The 1st African-American City Attorney for the City of Las Vegas

BRYAN K. SCOTT

Bryan K. Scott has resided in North Las Vegas and Las Vegas since April 1970. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Management) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1988 and a Juris Doctorate degree from Northwestern School of Law, Lewis and Clark College in 1991. An Attorney since October 11, 1991, he has worked for the City of Las Vegas since August 5, 1996 and is currently the City Attorney for the City of Las Vegas. During his time with the City of Las Vegas, Scott has practiced in the areas of General Civil Litigation, Special Improvement Districts, Condemnations, Land Use, Zoning and Planning, Ethics, Marijuana Regulation, Public Records and the Open Meeting Law. From 1996 to 2005 he served as a Deputy City Attorney. From 2005 to 2016 he served as the Assistant City Attorney. From 2016 to 2020 he served as the Senior Assistant City Attorney. On June 17, 2020, Scott was unanimously ratified by the Las Vegas City Council as the 23 rd and first African-American City Attorney for the City of Las Vegas in the city’s history (119 years).

From 1991-1993, Scott was an Associate Attorney for Donald J. Campbell &Associates (NKA Campbell & Williams) and an Associate Attorney for Rawlings,Olson, Cannon, Gormley & Desruisseaux (now known as Olson Cannon Gormley & Stoberski) from 1993-1996.

From 2006 to 2009 and from 2010 to 2018 Scott was a member of the State Bar of Nevada Board of Governors. He was the 88 th and first African-American President of the State Bar of Nevada in 2016-2017. He was a member of the Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education from 2011 to 2014.

Scott was the 1st African-American President of the Clark County Law Foundation in 2006 and was elected as the first African-American President of the Clark County Bar Association in 2005. He served as a Board Member/Secretary-Treasurer/President-Elect of the Clark County Bar Association from 2000 to 2004.

In 1996 Scott was elected as the President of the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association. He served in that position until 1999.

Scott is the past Chairman of the State Bar of Nevada’s Diversity Committee and served on the Nevada Supreme Court’s Bench-Bar Committee for 3 years. He has won a number of awards and accolades for his community service work. Scott sits on the Board of the Justice Michael L. Douglas Pre-Law Fellowship Program which seeks to introduce students from underrepresented communities to the rigors of law school and the benefits of having a legal education. In May 2019, he was awarded the James M. Bartley Distinguished Public Lawyer Award by the Public Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Nevada. Additionally, in 2019 he was

named as the Trailblazer of the Year by the Nevada Association.

In September 2018, he was recognized by the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association as The Attorney of the Year and by the Asian American Advoca cy Clinic as an “Unsung Hero”. Scott was honored by the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association in 2019 by the establishment of the Bryan K. Scott Book Scholarship. He was the Keynote Speaker and awarded the Educational Pioneer Award by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach in 2017. He has been recognized as a “Legal Elite: Nevada’s Top Attorneys (Government) by Nevada Business Magazine in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Scott was honored by the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association during its 2006 annual Scholarship Gala. In 2005, he received the Martin P. Dowling Volunteer of the Year award from the Clark County Bar Association and the Clark County Bar Association’s Circle of Support Award in 2002.of Real Estate Brokers. Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Jim Bridger Junior High School, The Area Technical Trade Center (Class of 1984) and Rancho High School (Class of 1984).

With all of his incredible accomplishments in his career and in the community, we wanted to know some personal things about him. In Scott’s free time, he loves to cook and is considered a great cook by close friends. Fun fact about Scott that others may not know, he has a huge and impressive sock collection! He also loves tea and enjoys time with his family. We know he will continue to serve the Las Vegas community in various ways.

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Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Adam brings his passion and complex problem solving skills to every case

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Rock Star Buries the Hatchet and Releases New album “Hallelujah” The Show Must Go On

Maryann Cotton is releasing his new album, which was officially released on July 3, 2020, entitled ''Hallelujah. This album is the most personal album Maryann has ever written. It gets close to the character Maryann Cotton, the ups and downs of the music industry, touring life across Europe and the United States and drama in his private life with personal demons - all spread over 8 new songs.

