Nevada Home 2017

What you need to know about living in Northern Nevada

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Table of Contents

Alsy Brinkmeyer Sally Roberts Brook Bentley Duane Johnson Annie Conway Wayne O’Hara Melissa Saavedra Emy Quevedo Rob Fair

Welcome Profile: Ann Silver Profile: Philip DeLone Economy Education Healthcare Residential Retirement Summer Recreation Winter Recreation Arts & Culture Annual Events Shopping Local 411 Your New Neighbors

Cover photography courtesy Diamond Peak, Whitney Peak Hotel, The City of Sparks, Eldorado Resorts, Marcello Rostagni and Kevin Brazell.

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From our Chief Executive Officer

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elcome to Northern Nevada and your new community. The cities of Reno and Sparks have everything to offer and I should know, since I’ve just relocated back here for the third and last time …. there’s just no place like home!

You’ll soon discover new friends and neighbors, admire the beauty of all four seasons, and find enjoyment in every type of activity, including golfing and hiking, skiing, biking, rafting on the Truckee River, plentiful shopping and strolling through craft fairs and outdoor markets, attending Triple-A baseball and NBA D-league basketball games, exploring our rich history, and experiencing the myriad of cultural events held in both cities.

This magazine is filled with information to assist with your transition. No matter where you live, you’ll be close by the acclaimed University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College and the many public and private schools that provide the quality education and training sought after by thousands of our small, medium and large businesses.

Throughout this area, you’ll find Western hospitality and residents who will gladly share their reasons for choosing this place as their home. Its simple abundance, starlit nights, thriving economy and diversity of interests will convince you to stay.

The Chamber of Reno, Sparks, and Northern Nevada offers you a warm welcome to this special community. ■

Ann Silver CEO, The Chamber

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to Nevada

Thanks and welcome,

From our Chamber Board Chair

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elcome to Northern Nevada.

As an owner of a small business in Reno, I’m pleased you’ve relocated to the area and are helping to make our economy more robust.

As you get settled in to your new home, take some time to consider getting involved with The Chamber of Reno, Sparks, and Northern Nevada.

I’m a long-time member and am proud of The Chamber’s work to unify Northern Nevada’s businesses to address the issues we face with a united front. Like you, I’m busy with running my business and don’t have the time or energy to fully participate in the issues that shape our community such as campaigns to build more schools and downtown redevelopment efforts.

But, as a member of The Chamber, I’m able to join with my fellow businesspeople and make meaningful improvements. Along the way, I have made many worthwhile and rewarding relationships. I’m confident you’ll appreciate the help of The Chamber too.

I encourage you to become engaged with us.

You’ll be pleased with all of the ways this great organization can help you get established in our wonderful community. Feel free to contact me, or the staff at The Chamber, to discuss the many opportunities it provides. ■

Tim Crowley, 2017 Chamber Chair of the Board Principal, Crowley & Ferrato Public Affairs

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Profile: Ann Silver

Ready to call Reno home for good

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fter spending her career moving back and forth between the east coast and Reno, Ann Silver is happy to be back in town. And she plans to stay put for good.

“I’m very excited to be back,” said Silver, the new chief executive officer of The Chamber of Reno, Sparks, Northern Nevada. She officially took the helm on December 7.

Silver, a native of New York City, graduated from Cornell University and received a Doctorate of Law from Notre Dame Law School. She moved to Nevada with her law degree to work for Indian Legal Services and transitioned to service with the State of Nevada, reporting directly to Governor List and then Governor Bryan as the Director of the State’s Employment and Training Office. After several years, she returned to New York where she worked in the private sector for two decades, returning back to Reno again in 2004.

Once back in the community, she served as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada and executive director of JOIN, Inc., a Nevada nonprofit agency that provides career training to residents in 12 counties.

“There’s a lifestyle here in Reno,” she said, contrasting it with residing in a big city. “It’s like no other; the stars, landscape and weather are beautiful. Best of all are the people. They’re grounded, without pretense, and eager to maintain a quality of life unavailable any other place.”

“I knew I was destined to live in the West. It just took time for me to understand this is my permanent home” Silver said.

In 2015, Silver married Scott Kipper, the former State of Nevada Insurance Commissioner and they relocated to Washington, DC for his position as vice president of regulatory affairs for Pharmaceutical Care Management. But when Len Stevens retired after 14 years as The Chamber’s CEO, Silver and her husband agreed she should apply for the job.

With her range of experience in government, the private sector and non-profit operations and administration, Silver was selected as CEO by the Chamber’s Board of Directors and she’s now ready to fully apply her energy to the myriad of member businesses and their priorities.

“There’s a lifestyle here in Reno...it’s like no other — the stars, landscape and weather are beautiful. Best of all are the people. They are grounded, without pretense, and eager to maintain a quality of life unavailable elsewhere.”

In her short tenure so far, she has participated with The Chamber’s Board of Directors in outlining new goals and objectives and is busy working to ensure business issues are well represented at the Nevada Biennial Legislative session.

Silver plans to provide timely and relevant information to members, increase membership by focusing on value-added programs, and advocate for business-friendly regulations.

She’s passionate about high school graduation as a minimum requirement for gainful employment along with the training programs that will prepare a pipeline of qualified employees for community businesses. Silver is co-chairing the Workforce Consortium with her EDAWN colleague, a group that consists of educators, training organizations, recruitment resources and social services agencies, which she initiated in 2014 to address workforce development.

Utilizing her preference for collaboration, Silver plans to leverage the “chamber” brand by working together with RSCVA and EDAWN to promote, retain, and grow businesses that serve residents and visitors alike.

As she focuses on her new job, Kipper will remain in D.C. for the time being. The couple plans to purchase a home in Reno and consider it their permanent place to live.

“Scott’s travels will bring him to the west coast,” Silver said, “so we’ll see each other as often as possible” given their work responsibilities and challenges. They are looking forward to resuming the hiking, biking, and many activities that brought them together in Reno as well as adding a golden retriever to the family.

“Scott would be thrilled to find a professional opportunity back in Reno,” she said. “We’re both committed to making this our home and living the life we’ve planned together. And puppy makes three.” ■

Ann Silver took over as CEO of The Chamber in December of 2016. After years of moving between the East Coast and Northern Nevada, she and her husband, Scott Kipper plan to stay in the area for good. Photo courtesy Ann Silver

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he new president and chief executive officer of the RenoSparks Convention and Visitors Authority considers Northwestern Nevada the ideal location to live and work.

“It offers four seasons, with a healthy lifestyle and opportunities for families to enjoy the outdoors,” said Philip DeLone, who began the year with the RSCVA after serving four years as the CEO of the Tucson-based Safari Club International.

“It’s a wonderful place that is welcoming (to newcomers).”

He is no stranger to the region. DeLone graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration. He gained experience in the industry in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas, before taking a position in Reno at Bally’s Casino Resort (now Grand Sierra Resort) as assistant vice president - director of sales and marketing. He later worked as executive director of sales for Silver Legacy Resort Casino, spending 16 years at that casino.

He has more than 35 years experience in tourism, sales, marketing and management, including 20 years in Reno.

His wife Catherine is a native Nevadan from Carson City.

A graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, she works in the human resources industry. Previously she served as project coordinator for Lieutenant Gov. Lorraine Hunt in 2003-2004 and in sales at Circus Circus for five years.

The couple, who have been married four years, are “parents of a Rhodesian ridgeback named Tau,” DeLone said, explaining that the name means lion in Thai.

“I have always loved Northern Nevada,” he said. “I love living here and a lot of friends are here. At the same time, (coming to the RSCVA) was a great career move.

“It’s an opportunity for my wife and I to come back where we have family.”

DeLone is looking forward to spending a lot of time taking advantage of the region’s many recreational opportunities.

“I love to ski, go camping, boating — the best of life is a day boating on Lake Tahoe on a warm summer day — and hiking in the Sierra.”

Expect to see the DeLones at Wolf Pack games, especially come spring. His niece, Sienna Swain from Clovis, Calif., is a starter for the university’s softball team. The proud uncle said she selected UNR over a number of recruiting universities.

“She’ll do well,” he said.

DeLone, who already has a home in the area, is looking forward to resettling in Northwest Nevada.

“It’s an easy place to live,” he said. And an easy place to promote.

