Personalities

Best guardian of seniors’ pocketbooks

Consumer Advocate Tim Hay
Bummer, man. Utility costs have gone up. And they’re going to go up more. But one dedicated guy stands between Nevadans and the bogus heavies that, if left to themselves, would bogart all our bonus bucks. If you’ve ever been to a utility’s town hall meeting, chances are you’ve seen Consumer Advocate Tim Hay, a deputy attorney general for the state of Nevada. When companies such as Sierra Pacific Power Company go before the Public Utilities Commission to ask for rate hikes, Hay is a voice for the people. This far-out friend speaks for single moms and old folks and the working poor. If it weren’t for Hay, we might be playing with our pet rocks in the dark.

Best local definitions of “personality plus”

George the skateboarder and The Waver (aka Ed Carlson)
The Waver began walking and waving at passing motorists as far back as 1974. At that time, he walked up to 30 miles a day, often going from Reno to Carson City. Almost three decades later, The Waver is still perking up drivers, doling out waves and smiles in his typically purple duds. In recent months, he has been spotted around Plumas Street and Virginia Lake. Another sidewalk fancier is George the skateboarder. With a bandage covering one eye, welding gloves on his hands and a duffle bag under arm, George is more inclined to dispense obscenities than smiles. He rides his skateboard just as often as he just kicks it in front of him. Roll down your window and yell, “Hi, George,” and you’re likely to get a garbled “Hi,” or maybe the finger. If you ever see George and The Waver on the same street corner, consider it a very lucky day.

Person most likely to be run into

Georgia Mower
Call her ubiquitous. When you’re hanging out in Sparks at Cantina los Tres Hombres, Georgia Mower is up on stage, kicking out the jams with her band, Pushbox. If you’re in downtown Reno, passing the time at the readers-voted best watering hole in town, the Blue Lamp, she’s behind the bar. Open up the generally excellent local newsweekly, the Reno News & Review, and her face appears in advertisements. There’s only one really bad thing about seeing Georgia’s face everywhere … OK, check that. It’s a great face to run into everywhere.