Damonte Ranch Magazine September 2025

FALL 2025 | VOL 1, ISSUE 3

DAMONTE RANCH Magazine

INSIDE Introducing Equus Management Group Wetlands & Waters at Damonte Ranch What’s Happening - Fall Events THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF DAMONTE RANCH PUD

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THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF DAMONTE RANCH PUD FALL 2025

CONTACT Inquiries, concerns, requests to the

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Board or Committees: Damonte@EquusManagement.com Equus Management Group 5480 Reno Corporate Dr. #100 Reno, NV 89511 775.852.2224 P | 775.852.4901 F Office/Emergency: 775.852.2224 Damonte Ranch Community Manager Jeff Gardner Damonte@EquusManagement.com 775.852.2224

IN THIS ISSUE

Published by CCMedia Publishing

4 Welcome

775.548.6562 | www.cc.media

6 Introducing Equus Management Group

peggy@ccmpublishing.com

7 JWood Raw Elementary - Principal’s Note 8 Association Explained - Landscape Maintenance Update 10 Association Explained - Drainage District Update 12 Slim Chickens Opens in Damonte Ranch 14 Wetlands & Waters at Damonte Ranch

Cover Photo

By Kendra Hills

16 Set Up for Success: How Young Adults Can Prepare to Buy a Home 18 What’s Happening - Fall & Winter Events 20 Sub Association Directory

Damonte Ranch Board of Directors, on its behalf and for the Association, disclaims responsibility for the content of any articles not authored

22 Impostors Among Us 24 Like Mother, Like Daughter: The American Dream, One Generation at a Time 26 Recipe From Your Neighbor

by Board members, community volunteers, or employees. Articles of general interest on subjects reported or discussed at public Board meetings published in the magazine are the responsibility of the residents.

DR 3 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE PUD | Fall 2025

WELCOME. I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the first signs of fall in Damonte Ranch. As the Board President, I would like to share some updates from our community.

We are pleased to welcome Equus Management Group to the Damonte Ranch Landscape Maintenance Association and the Damonte Ranch Drainage District and Trade Center. Their team brings extensive experience in community management and a strong commitment to responsive service. They will be partnering with the Damonte Ranch Service Company by providing homeowner support and keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. Jeff Gardner, our community manager and Chief Executive Officer of Equus Management Group, will serve as your primary point of contact. We believe that this transition will enhance communication, improve efficiency, and strengthen the overall support provided to homeowners in Damonte Ranch.

As always, our Board remains committed to maintaining the quality, safety and value of our community. We appreciate your continued engagement and support. Your feedback and insight are appreciated and welcomed. We are planning not just for today, but for the years ahead. One of the Board’s main responsibilities is ensuring assessments are managed wisely and used responsibly. To keep up with rising costs of services, ongoing maintenance, and long-term reserve items we will continue to review the budget carefully with Equus and will keep you informed well in advance of any changes. Our goal is always to keep an increase as minimal and predictable as possible, just as we have in the past.

Thank you for being an important part of the Damonte Ranch community. We look forward to a smooth transition with Equus Management Group and successful season ahead. Wishing you a happy and colorful fall season.

TomDiLoreto

Tom Di Loreto, Damonte Ranch Board President

DR 4 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

LAUGH OUT LOUD.

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Sam Morril is one of the fastest-rising stand-up comics and one of the best joke writers on the scene today. Morril can be heard on the podcast We Might Be Drunk with co-host Mark Normand.

Tickets available for both shows. Don’t miss these incredibly funny comedians.

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INTRODUCING EQUUS MANAGEMENT GROUP If you have not yet received your login credentials, the Equus team is ready to help. Simply reach out at Damonte@EquusManagement.com for assistance.

INTRODUCING EQUUS MANAGEMENT GROUP As of August 1st, Equus Management Group is proud to officially take over management of the Damonte Ranch Landscape Maintenance Association (LMA), Damonte Ranch Drainage District (DRDD), and the Damonte Ranch Trade Center (DRTC). This new partnership marks an exciting chapter for the community. Equus is

committed to delivering the highest level of service, ensuring smooth operations, and strengthening the sense of connection within Damonte Ranch.

