HERITAGE Magazine - Fall 2021

HERITAGE PEOPLE, HOMES AND HISTORY of Old Southwest Reno

IN THIS ISSUE TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS A new, independent mobile bookshop

HISTORIC OFFICE SPACE Meet neighbor Marilyn D. York

NEW LOCAL HANGOUT Old Southwest Social House opens

HERITAGE Fall 2021

EDITOR/DESIGNER/PUBLISHER

Patrick Turner

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Leaves are turning!

There’s a nip in the air, the days are

WRITERS/EDITORS

getting shorter, and leaves are starting to

Alissa Turner Kaitlyn Turner

show their Fall colors. It’s a great time to

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Patrick Turner Jon Roanhaus ADVERTISING

To advertise in HERITAGE e-mail info@heritagemagazine.org or call 775-560-5505 ©2021 HERITAGE. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Products and services advertised are not necessarily endorsed by HERITAGE, its affiliates or partners—questions and complaints should be forwarded directly to the advertiser. Editorial correspondence can be sent to info@heritagemagazine.org.

be a resident of Reno’s Old Southwest!

I continue to be motivated and heartened by the feedback each issue of this magazine brings. Following the summer 2021 issue, I heard from two of Dan Campbell’s sisters who were alerted to the profile of Dan I shared. They were so happy to learn about the article memoralializing their beloved brother that they requested numerous additional copies to share with Dan’s surviving siblings. I’m happy that the memory of Dan was shared.

I’m excited to present the next issue of HERITAGE. In this issue you’ll meet attorney Marilyn York, learn about a new neighborhood eatery, find out how you can disavow the discriminatory language in your CC&Rs, and check out an interesting new way to find something great to read.

The idea for this magazine came from a desire to create a publication

COVER PHOTO

that celebrates everything Reno’s Old Southwest has to offer. As always, if there’s something you’d like to see included in a future issue of the magazine, please let me know by e-mail: info@heritagemagazine.org.

I hope you enjoy this issue of HERITAGE. Sincerely,

Patrick Turner, Publisher

P.S. See more from HERITAGE on Facebook and Stately brick home at 850 Walker Avenue, originally built in 1938.

Instagram. Just search for Heritage Magazine.

Photo: Patrick Turner

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HERITAGE PEOPLE, HOMES AND HISTORYof Old Southwest Reno

IN THIS ISSUE

7 Taking Reading to the Streets A dream became reality in the form of an independently owned mobile book shop.

8 Meet Attorney Marilyn D. York The well known men’s rights attorney has had her office in the historic William Graham residence on Gordon Avenue since 2009.

10 Your Direct Line to the City of Reno Get to know Reno Direct, an easy-to-use platform for connecting with City resources and information.

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13 The New Neighborhood Hangout Old Southwest Social House replaces Truckee River Bar & Grill as the new local’s dining establishment.

14 Disavowing Discriminatory CC&Rs County Commissioner Alexis Hill is paying fees for homeowners who wish to disavow discriminatory CC&R language.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3 RD 7:00 PM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 T H 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 TH 2:00 PM Gather the family for a true holiday tradition. The Reno Phil and conductor Jason Altieri invite you to the Spirit of the Season, a classic holiday celebration full of orchestral arrangements, jazzy numbers, traditional holiday tunes and carols.

Choose from four showtimes wrapped in fantasy and fun for the whole family!

A HOLIDAY TRADITION | DECEMBER 3-5

How do you science?

Science Distilled, the informal lecture series created by Desert Research Institute and The Discovery, makes cutting-edge science approachable through intimate and interactive presentations on current and curious topics held at hip locations in a social atmosphere.

Find an upcoming event at sciencedistilled.org

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THINGS TO DO

Taking Reading to the Streets Finding your next favorite book just got a little easier thanks to a new business you might see parked around town, likely next to a selection of food trucks. Golden Owl Bookshop is a new, independent mobile book shop that offers a wide selection of books for readers of every age.

Golden Owl Bookshop started as an idea conjured by a young Broden McClelland. He was just nine years old when he approached his mom, Alex, with the idea for a mobile bookstore. In school, Broden read a story about a boy who put together a similar book shop in a double-decker bus in Europe. As a book lover himself, he thought it was a great idea!

Golden Owl began operation in May 2021. The mobile book shop is housed in a sleek, black box truck, but don’t let the somewhat industrial nature of the vehicle dissuade you. Inside you’ll find a very nicely appointed shop complete with wood flooring, serenely painted walls, area rugs and a tremendous selection of books.

