Introducing the Founder of Thornfield Coffee

Here's a powerful message from the founder of locally based and started Thornfield Coffee who has had an incredible comeback journey:

"I am a person in recovery. My name is Alex. I was placed in a psychiatric unit at the age of 13 when I came out as gay my parents took me to the pediatrician.

The Doctor was religious, I was diagnosed manic depressive. I was being abused at home physically, mentally and eventually sexually. I was given benzodiazepines at this age. I was numbed. I became addicted to drugs and alcohol. Today at the age of 33 I have eight months sober from alcohol, pot, and pharmaceutical and three years from IV drug use.

I love Reno. I first came here in 2022 with a friend and it felt like home. I had been longing for a place to call home. So I moved here. The recovery support here is phenomenal but I do see we have wait times and gaps for mental health and substance use treatment.

I need your help. I’m currently an addiction counselor and working on my MS in mental health counseling. I created a coffee brand called Thornfield Coffee ( Our
coffee comes from Colombia and is roasted here locally at Hub coffee roasters) to raise funds to better our access to mental health.

10% of profits are donated towards mental health initiatives, programs and organizations.
Coffee with a cause. Im using this to raise funds to open a local cafe here in Reno called Thornfield Café. We will have FREE support groups to help the community with mental health, events and community support. If you could simply give me a shout out to support www.thornfieldcoffee.com then maybe I can sell enough coffee to your fan base to raise the funds needed to open the cafe. I would really appreciate your help.”

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum, May 2024

The Quaint Windows and Doors of Midtown Reno

When going to Midtown, many local photographers or visitors focus on its many, multi colored murals. For a change Kiana Freeman wanted to take a closer look at its quaint doors and windows.  

Here are some of her photos and essay:

“Midtown is typically known for its vivid murals, cozy local businesses, and animated signs and people; but if you look closely, some of Midtown's most unique charm is hidden in its windowsills and doorways. 

Many of the doors and windows in this neighborhood also have vibrant colors and fascinating details. 

Some doors here have been painted and framed with color, while some are illustrated with swirled lines and art deco. 

Some windows are crowned with moulding, and on the inside decorated with neon signs, vases of flowers, and printed decals. 

The shapes of the windows vary, often diverging from the regular square shape.The abstract arrangements of glass can make for interesting lines and framing of interior objects. 

Many of the quaint doors and windows can be found on the neighborhood’s more rustic buildings, often houses and stores made of brick brought to life by their glass and wooden details. 

No doors and windows were alike on my photographic journey, all ranging in size, color, and feature, each one artistically designed. The architecture and creativity in each corner makes Midtown a place for creative expression to live and flourish freely. “

Photos and writing by Kiana Freeman 

Let's Stop Just Complaining About Traffic and Make Reno More Bus, Bike and Pedestrian Friendly

The conversation cannot stop at “Ugh, this traffic!”

Reno’s midtown and downtown areas are equipped with access to public transportation and bike lanes, but Reno is still mainly a devoted car culture. Additionally, outside of the inner city, Reno’s surrounding areas are still riddled with an inefficient car culture, as access to public transit is sparse.

One glaring problem is the lack of bus service. Most stops at Virginia St. are scheduled as 30 minute increments of wait times during weekdays. The Sparks Marina/ Legends / NNMC RTC route varies from 20-30 minute wait times to hour-long waits. The potential of missing a bus can become catastrophic if making it to someone’s destination on time is important.

With a car, someone’s ability to leave directly from their home directly to their destination can be appealing and give someone a sense of freedom. However, bumper-to-bumper traffic during busier and busier local times of commute may feel less freeing.

At 5 p.m. every weekday, main roads are densely funneled into. Lines of halted cars stretch off into the distance. 

Many Sparks-to-Reno commuters rely on Sparks Blvd. and Vista Blvd., where the highway and other roads funnel into, creating more stagnant traffic that completely fills these roads.

Deeper into the desert of Sparks are the Tesla Gigafactory and Panasonic Energy of North America, where employees are shuttled to by the companies. These companies have realized they need to transport their workers to their factories and offices. 

However, the rest of the greater Reno area’s workforce members mainly rely on themselves to get to work. 

Reno needs its workforce, but many of its workers are forced to sacrifice hours of their day commuting. If Reno could develop more of a bus, biking, micromobility and walking culture, these roads could be more clear, and transportation would not take up such a significant portion of Renoites’ time. 

Reno’s development leaning further into its car culture is a dead end. Reno should instead focus on developing a system of transportation that serves its people.

Citizen’s Forum Op-Ed by Kade Collins

Having a Fun Day in northern Nevada for Under $25

If you enjoy hot springs, fish tacos, and keeping active, this is for you. Today we’re going to spend a day curated by Malia Ascuaga in the Reno-Tahoe area, all under $25.

Wondering why $25? Instead of using that amount for a single activity, why not stretch it to cover your entire day, starting from the moment you wake up until you wind down in the evening?

Yoga Pod, situated at the Summit Sierra mall in south Reno between Starbucks and DeVons Jewelers, is a local studio providing both heated and non-heated yoga, restorative/meditative classes, fitness classes, and mat pilates. The studio takes pride in fostering a friendly community and maintaining a high standard of cleanliness.

Let’s Start Your Day: Yoga

Whether you’re an experienced yogi or completely new to the practice, head to Yoga Pod at the Summit Sierra to start your day off with movement.

The studio offers a free week of yoga and an additional class for all newcomers.

Several morning classes are available to chose from. Starting as early as 5:45 A.M., there’s a Bikram-style class, PodHOT, and at 8:00 A.M., there’s HotVinFusion. Both classes are heated.

If you’re not a fan of heated yoga, consider trying the 9:30 podFLOW 1 or PodGentle classes — both excellent alternatives.

Regardless of your starting level, each class is suitable for you as long as you acknowledge your own practice.

To schedule your free class follow this link to Yoga Pod’s website or give them a call at (775) 420–4363.

Originally founded in Truckee, CA in 2014, the Midtown Coffeebar location is the first of three locations in Reno. Taking inspiration from Italian coffeebar culture and hospitality, they believe in making people feel good. Image from tahoe.com.

Next: Grab a Drink and Take a Walk

Drop by any of Coffee Bar Reno’s three locations: MidTown, McCarran, or the Roastery, and treat yourself to a latte or your choice of specialty drink.

Keep in mind that each drink ranges from $4.00 to $6.50, while working with our $25 budget for the day.

However, on days when budget constraints aren’t an issue, Coffeebar’s menu is filled with must-try bites. I highly recommend trying their divine lemon bars.

