News from around the valley, March 10-16, 2016

Social Security workshops: Nevada State Bank is hosting free workshops at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. March 17 at Nevada State Bank’s Conference Center, 750 E. Warm Springs Road, 1st floor. The workshops aim to help Southern Nevadans make informed decisions on Social Security benefits, as it relates to a retirement strategy. Participants will learn about the seven steps to enhancing benefits, as well as the following: when to starting taking benefits; working in retirement; tax implications; and spouse and survivor benefits. The workshops are hosted by Eileen Rendulic-Moss, wealth advisor for Nevada State Investment Services, with guest speaker Jeremey Hill, CRPC, retirement consultant. RSVP at nsbank.com/event or call Eileen Rendulic-Moss at 702-855-4551.

Adopt a pet, get a free ticket: Live Nation Las Vegas and The Animal Foundation are planning St. PETrick’s Day, offering complimentary concert tickets with cat or dog adoptions March 17-21. Individuals who adopt a cat or dog during the event after undergoing The Animal Foundation’s full screening process will receive two complimentary tickets to a Live Nation Las Vegas concert of their choice, while supplies last. Concerts to choose from include Ellie Goulding (April 9 at Mandalay Bay Events Center), Pentatonix (April 23 at Mandalay Bay Events Center), Rihanna (April 29 & 30 at Mandalay Bay Events Center), Selena Gomez (May 6 at Mandalay Bay Events Center), Slipknot with Marilyn Manson (June 17 at MGM Grand Garden Arena), Hall & Oates (Sept. 23 at MGM Grand Garden Arena) or Lionel Richie (April/May, Sept./Oct. at The AXIS at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino). Call Holly McHugh at 702-384-3333, extension 116, or visit animalfoundation.com.

Pool naming contest: Clark County Commissioner Susan Brager and the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation announced a contest to name the new indoor pool scheduled to open by summertime at Faiss Park, 7025 S. Fort Apache Road. The contest is open to all local students in grades six through 12. Entries are limited to one per student and must be received by March 18. A contest entry form is at ClarkCountyNV.gov. Completed forms can be emailed to CCParks@clarkcountynv.gov or mailed to: c/o Clark County Parks & Recreation Department, Park Naming Contest, 2601 E. Sunset Road, Las Vegas, NV 89120. An independent panel will judge the entries and select a winning name that must be approved by the County Commission. In the event that multiple entrants suggest the same winning name, a winner will be chosen at random from a drawing. The winning student will receive a pizza party for his or her class, six passes with a cabana at Wet ‘n Wild, and a family four pack of movie tickets.

Nevada’s Big Give: The fifth statewide online giving event is planned for March 10, benefiting charities across the state. Nevada’s Big Give promotes personal giving to all of the state’s participating nonprofits through its online platform. Every registered 501(c)(3) organization in Nevada is eligible to participate and receive donations from midnight to 11:59 p.m. by visiting NVBigGive.org. Clark County School District schools are eligible to participate through partnership with The Public Education Foundation.

Sunset Stewards volunteers: Volunteers are sought for Clark County Parks and Recreation’s Sunset Stewards program, which involves patrolling Sunset Park for at least four hours each month. Stewards report problems and interact with park patrons in a positive way in order to educate them about what behavior is appropriate at the Sunset Lake and elsewhere on the grounds of the 323-acre regional facility. Volunteers are to be trained about how to interact with park patrons in a nonconfrontational manner. Volunteers are required to undergo a police background check and asked to have a cellphone with camera capabilities in order to document graffiti, vandalism or other concerns that they may encounter on their rounds. They will be provided a volunteer vest and have the option of being provided a trash grabber to pick up small pieces of garbage. Call 702-455-8200 or email sunsetstewards@ClarkCountyNV.gov.

Business license kiosks: City of Las Vegas Business Licensing has deployed two kiosks providing both English- and Spanish-speaking customers with alternate methods of conducting business with the city of Las Vegas. The first one is in the first-floor lobby at the Development Services Center, 333 N. Rancho Drive. The second kiosk is at the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, 575 Symphony Park Ave., Suite 100. Some of the tasks that can be completed on the new kiosks include: apply for a business license; manage business license; pay business license renewals; visit required state websites; print forms; take customer surveys; and report problems. Call the Business Licensing department at 702-229-6281.

New indoor playground: Kangamoo Indoor Playground, 1525 E. Sunset Road, Suite 7, recently opened and offers active and creative play spaces for kids ages 1 through 10. For parents, there is an indoor track, do-it-yourself beauty stations, massage chairs, free Wi-Fi with charging stations and a cafe. Open free play is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The facility is open for private birthday parties from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. A one-day pass is $10 for children 1 through 10. Prepaid passes for 10 visits are $65, and annual passes for unlimited free play are $225. Accompanying adults, young adults (11 or older) and infants younger than 12 months are free. Visit kangamooplay.com.