Although Broden doesn’t run the bookshop daily, he is still involved as much as he can be. He provides input on books for middle grade readers, helps input new

inventory into the computer and get it on the shelves, assists in cleaning between events, and when it doesn’t conflict with school or other responsibilities, he loves to be in charge of the cash register.

When asked about plans to grow the business, Alex said, “We did contemplate opening up a physical stationary store, but real estate/leasing options are pretty astronomical right now, so we chose to put that on hold for the time being. We do have a second truck that we will begin building out after October with the intent of having a ‘children’s-only’ book truck that can serve schools and other organizations in the form of book fairs.”

If you’re looking for your next good read, look no further than Golden Owl Bookshop. Each week’s locations can be found on their Instagram account, but if social media is not for you, you can also see upcoming locations on their website at goldenowlbookshop.com. And you can also share your love of reading with friends and family by making a reservation to include Golden Owl Bookshop at your next special event.

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MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR

Attorney Marilyn D. York Many of us call Reno’s Old Southwest home, but the neighborhood is also home to a few businesses as well.

Many businesses have converted former homes into office space, retaining the charm of the neighborhood while also creating a comfortable work environment.

One such business is the law firm of Marilyn D. York.

Marilyn’s office is located at the corner of Gordon and California Avenues, in a Tudor Revival home originally built in 1928 for William Graham who lived there for 40 years. The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Prior to the firm’s current location, Marilyn’s office was across Gordon Avenue in another former residence that has since been replaced by the recently constructed building that houses Desert Wind Homes.

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Marilyn bought the firm’s current office in January 2009.

She had always loved the building’s architecture and dreamed of owning it someday. She jumped when she had the chance to buy it and took the opportunity to design and decorate it to accommodate the firm’s needs while keeping as much of the original detail and 1920s style as possible. When asked what drew her to the neighborhood initially, she said it was the charm of the area, but also the proximity to nearby courthouses.

Marilyn’s Nevada roots run deep. Her father was born and raised in Fallon, where her paternal grandparents started the first Grade A dairy in the state and owned and operated York Meats for more than 30 years.

Fallon’s York Lane is named for her great grandfather.

Born in California, Marilyn has lived in Reno since 1989

William Graham residence built in 1928, home to the offices of attorney Marilyn York. Photo: Jon Roanhaus, Wikipedia

when she moved here from San Jose. She attended Swope Middle School, Reno High School and the University of Nevada, Reno. Upon graduation from the University, she moved to Los Angeles for law school.

She graduated early—in just two years – and then began doing high-end Hollywood divorces before coming back to Reno to open her own practice in 2000.

Marilyn’s firm is well known for its controversial advertising. The firm solely represents men in divorce proceedings, so their advertising portrays a side of divorce that isn’t often considered. Marilyn says that while the firm’s ads can be controversial, their primary goal is to grab the audience’s attention. Marilyn’s creativity with the ads sets them apart from other firms.

Regarding the advertising, Marilyn said, “We don’t consider our ads to be ‘scandalous,‘ but we’re exclusively a men’s and father’s rights firm with a

passion for it, and that shows in our advertising.”

When asked why she chose to focus on representing men in divorce, Marilyn said, “We represent men because they need us! Men are still underdogs in family court, and they need strong women to advocate for them. We don’t represent men to hurt women! That’s not what our practice is about. Children need both of their parents whenever possible.”

Marilyn loves calling Reno home. When asked what she likes about the community, she said, “I love that everyone here knows everyone within a few degrees of separation. This keeps people honest. There is no real anonymity here, so the true nature of our community – good and bad – is just a few people or acts away from being known.”

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COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Your Direct Line to the City of Reno In a city of nearly 250,000 people, connecting with city services can be a challenge. It can also be challenging for city government to help residents locate services and other resources intended to improve quality of life.

To help alleviate this disconnect, the City of Reno offers Reno Direct, a non-emergency service designed to assist residents with code enforcement, finding city services, submitting service requests, and locating general information.

If you’ve ever wondered if the City of Reno could address an issue of concern to you – an abandoned vehicle, graffiti, a pothole – Reno Direct is a valuable tool for connecting with the appropriate city resource to get your issue resolved.

