Community Chest prepares to honor ‘Justice Superheroes’

Although they might not know it, Southern Nevadans have had devoted friends in Bonnie Sorenson and Dan Wulz.

Sorenson is the Southern Nevada Health District Director of Clinical and Nursing Services. In that role, she has spent years battling to improve the health of at-risk children and adults.

For his part, Wulz is the deputy director of the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. For approximately two decades he’s stood with clients against slippery lenders, scammers and the like.

Sorenson and Wulz are scheduled to be honored as “Social Justice Superheroes” by Community Chest, Inc. in a ceremony set for 9 a.m. Sept. 27. For ticket information, go to communitychestnevada.net.

MOODY INTERVIEW: Former assistant sheriff and recently announced sheriff’s candidate Ted Moody pulled few punches in his Thursday morning interview with host Dave Becker on “KNPR’s State of Nevada.”

Although Moody was critical of Sheriff Doug Gillespie’s handling of the shooting incident involving officer Jacquar Roston, he added that the use of force process at Metro “that currently exists today, in my opinion, is the best that it’s ever been. The process is just simply outstanding. It already in its very short lifetime has been recognized as a national model for other jurisdictions around the United States to follow.”

BARBOZA’S BATTLE: Call it a steep uphill fight, but District Court marshal Angel Barboza says he’s in the sheriff’s race for the right reasons. “I will take the department in a new direction,” the 19-year law enforcement veteran says.

HAPPY WANDERER: Longtime local lawyer John Wanderer, a former ACLU attorney who represented contentious work card cases and trumped-up arrests in the 1970s, is retiring after almost 40 years.

Although he made his own way in the legal field, he will probably always be best-known as the proud son of legendary local civil rights attorney Emily Wanderer.

ZAPPOS MILLIONS: If a guy is going to invest many millions into helping to redevelop downtown, he ought to get the proper credit.

A column this week on the Zappos opening downtown substantially shorted CEO Tony Hsieh’s investment in sprucing up the former city hall. Zappos official Zach Ware says the company has spent $60 million in all, including $40 million in hard costs and another $20 million in furniture and moving expenses.

YOUR TOWN: WestCare, the nonprofit that has helped locals overcome drug and alcohol addiction for four decades, is set to honor longtime local attorney and Gaming Commissioner John Moran Jr. and his family for their many years of service to the organization. The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at the WestCare Women and Children’s Campus, which is also receiving a grant from the Home Depot Foundation to assist in its renovation.

GRAND SARNO: After devouring a galley copy of David G. Schwartz’s new book on the wild life and times of casino man Jay Sarno, I can only say aficionados of Las Vegas history will love it when it becomes available in late October. It’s titled “Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas.”

The director of UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research, Schwartz is the author of three other books on elements of casino history.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Calls and contacts from well-wishers continue to come in following Wednesday’s front-page feature in the Review-Journal about terminally ill casino veteran Robert Vannucci and his devoted wife, Nancy.

BOULEVARD II: It’s time once again to get marinara on your “Kiss Me, I’m Italian” T-shirt with the arrival of the annual San Gennaro Feast, which runs through Sunday and is located at 4245 Grand Canyon Drive. … A documentary on sports bettors, handicappers and local bookmakers is in the works here. It ought to be a good one. There’s plenty to report.

Have an item for Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to jsmith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295.