New motor repair shop; a unique railway

Jasmin Feliciano's proudest business moment was the day she got her license for Desert Motor Sports Paint and Body in Mound House.

She owns the 10116 Highway 50 East business with her husband, Billy, and brother, Jeff Hixson. It took the family from August until February to get licensed. Feliciano is a mother of four.

"I want to do something they can be proud of and that will be around when they are older," she said this week.

Contact the business at 246-5999.

Virginia & Truckee Railway Commission attorney Mike Rowe said the state is doing something unique in rebuilding the railway itself, and then passing the operation on to a private party.

The $40 million V&T Railway is expected to carry tourists between Virginia City and Carson City by 2010. It's funded by private and public monies, including an eighth-cent sales tax increase starting next month in Carson City. A state commission is in charge of the reconstruction and has so far completed 1.8 miles of track in Gold Hill.

The commission recently decided to contract with Stone Consulting & Design Inc., of Warren, Penn., to find qualified operators for the railway.

Rowe said the consultant recently toured Carson City was amazed by what the operator will have to work with.

Consultant Randall Gustafson reportedly told Rowe: "What you are offering to the operator is unique in the world of tourism railroads. You are presenting to the operator a completely built system, up to current standards."

Rowe said the consultant is optimistic that the operators will come to the table with a substantial investment in the V&T, such as train stock.

Sperry Van Ness, a commercial real estate investment brokerage firms, was contracted by Pan Pacific Retail Properties to lease the company's northern Nevada retail properties.

Lyle Chamberlain, an advisor with Sperry Van Ness in Carson City and Reno, was named the leasing agent for the Pan Pacific retail sites. The retail centers are located in Carson City and Reno, including North Reno Plaza, Caughlin Ranch Shopping Center and Mira Loma Shopping Center in Reno and Eagle Station in Carson City.

"We are happy to be working with Pan Pacific Retail Properties," Chamberlain said. "They have a good mix of retail here in northern Nevada."

Syncon Homes is giving away vacations to Palm Springs, Walley's Hot Springs and Colorado Springs, as part of its "Come Home to THE Springs" promotion.

Every family who tours the three models at The Springs luxury gated golf community in Minden this weekend will be eligible for a drawing to win one of Syncon's fun spring getaway trips.

The event is today from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at The Springs sales office, 3537 Long Drive in Minden.

As part of the promotion, Syncon Homes will also offer special pricing on featured homes for this weekend only. New three- and four-bedroom homes are available, with six floor plans that include flex space. The community is adjacent to the Sunridge Golf Course and offers open space views of the Carson Valley.

For more information contact The Springs at 267-9903, or springs@synconhomes.com.

A joint Nevada tourism and economic development committee awarded $200,000 in rural grants Tuesday for 15 projects statewide that include: creating a visitor trail through a historic railroad museum in Ely, finish converting an old school in Fallon into a first-rate community arts center and installing plaques describing landmarks in Goldfield.

Rural Tourism Development Grants are awarded every other year for new attractions or projects that draw visitors to rural communities. A seven-member committee of representatives from the Nevada Commission on Tourism and the Nevada Commission on Economic Development approved the grants from among 41 applications that sought more than $1.3 million. Each grant recipient must provide an equal local match in funds, goods or services.

Virginia City Convention & Tourism Authority will use its $26,000 grant to install a 1800s-era reproduction tin ceiling at Virginia City Visitor Center in the historic former Crystal Bar on C Street in downtown.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.