The Art Box

Join us for a heartfelt and inspiring episode as our friend Diana Lee Rose sits down with Galen Allen, the proud owner of Table of Contents Café, nestled in the Mesquite, Nevada library. Galen shares the journey of opening the café with his partner, Hugh Scott McPherson, under the Randolph-Sheppard Program, which empowers visually impaired individuals to run their own businesses. In this touching interview, Galen opens up about the challenges and triumphs he and Hugh faced while establishing the café, their vision of creating a community hub, and the deep bond they shared. Tragically, Hugh passed away in 2021, but the local community rallied around Galen, helping him keep their dream alive. This episode is a testament to love, resilience, and the power of community support. We extend our special thanks to Diana Lee Rose of the Opportunivore podcast for collaborating with us on with The Art Box podcast to bring this to our loyal listeners. Tune in for a story of passion, perseverance, and pride that will leave you inspired. Follow Table of Contents on their Facebook Page.

We are excited to welcome our friend Diana Lee Rose from the Opportunivore Podcast as she chats with Mike Gomes, the owner of All In Cycles in Mesquite, Nevada. Since recording this episode, Mike and his team have celebrated the grand opening of their newly expanded bike shop. The new shop is still located at 1085 Pioneer Boulevard, right where the old one was. Mike shared, "This move will allow us to serve our customers much better. It will give us faster turnaround time for service and repairs, and we can carry more models of bicycles, as well as a wider range of accessories, care, and maintenance products." Sit back and enjoy. Follow on Instagram

Linda and Steve took a drive south to Las Vegas to interview the multi-talented artist and art administrator Sapira Cheuk. In this delightful chat, they explore her creative journey, artistic passions, and her role in supporting Nevada artists through her position at the Nevada Arts Council. Sapira joined the Nevada Arts Council as an Artist Service Program Specialist in 2022, where she provides support for current artists' services and programs and assists in developing new initiatives. In addition to her role at the NAC, she serves as an Art Commissioner for the City of Las Vegas and Art Editor for the museum of americana. A practicing artist and adjunct faculty member at the Nevada System of Higher Education, Sapira has over ten years of experience in public administration with the State of California and serves as a grant reader for the National Endowment for the Arts. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, Riverside, and her Master of Fine Arts from California State University, San Bernardino. Sapira Cheuk is an ink painter and installation artist with a deep interest in proprioception and the ways of knowing through the body. Her work reflects or internalizes external experiences through these modes of knowledge. She has exhibited in numerous prestigious venues, including the Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, Orange County Contemporary Art Center, Center for Contemporary Art Texas, Masur Museum, The Netura Museum, Yellowstone Art Museum, Rochester Contemporary Art Museum, and Culver Center for the Arts. Beyond her work with the Nevada Arts Council, she teaches at the College of Southern Nevada and serves as the Art Editor for the museum of americana, as well as a Commissioner on the City of Las Vegas Art Commission. More information about her work can be found below. You can find her on Instagram: More information on Nevada Arts Council:

Linda recently met Birgit on a hike in Southern Utah, where they discussed art. Subsequently, Steve and Linda met Birgit at "Art Provides Gallery and Studio" in the St. George Arts District on a Saturday. WOW, WOW, and WOW—what an incredible conversation we had! Settle into your favorite comfy chair and listen to this heartwarming conversation with a truly beautiful human. More about Birgit click here.

Recently, Suzie introduced The Art Box to a potential new guest, Kaye Ashbridge. Over the past week, we've had the pleasure of spending time with Kaye at various events, including the Love Family Prom, where we all volunteered, the STEAM Center, and today in our podcast studio. Kaye's immense energy and positivity are truly infectious. This episode is a must-listen—fun, informative, and it might just inspire you to visit Kaye's studio for a tarot reading. So, kick back, relax, and enjoy! Visit Kaye's web page by clicking here.

We discovered Lynh through the Clark County Arts "At The Fair" exhibition at the Rotunda Gallery in the Clark County Government Building. Among the impressive entries, Lynh's adorable Silkie Chicken stood out as Steve's wife Gwen's favorite. Lynh's journey of creativity began at a young age, and her exceptional talent with the crochet needle shines through in her work. She runs her business, Dreams of Thread, where her artistic skills continue to flourish. You can find Lynh's art store on Etsy by clicking here. Her Facebook page Dreams of Thread click here.

🎙️ Tune In! 🎙️ Floyd Johnson is back with another captivating conversation, this time featuring Kaylea’ Layah Whitefeather, the talented artist who won the June Best in Show award at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center. Slip on your headphones and enjoy a delightful ten-minute chat with Kaylea’ Layah, whose stunning art graces the Mesquite Fine Arts Center each month. Don’t miss this opportunity to get to know the artist behind the masterpieces! Click here to view her Best in Show on Facebook.

