Local briefly Dec. 13

Christmas Party reservations needed

A free Christmas Party for children up to 12 years old will be sponsored by the Carson City Elks Lodge #2177 Elks Care, Elks Share and the Carson City Emblem Club #507 Charity Begins Here.

The party will be from noon to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Elks Lodge, 515 N. Nevada St. Activities will include decorating sugar cookies, face painting, animal balloons, ornament decorating and a visit with Santa. All children can go through a clothing bin to pick what they need and each child receives a Christmas stocking and books. Food includes hot dogs, pizza, homemade Christmas cookies, sodas and water.

Attendance is by reservation only by calling Sabina Bye at 775-267-9167 with the name and age of the child. There is a limit of 50. For more information, call co-chairwoman Donna Peacocke at 775-720-9410.

Mustang Ranch hosts benefit bash for Virginia City schools

The Mustang Ranch brothel is hosting a Wild West New Year's Eve Party to benefit Virginia City Schools starting at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at Pipers Opera House.

Lance Gilman and Susan Austin, owners of the brothel, said they want to give back to Storey County and the community by throwing a New Year's Eve party with a Wild West twist, Virginia City style.

Pipers Opera House is on the corner of B and Union streets in Virginia City. Cost is $25 per person, and ticket holders must be 21 or over to attend. The Mustang Ranch is footing the entire bill for the evening, including food, drink, music, decor, hall rental, etc., so that 100 percent of all proceeds go directly to the Virginia City Schools. Every cent that comes through the door will be given to the schools.

Included in the $25 ticket price will be a prime rib buffet, three drinks, raffle prizes and a silent auction, live music, party favors, champagne toast and a balloon drop at midnight. The evening also includes gunfighter skits by Living Legends in period costume. The party is open to the public, but tickets are limited. They are available at the Virginia City Visitors Center, The Corner Bar at Pipers Opera House, or online at www.nvshows.com.

For more information, call Rich Crombie, NV Shows, LLC at 775-846-1130 or email to rich@nvshows.com.

Host families needed for foreign students

Foreign high school students are scheduled to arrive soon for academic semester home-stay programs, and the sponsoring organization needs a few more local host families.

"The students are anxiously awaiting news of their new families. This is the last chance for these young ambassadors to fulfill their lifelong dreams," said Pacific Intercultural Exchange President John Doty.

Students are between the ages of 15 and 18 years, are English-speaking, have their own spending money, carry accident and health insurance, and are eager to share their cultural experiences with their new American families.

Area representatives match students with host families by finding common interests and lifestyles through an informal in-home meeting. Prospective host families are able to review student applications and select the perfect match. Families who host also are eligible to claim a monthly charitable contribution deduction on their itemized tax returns for each month they host a sponsored student.

For the upcoming programs, students come from Germany, the former Soviet Union, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, Korea, Mexico, Thailand, Austria, Slovakia, Norway, China and other countries.

Families interested in learning more about student exchange or arranging for a meeting with a representative may call toll-free to 1-866-546-1402.

Tahoe Fund offers ski passes for buying Tahoe license plates

The Tahoe Fund is offering two free ski passes to the basin resort of your choice for people who purchase a Lake Tahoe license plate in either Nevada or California.

The offer will run through April 15, and the passes are valid for this winter season while supplies last. A spokesman said the passes have limited black-out dates. The Nevada plate fund is administered by the state Lands Division and has raised more than $5 million for environmental projects in the Tahoe Basin.

More information can be found online at www.tahoefund.org/tahoeplates/license-plate-for-powder/.

Supervisors seek volunteers

The Carson City Board of Supervisors is seeking applications from individuals who may be interested in serving on the 9-1-1 Surcharge Advisory Committee.

There is one open position for a two-year term which expires Dec. 31, 2013. Applicants must live in Carson City, possess knowledge concerning telephone systems for reporting emergencies, and not be an elected public officer.

The purpose of the 9-1-1 Surcharge Advisory Committee is to advise the Carson City Board of Supervisors in developing a five-year master plan for telephone system for reporting an emergency in Carson City and to oversee any money allocated for that purpose.

Committee meetings are held at least quarterly. Applicants should be prepared for a minimum commitment of up to 10 hours a month. The positions shall serve without compensation. Volunteer applications may be obtained from and returned to the Carson City Executive Offices, 201 N. Carson Street #2. Applications will be accepted until December 23. For more information, call 775-887-2100.