Text

Add sousaphone player and marching band founder to the resume of this Reno doctor and philanthropist who has been helping people and organizations feel better and accomplish for more than 20 years.

If you look carefully, you’ll see a rabbit in the moon instead of a man. The rabbit is the focus of a Buddhist Jataka tale, which are stories of Buddha’s previous lives. In one story, “The Rabbit in the Moon,” Buddha was reborn as a selfless rabbit, who eventually promised to sacrifice himself so that others could eat.

A few years ago, I was t-boned by a car running a red light at an intersection. I was later told by police that the man who ran the light was named Darwin — which I only mention because he walked away from the accident he caused without a single scratch (survival of the fittest much?). 

Parenting can be difficult under the best of circumstances. But it becomes infinitely harder when you didn’t have a parent around to model those skills for you, you have a challenging relationship with the other parent, you become a parent earlier than you were planning or you experience any of the various complications that go along with being part of a family.

Tragically, Nevada has the highest elderly suicide rate in the nation according to America’s Health Rankings. In Nevada, there were 50 deaths by suicide per 100,000 people in the 75-84 age bracket, compared to the U.S. rate of 18.1 per 100,000. Nevada sees significantly more deaths by suicide per 100,000 for all age groups 55 and over.

On a Thursday in June, Cisco Rodriguez leads a group through a series of boxing jabs at the Upstate Nevada CrossFit gym. The group includes an elderly white-haired man in blue jeans and suspenders who looks like he wandered in off a ranch and a fit middle-aged woman in a tank top and workout tights who could have been plucked from a local yoga studio. This is Rock Steady, a boxing fitness program for those with Parkinson’s.

Just under a year ago, my family and I migrated to Virginia City, Nevada. The social aspect of this community is very understanding and welcoming to those who wander through. Through newfound connections in the community, I had the opportunity to meet and interview a very warm-hearted individual. This individual is the director of the local Virginia City senior center. Stacy York is a very talented professional who has successfully begun to fill gaps within the community to better serve our elders.   

Five-Star Physical Benefits

When it comes to losing weight, improving cardiac health, endurance, circulation and posture, walking gets five stars. The science supports it, and our Just the Positive (JTP) Facebook community agrees.

Birthday parties are an integral part of growing up. They’re a chance to be special for a day, spend time with friends, eat fun food and of course, get presents. But for some children whose parents are struggling with homelessness, a birthday celebration can be pushed to the bottom of the priority list.

A person working full-time for minimum wage in Nevada grosses $1,320 a month. With rents in Reno averaging $1,239, residents in our area are facing untenable housing costs. This is particularly a challenge for members of our community who are elderly, low-income or who have disabilities.