Letters

Goal to go

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

Where did this year go, anyway?

It was a mediocre year in the garden, probably my own disengagement as much as anything. I need to build a section onto my yard irrigation system that better waters the vegetable garden automatically. But it’s October, one last week and then time to rebuild the hoophouse over my garden. October, first major projects are due in my class. October, rabbit brush! October, graduate applications must have been filed. October, it’s 95word fiction time.

You know our 95-word short fiction contest? We have it every year, and every year you say, “You know, next year I’m going to write one of those stories.” Then you usually start emailing me in March asking when it’s going to happen.

The rules are simple. Write us a story that’s exactly 95 words (counted by LibreOffice, or Google Docs), excluding title. We like stories that have a beginning, middle and an end. Lots of times they say something insightful. Sometimes they make us laugh. Sometimes they tug at our heartstrings. I can’t remember a poem ever winning—so don’t bother.

Then, send the story to renofiction@newsreview.com with Fiction 2012in the subject line. I prefer it if the story is pasted into the message field of the email. Sometimes our email server kicks out emails with attachments, so if you don’t get that call for a photograph and your story doesn’t appear in this august publication on Nov. 8, well, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Of course, it might also be because the piece was just bad.

Speaking of Nov. 8— November!—I had to change the deadline for submission on this contest because initially I had us publishing the Thursday before the election. And you know, that just wouldn’t do.

—D. Brian Burghart brianb@newsreview.com

Support small colleges

Re “Higher education, lower population” (Election, Oct. 4):

In last week’s article about the Board of Regents race in District 9, I was quoted as supporting the proposed new funding formula for Higher Education. Let me clarify: I support the need to address the equity issues resulting from the old formula. However, if the new formula were implemented as proposed, Northern Nevada institutions of higher learning—rural community colleges in particular—will suffer. In the case of the rural community colleges, losses will be devastating. I view the proposal as just that—a proposal, and a platform for a revitalized discussion about the importance of high quality universities and colleges throughout Nevada. I would hope that it will serve as an occasion for Nevada’s leaders to find the means to fund higher education without sacrificing the vital missions of our great schools. I was present at the founding of Western Nevada Community College, and I taught there for 28 years. I intend to protect it as well as to work toward a glorious future for all our Nevada universities and colleges. Michon Mackedon Fallon

Too cruel

This is a letter to Tom Gorey at the Bureau of Land Management Washington office : No matter what we work for or on whose side we are—[we see online footage that] shows a horse running with a broken leg during a round up. We know accidents happen. But this is bad. You can’t possibly blow this off as just another bad luck event in the minority. If your wranglers are as professional as your agency claims, this would not happen. Trap pens would be better designed. There is a problem when horses break their necks and legs. For God’s sake, this must stop! This is America, not the third world of savagery. BLM must stop this cruel treatment and find better ways to prevent it. To you, it’s just a statistic. To this horse, it was his life, his freedom. He suffered horribly, and I cannot fathom the fact that anyone within your agency can allow such horrid mishaps. BLM must improve. Are we at least agreeable on this one part? And better sooner than later. Monika Courtney Evergreen, Colo.

Kitty time

I’m writing today to remind readers that along with brightly colored leaves, harvest festivals and cooler temperatures, fall also marks the second annual “kitten season” at local shelters and rescues. In most parts of the United States, kittens are born within a few weeks of tax day in April. They are ready to leave their mothers (if they have them) in June or July. Cats that are not spayed can have another litter in August, and those kittens are ready to be adopted in October. This large influx of cats can put excessive strain on local pet groups, who are still working to care for and adopt cats born in April. And while help is appreciated year round, now is a great time to support your local shelter, rescue or humane society by adopting, volunteering or donating resources.

As a former Director at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for three years, and with 30plus years in the sheltering community, I know a common misconception is that national animal groups are umbrella groups for pet shelters and spend most of their resources on helping care for these animals. After all, that’s what the commercials full of needy dogs and cats imply. However, HSUS isn’t affiliated with pet shelters and sends just 1 percent of the money is raises to pet shelters, according to its tax return.

Local shelters don’t just need money—they could also use supplies to help, like dog or cat food and towels. Whatever animal lovers can give, they should make sure their donations are staying local if they want to help care for pets. Diana Culp

Humane Society for Shelter Pets Frederick, Md.

