Is Truckee River Losing its Public Soul?

In its Council Highlights press release from yesterday, the City of Reno said it had “adopted the resolution to designate all land that is owned, operated, or is within the City of Reno right-of-way along the Truckee River corridor between Booth Street and S. Virginia Street as a City of Reno park to provide for consistency in maintenance,
enhanced user experience, and regulation. Connecting the Truckee River frontage and path from Booth Street to South Virginia Street to provide the opportunity for a contiguous connection to the iconic part of Reno’s downtown.”

It also approved “the Truckee River Vision Plan by Dig Studio directing staff to pursue project opportunities outlined in the implementation plan including key recommendations for land use and design, mobility and connectivity, parks and open space, public art, and safety water, & ecological systems. The overarching scope of the plan conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Truckee River corridor and surrounding areas in unincorporated Washoe County and the City of Reno, extending from the California state line to the border of Sparks, Nevada, and collaborated closely with City of Reno staff, stakeholders, and the public. Staff will bring identified projects to forward when actions can be taken.“

That’s a lot words for us that seem to indicate plans are afoot to gentrify the surroundings of the Truckee River and make the area less welcoming to those without stable shelter. It seems to be turning some public sidwalks into parks patrolled by river rangers.

Looking into some of the details there’s plans to create a so-called “Truckee River Overlay Zone District” with unclear outlooks such as “sections and planning details that set enforceable standards for Building Form and Mass.”

That wording and the use of the term District does not sound like an organic neighborhood and public river path which feels welcoming to all income brackets. What are your own thoughts on these developments?

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum, September 26, 2024

Kevin, a Local Actor, Needs a Kidney

A message from Kathy Walen a star employee at the Reynolds School of Journalism about her husband Kevin well know in the community as an actor, recently appearing in A Facility for Living with Reno Little Theater who is in urgent need of a kidney:

“Hi friends, for those of you that don’t know, Kevin has polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disease that causes cysts to grow on his kidneys and liver, and he now requires a kidney transplant.

After multiple trips to Salt Lake City and extensive testing, Kevin has been accepted into the kidney transplant center at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City. Aside from PKD, Kevin is in perfect health, no other health issues or diseases. He is a perfect candidate.

This is where we need your help.

They tell us to share our story in the hopes of finding a living donor (and this is a very hard thing for me to do). They also tell us that most living donors come from a friend of a friend that reads our story. Living donors don’t even have to be a match- they can be Kevin’s “buddy donor,” and when someone else in the country also has a “buddy donor” that matches Kevin, the buddies each donate one kidney and two people get a transplant that day. Our insurance covers all costs for someone that chooses to donate a kidney to Kevin. Unfortunately, our daughters carry the gene and are unable to be potential donors.

If we are able to find a living donor, Kevin will be able to avoid dialysis, which complicates things. If we wait for a deceased donor, the waitlist time is approximately 2-3 years, which means dialysis. I have no doubt whatsoever and I have great faith that Kevin is going to be okay.

The road ahead will be hard. Kevin has stayed alive through many dangerous situations in his 26 year military career, but nothing prepares you for this, even if you have spent years knowing that this could potentially be on the horizon. BUT, we remain positive, Kevin takes excellent care of his physical and mental health, and we are hopeful.

If you feel comfortable, please share our story in the hopes that someone in the country sees it and feels called to donate life.

If you have any questions at all, please contact Kevin or I privately. I have attached a card from the kidney transplant center at Intermountain Medical Center and people can contact them directly. Thank you friends, be kind to one another and love hard. - K”

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum Contrubition by Kathy Walen

Let’s Keep a Cute, Convenient Street All Public in Downtown Reno

As part of our reporting on the disappearance of public space in Reno, it’s important for us to comment on looming council discussions to abandon the two way Stevenson Street between West First and West Second streets to make it a one way with a mix of public and private parking.  

The request by ECI Riviera 2 and Kromer Investments was supposed to be heard September 11th, but that meeting was postponed due to the Davis Fire. It’s not on the agenda for the catchup special meeting this Thursday, while the public notice remains.

Kromer has been in the news recently for leaving several elevators at the Riverwood Apartments it manages on Kuenzli in disrepair for months on end, greatly inconveniencing residents there.  Kromer Investments manages a dozen or so apartment complexes across northern Nevada and has a low 1.6 star average on Yelp. 

“They'll screw over tenants any chance they get and have many appliances and things not working for extended periods of time. Corporate slumlords,” Scott recently wrote in late July on that website.

A Kromer representative responded:  “It's not intention to make you feel that way and we'd like to correct the issue at quickly as possible. Please, reach out to our management team at admin@kromerinvestments.com and let us know where you live and what issues you're dealing with.”

East of the Stevenson street now under review are The Mod and Mod 2 at Riverwalk apartments and to the west is a vacant lot.  There were previous directions related to the weed and rock filled western side of Stevenson being built out before any other changes were decided, which now seem to have gone by the wayside.  

As it’s currently set up, Stevenson street is convenient for cyclists and cars to get in and out of downtown Reno.

We see this potential abandonment as part of a trend in Reno by the current majority on City Council to privatize public assets and allow more and more parking.

What the public wants or needs becomes an “evaporating concept,” as one City Council aptly puts it, with developer driven decisions and haphazard overall planning.  

Our Town Reno op-ed reporting, September 2024

A Family Frantically Escaped Fire From Inside the Davis Creek Campground

9/7/2024- Davis Creek Campground on the day the Davis Fire started

What seemed like a normal camping trip turned into our worst nightmare.

My family and I were hanging out, some taking a nap and some went out to do a store run.

When 20 minutes later, we heard a lady yelling and honking “FIRE. GET OUT!”

We hurried into our cars and drove towards the exit. It was then that we had all realized how bad this really was.

It seemed unreal. Flames and black smoke covering the entrance, the wind making it grow.

The feeling of being trapped dawned on us. This was the only way out. The only choice was to drive through with our sight completely blocked , flames hitting our cars and it felt extremely hot. The kids were frantic and terrified. We had no idea of how much had been on fire or if we would’ve even been able to come out of that. The thoughts creeped in that we may not make it out.

Finally blue skies and a fire truck. We got out of our cars and waited. My brother, brother in law and friends plus their kids were still trapped inside.

I called my brother and started feeling the panic seeping in. They were still in there. Thinking the unimaginable, we felt if we barely made it out how were they going to?

The rest of the fam had rushed back from the store seeing this huge fire continue to break out and knowing their family was trapped in there. I can’t even imagine what went through their minds. After what felt like an eternity, all three cars finally came out safe.

This was the most traumatizing experience but we are so lucky. You never think things will happen to you until they do.

Things got bad quickly but they could’ve been so much worse. This is a lesson to always be aware, know your exits. To not take for granted the small moments, a roof over your head, health, safety, family.

I am really proud of anyone who came out of that fire. That was so brave. Anyone who has lost something due to this fire, or feared that you would; I am so sorry you experienced that panic and/or loss. I’m praying for all involved and grateful for the firefighters continuing to get this under control.

Citizen’s Fire Contribution by Cynthia Loza

The Arch Society's Notice of Seizure in Midtown Reno

An email from the Washoe County Deputy Treasurer Linda Jacobs indicates a delinquent bill from The Arch Society was paid this week only after Our Town Reno posted a picture of a notice of seizure at its new location across from the Wild Orchid at 538 S Virginia Street.

A reader had sent the photo to us Wednesday, and would be customers were confused about it, with some telling us they decided not to go in because of the notice. 