Easy Access for Homeowners - All homeowners now have access to a secure online account. With just a few clicks, residents can: • View account balances • Make payments • Stay informed with community updates • View important HOA Documents • Communicate with Management

A Seamless Transition - To ensure continuity, all beginning balances and credits were carefully transferred from prior management.

This means homeowners can expect to see ledgers online match their prior account balances seamlessly. Should you have any questions regarding your account, please contact Damonte@ EquusManagement.com.

Looking Ahead - Most importantly, we want to extend a warm welcome to the Damonte Ranch community as part of the Equus family. We are excited to work alongside residents and businesses to support, enhance, and celebrate life in Damonte Ranch.

Jeff Gardner, CEO, Equus Management Group

DR 6 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

PRINCIPLE’S

CORNER

JWOOD RAW ELEMENTARY SOARING INTO YEAR THREE WITH PRIDE & PURPOSE

By Jonna AuCoin, Principle, JWood Raw Elementary School

As JWood Raw Elementary launches into its third school year, the energy on campus is unmistakable—our community is more connected, focused, and inspired than ever before. With over 600 students (AKA Jags) in Pre-K through 5th grade, we are proud to be a place where academic excellence meets innovation, and where every student is encouraged to dream big.

At the heart of our mission is our unique aviation focus, which was born from the legacy of our beloved namesake, Mr. JWood Raw. A lifelong educator who dedicated 37 years to public education, Mr. Raw was also a passionate adventurer and founding member of the Junior Ski Program. He believed in living life to the fullest and inspiring

students to reach new heights— both figuratively and literally. To honor his spirit of exploration, boldness, and love of learning, our school chose aviation as a signature theme that captures his essence.

We are proud to be the first elementary school in the district to house two fully operational flight simulators, giving our JWood Jags hands-on experience with the science of flight and the thrill of aviation. From learning about aerodynamics in the early grades to engaging in STEM-based projects and robotics in upper grades, our program inspires curiosity, confidence, and a vision for the future.

JWood Raw encompasses a powerful sense of community.

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Our motto this year, “Better Together,” reflects our belief that strong relationships—with students, families, and staff—are the foundation of success. Every day, we live out our P.R.I.D.E. language: Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Empathy.

These values are embedded in all we do and help guide our students to become not just learners, but leaders.

As we enter this exciting third year, JWood Raw Elementary stands as a place where dreams take flight— both because of where we’re going and who we honor along the way.

At JWood Raw, the future is bright— and we’re just getting started.

ASSOCIATIONS EXPLAINED THE DAMONTE RANCH LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE UPDATE The landscape maintenance of the LMA common area is funded by the homeowners. Of the funds collected, a portion are utilized for yearly maintenance operations and a portion are reserved for long term maintenance requirements. Every year as the budget allows, a portion of the collected fees are also designated for improvements to the existing landscape. The available funds are typically utilized to revitalize areas in decline due to long term stress to the plant life, infiltration of weeds, and to remove grass in some areas to reduce water usage and help keep the irrigation water off the roadways. As shrub areas are revitalized drip irrigation is replaced and rock mulch is installed to deter weed growth.

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Generally, the improvement funds are distributed to certain areas on a rotating basis. This year some of the funds were designated for an area along Rio Wrangler Parkway near the intersection of Steamboat Parkway. This area needed attention to replace nonoperating drip irrigation, deter weed growth and to improve the overall appearance of the street. This year we also plan on upgrading the areas on Veterans Parkway northbound to the south and north of the Rio Wrangler intersection. The overall plan is to retrofit Veterans Parkway south of Steamboat to bring it into conformance with the newer landscape sections while replacing dead and dying shrubs and to add rock mulch to deter weed growth over the next few years.

