Todd, A Gambler on a Losing Streak, On Disability Payments, Living in a Van

“I haven’t been winning anything playing at the casinos,” Todd Bufford said at the start of our interview on a cold, grey March day in Reno, while standing next to a van he bought four months ago.  

When he purchased the van, he says it had a leaking water pump, so he’s trying to make sure to repair that and other issues right now.  

Bufford, who admits to spending too much time gambling, has been living in his van in northern Nevada, and he’s trying to fix it right now to get around to different small jobs he relies on for survival, such as yard work, handyman work and helping others with their own mechanical issues.  

A native of Ukiah, California, Bufford who also previously lived in Fort Bragg, can’t afford rent locally.  

When he does earn some money, it can all be lost faster than he got it.  

“Every now and then, when I get a hotel room, sometimes I lose too much at the casino, playing in the casinos,” he said.   

He gets help from Catholic Charities and different food banks.  If he could he’d love to work in “carpentry, masonry, brick and block, painting, plumbing, all kinds of things.”

He says there’s more violence lately in the downtown area where he likes to park which worries him. He says people walking around are constantly threatening each other, or trying to steal his belongings.   

What initially derailed him, he says, was getting hit by a car in California by a driver under the influence of drugs, followed by an operation on his back, and then falling through the cracks during the pandemic.

“I came here to try and get on a winning streak. I'm on Social Security disability right now because I got hit by a car. And I was playing, trying to get on a winning streak, and I was doing pretty good at first, but now it's just been a dud, you know?” 

He previously worked as security at a fast food restaurant, and in construction. 

Locally, he’s avoided the Cares Campus or any other shelter, saying he doesn’t want bed bugs even though he admits he’s currently in need of a shower.

“I haven't showered in a while,” he said. “So I could go over to the shelter and, shower, but it's really not what I'm used to doing. So, like, if I went and stayed in a shelter, I'd end up getting bed bugs, you know, and so I kind of avoid the place. And then, so now I have to adjust myself to a demeaning point where I'm actually gonna go shower at the rescue mission.”

He used to stay at Siegel Suites where at least he could have regular showers, but he says “I’ve been losing a lot lately. I have enough strength and charisma to make it in the world. I'm just in a rut right now,” Bufford concluded. 

Photos and reporting by James Perez shared with Our Town Reno

Samantha Calvaresi Documents Her Frustrations After Being Expelled from Carson City Section 8 Housing

Samantha Calvaresi, a 38-year-old single mom, is scrambling to build up awareness for her predicament after being recently evicted from her Carson City Parkway Plaza three bedroom apartment with her three kids and a grandchild, from messaging HUD, to starting a Facebook page called the Section 8 files, to working on a gofundme and videos for a new TikTok channel. 

When Our Town Reno spoke to her, she said she was now living in Fallon with her mom and her kids, who are eight, 16 and 18, and her grandchild who is an infant. 

“It’s just, very, very, heavy on the heart. And now I'm staying in my mom's little tiny RV with my cousin and my kids and my mom. Very tight quarters, but it's family,” she said of her living situation.  

In her Section 8 Files Facebook page she blames the Nevada Rural Housing Authority, HUD, her former landlord, judges and the housing voucher program for abandoning her.

She says she was taken off her voucher which was covering her entire rent due to a slight mistake in Social Security numbers in her file, with one her kid’s numbers inverted, a mistake she alleges ultimately led to her being thrown out, despite her many attempts to fix the situation.

Katie Coleman, the Communications Director for Nevada Rural Housing, wrote back to Our Town Reno indicating: “We cannot provide specifics on any client case. What’s important to note is that Nevada Rural Housing follows all processes and HUD regulations to ensure full program compliance. This thorough work is done to ensure the federal program’s integrity and our ability to continue to deliver it successfully to qualifying rural Nevadans.”

Calvaresi says the first notice she received that her voucher was being terminated came through Nevada Rural Housing in September. She says there’s since been a delayed grievance hearing, an ongoing judicial review and a notice saying she owed over $3,000, followed by more court action, and being 86ed from the property she used to live on earlier this month.  

She says she was told to take what she wanted by 4 p.m. that day but in a hurry and without having her own car it wasn’t much.  

She can go back in a few weeks but will be charged if she wants anything back.  

She received a letter from attorney William A. Baker outlining the court order of eviction effective March 13th, with a warning that all remaining personal property will be disposed of 30 days later.  “They may seek cost of removal of all these items from you and or any third party under Nevada law. They can sell my property to recover cleaning and removal costs,” the letter she read out indicates.  

Calvaresi has struggled with poverty for years and was previously on unemployment benefits from her previous work as a flagger.  An article about her when she was 22 in the Nevada Appeal indicated she surrendered to police in 2009 on a felony warrant for suspicion of writing checks with insufficient funds. 

She wrote back to us saying it was for checks she didn’t have enough money for in her bank account, and that she’s never been in jail for more than two days.  “It was my own fault, got dropped to a misdemeanor,” she wrote about what happened in 2009.

Calvaresi was hoping her life was getting back on track but now feels the system that once helped her has now thrown her into full on frustration.

Our Town Reno reporting, March 2025

Incident Report Filed Against Reno City Council Member Devon Reese

A police report has been filed by Michael Leonard for an incident type called stalking/harassment against Reno City Council member Devon Reese after an alleged altercation last night at the Belleville Wine Bar.

