Area Briefing, Jan. 15-21, 2015

PARTY TO CELEBRATE EXPANDED DROP-IN CENTER FOR HOMELESS TEENS

The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, 4981 Shirley St., plans to host a block party from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 31 to celebrate its newly expanded Drop-In Center.

The free event is set to feature tours, food, entertainment, games and other activities for all ages.

The 2,600-square-foot space allows the nonprofit to help the growing number of homeless teens with more capacity and ways to meet their basic survival needs while fostering self-sufficiency. More than 9,000 homeless youths were enrolled in the Clark County School District during the 2013-14 school year, according to the nonprofit.

The expansion, which doubles the size of the Drop-In Center, includes a new kitchen designed to serve teens’ daily nutritional needs and accommodate group sessions on how to prepare and cook food.

The expansion also offers a new computer lab, staff office space, a basketball court, a gym, art and music rooms and additional private areas for client intake and tutoring.

A $350,000 grant from Nevada Women’s Philanthropy helped fund the expansion. In addition, HomeAid Southern Nevada provided an in-kind donation of $175,000 in construction work.

For more information, visit nphy.org or call 702-383-1332.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO BE DISCUSSED AT JANUARY SAFETY FORUM

Free safety forums on various topics are planned from 1-2 p.m. monthly at The Mob Museum through a partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department.

Forums are: Jan. 17, vice/human trafficking; Feb. 21, elder exploitation; March 21, homeless liaison presentation; April 18, narcotics; May 16, robbery; June 20, traffic awareness; July 18, gang awareness; Aug. 15, district attorney court procedures; Sept. 19, K-9 operations; Oct. 17, missing persons; Nov. 21, Metro Volunteer Program; and Dec. 19, emergency preparedness.

The presentations are also scheduled to be live-streamed at themobmuseum.org.

For more information, call 702-229-2734.

EVENT TO FOCUS ON AVOIDING MEDICARE FRAUD

A free presentation titled Medicare Fraud — Are You Smarter Than a Scam Artist? is scheduled from 1-2 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Southwest Medical Associates Lifestyle Center, 8670 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 105.

Lori J. Powers, outreach coordinator for Nevada Senior Medicare Patrol, is slated to teach attendees how to protect themselves from Medicare fraud.

To RSVP or for more information, call 855-606-1425.

SHELTERS PROVIDE WARMTH DURING COLD WEATHER

Three warming stations are available daily for homeless people and other individuals who need shelter during the winter months.

The shelters are at:

— Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, 1511 Las Vegas Blvd. North, open for men only from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.

— The Salvation Army, 33 W. Owens Ave., open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 a.m.

— The Shade Tree, 1 W. Owens Ave., open only for women 24/7.

Any additional warming stations are set to be announced by Clark County in the event of freezing temperatures.

For more information, visit clarkcountynv.gov.

FIRE ACADEMY SEEKS APPLICANTS

Candidates are being considered for the 2015 Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Citizens Fire Academy.

Applications are available at lasvegasfire.org by clicking the link for the 2015 Citizens Fire Academy application package.

The nationally recognized academy consists of 10 three-hour classes and includes a number of speakers from the department and support agencies. Also included are tours of facilities, demonstrations, a ride-along with a fire crew and a hands-on participation day at the department’s training center, 4425 W. Tropicana Ave.

Classes are set to meet weekly from Feb. 26 to May 7. For more information, email cfa@lasvegasnevada.gov or call 702-229-0146.

MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TAKE TOP TWO SPOTS IN ANTI-GRAFFITI ART CONTEST

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada recently recognized valley students who won the agency’s eighth annual Anti-Graffiti Art Contest.

The top two winners were Kylee Shay Mitchell of Martin Middle School, 200 N. 28th St., and Aleya Porter of Fertitta Middle School, 9905 W. Mesa Vista Ave. Their artwork is set to be displayed on the outside of an RTC transit vehicle for up to a year. Award ceremonies took place Dec. 17 at Kylee’s school and Dec. 18 at Aleya’s school.