Religion, politics, beer

Like everyone else, I’m getting a lot of polling calls. For many of them, you have to answer demographic questions before getting to the important stuff. And if you don’t answer those demographic questions, the robo-call gets stupid (I’ve even had a live robo-caller get stupid). I wonder, though, if all these metrics serve to emphasize and legitimize differences between us more than anything else they might be doing. It’s certainly the case that demographics are used by the campaigns, the media, and third parties to pit me against you, and us against a whole host of “thems.” I get it that demographic polling makes political ads effective and that campaigns must maximize the effect of their spending, but it’s also the primary fuel powering the engines of big-money politics and a lot of noisy talk shows. I think it’s important for the sides to ask our opinions, so I’ll be glad to answer questions about the economy, health care, how I plan to vote and why. For that, you don’t need to know anything about me other than I’m eligible to vote and I do. If you need more than that, buy me a beer sometime and we’ll chat. Michel Rottmann V.C. Highlands

Cancer in Washington

Last week, I traveled to Washington, D.C., to represent cancer patients and survivors from Northern Nevada to call on Congress to make cancer a national priority. I joined more than 600 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteers from across the country to ask lawmakers in our nation’s capital to protect funding for cancer research and prevention programs. I met with Nevada representatives, Sen. Harry Reid, Rep. Shelly Berkley, Rep. Mark Amoedi, Rep. Joe Heck, and a representative of Sen. Dean Heller, and made it clear that Congress needs to put partisanship a side on behalf of the nearly 14 million cancer survivors in the United States and more than 1.6 million people in America who will be diagnosed this year. Funding for research at the National Institutes of Health and for cancer prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and through the new Prevention and Public Health Fund must be top priorities in the federal budget. Legislation recently introduced in Congress to improve the quality of life for cancer patients must also be an important priority. By making these lifesaving programs a priority, we will ensure that progress continues in the fight against cancer.

Mark Savage Reno

Free love for half

Re “Love the ones you’re with” (Letters to the Editor, Sept. 27):

Let’s start a town where they practice polygyny. (Mormons don’t do this.) There are 100 men and 100 women. Then, 50 of the men take two wives each. Thus, 50 of the men have no place in the community, and they most likely leave (either before or after they make a run at one or more wives already taken.) Then, the 100 wives each have two children, 100 girls and 100 boys. Ignoring the fact that the men will probably take some of the girls as additional wives, that leaves 50 well connected boys with two wives each. That leaves 50 boys with no wife and no place in the community. No one spends much on educating boys with no place in the community, so the boys are taken away and abandoned, since they have no place in the community and no training or skills. Polygyny doesn’t work arithmetically. Now, the men who have two wives each normally can’t support two wives. Thus, the wives live on welfare and aid to dependent children. That means nonpolygamists support the polygamist lifestyle. That just doesn’t add up. (By the way, the things that are presented here is the way that USApolygamy actually works in the real world.) R. Richard 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 Editorial Intern Bethany Deines Contributors Amy Alkon, Amy Beck, 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 Design Brian Breneman, 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 Business Manager Grant Ronsenquist 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 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&R is 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: Priscilla Garcia Feature story design: Priscilla Garcia

Itʼ s happening in

ART ADVENTURES FOR KIDS

It’s painting, collage, clay and more! Explore different media and techniques weekly. Give your child a sound base for a lifelong appreciation of the arts. Th, 4-5PM through 11/1. Opens 9/27, $45 for six classes. Alf Sorensen Community Center, 1400 Baring Blvd. (775) 353-2385

FUN WITH DRAWING

Give your child a lifelong gift learning the fundamentals of drawing. Your child will learn value, shading and an introduction to perspective while developing techniques. Th, 5:15-6:15PM through 11/1. Opens 9/27, $45 for six classes. Alf Sorensen Community Center, 1400 Baring Blvd. (775) 353-2385

DJ LARRY WILLIAMS

DJ Larry Williams at Trader Dick’s. No cover. F, 10/12, 10PM, Sa, 10/13, 10PM, F, 10/19, 10PM, Sa, 10/20, 10PM, F, 10/26, 10PM and Sa, 10/27, 10PM. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

SCARECROW BUILDING

Presented by Linda Hollis. Come and build your own special scarecrow. Fun for the whole family. Bring your own clothes or use what’s on-hand. Sa, 10/13, 10AM-2PM and Su, 10/14, 10AM-2PM, $12 per scarecrow. Rail City Garden Center, 1720 Brierley Way (775) 355-1551

FALL POND CARE

Presented by Justin Meckley. Learn the proper tips and techniques for your pond or water feature for fall and winter. Free. Sa, 10/13, 11AM. Rail City Garden Center, 1720 Brierley Way (775) 355-1551

