North Las Vegas Neighborhood News

ALLIANCE OF HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS PLANS SPECIAL MEETING

The North Las Vegas Alliance of Homeowner Associations and Concerned Citizens has planned a special combined meeting with the Protectors of Tule Springs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at the Sun City Aliante clubhouse, 7390 Aliante Parkway. The meeting's goal is to discuss current legislative updates and how the community can work to bring about the legislation to make the Tule Springs National Monument a reality. For more information, call Richard Cherchio at 702-325-6708.

NORTH LAS VEGAS POLICE TEAM UP WITH MESQUITE POLICE IN JOINING FORCES EVENT

North Las Vegas traffic officers and Mesquite Police Department officers conducted a Joining Forces safety event throughout North Las Vegas on Oct. 26. Results included three failures to yield to a pedestrian violations; seven seatbelt and child restraint violations; 17 speeding violations; 30 red light violations; three cellphone violations; 63 driver's license violations; 45 other violations; and 49 warnings. In addition to the 232 citations issued, four arrests for driving under the influence and one narcotics arrest were made.

The event was planned in conjunction with a statewide campaign through a grant from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety.

For more information, contact the North Las Vegas Police public communications office at 1301 E. Lake Mead Blvd.

NONPROFIT ANNOUNCES FOOD DRIVE TO AID HOMELESS YOUTHS

The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing assistance and resources to homeless teenagers in Southern Nevada, announces its sixth annual Plastic Food Drive, through Nov. 20.

The Plastic Food Drive was designed to provide homeless youths with immediate food. NPHY aims to raise $25,000 in food vouchers to help feed the approximately 6,000 homeless youths in Clark County. Fast food and grocery store gift card vouchers are being collected.

Gift cards may be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the William Fry Drop-In Center, located at 4981 Shirley St. in Las Vegas.

For more information, or to register as a participant of the Plastic Food Drive, visit nphy.org/pfd or call 702-383-1332.

CITY ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM

North Las Vegas' Housing and Neighborhood Services Division announced the availability of the Community Development Block Grant Public Service and Construction applications for 2013-14. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Nov. 29, and applications are available at zoomgrants.com. Eligible organizations include public and private agencies and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status. Projects and activities must serve low- and moderate-income residents and meet one of three objectives: benefit low/moderate-income persons; prevent or eliminate slum or blight; or meet other urgent community development needs.

For more information, call the Housing and Neighborhood Service Division at 702-633-1441 or visit cityofnorthlasvegas.com.

LAS VEGAS ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY PLANS STAR PARTY SATURDAY

The Las Vegas Astronomical Society invites the public to a sky-watching party scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, about 15 miles west of Las Vegas on state Route 159.

A laser-guided tour of the night sky is set to begin at 7 p.m. Public parking is adjacent to the Group Use Area. For more information, visit lvastronomy.com.

SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH DISTRICT NO LONGER OFFERING TUBERCULOSIS TESTING

As of Nov. 1, the Southern Nevada Health District no longer provides tuberculosis testing for health card applications.

TB tests are required for all health card applications except food handlers and health club attendants.

Applicants must still present their TB test results to the health district when they apply for their health card.

Alternative testing resources can be found at snhd.info.

LAS VEGAS GREAT SANTA RUN SCHEDULED

The Las Vegas Great Santa Run is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 1 at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The 5K run registration costs $40 for adults, $35 for team captains, $25 for children 2 to 12 and $10 for dogs. Registration fee includes a five-piece Santa suit and gifts, and all proceeds benefit Opportunity Village.

Opportunity Village is a nonprofit organization that serves people with significant intellectual disabilities. Registration opens and entertainment begins at 8 a.m., and the run follows at 10 a.m.

For more information or to register, visit lasvegassantarun.org or call Crystal Kovacs at 702-880-4038.

TURKEY-A-THON PLANNED BY HELP OF SOUTHERN NEVADA

HELP of Southern Nevada, 1640 E. Flamingo Road, is planning a Turkey-A-Thon Thursday through Saturday to benefit families in need.

Each Thanksgiving, HELP of Southern Nevada provides more than 1,200 families with a turkey for dinner. Donations of frozen turkeys and fixings will be accepted Thursday through Saturday at several specific locations to be announced soon.

Those wishing to donate money online can do so at helpsonv.org/get_involved-donate.php with Thanksgiving in the subject line.

A family of four can be fed for $35.

WRITE A LETTER TO SANTA, HELP A CHARITY

Residents throughout the Las Vegas Valley can write a letter to Santa Claus and drop it off to the Santa letterbox at any valley Macy's store to benefit Make-A-Wish of Southern Nevada. For each stamped letter received, Macy's will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million. Letters can be delivered through Dec. 24.

CALIBER COLLISION COLLECTING FOR THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE

Autobody shop Caliber Collision's three-week Thanksgiving food drive to benefit Three Square food bank is scheduled to end Friday. The company is challenging employees and the public to double the food items that were donated during its summer Rhythm Restoration Food Drive that collected 22,000 food items. To donate nonperishable food items such as proteins, dry goods, baby food or cash, bring them to 2628 E. Lone Mountain Road. For more information, call 702-368-9119.

HEALTH DISTRICT OFFERS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The Southern Nevada Health District offers environmental health services at its new main facility, 330 S. Valley View Blvd., near the Meadows Mall and Springs Preserve. Services already offered at the new facility include flu shots, adult and childhood vaccines, travel vaccines and newborn screenings.

Client-accessed environmental programs offered out of the Valley View facility include plan review services for pools, food establishments, body art establishments, child care facilities, schools and special events. Previously these services were offered out of the health district's Henderson and Spring Valley public health centers.