Northern Nevada offers the ideal mix of unlimited outdoor recreation, vibrant and growing business community, excellent affordable cost of living, attractive affordable housing,” he said.

Convention facilities and tourism options in the region are hard to match, he added.

And anyone who needs more variety can find it a short drive away. DeLone noted that Reno is only three and half hours

Profile: Philip DeLone

An easy place to live and promote

drive to the heart of San Francisco, three hours drive to the wine country of Napa-Sonoma and only four and half hours drive to the redwood forests of Mendocino.

“Northern Nevada and Carson/Reno & Sparks/ Incline Village, the entire region is on the cusp of a new dawn of growth and vitality,” DeLone said. “Resorts are either new or subjected to millions of dollars in (recent) renovations. 400 to 500 new companies have moved into the area in the last few years.

“That success is going to continue and help drive tourism to the area and an increase in air service, which is important to the vitality of the community.” ■

Philip DeLone and his wife Catherine recently moved back to Northern Nevada after Philip took over as the new CEO of the RSCVA. Photo courtesy Philip DeLone

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Economy

Economic growth on steady climb

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o say that Nevada, particularly Northern Nevada, has been on an economic tear these past few years is a significant understatement.

And that’s great news for people new to the Truckee Meadows.

Statewide unemployment peaked at 14 percent in 2010.

Six years later, unemployment across the Silver State was 5.2 percent, the state’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation Research and Analysis Bureau reports. That’s just a few points higher than the national average of 4.7 percent at the end of 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“I’m encouraged by the significant progress our state has made as a result of our combined efforts these past six years,” Gov. Brian Sandoval said in a DETR press release.

“Unemployment insurance claims are at their lowest level in a decade, and wages and employment are at all-time highs.

Looking forward, I’m excited about the direction that Nevada is heading and I remain committed to working with our business community to build a stronger and more resilient economy.”

Employment in Nevada topped 1.3 million workers in 2016, DETR reports, including more than 600,000 employees of small businesses. The state added more than 3,200 jobs in November 2016 — the 71st consecutive month of job growth for Nevada. Year-over-year, Nevada added more than 7,000 new construction jobs through November of 2016, and more than 9,000 transportation/utilities jobs, DETR reports. Weekly wages in Nevada averaged more than $870 for much of 2016, up 2.3 percent from the prior year.

A great deal of new employment, especially jobs in hightech, advanced manufacturing and e-commerce, is centered in northern Nevada. According to the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, there were 27 new companies that relocated to Northern Nevada in 2016, bringing 3,221 new jobs with them.

Mike Kazmierski, president and CEO of EDAWN, says those numbers are very comparable to previous years. Not to get lost in the hoopla surrounding new companies to the region is the significant number of new jobs added by existing companies as they ramp up operations in the region and transition into hiring mode. Foremost of these businesses are lithium-ion battery makers Panasonic/ Tesla and data center operator Switch.

A scenic view of the Truckee Meadows.

Northern Nevada’s economy is continuing to strengthen as more companies to settle into the region and existing companies expand.

Photo courtesy RSCVA

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Tesla and Panasonic have stated they expect to hire several thousand employees this year at their massive Gigafactory at Tahoe Reno Industrial Center east of Sparks. Kazmierski says hiring over the next 12 to 18 months is projected to total between 2,000 to 3,000 employees.

“We are starting to really see high demand for skilled labor, which we projected and fully expected,” Kazmierski says. “If you have skills of any type, your skills will be in demand, especially in manufacturing, logistics, e-commerce and technology.”

That’s good news for people relocating to the region Kazmierski says. It’s even better news for their spouses and families, who might not have skills in those areas but still face excellent job prospects.

Kazmierski relocated to Northern Nevada at the height of the recession in 2010. His wife, a teacher, couldn’t find work and was forced to transition into a career in real estate. Transplants to Northern Nevada today face a much brighter job outlook.

That includes an increasing demand for teachers, as plans are underway to construct new schools and enlarge existing ones.

“As the economy grows, businesses will need more nurses, teachers, doctors, attorneys — just about every business in the community is adding people at this time and is finding it difficult to hire qualified people as demand continues to go up,” Kazmierski says. “For someone coming to the region, they should have no problem finding a job; demand exists across the board.”

It’s a marked shift from the recession, and also from just a few short decades ago when Northern Nevada’s economy was largely dependent on tourism and gaming. While tourism still plays a key role in the region’s economic health, gaming’s importance has been in part replaced as the region re-invented itself as a hub for logistics, e-commerce, data center storage and advanced manufacturing.

“For someone coming to the region, they should have no problem finding a job; demand exists across the board.”

Of the 140 new companies that have located here in the last five years, almost half are manufacturers, Kazmierski notes.

“With advanced manufacturing comes a lot of technology and data centers,” he says. “We have pushed really hard and have had tremendous success attracting those companies to the region.”

Miguel Macias Owner of America’s Swimming Pool Company of Reno Moved to Reno in 2015 My family and I moved to Reno from Melbourne, Fla. After proudly serving 24 years in the U.S. Navy, and moving around every two to three years, my wife and I decided we wanted to move close to family. We chose Reno, partly because her parents and grandmother live here, but we also wanted the amenities of big city, and the charm of a small town. A year later, we are glad to call Reno our home.

The first thing that struck us, and one I love about Reno, is the friendliness of the people. Everyone we met has welcomed us to the city with open arms.

We have made more friends here in one year than we had living in other parts of the country. People are very warm and active. Which leads me to the second thing that I love about Reno. There is so much to do!

The city really lives up to its “Biggest Little City in the World” name. It has all the amenities you find in a big city, except without the traffic. We’ve discovered it has an excellent infrastructure, with hospitals, a great university, and all the creature comforts you expect with big city living. The city has plenty of shopping, culture and nightlife.

There is plenty to do and explore here. My family and I have found ourselves enjoying the outdoors, taking advantage of the many trails in the area and the Truckee River. We have also enjoyed the many dining options and the ballet and musical theatre. The city puts on many events throughout the year like Hot August Nights, the Rib Cook-Off, and the Great Reno Balloon Race. It’s easy and fun to be active in Reno. Lastly, we love the weather. We love the hot days as well as the snow. And the ski resorts are so close! Plenty to do year-round. Thanks Reno!

In My Own Words

Strong demand for new employees is one of several factors creating strong demand for housing. Housing starts in late 2016 averaged 1,300 per month, the highest total since late 2008, DETR notes. Housing starts in 2016 were up 25 percent from the prior year.

The median sale price for homes in Reno peaked at $318,000 in July, but dipped to $300,000 in December, the Reno-Sparks Association of Realtors reports. Sale inventory dipped from 2,477 units in August to 1,527 units in December. There’s a threemonth supply of available inventory, representing a very hot seller’s market that shows no sign of cooling — just like the regional economy, Kazmierski says.

“One of the concerns for people moving here is that this is a bubble, especially in the real estate sector,” he says. “Every indication is that this is just the beginning of a very significant longterm growth cycle.

“While prices have come up significantly on homes and rentals in the last three years, there’s no indication prices will come down. Hopefully they will go up at a slower rate as more newer apartments, condos and housing units come online.” ■

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Education

Quality education options

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here are many opportunities when it comes to education in Northern Nevada. Whether you are looking for the right school for your children or higher education institutions to prepare you for a career, there is a quality option for everyone.

The Washoe County School District (WCSD) serves nearly 64,000 students in Reno-Sparks and in the surrounding areas.

The district operates 64 elementary schools, 14 middle schools and 13 comprehensive high schools.

WCSD offers four elementary school and two middle school STEM Academies to increase opportunities for students to learn Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

STEM teachers use Project-Based Learning to motivate students to gain knowledge by practicing the skills they learn in real-world situations. Some STEM classrooms have partnerships with technology businesses that provide real world applications.

There are many Advanced Placement classes available throughout the district that expose students to college-level studies. For greatly gifted middle and high school students, there is the Davidson Academy of Nevada located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.

Students looking for an alternative to traditional schools have several options within WCSD. The district operates North Star Online School, an accredited, flexible, tuition-free, online school for students K-12th grades. Truckee Meadows Community College High School allows students to work toward an associate degree or technical certificate in addition to their high school diploma and The Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology (AACT) is an advanced career technical education academy. AACT is recognized as the top performing school in the district.

