Help During The Holiday ...

Barbara Watson sorts presents at the Douglas County
Fairgrounds for Project Santa Claus on Friday.

Shannon Litz

Thousands of bags and boxes wrapped in Christmas-themed paper covered the fairgrounds pavilion floor Friday as more unwrapped presents continued to arrive.

Project Santa Claus volunteers were in full swing preparing the gifts for 350 families and more than 800 children. As of Thursday, all but 15 children had been adopted through the Angel Trees, and shoppers will buy for them using donations.

“Distribution day is very rewarding to see the expression on people's faces that get the gifts,” said Kiwanis President Gary Dove. “On the other hand though, it is very sad that due to the economic times they have to be here.”

The Kiwanis Club of Carson Valley collected used and new bicycles all year for distribution. They were able to give away 170 bicycles and helmets this year.

Minden Rotary member Peggy Frick smiled as she put the last touches of a curly red ribbon around one of her presents.

“I get satisfaction that the kids get presents to open. I am a definite Christmas person,” she said.

Frick estimated she would wrap about 100 gifts before day's end Friday.

For fellow Minden Rotary member Fred Wolin, wrapping jackets without boxes gave him the biggest fits.

“There's no shape to it. Trying to hold it all together you need three hands,” he said.

But, despite wrestling with unruly outerwear, he enjoyed being a part of it all.

“I enjoy giving back to the community, and I like to see children have a nice Christmas.”

Dave Bauer was in charge of ensuring the names on the gifts matched the Angel Tree tags. He was also responsible for organizing the unwrapped gifts by age and gender.

“The hardest part when you're 67 is what does a boy who's 8 want, because what I wanted when I was 8 is different. It forces us older folks to think younger,” he said.

Bauer travels a lot for work, but always takes two weeks off to devote to Project Santa Claus.

“I wish the families that were bringing these things in could see the unbelievable display of their generosity,” he added waving his hand over the rows of presents on the floor.

Since 1988, when Project Santa Claus began, 15,800 Douglas County children have been given a gift for Christmas.

Volunteers have until Tuesday to get all the gifts ready for distribution on Thursday, and more help is always needed.

For more information call Dave Nelson, 790-3502.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Active 20-30 US and Canada ...

Active 20-30 US & Canada turns 89 years old today. We've gone through enormous changes over those years and have evolved into an organization that, I hope, would make our founders proud.

I often wonder when they set out on those first days what their hopes were for the organization. Did they have hopes that their idea would spread from Washington state and Sacramento, CA across the country to Colorado, Kansas, Indiana and New York? Did they understand the power of a few impassioned men (and women) could spread that passion to friends and strangers, alike?

In my role, I get bogged down some days with the challenges of sustaining and growing Active 20-30, of giving our members everything they deserve in exchange for their dues and dedicated service. But when I step back and look at the evolution - from year-to-year and from 1922 to now - I am absolutely blown away that this was all created and shaped by people, by volunteers with a passion for serving.

As you blow out the candles on your Active 20-30 birthday cake, what's your wish for the future of the club?

Bonus question: how should we celebrate our 90th birthday next year?

via active 20-30 blog

Volunteers Needed ...

Volunteers are needed for sorting, piling and wrapping presents at the Douglas County Fairgrounds Pavilion Building. Project Santa Claus will go into full swing from Dec. 16 through 21. The pavilion will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day of the week except Sunday. There is no schedule, no sign up sheet, just show up. There will be two evening “wrap sessions” on Dec. 19 and 20, and the pavilion will stay open until at least 8 p.m. on those nights.

“We provide the materials,” said head elf, Dave Nelson of the Carson Valley Kiwanis, “All you need is a cheerful spirit and we'll put you to work.”

Project Santa Claus is the collaborative effort of many civic organizations. Kiwanis assumed the mantle to orchestrate the project last year when the long-serving head of the Project, Marilyn Malkmus, went into retirement.

“Marilyn was and is the heart and soul of Project Santa Claus, her shoes are too big to fill, but we're sure going to try,” Nelson said. “The Rotarians, the Soroptomists, Sertoma, The Lions, The Masons, The Boy Scouts, The Girl Scouts, The honor society from the middle school, Kiwanis, they're all out here. Everyone is pitching in.”

The Project Santa Claus program helps provide Christmas gifts to Douglas County children in need, who are pre-qualified through Douglas Social Services, Washoe Tribal Services, The Family Support Council, CASA or the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Last year more than 800 children were helped by Project Santa Claus and this year sign ups are on track to hit the same figure. Anyone can sponsor a child by simply choosing a name from any of the Angel Trees that have been set up in the Valley.