“With Arch [S]ociety, we billed them December 13, 2023 and mailed to her residence the additional 4 delinquent notices and then went to the property twice.   We also made numerous calls where we were told payment was forthcoming with no results,” Jacobs wrote to Our Town Reno today, Friday September 6th, after we emailed the Washoe County Treasurer’s office about it. 

“Ms. Archer made her payment yesterday and resolved the matter.  She is now able to take the notice down,” the email indicated.

Jacobs also explained the seizure process which is mandated by Nevada Revised Statute. 

“With commercial personal property we bill between September and April of each year.  We mail five notices; the original tax bill and if not paid we will send out a delinquent notice, followed by a notice of intent to seize a final notice and then the seizure notice.  If we still do not receive payment we go to the business and post the seizure notice on the door,” Jacobs explained. 

An Anne Archer wrote to us messages on our BiggestLittleStreets Instagram, saying we needed to take the photo down, but did not answer when asked several times if she wanted to do a full interview about this situation.

In her messages, she indicated she had paid her taxes weeks ago and that our post was a violation of her privacy, even though the notice which was photographed and sent to us by a concerned reader from a public area was an official Washoe County document.  

Others critical of our post included a Washoe County spokeswoman, Bethany Drysdale, who wrote it was “irresponsible to leave it up this long without correcting it,” even though there was no correction needed and we hadn’t received a response from the Treasurer’s office yet, as well as repeated condescending comments from a local cheerleader for expensive restaurants, Jaci Goodman, listed on LinkedIn as Publisher and Ad Director for the Edible Reno-Tahoe Magazine.  

Our Town Reno finds it extremely disturbing that there is this atmosphere of messengers being blamed in Northern Nevada, with some of our other posts as well, and residents wanting to put limitations on citizen journalism, such as this case, when the photo was totally accurate and the bill owed had yet to be paid when we posted it.

The First Amendment is very important, and to us it’s unfortunate to see people so belligerent in this instance and others.

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum, September 2024

Overcoming Barriers to a Sustainable Future with Wildfires

It has been a busy month for wildfires in the Western U.S., with a few recent fires hitting a little close to home for us Reno-ites. 

The hard truth of it is wildfires are becoming more frequent and widespread. This trend is predicted to continue throughout our lifetimes. Currently, one in six Americans live in areas with significant wildfire risk. And even as wildfires worsen, we continue building further into vulnerable areas. 

Our future is one where wildfire is a fixed variable. Fire will not adapt to us. Therefore, we need to adapt to fire.

Unfortunately, there are significant barriers in place preventing us from adapting. The first is how we manage fire, our landscapes, and our climate. The second is our cultural perception of wildfire. The third is that we continue to focus on the backcountry rather than our communities. Overcoming these barriers could be the key to a sustainable future with wildfire.

Management, Landscapes, and Climate

Our landscapes evolved with and are dependent on wildfires to maintain their healthy ecological functions. Unfortunately, ecology has never been at the forefront of the wildfire conversation. 

Over the last century, we have perfected putting fires out (fire suppression), to a point where 98% of wildland fires are now contained within the first 24 hours. Many of these fires exist in the backcountry with little to no immediate threat to communities. While an impressive feat, our focus on immediately suppressing fires is essentially just depriving a necessary ecological function from our wildlands. 

There is a wildfire paradox that states that by suppressing fires, we are building up fuels in our wildlands that make future fires worse. Long before humans set foot on this part of the world, regular interval fires managed our landscapes, burning at various intensities and severities. By keeping fire away from our landscapes, trees, shrubs and grasses that would have historically burned are left to grow and regrow to a point where many parts of our landscapes are overcrowded with vegetation. This vegetation will at some point have to burn, as is the natural cycle. The wildfire paradox points out that the longer we wait for these areas to burn, the more intensive the eventual burn will be. 

But continued suppression of fires isn't the only recent alteration to our landscapes that is affecting fire. A century of intensive logging has removed the necessary fuels, and created unnatural second and third growth forests that burn in unprecedented ways. Logging has gone through several transitions over this century. The most disastrous clear cutting tactics are now far less common. Replaced today with more sustainable logging such as “thinning” with the goal of mimicking fire behavior by spacing out the vegetation. 

Unfortunately, ecologically speaking, there is no form of logging that mimics or maintains the environment's natural functions. We cannot log our way out of destructive wildfires. Fire functions cannot be mimicked without fire. And more and more research is emerging from fields outside of forestry showing devastating effects of even the most minimalistic forms of logging. Something that we will have to grapple with as we continue our dependency on wood products.

And lastly, you cannot discuss our future with fire without talking about climate change. The fact is, climate is the biggest driver of the wildfires that we are facing today. On average we are experiencing a greater number of hotter and drier days, greater surface level and jet stream wind speeds, and less predictable weather patterns. All of this affects wildfires. From longer wildfire seasons, to how they spread across our landscapes.

To overcome these barriers we need to: 1) Reexamine our fire suppression policies. 2) Grapple with our dependence on wood products while recognizing that there is no such thing as sustainable logging. 3) Address the fact that climate change is going to continue making wildfires worse and that we need to start acting accordingly. Unfortunately, deeply embedded in all of these changes are our public perceptions of wildfire. Perceptions that are steering us further away from overcoming barriers.

Cultural Perceptions and Misconceptions:

Wildfires are not only becoming more widespread, they are becoming more destructive. With destruction stirs confusion, fear, mistrust, and conspiracies.

Journalist Naomi Klein writes that conspiracies often get the feelings right, but the facts wrong. This is very present in our perception of wildfire. People are drawn to conspiracies for their ability to make complex issues simple. Wildfire is about as complex of an issue as it gets, and is therefore, ripe for conspiracy. 

Following every new wildfire news post is a slew of comments about government laser beams, insurance companies, real estate moguls, or environmental extremists. There is always a “follow the money” or “follow the narrative” agenda, often persuading readers away from the real and tangible causes of climate change and unintentional mismanagement.

The consequence of this rhetoric is fear. Not only from the public, but from those tasked with managing fires. Land managers know, for the most part, that continuing to suppress fires is only making future fires worse. Yet, letting a plume of smoke in the backcountry go unattended is political and career suicide. People want to see wildfires managed. We want to see our political leaders release additional suppression funds. We want land managers to call in air tankers and engines. And the second these protocols are not followed, fear based conspiracies jump in to fill in the gaps for the confused, frightened people. 

To overcome this barrier we need to 1) Recognize that wildfires and the science surrounding them is complex. 2) We need to refrain from the simple, compelling conspiracies that surround wildfire. 3) We need to become open to the idea of letting more fires onto our landscape, and allowing those fires to burn for longer periods of time. The only way through the wildfire paradox is with more fire. Unfortunately, the gravest barrier of all is that our communities are not yet prepared for this future with fire. And as more destruction continues to occur, so will the spread of conspiracies.

Wildfire is a Community Problem:

There is a difference between “wildfire” and “wildfire destruction.” Wildfires are natural, ecologically beneficial occurrences. Wildfire destruction is when homes, communities, or lives are lost during these ecological occurrences. The science of wildfire is ever evolving. It is a complex field, filled with debate and dialog from a myriad of academic fields and specialities. But there is one thing that we do know. That is, how to save homes and communities from burning down during these events. 

Decades of research from the front lines of fires, high-tech laboratories that simulate wildfire, and exhaustive investigation have provided us with the knowledge of how to stop buildings from burning down. It essentially boils down to updating building codes, retrofitting existing buildings, and implementing landscape plans around individual homes and communities. These tactics are called home and community hardening and defensible space.