SCHEELS KIDS KLUB: SKIING 101

Learn tips on how to pick out the right skis and equipment for crosscountry and downhill skiing. Please meet in the Ski Shop. All kids. M, 10/15, 6PM. Free. Scheels, 1200 Scheels Dr. (775) 331-2700

PUMPKIN PAINTING

Presented by Linda Hollis. Come and make your own silly or scary pumpkin to decorate your house. Fun for the whole family. . Sa, 10/20, 10AM-2PM and Su, 10/21, 10AM-2PM, $7 per pumpkin. Rail City Garden Center, 1720 Brierley Way (775) 355-1551

LORETTA LYNN

Country music legend Loretta Lynn and opener Chuck Mead perform at John Ascuaga’s Nugget! Sa, 10/20, 8PM, $79. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

PUMPKINPALOOZA

Celebrate all things pumpkin, when the Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living kicks off PumpkinPalooza 2012. Su, 10/21, 12-7PM. Victorian Square Plaza, Victorian Ave. www.pumpkinpalooza. org

PUTTING YOUR GARDEN TO BED FOR THE WINTER

Presented by Roxanne Martin, this class will cover what you need to know to winterize your yard and garden. Plant protection, mulching, pruning, cleaning, creating micro-climates and more. Sa, 10/27, 11AM. Free. Rail City Garden Center, 1720 Brierley Way (775) 355-1551

HALLOWEEN HOEDOWN PARTY

John Ascuaga’s Nugget and KBUL Radio present Halloween Hoedown This free party will cast a spell on the Casino Cabaret from 9PM to midnight. Sa, 10/27, 9PM. No cover. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

ITCN 47TH ANNUAL CONVENTION

The Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, Inc. (ITCN) will host its 47th Annual Convention, 10/29-11/1. Opens 10/28, 8AM-5PM. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

TRICK OR TREAT SAFELY AT SCHEELS

Play games! Get candy! Have fun! Scheels would like to create a safe atmosphere for your child to trick or treat in. Wear your costumes. W, 10/31, 5-7PM. Free. Scheels, 1200 Scheels Dr. (775) 331-2700

ITCN 47TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN DANCE

Come celebrate Halloween with the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, Inc. There will be a costume contest, so dress in your scariest, most unique costume. Music. W, 10/31, 9PM-midnight. $10 at the door. Poolside Terrace Room, John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 3563300

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

Improvisational music M, 8:30PM, no cover. Sidelines Bar & Nightclub, 1237 Baring Blvd. (775) 355-1030

MUSIC AT THE MARINA

Sing for fun or compete for prizes,depending on the number of contestants, with DJ John Graham. Th, 9PM and F, 9PM. No cover. Anchors Bar & Grill, 325 Harbour Cove Dr. (775) 356-6888

JAZZ

With First Take, featuring Rick Metz. Th, F, Sa 6PM. Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, 1180 Scheels Dr. (775) 657-8659

BEADS AND BOOKS!

Learn basic beading techniques with volunteer beading expert, Jamie, and work on projects with other beaders. First Su of every month, 1-3PM, free. Spanish Springs Library, 7100A Pyramid Lake Highway, Spanish Springs (775) 424-1800

KARAOKE

ASPEN GLEN BAR

Every Sat night. Hosted by Mike Millard of Cycorockstar Entertainment. Sa, 9PM-2AM through 9/14. Aspen Glen Bar, 5215 Vista Blvd., Sparks, NV 89436 / (775) 354-2400

STEVE STARR KARAOKE

M, 8PM. No cover. Grumpy’s Sports Bar & Grill, 2240 Oddie Blvd. (775) 358-2316

SPIRO’S F, 9PM, no cover. 1475 E. Prater Way (775) 356-6000

THE ROPER DANCEHALL & SALOON Country music dance lessons and karaoke, Th, 7:30PM, no cover. 670 Greenbrae Dr. (775) 742-0861

OPEN MIC

GREAT BASIN BREWING Open mic comedy. Th, 9PM, no cover, 846 Victorian Ave. (775) 355-7711

Follow me to Sparks - where it’s happening now!

SEND US YOUR SPARKS EVENTS!

E-mail to: Sparks@newsreview.com

GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY!

CITY OF SPARKS

Geno Martini - Mayor, Julia Ratti - Ward 1, Ed Lawson - Ward 2, Ron Smith - Ward 3, Mike Carrigan - Ward 4, Ron Schmitt - Ward 5, Shaun Carey - City Manager, Tracy Domingues - Parks & Recreation Director.

