Area Briefing

CONTRACTORS BOARD PLANS SENIOR AWARENESS EVENTS DEALING WITH SCAMS

The Nevada State Contractors Board plans two senior awareness events over the next week regarding scams.

The free events are set for 10-11 a.m. Thursday at the Doolittle Senior Center, 1950 N. J St., and 1-2 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Lieburn Senior Center, 6230 Garwood Ave.

The events will highlight scams that target seniors, help seniors identify the warning signs, provide tips and tools to help seniors protect themselves and offer resource information on where to report incidents. Light refreshments will be available.

The Nevada State Contractors Board plans to put on the senior awareness forums in every legislative district in Nevada in the coming year. Future event dates and locations are to be made available as they are scheduled.

The events are being put on in partnership with state legislators and state agency representatives.

For more information, call Jennifer Turner at 702-486-1139 or visit nscb.nv.gov.

RTC SEEKS ANTI-GRAFFITI ARTWORK FROM VALLEY CHILDREN

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada invites valley elementary and middle school students to submit artwork for the 2012 RTC Anti-Graffiti Art Contest, with the theme "Keep Southern Nevada Graffiti Free."

The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Thursday , and they can be mailed or delivered with attention to Aileen Pastor, RTC Administrative Office, 600 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite 350, Las Vegas, NV 89106. Artwork must be in color, and no photography or glitter will be accepted.

Permissible art tools include markers, crayons, colored pencils or paints, which must be submitted on 11-by-17-inch paper.

Grand prize winners are set to be announced Dec. 6 at an RTC event. Top entries will also be featured on an RTC vehicle and other transit amenities for up to a year. Crime Stoppers of Nevada offered 10 shelter ads through Outdoor Promotions to display the top 10 pieces of submitted artwork.

For more information, call Pastor at 702-676-1735 or email pastora@rtcnv.com.

5K RUN TO SUPPORT UNLV MOUNTED PATROL

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas' second annual Run for the Horses benefit is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at the UNLV athletic track, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway.

The 5K run and obstacle course events will support operations and outreach efforts of the UNLV Police Department's mounted patrol.

Officers patrol the campus four days per week on the unit's two horses, Rebel and Pride, and participate in public safety and school outreach events.

Registration is $15 and is set to begin at 8 a.m. To register in advance, visit active.com and type in the keywords "run for the horses." Pets are welcome at the event.

For more information, call Stephani Preston with UNLV police at 702-895-3668.

HALLOWEEN-THEMED 5K RUN, FUN WALK TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT RUNAWAYS

Nevada Child Seekers plans a Hit the Streets 4 Treats 5K run and family fun stroll Nov. 10 at The District at Green Valley Ranch, 2240 Village Walk Drive, Henderson.

The event is geared to raise awareness about runaway children and is being put on in conjunction with Runaway Prevention Month, observed in November.

Registration for teams and individuals is set for 6 a.m., followed by a stretch at 7:15 a.m. and the 5K race and family fun stroll at 7:30 a.m. Registration costs $25 for adults and $15 for children younger than 12. Group discounts are available for schools.

The event will include awards, entertainment, candy, games and other family oriented activities. Free digital fingerprinting and photo IDs for children also will be provided.

For more information, call 702-458-7009 or visit nevadachildseekers.org.

POLICE TO SPEAK WITH RESIDENTS ABOUT ROBBERY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Officers are scheduled to discuss robbery and how to prevent it during the holidays at the Metropolitan Police Department's 1st Tuesday program, set for 7 to 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at the department's valleywide area commands.

The 1st Tuesday program is a free open house-style event that takes place monthly on the first Tuesday. After speakers discuss assigned topics, residents can learn more about their neighborhoods and meet their local police officers.

For a list of area commands or other additional information, visit lvmpd.com or call 702-828-3111.

PROGRAM OFFERS SCHOLARSHIP FOR RADON MITIGATION STUDIES

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's Nevada Radon Education Program is offering a scholarship to help residents train and get certified to be a radon mitigation professional in Southern Nevada.