Furthermore, we know roughly how much it would cost to implement this on a scale large enough to be impactful. And we know that if we reallocate a portion of wildfire funds away from extinguishing fires in the backcountry, we could easily have enough to invest in our communities, making sure that they were safe from wildfire.

Unfortunately, until our focus shifts away from fire suppression, we will continue to neglect building up resilience from within our communities. Preventing fires in our wildlands is ultimately futile. The more we continue to suppress them, the worse they will eventually become. We need to reframe wildfire; to worry less about the fires far outside of our communities, and instead prepare and harden for when fires enter our communities. 

To overcome this barrier we need to: 1) Reallocate funding away from backcountry fires, and invest into making our communities safe from fire. 2) Reframe fire, worry less about backcountry fires, and more about community safety. 3) Acknowledge that community hardening means working together with your neighbors. Like a herd immunity, it works best when done as a collective.

In conclusion, fire is not going away. Wildfires are, and will continue to get worse. Thankfully, there are things that we can all do to carve out a better future for ourselves within this future with fire. Barriers can be overcome. Management practices can change. Public perception can shift. And we can build up resilience within our communities. We know the barriers, but will we take steps towards overcoming them? Or will we continue to sit back and watch newsreels of destruction while being comforted by conspiracies?

Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Michael Stohlgren 

Bio: Michael currently works creating wildfire resilient landscapes around homes in the Reno/Tahoe areas for MO’s Defensible Space. He has a master’s degree in environmental science where he studied ecology, ecosystem health and community resilience.

Immigrants of Reno: Joel Nogera Turning to Gold

"My name is Joel Noguera, and I own a jewelry shop called Reno City Gold & Jewelry Buyer.

I am an expert in gold. I began my career as a computer technician, intrigued by the idea that computers contained gold.

When I found that extracting gold from motherboards, memory chips, and microprocessors yielded only small amounts, I started investing in gold little by little.

Through perseverance and self-discipline, I gradually became a master in the gold business where now I buy and sell gold.

I have a deep love for Northern Nevada. I migrated here from Guatemala, knowing hardly any English.

This place has seen me at my worst and my best, and it’s where I created the beautiful family I have today.

I will always be thankful for being here and for the open doors that have arisen.

My message to the community is to support each other and keep pushing forward. If you have a dream, go for it.

We are located at 206 Linden St Suite B Reno Nv 89502! Come check us out, if you tell us you’re from Instagram we’ll give 20% off to contribute to the community."

If you'd like to share your own journey in Reno and message to the community with a photo, never hesitate to contact us.

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum, August 2024

On Being Mindful, Writing and Public Art

We four, Rachel Lillaney, William J. Macauley, Jr., Lisa Roenspie and Randolph Wright, shared a recent workshop series, “The Art of Mindful Writing,”  via the E.L. Cord Museum School at the Nevada Museum of Art. Together, we focused our work on public art, on what it means that something is considered public art, what it means to be mindful and write about writing and public art, and what we thought might go unnoticed regarding art in public. What you will find below is a collage of text and images that we built together, to represent our individual and shared perspectives on being mindful, writing, and public art. Enjoy.

What becomes public art? This question is important for the quality of life in any community. The ideal is to raise the standard and enjoyment of life for all who live or pass through the community. The problem is that art is an individual experience and truly is in the eye of the beholder. But how do individual pieces rate as art? Does the utility of a piece affect its status as public art? A bicycle rack that is in the shape of a row of butterflies certainly must rate as art, if not at least artistic. A rack that has twists, curves and bends where one would not expect them may be called “artsy,” but is that the same as art? Similarly, stone letters sized to be a bench must be considered public art as it departs from the strict utilitarian requirements of a public bench. Oversized and overstated twin street lamps on Liberty Street by the museum have also gone far enough in the creative direction to qualify as art. And being in a public place it certainly qualifies as “public”. 

Can other utilities be “public art”? How about the automobile? Do all automobiles have artistic qualities or styling that qualifies them as art?  Does intent play a role in defining art? 

What these questions all add up to is the pathos of public art or its relationship with its audience, the general public. This relationship is a two way street- the artist’s creation and intentions along with viewer or audience’s expectations. If there is a connection made between the artist through his art or what was created and the viewer, there is a positive outcome. On the viewer’s end the question is, “What are the expectations of the audience?”

Let’s look at the bicycle rack at the museum of art. It consists of two tubular curved pieces that extend approximately twenty feet. It really doesn’t look like a bicycle rack. There is no reference point in the viewer’s mind that this structure is a bicycle rack. In fact, there are no bikes parked in it! So the viewer must take a leap and assume that it is, indeed, a bicycle rack while trying to figure out just how a bicycle is parked and secured there. From the utilitarian perspective, the rack just doesn’t register what it is or its purpose very well. In fact, it is something of a puzzle, especially in how to use it. From an artistic standpoint, it is a winner. It is aesthetically pleasing to look at. Its symmetrical curves are balanced and thus have a soothing and pleasing effect on the viewer, if the viewer is not unduly disturbed by the puzzle of its use.

Walking a few steps to Liberty Street, one finds what is best described as a parody of a street lamp. It is, after all, situated in a place where one would expect to find a street lamp. This structure consists of two large tubular arches with a very large green pyramid shaped lantern on one arch and a matching lantern with a white shade on the other. This structure comes to the pedestrian, and certainly to the motorist, as a surprise if not a shock. Its oversized elements are of a scale so wildly disproportionate to the street it sits on that it suggests an otherworldly origin. Unfortunately, it is now of this world. The two lanterns themselves are an aesthetic failure. They speak to me like the plain wall of a warehouse with a couple of small, square windows. They are not inviting or welcoming nor connect with me emotionally. If this is where modernism has taken us, send me back to the 18th century or the art nouveau of the Paris Metro. At best, this work is able to provoke thoughts of annoyance and indifference while providing some illumination for pedestrians.

We next come to a more prosaic piece. In fact it is art that you can sit on. On the patio in front of the art museum are large letters cut in stone. They are not of a religious nature but only exhort us to inhale and exhale, and thus live or meditate. They stand high enough to serve as a bench. Facing up to the heavens, they provide us with a place of contemplation and rest. Because of their size, the letters require the viewer to scrutinize them to satisfy the curiosity, thus drawing one into the work. As a public bench the piece comes as a surprise but pleasantly so as an imaginative creation of a public bench. Unlike the bicycle rack, it gives satisfaction doubly when the puzzle of the message is easily unraveled and its inspiration received. This public art works in a number of ways. The artist intended to provoke aspirational thought and an inner dialogue of a high order. The large stone letters give an impact to the art and the message that takes one out of the day-to-day activities of life. The stonework is itself aesthetically pleasing to look at. And if you’re tired, it’s there waiting for you to take a seat. This piece of public art should be on everyone’s list of places to pause and contemplate in downtown Reno.

