How One State Senate Race Could Affect Gun Legislation in Nevada

One race in the upcoming 2024 elections, for Nevada State Senate District 15, could be pivotal in bringing about new gun regulations in the state, as it could lead to a Democratic supermajority.

Former Washoe County School District Board of Trustees and current Assemblywoman for District 27 in Reno, Democrat Angie Taylor is running for the State Senate in District 15. Her opponent is Republican Mike Ginsburg, who has worked at NV Energy for the past 39 years and previously chaired the City of Reno Parks and Recreation Commission.

Democrats currently hold 13 out of 21 Senate seats — one shy of a two-thirds supermajority, and need to flip just one seat to get to that. District 15 was previously held by Republican State Senator Heidi Seevers Gansert who opted not to run for re-election, in a district which has been redrawn in a way which is now favoring Democrats.

The District 15 map.

With a supermajority, Democrats would have enough votes to override any veto by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, dramatically changing the dynamics in Carson City.

Gov. Lombardo vetoed many Democratic sponsored bills in the last legislative session including bill AB355, favored by Taylor, which sought to raise the legal age of possession of certain firearms from 18 to 21.

Bill AB355 would have made it a gross misdemeanor for a person under 21 to possess or control a semiautomatic shotgun. It would have also revised provisions related to the storage of firearms, requiring that rifles and shotguns be unloaded and stored in a securely locked container when not in use.

During the session, Gov. Lombardo also vetoed Senate Bill 171 which would have prohibited people convicted of hate crimes from possessing a firearm, and Assembly Bill 354 which would have prohibited bringing a gun to a voting place.

Efforts to boost legislation concerning guns is a deeply divisive issue in the Silver State.

Tony Danza, a student at Truckee Meadows Community College believes that gun restrictions should be made and chosen by gun owners themselves.

“If you could go die for your country [then] why can’t you protect your country in the states?” he asked when interviewed.

Glenn Fant, originally from Texas, and a Nevada resident for the past year, believes that current gun regulations shouldn’t be changed unless necessary.

He doesn’t support gun restrictions at polling locations because he says he believes it would create a problem that’s not already there.

“If you can walk into Walmart and have a gun you should be able to go anywhere with a gun, concealed and not in your hand,” he said.

Jennifer Decastro is a 35-year-old undergrad psychology major at University of Nevada, Reno with mixed feelings on gun legislation. She’s had a concealed carry permit the entire time she has been a Nevada resident, and carries it with her everywhere because she believes it makes her feel safer as a trans woman. Still, she believes attempts to reduce school shootings should be looked into.

“I think that there’s something that needs to be done about gun violence and I think that specific law would be pretty effective in fighting a lot of school shootings, which is obviously terrible and everyone wants to stop,” she said.

In an interview with NevadaVote, Angie Taylor defended her previous support for AB355 saying it could prevent more school shootings.

“I think all those things can help in being a deterrent,” she said. “If you can’t get a hold of an assault rifle, for example, then you can’t show up at a school with one, right?”

When asked for a comment, Mike Ginsburg’s team declined to make one, but in a previous media statement the Republican candidate said he supports Gov. Lombardo’s decision to veto that bill, now very much back in play.

Reporting by Kathleen Leslie, Quay Skankey, and Arial Van Cleve for NevadaVote shared with Our Town Reno

Esther Ro: A Local Bodybuilder Overcoming an Eating Disorder and Excelling at Life

Esther Ro rolls out her quads to prepare for her workout at the Stimulus gym that specializes in physique style training.

Just two years ago, after earning several specific category first places at the NPC Mother Lode competition, Ro found herself sitting beside her toilet on the verge of throwing up due to binge eating.

After having a strict diet for weeks in preparation for the competition she became more sensitive to urges and triggers to overeat which have been present with her since childhood.

As a woman of God she hopes that her story will be used to empower those who share the same struggle. 

“Through this experience I am trusting that God is allowing me to go through this to one day help other people through it too,” Ro said. 

Early on in her athletic career, her relationship with food involved binge eating tendencies.  She started competing at an early age in gymnastics but also faced the demons of binge eating then.

Her story has many other chapters though, with Ro always striving for excellence in her studies and in the workplace as well.

The 22-year-old is finishing her MBA with an emphasis in finance at the University of Nevada, Reno. She currently works from home as a trade development analyst for Breakthru Beverage Group, a distributor of luxury and premium wine, spirits and beer brands.

She still manages to go to the gym at least three days a week. Her faith and love for bodybuilding is still unwavering, and she is proud of the progress she has made with her eating disorder.

Reporting by Aaron Arao shared with Our Town Reno

What Do Bartenders in Swing County in State With Highest Concentration of Tipped Workers Think of “No Taxes on Tips”?

“You have to wonder if they’re proposing that because that makes them, both politicians on both sides, more appealing to young people in this industry,” Emily, 33, said in between pouring drinks at Our Bar on both Vice President Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and her challenger former Republican President Donald Trump now backing a “no taxes on tips” policy.

“I’m like of course you’re both jumping on this because everything else is so polarizing. It’s just like deleting student debt, all those things you throw out so people will actually go out and vote,” Emily said, while working a shift at the cozy bar within the Riverwalk District, with pool tables and darts.

Emily, like many Nevadans, relies on tips to make her living. In fact, the Silver State has the highest concentration of tipped workers in the nation, with all cash and non-cash tips currently subject to federal taxes.

Both Harris and Trump proposed the “no tax on tips” policy in rallies during recent campaign visits to Nevada.

“Obviously I’d be down for it because in the immediate it benefits me. But at the end of the day, it kind of takes away from the purpose of taxes in general,” she said. “Both sides are like I’ll do that too because it’s a good way to get the young vote”.

Emily said maybe a better approach would be to make credit card tips less taxable. “The way they’re taxed it’s like half my paycheck is taken away,” she said. “I think I’d rather them restructure it [credit card tips] than completely take it [taxes] away. That makes more sense.”

Some employers take credit card processing fees from servers’ tips, which is currently only illegal in three states, California, Maine, and Massachusetts.

Vanessa cleans up the bar counter at The Ole Bridge Pub, after a night of trivia.

Vanessa, a Reno bartender originally from California, splits her time working between The Ole Bridge Pub on N. Sierra Street, and the Peppermill Casino.

“I appreciate that there’d be no tax on tips… as a service industry job you’re kind of at the bottom of making money so you rely on your tips heavily,” she said.

