The great horned owl Archimedes at an August presentation at the CVIC Hall in Minden.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
My dog, Zeke, and I spent the twilight-into-evening hours on Saturday celebrating the last day of winter with a long walk through our neighborhood. I’d hoped for a chance at some stargazing, but the cloud cover gave the sky a muted haze.
Zeke and I didn’t see anyone else out walking, and all was quiet aside from the hush of a mellow wind. Just as we made the turn for home, a familiar, welcome call sounded overhead and stopped us in our tracks.
“Whoo h’Hoo hoo hoo,” came the greeting from somewhere close by. I looked up to try and spot the Great Horned Owl but saw only shadows of trees against a backdrop of evolving darkness. “Whoo h’Hoo hoo hoo,” the owl repeated.
I called back to it, and the owl responded in kind. We went back and forth a few times as Zeke and I carefully made our way toward the hooting, and I finally saw the owl’s silhouette atop a telephone pole.
The owl tolerated our presence for a minute or so before making its way into the night. What a thrill to watch it open its wings wide and glide away toward a protective cover of trees.
This was my first owl sighting in quite awhile but wasn’t my last audible encounter that evening. As we neared home, Zeke and I heard the distinctive screech of a Barn Owl soaring somewhere above us.
Maybe it, too, was out to bid winter a fond farewell.
Lions looking for fleece blanket donations
Each year, nearly 60 children throughout the Northern Nevada area are diagnosed with some form of childhood cancer, with an average length of treatment lasting between 2-3 years.
To help provide comfort and support to these young patients, the Carson Valley Lions Club is sponsoring a fleece blanket collection drive. Donated items will go to the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation and be distributed to children receiving treatment for cancer.
Through June 30, donations of new, washable, fleece blankets (twin bed-size or smaller and no larger than 45-50”) can be dropped off at the following locations:
Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 1479 US-395, Gardnerville
Fabric Chicks, 1511 US-395 N, Gardnerville
Quilt House, 1328 US-395 N, Suite 105, Gardnerville
Douglas County Library, 1625 Library Lane, Minden
Kids & Horses, 2869 Esaw Street, Minden
Nevada State Bank, 1656 US-395 N, Minden
The foundation is the only nonprofit in the region solely dedicated to helping local children and their families affected by childhood cancer. Their mission is “to enhance the quality of life for children with cancer and their families by providing financial assistance and compassionate support programs, all while advocating for increased research funds and raising public awareness.”
Find more information at nvchildrenscancer.org or by calling 775-825-0888.
Lions focus on issues related to vision, hunger relief, diabetes, youth, and the environment. The club is actively recruiting for new members, and anyone interested in learning more is invited to attend their meetings, held the first and third Thursday of each month at the COD Casino, 1593 Esmeralda Avenue in Minden. Social time starts at 5:30 pm with meetings following at 6. More information can be found online at e-clubhouse.org/sites/carsonvalleynv/.
Questions about the Lions’ fleece blanket drive can be directed to event committee chair Debbie Cutshaw at 775-265-1753.
Read books, earn burgers
The annual “Cover to Cover Club” reading program sponsored by the Douglas County Public Library and In-N-Out Burger runs through April 13.
Children ages 4-12 can register for the program at the Minden or Lake Tahoe branch or the Bookmobile. For every five books read, participants earn a certificate for a free hamburger or cheeseburger, and readers are eligible to earn up to three awards.
The DMinden branch is located at 1625 Library Lane. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The Lake Tahoe branch is located at 233 Warrior Way, with hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesdays.
For more information, log onto library.douglascountynv.gov, check their Facebook page at facebook.com/DouglasLibraryNV/, or call (775) 782-9841.
Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com.
