Community Briefly July 22

Volunteers needed to clean graffiti from rocks at King Street waterfall

Ben Wherry from Boy Scout Troop 341 in Carson City will conduct an Eagle Scout Service project Saturday, and would like to get as many people as possible to help remove the graffiti on the rocks at the local Waterfall at the end of King Street.

Wherry also will be doing some touch-up trail work.

The project will go from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and about 15 people are needed to volunteer to help with the cleanup.

To volunteer or for more information, call 775-720-1149 or email bewherry@gmail.com.

Proscenium Players announces 2011 election of officers

PPI is holding its annual meeting and election of officers at 1 p.m. Saturday at Round Table Pizza, 3325 Retail Dr. Pizza will be supplied by PPI, drinks will be purchased by members.

The PPI encourages any and all members, past and present, to come to this meeting to elect their new board. Remember to bring your dues in order to vote. If you plan to attend, RSVP to Jonni Moon at jonnimoon@peoplepc.com or 883-9386. For more information, email schaderw@wnc.edu or call 775-315-2813.

Roadrunners plan monthly campout

The Carson City Roadrunner R.V. Club monthly meeting and campout will be on July 26-28 at Dayton State Park. Any RVers wishing to attend should call Vince DeCasper at 775-246-0647 before Monday.

Film series about women at Brewery

The Brewery Arts Center will celebrate films "By and About Women" in its ongoing Friday Film Series. This five-week series begins tonight, 8 p.m. July 22 at in the Performance Hall. Admission is free, however donations are accepted.

Tonight's film is "Rachel's Daughters, Searching for the Causes of Breast Cancer."

This documentary follows a group of women - all breast cancer activists who are fighting or have survived the disease - who are on a personal mission to unearth the causes of breast cancer. The result is an engaging detective story and detailed analysis of the science and politics of this epidemic.

In addition, the BAC will offer two Thursday night special features to coincide with Jazz! Carson City Music Festival.

The complete lineup is: July 29 - "Cover Girl Culture"; Aug. 5 - "Divorce Iranian Style"; Aug. 12 - "Hold Me Tight, Let Me go"; Aug. 19 - "Carmen Miranda: Bananas is My Business"; Aug. 4 - "But Then, She's Betty Carter"; Aug. 25 - Mary Lou Williams "Music on My Mind."

More information on all of the films is available at www.breweryarts.org. The Brewery Arts Center is located at 449 West King Street in Carson City. Call 775-883-1976

Vivint matching donations to Austin's House

Vivint, a home automation company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is currently conducting their annual Gives Back Project that awards $1.25 million to local charities.

As part of this contest, Vivint will match donations made to Austin's House during a period ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. Donations must be made through the Vivint contest web site, www.vivint.com/givesbackproject. There is no limit on the amount of the donation. Vivint will match up to $50 per donor and a grand total of $2,500.

Austin's House has moved up to 12th place in the Pacific Region in the final round of the Vivint Gives Back Project. Austin's House has a chance to win $100,000 for the most votes in the Pacific Region. The contest is being conducted on Facebook. It takes less than one minute to sign up and vote. Vote today and every day by going to www.austinshouse.org and click on the orange heart icon on the right side of the home page, which goes to the Vivint website. Sign into Facebook, agree to like Vivint and allow additional permissions on Facebook. Then click on the vote box and you are done.

If you would like more information about Austin's House or if you need help signing up for Facebook, donating and voting in the contest, please call 775-267-6711.

USDA food distribution in Carson City

Volunteers with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Carson City will distribute free U.S. Department of Agriculture commodity foods from 9-11 a.m. July 29 at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.

No one will be admitted before 9 a.m., so do not come early. A new system will be in place, with tables set up alphabetically by last name to get people in and out more quickly.

This month's foods include baby lima beans, canned sliced potatoes, frozen chicken thighs and/or drumsticks, grapefruit juice, cherry apple juice, rotini pasta, canned green beans, canned apricots, canned creamed corn and canned peaches.

Any needy family in Carson City can be eligible by signing the issuance sheet at the community center on July 29 certifying that their household's monthly gross income does not exceed $1,361 for a single and $1,838 for a couple. This is strictly on the honor system so please be respectful of this privilege.

A picture identification or driver's license must be shown. Food may be picked up for the homebound or those unable to attend by bringing a signed note from them and their picture ID.

Food will be distributed until it runs out. Anyone declaring overly large families for commodities will be asked for proof of family members.

For more information, call the State of Nevada Food Distribution Program at 775-688-2828 or the RSVP at 775-687-4680, Ext. 0.

Nonprofits can apply for energy efficiency grants

NV Energy is seeking Northern Nevada nonprofit organizations interested in receiving grants for energy efficiency improvements. Individual projects can receive up to $5,000 in funding, or for grants between $5,000 and $10,000, agencies are required to provide a 50 percent matching investment.

Application letters are due by Aug. 15, and the improvement projects have to be completed by Nov. 15. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) qualified and located within NV Energy's Northern Nevada service territory.

Among the types of weatherization and energy-efficiency retrofit projects that may qualify for grants are the replacement of lighting systems and controls, insulation upgrades, improvements to heating and cooling systems and appliance upgrades.

