We sit down with Laura Meyer, Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada, to learn how relationship driven support inside schools keeps students engaged and on track to graduate. We also share what’s happening on Water Street and how local businesses can plug into real, measurable help for kids and families.
• updates on the Fiesta site and what to expect next
• new Water Street openings including Coffee Class, Better Buzz Coffee, and Chic And Cozy Consignment
• summer events, watch parties, and district business activations
• what Communities In Schools is and why it started as a nationwide dropout prevention model
• how CIS places full time site coordinators on campuses to remove barriers to attendance and learning
• how Title I schools and feeder patterns guide expansion for continuity of care
• key outcomes including a 97% graduation rate for students on the CIS caseload
• wraparound services and partnerships that connect families to food, clothing support, and mental health referrals
• ways businesses can help through sponsorships, volunteering, mentoring, and career exposure
• Fill The Bus school supply drive details and how to participate
Reach out if you want to share your story: Derek.allen@cityofhenderson.com

A new season is rolling in on Water Street, The Watermark finally has residents moving in, and Pacific is heating up with fresh places to eat—but the story that grabbed us lives on the Eastside. We sat down with Bill “Dr. Atomic” Byler at Atomic Motors, a four-acre classic car campus tucked along the Sunset Corridor, and found a blueprint for building a business by building people.

Bill’s journey runs from motorcycle dealerships to a “hobby shop” that became a restoration powerhouse. He explains how Atomic got its name from old RCA tube testers and our city’s atomic heritage, then dives into what actually powers his shop: benefits that change lives. Health insurance, vision, dental, and a 401(k) aren’t add-ons; they’re the engine. Many on his team once ran their own businesses. Here, they focus on craft while the company handles the burden. That shift—people-first, not profit-first—quietly compounds into loyalty, homeownership, and pride in the work.

We tour Atomic’s process end-to-end: meticulous inspections, dyno tuning to correct shifting on old transmissions, chassis brought to bare metal and refinished, fresh interiors, and the hard truth about Nevada’s smog rules for vintage cars. Bill’s team often rebuilds engines and adds catalytic converters to meet standards, then documents every detail with underside photos. The kicker? A two-year warranty on most classic cars sold—something that took more than a decade to earn from underwriters and still stuns buyers. He also makes a strong case to skip full restorations and buy a finished car to save time, money, and heartache.

Community runs through everything. Weekends bring free donuts, kids racing Pinewood Derby cars, and pizza at noon. The shop hosts weddings, reunions, and corporate parties. Bill even sketches a bold vision for a museum that tells Nevada’s full story—from mines to military, public safety to the everyday fabric of a republic. He closes with a hand-pump parable: pour in first, keep steady pressure, and the water flows. That’s his model for life, work, and this city we love.

If this resonated, share it with a friend, subscribe for more stories like this, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Which classic would you take home—and would you restore or buy finished? Tell us your pick.

From wartime industry to neighborhood life, the east side of Henderson has undergone a transformation that few thought possible. We sit down with Landwell’s president and CEO, Lee Ferris, to unpack how the Cadence master plan community turned 2,200 remediated acres into parks, homes, and streets that actually connect people. This is a story about vision, safety, and the kind of patience that only comes from strong partnerships and a clear city plan.

Lee walks us through BMI’s origins—water, power, and infrastructure that helped spark Henderson—and how those assets evolved into Landwell’s role as master developer. We dig into why they chose a residential master plan over more industrial pads, how environmental cleanup met residential standards, and what it took to recruit builders who would embrace “no walls,” public streets, and a mix of price points. You’ll hear how Central Park and the Home Finding Center were built first to earn trust, why mature trees arrived before model homes, and how common materials used thoughtfully can create a distinctive look without bloated budgets.

We also explore the human side: a lean team that debated openly, curated partners carefully, and stuck to the long game through market swings. With Water Street just minutes away, Cadence residents gain a vibrant main street—restaurants, live music, and events—that makes the community feel larger than its borders. Along the way, Lee shares candid lessons on saying no to short-term gains, designing for everyday life, and the legacy of creating places where a single-story home can sit comfortably across from a townhome and both feel right.

If you care about city building, redevelopment, or simply how great neighborhoods come to life, this conversation delivers practical insight and a hopeful blueprint for doing big things the right way. Subscribe, share this episode with a fellow city nerd or neighbor, and leave a review with the one design idea you think every community should steal.