Using Reno Direct’s online portal is easy. Simply visit the City of Reno’s website at reno.gov and click on the “Report an Issue” link under Services. Next, enter the address associated with the issue or drag the yellow indicator to the appropriate location on the map. In the

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next step you’ll choose a category for your issue. There are many categories to choose from, so be sure to read through the entire list. Once you choose the category, you’ll see a full description of that category’s intended use. When you’re certain you’ve chosen the appropriate category, you’ll then describe the issue and upload photos if available (highly recommended to clarify your request) and then click “Create Request.” If you don’t already have an account, you’ll be prompted to create one. Doing so allows you to keep track of the requests you’ve submitted and receive updates on your request(s) by e-mail, telephone or text.

As a citizen, having an easy-to-use platform for alerting the City to issues you feel should be addressed is quite helpful. It also gives the City a way to communicate directly with you on the status of your requests. If an internet-based platform is not for you, you can still contact Reno Direct. Just call 334-INFO (4636). Help is available 9:00am to 4:00pm weekdays.

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FOOD & DRINK

The New Neighborhood Hangout Since 1985, the quaint little Village Shopping Center on California Avenue has been home to Truckee River Bar & Grill, a local’s favorite. Nestled between CVS and the coin operated laundromat, the grill served classic America fare and cocktails. Sadly, Truckee River Bar & Grill closed in September 2020. Then, in September 2021, the space reopened and is now home to another eatery known as Old Southwest Social House.

Gone is the dingy, cigarette-soaked interior of the former establishment. The new decor is a cross between sports bar and retro-chic. Seating is a mix of comfy booths and high tables with stools. There are plenty of TVs to gaze at while you’re waiting for your food. One carryover from Truckee River Bar & Grill is the bar, complete with video gaming machines.

The menu is diverse and loaded with interesting items.

The list of starters includes wings, truffle fries, bacon and Brussels sprouts, and a very unique “Trash Can Nachos” served in a rather tall tin pitcher. There is also a collection of salads, plenty of things termed “between the buns,” and even a slightly Americanized version of Poutine. Oh, and there are desserts, too!

If you’re looking for a new local hangout for lunch, dinner or just a cocktail, give this place a try. You never know which of your neighbors you’ll run into. And who knows, if this place catches on, maybe it’ll become the place to be seen at lunch on a weekday like Truckee River Bar & Grill used to be.

Old Southwest Social House is open 11:00am to 9:00pm, Monday–Thursday and 11:00am to 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday. You can preview the menu on their website at oswsocialhouse.com.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Disavowing Discriminatory CC&Rs It’s a little-known fact, because not many people read their conditions, covenants and restrictions (CC&Rs), but many of these documents related to properties in older neighborhoods like Reno’s Old Southwest contain discriminatory language. The language was usually meant to prevent people of color from owning or occupying a home in that neighborhood.

The discriminatory language is fairly common in CC&R documents for homes in older neighborhoods in Washoe County and elsewhere throughout the state.

The language dates back to Nevada’s earliest days as a state. The Civil Rights Act, passed in 1968, voided the policies and practices described in the discriminatory language, so it is commonly found in documents for neighborhoods built before the Act was passed.

Thanks to Nevada Senate Bill 117, passed in 2019, homeowners have the ability to disavow the language in the CC&R documents associated with their home. To do so, homeowners can file a document called a “Declaration of Removal of Discriminatory Restriction” with the Washoe County Recorder’s office. Filing the form with the County does not make changes to the historical records, but it does allow the homeowner to officially disavow the discriminatory language associated with their property.

In 2019, when Senate Bill 117 was passed, Washoe County Recorder Kalie Work said, “The enduring language of segregation and discrimination sends an outdated and harmful message to our community. I am pleased Senate Bill 117 addresses these stains of racism and seeks equality for all Washoe County residents.”

Normally, to file the form with the County, homeowners must pay a $43 fee. However, Alexis Hill, elected to the Washoe County Board of Commissioners in 2020,

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Alexis Hill, Washoe County Commissioner

recently announced that she will cover the fees for homeowners on these filings using her discretionary County funds.

In an article on ThisIsReno.com Hill said, “We want to get the word out that this is something people can do.

It’s definitely something that’s needed.”

The Declaration of Removal of Discriminatory Restriction form is available via a link on the home page of the Washoe County Recorder’s website at washoecounty.gov/recorder or by calling 775-328-3661.

As Seen in the Neighborhood Did you capture a great photo from around the neighborhood?

Share it by tagging HERITAGE on Facebook or Instagram, or by using the hashtag #HeritageMag.

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HERITAGE PEOPLE, HOMES AND HISTORY of Old Southwest Reno

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