Maryann Cotton (28) born Jackie Patino, grew up in Ballerup and became known throughout the country back in 2006 when he came in 2nd in the show Star Search. He subsequently played all over the country, weekend after weekend over a 2-year period. In 2009 after appearing in several TV commercials and TV series, TV3 ”Lulu and Leon” he decided to create his alter ego and return to music as the stage character Maryann Cotton.

His life took a huge turn when he was discovered in 2012 by American Producer and Hitmaker Dick Wagner as a writer. Dick Wagner wrote hits for Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Guns’ N Roses, KISS, Frank Sinatra, Meat Loaf, etc. Soon after, Maryann traveled to New York and started writing music for a concept album with the hitmaker who opened the door to rock star friendships from, Michael Jackson’s musicians to John Lennon’s producer and the rock legend Alice Cooper, who ended up writing 3 songs for Maryann Cotton.

Dick Wagner wanted Maryann Cotton to move to Hollywood, California, where the album was to be recorded. Everything was made readily available to the Danish rock singer, from a huge house in Hollywood to his own car to drive. Wagner assembled a team of rock A-list musicians and producers to record his albums.

“I was living the life. I was 23 and worked with all my greatest heroes every time we met with record labels or producers, and planned recordings for my album, it was always names like Johnny Depp to Steven Tyler who were always mentioned at the table. They had plans for me to record music and make movies in the US. “I was well prepared and had the best team behind me. I got instructions and guidance from every angle, every day over the phone and email.”

Maryann Cotton’s album was completed in the spring of 2014, but 3 weeks before the final recordings, 71-year-old producer Dick Wagner died of pneumonia following a heart surgery and the project and album went down the drain.

“It was a hard blow! A lot was expected of me and it took a lot mentally to work with such big names. I was on top of my game every single day. There was always something new for me to do in my inbox when I woke up every morning. I gave my life and career away and left it all to my producer. We built a very close bond to one another, and from one second to the next, the rug was torn out from under me. I lost not only my producer but also my best friend through 2 intense years. It was really like getting a bucket of cold water right in my face. I saw my dream disappear before my eyes.”

“ I had lost hope over a period of time, and it was difficult for me to start all over again without my mentor. ”

“ I gathered my band and chose to try my luck in Denmark and struggled through 2015 and 2016 to break through in Europe and the Danish market, with no success. We played at small clubs in Europe and everything was disorganized. It was mostly about alcohol and girls. Fighting battles became part of being on tour. I searched for an adrenaline kick every single day and ended up in a hospital in Latvia after being smashed over the head with a bottle at a nightclub in Riga. I was lying on a hospital bed, being rolled down a long hallway in an old hospital. No one could speak English and I thought for a moment that I was dead. 6 hours after, I was released with various bruises and stitches. I was on the stage again in a new city and it was just another night out.”

“After touring abroad and in Denmark, I realized that it was not the right time for Maryann Cotton. The Danish and European scene was not ready for my image and band.”

During a meeting in Copenhagen, I told my band that I would go back to the U.S. and start all over again. There was no doubt with the rest of the band, they were all for that idea. We had a tour set up in large parts of the U.S. and in January 2017 we traveled to Los Angeles without any expectations. We quickly noticed a completely different mentality. The first day we arrived in Hollywood we were constantly stopped by people at gas stations, restaurants, and on the streets. People were stopping in their cars to take pictures of us and with us. It was really

