North Las Vegas Neighborhood News

NORTH LAS VEGAS BUDGET PICTURE STILL GLOOMY

North Las Vegas City Council members face an $18 million deficit headed into fiscal year 2014, little more than half the shortfall the city faced this time last year.

City Council members shuttered the city jail, slashed public employee overtime pay and browned out public libraries and recreation centers in an effort to stem last year’s $33 million deficit. North Las Vegas Finance Director Al Zochowski credited those efforts at a special meeting April 9 at City Hall for this year’s 45 percent slimmer budget gap and blamed a lack of property tax revenue for much of the remaining deficit.

As much as 85 percent of that red ink is tied to city employee salaries and benefits, according to City Manager Tim Hacker. Both he and Mayor Shari Buck suggested staffing for city services had already been cut to the bone, leaving millions in frozen employee pay raises last on the city budget chopping block.

“We either have concessions or we’re talking about layoffs again,” Buck said April 9.

BLM PLANS OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITY
OPEN HOUSE AT RED ROCK CANYON

The Bureau of Land Management Red Rock/Sloan Field Office has scheduled an open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Visitor Center classroom, 1000 Scenic Loop Drive.

It will highlight recreation opportunities on public land and will focus on full-time commercial outfitters and guides at Red Rock Canyon. Off-road, hiking, biking, climbing and horseback tour companies will be at the open house, and several will have tours starting from the Visitor Center or a nearby designated area. Some will offer discounts for future expeditions.

Participating companies include Bobcat Tours, Escape Adventures, McGhie’s Bike Outpost, Cowboy Trail Rides and Red Rock Riding Stables, Jackson Hole Mountain Guides and American Alpine Institute.

For more information, contact Kathy August at kaugust@blm.gov or 702-515-5361.

DJS FOR PJS TO HOST 11TH ANNUAL PAJAMA DRIVE

The 11th annual DJS for PJS event is scheduled for 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 26. The daylong event is designed to collect new pajamas for children in crisis and benefits charities throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Local disc jockeys will encourage corporate and individual donations by broadcasting on-site from four Kohl’s stores: in the Summerlin area at 8671 W. Charleston Blvd.; in Centennial Hills at 6700 N. Durango Drive; in southwest Las Vegas at 4250 Blue Diamond Road; and in Henderson at 30 N. Valle Verde Drive.

The aim is to collect 8,000 pairs of pajamas to be distributed by local charities, including A Brighter Day Family Services, Baby’s Bounty, Boys Town Nevada, Casa de Luz (House of Light), Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Child Haven, Neighborhood Family Services, Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, Nevada Children’s Center, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, Ronald McDonald House, S.A.F.E. House, Safe Nest, St. Jude’s Ranch, Southern Nevada Children First, the Shade Tree, Variety Early Learning Center and Women’s Development Center. For donation instructions, visit djsforpjs.org or call 702-944-2464, ext. 21.

REBUILDING TOGETHER ACCEPTING HOMEOWNER APPLICATIONS

Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada is accepting applications from North Las Vegas homeowners for National Rebuilding Day on April 27. The organization plans to repair and renovate 25 to 30 homes with the help of 1,500 volunteers in one day. To be eligible for home repairs, the applicant must own and live in his house; be low-income in accordance with the Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines; be at least 60 years old, a person living with disabilities, a veteran of family of an active-duty military service member of a multigenerational family; and be current with mortgage and real estate taxes. For more information or to apply, call Therese Elliot at 702-259-4900 or visit rtsnv.org.

VONS ACCEPTING EASTER SEALS DONATIONS

Each year, Vons dedicates April to its Support for People with Disabilities fundraising campaign to benefit Easter Seals, the Special Olympics and an array of organizations that help people with disabilities live fuller, more independent lives.

Through April 30, all Las Vegas Valley Vons stores will accept donations at the checkouts to benefit Easter Seals Nevada. Ninety cents of each dollar raised will directly support individuals served by the organization.

Vons has raised and donated more than $130 million to support organizations such as Easter Seals, the Special Olympics and a range of other organizations that assist people with special needs. Easter Seals Nevada is one of Nevada’s largest community disability agencies, serving more than 7,000 people with disabilities and their families each year. For more information about Easter Seals Nevada, visit eastersealsnevada.org. To find a Vons, visit vons.com.

TRIAL TO LOOK AT DRUGS FOR AUTISM

The Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine in Las Vegas, 7351 Prairie Falcon Road, Suite 160, is taking part in ConnectMe, the largest global clinical research program in children 6 to 12 with autism, Asperger disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

This Phase II clinical research program is enrolling participants in the Las Vegas area and is evaluating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of the investigational drug, memantine, on social interaction and communication. There are no FDA-approved drugs that treat any of the three core symptoms of autism: impaired social interactions; impaired communication; restricted interests, repetitive behaviors and stereotyped mannerisms.

ConnectMe, sponsored by Forest Research Institute Inc., is being led locally by Dr. Ann Childress, president of the Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, and her team. For more information, visit connectmetrial.com.

DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY SERVICES
SEEKS FOSTER HOMES

The Clark County Department of Family Services is seeking members of the public willing to become foster parents. The program involves individuals and families providing safe, stable and loving environments for children in need of temporary out-of-home care.

Information packets are available and include an overview of the program and the latest session schedule. For more information or to request a packet, call 702-455-0181.

MASTER GARDENERS PLAN TOURS
OF DEMONSTRATION GARDENS

The Master Gardeners of Southern Nevada plan monthly tours of the Demonstration Gardens at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road. Tours are free and open to the public. Groups of five or more are requested to call program coordinator Ann Edmunds at 702-257-5587 at least two weeks in advance.

DONATIONS ACCEPTED TO AID NONPROFIT

Help homeless, pregnant and parenting teens by donating time, money or new or gently used items to assist clients of Southern Nevada Children First, 720 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 30.

Volunteers and donations are always needed to support the nonprofit.

For more information, visit childrenfirst-nv.org or call 702-487-5665.

MISS NEVADA PAGEANT COMING
TO TEXAS STATION IN JUNE

The Miss Nevada Organization announced that it plans to host the 2013 Miss Nevada and Miss Nevada’s Outstanding Teen competitions at Texas Station, 2101 Texas Star Lane, June 14 and 15. Winners will represent Nevada at the Miss America and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competitions. Tickets for the pageant are scheduled to go on sale in the spring.

For more information, visit missnevada.org.

KIWANIS CLUB WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

The Kiwanis Club of North Las Vegas, a chapter of the international service organization, is scheduled to meet at
6:15 p.m. each Tuesday at T.G.I. Friday’s in the Aliante Hotel + Casino, 7300 Aliante Parkway.

Club community projects have included canned food drives, car shows, kites in the park events and charity fundraisers.

The fourth meeting of the month is limited to members only.

For more information, visit nlvkiwanis.com or call 702-399-0332.

NORTH LAS VEGAS ROTARY CLUB TO MEET

The North Las Vegas Rotary Club of Las Vegas meets at 7:15 a.m. Fridays at the Painted Desert Golf Club, 5555 Painted Mirage Road.

The weekly breakfast meetings include guest speakers, networking, education workshops and service projects.

For more information, visit nlvrc.org/newsite or call Bob Lillis at 702-340-9735.