Heritage Parade applications: In order to celebrate Henderson’s incorporation, people can enter the annual Heritage Parade, planned for 10 a.m. April 23 in the Water Street District. The application fee is $50 per entry and $25 per nonprofit entry. Henderson’s Heritage Parade & Festival recognizes the official incorporation of city, which took place on April 16, 1953. The celebration includes a mayor and council breakfast, festival, parade and entertainment. School groups, community organizations, businesses, and individuals are encouraged to participate in the parade. Entries must reflect this year’s theme, My Henderson, for a chance to win prizes. Parade applications must be submitted by March 31 and are available at cityofhenderson.com.

Easter Basket Drive: E Bunny is planning its annual Easter Basket Drive through March 15. Donors can drop off pre-packaged Easter baskets at any Opportunity Village campus or at the Whiting Turner warehouse, 3230 W. Desert Inn Road, Suite 170. Charities benefited include Child Haven, Family Promise, Safe House, Safe Nest, Casa de Luz, Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Children’s Hospital at UMC, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada, Straight From The Streets, Help of Southern Nevada, and Hometown Heroes-LVMPD NW Command. Email EBunnyLV@gmail.com or call 702-498-9808.

Business, marketing seminars: The city of Las Vegas and Sumnu Marketing are planning to present a series of free seminars focusing on business and marketing strategies. The seminars are all planned from 9 a.m. to noon at the Urban Chamber of Commerce Business Development Center, 1951 Stella Lake St. Seminars are: March 16, Marketing Strategies; March 23, Business and Marketing Development; March 30, Project Pitches and Certification; and April 16, Trusts and Estate Planning. RSVP to Darren Harris with the city of Las Vegas at dmharris@lasvegasnevada.gov or 702-229-6862.

Bra shopping for homeless: Macy’s Inc. and Caridad, a Las Vegas nonprofit dedicated to helping end homelessness through service-based street outreach and agency partnerships, are set to host an Undie Sunday Bra Shopping Event on March 20 to benefit formerly homeless female veterans and domestic violence survivors. Women referred from the Shade Tree shelter, U.S. Vets, Help U.S.A. and The Salvation Army will be driven to the Macy’s at Meadows Mall to shop for bras accompanied by personal shoppers. Monetary donations for this shopping event can be made through March 19 at Big Ern’s BBQ, 707 E. Fremont St., inside Downtown Container Park, or at caridadcharity.com.

City of Las Vegas offering grants to improve neighborhoods: The application cycle for the 19th annual Neighborhood Partners Fund began Feb. 16. There is $55,000 available for neighborhood grants this year, with a maximum of $5,000 for each neighborhood association. The program is designed to assist in improving the livability of city neighborhoods through community-matched funding for neighborhood improvement projects. The deadline for applications is April 18. The types of improvement projects can range from landscaping to home safety. Applicants are encouraged to register and attend at least one of six workshops being scheduled throughout the city of Las Vegas to learn about the program and the automated method of applying for the grant. Applicants will use ZoomGrants to submit their applications. No paper applications will be accepted. To register for a workshop, call 702-229-6681.

Workshops are scheduled for:

— 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 15 at the Durango Hills Community Center (YMCA), 3521 N. Durango Drive.

— 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 19 at the Doolittle Community Center, Multipurpose Room B, 1950 N. J St.

— 3 to 5 p.m. March 23 at the Howard Lieburn Senior Center, 6230 Garwood Ave.

— 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 21 at the Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center, Classroom 4, 101 N. Pavilion Center Drive.

After the submission deadline, applications will be reviewed for basic requirements and eligibility. The applications will be further evaluated by the Neighborhood Partners Fund Board, whose members are appointed by the mayor and City Council. All applicants will be required to make a 10-minute presentation of their projects to the NPF Board. Funding recommendations from the NPF board on these projects will be presented to the mayor and City Council for final approval at the July 20 City Council meeting. The NPF grant funding year (for this cycle only) will start after July 28 and end June 19, 2017. For more information, call Maria Castillo-Couch, Ph.D., at 702-229-6681.

