Daffodils and dandelions announce spring’s arrival

As evidenced by this past weekend, springtime in the Carson Valley is always a grab bag of changing weather. Just when you think it’s safe to pull out the shorts and tees, Mother Nature does a 180 and to remind us of the temporary nature of all things. Best to keep those warm jackets at the ready for now.

Though the weather is variable, one constant and consistent reminder of the shift to spring is the emergence of daffodils and dandelions. One a popular perennial and one considered a weed, these plants both offer sunny spots of color that attract pollinating insects, and I’ve been seeing lots of flowers recently on my daily walks.

That’s good news for the bees, moths, flies, beetles, and butterflies, which will soon be in abundance. More plants will continue to bud and bloom as the weather warms, and it’s a delight to watch the world wake up after the winter season. Spring is just about ready to sing her song.

Elks awards

 The Tahoe-Douglas Elks Lodge #2670 recently recognized a number of Students of the Month at Douglas High School. Two students from each grade were recognized with scholastic awards from Elks Exalted Ruler Anne Marie Neacy and member Bob Haug.

March recipients were freshmen Cash Bourquin and Emery Christensen, sophomores Rebekah Crandall and Jack Phillips, juniors Mark Sanchez-Hernandez and Kinzie Stahl, and seniors Karla Rivas and Reese Torres.

Neacy also presented a check to DHS JROTC Commander Mike Glynn to thank the program’s cadets and adult leaders for their help and support during the Elks’ events.

Safety first when watching an eclipse

If you’re planning to view the solar eclipse on April 8, be prepared and make sure to have proper eye protection on hand.

Since Nevada is outside the path of totality, observers in the Silver State will see a partial solar eclipse. This means that as the moon crosses in front of the sun, only part of the sun will be obscured.

To avoid eye injury, don’t ever look directly at the sun without certified solar viewers or eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. NASA says safe solar viewers are “thousands of times darker” than regular sunglasses, which do not adequately filter the intensity of the sun’s light. And if viewing the sun through binoculars, telescopes, camera lenses, or other magnifying devices, special-purpose solar filters are a necessity.

Go to science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety/ for more information regarding how to safely view a solar eclipse and tips on how to prepare for Monday’s sky show.

NASA has scheduled a live broadcast of the celestial event on April 8. Visit youtube.com/watch?v=2MJY_ptQW1o to watch the “2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA” starting at 10 a.m.

Heritage Lecture

The Douglas County Historical Society welcomes Kim Harris as April’s featured speaker during their 2024 Heritage Lecture Series on April 11.

Harris’ Chautauqua portrayal of Gertrude Hironymous Dangberg, educator and wife of Fred Dangberg, Jr., takes place at the Douglas County Museum and Cultural Center, 1477 Old US Hwy 395 N in Gardnerville.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with the lecture starting at 6:30. Admission is $5 per person, though Alpine, Dayton Valley, Smith Valley, and DCHS members have free entry.

For every DCHS Heritage Lecture attended in 2024, attendees earn a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the CVMCC bookstore. The drawing will be held in December.

For more information, call CVMCC at 775-782-2555, email dchs@historicnv.org, or visit historicnv.org.