Discussions among bartenders over how tips are managed is constant. Vanessa shared she’s heard talk of how more regulated tip-reporting procedures could benefit bigger companies like the casino industry while squeezing smaller businesses like her other employer, the Ole Bridge Pub. Casinos already have better tip-reporting infrastructure such as extensive video cameras and card readers, which could be costly for local bars which operate off what Vanessa called “the honor system.”

Ultimately, Vanessa seemed more in favor of not taxing tips. “I feel like it would encourage more people to go into tip-based work [if passed]. When I moved here from California, I didn’t realize most jobs were tip-based jobs,” she said. “You could make more money than hourly than you could in California [if passed].”

Outside of the industry, people aren’t so sure of the policy. “With a lot of these policies, I feel they say they’re going to benefit the working and middle-class, and they end up benefiting people who have a larger income,” said Katrina Kozack, 26, a second-year UNR medical student, who has thought through many of the issues during the current election cycle.

Some economists and business media would agree with Kozack. Experts warn the policy may help employers more than their staff, who in most cases wouldn’t actually see their tax bill reduced.

Many economists say it would favor the high earners in service industries and make lower income service workers even more reliant on tipping, while discouraging employers from paying fair wages.

Since some of these concerns have been raised, a new bill has been introduced that would address some of them.

Nevada’s District 4 Democratic Congressman Steven Horsford recently introduced “The Tipped Income Protection and Support Act”, or TIPS Act, which would not only remove the federal income tax on tipped workers but also do away with the federal subminimum wage, which currently sits at just $2.13 an hour.

The measure would apply only to workers who earn less than $112,500 in tips. Eligible workers would need to be employed in occupations typically earning tips such as cosmetology; hospitality; food and beverage service; parking attendants; and custodial service.

Nevada is already one of the states that has eliminated the subminimum wage for tipped-based employees, so Horsford’s proposal isn’t as impactful in Nevada.

But in some states the federally allowed minimum wage for tipped workers is as low as $2.13 an hour, much less than the federal minimum wage for all other workers which is at $7.25.

Ultimately, this policy sounds good on the surface and resonates with service workers like Emily and Vanessa, who rely on the whims of tips to get by. In terms of practicality though, it seems neither candidate has truly thought through the complexities of what such a policy would exactly entail.

It does make for a quality soundbite and interesting chatter at a local neighborhood bar, so don’t expect to stop hearing it as the election gets nearer.

Reporting by Dan Mariani and Eric Perez for Nevada Vote shared with Our Town Reno

Whistleblower Against Homeless Services Coordinator Catrina Peters Sues Washoe County For Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars

In a lawsuit filed earlier this month, Amber Howell, the former Washoe County Human Services Agency Director, is seeking up to $300,000 in compensatory damages, as well as attorney and expert fees, after she says she suffered severe emotional, psychological, vocational and financial damages during her eight-year tenure from 2015 to 2023.  

The lawsuit alleges that Catrina Peters, the Homeless Services Coordinator, in charge of what is known as the continuum of care, violated multiple Department of Housing and Urban Development policies.

In the lawsuit, Howell explains how Peters had the ability to manipulate and manually override a points system matching people staying at the Cares Campus with HUD vouchers and housing programs.  

One individual was a Tier-3 registered sex offender who Peters allegedly insisted staff work with for over six months, longer than any other individual, even though he was making no forward progress and making violent threats to HSA staff. 

After HSA staff took him off the waiting list, the suit alleges that in 2022 Peters immediately placed him back on and matched him with a permanent supportive housing program, bypassing at least 48 other people, including women who had higher assessment scores. 

Howell says she wrote to Peters and Assistant County Manager Kate Thomas, indicating this was a violation of HUD policy.

In the suit, Howell says that as soon as Peters became in charge of overseeing the matchmaker program, the HSA agency she directed was no longer able to match families in need into housing programs as these opportunities started going “disproportionately to individuals from Cares Campus and Safe Camp” compared to helping others in different existing programs in the community.

The lawsuit alleges Peters acted in violation of state law and caused a gross waste of public money.

Instead of Peters being disciplined, the lawsuit says, County leadership allegedly retaliated against Howell by taking adverse action against her.

That story can be found here: https://www.ourtownreno.com/our-stories-1/2024/6/28/former-county-employees-speaks-out-against-allegedly-toxic-leadership-for-homeless-services

In previous Our Town Reno reporting, Emily Elyse recounted how she quit in disgust in April 2024 as the so-called Northern Nevada Matchmaker under Peters, abandoning a role of trying to get the unhoused in a direction toward being housed due to “toxic” leadership.

In a letter sent to Washoe County commissioners in June, Elyse alleged “workplace bullying” from her then direct supervisor Peters. We emailed county leadership, Peters and County communications director Bethany Drysdale about this, but only heard back from Drysdale who wrote: “We can’t comment on personnel matters.”

In 2023 when we reported about Howell’s ouster from the job she held for eight years County spokeswoman Drysdale wrote back after our report initially came out indicating: “Amber resigned and an interim director was appointed at a Board of County Commissioners meeting. That is the standard procedure when a department director resigns.” 

In her lawsuit, Howell alleges it was a case of “constructive discharge,” with a rapidly evolving timeline of events in the spring and early summer of 2023.  

Our 2023 story about Howell here: https://www.ourtownreno.com/our-stories-1/2023/9/8/amber-howell-pushed-out-from-county-while-dana-searcy-gets-expanded-role

The lawsuit indicates that in early April 2023 Thomas and Director of Human Resources Patricia Hurley informed Howell that she “appeared under the influence of unknown substances” at an April 5th Senior Advisory Board meeting. According to the lawsuit, she was then placed on leave and asked to submit to a drug and alcohol test as well as a substance abuse evaluation. 

She provided a urine sample for drug and alcohol testing on April 13th, which she says came back negative.  On the 14th, the lawsuit says her work cell phone and work email were cut off.

She was then told she was under investigation after serious allegations were made against after she started her leave. 

She then started meeting with a county therapist for the substance abuse evaluation and on April 30th checked herself into Reno Behavorial Health. 

A few weeks later, she started treatment with a new doctor who diagnosed Howell with major depression, PTSD and adjustment disorder.

The lawsuit says the county therapist reported Howell did not have a substance abuse disorder but rather mental trauma from working for the County and told Hurley she should be offered medical retirement and that her therapy should be paid for.  

