Southwest and Spring Valley neighborhood news Aug. 13-19

CUT-A-THON PLANNED AT RIO

The Rio is set to host the annual cut-a-thon from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 19 at 3700 W. Flamingo Road. All hair will be donated to the Locks of Love charity. The event includes gift bags, refreshments and a contest. For more information, visit riolasvegas.com or call 702-777-7779.

NEW AREA CODE FOR CLARK COUNTY
TO DEBUT JUNE 2014

A new 725 area code for Clark County is scheduled to debut on June 3, 2014. A nine-month transition period started Aug. 3 to allow Clark County residents to adapt gradually to 10-digit telephone dialing before a mandatory 10-digit dialing deadline takes effect on May 3, 2014. For more information, visit www.dial10digits.org or www.marca10digitos.org for Spanish.

COMMODORE COMPUTER CLUB TO MEET AUG. 17

The Clark County Commodore Computer Club (aka 5C’s) plans to meet from 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 17 in the business conference room at Total Wine & More in Boca Park, 730 S. Rampart Blvd. The club is for enthusiasts of the Commodore 64 and Amiga and other computers in the Commodore line.

Demonstrations will include Infocom interactive text adventure games and an overview of the recent CommVEx Commodore convention. Free door prizes will include “Aliens: Colonial Marines” and Kaspersky Anti-Virus/Internet Security for PC.

For more information, contact Forrest Nettles at flnettles@hotmail.com.

MUSICAL ARTS SOCIETY PLANS AUDITIONS

The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society plans to host auditions from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 17 at Summerlin Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1911 Pueblo Vista Drive. For an appointment, contact music director Douglas R. Peterson at 702-451-6672. For more information, visit snmas.com. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 25 in room 159 at the Beam Music Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

CABANAS FOR A CAUSE PLANNED AT PALMS

Palms Pool and Bungalows inside the Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, is scheduled to hold a Cabanas for a Cause fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 19. Pool cabanas will be available for $100, and all proceeds will be donated to After-School All-Stars Las Vegas, a nonprofit organization that provides free after-school and summer programs for at-risk youths in the Clark County School District. All ages are welcome. Children younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit asaslv.org or call 702-770-7601. To reserve a cabana, daybed or island table at Palms Pool, call 702-942-6832.

NONPROFIT TO HOST WOMEN’S TEA EVENT

Easter Seals Nevada, a nonprofit organization, is scheduled to host a Women’s Tea event from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Four Seasons Hotel, 3960 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The event will help fund the Make the First Five Count program, which works to identify early developmental delays in children younger than 5. Neyda Becker of Easter Seals Nevada, Dawn Gibbons of KSNV TV-3, Darlene Krenitz of SHFL Entertainment, Jerrie Merritt of Bank of Nevada and Kate Whiteley of Kirvin Doak Communications are to be honored at the event.

Tickets start at $46 and can be purchased at give.easterseals
nevada.org.

windmill LIBRARY SCHEDULES
HEALTHIER LIVING WORKSHOPS

The Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane, is planning a free six-week Healthier Living Workshop from 3 to 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday starting Sept. 4. Participants will learn about exercise strategies, healthy eating, communication, medication management, decision-making tools and more. For more information, call 702-507-6036 or visit lvccld.org.

CHURCHES COMBINE EFFORTS

The First Presbyterian Church of Las Vegas and the Summerlin Presbyterian Church have united to become the Grace Presbyterian Church. A service and reception is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sept. 8 at the First Presbyterian Church of Las Vegas Lied Sanctuary, 1515 W. Charleston Blvd.

Guests should RSVP by Sept. 1.

For more information, call 702-384-4554.

NEW PARK OPENS NEAR WET ‘N’ WILD

A new park, Community Park, at 7025 S. Fort Apache Road, between the Wet ‘n’ Wild water park and Faiss Middle School, has opened to the public. It features reserved parking spaces adjacent to the water park’s lot.

The park offers three picnic ramadas, a grassy area and two shaded play structures with slides and bridges. The main building was inspired by the ridgeline of the Spring Mountains. Clark County has approved plans for a 25,000-square-foot aquatic center on the site. Once complete, it will house a Junior Olympic-size pool and aerobic pool. A construction date has not yet been set.

For more information, visit summerlin.com.

GUITAR LESSONS SET THROUGH THE FALL
AT spring valley LIBRARY

The Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd., is scheduled to offer free guitar lessons from 4 to 5 p.m. Sept. 8 and 15, Oct. 6 and Oct. 13 and Nov. 10 and Nov. 17. Local instructor Don Musser will be teaching guitar chords, chord progressions and popular songs. Participants must bring their own guitars. For more information, call 702-507-3821 or visit lvccld.org.

GRANDPARENTS DAY CELEBRATION SET

The Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd., plans to celebrate Grandparents Day from 4 to 5 p.m. Sept. 8 with stories and crafts. For more information, call 702-507-3821 or visit lvccld.org.