overwhelming! We were just a rock group from Denmark. We lived in a camper van for 3 weeks in Los Angeles, but we were quickly accepted and partied at luxurious hotels and nightclubs with other bands and actors every day before our first show on the Sunset Strip. We played at the legendary rock club Whiskey A Go-Go in Hollywood where all our great heroes started their careers. Bands like The Doors, Mötley Crüe, Guns N Roses, Van Halen, and Alice Cooper. It was a great evening for the whole band. I clearly remember sitting and doing my makeup, getting ready for our show in the same dressing room where all of my idols have been sitting in with the same dreams. 10 minutes before show time, the promoter came by our dressing room and told us that the show was sold out. Standing on stage in mid-Hollywood and playing our first show in front of a sold-out audience was absolutely crazy.” louder than the music. Our drummer had a serious alcohol problem, and no one was able to communicate with him. I had mentally reached rock bottom and had no courage to complete the rest of the trip. We finally reached Los Angeles and the trip was over. I saw Chera again after a month and I felt at home. She was what I needed. I chose to stay in the U.S. and said goodbye to the band. I knew it was over. My guitarist Sebastian Sly gave our drummer a clear message and kicked him out of the band at LAX airport. I stayed in Los Angeles with Chera for a week and then we went back to Las Vegas. I needed to get back on track and she gave me safety from rock’ n roll life. Alice Cooper came to town and played at The Palms and I was asked if I would make a guest appearance with his band. I played ”Eighteen” and “School” “Out” and it was the last gig I did for a year.”

