Community Briefly Oct. 7

Benefit concert to protect national historic landmark

Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks will play Pipers Opera House in Virginia City on 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.

60 in 60 information session, training offered

The Boys and Girls Clubs 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.

Carson City POP Warner Midget Cheerleaders host carwash

The Carson City Pop Warner Midget Cheerleaders will host a carwash from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Save Mart on North Carson Street.

The cheer squad is committed to raising money for upcoming cheer events. Donations will be accepted.

For more information, call Sheryl Tingle at 775-841-1590.

Apple Hill tour planned for cancer patients

A day trip to Apple Hill is scheduled for local cancer patients and their caregivers Nov. 10.

This is the first trip of a series of outings designed to enhance the treatment program at Sierra Nevada Cancer Center.

The day provides both the patient and their caregivers a day away from the reality of treatment to enjoy beautiful Apple Hill in the fall. Guest speakers on buses will discuss topics including nutrition, exercise during treatment, and the history of Apple Hill.

The day is a round-trip motorized bus trip from the Sierra Nevada Cancer Center, 1460 South Curry St., Carson City to Apple Hill. It includes catered lunch, boutique shopping and apple pie.

The all inclusive $30 day package is available through Western Discovery Tours and space is limited. Reservations deadline is Nov. 3. For additional information and special Carson City discounted room rates contact Western Discovery Tours, 800-843-5061 or 775-843-5061.

Boy Scouts improve sage-grouse habitat

Boy Scouts of America Troop 495, from Minden, completed a fence-marking project in greater sage-grouse habitat in Mineral and Lyon counties in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service on Sept. 25.

Star Scout, Gus Lister, led five scouts and four parents through this project as a part of the requirements to qualify for the prestigious Boy Scouts of America William T. Hornaday Conservation award. The group made more than 1,000 markers and then placed these markers on fences with Forest Service wildlife staff over the last two Sundays in September.

The markers are made of vinyl siding, cut into small pieces and hung on the wires of the fence. In addition to markers the scouts made, they received a donation of 300 markers from Firefly Diverters LLC.

Collisions with fences are a known cause of mortality for sage-grouse; marking fences with a material that makes the fence more visible can prevent the birds from hitting the fence. Studies suggest that marking fences can decrease bird mortality by 70 percent. The markers were strategically placed where grouse mortalities have been recently documented.

The scouts were excited to hear that their efforts will have a positive impact on wildlife survivability. The greater sage-grouse is a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act. It was determined by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that the birds were warranted for listing but the listing was precluded by species with higher priorities.

The birds in Lyon and Mineral counties are part of a distinct population segment of the greater sage grouse.

For more information, call Assistant Scout Master for Troop 495 Doug Lister at 760-932-1545.

Poet Pahmeier offers poetry reading, writing workshop

The Carson City Arts Initiative presents Gailmarie Pahmeier at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Carson City Library, 900 North Roop St.

Pahmeier also will conduct a writing workshop at the library that same day, from 4-5 p.m. All free and open to the public.

Pahmeier has been a Nevadan for 30 years. She teaches creative writing and contemporary literature at the University of Nevada, where she has been honored with the Alan Bible Teaching Excellence Award and the University Distinguished Teacher Award.

Pahmeier's work has been widely published in literary journals and anthologies, and she has received many honors.

"I've read my work locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. I'm particularly interested in conducting workshops and giving readings in under-served communities, wherever they might be or think they are," Pahmeier said. "I love Nevada, love getting out and into our various communities. My material comes from interactions and observations I make while out on the road, and I learn as much or more from community workshop participants as they might learn from me."

The Capital City Arts Initiative is an artist-centered organization committed to the encouragement and support of artists and the arts and culture of Carson City and the surrounding region.

For more information, call 775-450-3842.