WCSD’s Class of 2016 set a new record with the highest graduation rate in district history with 77 percent of students earning a diploma. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the district’s graduation rate has increased.

With the growth in the region, the community is recognizing the importance of investing in education. In November 2016, Washoe County citizens voted in favor of WC-1, a ballot measure to raise sales tax a half-cent with funds directed to alleviate overcrowding of district schools. The funds are being allocated to fix needed repairs on existing school buildings as well as to build new schools.

In addition to public schools, there are many private schools for both grade school and high school students. Private high schools include Bishop Manogue Catholic High School, Sage Ridge College Preparatory School, a 4th–12th grade school, Sterling Academy, a private online middle and high school and more.

There are a number of traditional and non-traditional education options when it comes to higher education.

Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) serves more than 25,500 students annually. They offer more than 50 programs of study with more than 160 degrees and certificates.

TMCC is continually working to prepare their students for the jobs coming to Northern Nevada by working directly with local companies.

“TMCC is thrilled to work with emerging industries and major companies, such as Tesla and Panasonic,” said Dr. Karin Hilgersom, president of Truckee Meadows Community College.

“We offer programs and certifications to provide skills and training needed by the employers. The college has a long and rich history of responding to workforce development needs of the region.”

In addition to TMCC, there are several other community colleges to choose from in Western Nevada such as Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada College in Carson City, plus Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village, a private four-year liberal arts college.

Reno is home to a national Tier 1 university, as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. The University of Nevada, Reno offers more than 145 degree programs through its nine colleges.

Seventy-five percent of University of Nevada, Reno graduates work in Nevada after graduation, according to communication officials at UNR. The land-grant university is continuing to grow and reported an enrollment of 21, 353 students for fall 2016. To better serve their growing student population, the university has added a total of 166 new faculty members since fall 2014.

The university has also invested a total of $387 million in facility improvements since 2011 – only $23.8 million of which came from state funds.

Students looking for an online learning experience can turn to Western Governors University. WGU Nevada is an online, competency-based university. The school offers more than 50 accredited bachelors and masters degrees in highdemand career fields such as business, K–12 teacher education, information technology and health professions, including nursing.

There are also several career colleges in the area such as Career College of Northern Nevada located in Sparks, Carrington College in Reno and more.

No matter what you are looking for, there is sure to be an educational option that is right for you in Northern Nevada. ■

A view of Truckee Meadows Community College campus and the surrounding area. TMCC serves more than 25,500 students annually.

Photo Courtesy TMCC

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icking up and relocating to Greater Reno-Sparks may be a difficult decision for many families to make, but one thing is for certain: finding quality healthcare once they get to the Truckee Meadows is a far simpler choice.

Greater Reno-Sparks is home to many quality healthcare networks that offer a wide range of medical services, from primary care to women’s health and specialty services such as Da Vinci Robotic Surgery, CyberKnife radiosurgery, and centers for cardiovascular and cancer care, among many others.

Renown Regional Medical Center, a not-for-profit healthcare organization, is one of the region’s largest employers and boasts the largest medical campus in Northern Nevada at 1155 Mill St. in Reno. The campus also is home to The Children’s Hospital, which offers a child-friendly emergency room, children’s imaging center, child surgery center and specialty care services. It also hosts specialized neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. Hometown Health is the health insurance arm of Renown Regional Medical Center.

The main medical campus is home to institutes for cancer, vascular health, robotic surgery and neurosciences. Renown Regional Medical Center’s main campus is licensed for 808 beds, while the Renown South Meadows Medical Center is licensed for 76 beds. Renown has 18 medical group locations throughout Reno, Sparks, Fallon, Fernley, Silver Springs and Tonopah.

Renown Medical Group welcomed 50 new providers in 2016, including 20 new primary care providers and more than 30 urgent care team members and specialists. It has 1,177 physicians with privileges at Renown hospitals.

Renown also has partnered with Stanford Health Care, Stanford Children’s Health and Stanford University School of

Healthcare

An abundance of quality healthcare options

Medicine to provide parents and families in Northern Nevada a greater range of specialized medical services.

Anthony Slonim, Renown Health president and chief executive officer, says Renown is committed to inspiring better health in its communities.

“We are continuing to build the healthcare network of the future by working with partners both inside and outside of the healthcare industry to ensure we are providing the highest quality care to our region,” Slonim says.

Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center is the region’s longest-operating healthcare center. It was established in 1908 in downtown Reno. The main hospital is licensed for 308 beds and offers an array of services, including women’s and children’s health, hospice and palliative care, a cancer center, and a heart and vascular institute. It also provides CyberKnife, a non-invasive radiosurgery delivery system.

Saint Mary’s is part of the Prime Health network, which operates 44 hospitals in 14 states. In recent years Saint Mary’s has made a push to expand its services by opening neighborhood primary and urgent care facilities. Saint Mary’s has primary care centers on Wedge Parkway and Robb Drive in Reno and Ion Drive in Sparks as well as several urgent care and imaging centers across the region. More than 1,000 physicians contract through Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

Helen Lidholm, chief executive officer of Saint Mary’s Health Network, says Saint Mary’s continues to adapt to the region’s changing healthcare needs.

“Our mission is to provide accessible and affordable care, and we will support this mission by engaging in new partnerships and creating opportunities for patients to receive the care they need,” Lidholm says.

Northern Nevada Medical Center has long been an anchor in East Sparks. NNMC is licensed for 108 beds and engages more than 450 physicians. Services provided include sports medicine, diagnostic imaging, wound care, digital mammography, and an orthopedic and surgical institute.

Northern Nevada Medical Center also operates the only 24-hour emergency room in Sparks.

NNMC is a member organization of Universal Health Services, one of the largest medical providers in the U.S. Residents of Carson City, the Carson Valley, Dayton and Silver Springs and other smaller communities in the region often access healthcare through Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center. Located in north Carson City, Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center is a 352,000-square-foot facility with more than 240 physicians providing services in more than 35 medical specialties.

In 2013 Carson Tahoe Health became an affiliate of University of Utah Health Care, and a few years later it established an affiliation with the university’s Huntsman Cancer Institute to broaden access to cancer research, support and education for Carson Tahoe Health members. Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center is licensed for 144 beds.

Regardless of the issue, families new to Greater RenoSparks are well covered through a large network of healthcare providers and services. Finding quality health care is one decision they won’t have to spend much time pondering. ■

Renown Regional Medical Center is home to The Children’s Hospital, which offers a child-friendly emergency room, children’s imaging center, child surgery center and specialty care services. Photo courtesy Renown

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Residential

Robust housing market continues

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fter a fairly long period of upward trends, the RenoSparks residential housing market is beginning to level out. So says John Graham, president of the Reno Sparks Association of Realtors. Graham noted that the median home price in the last quarter of 2016 was $300,000, down from $315,000 earlier in the year. The Reno-Sparks market averaged 500-550 home sales per month in 2016, up only slightly from the 2015 sale numbers. There were about three and a half months of inventory at the end of 2016, with new home starts beginning to ramp up to meet the demand.

Graham sees three distinct price segments for homebuyers in the area, depending on their budget. The first is $300,000 and below, which is a very active market. Homes in this segment are being snapped up quickly, often with competitive bidding. The next is the $400,000 to $700,000 range, with homes typically taking six to eight months to sell. At the high end, the milliondollar and up properties, one to two years on the market is the expectation, unless the asking price is extremely aggressive.

Looking at the various geographical areas in the RenoSparks metro area, Graham sees opportunities and options.

“Depending on where you’re looking, you can either get more house for the same money, or the same house for less money,” Graham said.

And there are lots of options in terms of different areas and neighborhoods. Sparks has a lot of affordable homes, and despite a steady increase in the median sale price to $250,000 it is still one of the bargain areas. “Sparks is coming back strong,” he said. The North Valleys were hit hardest in the housing slump, but the median sale price rebounded to $237,000 in 2016. There are lots of homes in the midrange in the northwest and Spanish Springs, which had a median sale price of $319,000 last year. New Southeast

Reno saw an average sale price of $362,000 in 2016 while the old Southeast increased to $280,000. Both the Metro Southwest and West Suburban markets saw median sale prices in the $400,000 range, and the median price for higher end properties in communities in the suburban southwest was $650,000.

