Sertoma Coat Drive warming up

Carson Valley Sertoma Club’s seventh annual coat drive runs Nov. 1 through Jan. 31. The nonprofit community service organization is collecting all sizes of new and gently used coats, jackets, blankets, hats, gloves, socks, scarves, and other warm items. Monetary contributions will be used to purchase new items for the drive.

Look for the club’s signature blue donation barrels starting next week. This year, coat drive barrels can be found at the following Carson Valley locations: ABE Printing and Copy Center, Ace Hardware, Anytime Fitness, Brown Bear Designs, C.O.D. Casino, Crown Cleaners, Custom Framing & Design LLC, Daggett Creek Kennels, Double J Automotive, Douglas County Community & Senior Center, Douglas County Library in Minden and Zephyr Cove, DST Coffee, Mr. Bubbles Laundromat, Round Table Pizza, St. Gall Catholic Church, The Grill Next Door, Tractor Supply Co., The UPS Store, and Velvet Touch Salon.

Carson City barrels locations are: Benson’s Feed & Tack, Carson City Library, Carson City Senior Center, Guild Mortgage, Tractor Supply Co., and Trader Joe’s. Other locations are Cottage Clips in Reno, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, and the Smith Valley Library (thanks to Girl Scout Troop 59).

The 2022-23 Sertoma Coat Drive collected more than 7,850 items in all, including approximately 3,800 coats and sweaters. Donations are distributed among agencies, organizations, and clubs that provide assistance to those in need. Some of these include: Boys & Girls Club, Carson Valley Community Food Closet, Court Appointed Special Advocates in Carson City and Douglas County, City of Refuge, DCSO Good Neighbor program, Family Support Council, FISH, Live Violence Free, Moxy Up/Thrive, Reach for Joy, Welcome All Veterans Everywhere and Senior Lunch programs in Carson City, Douglas County, and Topaz Lake.

Sertoma is a volunteer organization whose name means SERvice TO MAnkind. They invite anyone interested in learning more to attend the Carson Valley club meetings held Friday mornings from 7-8 a.m. at C.O.D. Casino, 1593 Esmeralda Avenue in Minden. Find more information at carsonvalleysertoma.org.

Autumn brings the bears

The bears are out and about, folks. I found an enormous pile of fresh scat on the berm in my backyard last weekend. Despite ongoing efforts to keep the ground clear of fallen fruit, the scat was full of apple skins and other matter, indicating that this particular bear enjoyed a sweet feast at some point.

Hungry bears are on the hunt for convenient food sources. Remember to keep cars free from trash and edible items (bears can access cars even when locked), make sure pet foods and garbage are inaccessible, and wait until the morning of pickup to take trash totes out to the curb.

For more tips on being bear-wise, visit the Nevada Department of Wildlife at www.ndow.org/blog/living-with-bears/

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