CANDLELIGHTERS PLANNING
MOUNTAIN’S EDGE RACE

The Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada is planning its annual Race for Our Kids event Sept. 14 at Exploration Peak Park, 9275 S. Buffalo Drive. The event raises funds to support children affected by cancer and educates the public. Activities, refreshments, exhibits and booths are planned. For more information, visit mountainsedge.com.

DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY SERVICES LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY SPONSORS

The Clark County Department of Family Services is looking for community sponsors to help build a safe, stable and nurturing environment for foster children. Residents and businesses can volunteer to mentor or tutor a child, sponsor a child’s Christmas presents or birthday, donate school supplies or become a court-appointed special advocate. For more information on volunteering or donating, visit clarkcountynv.gov.

MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY DONATIONS SOUGHT

All Southern Nevada Heartland Jiffy Lube locations plan to sell Muscle Up coupon savings books between Aug. 1 and Sept. 2 to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Through Labor Day, visit any participating Heartland Jiffy Lube location and donate $3 to MDA and receive a savings book worth more than $100 in savings from Jiffy Lube and other MDA supporters. All funds raised will benefit MDA and its programs.

SOUTHERN NEVADA STRONG SCHEDULES COMMUNITY MEETINGS

Southern Nevada Strong is inviting the community to attend open houses to gather resident input.

The organization is a regional planning initiative looking to improve transportation, housing and job opportunities in Southern Nevada.

Open houses are scheduled 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Elaine K. Smith Center, 700 Wyoming St.; 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Mary & Sam Boyd Boys & Girls Club, 1608 Moser Drive; and a Spanish-speaking event from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Downtown Boys & Girls Club; 2801 E. Stewart Ave.

For more information, visit
southernnevadastrong.com.

TOWER CLIMB REGISTRATION OPEN

Registration is open for the Stratosphere’s inaugural Operation Tower Climb. The competitive stair-climbing event is scheduled Oct. 26 and is open to firefighters, police officers, military personnel and their families who will climb the Stratosphere Tower in a timed event. Cost for participation is $100 and net proceeds are set to benefit American Red Cross — Southern Nevada Chapter Fire Hurts division and Operation Fire H.E.A.T. — a Holiday Emergency Assistance Team. For more information or to register, visit stratosphereclimb.com.

jewish services planned

Congregation P’nai Tikvah is offering free high holiday programs and services to the public as a way to welcome, engage, and connect with the Jewish community. Shabbat Services — Preparing for the Days of Awe is planned 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at Kraft Sussman Chapel, 3975 S. Durango Drive, Suite 104. Other services are planned around the valley at future dates. For more information, call 702-436-4900 or visit pnaitikvah.org.

FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY OFFERS TRIP
TO ENGLAND

Those who plan to participate in Opportunity Village’s Great Santa Run downtown have the opportunity of fundraising $6,500 by Sept. 30 to get a trip to Liverpool, England, to represent Las Vegas in the 2013 Liverpool Santa Dash, planned for Dec. 1. The money raised automatically qualifies participants for the trip, including round-trip airfare and three nights accommodations in Liverpool, Nov. 29 through Dec. 2. Valid passports are required, and the money is nonrefundable. For more information, visit lasvegassantarun.org.

BLM COLLECTING ENTRIES THROUGH SEPTEMBER FOR PHOTO CONTEST

The Bureau of Land Management is celebrating Nevada’s Sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary, by seeking photos that highlight residents’ adventures and activities on public lands and historic sites. Winning photos will be featured in the BLM Nevada 2014 planner and on the BLM Nevada web and social media sites and could appear on BLM’s national social media sites.

Photos will be selected from the following categories: Adventure & Outdoor Recreation; Historical & Cultural; Scenic, Seasons & Landscapes; and Animals. Photo must have been taken between Jan. 1, 2011, and Sept. 30, 2013. Contest entries will be accepted up to Sept. 30. Winners will be announced Oct. 31.

In addition to the photo contest, the BLM will also be producing a children’s activity book, developing 150 themed geocaches and highlighting the BLM’s role in the state’s history.

For more information, contact Kaitlin Godbey at 775-861-6471 or kgodbey@blm.gov, or visit blm.gov/nv/st/en/prog/recreation/nevada_150.html.

USTA-NEVADA GATHERING
USED TENNIS RACKETS

The United States Tennis Association-Nevada, a nonprofit organization that promotes the sport, is in need of gently used tennis rackets, including wooden ones. USTA-Nevada offices are at 1333 N. Buffalo Drive, Suite 130.

For more information, call 702-792-8384 or visit ustanevada.com.

HELP OF SOUTHERN NEVADA LAUNCHES
10TH OF THE MONTH DONOR PROGRAM

HELP of Southern Nevada is launching its $10 on the 10th recurring donor program, which encourages Southern Nevada residents to help make a difference in their community by donating $10 on the 10th of every month.

To sign up, visit helpsonv.org, click “Get Involved” and scroll down to donate, labeling $10 on the 10th in the description. Donors have the option to select the frequency of a recurring donation by using the drop-down box. Sign-ups on behalf of someone else are also available as gifts.