After asking for a comment on a complaint about the same incident previously relayed to the City Clerk’s office via email, Devon Reese wrote back: “This is a private matter between my law partner and clients of our firm. Mr. Leonard has a history of this type of mentally unwell behavior and I would proceed with extreme caution. It will be handled by the Court.”

The complaint sent to the City Clerk was emailed this morning, while the police report was filed early this afternoon.

We contacted the Belleville Wine Bar but they did not respond.
Our Town Reno reporting, March 15th 2025

Sudden Dehousing Rocks People Who Had Been Living at Reno Suites

Imagine getting a letter on the door of where you’re sleeping saying the supposed luxury property where you’ve been living for months will now be abruptly closed in seven days?

Yet another example of sudden dehousing of vulnerable members of our community is currently happening in our downtown Reno area.

“We are writing to inform you that due to an exciting new renovation project, Reno Suites will be closing on Friday, March 21, 2025. This project will allow us to enhance our facilities and provide an even better experience for future guests,” is what the sixty or so residents at the 175 E. Second St. Reno Suites found on their doors on Thursday.

Residents there had been used to moving around already though, and it was a week to week arrangement to begin with, even though some had been staying there for months.

One part of the former Harrah’s Reno hotel-casino which received little attention until this week is the Reno Suites tower which was still open with shuffled around temporary residents. It's now being closed as the entire complex is being turned into a future Revival mixed use plan with North Carolina-based Madison Capital Group now at the helm of the often delayed project.

People staying there were considered guests rather than tenants, being asked to sign documents that it wasn’t their permanent residence, with no mail being received there either. They were supposed to be moved from one room to another before 28 days were up. Reno Suites was doing all this to avoid being classified as a short-term rental establishment, despite its advertisement for weekly rooms, which could be viewed as misleading, and some saying they stayed longer in their room.

Gryphon Private Wealth Management, the former majority owner of the beleaguered Reno City Center project, now remaining with a minority stake, had been in charge, while Madison Capital Group, previously present in a minority role, took over leadership of the Harrah’s revamp last month with a rebrand, a new name and its own new financing.

Our Town Reno reporting and photo, March 2025

Federal Funding Cuts Put Damper on Summer Plans for Local Seasonal Employees

As dawn breaks on a weekday at the Mt. Rose Ski resort, the mountain, at a base elevation of 8,620 feet, stirs to life. Among the first to arrive are Olivia Lambdin and Ella Hollingshead, two lift operators who carpool together, arriving by 7:30 A.M. to prepare for their 8:00 to 4:30 shift.

“Make coffee, get in the car, drive up. I carpool with Ella. Get dressed. We roll out as a little unit around eight,” explains Olivia, describing the start of her typical day. “Go to our assignments. We get a couple breaks and a lunch and a lot of shoveling, a lot of pick axing. I have never had muscles that I’ve had, so yeah. It’s good.”

It’s been a busy season for local ski workers with repeated snowstorms.  With an eye on weather forecasts, many who rely on seasonal work throughout the year are currently also worried about what comes next for them.

Plans are being upended as the Donald Trump administration and the DOGE advisory board reduce federal work opportunities, including seasonal ones.

Like many ski resorts across the country, Mt. Rose operates largely on the labor of seasonal employees who piece together various jobs throughout the year to create a lifestyle that few outsiders fully understand.

For Olivia and Ella, the day-to-day responsibilities revolve around safely moving skiers and snowboarders up the  mountain. 

“That means I move the people. Just make sure they get on the chair in one piece and then off in one piece,” Olivia said.

Ella, a more experienced lift operator, added her own perspective. 

“Well, when I’m running a lift, I guess the number one priority is making sure people don’t die.” Ella said. “But I like to focus on ramp work. I think it’s just because I have a lot of experience with trail work. It’s kind of similar because you’re just grading and leveling. I just like making it look nice.”

Their shifts are physically demanding, especially during heavy snow days, with shoveling and maintaining the loading areas becoming a constant task. 

“A lot of people think it’s just kind of like a beginner job or whatever,” explained Justan Wood, who worked as a lift operator for two seasons before transitioning to a year-round position as a lift mechanic. “But you are operating a huge machine and people’s lives are technically in your hands because it’s pretty dangerous. Lifts are moving at a high speed. They’re big giant steel machines.”

The culture among these workers forms a tight-knit community that becomes a significant part of the appeal. “The people are usually the biggest reason why I would stay somewhere with a certain job,” Ella said. 

When the snow melts and the resort closes for the season, the real challenge begins for seasonal workers like Ella and Olivia. While Justan has secured year-round employment at Mt. Rose as a lift mechanic, most of the mountain workforce must find alternative employment during the warmer months.

“Finding a job in the summer obviously is a huge one,” Justan said. “If you don’t have a consistent job in the summer then it’s tough because you’re basically getting laid off every single year for five or six months.”

Ella’s employment history demonstrates the remarkable variety of jobs that seasonal workers string together. After starting at a summer camp in Texas, she’s worked as a trail crew member in Colorado, a housekeeper at a YMCA in the Rockies, a lift operator and convention setup worker at Sun Valley Resort in Idaho, a farm worker, a trail builder with Friends of Nevada Wilderness, and a whitewater rafting guide in California.