On July 13, the lawsuit indicates, Howell received a letter from County Manager Eric Brown indicating he would be recommending her termination to the Board of County Commissioners

She says she didn’t want her files made available to the public and felt these “actions were intended to force a resignation and rose “to the level of constructive discharge.”

Due to this string of events, the lawsuit accuses the county’s leadership of engaging in unlawful and intentional discrimination in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, causing Howell to lose wages, benefits, status, reputation, future earnings, employment opportunities and self-esteem.  

Our Town Reno reporting, September 2024

Brewer's Cabinet Denies Report of Rat Feces Infestation

In a statement released to media Brewer’s Cabinet is denying any type of “infestation or contamination” in its kitchen or food products.

“These allegations are being appealed and believed to be based on unfounded rumors and lack of substantiation,” the now closed down food and drink establishment at 475 S Arlington Avenue indicated.

According to a KRNV report from this week, a Northern Nevada Public Health routine inspection earlier this month indicated in part that baking trays, open dry ingredients, sugar packets, bowls, equipment lids and the top of the dishwasher at the brewery were in contact with mouse and rat feces.

Other reported violations included a lack of chlorine as required in the dishwasher in the bar area, unlabeled spray bottles containing liquid, several food items which didn’t have date marks, broken thermometers, personal items which were next to service food, cutting boards only washed once a night, a hand sink blocked by a freezer, and ranch in a cooler at 45F, four degrees higher than the required 41F to prevent bacterial growth and ensure food safety.

These violations and others need to be corrected before the brewery can reopen.

Describing itself on its website, the Brewer's Cabinet indicates: "Every once in a rare while, you encounter a place where all the pieces for creating good times come together. The beers are fine, the patio’s alive, the food is great and the vibe is right. This is one such place."

Our Town Reno reporting, September 2024

Workers of Reno: Kati Gilgen Roasting Some of Northern Nevada's Finest Coffee

It's 8 a.m., the beans are weighed, and the oven is preheating to 450 F. Old World’s coffee roaster Katie Gilgen, has 45 minutes to begin her week with the warmth of her own frothy cappuccino. 

“The Ayarza [Guatemalan roast] with blueberry flavor is my favorite right now,” she says, before beginning the next five hours of roasting some of Reno’s finest coffee. 

With four locations set between Reno and Carson City, Old World Coffee Lab welcomes its guests with its ambient interior. A harmonious blend of exposed hardware and soft organics like Monstera plants permeates its raw-industrial interior.

On a full-time basis, Gilgen works to reproduce promising varieties of quality roasts that are later sold in and out of house. 

“The name of the game is consistency,” she explains.

Meticulously profiled coffee beans are thrown into a cast iron Probat roaster - a 12-kilogram drum oven designed to fluctuate in temperature as beans rotate inside. The oven is used alongside analytic software designed to ensure replicable results, all within about 15 minutes. Web-based tools are used to store individual profiles on each variety of coffee bean, and programed to control and monitor the heating and cooling process.

After moving from Cincinnati to study at UNR, Gilgen graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and set out to begin her new career. 

After the first two years of working in the tech industry, she came to a blunt realization: a sedentary, isolating workday facing a computer screen was not the life for her. “I needed more activity. I get that here [Old World]... and the vibes are good,” she said.

She also does side work as a taxidermist artist, since launching a shop called Morbid Merriments during the pandemic, as a means to “giving a new life to deceased creatures”. Her Instagram at MorbidMerriments is full of photos of creations made up of bones found in the desert and mice found in nature or “donated from pest control measures.”

Story by Beatrice Bash for Our Town Reno

Washoe County Interim Registrar of Voters On Leave Due to Stress

As first reported by Picon Press last night and now confirmed by Washoe County, our interim registrar of voters Cari-Ann Burgess is on a leave of absence just a few weeks before early voting starts on October 19th.

The county issued a statement indicating: “This week, interim Registrar of Voters, Cari-Ann Burgess, expressed to County Manager [Eric] Brown that she was experiencing stress related health issues. At his recommendation, she has requested a leave of absence for self-care. We are committed to the health and well-being of Ms. Burgess and running a smooth and fair election is a top priority for the County. The Registrar of Voter's office is prepared and confident for the upcoming Election in November.”

There has been repeated turnover in the top county election position, as well as in terms of staffing, since former registrar Deanna Spikula stepped down in 2022, and Jamie Rodriguez then resigned from the same role in January 2024. Burgess was first appointed deputy director in late 2023, before getting the interim tag in January of this year following a 3-2 Washoe County Commissioner vote.

Mailers received in recent days by local voters asking for signatures and digits of Social Security or Date of Births to be sent back on cards without envelopes were criticized as being unclear and poorly explained. Election officials have also attracted the ire of local voters in recent election cycles with missing names on sample ballots and imprecise voter rolls, as well as slow vote counting.

Washoe County is a swing county in one of the few swing states on the US electoral map with a tight race here between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump.

Last night, Picon Press posted a text message it received anonymously (on right) indicating Burgess was meeting with HR to discuss taking leave.

Our Town Reno reporting, Sep. 25, 2024

Reno Council members under scrutiny for suspect travel expenses approved cushy severance packages for top staff amid hiring of new City Manager

Amid another long City of Reno council meeting, one of the consent items on August 28th, nearly one month ago, seemed innocuous enough. 

B.19 was written in the agenda as “Resolution of the Reno City Council amending Resolution Number 9170, amending benefits provided to Management employees not covered by an employee-management contract or collective bargaining agreement; together with other matters properly relating thereto.”

Then Devon Reese, taking part remotely, piped in through the speakers making a motion to add very beneficial severance pay for assistant city managers if they were let go after a new city manager is appointed.

“It reduces their anxiety for them,” he said of proposing six months salary and benefits for termination without cause of these well connected highly positioned city staff.  Another initially selected council member Kathleen Taylor immediately seconded the motion.  She later said “this would offer some sort of protection to our ACMs [Assistant City Managers] and hopefully throughout the organization that we are a stable place to work.” 

The only council member who spoke out against the idea Meghan Ebert said being let go “comes with the territory,” of these highly paid appointed positions. 

“Where do we draw that line? There’s other people that are appointed.  Are we going to start extending that down to every single appointed position?  I think this is a policy thing that should maybe have the city manager’s input and involved,” she said, to no avail as the motion passed.

