Neighborhood News

Witness racing at a smaller scale and learn about electric radio-control cars during the second annual Silver State Short Course Championship planned for May 7 and 8 at 702 RC Raceway, 2901 S. Highland Drive, Suite 7A.

Qualifying events are set to start at 9 a.m. May 7. Events are scheduled to kick off at 10 a.m. May 8. In addition to competing for a championship title, radio-control car classes for novices up to experts are planned.

Entry fees are $40 before Saturday and $50 after. Classes are $20 each.

For more information, visit 702rcraceway.com or call 430-6195.

Nonprofit group founder to bring cheer to kids battling cancer

Cindy Kerr, a mother and the force behind the nonprofit group the ConKerrCancer, is scheduled to read to kids and present to them her special pillowcases at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Children’s Specialty Center of Nevada, 3121 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 300.

When Kerr’s son was battling cancer, Kerr would bring brightly colored and decorated pillowcases to his hospital room to help cheer up his surroundings.

Other kids in the oncology unit asked for them, which led to the creation of her nonprofit group and ultimately 300,000 pillowcases around the world for kids facing the disease.

Kerr will read “A Case for Adventures,” the children’s book that her daughter Katie penned. The book incorporates the pillowcases. Each child in the Children’s Specialty Center will receive a copy of the book and a pillowcase.

For more information, visit cureforthekids.org or call 732-1493.

DJs for PJs plans drive for FRIDAY

The ninth annual DJs for PJs event is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday to collect new pajamas for children in crisis and benefit charities throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

Local disc jockeys will encourage donations by broadcasting from five on-site locations, including Kohl’s at 8671 W. Charleston Blvd.

Local celebrities and elected officials also are involved in the effort to collect pajamas and raise public awareness about the needs of children in distress.

For more information, visit djsforpjs.org or call 944-2464, ext. 21. To date, the effort has supplied roughly 57,000 pairs of pajamas to children in crisis.

FOOD DONATIONS NEEDED

With the unemployment rate still high and many families reaching the end of their savings, The Salvation Army is helping with food relief on an unprecedented scale. To donate, call Charles Desiderio at 870-4430, ext. 112.

ArtWalk coming to Trails Village Center this weekend

The 2011 spring ArtWalk is planned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Trails Village Center, 1970 Village Center Circle.

About 250 artisans from the region will have booths selling their wares — jewelry, paintings, household items, photographic art, sculptures, woodwork, wall art, woven items and more.

A children’s section, Kids Art Park, will be a feature of the event.

For more information, contact Sandy Ray at sray@gmail.com or 245-6077.

Lexus employees raise funds
for Japanese earthquake victims

Employees of two local Lexus dealerships raised $8,700 for relief efforts in Japan following the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that hit the northern region of the country last month.

Donations by employees of Lexus of Las Vegas and Lexus of Henderson were matched by the dealerships’ parent company for a total donation of $17,400. All funds will go to humanitarian relief efforts in areas devastated by the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis. Many employees donated a full day’s wages to the fundraising campaign.

Toyota Motor Sales and Toyota Motor Corp. ultimately will ensure that the funds are distributed to the agency they believe can most effectively support humanitarian relief efforts in Japan.