Get ready, it's Legislature time

Welcome back, legislators.

I know for many of you Carson City is like a second home and you're familiar with the local customs. But some of you are new to the scene, and there are lobbyists and consultants and others who seldom get to the capital city any time other than the legislative sessions every other year.

So I'm here to help you out.

n The new mayor is the old mayor.

Marv Teixeira was mayor for eight years, then he wasn't for eight years, and now he's mayor again.

On Tuesday, Carson City, Douglas County and Lyon County are hosting a reception for legislators which Teixeira says symbolizes a new spirit of cooperation among Northern Nevada counties.

There have been some tensions in the past - Douglas County got a bunch of big-box stores just across the county line, Carson City sued, and so on - but, hey, they're all big boys and girls. They're going to try to get along in the future.

Legislators, you should appreciate that. You know as well as they do that competition for tourists, sales-tax dollars and jobs comes from out of state, not within it.

n Before the 2001 session, for you veterans, I updated you on the status of the then-closed Ormsby House and wrote that I hoped you'd be able to return there for the 2003 session.

Well, it's 2005 and the Ormsby House isn't open yet. It's come a long way, as you can see, and everybody still expects it to be the centerpiece of downtown. Maybe next time.

Likewise, Jack's Bar is waiting for its resurrection, if owners Al Fiegehen and Don Lehr (who also own the Ormsby House) can get it to stand up straight. It leans worse than a lawmaker who's had one too many whiskey sours.

n Elsewhere downtown, the restaurant in the old St. Charles Hotel that used to be the Hong Kong cafe and Tommyknockers and Jim's Jungle Bar and Joe Garlic's and Cafe del Rio and Brendel's and I can't remember what else, is now called Devincenzi's.

The St. Charles has changed hands and, sadly, former owner Bob McFadden died in November. He was part of the spice of life of Carson City. Also, in case you missed it, Adele Abowd died last summer. I know many of you will be frequenting the restaurant that bears her name, so I thought you should know.

Please patronize the downtown restaurants. There are several good ones within an easy walk of the Capitol. And that way they'll still be here when the Legislature leaves town.

Elsewhere downtown, the longtime scourge of Carson Street, the Lucky Spur, is getting its own facelift. It's not quite there yet, but at least the pigeons have moved on.

n You might notice the V&T Railroad still runs only from Gold Hill to Virginia City. The project to restore the V&T is still moving along, but we were kind of hoping to be riding the rails right now.

Anything you can do to help us out would be appreciated. There used to be a $5 million state loan on the table if V&T supporters could come up with their share of the reconstruction costs.

That fell by the wayside in poor times, but now I hear the state has plenty of money. It would be a good to set up the loan again.

The V&T remains the best prospect for stabilizing Northern Nevada's tourism economy. Let's get 'er done.

n It's not so easy to spot during the winter, but that ravaged area long the foothills on Carson's west side is from the Waterfall fire. Eighteen houses were lost in July, most of them in Kings Canyon and Timberline.

But it was touch-and-go there for a few days. Smoke thicker than the fog we've seen this winter blanketed the town, and the fire line crept down all the way to Curry Street. That's just a few blocks from where you're working in the Legislative Building.

Lots of other changes have taken place since you were here last, but I hope this helps keep you up on a few of them.

We're glad you're here. It means lots of people have jobs for the next four months - at least. Let us know if you're planning any special sessions this time around.

And, above all, spend our tax dollars like they're your own. It's the neighborly thing to do.

n Barry Smith is editor of the Nevada Appeal. Contact him at editor@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1221.