In a follow up text, she explained being let go with a change of city manager is part of the risk associated with these high positions, without the same protection as others.  Ebert is also wondering whether Jackie Bryant, whose salary was elevated since becoming interim city manager, will remain at the high salary if she doesn’t get the full time position.

Former City Manager Doug Thornley announced his resignation in April shortly after a travel gate expose by This is Reno was released concerning dubiously approved travel reimbursements for several council members, including Reese, Taylor and Martinez.  He then left the position this summer. His last Transparent Nevada salary and benefits total had him at nearly $350,000 in 2021 which kept climbing after.

Jenny Brekhus couldn’t attend the late August meeting but wrote to Our Town Reno by email: “These golden parachute provisions for the assistant city managers cast doubt on the Mayor and Council’s seriousness in hiring a seasoned city manager.  What these contracts do is say to candidates, look we want you to keep these people on your leadership team, so we are tying your hands with them or big payouts.  City managers always come into an organization and evaluate the team and make changes as they see fit.  City manager candidates will perceptively wonder how else the Mayor and Council will meddle in city administrative operations and think that this is an elected group that won’t let a city manager manage.”

Bryant was appointed as interim City Manager in June, serving in that role until a new city manager is hired.

Several readers who reached out to us to look into this motion said it gave the optics of a too close for comfort symbiosis between city staff and council.

It’s now been reported that Reese is being investigated by the Nevada Commission on Ethics over two possible ethics violations to “secure unwarranted privileges or advantages for oneself,” and to attempt to “benefit personal interests through the influence of a subordinate.” 

According to This is Reno reporting, on one city-funded trip, he rented a car with city money and then drove several hundred miles in it, even though he was staying at a hotel where the conference he was attending was taking place. 

One of the complaints being considered by the ethics board indicated Thornley “dubiously” approved “frivolous official travel expenses which were extravagant and personal in nature.”

The ethics board said Martinez “must agree to complete ethics training within 60 days” of its deferral agreement regarding separate complaints against him also based on This is Reno reporting, “and must submit his travel records to the commission’s executive director within 30 days of travel.”

In the award-winning multipart This is Reno investigation, it was detailed that the recently appointed councilman stayed in $900 per night rooms on city trips, was reimbursed over $700 for a plane ticket city records indicate he never paid for himself, and got paid back over $180 for a hotel room dinner in New York City even though he was getting a meal per diem on that specific trip.  

Shortly after the report came out Martinez wrote a check to the City of Reno for $1,844.70 to reimburse the city for some of his travel expenses but never detailed how he came up with that amount.  “I am the one who signed the paperwork and turned in the receipts for reimbursements that were incorrect. It was not intentional, but still, I should have paid better attention to detail,” he wrote on social media.  

This is Reno also reported receipts indicated Taylor had a series of unusual reimbursements, from parking, to renting an eight-person short-term rental and not joining an organization as a member to save money to attend a conference.  

Taylor, Reese and Martinez are all facing elections in November to remain on City Council. Taylor and Martinez have never been elected, with pundits expecting the Ward 3 candidate to win his seat, while based on primary voting, Taylor, now moved to the downtown Ward 1, could have more difficulties. 

Rebecca Venis, on the City of Reno media team responded to an Our Town Reno query about the added motion to B19 indicating: “City Council may modify staff proposed language in a resolution as long as the modifications are within the scope of the agenda item being discussed.  Here, the resolution pertained to management benefits. The Council modified the resolution to add a severance benefit for Assistant City Managers. The new benefit applies to three Assistant City Managers.”

Venis added: “Assistant City Managers are at-will employees that serve at the pleasure of the City Manager.  Prior to the adoption of the resolution, Assistant City Managers could be terminated with or without cause, and were not entitled to any severance benefits.  Severance benefits were determined on a case-by-case basis, at the sole discretion of the City Manager.  The resolution grants Assistant City Managers a severance benefit when terminated without cause.”

In our conversations leading up to this report, Brekhus wondered why Reno needed so many assistant city managers, and readers who alerted us to B19 and its added motion, concerned that it went through unnoticed, also expressed disapproval that this came on the heels of the City Council approving a $20,000 bonus and better severance terms last year for Thornley who resigned soon after.

Our Town Reno reporting, September 2024

Local Realtor Chris Nevada Hit with Another Lawsuit Detailing Alleged Sexual Misconduct He Denies

While a former lawsuit against Chris Nevada by plaintiff Misty Carter was recently dismissed with prejudice, with each party bearing their own costs according to the PacerMonitor website, the local realtor now faces a new lawsuit alleging more sexual misconduct he vehemently denies.

The new September 4th lawsuit was filed by former Nevada Real Estate Group employee Paul Gilsdorf, seeking over $15,000 in damages for multiple separate items, totaling over seven figures in all.

It was filed in Clark County and pertains to Gilsdorf being allegedly fired after speaking up against Nevada, the group’s owner, to other superiors while working in Reno. 

It explains how Gilsdorf was hired as director of growth at the Nevada Real Estate Group in July 2022, and tasked with recruiting real estate agents.

It then alleges Nevada would constantly brag about sexual relations he was having with female employees, and that certain employees should be hired for the “primary purpose of pursuing a sexual relationship with them.”

The lawsuit says Nevada directed Gilsdorf to send over only “attractive and young women” for recruitment interviews, and that he would be reprimanded if he didn’t adhere to this rule.

On his LinkedIn Gilsdorf indicates that during his time with the Nevada Real Estate Group he managed the growth of the “highest producing real estate team in Nevada,” “sourced and hired 113 real estate professionals in less than 13 months,” and “assisted with establishing brokerage in state, transitioning team from eXp Realty to LPT Realty.” 

More allegations concern a female employee’s specific complaints against Nevada, followed by Gilsdorf immediately seeking guidance from the Nevada Real Estate Group CEO Tyler Cornu concerning Nevada’s behavior.

At the time, Gilsdorf says his report was also sent to LPT Realty, but without any repercussions.  The Nevada Real Estate Group is one of the largest real estate teams in the state, and part of the LPT Realty group.  

In an email to Our Town Reno this week, Nevada wrote: "Paul Gilsdorf voluntarily resigned from the team; he was not terminated. He expressed dissatisfaction after his request for a pay raise was denied. Three team members have confirmed that Paul shared his decision to join Cody Gibson from Keller Williams as their new recruiter and moving to Oregon, and that he was resigning from his current position. These team members have provided signed affidavits attesting to this. Additionally, I have an email from Paul confirming his resignation, along with a text message from me wishing him well in his future endeavors. It is clear that he is attempting to extort $15,000 from the company.  He has no case and this will be dismissed very quickly, and I will be seeking damages from him for his false accusations."