After grabbing your drink, you might consider taking an optional walk if you’re up for it.

If you chose the MidTown location on Mt. Rose Street, stroll around the charming surrounding neighborhood of Old Southwest Reno or bring your dog along to Plumas Park.

If you opted for the McCarran Coffeebar, explore the Caughlin Ranch Trails or the Steamboat Ditch Trail. For those who chose the Roastery location, venture into MidTown Reno.

Next in Line: Thrifting

Head down to the Goodwill Bargain Bins, where clothing that didn’t quite make it to the racks in the store are waiting to be discovered.

These bins can be a gold mine for vintage clothing and unique finds, you never know what hidden gems you might come across.

Everything is weighed by the pound here (excluding books and furniture) and is priced at $1.50 per lb. Sometimes you’ll leave with the jackpot or nothing at all, but today, let’s keep our spending under $10, which is doable considering the budget-friendly pricing by the pound.

The exterior of Mariscos El BarCo resembles a pirate ship in Sparks, Nevada.

Getting Hungry? Let’s Grab Lunch.

Ever dined aboard a pirate ship for lunch? Well, today’s your lucky day as we’re setting sail for Mariscos El BarCo, a Mexican seafood restaurant housed in a building shaped like a pirate ship in Sparks.

My go-to choices here are the fish or shrimp tacos, each priced at $3.00. I usually go for two-three tacos and it fills you up.

The entire menu features fresh offerings, so you may want to explore other options on another visit. But for the sake of today, I highly recommend the tacos. They never disappoint.

Here is my go-to order: 2 shrimp and 1 fish taco or vice versa. Photo by Malia Ascuaga.

To Finish: Sunset Soak at Farad Soaking Pool (Mystic Hot Springs)

Just 10 minutes away from Verdi, Nevada, we’re venturing out of state for this one. A quick 20-minute drive outside of Reno on your way up to Truckee, this secret hot spring is one I can’t gatekeep.

To reach the destination, take I-80 and exit at Farad or use the coordinates “Truckee River Wildlife Area” to identify the closest exit. Upon taking the sharp exit, you’ll encounter a dirt parking lot with a trail accessible behind the gate. The trail leads you by a hydroelectric plant, and in just a short 7-minute walk, you’ll arrive at a spring covered with a plastic tarp.

For more directions with pictures follow this link to Hot Springers. Despite its small size, the spring is consistently well-maintained and usually not crowded. The water maintains a comfortably warm temperature, allowing for extended soaking periods.

As the sun sets, you can enjoy watching stars overhead and the passing trains along the Truckee River.

Nestled just beneath I-80, Farad Hot Springs is a compact, well-maintained, underdeveloped tub with a view of the Truckee River. Visitors ensure the pool stays pristine, thanks to the protective plastic tarp.

Today’s Final Receipt:

To recap, today we:

• Practiced yoga

• Grabbed coffee

• Went for a walk

• Thrifted

• Got tacos

• Soaked in a hot spring

For all of that, we hypothetically spent:

• Yoga: $0.00

• Coffee: $5.25

• Walk: $0.00

• Thrift: $7.00

• Tacos: $9.00

• Hot springs: $0.00

Total: $21.25

That’s impressive! On today’s adventure in Reno, we stuck within our budget of $25 and finished just a few dollars short. Thanks for following along.

Citizen’s Forum story by Malia Ascuaga

How to keep your morning glory chaos maintained in your backyard

Morning glories are an annual here, coming back strong every year, and in some cases getting out of control, so here are a few tips to get them in your yard this year just the way you want them.

Morning glories are a hardy ornamental vine that can survive Reno-Sparks’ dry and wide temperature-ranging climate.

They are often confused for the Creeping Jenny, another hardy vine that is infamous for taking over gardens. They both can have cup-like blooms, but morning glories typically have broader foliage. Creeping Jennys have leaves which are smaller and have a more circular shape.

The desirability of morning glories is up to the gardener. They are known for overtaking gardens, spreading out as ground cover and crawling vines. A gardener’s decision in whether or not they want to allow the plant to have the spotlight (or sunlight) it so passionately desires.

Water and Soil Conditions

Although they can survive harsh conditions, they thrive in moist soil. When gardeners are attending to their high-maintenance plants like their roses, they may also be fueling their morning glories, as they are less finicky.

The only time that they desperately need moist soil is when they are seeds before they germinate.

This also holds true when applying fertilizer. Adding fertilizer to your roses this Spring amay benefit them significantly, but it may also give your morning glory stragglers the boost they need to cover your entire backyard.

Pull Immediately!

If you do not want your entire garden entangled in the vine, pulling it before it develops hard-gripping roots into the soil is in your best interest. Once the roots of the vine develop, it may prove difficult to try pulling them with sheer strength.

What may work in a gardener’s favor is a spade. Using the spade to chop through the roots and disconnecting them will make it easier to yank them from the ground. This will also help in slowing the rate of grow-back.

If a gardener is content with their morning glories’ rate of spread, but still wants to keep the coverage’s shape contained, a simple pair of pruners should do the trick. However, the pruning may require frequency and consistency.

If consistent pruning sounds draining, cutting the plant back 3–4 inches than the preferred length will help space out pruning days.

Due to their adaptable behavior, pruning morning glories benefit their aesthetic appeal more than their overall health.

Go Wild!

If you are not afraid of a wild, viny garden, feel free to let the glory take over. The vines are an excellent way to decorate the blank surfaces of fences and raised beds.

If you do let the vines spread, be careful letting them near your precious plants. They can climb your tall stocking plants like your tomatoes and sunflowers. For the most part, this is harmless to the plants, but this can be overwhelming when trying to upkeep the plant that’s being climbed on.

Citizen’s Forum gardening tips by Kade Collins

Locals Bonding Through the Cosmic Encounter Board Game

Cosmic Encounter, an over 40-year-old board game, pins up to eight people against each other. Surprisingly, this competition-oriented game has created a community of companionship. 

The objective of the game is to conquer five of your opponents’ planets, and keep the five planets that you have as your alien character. 

Jaccob Masterson taking pieces out of Cosmic Encounter box.

Recently, I harassed my friends enough to convince them to play the game with me again. We started at around 9:00 p.m. and finished at around half past midnight.

I was first introduced to the game in middle school by a group of friends. We would all meet at the same friend’s house and play Cosmic Encounter along with other board games from late evening to early morning. It became a method of bonding.

“I enjoy it, because there’s a lot of strategy and deception involved,” Luke Hill says.