“I didn’t even really know it was a thing,” Ella said of seasonal work. “Even when I went out to my first seasonal job, I still didn’t really understand how some people did it all the time, like they just travel and travel and go to different jobs.”

The uncertainties between seasons create significant stress. “It’s usually pretty stressful and I already have some general anxiety so it can get really overwhelming,” Ella admitted. “But then usually, I mean, every single time it works itself out.”

Some winter resort workers transition to summer employment with federal agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management. These positions, particularly in wildland firefighting, trail maintenance, and visitor services, have provided reliable summer income for seasonal workers while allowing them to remain in outdoor-focused careers.

However, recent policy changes coming from Washington, D.C., are threatening this lifestyle. 

 “Staffing cuts of this magnitude will have devastating consequences for parks and communities. We are concerned about smaller parks closing visitor center doors and larger parks losing key staff,” Theresa Pierno, the president and CEO for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) warned. 

For Olivia, who holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Life Science, these reductions have altered her career trajectory.

“Almost all of my friends have been affected by it,” she said. “Being a part of a national park was the dream. Like that was the final goal. That was why I got the degree, why I have done the research that I’ve done. It was to be given a plot of land in a national park or something and be a steward of it.”

Similarly, Ella, who has worked with the Forest Service through an AmeriCorps program and harbors aspirations of becoming a wildland firefighter, finds herself reconsidering her options.

“It’s a little scary,” she said of the federal employment changes. “I know a ton of people that work with the BLM and National Parks and just tons of those federal organizations... and they directly know others who have been laid off or fired. I’m in school right now and I was going to, I always planned to go for forest ecology, but now I’m starting to rethink it.”

In the face of these new challenges, seasonal workers are developing various strategies to adapt. 

Ella maintains Mt. Rose as her winter backup plan but acknowledges the precariousness of even this option.

“I've always assumed while I’m living in Reno…Mt. Rose is always my winter job if I can’t get something year-round with one of those federal agencies,” Ella said. “But even that is like, they’re [Mt. Rose] on a permit by the Forest Service and so no one really knows how that could be affected.”

Olivia is now exploring opportunities with non-governmental organizations, while continuing to substitute teach one day a week during the winter season.

“My big fingers crossed one is through the Great Basin Institute where I would be doing restoration ecology in the Great Basin Desert,” she explains. “These places still need protection and to be studied and if it means working on a smaller scale, then so be it, but the work is still there and the place needs protecting.”

For Olivia, a sense of determination remains. 

“The next few years are going to be a lot of trying to get through, and hopefully after this administration, there’s one that will restore the National Park budget,” Olivia said. “For the next few years though, probably do seasonal work for a little while, might go back into academia.”

Academia itself feels endangered with the downscaling of federal funding.

Even though the future may look bleak, Olivia concluded with a note of resilience that characterizes many in the seasonal workforce: “It just won’t happen in the way that it was envisioned to,” she concluded.  

Reporting and photos by Piper Heath and Sophia Nebesky

A Superman former foster kid giving back as a social worker

Joe, who preferred to remain anonymous, in his late 30s, born and raised in northern Nevada in difficult circumstances, a former UNR and TMCC student in criminal justice, has helped residents process applications for various public benefits as a social case worker, giving him insights into local needs and struggles.

“I've always had a desire to try to help and give back to the community. And so particularly with those who are less fortunate,” he said during a recent interview for Our Town Reno.  

“One of the biggest criminogenic factors is, you know, lack of income, [which] definitely contributes to criminal behavior, out of desperation. So if you can help people out of a desperate situation, inherently, theoretically, you could help mitigate criminality,” he said.

He believes expanding access to local mental health programs is instrumental. Mental health challenges, he says, worsen addiction issues, which can make the road back on track that much more arduous.  

In his work, he has seen various forms of poverty, ranging from generational poverty to sudden onset.

“Everybody that comes in is in a pretty desperate time,” he explained. “Even if they didn't qualify for a particular benefit, we had the ability to provide guidance towards resources that could be beneficial.”

Cliches of who comes in for such help though are often misguided he says, as he’s seen “people from all walks of life,” included a married couple of two doctors, who went into research rather than practice.

“Very long story short, the funding for their research dried up and they ended up losing their jobs,” he remembers. “They ended up going through their whole savings. And the unfortunate reality is they ended up having to come in for assistance because they went through everything else that they had, and they weren't able to get back on their feet without some help. So it just goes to show that, you know, any one of us can be a paycheck away from needing help,” he said.  

For himself, it felt rewarding to assist.  

“Nobody gets into any sort of government service to become rich because any sort of public service that that's not what the goal is. For those who have a sincere desire to try to help people, any sort of public service offers that opportunity.”

His own upbringing was rough, as is the case for many social workers. 

“I did grow up in a pretty poor household, [with a ] pretty rough upbringing,” he said. “I was taken away. I was in foster care. I got a lot of stumbles, but a lot of the people who crossed my path definitely helped guide me to a path where I didn't follow down the same road, if you will.” 

He says a lot of his childhood friends got into crime and drugs, which gives him even more insights into the people he’s trying to help.

