Letters

We’re live. You’re the Best.

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

Guess what! The Biggest Little Best of Northern Nevada went live on Monday. It was a soft launch, first announced on our Facebook site www.facebook.com/RenoNewsReview, for reasons that may or may not eventually become clear. We’ll have many up-to-the-moment announcements on our Facebook page, so you probably want to befriend us now. For the last few years, I’ve looked at the community and decided on an area that I thought deserved a certain amount of extra attention, a little highlighting in our annual popular search for community. For example, last year, it was the Latino part of our community and readership.

This year, though, I want to focus on the Midtown District, which includes businesses in the area bordered by Liberty Street, Plumb Lane, Holcomb Avenue and Plumas Street. I mean, to be honest, if there is one section of town that is flourishing when many sections of town are struggling with “closed” signs, it’s Midtown—block by block, storefront by storefront, building by building.

I think it’s Midtown’s “do or die” sentiment that is moving that area of town forward. And it’s that very same philosophy that has moved many of our past winners into the rarified atmosphere of “Reno’s Best.”

It’s a beautiful thing, really. In that section of town, friendly competition and cooperation has improved the bottom line for many businesses and individuals.

The usual rules will apply. We want everyone to campaign for the top spot, but we’ve gotten pretty sophisticated with catching cheaters. For example, last year, we had a botnet attack from India, which resulted in some 4,000 votes getting disqualified. So if you’re human, vote. If you’re not human, don’t vote. For non-Facebookers, check www.newsreview.com/reno/ ballot/bestofreno2012 .

And with no further adieu, let the bloodbath begin. Our readers’ poll will be conducted through Aug. 3. We’ll publish our results on Aug. 9. —D. Brian Burghart brianb@newsreview.com

Hmm

Re “Wet and wild” (Editor’s note, June 14):

The reason some of your garden plants didn’t suffer damage due to the freeze is “latent heat of condensation.” When liquid water vapor changes into ice (a solid) the water moves to a lower energy state. Thus, the energy is released as heat, either into the air or onto a surface where the freezing is taking place (your plants). The heat release is about 80 calories per gram of water. The plant receives water, the heat and also an insulating coat of ice.

This heat transfer and the insulation effect are well known in agriculture. By the way, the effect works only in a limited range and time of freezing. For a limited time, the temperature of the ice doesn’t drop below 32 degrees F, even if the air temperature goes lower. R. Richard Reno

Off truck

Re “Totally trucked” (Feature story, June 7):

I’ve always been in admiration of my fellow Renoites who strive to make our community a more diverse and well-rounded city against all odds. These are the pioneers of Reno who have the heart and ambition to make this city an exceptional place to live. The women who run Gourmelt are two of these pioneers.

They had the drive to create an event for the purpose of uniting their colleagues and boosting Reno’s food scene.

Unfortunately, another group’s sense of entitlement and greed has caused this unnecessary feud. Of course the Reno Food Truck Friday is not an original idea. Many cities worldwide hold similar events. However, I would like to validate RFTF’s disappointment by saying that Reno Street Food has acted inappropriately by creating the same event with the same concept, time and place. Sure, business is business, but this city is far too small and connected to be stepping on the backs of others.

Treating your fellow community members with disrespect because you think you can and because you believe you are more important than them will not get you very far in this tight-knit community. There are good people here trying to do good things. This kind of behavior will catch up to them some day. Marie McElroy Reno

Cock crows

Which major country is out-smarting America? Here we are trillions in debt. We’re like that car rocking on the edge of the cliff and just a feather would send us over the edge. Whats going to happen is not a feather, but a boulder is coming, and that boulder is Europe.

Greece falls, then maybe Italy. They owe us money, we owe China money—a ripple effect. China calls our notes. The U.S. dollar is worth nothing at that point. We keep producing less, exporting less, importing more and continue to offer entitlements and going further in debt. China sells us widgets we don’t need and loans us the money to buy them.

Wake up, America! Michael David Arp Reno

Running dialog

Who is this Lori Santos? Why does her letter get in RN&R and not mine?

She says that addiction is an illness and not a moral judgment. Who is she trying to fool?

Of course it’s a moral issue. You have to have respect for yourself not to take drugs. Poeple who take drugs have no respect for themselves. Of course it’s a moral thing. [Perhaps] she’s trying to divert attention because she has a member or members of her family who are into drugs.

This is typical of irresponsible people. They want the community to clean up what their own lazy asses start.