We are also looking at replacing the sod in the median entries to individual subdivisions this year. They would be retrofitted like the entry on Summer Glen. The number of entries to be retrofitted will be determined by budget this fall. This next year Veterans Parkway, north of Steamboat Parkway, will receive upgrades to

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DR 8 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

some of the areas in decline. Tree pruning, removal and replacement throughout the ranch will begin and continue in the next few years as budget allows.

We have been attacking the salt grass that grows within many of our planters. We are seeing improvement with an overall goal to eliminate the growth. Once this is accomplished and verified as viable we plan on

retrofitting many of the areas on Rio Wrangler affected by the weed growth. Improvements will always be ongoing and completed as yearly as the budget allows, rotating throughout the development.

As many have endured the Steamboat widening construction it is now coming to a close. There are a few landscape and irrigation items that need to be attended to, this will occur in the next few weeks, it will not affect traffic.

Checkups?

Urgent Needs?

We’re Just Minutes Away From minor injuries and sudden illness to long-term care at your annual checkup, we offer the care you need, in your neighborhood.

Our urgent care and family medicine providers are available to keep your family healthy.

Urgent Care: Reserve a time at nnmg.com, or walk-in 7 days a week.

Family Medicine: Schedule your annual visit today, call 775-352-5300 or visit nnmg.com.

For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website. 253190533-3192636 8/25

DR The Official Magazine of Damonte Ranch PUD | 9

ASSOCIATIONS EXPLAINED The Damonte Ranch Drainage District (DRDD) believes that it is in the best interest of the Damonte Ranch community for the mosquito abatement treatments to continue to be performed. Therefore, DRDD has contracted with an outside vendor to perform the treatment in the next few weeks within Damonte Ranch.

Once the treatment has been completed, the Damonte Ranch area will continue to be monitored.

We hope you have been satisfied with the efforts performed. Please contact Equus Management with any questions or comments.

DAMONTE RANCH DRAINAGE DISTRICT UPDATE Mosquito Abatement Northern Nevada Public Health announced recently that they have postponed aerial mosquito treatments and Damonte Ranch will be impacted by this decision.

For information from the Northen Nevada Public Health Organization scan this QR code.

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DR 10 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

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SLIM CHICKENS OPENS IN DAMONTE RANCH BRINGING BOLD FLAVOR & BIG COMMUNITY SPIRIT South Reno’s food scene just got a little tastier! Slim Chickens has officially opened its second Northern Nevada location in Damonte Ranch near RC Willey, Home Depot and Safeway on Steamboat Parkway. Featuring always made fresh, Southerninspired menu accompanied by charity & community support.

Grand Opening After much anticipation, Slim Chickens Northern Nevada’s second location opened in South Reno on July 28th. In honor of the occasion, Slim Chickens Northern Nevada donated $4,500 to the local Reno Police Department K9 Unit. The Reno Police Department’s K-9 Unit has been serving our community for over 50 years and relies heavily on community donations.

Global Brand, Local Impact Since opening its first Northern Nevada location in Sparks in

2023, Slim Chickens has been on a mission to serve more than just meals. The brand’s South Reno location is expected to employ nearly 100 local team members, offering convenient, high-quality dining while strengthening the local economy.

In 2025, Slim Chickens Northern Nevada was recognized with the Life Changing Chicken Community Involvement Award during the Slim Chickens global brand’s annual conference. Slim Chickens Northern Nevada was selected as first annual recipient of this prestigious award after a nomination process open to the over 300 Slim Chickens franchises worldwide.

The Life Changing Chicken Community Involvement Award celebrates the incredible ways Slim Chickens franchise groups give back to their communities each year.

In 2024, Slim Chickens Northern

DR 12 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

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Experienced Leadership The force behind this local success is Roy Perez, a seasoned entrepreneur with more than 40 years of experience. Perez emphasizes work/life balance and community engagement within his team. He opened his first business at 23 years old while attending Sacramento State University, and throughout his tenure as a business owner, he has successfully developed and grown multiple businesses to profitability. He has also created dynamic opportunities to welcome new guests, build meaningful connections, and drive both sales and guest loyalty by establishing his restaurants as a hub for community engagement.