After being messaged on Instagram, Cornu wrote back an identical word for word message that Nevada sent us, with the only difference of I being substituted by Chris.  We also wrote the CEO of LPT Realty, Robert Palmer, but did not hear back from him.

The extensive lawsuit describes an office culture where Nevada allegedly slept with women employees in exchange for money, job security, company sponsored trips and fast advancement. 

It says Gilsdorf was terminated in August 2023, which Nevada disputes, saying it was a resignation.

In contrast, point 34 of the 11-page lawsuit states Gilsdorf’s termination was a result of “Chris Nevada finding out that Plaintiff had reported his inappropriate conduct with the female employees.”

Gilsdorf alleges that after he no longer worked at Nevada Real Estate Group, Nevada then sent multiple threatening text messages. As a result, Gilsdorf says he suffered from lost wages, other damages and emotional distress, requiring “professional treatment.” 

Gilsdorf has retained the services of the Kang and Associates law firm. 

While doing research for this article, we found that Nevada previously operated with the same profile picture as now in Alaska but with a different last name, Druesedow.  

When asked about this name change, Nevada responded: “I legally changed it over six years ago.    In the state of Nevada your real estate team has to be called by your last name, so I changed it to Nevada so we can be called the Nevada Real Estate Group.    I was adopted and had no contact with my parents so the last name didn't have a significance to me.”

On docketalarm, we found a 2014 case called Druesedow, Christopher K vs. Uei, Katherine J FAP, which was also dismissed with prejudice.

In his emails to Our Town Reno, Nevada also asked why we had never done a follow up article on “Misty Smith,” to which we responded we had not been aware there had been a resolution until looking into this second lawsuit. 

Carter has a current LinkedIn which is called Misty Carter Homes, where she still lists herself as a Reno-based realtor. Her lawyer Mark Mausert responded to an email, but said he had no comment for this story.

In January of this year, we reported on how the Reno-based real estate agent Carter filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Nevada against Nevada, the owner of the Reno-based Nevada Real Estate Group, saying she was sexually harassed and then fired in retaliation for resisting his advances.

In an emailed response to Our Town Reno at the time, Nevada denied those accusations.

Our Town Reno reporting, September 2024

Eden Nightclub Faces 30 day Suspension

In just a few days, Eden’s ownership will be placed on a 30-day suspension of their business license, after Reno PD reported several code violations and increased crime at the Thursday to Sunday early morning nightclub on West 2nd street, including alleged sex trafficking.

Over the past several months, police has been surveilling the area and conducting undercover operations after a complaint was made over repeated crimes involving weapons, underage patrons, hit and run crashes and at least one sexual assault.

Eden staff is being required to improve its training and security standards as well as the location’s design, as having the alley door as a primary exit was deemed problematic.

Our Town Reno reporting, September 2024

Connor Dacko, Trying to Pursue College Life at UNR While Awaiting a Kidney Transplant

Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 20-year-old Connor Dacko spends four hours in a chair receiving dialysis treatment at Renown Health Center in Reno. 

This is what every week has looked like for Dacko since January 2024, when his kidney disease progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD), commonly referred to as kidney failure. As of August, Dacko has been waiting on the kidney transplant lists in Nevada and Arizona.

UNOS reports there are currently 93,000 Americans waiting on the transplant list for a kidney. 

Dacko was first diagnosed with kidney disease at 13 years old, but it is only a side effect of his original diagnosis: a tethered spinal cord causing a neurogenic bladder that damaged his kidneys enough to require a transplant at the age of 20. Only 6% of people with chronic kidney disease are between the ages of 18-44.  

In addition to being a dialysis patient, Dacko is also a third year student at UNR majoring in marketing who works part time at the UNR chemistry lab. Despite his condition, he tries his best to portray himself as a normal college student and give himself a normal college experience. 

The hardships he experiences go beyond the symptoms of his condition, which include nerve damage in the lower half of his body, severe hypertension, pain, limited mobility, and memory loss. Dacko has to juggle strict dietary restrictions that exclude foods high in phosphate, potassium, and sodium as well as a limit of 32 ounces of fluids per day. 

“That is definitely one of my biggest mental challenges. I can't enjoy anything. I can't even enjoy water,” Dacko explains. “I can barely get up from my seat without being out of breath. I have to take breaks going upstairs. I have to take breaks walking half a mile.”

Beyond his health challenges, Dacko says his financial burdens are his biggest stress. Dacko’s inflexible dialysis schedule limits his availability for most jobs as do his physical limitations.  

Dacko struggles to afford things like rent, groceries, textbooks, and tuition on top of affording his bills for dialysis, the 10 different medications he takes weekly, and procedures like his fistula surgery to have a vein and artery in his arm fused together to receive dialysis through. 

“It's just so many different bills all coming in at once, and I don't have the time or energy or physical ability to work and make enough money for all of it,” Dacko says.

Dacko also recently learned that despite obtaining a government issued handicap placard through the DMV over the summer in an attempt to park on campus without purchasing an expensive parking permit, he will still have to pay to park on campus and avoid the mile and a half walk from his apartment at SAGA Reno to the Davidson Math and Science Center where he works on campus.

UNR requires handicap students to purchase a $168 UNR specific handicap placard separate from DMV issued handicap placards to park in accessible parking spots across campus. 

Despite working a campus job and virtually tutoring middle schoolers in math to support himself at UNR, Dacko and his family are struggling to afford his tuition this semester in addition to his costly medical expenses.

If you would like to help Dacko continue his education at UNR and contribute to paying his medical bills, you can donate to Dacko’s GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-connor-manage-tuition-and-medical-costs

Our Town Reno reporting by Lily Wright

GoFundMe Creates Hub of Verified Davis Fire Victims, While One Donation Drive Uses Paradise Fire Photo

GoFundMe has started a hub with verified fundraisers related to the Davis fire, which started last Saturday and is now over 50% contained.

One of the fundraisers not in that hub was one which was using at least one previous photo from a GoFundMe from the 2018 Paradise Fire and other fire damage photos not related to the Davis Fire. Even though it's not on the hub, that GoFundMe by Angelina Vasquez is still listed on the website, despite a complaint from a community member and already over $400 given.