No matter where you choose to live in Reno-Sparks, you will have easy access to all manner of outdoor and indoor recreation, entertainment, art, and more. Summer activities include boating, hiking, biking, camping, and kayaking on the Truckee River. In the winter, nearby Lake Tahoe features world class ski resorts, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Reno/Sparks has a vibrant art and theater community that can be enjoyed year-round, and there are also year-round sporting events at the University of Nevada Reno, Greater Nevada Field, and many other venues. Special events include June’s Artown in downtown Reno at the Riverwalk, and Victorian Square in Sparks has frequent events including the Best in the West Rib Cookoff. Hot August Nights is a celebration of classic cars and rock ‘n roll music, and summertime brings lots of outdoor festivals to the downtown area.

Recent additions of large businesses at the Reno-Tahoe Industrial Center east of Sparks include the Tesla battery Gigafactory and Switch, as well as several others. This bodes well for a growing job market and low unemployment rates.

As for the immediate future, Graham doesn’t see much change, discounting fears of another housing bubble. However, more housing will be needed in the Truckee Meadows in the coming years. Fortunately, there is room to expand, with both suburban housing and infill projects adding to inventory.

Graham cited a study done in 2014 by RCG Economics projecting growth in population, households, and jobs in RenoSparks through 2019. At the end of 2016, real numbers were tracking very close to the projections. Actual population growth was up 2.3 percent over the two-year period versus a 1.9 percent projection. Household numbers were also up 2.3 percent against a projection of 2.0 percent. And employment saw a 7.2 percent increase versus a 6.3 percent projection. If the actual numbers continue to track the projections, the area will see the addition of another 30,000 jobs, a population increase of 29,000, and 12,000 more households in Reno-Sparks by December 2019. The housing demand created by that growth will have to be met by an equal supply. This portends a steady growth in the housing market for the foreseeable future, making a home an excellent investment. ■

There are many options for homebuyers in the Reno-Sparks area.

Photo courtesy Lennar

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Winter 2017 | Nevada HOME |

13

Retirement

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Retiring in Northern Nevada

ooking to retire in an area that offers four seasons and yet has plenty of sunshine? The Reno and Sparks area of Northern Nevada might be just the place for you. Reno has an average of 251 days with sunshine per year.

Since the weather might not be your primary concern, you can rest assured that Reno-Sparks holds many other advantages for retirees. These include an affordable cost of living; expanding health care options; being a university town; volunteer opportunities, a major airport, light traffic and convenient public transportation.

To meet spiritual needs, every faith and tradition is represented in Reno-Sparks, so retirees can find opportunities to participate in the spiritual activities that are relevant to them.

The presence of the University of Nevada, Reno, “provides a lot of intergenerational interactions and opportunities for elders to thrive as a part of the community,” said Peter Reed, Ph.D., M.P.H., director, Sanford Center for Aging.

When searching for resources of all kinds for seniors, a great place to start is the Sanford Center for Aging, on the UNR, campus. “What we focus on are opportunities for elders to stay engaged and have access to the services that they need to remain independent,” Reed said.

If you are interested in remaining active intellectually, the university offers the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), which has about 2,000 members that benefit from a wide range of educational opportunities.

The Sanford Center has organized the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). “Through that program we work with hundreds and give opportunities to many more elders to volunteer and connect with charities and other organizations in the community that can benefit from volunteers,” Reed said.

Retirees living in Reno-Sparks can find “dozens of different organizations and programs to support people in their physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs,” said Reed. That includes the medical centers that are connected to the university and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.

The volunteer opportunities in Reno-Sparks are “tremendous,” said Chris Askin, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Western Nevada. The area has more charities than is typical for a metropolitan area of comparable size.

Volunteering for an organization that is aligned with your interests is a great way to build relationships with other volunteers. As Askin noted, “When you share the same charitable passion, it is a great basis for a relationship.”

Askin advises prospective volunteers to be choosy and seek out an opportunity that matches their specific interests.

Volunteer work should be a long-term commitment.

The cost of living in the Reno-Sparks area is comparable to other areas of the country, and it is less expensive for taxes.

Nevada has no state income tax.

Washoe County provides many senior services, which helps lower living expenses.

The area offers senior living options located in different parts of Reno and Sparks. They feature beautiful complexes, many of which are fairly new. They have reasonably priced units with one or two bedrooms. Some also have decks. You qualify for residence based on income, and most of the complexes have waiting lists.

The Sanford Center at UNR has its own comprehensive geriatric specialty clinic, and you can visit geriatricians through the School of Medicine or the local, private geriatric practices.

The Sanford Center also offers the Community Wellness Programs, which assists participants in gaining confidence and skills to maintain an active and fulfilling lifestyle, and the Medication Therapy Management program, which offers medication reviews for Nevadans age 60 or older who are taking five or more prescription medications.

Elders who face the challenge of a chronic disease can find “chronic disease self-management programs as well as other health education programs on a number of different topics related to elder health,” Reed said.

Medical care in Reno-Sparks has expanded substantially in recent years. Northern Nevada Medical Center, in Sparks, has achieved The Joint Commission’s Gold Seals of Approval for knee replacement, hip replacement, spine surgery and low back pain. NNMC is also certified by The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center and is an Accredited Chest Pain Center by the Society for Chest Pain Centers.

There are many advantages of retiring in the Reno-Sparks area such as affordable cost of living, expanding health care options, volunteer opportunities and much more. Photo courtesy Thinkstock/Siri Stafford

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Eric Larson President, Essential Sign

Moved to Reno in July 2016 Why Reno? That is the question I kept hearing after I told people my wife and I were moving to Reno. I was born and raised in San Diego. I lived in Orange County, Calif. for the last 30 years working for a San Diego-based restaurant company and operating their restaurants in Orange County and Los Angeles. It was a great life, terrific weather and a rewarding job. But, the mountains seemed unreachable, the beach cities were just too crowded and don’t even mention the thousands of hours of my life wasted in traffic. Overtime, everywhere I wanted to go just seemed like such a hassle.

I’ve always wanted to be closer to the mountains and to work in the community that I actually lived in. Reno is the perfect balance of what I have always been looking for in a city. First, access to the mountains, the outdoors and all the great hiking, mountain biking and camping. Second, I can actually go places and get around Reno with ease. Third, and by far the biggest draw for me, is all the local events. Something is going on almost every weekend. There is great dining, you can always find good entertainment or good bands playing in town. There is so much local pride in the community and people get out and support each other.

As for business, before deciding on the move I studied the local business environment. What struck me was how it is centered around small business. I have always admired small business people and the risk they take in order to succeed. I attended the first Northern Nevada Business Summit sponsored by The Chamber. There I met some great people and it was clear that in order to succeed in small business in Reno you need to connect yourself with other small businesses and get involved. It was the ideal scenario for me, the opportunity to merge business with community and be connected with people in my new hometown. My wife and I love it here and we look forward to many years of happiness and success.

In My Own Words

Renown Health, which operates the area’s largest hospital, Renown Regional Medical Center, also offers Monaco Ridge, the only assisted living facility in the region that is housed at a major medical center, Renown South Meadows. The 40-suite facility offers residents privacy, independence, sense of community and personalized care.

Renown Smart Health Connection is free to join, and members receive a monthly newsletter, monthly health screening events and educational events and informative lectures.

Saint Mary’s has a Senior Wellness Center that provides patients with a personalized plan, including an annual exam that emphasizes prevention and health promotion. A nurse navigator helps guide each patient through the system. Its fitness center offers a chronic disease management program that is geared toward seniors.

Saint Mary’s Health Network operates Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in downtown Reno plus several neighborhood medical centers for convenient access to physicians, specialists, and urgent care.

For all of these reasons and many more, you will find the Reno-Sparks area a great place to retire. ■ “The fact that we lived out of town, the communication was excellent & most things were taken care of by email.”

“Pam has been a tremendous asset during the process of opening our newest plant in the Reno area. She not only helped 10 members of my staff find houses, she sold them on the Reno/Sparks area and made sure all of their school, shopping and other needs were met.”

“I was referred to Pam by a Realtor in the Bay area. She was with me all the way, went above and beyond.”

- Kandra & Ronald

- Harvey

- John

Looking for a home in Northern Nevada?