General Manager Christina Wagner has played a pivotal role in the successful launch of both Slim Chickens locations, overseeing everything from staff hiring and

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training to operational setup and day-today management.

Her leadership, dedication, and indepth knowledge of the brand have been instrumental in establishing strong teams and ensuring smooth openings that reflect the company’s commitment to quality and customer service.

Through the leadership of Perez and Wagner, Slim Chickens has been devoted to serving the local community through charity and by creating an exceptional employee experience.

The restaurant offers its famous crispy tenders, flavorful wings, house-made dipping sauces, fresh salads, sandwiches, wraps, and indulgent jar desserts with dine-in, takeout, drive-thru, and online ordering options.

Come by and experience what’s making Slim Chickens the new go-to spot in South Reno: delicious food with a side of heart.

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WETLANDS & WATERS AT DAMONTE RANCH

By Lori Carpenter, Senior Professional Wetland Scientist

▼ Ranch Raptor

It began as an idea. Could urban wildlands co-exist within a mixeduse development? Could the watershed function of wetlands and floodplains be reconnected?

Could trails and parks replace typical amenities? Could we create and construct an area to stimulate the next group of biologists and scientists while providing quality avian and wildlife habitat? The answer is yes.

This will be the first article of seven about the incredible habitat surrounding our homes, offices and businesses.

You’ll learn how we started with eight avian species and now we have over 120! Today we’re providing an avian list (page 15) and will be publishing pictures of these avian neighbors that live outside.

Did you know that Damonte Ranch hosts the largest nesting population of white faced ibis (Plegadis chihi)

DR 14 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

▼ American White Pelican

◄ American Bittern

American Avocet American Bittern American Coot American Crow American Kestrel American White Pelican American Wigeon Ash-throated Flycatcher Baird’s Sandpiper Bald Eagle Bank Swallow Barn Owl Barn Swallow Black-billed Magpie Blackbird sp.

Black-crowned Night-Heron Black-necked Stilt Blue-winged Teal Brewers Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Bufflehead Burrowing Owl California Gull California Quail Canada Goose Canvasback Cattle Egret Cinnamon Teal Clark’s Grebe Cliff Swallow Common Goldeneye Common Loon Common Merganser Common Nighthawk Common Snipe Common Yellowthroat Double-crested Cormorant Duck sp.

Eared Grebe European Starling Finch sp.

Forster’s Tern Gadwall Golden Eagle Great Blue Heron Great Egret Great Tailed Grackle Greater Scaup Greater White-fronted Goose Greater Yellowlegs Green-backed Heron Green-winged Teal Gull sp.

Hooded Merganser Horned Lark House Finch House Sparrow House Wren Killdeer Least Sandpiper

▲ Cattle Egret

this side of the Stillwater Wildlife Sanctuary? Did you know that the Damonte Ranch wetlands are hosts to nontropical migrating songbirds? Stay tuned for this and more. The nature outside our door is of regional significance and in the background there is a group of dedicated scientists and engineers that monitor, maintain and ensure this grand experiment stays a regional example. We could not do this without all of you. Your diligence in watching these areas and keeping them safe for wildlife is appreciated. Thank you!

▲ Blackbird Sp.

▼ Musckrat

Lesser Golden Plover Lesser Scaup Lesser Yellowlegs Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Dowitcher Mallard Marbled Godwit Marsh Wren Merlin Mourning Dove Northern Harrier Northern Flicker Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Passerine sp.

Pectoral Sandpiper Pied-billed Grebe Prairie Falcon Raven Red-breasted Merganser Redhead Red-tailed Hawk Red-winged Blackbird Ring-billed Gull Ring-necked Duck Rock Dove Ruddy Duck Sandhill Crane Sandpiper sp.

Savannah Sparrow Says Phoebe Semipalmated Plover Sharp-shinned Hawk Shorebird sp.

Snow Goose Snowy Egret Snowy Plover Solitary Sandpiper Song Sparrow Songbird sp.

