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A Cornerstone of the Community
Cindy Zalsman’s
many roles make
her the mover
and shaker
of Sandy Valley
By Linda Kass
S
mall communities need all the
same things larger communities need, only they make
it happen with fewer people.
Sandy Valley is one such community.
Tucked in the foothills of the
Spring Mountains, this town on the
Nevada-California border has
fewer than 2,000 people.
Cindy Zalsman is a natural community leader. As described by long
time resident and Valley Electric
Association (VEA) Ambassador
Sam McCool, “Cynthia Zalsman is
Sandy Valley’s introduction to newcomers, outsiders, government
agencies and businesses.”
Cindy owns and operates a postal
contract station and gift shop,
employing two Sandy Valley residents. She collects VEA payments
and explains how to sign up for
power; handles reservations for
Republic Services’ Community
Clean-up Days; assists in grant
writing for the Sandy Valley Food
28 JULY 2007 VALLEY ELECTRIC
Above, Kay Searle, left, and Cindy Zalsman outside the Sandy Valley Post Office.
Below, Cindy meets with members of the Sandy Valley Citizens Advisory Council.
From left, Chris Munhall, Susan Brager, Cindy and George O’Dell.
Share Program; and publishes the
Sandy Valley phone book for the
Sandy Mesquite Association.
Cindy owns and operates a
Dollar Store, with three employees.
She also serves as a VEA Ambassador; edits and publishes The
Sandy Valley Times and is secretary
for the Sandy Valley Citizens
Advisory Council.
Cindy has truly pushed multitasking to the limit.
“I have a large family,” Cindy
says. “My family and I enjoy
NASCAR, family cruises, beaches,
quad riding, camping, swimming,
movies and family dinners. I am the
middle of six children, and I’m very
close to my siblings. We gather for
each holiday, all of the children’s
birthdays and any excuse we can find
to get the entire family together.”
Cindy came to Sandy Valley with
her husband, John, shortly before
the birth of their first child in
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October 1994. She previously was
marketing director for the Gold
Strike/Nevada Landing casino
resorts in Jean.
Four years ago, she purchased
the Sandy Valley Post Office contract. Since then she has seen
tremendous growth in the number
of postal boxes, from 80 to 250
inside and from 310 to 900 mailboxes outside.
Ninety boxes serve the town of
Goodsprings.
Cindy has the help of 30-year
resident Kay Searle, who happens
to be her mother-in-law.
The work space is bursting at
the seams. Plans for expansion are
under way.
Cindy is the information source
for people across the country. The
most frequent inquiry she gets concerns the rural life in Sandy Valley.
She says people want to get back to
the basic family life, with safety and
a more personalized education for
their children.
Sandy Valley has an elementary
school and a new middle school.
The former Keystone Academy
Page 3
Cindy is the information source
for people across the country.
The most frequent inquiry she gets
concerns the rural life in Sandy Valley.
She says people want to
get back to the basic family life.
Charter High School officially
closed in June, will reopen in
August as Sandy Valley High
School.
Cindy’s goal is to educate the
community through The Sandy
Valley Times.
“I live here and I see all of the
improvement needed for schools,
parks and, basically, community
pride,” she says.
Cindy’s caring attitude is evident.
She routinely collects donations,
clothing and food for the food
share program; collects toys and
donations for Santa’s Toy Box;
coordinates the Toys for Food
through Toys for Tots; helps pass
out angels for the Angel Tree for
Santa’s Toy Box; collects entry
forms for the neighborhood Fourth
of July parade; and coordinates purchasing and collecting donated
candy for Halloween, the Easter
egg hunt and Easter baskets.
“Cindy Zalsman has a big heart,”
a Sandy Valley resident says. “All of
us—family, friends, acquaintances,
neighbors and newcomers—have
been touched by her kindness and
service in one way or another.” ■
Cindy Zalsman welcomes inquiries
about Sandy Valley. Contact her at the
post office at 777 E. Quartz Ave.,
Sandy Valley, NV, 89019, call (702)
807-7669 or e-mail her at [email protected].
Cindy hard at work at the
post office—one of her
many jobs and projects
working on behalf of her
community.
VALLEY ELECTRIC JULY 2007 29