Area briefing

SCAMS TARGETING SENIOR CITIZENS
TO BE FOCUS OF AWARENESS EVENTS

The Nevada State Contractors Board plans to launch its inaugural senior awareness program from 9:30 to 11 a.m. May 2 at the Martin Luther King Senior Center, 2420 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Suite B, in North Las Vegas.

The free event will highlight a variety of scams that target seniors, help seniors identify warning signs, provide tips and tools to help them protect themselves and offer information on where to report incidents of abuse. Light refreshments will be available.

For more information, visit nvcontractorsboard.com.

In a similar event, a workshop for seniors on how to avoid scams and identity theft is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday in the large conference room at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

For more information, call 507-3400 or visit lvccld.org.

The Nevada State Contractors Board event is being held in partnership with a number of state officials and agencies.

COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT PLANS OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY AT STATION 23

The Clark County Fire Department plans to host an open house from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Fire Station 23 at 4250 E. Alexander Road.

Visitors can meet the firefighters who serve their neighborhoods and tour the station.

The department hosts open houses on Saturdays every other month at different neighborhood fire stations in the county so the public can obtain information about fire, drowning prevention and other safety matters.

The next open house is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 23 at Fire Station 66 at 7929 Mountains Edge Parkway.

COUNTY DECLARES APRIL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

April was scheduled to be declared as Child Abuse Prevention Month last week by the Clark County Commission.

The commission was set to present the proclamation to the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program during an April 18 meeting in the commission chambers at the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. CASA administrator Sheila Parks and county Family Court Judge Frank Sullivan were slated to accept the proclamation.

The county's child abuse/neglect hot line received more than 15,000 reports of abuse and neglect last year, officials said. On any given day, more than 3,000 children live in foster care due to abuse or neglect, according to the county.

About 325 CASA volunteers serve the community by advocating for abused and neglected children to help ensure that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.

The volunteers advocate for 800 children a year.

The Clark County court system's CASA program recruits, screens, trains and supports volunteers to represent the best interests of roughly 800 foster children annually. Advocates represent the children in school, child and family team meetings and in court.

Volunteering for the program involves a two-year commitment and a willingness to spend time with the children to advocate for them. Orientations are held monthly on the third Wednesday to provide more information about the program.

For more information, call 455-4306 or visit casalasvegas.org.

DONATE FOOD IN EXCHANGE FOR FREE DOCUMENT SHREDDING SATURDAY

ShredCo and RC Willey are partnering to collect nonperishable food for Helping Hands of Vegas Valley from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the RC Willey parking lot, 3850 S. Town Center Drive.

In exchange for two grocery bags of nonperishable food, ShredCo will shred up to two bags of paper. RC Willey also will offer a $25 gift card to each donor, while supplies last.

Helping Hands of Vegas Valley is a nonprofit group that provides food and transportation to disadvantaged and homebound seniors. Donations supply its food pantry, which feeds a monthly average of 355 clients who live on $700 or less per month.

For more information, contact group executive director Dana Serrata at 633-7264, ext. 31.

EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY BUILT AND STOCKED AT SCHOOL

The Container Store recently partnered with the Junior League of Las Vegas to create an emergency food pantry at Wynn Elementary School, 5655 Edna Ave.

The Container Store provided storage and organizational products totaling $1,500 for the pantry, and the Junior League of Las Vegas restocked the pantry with food from Three Square and provided $2,500 in funding to keep the pantry full.

In addition to food supplies, a gently used refrigerator and other clothing items have been donated.

Wynn Elementary School was selected for the project through a grant written by the Communities in School.

Nearly 75 percent of Wynn students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has participated in Three Square's Weekend Backpack Program and the Kids Café since April 2009, but the creation of an emergency pantry will allow fresh food to be stored and distributed on campus to children in need.

For more information about the Junior League of Las Vegas, visit jllv.org or call 822-6536.

MARIJUANA PRODUCTION TO BE DISCUSSION TOPIC DURING 1ST TUESDAY

Marijuana grow houses are set to be the topic during the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's 1st Tuesday program, set for 7 to 8 p.m. May 1 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 828-3111.

POLICE HONOR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONALS

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department recently saluted its communications professionals in honor of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

The police department's communications bureau answered more than 1 million 911 calls last year and more than 3 million total calls for service.

Residents who would like to thank dispatch center employees may send notes and thank-you cards to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department - Attention MetroComm, 400 S. Martin L. King Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89106.

LOCAL CELEBRITIES JOIN POLICE TO HELP PROMOTE POOL SAFETY

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has teamed up with "Peepshow" star Holly Madison and Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Forrest Griffin to promote pool safety.

Video messages featuring Madison and Griffin were set to be posted on social media sites and air on public television stations.

For more information, visit lvmpd.com or call 828-3111.

AGENCIES SPREAD WORD ABOUT DROWNING PREVENTION

Clark County Commission Chairwoman Susan Brager joined Southern Nevada Child Drowning Prevention Coalition members March 28 at the Henderson Multigenerational Complex, 250 S. Green Valley Parkway, to kick off the annual April Pools Day drowning prevention awareness campaign.

Members of the coalition include the Clark County, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City fire departments, the Clark County Building Department, pool builders and supply companies, the Safe Kids Coalition, the Southern Nevada Health District, area parks and recreation departments, the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada and other agencies and organizations.

Most drowning victims are 4 or younger, and the majority of drowning deaths occur in the family pool, with 70 percent of incidents occurring between 2 and 8 p.m., officials said.

To help promote safer swimming, Clark County's fire and building departments are sponsors of the Southern Nevada Health District's annual ABC&D's of Drowning Prevention campaign, which emphasizes the need for adult supervision to prevent drownings.

All pools should be surrounded by barriers such as fences, gates, door alarms and covers to protect children, county building department director Ron Lynn said. Tables, chairs and other furniture should be away from pool fences so children can't use them to climb over, he said.

The ABC&D's of Drowning Prevention campaign's drowning-prevention tips include:

An adult who can swim should supervise children around water. Hire a lifeguard for pool parties and social gatherings.

Pool fences should be at least 60 inches high, with precaution taken to prevent children from crawling beneath them.

CPR and swimming classes should be taken by family members.

Devices such as life jackets, personal flotation devices and rescue tools should be available.