Join us for our milestone 200th episode as the multi-talented artist Lynda Holman joins Linda and Steve at the Mesquite Works STEAM Center studio. Lynda's visit was so enriching that we decided to split our conversation into two parts. In the first segment, "Art Box," we explore her artistic journey, while the bonus episode delves into an engaging discussion on math and science for our STEAM Chat Podcast. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience Lynda's inspiring insights! Learn more about Lynda by clicking here. You can find Lynda on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/twice_twilight/ or email her: [email protected]

Suzie White had a grand time today interviewing the Virgin Valley Youth Players - Mean Girls Jr. cast at the Mesquite Community Theatre. Listen in for some fun and maybe some signing. Tickets are still available at http://mctnv.com or at the box office one hour before show time. Performances June 21 7 pm and June 22 1 pm and 7 pm. Mesquite Community Theatre 150 North Yucca Street, Mesquite, Nevada 89027

Suzie hosted a rousing episode on-stage with the cast of Snow White and the Dancing Dwarfs. There is singing, laughing and fun. The Summer Youth Theater will present Snow White and the Dancing Dwarfs at the Mesquite Community Theater this weekend. Showtimes will be Friday, June 14 at 7 pm; Saturday, June 15 at 1 pm and and again on Saturday at 7 pm. Directing the cast of 32 young cast members is Mitzi Bender. All actors in this production are between the ages of 5-12. Choreography by Joy Craig and Music Director in the production is Cindi Good, Christy Linberg is light and sound coordinator. Bethany Green and a five-person team are creatining the set designs. Nyah Teerlink, is playing Snow White. The play is sure to be delightful. You won’t want to miss it. Tickets are available on line at mctnv.com or at the box office one hour before each showtime. Admission is $16 for adults and $12 for children. Thank you Bobbie Green for the above from the Moapa Progress.

Our first episode, recorded on June 8, 2022, and published on June 12, 2022, with guest Tyler Roylance, will always hold a special place in our hearts. Despite our careful preparations, we were venturing into the unknown world of podcast journalism. We had many questions: Would our questions be engaging? Would we freeze? Would we say too many "umms" and "ahhs"? How would we handle editing? Would anyone listen, and would we survive this new endeavor? As we celebrate the second anniversary of The Art Box, we decided to remaster this episode, clean up the editing from our early days, and republish it to mark this milestone. Tyler has become an integral part of our journey over the past two years, both as a guest and a special host. His sons have made appearances on our podcasts, as has his wife Genevieve, making this a true Roylance family tradition. As we enter year three, Linda and Steve have exciting new adventures planned for The Art Box. As individual artists, we are thrilled to announce that we have received a generous grant from an anonymous donor. This grant will allow us to enhance our technological capabilities and expand our reach locally, regionally, and nationally. We are also pleased to welcome Suzie White to our team, who will focus on featuring performing arts guests. By the end of this month, we will be interviewing our first international guest, marking a significant milestone for The Art Box. Stay tuned for these exciting developments and more! Join us in celebrating our two-year anniversary by settling in and enjoying our remastered first episode with Tyler Roylance. Our description from June 12, 2022. Welcome to the premiere episode of "The Art Box," brought to you by the Virgin Valley Artists' Association and hosted by Rachelle Knight and Steve Dudrow. In this opening episode, we introduce you to Tyler Roylance, the art and photography teacher at Virgin Valley High School in Mesquite, Nevada. Tyler, a native of Idaho and father of two, has been teaching art here for six years. Join us as Tyler shares his journey of becoming an artist from a young age, his artistic philosophy, and how he has befriended Bruno, the critic in his head. Our lively discussion covers a range of topics, including teaching art, using meditation as a tool, self-portraits, and, most intriguingly, what Tyler does with his first pancake.

Linda and Steve had the absolute pleasure to welcome Simon Kim, Development Services Director for the City of Mesquite, Nevada to our Mesquite Works STEAM Center recording studio. Simon is just THE BEST! What about Cezanne, Picasso and Cubism? You will need to listen to the podcast to understand. Simon has a total of 34-year professional experience in planning and developments: Among those, 22 years have been devoted to developments in the U.S. and 12 years experiences have been formulated from South Korea and England. Simon is key in moving Mesquite forward in the area of defining the Arts and Historic District and placing unique art pieces along with historic markers. Through professional experiences, he has become particularly well-versed in comprehensive planning, strategic planning, urban economics, urban growth management, transportation modeling & planning, housing (HOME/CDBG), economic development, redevelopment, public utilities, environmental assessment & protection, historic preservation, resource management, capital improvement programs, construction, business management, parks & open space design/management, GIS, human capital management, environmental justice, and budgeting/financing. Simon holds a PhD in Urban Planning/Landscape Architecture; Master of Business Administration; and Master of Landscape Architecture. He has multiple license and certifications including American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Professional Landscape Architect (PLA), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM), Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP), GIS Professional (GISP), and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Simon is conscious professional with diverse experiences. He loves to work in a team environment, achieve professional goals, juggle projects, streamline work process, provide solutions, formulate ideal outcomes, and keep his fellow employees well-informed and equipped to do their jobs.

Suzie White welcomed a Mesquite fixture Bobbie Green to our Mesquite Works STEAM Center recording studio to talk about the early days of Desert Dames. You see Bobbie all around town at events in her role as a reporter for The Progress newspaper. Enjoy.

