Area Briefing, Feb. 18-24

NONPROFIT WANTS TEENS TO KNOW THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The Rape Crisis Center has launched an awareness campaign for teens in recognition of national Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February.

Stand Up – It’s the Right Thing to Do is being introduced to Clark County School District students through the Rape Crisis Center’s YourSPACE program, which empowers tweens and teens to understand, recognize and take action against dating and relationship violence.

As part of the initiative, the Rape Crisis Center is hosting a contest with the same name. Students at schools who have taken part in the YourSPACE program are invited to create an image, either a photo or a drawing, illustrating how they or their peers can help someone in a difficult situation by being an active bystander. The contest is set to close March 14.

For contest details, visit rcclv.org or call 702-385-2153.

RESIDENTS CAN DISPOSE OF UNWANTED PILLS, SHRED DOCUMENTS AT FREE EVENT

Pill Take Back and Free Document Shredding Day is slated for Feb. 22 at Garside Junior High School, 300 S. Torrey Pines Drive.

Pill drop-off is set for 9 a.m. to noon, and document shredding is planned from 9 to 11 a.m.

The free event is sponsored by the Clark County School District, the Metropolitan Police Department and Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian.

For more information, contact Robert Mayer at 702-366-5244 or 702-799-7830.

CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES SPAY/NEUTER AWARENESS MONTH

The Las Vegas City Council recognized national Spay/Neuter Awareness Month during its Feb. 5 meeting at City Hall, 495 S. Main St.

Spay/Neuter Awareness Month is observed in February.

Since adopting a spay and neuter ordinance in 2009, the city has reported an increase in the number of dogs and cats that are spayed and neutered, helping address pet overpopulation in the community.

ART PROGRAM TO HELP CITY DEAL WITH BLIGHT

The city of Las Vegas unveiled a pilot program Feb. 6 to help beautify vacant, boarded-up homes by turning plywood into art.

Valley artist Markus Tracy has been commissioned for five designs to be painted on plywood and used to board up windows and doors on 10 vacant homes selected as part of the pilot program. The panels are scheduled to be installed by a city contractor.

City code enforcement employees routinely board up abandoned homes to keep them secure.

Funding for the $16,550 pilot project was approved by the city of Las Vegas Arts Commission.

Tracy has created several mural projects throughout the city and travels around the country as a muralist and teaching art for the Nevada, Utah, South Dakota, North Dakota, Virginia, Alabama and Arkansas arts councils.

HENDERSON FIRE DEPARTMENT TO HOST OPEN HOUSES

The Henderson Fire Department is scheduled to host open houses from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at its nine stations.

Attendees can learn about fire safety, injury prevention, health and wellness.

Locations include Station 81, 600 College Drive; Station 82, 401 Parkson Road; Station 83, 100 Burkholder Blvd.; Station 94, 400 N. Valle Verde Drive; Station 95, 2300 Pebble Road; Station 86, 96 Via Antincendio; Station 97, 1550 Amador Lane; Station 98, 891 Coronado Center Drive; and Station 99, 2401 Atchley Drive.

For more information, visit cityofhenderson.com/fire.

NORTH LAS VEGAS TRAFFIC OFFICERS ISSUE CITATIONS DURING SPECIAL DUI PATROL

North Las Vegas traffic officers made five arrests for driving under the influence during a grant-funded DUI saturation patrol on Feb. 2 throughout the city.

Officers also issued 23 citations for speeding, 25 citations for seat belt/child restraint violations, 12 for red light violations, 32 for driver’s license violations, 56 for registration/insurance violations, one for cellphone violations and 52 for equipment or other violations. Thirty-eight warnings also were issued, according to the city.

FIREARMS SAFETY COURSE OFFERED MONTHLY AT THE GUN GARAGE

The Gun Garage, 5155 Dean Martin Drive, plans to offer a free gun safety course the last Sunday of every month.