For more information, visit snhd.info or call 702-759-4636.

HELP OF SOUTHERN NEVADA SEEKS HOLIDAY VOLUNTEERS

HELP of Southern Nevada is calling for volunteers to assist with a number of programs this holiday season. Assistance is accepted from individuals who can donate any amount of time.

Areas where volunteers are needed include: assisting clients with their applications for holiday programs at HELP's main campus, 1640 E. Flamingo Road; assisting with receiving donated Thanksgiving turkeys at various locations (turkeys will be given to more than 1,200 families); and assisting with receiving holiday gifts for selected clients in the Adopt-A-Family program.

To volunteer, contact Joan Lima at jlima@helpsonv.org or 702-369-4357.

WINDER FARMS' TURKEY DRIVE TO BENEFIT THREE SQUARE

Winder Farms plans to conduct a turkey drive to benefit Three Square food bank through Dec. 31.

Winder Farms asks customers to donate by clicking on Donate a Turkey to the Food Bank, then Add to Next Delivery during their regular online shopping at winderfarms.com. The cost of the turkey will be added to the customer's next bill, and Winder Farms will deliver the turkey to Three Square.

WALKER FURNITURE SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS PROGRAM

Walker Furniture is accepting nomination letters on behalf of Clark County individuals and families for its 19th annual Home for the Holidays program, which supplies free furniture to families who have faced financial difficulty.

CEO Larry Alterwitz is expanding the program to assist 28 families. HELP of Southern Nevada will identify which nominated families display the most genuine need for new furnishings.

Past recipients have included: single-parent households facing financial difficulty; families with children suffering from physical or mental disorders; families that have lost their homes and belongings to fires; and families that have been affected by illness, domestic violence or sexual abuse.

Letters can be mailed or hand-delivered to Larry Alterwitz, CEO Walker Furniture, 301 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89106; faxed to 702-384-7772; or emailed to cnelson@walkerfurniture.com. Letters can also be submitted at walkerfurniture.com by clicking on the "Home for the Holidays" icon. The letters must be received by Dec. 7. Recipients are expected to be announced Dec. 19.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD SERVICES SEEKS SITES FOR BLOOD DRIVES

The American Red Cross Blood Services is the predominant supplier of blood products for Southern Nevada and has increased staffing to increase the number of blood drives in Las Vegas.

The Red Cross invites community-minded businesses, churches, schools and other organizations to host blood drives in locations across the city.

To meet the demand for blood products in the Las Vegas hospitals it serves, the Red Cross needs to schedule two or more blood drives every business day. It is estimated that in the coming year, about 48,000 Las Vegas patients will need a red blood cell transfusion in a hospital the Red Cross serves.

Las Vegas residents interested in sponsoring a blood drive or donating blood should call 702-522-4000.

FREE BEREAVEMENT SESSIONS OFFERED FOR TEENS

The Center for Compassionate Care division of the Nathan Adelson Hospice is offering a series of free bereavement support groups for teens 13 to 18 who have experienced a significant loss.

The support group plans to meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Center for Compassionate Care, 4131 Swenson St.

The program will explore grief, loss, emotional responses to memories and events surrounding loss, and coping skills.

To register, call 702-796-3167 or Christine Zazzeri at 702-796-3126. For more information, visit nah.org.

MASTER GARDENERS PLAN TOURS OF DEMONSTRATION GARDENs

The Master Gardeners of Southern Nevada plans monthly tours of the Demonstration Gardens at the Clark County/University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road. Tours are free and open to the public. Groups of five or more are requested to call program coordinator Ann Edmunds at 702-257-5587 at least two weeks in advance.

AARP TAX-AIDE SEEKING VOLUNTEER HELP

AARP Tax-Aide NV, which prepares free personal income tax returns for residents in the lower- to middle-income brackets, is seeking unpaid volunteers to prepare taxes, greet clients and program computers in early 2013. Training is scheduled for Jan. 7-11 on the west side of the Las Vegas Valley and Jan. 21-25 on the east side. For more information or to volunteer, email taxesbarb@cox.net or jerrytaxes@cox.net.

DONATIONS ACCEPTED TO AID NONPROFIT

Help homeless, pregnant and parenting teens by donating time, money or new or gently used items to assist clients of Southern Nevada Children First, 720 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 30.

Volunteers and donations are always needed to support the nonprofit.

For more information, visit childrenfirst-nv.org or call 702-487-5665.

MISS NEVADA PAGEANT COMING TO TEXAS STATION IN SUMMER

The Miss Nevada Organization announced that it plans to host the 2013 Miss Nevada and Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen competitions at Texas Station, 2101 Texas Star Lane, June 14 and 15, 2013. Winners will represent Nevada at the Miss America and Miss America's Outstanding Teen competitions. Tickets for the pageant will go on sale in the spring.

For more information, visit missnevada.org.

KIWANIS CLUB WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

The Kiwanis Club of North Las Vegas, a chapter of the international service organization, is scheduled to meet at 6:15 p.m. each Tuesday at T.G.I. Friday's in the Aliante Hotel + Casino, 7300 Aliante Parkway.

Club community projects have included canned food drives, car shows, kites in the park events and charity fundraisers.

The fourth meeting of the month is limited to members only.

For more information, visit nlvkiwanis.com or call 702-399-0332.

LOCAL ROTARY CLUB TO MEET

The North Las Vegas Rotary Club of Las Vegas meets at 7:15 a.m. Fridays at the Painted Desert Golf Club, 5555 Painted Mirage Road.

The weekly breakfast meetings include guest speakers, networking, education workshops and service projects.

For more information, visit nlvrc.org/newsite or call Bob Lillis at 702-340-9735.