Pathways Spirit, hoping to be part of a post pandemic Midtown revival

Pathways Spirit, a metaphysical supply store, stands out on Wells Avenue in a white and blue building with dragonfly emblems across the doors and windows. They sell a variety of incense, candles, crystals, books and tarot card decks. On occasion, the store also features local psychics for readings. 

Through multiple owners, locations, and a changing Reno, Pathways Spirit has been a staple in Reno since it was first opened by Dee Trotten in the late 1980s. 43-year-old owner Will Rogers has owned the metaphysical shop since 2019. 

Rogers was a longtime customer and business partner with the previous owner Jann Selleck before taking over. When Selleck decided to retire in 2019, she planned to close Pathways Spirit down, until Rogers asked to take over. 

“It was kind of like a weird series of events on how I came about this place. My mom used to bring me in here when I was a kid. It affected me greatly. I went through some health things, no answers. And that kind of led me to keep coming back here,” Rogers says. “It kind of changed my whole perception of things in a way and that kind of led me to be like, nah man, we really gotta try to keep this place open.”

Pathways Spirit is the oldest metaphysical shop in Reno, having been open roughly 40 years. Since Rogers took ownership of the store, he has begun offering aura photography and Reiki as a service as well as offering witchcraft and astrology classes. 

Rogers has also worked to modernize the business, including building a growing social media presence on Facebook and Instagram, updating the technology used, and is currently creating a website for Pathways Spirit. 

“I've just been trying to push it into the future. This last year has been kind of trying for a lot of small businesses.” Rogers said. “So, yeah, just kind of pushing us into the future, that's been my big goal and just kind of really keeping our roots here and growing a little bit more.”

Rogers previously worked in the automotive industry prior to taking ownership of Pathways Spirit. The impact Pathways Spirit had on him inspired him to take over the business, and give others the introduction to the metaphysical world that he received from Selleck. Rogers says the value Pathways Spirit gives to Reno is priceless. 

“Being able to help other people open their minds is fulfilling for me. I've had people come and tell me, thank you, just because they found a book here or something, or they were able to just even have a conversation with me about something that they thought was insignificant, but actually meant more to them,” Rogers says. “A lot of discovery happens here, like self-discovery or inner truths and inner discoveries happen here. I know it happened for me. And so that is what really adds to the community. I feel like it's just priceless.” 

Not only has Pathways Spirit been able to connect others in Reno to Rogers for spiritual guidance, it has connected many people in their spiritual journey, including one customer who performs Reiki on horses, and was able to help other customers with their animals through Reiki rituals. 

“It's really the connections that are made here and the paths that intersect here that matters.” Rogers says. 

In the middle of a changing Midtown, Rogers has grown close with fellow small business owners including Pathways Spirit’s sister shop, The Ravens Realm, and the newly opened metaphysical supply store Three Moons Trading Company. 

Next door, Rogers has grown close with the owner of Truckee Meadow Herbs. The two businesses share many of their customers. 

“He's kind of in the same kind of field like, we have a lot of people who do herbs and things, teas and things. And so it's kind of cool, that synergy that we have,” Rogers said. 

Across Reno, small businesses have closed at unprecedented rates following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic as the combined result of rising rents and slower business. In Midtown, many of Rogers’ fellow small business owners have closed down, or are at risk of closing. 

“It's getting better. It's getting worse in some areas. A lot of people have been kind of pushed out of their businesses and things recently,” Rogers said. “Juicy's … that used to be one of my favorite spots, and then the story behind that from what I've been told from some of the other business owners is that the rent went up extremely high. And then now it's been sitting empty ever since with signs on it.”

A Las Vegas native, Rogers has called Midtown home for over 20 years, and has raised his son in Midtown. As both a resident and a business owner, Rogers has experienced the changes in Midtown firsthand. 

“I like Midtown, you know, it's kind of got that old school feel here, like old traditions in a way, you know,” Rogers says. “Just seeing things empty, it's kind of eerie. It's kind of sad in a way, you know, so I would like to see it become more populated like it used to be.”

Reporting by Lily Wright for Our Town Reno

Bella Williams, Following Her Family into Becoming a Nut Vendor at Local Events

In our series on who says current students don't work hard + the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, meet Bella Williams who goes to UNR while also leading a vending company called Nature's Candy, following in her father's footsteps.

Her own business is selling nuts and dried fruit at local events and parades.

As the daughter of an event planner Williams grew up in the Reno festival scene.

“My dad organizes street events in Reno and he got me into vending,” said Williams.

After one and a half years of vending, she is still going strong, selling with her friend Greydon Geil while they both attend UNR.

“One of my dad’s closest friends was selling the nuts before and he offered to kind of hand it over, but not fully completely, so I could do it as a side hustle,” said Williams.

If you’ve been to any City of Reno or Sparks events, chances are you’ve seen Bella at her booth. Her two favorite events are the Rib Cook Off and the Italian Festival.

“I like the Italian Festival the most because of the culture,” said Williams. “I really like the Rib Cook Off because it’s the biggest show of the year and it's exciting.”

Williams’ father learned the business from his father , who started Williams LTD, a company based out of Tahoe that eventually moved here to coordinate events. They currently have contracts with The Row casinos in Reno and the Sparks Nugget.

Williams’ typical day of selling is filled with waves of customers, followed by slow times. During those slow times she offers samples to try and bring people in. Although some customers take advantage of those samples.

“My least favorite are the people that try everything and then leave,” said Geil.

“Yeah the people that sample every single nut and then don’t buy, its like okay thanks,” said Williams. “Then they don’t even give me a tip afterwards, like I gave you half my nuts bro.”

By the end of event weekends she usually brings in between $800 to $1000 dollars for smaller events, and between $1500 to $1600 dollars for larger events. Her product cost runs up to $600 for an event so profit margins are small.

How busy Williams’ booth gets depends on the times when people are hungry.

“I think its depending on when people are the most hungry and desperate for just anything to eat,” said Williams. “So they just see my nuts and they’re like ‘OK fine’ and try it and then they end up buying it.”

Some of Williams’ strangest customers are the drunk ones, like one guy who kept asking for their numbers.

“Drunk, loud, crazy, kooky customers are my least favorite,” said Williams.

