CARSON VALLEY – Entrepreneurs and businesses in Carson Valley have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic by sharing kindness and cooperation within the community.
“Our locally-owned businesses are showing how they have quickly adapted and changed their operations to support our residents and that’s some good news we all could use,” Jan Vandermade, executive director for the Carson Valley Visitors Authority, said.
In historic Genoa The Pink House, now a restaurant and event space, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its “association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history.” Owner Lois Wray ensured that her team continued to provide significant impacts within the community.
As food service moved to curbside-only and staff was reduced to part-time hours, Wray continued to pay the employees full-time wages. During the Easter holiday, The Pink House donated meals to families furloughed as a result of COVID-19 and continue to include free homemade brownies with pick-up orders for ‘a little something to smile about.’
The Carson Valley Inn in downtown Minden closed its casino and restaurant operations during the pandemic, but Owners Mike Pegram and the Carano Family continued to pay employees. Additionally, all employees were invited to pick up a meal made to feed a family of four each day, a generous measure that was extended to the community. The Carson Valley Inn supported the local Food Closet by donating extra meals, by way of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, to senior neighbors in need.
Bently Heritage is a recently-opened estate distillery in downtown Minden and is the vision of Christopher and Camille Bently, respected locally as generous philanthropists. Under normal operations, Bently Heritage produces gin, vodka, liqueurs and whiskies in a restored historic flour mill and creamery.
But, with a nationwide deficit of hand sanitizer looming, Bently’s leadership team led a fast and hard transition to producing hand sanitizer. In a matter of three days, Bently Heritage produced 200 gallons of hand sanitizer. Throughout the month of April, over 3,000 gallons of hand sanitizer were produced and delivered to home and neighboring county health and human services, law enforcement and healthcare facilities. The immediate operation shift has helped to keep the Bently Ranch, facilities and distilling teams employed while also maintaining safe working procedures.
Locals are encouraged to share their good news stories on social media tagging it with #CVGoodNews.