BANK OF AMERICA INITIATIVE PLANNED
TO BENEFIT VETERANS SUPPORT GROUPS

Bank of America has announced a fundraising initiative called Express Your Thanks to benefit veterans of the Wounded Warrior Project and Welcome Back Veterans, an initiative of Major League Baseball Charities.

The project’s goal is to raise $1 million for these charities. Running through Veterans Day (Nov. 11), anyone can participate by taking a photo, creating a video or writing a message of support and sharing it on bankofamerica.com/troopthanks. They also can post on Twitter with the hashtag #troopthanks. For every message posted, Bank of America will donate $1 to Wounded Warriors and Welcome Back Veterans.

SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN OPEN OFFERS FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY

The Shriners Hospitals for Children Open offers the opportunity for local charities and schools to raise funds for their programs by selling daily ticket vouchers to the 2013 tournament, scheduled for Oct. 14-20 at TPC Summerlin, 1700 Village Center Circle.

By selling tickets to the annual PGA tournament through the Tickets for Charity and Tickets for Schools programs, organizations retain 100 percent of the proceeds. Participating organizations can include parent-teacher associations, sports clubs, academic clubs and local nonprofits.

Last year’s program raised more than $30,000 to support more than 30 local nonprofits in addition to assisting more than 25 school systems to defeat budget cuts. Merryhill School’s parent-teacher organization led the participating schools last year in raising $2,700 for their programs. Additionally, the International Public Safety Leadership & Ethics Institute sold more than 300 tickets to the tournament to raise $3,220.

Programs interested in participating should contact Stephanie Maes at 702-873-1010 or smaes@shrinershospitals
open.com.

For more information, visit
shrinershospitalsopen.com.

HELP OF SOUTHERN NEVADA LAUNCHES BOTTLED WATER PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS

HELP of Southern Nevada invites the community to be part of its HELP2O campaign, which donates bottled water to the homeless.

Patrons can donate water at any Las Vegas-area Whole Foods Market through Aug. 31. For every bottle of Real Water brand purchased at Whole Foods Market during the campaign, the Nevada-based Real Water company will donate a bottle of Real Water.

Collection points for donated water include: Whole Foods Fort Apache, 8855 W. Charleston Blvd.; Whole Foods Tenaya, 7250 W. Lake Mead Blvd.; Whole Foods Town Square, 6689 Las Vegas Blvd. South; and Whole Foods Henderson, 100 S. Green Valley Parkway.

Bottled water donations can be purchased in-store and donated or purchased elsewhere and dropped off. The water will be collected on a regular basis and distributed to area homeless.

Additionally, monetary donations can be made with HELP of Southern Nevada change jars at all four Whole Foods Market locations or by submitting a donation through the nonprofit’s website at helpsonv.org.

AREA GROCERY DELIVERY SERVICE OFFERS PINK MILK

Winder Farms, a grocery home delivery company based in southwest Las Vegas, will go pink for Susan G. Komen for the Cure by raising money and awareness for breast cancer screening, treatment programs and research. Through Oct. 31, Winder Farms is set to donate a portion of the proceeds from its Strawberry Milk to the local affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Winder Farms Strawberry Milk is made with reduced fat milk and comes from cows not treated with artificial growth hormones or antibiotics.

For more information, visit winderfarms.com. Sign up using the promotional KOMENSN13, and Winder Farms will donate an additional $25 to the charity.

TRAVEL CLUB TO MEET AT TAP HOUSE

The Las Vegas Single Social Travel Club for Mature Adults invites prospective members to its meetings, which are scheduled for 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd.

The meet-and-greet portion is set to start at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room. Discussions focus on day trips, local events, in-state and out-of-state traveling, cruises and international traveling. A guest speaker frequently is featured. The meeting usually closes at about 8 p.m., when appetizers are served and the group mingles. For more information, call 888-324-2028.

SOLARI HOSPICE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS

Solari Hospice Care, 5550 S. Jones Blvd., is looking for volunteers to aid with day-to-day operations and patient well-being. Volunteers bring companionship to people in the final months and weeks of life, often when people find themselves cut off from the community, isolated and alone. They bring respite to family caregivers who are caring for dying loved ones. Sometimes volunteers share a special knowledge or hobby, such as speaking a second language or playing music. Solari also uses volunteers to answer phones, assist with receptionist duties or perform light secretarial work.

For more information, call Shari Diebold at 702-870-0000.

SOLARI HOSPICE OFFERING FREE BEREAVEMENT SESSIONS

Solari Hospice Foundation, 5550 S. Jones Blvd., offers free weekly bereavement support groups from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays.

For more information, call 702-870-0000 or visit solarihospice
foundation.org.

MEN’S CHORAL GROUP PLANS
WEEKLY MEETINGS

The Silver Statesmen Chorus invites men of all ages to join its group. The chorus rehearses at 7 p.m. each Thursday at Christ The King Catholic Community, 4925 S. Torrey Pines Drive.

For more information, visit silverstatesmen.com.

HOSPITAL NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center, 5400 S. Rainbow Blvd., is looking for volunteers to help at its facility. For more information, contact marketing director Naomi Jones at 702-853-3308 or naomi.jones@uhsinc.com.