“ We continued the trip and we were able to get anything and everything “Chera and I became a couple in the summer of 2018, and I took a break we wanted. We had many girls at our concerts, and we partied every night from the music for a year and moved here permanently.” in a new city and state. The band got bigger and bigger and we quickly built a reputation all over the U.S. but without knowing it the egos got bigger “My decision to move here did not fall into good standings back in too. We lived the lifestyle “sex, drugs and rock’ n roll,’ forgetting ourselves Denmark. My ex-girlfriend chose to dig into my past and sold stories that I and it eventually became hard and tough to make it work. There was a lot had been unfaithful to her to the Danish media. Drama and gossip broke of quarreling and jealousy in the band and we forgot to enjoy the tour loose and I read stories about myself every week. Chera and I got during the last few weeks. We ended the tour where we started and were hundreds of hate messages from my ex- girlfriend’s followers on social back in California. We were on the red carpet in Los Angeles partying with media. We had just become a couple and I really a lot of girls that night, but we were saturated and tired and not on par felt sorry for her having to constantly read bad shit about me in the press with each other. 12 hours before we were supposed to be at LAX airport while also receiving vicious comments from groups of people in Denmark. we were in Beverly Hills, we were having serious quarrels with each other. I had to explain to her about my past life as a rock singer and the price you We were all frustrated and it ended by the band breaking up the last night sometimes have to pay. Fortunately, Chera is ice cold and professional of the tour. We couldn’t handle the sight of each other and ultimately and has handled all the drama in my life with a stiff arm. However, my flying home separately.” family in Denmark was more affected by it all and being so far apart in another country did not help. Especially my mother. But, as I always say, The show must go.... I’m sorry that I’ve hurt some people with my actions and there are many things I have done that I am not particularly proud of. Unfortunate“I should have said stop and take a break, but the show must go on; so, I ly, I cannot change what has happened. I have learned from my mistakes made some changes to the band and we returned to the U.S. the following and have changed my lifestyle.” year and toured. We had a bigger budget and a bigger crew, but it was never the same with the new crew. It was the summer of 2018 and we had “In late 2019 and almost a year later, I started missing the music and a few days off in Las Vegas before the tour started. We sat at a small sports playing concerts again, but I still had no solid band. My girlfriend told me bar and watched the World Cup, when suddenly my father Hal Patino (who to man up and bury the hatchet, so I went back to Denmark and met with is also my bass player) got up and said he couldn’t breathe. I tried to keep my old original drummer. We had not talked to or seen each other for 3 him conscious but suddenly, he fell into my arms and was on the ground years since the breakup in Hollywood, so I was excited to see him. I unconscious for about 20 seconds. Fortunately, I was with a girl wondered what it would feel like looking each other in the eyes again. We (Chera Leigh, former Playboy model); she called for an ambulance while I met in an apartment in Copenhagen and was trying to give my dad CPR. The ambulance arrived quickly, and he was the chemistry was flowing. It felt like we were back on stage again and we rolled on to the stretcher and into the ambulance. I sat in the front seat were all ready for a reunion. We were friends again and put the past and on our way to the hospital one doctor told me that I should be glad he behind us. Out record label organized a photoshoot and it was officially was alive. He went into cardiac arrest and his blood pressure was very announced that we were back. Offers from large parts of Europe and the high, 140/90. He was hospitalized in Las Vegas and we had to cancel the U.S. came in and we started 2020 with our largest North America tour to first week of the tour. I kept it a secret for my family back home in date. The spark was back, the band sounded better than ever and the fans Denmark until I knew more about his condition. SHIT! A shitty start to our were wild. We got great reviews across the board and it was a pleasure to USA trip, it couldn’t get any worse. My dad was hospitalized, our entire perform as Maryann Cotton again.” tour was canceled before we even started, and the rest of the band and crew didn’t know whether they were coming or going. I sat in a hotel suite doing press interviews. I was the one responsible for the canceled shows. Fortunately, Chera offered her help and took care of all the calls and communications with the hospital for me. She stayed with me and drove My New Album “Hallelujah” me to the hospital every single day so I could visit my dad. It meant everything to me, because we didn’t really know each other.” “Life is like an emotional roller coaster and full of ups and downs, but for me it” been worth it. My new album is about many of the experiences I “A week later I said goodbye to Chera and the band and I took the tour bus have had throughout my life and career and living up to an image of good to Canada in hopes of resuming the trip. On the way we stopped at the and evil. Usually we write lyrics and music for the character Maryann hospital where I said goodbye to my dad and told him I was hoping to see Cotton. I don’t see him as myself but as a fictional character who only him soon so we could play some rock’ n roll. We had a 48-hour drive to exists and lives on stage, so writing my new album has been a little Canada from Vegas and 3 days after we arrived my dad was discharged different.” from the hospital. He flew in that afternoon and we played the first show that evening and resumed the tour. After 10 days of hospitalization, the “When the album was finished, I was getting cold feet when I thought it same day he was discharged from the hospital, the old man was on the was getting too close to me and not the character. Until 1 day I had an stage again! Wow! He's a tough nail, and a real rocker! However, it epiphany; the reason I am where I am today is because of Maryann was with mixed emotions that we continued the trip. I was mentally Cotton. It has almost been a form of self-therapy to write all the new exhausted and had lost a lot. I was mostly skin and bones. I worried a lot songs. This is clearly the best album I have ever made. I’m looking forward and was nervous about whether my father was stable enough to travel to the fans hearing it.” and perform the concerts. We played for thousands of people during the rest of the tour and did some outdoor festival shows in the month of July. Maryann Cotton moved in 2018 with his girlfriend Chera Leigh. Today, But I was not myself and every time I looked at my stage clothes, I got they live in a beautiful home in Las Vegas. Chera is a lingerie model and nauseous. I couldn’t bear to be Maryann Cotton. I felt a huge void and I ambassador for the American fitness brand The Sweat store. They have was missing something… Chera! I kept in touch with Chera and talked to been together for 2 years on July 1, 2020. her every day, I just had to see her again. We were swimming in offers from groupies after all our concerts all over the U.S., but the desire was Fans can find and follow Maryann Cotton on social media and keep up to gone, and I only had one girl in my head. The last destination of the tour date was Los Angeles and we had 2 weeks left. I called Chera and asked if she with the rock star on his website: would come to see our last show in Hollywood and we agreed to meet after the tour.” maryanncotton.net

COULD YOU LIVE WITHOUT THE INTERNET

By: Siloh Moses

THESE DAYS, THE INTERNET IS ESSENTIAL.

What would life be like without it?

My laptop spends a lot of time on my lap. I use it to watch TV shows, read articles, and ingest hours of bite-sized videos that I can't remember 5 minutes after I've watched them. Now that I think about it, no wonder I can go 8 hours online and not remember where or what I spent my time on.

With everything that is going on in the world, all of the negativity online about the world today, I can’t help but wonder, “Is the only real way to be happy is to disconnect from it all together?” Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for the internet and the amazing things it allows me to do. been able to start and stay committed to a new diet on it, but at what cost? What I have found is that even though I have used the internet to be more productive, could I have easily done so without it? That begs the question, “What would life be like today without the internet?” It is an interesting question to consider.