Luke is a dear friend of mine who I was introduced to the game with. He describes the typical environment of a Cosmic Encounter game as “hostile, toxic, and generally an unwelcoming place to be.” 

Despite this description, he enjoys the game, because he enjoys lying to his friends. Cosmic Encounter is an outlet for players to blow off steam among friends.

Jacob Masterson, another close friend of mine who frequently plays the game, says he enjoys how the game unites the players through the common objective of obtaining five planets. He also points to the game’s high variability as a factor of its appeal. 

The game can change every time it is played. At the beginning of every game, players choose from two randomly selected characters with special abilities. This random chance changes what is possible to happen in the game about every time. This keeps each play-through of Cosmic Encounter unique and interesting.

“This game is just fun. It’s even fun when you’re losing,” Jacob says.

For the particular friend group that Luke, Jacob, and I were a part of, there would be spans of months in which we did not see each other. Often when we did, we were playing this game, and we were just as close as the last time we saw each other. 

The deceit, alliance, and betrayal that Cosmic Encounter incites among players develops a sense of intimacy.

Reporting by Kade Collins shared with Our Town Reno

Hoping for Pie, Getting Cigarette Smoke and Meeting Regulars at the Gold Dust West Casino

Driving around Reno I would always see these signs that said “Free Pie”, “Free Pie…  Reinvented!”

So, one cold Thursday afternoon when I had nothing better to do, I decided I’d go to the Gold Dust West and get myself some free pie and play a few bucks to kill some time. 

The thought of the free pie vanished when I walked in, as I was met with that familiar smell. My nose was filled with that classic casino scent, an overwhelming linger of a cheap air freshener, mixed with fresh cigarette smoke. 

As someone who grew up in Las Vegas and had parents who would go out to bingo a few nights a week and drop me off at the casino’s daycare type center, this smell brought on a strong feeling of nostalgia. 

Reno is known for quite a few things, and gambling is one of them. If you take a glance across the town, you’ll see at least five large casino resorts standing out. You’ve got the Nugget, GSR, Atlantis, Peppermill, and the Row which consists of three casinos. But, scattered around town are lots of smaller, more local casinos with a very loyal customer base. 

There’s the Cal-Neva downtown, a college favorite. Siri’s casino, also downtown, is another college favorite because of their $5 daiquiri special. We can’t forget Boomtown, or Rail City, and the year-old Legends Bay in Sparks. Reno’s casinos scream “Old Vegas”.  Among all of these “smaller” casinos, there’s one that has always stood out to me: the Gold Dust West. 

Not quite downtown, the Gold Dust sits between W Fourth and W Fifth street, right off of Keystone Ave. The Jacobs Entertainment owned casino is small but mighty. There are three full-service bars, a plethora of new and old machines, a teensy bingo hall, and a restaurant. Although this casino doesn’t have tables, it doesn’t seem to be a problem for many of their loyal customers. 

When you really think about it, casinos are a very interesting concept, and they pretty much thrive off of three addictions: alcoholism, gambling, and smoking… And the fact that older folks will come almost every night and gamble their Social Security checks away. 

Sure, you may be able to go to a sports bar and drink your beer while watching football and playing video poker, but if you want to indulge in a cigarette you have to step outside. Reno is definitely not known for its balmy evening winter weather where you would want to step outside and smoke a cigarette. 

A casino is one of the few places in America where you can actually smoke inside. This is one reason why casinos are so appealing to those who smoke cigarettes and also enjoy drinking and gambling. 

If you live in Reno and haven’t yet been to the Gold Dust, and pay attention to billboards while driving around, it’s possible you have heard of this place. Scattered around town, there are a few billboards that read, “Free Pie.. Reinvented!”

Now I know what you are thinking, if I walk into this casino I’ll just get free pie? Let’s go! That’s what I thought, but it isn’t quite the case. 

You have to eat at The Grille inside and get a qualifying meal to get this free pie. But it isn’t your traditional slice of pie, it’s more like a parfait, if you will. I learned this the hard way when I went to the Gold Dust for the first time. 

After finding parking, inside, no matter which direction I looked, I could always see a bar, which speaks to how small this casino really is. 

I decided it would be smart to obtain a player's card, so I could start racking up rewards  and be eligible to earn free play or enter in drawings if I ever decided to come back. 

It was a quick process and took less than five minutes. This was when I learned that if you earn enough points through playing on the same day you sign up for the player’s card, you’ll get a coupon for half off a prime rib dinner at The Grille.

I walked around and explored a bit after I got my player’s card, and found some pretty cool things. There is a cigarette vending machine where you can buy a single pack of cigarettes for $11, a sports betting area, and I even caught some of a bingo game inside the casino’s bingo hall. Periodically, someone would come over the PA system to announce a giveaway of free play.  

After deciding I had enough looking around and was ready to waste the $10 I brought away, I took a seat at one of the bars in between two gentlemen, one older and one younger, who both happened to be wearing Raiders jerseys.

A few minutes later, the bartender came up to me and asked me what I wanted to drink, so I opted for a Diet Coke. The bar I was at was nearly full, and the demographic of people sitting there was mostly older people, and they were all chatting with their seat mates, which led me to assume that these people probably didn’t just meet each other and probably frequent this place regularly. 

I inserted my bill into the machine, and sat there a bit puzzled trying to figure out what game I wanted to play. I didn’t have many options, but video poker sounded the most appealing to me. 

“First time?’ the man next to me asked with a smile. “Need some help?”

I told him that I had played video poker on my phone a few times before but wasn’t sure where to start. He told me his name was Paul, and then proceeded to tell me that he is a self proclaimed video poker expert, and in the past week had won over 10k playing just video poker. So naturally, I listened to what he had to say. 

Before I knew it, my $10 had turned into $20 with Paul helping guide me through the ins and outs of video poker. Apparently the whole time Paul was helping me out, the younger guy to my left had been paying attention to what was going on and finally chimed in. 

“This guy really knows what he’s doing,” he laughed. “Had I sat down next to him my first time playing, maybe I wouldn’t be trying to make up for it now,” he added. 

So now Paul was not only showing me what hands to keep, he was showing the other guy next to me, Jason, what to do too. 

In my head, something clicked and I think I realized just why people like coming here so much. I hadn’t yet interacted with many people, but the two I had talked to were friendly and outgoing. Maybe it was the couple beers both of them had indulged in, or maybe that is just the casino culture here. 

Eventually, I asked Paul why he chose the Gold Dust over all of the places he could gamble in Reno, and his answer was pretty simple. He lives close by, like walking distance close, and over the years he’s been coming here, he said he’s made some great friends spending Thursday nights and Sundays watching football. He told me that he would occasionally go to other casinos but he never had the same luck anywhere else. 

