Also in this issue: - The Spectrum Magazine
Also in this issue: - The Spectrum Magazine
Also in this issue: - The Spectrum Magazine
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Other community projects <strong>in</strong>clude neighborhood disaster<br />
preparedness. Everett envisions hav<strong>in</strong>g the community selfsufficient<br />
for at least 72 hours after a major disaster, to enable<br />
local emergency services to tackle the really critical <strong>issue</strong>s.<br />
Why is Everett quitt<strong>in</strong>g a job he has come to master? “It’s<br />
time. <strong>The</strong> city plan is at a level where someone can come <strong>in</strong><br />
and take it to the next level. I’ve worked 24 years <strong>in</strong> a job<br />
where I have a target on my back. It’s tough work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> such<br />
a fishbowl,” Everett expla<strong>in</strong>ed. For the reader, it takes only a<br />
few keystrokes to learn about the contentious battles Everett<br />
and his staff have encountered. One <strong>in</strong>cident was so vicious<br />
that he had to hire an attorney with his own funds to have<br />
some personal attacks cease and desist.<br />
<strong>The</strong> reality may be that Everett wants to spend more time<br />
<strong>in</strong> his cab<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> Truckee, more time with his daughters and<br />
grandson, and more time on the dance floor at the Arthur<br />
Murray Dance Studio with his significant <strong>in</strong>terest, Mary<br />
Welch. Everett says, “I met Mary work<strong>in</strong>g on committees<br />
years ago. I was divorced about a year, and I just hated to go<br />
to movies alone. One night, I called Mary and asked her if she<br />
wanted to go to a movie. She accepted.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> two began tak<strong>in</strong>g dance lessons at the popular studio<br />
on Broadway. “Mary recently <strong>in</strong>jured her wrist, so she isn’t<br />
able to be my dance partner today,” he said as I watched him<br />
waltz around the floor with studio owner and <strong>in</strong>structor Alice<br />
Louise.<br />
“I take it [danc<strong>in</strong>g] as enjoyable and I don’t always do it<br />
well,” Everett said. “But it’s just one of those th<strong>in</strong>gs that you<br />
have to go <strong>in</strong> and say: You know, it’s go<strong>in</strong>g to be fun, and if I<br />
screw up, so what? One dance class, we had a substitute, and<br />
the dance <strong>in</strong>structor said, ‘Ed, you lost a step.’ I just stopped,<br />
and started look<strong>in</strong>g around. ‘Has anyone seen my step? I lost<br />
a step! I know it was around here somewhere.’ Look, when<br />
you dance you are go<strong>in</strong>g to make mistakes, and it’s sort of<br />
like life: You just have to laugh at it,” he added.<br />
When Everett closes <strong>this</strong> chapter of his career as a city<br />
manager, he will be far from “retired.” He is eager to share<br />
adventures with his family, work on his cab<strong>in</strong> and spread his<br />
goodwill to all he encounters <strong>in</strong> his newest journey. We wish<br />
him well.<br />
“Look, when you dance you are go<strong>in</strong>g to make mistakes,<br />
”<br />
and it’s sort of like life: You just have to laugh at it.<br />
17.<strong>The</strong><strong>Spectrum</strong>.AUG.07