New Year’s Eve Labyrinth Walk this Sunday

Main Street Gardnerville hosts their 10th annual New Year’s Eve Candlelight Labyrinth Walk 6-9 p.m. Dec. 31 at Heritage Park Gardens, 1461 Ezell St. in Gardnerville.

Program Director Jen Nalder said labyrinths are used worldwide as a form of meditation and a way to find balance in life, reduce stress, quiet the mind, gain insight, create, and celebrate.

 “What better time than New Year’s Eve to clear your mind of the 2023 clutter and welcome the New Year with fresh intentions for those hopeful tomorrows?” she said.

This annual New Year’s Eve event is free and open to all ages. The fire pits will be crackling and roaring, and hot cider and cocoa will be served. Though there’s plenty of room for all, organizers recommend bringing your own chairs, cups, and marshmallows.

Heritage Park Gardens is a project of Main Street Gardnerville in cooperation with the Town of Gardnerville. The gardens are run by a dedicated group of volunteers who are always looking for others who’d like to join in caring for this shared community space. Visit https://www.mainstreetgardnerville.org/about-us/meetings/ for more information about MSG and its programs and committees.

Coat drive hits halfway mark

Carson Valley Sertoma Coat Drive Chair Eileen Behr reports that the annual event reached its midpoint on Dec. 15.

 “We have collected, sorted, and distributed 2,326 coats and a total of 4,818 warm items to date,” said Behr. “The community’s heart is showing with all the new and clean, gently used coats and jackets.”

While counting and sorting through last week’s 257 coat and jacket donations, Behr realized that number surpassed the entire number of donations Sertoma received and distributed during their first coat drive by 20 items (the event is in its seventh year). And at this 2023-24 midpoint, the total number of coats and jackets donated is 10 times Sertoma’s first year’s total.

“What a great community we have,” Behr said.

On Dec. 9, Smith Valley Girl Scout Troop #59 visited the club’s sorting shed and donated several bags of warm items they had collected. Behr took the opportunity to teach the scouts how to sort the different donations and before they left, the girls chose a few bags of hats, gloves, socks, and scarves to bring back to their local food closet.

“They got to participate in the entire Coat Drive process,” said Behr. “Here is the next generation of people providing service.”

Sertoma was happy to be able to provide a giveaway at the Carson Valley Community Food Closet just before the Christmas holiday.

Sertoma’s Coat Drive runs through Jan. 31. Visit carsonvalleysertoma.org/coat-drive.html for blue donation barrel locations and more information.

Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com.