All around us is the ubiquitous automobile. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. But are they “public art”? As an example, here is an XKE Jaguar two door sports car. It is different, but does that difference make such cars “public art”? Or are all cars ``automotive art”? No less an automotive aficionado than Enzo Ferrari said that it was “the most beautiful car ever built.” That’s a strong endorsement. Sir William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar, said that it “cost no more to design a beautiful automobile”. Do either of these perspectives make a car “public art”? Ferrari and Lyons were certainly qualified to pass judgment on that car, perhaps on any car. If any car says, “get in and drive me,” that one does. Aesthetically, the proportions are all just right and all the trim pieces are the right size and in the right place-the bumpers, turn signals, the windshield, is the right size and height. Everything fits together like the eye expects, and it looks right. The car evokes strong emotions. And with a top speed of 150 mph it will get you to Ely on time. Or to the county jail first. The XKE will certainly interrupt the day to day activities of life. The Jag has earth shattering visual impact. So what gives? How do people react to such automobiles? Maybe flat and square lines don’t play as well as curvy and sensuous. The Jaguar conveys performance in a big way. But what really arrests the attention of the viewer is the visual power of its styling. Is the Jaguar “public art”? Certain cars can be “public art” even though they are in private ownership. After all, automobiles are driven publicly in public view.

These are big questions. What qualifies as public art? How do we decide? Sometimes, the questions about public art are not so large. Some answers to these questions are very personal, very individual . . .

Whenever I think of public art, I jump almost automatically to fourth grade art class. We were to make pictures from pieces of colored tissue paper glued to construction paper. I knew I wanted to make something New York. My mind then was never far from there (even though it was 800 miles away) nor the sorrow I felt at that distance. We had moved from New York about a year prior. I missed my cousins and friends terribly, even our drafty old apartment building. I don’t think I really thought about much else then. So, I summoned a New York for my tissue-paper composition. I’d been to the city once with my dad, for my 4th or 5th birthday. I don’t remember much of that day except the hands replacing what my dad pulled from the windowed wall at the Automat. 

I chose vermillion construction paper, red, yellow, green, gray tracing paper that I had cut into a variety of long rectangles. I glued pieces into place, watching as the Elmer’s soaked through Manhattan’s skyscrapers. I added a triangular top of the Empire State Building or Chrysler Building—I didn’t know the difference then. I didn’t really feel anything about the image of glue and tissue paper in front of me, except the longing for family and friends and a deep sadness because I was convinced I would never see them again. 

I would like to say that I really took my time with it. I don’t know if I did. I don’t know what other kids made, and I doubt they or Mrs. Van would understand what I had made. We finished, cleaned up, and left our work to dry on the cafeteria tables. I didn’t think about the piece after that, I don’t think; I am sure the hollow sorrow continued.

A few weeks later, there was a display of kid art in the Herrick Public Library. I had recently been allowed to go to the library on my own, even though I had to cross River Avenue. I suspect Mom felt okay with it, other than the one busy street, because Mr. VanderSlice was the library custodian. We had become friends when we were neighbors on West 18th Street the year before. He greeted me with a wink, as usual, and I made my way to the kids’ section, but close by to the adult areas and far from the kiddie area. I don’t think I even looked very much at the display there, butI eventually noticed something. There it was: my tissue paper and glue piece, with my name and “4th grade, Longfellow School” on it. I was stunned. I think I spent almost all of my time either going back to look again or looking over my shoulder at it. I eventually dragged my parents to the library, that next weekend, to see my public art. 

From there, I got a ‘big head,’ as my dad used to say. I thought all my work from there on could be posted, maybe even at my school (My friends did not go to the library, but they had to go to school . . . ). My eagerness and ego rushed me through most art projects from there. As you might anticipate, my public art happened just that once. Maybe every kid got a turn, I don’t know. I took art classes in junior high, high school, and college. I was even an art major for a minute, but I never really felt as though there was craft in my work, that there was talent in me. 

When I see public art now, there are really two things I look for. One is craft. Because I could do art but was never really patient enough to do it well, I have so much respect for well-done artwork. I definitely take a lot of time looking at art, at how it is done, and experience deeply how it makes me feel. The other thing is that it does something I haven’t experienced before. Sometimes it’s nothing more than admiring the courage to put oneself out there like that, through art. To my mind, this is an essential public part of art. I may not have the courage to put my own artwork out there, but I sure as hell appreciate it when others do. Craft and courage.

So, when it comes to public art, I want to be captured by the craft because I have never been patient enough to develop my own. I also look for something unique—this takes time and patience, too, because an artist can’t know that they are doing something unique unless they know what others have done. An artist can’t draw on the work of others if they haven’t taken the time to see it, to learn it. And putting their work out there, in public, is just a courage I want to bathe in. It’s a courage I don’t have. 

Really, from the creative side of the equation, I think it comes down to patience. I have been playing around with watercolor. When I take my time and really think through what I can do and how to do it, things can work out pretty well. I like what I make, even if it’s not earthshaking or even original (except to me). Painting well, like other artforms I would imagine, seems in no small part about patience and learning tools and materials. Patience and courage, craft, and materials.

In the meantime, I celebrate public art, even when I don’t care for it, because it represents someone pushing back on our accelerating lives. It says that craft and care can still matter, and public art can conspire to remind us of beauty and thoughtfulness, what can be in our public eyes with a little bit of craft, courage, and patience.

We don’t always have to go to public art. We need not always find it or recall it from the past. Some public art is right there, where we live . . . 

For most of my adult life I have started my day with an early morning walk. With a strong cup of coffee in hand, I’ve walked the neighborhoods where I’ve lived, taking different paths to make it feel a little less routine. In all the years that I’ve practiced this ritual, I’ve noticed the beauty of local art that surrounds me. Whether it’s something as simple as pinecones laid in the formation of a heart on the beach or something more permanent, such as a signed mural on the side of a building.

Recently my morning walks have been around Reno’s Old Southwest neighborhoods. Maybe it’s the newness of the day and the fact that my mind is not yet clouded with the demands of daily life, but mornings seem to make it easy to notice and enjoy the art that surrounds me.

There is a corner garden there, which began as a strip of rocky landscaping and seems to have now taken on a life of its own. Without prompting or invitation, the public has begun rearranging  these rocks to form “cairns”. The literal definition of a cairn is a stack of stones raised as a marker. More recently these stone pinnacles have begun popping up as free form art along riverbanks, hiking trails, and the shores of our local lakes. The beauty of this art is further enhanced by the ever-changing shadows cast by the angle of the sun and the weather when it covers them in ice and snow. 

In a streetside flowerbed, this garden art has been on display since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The background of blue and yellow echo the Ukrainian flag and the white dove with an olive branch seems to represent a hope for peace. The juxtaposition of a symbol of an ongoing war with the backdrop of a peaceful garden setting is thought provoking and will hopefully remind us of all those affected by war and its senseless destruction, even when this particular war is oceans away. This is one example of how art is so often used to represent a cause, communicate political views and even possibly a call to action.

This beautiful art deco building stone is from the Mapes Hotel, which stood in downtown Reno for more than 50 years. It is lovingly displayed in this homeowner’s front yard. 

Although the citizens of Reno were not able to save this grand hotel, despite it being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this piece has been preserved and represents the beauty and elegance of a structure that was once graced with the presence of celebrities and important political figures. Despite the hotel being imploded, this tile suffered only minor damage and the scars that are left on the piece only add to its beauty, as they remind us of this iconic Reno landmark and its fate. This piece of art is a wonderful representation of Reno’s rich historical architecture despite its young age and the need for preservation of such places. 

This dramatic, life-sized sculpture is made of intertwined iron straps and rope that, over the years, have taken on a rusty patina. The artist seems to have captured the essence of Nevada’s wild horse population with this piece, and its dramatic depiction is eye-catching as you round the corner of this intersection. During the winter holiday season, this piece is intertwined with lights, which further enhances its stunning beauty.