Sora Sparrow sp.

Spotted Sandpiper Swainson’s Hawk Swallow sp.

Tree Swallow Tundra Swan Turkey Vulture Virgnia Rail Western Grebe Western Kingbird Western Meadowlark Western Sandpiper White crowned sparrow White-faced Ibis Willet Wilson’s Phalarope Wilson’s Snipe Wood Duck Yellow-headed Blackbird

Ms. Lori Carpenter is a senior wetland professional scientist with 30-years of experience. She grew up in Nevada and holds a Master of Science degree in Hydrology/Hydrogeology and undergraduate degrees in Surface Water Hydrology and Chemistry. She is proud to be your resident wetland scientist with a house on the trail. She is both a state and regional wetland expert. She has also worked internationally in Haiti, Vietnam, India and Mexico on wetlands for water quality improvement.

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SET UP FOR SUCCESS HOW YOUNG ADULTS CAN PREPARE TO BUY A HOME

By Kevin Areia “The Mortgage Mechanic” NMLS-1732389 and Damonte Ranch Resident

A practical guide for teens And twenty-somethings with big goals High school and college prepare young adults for a lot of things—algebra, essay writing, maybe even how to file taxes. But one major life goal that rarely gets covered?

How to become a homeowner.

As a local mortgage advisor, I work with many parents who want to help—but more importantly, I work with young people who are motivated to take ownership of their future. And the truth is, you don’t have to wait until you’re “ready to buy” to start preparing.

Here are five real-world steps that teens and young adults can take now to make that future dream a reality:

1. Start Building Credit Early—Responsibly Your credit score is one of the biggest factors in qualifying for a mortgage. That means what you do at 18 can affect your buying power at 28.

Practical Tip: Open a student credit card or become an authorized user on a parent’s card. Use it for small, regular expenses (like gas or groceries), and make payments on time, every time. Try to keep your credit usage under 30% of your limit—and carry a small balance (typically less than 10%) to show responsible use of credit over time.

2. Set Up a “Future Home Fund” Saving for a down payment might seem impossible, but it starts with habit—not amount. Creating a separate savings account labeled “future home” gives your money a purpose and keeps it out of easy reach.

Practical Tip: Set up an automatic transfer of even $25 per paycheck.

If you get birthday money, a tax refund, or a bonus, toss a portion into that fund. With compounding savings and consistent effort, you’ll be amazed at what builds up over a few years.

DR 16 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

3. Know the Power of Steady Employment Lenders typically want to see two years of steady income. This doesn’t mean you can’t switch jobs, but bouncing around or long employment gaps can make qualifying harder—especially if you’re self-employed or on 1099 income.

5. Learn the Language of Home Buying The homebuying process comes with its own vocabulary—terms like “preapproval,” “escrow,” and “loan-to-value ratio” can feel like another language.

Understanding the basics ahead of time helps you feel more confident and avoid confusion later.

Practical Tip: Keep records of W-2s, pay stubs, and offer letters. If you’re self-employed or working gig jobs, track your income with invoices and bank deposits. The more clear and verifiable your income is, the stronger your application will be.

Practical Tip: Look for a free first-time homebuyer class—many local mortgage advisors and housing agencies offer webinars or workshops that explain the process in plain language. Or check out reliable sources like HUD.gov or Fannie Mae’s HomeView program. Just 30 minutes of learning can give you a major edge.

4. Understand the Basics of Budgeting Homeownership isn’t just about affording a mortgage— it’s also about being prepared for things like utilities, maintenance, taxes, and insurance.

Practical Tip: Practice ‘living like a homeowner’ by setting a pretend rent budget—even if you still live at home. Use the extra to pay off debt or grow savings. Apps like Mint or YNAB (You Need A Budget) can help make this habit stick.

Final Thought Buying a home might feel like something far off, but like any big goal—it’s the little, consistent steps that get you there. Whether you’re 18 or 28, building a strong foundation now will give you options later. And that’s what financial freedom is all about.

