Elks host spaghetti feed and bingo night Dec. 4

The Minden/Douglas Elks Lodge 2670 hosts their annual spaghetti feed and Christmas tree bingo night on Friday, Dec. 4 at the CVIC Hall in Minden.

Doors open at 4 p.m. for cocktail hour, with dinner to follow at 5 p.m. The menu features spaghetti with the Elks' special recipe sauce, salad, and garlic bread.

At approximately 6 p.m., everyone will head outside to witness the lighting of the Minden gazebo. Afterward, family bingo gets underway back inside the CVIC Hall. Children are encouraged to participate.

Bingo cards are 25 cents per card, per game. Winners will be awarded Christmas tree certificates, redeemable at the Carson Valley Garden and Ranch Center. There will also be special prizes for the kids.

The cost for dinner is $4 for children and $6 for adults, with a no-host bar. Parking is extremely limited, so plan accordingly.

The CVIC Hall is located at 1602 Esmeralda in Minden. Carson Valley Garden and Ranch Center is located at 1144 Highway 395 South in Gardnerville.

Adventures with wind

So how about the windstorm we had last Friday? That morning when I took my son to school, I opened the car door to let him out and a huge wall of desert sand and pebbles barreled through my car, filling both our faces with grit. It was literally like that scene from the movie, "The Mummy," though I never saw it coming. The inside of my car looked as though someone had strewn baby powder all over it, and there were tiny stones wedged in the seats.

Both boys started to cry (my 2-year-old was still strapped in his seat), but luckily, another parent stepped in and calmed my younger boy while I accompanied my older son safely to his classroom. Thank you, Mark Alley!

Later, I was working at home when I head an enormous clunk over the top of the house. It sounded as though someone were throwing patio furniture onto the roof. I went outside to investigate and saw shingles literally being ripped out by the whipping winds. Once one went, others followed, blasting off like a rough set of dominoes.

Turns out the damages could be repaired, though we're looking at the purchase of a new roof come spring. I'm grateful to Tom Goldston, who assessed and replaced the damaged shingles in such a timely and professional manner.

Here's hoping you enjoy a fantastic holiday weekend filled with loved ones, good food and cheer!

Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com