North Las Vegas Neighborhood News Sept. 17-23

CHURCH TO HOST BLOOD DRIVE

Lamb of God Lutheran Church and School is scheduled to host a community blood drive from 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at 6220 N. Jones Blvd. Each presenting donor will receive an American Red Cross T-shirt and two tickets to the Laugh Factory. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Trish Spatharos at 702-645-4998 or email spatharost@lambofgodlv.com.

HOMEOWNERS GROUP SET TO MEET

The North Las Vegas Alliance of Homeowner Associations and Concerned Citizens plans to meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Aliante Library, 2400 Deer Springs Road. For more information, contact Richard Cherchio at 702-325-6708 or richardcherchio@nlvalliance.com.

FIRE DEPARTMENT LOOKS TO SPRUCE UP ANTIQUE FIRE ENGINE

The North Las Vegas Fire Department plans to host a free pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 21 at 3830 Losee Road. Donations benefit department efforts to refurbish a 1941 Howe fire engine operated by firefighters before the city’s incorporation in 1946. For more information on the Save the Fire Truck campaign, call 702-292-9127.

JUNIOR GIANTS HOST BASEBALL WORKSHOP

Las Vegas Junior Giants, an area youth baseball organization, looks to host an educational workshop at 6 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Pearson Community Center, 1625 W. Carey Ave. Presenters include Jimmie Ray Kennon Sr., Lana Kennon and Johnnie Williams. For more information, contact coach Gene Tate at 408-515-7489.

FORMER GOVERNOR HOPES TO HELP X TRAIN PICK UP STEAM

Las Vegas Railway Express, backers of a long-awaited adults-only party train between Southern California and Las Vegas, have appointed former Nevada Gov. Bob Miller to serve as the company’s national spokesman.

Miller, the state’s longest-serving governor, has served as a tourism and gaming consultant and nonprofit board director since leaving office in 1999.

The company touts Miller as a statewide “champion of economic development,” one well-equipped to help guide the North Las Vegas-bound train beyond a planned maiden voyage next summer.

“Returning passenger train service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is a significant venture for both the Las Vegas Valley and Southern California economies,” Miller said in a statement released last month. “In addition, it helps make it safer for visitors to enjoy what Las Vegas has to offer by reducing traffic on the I-15.”

NLV NEAR TOP OF WORST EATS LIST

North Las Vegas ranks third on a recent list of America’s worst places to eat, landing behind San Bernardino, Calif., and Garland, Texas, on Movoto.com’s inaugural list of worst cities for food lovers.

Restaurant quality in Nevada’s fourth-largest city ranked last among 100 municipalities surveyed by the real estate blog, which used data on the number of restaurants, bakeries, food festivals and grocery stores per capita to come up with last month’s rankings.

According to Movoto, the city is home to only one restaurant per 808 residents, narrowly topping St. Petersburg, Fla., for the title of fewest places to eat per capita.

CIVIL AIR PATROL TO MEET

The Nellis Senior Squadron of the Nevada Wing Civil Air Patrol meets from 7 to 8 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month in the Grand Canyon Room at the North Las Vegas Air Terminal, 2730 Airport Drive. Civil Air Patrol is a nonprofit organization with 56,000 members nationwide. It performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions. Attendees must be 18 or older. For more information, contact Maj. Mark Goodman at 702-326-7363 or mgoodman56@me.com.

ALIANTE LIBRARY WRITERS CLUB TO MEET MONTHLY

The Aliante Library Writers Club is set to meet monthly from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on select Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Aliante Library, 2400 Deer Springs Road. The next planned meeting is Sept. 25. The group gathers for networking, readings and learning about writing. For more information, call 702-839-2980, visit nlvld.org or email Glory Wade at glorywadewriter@gmail.com.

NORTH VALLEY LEADERSHIP TEAM TO MEET

The North Valley Leadership Team meets at 10 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at the Pearson Community Center, 1625 W. Carey Ave. The group expects to hear about possible grant funding opportunities through area nonprofit Southern Nevada Strong at its Sept. 14 meeting. For more information on the group and its efforts, contact president Lydia Garrett at 702-413-3034.

PEARSON CENTER HOSTS WALKING CLUB

The Pearson Community Center in North Las Vegas plans its Positive Movement walking club at 6 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday at 1625 W. Carey Ave.

Participants aim to encourage each other physically, emotionally and spiritually by walking on the track.

For more information, call the center at 702-455-1220.

BOOTHS AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESS MIXER

Booths are available for Las Vegas’ Largest Mixer, Texas Station’s ninth annual “ultimate networking event,” set for Sept. 18 at 2101 Texas Star Lane. Tickets are $15. For more information, call 702-631-1000 or visit largestmixer.com.

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.

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 at 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.

LIBRARY DISTRICT INCREASES HOURS AT URBAN BRANCHES

Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive, and 12 other urban Las Vegas-Clark County Library District locations have expanded weekday hours as of Sept. 3. The library will now be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Visit www.lvccld.org/ for more information.

YOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS

The city of Las Vegas’ annual Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program grant application process is open through Nov. 22. The program offers grants for up to $1,000 for youths to create and implement neighborhood-based service learning projects of their own design.

The program requires youths to match the city’s grant with cash, volunteer time or in-kind services and goods donated to the project. Projects are required to take place in city limits.

Applicants are encouraged to attend one of two workshops scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 25 and Oct. 1 at City Hall, 495 S. Main St. To register, call 702-229-5406 or e-mail lcampbell@lasvegasnevada.gov.

Applications will be reviewed by the program’s board, whose members are appointed by the City Council. Funding recommendations will be presented to the City Council for final approval in February 2014.

FORECLOSED UPON PETS TO CELEBRATE FIFTH YEAR WITH EVENT

Foreclosed Upon Pets Inc., a not-for-profit animal rescue, plans to host its fifth anniversary celebration from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at a private home.

A beer and wine bar, appetizers, live music, raffle and silent auction are planned. Advance tickets are $30, and night-of tickets are $35 at the door. RSVPs are requested by Oct. 1.

Funds raised will assist with veterinary fees. To RSVP and to get the event’s address, visit forecloseduponpets.org/events or call 702-279-2544.

UNITED WAY RECEIVES $1 MILLION GRANT

United Way of Southern Nevada was awarded a $1 million grant to provide children 5 or younger an opportunity to attend high-quality preschool programs. Windsong Trust, a private foundation for children’s education, funded the grant that will supply 130 full-time scholarships for one full year, provide 260,000 hours of quality care, educational support and 500 family engagement opportunities.

Licensed centers who are interested in partnering with the United Way should call 702-892-2309. For more information on programs and partnerships contact, Angela Rose, director of community development, at 702-892-2324 or angelar@uwsn.org.

For more information, visit uwsn.org.