The runners-up included Katheryn Macias-Padron, Isaac Carpenter, Hunter Mecham, Sara Barajas Villa and Luz Molina Garcia of Cashman Middle School, 4622 W. Desert Inn Road; Jesus Martinez-Cazares and Jade Alexe of Martin Middle School; and Britton Cheney of First Good Shepherd Lutheran School, 301 S. Maryland Parkway. The students were recognized with certificates of achievement. Artwork submitted by the runners-up is slated to be featured on transit shelters around the valley.

Valley elementary and middle school students were invited to submit artwork promoting the contest’s theme, Keep Southern Nevada Graffiti Free. More than 209 students from 14 schools participated.

The contest is conducted in partnership with the Clark County School District, the Metropolitan Police Department’s graffiti investigation section, Crime Stoppers of Nevada and the Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition.

For more information, visit rtcsnv.com.

HENDERSON POLICE ANNOUNCE NEW RECRUITS

Thirteen Henderson Police Department recruits graduated Dec. 18 from the 22-week Southern Desert Regional Police Academy.

A total of 23 officers graduated from the academy at the ceremony and will continue their training with the Henderson police, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue arson bomb squad and the College of Southern Nevada and North Las Vegas police departments.

The recruit officers received more than 720 hours of academic and practical training on various topics, including police ethics, criminal law, defensive tactics, firearms, principles of investigation, community policing and emergency vehicle operations.

The Henderson officers are set to attend a five-week advanced academy and then complete a 17-week field training program.

The Southern Desert Regional Police Academy is a consortium of the Henderson and North Las Vegas police departments, the Las Vegas Department of Detention and Enforcement and CSN.

PRESENTATIONS TO TEACH RISKS OF RADON

Presentations are planned at five valley locations to teach residents about the risks of radon.

The events are being held in honor of National Radon Action Month in January. Presentations are planned at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.; 3 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Spring Valley Library, 4280 S. Jones Blvd.; 1 p.m. Feb. 8 and 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road; and 1 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane.

Free test kits for homes are set to be available at the presentations and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 28 at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, 8050 Paradise Road.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate in buildings and cause lung cancer. When a home is closed during colder months, radon concentrations typically increase, making winter an ideal time to test a home for radon, according to the Cooperative Extension

For more information, visit radonnv.com or call the radon hotline at 888-723-6610.

EMERGENCY MANAGER TO GIVE PRESENTATION ON PREPAREDNESS

An emergency preparedness presentation is planned at 10 a.m. Jan. 28 at the Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

City of Las Vegas emergency manager Carolyn Levering is scheduled to educate seniors on how to prepare for threats and hazards in the community.

Admission is free with a $2 annual membership to city senior programs.

Registration is required. For more information, call 702-229-1702.

VOLUNTEER SNOW HOSTS SOUGHT FOR MOUNT CHARLESTON AREA

Go Mt. Charleston is seeking volunteers to be snow hosts this winter in the Mount Charleston area of the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.

Many of the hundreds of people who visit the mountains each weekend to play in the snow lack knowledge of the best and safest places to go, what activities are allowed, what the parking regulations are and how to play safely, according to state officials.

Snow hosts address these concerns and provide roadside information. They also take part in the fun while engaging visitors at snow play sites. In addition, they help visitors have a fun experience while reducing impacts to the forest environment.

Volunteers are needed through March and work on weekends and holidays. Average shifts range between three and six hours, and the minimum commitment is two shifts per month.

Experience in outdoor winter settings is a plus but not required, and volunteers should be at least age 18 and be able to work in the cold.

For more details on the position, visit gomtcharleston.com/volunteer.html. To sign up as a volunteer, contact Cody Dix at volunteer@gomtcharleston.com or 702-515-5408.

HOLIDAY OIL RECYCLING PROGRAM UNDERWAY

Residents can recycle their holiday cooking oil by dropping it off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Jan. 15 in the south parking lot at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd.

Oil can be funnelled into its original container, sealed and placed in a collection receptacle at the site.

The holiday cooking oil recycling program is a component of the Clark County Water Reclamation District’s Pain in the Drain campaign, which aims to keep sewers free of blockages and overflows caused by oil, fat and grit.

For more information, visit paininthedrain.com.