All of these different media are examples of how the décor we choose for our homes can enhance its beauty, add enjoyment to our lives and make a statement. Decorating our homes with artwork extends to others and adds a certain quality of life to those around us.

And sometimes public art, designed and built intentionally, goes unnoticed as we make our ways through our busy lives . . .

This wildlife mural lines the fence along a public trail. This asphalt trail swirls through the wetland environment in South Meadows. Some of the animals depicted look similar to those that can be seen enjoying the surrounding wetland. This is in the public domain, and I would classify it as art because of the demonstrated creativity to customize this mural for the space and the clear intention to reflect the local wildlife into the piece.

Some of the most popular public art is created by our local government and designs locations along many on-ramps and off-ramps to freeways. In this composition, a wooden entrance tethered with a metal sign marks South Meadows. The design is further enhanced by a neatly kept faux trailhead to symbolize that entrance. I interpret this piece as more artistic than utilitarian.

An adult and baby cow can be seen depicted next to this underpass. Small grass details are also used to enhance the scene. This is accompanied by a row of diamond shapes that trace the bridge span. No further details on the significance or history accompanies the design. This art is viewed by thousands of people passing the area daily, and its ambiguous composition allows for unique appreciation.

Public art can be many things. What does it do?

Public art should do something. I know that’s broad and vague, deliberately so. I look for public art to first stop me. Stop me in my ordinary activities. Stop me from relying on assumptions. Stop me from being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the demands on my time, energy, attention, money . . . It is a very Buddhist idea to look for moments, for pauses, for breaks where we can be quiet, reflective, thoughtful. For me, public art does that, or at least I feel like it should.

Sometimes public art stops me just because of its beauty. We just happened to be there at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate when a string duo were playing a song that we, my travel companions and I, so loved. And the beauty of this public art performance, in the shadow of such a magnificent and historical public art masterpiece, was so profound that we could not not stop and listen. We didn’t speak until well after we left. An incredible experience and example of what public art can be/do.

But there are other things that public art can and often should do. One thing it can/should do is call attention to issues and challenges that require more than what other kinds of media can afford. For instance, one of the serious issues facing our country and many others is housing. Public art can respond to challenges like these, and that response does not have to be complex or highbrow. It can be simple, direct, critical, questioning.

Sometimes, public art is just to be discovered. One of my favorite things to do is capture images of unsanctioned, often difficult to notice public art. This started back in the ‘70s when, in Manhattan, I started taking pictures of numerous silhouettes I noticed painted in doorways, alleys, and other out-of-the-way places. This practice continues, no matter where I go. This figure (right) was just something I noticed, painted on the street in a crosswalk in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. I don’t know what it means. I don’t know what it’s there for, but I noticed it. Noticing it, I stopped to look. Stopping to look, I took a photo. And in those very brief moments, I was stopped in my trek around the city that day, long enough to wonder. And maybe that is why this image has stuck with me for so long—because there is wonder in it. Awe of a kind.

So, public art. It should do something. I like that it stops me, maybe especially when it isn’t sanctioned or officially public art. I love being caught. I like wondering about what it is, what it’s for, what it’s intended to do. I love that it provokes wonder, awe. I will leave it to others to decide what is art and what is not. I don’t think I want to try to decide what counts as beautiful or dive here into the discussion of whether art needs to be beautiful. I like to be interrupted and awed. I like that art in the public arena can create a moment between, between train stops, at the end of an inhalation but before exhaling. That allows me to remember that it’s not just doing that matters. It’s being, too. And I want to be where art is public, disruptive, responsive, and curious. Then I can be, too. I think that public art is where humanity can be best experienced because we are invited, welcomed, and received. Just as we are. Just now.

So, we have asked questions, related to, noticed, called attention to public art. We have not, obviously, all had the same experiences with or ideas about public art. That said, we all celebrate public art, especially now that we are in Artown season. 

Citizen’s Forum Essay by Rachel Lillaney, William J. Macauley, Jr., Lisa Roenspie and Randolph Wright shared with Our Town Reno

What Role Should our County Commission Have in Terms of Elections?

A Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Marsha Berkbigler currently running for Washoe County Commission District 1. The opinions expressed below here belong to the writer.

Nevada’s Secretary of State (SOS) Cisco Aguilar has asked the Supreme Court to provide an opinion on whether County Commissioners possess the authority to refuse certification of an election based on concerns regarding its validity even when there are known issues. 

This query demands a definitive answer from our State’s highest court, an answer that needs to address the question of whether a duly elected official representing a County or City must vote for something just because the State Legislature requires it of them.

The residents of Washoe County and the State must confront a crucial question: why have state elected officials neglected to dismantle the antiquated Dillion’s Rule mentality?  It’s my theory that no changes have been made because under the current structure many decisions can be made behind the scenes by powerful groups while keeping them out of sight of Nevada residents. Nevada has a biannual legislative session which results in interim committees making decisions regarding many things including some projects paid for with tax dollars.

County Commissioners, entrusted by the electorate, must be able to review every facet of County operations. In fact, shouldn’t they be obligated to rigorously oversee and question these operations? If state authorities are to arbitrate on County matters, then perhaps the very existence of local governments becomes questionable. Why should taxpayers fund redundant governmental layers if pivotal decisions are centralized at the state level? 

It is essential that we recognize the current concerns over the validity of past elections are not the only challenge that could be made over how Commissioners vote.  If the State decides to pass unfunded mandates to a County, should a commissioner be forced vote to support the issue even if the constituents oppose those mandates?  Can the Commissioner once again be brought up on charges and threatened with impeachment?  This issue transcends simplistic accusations of “rogue” commissioners; it is a matter steeped in political maneuvering.

The recent presentation by the County Registrar of Voters laid bare the election's deficiencies: omitted candidates, undelivered and duplicated mail-in ballots, ballots sent to incorrect addresses, and voting from non-residential locations. These revelations included the troubling image of a Registrar employee inserting a thumb drive into a computer against established protocols. Moreover, the persistent failure to purge voter rolls in Washoe County, a practice adopted elsewhere in Nevada, exacerbates the issue. 

If the SOS is correct and the State can demand a County Commissioner vote a certain way, then it is time for the County Commissioners and administration to embrace a leadership mantle, investigating the necessary reforms to ensure seamless elections that restore voter confidence and then, if necessary, take proposed changes to the State Legislature to fix any and all “rogue” laws. 

Trust in government is paramount, yet currently elusive. Despite investing $100,000 in taxpayer dollars for an external review of the Registrar's activities, the County has yet to implement the recommended changes.

When will the fiscal irresponsibility cease? When will the concerns of County residents resonate within the halls of governance? The imperative is clear: a transformative approach to election administration that assures every citizen their voice is heard and valued.

A Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Marsha Berkbigler

Provided biography: Marsha Served two terms as a Washoe County Commissioner and is running for election to Commission District 1. Marsha has previously served as the Charter Communications Vice President for Government Relations and Franchising, Government Affairs Director at Freeport-McMoRan Gold, and Business/Project Manager & Vice President of a private consulting business representing the interests of health care, engineering, mining, and general business.   Marsha also served as the District Director for Congressman Jim Gibbons.  Marsha has worked closely with federal, state, and local governments throughout her career.

A Message from the new Gallery Curator at the Makers Paradise Gallery

“I’m a late bloomer to the world of art, a single parent of one fabulous teen, who at 46 decided life is too short to do anything but what you love.

So, I threw myself full throttle into art about a year ago and the energy of that, connected me with this gallery and the wonderful people that make up Makers Paradise. 

