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In 2002, John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino-Resort celebrated its 47th anniversary in business. On March 17, 1955, the casino got its humble beginning as a small cafe in Sparks called the Nugget. John Ascuaga's first taste of the resort industry took place while he was working as a bellman at a lodge in Idaho while he attended college. Soon after graduation, Ascuaga met restaurateur Dick Graves, from whom he would later inherit the Nugget café. When Graves retired in 1960, Ascuaga took over the Nugget and is now sole owner and operator of John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino-Resort. Under his guidance, the Nugget has grown from a small coffee shop to one of Northern Nevada's largest casino-hotel operations. Today, the property features 1,600 hotel rooms, 75,000 square feet of casino area, eight award-winning restaurants and much more. Ascuaga has been recognized for his dedication to excellence and his never-stand-still business philosophy. The community has also benefited from Ascuaga's entrepreneurial success. Each year, he awards college scholarships to support his commitment to higher education. So far, Ascuaga has awarded $410,000 in scholarships. Since 1961, he has also provided Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to the homeless and needy.

        Eta zenbat aldiz ageri zaigu Basque izena testuan?

        Gogoan hartuko dugu Peter Echeverriaren eskutitzak 1959an zioena. Western Basque Festival-aren gainean ari eta, alegia:

        «... not only a chance for Basques, their families, and friends to see each other again or meet for the first time, but also a tribute to our people, about whom so little is known in this country».

        Gogoan hartuko dugu.

        Zer dakite, izan ere, euskaldunen gainean herrialde honetan?

        Ascuagaren urrezko oilarraren urrea baliatu eta urrezko moldean milaka aldiz forjatuko ditugu Peter Echeverriaren hitzak. Gero, legea eginaraziko diegu politikariei, han-hemengo leku publikoetan ezar dezaten Echeverriak jaulkia.

        «...a tribute to our people, about whom so little is known in this country».

        Atzera berriz gerta ez dakidan. Euskalduni gerta ez dakion gertatu zitzaidan arrainkeria...

        Lehenengo jaialdiaren 40. urteurrena kari, Aste Nagusiaren amaiera eguna. Euskal kluben parade ikusgarria Renoko kale nagusian behera.

        Ni erreportajea idazten bertako Reno Gazette-Journal-erako.

        Eta ikusi dut bat, eta hitz erditxoa hari esan gabe nola pasatu parean, galdera egin diot amerikar kazetarien estiloan:

        — Barkatu, jauna, lanean ari naiz herriko egunkarirako. Erantzungo al zenidake galdera bat?

        — Seguru! Bota!

        — Zer esan nahi du Basque hitzak?

        — Basque? Ez dakit ba... Arrain motaren bat edo?