Museum gala Saturday

What a weekend this is going to be. Saturday is the Douglas County Historical Society's Holiday Gala and at 10 a.m. the doors will open on a Christmas wonderland. There will be displays of wonderful gingerbread houses. There will be cookies to buy on the cookie walk. There will be a variety of decorated Christmas trees. And at 10:30 a.m. Santa will be there for photos with the kids.

Annual photos of the kids with Santa are an American tradition. And we make them affordable by only charging you $5 per copy. Each photo comes mounted in a Christmas card suitable for giving should you want to send copies to out-of-town relatives. Stop by and see Santa and get those Christmas photos taken and printed while you tour the museum.

As you know, we are very grateful for our Douglas County Historical Society members. In an effort to attract new members, anyone who joins Saturday will receive one free photo with Santa. The shot can be of you and Santa, the kids and Santa, the dog and Santa - you decide, and for joining one copy is free.

If you are wondering what happens after the gala weekend is over, we have that covered. Stan Paher will be the guest speaker at the lecture series at 7 p.m. Dec. 10.  Stan will talk about the ghost towns and railroads of Lyon, Mineral, Esmeralda and northern Nye counties. Stan also has written a new book that is the latest word on exploring Nevada's ghost towns and deserts. Come hear Stan and pick up a copy of this informative new book.

We have a winner in our November photo contest. Congratulations to Kathy Port for her photo "Shades of Fall," which shows the variety of fall colors in the Valley. Thanks to everyone who entered. 

We also have our December photo contest going on for the whole month. Photo entries can be delivered to the Gardnerville museum or e-mailed to the address below. Get your entry to us by 4 p.m. Dec. 31. Just make sure your photo says two things: Douglas County and December.

We are formally announcing that there will be another melodrama in 2010. Tickets for "Hotel Minden II," subtitled "The Divorce Mill," will go on sale on Jan. 2. Once again we will visit the old Minden Hotel in its heyday and learn more about divorce, Nevada style. Last year's villain, Daniel Gaughan, and son Daniel will provide intermission entertainment. Performance dates will be the last weekend in January.

For questions, contact the Douglas County Historical Society at www.historicnevada.org or at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville at 782-2555. Remember, DCHS and its two museums in Gardnerville and Genoa don't receive any regular state or county funding. It's up to our members and friends to help us keep our doors open.

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