Around the Arch Blog

It’s beginning to feel like Christmas, the feeling of warmth and community. After a fall season of tragedy in the Truckee Meadows, the feeling of holiday reminds me of hope and good spirit. Nothing says community more than a neighbor’s helping hand. That’s exactly what Reno is about, a helping hand to those in need. We rally together and exhibit our strength through our valorous resolve. I’m proud to be a member of this community and am appreciative of all its working components. The Reno Fire Department recently put out a fire in my neighborhood and the professionalism and care was something to be admired. I applaud their quick response from an efficiency standpoint, but truly appreciate their concern and sympathy. The neighborhood came to arms with helping hands and personal affection. It was an extraordinary example of Reno camaraderie.

When moments like this happen, you’re reminded of what a great place the City of Reno is. It’s time to join together and celebrate. Tuesday, November 22, the City of Reno Christmas tree lights are to be switched on signaling the official beginning of the holiday season. The event begins at 5:00 p.m. at Reno’s City Plaza. Please join us.

This free event will feature Santa Claus, carolers, ice skating, and community celebration. The Salvation Army Canteen will be serving free hot chocolate during the ceremony.

The towering 40-foot tree has been moved into its traditional position for the festive season. Adorned in thousand of lights, this year’s giant sequoia was donated by Raley’s Supermarket on Mayberry Avenue.

Flicking the switch at this year’s festivities will be Vice-Mayor Dan Gustin alongside Reno’s City Council.

Following the tree lighting, the Rink on the River will open for a special night of ice skating until 9:00 p.m. Skaters receive free skate rental by donating clothes items to the Salvation Army.

The City Plaza and Ice Rink are located at the corner of First and Virginia Streets in Downtown Reno along the Truckee River.

The event schedule is as follows:
- Billinghurst Middle School Choir sings carols starting at 5:00 p.m.
- Vice-Mayor Dan Gustin and city officials welcome the public at 5:15 p.m.
- Tree lights flipped on by Vice-Mayor Dan Gustin at 5:20 p.m.
- Rink on the River opens 5:30-9 p.m. (weather & ice conditions permitting)

Halloween pumpkins have invaded the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center! Walking past the front desk feels like walking down a modeling catwalk. There are glaring eyes all around. Decorated eyes! 

Each year our Sierra Kids sites participate in a pumpkin decorating competition. Pumpkins are decorated by the kids and presented at the Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center for a vote. Citizens and staff cast their votes for Best of Show, Spookiest, and Most Creative. If you’re in the neighborhood of 1301 Valley Road, drop in and check these pumpkins out. They’ll be taking votes till Monday (10/31/11).

Sierra Kids is a safe and supervised before and after school program hosted at Alice Smith, Hunter Lake, Sarah Winnemucca, Caughlin Ranch, Jessie Beck, Sierra Vista, Desert Heights, Lemmon Valley, Silver Lake, Dodson,  Mamie Towles, Stead, Double Diamond, Mount Rose, Virginia Palmer, Elmcrest, Peavine, Westergard, Esther Bennett, and Roy Gomm.

 For registration information about the Sierra Kids program, call 334-2262 or visit reno.gov/parksandrec.

My boss asked me to write something for this blog about an award we just received for our social media program. Although the award is from a well-respected organization and we have put a lot of work into interacting online… my first thought was that people wouldn’t care and we’d sound like we were tooting our own horn. An actual trophy arrived in the mail yesterday, and I wasn’t sure exactly what to do with it.

Then something happened yesterday that reminded me why it’s important that the City of Reno keep trying to connect with people on social media, and that more people know about it.

This tweet came in at 11:40 a.m. on October 3:

Well that didn’t seem right. So we looked into it, and it turns out that the contractor for the project sent out notices Monday instead of Friday as planned. We talked with the owner of the referenced business and with the contractor, and made arrangements to maintain access to the business for customers during the time of construction.

Our Twitter post at 6:45 p.m.:

The behind-the-scenes activity that you didn’t see involved public works staff having conversations and an in-person visit with the business owner, working out a plan to make sure customers could get to the business, arranging for the crew superintendent to slurry the street earlier in the day, and communicating the results back to public information staff.

We decided from the beginning that if we were going to try to connect with people online, we needed to be responsive and have an internal process for addressing any issues. I’m grateful for the department support we have to make that happen, and that we have so many people here who really care.

So this morning I found a place for that little glass award on the shelf above the counter on the 12th floor of City Hall, and now I’m hoping someone asks what it’s for.

Please keep connecting with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr & LinkedIn!

Reno’s Park & Recreation Program Brochure Available 

The City of Reno Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department has released the 2011-2012 Fall/Winter Program Brochure. The Brochure contains information on the ice-skating rink, recreation programs and classes, special events, senior programs, winter camps, facility and pool schedules, a park directory and more.

In an effort to reduce waste and be fiscally prudent, the brochure is not being mailed unless requested. A copy is available online for download in .pdf format at reno.gov/parksandrec. Brochures are also available at any of the followingReno parks and recreation facilities:

Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, 1301 Valley Road
Neil Road Recreation Center, 3925 Neil Road
McKinley Arts & Culture Center, 925 Riverside Drive
Teglia’s Paradise Park Activity Center, 2745 Elementary Drive
Southside Cultural Center, 190 East Liberty Street
Northwest Pool, 2925 Apollo Way

To have a copy mailed to you or for more information, please call (775) 334.2262 or visit www.reno.gov/parksandrec.

Southwest Gas has submitted an application that, if approved, would raise natural gas residential rates in Northern Nevada $0.03 or .08% in the summer and $0.11 or .10% in the winter.

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada wants to give you an opportunity to learn more about it and express your concerns. The PUCN is holding a consumer session that will be videoconferenced from Las Vegas to Carson City on September 13, 2011. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in Hearing Room A, 1150 E. William Street, Carson City.

What a beautiful site it is to look up into a bright-blue sky filled with balloons. We captured this brilliantly-colored balloon soaring just above the Evelyn Mount NorthEast Community Center this morning.  

The Great Reno Balloon Race is the largest free hot air ballooning event in the Nation. During three days in early September, you can look up into the Reno skies and see a rainbow of hot air balloons soaring about. From its humble beginnings in 1982 with just 20 balloons, The Great Reno Balloon Race has taken flight with more than 100 balloons each year. Taking place just a few miles north of downtown Reno, the event enchants both young and old with its vibrant colors and inspiring music. The Balloon Race has won many awards over the years including ‘Best Special Event in Reno’ and ‘Best Special Event in Northern Nevada.’ With an average of 150,000 spectators attending the event each year, the number of lives touched by the beautiful spectacle continues to rise just like the balloons themselves. 

 http://www.renoballoon.com