My belief is that the heart and soul of any art gallery are its exhibitions and as the manager/curator for this gallery space (at Reno Public Market) I’d like to encourage everyone to come by and see what we have going on and or participate not just in what the gallery has to offer, but in our classroom and other events.

We are a  community gallery, a non-profit organization and to me that means everyone with the commitment and passion to create or drive to learn more about their craft should have a space to do so and to show it off. 

Makers Paradise is a place for all ages to enjoy, whether you are an artist or a connoisseur of the arts or  simply curious. I encourage you to visit us and I look forward to meeting all those that do.”

An exciting program there is the teen art class every Thursday 4-5 p.m. for just 10 dollars with all materials provided at 299 E Plumb Lane Suite 150.

An upcoming show there in the gallery’s exhibit hall from August 1st to the middle of September, with an artist reception on August 24th from 3 to 6 p.m. is Faces of Humanity: A Portrait Showcase.

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum Contribution by Consuelo Tyree

Surviving Reno's 2024 Triple Digit Summer Heat: A Poem

In Reno's sweltering embrace, under the blazing sky,
Where the sun beats down unrelentingly, I stand amidst the dry heat,
Surviving the furnace of a hundred plus degrees.

The air shimmers and dances, a mirage on the road,
As asphalt steams and buildings sigh,
Yet I persist, with sweat upon my brow,
In this arid realm where heatwaves persist.

Oh, Reno! City of desert dreams and scorching days,
The Sierra range echoing with the sun's bright blaze,
But still, I endure, in the relentless heat,
Where each breath is a testament, each step a feat.

Mountain peaks loom in the distance, a memory of the winter’s snowfalls
Their peaks coming through a smoky sky,
But here below, in the crucible of summer's grasp, I find resilience, in this relentless clasp.

For in the furnace of a hundred plus degrees, I discover strength, and trudge on,
And as the day wanes and shadows grow long, I know that I've endured, I've emerged strong.

So here's to surviving Reno's blazing heat,
To finding fortitude in the scorching streets,
In the style of Walt Whitman, I celebrate the fight, Against the sun's unyielding light.

Is the National Automobile Museum Worth the Price of Admission?

The National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada has been attracting visitors ever since its initial opening in 1989. Classic cars being showcased range from the early 1910s to vehicles which have starred in movies, from the 1981 DeLorean seen in Back to the Future movies to the 1992 Ford Explorer showcased in Jurassic Park movies.

The first auto gallery has classic cars of the 1910s and 1920s such as the 1910 Franklin and the 1914 Detroit Electric.

Before entering the second auto gallery, a small collection of cars features the classic 1955 Ford Thunderbird and the 1917 American LaFrance Type 12 Fire Truck with a wall showcasing classic cars from the 1946 film classic It’s a Wonderful Life.

The second auto gallery of cars goes off from the previous years from the first auto gallery going into the 1930s and 1940s.

As you walk in, on the right side lies the famous 1933 Cadillac Series 452C which was owned by famous singer and movie star Al Jolson. In the same gallery rests a classic 1936 Mercedes-Benz, featuring a beautiful silver-finish to the car.

While the third main gallery was temporarily closed when I visited, outside the gallery were three eye-popping F1 cars and vintage motorcycles, including a vintage 1955 Vincent Black Knight.

Overall, it was fascinating seeing all of these classic cars from all of these years and seeing the progression of styles as well as movie cars that I recognized.

To me, it was worth the 15 dollars to get in if you take your time in the galleries admiring each of the cars. If you're not a fan of cars and go through the museum quickly, the 15 dollars might not be worth spending though.

Citizen’s Forum contribution by James Williams

Let's Have More of a Community Spirit in Our Reno Music Scene

Over the last half year, I have truly enjoyed interning with Our Town Reno as its spring music reporter. I have had the opportunity to not only improve my skills as a journalist, but to also learn more about the ever evolving music scene in Reno.

Being the previous singer of a local band, I had been informed on some of the positive and more toxic qualities of the scene. However, it wasn’t until I started interviewing local bands, artists, photographers, and creative minds alike that I realized a major issue. 

The main issue is a lack of resources allocated to small bands or rather the lack of creative individuals wanting to help newer bands looking to make a name for themselves.

When I first joined the music scene nearly two years ago, I observed that while some bands do have good intentions when it comes to supporting new musicians, most are driven by competition. A natural motivator when it comes to creating art, nonetheless, a harmful yet inescapable trait.

Many people don’t want to take risks on small bands because they won’t yield promising connections or bring in a larger audience to help fuel their own personal careers. 

Thus, a competitive nature is introduced where people are only interested in promoting others if it benefits them. This competitive quality has expanded out of the local band circle and into the media.

Photo by Kiawna Lavery

Videographers, photographers, and journalists seem to allocate most of their resources to a handful of “small bands.” I put quotes around small bands because the people that proudly claim to help smaller musicians are the ones who only help the bigger bands of Reno. Refusing to lend a helping hand to the group with 45 monthly listeners and instead putting all their time into writing articles, filming music videos, and taking pictures of bands with nine million listeners on streaming platforms, such as Surf Curse, a band formed in Reno that has since located to Los Angeles, California. 

There’s nothing wrong with allocating your creative talent to bigger bands. I think it’s extremely important that all bands get the media coverage they need to succeed. However, there’s a significant issue when people only help big bands and instead claim that they're small, usually as an incentive for people to promote their work by advertising a mission statement saying they help the underdogs. 

The issue is only perpetuated when collectives established outside of Reno creep in, picking and choosing who they'll give media coverage to based on social media followers. Yet they proudly share their mission statements, claiming they create communities small artists can thrive in. 

While on occasion some real small bands are highlighted, it's far more common for bigger bands such as Couch Dog, Mom Cars, and Peach Pit to be chosen for media opportunities within these collectives. All incredibly talented bands with over 18 thousand monthly listeners on streaming platforms. Peach Pit itself has over two million monthly listeners. 

In the grand scheme of things, that is not a lot of streams. However, when focusing on the Reno music scene specifically, that is huge compared to the local bands who are barely scraping by with less than 100 listeners a month. 

There’s a variety of talented videographers and photographers in the Reno music scene. A few genuine people who take every opportunity they can to help smaller bands make a name for themselves. Through interviews, I have discovered some of the most talented and beloved photographers of Reno: Trevor Castillo, Jake Erwin, Kiawna Lavery, Sam Z, Elizabeth Martin, Tatum Hanshew, and Daniel Lopez.

These photographers always lend a helping hand to newer bands by either taking pictures for free or offering affordable prices for band photoshoots, live show shots, and more.

Photo by Daniel Lopez.

On the other hand, different videographers and photographers focus on bigger Reno bands exclusively. Which is very honest work within itself because even big Reno bands don’t have nearly as much traction as they should. However, when a photographer says they are enthralled to help a small band with over 10 thousand monthly listeners, it feels almost offensive and nearly impossible to ever obtain proper media coverage. If a band with over 10 thousand monthly listeners is small, what would you call a band with under one thousand listeners? 

Another frustrating problem is the cliques in the Reno music scene. Some photographers, videographers, and journalists prefer to only help certain bands. They allocate all of their talent, outreach, and creative ideas to the same bands over and over leaving no consideration or thought for other upcoming artists. 

I have noticed that the bands that get the media clique resources, have gained significantly more social media traction, and monthly listeners because of these photos, music videos and articles. Therefore the impact media coverage has on the music scene is critical to the success of upcoming musicians.