“I legitimately understand where you're coming from, and there is a path forward. For every rough time I've gone through, it's paid dividends in being able to help somebody else and really show that empathy and understanding.”

He talks about the “tyranny of the moment,” which can trap people.

“You know, your power bill, your power is getting shut off. You know, you have eviction notices … So, hey, let's back up a little bit. Let me see what I can do for you. I may not be able to help you in this particular way, but here's these resources to, you know, help you get on track,” he said.  

He understands though the difficulties of locals so consumed by just trying to survive that they can’t plan for the future, or have any hope left for a way out.  Though his own example, experiences, patience and persistence, he says he always tries to bring them back onto a better path.

Interview by Matt Segarra for Our Town Reno 

Uncle Gets 90 Days after Flipping Car in Crash Which Killed 11-Year-Old Niece

These are photos of events which were held in our community to commemorate Emma Marie Jordan, a fourth-grader at Veterans Memorial Elementary School, who died in a car crash in January 2024.

A gofundme to help with her funeral expenses raised about $17,000.

“This is the most heartbreaking thing I have ever had to write. On Sunday January 14th my daughter Emma Marie Jordan died in a tragic car accident. She was 11 years old,” the gofundme indicated last year.

Monday in court, her uncle Noah Tanner, who previously had two DUI arrests, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, after he pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter.

Jordan who was not in a seatbelt in the back center of the car which did not have one anymore was thrown from the SUV he was driving while going over the speed limit on Leadership Parkway.

Tanner lost control and hit a curb, flipping over the vehicle. Tanner’s two children also in the back were secured in car seats and survived.

The DA’s office sent this statement to media as Yvonne Garland, Emma’s mother, expressed disgust and anger at the process:

“The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office is deeply saddened by this case, and our hearts go out to Emma’s family. We have shared these sentiments with them during multiple meetings. Unfortunately, as we explained to Emma’s family, the evidence gathered during the investigation did not support a felony prosecution under existing law - a conclusion also reached by the investigating law enforcement agency. As a result, the case was appropriately referred to the Reno City Attorney’s Office for prosecution.”

A petition has been started to “Rename Leadership Parkway to Emma Marie Way and Implement Road Safety Measures” with nearly 1,500 signatures already.

“We are calling for the renaming of Leadership Parkway to Emma Marie Way, in honor of young Emma Marie who tragically lost her life on this road due to a speeding driver. At just 11 years old, Emma was a beacon of light in our community and touched countless lives. By renaming the street, we aim not only to commemorate her life but also raise awareness about road safety. Additionally, we urge local authorities in Reno, NV, USA to implement more stringent safety measures on this road such as speed humps or flashing speed signs. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speed-related crashes cost Americans $40.4 billion per year. It is evident that reckless driving is not only a local issue but also a national concern that needs immediate attention. Let's honor Emma's memory by making our streets safer for everyone. Please sign this petition today,” it indicates.

Our Town Reno reporting, March 2025

Cat Rescue Cafe and Animal Services Respond to "Back to the Streets" Post

After readers complained they had been blocked by Kitty Kisses Cat Cafe over concerns on a post which had a photo of two cats indicating “They are seeking a foster by Monday, otherwise they will have to go back to the streets,”  we reached out to both the rescue non profit and the Washoe County Regional Animal Services on that possibility.

“Washoe County does have a local ordinance that governs the management of feral cats, Washoe County Code, 55.475,” Shyanne Schull, the director of Washoe County Regional Animal Services wrote back to us.  “A feral cat is defined as a cat that is born in the wild or that was formerly owned but has been abandoned and is no longer socialized.  A domesticated cat means a cat that is socialized to humans and is appropriate as a companion.

 The guidelines of our managed care of feral cats program, outline requirements such as each cat is to be spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped and returned to the managed colony where they were trapped from. 

In regards to cats, abandonment laws pertain to domesticated cats only, where an owner has refused to provide care for a domesticated cat that relies on human support for survival, and that human has left or abandoned the animal.”

The post which was later updated to indicate “fosters secured!” said the two cats had been “trapped in a trailer park, fixed, vaccinated and microchipped, but were found to be semi-social.”

Kitty Kisses wrote back to Our Town Reno that they “do not tolerate threats or unkind behavior toward ourselves, our staff or our partners from readers.” 

Kitty Kisses pointed us to Animal Services links for its Feline , Neuter, Return Program and its explainer community cats page which can be found here: https://www.washoecounty.gov/animal/Services%20and%20Resources/TNR.php and here:

https://www.washoecounty.gov/animal/Services%20and%20Resources/Community%20Cats.php

“As a bit of background, we have been partnered with Tracy Dean of Community Cats for over a year,” they added, referencing a well known local dedicating herself to the welfare of community cats.  

“We work together to find young/able-to-be-socialized free-roaming cats loving forever homes. When Tracy comes upon what we call a “friendly”, she reaches out and we intake the kitten to be adopted out. We recently took in 11 kittens from Hawaii and are very limited on space, which is what prompted us to put out an ask to our community for fosters,” Kitty Kisses Cat Cafe wrote.

“The Trap Neuter Return program does allow for returning cats back to their colony (where they were trapped from) after they have been spayed/neutered/vaccinated and microchipped, if they are feral.  I am not sure where these cats came from or anything about their behavior,” Schull wrote to us last week initially.  

