News from around the valley, Dec. 24-30, 2015

Christmas tree recycling: The city of Henderson encourages residents to recycle their holiday trees from Dec. 26 through Jan. 14. Residents can drop off their live holiday trees during regular park hours at eight Henderson locations: Acacia Park, 50 Casa del Fuego St.; Anthem Hills Park, 2256 N. Reunion Drive; Arroyo Grande Sports Complex, 298 Arroyo Grande Blvd.; Henderson Multigenerational Center, 250 E. Green Valley Parkway; Mission Hills Park, 551 E. Mission Drive; Morrell Park, 500 Harris St.; Pecos Legacy Park, 150 Pecos Road; or Whitney Ranch Recreation Center, 1575 Galleria Drive. Participants are asked to remove all non-organic material from their trees, including lights, ornaments, wires, tinsel and nails. Flocked and artificial trees cannot be recycled. The Public Works, Parks and Recreation Department will chip the trees into mulch to be used in parks and landscaping around Henderson municipal buildings, and made available for free to residents at Pecos Legacy Park and Acacia Demonstration Gardens. Participants should bring their own shovel and container. Call 702-267-4000 or visit cityofhenderson.com.

Las Vegas joins What Work Cities: Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman announced that the city of Las Vegas has been selected to participate in Bloomberg Philanthropies' What Work Cities, a philanthropic effort to enhance the use of data and evidence in the public sector. Launched in April, the $42 million initiative is providing support to city halls in eight cities and will admit up to 100 cities on a rolling basis through 2017.

Atomic Testing Museum gets donation, new director: On Nov. 19, National Security Technologies presented the National Atomic Testing Museum, 755 E. Flamingo Road, with a $25,000 donation, meant to help further the museum's master plan in an effort to update existing exhibits. Additionally, the museum announced Michael David Hall as its new executive director. Previously, Hall was executive director at the Roswell Museum and Art Center in Roswell, N.M.

Arch card donation: McDonald's owner/operators from across Southern Nevada donated $5,000 in McDonald's Arch cards at the 17th Annual KLUC Toy Drive, Dec. 10.

Henderson priorities: Henderson residents can take an online survey at hendersonstrong.metroquest.com through December to offer input on improving the city. The feedback will help set priorities for the city's comprehensive plan update. Those who take the survey will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card to Target. The city said it has experienced demographic and economic changes since 2006, when its last plan was adopted. The document, called Henderson Strong, is aimed at communicating the city's vision, long-term goals and objectives in terms of managing growth over the next 20 years. Visit hendersonstrong.org.

Nominate veterans for veteran of the month: Nevada's Veteran of the Month award recognizes veterans statewide who contribute their time and energy in support of veterans and the military, and/or who take pride in caring and nurturing their local communities. The program is managed by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services, which continuously seeks out potential honorees. Anyone can nominate potential candidates. Submissions must be on an official form and will be reviewed by members of the Veterans Service Commission at its quarterly meetings. The members then make final decisions on who is chosen. Submissions are accepted throughout the year, and nomination deadlines are three weeks prior to each VSC quarterly meeting. To nominate:

— Read the attached VOM guidelines at veterans.nv.gov.

— Download and complete VOM nomination packet under "Services." Nomination packets must include a copy of the nominee's DD-214 Form and a photo of the nominee. For assistance in obtaining a copy of a DD-214 form, call the Nevada Department of Veterans Services, VAST Section, at 775-321-4880.

— Nomination packets can be filled out online, saved, printed, signed and mailed to: Nevada Department of Veterans Services, Attn: Pamela Roberts, 6880 S. McCarran Blvd., Bldg. A, Suite 2, Reno, NV 89509

— Completed packets can also be scanned and emailed to Roberts at robertsp@veterans.nv.gov or faxed to 775-688-1656.

Gift of Giving: United Way-accredited agencies are running holiday events, including:

— Gift of Reading, through Jan. 1: Every $10 sends a new book to an at-risk child honoring someone on your holiday gift list. A card will go to the recipient celebrating your gift. Visit spreadthewordnevada.org.

— Goodwill of Southern Nevada, Dec. 27-31: extended donation hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. For group volunteering, contact Walter Lescano at 702-296-0800 or walterl@sngoodwill.org.

Donate at Smith's: Through Dec. 28, Smith's customers may add a $1, $5 or $10 donation to their grocery orders. The contribution will then be converted into Smith's gift cards for local food banks to purchase meat, grocery items, dairy or other needed items. Visit smithsfoodanddrug.com.

Fountain color change: In honor of World AIDS Day, the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South, will turn its fountain red through Dec. 31 for Aid for AIDS of Nevada. All change tossed in the fountain during December will go to the organization's mission of providing education and advocacy for adults and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada. The fountain will be red in between regularly scheduled water shows, which take place every hour from noon to 11 p.m.

U.S.VETS seeks holiday donations: Offering both transitional and permanent housing, more than 300 formerly homeless veterans call U.S.VETS — Las Vegas their home. While in housing, veterans are reuniting with family, rejoining the workforce, regaining independence and rebuilding their lives. This holiday season, the local community is encouraged to help grant wishes of these veterans by participating in the Veteran Holiday Wish List Project. Individuals wanting to donate can visit usvetsinc.org/lasvegas to view the personal stories and holiday wishes of veterans participating in U.S.VETS programs.

Donation match campaign: Through the end of the year, donations made to Three Square food bank will be matched by seven corporations and businesses as part of the $250,000 Holiday Match Challenge. Backing the significant Holiday Match Challenge are Las Vegas Valley businesses Barrick Gold, Boyd Gaming, Crovetti Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, IGT, L.L. Bradford, CPA's, Towbin Automotive Group and UnitedHealthcare. Visit threesquare.org.

Mojave Max Emergence Contest: The contest opened Nov. 5 for Las Vegas Valley students to guess when Mojave Max, a tortoise at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Visitor Center, will come out of his brumation in the spring. The person who guesses as closely as possible to the correct day, hour and minute when Max will emerge from his burrow wins. Anyone can enter, but only one winner from Clark County in grades kindergarten through 12 who is enrolled in public, private or registered home schools is eligible to win. The grand prize winner and his or her entire class will win T-shirts, Mojave Max Olympic-style medals, a pizza party and a field trip to Red Rock Canyon to see Max. The winner also receives a laptop computer, a digital camera and an America the Beautiful yearlong pass to national parks and federal recreational areas. The winner's teacher will receive a laptop computer. To enter, visit mojavemax.com and click on the "Emergence Contest" button. Visit clarkcountynv.gov.

Basketball signups: Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada is accepting basketball league signups for children and coaches. Boy's recreational basketball league signups for ages 5 to 12 are available at six locations across the Las Vegas Valley: the Lied Memorial Clubhouse, Southern Highlands Clubhouse, Donald W. Reynolds Clubhouse, John C. Kish Clubhouse, Andre Agassi Clubhouse, and James Boys & Girls Clubhouse. Prices start at $65, and the fee includes a 2016 membership to Boys & Girls Clubs, practice and game schedules and team jerseys. The league fees are used to maintain the facilities and gymnasiums as well as fund Boys & Girls Clubs programs across the city. Club sports leagues are open to youths ages 5 to 12 years old. Visit bgcsnv.org.