Vasquez wrote as an update: "This is a real fundraiser approved already by Red Cross and go fund me. Please don't listen other people. I used fire photos because I couldn't get new ray house yet to take tea actual photos. But it is a real fundraiser. Please donate."

One that has yet to reach its goal of $12,000 but is close and that is verified is for Kathy Fowler, who had just gotten married, and just returned to her home in Washoe Valley before the fire destroyed it.

Here's a recent update: "Kathy and Jon have found a hotel in Virginia City where they are staying with their pups. They are hoping to find an Airbnb where they can stay for a few weeks until they can figure out if they will rent or buy and where they will live..."

The initial message included this: "I am Denise and I have had the pleasure of working with Kathy Fowler for two years. Kathy Fowler is an incredible, hard working compassionate soul who has spent her career in the early education industry.

Two weeks ago, Kathy married her sweetheart, Jon McVety, in their home state of Michigan, and they returned to their home in Washoe Valley last weekend.

Last night Kathy and Jon lost their home to the Davis Creek fire and all of their belongings. Though grateful that they were safe, along with their two dogs, they are left with the burden of trying to rebuild.

Please help, if you can. No gift is too small and it will all be used to help the McVety family get back on their feet and establish a new place to call home."

That GoFundMe can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kathy-and-jon-rebuild-after-fire

Our Town Reno reporting, September 2024

Locals Fear for the Fate of Sky Tavern and Mt Rose Ski Resort with Davis Fire Creeping Up

The message from the 24/7 Mt Rose Ski Tahoe summit web camera now indicates: “The webcam that you are attempting to view appears to be offline. Please contact the owner of this camera and let them know about the issue.”

Above, some of the last images the Mt Rose webcams had before going dark, with a highway view of Slide Mountain on fire from this morning below.

A Twitter user wrote: “Hope they can save Sky Tavern too. One of the last places around a kid can affordably learn to ski and also an amazing MTB area. If it goes, it will be tough for it to come back.”

Another wrote of the Mt. Rose resort: “Hopefully not the last pics ever… getting nervous. Using the snowmaking equipment as sprinklers. “

Pictures shared on that platform from early this morning show the fire raging on middle sections of Slide Mountain.

There is still no reported containment of the Davis Fire with heavy timber still being burned.

Several thousand NV Energy customers remain without power, while there are a handful of active gofundmes for residents who lost their homes in the early stages of the fire inside and near the Davis Creek Regional Park.

The forecast for today has temperatures above 70 degrees at Sky Tavern, and 60 degrees in higher elevations with wind speeds up to 15 mph.

Red flag warnings have been issued for the area for today and Wednesday, with low humidity and even higher gusts of wind which can cause this type of fire to grow in size and intensity.

The Davis Fire is now in its fourth day after erupting Saturday afternoon, leading to an evacuation map which spread into parts of south Reno.

Nine schools will remain closed in Washoe County today across south Reno and Incline after all school kids in the district were kept home yesterday.

Our Town Reno reporting, September 10th 2024

Multiple GoFundMes Help Local Families Who Lost Homes in Davis Creek Fire

A gofundme for Aaron Sims, the Chair of the Nevada Democratic Rural Caucus and a former candidate for NV SD-16 we previously interviewed, has surpassed its goal of $10,000 due to the generosity of neighbors. 

“We lost our family home in the Davis Creek Fire… I am grieving for all of our families memorabilia and so many memories lost. If you can help us out, I appreciate all of you,” he wrote on Twitter. 

Their home was on the direct path of the Davis fire after it broke out Saturday afternoon.  Seven people, including three kids, were living there.  Clothes, personal items and memorabilia were lost.  

“Anything you can give will help our family recover in this really difficult time. We have been Nevadans for many years and we know the strength and love and support of our communities,” he wrote.

One GoFundMe which has reached $22,000 for an overall goal of $30,000 is for the Hoobyar family.

“I'm Michelle Lewing, President of the Autism Coalition of Nevada,” its organizer wrote. “Hannah Hoobyar has been a dedicated volunteer Hannah's family are wonderful community members who have dedicated their lives to serving others who have suffered tragic losses through their non-profit organization "Project Bear Hug". This time, the Hoobyar family is the victim of a ravaging fire. They narrowly escaped the fire by about 20 minutes with only the clothes on their backs.”

After the fire started at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and quickly approached them, they started hosing parts of their property, before leaving with their animals at a quarter to four. By 4:30 p.m. their house was destroyed.

Another GoFundMe was just started by Stephanie Crowe, who wrote “My family and I have just been notified that our house in Galena Forest off of Joy Lake Road has been consumed in the Davis Creek fire. My family of five are currently displaced and staying with friends in Reno. My 84-year-old mother is recovering from a series of TIAs that culminated in a major stroke that she suffered less than a month ago.”

That GoFundMe has raised just $168 out of goal of $15,000.

An initial GoFundMe for a park ranger’s family has raised over $33,000 surpassing its $20,000 goal.

Their home was one of the first structures lost in the Davis Fire.  “The home belonged to the Brown family—Andy, Annie, and their three girls, Delilah (15), Paisley (13), and Ashbee (7). Andy works as a district manager and park ranger for Washoe County Parks, which gave them the opportunity to call this peaceful park setting their home,” the GoFundMe indicates.  

They weren’t home when the fire started, and by the time they heard about it, they could no longer access their house. 

One of their dogs is still missing, while another dog Jasper survived in the yard and was found.  

Another GoFundMe for the family called Help rebuild the Brown’s lives after tragic fire has raised over $5,000. 

Yet another GoFundMe, which has raised just over a $1,000 of a $150,000 goal is from JoAnna Warthan.

“Uncle Bob is an 80-year-old retired Vietnam veteran, and Diane is a compassionate soul who has dedicated decades to supporting the elderly and caring for children in Washoe Valley,” she writes. “They have both selflessly given so much to our community, offering their time and love without hesitation. Sadly, the fire has taken everything from them. They escaped with nothing but the clothes on their backs. In addition to losing their home, Uncle Bob is without his medications and hearing aids, essential to his daily life.”

All these GoFundMes can be found by searching for Davis Fire on the GoFundMe website.

