Community Briefly

Hot Club of Cowtown concert change of location

The Carson Valley Arts Council's next concert, Hot Club of Cowtown will be at the Genoa Town Hall.

On May 13, the group will bring their western swing with a little jazz kick to the Carson Valley. Locals have become accustomed to seeing the concert series at the CVIC Hall. However, due to scheduling factors, the venue has been changed to the Genoa Town Hall with appetizers and beverages starting at 6 p.m. and the show beginning at 7 p.m.

Their show history includes opening for Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson as well as an international following. Participants can enjoy some western swing tunes made famous by the legendary Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, served up Hot Club-style while at the same time supporting a local arts organization.

For more information, go to www.cvartscouncil or call 782-8207.

Superfund site on agenda for Silver City town advisory council

The Silver City Town Advisory Council will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Silver City School House, community center near the corners of 2nd and High streets).

Discussion of the Carson River Mercury Superfund Site and old mining mill sites in the Comstock area will be on the agenda.

Jeff Collins, one of the contacts listed for the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, will be at the town meeting to give a presentation and answer questions about the overall status of the superfund site.

For more information, call Erich Obermayr at 775-847-0344.

Nonprofits invited to apply for cars program

Carson City Senior Center Executive Director Janice McIntosh announced the center has been selected as a finalist in Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program.

Toyota's 100 Cars for Good program will award 100 vehicles over the course of 100 days to 100 deserving nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public. A total of 500 finalists were selected from a field of about 5,000 based on their application as reviewed by an independent panel of judges who are experts in the fields of philanthropy and social responsibility.

"We are vying for the opportunity to win a new Toyota vehicle to deliver meals to our Meals on Wheels clients," McIntosh said.

Residents can support the senior center by voting for at www.facebook.com/toyota.

"For this program, the center must create a two-minute video explaining why they should win and how they would use the vehicle. Each of the 100 days of voting, five different organizations of similar size will vie for the highest number of votes to win the vehicle.

For more information, call 883-0703.

Rappel down Grand Sierra for Special Olympics

Special Olympics Nevada is offering potential donors a chance to rappel down the side of the Grand Sierra in Reno on June 4

The opportunity is open only to the first 100 people who register and pledge to raise at least $1,000 for the Special Olympics. It's organized by Over the Edge for Special Olympics Nevada. No experience or equipment necessary.

For more information visit www.overtheedgereno.com.

The Special Olympics provides free, year round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Draft EA available to public for Storey County projects

The draft environmetal assessment for the Virginia City and Gold Hill Wastewater Systems Improvements is now available for public review until May 24. It is available on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website at www.spk.usace.army.mil.

The project would involve upgrading the existing wastewater treatment plant in Virginia City, replacing Virginia City's sewer collection system, constructing sewer lift stations in Gold Hill and replacing and extending the Gold Hill sewer collection system.

The work would reduce potential surface and groundwater contamination, ensure public and environmental health and meet the two towns' wastewater treatment demands.

For a hard copy of the draft, call Lynne Stevenson at 916-557-6774 or send email to lynne.l.stevenson@usace.army.mil.

Send written comments to the attention of Stevenson at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1325 J. St., Sacramento, CA, 95814-2922.

Young Adult Author to Speak at Western Nevada College

The public is invited to attend a classroom discussion at Western Nevada College on Wednesday by author Heidi Ayarbe, whose published works are geared toward young adult readers. Ayarbe, who grew up locally, will speak at 7 p.m. in Bristlecone Building Room 343.

The author will discuss her writing and publishing experiences, including how she garners story ideas, her writing process, and the obstacles she has faced. The lecture is being offered to students from English Professor Marilee Swirczek's creative writing class.

Swirczek describes Ayarbe as a homegrown Nevadan who uses the high desert landscape to underscore the gut-wrenching, authentic problems in the lives of contemporary young adults.

"She cuts to the bone with her beautiful language and startling insights. Heidi always comes home and generously shares her talent and experience with new writers. And we always welcome her with open arms," Swirczek said.

Ayarbe grew up in Carson City, attended the University of Nevada, Reno and has traveled the world, currently taking up residence in Colombia. She is a 2009 recipient of the International Reading Association's Children's and Young Adult's Book Award, with three published novels, "Freeze Frame," "Compulsion" and "Compromised."

For information, contact Swirczek at 445-4284.