To address these issues in the Reno scene, it's imperative for both media professionals and audiences alike, to encourage inclusivity and fairness in coverage. By amplifying the voices of smaller artists and challenging existing biases and cliques, we can create a more equitable and vibrant music scene where talent, not connections, determines success. Only then can Reno truly unlock the full potential of its musical landscape and celebrate the rich creativity that thrives within it.

Citizen’s Forum essay by Lauren Juillerat

My father, the hardest worker I have ever known

My dad, Garry Flippo, is the hardest worker I have ever known.

He was born in Arkansas, moved to Oregon as a child, met my mom and has literally been in Nevada since the 70s.

Dad has survived so much.

Dad volunteered to join the army before he was drafted and was told he would either go to Vietnam or Germany.

Dad said the guys had to draw sticks and the long ones went to Vietnam, the short to Germany. Dad went to Germany.

Many of his friends went to Vietnam and he never saw them again. Dad and mom were married in Reno at the chapel downtown.

Him and mom talk about the times where there was red carpet covering the sidewalks downtown and famous singers walking the streets, movies being made and you could watch as they made them.

Dad worked for only a few jobs before settling into the job he had until he retired a few years ago.

Dad has beat cancer and had a stent placed in his leg. He is loved by all of his coworkers and people that know him.

Growing up we had every kid in the neighborhood staying at our house.

Dad fed every kid and if they needed something my dad would always give mom the money to buy it. I don’t remember ever a day where my dad called in to work for being sick. He worked rain or shine.

My dad always has had my brother and I’s wellbeing in mind first and foremost. I love you dad. Thank you for everything you have always done for us all.

Father’s Day submission by Crystal Roberts 

My Father, a late blooming local YouTuber

In the YouTube world, almost everyone seems to have an angle.

Contrary to this trend, F48 Films- a self described “random channel” based in Northern Nevada- has found success without having a specific niche.

“People told me it’s hard to make it very far as a random channel. I’m happy I’ve gotten so far,” says Rober Fahrney, my dad.

In just a few years, he’s amassed more than one-thousand subscribers on YouTube without a consistent upload schedule, another usual suggestion to find success.

He says this uncommon approach to content creation is a result of his goals with the channel.

“YouTube is something I’ve always kinda wanted to do, just to be able to share my creative ability.” says Fahrney. “My videos are fairly random.”

Fahrney, who’s posted aerial drone videos, car repair, and diving videos, says he tries to avoid making content just to gain subscribers. Instead, he prefers to make content that “feel(s) good at the time”.

Despite his unconventional approach to Youtube, Fahrney has been able to spot a trend in what people do and do not respond to.

“Believe it or not, some of the most popular videos are ones that I wouldn’t have thought were going to be popular,” he says, “They were primarily how to videos working on vehicles, the ones that are least viewed seem to be a lot of the aerial shots.”

This is a trend that is disappointing to Fahrney, who prefers aerial work over more educational videos.

“I prefer aerial work because that’s a passion of mine that I’ve had since I was a young child.” Fahrney says.

When he was a kid, the man behind F48 Films found his passion in flying radio controlled mini airplanes. That passion, which eventually extended to flying drones, heavily informed the kind of content he chose to make once he started his channel.

Though he is generally positive about his experience on YouTube, Fahrney cautions new YouTubers not to push themselves too hard to reach a certain goal.

“I did get some YouTube burnout,” says Fahrney, “I was just pushing so hard trying to get the view count up and get monetized and went through that whole process and pretty much when I achieved the monetization I was at a burnout level.”

This eventually caused him to pull back from YouTube a bit to regain inspiration and regroup. Now, Fahrney says that he’s anxious to start making videos again.

“In the future I would like to work on a nice vehicle and be able to get some aerial shots of it,” he says of combining what he likes filming and content viewers seem to like from him. “I think that that would probably make it a lot better.”

Fahrney encourages anyone interested in starting YouTube to give it a try, and not to fall into the trap of putting yourself in one specific category.

“Go after your creative passion. I think if you do that, you’re probably going to have success with what you do. It’s about being passionate and being creative.”

Photos and reporting by Gwen Fahrney

Fernley, A Short Commute from Reno, But A World Apart

Fernley, Nevada is much more than a supply haven off I-80 for weary truckers and travelers, but as small town culture here and elsewhere in America becomes background noise to urbanization this community feels forgotten.

Small-town America is not a mystery to me. Growing up in a remote part of South Carolina, I was fully aware of the traditional values that drive rural communities. However, a stark reality unfolds beneath Fernley’s hometown pride, casting a shadow over the positives of the small-town life I remembered.

In Fernley, Confederate flags displayed outside several homes serve as a reminder of the deep divisions and systemic racism still prevalent in conservative rural America.

Walking through Main Street, many small businesses, the heart of a community, have shuttered their doors as victims of an unforgiving post-pandemic economic landscape.

The local workforce is being lured away by larger retailers and factories, like Walmart and Tesla, who are offering higher salaries and benefits.

Subsequently, the rising cost of living in America seeps into the town’s identity as housing prices increase and inventory decreases due to the constant influx of new residents from wealthier areas reducing affordable options for locals.

At local sports games pro-Trump slogans such “Make America Great Again” or “Let’s Go Brandon” can be heard. To me, though, it feels like a step in the wrong direction rather than a battle cry for a more prosperous future.

After former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts in his “Hush Money Trial” multiple residents turned their American flags upside down in protest of the verdict and their dissatisfaction with the government. “F*ck Biden” is prominently displayed outside a house for the entire to community to see.

However, even in the face of this, there are whispers of hope. The people of Fernley, clinging to the memories of a past built on community connections, are not ready to give up.

Michelle and Aaron are the owners of “All Points Grill” the best burgers and shakes on Main Street. A local veteran and former pastor has opened up a local church to all those in need.

For now, the realities of a fading small-town culture cast a shadow over what was once a quintessential American community, but the spirit of resilience remains.

Photos and Essay by Zoe Cruz a journalism student at UNR shared with Our Town Reno

Why I support candidate Lily Baran, by councilwoman Meghan Ebert

Many people have asked me why I support Lily Baran for Reno City Council, Ward 1, and that is an easy question to answer.

I first met Lily in 2022, during my own Reno City Council campaign for Ward 4. She was my sounding board on essential issues affecting all of us city-wide, especially homelessness and housing, providing excellent education and public-health-backed perspectives on these important topics.

Lily Baran is known for her regular attendance at Reno City Council Meetings and other community events. She has served on The City of Reno Charter Committee, Arts and Culture Commission, and Special Events Committee. Her relationships with these organizations, as well as the Reno Initiative for Shelter and Equality, showcase her dedication to creating positive change. Her active and long-standing engagement in Reno demonstrates her genuine interest in addressing the needs of our city.

In addition to her involvement at City Council, Lily runs a community pantry and a harm reduction center from her own home, catering to those in our community who are some of the most in need. Furthermore, her weekly efforts to feed the hungry at the BELIEVE sign reflect her compassion and commitment to improving our public health and safety.

Beyond her local initiatives, Lily has been actively involved in legislative matters, contributing to tangible progress in Reno. She lobbied for SB155 which stopped the cycle of arresting and jailing our fellow citizens for homelessness-based offenses, instead referring those persons for services, and in turn, saving the city money and lifting up those who had previously been criminalized.

