Away Notes, #2

African zebras living in Point Arena, California (with one of them shown here)

Left Point Arena this past Thursday and should be back in Reno by November 1st or 2nd.

Away Notes, #1

Point Arena, California

I left Reno two weeks ago and have been in Point Arena for a week (as of tonight).  So far, everything has been chronicled at this photo set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28424275@N06/sets/72157622433192952/

The main event so far has been the Oz Farm harvest festival party this past Saturday from noon to five pm. 

Most days, up to now, have been hot.  There are three days of anticipated coolness with fog and wind.  Then, supposedly, hot again (and all the watering that goes with it).  But, we’re getting a taste of autumn chill today.

“City of Reno, Nevada: Fresh Air, Fresh Ideas”

City Council members Jessica Sferrazza and Sharon Zadra on their weekly Monday walks with constituents.

A note about what this blog won’t be focusing on….

I have decided not to revisit the Long Political Season (aside from what was posted in Chapter One).  It’s a long story and I do have tons of posted material saved from the old blog,  Washoe Democratic Caucus, but I simply feel that I don’t have the time and energy to devote to telling this story.  And,  I am limiting my posts related to politics to matters that are local.  (And, that itself will  be a rarely covered subject here.)

So, there you have it.  Basicly, a blog about everything (in Reno and the places I’m visiting elsewhere) BUT politics (except rarely in relation to local happenings).

Endorsements for Reno News and Review’s “Best of……”

I’ll identify the general categories by number (and the order they  show up when you vote) and not by name.  And, list the specific categories by name and who I voted for.  First, here’s the link for you to go to in order to vote:

http://www.newsreview.com/reno/ballot/bestofreno09

ONE:

Most environmentally conscious company:  Cathexes

Best Green Building:  Cathexes

Best Green Leadership:  Billy Howard

TWO:

Best Local Magazine:  Reno Tahoe Tonight (published by Oliver X).

FOUR:

Best Local Blogger:  Mike Jamieson (3rd Eye on Reno).  (I deserve at least one vote.)

Best volunteer:  Alfred Walking Bull  ( a toughie with many other great choices….but Alfred has basicly been doing this fulltime for many months now.)

Best local political activist (a toughie, btw):  Bob Fulkerson  (also, Lisa Stiller, Shaun Gray, and so many others.)

Best middle school teacher:  Dee McDowell  (get her back in the classroom!)

Best high school teacher:  Brent Busboom

Best politician:  Sheila Leslie

Best local candidate:  Byllie Andrews

Best local journalist:  Dennis Myers

Best visual artist:  Erik Holland

Best local TV news:  Channel 2

FIVE:

Best Casino buffet:  El Dorado

SIX:

Best open mic night:  Java Jungle

TEN:

Best political cause:  Legalization of marijuana

Best local website:   http://www.downtownmakeover.com

Best artist hangout:  Java Jungle

Best online community:  Reno Baby!  (ning group founded by Ryan Jerz)

Best local band:  Shanti Shanti

Best special event downtown:  NadaDada Motel

hard copy of most of old blog, Washoe Democratic Caucus

The upcoming “Chapter Two” of  “The Long Political Season” will cover the long year (2007) when several candidates for the Democratic party’s nomination for President came to Reno, again and again.  (Nevada had been granted special, early caucus status.)  I had a blog during that time called a Washoe Democratic Caucus.  It was at blogger and was deleted some time ago.  But, most of that blog exists in hard copy:

Happenings on the eve of departure……

This “article” will only simply describe three recent happenings that I was part of in the week prior to my trip to California.  (I should be back in Reno sometime in October, exact date unknown.)  In fact, I will largely let the three photo sets that I link tell the story.

The really, really “big” thing happening in this week was the annual Great Reno Ballon Race.  Saturday and Sunday were the “official” days.  And, I went both days, arriving each time at 0500 to catch the first “event”, the Glow Show.  Which is followed by the launch of a few ballons in the pre dawn sky, this being called the “Dawn Patrol”.  Finally, a little before 0700, there is the mass launching of the ballons participating in the “race”.  This year there were 100.

The Reno Gazette Journal estimates this morning that at least 50,000 people were there Saturday morning.  Many folks were in pajamas and bathrobes for a special audience event, the Pajama Party.  The first (and largest) group of photos in the photo set were of the preparation for the mass launching and then the launching itself.  (I had taken photos of the Glow Party and Dawn Patrol  that filled up one of my smaller memory cards, but apparently when I changed cards in the dark, this one got lost.  I returned Sunday at pre dawn to retake pictures of those two parts of this event.)

Here’s the photo set I created at my “eurekamoksha” Flickr account:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28424275@N06/sets/72157622224891361/

On Wednesday night of this week, President Obama addressed a Joint Session of Congress and advocated a point by point reform of the health care business in this country.  In Reno, there was a supportive rally on the campus of UNR.  And, then a “speech watch” party/gathering at Amendment 21.  This next photo set is of these two Reno events.  (Names and descriptions will be attached to particular photos when I obtain unfettered online time in a couple of days.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28424275@N06/sets/72157622197877511/

Earlier this year, President Obama signed a declaration making September 11th a “National Day of Service”.  In Reno, I participated in one “service” event that was created and hosted by Nevada State Democratic Party field director (for Northern Nevada) Shaun Gray and Washoe County Commissioner Kitty Jung.  And, I have a photo set of our work weeding at the Great Basin Adventure (at Rancho San Rafael Park.  Again, names will be attached to particular photos shortly.  Here’s the photo set for that:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28424275@N06/sets/72157622217228021/

A big push from Reno today for Congress to pass real Health Care Reform

I have a (growing, as of this moment) photo set at Flickr documenting the events in Reno today that, on the eve of President Obama’s speech tonight, promote passage of real health care reform legislation.  A blog article will likely be written sometime next week (when computer access is increased):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28424275@N06/sets/72157622197877511/

Lama Marut promotes the “Happiness Revolution” at UNR tonight

A report on his talks here in Reno will be shared after his part two discussion tommorrow night on “The Happiness Revolution”.

Coyote ponders and wanders on the green…

There was a lull in the earlier regular flow of golfers.  Enough quiet and space for a sole wandering coyote, from higher up the southern slope of Peavine Mountain.  I’ve seen single wandering coyotes before on walks with the dog, once even going on the paved pathway for the golf carts (at this same hole).