“We are a responsible non-profit entity who deeply cares about the welfare of all cats in the community and advocates for them passionately. We are happy to have had this opportunity to educate the public and your readers about this topic,” the Kitty Kisses Cat Cafe concluded in their message back to us.  

Our Town Reno reporting, March 2025

Looming Budget Woes and Property Sell-Offs for the City of Reno

While the City of Reno is facing a $24 million budget shortfall, due to flat sales tax revenues and rising labor costs, some open positions aren’t being filled, and staff cuts may have to take place in the future.

For now, department heads are being told to lower expenses by 5% while $16.4 million of one-time funds will be used to bridge most of the gap.

The next budget workshop has been scheduled for May 5th, with a Council meeting set for May 21st to officially hear and adopt the budget for the next fiscal year starting July 1st.

Sparks, Washoe County and the school district are all currently facing budgetary challenges.

To drum up its own coffers, the city of Reno is also planning on selling or leasing two dozen vacant and soon to be vacant properties it owns to generate an estimated $13 million over the next three years.

Some of the sales are already in progress, while some of these properties will be transferred to and bought by the Reno Redevelopment Agency, causing concern among some residents of the renewed power this recently resuscitated body will have after a checkered history of previous failures.

Our Town Reno reporting, March 2025

Under Investigation Washoe County Alternative Sentencing Chief Justin Roper Resigns

Justin Roper who is currently under investigation has resigned as Chief at the Washoe County Department of Alternative Sentencing, according to a message from County manager Eric Brown, after previously indicating he was on unpaid leave.

Roper is also the business owner of the for profit Las Vegas based Sober Testing Services, which was opened in 2021 soon after he had started in his county leadership job, drawing repeated concern from Commissioner Mike Clark.

The offices of the Department of Alternative Sentencing at 1530 E. Sixth Street were closed earlier this week as law enforcement had search warrants.

The department which is currently being audited received millions in state and federal grants to provide drug and alcohol testing services.

Roper’s bio page is still up on the County website indicating: “Chief Justin Roper has been serving as a law enforcement officer since 1998 within Reno and the Washoe County communities. He was inspired to pursue his career in law enforcement at an early age when he was involved in incident in which he saw how the officers helped him and his family in a very trying time in their lives. On November 10, 2020, he was honored to be selected as the Chief of the Department of Alternative Sentencing after serving the previous two years as their Sergeant.”

Regarding the department itself the county’s website indicates: “The Washoe County Department of Alternative Sentencing (DAS) was established in December of 2005 and approved by the Board of County Commissioners under the authority of Nevada Revised Statute 211A (http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-211A.html).   DAS was designed to provide supervision to people whose sentences have been suspended and during Pre-Trial criminal proceedings. Depending on the type of supervision you are required to complete, you may have conditions that are set by the court such as drug test, attend counseling, House arrest and/ or get an evaluation, etc...”

Our Town Reno reporting, March 2025

Video Center Reno Goes Way Beyond Its Name as an All in One Practical Shop

The name Video Center Reno screams “movie night,” but inside this business at 2145 Sutro St #7, there’s so much more. Customers can send money to another country, buy a phone, pick up a soccer jersey, pay their water bill, get over the counter medication and even score tickets to a local show. 

And to think, it all started by accident. 

Originally from Mexico, where they ran a business, Guillermo Padilla and his wife, Araceli, had relocated to Fontana, California. In 1998, during a vacation in Reno, they stopped for tacos at Tacos El Rey, a small spot right across the street that is still there today. As they ate, something caught their eye, a ‘for sale’ sign just across the way. Curious, they decided to check it out. 

What they found, in Guillermo’s words, was a certain look “muy solito, muy feo” (very lonely, very ugly). 

Yet, something about it stuck with them. Guillermo had taken a business card from the owner and one day back in Fontana, had made a call saying they wanted it. 

In the beginning, it was just Guillermo, Araceli, and their daughters doing everything themselves. Their eldest daughter, Melissa, practically grew up in the store. 

“I would sleep here sometimes,” Melissa recalls. “I’d go to school and come right back and spend the rest of the day here.” 

Fast forward nearly three decades, and Video Center Reno has outlasted Blockbuster, survived the rise of Netflix, weathered the pandemic and has expanded far beyond its original purpose. 

The Video Center of 1998 looked very different from today’s version. It started as a music and movie rental shop, but over the years has adapted, because it had to. And yet, the name has never changed. 

Guillermo laughed, admitting they had debated renaming the store for years but ultimately decided to keep it. 

“At this point, everyone knows Video Center Reno. Even if they’re not coming in for a movie, the name is part of who we are.” 

Now, Video Center Reno is a one stop shop for bill payments, money transfers, prepaid phones, and more. Even over the counter Hispanic medicines that are staples in many Latino households, like Viro-Grip, and Tukol D. They also offer phone activations with AT&T, Verizon, and Cricket making it easy for customers to set up new service or buy unlocked phones. 

It is still a family business at its core. Guillermo, Araceli, and Melissa all work there along with a couple of employees. They wouldn’t have it any other way. 

“We invite you to come in,” Guillermo says. “Everyone has a bill to pay right? We take them all, electric, water, rent. Need to send money home? We have Western Union and other options. Want to buy a phone? We activate them right here. And if you love soccer, we have jerseys, shoes, and balls.” 

