Community Briefly Sept. 8

Blood drive to honor hero's

Heroes Remembered Blood Drive is planned from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at United Blood Services in Carson City in honor of first responders and the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

From 11 a.m.-3 p.m., representatives will be at the United Blood Services office from the Carson City Sheriff's Department, the armed forces, the Army National Guard, the Carson High School Naval Junior ROTC Color Guard, and Search and Rescue of Carson City.

There will be a ceremony from 11-11:45 a.m. with Carson High School Naval Junior ROTC Color Guard. Mayor Bob Crowell, Sheriff Ken Furlong and Assistant Fire Chief Tom Tarulli will speak about first responders, 9/11 and the U.S. military.

Blood donors are invited to bring items that will be sent as care packages to troops and/or a veterans' hospital. The public is also invited to bring in a photo of a family member or friend who is in the armed services or is a first responder or a veteran, to be displayed through the month of September.

Food will be provided from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. by Red's Old 395 Grill, and YOGO! Frozen Yogurt & Sweet Treats will be providing treats.

United Blood Services is at 256 E. Winnie Lane, Carson City. For more information, call 775-887-9111.

Carson Valley lecture on Dangberg Ranch today

The Douglas County Historical Society will host a lecture by the authors of "Lost Legacy of Carson Valley, the Rise and Fall of the H.F. Dangberg Ranching Empire" at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center in Gardnerville.

Cost for the lecture with Steve "Dink" Achard and Conrad Buedel is $3 general admission, or free to members.

Achard is the only child of Ruth Dangberg Achard. He is the last male surviving from the family tree of H.F. Dangberg Jr. Achard grew up at the Dangberg Home Ranch, and his unique insight and first-hand experience bring the family to life.

Buedel is a professional writer and photographer who conducted more than six years of diligent research on the family of H.F. Dangberg. This included personal interviews, thousands of family letters and documents collected from the Home Ranch, financial statements, ledgers, minute books and countless records from the H.F. Dangberg Land & Live Stock Co.

The new book will be available for purchase. For information, go to www.historicnevada.org or call 782-2555.

Robey Willis to be honored at evening event

The Ron Wood Family Resource Center will hold its Third Annual Community Leader of the Year Celebration and Benefit from 5-9 p.m. Sept. 17 at Empire Ranch Golf Course.

This year, the center will pay tribute to the Honorable Robey Willis for his years of community service and dedication to the youth and families of the community. The event will feature celebrity servers and auctioneer, wine tasting, hors d'oeurves and music. Tickets are $50 per person.

The event will also be a fundraiser for many services that directly benefit families in need. Donations are being sought for the raffle and auction.

To donate or for tickets or more information, call Joyce Buckingham at 884-2269.

Silver Saddle Ranch site of two tours on Saturday

Nancy Santos will lead a birding tour starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Silver Saddle Ranch, and Mike Drews will lead a tour of historic buildings and sites at the ranch at 9:30 a.m. The birding tour meets at the Red House to begin an easy, level walk around the fields of Silver Saddle Ranch to identify bird species are in the area. With the fall migration period just beginning, non-native species should be around to identify. Birders of all levels are welcome, and Santos will show novice bird watchers how to identify various bird species. RSVP by calling Santos at 884-1570 or email nancyfossr@att.net.

Join Drews for a tour of historic buildings and sites at Silver Saddle Ranch. Archaeological sites include an early 1900s mining camp and remains of a ditch tender's house associated with operation of the Mexican Ditch during the 1880s. Ranch structures and associated features reflect the daily life and architecture associated with a working ranch between 1920 and 1960. RSVP with Drews at 560-5074 or archeomike@aol.com.

After the tours, snacks in the Red House will be provided by the Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch.

Free legal assistance available to seniors

Nevada Legal Services will be providing legal assistance on the second Wednesday of each month to Carson City residents 60 years of age or older at the Carson City Senior Citizens Center, 911 Beverly Drive in Carson City .

Attorney Carrie Henrichsen will be available Wednesday to counsel and advise on a wide range of legal matters to include housing and eviction defense, consumer issues, elder abuse, and benefits programs. Nevada Legal Services will also be able to assist with document preparation such as simple wills, advance health directives and powers of attorney.

Nevada Legal Services is a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to Nevada seniors and aims to ensure fairness and providing equal access to justice for low-income Nevadans.

Appointments are necessary. To schedule an appointment, contact Debe Hays-Vaughn with Nevada Legal Services at 883-0404, Ext. 312.

Walkabout focuses on community concerns

Carson City Supervisor Karen Abowd hosts her monthly walkabout at noon Friday. In keeping with her campaign promise to hear her constituents' concerns, she invites all members of the community to meet her at noon at the steps of the Community Center at Mills Park. The walk will last one hour, and folks are invited to take a lunch.

"This is my way of staying in touch with peoples' concerns and ideas for ways to improve and grow Carson City," Abowd said. "Doing this also allows everyone to be part of the process of governing and to take ownership of the community."

All topics are open for discussion: ways to expand the local economy, tourism, the development of the City Center Project and other current events.

In light of Tuesday's shootings at the IHOP restaurant in Carson City, Abowd says there are also concerns and input from people that may need to be addressed.

"This event has impacted our town in ways we have yet to fully understand," she said. "Starting the conversation is one step toward healing."