Around the Arch Blog

The national buzz  is for people to serve their community through volunteerism. Several Reno residents jumped on board (no pun intended) to better their community by volunteering to serve on some local advisory bodies.

At the last Reno City Council meeting, the Council approved several residents to Boards and Commissions appointments. Reno residents Wendy Franco and George Hardaway will serve on the Four Steps to the Future Committee and Micaela Gerardin-Frey was appointed as an alternate. Craig Erny was reappointment to serve on the Historical Resource Commission.

With over 50 Boards and Commissions, interested residents have the opportunity to improve their community by volunteering to serve on an advisory body that best suits their interests. The Arts and Culture Commission, Neighborhood Advisory Board, Recreation and Parks Commission, and Senior Citizen Advisory Committee are just some of the boards represented. There are many opportunites available so if you are interested visit the City of Reno’s website at www.cityofreno.com to find out more.

Reno’s Street Sweepers have a new plan to let residents know when they will be in their neighborhood. Residents can go on line to find out when the street sweepers are coming so they can get their vehicles off the streets. The new plan follows the same routes used for snow plowing.

The City Council accelerated the Neighborhood Street Program to get a head in the effort to clear up a backlog of streets in need of repair. The City’s Public Works Department oversaw a street resurfacing program that covered more than 100 miles of streets in northwest Reno this fiscal year.

Grab your walking shoes and join Reno City Council members Jessica Sferrazza and Sharon Zadra this coming Monday, September 14th at Horseman’s Park located at 2799 Pioneer Drive in Reno for an hour long walk and informal chat.

The walk starts at noon and provides you with an opportunity to stretch your legs and join in on some interesting conversation. The informal setting provides a unique opportunity for you to get to know the women who serve on the Reno City Council.

The weekly walks are called “Fresh Air, New Ideas.” For more information call Reno Direct at 334-INFO (4636).

The City of Reno’s Recreation & Park Commission is hosting a park cleanup at Wheatland Park on Thursday, September 3rd. The public is invited to help them from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Volunteers should bring their own gardening or work gloves to use while weeding or raking planter beds and tree wells, spreading mulch, planting annuals or painting. Materials and tools will be provided.

This is the fourth of five clean up events hosted by the Recreation & Park Commission this summer. The previous three have been overwhelming successes. Given the financial challenges facing the City and the resulting service reductions, these volunteer efforts are more valuable and more necessary than ever.

For more information call Jeff Mann, Parks Manager, at (775) 334-2270.

Suncrest Northwest Neighborhood Watch Group will now have new Neighborhood Watch signs thanks to Council Member Dan Gustin.

Gustin requested $425 of his donation funds be assigned to the Reno Public Works Department to be used exclusively for the purchase and installation of poles and signs for the Suncrest Northwest Neighborhood Watch Group.

Council Member donation funds can only be used for nonprofit organizations that provide substantial benefits within our community. These monies are allocated throughout the fiscal year.

Reno Code Enforcement Officer Cindi Gil Blanco discusses her job and why she likes public service.

A number of residents volunteered to plant trees as part of the Roots for Wells program. The organizer, Barrie Schuster, worked with the City’s Urban Forester, the Neighborhood Advisory Board and others to raise funds and organize the effort to plant about 100 trees in the neighborhood near Wells Avenue. The organizers plan to do the program again on more streets in the area next Spring.

The City of Reno’s Recreation & Park Commission, a volunteer group, is hosting a community clean up at Whitaker Park in Northwest Reno on Saturday, July 18th. The public is invited to join them from 8 -11 a.m.

Businesses, organizations, university students and groups of friends will find these events build teamwork, company and neighborhood pride, and personal satisfaction through service. Volunteers should bring their own gardening or work gloves to use while weeding or raking planter beds and tree wells, spreading mulch, planting annuals or painting. Materials and tools will be provided.

The financial challenges facing the City and the resulting service reductions make volunteer efforts more valuable and community involvement more necessary than ever.

The Recreation & Park Commission will be holding other cleanup days as follows:
Saturday, August 15 – 8 a.m. – Rainbow Ridge Park & Trail
Thursday, September 3 – 5:30 p.m. – Wheatland Park
Saturday, September 19 – 9 a.m. – Horseman’s Park & Trail

For more information call Jeff Mann, Parks Manager, at (775) 334-2270.