Vote for favorite museum trees

The Douglas County Historical Society's Holiday Gala may be over, but there are still fun things to do at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville. Pick up your copy of the 2009 DCHS calendar. This is your calendar, made with photos of what you see each month in Douglas County. Get yours before they are all gone.

Once you get to the museum, vote for your favorite Christmas tree. Votes are a quarter each, but we'll gladly accept votes made with dollar bills. The tree that makes the most money will be the winner and will be featured here in January. You can vote for your favorites as many times as you have money.

Stop in the Main Street Bookstore to see what they have on sale. Just about every is 20 percent off, including books and T-shirts. See's Candies aren't on sale, but if you are a member of the Douglas County Historical Society, you'll get a 10 percent member discount.

You can also pick up a copy of the 2009 Entertainment Book containing discount offers from local and national restaurants, hotels and resorts, entertainment venues and savings on items from apparel to flowers. While everything in the bookstore makes a great gift, we suggest a membership in the historical society as the best gift of all.

Then you can pick up your tickets for this year's melodrama. It's not set in the train station this time and there are some new characters as well as some old favorites. Performance dates are Feb. 6, 7 and 8, and we always sell out early. The Friday and Saturday performances include dinner and the Sunday matinee includes a hot dog lunch. Get your tickets and get ready to hiss, boo and cheer.

Time to take that special December photo to enter in the December photo contest. Now that we have snow in the mountains, the views around here are gorgeous and are just waiting for you to take that winning shot.  Entries will be accepted until 4 p.m. Dec. 31.

All the events we put on and all the items we sell go to support your two local museums. Everything we do is geared to keeping our doors open so you can participate in the history of this valley. Most of us are transplants, choosing to live here in this beautiful place. Make this the Christmas you choose to help us by supporting your Douglas County Historical Society. Become a member. Volunteer. We need your help.

If you have any questions about anything mentioned here, please call the Douglas County Historical Society at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural in Gardnerville at 782-2555. Visit our Web site at www.historicnevada.org. Remember, DCHS and its two museums, the Gardnerville museum and the Genoa Court House Museum, do not receive any regular state or county funding. It's up to our members and friends to help us keep our doors open.

n Contact Ellen Caywood at in2my2cats@yahoo.com or at 790-1565.