Our Town Reno reporting, September 9th, 2024

Washoe County Regional Animal Services Step Up To Help Evacuated Animals

These photos from today by Kia Rastar show some of the evacuated animals now being taken care of 24/7 by the Washoe County Regional Animal Services at the UNR Equine Facility on Valley Road.

His series also includes portraits of staff working 12 hour shifts to look after the animals taken to safety here amid the raging Davis Creek Fire.

“We currently have about 30 chickens and a couple of ducks. We have 29 horses, donkeys or mules on property,” Shyanne Schull, the director of Washoe County Regional Animal Services said.

“At our small animal shelter, we have four dogs, and 11 cats. That’s at the Senior Center. We have trailers there that are set up with cages, with climate control inside those trailers.”

This type of emergency sheltering for larger animals would normally take place at the Livestock Events Center, but since she says they were having an event and full, an agreement with UNR allowed for the use of the Equine Facility instead.

The Animal Services, which usually tracks down lost animals, has also been helping with evacuation support.

Our Town Reno reporting by Kia Rastar, September 8, 2024

Evacuation Zone Narrows as Firefighters Ramp Up Battle Against Davis Fire

The Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue Twitter page which released this photo says not to expect any containment numbers initially on the active Davis Fire, as wind directions meant skies were blue above Reno this morning, and the evacuation zone was narrowed.

The Nevada National Guard has been asked to assist in the firefighting efforts with a request for additional hand crews and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.  Other helicopter drops were made in the area Saturday night.

The Davis Fire which broke out around 2:30 p.m. Saturday is reported to have already burned 1,800 acres and destroyed 12 structures, including near the Chocolate Nugget Candy Factory on Old Ophir Road in Washoe Valley and inside the Davis Creek Regional Park.

“Davis Creek Regional Park is home to a beloved campground and recreation area, and the loss is heartbreaking, but safety is our priority, and we are happy to report that all campers and park residents were evacuated safely,” Parks Superintendent Colleen Wallace-Barnum said in a press release.

The ArrowCreek Country Club area north of Mt Rose Highway has since been downgraded to an Evacuation Warning Area, but I 580 remained closed through Washoe Valley to Damonte Ranch Parkway on Sunday morning and the Mt. Rose Highway remained closed between 395 to the Mt. Rose Ski resort area.

Some areas north of Mt Rose Highway were still without power Sunday morning, while evacuations remain in effect in St. James Village, Galena and areas south of Mt. Rose Highway.  Initially power was cut for more than 16,000 NV Energy customers from Washoe Valley to South Reno. 

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office said it was patrolling evacuated areas, providing evacuation support and securing property.  

For those returning home, authorities are asking residents to use caution and stay vigilant.  

The Washoe County Senior Center at 1155 E. Ninth Street was set up as an evacuation shelter for those impacted by the fire.  Snacks, meals and sleeping accommodations were provided there last night by the American Red Cross of Nevada. 

Small pets are welcome there while larger animals can be sheltered at the University of Nevada Equine Facility on Valley Road.

The wildfire threat remains high today due to dry and gusty conditions.  “Outdoor cooking and recreational fires are prohibited,” TMFR indicated on Twitter.

Our Town Reno reporting, September 8th 2024

Washoe County Joins Naloxone Save a Life Day

"Naloxone, more well known by one of its brand names, Narcan, is an easy-to-use nasal spray that works to reverse opioid overdoses. For the first time in over 50 years of use, this formerly prescription-only medication was approved for over-the-counter distribution in 2023," the Northern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance wrote in a press release.

The organization is having Washoe County join over 30 states hosting over 300 free naloxone events today for the country’s largest annual free naloxone day to date, Save a Life Day.

There will be free training and free naloxone at The Radical Cat located at 1717 S. Wells Avenue from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight.

"In addition to wonderful staff at Rad Cat, and the volunteers who are currently working with NNHRA, community based organization Family Soup Mutual Aid will be on site to lend a hand. All attendees will receive one naloxone kit, an in-person training, and information about local resources. The organizers at Northern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance have lost too many friends and family members to fatal overdoses and are fueled by the simple value of “no more dead homies,"" they wrote in a press release.

"People who use drugs, their family members and friends, community members and anyone who wants to be prepared to save a life are welcome to get trained on September 26, 2024. The training takes just 5-10 minutes and people can show up anytime from 5-7pm. Northern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance is serving as the lead contact for Save a Life Day in Washoe County. If your organization would like to join ... for this event, to find out more, or to become a volunteer please contact outreach@nnvhra.org or to learn more about Northern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance, please visit nnvhra.org. "

Our Town Reno reporting, September 6, 2024

A Q and A with David Rondel, A Local Philosopher Thinking About Anxiety

Why did you become a philosopher? I became captivated with philosophy basically as soon as I encountered it (in 1997, as a freshman at the University of Western Ontario). Nothing else seemed even remotely as interesting to me, so I kept with it. 

In just a few words what exactly is a philosophical journey into anxiety? My book is sort of like a philosophical guide to anxiety. It’s made up of six chapters, each one of which focusses on the work of a particular philosopher or philosophical tradition with an eye toward showing how their ideas help us better understand anxiety’s nature and meaning. The “journey” idea is just a metaphor I used to thematically organize the book.

Why is your book titled A Danger Which We Do Not Know?  The book’s title comes from a line in Sigmund Freud’s work. Freud distinguished between what he called realistic anxiety, which is fear in regard to something real and identifiable, and neurotic anxiety, which is, in his words, “anxiety in regard to a danger which we do not know”. I thought that was a pretty accurate description of what the experience of anxiety is like and ended up choosing it for the title.

Was writing this book an anxious journey in itself? Interestingly, I think it had the opposite effect. Writing this book had a therapeutic payoff. Maybe it seems counterintuitive, but I think that spending lots of time reading and writing about anxiety actually helped diminish my anxiety. 

Is our collective anxiety different in any specific way in this day and age than it used to be? That’s an interesting question. I think anxiety about environmental cataclysm – what the American Psychological Association calls “eco-anxiety” – is extremely widespread these days, especially among younger people. That might be a dimension of our current collective anxiety that’s unique to the present moment. 

How did you, as a philosopher, take a different approach to anxiety than others would, including medical doctors? Adopting a philosophical perspective doesn’t require disavowing anything that scientists might tell us about the nature of anxiety: about what’s occurring in the brain when anxiety strikes, for instance. It’s just that questions having to do with anxiety’s meaning and value (about what the experience of anxiety is like and how it can change us, for better and for worse, etc.) belong to a kind of broadly humanistic inquiry that, while certainly not opposed to scientific or medical approaches, is nevertheless distinct from and non-reducible to them. If the main thrust of my book is on the right track, there is more to be learned about anxiety than what empirical science alone is capable of teaching us.