Linda Harris and Becky Boyd gathered the 2024 contestants in the Mesquite Works STEAM Center recording studio for a great conversation taking you behind the scenes and into the hearts of these amazing ladies. Enjoy.

Gracing our Mesquite Works STEAM Center recording studio was Jean Watkins, founder of the Ms. Senior Mesquite Pageant and the first Ms. Senior Mesquite and Becky Boyd Pageant President. Grab a cup of coffee and join us for an interesting chat. If you would like to support the Ms. Sr. Mesquite pageant with a donation it can be sent to WHCC PO Box 1502 Mesquite, NV 89024.

The Art Box hosted royalty recently as we welcomed newly crowned Ms. Sr. Mesquite Bronzie Dabney to our Mesquite Works STEAM Center recording studio. As Ms. Sr. Mesquite, Dabney will also hold the title of Ms. Senior Nevada and go on to compete in the national Ms. Senior America Pageant, which is based on the belief that seniors are the foundation of America and our most valuable treasure.

We had the pleasure of meeting Romy Umholtz at the "At the County Fair" exhibition held at the Rotunda Gallery in the Clark County Government Center, Las Vegas. We titled this episode "The Heart of Creativity" to capture Romy's deep and heartfelt passion for creativity in all its remarkable forms. You can find Romy on Facebook.

We finally did it! Linda and Steve sat down for an exclusive interview with ChatGPT, or Jessica as Linda is allowed to call them. We pulled out every question in our repertoire, covering a wide array of topics. While it was certainly informative, we found it, in our humble opinion, a bit on the dull side. But don't just take our word for it—judge for yourself. Dive into the interview and let us know what you think!

WOWser is what we have to say about Lindsey's mosaic art! She captured numerous awards at this months "Blessings of Nature" exhibition at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery. Lindsey has nurtured her creative spirit since childhood, ultimately elevating her passion for Art and Design through dedicated college studies. Trained in various artistic mediums and interior design, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art with a Minor in Art History, where her love for mosaic art truly took shape. Lindsey continually refines her niche—capturing the beauty and intricacies of nature and landscapes through fine art mosaics. Her work is deeply inspired by her personal experiences, including camping, hiking, and backpacking adventures with her family, as well as the diverse climates, vegetation, and terrains they explore together. Visit her web site: Lindsey Packingham Mosaics

In this episode of The Art Box podcast, Linda and Steve step outside of our normal subject of art as we are honored to feature Captain Kevin Smith, US Navy Retired, and former Top Gun instructor. Captain Smith brings a wealth of expertise and thrilling experiences from his distinguished career in naval aviation. He will share riveting stories from his time developing the elite Navy Fighter Weapons School on board the USS Constellation, He offers a rare insider's view into the high-intensity world of supersonic close in aerial combat. Captain Smith will discuss the rigorous demands of being a Top Gun instructor, the evolution of fighter tactics, and the crucial elements of leadership and precision under pressure. This episode promises to be an exhilarating dive into the life of a true naval aviator who has trained the best of the best. Learn more about Captain Smith and purchase his book Sonic Warrior here: Watch Captain Smiths Documentary movie here:

May 2024 Blessing of Nature exhibition Best in Show award winner Lynn Craven. You get magic when you have two well respected award winning artists sit down for a chat at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center. In the second of our series of exhibition Best in Show interviews our host Floyd Johnson grabbed Award winner Lynn Craven to talk about his unique art work. Only 9 minutes, enjoy and smile.

After meeting Jeannie at her exhibition, "Invisible Memories," at Core Contemporary co-curated by Mylène Lachance-Paquin and Nancy Good we just knew she was our next guest. Her exhibition is described as dynamic, multi-layered paintings and collages fearlessly travel through concepts of cultural migration, historical and contemporary racism, fraught emotional territories, and confrontational change. We promise you will enjoy this heartfelt episode with an incredibly talented wife, mom, professor, judge, and artist. When not creating art, you will find Jeannie on our public lands helping with nature projects. Learn mote about Jeannie

We had the delightful opportunity to attend the "Celebrating Life! Masters' Exhibition 2024" held at the Charleston Heights Art Center Gallery in the vibrant city of Las Vegas. Amidst the breathtaking artwork, we had the pleasure of sitting down with artists Bobbie Ann Howell and Robin Stark to delve into their creative processes and inspirations. Kick back and enjoy a wonderful art conversation. Learn more: Bobbie Ann Howell - What I love about Nevada. Robin Stark

Boom, this hit our wheelhouse of nature, public lands, native culture and creativity, Linda and Steve thought they were in heaven interviewing Fairbanks based naturalist, wilderness guide and writer Michael Engelhard. Come join us for an interview touching on how Michaels western adventures shapes his writing. Click here for Micheals website. Click here to purchase Michels books. Check back now and then as Michael will be visiting Las Vegas during a fall book tour. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a marvelous episode that artists will appreciate from beginning to end. Linda Harris masterful job of asking questions displays the breadth of her guest research and profound understanding of the creative process. Besides being a great artist, Cody is very much a conservationist, lover of all thing’s nature and a full-time ranger with the US Forest Service. You can find out more about Cody on his web site. https://codyrexchamberlain.art/ This is our 2nd episode where we have utilized Addy as our "interlude announcer". We would love to hear your thoughts on this new feature. Do you like it? Dislike it? Might you have other suggestions for us. Drop us an email and let us know. [email protected] Thank you Cody Chamberlin for your amazingness.

