Personalities
Editors’ choices

Ed Carlson was a free spirit known as “the Waver” who lived in Reno from the 1970s to 2007. He spent every day walking and waving to passing motorists across the county. He sold “pet rocks” and smiled at everyone. He moved back to his birth town of Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 2007 and died in 2012 at the age of 75. Spotting him on the side of the road and waving back to him from the back of my mom’s station wagon is one of the clearest and most exciting memories I have of being a kid. More people could stand to be like Ed Carlson.
ART BY JAXON NORTHON
Best barber
Jim Carpenter
Jim Carpenter has deep roots in the community, and his cubicle at the Town Barber shows it—memorabilia of local sports and rodeo. He and his partners have been in the same location for decades and, before that, at Franktown Corners. Carpenter knows the secrets of good barbering, particularly when to remain silent so the customer can work or read during the haircut, and when to talk when the customer seems to want to chat. His work is first rate.
Best beard
Logan Miller
Sure, there’s a lot of handsomely hairy faces around Northern Nevada. A lot of beautifully bearded men and more than a few women as well. And we’re fans of Chris Payne, the perennial winner of this category in the readers’ poll. He was entertaining on local radio for years, and he brings nice energy to local sports games as an announcer and MC for the Reno Aces and the 1864 FC. But he does not have Reno’s best beard. The best beard in Northern Nevada belongs to Logan Miller. If you know Logan, you’ve seen the luxurious, flowing, feathery red magnificence that blazes like a phoenix from the ashes of his face. With that beard offsetting his otherwise elfish features, he looks like the love child of Gimli and Legolas. It’s fantastic.
Best filmmaker
Adryenn Ashley
Adryenn Ashley once said, “I’ve been online since there was an online.” A true product of today’s tech world, she has dabbled in a lot of entertainment/communication fields, writing about bitcoin, even producing an old-school product—a book (Every Single Girl’s Guide to Her Future Husband’s Last Divorce). At the notorious 2016 Nevada Democratic Convention, her footage of the event helped dispel the notion of a “riot” in the hall. She kept an eye out for good visuals and was the one who obtained the only known footage of a chair being raised. When asked if she would have seen a chair being thrown, she said, “Hell, yes. I saw the chair being lifted, and I shot it. Actually thrown, I would have seen it.”
Readers’ choices
Best aesthetician
1. Shawna Gulley
Luxe Beauty Bar Skin & Brows, 530 Hammill Lane, 225-8134
2. Amelia Main
Jensen & Co. Salon, 495 Morrill Ave., 657-6576
3. Teresa Gessler-Martinez
Posh Salon & Medical Spa, 250 Crummer Lane, 826-7674
Best attorney
1. Joey Gilbert
201 W. Liberty St., 574-4774
2. David Houston
432 Court St., (888) 907-3384
3. Jerry Snyder
429 W. Plumb Lane, 499-5647
Best barber
1. Vincent Gravallese