“There was this one time when a drunk guy tried one single nut and then he stood at my booth for like 30 minutes just advertising for me,” said Williams. “He was talking to every person that walked by saying ‘You have to try this’ and I was like ‘thanks,’ and he was scaring all the customers away.”

Out of all the nuts she sells there is one nut that stand above the rest.

“My favorite nut is the cinnamon roll nut because I had never seen it before and when I tried it it was life changing,” said Williams. “It’s glazed in sugar and it literally transforms the whole almond.”

Williams says her next upcoming event is “Crafts For Christmas” inside the Nugget on Thanksgiving weekend.

“Be there or be square," she concluded.

Reporting by Andrew Maples

Nancy Roman, from UNR Dining to Her Own Chula's Tacos Food Truck

27-year-old Nancy Roman grabs the ticket from the cashier, her sister, and puts it on the line. She and her dad start to cook new orders on the grill.

After viewing them for nearly an hour, I can see how well they work together. There is very little space, and many in this situation would be tripping over each other. However, Roman and her family are in sync.

It’s a cold night in Reno, so they have warmers for guests who want to eat outside. Roman and her family wear hoodies under their aprons and gloves. 

Chula’s Tacos is a family-run food truck in Reno. During colder months, the truck is open on Friday nights from around six to nine P.M. 

Roman has been around cooking for as long as she can remember. She grew up around her grandpa who taught her grandma, her parents, and her aunts and uncles how to cook. She has been in the food industry since she was 16, coming up on 11 years of being involved. 

“My grandpa used to make tacos in Mexico and then my mom, she also makes tacos, and my uncle makes tacos, so I make tacos too.”

Roman’s dream is to open her own restaurant, but because restaurants are expensive, she decided to start with a food truck and still be able to cook for people.

“I did not have enough money to start my own business, so that is why I started out with a food truck so that I can later get my own restaurant. My goal is to open multiple taco trucks around town,” Roman explains.

A year ago when she opened her truck, Roman and her family created the name of the food truck and then created signature dishes to go with the name.

The name, “Chula” means beautiful in Spanish and is also the name of their most popular and most sold-out item. Like in Spanish, they have a guy version of the dish named “Chulo” and a girl version named “Chula,” a surf-and-turf taco served with a broth that customers like to dip their food into. Chulo is a taco with two meats mixed together. 

I was able to go to her food truck for the first time and try one of the burritos that they sell with chorizo before she closed. The burrito was a decent size and took me two days to finish. It came with a mild salsa and paired great with the ingredients in the burrito. I will definitely be going back when I have the time to try their signature dish. 

The family dynamic was great to see as well.

“My dad works the grill, my sister takes the orders, my mom preps everything, and then my cousin helps build the orders, and my brother is the only one that knows how to drive the food truck,” she said.

Even though I came late, there were still quite a few people who came to support Roman. A few students from the UNR campus as well as family friends gathered around to enjoy Chula’s Tacos whether it be outside with the heaters or in their cars. 

Since the food truck is only open one day a week, Roman decided to do special events and catering for weddings and birthdays if the event hosts a large number of people to cover costs.

When she is not in her food truck, Roman spends her days working as an Assistant Director of Residential Dining on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. This gives her a chance to both stay in the food industry and get more experience in management. With being an Assistant Director, she was able to learn what goes into a food business and what to think about as she is growing her own. Time management, inventory, and food costs are some of the main factors she has seen as Assistant Director that she will take with her to help her grow as an up-and-coming entrepreneur. 

Upon starting her business, Roman never knew how important it was to support small and local businesses. 

“Every dollar is like a hundred dollars to a small business,” she said at the end of our interview.  

She suggests shopping and eating locally to help these small business owners keep their stores and restaurants open. 

Reporting and photos by Kadreanna Walker for Our Town Reno

Humans of Reno: Tyler Curle, A Big Mountain Skier

Colder weather and snow is here in higher elevations with several lifts already open at Mt Rose.

Tyler Curle, 26, currently works at a local ski company and in his free time pursues competitive big mountain skiing, including on the Freeride World Tour.

Growing up in the shadow of Mt. Rose, Tyler basically lived at the resort as both his parents worked there.

The competitive nature of his skiing picked up as Tyler neared the end of high school and sponsors began showing interest in him.

Competition provides a platform for Tyler to strive for perfection while creating an analytical obsession which shows in his ability to scan a mountain face for features.

Reading terrain and choosing a line down a face which will score highly is a cultivated skill that requires experiential knowledge and a deep connection and understanding of snow.

To stay in physical shape during the off-season, Tyler frequents the Woodward Tahoe skateboard park to sharpen his air-awareness and tricks on trampolines and in foam pits. To stay mentally sharp he consumes ski media.

While competing in the Freeride World qualifiers last season, Tyler placed right on the bubble of making the pro circuit, granting himself a wildcard which sends him straight to finals for the upcoming season.

Reporting by Amico Fondi with photo by Emily Tidwell with permission to use

Keep Reno Rad: Psychic Autumn Practices White Wicca on Vassar Street

From her home in Midtown, a psychic specializes in palm and tarot reading, chakra healing, and past life regression readings under the alias “Psychic Autumn.”

Autumn practices a type of magic called White Wicca, and calls herself a “woman of the elements” rather than a psychic or clairvoyant.

Psychic Autumn has spent the last eight years in Reno providing readings locally, but she began reading at four years old on the streets of California with her mother, celebrity psychic Lana Stevens.

She conducts her readings on the front porch of her home on Vassar Street to be near the elements: the air, the trees, the sun, and water–provided by a bird bath outside her home.

Autumn starts her readings by lighting a unique combination of incense for each of her clients. For Josephine, Autumn lights a blend of Frankincense, Myrrh, and Sandalwood to calm anxieties. 

She selects the tarot card “Wheel of Fortune” in a reading for Josephinem a regular client.

Her most prized possession is an Amethyst and White Citrine geode providing abundance and clarity as well as removing negativity. Josephine holds the stone before her chakra healing to feel its properties. 

Autumn begins the chakra healing with her singing bowl with the belief that its vibrational frequency has the ability to heal each of the seven chakra centers through its interaction with each of the centers own vibrational frequency.  