Lily's ability to think on her feet and take action sets her apart. Her expertise and leadership are valued and trusted by those she works with. Her proficiency in decision-making has been recognized by community members and city staff, particularly in matters related to housing and homelessness.

Lily has a remarkable ability to bring people together, transcending political differences to work towards sensible policies. Her inclusive and cooperative attitude is evident in her efforts to unite individuals from various backgrounds for the betterment of Ward 1 and all of Reno.

When the seat for City Council, Ward 1, became vacant I was moved by the hours of public comment in support of Lily’s appointment. This overwhelming call-to-run speaks volumes about her dedication and the trust the people of Reno have in her ability to fulfill her elected responsibilities and deliver achievable solutions to our most pressing problems.

Lily Baran is a dedicated individual with a strong presence in Reno. Her track record speaks for itself, with years of community service, legislative contributions, and commitment to the people. Her deep understanding of local issues and proactive approach would make her the most inspiring and effective representative of Ward 1 and the City of Reno.

Citizen’s Forum contribution by Reno Ward 4 council member Meghan Ebert

Worried about NV Energy's Proposed Basic Service Rate Hike?

Here’s a writeup below we recently received from a resident concerned by a proposed hike in NV Energy’s basic service charge rate, which was recently discussed in Carson City at the Public Utilities Commission, followed by more public forums next week here in Reno.  

“The proposed rate increase would nearly triple the basic service charge for residential customers from $16.50 to $44.40 per month,” the local commenter wrote.

“This would saddle Northern Nevadans with the highest fixed fee in the country. It will unfairly impact families on fixed or lower incomes who use less electricity, starting each month with a $45 bill before flipping on the first light switch. NV Energy's rate increase also boosts shareholder profits at the expense of hard-working Nevadans. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will hold a consumer session on the rate case on June 13th at 6pm at the Washoe County Commission Chambers. This is the public's opportunity to tell the PUC and NV Energy that we don't want another bill hike.”

George Cavros with Western Resource Advocates recently wrote that “when the proposed fixed charge for customers is increased, the volumetric energy rate is reduced, thereby lowering the value of a kilowatt‐hour that is conserved. The almost tripling of the fixed charge will all but remove NV Energy’s customers’ ability to lower their energy use and meaningfully save money on bills – effectively penalizing those that conserve electricity, or have made home efficiency investments, and rewarding energy waste.”

The utility says the increased basic service charge would be to reduce a $7.8 million subsidy paid by ratepayers to benefit solar rooftop customers, and that it would have benefits for customers as well.  

“A higher fixed charge creates more predictability in customer bills and … specifically decreases summer bills when usage and our customers’ bills is highest,” company official Janet Wells said in recent testimony.

NV Energy has also indicated it needs more revenue to cover inflationary pressures on its supply chains as well as to cover “higher day-to-day costs” since the pandemic ended with increased staffing levels. 

Those against this proposal say low-income and low-usage customers will have higher bills, while heavy using energy wasting customers will see declines. What are your own views?  

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum, June 2024

A Local Push to Make our School Lunches Healthier and Less Wasteful

A local group of activists called the Green Team is trying to pressure the WCSD Board to have healthier and less wasteful meals in our schools ahead of its upcoming Tuesday 2 p.m. meeting.

Here’s a message they are asking the community to spread:

“On Agenda item 2.10, they will  vote on the fourth and last year of the 4 year contract between WCSD and 'Aramark Educational Service' to serve school meals. The Green Team has been talking with the district about providing more freshly-prepared meals in reusable dishware so as to ensure our children get nutritiously fed without exposure to the toxins of single-use plastic, to reduce foodwaste with a composting system, and to reduce the radical amount of single-use trash going into our landfills. 

We encourage public comment before this meeting in order to continue pressing the district to make the necessary shifts. Here is a suggestion, to be used/edited by you as you see fit:

         Email Subject Line: Agenda item 2.10, Aramark Contract

         Email public comment to: publiccomments@washoeschools.net

         Email Board of Trustees: BoardMembers@washoeschools.net

“Thank you to the board for its hard work and commitment to our children.  I identify with a growing number of parents and citizens across the district extremely concerned about the toxicity of plastics, processed food in school meals, and waste. 

I ask that the WCSD amend its contract with Aramark and any other future vendor to incorporate clear policies of sustainability and health, pertaining to how school meals are prepared and served to our children. Currently, school meals in the WCSD, much of which is highly processed, is served and heated in plastic packaging and served with single-use foodware including styrofoam, thereby creating a dramatic amount of toxicity and waste in our district. 

Please establish in future contracts with vendors conditions to integrate reusable dishware, and facilities for dishwashing, scratch cooking and composting. There is plenty of evidence of recoup on such vital investments, and WCSD has the opportunity here to lead. I also ask that individual public schools be allowed to subcontract with a catering company of choice, just like charter schools.  

Respectfully submitted, concerned parent." 

Please send 'Public Comment' by Tues May 28 by 1:30pm latest!”

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum, May 2024

Lily Baran, Helping a Neighbor in Need, But Running out of Options

UPDATE: After this was published Lily Baran indicated an anonymous community organization fulfilled the neeed and the mother and son are in line for a spot at Our Place. The community bonded together, she wrote, despite receiving no response from the commissioners the email was addressed to.

A letter Lily Baran wrote to Washoe County Commissioners on May 24th, 2024:

“I am writing to inform you about an acute situation that has transpired this week at my home to shed some light on how the policy you've passed is playing out in some of our vulnerable neighborhoods, like the one I reside in on Elko Avenue between Wells and Valley Rd.

A few days ago someone sent police to do a wellness check on a woman and her 13-year-old living in their car across the street from my house.

They have resided in apartments on this street since August 2014.

Mom has used rental assistance 12 times in the last two years and done everything she is supposed to do, yet she is one of the many good parents caught between services and the ordinance.

I want to emphasize these are my neighbors. She has a job, but after taxes and child support paid to the foster family taking care of her other two older children, and $100 restitution from a charge she got for her other child getting in a physical altercation, she makes $200 a pay period.

The absolute last thing this mother needs is to be put in prison for being homeless, though this was what the judge informed her would happen if she was found homeless, so she didn't report that she was sleeping in the car.

To ensure this mom and incredible child get to stay together and not cause further trauma, they have been staying on my couch the last three nights, and I watch kiddo while mom is at work.

After several CPS visits, the only options given were that I could throw them back out on the street, and maybe they could get a motel but not a guarantee they would get one, that it would be safe, and again not unless I PERSONALLY throw them out.

I know that some of you are also parents, and I, as a mother, cannot live without throwing them back out to live in their car to MAYBE get a motel room for a few nights.

However, I am financially unable to support another family as I am a single mom myself, and I am in between jobs. As the co-board president of RISE, I am well aware Our Place has no openings at all however they are on our very long waiting list, and I have exhausted every resource I know between the city and county.

This ordinance is giving moms with jobs who are not on drugs two options: risk jail and traumatize their kids by getting them taken away or rely on individuals to use their resources to support them.

I am also concerned about a motel being a worse situation. I would like you all to consider using your funds, pooling them together to get this mother and child an adequate hotel or help me help them from my own home with funds for utilities and supplies. 

This is just one of the many vulnerable women who have been on my doorstep with nowhere else to turn after this ordinance has passed. I need you to make this right, even if it is just for this one woman and her child. Please call me at any time, day or night, and help your community by mitigating the harm this ordinance has caused. 

Individual citizens experiencing poverty themselves should not be the ones catching people we do not have resources at a county or city level to support.” 

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Contribution, May 2024