Community briefs

Carson City

Skateboard contest at Mills Park today

Carson City Recreation Division and 702 Skate and Snowboard Shop will sponsor a Skateboard Contest 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today at Mills Park Skate Park. Registration cost is $5 per participant. Each participant must have a signed liability form and registration form before competing.

Learn all about pond plants today

Greenhouse Garden Center is offering a free seminar on pond plants at 9 a.m. today. Learn to make good decisions when selecting plants. Call 882-8600.

Museum says thanks with ice cream

Children's Museum of Northern Nevada will host a Membership Appreciation Ice Cream Social from noon-2 p.m. today at the museum, 813 N. Carson St.

Museum members can enjoy free ice cream at the museum. It is a way to thank museum members for their ongoing support. New and renewed memberships are available during this event at a 10 percent discount.

Nonmembers can also enjoy ice cream with a $1 donation. Call 884-2226.

Cut-a-thon to benefit for Relay-for-Life

Carson High Students with the National Honor Society will sponsor a fundraiser "Cut-a-thon" for Relay-for-Life for the American Cancer Society 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday at Rapunzel's Salon, 3416 Goni Road. A minimum $10 donation will buy a haircut by a professional stylist.

Red, White and Blue Senior dance tonight

The Carson City Senior Citizens Center will hold a Red, White and Blue Senior Dance from 7-10 p.m. today. Don and Nadine will provide the music. Dance lessons will be 6-7 p.m. provided by Thane Cornell.

Cost is $6 per person. There will be a no-host bar, and refreshments will be served. Call 883-0703.

'Field Sketching in Nature' course starts

Western Nevada College offers a noncredit, community education class this summer that will teach students how to capture nature's beauty through a variety of different mediums. Field Sketching in Nature, is scheduled 9 a.m.-noon today and July 21 and 28. The class is open to anyone 14 years or older. Cost is $60. Call 445-4268.

Washoe Valley

Nebraskans in Nevada celebrate

Northern Nevadans for Nebraska have scheduled their Eighth annual Summerfest at Davis Creek Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All University of Nebraska alumnus and supporters are invited to attend Ð you need not be an alumnus or member. Bring a side dish to share. Hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks and those red-letter brownies will be supplied. For information call Bill Glaser 267-3983 or e-mail golflovers@aol.com or visit the Web site www.nn4n.com.

Navigation skills class today at park

Beginning Map and Compass will be offered from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. today at Washoe Lake State Park. Topics include use of a compass, basic map reading and pacing for distance measurement. Learn to successfully navigate a route on an orienteering course at the park. There will also be a search for a small geocache. Bring a lunch and beverage. Sandals are not recommended, and no children under 9 allowed.

There is no charge for the program, but there is a $4 per vehicle entry fee to the park. Call 687-4319.

Rattlesnake- avoidance class today and Sunday

The Nevada Wildlife Federation, Wildlife Rescue Foundation, and the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Reno are teaming up to provide Rattlesnake-Avoidance Classes. The sessions will be held throughout the day beginning at 8 a.m. today, Sunday and July 28 at Washoe Lake State Park, Washoe Valley. The session takes about 5-10 minutes on average. Entry fees are $60 for first dog, $50 for the second dog and $40 for subsequent dogs by the same owner. Dogs must be six months or older. For more information,¹call 412-1387 or e-mail johnwf@hotmail.com.

¹

Douglas County

Stained--glass today

Kas Monson will give a demonstration of stained-glass work 1-3 p.m. today at the East Fork Gallery, 1503 Highway 395, Gardnerville.

Admission is free. Refreshments will be served. Call 782-7629.

Virginia City

Bluegrass is back on the Comstock

The third annual Bluegrass on the Comstock Music Festival features performances by top Nevada and California bluegrass performers. There will also be dancing, jamming and audience participation at The Festival Grounds in Miners Park, Carson Street. Food and craft vendors, including a Beer Garden and barbecue, will line the park. A recreation complex offers swimming for kids.

Top regional bands take to the Festival Main Stage beginning at 11 a.m. today. Ten bands in all will perform 45-minute sets today and Sunday. Featured bands include the Bluegrass F-150's, Action Sound String Band and Borderline Bluegrass.

Tickets are $25 for a weekend pass, $15 for single day only at the gate.

Call 348-4692 or see cgray56@sbcglobal.net.

Reno

Museum to show Burning Man photos

During the week prior to Labor Day, Nevada's Black Rock Desert is transformed into the Burning Man art event and temporary community. The Nevada Museum of Art presents an exhibition of 25 life-size photographs and six mannequins documenting nighttime Burning Man costumes.

For the past two years, Geoffrey Nelson has photographed Burning Man attendees in a portable, tent-like studio that he transports and constructs on the playa in order to capture the incredible outfits and extraordinary personalities he encounters there.

"A Tribe of Artists: Costumes and Culture at Burning Man" will be on view in the museum's Media Gallery, 160 West Liberty St., through Nov. 11. Admission is free for NMA members; $10 adults, $8 students/seniors. Call 329-3333 or visit www.nevadaart.org.

New Donner party survivor account available today

A new edition of a book written by a survivor of the Donner party will be available at the Nevada Historical Society's Family Fun Day today at the society, 1650 N. Virginia St., next to the Fleishmann Planetarium.

Squire Cheyney Books has just released "Eyewitness to the Settlement of the West: Jacob Wright Harlan's California 1846-1888."

"The book contains many important first-hand accounts of historic events," said Bruce Mowday, publisher. "Harlan not only witnessed but took part in encounters that shaped the settlement of California and other Western states."

Harlan was a member of the Donner party. He also fought for California independence under John Fremont and took part in the Gold Rush. Mowday will be at the event from 1-3 p.m. Call 688-1190 or go to www.NevadaCulture.org.

Lake Tahoe

Junior Toots plays at Tahoe saloon

Late-Nite Productions presents a night of original reggae music from Jamaica with Junior Toots from Toots and the Maytals at Whiskey Dicks Saloon in South Lake Tahoe 9 p.m. tonight. Tickets are $15 at www.ticketweb.com. This concert is for 21 and over. Tickets are $18 at the door.