I asked Jason the same thing, and his answer made me laugh: free pie. The same thing that drew me to this place drew him too. He told me that he thought he was just going to walk in here and sit down at a machine and the cocktail waitress would walk up and ask him what he wanted to drink, and what flavor pie he wanted. He said he was glad that definitely wasn’t the case, or he would be in here a lot more frequently than he already is. 

My $10 lasted me a long time, sipping my Diet Coke, chatting with Paul and Jason, and tapping the buttons on the video poker screen. Eventually, the $10 that turned into $20 had sadly dwindled down to a measly $4.70. I didn’t come here with the intention of hitting a jackpot, but decided it might be worth it to throw what I had left into the funniest looking slot machine I could find. So I went exploring again. 

After walking around the tiny casino for what felt like 10 minutes, I found one called, “Invaders Attack From The Planet Moolah.”

I sat next to an older woman who had her players card attached to a lanyard and inserted into the machine as she was clicking away at Texas Tea while also smoking a cigarette. I put my players card in, and inserted my cashout voucher. 

While this machine was pretty funny, it wasn’t getting me anywhere. I decided to strike up a conversation with the lady next to me by telling her her lanyard was pretty neat. She told me that if she didn’t have her card attached to the lanyard, she would lose it, and that she comes here too often to have to go get a new card each time she visits. 

She pulled out another cigarette and offered me one, which I declined. She was a sweet older lady, and it seemed like she was enjoying my company. She told me about her grandkids, and how she can’t wait until they are old enough to come gamble with her. She told me her name was Betty, and that she has been coming to the Gold Dust every day for the past seven years. 

In my head, I thought that was pretty incredible, so I asked her why she comes here and doesn’t go somewhere else. Betty told me that she is retired, and doesn’t have much else to do so this keeps her busy. 

She said that she usually meets up with her friends here everyday and that they were somewhere in the casino playing as well. She said that the food at The Grille is always yummy and the servers always know her order. She added the cocktail waitresses just bring her a beer and she doesn’t even have to ask. 

Betty said that going to the Gold Dust gave her a reason to get out of the house and talk to people which is something that she wouldn’t do just sitting at home. After a nice conversation with Betty, and no more credits in the machine, I decided it was time to head out. I told Betty it was nice to meet her, and that I hoped I’d see her again. 

As I got up and walked out to my car, the scent of the Gold Dust lingered on my clothes. I sat for a moment before I drove off and realized just why people love to come to this place. It’s small, the people are friendly, and after you frequent it enough, everyone seems to remember your name. Although it’s always a plus to walk out with more than you walked in with, it’s about having a good time, checking out of life for a bit, and meeting new people or old acquaintances. 

My first experience at the Gold Dust was a good one, but it definitely won’t be my last because I’ll be back. And maybe next time, I’ll get some pie. 

Our Town Reno reporting by an anonymous UNR college student 

Entering the Ring of Reno's Boxing History

Long before the incorporation of the city of Las Vegas, in the early 1900s, the Biggest Little City held the distinction of the World's Fight Capital. 

On July 4, 1910, Reno made headlines after hosting a historic bout called “The Fight of the Century,” between John Arthur Jack Johnson known as the “Galveston Giant” who retained his heavyweight title against James J. ‘Jim’ Jeffries “The Great White Hope.” 

Years later, Reno native and Nevada boxing icon Pat Schellin takes it upon himself to keep Reno’s rich history in boxing alive, one young competitor at a time. 

“I’ve had a lot of students walk through those doors. Some become champions, some don’t even end up boxing. But I make sure they always leave with an appreciation of just what this town did for the sport in its early years,” Schellin, the assistant head coach of the University of Nevada’s boxing team says.

“Reno really was the only place for a sport like boxing to blossom. At the time Vegas was just an itty-bitty town, and it was Northern Nevada that saw the first of the mega-fights that we see now [in boxing],” he explains.  

Boxing coach Pat Schellin poses with Azar at the Collegiate Boxing National Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Schellin is referencing a time when Nevada was one of the few states to have lenient regulations on combat sports, and Reno was the first to begin hosting large scale fights that would generate unforeseen interest in a rough and tough sport like boxing. 

Schellin is always eager to bestow boxing knowledge, but not always at the most ideal of times. Once I recall being in a heated sparring session at the gym and he abruptly had a recollection, and stopped the sparring mid-round.

“You remind me a lot of Larry Holmes, you know that?” Schellin announced. He went on to tell a very interesting story of a time when Holmes, the heavyweight champion in the late 1970s until the mid 80s, was in town and needed to use his gym. 

He told of all of the quirky training methods that Holmes let him in on, and after what seemed like 20 minutes the sparring resumed. My sweat was gone, I had to get warmed up again, but I left that day with unique boxing knowledge that most others do not have.

What exactly did Holmes say? The heavyweight champion of the world told Pat about how when he was young, he would chase chickens for long stretches of time to build up agility and endurance. Another, more dangerous strategy, was that he would attach nails to the bottom of a wood plank and practice his head movement underneath. Come up too early, and you’d need stitches. Fighters really were of a different breed back then.

The collegiate boxing gym we train in on 4th street  is a part of Reno’s history in pugilism.

I am honored to have been able to compete for UNR and become a part of that story. I was able to place second at the national tournament in 2023, after going undefeated in nine fights that season. I won the western regional championship, stopping every fighter I fought against. I also was privileged to go to the Arthur Mercante Invitationals at the New York Athletic Club in NYC, and beat the previous year's national champion at my weight. I am coming off of a serious hip injury, but am hoping to compete again at the regional tournament in March of 2024.

When I enter Schellin’s gym I feel as if I am walking into a museum, as the walls are covered with memorabilia from the legendary fights and fighters that have passed through. Boxing’s history becomes more illustrious the farther you go back, and to be enveloped in that history is truly an experience  I will forever be grateful for.

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum contribution by Joseph Azar

Why I gave up backcountry and sold my set up, by Leah Wzientek

In short, because I didn't LOVE it. I was doing it because everyone else was, and because it was free...

But I RARELY came back from a day filled with stoke. It was always a "well, that was a lot of work for mediocre skiing.”

I'm highly risk adverse and wouldn't go in prime powder conditions, so busting crusty low angle wasn't worth the climb. And despite having a brain filled with knowledge, I was always filled with overwhelming anxiety about all the things that could go wrong.

In sports like climbing, I'm GREAT at setting my boundaries, because if "I don't lead this" at the crag, it doesn't compromise anyone else's enjoyment. I can sit there and munch snacks. They keep climbing. No biggie.

