Dinner, dancing, dating

Girls, grab your pocketbooks.

Single women will have the option to bid on 10 eligible bachelors, and at the same time support the Family Support Council of Douglas County if they attend a Sadie Hawkins Fundraiser at Sharkey's Casino on April 21.

Area bachelors are featured in this event hosted by Sharkey's and the High Sierra Thong Snappers, the Carson City chapter of the national Blue Thong Society.

"These men volunteered to be auctioned off to benefit the domestic violence and child abuse prevention programs at the Family Support Council," said Family Support Council director Kelli Johnson. "They each have a dream date planned, ranging from several hours of handyman work to outdoor activities such as hiking and mountain biking, to wine tasting or a private golf lesson."

Pictures and a bachelor "menu" will be provided to bidders prior to the auction, plus information on what each bachelor's dream date package will be, according to Johnson.

The men vary in age from their 20s to their 60s. The menus will describe each of the bachelors, their likes and dislikes, what they do for a living, and even their Zodiac signs.

Included in the line up are a mortgage broker (33-year-old Pisces), to a race car industry operations manager (54-year-old Virgo), a Realtor (28-year-old Sagittarius), the insurance counsel for the state of Nevada (34-year-old Leo), a member of the Witness Protection Program (45-year-old Capricorn), the state archivist (unknown age Virgo) and a "project guy" (50-plus-13-year-old Taurus), and others.

High Sierra Thong Snapper director Patty Manning said the group considered hosting the fundraiser after a call from Sharkey's general manager Bernie Curtis.

"Bernie Curtis called us after seeing our picture in the paper on Jan. 9," said Manning.

Curtis, a former Douglas County undersheriff who has lived off and on in Carson Valley for about 30 years, returned to the Valley a few months ago after residing in Elko for about a year. He had been a board member prior to leaving the Valley a year ago, and rejoined upon his return.

"It's a good cause, whether I'm on the board or not," said Curtis. "(The High Sierra Thong Snappers) were looking to try to have an event. They thought the Family Support Council is a worthy cause, and I agree.

"I sure do appreciate the work those people at the Family Support Council do - fighting violence in families, bullying and so forth. It's always been the outfit that I've placed a lot of support and trust in. It's the right thing."

The bachelors will parade around the upstairs room at Sharkey's from 5-7 p.m., and the event will last until midnight. The cost, $25 for singles and $45 a couple, includes a western-style barbecue dinner and dancing, the bachelor auction, a raffle and door prizes. There will be a no-host bar.

Live entertainment will be provided by Robin Turley, who performs pretty regularly in the Horseshoe Bar at Sharkey's. Turley plays mostly classic rock 'n' roll and country rock. Curtis said he wishes they could book Turley there every weekend.

"He's quite good," said Curtis. "He's well received. He's played all over the world."

Johnson said the Family Support Council has a special reason for wanting to hold the fundraiser.

"The event is to welcome Bernie Curtis back to Douglas County and to Sharkey's Casino as the new general manager," said Johnson.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact Patty Manning at patty@highsierrathongsnappers.com or call 246-9630.