Autumn next lights a pan of various incense for protection and removal of negativity. 

Josephine opens her arms while Autumn takes the pan and carries it around Josephine’s body to allow the smoke and smell of the incense to cover her.  

Chakra healing seeks to balance the seven chakra centers–each associated with a specific color and part of the body. While Josephine is currently ruled by the throat chakra, represented by blue, and the heart chakra, represented by green, Josephine should be ruled by the crown and root chakras associated with the head and feet and the colors purple and red. Chakra healing seeks to correct this. 

Reporting and photos by Lily Wright shared with Our Town Reno

‘Papa What You Cooking’ helps preserve downtown Reno history while also dishing out soul food

Across the river from the ‘Believe’ sign and ‘Space Whale’ sculpture in downtown Reno, stands an interesting-looking historic building. Built in 1934, the building was designed by a local architect in Art Deco style, and originally served as a hybrid post office and federal office building.

This location served as Reno’s main post-office until 1975, then continued as a smaller office until 2012, when a local development group acquired the space. In 2015 ‘The Basement’ opened, featuring a local marketplace of both dining and retail establishments located in the basement of the building. One of these businesses now there is a locally and family owned restaurant called Papa What You Cooking.

It specializes in soul food, which is usually associated with authentic southern cuisine. Part-owner Kai Stanton explained their idea of soul food is different, and is more about unity and embracing family traditions, wherever you are.

“The basis and the foundation of soul food is the soul of Nevada, the soul of families. And so it's not fried foods, it's not based on just one particular culture, It's multiple cultures coming together to say, ‘hey, we're here, we're growing together,’” she explained. 

Stanton shared how they offer all types of wonderful savory and sweet foods. These include baked chicken, red beans and rice, shrimp and grits, as well as oxtails, which Stanton described as the must-try dish if you could only have one. 

“Our wonderful oxtails pair well with a bed of rice and the gravy that comes from the oxtail juice that’s produced by being seared and cooked for 12 hours… so many people love the oxtails,” she said. 

All of their food comes from original family recipes, with ingredients sourced from local Nevadan farmers. Some seasonings they have shipped from family back in Louisiana or New Orleans.

Additionally, they offer a “Soulful Garden” menu, which contains salads and other options that cater to dietary restrictions. A unique element of the restaurant is it also contains a cafe-style coffee bar, with cookies, pies and other sweets.

“Our coffee is absolutely wonderful because we tag teamed with Wood-Fire Roasted Coffee here locally in town… their beans come from Guatemala and Ethiopia which creates our Truckee River Roast,” said Stanton. 

Beyond providing unique offerings however, Stanton expressed pride in the restaurant being able to help grow the unity and legacy of Reno, while also preserving history. 

“One thing I want to share most of all, and I think we can all agree, is that we want to share the unity and the love of family, the heart and the beautiful culture of Reno, to preserve the historical buildings that were here, to help support not just Reno to grow, but to grow Reno's legacy and to help not just revamp downtown but to give amazing memories to downtown Reno and to allow families to enjoy the beautiful scenery that so many people have helped develop downtown,” she said. 

Stanton and her fiancé, William Lyons, who is the other owner, had the idea to start a restaurant, after Lyons had many requests for his homemade cookies, cakes, and pies. 

“It started with something very small, people just appreciated the flavors of what we’ve already developed,” said Stanton. 

With both recently retired, they stumbled upon the old post-office during a downtown stroll, and fell in love with the aesthetics and how it felt like “a little home,” Stanton said. 

They also loved the idea of being in what Stanton calls “the heart” of Reno. Being in the downtown that’s right on the river allows them to reach both locals and tourists alike, while also being a vibrant part of the city’s development.

“To be in the middle or the heart of something keeps blood flowing, keeps energy going, and to be a part of that amazing vibe and to bring not just the culture of family, but [also] embracing and helping with the revamping and development of downtown Reno… And to be a part of the heartbeat of Nevada right downtown, we're hoping to be able to encourage other families to do the same.” Stanton said when speaking about the location of the restaurant and what it means.

Stanton also commented on the interesting intersection between the legacy of the old post-office building, and the legacy they wish to leave behind for their family. 

For Stanton, their restaurant is keeping the culture of their childhood alive for their children and grandchildren, maintaining their legacy. Simultaneously, the legacy of the old post-office is preserved by it being still used. This inspires them.

“I love it when people come in and say, this is the building that I came with my mother or my grandmother to pick up their mail. And then to have something to try [and eat] that we've, you know, provided for them, just further enhances the legacy enrichment of coming to Reno and being in the heart of Reno,” she said. 

The name ‘Papa What You Cooking’ is inspired by a common phrase uttered by Lyons’ family members, as his cooking would often be the gravitational force that pulled the family together. 

“There's something about when Papa cooks food, it brings everyone together and everyone's so excited. And everybody has a Papa, right? And so him being the Papa in the culture at home as well, everyone would ask, Papa, what are you cooking? So we thought that that would be a great name for a restaurant to be Papa What You Cooking,” she concluded.

Our Town Reno reporting by Dan Mariani

Keep Reno Rad: A Workshop to Promote Action Photography and Protecting Nature

In partnership with The Holland Project, action photographer and climate activist, Emily Tidwell, hosted a dynamic, hands-on photography workshop at Idlewild Skate Park, on Saturday, Nov. 9.

“Getting back into it [photography] was the big thing for me…when I got here, my camera forced me to put the date and time in - that’s how long I haven’t used my camera," said Mariah Espinal.

After seeing an online ad for the workshop, Mariah was eager to join Emily as a way to pursue her interests while on break from grad school.

Photographers of all skill levels gathered at The Holland Project for an introduction to Emily’s workshop and background, and later met at Idlewild for an interactive photo session with local skater, and founder of the Bitchin Betties skate group, Ella Haworth.

Ella performed numerous tricks on her skateboard and rollerskates, while Emily’s group of students practiced capturing shots of her dynamic moves.

“A big thing for me recently has been reconnecting with the arts…It’s been a real treat being out, talking to people, and photographing motion…[Emily] helped me set up my camera settings, for light and shutter speed. It’s been a new experience for me, I like it," said photographer Chris Mullen.