Kevin Areia is a nationally recognized Mortgage Advisor. Known for his expertise, transparency, and results-driven approach, Kevin and his wife Stefanie have proudly called Damonte Ranch home since 2010 and raised both of their children here.

DR The Official Magazine of Damonte Ranch PUD | 17

WHAT'S HAPPENING! FA L L & W INTE R EVE NTS

kick off the Thanksgiving festivities with some exercise before enjoying your holiday meal. Idlewild Park, 2055 Idlewild Dr, Reno, NV 89509. Start Times: 10K: 9am, 5K: 9:10am, 1 Mile Walk: 9:15am.

ONGOING The Riverside Farmers Market is Reno’s truly local market, with all vendors growing, raising, or making their goods within the tightest possible radius around Reno.

OCTOBER 11 & 12 - 43rd Annual Great Italian Festival: Experience Italian culture with food, entertainment, and a wine walk at the Eldorado Reno.

31 - Nevada Day: Our state holiday - celebrating Nevada’s admission to the Union!

Nevada Day Parade: takes place in downtown Carson City on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, starting at 10am.

NOVEMBER 11 - Reno Veterans Day Parade: The City of Reno hosts its annual Veterans Day Parade downtown on November 11th at 11:11 a.m. The parade route is along Virginia Street between 6th Street and Liberty Street.

27 - “Wobble Before You Gobble” is a popular Thanksgiving Day run/walk event held in Reno, Nevada. A great way to

29 & 30 - 29th City of Reno Annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Lights Festival. Gather around the BELIEVE sign 7pm for the lighting of the official Holiday Tree at Reno City Plaza. Shop locally-made gifts, listen to classic holiday tunes and grab a bite during the two-day Holiday Lights Festival, 4 - 9pm.

DECEMBER 6 & 7 - Magic of Santa Craft Faire: Wonderful handmade crafts from over 90 local crafters. Reno-Sparks Convention Center, 4590 S. Virginia St., Reno.

13 - Reno Santa Crawl: Join thousands of Santas taking over downtown Reno on Saturday, December 13th for this popular event. Your crawl cup gets you specials at over 40 venues. Start location is behind Rum Bullions in the Silver Legacy. 8pm – 2am.

DR 18 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

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SUB ASSOCIATION DIRECTORY Community Management Information: Damonte Ridge HOA Equus Management Matt Kramer 775.852.2224 Matt@EquusManagement.com Dorado HOA Terra West Melissa Montes 775.853.9777 Dorado@TerraWest.com Esplanade HOA Western NV Management Kara Kite 775.284.4434 KKite@WesternNV.com Ivesia HOA Associa Sierra North Justin Harkey 775.626.7333 JHarkey@Associasn.com

DAMONTE RANCH SUB-HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS Most neighborhoods within the master planned community of Damonte Ranch are part of a Sub-Homeowner Association. Sub-Homeowner Associations are separate from the LMA and DRDD. Each association has its own board of directors, architectural process, budget, governing documents, rules, assessments, etc. In the event that a neighborhood has not formed a formal Homeowners Association, there are Supplemental CC&Rs that apply to the property (these would have been provided with closing documents).

La Casata HOA Equus Management Malissa Ochoa 775.852.2224 Malissa@EquusManagement.com

Fantastic Big Island Hawaii Vacation Awaits!

Located in Mauna Lani on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii, this 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath single level home on the Mauna Lani golf course is a delight. Complete with discounts to play the 2 Mauna Lani Auberge Golf courses. The indoor / outdoor living, and fully equipped kitchen will keep you coming back year after year.

