Summer tasting coming up

Saturday is the end of the July photo contest, but we don't want it to end without your photo entered. Forward your best shot of July in Douglas County to the e-mail address below or take a copy into the museum. The winner is announced next week.

The annual Taste of the Towns starts at 5 p.m. Saturday and goes until 9 p.m. Sample great food and beverages and visit some of the local shops. Listen to music at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center parking lot or down the street at the JT Basque Bar. Tickets are still available.

Call 782-2555 to charge tickets by credit card and come to the Gardnerville museum to pick them up. The price is $25 per person unless you are a member of either Douglas County Historical Society or Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Membership in either one gets you a ticket for only $20. Don't wait until the last minute. You don't want to be standing on the outside looking in.

Have several of your friends meet you here in our parking lot at a specific time. Then all of you can walk the walk and taste the food together. Ladies, this is your opportunity to enjoy our hometown shops and maybe pick up a souvenir or two. Gents, you can stay outside and chat with the guys while the gals linger inside.

On the back of each ticket is a ballot. Each person attending gets to vote for their favorites - best taste, best atmosphere, best shop, etc. The winners will be announced in this column and each winner receives a certificate showing their award. Come on out and eat and dance and vote for your favorites.

The Douglas County Historical Society offers the new Blue Star program for service personnel, providing free admission for all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day this year. There was an article on the Blue Star museums program in last Sunday's newspapers. To check out your eligibility and participate in this great new program, visit the Gardnerville museum or the Genoa Courthouse Museum and bring your ID card. Information at 782-2555.

Upcoming events include the Thirsty Third Thursday Wine Walk on Aug. 19 and the continuing lecture series Aug. 12.

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.