The class is set to be taught by certified instructors from the National Rifle Association and cover safe firearms handling, storage and maintenance.

For more information, call 702-440-4867 or visit gungarage.com.

GET RID OF OLD PRESCRIPTIONS

Don’t dispose of old medication by flushing it down the toilet. The ingredients get into the water system.

Residents can drop off their expired or otherwise unwanted prescription medications from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Metropolitan Police Department’s Northwest Area Command, 9850 W. Cheyenne Ave.

For more information, call 702-828-3426.

CLARK COUNTY RECRUITING LIFEGUARDS, WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTORS

The Clark County Parks and Recreation Department is recruiting to fill positions for the 2014 pool season.

Available positions are cashier, lifeguard, water safety instructor and management. Positions pay $8.50 to $15 per hour based on experience and certifications.

Those who wish to apply for a lifeguard or other water-related positions must complete the lifeguard training course at the Hollywood Aquatics Center, 1550 S. Hollywood Blvd.

Those 15 or older can take the course for $70 if they sign an employment contract with the Clark County Parks and Recreation Department. The cost is $140 to take the course without the contract. Prerequisite skills include 300-yard continuous swim and retrieval of a weighted object from 7 to 10 feet of water. Applicants must attend all classes to complete the five-day course, offered at various times until May 5.

Those who hold the American Red Cross lifeguard certification or are interested in cashier positions can fill out an application at clarkcountynv.gov/parks or call Clark County’s aquatics department at 702-455-8508.

GROUP OFFERS DISCOUNTS ON SPAYING, NEUTERING

The Animal Foundation is celebrating National Spay & Neuter Month in February by offering discounts on spay/neuter surgeries for pit bulls, pit bull mixes and cats.

Surgeries cost $50 for pit bulls and pit bull mixes and $20 for cats during the Pitties & Kitties Spay & Neuter Promotion.

To make an appointment or for more information, call 702-384-3333, ext. 137.

CITY SEEKS LIFEGUARDS, WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTORS

The city of Las Vegas has immediate openings for certified lifeguards and water safety instructors.

Applicants must be at least 16 and possess current certifications in lifeguarding, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use. The hourly pay is between $9 and $11. Tryouts and interviews will take place each month until positions are filled, the city said.

Interested candidates should call the Las Vegas Municipal Pool at 702-229-6309 to schedule an interview or apply at lasvegasparksandrec.com.

Those who are not certified but are interested in becoming seasonal or career lifeguards can take the city’s pre-lifeguarding skills and American Red Cross lifeguarding courses.

Each two-week pre-lifeguarding skills course is held at the Municipal Pool, 431 E. Bonanza Road.

The 25.5-hour American Red Cross lifeguarding course is provided at three locations: the Municipal Pool, the Pavilion Center Pool and Baker Pool. Participants must be at least 15, pass prerequisite tests on the first day of class and attend each session to obtain certification.

Advance registration for all classes is required at lasvegasparksandrec.com or in person at any year-round city pool or recreational facility.

Details on course schedules, fees, prerequisites and learning materials can be obtained at lasvegasnevada.gov/files/splash_for_cash.pdf or by calling the Municipal Pool at 702-229-6309.

FREE RADON TEST KITS TO BE AVAILABLE THROUGH FEB. 28

Free radon test kits are scheduled to be available through Feb. 28 at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension offices and partner sites statewide.

Radon, a radioactive, colorless, odorless gas that comes from the ground, accumulates in homes and can cause lung cancer.

The Cooperative Extension, 8050 Paradise Road, Suite 105, has been working to raise awareness of the dangers of radon in the home since 2007 and has distributed radon test kits since 2008. Since that time, more than 16,000 homes have been tested in Nevada, and results indicate that one in four found potentially hazardous radon levels.

For more information, visit the Nevada Radon Education Program website at radonnv.com, call the radon hotline at 888-723-6610 or contact Nevada Radon Education Program director Susan Howe at robertss@unce.unr.edu or 775-336-0248.