I make relocation an exciting and positive transition!

Whether you live in the area or are considering relocating, I’d love to help you find the home of your dreams.

Located in the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains, the breathtaking Reno-Sparks area is surrounded by natural beauty, limitless recreational opportunities and is just minutes from world-famous Lake Tahoe. At an altitude of 4500 feet, you’ll enjoy four distinct seasons with few extremes and sunshine more than 300 days a year. The region boasts 60 gaming locations, the National Bowling Stadium, the National Automobile Museum, Rancho Rafael Park’s Arboretum and Wilbur D May Great Basin Adventure, world-class skiing, fishing, hiking, biking and more. The quality of life is hard to beat!

Pam Reese, REALTOR®, CRS, CDPE, GRI, SFR, SRES® Your Best Friend in Real Estate Cell: 775.843.1508 Pam@ReeseRealtyTeam.com ReeseRealtyTeam.com

Winter 2017 | Nevada HOME |

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Summer Recreatoion

A summertime playground

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hen it comes to outdoor recreational activities in the Reno-Tahoe area, the options are plentiful for anytime of the year. Whether it is enjoying the blue waters of Lake Tahoe or driving a golf ball at one of the many courses in the region, there is always something to do thanks to the easy access of the surrounding mountains and lakes.

Rock climbing, horseback riding, back country adventures, skydiving, hiking, golfing, camping, boating and parks are among the endless options for those looking to enjoy the RenoTahoe area. During the summer when the temperature heats up, it’s the perfect time to hit the trails in the surrounding Sierra Nevada.

For mountain bikers in the area looking for some trails with breathtaking views, look no further than the Tahoe Rim Trail.

The TRT’s 165 miles of rugged mountain terrain circles Lake Tahoe and attracts thousands of visitors each year. According to data from the Tahoe Rim Trail Association more than 400,000 people hike the trail each year.

For those who want to enjoy a day at the lake, there are numerous options to choose from whether it is Pyramid, Donner or Lake Tahoe. Jet skiing and boating are allowed at each of the lakes. But if enjoying the views of life under water is a top priority, Lake Tahoe’s crystal clear waters make it a great place for snorkeling. Popular spots to scuba dive or snorkel are at Meeks Bay, Sand Harbor and Cave Rock.

Looking to do something other than hitting one of the many beaches that surround the lake? Driving some golf balls at one of the courses in the area is an option guaranteed to satisfy seasoned professionals and amateurs as well.

There are 50 golf courses within 90 minutes of Reno that will challenge every skill level. Nearby Carson City and the Carson Valley offers the Divine Nine courses, totaling about 70,000 yards of greens and roughs. Lake Tahoe offers more than a dozen championship courses including the famed Edgewood Tahoe, home of the celebrity-packed American Century Championship every July.

Hiking lovers will find many trail options as well. The path along Fallen Leaf Lake, just southwest of Lake Tahoe, provides easy strolling and views of majestic Mt. Tallac. Serious backcountry trekkers give high ratings to the 63,960-acre Desolation Wilderness area, located in the Eldorado National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin. However, permits are required to visit the region and the area also prohibits the use of motorized vehicles and open fires.

Hiking trails throughout the Reno/Lake Tahoe area offer easy access, a range of ability levels and scenic vistas that can encompass mountains, lakes, forests, and the Nevada desert.

For those adrenaline junkies who want to take it to the next level, jumping out of a plane at 12,000 feet might satisfy that desire. Truckee-based Skydive Truckee Tahoe and Mindenbased Skydive Lake Tahoe both offer skydiving services.

If skydiving is a bit extreme, then try one of the zip line courses around Lake Tahoe. Hot Shot and Blue Streak Zip Line at Heavenly offer zip-line tours with scenic views and high speed zipping. Another place to zip line through the Sierra is the Squaw Valley Adventure Center Zip Line and Ropes Course, which is built into a hillside facing Shirley Canyon and the peaks of Squaw Valley.

If staying in the Reno-Sparks area is part of the plan during the summertime, then the Wild Island Adventure Park in Sparks should be on the agenda. The facility offers a variety of activities for the entire family that include a water park with everything from water slides to relaxing kiddie pools, plus a bowling alley, a go-kart racing course and miniature golf.

Nearby is the Sparks Marina with convenient access to family fun that includes access to water to splash in and paddleboats to rent.

If the lakes or the water park don’t sound appealing, then try floating on the Truckee River. The river flows through downtown Reno where the Truckee River Whitewater Park is located. The Whitewater Park features 11 pools for kayaking as well as a kayak-racing course. A similar course is available for tubing and kayaks downstream at Rock Park in Sparks.

The Truckee River system also provides opportunities for anglers on a quest for trophy trout. The Truckee River feeds Pyramid Lake 35 miles north of Reno, and is home to recordbreaking Lahontan Cutthroat trout.

Whatever your preference, summer in Reno-Tahoe offers unlimited options to enjoy the outdoors. ■

The Reno-Tahoe area offers a plentiful array of recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, going to the beach, playing golf and much more.

Photo courtesy TravelNevada

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ecreational activities do not end in the summer time for the Reno-Tahoe area. During the winter season there are many activities to choose from whether it is sledding on a small hill or visiting one of the 18 world-class ski resorts, the options are abundant for the whole family to enjoy.

For sledding, there are a few places that charge a fee, like Adventure Mountain at the top of Echo Summit. The Adventure Mountain resort rests at an elevation of 7,350 feet, making it the highest sledding resort with the most amount of snowfall in the entire Tahoe Basin. The resort offers sled and tube rentals as well as snowshoe rentals.

Those who are looking for somewhere free to sled, Sawmill Pond west of South Lake Tahoe is a popular family destination for sledding. There’s a small parking lot and a very gradual hill to sled down that is perfect for kids.

For skiers and snowboarders in the region, the Lake Tahoe area boasts the highest concentration of ski resorts in the U.S., with a 30-foot average snow pack and 22,000 acres of skiable terrain. Experienced and beginners alike will not have a problem finding a slope.

Heavenly is the largest skiing resort in California with the longest vertical drop at 3,500 feet. Squaw Valley is the second largest ski area in the region with 30 lifts and 3,600 acres of skiable land. Alpine Meadows, near the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe, offers 2,400 acres of skiable terrain, 13 lifts, and a vertical drop of 1,802 feet.

Winter Recreation

Experience a variety of winter activities

Looking for something other than hitting the slopes?

Maybe ice skating will suffice. Heavenly Village Ice Rink offers a picturesque view of the Sierras and the ice rink is decorated with lights that are strung all around and music playing in the background. The atmosphere is festive and is perfect holiday activity for family, friends or a date. Skates are available for rent and visitors can purchase day or season passes.

The Tahoe Ice Sports Center just off Highway 50, is another option for ice skating. The arena is the only indoor, year-round ice rink in the region. Daily public skate sessions are available, including night skate sessions on the weekends.

General Admission with hockey or figure skate rentals are $15. Those who bring their own pair of skates will pay $13 and children ages 1 through 6 can skate for $6.

Perched at the crest of Squaw Valley’s upper mountain, the Olympic Ice Pavilion offers panoramic views of the Squaw Valley Meadow, Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada at it’s ice rink. Skate rentals are available there as well.

Ample snowpack also means good news for those who prefer to explore the picturesque Sierra landscapes on snowshoes, cross country skis, snow machines, sleigh or dog sled. From Truckee to South Lake Tahoe, there are miles of groomed trails, forests and unspoiled country to discover on snowmobiles or with one of several dog sledding outfits at Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl and Northstar and the scenic Hope Valley.

Most of the resorts offer groomed cross country and snowshoe trails with rental packages and several spots in the area cater only to going slow particularly Royal Gorge with 330 kilometers of trails, the largest in North America.

For the ultimate in making memories, several business around the lake offer sleigh rides.

You don’t need to drive into the mountains to enjoy winter sports. The Greater Nevada Field, home of the Reno Aces baseball team, turns into a winter wonderland in the offseason with an ice rink and snow tubing. All in the heart of downtown Reno. ■

Reno-Sparks is just a short drive from Lake Tahoe’s world class ski resorts such as Mt. Rose, Heavenly, Sierra-at-Tahoe and more.

