Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page E1

for BigBill Shamrock ASt.Patrick’sDay traditionreturnstoReno MYNEVADA henRenoair mailpilotWil- Blanchfielddied inafierycrash onAug.1,1924,tearsflowed fromRenotoCountyCorkin Ireland. packagearrivedinthemail forundertakerSilasRossof Reno.Itcontainedasprigof shamrockandarequestfrom graveonSt.Patrick’sDay. AndsowasbornaReno andinformallyformany more. Withtheexceptionofone yearduringWorldWarII, eachspring.Blanchfield’s sisterinIrelandpickedup thetraditionaftertheirmoth- placedtheshamrockat tainViewCemeteryuntilhis owndeathin1975. Thetraditionfadedafter tributetothisfavoritesonof notforgotten.

Reno-Sparksresidentwho retiredtoCourtmacsherry, KathyGannoncametothe conclusionthatthecustom shouldberevived. ItelltheinspiringstoriesofNorthern Guy Clifton William Blanchfield flewforthe U.S.Postal Servicein the1920s. RGJFILE ORTHERN EVADA RGJ.COM SECTION ONTACT ACKIE REEN775-788-6528 SUNDAYPANORAMA WhenIfirstmovedfrom funnyNevadansthoughtit wastopointtoatreeasifI alsowasourplumber. treesthateveryfallturned beautifulshadesofredand goldoutsidemycolonial ourfrontdoorinupstate, N.Y.,”I’dsay. ItmademelaughwhenI readNewYorkcolumnist piecefortheHudsonValley herhusbandwatcheda passengercomplainabout thesizeofhisbagofpret- zels.Theflightattendant manmustbefromNew YorkCity.

Nortonplayedher upstate anycommonalitywiththe cityslickerbytalkingabout herdailyexperienceswith chipmunksandappleor- chards. Withsomeresearch, Nortonconcludedupstateis anill-definedregionnorth andwestofNewYorkCity. GrowingupinNewYork, upstatewasthewaytode- finepeoplewithanendless pickoftrees. nowlaughmyupstate friendswhenIcomplain abouttheweather.Iimagine aCirqueduSoleilshow wheresnowshootsoutfrom slotmachines. inthemountains.TheOlym- picswereinmybackyard beforeIwasborn.

educationbeatfortheReno hundredsofmilesfromthe worstschooldistrictinthe country. shouldtakeacuefromup- stateNewYorkers. Nevadaconsistentlyisat thebottomofnationaledu- cationrankings. Nevadagetslumpedwith theClarkCountySchool District.Takeawaythe regionsurroundingadozen simultaneousCirquedu WashoeCountyschoolsare aboutaveragecomparedto therestofthecountry. LasVegaseducationstays there.Ifeelalittlebetter explainingthatupstate Nevadahasmoretreesto climb.

SiobhanMcAndrewcanbe reachedat REPORTCARD Siobhan McAndrew Iwriteaboutteachingour childrenandthechallengesin andoutsideoftheclassroom. Education inupstate Nevada Highlandslookingsouth. SUBMITTEDBYMARYPATHORNER SUNSHINEONTHECOMSTOCK ScottFaulknermovedtoReno19years Usingadoublebassthatwaspassedonto himbyoneofhisuncleswhoplayedinajazz boththeRenoChamberOrchestraandReno PhilharmonicOrchestra.Healsoisexec- utivedirectoroftheRenoChamberOrches- tra. ByGeraldaMiller ScottFaulknerposes withhisdoublebass. orchestralmusicgrowth RJ-0000437674.