By choosing to TR a route, the only person I'm "letting down" is me... and 99% of the time, I'm okay with that because I don't climb to project or tick leads off a list, I climb because I enjoy the movement. But on a group tour... if I start feeling out of my comfort zone, I'm potentially ruining the day if I decide to turn back with someone. Speaking up would mean that the crew would have to split up. Someone wouldn't get their line for the day.

So I'd push myself and stay quiet, whispering "you can do it" affirmations to myself at the back of the pack. And most of the time... It was fine. I could do it.

But there were also several times when conditions were windblown, icy and steeper than expected. And in those moments, I emotionally beat myself up for NOT setting boundaries when I was outside of my comfort zone.

Because NOW, the group could actually be in danger if my lack of confidence turned into a back-country emergency. Because it's not just about if I got hurt, but how much of a partner could I be in a rescue as well... I failed at the number one rule of backcountry touring: Communication.

Pictured: Me finding pure joy in "less epic" winter recreation.

So I gave it up. And I mourned selling my skis.

I felt like I was failing and losing a part of my identity. It felt like I was "giving up" or showing weakness for not being able to keep up in the mountains.

Being a member of the local outdoor community, of owning a gear shop, of wanting to represent women in these spaces... I felt the need to fit into this epic, "strong female backcountry adventurer" mold or I wouldn't be taken seriously.

It's difficult to say "NO" to the pressures of what social media or this "inclusive" outdoor community thinks you should look like... (even if it's all just expectations built up in your own mind).

And it took me almost five years to realize... Despite the stunning pictures I'd post from the day, I never came back filled with excitement. I was always anxious and mentally drained. I dreaded the invites to tour, but also didn't want my setup to collect dust in the basement. So I sold it all, and it was followed with a sense of pride. For doing what felt good to ME. And with the money made from selling my set up, I bit the bullet and bought a resort pass.

Because what I DO LOVE is zooming blue groomers. I love the vibrations of corduroy. And I found a love for lower risk Classic XC and meadow hopping... where I'm still able to soak in the snowy, muffled quiet and views of the mountains. Because the part I liked best of ski touring, was making those fresh tracks... or the movement (similar to what I love about TR climbing). I didn't need an epic ride down, just like I don't need to lead.

My winter recreation looks VERY different now. But there are ONLY genuine smiles and laughs in those insta posts. (And I'd 100% say that I get 10x the thrill and giddy nerves from zooming slightly too fast, downhill in XC classic tracks... if you know, you know).

So find what works for you. 👌 Where you feel GOOD. This is your reminder: You do NOT need to recreate in the same way as your friends or partners. Don't take five years to realize, you don't need to keep up with the Jones's in the outdoors. Do what makes you grin. Go sledding. Go snowshoeing. Go birding. Top Rope the heck out of that route. Because if you're not doing it for your happiness, why are you doing it at all.

Note: this essay was originally published on the Gear Hut blog and shared with Our Town Reno to republish.

Gear Hut is Reno's only used shop, here to help you give up, or find a new mountain hobby. At Gear Hut, you're able to consign and shop gently used human powered mountain sport gear and apparel. We're here to make getting outside more accessible and affordable while keeping gear out of landfills.

Reminiscing About my Trip to Reno-Nevada for Whirlwind, the Major Taylor Film Project I am producing

Last September, I was invited to speak about WHIRLWIND at the Bike Film Festival in Reno-Nevada. The event was put together by a non-profit organization called Truckee Meadow Bicycle Alliance (TMBA) with the support of a local donor.

I have never been to Nevada before and wasn’t sure what to expect; but I was looking forward to talking about what I am passionate about and of course discovering Nevada’s culture.

I arrived at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport early afternoon on Friday, September 22nd and was picked up by Ky Plaskon, the president of TMBA.

It was easy to find my way out of the airport to the location indicated to me; under some sort of bridge connecting the airport to what seemed to be a parking garage.

While making my way out of the airport, I noticed arts and crafts exhibited throughout. I must say a lot of that arts and crafts were related to the Burning Man which is a week-long large-scale desert event focusing on "community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance." This event is held annually in the western United States. Something I also noticed were the multiple betting machines lined up throughout the airport.

This was the first time for me to walk from my plane right into a casino-airport. I don’t bet or play the lottery and that’s just me…

So, as planned, Ky and I headed first to the venue where the event was to happen later to set up the space and also do a sound and tech check.

Once everything seemed in place, I went to my hotel room at the Circus Circus Hotel in downtown Reno.

Later that day, I presented the Whirlwind project in front of a very receptive audience (in first photo).

Judging from the multiple questions and suggestions, I can certainly say the audience was excited and that pumped me up.

The next day Ky took me to visit Lake Tahoe and the Incline area. We had a wonderful conversation in the car and I shall forever be grateful to him for his advice. Ky also brought two mountain bikes with him so we could take a ride on one of the local trails. 

I have never ridden a mountain bike before so it felt a little different than the road bike I am accustomed to. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the beauty of the surrounding area and even ate breakfast at a local dining place.

After my short ride with Ky that day and a tasty breakfast, I went to volunteer for a couple hours at the Reno Bike Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit community bicycle shop and resource, which advocates for a sustainable cycling community through education, collaboration, and accessibility for everyone in Truckee Meadows.

Incidentally, the Reno Bike Project has a Major Taylor program for the Truckee Meadows youths.

In the 2.5hrs of time I spent volunteering at the RBP, I tuned up a kid’s bike and sharpened my game in changing tubes and fixing broken brakes.

I was happy to hear from the store manager that the bike was ready to go on the shelf to be sold.

The next day, I left Nevada quite glad and feeling good because my time there was full of wonderful memories and feel good moments.

Everyone I met and talked to was very nice and courteous and I can’t wait to visit Reno-Nevada again someday soon.

Here is what Ky Plaskon, 2023 President of the TMBA said of my presentation:

''The audience for Cyrille's presentation was delighted to not only be entertained but also provided valuable feedback for his upcoming and much-needed documentary film on Major Taylor. Bike and historical groups nationwide and around the world should be scrambling to support this important story and the passionate producer behind it.''

Please help us tell Major Taylor's story. America's first Black World Champion. Find out how you can get involved today at:

https://www.worcesterwhirlwind.com/pay-it-forward

Citizen’s Forum Submission by Cyrille Vincent shared with Our Town Reno

A Mother’s Endeavor to Destigmatize Drug Addiction and Create Awareness

Over six years ago now, on March 1st, 2017, Darcy Patterson lost her jovial daughter, Kirsten Yamaoka, to drug overdose. Kirsten was a bright, young girl. She was an efficient model employee at  UPS. She loved reading, music, and had healthy lifestyle choices. She loved her family and was loved by everyone in her family. 