The grant-funded scholarship program of the Nevada State Health Division is offering the funds toward online mitigation entry level training through the Center for Environmental Research & Technology Inc. and the national certification exam through the National Radon Proficiency Program.

For more information, call Laura Au-Yeung at 702-257-5550 or the radon hot line at 888-723-6610.

The application deadline is Nov. 30.

The regular price for the course, including study materials, is $750, and the cost of the exam is $100.

Nevada residents living in Lincoln or Clark counties are eligible.

Experienced building and remodeling contractors or plumbers licensed with the Nevada State Contractors Board who wish to expand their business are encouraged to apply.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas present in many homes, schools and buildings and is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, according to the Cooperative Extension.

POLICE LAUNCH DOWNTOWN 360 COMMUNITY PRIDE INITIATIVE

The Metropolitan Police Department's Downtown 360 initiative kicked off Oct. 6 with a cleanup event at three locations.

The community policing squad at the Downtown Area Command, 621 N. Ninth St., developed the Downtown 360 program to strengthen community partnerships through neighborhood cleanup, graffiti removal and a lecture series.

The two-hour inaugural cleanup took place near 2900 E. Charleston Blvd., 600 E. Bonanza Road and 2000 Paradise Road.

The program focuses on area apartment complexes and committing 60 minutes a day to proactive activities. The goal is to build lasting partnerships and help residents take pride in their neighborhoods.

Downtown 360 is put on in partnership with the city of Las Vegas, AlertID, Siegel Suites and Zappos.

For more information, call 702-828-3822.

COMPANY INTRODUCES SECURE SOCIAL NETWORKING PROGRAM

AlertID recently launched its Secure Social Network program, allowing users to share information safely.

The program is geared toward users such as families, communities, schools, co-workers and public safety officials who are concerned about the safety of communicating on traditional social networks.

AlertID said it does not scan members' communication and postings to sell to advertisers or anyone else, nor does it sell information that would personally identify members to advertisers. The program also prevents search engines from scanning users' information.

Features include:

n My Neighborhood, which enables users to share messages about suspicious people, crime, missing pets, and post pictures and videos, sharing the content with other AlertID members in the vicinity.

n My Groups, allowing the creation of private or public groups. Groups may or may not be location-based and can be created for schools, homeowners associations, public safety organizations, neighbors, families and more.

n Homeland Security Reporting, allowing users to easily report suspicious activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security from mobile devices, iPads or computers.

To sign up for a free account or for more information, visit alertid.com.

RED CROSS INTRODUCES EARTHQUAKE APP

The American Red Cross recently launched a free earthquake app for people who live in or visit earthquake-prone areas.

The app, available in English or Spanish, provides access to local and real-time information on what to do before, during and after earthquakes. Users can receive earthquake notifications and monitor activity where other family and friends reside.

Nevada is the fourth-most seismically active state in the U.S., according to the United States Geological Survey. Also, the National Earthquake Safety Council has reported that Nevada is ranked third behind Alaska and California for the likelihood of a large-magnitude seismic event. Eight fault lines run through the Las Vegas Valley, said Scott Emerson, CEO of the Southern Nevada American Red Cross chapter. The earthquake app is the third in an American Red Cross series. First aid and hurricane apps also were created by the agency.

For more information, visit redcross.org.

PERFORMANCES TO PROMOTE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN

A variety of public and private anti-bullying shows are planned around the valley for students in preschool through third grade.

The shows, to be performed by Michael Darby & Smile, are aimed at helping children feel empowered to make a positive difference in the world.

Public shows include:

n 1:40 p.m. Nov. 3 during the Vegas Valley Book Festival at a Las Vegas venue to be announced.

n 2:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson.

Private shows include:

n 8:30 a.m. March 7 at the Alexander Dawson School, 10845 W. Desert Inn Road.

n 8:30 a.m. March 19 at Bonner Elementary School, 765 Crestdale Lane.

For more information, visit michaeldarbyandsmile.tv, email aimhighsmile@gmail.com or call 702-271-9428.