It’s a family, a legacy, and a place that no matter how much it changes will always feel like home. So if you’re ever in need of services, Video Center has got you covered. And if you’re hungry afterward? Well, Tacos El Rey is right across the street. 

Our Town Reno reporting by Genevy Machuca

Sparks Mayor Pushes for New Toll Road to Ease I80 Congestion

The City of Sparks and its mayor Ed Lawson are pushing for a new 13-mile toll road to connect La Posada Drive and USA Parkway, giving commuters an option to avoid I80.

The proposed toll road would be meant to alleviate what has become an increasingly congested commute for some in the area, including those working at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center.

Nevada Assembly Bill 61, which was presented to the Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure by Lawson and Sparks staff last week, would allow Sparks and the RTC to construct such a project in a public-private partnership, with bonds being paid back using future toll revenue.

During his comments, Lawson said he had no idea how much the road might cost, while some media reports have floated a number higher than $500 million.

Nevada doesn’t have any toll roads currently, but did have some before the 1880s according to state archivists.

Our Town Reno reporting, March 2025

Samuel Chacon Faces Uphill Hearings in His Attempt to Get his OBGYN License Back

A drawn out process to determine whether long embattled Reno gynecologist and obstetrician Samuel Chacon can get his license back as he’s been trying to do for the past two years led to a three-day hearing last week, a moment of which is screenshot here.

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners suspended Chacon’s license in 2023 saying he put the “health, safety and welfare of the public at risk of imminent harm.”

Chacon had continued to work at the Women’s Health Center of Reno on W. Plumb Lane until then, despite mounting allegations against him and having previously surrendered his hospital privileges.

Embattled on many fronts, he was also arrested in 2022 as part of a local prostitution sting. He pleaded no contest in 2023 and was mandated to pay a $200 fine and take a course for the city to drop a misdemeanor charge in that matter. 

The Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence has accused him of performing unnecessary surgeries, including hysterectomies, and of botching operations. 

During the hearings last week, attention focused on one of the numerous complaints, from a 26-year-old who delivered twins in April 2023. She says Chacon risked their lives by not indicating he already no longer had any medical privileges at any Reno hospitals.

Chacon testified many patients who were on Medicaid were told he had lost his hospital privileges but still chose to stay on as his patients.

His attorney Eric Stryker said Renown had developed a plan for his patients there as Chacon would not be present at the hospital, but the board says those arrangements were never finalized for the mother of twins having a high-risk pregnancy.  

Furthermore, that patient has alleged her signature was forged on a document informing her he would not be delivering her babies.  

There will be more hearings on other allegations against Chacon in April and May, and a public meeting on his bid to get his license back is expected later this year.

There are additional reports Chacon settled one medical malpractice suit for $500,000 last month, while an FBI investigation against him remains pending.  

Our Town Reno reporting, March 2025

Humans of Reno: Tim Healion Only Does Stuff He Likes, Such as Hosting Live Jazz

Tim Healion only does stuff he likes. 

From cycling to live jazz, local restaurateur Tim Healion, 65, is a firm advocate that doing things you like is the only way to be successful.

Healion has been in the restaurant business for over 30 years. He’s been the face behind old Reno classics like The Pneumatic Diner and The Deux Gros Nez, self-described previously as the “original magical mayhem coffeehouse.”

Healion started getting involved in serving people during his time working in a monastery’s kitchen. 

“My first food and beverage job was at a Catholic Priory of the Dominican sect in Dover, Massachusetts. It was a place where kids would go to school to learn how to be priests.  It was a weird place,” he says as we sit down at one of few empty tables at The Laughing Planet Cafe.

When I prompt him with advice to young people looking to start their own business, his notable friendly smile dims. 

“ I don't know if I'd recommend the restaurant business to anybody,” he said matter-of-factly.  “Things are going to get really hard. Everything is going to cost more. If you want to sell food, it's going to cost more to sell it. If you want to employ people, it's going to be hard to keep people employed if you don't pay them enough.”

There are clear challenges currently in keeping a local business afloat. Healion likes to stay focused on what brings the community together. Every Wednesday, Healion hosts a Jazz Jam at his current business, Laughing Planet Cafe, across from the University of Nevada, Reno. 

“I knew Hans Halt in the jazz department,” he said. “So I was talking to them and asked ‘Do you want to do music here once in a while? Maybe once a week? Kids can come over and play?’ And it just morphed into this.” 

The weekly Jazz Jams have become a staple within the community, with packed crowds and a flood of musicians eagerly waiting to play.

Reporting and photo by Sophia Nebesky shared with Our Town Reno

What's That Construction Project? Dave & Buster's Coming Soon

It’s been slow but steady progress for the first Dave & Buster’s in the region, coming to the Shayden Summit Mall.

A banner reading Coming Soon also seeks job applicants.

The chain is known for its signature arcade games, air hockey, billiards, sports viewing and its burgers, wings and seasonal cocktails.

“We’re thrilled to bring the first-ever Dave & Buster’s to Reno,” said Metcalf Builders President and CEO Bryce Clutts at a ground breaking ceremony this past fall at 13969 S. Virginia Street. “Dave & Buster’s will provide a new space where the community can gather, connect, and enjoy a unique entertainment and dining experience.”