While in middle school, Kirsten got exposed to a whole new world. She became friends with people, who were seniors and introduced her to substances. As her high school experience progressed, her substance use became substance abuse. There were times when she recovered and the real Kirsten emerged. After many attempts at rehabs, stints in jail, a stay in a mental health ward, and the anguishing life of a substance abuser Kirsten lost her life to overdose. 

The social stigma and unawareness around substance abuse and overdose, often draws youngsters and school goers towards it. Most of those are also managing a mental health issue concurrently.

Being unaware and not being able to tackle the situation leads to addiction. Addiction is a slow process, and the body gradually becomes dependent on a particular kind of drug. This dependency starts affecting the brain and behavior. Being aware and educated about drugs, addiction and prevention, could play significant roles to combat the stigma around addiction and save lives.  

One would never want to imagine how her mother felt like on that dreadful night. Instead of only grieving for the rest of her life, Darcy decided to dedicate her life to all those, who are  suffering from addiction or are experiencing drug overdose. It is worth mentioning, that apart from being a mother of two lovely kids, Darcy is also a nurse by profession.  

To be sure, some people might easily judge someone fighting addiction, or their family.  Perhaps, they can inquire [about] parenting, morality, poor company or even character. Our societal ideas of being good and bad, unawareness about addiction and drugs, puts substance users and  abusers in boxes that continue to hinder forward movement with the stigma and shame  involved. Some might also ask, if Kirsten was so bright and wise, then how could she not make better choices? What was her mother doing? 

To answer, I would say that it was Darcy who noticed changes in Kirsten’s behavior first. She would skip school, stay aloof and sleep for long hours. Like a concerned mother, Darcy decided to seek help. From reaching out to counselors to everyone else, Darcy did everything a parent could do. Nothing helped. That’s what addiction does. It takes one away from everything and everyone. It makes you forget who you were or who you are becoming.  

Significant activism around addiction and substance abuse has happened. As a grieving mother Darcy reached out to people suffering from addiction, with tools of help like conducting opioid education, distributing free Narcan nasal sprays, Fentanyl and Xylazine test strips, at different spots across Reno, in free donation boxes; from connecting with the police  department of Reno, or [running] advertisement campaigns for television, radio and social media.  

What we often fail to register is that, apart from active protests, tools of care and empathy can  also help to win a battle. Someone like Darcy, without caring about social stigma, her personal  struggles and loss, wanted to help grieving mothers like her. It was February 2020 when Wake Up Nevada was born, to awaken Nevadans about impact of abuse and overdoses to our communities, heading towards a future where everyone has access to opioid overdose prevention.

Having awareness about substances, addiction and overdose management are some concrete ways of supporting families who have lost their loved ones to overdose. Using social media, we are trying to create awareness about Narcan nasal sprays among the younger generation of Reno. Demonstrative reels and videos about naloxone sprays, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, is small step towards spreading this word. Our goal is to ensure that Reno stops losing young lives like Kirsten and many more. Being a student of Gender, Race and Identity studies, I wanted to be a part of this mission to help communities and share the story of this strong mother and activist. 

Angona Saha 

Graduate Student 

Department of Gender, Race and Identity 

College Of Liberal Arts, 

University of Nevada, Reno

Kristina, Seeking a Designated Graffiti Wall in Reno

Do you agree we should have a designated graffiti wall for mural artists to practice their skills in northern Nevada? Here's a message from a local artist seeking that kind of a space:

"My name is Kristina Lammers. I'm a local artist who was born and raised right here in Reno. I love spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, and kayaking. I'm also diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and I find nature and art to be very therapeutic. I graduated from TMCC in 2022 with a degree in Fine Arts.

I specialize in nature and wildlife photography, and also painting, particularly with acrylics and aerosols. I also do ceramics and sculptural art, I've recently gotten into mural painting as well, and I've gotten some cool opportunities this year. My portfolio can be found here: https://outdoorsymountainhiker.weebly.com/

I love living here in Reno because of the proximity to Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada, and also the Great Basin. The beautiful natural scenery provides the inspiration for my artwork. I also love the many murals here, as I have an affinity for the graffiti/street art subcultures.

I do however think our area could use more of a focus on helping local artists to get started, getting their work out there, and also more collaborative murals and public art projects that directly involve community members. I also really hope that we can get a legal, designated graffiti wall here someday, where anyone could come paint and express themselves. I think it would be so much fun."

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum, December 2023

Eli, a Flower Artist from Romania

"Hello, I'm Eli. I am a Reno local artist, originally from Romania. I found Reno my home back in 2019 when I met my wonderful husband.

I've always had an artistic inclination, although it has taken various forms over the years.

My creative journey often begins with unusual hobbies that ignite a passionate spark within me. One such hobby led me to start collecting flowers during a trip back to Romania.

I wanted to preserve these beautiful memories by pressing the flowers and that’s how all this started.

Every piece I create is unique. I don't follow a set pattern or template, instead, I pour my creativity into each frame.

During the summer and spring seasons, I collect flowers from around town and my garden, featuring local blooms. In the winter, I source flowers from local nurseries.

If you're interested in bringing a touch of nature and creativity into your life, you can find me on my social media platform @terrarium.de.fleurs and visit my website https://terrariumdefleurs.com/

Additionally, you can meet me in person on Sundays at the Riverside Farmers Market."

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum, December 2023

Soccer Battles in the 775

If anyone follows the local soccer scene, people know it's full of pay to play schemes, allegations of "poaching" players and coaches between clubs, everybody wanting to be king of the hill in the 775, disputes over field access between different leagues, and accusations swirling around.

This morning there were shots fired by Marc Radow, the president of the
BattleBorn Futbol Club, which is working on a private stadium and whose top men's team now competes at the National Independent Soccer Association level.

Here is part of an email Radow sent out:

"If you've been involved in sports, watching your kids or competing, you know too well, no field no game. Simply, without sports fields there can be no club, no league.

Fields are good. More fields are even better. Too many fields... well, let's not go that far. The City of Reno, Washoe County, and Sparks haven't built a new field in more than a decade. All the while our population swells and density increases, and our families have fewer places to play.

Sadly, more fields do not mean more play. More of something doesn't always trickle down to... we the people. More fields also don't mean 'better' fields. Parks & Rec departments remind us there isn't enough money or resource to maintain the fields we have. More fields will stretch that further.