A Saturday Art Box road trip to Las Vegas found us at the Blue Ox Tavern on Sahara meeting up with artist and College of Southern Nevada (CSN) professor Sean Russell for a wide-ranging and fun chat about creativity and art. Slip on the headphones, sit back, maybe grab a glass of good red wine, or an IPA and enjoy this lovely conversation. No extra charge for the neat bar sounds in the background. Find out more about Sean. This episode we introduce Addison (Addy) Johanson hailing from Brisbane, Australia as our "interlude announcer" providing specific information about subjects we touch on during our episodes where some details would be helpful. Addy has her MFA from "Brisbane School of AI Artistic Expression" (BSAE), A vibrant and innovative institution nestled in the heart of Brisbane, Australia, dedicated to fostering creativity and nurturing the talents of aspiring artists across various disciplines. With state-of-the-art facilities and a supportive community of faculty and students, BSAE aims to push the boundaries of artistic exploration and produce the next generation of visionary artists.

In our efforts to publish community based content, today we will talk about coyotes. As Mesquite pushes boundaries deeper into coyote habitats, rapid development, driven by population growth and economic expansion, encroaches upon the once-remote territories where coyotes roam. As Mesquite expands, it brings infrastructure, residential areas, and commercial developments, fragmenting natural landscapes and disrupting Mojave Desert wildlife corridors. This expansion poses significant challenges for coyotes, forcing them to adapt to an increasingly urban environment. Coyotes, known for their remarkable adaptability, navigate this new landscape by seeking food, water, and shelter within city limits. However, this proximity to human populations raises concerns about conflicts, including encounters with pets, predation on urban wildlife, and occasional interactions with humans. Many thanks to Don Molde for dropping in to talk about our neighbors the coyotes. Don is president of the Nevada Wildlife Alliance, and has actively participated in the state Wildlife Commission's deliberations for over four decades. Enjoy Don's work in Nevada Current, you are sure to learn something interesting. Thank you Fred Bell for your Coyote sound track recorded in Death Valley. Visit Fred's web site: https://soundsandspaces.net/

Linda and Steve welcome Suzie White as our "From the Theatre" host. Suzie will be focusing on performing arts in the Virgin Valley and beyond. Today Suzie welcomes Al Vysinka and Jim Blanco from the musical trio "Off the Rails" to our STEAM Center studio to chat about their upcoming performance at the Mesquite Community Theatre on Saturday May 18. John Maystadt their third member was vacationing in the Pacific Isles so not available today. Give a listen as Suzie, Al and Jim have a fun convestaion about growing up in Chicago and not meeting each other until they ended up in Mesquite, oldies, goodies and hot dogs. Enjoy the chat, enjoy some laughs and come see "Off the Rails" at the Mesquite Theatre on May 18. Tickets can be purchased at this link.\ Look for more "From the Theatre" podcasts as Suzie cooks up some fun for our listeners.

What a pleasure it was to sit down with Brian Cornett in our Do It Best Hardware recording studio in the Mesquite Works STEAM Center. Brian is just a nice guy, with a heart for volunteering and writing. We hope you enjoy this episode with a true Mesquite upstanding citizen and artist.

You might recognize Teresa Skye and Dave Ward from their appearance in Episode 76 - Deep Space, Volunteering and Nature Journaling - from March 10, 2023. We recorded at their campsite in Gold Butte National Monument. The Art Box has not been recorded outside since then until now. Steve drove 323 miles to Horseshoe Canyon in Canyonlands National Park to catch our amazing volunteers at their National Park Service assignment this week, deep in Horseshoe Canyon at the Great Gallery. This episode has been in the works since we found out Dave and Teresa would be volunteering here. It was windy and our little handheld remote recorder struggled to silence the wind. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable trip, camping on the rim and walking the seven-mile round-trip to the Great Gallery. You can find Teresa's passion for Nature Journaling on her Mojave Nature Journalers FaceBook page. Dave is an avid dark sky lover and can spin you amazing tales and lore of the human visions of the night. More on Dave and Teresa. Dave Ward Born and raised in the East, David Ward has always considered the West his home. He has been a river rafting guide, a hiking guide, and a guide to the night sky, living his passion of sharing his love of the outdoors. Always searching for a dark sky, he spends his time between the deep canyons of Death Valley and the snow-clad peaks of the Pacific Northwest. Teresa Skye Teresa Skye has been a hiking guide and has put together outdoor programs for Death Valley Natural History Association since 2015. She is a former teacher, backpacking guide, and avid hiker. This includes hiking much of the Pacific Crest Trail, Yellowstone NP, and Death Valley NP. She currently volunteers for the Nevada Site Steward program as well as in Canyonlands NP and Ash Meadows NWR. Teresa has been nature journaling for several years, taking classes online as well as in-person workshops. She feels the joy of being a close observer of nature and capturing it in art and writing is something you can practice for life, no matter what your age or abilities.

