Carson Valley Days brings fun to Lampe Park

Although shaving cream covered their faces, hair, tops and shorts, the happy smiles of Holly Radosevich, 13, and Cecelie Grable, 12, shone through as they walked through Lampe Park during Saturday's festivities at Carson Valley Days.

Students at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School, the two girls had come from a baseball diamond where 20 to 30 teenagers sprayed shaving cream on each other. Like all the fun of a teenage pool party just without a pool, the kids chased each other around the field. Another teenager squirted a wash-off hose, but most of the kids -- boys with shaving cream mohawks and girls with white ponytails -- were content in the shaving cream.

"They totally creamed us," said Holly. "We'll probably walk around with it on all day. "

The 20/30 International Club, Local 85, runs the two-day event, said Tom Hunter, 20/30 promotions director and a local pharmacist at Scolaris.

"Every penny we get goes to the kids," Hunter said.

Carson Valley Days is the largest 20/30 fund-raiser for children in the area, although the club hosts other events throughout the year as well. Started in 1932 as a club to benefit children, the 30-member chapter helped Carson Valley Days make it to its 91st celebration.

The log-climbing event kept organizers busy, as children tried to reach the top of a 12-foot log with an American flag on top. The prize at one point was up to $165, but participants were having a hard time making it up.

"I'm here for the kids," Hunter said. "I'm here to make money to ensure that when a 4-H member or other kid needs money, we have that available."

The day started with floats, horses, and hot-air balloon baskets traveling down Highway 395, onto Waterloo Lane, and into Lampe Park. An American Gas driver had a small dog hanging out the window with him, as hawkers sold American flags and buttons. Heat from the hot-air balloon burners provided pockets of warmth to spectators during the chilly mid-morning.

"I like the Douglas Pop Warner float," said Ashley Raichle, 14, of Gardnerville. "It had a huge football, a whole bunch of football players, and cheerleaders in the back."

Ashley picked a winner -- the Pop Warner float won a wooden plaque in the youth group category.

Families and friends alike were laughing, eating, perusing the arts and crafts and socializing with friends at the park. Phil Goodeluinas, 18, said he mainly comes to interact with friends, and his buddy Ross Tinseth, 16, said they would be there all day, although he would be leaving at 1 p.m.

Rhonda Bello, and her sons, Ian, 7, and Quinn, 5, and her mother, Mary Kay Sherman, all from Sacramento, were returning to Carson Valley Days for the third year.

"It's a fun family event," Bello said. "It's has good food, and the kids enjoy the candy thrown at the parade."

Quinn Bello, who munched on a Sno-cone, said his favorite activity was watching his brother play at the basketball hoops.

At the entrance of the park, nearly a dozen rebuilt tractors were on display. Two bright red 1953 Canadian Cockshutt tractors, a 1937 Model A John Deere, an an orange 1947 Oliver tractor were a small handful of the bright colors in the shade of the trees.

"We like spending time restoring them, painting them, and rebuilding them," said Larry Borowick, of the Northern Nevada Antique Power Club. "We like keeping old tractors and engines aliive. This is the stuff that made the valley green and grow. Some were even out in the fields a couple of years ago."

The fair is one people enjoy returning to every year.

"I like going to Lampe Park and having a good day," Raichle said.

Parade Winners

Of the more than 95 entries, the following floats won plaques:

1. Non-Commercial: The Many Faces of Douglas County Emergency Services

2. Commercial: Bently Nevada

3. Service Club: Carson Valley 20/30 Club, No. 85

4. Non-service club: Sierra Stompers Four Wheel Drive Club

5. Youth group: Douglas Pop Warner Football and Cheer

6. Marching band/Musical entry: 24-7 Band

7. Marching drill team: U.S. Marine Corps from Walker

8. Antique vehicle: Liberty Hill Farm

9. Native American: Washoe Native American, Delilah Carmona

10. Engine Company: Topaz Lake Volunteer Fire Department

11. Miscellaneous: Civil Air Patrol, Minden-Tahoe Airport

The following were equestrian mounts in the parade and won medallions:

12. Large hitch: Laxague Family Feed Store

13. Family mounted: Peruvian Pase Gated Horses

14. Mounted group/Uniformed: Sierra Riders

15. Best dressed senior cowboy/cowgirl: Primrose Photo Imaging

16. Working ranch cowboy/cowgirl: Corley Ranches, LLC

17. Authentic costume: Washoe Native American, Alexandria Box

Citizen of the Year: Renea Louie, director of operations at the St. Gall Community Center and an executive business director for Douglas County, involved in the Soroptimists, Chamber of Commerce, Relay for Life.

"I am so honored and will continue to make sure I work hard for the community and kids," Louie said.