Candy Dance still sweet

Genoa's 90-year experiment with an alternative to taxation continues this weekend with the annual Candy Dance.

The event has undergone a lot of changes over the last nine decades, since 1919 when Lillian Virgin cooked up the idea of selling candy at a dance to raise money for streetlights in the town.

The first event, held in the dead of winter when the warm glow of a street light would be most welcome, was such a success that some of those streetlights still illuminate the night in Nevada's first settlement.

Candy Dance has changed substantially over the years, adapting to changing times and the town's changing needs.

When parents thought raising some money to support the town's recreation programs was critical in the 1970s, they started the arts and crafts fair.

Last year the fair earned $274,000, which is more than 10 times what it collects from property owners in taxes.

Scores of volunteers help make the event happen every year, and it is their hard work that helps support and preserve the town.

Many service organizations benefit from Candy Dance through their contribution to the event.

Candy Dance is a valuable event that brings as many as 30,000 people to Carson Valley every year. We thank those who make the event a success, and wish it another 90 years.