Steve was honored in early 2023 to attend Torrey House Press Voices for the West Writers Workshop in Sprindale, Utah just outside of Zion National Park. Our fiction group was led by amazing author Kase Johnstun and included Morgan Sjogren (Path of Light), Stacie Shannon Denetosie (The Missing Morningstar), the talented Liana Morales, many others and me. As we introduced ourselves I was enthralled that Liana was a librarian in New Mexico who had a background with bookmobiles. Growing up I loved our bookmoble. I was hooked and knew Linda and I would just have to have her as a guest on the Art Box. Well, schedules being such, with Liana and I both in need of a second brain (you will need to listen to understand this reference) it took over a year to finally arrange. I loved our conversation as we talked poetry, writing, screenplays, AI, and bookmobiles. Find out more about the New Mexico library system. Enjoy!

The Art Box was pleased to welcome Mesquite Public Arts Commission (MPAC) Chair Karen Miskimins to our Do It Best Hardware Studio at the Mesquite Works STEAM Center to chat about promoting public art in Mesquite. Our wide-ranging conversation ran from MPAC inauguration by the city council, to initiatives such as First Fridays, fundraising, pollinator garden, our new fire department, youth art, and our many creative residents. Visit your MPAC commissioners at Mesquite Days Family Fun night on May 1 at the rec center and tell us your ideas for public art. Click here to access the MPAC web page. You can email us at: [email protected]

We were graced at our Do It Best Hardware studio in the Mesquite STEAM Center with local entertainer DJ Van Dyke. Listen in as DJ recounts her journey of creativity and song that she will be sharing this May in Mesquite. DJ Van Dyke is an Iowa farm girl who made her way to Nevada by way of a short stop in Colorado that lasted 42 years. DJ headlined a contempory rock band in the mid-70's. Raising children, an over-the-road truck driving husband, and the emergence of Disco derailed her music career. But, in 2018 and 2019, she participated in the Elvis Tribute Show at the CasaBlanca. Somebody suggested she do Patsy Cline, and so, this is where she is today. Over the last five years DJ has performed in Sun City, St. George, and Overton. Important Ticket Notes Limited VIP Reserved seats for this event are located front-and-center in the first four rows of Mesquite Community Theatre. VIP Reserved seats are available only online. Click here to purchase tickets. Local comedian and Marketing Director for the Virgin Valley Theatre Group Suzie White co-hosted this interview with Steve as Linda was in Indiana watching the eclipse.

It was our pleasure to host Lydia Wolfe as a guest on the Art Box Podcast. Lydia is full of energy in her work at Get Outdoors Nevada and her many other heartfelt commitments to our local community. Those who know Steve, know that he loves quotes and Lydia gave him two "Every artist breathes life into the piece they are making" and one so amazing it is the title of this episode "Treat art like life". YES!!!!!! Lydia (She/Her/Hers) has lived in Las Vegas since 2009 and has always had an interest in learning about culture and connecting to nature. One way that she was able to do this was to major in Anthropology at UNLV where she is graduating with her bachelor’s degree in December 2022 with a minor in American Indigenous Studies. Currently she also interns with IndigenousAF Inc. and volunteers with The Cupcake Girls. You will enjoy this episode. More about Get Outdoors Nevada. We love the work Get Outdoors Nevada does for our communities. Outside Las Vegas Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is now doing business as Get Outdoors Nevada. The original organization was formed in 2000 by a group of passionate Nevada outdoor enthusiasts and community leaders. This dynamic group predicted a critical link between our spectacular outdoors places and our quality of life. We changed our name to Get Outdoors Nevada in 2018 because we celebrate and support ALL of Nevada’s amazing outdoor experiences. Today, it is Get Outdoors Nevada’s mission and vision to connect Nevadans and visitors from all backgrounds and ages to the state’s diverse outdoor places. To this end, we pursue a three-fold approach of education, service, and community engagement. Many of our efforts and programs focus on the needs and lives of families and school children, especially those who are at-risk and often have limited opportunity to experience the great outdoors. We are committed to preserving Nevada’s public lands, urban trails, and community parks. We love Nevada and Nevada’s outdoors.

