What a week it was! We officially welcomed Susan Chalpin into our club family, our pumpkin painting parties kicked off in full swing (paint-stained hands and all), and Pumpkin Palooza prep is officially underway. Thank you to everyone who showed up with a brush and some enthusiasm — the patch is looking better already.
This week, we're especially excited for our lunch speaker: Patrick Mason from the Nevada County Consolidated Fire Department will be joining us, and we could not be more thrilled to have him. With fire season very much on everyone's mind here in the foothills, this is exactly the kind of conversation our club needs to hear about, don't miss it.
One more date to circle on your calendar: September 25th is "Give Like Dolly Day," a new national day of giving in support of local Imagination Library programs just like ours. We'll be participating right here in Nevada County, and we've put together a bit more on why this date matters and what it means for our program below — take a look.
SAVE THE DATE ~ OCTOBER 15, 2026 2nd ANNUAL PUMPKINS PALOOZA FAMILY CELEBRATION
Taste of the Town Restaurant Raffle
New this year, we are bringing back our popular Taste of the Town Restaurant Raffle! Chances to win just multiplied! Grand prize is 10 local $100 restaurant certificates ~ a $1,000 value! Plus, drawings for smaller packages offer more chances to win!
Only 100 tickets will be sold at $100 each and terrific odds to win! Tickets are now on sale by Nevada City Rotary Club members and will be available at the event. Contact Tom Ryan or Robin for tickets.
Rotarians, the purchaser keeps the larger ticket section which also serves as an event ticket for 2 adults. Please return the stubs to either Tom Ryan or Robin.
The Palooza team is continuing to collect $100 certificates from favorite local restaurants. Contact Tom Ryan for specific restaurants if you can help solicit. The Rotarian who comes up with the most $100 certificates wins a free raffle ticket!
We have a beautiful batch of pumpkins from the Haunted Pumpkin Patch are harvesting our pumpkins at Bakbraken Acres! Check with Tom Ryan to help with the harvesting!
September 25th was chosen with intention. It falls exactly one month after Dolly Parton's passing, and it's also a playful nod to one of her most famous songs — "9 to 5" becoming "9/25." The Dollywood Foundation created the day to give people everywhere a simple, meaningful way to honor her legacy: by supporting the local Imagination Library programs she inspired.
That legacy started small and personal. Dolly launched the Imagination Library back in 1995 as a tribute to her own father, who never learned to read — she wanted to make sure no child in her home region grew up without the same opportunity she was able to give through books. That idea has since grown into a program mailing free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, in communities all over the country.
Here in Nevada County, our Nevada City Rotary club is proud to be the local partner keeping that promise alive. Every dollar given on Give Like Dolly Day goes directly toward the books mailed to our own local kids each month — no admin overhead, no middleman, just books landing in small hands right here at home. On September 25th, we're asking our Rotary family and community to consider giving, sharing, or simply spreading the word. It's a small way to keep a big legacy going exactly where Dolly would have wanted it: in the hands of a child learning to love reading.
Last week was Painting Pumpkins Kick Off for teams of local talented artists, Nevada City Rotarians, family and friends who gathered to share their creative talents painting our pumpkins!
Board Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month. Our next Board meeting is October 12 at 5:30pm via Zoom with President Andrea leading us.
Not a Board member but want to join us? Contact Robin or reply to this Rotario for instructions. All club members are encouraged to attend a meeting. Location/schedule is subject to change, please ask.
An added thought — bring along something to share.
Bodhi-Hive