Emily aims to continue connecting with local creatives and hosting more photography workshops to help get people “comfortable with what it is to shoot action, and expanding into what it looks like to be a photographer in this space.”

In addition to offering creative growth to community members, Emily also aspires to bridge people to valuing the environment through her activism. “I’m really wanting to get more on-the-ground activations around bipartisan environmental causes. So, I’m excited to put more of those events together,” said Emily who is the captain of the creative alliance for Protect Our Winters.

Emily’s action and outdoor sports photography has been featured by renowned brands such as Red Bull and Patagonia and publications including Mountain Gazette and Freeskier.


Photos and writing by Beatrice Bash

Alexis Da Silva, From Reno’s Sportsdome to Major League Soccer as a Referee

Alexis Da Silva, 34, originally from São Paulo, Brazil, who now lives in the Midtown area, has gone from refereeing local Sportsdome indoor games to being the referee when Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi scored an 11-minute hat trick in Fort Lauderdale, in an end of the regular season Major League Soccer matchup.

“That was, you know, very emotional. I was very thankful. The experience is amazing to have all those names, big names around you. It's a dream,” he said. 

He describes his style as being fit, always alert, decisive and giving “lots of body language to be respected on the field. I try to have a lot of empathy for players, for coaches,” he said. “But at the same time, I have to be serious and be focused for the full game.”  

A Northern Nevada resident since 2015, Da Silva started in the MLS last year part time and went full time this past season.  Next year, he’ll be eligible to ref playoff games, as he works his way up to wanting to be on the international stage.  He’s already done a few friendlies with top European clubs on their summer preseason tours, giving him a taste of the highest level of soccer.  

“I have the goal to go international, that's always been my goal,” he says.  

It’s been a gradual ascent from local soccer at the Sportsdome, GBYSL and UNR women’s games.  

He used to drive to California to get more recognition and exposure, doing up to five complete matches per day, and then do the same the next day, sometimes at a loss because of the gas money he spent.  

“I was dead tired,” he remembers, “and sometimes losing money.”  

He started doing prestigious youth tournaments such as the Dallas Cup, more college games and lower level professional leagues to gain even more visibility, and worked his way up with all the licenses and experience needed to be a professional referee.  

His arrival in the MLS coincided with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement for referees including significant pay increases, improved travel accommodations, and a minimum number of match fees in case of injury.

Probationary referees got a a 68% increase in 2024 to $85,150, with experienced referees who have officiated 200 matches seeing their pay increase to $142,150.

Soccer has been Da Silva’s long life passion, first as a player going through the ranks in Brazil, mostly as a playmaking center midfielder, and then as a college player in the US in Illinois and Indiana. 

He says the position he played which involves lots of fitness and vision helped him as a ref.  In contrast, being Reno-based has been a challenge, with fewer opportunities initially and added layovers for travel.  

“It's actually been a challenge for me every time when I say I’m from Reno, people are like, woah. Where is Reno?” he says laughing about it.  

He says MLS is looking good right now, with Messi, its partnership with Apple TV, its expansion with a new San Diego team in 2025, and the anticipation of the 2026 North America based World Cup.  

His advice to young up and coming referees?  “Always keep learning,” he said. “Every game you need to take seriously and learn something new. It's not going to be easy. You know? It’s difficult to referee. There's a lot of pressure. The higher you go, the more pressure, physically, mentally. The criticism from all sides.  You need to be prepared. That comes from a lot of hard work, a lot of discipline. And sometimes being selfish to be willing to grow, to learn more, and keep moving toward your own goals.”

Our Town Reno reporting, October 2024 

Monday's at Fisherman's Park with Food Not Bombs Reno, Pursuing Its Mission Despite Last Year's Deadly Attack

The line was long with neighbors in need, people living on the streets and day laborers last Monday for a community meal at Fisherman’s Park hosted by Food Not Bombs Reno.

With the weather turning, tea, coffee, and cocoa were served along with hot food and winter jackets. There was also a strawberries and cream dessert handed out.

Pet food was available to feed the many furry friends and companions also showing up.

They’ve been here for years, giving out love, hugs, healthy food and clothes to neighbors in need.

It was this same group which was run down by David Turner driving a car at a second location they used to serve food at and hand out donations in April 2023, outside the Cares Campus. One unhoused woman was killed, and two of their volunteers were seriously injured. Turner has since been sentenced to life without parole.

Griffin Peralta (in red shirt above), a teacher who has been volunteering for the organization for almost ten years, explains that more people come to the gathering as it gets later in the month. This is due to an “inverse relationship to food stamps and SNAP,” Peralta says.

SNAP short for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget.

“For us, we’re out here every week, doing this thing, having dinner with people, specifically to be in solidarity with folks that we feel the government is letting down,” Peralta said.

He says this Reno chapter of Food Not Bombs sprung from the Occupy Wall Street movement which started in 2011.

Peralta makes a clear distinction that, rather than a hierarchical top-down charity approach, Food Not Bombs pursues solidarity by “meeting people where they’re at.”

Our Town Reno reporting by Kade Collins

Keep Reno Rad: Denver's Choppers Keep Legacy Going

The owner of Denver’s Choppers Mondo Porrras started building custom bikes in San Bernardino in 1967 with the late Denver Mullins, manufacturing their distinct style of long down tube stretch frames.

Student reporters James Moore and Amico Fondi caught with him recently at his Reno shop on Airway Drive.

His bikes were featured in dozens of magazines, earning him awards along the way such as “Best Custom Fabricated Bike Builder of the Year” and a spot in the chopper Hall of Fame.

“I’ve been dong this for almost 55 years,” he said. “When I got into building bikes with Denver, it was only real bikers [who] had choppers and bikes. You know it wasn’t your accountant or banker or anything else, it was more blue collar guys [who] were real bikers, with the bike clubs and so on and so forth. It was a culture onto itself.”

With the weather changing, late fall and winter is the prime time to get to work on motorcycle upgrades for aesthetic and performance enhancements.

“To do this and to do it right, you first need to have the desire and the heart to do it, then I recommend taking a machine shop class and a welding class,” Porras concluded.