The project is valued at a little over $7 million.

Construction began in October of 2024 and is scheduled to still wrap up on schedule sometime in spring of 2025.

Photo by Mariel Day shared with Our Town Reno

Dr. Peter Reed, Working for the Respect of Older Adults in Our Community

While data indicates about 16% of Reno’s population is 65 and older, with about 15% in that age group in Sparks, locally it’s a subset of about 80,000 people often feeling misrepresented in terms of overall priorities.  

Social isolation is a common tragedy of the older population here and elsewhere.  In Washoe County, headlines are made for the inferior food being served continuously at the Senior Center.  

Gerontology is the study of aging and issues affecting older people, which encompasses biological, psychological, social and economic aspects.  

Dr. Peter Reed, the Director of the Sanford Center for Aging at the University of Nevada, Reno, with his own greying and whitened beard, has spent his career helping people rethink what it means to grow older. For him, aging isn’t about decline but more about growth, and most importantly respect. 

Reed’s journey into gerontology wasn’t something he always had in mind, but it came about through concern and volunteering.  

As an undergraduate at the University of Kentucky he volunteered at an Alzheimer’s day program. Inspired by his grandfather's battle with the disease, the hands-on experience turned into an internship. Before he knew it, his career was dedicated to supporting older adults. 

His early work focused on developing community based programs to improve the lives of older adults, and after more than 30 years in the field he is still advocating. He pushes for better resources, education, and policies to support older populations. 

One of the biggest misconceptions about aging, according to Dr. Reed, is the idea that it is a disease. 

“Aging isn’t something to fix, it's a natural process,” he explains. 

But in a society obsessed with youth, we tend to see aging as a problem rather than a stage of life filled with opportunities. This misunderstanding creates consequences especially when it comes to healthcare. Many professionals aren’t trained to work with older adults, causing gaps in health care. 

Nevada is currently the third fastest aging state in the country. 

With more retirees moving in due to no state income tax and younger people leaving for jobs elsewhere, state demographics are shifting quickly. Reed expects nearly 20% of Nevada’s population to be over the age of 65 by 2030. 

So what does that mean? More older adults means a greater need for healthcare, social services, and community support. The problem? There’s not enough funding to meet the current demand, let alone what's coming. 

“We have to stop being dismissive of older adults, especially those with Alzheimer’s or dementia,” Reed says. “They still have human rights. They still deserve respect.”

At UNR, Reed and his team are working on solutions through education and community outreach. The university offers a Gerontology Certificate and Minor, giving students from all fields the chance to understand aging through a professional lens. 

Whether you’re studying sociology, psychology or business Reed notes, “any field can have an aging lens within it.”

For anyone feeling uneasy about getting older, Reed has a simple message, “Every person you know alive today, they are going to wake up a day older tomorrow if they live through the night. The only alternative to aging is well…death.”

He laughs, but his point is serious. The anti-aging industry sells the idea that we can stop time but he says “all the anti aging stuff you see, the potions and lotions, none of it works. You can’t stop the aging process.” 

 Aging is going to happen and instead of fearing it we should embrace it. 

“Aging isn’t something that happens to other people,” he reminds us. “It’s happening to all of us, every day.”  Reed and his team are making sure older populations here and elsewhere are better served and more respected.  

Reporting and photos by Genevy Machuca for Our Town Reno

After Long Lines for Opening, Deluge of Violations Shuts Down Reno's Mochinut

After social media hype and long lines for its opening in mid January, just a little over a month later, the Mochinut location in Reno has gone dark, due to a failed inspection.

On the Washoe Eats App, four critical violations are noted, from staff not washing hands or changing gloves to date markings missing in refrigeration units. There are several non-critical violations as well, including the operator not being aware of "proper reporting procedures for communicable disease,” and both clean items and dirty dishes being stored on the ground.

The Suite 213 Mochinut at 5150 Mae Anne Ave. now has a sign on the main door indicating “Not taking cash! Sorry !!” and another with “We are renovating the kitchen layout to reduce customers’ wait time. The contruction is expected to be completed by next week but we will continue to provide updates on the progress.”

It does not say it failed to pass the inspection on February 20th.

Mochinuts are a combination of American donuts and Japanese mochi. The franchise is also known for its Korean rice hot dogs and coconut jelly pudding. As of late 2023, there were about 150 Mochinut locations across the United States, with an aggressive push to add more.

Our Town Reno reporting, February 2025

Washoe County Animal Services To Change Meeting Protocols after Racist Zoom Bombing

Changes are being made to how the Washoe County Regional Animal Services coordinates its technology for meetings and remote comments after a racist, vile zoom bombing took place.

The incident happened about 30 minutes into the meeting Friday while board member Diaz Dixon was speaking.

“We sincerely apologize for the extremely offensive material that was displayed during this incident. The content was deeply inappropriate and does not reflect the values of WCRAS or our commitment to fostering a respectful and inclusive space for public discussion,” the Washoe County Regional Animal Services wrote.

“Though staff was able to swiftly end the disruption by shutting down the virtual meeting, we regret that this resulted in the loss of virtual attendees. We understand the importance of public participation and are taking this matter seriously. Our IT team is actively investigating the incident to identify how the intrusion occurred and to strengthen security measures to prevent future disruptions.”

