Storm cuts National Night Out short

Despite wind gusts threatening booths on Friday, the National Night Out event at Ironwood Center raised more than $1,000 for the Douglas County Advisory Council.

“Weather aside, it shaped up to be a great event,” said Jonelle Spafford of Two Stone Slab and Tile. “We still managed to raise $1,175 for the Advisory Counsel in the short two hours we had until the tornado blew in.”

The event has been coordinated by the store since 2021 encouraging neighbors, businesses, and law enforcement to come together in a positive setting to build relationships in the community.

Spafford said once the wind picked up, tents came down and packed up, but the food trucks stayed, and entertainment Jason Pearl was able to sing for a while for the stragglers that braved the weather waiting for the free movie at Carson Valley Cinema.

Before the storm picked up Kayah Fuller, a student at All About Dance, made homemade grass heads with Gardnerville resident Lindie Guzman outside the studio.

Guzman said she teaches a class of easy toddler crafts on Thursdays at the dance studio.

“Just something different and fun for the studio,” she said.

New to the event and the community this year is UNNhibited, a mobile vendor featuring craft beer, ciders, wine, champagne, seltzers, and nonalcoholic options from Spark’s Revision Brewery, Carson City’s Shoe Tree Brewing, Chico Calif.’s Sierra Nevada Brewery, and Two Town Cider out of Oregon.

Husband and wife owners Scott and Vicki Frank came to Minden three years ago with a love for craft beer.

“It’s more than just drinking beer, it’s about the experience,” said Vicki.

“We see how it brings people together,” said Scott. “A chance to meet new people and have a good conversation.”

Scott said he enjoys featuring a variety of beers from different breweries and has no plans as of now, to feature his own craft beer.

“I like featuring other beers, that way I can pick and choose the best,” he said.

The National Night Out event was UNNhibited’s second debut to the community. The first being at the Minden Farmers Market.

“We look forward to more events in the future, meeting new people, and providing people with good beer and a good time,” said Scott.

Spafford said she and everyone is looking forward to next year’s event.

“We’re really excited the community is coming out in full force either by being a vendor or coming and we hope it continues,” she said.