Reporting and photos by James Moore and Amico Fondi shared with Our Town Reno

Where's Your Happy Place: Reno’s Plastic Scale Modelers Share their Passion

For many years, plastic model kits from toy stores, hobby shops, and antique vendors have provided children with hours of fun. However, these kits are not merely toys to be played with and forgotten. 

For members of the Reno chapter of the International Plastic Modelers Society, scale modeling is a serious art form and hobby that honors the past, educates in the present, and provides a method of relaxation. This small club dedicated to scale modeling boasts about sixty members and meets on the second Friday of every month at a fire station on Mae Anne in Reno. 

Seventy-three-year-old John Herdener—a retired mechanic, teacher, and veteran—first joined the Reno IPMS club—nicknamed the High-Rollers—in 2001;

“Well, I was teaching at Hug High School; and they were doing their meetings there; and I stopped in at the hobby store that happened to be open at the time. It’s now long gone; the owner passed away,” said Herdener,  “But he had one of the fliers on the table; and I, you know, picked it up and looked. ‘Oh, there’s a club?!’ And I saw that they met at Hug High School, and I’m like, ‘Oh, this makes it too easy.’”

Since then, and even with the change of the club’s location, Herdener has rarely missed any of their meetings. 

Herdener, who was first inspired to build scale models during his childhood when he watched his father construct ship models, owns over one thousand kits today.

His current project is a 1/72 scale P-51 Mustang – a storied World War II-era fighter plane; but his favorite build to date is a replica of the Honda 750 motorcycle he used to ride before an accident led him to give up on biking.

Describing the incident, Herdener said that he was “coming into Carson, fifty-five mile-an-hour speed limit—I’m doing about fifty. I’m on the inside lane, and I needed to move over. So, I looked over; and there’s a car; and I look up; and the lady had turned in front of me. I was about fifteen feet away from her. Impact speed was forty-five miles-an-hour. It should have killed me.”

His model Honda, now a memento of his riding days, was featured in the pages of a magazine.

Fellow modeler Phil Schenfeld (in top photo, with a landing craft he made above) is, like Herdener, a retired veteran and club member; 

Schenfeld has been involved with the Reno IPMS “High-Rollers” for about twenty-five years now.

In keeping with the club’s 2024 D-Day theme, he built a model landing craft—a project which took him eight months to complete. 

Inside? Thirty-six different figures—each detailed.

“Some of the figures are pretty much stock out of the box,” stated Schenfeld, “but most of them have been modified to the point that they tell a story. That’s my whole thing, tell a story.”

For Schenfeld, the modeling hobby not only pulls him away from the stress of current events and politics, but it also serves an educational purpose—providing him with greater knowledge about the past.

“It maintains my dexterity. I do a lot of research,” he said. “When w–When I started this [landing craft] project, I knew about this much [little] about Operation Overlord. I could write a book about it right now—about just Utah Beach, which is where this particular thing is dedicated to. So, I love doing the research.”

Kody Kuczynski, another member of the Reno IPMS club and a student at Truckee Meadows Community College, sees the hobby as an instrument that develops the researching skills of its participants. 

He also thinks the hobby provides its participants with an education in fine motor skills, in paint chemistry, and in photography, too.

Kuczynski (in photo above), who began modeling as a child, loves to build armor. Though he originally used cans of spray paint to color his models, he has since embraced airbrushing.

He says that “there are days where it’s like, I just wanna come home, sit at the workbench, and just be tuned out—have my headphones on, listen to an audiobook, podcast, or just music and just head down, working alone.”

Like many modelers, Kuczynski utilizes a diverse set of materials to finish his works. On diorama bases, he incorporates ordinary items like dirt and small sticks to replicate natural elements in a miniature setting. 

Phil Schenfeld, who does some of his work in a modeling room at his home in north Reno, uses household products to finish certain of his model airplanes.

Using pieces of tin foil and a mixture of floor polish and Mod Podge, Schenfeld can give a model a metallic coloring without paint.

For those interested in trying their own hand at modeling, Herdener says to be patient. 

“Seek the advice of other modelers; but, you know, don’t get discouraged if your first few models don’t turn out too great,” he said. “It’s—it’s a learning experience, and it’s meant to be fun. If it’s not fun, you’re doing something wrong.”

Audio feature, photos and reporting by Ariel Van Cleve

Raquelle Anne Nemedez, From a Family Suggestion to Thriving as a Lash Tech

“I was convinced by my sister in law and her sister to go to beauty school because I used to like to do nails for fun,” Raquelle Anne Nemedez says, explaining that originally she wasn’t planning to be a lash tech.  

The 32-year-old Reno native now owns her own lash business called Lashed by Raq, located in South Reno, near the new DMV located on Diamond Pkwy. 

When Nemedez first started out, she prioritized the relationships with her clients and a majority of the new ones were sorority girls. The Gen Z generation likes the ‘put together look’ without doing a full face of makeup, she says.

Nemedez enrolled into the Redken International Academy of Style located on Market St. in Reno. For nine months, while she practiced lashing on her cousin “to make sure I was doing the right thing cause if I didn't like it, I wasn't going to continue doing it. I haven't stopped since,” she said.

 In school people always discussed “you can work for someone or you can work for yourself.” And “ I wanted to work for myself,” she said.

After graduating from beauty school, she says it wasn't hard to get her own business started in Reno.

After making business cards and creating social media content, she started out with half a dozen clients. Word of mouth then kept her business going at a time the lash field was just getting bigger.

As her own boss, she found out she could have more control over which hours she was in the salon.

The most important thing Nemedez found out was “relationships are everything for me in my business, and it's not about new clients all the time.. It's about retaining clients by getting to know them on a personal level and having someone you're comfortable with,” she said.

December will mark her sixth year as an independent lash tech and a successful business woman.

Reporting by Grace Kaplan shared with Our Town Reno

Artists at Generator Pursue Awe Inspiring Work Year-Round

The Generator Maker Space located off of Oddie Boulevard is home to many local artists. It’s a place for metal working, textile work, sculptures, a gymnastic area, van renovation, 3d printing and more. As Aaron Arao reports in this audio feature it has life beyond Burning Man the rest of the year.

A handful of metal workers are in a corner of the maker space in Sparks, Nevada, right near the border with Reno. 