Wet’n’Wild hiring: Wet’n’Wild Las Vegas, 7055 S. Fort Apache Road, is heading into its fourth season and has started the hiring process for more than 450 seasonal jobs, including lifeguards, admissions, guest services, emergency medical technicians, maintenance, food and beverage, retail, operations and security. Several seasonal supervisory positions are also available. The water park is set to be open March 19 through September. Applicants can begin the employment process online at wetnwildlasvegas.com under the “Employment” section. Following online submission, the management team will review applications and contact select applicants during the next few months to conduct interviews. The minimum age requirement for employment is 16 (at the time the park opens) or 18, depending upon the position.

Youth Leadership Summit: The event is set from 1 to 3 p.m. March 22 at Las Vegas City Hall, 495 S. Main St. The event is an opportunity for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and interested youth leaders to learn more about the city of Las Vegas. City Manager Betsy Fretwell will join Mayor Pro Tem Steve Ross and special guests to share information about the city of Las Vegas and answer questions from Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and youth leaders. It is free and open to the public. Space is limited. RSVP by emailing clkramar@lasvegasnevada.gov or by calling 702-229-6154.

Nevada Senior Citizen of the Year: The National Silver Haired Congress Nevada Delegation, in partnership with the Aging Services Directors Organization, is seeking nominations for the award through March 31. The competition is open to those who are 60 or older and have lived in Nevada for five years. The nomination guidelines and forms are available at nevshc.org or by calling 702-860-6349. The award presentation is planned in May.

Free law classes planned: The Clark County Law Library and Nevada Legal Services are offering free classes on Bankruptcy and Consumer Rights in Nevada every other month February through June. The class is being offered as a community service by Nevada Legal Services. Classes are planned from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays every other month at the Clark County Law Library, 309 S. Third St., Suite 400. Dates are: April 19, and June 21. Topics include whether to file for bankruptcy, the difference between Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy, debt collector harassment, and how to receive free help. Qualified participants may apply for a pro bono attorney after attending class. Seating is limited. Call 702-455-4696 to reserve a seat.

Women in Technology awards: The Las Vegas Community Tech Fund, HiTech Vegas LLC and WomenAdvancing present the third annual Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards 2016 to recognize the achievements of leading women in technology fields working in the greater Las Vegas metro area. The Las Vegas Women in Technology Awards will be awarded to five women representing technology industries including: Robotics; Information Technology; Computer Engineering; 3D Printing; Robotics; New Technology Products; Tech Startups; and Tech Entrepreneurs. Nominations are being accepted through April 15 at vegaswomentechawards.net.

Women’s Club of Summerlin: Each year, the club awards Dare to Dream grants to women who are trying to better their lives and the lives of others in the community. Grants may be used for assistance with educational opportunities, business development, acquiring equipment, learning new skills, or movement toward a desired goal. Female applicants must be a minimum of 21 years old, reside in Clark County and complete a Dare to Dream application, explaining the dream and why it will improve her life and positively impact the community. Applicants may ask for up to $3,000. The deadline for submission of applications is April 29. Visit womensclubofsummerin.org.

Landscape awards: Southern Nevada homeowners, professional landscapers and community garden devotees are encouraged to enter the 18th annual Southern Nevada Landscape Awards hosted by the Southern Nevada Water Authority and Springs Preserve in partnership with the Nevada Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and Star Nursery. Categories include landscape designs by homeowners and professionals, as well as maintenance by professionals and the Linn Mills Community Garden Award. For a complete list of categories, as well as information and photos of previous award winners, visit springspreserve.org. Entries are accepted through May 2 and may include front or backyard landscaping, new landscapes or upgraded landscape.

Nominate veterans for veteran of the month: Nevada’s Veteran of the Month award recognizes veterans statewide who contribute their time and energy in support of veterans and the military, and/or who take pride in caring and nurturing their local communities. The program is managed by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services, which continuously seeks out potential honorees. Anyone can nominate potential candidates. Submissions must be on an official form and will be reviewed by members of the Veterans Service Commission at its quarterly meetings. The members then make final decisions on who is chosen. Submissions are accepted throughout the year, and nomination deadlines are three weeks prior to each VSC quarterly meeting. To nominate:

— Read the attached VOM guidelines at veterans.nv.gov.

— Download and complete VOM nomination packet under “Services.” Nomination packets must include a copy of the nominee’s DD-214 Form and a photo of the nominee. For assistance in obtaining a copy of a DD-214 form, call the Nevada Department of Veterans Services, VAST Section, at 775-321-4880.

— Nomination packets can be filled out online, saved, printed, signed and mailed to: Nevada Department of Veterans Services, Attn: Pamela Roberts, 6880 S. McCarran Blvd., Bldg. A, Suite 2, Reno, NV 89509

— Completed packets can also be scanned and emailed to Roberts at robertsp@veterans.nv.gov or faxed to 775-688-1656.