September photo winner announced

The winner of the September photo contest is Virginia Henningsen of Gardnerville.

We hadn't counted on so many really great photos. So we decided to have two runners-up whose photos will be included on the September page of our 2009 calendar. The runners-up are Martha Brodkey and Lena Johnstone, both also of Gardnerville. Congratulations to all three of our September photo contest winners and thank you to all who entered. It is fun to see what it is you love about Douglas County.

If you would like to see all three photos and the layout of the September 2009 calendar pages, please stop by the Carson Valley Museum in Gardnerville. Starting today there will be a poster on display, showing the calendar pages and describing the contest. We will display each month's winning photos in the museum for all to see. The 2009 calendar will be available for purchase in late 2008.

The October photo contest is underway. We expect the entries to be every bit as good as the ones for September. Entries need to be submitted to the Carson Valley Museum in Gardnerville as the Genoa Court House Museum has closed for the winter. Deadline for all October entries is Oct. 31.

Haunted Weekend, Oct. 19-21, is fast approaching. Friday night, Oct. 19, is the Haunted Gardnerville Ghost Walk. Tours depart from the Carson Valley Museum at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Arrive early - the museum will be open for viewing while you wait for your tour.

Saturday night, Oct. 20, is the Mottsville Cemetery Tour. Guided outdoor tours will be given every 15 minutes from 6:30-8 p.m. Wear warm clothes, comfy shoes and bring a flashlight.

Sunday morning, Oct. 21, is the Haunted Genoa Ghost Walk. Tours will leave the Genoa Court House Museum at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tickets for each event are $5 per person. Advanced tickets are recommended and may be purchased at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville, 782-2555.

Although it's only October, it's time to sign up to decorate one of the trees in this year's 11th annual Gallery of Trees. This can be a great project for a Girl Scout troop, service club, your office or shop. Entry forms are available at the main desk of the Carson Valley Museum in Gardnerville or by calling 782-2555. The deadline for entries is 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. The trees will be on display for the entire month of December, including all events scheduled for the holidays.

It seems silly to be thinking about 2008 in October, but those who schedule DCHS events have been planning for months. Upcoming events will include encore performances of "Portrait of a Pioneer Lady," beginning watercolor or oil painting lessons and "Whistle Stop Three, the Last of the Trilogy" melodrama on Jan. 25-27, 2008. If there is anyone interested in helping with the melodrama, call Sue Smith at 782-6725. We can use all the help we can get.

If you have any questions about anything mentioned here, please call the Douglas County Historical Society at the Carson Valley Museum in Gardnerville at 782-2555. Visit the Web site at www.historicnevada.org.

And if you have the time, both museums are always looking for interested volunteers.

-- Contact Ellen Caywood at in2my2cats@yahoo.com or 790-1565.