Already balding cancer survivor willing to help any way she can

You might think Marcy Humm had enough on her mind these days.

She is, after all, a cancer survivor still recovering from an August liver transplant.

She's a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who also happens to be vice president of the board of directors of the Rape Crisis Center, which just opened its new counseling center at 6376 W. Charleston Blvd. on the College of Southern Nevada campus.

But then she heard the cancer story of my daughter, Amelia, and saw her friend KLUC's Cat Thomas shave his head last year at the St. Baldrick's fundraiser at McMullan's Irish Pub.

Humm, 57, was moved to participate in the annual event, which returns March 5 to McMullan's, as well as Nine Fine Irishmen and the Boulder Station.

No one could have expected Humm to shave her head, but she'll join the burgeoning brigade of baldies who in recent years have raised more than $1 million locally for childhood cancer research.

"The trials and tribulations that these kids go through is just heartbreaking," she says. "I just figured that, since my hair was already falling out because of the anti-rejection medicine, I'd make something positive out of it and raise some funds."

She attended a St. Baldrick's meeting Wednesday and learned St. Baldrick's funds more childhood cancer research than any organization except the U.S. government. A majority of the dollars raised locally have remained in the community.

"I was just overwhelmed and so pleased," she says. "Everyone involved is really doing it for all the right reasons."

To donate to the charity in the name of Amelia's Team, Humm or even yours truly, contact me at the newspaper or go online to stbaldricks.org.

HOOKER HELPER: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's call Tuesday to ban legal brothels in Nevada continues to reverberate all the way to the Las Vegas mayor's race.

Reid made his comments before the Legislature, saying the brothels were bad for Nevada's business image. Not surprisingly, Las Vegas Mayor and legalized prostitution advocate Oscar Goodman disagreed. Goodman, whose wife, Carolyn, is running for mayor, said prostitution wasn't bad for the economy.

To which mayoral hopeful and City Councilman Steve Ross replied Thursday, "With 50,000 Las Vegans out of work, and every other city in the country fighting for new employers, Las Vegas deserves the opportunity to compete without one hand tied behind its back. It's time to declare unequivocally: Las Vegas is open for business ... not for prostitution."

One hand tied behind your back?

I think they charge extra for that, councilman.

But, seriously, expect the brothel blather to continue.

LEGAL HIT: Antoinette Giancana McDonnell has pulled the trigger, metaphorically speaking, in her dispute with Mob Experience developer Jay Bloom. She's suing Bloom on breach of contract allegations and other actionable offenses after her consulting agreement with the Tropicana's mob exhibit fell apart.

The litigation comes at a tough time for Bloom, who is working to open the exhibit Tuesday and has drawn other lawsuits.

GENTLEMAN LOU: For decades in Las Vegas, constable and boxing judge Lou Tabat was one of the most recognizable faces at ringside. He was a genuinely nice man who loved the fight game almost to a fault. Lou died Monday at age 87.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Suspended Las Vegas Family Court attorney Jeanne Winkler's arrest this week in Washoe County on theft and embezzlement charges should make some justice system insiders wonder whether she'll be compelled to tell what she might know about corruption at the courthouse.

BOULEVARD II: Saturday's UNLV-Wyoming basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center is the annual Senior Night White Out. The Rebels ask the fans to wear white.

Meanwhile, the fans ask the Rebels to hit their flipping free throws.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.