So, I had a dinner party at my house (I had to test out these new cooking skills somehow) and I asked my friends over to discuss this topic? Here is what they had to say.

Sara; a cute and bubbly, authentic MidWestern woman says “I cannot live without Twitter or Facebook. Life without them would be horrendous.” Michael; a genuine East Coaster with an abrasive, but truthful approach to life says, “Life as we know it would end. You cannot do anything today whether it’s for life, business, information or education without the internet. Without it, life would be over.” Finally, Amber; a fun-loving California girl who loves the sun sums it all up and says, “Life in general would suck.”

But would it?

Across all generations we are more connected than any other time before and some say that the rise of the internet, social media specifically, has invaded their lives with an increased level of depression, anxiety and loneliness. Pin-pointing that they struggle with ‘living in the moment’ vs. ‘documenting the moment’. I remember a time when I didn’t know that a notification tab existed on my phone. I miss those days, but it is amazing how addicting checking for updates can be!

Which brings me right back to my question, could we live without the internet? So, doing some research on the topic, because my friends are a great source of information, I still wanted to find concrete proof of what the world would look like without the internet and find people who have lived life doing so. Here is what I found.

ONE ONE They got sh*t done. Seven out of ten who have gone without the internet, disconnected from their phones and laptop, for more than a day, have found that this has helped them eliminate distractions and increase their focus.

Instead of obsessing over research, sifting through countless and endless amounts of data that can be found on their phones, they took action faster and focused on each task at hand with undivided attention.

TWO TWO They became more ‘connected’. They replaced technology with nature. The same 7 out of 10 listened to music (CD’s or Albums on record players) while handwriting in their journals or writing for their blog. They did work outside around more natural sounds from birds chirping in the morning to the sounds of kids playing in the afternoon. Instead of getting caught up in digital news feeds and sensational headlines, they felt more calm observing and feeling connected to the natural world.

THREE THREE

They became calm and more productive at the same time.

They managed to check off the items from their to-do list with less mental stress than usual. Instead of trying to do too much while multitasking, they got what needed to be done through simplifying the day and streamlining their efforts under technologically limited circumstances.

Now you might be asking yourself, how can I try living without the internet for a day or more for myself? Great question.

Reduce your distractions. aa On your phone and laptop, whether you choose to unfollow, mute, or resort to more drastic measures like placing a lock on your phone case, be mindful with which of your digital notifications are important or not. Notifications can act as distractions more than anything else.

bb Appreciate nature. Simply observing nature often has a calming and humbling effect. Admiring the power and beauty of nature will make you feel more aware and connected to life away from your digital screens. Take a 45-minute walk around your community. Take in the sounds, surroundings and atmosphere. Use this time to relax and see your surroundings for the first time in a long time.

Use your mornings well. With your cc laptop closed, place you phone in another room, face down and set aside a bit of time in the morning for organizing your day. If you check your phone (because it’s not in another room) or somehow connect to technology within the first 5 minutes of waking up, stop! And start your morning over until you can get 30 minutes of free time to yourself without having to check the internet to get up. Use those 30 minutes to read, paint a picture, create your to-do list or write in your morning journal.

Remember that there are many important reasons to unplug.

My friends have taken the challenge and 7 days later I invited them back to my house for another dinner. Here is an update on what they have to say today.

Sara said: “My week without the internet improved my communication at home, my relationship and probably helped my attention span and patience.” Michael said: “I didn’t feel the need to check my phone not once. Distractions never make me lose my place in conversations with friends, and I do not feel like I need to ‘relax’ anymore.”

Amber said: “I took 7 days away from the internet and today I feel calmer. I cook dinner for my friends and talk, yes talk, to my girlfriends for hours now without being distracted.”

