Valley celebrates red, white and blue Monday

Carson Valley’s Fourth of July celebration began Monday with 230 runners at the starting gate for the Main Street Gardnerville Freedom 5k Run.

People of all ages ran in the 5k, which opened with the colors presented by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse as the National Anthem was sung by Sydney Hastings. The fundraiser for Wreaths Across America was the opener to Independence Day celebrations.

Two-time champion, Luis Abandis came in first with a time of 19:09. Abandis had won last year and has been running every day for 916 days.

“It feels really great, especially being a veteran,” said Abandis.

As each runner came in, they received a medal for completing the event.

The participants who had the top three times in both men and women won an additional medal.

“I really love this event because the Wreaths Across America event is very special to a lot of the residents, but to us as a community at whole to be able to honor the veterans that are laid to rest,” said Main Street Gardnerville Director Jen Nalder. “It’s humbling. It is a lot of pride to be able to do this.”

The event concluded with the entrants getting to show off their Fourth of July spirited outfits to win tickets to this month’s Wine Walk. Cody Werley, Cathy Ramage and Ingred Mann took home this prize for their red, white and blue covered outfits.

Ramage and Mann encouragd people to try this event next year.

“They definitely need to get out and do it. The more support, the more wreaths they can lay on the cemetery graves,” said Ramage and Mann.

Anyone looking to sponsor a wreath before December can visit online at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org./NV0084P

Nevada’s oldest town began the daylong Americana Festival with a parade that may have actually got longer as it made its way around Mormon Station State Historic Park.

Visitors and residents lined Nixon and Main streets while members of the Genoa Volunteer Fire Department blocked traffic. The parade marched twice through the park before dispersing.

The Americana Festival was sponsored by Friends of Genoa.

Cowboys of Legend Chatauquans Larry Gloistein and Margarite Bergland were in town portraying Charles Siringo and Lottie Deno.

They said celebrating Independence Day was an important part of educating people about both national and local history.

Both Genoa and Minden celebrated the Fourth by barbecuing. Genoa volunteer firefighters were cooking up chickens to raise money for the department.

In the county seat, Minden offered a free hamburger and hotdog barbecue that started with the colors presented by Douglas County Sheriff Office Explorers. The National Anthem was sung by Michelle Norris.

McClain Mobile Music supplied the music as children of all ages participated in games, a bounce house, bubble zone, arts and crafts station, beach balls, cornhole and the splash pad open for play.

A bike parade was held for any children who wanted to participate. They could decorate their bikes themselves or visit the decorating table, where there were also free headbands and sunglasses for the children to wear as they rode around the park as many times as they wanted too.

“It is very kid friendly,” said attendees Tara Auld and Amanda Holland. “I love the bike parade. All around it is a really awesome time.”

Soon after the parade concluded the lunch bell sounded, courtesy of the Carson Valley Inn and Model Dairy.

Drinks were available for purchase from the Carson Valley Kiwanis Aktion Club.

After lunch, free frosty treats were served to attendants and there was a water balloon toss.

“Minden is proud to preserve that small town feeing,” said Town Manager, JD Frisby. “We do our best to make sure that’s how we keep it. We always try to do bigger and better every year.”

The Carson Valley Pops Orchestra performed patriotic music at Heritage Park. The Carson Valley Pops is an all-volunteer, nonprofit orchestra. This show had 39 members who performed songs using 17 different instruments. Before each song, narrator, Holly Waters gave background information about the song. The group preformed 10 songs for all in attendance.

“It is a lot of fun being a part of the Carson Valley Pops,” said clarinet player Randy Seeber who has been a member for eight years. “They are all great people. I would not want to do anything else. This is the place to be, playing Patriotic music for our community.”

Conductor CJ Birch said he loves this event especially.

“This is always the best,” said Birch. “It is just the best. It really brings up the emotions playing the Armed Forces songs. Seeing how many people who have served is a really wonderful part of this.”

The Carson Valley Pops Orchestra will hold its next performance on October 1 at the CVIC Hall. For more information visit http://www.cvpops.org.

Some members of the Pops shifted to Mormon Station to perform with the Carson City Symphony to conclude Genoa’s celebration.

Residents of Topaz Ranch Estates conducted their own parade, organized by organized and led by Cathy Consolo, according to Wendy Francis.

Lights on the Lake returned with fireworks at Stateline after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus.