Summerlin Area Neighborhood News, June 4-10, 2015

CENTURYLINK MATCHING DONATIONS FOR THREE SQUARE PROGRAM

CenturyLink Las Vegas is partnering with Three Square food bank to help feed Southern Nevadans in need. Through June 12, CenturyLink will match up to $1 million from all food and monetary donations in association with Backpack Buddies, the company’s nationwide food drive program.

Food banks can purchase food at a lower cost per pound than the average person could at a store, estimated on average to equal 6 pounds of food per dollar. Based on this calculation, CenturyLink will donate $1 for every 6 pounds of food collected by the company’s employees and community members. All food and monetary donations made online, in person and via mail during the time period will count toward the match donation.

For more information, visit centurylink.com.

CITY RECEIVES $600,000 IN SOLAR ENERGY REBATES

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman was presented with a check from NV Energy May 21 for nearly $600,000 in solar energy rebates. The presentation was made at the newly completed solar parking lot at the Durango Hills Community Center, 3521 N. Durango Drive.

The city recently completed four new solar projects, including the solar-covered parking at Durango Hills, and participated in NV Energy’s Solar Generations program. It is receiving the rebates for completing these systems to NV Energy’s standards.

The Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy awarded $1.24 million in loans to the city to help fund solar parking projects. The loan is part of a revolving program, which provides loans for projects that develop renewable energy systems, energy conservation and manufacturing of components for renewable energy systems. Thanks to this funding, the city was able to contract with Bombard Renewable Energy to construct solar panels at the following locations: East Yard (140 kilowatts), West Yard (100 kilowatts) and Durango Hills Community Center (160 kilowatts).

As a part of the expanded project, 200 kilowatts of solar was also added at the city’s detention center. Completion of these projects increases the city’s capacity to more than 6 megawatts of solar.

For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov.

WALKER FURNITURE ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR HELP FOR HEROES PROGRAM

Walker Furniture’s annual Help for Heroes program is accepting nomination letters on behalf of wounded U.S. military personnel and veterans in Clark County in need of specialized furniture items.

Walker CEO Larry Alterwitz said that this year, Help for Heroes will again provide some relief for 10 active military personnel and/or veterans. The program relies on letters from the community describing the situations of prospective recipients, which must be received by June 26.

Walker Furniture will provide certain necessary items not generally available through the VA, such as lift chairs, adjustable beds, new mattresses and dining sets. Each delivery will be specific to the needs of each recipient. Letters received will be reviewed and evaluated by an independent panel headed by Comm. John Rupe of the American Legion Paradise Post 149, who plans to visit each prospective recipient to evaluate his individual needs. The furniture items will be delivered shortly after a special presentation event, to be held at the American Legion Paradise Post 149 in early July.

Letters should be sent to: Help for Heroes Program, Larry Alterwitz, CEO, Walker Furniture, 301 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89106. Letters also can hand-delivered, faxed to 702-384-7772, emailed to cnelson@walkerfurniture.com or submitted online at walkerhelpforheroes.com.

GOVERNOR’S POINTS OF LIGHT AWARD TAKING NOMINATIONS

Residents are invited to nominate a volunteer, volunteer organization, volunteer manager or corporate volunteer program for the 2015 Governor’s Points of Light Award. Three finalists in each category will be invited to an award ceremony luncheon Oct. 8 at Bally’s.

Nominations are being accepted through June 30 in the following categories: Individual-Northern Nevada; Individual-Southern Nevada; Individual-Rural Nevada; Nonprofit/Community Organization Volunteer Program; Corporate/Business Volunteer Program; Volunteer Manager; and Volunteer Program serving Veterans (a new category that may be represented by a nonprofit, corporate, etc. organization).

To submit a nomination, visit nevadavolunteers.org.

SUMMERLIN COUNCIL ANNOUNCES PATRIOTIC PARADE PLANS

The 21st annual Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. July 4, with the escort division set for 8:30 a.m.

The parade is scheduled to begin at the corner of Hillpointe Road and Hills Center Drive in The Trails Village of Summerlin. Participants will travel south toward Village Center Circle, west on Trailwood Drive and end before the corner of Trailwood Drive and Spring Gate Lane.

The parade is set to feature more than 70 entries, including traditional floats, Macy’s-style giant inflatable balloons, American military heroes, bands, musical groups and a variety of children’s storybook and cartoon characters. Several new entries have been added, including an Aladdin’s Magic Carpet float, a Jurassic Adventure 30-foot T-Rex inflatable balloon, a giant Mighty Mouse 35-foot helium balloon and The Indiana Jones Experience float.

The parade is coordinated by The Summerlin Council, the nonprofit arm of the Summerlin Community Association, and is open to the public.

For more information, call 702-341-5500 or visit summerlink.com/patriotic-parade.

FOSTERS NEEDED FOR FUPI ANIMALS

Foreclosed Upon Pets Inc. is in urgent need of foster families for rescued dogs and cats. Fostering plays a major role in the success of the organization. In many circumstances, the animals have come from harsh backgrounds, have been abandoned or have lost their home through no fault of their own.

The foster’s main responsibility is to offer the dog or cat a safe and secure environment. The foster will offer a nurturing background, possibly provide some basic training and consequently help to make the animal a better candidate for adoption.

For more information, contact FUPI at forecloseduponpets@hotmail.com or 702-272-0010.

HELP OF SOUTHERN NEVADA COLLECTING BOTTLED WATER

HELP of Southern Nevada is partnering with Whole Foods Market for its annual HELP2O campaign in an effort to protect homeless residents from the dangers associated with the summer heat.

Those looking to donate bottled water can do so at all Las Vegas- and Henderson-area Whole Foods Market locations through Aug. 31. Bottled water donations can be purchased in store or elsewhere and dropped off. The water will be collected and distributed to area homeless by HELP of Southern Nevada on a regular basis.

To make a monetary donation throughout the campaign, donate change at HELP of Southern Nevada change jars at Whole Foods locations or at helpsonv.org.