Standup comics are sometimes called modern day philosophers.  Is there a way for actual philosophers to reclaim some of that popular mainstream notoriety they used to have much more of?  It would be great if professional philosophers learned how to communicate more effectively with mainstream public audiences. I think we’re seeing more of this kind of work these days than we used to, but it’s not easy. 

If someone in Reno is not in one of your much appreciated philosophy classes at UNR, how would you suggest they go about being more philosophical and or seek more access to philosophy in their own daily lives? Great question. There are many routes into a more philosophical life. Reading is obviously a great place to begin. But films and podcasts are another route. There are also lots of great philosophy-related resources on YouTube. 

If you weren’t a philosopher, what would you be?  Honestly I have no idea. When I was a little kid I had plans to play point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. Jokes aside, if I wasn’t a philosopher, I’d probably be an academic in another humanities field – probably history or literature.

Why and where should locals go buy this interesting, thought provoking book? Anyone who is interested in learning more about what some of the great philosophers have had to say about anxiety might find this book valuable. I’m not sure if any of our local Reno bookstores are carrying the book right now, but it’s available for purchase on Oxford University Press’s website and all the usual online places (Amazon, Alibris, Barnes & Noble, etc.)

Our Town Reno Q and A, September 2024

What's That (Upcoming) Construction Project: The Arlington Avenue Bridges

In what will create more short term traffic headaches and hoped for long term improvements, both bridges on Arlington Avenue (seen here from above in a photo provided by the RTC) will be replaced starting next Spring, with at least one year of construction needed.

Both bridges are still safe but have been deemed structurally deficient due to age and repeated flooding.

The north bridge, connecting First Street to the Truckee River island, was originally constructed in 1921, while the south bridge, connecting the island to Island Avenue, was built in the late 1930s. 

The $32 million project will build bridges mostly similar to what’s currently there, with the caveat of just one pier on the north bridge, rather than the present two, but the same height to preserve the hydraulic capacity of the river, and to not impact the floodplain.  

The design consultant for this project will be Jacobs Engineering of Reno, with Granite Construction doing the bulk of the work, including in-river construction starting in July next year.

The project is a partnership between the RTC of Washoe County, NDOT, the Federal Highway Administration, the Army Corps of Engineering and the Carson-Truckee Water Conservancy District.  It got a political kickoff in mid August with U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen as well as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Reno making speeches.

"We're laying the groundwork for a better future based on a twin philosophy. First, a philosophy that says the ideas aren't going to all come from Washington. As a matter of fact, out of the 60 thousand projects we're funding, zero of those were designed in Department of Transportation headquarters; the ideas aren't going to come from Washington, but more of the funding should." Buttigieg said.

According to a DOT press release, it was part of his so-called Summer of Construction Tour to “celebrate investments made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Across the country, projects are underway to improve safety and the way people get around their communities, create new opportunities for American workers and small businesses, and strengthen our supply chains and lower the costs of everyday goods.”

The Sierra Street and Keystone Avenue bridges are also up for redos in the years ahead, while the new Virginia Street bridge had its ribbon cutting ceremony in 2016.

Our Town Reno reporting, September 2024

Immigrants of Reno: Naz from Afghanistan Blades Her Way Through American Life

Nazanin, 20, is thankful for her mom’s courage and determination, which allowed her to leave behind Taliban threats in her native Afghanistan, when she was eight, and find a new home today in the Biggest Little City.

Her father’s side of the family was unsure, but her mother, who initially took five children to Turkey was resolute. That stop though, on her perilous journey away from Afghanistan, didn’t always feel welcoming.

“They don’t like students from different countries [there],” Nazanin said of her memories of starting over in Turkey. “It was hard for me, I changed my high school three times.” 

Freedom of movement also wasn’t so easy. “If I’m going somewhere I needed to get permission from the police,” she explained of difficulties in taking in country trips there.

So despite being freer, Nazanin’s family sought even further freedom. “We came here for my school and for my life too,” she said when asked why they ultimately left Turkey. 

Upon arriving in Reno in 2022, Nazanin, who also goes by Naz, started to get a taste of the freedom she was looking for.

“Here is better,” she said, including on how she feels about general acceptance of immigrants and refugees. She mentions clothing being more comfortable. However, her adaptation hasn’t been without challenges.

Naz had no English speaking skills coming into the United States, and had to figure out how to get situated for her senior year of high school. An organization that played a pivotal role in this transition was the Northern Nevada International Center. “They helped me a lot with school and language [barriers],” Naz said. 

Naz also spoke of a local teacher who took care in meeting her where she was. “She tried helping me with language, she gave me homework, she gave me children’s books… that way I started to learn it,” she said.

Through these combined efforts and the help of a close friend, Naz overcame language difficulties, graduated high school, and began attending and working at Truckee Meadows Community College. 

At TMCC, she studied social work, while also working at their child care center. Later she also worked in food service at the Atlantis casino.

“After school I’d work three to 11 [p.m.] every day. It was hard," she said, but worth it. “Everything I’ve tried to do myself. In my life I didn’t get much help.”

After finishing her first year at TMCC, Naz is shifting gears to pursue a new opportunity with the Sierra Nevada Job Corps. There she will learn how to be a medical assistant, and sees herself bringing added value with her language skills.

“I can translate different languages, if they need it,” Naz said, sharing that she speaks Turkish, Turkmen, Farsi, English and is also learning Spanish. 

Outside of work and school, Naz enjoys being outside, ideally with her preferred mode of transportation- rollerblading. “I like to rollerblade everywhere I go. I’ve been using them for 10 years,” she said. She also shared that she enjoys singing, which she can do in six languages, more than she can speak. 

As for advice for others being resettled, Naz recommends “to see what the specific type [dialect] of the language is spoken there [where they’re going],” and to “start learning it before too, if possible.”

Naz says she has found a home in Reno. “We are in a better position right now,” she said of her family.

As for the future, she sees herself being able to pay it back to her mom, now that she’s in a position to be successful. “I will try to do everything for her, because I know she did it for me. I want to do the same thing for my mom.” 

Our Town Reno reporting by Dan Mariani