The Generator is always in motion. It’s your typical commercial warehouse, but lined with various sculptures, textures, fabrics, paints, desks, privacy tarps, and more. 

The room held 27 Burning Man pieces this year alone. Some sculptures built here have surpassed the typical two story home when fully assembled. 

Front desk administrator and social media coordinator, Lain Snyder, is one of seven people that help keep this nonprofit going, year round, and not just for the Burning Man production months.

“I love all the different art I get to see made. I think it’s incredible to watch people come in here for the first time and see that all of this is made by a person. That is just such an endlessly delightful thing for me,” Snyder said.

Right after the entrance, underneath a towering bronze sculpture of a crowned snake, makers are making their own halloween themed mini golf course for this month's upcoming events.

While busiest in the run up to the end of August start of Burning Man, the Generator is a year-round space. 

Despite the small team Snyder loves the people she works with. They are her best friends, she says. She loves the community and interactions she has everyday.

A 55-year-old Mongolian Burning Man artist, who goes by Sturo, entered the Generator three years ago after moving to Nevada from California. 

He had his hesitations about moving here, but the people and community at Burning Man and the Generator called him to stay.

Sturo has made two spiritual inspired pieces for Burning Man 2023 and 2024 described as “larger than life.”

Sturo says he’s motivated and inspired by the vibrations of the universe. 

“It’s not only my project, we're just collaborating together,” he said. “A lot of the different professionals were involved in my project. That's why I’m kinda happy and blessed to meet beautiful people.”

He firmly believes that the world’s best artists today are those that work together. 

Woodworker and Research Technician at the Desert Research Institute, Eric Lundin, has different motivations for his art. He does it for no other reason than he simply enjoys it. He used to sell jewelry made with the rocks and crystals he found in his research, but now focuses on making his own teardrop trailer for camping.

“Just nonprofits in general are kind of like a great place that brings people together,” he said. “Like, I kind of got started with the nonprofit sector in, like, the 2020 election, when there was felt like a lot of division.Whatever lines get drawn on social media platforms or, hell, even in school. When    you come to a place like this where people are just nerding out on whatever they're nerds about. Those lines kind of disappear. Yeah, it’s nice.”

Snyder the receptionist says interested artists or volunteers can find workshops and opportunities through the Generator’s website. They can also come with an idea and find a team to make it a reality.

Audio, Photos and Reporting by Aaron Arao shared with Our Town Reno

Kristen Snow, Telling Us All About the Traffic in Northern Nevada

With the worsening traffic in our region aren't we thankful for our amazing traffic reporters? Here's a feature in her own words on one of the best, working with Cumulus Media:

“We have lots of slow going in and out of the spaghetti bowl... We've got construction and lane merges to look out for some hiccups and some backups in our usual trouble areas. We're also seeing a jackknife semi that has collided with the passenger truck I 80 East near USA Parkway and some congestion both direction on one of our busiest daily driver highways…..

Thankfully, this is not an actual traffic report in real time. But these are the kinds of traffic reports you can and will hear in real time.

I'm Kristen Snow, a native of Northern Nevada. I graduated from UNR in 1992 emphasizing in broadcast journalism along with a minor in public relations.

I'm very much a people person and a talker, if you will.

I think journalism is a very diverse field, mass communications and community. I absolutely love.

I originally thought I wanted to do field reporting and quickly changed things a little bit, moved into radio. I've worked all formats in the radio business over the years and have recently dipped my toes in news and traffic reporting and I'm loving it very much.

Effective traffic reporting is in theory very simple yet complex in a way that you want to stay on top of current situations including accidents and incidents such as a motorists assist... debris in the road, an actual traffic accident, breaking news that affects traffic situations within that breaking news, such as road closures.

I use the highway patrol highway site for up to the minute issues and traffic cameras, Google Maps and Waze for road travel info, Nevada 511 for incidents, construction, accidents, special events, weather related closures, doing my best to keep you informed on any situation as quickly as it becomes available to me to keep our travelers moving along on area roads in the best way possible, especially during peak drive times, morning, afternoon, and evening.

#workersofreno reporting by Joseph Azar

Keep Reno Rad: Thania's Juice Bar, Combining Wellness and Latin Heritage

Thania Medina, the owner of Thania’s Juice Bar, has turned her revamped business into a hidden gem. A mix of flavors and authenticity located at The Basement in downtown Reno, her colorful juice bar is blending culture and health in a refreshing way. 

 “I wanted to show a bit of my culture in a different way,” she says. 

Combining her Mexican-American heritage and her passion for wellness, Thania’s Juice Bar offers freshly made health conscious options, including house made pumpkin seed, almond milks, gluten-free and nut free items.

Medina was determined to create something authentic. It’s been a process to find the right line between originality and success. At first, she began with only Mexican specialties, but as soon as she realized it wasn’t working as well as she hoped for, she began to listen to her customers and what they wanted more of, while also still keeping her culture in the mix. 

From there, she added what she is most proud of which is the health aspect of her business. Her dedication to making everything in-house from milk to granola sets her apart from other juice bars.

Thania recalls one of her former loyal customers fondly. “She beat cancer one time,” she remembers.

Fruits and vegetables in Thania’s juices contain most of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can help one stay healthy. Even though the customer was from the Bay Area she says she made it a monthly trip to visit Thania’s Juice Bar in downtown Reno. 

Sadly, she passed away but Thania thinks about her every day. These connections are Thania’s favorite part of owning a business. 

During my visit, I ordered a matcha smoothie and a cilantro avocado bagel. Who knew something so simple could be so flavorful. Both the bagel and juice did not disappoint. All were under $15 for a refreshing, and fulfilling meal that has me wanting to go back. 

As a local small business owner with two locations, one inside The Basement and the other in Incline Village, Medina enjoys meeting all her customers and hopes to help spread healthy living. 

Keep Reno Rad reporting by Genevy Machuca 

Reno Aces Fans Attend Regular Season Finale with Dogs and Fond Memories

Even though the Reno Aces lost in their home regular season finale yesterday 7-6 at Greater Nevada Field, many fans, who came with their dogs, as it was also Dog Day, reminisced on another great season, which will take our Triple-A team to the playoffs.