This is where our money goes, listening to these deadheads.

And then she tries to compliment the community by saying that they are wonderful and knowledgeable to further candycoat her argument and get what she wants.

This is how socialism starts.

I was in jail and this fellow down at the end was complaining that he needed a program to get off drugs.

You know what the guard told him? You’re getting that now, shut up. René D. Bravo Reno

Swing low

Re “Dada rock” (Arts & Culture, June 14):

The hoopla for the Nada Dada motel art show is forthcoming; I’m commenting not about the art or the project, but on the ironic unawareness that emits from the local “scene.”

I was at the Nevada Museum of Art First Thursday last week. Atall dude was wearing an even Taller Top Hat with an Art Dada promo sign on it. There were Dada handouts, kilts, the works. Yet the kitschy and unique “Caution: Low Motel Sign” street sign, not far from Dadaville on West Second Street, has gone unnoticed, and it is in deteriorating condition.

I wrote in about this once after the Olympic (5 rings) Motel sign piece in the RN&R—yet the “low” sign just withers away. Maybe the art/burner crowd could get their own council member elected, and save this icon. I mean, if Toni Harsh once put up silly “feel good” signs around California Avenue, why isn’t this one-of-a-kind caution sign worthy of posterity? Or are we all just “Too Tall?”

Steve Klutter Sun Valley

Rodeo clowns

If rodeo cowboys could be rodeo animals for only one day and be broken and bridled, saddled and spurred, caged and corralled, gelded and branded, scared, frightened to bolt and run, chased, lassoed and stretched, hog-tied and wrestled to the ground, and made to jump, buck, turn and kick, only to be slaughtered someday, charbroiled and eaten as a steak, why sonny, I’ll bet ya two bits, the rodeo would be no more.

Then, rather than a wave of a cowboy hat, and a “yee ha, yippity yi yeah” there would only be a quiet whinny, the soft cry of moo hoo hoo, and a wag of many tails. Michael Ahles Reno

Feed me, take my money

Re “Totally trucked” (Feature story, June 7):

I recently moved back to Reno and was excited to hear about Food Truck Friday as part of First Fridays. I went down to the first one and found the two-to-three hour lines. I’m never going to wait that long to buy food from a food truck, no matter how good the food is reported to be.

I was very happy when I heard the food trucks would be downtown every Friday instead of just the first Friday. This would allow more people to partake and would alleviate the crowds that caused such long waits. It wasn’t until I saw the article in RN&R that I realized these events were being put on by different groups. As a consumer, I really don’t give a rat’s ass who puts the event on, and I really don’t understand the childish behavior and finger pointing.

If you didn’t think of putting on the event every Friday and someone else did, then boo hoo. Let us consumers enjoy the event without the political crap behind the scenes spoiling it.

Keith Deutscher Reno

Our Mission To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages people to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Editor/Publisher D. Brian Burghart News Editor Dennis Myers Arts Editor Brad Bynum Special Projects Editor Ashley Hennefer Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Photographer Amy Beck Contributors Amy Alkon, Megan Berner, Matthew Craggs, Mark Dunagan, Marvin Gonzalez, Bob Grimm, Michael Grimm, Dave Preston, Jessica Santina, K.J. Sullivan, Bruce Van Dyke Design Manager Kate Murphy Art Director Priscilla Garcia Associate Art Director Hayley Doshay Editorial Designer India Curry Design Brennan Collins, Marianne Mancina, Mary Key, Skyler Smith, Melissa Arendt Art Director at Large Don Button, Andrea Diaz-Vaughn Advertising Consultants Gina Odegard, Matt Odegard, Bev Savage Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay Office/Distribution Manager/ Ad Coordinator Karen Brooke Executive Assistant/Operations Coordinator Nanette Harker Assistant Distribution Manager Ron Neill Distribution Drivers Sandra Chhina, Jesse Pike, John Miller, Martin Troye, David Richards, Warren Tucker, Matthew Veach, Neil Lemerise, Russell Moore General Manager/Publisher John D. Murphy President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Chief Operations Officer Deborah Redmond Human Resource Manager Tanja Poley Business Manager Cassy Valoleti-Matu Credit and Collections Manager Renee Briscoe Business Zahida Mehirdel, Shannon McKenna Systems Manager Jonathan Schultz Systems Support Specialist Joe Kakacek Web Developer/Support Specialist John Bisignano 708 North Center Street Reno, NV 89501 Phone (775) 324-4440 Fax (775) 324-4572 Classified Fax (916) 498-7940 Mail Classifieds & Talking Personals to N&R Classifieds, Reno Edition, 1015 20th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or e-mail classifieds@newsreview.com Web site www.newsreview.com Printed by Paradise Post The RN&R is printed using recycled newsprint whenever available. Editorial Policies Opinions expressed in the RN&Rare those of the authors and not of Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact the editor for permission to reprint articles, cartoons or other portions of the paper. The RN&Ris not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. All letters received become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to print letters in condensed form. Cover design: Hayley Doshay Feature story design: Priscilla Garcia