Photo by Matt Gibson, courtesy Tahoe Daily Tribune

Winter 2017 | Nevada HOME |

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Arts & Culture

Arts and entertainment options abound

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s the Reno-Sparks community continues to grow, so too has its arts, entertainment and sports scenes, resulting in a wide range of activities for any resident or tourist.

Artown continues to be the crown jewel of special events in the area. It is a month-long spectacle scheduled every July in downtown Reno that boasts performing artists from around the world in music, dance, theater arts, and much more. According to the Artown website, the 2016 festival featured nearly 500 events, more than 100 educational workshops and 30 ongoing programs.

“One thing that I’m really excited about is arts have changed this city,” Beth Macmillan, executive director for Artown said. “It has become a cog in the wheel here.”

In recent years, Reno has developed its own boutique art and cultural scene. One event that showcases such creativity is the Reno Sculpture Fest, a collaboration between Reno Arts Works, I Dreamt Last Night, and Fresh Bakin’. The annual festival attracts 30,000 visitors for larger-than-life art, music, and culture in downtown Reno.

While Reno-Sparks offers many avenues of the arts, it is also fostering the next generation local artists from different fields in the area as well as attracting others from outside the region. The Sierra Arts Foundation, for instance, is dedicated to developing arts education in the K-12 school system through anonymous grants. Sierra Arts and other organizations are also working to provide services for artists, including finding affordable housing.

Another cultural festival that draws great anticipation outside of the Truckee Meadows is Burning Man. Each year, thousands flock to the Black Rock Desert north of Reno-Sparks late in the summer to partake in the festival, a weeklong encampment celebration of self-reliance and expression of the arts.

Reno-Sparks has no shortage of quality venues to enjoy a concert or show, or take in an art exhibit.

The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts hosts live performances including the National Orchestra Ukraine, The Illusionists and a playwright version of the 1980s smash hit movie, “Dirty Dancing” or the classic tale of “Cinderella.”

The Nevada Museum of Art, located at 160 W. Liberty Street in Reno, displays art exhibits from around the world.

In November 2016, the city of Reno turned a downtown empty space where two blighted motels once sat into a temporary Reno Playa Art Park (RPAP), which featured an assortment of sculptures that were displayed at Burning Man 2016.

“One thing that I’m really excited about is arts have changed this city.”

The project was made possible in part by the Gateway Project, a coalition of nonprofits, businesses and volunteers who are raising funds to bring interactive sculptures from the playa for temporary display.

“RPAP has seen tremendous support from the community in the form of sponsorships, including a $5,000 grant from the City of Reno Arts and Culture Commission,” Maria Partridge, project coordinator for The Gateway Project, said in a press release.

The arts aren’t the only entertainment options in the region, as collegiate and professional sports teams become more prevalent in the region.

For over a century, the Reno-Sparks community has been an ardent supporter of its collegiate athletic programs. Nevada Wolf Pack football and basketball games draw large crowds at Mackay Stadium and Lawlor Events Center, respectively.

The Nevada Museum of Art displays art exhibits from around the world.

Photo by Bill Timmerman, courtesy of Nevada Museum of Art

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The Reno professional sports scene is ever-evolving as well, as evidence by the continued support of the very successful Reno Aces Triple-A baseball club, an affiliate of Arizona Diamondbacks. The Aces home ballpark, Greater Nevada Field, will soon be home to Reno 1868 FC, an expansion franchise in the United Soccer League (USL) that will begin play in 2017.

The Reno Bighorns basketball team, a member of the NBA D-League, plays its home games at Reno Events Center. It’s NBA affiliate, Sacramento Kings recently purchased controlling interest in the Bighorns, providing an added financial boost to the organization.

The National Bowling Stadium adjacent to the Reno Events Center, hosts a variety of bowling tournaments throughout the year.

Another potential tenant at the venue is a proposed minor league hockey team with hopes of getting under way by the 2018 season.

The venue, built in 2005, hosts a variety of concerts and shows. Among the well-known performers scheduled to appear in 2017 is Grammy Award-winning singer Stevie Nicks and comedian Chris Rock.

The casino resorts in Reno-Sparks also draw a ranch of performers from Vince Gill, STYX, Rebelution, and Death Cab for Cutie. â–

Reno is Artown in July. Artown is a month-long summer arts festival that features hundreds of events, including concerts in the park.

Photo by Peter Walker Photography, courtesy Artown

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Winter 2017 | Nevada HOME |

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Annual Events

Take advantage of the special events

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lmost every weekend in Northwestern Nevada you can find some special event, from major regional festivals such as Hot August Nights, to “smaller” gatherings like the Great Italian Festival, which floods Virginia Street with Italian flavor. You won’t get bored.

Most events are free to get into, leaving plenty of funds to spend eating, drinking, and shopping.

Here’s a sampling of what the region has to offer through the year: The Reno River Festival welcomes the return of warm temperatures with a weekend of music, food, vendors, activities, kayaking competition and fun at the water park at Wingfield Park in downtown Reno. The 2017 River Festival takes place May 13-14. Visit www.renoriverfestival.com/ The Reno Rodeo, known as the “Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West” is a 10-day event that draws more than 140,000 spectators to watch world-class cowboys compete in traditional rodeo events. The 2017 Reno Rodeo will take place June 15-24 at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center, with a parade Saturday, June 17 through Midtown. For details, go to www. renorodeo.com.

Reno is Artown is a month-long celebration of the arts throughout the month of July. The Opening Night Jubilee on June 30 features the Arlington Bridge Art Faire with art, music, and performing arts. Through July, there is some event every day including workshops, concerts, dance, history, film, theater, cultural festivals and children’s activities at parks and venues throughout the Truckee Meadows. Go to www.renoisartown. com.

Hot August Nights attracts car enthusiasts from around the world. The 2017 event will take place Aug. 8-13.

Photo by Marcello Rostagni.

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The Barracuda Championship PGA Tour Golf Tournament comes to Montreaux Golf & Country Club every year, one of only 47 stops on the PGA Tour and the only one offering the Modified Stableford playing format. Fans can watch some of the world’s best golfers compete for a $3.2 million purse at the tournament, which is broadcast live on The Golf Channel. The 2017 event will take place July 31-Aug. 6. Go to barracudachampionship.com.

For fans of outdoor theater, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is a don’t-miss annual event. The festival attracts more than 30,000 people from around the country to an outdoor amphitheater on the beach at Sand Harbor State Park at Lake Tahoe. In 2017, the festival will feature “Love’s Labour’s Lost” and “The Hound of the Baskervilles” from July 8-Aug. 27. For details, go to laketahoeshakespeare.com.

Hot August Nights is an iconic Reno-Sparks event.

Car enthusiasts cruise into the area to enjoy a never-ending parade of classic cars at special shows and even driving along highways and city roads. Concerts and competitions keep the area hopping. The 2017 event will take place Aug. 8-13 with a warm-up event in Virginia City Aug. 4-5. For details, go to hotaugustnights.net.

Reno is the gateway to Burning Man, the annual celebration of counter culture in the Black Rock Desert, which will take place from Aug. 27-Sept. 4. Each year, about 60,000 “Burners” gather, creating a temporary city dedicated to community, art, self-reliance and self-expression. Tickets aren’t cheap, going for a published price of $900 to $1,200 for 2017, but they sell out quickly.

Summer goes out with a flavorful spread at the Best In the West Nugget Rib Cookoff in downtown Sparks. The sixday event ends on Labor Day each year. In 2016, two dozen barbecue competitors cooked up 240,000 pounds of ribs to fill the bellies of about a half a million people, who not only feasted on ribs, but also enjoyed live music and an arts and craft fair.

The 2017 event is Aug. 30-Sept. 4. For information, go to www. nuggetribcookoff.com.

The Great Reno Balloon Race is the largest free hot-air ballooning event in the world. During three days in early September, you can look up into the Reno skies and see a rainbow of hot air balloons soaring about. Up to 100 balloons

Alexis Riggs Franchise Owner, Orangetheory Fitness – Reno

The National Championship Air Races, held just north of Reno at the Reno-Stead Airport have become an institution for Northern Nevada and aviation enthusiasts from around the world. For one week, the high desert north of Reno becomes home to hundreds of aircraft, their pilots and crews. In the past 10 years, the event has attracted more than 150,000. The event features six racing classes, a large display of static aircraft and several military and civil flight demonstrations.

