12 minute read
News
from Jan. 10, 2013
On the nose
“Anyone who has had norovirus will tell you that for the first half of the illness, they are worried they might die, and during the second half, they are worried that they won’t die,” says Randall Todd, division director of epidemiology for the Washoe County Health District. The hearty virus recently took aim at 19 schools in Washoe County, sending home approximately 2,500 children, teachers and staff. The schools were thoroughly cleaned over the holiday break, and school officials hope the virus has been eliminated. Depending on humidity, temperature and even something as benign as vacuuming, the norovirus can live on surfaces for several days. All it takes is for someone to touch a doorknob, desktop, crayon or volleyball that has the virus living on it, then touch their face or eat food without washing their hands, and norovirus spreads once again. The virus causes vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. If carpets aren’t thoroughly cleaned after a vomit incident, the vacuum can actually throw the virus into the air, where anyone can inhale it. According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), approximately 21 million people in the U.S. catch norovirus every year. There are no treatments, except rest. To prevent further spread, those infected should stay home until all symptoms have stopped for at least 72 hours.
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Alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not kill the virus. Washing hands with warm water and soap will remove the virus, and a bleach and water solution will kill it. Because some people are sensitive to the smell of bleach, there are other products that also kill norovirus. To avoid infection, wash hands after every bathroom use, diaper change or before eating.
Don’t hang up
The elections are over, and all of those annoying robocallers are on break until 2016. However, there is one kind of robocall that cell phone users may want to get—the reverse 911 call that alerts you to dangers in your specific neighborhood. For example, during the Caughlin Ranch fire in the fall of 2011, people who lived in that part of town wanted to know if they had to evacuate.
According to Aaron Kenniston, emergency manager for Washoe County, a recent test of the new Code Red System showed that many homes no longer have a landline. Instead, people are opting to use a cell phone for their everyday phone service.
“In the next two to three years, cell phone companies will be making cell phone technology compatible with our existing 911 system,” says Kenniston. “That way, it won’t matter if you have a landline or just use a cell phone, we will be able to reach you in times of an emergency.
In the meantime, Kenniston asks that cell phone users simply register their phones by going to www.readywashoe.com and click on the Get the Message icon. He says users will not be contacted unless there is a danger in their neighborhood.
“Some people are hesitant to register with us, or they get upset because they have an unlisted phone number,” Kenniston said. “There are no unlisted phone numbers when it comes to our 911 system.” Police and fire are going to roll to a home even if someone dials 911 and hangs up. So register today, or wait until technology catches up. Either way, the information could save lives. -Tracie Douglas
Meet the new bosses
Reno’s newest City Councilmembers talk about their hopes for 2013 and beyond
The Reno City Council is starting 2013 with four new, optimistic, high-energy By councilmembers. They each have Tracie Douglas some of their own ideas of what they would like to see happen in the city, but for the most part, they are walking in lockstep about what is most important. First, they have been going through orientation, spending time in each department of the city. Next, they will attend a planning session on Feb. 5, where all ideas will be placed on the table for careful consideration by the full council.
Neoma Jardon Reno City Councilmember
Jenny Brekhus, Ward One
“I want to make sure the house is in order,” states Jenny Brekhus. “It’s very big, and I want to look at everything to make sure everything is being done efficiently.” Even though the budget for fiscal year 2012/13 has been in place since July 1, 2012, there are items that will come before the council for approval. Brekhus wants to know the who, what, why, when, where and how of every city expenditure to determine its necessity. Brekhus doesn’t go so far as to say the city’s house is out of order, but she wants to make sure the council knows just where the money is being spent.
Brekhus is casting an eye to all of the city’s outstanding debt, especially those incurred by the baseball park, bowling stadium and events center. “I also want to look at the assets and see how they are performing for us,” she adds. She points to the facts that loans were cheap a few years back, and now everyone seems to struggle to make payments. She uses the Silver Legacy as an example of the current downtown struggle, which she believes paints the picture for everything else.
The city of Reno has dropped from a high of 1,642 employees in 2007 to 1,107 currently. Brekhus is not opposed to hiring new employees, but she wants to make department heads realize they are going to have to prove their case before she signs off on any personnel additions.
Brekhus is also concerned with the issue of deferred maintenance of older city properties, and writing in appropriate maintenance agreements in any new projects. “All you need to do is go into our police department on Second Street to understand that some of our buildings are in bad shape.” She also pointed out that the few city pools left are highly used and must be well maintained for the citizens, and that the sewer treatment plant is also in need of help.
New councilmember Hillary Schieve, right, and Emily Durr inspect clothes at Schieve’s business, Plato’s Closet. Schieve would like to see other areas of Reno developed similarly to Midtown.
Hillary Schieve, At Large
“I want to make Reno known as the most business friendly-city in the U.S. by streamlining what it takes to get a business license and doing away with the red tape that currently exists,” says Hillary Schieve. She wants to see new businesses spring up in existing city space, and has a vision for building more areas around Reno that resemble Midtown.
It hasn’t taken long for Schieve to learn that it’s very difficult to make people happy while on the City Council. “We have to make priorities that make sense for everyone, and I’m learning to have a thicker skin.” While Schieve says there’s no such thing as a “good councilperson” school, she knows that while the learning curve is steep, it’s just a matter of time until she’s comfortable with the process.
Schieve believes it’s a good idea to bring together the resources of local businesses, the University of Nevada, Reno, and members of the Washoe County Commission to help build business downtown. “We have such great resources right at our fingertips, and we really need to use them,” Schieve says.
Also aware of the decline of employees over the past few years, Schieve is concerned that using city funds for capital projects could cause more loss of staff. “I hope not to lay off any people,” she says. “We have to have our priorities, and staff provides the services our customers need.”