Do more fields mean worse fields?
What's the big issue?

Fields are mismanaged and the allocation (who gets to use them) is the BIG problem. The bureaucratic system rewards status quo and seniority regardless of quality, innovation (new or alternative sports), or opportunity.

The league / club that used a field last year gets priority to the same field next year. It's automatic, designed that way. That's status quo. A new sport, a new league, a better pathway, a bigger opportunity... all NO!

The City relinquishes the allocation of fields to a conflicted, self-serving, personal interest back-door group that rewards itself to the detriment of... We the People...."

The email goes on to ask locals to write to the City of Reno publiccomment@reno.gov asking for a reform to field allocation.

What are your own views on this local soccer situation and who gets to use which fields?

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum, December 2023

Mom Seeking Help and Advice in Reno

According to people working locally helping the unhoused and poorly sheltered, in recent months many women and families seeking shelter space have been trying to flee bad domestic situations. Some try to get through local services for domestic violence abuse victims but give up after getting no responses or immediate help.

Maranda who has been living in northwest Reno recently wrote us this message below seeking help and advice for her situation.

"I’m currently looking to move out of a situation where me and my children live with an alcoholic. I have no other options. I have no one to turn to.

The only family I have in town is my father who is very ill.

I do have a job, but with my income, I don’t make enough, plus I have really bad credit so I am unable to get approved for any sort of apartment with the rent and bills.

My income doesn’t cover all those costs.

I do have two children as well as two dogs. One dog is very senior and the other one is my ESA.

I would love some answers to questions. I want to know if there’s some sort of waitlist.

I’m also planning to be having surgery sometime at the end of January, or beginning of February, but I am in need of some sort of support system after I get out of surgery.

I really appreciate your time. Thank you."

If you'd like to reach out directly Maranda's email is marandalv54@me.com

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum, December 2023

Giving Back with Baked Goods, In Memory of Father who was Unhoused

Won’t you support a local businesswoman Kimberley Noel giving back to the community by making and selling baked goods, thinking of the father of her daughters who was unhoused and recently passed away, giving to those in need thinking of him?

Here’s her message to the community below. Best way to order is via her Instagram @popup_cakes_andeats

“Hi! My name is Kimi and I run a small business called Sweet Blessings here in Sun Valley. I make baked goods.

I’m selling bakery boxes for a blanket drive my daughters are hosting for Christmas Eve.

50% of each box sold, those funds will directly be used toward new items to help with this agenda of wrapping someone up in warmth this Christmas🥹🙏🏽

I need this Christmas to be great for others knowing that we aren’t just thinking of ourselves this holiday because these people are on our minds as well.

50% of whatever I make with the sale of these boxes are for the mission of getting these items and hitting the streets to warm up the folks of Reno this holiday.

For my daughters, their father was homeless (he passed last October) so this means more than anything than giving, it’s personal and heartfelt.”

Our Town Reno, Citizen’s Forum, December 2023

Stephen, a Florida Man Hopping Trains with a Base in Reno, while Trying to Ease the Pain

Stephen Langerby has been in and out of Reno most of his life. After several traumatic moments, including a van accident when he was 21, which got him qualified for disability payments, and many other health issues, Langerby now finds himself living on the streets and looking for marijuana to help ease his pain. 

He’s originally from Florida so he likes to dress the part and always looks for sun when he can find it in downtown Reno even on cold gloomy days.  

For Stephen, Reno is a home base between Amtrak trips he takes around the country. Here’s the description he gave of his own life to street reporter Daniel Lowe as part of our #humansofreno series giving a voice to our neighbors living on the streets to hear their own perspectives on our changing city and their own trials and tribulations.

“I’m dressed like I came from Florida because I came from Florida. 

Even though I live on the street, I've never dressed like a bum. 

The first time I came to Reno, my parents got divorced in Wisconsin and my mom moved us out to Davis, California. And so my first memory of Reno was coming on I-80 and we had our cat in the car. And so I put my cat in my backpack and went into Circus Circus . 

I had just graduated eighth grade.

15 years ago I had fungal pneumonia. So I was in the ICU for 16 days. After 13 days, the other four people up there had died of pneumonia. I was the last one. And so they put a tube in my shoulder. Went from my shoulder straight into my heart valve and they pumped the medicine through my heart for three days, to either live or die. Well, during the fungal pneumonia, I coughed myself into a hernia. And so I waited.

I had one surgery, they removed the mesh, put another one in. That one failed right away. So then I waited 14 years until a robot was designed at the Northern Nevada Surgery Center in Sparks. So 14 years with the ruptured hernia by my belly button. 

And I get a call from Medicare and they said, you have to be in Sparks, Nevada, May 9th at 4:00 A.M. the robot's made, and you're gonna be the first one to do your surgery. 

I have no wife or kids. And so I hopped on Amtrak, got a place to live, took the city bus up to the hospital, walked into the emergency room at midnight and said, I'm Steven. I'm here to have this robot do my surgery. 

I asked the doctor, I said, why in the hell did you have to have me take the bus at midnight to be here? He puts his hand on my shoulder and he says, ‘Steven, robots don't sleep.’

They put a huge silicone disc around my entire stomach and everything.

You can pay $500 and get a 30-day Amtrak pass and pick 10 cities. 

So like last year right after my hernia surgery, I was like, I might as well heal on Amtrak. So I paid the 500 bucks, went from here to Denver to New York, to Washington D.C. to Raleigh, North Carolina. And then you come back all the way back through. 

When I came back to Reno, I stayed a month, and then I said, well, I'm gonna do that again, but I'm gonna go the other direction. 

I went through New Mexico, then to Flagstaff, Arizona, spent time at the Grand Canyon, and then it took me to Austin, Texas. And I spent the winter in Austin, Texas, playing disc golf and eating chocolate 

With your 30 day Amtrak pass, they have a special area in every train station. It's more comfortable seats, better bathrooms, places to plug your phones and computers in, so you show your 30 day pass and you go into a [special] area. 

I get 900 bucks a month and rent anywhere is more than 900. And then trying to find someone that's cool… 

I just got burned. My birthday was October 2nd. My fishing buddy, I've known for two years, a Vietnam vet, I gave him $450 cash all the last of my money on my birthday. He was supposed to get a place to live. And then he flaked and he took off with my money. I’ve never seen him since. 

So now I'm sitting here flat broke … And then I go to all the little stoner spots and find their roaches and smoke pot. So that keeps me going. 

