Community briefly June 30

Amodei to speak Friday

There will be a meet-and-greet for Mark Amodei at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Old Reds 395 in Carson City. Amodei is a candidate for Congressional District 2. The event will take place on the outside patio.

Amodei will present a small speech followed by an opportunity to ask questions and talk informally with the candidate.

The meet-and-greet is part of a series of First Friday events. The first Friday of each month, a guest speaker will talk about a variety of subjects important to the community. In August, Douglas County commissioners will speak about what the actions of the last legislative session will mean to county finances and services.

All First Friday events are at 5:30 p.m. at Old Reds 395. For more information, call Robert Schultz at 775-265-6943.

Volunteers needed for Soroptimist Chili Cookoff/craft fair

Volunteer partners are needed for the 2011 Carson City Chili Cookoff and Craft Fair.

The event is set for July 9-10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of Glen Eagles Restaurant, 3700 N. Carson St.

More than 20 chili cooks will be fixing up their favorite chili recipe for the "People's Choice of Carson City," and a few extra hands are needed to help serve up the chili for guests.

Volunteers can sign up for either the Early Chili Crew from 10:45 a.m.-2 p.m. or the Afternoon Chili Crew from 1:45-5 p.m.

Crafters are also invited to show off their talent and merchandise. The $30 covers a 10'x10' booth space for both days. Register by July 1 to ensure a spot.

Soroptimists also are putting out a last call for local restaurants and individuals to join the chili competition. Raffle items are needed as well.

The two-day event includes all-day chili tasting - kits will be sold and live country music by Joseph Greco & The Tributes with Scott Killion.

Glen Eagles will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, beer and soda.

For more information about volunteering or donating to the raffle, call Sherry at 297-4890.

For information about the craft fair or chili cookoff, call Bob at 882-6878 or Kim at Glen Eagles at 884-4414.

Carson City Grocery Outlet helps feed people facing hunger

Carson City Grocery Outlet has announced the Independence from Hunger Campaign, a month-long effort during July which will bring together Carson City Grocery Outlet and their customers to help feed people in Carson City who are facing hunger and dealing with food insecurity.

Customers can donate food and cash to support the local Friends In Service Helping Food Bank.

Carson City Grocery Outlet has made it simple to join the cause with these easy options for their customers:

• Look for specially-marked food items. These are items that F.I.S.H. currently needs. Purchase those items and place them in the collection bin at the front of the store.

• Tell a Grocery Outlet cashier that you'd like to make a cash donation at the register. Donations will go directly to F.I.S.H. Food Bank

• Pick up information at Carson City Grocery Outlet about hunger, food insecurity and local/national resources for people in need. Be informed and willing to help.

For more information about Carson City Grocery Outlet and Independence from Hunger, go to: http://groceryoutlet.com/carsoncity-nv/.

Senior outing trip for July heads to Harveys

Happy Senior Tours will go to Harveys on July 12.

The bus will load at 7:45 a.m. at the Carson City Senior Citizens Center, 901 Beverley Drive, and return to the center at 4 p.m.

Cost is $17. The casino will give each guest $10 in free play plus a food voucher for the day.

To register contact the senior center at 883-0703.

Capital Democrats to meet

Capital Democrats will meet at 7 p.m. July 6 in the AFSCME Building, 700 E. Robinson St.

Pizza and more will be available from 6:30 p.m.

Discussions will include candidates running in the upcoming election, registration of new voters, and participation in the candidate barbecue and fun fair to be sponsored by Carson City Democratic Women's Club July 23. 

For more information, call the Democratic headquarters at 841-3367.

PTA Nevada Congress receives $1,000 through The Allstate Foundation

Allstate agent Dennis Brinson has earned an Allstate Foundation "Agency Hands in the Community" award for outstanding commitment to community service. With this award comes a $1,000 grant from The Allstate Foundation to PTA Nevada Congress.

"These grant funds will provide necessary resources to PTA Nevada Congress that it otherwise wouldn't have," Brinson said. "The experiences I've enjoyed working with PTA Nevada Congress have been life-changing. This organization truly improves the lives of those within our community and I'm proud to play a part."

The program, which launched in 2003, recognizes Allstate agents' volunteerism within the community and provides financial support to organizations through The Allstate Foundation. Every Allstate agent who volunteers for a charitable organization in their community may qualify for this award.

Friends of the Library host annual dinner meeting

July 14 is the date for the annual dinner meeting for the Friends of the Carson City Library.

A no-host bar will open at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and a business meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Plaza Conference Center.

Guest speaker will be author Dale Brown, and a tri-tip or vegetarian dinner will be served at a cost of $10 for members of the Friends.

Reservations can by made by calling 885-9917 or 883-3219 or by coming in to the Friends' Book Store at the Library.

Anyone who is not a member and would like to join the Friends is invited to join.

Fire apparatus wanted for V.C. muster parade

The Virginia City firemen's muster committee is inviting privately owned fire engines, as well as those from area fire departments, to participate in the muster weekend kick-off parade on the morning of Saturday, July 16.

Those interested in participating in the parade can enter their fire apparatus on-line by visiting the muster website at http://virginiacitymuster.tlcurtis.com, or by showing up for staging near the historic Fourth Ward School on C Street at 8 a.m. There is no fee for participating in the muster parade.

Parade participants are also encouraged to display their fire equipment at the site of the muster competition site on E Street near the Silverland Hotel & Suites following the parade, and enjoy watching the historic hand-pumped fire engines, steamers, hose carts and motorized apparatus dating from the early 1800s to the 1980s as teams compete for muster trophies.

This will be the largest gathering of antique fire apparatus in Nevada, with competition on Saturday and Sunday governed by the California Firemen's Muster Association that was formed in 1974 to standardize competition and safety rules. The muster competition is designed to give spectators a view of what it was like to respond to and fight fires "way back when." The two-day competition is open to the public at no charge.

The Comstock Firemen's Museum/Liberty Engine Company No. 1, a non-profit organization that has hosted several firemen's muster in Virginia City beginning in 1981, is hosting the firemen's muster as part of its celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Virginia Fire Department.

The fire companies of Virginia City and Gold Hill held contests in the early 1860s through the 1870s, testing their hand-pumped and steam powered fire engines to see who had the best, fastest or most efficient equipment and firefighters. For more information contact Steve Frady at (775) 813-6911.