Oscar Delgado, Ward 3
“It’s not the priority of the city of Reno to take on everything presented, nor should it be,” says Oscar Delgado, when discussing how to restructure the debt issues facing the city. Delgado sees working with the Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NABs) as one way to get the community more involved in taking action in their neighborhoods. He has seen how community non-profits and other agencies have worked together in the past and believes that could be a key to success in Reno.
Delgado is optimistic about the new council and like the other new members, is at the end of his orientation. He is interested in working with the union contracts to see if the unions and the city can get on the same page. “We have to have priorities so that we do not overreach at the expense of police and fire.”
He is also looking forward to the upcoming strategic planning session. Working together with the city staff and fellow councilmembers to build a list of priorities is high on his list. “I’m excited because having four sets of new eyes look at these issues is going to be good for the city.”
Neoma Jardon, Ward 5
“Good customer service comes from the department heads down to the staff, and I want to see the city of Reno have the best reputation in the country for good customer service,” says Neoma Jardon. She’s not keen on bringing in outside companies to teach customer service because it makes sense to her that everyone within city government should treat each other with the same respect they should be giving the customers.
Jardon also wants to make the process for obtaining a business license clear, convenient and inexpensive. “Our counter staff should be bending over backwards to foster great customer service because we already have a great tax structure,” she adds. “Doing business with us is easy, and we should make it a smooth and enjoyable process.”
All four new councilmembers are enthusiastic and excited to get started with the job at hand. They all agree that the city of Reno must look at all ways to bring in new business to stimulate the economy and to be vigilant about the debt that the city already carries. Ω
Hillary Schieve Reno City Councilmember
presents
italian americans
Where’s the meth?
Reno police detectives discuss the finer points of the ramifications of carrying illegal drugs with a gentleman at the bus stop on the corner of Center and Liberty streets. According to Ron Chalmbers, Street Enforcement Team (SET) supervisor, methamphetamine is a huge problem on Reno streets, and the removal of any and all meth from the streets is one of the team’s goals. SET is partially funded through a federal grant.
From Sand Lots to the Major Leagues
January 17–May 19, 2013
Italian Americans have become some of the most celebrated players in baseball — DiMaggio, Berra, Rizzuto, Lasorda, LaRussa, Zito. ’s documentary exhibition honors their contributions and those of 450 others who have left a lasting imprint on the game.
FREE ADMISSION 12 to 5 PM Thursday through Sunday
Grand Opening Celebration All Of January
- Every Thursday - Ladies Free
Doors open at 8pm / $5 cover Featuring Cliff Notes & friends from Jellybread playing a mix of funk, soul and roots rock followed by R BOOGIE AND MO
Every - Friday & Saturday - Salsa Club
(Free Salsa lessons on Friday from 9-10pm) Featuring local favorites DJ Mario and DJ Zorro playing the hottest mix of Salsa, Cumbia, Bachatta, Reggaton, Merengue and more.
*VIP bottle service available
555 East 4th St, Reno • BodegaNights555@gmail.com
Hold the salt
The chemicals used in commercial salt spread on the ground to melt ice often end up in water and subsequently food supplies intended for human and animal consumption, according to water quality scientists. Known as “ice melters,” the salt—often white, blue or reddish in color—can be more harmful than helpful. While the products work effectively to make sidewalks, driveways and streets safer to walk on, pets can ingest the salt and become ill. Gardens, too, can be contaminated when the snow melts. According to the Journal for Surface Water Quality Professionals, some states, including California and Nevada, “restrict road-salt use in certain areas to reduce chloride injury to roadside trees.”
If it’s absolutely necessary to melt the ice near homes or workplaces, environmental publication Grist suggests looking for “pet-friendly” rather than “eco-friendly” formulas. Ice melter companies have been known to greenwash—claiming that a product is environmentally sustainable when it’s not. But products safe for pets generally means that it’s digestible, although the America Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals encourages pet owners to keep an animal’s exposure minimal, even to pet-friendly options.
But scientists have also discovered that beet juice is an effective ice melter. When mixed with brine—using sea salt or table salt mixed with water—it can be sprayed onto the ground, and while significantly more time consuming, has a similar effectiveness. Beets can melt ice in temperatures as low as minus-20 degrees.
Gold goes green
California is ready to lead the march toward large-scale sustainable infrastructure in the U.S., according to a Washington Post editorial that referred to the effort as “California’s climate-change experiment.” California is launching a greenhouse gas (GHG) capand-trade program which “covers major sources of GHG emissions in the State such as refineries, power plants, industrial facilities and transportation fuels,” according to the California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board. But so far, it’s mostly a solo act. The Post’s editorial expresses concern about the “potential problems that flow from the fact that California is acting alone. As with any market, the bigger a carbon market is, the more efficient it is. But the group of Western states that were going to join California in creating a linked carbon market have not followed through.” The editorial is referring to the Western Climate Initiative, formed in 2007 by California, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon and Washington. Nevada was considered an observer, but not an official partner, of the initiative.
-Ashley Hennefer
ashleyh@newsreview.com
ECO-EVENT
You don’t need a geodesic dome greenhouse (see Green, right) to create a nourishing home garden. Learn how to grow food in small spaces at a workshop hosted by the River School Farm. Tom Stille, a River School Farmer, will show techniques for sprouting, growing micro-greens, and potting some favorite vegetables. Jan. 27, 2-4 p.m. $15 in advance, $20 to drop in. Register by emailing office@riverschoolfarm.org or call 747-2222.
Got an eco-event? Contact ashleyh@newsreview.com. Visit www.facebook.com/RNRGreen for more.