THIS MODERN WORLD BY TOM TOMORROW

Elect Diane Nicolet

You know why newspapers wait until close to the election to endorse candidates? One reason is that the candidate who is not endorsed generally will not advertise with the newspaper. It’s money. Another is that after the endorsement, the unendorsed candidate assumes all coverage will be biased against him or her, and so he or she often refuses to discuss unrelated issues.

Screw that. The race for School Board Trustee District E is a great example of why newspapers should occasionally have the guts to eschew advertising dollars. Here’s why: The candidate who is eminently qualified for the position appears clueless as to how to get her message out. She’s never been a politician. The career politician who isn’t even qualified to be a substitute teacher in Washoe County Schools took 3,030 votes in the primary.If he had gotten 444 more votes out of the 6,947 cast (50 percent plus 1), he would have won the election without a runoff—based only on his name recognition. It was an injury narrowly averted.

We’re going to help her get her message out. This has got to be an election about qualifications and experience. Diane Nicolet has a doctorate in educational leadership. She has a master’s degree in education. She has 17 years teaching children. Currently, she’s the director of the E.L. Cord Child Care Center. She’s raised her own children and is a grandmother.

Dave Aiazzi has a two-year degree from Truckee Meadows Community College. He has raised children and is a grandfather. He’s an expert in bureaucracy, not education.

This is not personal. Aiazzi has often done a very good job at the Reno City Council and on many boards and commissions. He’s a great guy—huge for the arts over the years—but he’s not the right guy for this job. Washoe County has a great opportunity with Nicolet. In fact, the idea that Aiazzi saw her infinitely superior qualifications and didn’t step out of the race—for a job where other people’s children will be affected by his lack of knowledge—suggests he’s not in it to improve Washoe County schools for us citizens, but to keep his name in the public ear for a future elected position. This has got to be People in Washoe County often lament the poor graduation rates an election about and lack of quality in our educaqualifications tional system. We’ve gotten this way by not demanding that the and experience. people who make choices for our school system be qualified to make informed choices. Not every elected position requires a certain background experience—for example, Reno City Council can be run quite efficiently by people with non-political life experience—but few thoughtful people would vote for a high school dropout for the Nevada Supreme Court. We want people who are experienced and even accomplished with the law. We believe the person who has enough respect for education to bother to get one is the person who should be sitting on the school board. In November, elect Diane Nicolet to the position of School Board Trustee for District E. Ω

How was your school experience?

Asked at Java Jungle, 246 W. First St.

George Kepner

Food server I went to school in Southern California back in the late ’80s, early ’90s. Graduated in ’91. … On the whole it was a good experience. When I grew up, public education was a little bit more in the forefront of government funding and whatnot, so we had a lot better studentsper-teacher ratio.

Lisamarie Wand

Real estate agent I loved high school. I was friends with lots of different groups of people, and I was active in sports and activities in school, and I did great. I had good grades. Most of [the teachers] were really good. There’s always that one or two that you can leave behind.

Cassidy Brown

Sales associate Went to high school and honestly thought it was joke. … Teachers really don’t care about the students. I think it’s because they get paid way too little. So their lack of ambition is affecting the students.

Aimee Giller

Community relations manager My school experience was amazing. Very fortunate. I grew up in Las Vegas. I went to a school my mother taught at. It was in my neighborhood. We could walk to and from school. I had great teachers, very involved, cared about what I did. High school, I went to another local school and just—played volleyball, softball, student council. I really enjoyed my teenage years.

Gabrielle Myers

Teacher Middle school was difficult. I was made fun of [laughs], but high school was great. I enjoyed it. I went to an all-girls school in Washington, D.C. The teachers were great. I loved my English teacher in particular. She sparked a lifelong passion for writing and reading that I still [have] today. I teach English part time at the college level because of that experience.