Valley organizations host fundraisers this weekend

Staff Reports

Mardi Gras event benefits Austin's House

Celebrate Fat Tuesday with music dancing, food and prizes at the second annual Mardi Gras Magic Dinner & Dance to benefit Austin's House, 6 p.m. Friday, at the Shannon Ballroom of the Carson Valley Inn.

Purchase a "Crocatini" during cocktail hour and receive a commemorative Mardi Gras Magic martini glass plus an entry in the grand prize drawing for a three-day/two-night vacation at Harrah's New Orleans including dinner at Besh Steakhouse, tickets to the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium of the Americas and Entergy IMAX theater, and $500 toward airfare.

The Cajun buffet dinner features peel and eat shrimp, chicken gumbo, blackened fish, Louisiana hot links steamed in beer, shrimp etouffee and smoked rib eye roast with all the trimmings.

Mardi Gras Magic dance music is provided by Fabrizio. The silent auction features donated prizes including vacations at Disneyland and Lake Tahoe, Reno Aces tickets, golf packages, ski passes and gift baskets.

Tickets are $50 for the Mardi Gras Magic Dinner & Dance to benefit Austin's House. This fundraiser is limited to 200 and only a few tickets are remaining. Call (775) 267-6676 to order tickets. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

The Austin's House emergency children's center relies on donations of individuals and organizations. More information about making a donation to Austin's House at www.austinshouse.org or 267-6711.

Sertoma crab feast benefits senior center

Carson Valley Sertoma hosts a crab and tri-tip feast, 5-10 p.m. Saturday, at the CVIC Hall in Minden. The event raises funds to keep soup on the menu at the Douglas County Senior Center.

Soup's an important course of the lunch cooked each day at the Douglas County Senior Center. But this year the county can't afford it, so Carson Valley Sertoma Club is stepping into the budget gap, hosting a benefit crab and tri-tip feast of its own to raise enough donations to put free soup back on the seniors' menu all year.

Cost of $30 includes all-you-can-eat dinner and music. Beer and wine available. Tables of 8 are $240. Tables of eight are available for $240.

Donations for the soup budget are also accepted. The soup course for the whole senior center is $40 per day.

Dinner tickets available at Tahoe Ridge Winery in Minden or Peggy, 781-3773.

Knights of Columbus host cioppino dinner

The 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus annual cioppino dinner is 6 p.m. Saturday at the St. Gall Pastoral Center.

Cioppino is a fish stew of shrimp, crab, clams and white fish in red sauce. The cioppino dinner includes green salad, French bread, dessert and nonalcoholic beverages. Steak may be substituted for cioppino. Cost is $30 per person.

The Knights' first cioppino dinner in 2006 revived a tradition established in the 1960s by the Pagni family, who operated the Jubilee Club Italian restaurant in Pleasant Valley. The family hosted an annual cioppino at the former Pyrenees Hotel in Gardnerville in appreciation for selecting the Pagni brothers as contractors on an addition to the Gardnerville Elementary School. The Pyrenees used to occupy the two-story building next to Sharkey's and was owned by Joe and Jeanne Micheo.

The 4th Degree assembly of Carson Valley, Carson City and Dayton supports men and women of the armed forces. Profits from the dinner benefit this cause.

Information at the church office, 782-2852, or Julian Larrouy, 265-2366.

Speed dating benefits 20-30

The Sierra Nevada Active 20-30 Club's second annual Looking for Love speed dating event is 7 p.m. Saturday at Doppelgangers Brewery, 302 N. Carson St., Carson City. Proceeds benefit special needs children in Douglas County.

The $15 entrance fee includes appetizers and DJ entertainment by C Styles. Event includes a 50/50 raffle. Information, www.sierranv2030.org or Jennifer Motti, (702) 807-4557.

"Based on the success of our inaugural year, we've expanded this year's event to better serve Northern Nevada's singles," said Jennifer Motti, president of Active 20-30 Sierra Nevada No. 730. "We have relocated the event to accommodate attendees from other areas, have live entertainment, and have incorporated more of a party atmosphere. It's sure to be a great time."

The Active 20-30 Club is an international nonprofit organization comprised of local clubs that raise funds for special needs children in the community. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in Carson Valley in 2009, the Sierra Nevada Active 20-30 Club annually donates to charities and children's groups, including Kids & Horses, Tahoe Youth and Family Services, Family Support Council, Boys & Girls Club, and Austin's House.

Membership information, www.sierranv2030.org

Valentine's dance at Sharkey's

Mile High Jazz Band Association presents Lucky Diamond and the Gents o' Jive, 7-11 p.m. Sunday, at Sharkey's Casino, 1440 Highway 395, Gardnerville.

Hot jazz band the Gents o' Jive play dance music from the Roaring '20s to today. The Gents are Dan Lancaster on sax, clarinet, and flute; John Dykstra on trumpet and flugelhorn; Jimmy Vermillion on keyboard; Joe La Chew on guitar; and Mark Ashworth, aka Lucky Diamond, on drums.

Admission is $5 with proceeds benefiting the Family Support Council of Douglas County. Sharkey's offers Valentine's Day dinner specials before the dance. Information, 782-3133.

Lucky Diamond and the Gents o' Jive have been performing since the grand opening of the Silver Legacy Resort Casino in 1995. Hired by Circus Circus, initially for three days, the act stayed for 18 months. Since then, they have appeared for private parties and corporate events in the Reno-Tahoe area, most recently at the Cadillac Ball in Truckee.

Information about the Mile High Jazz Band at www.milehighjazz.com