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DR 20 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

SUB ASSOCIATION DIRECTORY New Edition I HOA Associa Sierra North Cyndi Fehler 775.626.7333 CFehler@Associasn.com

Saddle Ridge HOA Associa Sierra North Lauren Hill 775.626.7333 LHill@Associasn.com

New Edition II HOA Anchor Management Julie Thompson 775.230.8531 JulieThompson@AnchorManagement.net

Stepping Stone Place HOA Equus Management Shalynn Mendoza 775.852.2224 Shalynn@EquusManagement.com

Regency at Caramella Ranch HOA Nevada Community Management Kimberly Turner 775.515.4242 Kimberly@nvcm.com Regency/Presidio HOA Equus Management Matt Kramer 775.852.2224 Matt@EquusManagement.com

Terreno HOA Associa Sierra North Melissa Hollins 775.626.7333 MHollins@Associasn.com The Village at Esplanade HOA Associa Sierra North Lindsay Gauger 775.626.7333 LGauger@Associasn.com

DR The Official Magazine of Damonte Ranch PUD | 21

Sub Association Spotlight Attention association board members— this is your place for all that’s happening in your association! Send in your articles and high resolution photos to Cassandra DiLoreto at cassandra@diloretoreno.com

addresses. What I am talking about is more sophisticated and the type of scam that is on the rise across the country, including Northern Nevada. In fact, Imposter scams are the number one category of scams reported to the FTC last year.

On May 14th of this year, Law Enforcement Officers from multiple agencies arrested two individuals from Fresno, California who had come to Reno in order retrieve a package they believed contained $213,000 worth of gold.

Unfortunately, the 64-year-old victim from Truckee, CA had already lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold bullion prior to the sting operation. Had the victim not come forward, who knows how many other people would have victimized.

But why would anyone fall for this? “I would never be dupped into doing this”, you may say to yourself. But these scammers use multiple tactics including fear, intimidation, and pressure to get you to hand over your assets. One version of this scam is that you receive a call from your bank, someone who may pretend to be a fraud investigator. They tell you that you are a victim of an inside job of employees at your bank that are trying to steal your money. They tell you that you can’t call

IMPOSTORS AMONG US

By Steven Kline

We all have gotten those texts about unpaid tolls, traffic fines, undeliverable packages, etc. from organizations that attempt to appear to be legit but upon any closer look come from overseas numbers or long weird email

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DR 22 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

the bank because they don’t know who all is involved.

They then connect you with someone who pretends to be a Federal Agent (FBI, IRS, US Marshals, etc.) that is investigating this alleged crime. They instruct you that to keep your assets safe you must liquidate them into cash, gold, or other precious metal. These “Agents” also tell you that you can’t tell anyone otherwise you may be charged with interfering with a law enforcement investigation.

Or they may tell you that they are sending agents to your house or have you meet “Agents” at a public location to hand over your assets for safe keeping until the investigation is over, they may even have you mail your assets to a “safe house” in another state. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), American consumers lost an estimated $789 million in 2024 to these types of imposter scams, which is twice as much as the City of Reno’s annual General Fund.

How to Protect Yourself • NO financial institution, tech support service, or government entity will instruct you to liquidate assets.

They will NOT instruct you to purchase gold, or other precious metals. They will NOT send a courier to your residence or public location to pick up said funds.

• If you receive a call, email, text message or respond to a computer pop-up from anyone requesting you to liquidate your assets to protect them – HANG UP, DO NOT RESPOND. Verify information through formal phone numbers found on official websites.

• DO NOT disclose your home address or agree to meet with unknown individuals to deliver cash or precious metals.

• DO NOT click on unknown pop-ups, links or attachments sent via text or email.

• DO NOT download software onto your device that will allow someone access to your computer.

Victims are encouraged to file a police report with their local law enforcement agency.

If you think you are a victim of imposter scams or think you may know someone who is, you can report it at the Internet Crime Complaint Center https://www.ic3.gov or the Federal Trade Commission https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ Steven Kline is a local Reno resident, retired military veteran, and is currently serving with a law enforcement agency in Northern Nevada.

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LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

THE AMERICAN DREAM, ONE GENERATION AT A TIME better for those around them. From restaurants to grocery stores, laundromats to apartments, farming to group care homes, daycare centers to nutrition stores, real estate, and now wellness, if it serves people, chances are the Childers family has done it, and done it well.