As part of our humanities programming The Virgin Valley Artists' Association and The Art Box are proud to present a podcast with Southern Nevada Health Districts health educator Pitchaya Pattasema. Pitchaya oversees the Pop-Up Produce Stands program. The Pop-Up Produce Stands program is part of CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program which aims to improve health, prevent chronic disease, and reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic populations with the highest risk of chronic disease. The Pop-Ups Produce Stands enable low-access and low-income persons to access fresh fruits and vegetables. People are able to use their SNAP/EBT benefits to purchase produce at a discount on top of being able to use incentives such as Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) to maximize their purchase. The DUFB works by providing dollar to dollar coupons for every dollar of fruits and vegetables purchased. If a client buys 10 dollars’ worth of fruits and vegetables with their SNAP/EBT benefit, they will receive a $10 coupon to buy more fruits and vegetables. You can find out more at the web site for Get Healthy Clark County or from you phone you can dial 211 for Nevada 211, a program of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, that is committed to helping Nevadans connect with the services they need. We work with many programs, agencies, coalitions, organizations, and community partners to foster physical, social, and policy changes that make it easier for residents and visitors to engage in healthy lifestyles. Mission To mobilize communities, develop innovative, evidence-based programs and advocate for policies that support healthy lifestyles, healthy communities and the elimination of health disparities. Vision To lead through collaboration with internal and external partners to bring innovative, creative health promotion programming to the community. Goals The Office of Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion works toward the achievement of several health goals. These goals have been selected using health and needs assessment data for our community to ensure that they align with the health needs of Clark County residents. Prevent initiation of tobacco use among youth and young adults Promote quitting (tobacco products) Eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke Reduce and eliminate chronic disease-related health disparities Increase physical activity levels Increase fruit and vegetable consumption Increase the percentage of people who are at a healthy weight Reduce soda and sugar sweetened beverage consumption Improve health outcomes and self-management efficacy for people who have chronic diseases Promote healthy behaviors and link residents to existing programs and resources Farmers Markets Farmers Markets selling fresh grown produce may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think desert living. But actually, there are several markets around the Valley giving residents access to lots of locally and regionally grown produce. Shopping at your local farmers market not only supports small businesses and farmers, it’s also a great opportunity to learn more about where your food comes from and how it’s grown, empowering you to make informed food choices for your family. Farmers Markets Accepting EBT, SNAP, Debit & Credit Market dates, hours, and locations are subject to change. Please check with the market before your visit. To see a list of Farmers Markets participating in WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program visit the Nevada WIC website. Veggie Buck Truck Mobile Market Call 702-636-4152 for information on truck stops. Las Vegas Farmers Market - Downtown Summerlin Saturday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 1825 Festival Plaza Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89135 The District at Green Valley Ranch Thursday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 2240 Village Walk Drive Henderson NV 89052 Henderson Cornerstone Park Saturday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 1600 Wigwam Pkwy, Henderson, NV 89074 Boulder City Farmers Market Every 1st & 3rd Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Parking Lot Of Boulder City Assembly of God Church 1100 Adams Boulevard Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Intuitive Forager Farmers Market Friday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 818 Commerce Street Las Vegas, NV 89101 Dollar Loan Center Every Monday from 9am-2pm 200 S Green Valley Pkwy, Henderson, NV 89012 Downtown Henderson Last Friday of the Month, February - April and September - November 4 pm - 8 pm 129 S Water Street Henderson, NV 89015 Pop-Up Produce Stands April 2nd & April 9th May 7th & May 14th June 4th & June 11th 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm or until supplies last 101 E Bonneville Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101

If you hang out at the Mesquite Rec Center chances are you will catch a glimpse of our two whirlwind friends Donna and Ann buzzing about, teaching classes and being happy. Linda has been working for some time to schedule a podcast and poof a week ago our Art Box studio in the STEAM Center came alive with these two dynamos. Here is a little bit about them below, then listen to an energy packed podcast. Donna Schorr I started in teaching in 1984 after my favorite instructor told me I should be leading class, and took me under her wing. I started teaching what we called "aerobics" back then, which was really dance exercise, similar to Jazzercise or Zumba. I quickly progressed to teaching sports conditioning, boot camps and circuit training, as well as spinning and yoga. It just makes me so happy! I get a truly euphoric experience when the music is pumping and all the bodies are moving in unison. My whole paradigm changed after I took Pilates training, there is no other exercise system that starts with your skeleton first, then works outward to the muscles. The latest training I completed was on coaching senior fitness/cognitive training, and am already implementing the concepts in all my classes. I love what I do! Ann Murphy Then: Raised on a Wisconsin farm, off to college and married a local Marine. Have lived in seven states and travel is in my blood. Serious fitness and health advocate since the my early 20's. Worked in the airline industry before turning to teaching fitness full time. Married a couple more times, ran a B&B and a horse boarding stable. Now: Settled in Mesquite and still have the fitness passion, particularly in motivating others. Enjoying dancing with the Lifelong Dancers, biking, hiking and weekends in Vegas. Lastest travel was cruise on the Amazon. My partner Jim Russell and I are planning an expedition cruise to Antartica. I am about to finish my five year reign as Ms. Senior Mesquite which has been a very rewarding experience. I just adopted yet another rescue dog. Life is good.

We are going to start a new short podcast idea by interviewing artists whose works have received Best of Show awards. Not just at our local gallery but from anywhere. We will start with the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery March exhibition "Through Our Eyes" and the Best of Show "Leaping Lizards Southwest Style" by Linda Harris. Linda is interviewed by Floyd Johnson. Enjoy.