Mayor and Council members can be reached at 353-2311 or Sparks City Council Chambers, 745 Fourth St.

WEB RESOURCES:

www.cityofsparks.com www.sparksrec.com www.thechambernv.org www.sparksitshappeninghere.com

THIS SECTION AND ITS CONTENTS ARE NOT FUNDED BY OR CREATED BY THE CITY OF SPARKS

THIS MODERN WORLD BY TOM TOMORROW BIG HE ADERS GIZA 25pt 25k SMALL HE ADERS GIZA 15pt 55k (60% OF BIG HE AD)

BIG HE ADERS GIZA 25pt 25k by Dennis Myers Biggest tech change SMALL HE in your lifetime?

Asked at Archie’s Restaurant, 2195 No. Virginia St.

Brent Boynton

Journalist The microprocessor. It’s made everything possible from personal computers to the systems that control commerce, recreation ... . That’s cheating a little bit because it’s allencompassing. It includes, email, internet, everything. It’s all possible because of the microprocessor.

Kody Crist

Waitress The IPad, I guess. It’s easier to carry around than a laptop. It’s smaller. I don’t use it as often as when I first got it. Every once in a while.

Elect Sheila Leslie

The candidates for Nevada Senate District 15, Republican Greg Brower and Democrat Sheila Leslie, both served as assemblymembers in the 1999 and 2001 Nevada Legislatures.

Thereafter, Brower was defeated for reelection and then returned to the 2011 Legislature as an appointed senator.

But those first two sessions when Leslie and Brower served side by side are enlightening.

During those two legislatures, Brower won enactment of four measures. One dealt with hospital districts. Another gave legislators who were also attorneys greater entitlement to stays of court proceedings during legislative sessions. Another dealt with how bills are paid by fire protection districts. And the last declared “Silver State Fanfare” the official state march.

During those same two legislatures, Leslie won enactment of measures dealing with detox treatment, stalking, requirements for utilities to disclose information to consumers, requirements for school districts to accommodate parental involvement in schools, providing home energy assistance to low-income Nevadans, screening of newborns for hearing problems, allowing arrests for domestic abuse to be made at any hour (state law previously limited such arrests to daylight hours), expanding workers injury insurance coverage to contagious disease exposure in the workplace, providing increased access for patients to their medical records, allowing employers to obtain court protection orders against harassment in the workplace, providing loans for nursing students and also requiring planning for increasing the capacity of Nevada nursing training, expanding admissibility of expert testimony in domestic abuse cases, prohibiting intimidation and harassment in public schools and providing information to students, major changes in Nevada gambling regulation, providing aids to members of the public making anatomical gifts, prohibiting racial profiling and ordering statistical study of profiling.

What’s at issue here is not just volume of legislation. It’s also the nature of that legislation. Leslie was concerned with matters of greater moment, of more direct impact on the lives of Nevadans.

When Brower returned to the Legislature a decade later, he won enactment of two resolutions memorializing deceased Nevadans, a measure covering distribution of fees for veterans’license plates and a measure dealing with vending stands in regional transportation facilities.

At that same Legislature, Leslie won enactment of legislation on eminent domain, state policy on the disabled, car ignition interlock devices in drunken driving cases, availability of records of abused and neglected children, alternative energy, prison mediation, designation of autism protocols, coordination of energy projects with wildlife concerns, protection of children in foster homes—well, you get the point and we’re running out of room to list all of Leslie’s accomplishments.

The stark contrast between Brower and Leslie is no accident. Leslie functions well in a parliamentary process where members must work well with colleagues. Brower is distant and detached.

This race isn’t even a close call. Brower was appointed to replace legislative giant William Raggio, and if Washoe County is to reclaim the kind of influence Raggio brought to the seat, there is only one choice.

We urge the election of Sheila Leslie. Nevada cannot afford the loss of such a tireless achiever. Tori Riggs

Waitress The IPhone. I use it all the time. Like, I use the maps a lot. I moved here last year so I didn’t know my way around. IPhone got me everywhere. I use it to Google things. I don’t have a camera. I just use [the IPhone]. I do my banking through it.

John Desaw

Machine technician That is a hard one. It would be manufacturing processes, perhaps. I can’t say anything about an IPhone because I don’t have one. I don’t have a cell phone. Everybody pounds on me on a daily basis: Get a cell phone, get a cell phone, get a cell phone.

Carol Scott

Teacher My Blackberry. I can do anything with it. It’s like something from Star Trek. I use it mostly for communications. I like it because it’s instantaneous. I like everything fast.