Nelson said that elves are needed to sort and wrap and handle any number of other projects to get presents ready in time.

“You can help for an hour or a day, children 10 and up can help too. We preheat the building but there is always coffee, hot chocolate and hot cider available as well,” he said. “So grab your neighbors and come on down. It's really a wonderful, festive environment.”

Bike donations are also needed, good quality used bikes that can be cleaned and repaired. If you have a bike to donate, drop them off at the Gardnervile Ranchos General Improvement District office on Mitch Drive or at the Town of Gardnerville Maintenance Yard at 1369 Highway 395. For more information call Gary Dove 265-9443. All the bikes that are received for Project Santa Claus are cleaned up and repaired by the young people at the China Springs and Aurora Pines Youth Facilities.

Project Santa Claus also accepts cash donations, the money is used to buy books or last minute gift items that need to be purchased.

“We have official Project Santa Claus shoppers that go out during the final week to purchase items for us,” Nelson said. “It's really amazing the number of people in the Valley that help with this project, but then it is a huge project.”

Contributions are tax deductible as Project Santa Claus is an IRS 501 (c)(3) organization ID No. 88-0258742. Mail donations to PSC, PO Box 3031, Gardnerville, NV, 89410.

Angel Tree locations Topaz Lodge & Casino - 1979 Highway 395 Carson Valley Medical Center - 1107 Highway 395

R & T Cleaners - 1389 Lampe Drive

Scolari's Food & Drug - 1335 Highway 395

Raley's Supermarket - 1363 Highway 395

Sharkey's - 1440 Highway 395

Tumblewind - 1600 Esmeralda

Taylor-York Salon - 1662 Highway 395

Bently Biofuels Outpost - 1350 Buckeye Road

Pulse Gym - 885 Mahogany Drive

CV Computer -1402 Unit A Highway 395

Wrapped gifts need to be returned by Thursday.

For more information, Nancy Hollenbach, 783-1821.

Video About Active 20-30 US and Canada!

This is an amazing video all about Active 20-30.

Click Here

See www.active20-30.com for more information. Thanks for watching!

Future 20-30 Member ...

Douglas Disposal Food Drive Begins 12.5.2011

Douglas Disposal's 17th annual food drive is the week of Dec. 5-9. Donations of nonperishable food items in plastic bags should be placed beside trash cans to be picked up by a Douglas Disposal employee.

The collected food is weighed and delivered to the Carson Valley Community Food Closet.

Donations may also be delivered to the Douglas Disposal office at 1653 Lucerne Street Suite A in the Minden Village.

In 2010, Douglas Disposal collected 9,660 pounds of food from their customers. Carson Valley Community Food Closet is located at 1255 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville. For more information call, 782-3711.

Upcoming Parks and Recreation Classes ...

Winter Wonderland

Children ages 5–12 will enjoy the day with arts and crafts, games, and movies. To be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Carson Valley Middle School. Cost is $15.

North Pole Calling

Children ages 3 to 6 can receive a personal phone call from the North Pole. Santa Hotline forms are available at the Recreation Department. Class will be 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Volunteer Santa's wanted. Call 782-9828.

Lil Ninjas

Ages 4 to 9 will learn in a disciplined but fun environment the martial arts, performing arts, gymnastics, grappling and self defense. Class will be Tuesdays or Fridays from 3:45–4:30pm. Cost is $59 per month.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Ages 5-11 can learn the popular and challenging art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Classes are taught in controlled, professional and friendly environment. Class will be Fridays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Cost is $59 per month.

Scrap Booking – All Day Crop

Enjoy a day to work on your scrap booking projects. Instructor Jackie Gordon will share ideas, and have tools available for use. Class will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Senior Center. Cost is $10 which includes a snack and water.

Latin Dancing Lessons

All levels welcome in this fun and exciting Latin Dance class. Class held on Thursdays from 5:30–7 p.m. at the recreation annex building Dec. 8-29. Cost is $75 per couple or $40 for individual.

Concealed Weapon Certification

This course will cover the requirements for Nevada State CCW and can be taken by CCW applicants or anyone wanting to learn to shoot handguns. Class will be taught 6-9:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and Dec. 16 at the Recreation Annex building and 8-11 a.m. Dec. 17 at Douglas County Shooting Range. Cost is $90 plus an additional $10 insurance fee payable to the instructor. Spouses are half price.

Beginner's Tai Chi

Learn this soft martial arts form that will include warm ups, exercises and repetitions. Class is on Saturdays and is ongoing. Cost is $5 per month.

Pre-registration is required for all classes. For more information on Douglas County Parks & Recreation Department's classes call the Recreation Division at 782-9828.