Community Briefly July 30

Interfaith picnic to benefit charities

Interfaith picnic will gather noon-5 p.m. Sunday in Mills Park with members and clergy of at least 11 faiths coming together to help those less fortunate. The program start at 1 p.m.

Diverse clergy will speak briefly on the values of treating others as we would want to be treated, or why it is important to help others, as taught by their faith tradition. There will be a variety of non-denominational music and a "peace cake."

Bring your own picnic, outdoor games, and at least one food item for F.I.S.H., the local food bank. The goal is at least 1,000 items. There will also be raffles for gift baskets in support of Carson City Animal Services, the Wildland Fuel Reduction Project, and Heifer International, with 100 percent of the raffle proceeds going to the charities.

The event will take place in Mills Park, Pavilions B and C. Enter from Saliman Road.

Participating congregations include First United Methodist Church of Carson City, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, Unity of the Sierra, Universal Society of Hinduism, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Temple Bat Yam, Northern Nevada Muslim Community Center, Reno Buddhist Center, St. Gall Catholic Church, St. Paul's Lutheran Family, Baha'i Faith of Carson City, Center for Spiritual Living in Carson City and Padma Rigdzin Ling Buddhist Center.

Summer Star Party at observatory

Enjoy a free lecture about one of the world's most famous astronomers on Saturday evening at Western Nevada College's Jack C. Davis Observatory in Carson City. "The Story of Galileo the Astronomer" begins at 8 p.m., followed by telescope viewing of the summer night sky.

"The Story of Galileo the Astronomer" will tell the tale of the renowned scientist's life and his struggle to further science in an environment of religious persecution. Hear about his contributions to our understanding of celestial objects, learned from his pioneering telescope observations 400 years ago.

'Star Parties' at the Davis Observatory are free and open to the public. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., slideshow lectures by Mike Thomas begin at 8 p.m., and telescoping viewing/tours are available after the lecture.

For information, contact Mike Thomas at 775-857-3033 or mnethomas@sbcglobal.net

Storey County to celebrate National Night Out

The Storey County Sheriff's Office will be host the county's first National Night Out event 7-10 p.m. Aug. 2 at Miners Park in Virginia City and the River District at Louise Peri Park in Lockwood.

National Night Out, established 28 years ago, is a time to come out as a family and meet neighbors.

Attractions will include music, local businesses, community groups, exhibitions, home safety tips, personal safety help, bicycle safety, giveaways, firetruck, police vehicles, community resource information and senior awareness program. Participating organizations include the Storey County Sheriff's Office and Fire Department, Victims' Services, Jeep Posse, the Community Chest, the Senior Centers, and local businesses.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime prevention, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

For information, contact Deputy John-Michael Mendoza at 775-847-0960 or jmendoza@storeycounty.org.

Children's books to be distributed in Silver Springs

EyeC Books is sponsoring a book drive to benefit Silver Springs families and children 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 6.

This event has two purposes: to distribute books to families and children and to collect books to continue this effort.

Bring book donations to Lighthouse Assembly of God Church, 1550 Ramsey Weeks Cutoff, Silver Springs. For more information, call 775-230-9600 and leave a message or e-mail cmeread@eyecbooks.com.

EyeC Books expects to give away more than 100 packets of free children's books.

Vouchers have been left with to the FISH store in Dayton, businesses, churches and the welfare office in Silver Springs , and Child and Family Services in Fernley to distribute to families in need. The vouchers can be brought to the Aug. 6 event and exchanged for a bundle of five books. Children can also pick up vouchers at the event. Books will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

EyeC Books has already distributed many books to families and children. Visit the website at www.eyecbooks.com.

Applications sought for volunteer positions

The Carson City Board of Supervisors is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving on the Board of Appeals in the following categories:

• Civil/structural engineer

• Mechanical engineer

• Electrical engineer

• Registered architect

Applicants may need a business license to do business in Carson City. The board provides advice on matters involving building codes and fire codes in Carson City. Each position is for a two-year term set to expire in January 2013 excluding the registered architect position, which will expire in January 2012.

Serving on the board may require a minimum commitment of up to five hours a month. All members will serve without compensation. The Board of Supervisors will interview and appoint new members. Volunteer applications may be obtained from the city website at www.carson.org or by contacting the Carson City Executive Offices at 887-2100. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Aug. 12.

Red Cross to establish West Coast disaster relief center

The American Red Cross is set to begin moving disaster relief supplies into its new 130,000-square-foot facility in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. While primarily established to serve the western U.S., it can also provide relief services to other regions of the country.

"We expect to have the warehouse completely stocked by the end of the August," said Red Cross spokesman Roy Jensen. "In all, we will bring in about 6,500 pallets loaded with approximately 12,000 disaster relief materials and equipment."

The Red Cross operation is located in a building owned by ProLogis on USA Parkway. Red Cross officials selected this location due to its easy access to major transportation facilities including the Reno Tahoe International Airport. This will become only the fifth operation of its type in the United States with three located on the East Coast and the fourth in the Midwest region of the country.