I haven't eaten solid food in probably 16 years now. So I live on bananas, nuts, some fruit, but I haven't eaten a sandwich or a cheeseburger or sat down and had a meal in 15 years now. 

If I eat food, I feel like I'm gonna die. 

 My dad was a Lutheran minister. So people around here, they call me an angel and I kind of believe it. You know, 

I always make sure that I preach to the young kids to make sure that they're on the right path. I'm someone that all the kids can come to for anything. They can come to me and I'll take care of it. I'll help 'em. 

That's why I got my Illuminati tattoo. I got it tattooed on my neck.” 

Photo and Reporting by Daniel Lowe shared with Our Town Reno

Know your Midtown: A Student Guide to Five of our Favorite Restaurants in Midtown

Stepping into Midtown Reno, when December nights are chilly and the day is gloomy, visitors and residents can find solace and get their taste buds going at a lot of different places.

From American fare to Mexican restaurants to healthy options, Midtown has many options to choose from. Here are five of our favorite spots and what to expect when you eat there.

Jüs at 740 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501, is one of healthier options on offer in the heart of Midtown. Whether you want an açaí bowl, a freshly squeezed smoothie, or pressed juice, this place has high-quality options for its customers. There’s also deals for regulars. For $14.95 a month, customers can grab anything like a smoothie, pressed juice, and smoothie bowls for $5.50 every day. One of our favorite items on the menu is the strawberry smoothie bowl and you can get a small size for $9.75 and a large for $11.75. 

Chuy’s Mexican Kitchen at 764 S Virginia St Reno, NV 89501, is one of a kind in Midtown. With killer margaritas, this place will satisfy your thirst with ease. From chips and guacamole to nacho platters, and much more, Chuy has the fare for tasty appetizers. For main course menu items, the price ranges from $10-$20, which is always a good value with the quantity and quality you are getting.  Our favorite menu item is the taco combo with rice and beans for $15.

Süp at 669 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501, is an all-time favorite for college students, and many other locals. As an all-American restaurant, Süp is pronounced “soup” because they are known for the creamy soups they make. Bread, soup, and meat are cooked in house daily. Other options on the menu consist of salads and sandwiches. An all-time favorite is the Club and the Pesto Turkey sandwiches. This place is perfect if you want to sit outside on the patio and enjoy sunnier days, or stay away from the cold and get comfy in an intimate space by sitting inside. Except to pay about $10-$20 for one person’s meal. 

Taco Shop at 811 S. Center St, Reno, NV 89501 is a little place tucked into a small alley in the heart of Midtown. However, the selection here makes them stand out as one of the favorites in the area. For their tacos, you can get the traditional fillings (Asada, Chicken, Carnitas), or some of the more irregular options they have (Veggie, Crispy Fish, Cheeseburger). And if you’re not in the mood for a taco, Taco Shop has Burritos, Nachos, Quesadillas, Taquitos, and Tortas. The main food options range from about $6 -$10. For sides, they have Chips and Dips, Beans, Rice, and more dips like Guacamole and Cheese.  This is one of the fastest, most affordable and tastiest of all the possibilities in Midtown.

Rounding out our top five is Two Chicks at 752 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501. This place is the best place to go if you are a breakfast lover or for brunch. Make sure you claim a reservation because this place is so popular that you might have to wait one to two hours before getting seated. Two Chicks provides their customers with not just good quality food but as well as amazing morning drinks. This is the perfect place for going with your friends to grab an early or late morning meal. Some of our favorites are the GourMelt Bene, which includes cheddar and jack cheese melted between garlic-parmesan-crusted sourdough bread, topped with two poached eggs, hollandaise, and chopped bacon. 

Our Town Reno reporting by Kailee Bryant and Derek Raridon 

Reno Bike Project Looking for Donated Bikes

The Reno Bike Project is full into its FreeWheels4Kids program in which people can donate bikes and/or also donate their time to help get them fully operational with tune-up and fixing volunteer parties, and /or ask for one so local kids in need can get their own bikes during this holiday season. Upcoming volunteer nights are on 12/6, 12/9 and 12/13. Catholic Charities is trying to help collect bikes of all sizes, shapes and colors for children of all ages. Families in need can call Andy Perkins at 775-323-4488 to reserve a bike. Kesley Morris and Kathleen Leslie recently went by the shop for photos and reporting. Here's what Kesley wrote:

"The Reno Bike Project is a little pink shop that is surrounded by tumbleweeds, and run down buildings. It is located on East Grove street, just off of South Virginia street.

The front of the building is decorated with art and paintings of all different kinds of people. There is a welcoming message in both English and Spanish right above the entrance door, welcoming in all who pass by. 

As you walk in you are greeted by one of the friendly volunteers, ready to help you with whatever you need, whether you are donating a bike, fixing your bike, wanting to volunteer yourself or looking to purchase a new bike.

On this particular day, the front entrance is overrun with donated bikes, but it doesn’t take away from the atmosphere. The entire shop is organized chaos, with clusters of bike repair items, and rows and rows of bikes looking for a new owner. 

At the Reno Bike Project, items are discounted, and more affordable, giving everyone the opportunity to have a reliable mode of transportation. They also have an area for you to fix your own bike; or if you would like to learn how, they offer plenty of help. 

The Reno Bike Project is always looking for volunteers to repair donated bikes. For Christmas they have the ‘Free Wheels 4 Kids’ project which for the past 17 years has provided bikes for underserved children in the community. "

Reporting and Photos by Kesley Morris and Kathleen Leslie

Does Damonte Have a Downtown?

Does Damonte have a downtown or is this just hijacking the word downtown to give it some allure?
Here's what one commenter wrote to us: "Do you have any information on this development other than the [Dave and Cheryl] Duffield's Liberty Campus? It would be great to have an ACTUAL walkable downtown rather than a huge asphalt parking lot surrounded by big box stores."

The groundbreaking for the "Liberty Dogs" special training facility for service dogs trained to be companions for military veterans was held in October last year, but besides that we haven't seen any media attention on this development.

Anyone here who lives in Damonte area have any updates or thoughts?

The visual is adapted from the Downtown Damonte website which describes itself "as a strategically planned, mixed-use district set in a beautiful mountainous landscape, alongside the community of Damonte Ranch. The modern, outdoor town center will include retail shops, restaurants, class-A office spaces, luxury apartments, and more."

This also goes into the narrative that suburbs should be test models for the so-called 15-minute city (according to Wikipedia "an urban planning concept in which most daily necessities and services, such as work, shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure can be easily reached by a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit ride from any point in the city.") but it doesn't seem to be all encompassing here.

Our Town Reno Citizen’s Forum, November 2023