Derby Supply Company, 123 W. First. St., 440-1930
2. Patrick Sutton
Maxwell’s Barbershop, 555 S. Virginia St., 322-2466
3. Richie Cortezzo
Jensen & Co. Salon, 495 Morrill Ave., 657-6576
Best barista
1. Hannah Prinz
Lighthouse Coffee, various locations
2. Vince Fernan
Magpie Coffee Roasters, 1715 S. Wells Ave., 391-0102
3. Jack Beisel
See See Motor Coffee Co., 131 Pine St., 470-8464
Best bartender
1. Annalisa Suarez
Pignic Pub & Patio, 235 Flint St., 376-1948
2. Lacey Shea
Shea’s Tavern, 715 S. Virginia St., 786-4774
3. Mark Nesbitt
Rum Sugar Lime, 1039 S. Virginia St., 382-1024
Best beard
1. Chris Payne
2. Ron Rash
3. Erik Ottmann
Best budtender
1. Trista Barnes
Mynt Cannabis Dispensary, 132 E. Second St., 686-6968
2. Kaytea Novak
3. Alanna Hendrix
Kanna Reno Dispensary, 5398 Sun Valley Blvd., 674-0420
Best chiropractor
1. Dr. Bryan Hansen
10635 Professional Circle, 284-4900
2. Dr. Ricky Delacruz
140 W. Huffaker Lane, 313-5494
3. Dr. Daniel Barlow
595 Mt. Rose St., 786-9006
Best club or event DJ
1. Amplified Entertainment
830-0689
2. Epik Entertainment
748 S. Meadows Pkwy., 250-3745
3. Anthony Postman
Best college instructor
1. Greg Nielsen
University of Nevada, Reno
2. Daniel Bouweraerts
Truckee Meadows Community College
3. Adriano Cabral
University of Nevada, Reno
Best creative writer
1. Mikalee Byerman
2. Mark Maynard
3. Christopher Coake
Best dance instructor
1. Marla Richardson
2. Lesa Dusich
3. Jenes Carter
Best dentist
1. Dr. Jason Sala
2. Dr. John Bocchi
3. Dr. Joel Glover
Best elementary school teacher
1. Levi Watson
2. Tina Tucker
3. Terri Salo
Best family doctor
1. Dr. Thomas O’Gara
601 Ralston St., 786-1110
2. Dr. Jennifer Hornback (tie)
7111 S. Virginia St., 851-5700
2. Dr. Andy Pasternak (tie)
10467 Double R Blvd., 853-9394
Best gynecologist
1. Dr. Staci Paul
645 N. Arlington Ave., 329-6241
2. Dr. Larry Klaich (tie)
645 N. Arlington Ave., 329-6241
2. Dr. Leah Najima (tie)
1500 E. Second St., 323-1300
Best hair stylist
1. Nikki Becker
495 Morrill Ave., 786-7770
2. Brian Jensen
495 Morrill Ave., 997-5111
3. Steph Arredondo
215 15th St., 384-184
Best high school teacher
1. Rod Hearn
2. Lydia Suarez
Best interior designer
1. Amy Gail
530-5468
2. Lacey Salo
338-8868
3. Cheryl Chenault
4790 Caughlin Pkwy., 747-0898
Best local activist
1. Meredith Tanzer
1745 S. Wells Ave., 624-3720
2. Chip Evans
4635 Longley Lane, 240-1222
3. Bob Fulkerson
203 S. Arlington Ave., 348-7557
Best local actor/actress
1. Mary Bennett
2. Joe Atack
3. Ryan Kelly
Best local athlete
1. David Wise
2. Caleb Martin
3. Jordan Caroline
Best local columnist
1. Cory Farley
Reno Gazette Journal
2. Mike Higdon
Reno Gazette Journal
3. Sheila Leslie
Reno News & Review
Best local comedian
1. Ian Sorensen
2. Amanda Alvey
3. Arnie States
Best local filmmaker
1. Emily Skyle
2. Eddie Vigil V
3. Jason Spencer
Best local musician
1. Grace Hayes
2. Tyler Stafford
3. Eric Stangeland
Best local politician
1. Hillary Schieve
2. Brian Sandoval

Vincent Gravellese at Derby Supply Company is our readers’ choice for best barber.
