Around the Arch Blog

A unique blog post about preparing for a “Zombie Apocalypse” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gained a lot of attention this week. The site even crashed due to so many visitors! The post was a creative way to teach people about preparing for any emergency.

Even if a zombie attack doesn’t threaten the City of Reno, you can still make sure you and your family prepare for a more likely situation in our area, such as:

- Wildfires (they’re just as scary, and they do happen around here)
- Flooding (see pic of “the big one” that flooded downtown Reno in 1997)
- Earthquakes (we felt one around here a couple years back, and there’s always a potential)

Preparing isn’t hard; it just takes some effort. Check out Reno’s preparedness webpages to learn more. Get a kit, make a plan, be prepared – for anything!

City of Reno staff and volunteers organized a local Project Homeless Connect, which is similar to events going on in more than 200 other communities in the United States.

The Reno Police Department led a sweep of the Crest Inn in downtown Reno to investigate criminal and quality of life issues. The teams that went door-to-door at the motel or checked the building included, Reno code enforcement officers and firefighters, Washoe County Health Department staff, OSHA investigators and others.

The Family Shelter is about to lose one family. Resident Thomas Glozer and his three young boys are about to move in to their own place thanks to a federal grant. Glozer worked with service providers to secure this grant and other programs, including funds to go to college.

The Reno City Council accepted a $20,000 donation from the Children of Light Foundation to support program operations at the Community Assistance Center (CAC).

The funding will be used during fiscal year 2010-2011 in the following way:

• $5,000 will furnish the local match for an AmeriCorps member to staff the Community. Resource Center on a part-time basis. The AmeriCorps member will help train volunteers who assist in providing intake and referrals for clients and other persons in need who access the Resource Center to obtain services.

• $5,000 will be used to purchase bus vouchers from the Regional Transportation Commission. The vouchers are provided to clients at the CAC who need transportation to and from school, training, appointments, and employment. Bus vouchers are always in demand and assist in enabling clients to regain self-sufficiency.

• $10,000 will be used to provide motel vouchers for families who are waiting to enter the Family Shelter. The City works with Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada which provides intake, screening and short-term housing for families in need. Based on past data, $10,000 will support this service for the coming year.

On June 9, 2010, the Reno City Council approved the renewal of the Cooperative Agreement between the Cities of Reno and Sparks and Washoe County for fiscal year 2010-2011 operations of the CAC. The agreement identifies the City of Reno as the lead entity responsible for contracting with service providers for the CAC as well as pursuing grant opportunities in support of CAC programs.

Matthew Polasko, who just graduated from UNR, came up with an idea while he was working at the university’s food services that feeds homeless families. Matthew convinced students to give their weekly unswiped food allowances back to the supplier, which amounted in money to buy food to give to the family shelter at the Community Assistance Center. The City honored Matthew by declaring June 9, 2010 Matthew Polasko Day in Reno. Pictured: Council Member Dwight Dortch, Community Reinvestment Manager Jodi Royal-Goodwin and Matthew Polasko.

The City is again sponsoring the USDA Summer Food Service Program this year.  During summer vacation, meals will be served to all children under age 18 free of charge at several locations:

Students enrolled in City of Reno summer camps at these service locations will also receive these meals. For additional information, call Alan Roney, Recreation Supervisor at 775-334-2262.

Parks & Recreation is offering assistance filing individual taxes to area seniors with help from AARP.  Residents do not need to be AARP members to receive help, and there is no fee to participate.

Tax assistance is available on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 noon beginning February 13th.  Appointments last 45 minutes and must be made in advance.  Call 689-8484 to make an appointment at the Neil Road Recreation Center located at 3925 Neil Road in South Reno. 

Read the rest of this entry »