Players, meanwhile, immediately hit the road to start the Pacific Coast League playoffs in Sugar Land, Texas, against the Space Cowboys Tuesday.

“The dog day has been great,” Jacob in first photo from top left said of Sunday's regular season finale game. “The dogs love it they’re out here hanging out in the sun enjoying a good game and having fun with all the dollar hot dogs.This season's been great to come out, and we’re having a blast.”

“I normally come to all the Reno Aces games with my mom, Colleen Cardger. I’m actually wearing a jersey from the first game the Aces ever played,” Kelsey Adams in top medium photo said. “It's our first dog day. We’re loving dog day. It's hard with an anxious great dane to bring, but we're into supporting locally as much as possible, because we're from Tahoe so we want to make sure we do what we can. We love the games, we love when they get the crowd involved. My mom’s favorite is the YMCA, just getting everybody dancing. Coming from Tahoe, we obviously don't have baseball, but we should have hockey soon which is great, more of a snow experience. But for the most part supporting locally as much as we can. Everybody who turns out is so enthusiastic. I'm wearing a pride hat, I love that we have pride nights, and dog nights, and Veteran nights. It's definitely been a great season.”

“My name’s Bruce Cherry and I come to every last game of the season. I think the Reno Aces are great for a Triple A team. I'm happy to come to their big stadium and enjoy the sights and sounds,” Bruce Cherry in right top photo said.

“I think this ball field is a great way to bring our community together,” Kristen Campbell, on left in middle column said. “ It just feels like our small town in our biggest little city, so it's amazing.”

“Dog days at the Aces are our favorite days because our dog gets to enjoy it with us. He’s a lab pitbull mix, and he loves the dollar hot-dogs too,” Nancy Falcon, from Reno, in middle photo said.

“My experience today is awesome, it's a nice crowd, beautiful weather, “ Dan in middle right photo said.

“We’re season ticket holders, so we’ve had a great season and just wanted to enjoy the last regular season game of the year. Very glad [for the playoffs] and very excited to see them in 1st place!” Jennifer Bascom in bottom left photo, from Sparks said.

“Love this whole 2024 season for the Aces, getting ready for the playoffs,” DJ Rachese in bottom middle photo, from Reno said.

“It’s been a great season, hopefully we can continue it next year, and there can’t be a more perfect day to be out here,” Brian on right of bottom right photo said. “I love to see all the interactive experiences for the fans and to come out here to eat some cheap hot dogs and [drink] some beer. So we’ll keep coming,” Phil Egan (left) said.

Photos and reporting by Dan Mariani

Rat Race Records Kicks Off New House Concert Venue with Summerween Bash

New up and coming local music label Rat Race Records held a “Summer-ween” concert this weekend in the backyard of a house near UNR with bands Mom Cars, FKA Fingers, and Unexplainable Cattle Mutilations.

Attendees sported Halloween costumes in honor of the last day before the Fall Equinox.

The Summerween concert was the first concert to take place in this new location. The house is occupied by three roommates who met while working at the Holland Project.

Many volunteers arrived to assist in the concert’s set-up with tasks like setting up the sound system and helping with ticket sales at the backyard’s entrance.

There were also tables set up where local vendors merchandised their art. This included handmade jewelry, screen printed tee-shirts, and crochet succulents.

Mom Cars came all the way from Grass Valley to play in front of this enthusiastic house party crowd. While on stage, their lead singer Brendan Le told the crowd Reno is one of the best cities to perform in.

After this successful kickoff, Rat Race is set to hold another concert at this location with Shauna Dean Cokeland, Orrral Fixation and again Unexplainable Cattle Mutilations.

Reporting and Photos by Kade Collins for Our Town Reno

Eco-Art Serves as a Warmup Act for a Dinner for the Revolution at Reno Food Systems

Ahead of final preparations for the Women on Fire Reno organized Dinner for the Revolution with Reno Food Systems on October 5th, Pax Robinson, a poet, teacher and barista has been holding weekly 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday eco-drawing classes.

During a recent edition, visitors were able to pick up some colored markers, fresh flowers and make their own eco-related art while relaxing in the organic surroundings of the non-profit’s farm at 3295 Mayberry Drive. 

Drawings from past editions had already been used to make up the flyer for the 5 to 10 p.m. October extravaganza, which will include a tour of the farm, a community-building workshop, a farm-to-table dinner, and an eco-themed variety show. Included in the musical line-up is rising Reno indie band, Doolittle Ladybug.

“I’ve been to a lot of rubber chicken dinners where you buy raffle tickets for prizes that you don’t really want,” Melissa Gilbert, who does community outreach for Reno Food Systems said of an approach her organization wanted to avoid.  

Tickets for the Dinner for the Revolution are priced at $100, but lower-income attendees may purchase their tickets for $50. There are also options for attendees to purchase $200 tickets in order to sponsor lower-income attendees.

”I only want to cook for the revolution,” said Gilbert, who is also the so-called Kitchen Mama at Reno Food Systems, coordinating the preparation of healthy donated food on a weekly basis.

Women on Fire recently hosted the “She’s on Fire” festival with a line-up of mainly female performers at Abby’s Highway 40 on 4th street, with its values aligning with Reno Food Systems.  

“I wanted to create an event that elevated women,” Robinson the founder of Women on Fire said, not wanting to perpetuate the vibe of “rough masculine entertainment venues.”  

Already looking for collaborators and assistance with Reno Food Systems events, Gilbert found Women on Fire to be an ideal match as both organizations pursue their growth and positive impact on the community. 

Our Town Reno photos and reporting by Kade Collins

Marliena Landeros: Smiles Make a Difference at Pangolin Cafe

“You have to be a hard worker.  You have to be willing to come to work on the hard days, and put a smiling face on for everybody,” Marliena Landeros says “of staying strong for everyone else, and working harder than anyone else,” when detailing her duties as the manager of the Pangolin Cafe on 955 S Virginia Street.

She’s been in that position for the past year, after working in other roles here, and a decade in the coffee industry with previous experience on the East Coast.

Pangolin Cafe is known for its quality variety of offerings from Turkish coffee to Cuban espresso to Matcha latte.  