Although the Red Cross is not a government agency, it is chartered by Congress to provide special services to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families in emergencies. It is at the scene of more than 40,000 disasters a year, from fires to devastating floods and tornadoes.

Dayton Valley Days seeks booth vendors

The Dayton Valley Days Committee is seeking crafters, vendors, food, political groups, non-profits, and businesses to participate in its 23rd annual two-day street festival in Old Town Dayton on Sept. 17 and 18.

The festival features booths lining both sides of historic Pike Street. The street fair also hosts special events throughout each day, including a parade, pet parade, children's activities, and a variety of food and beverages, and this year, the Boys and Girls Club will put on a chili cookoff. For cookoff information, call 775-771-9848 or 775 246-4350.

Call, write or visit www.daytonvalleydays.org for booth information or parade application. Contact David or Ruth Small at 775-246-3378 or Patty Polish at 775-246-3199. By mail, write to Dayton Valley Days, P.O. Box 1758, Dayton, NV 89403-1758, or download an application from the website.

All proceeds from Dayton Valley Days go toward helping the Boys and Girls Club and youth organizations, provide Christmas gifts to those in need, provide prevention and intervention, provide scholorships, and support to various other needs of the community.

Dayton Valley Days is one of the largest event in the community, and each year draws thousands of visitors to the area from throughout the region to help bolster the local economy while entertaining all who attend. According to organizers, this year's festival is shaping up to be the largest in the event's history.

Powerspeak Languages now available at the Carson City Library

Powerspeak Languages is a new online language learning course that uses a variety of methods to engage learners. The core languages available are Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, and ESL for Spanish-speakers.

Each course uses a variety of multi-sensory activities to take full advantage of the brain's ability to learn language. Designed specifically for use by the diverse audience of library users, the courses include a combination of scored online activities, exercises, lessons and games.

Course lessons are bound together with rich graphics, audio, video, music and an intuitive way to check answers and track progress. Learners find a friendly structure that introduces vocabulary and are challenged to practice speaking and writing in a variety of interactive modules designed to simulate real conversations with native speakers.

Powerspeak Languages is the only language learning resource that uses a virtual coach - a knowledgeable, engaging speaker whose guidance explains the concepts for each lesson, offers encouragement and shares interesting cultural notes about the language and its speakers.

"This type of online language-learning program has been in demand among libraries for some time," said Susan Antipa, adult services librarian. "We get many requests from library users who are interested in improving language skills, learning a new language for business, school, travel or simply interested in learning a foreign language for the pure joy of it."

For more information, contact Antipa at smantipa@clan.lib.nv.us or call 887-2244. The library is at the corner of Roop and Washington streets.

Dayton Valley Dog Park vendors sought

The Dayton Valley Dog Park is holding its third annual flea market and crafts fair on Aug. 20. Sponsors also are looking for gently used items to sell at the dog park booth. Raffle tickets are available for homemade afghans, a wild horse picture, rounds of golf and more. They are 15 for $20, three for $5 or one for $2. 

The Dayton Valley Dog Park is at Dayton Valley Road and Como Road.

Donations can be sent to Dayton Valley Dog Park, P.O. Box 995, Dayton, NV 89403.

The Dog Park booth will be set up at Smiths, or those interested can contact Mary at 450-0256 or Freya in Carson at 841-7878.

Those who want to secure a space for a $10 donation call calll Andrea at 246-0814.

Education is topic of RPEN meeting

Retired Public Employees of Nevada will meet 2-3 p.m. Tuesday at the Carson City Senior Citizens Center, 911 Beverly Dr., Carson City.

Dr. Eugene Paslov will speak about education and charter schools in Nevada. Call 775-882-6368.

City seeks planning commissioners

The Carson City Board of Supervisors is seeking applications from people interested in serving on the Carson City Planning Commission.

This commission oversees all matters pertaining to Carson City's planning and zoning, land use and growth management. Meetings are at 5 p.m. on the last Wednesday in the Sierra Room of the community center.

There are two openings to fill a term that will expire in June 2015.

Appointees must be residents of and registered voters in Carson City.

Volunteer applications may be obtained from the Carson City Executive Offices, 201 N. Carson St., Suite 2, or on the city website www.carson.org. Applications will be accepted until Aug. 26.

'Summerfest' to replace Nevada State Fair

RENO (AP) - There won't be a Nevada State Fair this year, but that doesn't mean there won't be something to do that weekend in Reno.

"Summerfest 2011" will be held Aug. 25-28 at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center.

State fair organizers in March pulled the plug on the money-losing event after 136 years.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports Summerfest will be produced by the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority and will feature concerts, rides, monster trucks and demolitions derbies and food vendors.

There won't be any livestock.

Convention authority officials on Thursday said the loss of the state fair would mean a $25,000 hit in revenues from the events center. With a projected attendance of 14,000 over four days, officials hope Summerfest can turn that loss into a potential profit.