Kirsten Childers caught the entrepreneurial spark early, opening her first business at just 21, then expanding at 23. She later stepped into the family’s various ventures before finding her stride as a successful Reno–Tahoe Realtor. Her first solo leap into the health and wellness space came through owning nutrition stores, a passion that planted seeds for the future.

Today, that future shines in the next generation. At only 25, Kirsten’s daughter, Alyssa, has taken the torch and blazed her own path. After facing serious health challenges that conventional medicine couldn’t solve, she turned to a holistic, natural approach—transforming her own health and, ultimately, her life. Now a certified wellness coach, Alyssa has made it her mission to help others reclaim their vitality and live fully.

Entrepreneurship runs deep in the Childers family. For generations, they’ve been more than business owners...

They’ve been community builders in Northern Nevada, filling needs, creating opportunities, and making life

Together, this mother–daughter powerhouse is launching Total Bliss Wellness in South Reno this fall.

Their shared philosophy is simple yet profound: Wellness isn’t a trend, it’s a lifestyle. As Kirsten says, “If you don’t have your health, you have nothing.”

Whether you’re looking to recharge, feel deeply rejuvenated, or simply carve out intentional time for yourself, Total Bliss offers a curated experience for mind and body. Guests can enjoy infrared saunas, cold plunges, red light therapy, halotherapy, compression therapy, steam saunas, and wellness coaching—all designed to help you feel your absolute best every single day.

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To learn more and follow the journey to the Grand Opening, visit www.totalblisswellness.com.

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You don’t only deserve wellness... you deserve to find your Total Bliss.

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DR 24 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

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5452 Reno Corporate Drive, Reno, NV | 775.245.2426 | renotahoederm.com The Official Magazine of Damonte Ranch PUD | 25

RECIPES

A RECURRING COLUMN WHERE A RESIDENT SHARES A

FROM OUR NEIGHBORS FAMILY RECIPE OR A FUN TWIST ON A LOCAL FAVORITE. One of their very popular dishes is the much loved “Banana Foster Waffle”.

For this recipe, you will need a waffle, a medium-sized banana sliced into coin shapes, and banana foster sauce.

It is also easier to use a 2 ounce measuring cup or spoon.

To make the banana foster sauce, mix the following four ingredients: 4 ounces of butter 2 ounces of brown sugar 2 ounces of vanilla syrup A pinch of cinnamon Cook the ingredients in a pan until they turn into a golden brown caramelized sauce (be careful not to overcook). The sauce should be like a glaze and not too thick.

Gently pour the banana foster sauce over the top of the prepared bananas and waffle.

Banana Foster Waffle Peg’s Glorified Ham n Eggs is a family owned and operated restaurant. It has been a local favorite and voted best breakfast each year since 1999.

Lastly, you can also add some powdered sugar or whip cream on top. Enjoy!

DR 26 | DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE | Fall 2025

FastER Care STARTS HERE 2 ERs in South Reno

Sierra Medical Center

• Open 24/7

6500 Longley Lane

• On-site lab draws • Diagnostic Imaging (CT, X-ray, Ultrasound)

• Shorter wait times*

An Extension of Northern Nevada Medical Center (Corner of Longley Lane and Double R Blvd.)

Reno, NV 89511 ER at Damonte Ranch An Extension of Northern Nevada Medical Center

1041 Steamboat Parkway (Next to Safeway Damonte Ranch)

Reno, NV 89521

Scan the code to request a time at ER at Damonte Ranch if you have a non-life-threatening illness or injury.**

In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. *Wait times may vary. ** You should request a time only if you decide your care can wait until the time you select. Do not wait if your symptoms or conditions worsen or if you need care immediately since delays may complicate your condition. If you are unsure of your condition or if your condition worsens, then please go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northern Nevada Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website. 253190617-3193597 8/25

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DENVER, CO PERMIT #5377

DAMONTE RANCH MAGAZINE 985 Damonte Ranch Parkway, Suite #310 Reno, NV 89521

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