The 7 out of 10 in the above study, as a result of their detox, said they felt more productive, almost all found it liberating and contributed enjoying life more because of it. You can do it too! Just prioritize your day to improve your productivity levels. This means getting lots of rest, winding down at least 30 minutes before you head off to sleep. Planning out your day prior to be surrounded by nature and creating moments to connect with yourself through journaling, painting or dinner with friends.

Can we live without the internet? For most of us, probably not for the most part, but the people above including my friends did for 7 days did and you can too! After all, there are an estimated 4 billion people in the world who still do not have access to the internet at all, and they seem to be doing quite well without it.

I took the life without FYI FYI internet challenge and succeeded by disconnecting from the internet successfully for 6 months. If you want to know more about how you can get started with disconnecting from the internet, email me at getfocused@gmail.com

Winter is coming! Winter is coming! Get Ready Get Ready Make the Most of Magical Mountain Days in Make the Most of Magical Mountain Days in

Las Vegas’s High Country Las Vegas’s High Country

By Stephanie Forté

In Las Vegas, winter’s majesty is tucked away in Lee Canyon, there for the taking when people are ready to pull on their boots and head north on US 95 to the high country.

Many native Las Vegans talk about being snow-suited up as a kid, and learning to ski or snowboard at Lee Canyon. Since it cranked up its first lift, a T-bar, in 1964, Lee Canyon has created a lot of local skiers and snowboarders. And that hasn’t changed. Its youth programs, Mountaineers and Freeride, recently had to be expanded due to demand. The local youth stoke is so high that the mountain also launched skills and race development programs for more advanced kids.

As Las Vegas has grown, Lee Canyon has kept pace. Today, 2 quad chairs, Rabbit Peak and Blue Bird, and one triple chair, Sherwood, whisk people from the base area of 8,510 feet more than 1,000 feet in elevation so they can access 27 trails with an average of 129 inches of snow annually. And if you’re ski legs are a little rusty, it’s no big deal.

The idea of a day-long ski school lesson isn’t for everyone, especially not wild spirited Nevadans. In 2014, Lee Canyon dumped the industry’s old school model and launched its Comp Coaching program, designed for beginners or those who need a quick refresher. Lee Canyon instructors work with people one-on-one, give quick tips, or do a short 10-minute skill review, free of charge.

Jim Seely, Lee Canyon’s director of marketing, explains that after one-on-one time, many people opt to hire a private instructor or join a group lesson while others carry on with their day. “When people feel more confident, they relax and enjoy the experience more. That’s a big win,” he says.

bar, a coffee house, Brewin Burro, and meeting space. Hillside’s heated outdoor seating makes lunch from The Bighorn Grill even tastier. And, with sweeping views of the mountain, it’s Las Vegas’ most scenic happy hour spot.

SNOWTUBING

Las Vegas families love whooshing down the mountain on an inner tube. The snow tubing area at Lee Canyon is separate from the ski/snowboard terrain and is void of stumps and hazards. Open weekends and holidays, kids must be at least three feet tall to join in on the fun. Sessions are $30.

TAKE A HIKE

With a snowshoeing trail at Old Mill Picnic Area, local snowshoers love to unplug in the pines either alone or with friends. And since snowshoeing burns more than double the calories of walking on a flat surface, it’s a great workout. Snowshoe rentals are $10.

BEFORE YOU GO

There is no gas on the mountain. Chains or snow tires are sometimes required. Lift tickets should be purchased in advance and online for a 35 percent savings. Season passes, including the pay-as-you-go Ride Local Card, are available. Open daily, visit www.leecanyonlv.com for details.

By Lissette Waugh

While our new normal has become slipping on a mask or wearing a protective face covering no matter where you go - this doesn’t mean we should shy away from accentuating our most exposed feature, our eyes. Some of you may be embracing the freedom of not having to wear makeup, while others may feel discouraged over finding ways to express yourself using your makeup talents.

Being safe, practicing social distancing and wearing protective facial gear has become a mandatory part of our daily wardrobe but it does not mean it has to be boring or basic. Let us stop mourning over the loss of lining our lips and let us focus on the windows of our soul.

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Makeup by Tommy G. for L Makeup