The company is presenting a webinar about the grant program from 10-11 a.m. July 27. Register at www3.gotomeeting.com/register/595561942.

In addition, energy efficiency experts from NV Energy are available to help agencies identify energy savings opportunities.

For more details, call Chad Piekarz at 775-834-5514, cpiekarz@nvenergy.com.

Nevada Legal Services Clinic and Workshop

Carson City Library and Nevada Legal Services have teamed together to provide free legal education clinics and workshops on the fourth Thursday of each month. The next one will be on July 28.

Each workshop will provide general instructions and assistance regarding the completion of self-help forms for those who are self-represented litigants. A Notary Public will also be available.

The clinic will from 1-3 p.m, followed by a workshop from 3:30-4:30 pm. This month's topic is an overview of modification for child custody, support or visitation. In addition to Nevada Legal Services education assistance, Volunteer Attorneys of Rural Nevada will provide a legal clinic on divorce from noon to 1 p.m. July 28.

Pre-registration is requested by calling 775-284-3491, Ext. 214, but walk-ins are welcome.

WNC driver education addresses distracted driving

A required driver education course for teens ages 15 and older will be offered at Western Nevada College campus in Carson City before the summer ends, offering safety information and addressing new rules of the road.

Students may choose from four sections, each running from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday: July 25-28, Aug. 1-4, Aug. 8-11, or Aug. 15-18. Cost per section is $110.

Nevada law requires new drivers under age 18 to take a 30-hour New Driver Education course if one is offered within 30 miles of their home. A newly enacted Nevada law will also prohibit all drivers from using a cell phone or other handheld wireless communications devices while operating a motor vehicle.

WNC's Driver Education course addresses this along with other teen issues such as speeding, falling asleep at the wheel, and failure to visually scan all areas for possible obstacles to safe driving.

Statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that each day, more than 16 people are killed and more than 1,300 people are injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. Driver education classes are part of the effort to ensure that new drivers get the best education possible before parents hand over the keys.

To register, call WNC Driver Education at 775-445-4458. Students who are unable to attend summer sessions can also plan ahead for fall classes on Saturdays that will begin Sept. 10.

Help needed with annual Backpack Attack

Soroptimist of Carson City and Platinum Plus Salon and Spa are again hosting the Backpack Attack Program to provide backpacks, school supplies and hygiene items to children in need.

Children need backpacks and items such as crayons, wide-ruled notebook pater, three- or five-subject wide-ruled notebooks, three-ring binders, pocket-only folders, pencil boxes or bags, red, blue and black medium ballpoint pens, No. 2 pencils, erasers, glue sticks, blunt-nosed scissors, yellow highlighters, rulers, pencil sharpeners, 3x5 ruled index cards and protractors.

Many times these children have been removed from their homes without anything of their own, and need hygiene supplies such as bar soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and small tissue packages. Any of these items will help and will be packed in the backpacks.

A free raffle ticket for a chance to win a spa package valued at $250 from the salon, plus a number of other raffle prizes, will be awarded for each backpack donated.

Drop-off locations, where raffle tickets can also be purchased, are:

• Platinum Plus, 716 N. Carson St., Suite 110

• Carson City Toyota Scion, 2590 S. Carson St.

• Marilyn Lewis State Farm Insurance, 321 W. Winnie Lane

• Coldwell Banker Best Sellers, 123 W. Second St.

• Navy Recruitment Office, 3246 N. Carson St., Suite 123

School starts Aug. 22 this year in Carson City, so it is important to get the backpacks to the children before that time.

For more information, call Pat Riggs at 885-7784, Dixie Busch at 882-3051 or Jesse Keller at 246-0557.

Happy Senior Tours heads to Virginia City

Happy Senior Tours from the Carson City Senior Center will travel to Virginia City in August.

The group will go to the Delta Casino Saloon on Aug. 9. Cost will be $17. This will be a new experience for the tours, because the group has not yet visited this casino.

To make reservations or for more information, call 884-9357 and leave a message, or stop by the finance office at the senior center.

The bus will load at 7:45 a.m. in the east parking lot of the senior center and will depart at 8:15 sharp. The group returns to the center at 4 p.m.

Mammovan coming to Mound House

The Mammovan will visit Second Hand Rose Thrift Store on July 29, offering mammograms to geographically isolated and uninsured women.

Through the support of several organizations, mammograms will be available by appoinment for age- and income-eligible women from 7:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m. at Second Hand Rose, 10128 Highway 50 East in Mound House.

For information or an appointment, call 1-877-581-6266.

Library to host author Joyce Cox

The Carson City Library will host author Joyce Cox at 1 p.m. Aug. 6.

Cox will do a book signing and presentation based on her book about the history of Washoe County. Copies of the book, "Images of America: Washoe County, Nevada," will be for sale.

The library is at 900 N. Roop St. For more information, call 887-2244 or go to www.carsoncitylibrary.org.

Building supplies needed for October haunted house

Jason and Christina Stinson, who operated a haunted house last year at their home at the corner of Broadleaf and Northgate in Carson City, say they're planning to make this year's event even bigger and better.

The couple has already begun working on the haunted house to help the homeless through gently used clothing and canned food donations from those who attend, but they need help with supplies to finish up the construction.

Anyone who would like to help can call to find out what supplies are needed at 445-9477.