“I had the Fall Fog and it was perfect nostalgic goodness. Probably the single best tea latte I have ever had. I love that it was not loud sweetness but just a gentle afterthought allowing the pumpkin spice flavors to be the center of attention to the palette. Best coffee experience I have had in a long time,” a recent visitor wrote on Yelp wrote. 

Landeros says community and service are prized at Pangolin Cafe.  

“What sets us apart is our service. I think more than coffee what we provide is community and a friendly face. We like to connect with everybody. It’s a big honor to serve this community and the people that come in here,” she said.  

“When I was a kid I loved coffee, I’ve been drinking coffee since I was two,“ Landeros says remembering how in middle school she thought baristas were cool.  

“One of the favorite things about working here is we’ve seen a lot of babies be born, and this year was the first I saw a kid go from infant to starting kindergarten and it’s been wild to see her grow,” she said.  

Future plans include partnering with UNR for its 150th anniversary next month and expanding for more people to enjoy the Pangolin Cafe experience.

Reporting and photo by Emily Hess shared with Our Town Reno

Film Trailblazer Sebiya Charukh Eagerly Awaits Results from 48 Hour Film Project

Sebiya Charukh waits anxiously for others on her filmmaking team to return as she’s trying to transfer materials. It’s late August and it’s the second day of Reno’s 48 hour film project competition, with minutes counting down towards the final deadline.

What was supposed to be a refueling pizza run is now a catastrophic time cost. “When they scanned the card, they saw it was a different person, and held him there,” Sebiya said of an ill-planned Costco run, and its tighter than hoped for membership security.

The 48 Hour Film Project is an annual competition, held in cities across the world, where teams are tasked with creating films from concept to finished production within two days.

The competition, which debuted in Reno in 2022, offers opportunities for aspiring artists, with the ultimate prize being a film screening at the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner. Sebiya has competed the past couple years locally, but this year took it a step further, creating her own production company Bluebird Films Production, and assembling a team of 30 talented team members before the big production event. 

In her first year in the competition, Sebiya served as just a writer and actress. This year, she added producer and director to her film roles. Not only did she juggle several responsibilities, but she felt the odds were stacked against her. “We were going up against professional teams that produce big movies,” she said of the competition. 

However, she discovered some professional talent of her own. “It was amazing I got Tomm Dauenhauer… he was working on famous TV shows like American Idol.” Sebiya praised his dedication, sharing how Dauenhauer stayed until two in the morning the first competition night, even though he had a two hour commute home. 

Although she successfully assembled her team of 30, this wasn’t a guarantee until a week before the competition began. “One week away I was missing people and without them I couldn’t complete it… it’s a small town,” she explained. Furthermore, there aren’t any incentives to offer, just camaraderie and trying to create the best possible film as a team.

 “You have to make a movie on 0 budget,” Sebiya explained.  

At the start of the competition, teams draw a random genre amongst other story elements. Sebiya drew her team’s genre over zoom, as her team anxiously waited for the direction they would need to go. 

“We drew comedy… then [we] were on the way to the writing desk,” she said.

To manage her large team, Sebiya delegated responsibilities to different groups, and this also allowed for more creative freedom. “I wanted to not only bring people together but give them creative freedom so they can use all their potential… I think that worked perfectly,” Sebiya said. 

However, in the final hours of editing, problems escalated, with the sound suddenly being messed up.  “We submitted it five minutes before [the] deadline. It was very intense,” she shared. 

Other challenges included having to change the shooting location last minute due to an UNR tailgate, and the need to call on the help of her friend, Galina Ohanian, the director of the Golden Domes dance ensemble. Not only did Galina provide her house as an alternate location after the tailgate snafu, she came to the rescue with another important element- costumes.

“During our brainstorm at 11 p.m. I called and asked if we could use clown costumes [she had]. Her husband was a clown in Reno for 40 years and I had to confirm, as he’s passed,” Sebiya said. Galina didn’t hesitate- “She was wonderful and said of course, of course!” 

Sebiya is confident in their finished production titled, “Next Clown Up” ahead of the awards ceremony in a few days.  

 “I think we should do well, we created a very good movie, and I feel like it could get some awards but as a team we already won,” she said.

All in all, the friends she made along the way and the creative release during the decisive two days made the month and a half she spent planning for the competition all worth it.

“Networking is a big part of the experience. You learn from each other, it’s a lot of fun. It’s an amazing experience to let all this creativity out… you just kind of like go on autopilot, [and] some kind of switch flips in your head…maybe it’s like a connection with the gods,” Sebiya shared with a laugh.

“I Know What You See” is a longer term film she’s finishing up where again she’s wearing many hats as director, actress, and producer. Filmed in Reno, Sebiya said “it’s a drama with a very sensitive story about a mother and daughter’s relationship… [about] how far a parent is willing to go for their child out of love. It’s a deeply emotional story, and I think it will resonate with the audience in a very different way.”

Local businesses supported the project, such as Reno Rescue, and locations such as the UNR Medical School provided a set. The film is currently in post-production and will be featured in film festivals both domestic and abroad soon. 

When Sebiya first moved to Reno close to nine years ago from Uzbekistan, she says the film opportunities weren’t as abundant. 

“Recently everything started to change… Hollywood [has] started to come to Reno,”  she joked. For aspiring filmmakers, Sebiya named the High Sierra Writers Group as a good community film resource in Reno, in addition to competitions like the 48 Hour Film Project. 

To get into filmmaking, Sebiya recommends to “learn from anywhere and anyone” and to “never stop” in the pursuit of learning and production opportunities, and you never know what might happen. 

A short film she made last year “Rudy Where Are You”(poster above) ended up getting an honorable mention at the Influx Film Awards, and was played at festivals in California. Sebiya used this as an example of why you should be relentless in pursuit of opportunity.

 “It was just an experiment… but you see you never know,” she said of its success.   

Final awards for the 48 Hour Film Project will be given at the Galaxy Theaters Legends in Sparks on September 14th.  

“I’m so grateful for my team… I really want to highlight everyone… It’s amazing how people with all this passion under this time pressure can produce so much,” Sebiya concluded, considering the experience was already a win whatever the result.  

Our Town Reno reporting by Dan Mariani, September 2024