Dixon gave his own account on his Facebook.

“Maybe 45 minutes into the meeting, I started to speak when all of the sudden, the meeting was Zoom Bombed. The screen and meeting was overtaken by a Klansman in his klan garb, screaming racial rhetoric and who knows what. As staff raced to shut it down, I simply looked down and went into my own world. I didn't hear what he said or even see the horrible things that continued to pop up on the screen. It was turned off and I went back to my comments I was making to the director. At the end of the meeting, others talked about how shook they were.”

Our Town Reno reporting, February 2025

Bali Express, a Local Food Truck Looking for New Customers, Guaranteeing a Blissful Meal

The Bali Express food trailer with savory specialities from the blissful Indonesian island is racking up awards, and making itself more available, with a rotation of where it’s located, trying to get the word out on the uniqueness of its offerings.

These efforts include nearly daily social media videos by the always enthusiastic Peach state Georgia native Barry Williams, whatever the weather in these occasionally much colder climes.

Awards it proudly posts on its truck include the Community Votes 2024 Platinum Winner for Specialty Foods, and 2024 Gold Winner for Asian Restaurants.  

The 46-year-old said he quit his job working for specialty welding companies after deciding his partner’s food was too good not to be sold to the public.  

“She started making food for me at my job, and I fell in love with the flavor within a week. And I'm like, wow. You are an extremely good cook,” Williams said to us about his locally based partner Koming Suryani, a Bali native, in the United States for 20 years.

She started making food in the U.S. for a circle of friends, including Indonesian lawyers and doctors. 

“She told me she's been cooking for her whole life. Her mom taught her how to cook at six years old,” he said.  

At first he says, Suryani, who goes by @balinese_usa on Instagram started a meal prep business. 

“She cooks 260 meals in one day with no measuring spoon, and I couldn't really figure out how she did that, but she did. And it's just gotten bigger from there. We did meal prep, and then after that came beef jerky, and she was doing nine flavors of beef jerky. And it just got so massive within two years. I made the decision in my own mind to quit my career and kinda see what would happen if I started this business,” Williams said.  

With her cooking and his energy, their team is full of ambition.  

“Our food trailer is getting popular by word of mouth and we couldn’t be more grateful how our journey is going,” he wrote on the Bali Express Facebook where there’s a Revi order link with Indonesian staples such as the main savory rice dish Nasi Goreng, Rendang, which is slow cooked coconut beef with spicy egg and veggies, or Mie Goreng, which is fried noodles with veggies and eggs.  There’s also vegan options available.  

The Revi page also indicates the truck’s location and hours.  Orders can be made before swinging by.  

“I’ll set up a a weekly schedule every Sunday of where we're gonna be at,” he explained.

He’s gotten five county licenses but he says the food truck is mostly based in northern Nevada, where he now lives.  

“We do want to try to get some more people to try the food, but that's been the hard part for me is trying to get people to actually know what this is. This is world class food,” he guaranteed. 

For those not used to the level of spiciness Indonesians themselves can’t live without, Williams says his partner “knows how to dumb down the spice to where it's just spicy for flavor.”

She also makes a red hot sambal, the key ingredient in many traditional Indonesian dishes, which can be added to desired levels.  

He’s put a QR code on his trailer for people to vote for Bali Express in the current 2025 Official Community’s Choice Awards contest run by the RGJ. 

“You have to take on major risks to get major rewards,” he says of his business venture.  “And I know without a doubt, without a shadow of a doubt, like, within a year or two, she's gonna be major. I'm trying to figure out how to put her in a restaurant setting, because there is nothing like her. She's just bringing flavor that no one can touch,” he concluded.  

Our Town Reno reporting, February 2025

Jacobs Entertainment Gets Its Festival Grounds Permit, Despite Concerns from Community

After marathon back and forth comments at the Reno City Planning Commission for its 5.3 J Resort Festival Grounds discussion last night, Victoria Barnett from the City of Reno wrote to us indicating “the commission voted unanimously to approve the conditional use permit for J Resort's Festival Grounds” in west downtown.

The stipulations for the 4.5-acre festival grounds site will be for accommodations of up to 15,000 attendees for concerts and events, with operations until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and two special events annually allowed to run later, until a very precise 12:15 a.m.

There were also numerous public comments, with some for and others against. Before the vote, Commissioner Manny Becerra did warn that “we’ve seen several high profile investments that fall short of …expectations.”

He added a question to staff asking if this is the “quote unquote money for revitalizing downtown Reno.”

A staff answered there is no crystal ball and there could be a recession but that the track record of the Glow Plaza played into the decision making.

Two years ago, J Resort abruptly canceled a planned Fuego Latin Cultural Fest at the Glow Plaza, over “community safety” concerns, leading some locals to boycott that location.

Others have expressed concerns about noise both from the Glow Plaza and the new festival grounds, while some looking at the numbers fear Jacobs Entertainment has too many financial liabilities concerning its ongoing purchasing and demolition cycle in Reno.

Hundreds of people who relied on long term motel rooms have been displaced due to this buyout spree, which has also led to one motel being reconverted into apartments, new public art and lots of new parking.

Our Town Reno reporting, Feb. 20, 2025