Local briefly Dec. 11

Volunteers sought for citizens committee

The Carson City Board of Supervisors is seeking applications from people interested in serving on the Redevelopment Authority Citizens Committee.

There are six openings in the following categories, two in each:

• Business operator or property owner from Redevelopment Area 1, expires January 2013 and January 2014.

• Business operator or property owner from Redevelopment Area 2, expires January 2014 and January 2015.

• Citizen-at-large who may be widely skilled in various professional categories. Position expires January 2014 and January 2015.

The committee makes recommendations to the Redevelopment Authority on redevelopment area plans, incentive programs, special event funding and other matters. A minimum commitment of up to 10 hours a month is expected. Applicants must be Carson City residents and registered voters to qualify.

Volunteer applications may be obtained from and returned to the Carson City Executive Offices, 201 N. Carson Street #2. Applications will be accepted until Jan. 3. For more information, call 775-887-2100.

Photos with Santa Claus at Buckland Station

Santa Claus will be visiting Buckland Station at Fort Churchill State Historic Park from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18.

Everyone is invited to attend and have pictures taken with Santa. Pictures will be taken by local photographer and Fort Churchill Artist in Residence, Richard Massey. Children waiting in line for pictures will be able to make a small Christmas ornament to take home.

Buckland Station is 9 miles south of Silver Springs on Highway 95A. Buckland Station is the large, two-story white building on the left, about a half-mile south of the railroad tracks.

Parents must be present to provide supervision for their children as many valuable and fragile artifacts are displayed inside Buckland Station. Each photo session is $7, which includes the entrance fee for a tour of Buckland Station.

Sierra Lutheran application deadline nears

Sierra Lutheran High School's Early Application deadline for the 2012-13 school year is set to close Dec.15.

Prospective transfer students as well as eighth grade students who apply to SLHS prior to the early decision deadline will have the $175 enrollment fee applied to the first month's tuition.

To learn more about the application process at Sierra Lutheran, visit the Admissions link at www.slhs.com. For more information, or to schedule a tour, call the Admissions Office at 267-1921.

One-day 'My Madonna' art show at Comma Coffee

Deana's Art Studio, Comma Coffee and Artsy Fartsy are joining forces to present a one-of-a-kind art show at from 5-7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Comma Coffee. The show is titled "My Madonna" and features local artists Gabriel Aguayo, Elinor Brennan, Ricket Monster and Deana Hoover. Each artist is creating an all-new piece based on his or her perception of who their own personal Madonna might be. All art will be never before seen by the public.

"It's always exciting when different artists come together with a variety of mediums, ideas and backgrounds to create a one-of-a-kind event like this," Hoover said. "I can't wait to see what everyone creates and how it all comes together."

Jeff Pace, owner of Artsy Fartsy, said, "The art community in the Carson area is so very strong, and the opportunity to bring four unique artists together for one show, with one overall theme, is very exciting."

The exhibit will be open throughout the day, with a reception for all four artists in the evening. The event is free and open to the public. Some pieces may contain adult themes. For more information, call 721-4453.

WNC offers driver education classes

Western Nevada College will offer two driver education classes over the high school winter break. A Carson City class will meet Dec. 27-30 at Silver State Charter High School, and a Douglas class will meet at Douglas High School. The course is for teens age 15 and older. Cost is $95.

The 30-hour course teaches teens safe driving techniques, basic vehicle control, and driving maneuvers in various situations and environments. In addition to teaching Nevada driving regulations, the course includes discussions of speed, alcohol and drugs, right-of-way, tailgating, improper passing, fatigue and reckless driving.

New drivers under age 18 are required to take the 30-hour course if one is offered within a 30-mile radius of their home.

Speakers will include public safety officials and insurance representatives. Students will get tips on how to drive safely around large trucks and motorcycles and how to avoid unexpected objects in the road, as well as maneuvering safely through roundabouts and rules for driving in bad weather.

Go to www.wnc.edu/ce/drivereducation/ for more information, or call 445-4462.

Mustang Ranch hosts benefit bash for Virginia City Schools

The Mustang Ranch brothel is hosting a Wild West New Year's Eve Party to benefit Virginia City Schools starting at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at Pipers Opera House.

Lance Gilman and Madam Susan Austin, owners of the brothel, said they want to give back to Storey County and the community by throwing a New Year's Eve party with a Wild West twist, Virginia City style.

Pipers Opera House is on the corner of B and Union streets in Virginia City.

Cost is $25 per person, and ticket holders must be 21 or over to attend.

The Mustang Ranch is footing the entire bill for the evening, including food, drink, music, decor, hall rental, etc., so that 100 percent of all proceeds go directly to the Virgina City School system. Every cent that comes through the door will be given to the schools.

Included in the $25 ticket price will be a prime rib buffet, three free drinks, raffle prizes and a silent auction, live music, party favors, champagne toast and a balloon drop at midnight.

The evening also includes gunfighter skits by Living Legends in period costume.

The party is open to the public, but tickets are limited. They are available at the Virginia City Visitors Center, The Corner Bar at Pipers Opera House, or online at www.nvshows.com.

For more information, call Rich Crombie, NV Shows, LLC at 775-846-1130 or email to rich@nvshows.com.

Host families needed for foreign students

Foreign high school students are scheduled to arrive soon for academic semester homestay programs, and the sponsoring organization needs a few more local host families.

"The students are anxiously awaiting news of their new families. This is the last chance for these young ambassadors to fulfill their life-long dreams," said Pacific Intercultural Exchange President John Doty.

Students are all between the ages of 15 and 18 years, are English-speaking, have their own spending money, carry accident and health insurance, and are anxious to share their cultural experiences with their new American families.

Area representatives match students with host families by finding common interests and lifestyles through an informal in-home meeting. Prospective host families are able to review student applications and select the perfect match.

Families who host also are eligible to claim a monthly charitable contribution deduction on their itemized tax returns for each month they host a sponsored student.

For the upcoming programs, students come from Germany, the former Soviet Union, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, Korea, Mexico, Thailand, Austria, Slovakia, Norway, China and many other countries.

Families interested in learning more about student exchange or arranging for a meeting with a community representative may call toll-free to 1-866-546-1402.

Tahoe Fund offers ski passes for buying Tahoe license plates

The Tahoe Fund is offering two free ski passes to the basin resort of your choice for people who purchase a Lake Tahoe license plate in either Nevada or California.

The offer will run through April 15 and the passes are valid for this winter season while supplies last. A spokesman said the passes have limited black-out dates. The Nevada plate fund is administered by the state Lands Division and has raised more than $5 million for environmental projects in the Tahoe Basin.

More information can be found online at www.tahoefund.org/tahoeplates/license-plate-for-powder/

Need something for the kiddies to do during break?

A play-making workshop for youngsers ages 6-18 will give them a chance to write and perform their own 30-minute play from scratch. 

Through dramatic structures, writing exercises and improvisational activities based on what the students want to make a play about, they will create a dynamic, fully staged production to be performed after the third day of workshops.

Workshops will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 27, 28 and 29 at the Brewery Arts Center.

For more information, call 883-1976.