Photo/Eric Marks
3. Oscar Delgado
Best local radio DJ or DJ team
1. Bella Rios
KNEV
2. Dead Air Dave
KTHX
3. Arnie States
Best local rapper
1. Feeki
2. Lil Traffic
3. Eli McCoy
Best local songwriter
1. Whitney Myer
2. Gina Rose
3. Spike McGuire
Best local TV news anchor
1. Rebecca Kitchen
KOLO
2. Kristen Remington
KTVN
3. Landon Miller
KTVN
Best massage therapist
1. Keisha Curtis
505 South Arlington Ave., 530 250-5949
2. Grace Greenspan
EVO Massage, 720 Tahoe St., 781-1720
3. Robert Baum
895 E. Patriot Blvd., 247-4947
Best middle school teacher
1. Levi Watson
2. Shaughn Richardson
3. Dave Clark
Best minister/spiritual advisor
1. Christopher Daniels
2. Harvey Turner
3. Sarah Syer
Best model
1. Shanda Golden
2. Bryan Eidem
3. Cassi Salo
Best muralist
1. Joe C. Rock
2. Erik Burke
3. Anthony Ortega
Best music teacher
1. Grace Hayes
2. Eric Stangeland
3. Anthony Postman
Best nail technician
1. Shannon Ochoa
495 Morrill Ave., 771-9820
2. Kelly Holmes
13981 S. Virginia St., 338-9605
3. Michelle Moore
Pewter Nail Spa, 911 S. Wells Ave., 250-7142>
Best pet groomer
1. Lulu’s Pet Grooming
11331 S. Virginia St., 852-5252
2. CJ’s Dog Grooming
4690 Longley Lane, 443-6883
3. Alice Maria
Midtown Mutts, 1426 Tonopah St., 322-2108
Alice’s Pet Parlor, 225 Redfield Pkwy., 851-3625
Best photographer
1. Jeramie Lu
2. Marcello Rostagni
3. Rachel Lomeli
Best Pilates instructor
1. Kelly Proud
2. Lisa Castaneda
3. Sophia Sefchick
Best plastic surgeon
1. Dr. Louis Bonaldi
6630 S. McCarran Blvd., 828-7400
2. Dr. Tiffany McCormack
10791 Double R Blvd., 284-2020
3. Dr. James Murphy
10401 Double R Blvd., 322-3446
Best police officer
1. Jason Soto
2. Patrick McCauley
3. Jake McCall
Best power couple
1. Amanda Burden and Jaci Goodman
2. Yevonne Allen and Meredith Tanzer
3. Ed and Heidi Adkins
Best principal
1. Jeana Curtis
North Valleys High School
2. Krissy Brown
Mount Rose Elementary School
3. Sean Whisler
Nancy Gomes Elementary School
Best public figure to fantasize about
1. Brian Sandoval
2. Kristen Remington
3. Hillary Schieve
Best public relations professional
1. Abbi Whitaker
Abbi Agency, 1385 Haskell St., 323-2977
2. Jackie Shelton
Estipona Group, 786-4445
Best real estate agent
1. Rogelio Garcia
Keller Williams Group One, 10539 Professional Circle, 502-9887
2. Barb Allen
Solid Source Realty, 1610 Meadow Wood Lane, 848-1281
Best social networker
1. Chris Payne
2. Ken Allen
3. Amanda Golden
Best tattoo artist
1. Ron Rash
Lasting Dose Tattoo & Art Collective, 888 S. Virginia St., 324-0666
2. Tony Medellin
Lasting Dose Tattoo & Art Collective, 888 S. Virginia St., 324-0666
3. Wade Reborn Bone
My Religion Tattoo, 910 E. Parr Blvd., 686-9885
Best veterinarian
1. Dr. Mark Klaich
Klaich Animal Hospital, 1990 S. Virginia St., 826-1212
2. Dr. Erin Rasmussen
Southwest. Veterinary Hospital, 960 W. Moana Lane, 825-7984
3. Dr. Shelby Baker
Damonte Ranch Animal Hospital, 1091 Steamboat Pkwy., 852-8522
Best visual artist
1. Erik Burke
2. Nathaniel Bejamin
3. Ahren Hertel
Best volunteer
1. Evelyn Mount
2. Maredith Tanzer
3. Shanda Golden
Best wedding planner
1. She Said Yes
240 Bonnie Briar Place, 276-8798
2. The Hytch
526-0441
3. Epik Weddings and Events
748 S. Meadows Pkwy., 250-3745
Best yoga instructor
1. Eleanor Girdis
Midtown Community Yoga, 600 S. Virginia St., 870-9905
2. Angie Fraley
3. Kelly Aguilera
Most handsome person
1. Brian Sandoval
2. Christopher Luke
3. Arnie States