Steve looks forward to Spring every year when Lori and Dan Rowland visit Gold Butte National Monument giving him friends to go out and play. This year JT and Anastasiya came along with Dan, Lori, Ruby and myself on a good hike in Garden Canyon. The next day Lori and Dan visited our STEAM Center studio for a much anticipated podcast. Lori was her always brilliant self giving us a behind the scenes look at her amazingly creative life. Find out more about Lori at Oregon Exposures. Oregon Exposures is all about sharing the love of the great outdoors and the joy of nature photography, pure & simple! My name is Lori Rowland and I’m a landscape photographer lucky enough to be living in Eastern Oregon. Through my galleries, tutorials, and blogs, I will share with you stories and photographs taken on my travels from around the state. I believe Mother Nature and landscape photography go hand in hand, each experience greatly enhancing the other. Therefore, I always keep my camera close at hand when I am out hiking. What I love about photography is that it makes it easy for me to bring home a little piece of my outdoor experience and share it with people like you. I enjoy traveling in our RV with my husband, Dan, and black lab, Ruby. I guess you can say that they are my support team. 🙂 One of our favorite things to do is travel in our RV. You could call our traveling style, roaming aimlessly. We make no reservations and pick our routes to take all the scenic highways we can find, even though it often adds miles to our trip. Traveling at this slow pace is how I discover some of my most beautiful and unique images. In addition to traveling in the RV, I enjoy backpacking, hiking & skiing. I am fortunate to have two mountain ranges not far from where I live, each packed with hiking trails just waiting to be explored. Neither my camera or I am never disappointed by the views we find at the end of those dusty trails. In conclusion, I want to invite you to join me on my photographic journeys as I explore the beautiful landscapes in the remote corners of Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.

The Art Box was privileged to host director Fred Bell at our STEAM Center studio. Fred recently captured the Best Nevada Filmmaker award at the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, Nevada for “Sounds of Blue Spaces.” Fred Bell is very comfortable sitting in the desert, miles from anywhere, listening to (and recording) the spirit of the land. A 2005 article in the Seattle Times about “One Square Inch of Silence” was his epiphany, causing him to realize that while on numerous hikes he heard the sounds of nature, yet he never stopped to intentionally listen. Thus began his pursuit of finding and recording natural soundscapes around Nevada and the southwest. He is a member of IATSE Local 720 (the stagehand union) and currently works as a video technician for the Las Vegas convention industry. He has a website, www.SoundsAndSpaces.net, and encourages everyone to… Hike With Your Ears.

Our friend Bob Craig zoomed into our STEAM Center studio to chat about the Virgin Valley Theatre Groups coming production of Almost Maine. As Director, Bob provides us a unique look at this popular play, its stories, it's almost-ish, and it's magic. Gwen and I have our tickets for opening night, this is going to be our spring MUST SEE in the Virgin Valley and beyond. Almost, Maine, a town that’s so far north, it’s almost in Canada. And it almost doesn’t exist. Because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it’s just…Almost. One cold, clear Friday night in the middle of winter, Almost’s residents find themselves falling in and out of love in the strangest ways. And life for the people of Almost, Maine will never be the same. ALMOST, MAINE: It’s love. But not quite. Purchase tickets here ---> https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/vvtgnv/6616

Linda and Tyler sat down with Pennsylvania based artist Denzy Dark recently for a wide ranging discussion of poetry, creativity, visual arts and life in general. This will go down as one of our best podcasts. Denzy Dark, artistic alias for Dustin Nispel, is an international award-winning poet and visual artist. His works dive into dark surrealism with cumbersome emotion that pulls at the viewer’s closed doors. The work of Denzy has been described as visual poetry exploring untouched reaches of the soul. A journey meant for ghosts that dream. It is derived from his own hauntings, internally and externally. Where the veil is thin, is where we find Denzy’s work; hung in the recesses, staring back at us as though a mirror of our darker places where angels weep and phoenix rise. Denzy has been featured at the Pennsylvania State Capital Rotunda in Harrisburg, York Art Association, Hive Art Gallery, Ironic gallery and coffee house, Kings Courtyard Artist Collective, Central Penn College, The Altland House, The White Rose and the York Holistic Expo. In addition to creating artwork he has also curated artwork for his former Gallery The Rooted Art Gallery, where local artist and Internationally renown artists had their works featured. The likes of Peter Max, Salvador Dalí, Henry Matisse and John Lennon made their way through The Rooted Art Gallery while it was in operation. In addition to his visual art, Dustin Nispel is an author of two full length books of poetry, The Tower (2014) and his latest work The Road Home. He has been writing Poetry and prose since 13 years of age. He has won multiple awards for his writing and performances in slams and competitions; including being recognized on the international stage in 2015 DITËT E NAIMIT in Tetova, Macedonia, receiving Niam’s Candle for best poem performed. You can find Denzy's art at: https://denzydark.com/

Linda and her granddaughter Natalie sat down during the summer to discuss music in the schools, and the physical and intellectual challenges of playing an instrument in a marching band. Natalie has advanced in her music since this discussion, and recently won Gold for her saxophone solo in her District Competition. She now advances to the state competition.