In 2017, the event will take place Sept.

13-17. Go to http://airrace.org/about-us.

Moved to Reno in July 2015

Street Vibrations Fall Rally Motorcycle Festival is a celebration of music, metal and motorcycles.

Street Vibrations offers tours, live entertainment, ride-in shows, stunt shows and more, drawing 50,000 biking enthusiasts. This event is so big, it rocks at several locations throughout the region. The next Fall Rally is scheduled Sept. 27-Oct. 1. For information go to http://roadshowsreno.com/sv_fall.php ■

I moved to Reno after living in Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia for most of my life.

While vacationing in Reno-Tahoe in September of 2015, I looked at my husband, Russ, one afternoon and said, “Why don’t we figure out how to eventually retire here? The people are so friendly, the air is clean and nature’s beauty is everywhere. It’s the perfect place!”

A few years earlier, we had begun considering where we wanted to ultimately settle down. Although we are not at retirement age yet, we knew that we wanted to find that place, sooner than later, so that we could make it our home, get involved in the community and develop friendships.

A few short months later, Russ discovered a new fitness studio opening near our home in Atlanta. He decided to see what it was all about and joined Orangetheory Fitness at Emory University as a founding-member. After his first workout, he came home and told me that I had to try it. I too thought the workout was awesome and I was impressed with the way the trainer modified parts of the workout for my back and knee injuries. Within a couple of weeks, we were looking into the opportunity of bringing Orangetheory Fitness to the Reno market and we finalized our ownership of the franchise in March 2016.

We have ‘no-regrets’ from our rapid 2,000 mile move. The Reno community has been so welcoming and receptive to our adventure. I love getting to know our members and being involved in this incredibly welcoming community.

I am excited to announce that we will be opening our second Orangetheory Fitness location later this year in the northwest area of Reno.

We know that we are in the right place and living out our dream!

In My Own Words

launch each year. The 2017 Great Reno Balloon Races takes place Sept. 8-10. For details, go to https://renoballoon.com.

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Winter 2017 | Nevada HOME |

21

Shopping

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Reno-Sparks is a shoppers delight

eno-Sparks retailers are boldly heading into 2017 seeing strong interest in their unique shops while large department stores defy national trends and remain anchors at the malls and plazas in the region.

The most action seems to be on the small store front, with owners like Charlie Linch of The Stem seeing reasons to be optimistic for a good year. Linch moved his floral business out of his home at the end of 2016 and into one of Reno’s newest draws, the historic post office building at 50 South Virginia St., dubbed The Basement.

You enter The Basement through the old loading dock on Center Street. Down the stairs you find Linch’s shop, nestled among almost a dozen other small businesses. It’s not a typical floral business, Linch is really an artist who creates living pieces of art out of cacti and succulents on branches for people to display in homes or businesses.

He is definitely not alone in The Basement. Besides The Stem, you can find clothiers like Tahoe-Nevada Love and Kalifornia Jean Bar, coffee bars and a variety of other unique vendors, all pretty gung-ho about the new year and what it will bring.

Upstairs, you can browse the home furnishing offerings of West Elm, which occupies the whole first floor of the old Post Office.

While you are in downtown Reno, stop by Reno eNVy, located at 135 N. Sierra St. The locally owned store features clothing that showcase the pride and spirit of Nevada.

The Reno-Sparks region has several unique areas waiting to be discovered by shoppers. If you’re new, take a trip into Midtown, just south of The Basement. You’ll find a lot of places where retailers have created not just shops, but artful places, like Junkee Clothing Exchange and Antiques at 960 South Virginia.

But don’t stop your wandering of Midtown at Junkee. At the very least, find some time to head over to Recycled Records, a place for vinyl since 1978. It is a music lover’s paradise and one of those places that all residents should at least visit once in their time here.

After doing some shopping, hit one of the local restaurants for some food and drinks.

Besides Midtown and Downtown Reno, both of which are seeing retail growth under the shadow of the casinos, there are several places to check out vintage clothing and furniture and unique shops. You can head up West Moana off of Virginia and take a spin through the stores there.

Northwest of Downtown on Keystone, you’ll find The Nest, a purveyor of fine vintage clothing and antiques.

Furniture consignment is a big deal here and you have your choice of some great shops. Consignment Furniture off of South Virginia has a huge showroom with a mix of antiques and quality used furniture. Make sure to also check out the many other furniture stores in Reno and Sparks such Ashley Furniture Home Store, Ethan Allan Interiors, RC Willey and Rocks Consign Furniture to name a few.

For outdoor enthusiasts looking for clothing and gear, stop

by REI, located on 2225 Harvard Way or Cabela’s located off I-80.

The region has many shopping centers where you can find groceries and other necessities. You’ll find Walmart and many other big box retailers at numerous locations around town.

Reno-Sparks also has three major centers for shopping where you can find just about anything. Meadowood Mall, where South Virginia meets South McCarran is an indoor mall anchored by two Macy’s, Sears, J.C. Penney and a brand new Dick’s Sporting Goods.

The Macy’s at Meadowood is unique in that one store has men’s fashions while the other has women’s. And the twin stores also bucked a national trend. Neither was mentioned on the list of 68 stores Macy’s plans to close this year. The Meadowood Sears also escaped the list of stores to be closed by its parent company in January.

The mall has over 100 shops in it including many popular retailers such as Apricot Lane, H&M, Brookstone, Best Buy and

New residents to Northern Nevada will want to check out Scheels, located in The Outlets at Sparks. The store offers a wide array of apparel, sporting goods and outdoor recreation equipment and boasts an operating Ferris Wheel in the middle of the store. Photo by Annie Conway

22 | Nevada HOME | Winter 2017

more. When you are finished shopping, grab a bite to eat at the Cheesecake Factory Restaurant.

The Outlets at Sparks has a popular Galaxy Sparks IMAX theater and is anchored by Scheels, one of the region’s premier outdoor and sporting equipment retailers. But the Outlet at Sparks is becoming a draw for not just shopping, but for nights out with friends as people stop by Grimaldi’s for pizza or hit O’Cleary’s for bowling and beer.

In South Reno at the base of the Mount Rose Highway, The Summit Reno is an open air shopping center with an Apple Store, a movie theater, multiple places to eat and a Dillard’s Department store.

The Summit is also home to Reno Running Company, a must visit place for any runner’s in the region.

If you’re interested in literally finding stories you’re in luck, again.

Reno is home to a Barnes and Noble, 5555 S Virginia St., independent book shops, Sundance Books, 121 California Ave., Grass Roots Books, 660 East Grove St., Dollar Book Swap Reno within Great Western Marketplace, 4855 Summit Ridge Dr., and several used book stores.

As 2017 comes into fruition, expectations remain strong that more and more businesses will pop up to offer residents places to not just find what they need, but also unique items and experiences that ultimately enrich lives. ■

Shoppers head out of The Basement at in the historic post office at 50 South Virginia on the first Monday of 2017. Photo by Rob Varnon

Winter 2017 | Nevada HOME |

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Local 411 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto 333 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 8016 Las Vegas, NV 89101 702-388-5020 https://cortezmasto.senate.gov/ Dean Heller Bruce Thompson Federal Building 400 S. Virginia Street, Suite 738 Reno, NV 89501 775-686-5770 http://www.heller.senate.gov/ U.S. Representatives Mark Amodei – District 2 332 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6155 or 5310 Kietzke Lane, Suite 103 Reno, NV 89511 775-686-5760 https://amodei.house.gov/ STATE GOVERNMENT Governor Brain Sandoval State Capitol Building 101 N. Carson Street Carson City, NV 89701 775-684-5670 http://gov.nv.gov/ Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske 101 N. Carson Street, Suite 3 Carson City, NV 89701 775-684-5708 http://nvsos.gov/sos Online business formation portal: NVsilverflume.gov State of Nevada Department of Business and Industry 1830 College Parkway, Suite 100 Carson City, NV 89706 775-684-2999 http://business.nv.gov/ Governor’s Office of Economic Development 808 West Nye Lane Carson City, NV 89703 775-687-9900 http://www.diversifynevada.com/ LOCAL GOVERNMENT Washoe County Commissioners Marsha Berkbigler, District 1 Bob Lucey, District 2 Kitty Jung, District 3

