 p.m. in the Sierra Room at the Carson City Community Center.

This term will expire January 2012. Applicants should be aware that a minimum commitment of up to 10 hours a month is expected. All members will serve without compensation.

Supervisors also are seeking applications from persons interested in serving on the Carson City Open Space Advisory Committee.

There are two volunteer openings to be filled. The purpose of the committee is to promote the quality of life for citizens of Carson City through the preservation and protection of the natural environment.

Meetings are held the third Monday of every other month at 6 p.m. in the Sierra Room. There is one position open to fill a term that expires in January 2012 and one position open to fill a term that expires in January 2013.

All applicants must be Carson City residents and registered voters to qualify.

Volunteer applications may be obtained from and returned to the Carson City Executive Offices, 201 N. Carson Street #2. Applications will be accepted until this position is filled.

For more information, call 887-2100 or email to lbanks@carson.org.

60 in 60 information session, training offered

The Boys and Girls Club Mentor Center of Western Nevada will host an informational session and training for potential new volunteers who want to be part of the 60 new mentors sought within 60 days to offer one hour a week.

There are five new mentors to be trained. The training will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 15 at the Boys and Girls Club, 1870 Russell Way. Breakfast will be provided, and the training will include conversation about the benefits of mentoring the youth in Carson City. It also will be an opportunity for community members to learn about the three unique ways to shape the future of Carson City.

They could be matched one-on-one with a youth who best fits their personality, lifestyle and interests. They meet once a week in the community or at The Boys and Girls Club to talk, play and have fun.

Volunteers also may choose to work with a youth through a program guiding a teen towards college or trade school, or they may become part of the group of men and boys called Str8 Street.

"Mentors are not parental replacements. Rather they are just available to support the child in a way that has been proven to benefit them both academically and socially. Children in mentoring programs are less likely to use drugs, participate in gangs, or end up in prison according to a national study," said Ruth Gordon, director of the Mentor Center.

"We know the youth who need this support exist in our community, but sometimes it is difficult to identify them without referrals from parents or guardians, teachers and friends," she said.

To RSVP for the informational session and training, call Gordon at 775-445-3346 or email her at ruthg@bgcwn.org.