Morgan Sjogren is an author, explorer, and defender of wild places. Her books and writing focus on human-powered adventure, public lands, conservation, history, travel, and food. Sjogren devotes much of her writing and time to advocate, educate, and inspire others to help protect endangered landscapes and the environment. Sjogren is the author of Path of Light: A Walk Through Colliding Legacies of Glen Canyon (Torrey House Press in April 2023). She is the author of Outlandish, The Best Bears Ears National Monument Hikes, and The Best Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Hikes. A nomad by nature, Sjogren lives on the Colorado Plateau and feels most at home in the wild.

Our good friends from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Jennifer Heroux and Rob Vinson drove to Mesquite to enlighten our listeners about the history of US wildlife refuges and how the Federal Duck Stamp Program has positively impacted wildlife through land preservation. Jennifer oversees the Nevada Junior Duck Stamp program and she takes time to explain how teachers and young artists can engage. The Nevada Jr. Duck Stamp original art is displayed at the Pharanaget National Wildlife Refuge in Alamo, Nevada, it is worth the trip to go see. Where are the original art pieces? Suzanne Fellows the Program Chief provided us the following: The federal art itself is owned by the artist and after the stamp is designed the original is returned to them. They can then sell their original, reproduce it, make prints, put it on shirts/mugs, etc. The artist owns the copyright to the art and this is basically how they can make a living off being a "duck stamp" winning artist (since we don't pay them). The stamp image is copyrighted by the DOI/USFWS - you have to have a license from the USFWS (Duck Stamp Office) to reproduce an image of the stamp and there are specifics that need to be followed (set up to prevent counterfeiting). Royalties are collected for the image use and goes back to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund for conservation. Currently, approximately 70 pieces of the original winning art are now owned by the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT. Artists/owners sold their piece to a collector who then donated it to the museum. There are about 3 other originals in museums elsewhere, several still held by the artist or their family, some that were sold to other collectors prior to the Bruce collection being assembled, and a couple that have been stolen or otherwise disappeared. The Bruce is putting on an exhibit of the entries in Sept that will run for a few months. After that it is hoped that the collection will be lent/used to other wildlife/art/conservation organizations across the country To learn more about the Federal Duck Stamp Program click here. To learn more about the Jr. Duck Stamp Program click here. Southern Nevada Fish and Wildlife Refuges

We wrapped up our visit to Elko, enjoying our old friends and making many new ones. Not much sleep, long ride up and back but our time was precious. We hope you can enjoy the myraid of talented guests that graced our mic. Many thanks to the worldwide fans of The Art Box and to our sponsors the Virgin Valley Artists' Association.

Karen Terrey is a writer, editor, and writing coach, offering marketing and business writing, copy editing, publishing guidance, and creative writing workshops in Truckee through her business Tangled Roots Writing for clients of all ages. She has taught at Lake Tahoe Community College, Sierra Nevada College, and Sierra College and has served as a poetry editor for the literary journals Pitkin Review and Quay. She is a recipient of a Sierra Arts Endowment Grant, the John Woods Scholarship to Prague Summer Program, the Steve Turner Scholarship to Surprise Valley Writer's Conference, and a scholarship to the Vermont Studio Center. Her poems have appeared in Rhino, Edge, Meadow, WordRiot, Puerto Del Sol, Wicked Alice, Canary, and Gray Sparrow Journal, among others. Her poetry chapbook Bite and Blood is now available from Finishing Line Press and local bookstores, including Sundance Books in Reno, NV and Word After Word in Truckee, CA.

To quote my Grandmom and Annie MacKennzie "Welp", we tried to record during our annual shopping spree of the vendors setup in the Conference Center, and the background noise mostly washed out the conversations we had with the many talented vendors. But here you go, the best we could edit. Hope you can semi-enjoy this.

WOW, is all you can say after a Kristyn Harris show, she PLAYS the guitar like no one else, and she belts out her tunes that has you tapping your toes and dancing in your seat. We caught up with Kristyn this year along with her Grandpa the evening before they headed north to work on her herds calving in Southern Idaho. Thank you Kristyn for an always fun interview. Have fun in Europe this summer and keep wooing crowds worldwide.

Back in 2023 our friend Roberta Townsand before we left for Elko said "make sure you see Jessie Veeder", well we missed her, but not this year. We were WOWed by Jessie (along with her dad on the harmonica) at the "Pretty Ranchy" show along with Yvonne Hollenbeck, Annie MacKenzie and Carin Mari. Linda beelined it to the stage and came back all excited that yes, Jessie would interview with us. We not only got a smiley interview but Jessie gifted us her songs as our lead in music. Jessie and her husband also are podcasters with "Back at the Ranch": https://jessieveedermusic.com/podcast Her website is: https://jessieveedermusic.com/ We loved our time with Jessie.

This episode is a MUST for you brush artists. Nancy Harris McLelland found Ron for us after she saw us oohing and ahhing over his art hanging in the vendor area. He drove down the next day and we could of had a marathon episode but ran out of daylight. Listen and you will understand. More about Ron: https://doublescoop.art/route-to-the-rurals/