Vaughn Hartung, District 4 Jeanne Herman, District 5 1001 E. Ninth Street, Building A Reno, NV 89512 775-328-2005 https://www.washoecounty.us/

LIBRARIES

Reno Mayor

Sparks Library 1125 12th Street Sparks, NV 89431 775.352.3200

Hillary Schieve 1 E. First Street PO Box 1900 Reno, NV 89505 775-334-2001 http://www.reno.gov/ Reno City Council David Bobzien, At-Large Jenny Brekhus, Ward 1 Naomi Duerr, Ward 2 Oscar Delgado, Ward 3 Paul McKenzie, Ward 4 Neoma Jardon, Ward 5 PO Box 1900 Reno, NV 89505 775-334-2002 http://www.reno.gov/ Sparks Mayor Geno Martini 431 Prater Way Sparks, NV 89431 775-353-2311 http://cityofsparks.us/ Sparks City Council Donald Abbott, Ward 1 Ed Lawson, Ward 2 Ron Smith, Ward 3 Charlene, Bybee, Ward 4 Kristopher Dahir, Ward 5 Legislative Building 745 Fourth Street Sparks, NV 89431 775-353-2311 http://cityofsparks.us/ SCHOOLS Washoe County School District 425 E. Ninth Street Reno, NV 89512 775-348-0200 http://www.washoeschools.net/ Truckee Meadows Community College 7000 Dandini Boulevard Reno, NV 89512 775-673-7111 www.tmcc.edu University of Nevada, Reno 1664 N. Virginia Street Reno, NV 89557 775-784-1110 www.unr.edu

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Downtown Reno Library 301 S. Center Street Reno, NV 89501 775-327-8300

For a complete list of Washoe County Library branches, visit https://www.washoecountylibrary. us/ PUBLIC SAFETY In case of emergency, dial 9-1-1 Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District 1001 E. Ninth Street, Building D, 2nd Floor Reno, NV 89512 775-326-6000 https://www.washoecounty.us/ tmfpd/ Reno Fire Department 1 East First Street, 4th Floor Reno, NV 89501 775-334-2300 http://www.reno.gov/government/ departments/fire-department Sparks Fire Department Headquarters Station 1605 Victorian Ave. Sparks, NV 89431 775-353-2259 http://cityofsparks.us/departments/ fire-department Washoe County Sheriff’s Office 911 Parr Blvd.

Reno, NV 89512 775-328-3001 http://www.washoesheriff.com/ Reno Police Department 455 E. 2nd Street Reno, NV 89502 775-334-2175 http://www.reno.gov/government/ departments/police City of Sparks Police Department 1701 East Prater Way Sparks, Nevada 89434 775-353-2231 http://sparkspd.com/ VOTER REGISTRATION http://nvsos.gov/sosvoterservices/ Registration/step1.aspx (You can also register to vote by completing a “Voter Registration

Application” and presenting it to the Registrar of Voters Office, the DMV, any state welfare agency or by mailing the form to the Registrar of Voters Office, P O Box 11130, Reno NV 89520.)

NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES 305 Galletti Way Reno, NV 89512 810 E. Greg St. Sparks, NV 89431 775-684-4368 http://dmvnv.com/ SERVICES The Chamber 449 S. Virginia St., 2nd Floor Reno, NV 89501 775-636-9550 http://thechambernv.org/ The Better Business Bureau of Northern Nevada Inc. 4834 Sparks Blvd. Ste. 102 Sparks, NV 89436 775-322-0657 http://www.bbb.org/reno/ Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority 4001 S. Virginia St. Suite G Reno, NV 89502 1-800-367-7366 http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/ Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada 5190 Neil Road, Suite 110 Reno, NV 89502 775-829-3700 http://www.edawn.org/ UTILITIES Electric and natural gas NV Energy PO Box 10100 Reno, NV 89520 775-834-4444 https://www.nvenergy.com/ Water Truckee Meadows Water Authority 1355 Capital Blvd Reno, NV 89502 775-834-8080 http://tmwa.com/ Waste management and recycling Waste Management Inc. 100 Vassar St. Reno, NV 89502 775-329-8822 http://reno.wm.com/

Your New Neighbors POPULATION Washoe County 2016 population estimate 2015-2016 population growth 2020 population projection 2016-2020 population growth

448,889 1.09% 484,304 7.3%

Source: Nevada State Demographer

50.3% 49.7%

Total households

166,345

Homeownership Owner-occupied housing units Renter-occupied housing units

56.8% 43.2%

Occupations Management, business, science, and arts Service occupations Sales and office occupations Natural resources, construction Production, transportation, and material moving

32.6% 21.5% 27.0% 8.0% 10.8%

Class of workers Private wage and salary workers Government workers Self-employed Unpaid family workers

80.6% 12.8% 6.4% 0.2%

Ethnicity Hispanic or Latino

23.9%

By race White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Two or more races

85.1% 2.6% 2.2% 6.0% 0.7% 3.5%

Education High school graduate Some college, no degree Associate’s degree Bachelor’s degree Graduate or professional degree Transportation Mean travel time to work (minutes) 2011-2015

34,778 22.9% 26.3% 8.2% 18.4% 11.3% 21.5

Source: U.S. Census Bureau HOUSING Median sales prices, (November 2016) Existing single-family homes in Reno Existing townhomes and condos in Reno Existing single-family homes in Sparks Existing townhomes and condos in Sparks

Source: The Reno/Sparks Association of Realtors

Rank 1.

2.

2015 ESTIMATES

By Sex Male Female

Population characteristics Veterans, 2011-2015

EMPLOYMENT Largest private-sector employers in Reno-Sparks

$322,000 $130,000 $283,500 $150,000

3.

4.

5 6.

7.

8.

9.

10

Business Eldorado Hotel & Casino, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus Casino 3,500-4,000; Casino hotels Renown Regional Medical Center 3,000-3,499; General medical and surgical hospitals Peppermill Resort Spa Casino 2,000-2,499; Casino hotels Atlantis Casino Resort Spa 1,500-1,999; Casino hotels Grand Sierra Resort and Casino 1,500-1,999; Casino hotels International Game Technology (IGT) 1,500-1,999; Gaming equipment and systems Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center 1,500-1,999; General medical and surgical hospitals United Parcel Service 1,000-1,499; Couriers Amazon.com NVDC Inc. 900-999; Electronic shopping EmployBridge Southwest LLC 600-699; Temporary help services

Source: Northern Nevada Business Weekly 2017 Book of Lists

RECYCLING GUIDE

local recycling info brought to you by your local nonprofit.

FOR A FULL LIST VISIT KTMB.ORG ALUMINUM CANS Earth First Recycling 626-2286 Schnitzer Steel 331-2267 Western Metals Recycling 358-8880 APPLIANCES NV Recycling 888-9888 Reno Sparks Gospel Mission 323-7999 Schnitzer Steel 331-2267 Waste Management 329-8822 Western Metals Recycling 358-8880 BATTERIES — CAR Howard’s Chevron Inc. 786-2159 Kragen Auto Parts 853-8770 NN Auto Wrecking Group 329-8671 BATTERIES — HOUSEHOLD Batteries Plus 825-0566 Whole Foods 852-8023 BATTERIES — RECHARGEABLE Batteries Plus (825-0566 Lowe’s locations CARDBOARD — CORRUGATED Earth First Recycling 626-2286 Reno Sparks Gospel Mission 323-7999 Waste Management 329-8822

COMPOST/YARD WASTE RT Donovan Company, Inc. 425-3015 COMPUTERS Computer Corps 883-2323 Lifecycle Solutions 690-9348 New2U Computers 329-1126 NV Recycling 888-9888 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Rubbish Runners 376-6162 Waste Management Landfill 342-0401 (asphalt, concrete with rebar removed) HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (paint, pesticides, paint thinners, household cleaners, etc) H2O Environmental 351-2237 LIGHT BULBS Batteries Plus 825-0566 Lowe’s locations (compact fluorescent only) TELEVISIONS Lifecycle Solutions (775) 690-9348 Waste Management 329-8822

KTMB is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to beautification, advocacy, cleanups and education in the Reno-Sparks area.

Donate|Volunteer| Become a Member ktmb.org

Winter 2017 | Nevada HOME |

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