North Las Vegas neighborhood news

NORTH LAS VEGAS CITY COUNCIL
TO MEET Wednesday

The North Las Vegas City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 2200 Civic Center Drive. For more information or to obtain a copy of the agenda, visit cityofnorthlasvegas.com and click on "Meetings & Agendas" on the left-hand side.

Utilities department receives
platinum award

The city of North Las Vegas Utilities Department has received a Platinum Award for Utility Excellence from the largest publicly owned drinking water system organization in the United States, the Association for Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA).

The department was recognized for its mission to provide quality and cost-effective utility service that meets the needs of the community. As a joint effort among the six divisions of the department, the award highlights employees' ability to efficiently perform daily work, implement new programs and improve infrastructure that increases customer convenience.

The completion of the state-of-the-art membrane bioreactor at the City of North Las Vegas Water Reclamation Facility propelled the department's success.

AMWA criteria for the award focuses on the 10 attributes of effectively managed water sector utilities and the keys to management success developed by a committee of water industry executives.

The Utilities Department also received AMWA Gold recognition for exceptional utility performance in 2005.

For more information, call Amanda Dillard with the utilities department at 633-1877.

Rebel Squadron presents check
to American legion Post 145

The Rebel Squadron, a North Las Vegas-based radio control airplane club, presented the American Legion Post 145 with a check for $508 to be used for its efforts with wounded veterans Oct. 19 at the North Las Vegas City Council meeting.

The club collected the funds during a "fun flight" at Willie McCool Memorial Model Air Field in July. It is chartered with the Academy of Model Aeronautics and has 14 members.

RTC receives grant funds

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., announced Oct. 17 that the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada will receive a $1.75 million grant from the Department of Transportation's State of Good Repair Program.

The Transportation Commission will use these funds to provide improvements to the Integrated Bus Maintenance Facility of the commission, located in North Las Vegas. This 36-acre facility serves as one of two major maintenance locations and the central control for operations. The improvements for this project include security upgrades, roof replacement/repair, vehicle lift replacement, pavement repairs and heating and air conditioning replacement. For more information, visit fta.dot.gov/about/13248.html.

Noah's Animal House anniversary garnered funds for shelter

Noah's Animal House, a safe place that provides shelter for the pets that belong to domestically abused women of the Shade Tree, drew in hundreds of influential community members and industry names during its four-year anniversary which took place Oct. 20 at the Hard Rock Hotel. The evening was a success for Noah's Animal House, raising more than $95,000 in donations, which will support the shelter with vital supplies, proper veterinary services, vaccinations and more. To donate to the shelter or for volunteering information, go to noahslasvegas.org.

MILITARY BRIDES CAN GET FREE GOWNS

Couture Bride plans to honor military brides with free designer wedding gowns beginning at 8 a.m. Nov. 11 at its showroom, 950 S. Durango Drive.

Gowns will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Brides are encouraged to come early to secure their place in line, as there is a limited supply.

To qualify, brides or their fiances must be on active duty in the military, either currently deployed or deployed within the last five years, to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Libya or Japan. Identification and deployment papers must be presented at the event to qualify.

The event is coordinated through Brides Across America. For more information, call 647-7778 or visit couturebridelv.com.

BLM TO WAIVE FEES FOR VETERANS DAY WEEKEND

The Bureau of Land Management, in conjunction with other agencies within the U.S. Department of the Interior, plans to waive recreation-related fees for visitors to the National System of Public Lands for Veterans Day weekend, Nov. 11-13.

These fee-free days also apply to areas managed within the BLM's National Landscape Conservation System. Site standard amenity and individual day-use fees at BLM recreation sites and areas will be waived. Other fees, such as overnight camping, cabin rentals, and group day use, will remain in effect.

For more information, visit blm.gov.

Ms. Wheelchair Nevada seeking aid

A division of the Ms. Wheelchair America program, Ms. Wheelchair Nevada is a disability advocacy program that seeks to select the most articulate and accomplished spokeswoman to represent persons with disabilities in the state of Nevada and at the national level. Candidates are judged on their accomplishments since the onset of their disability, involvement with their respective communities, ability to relate to the media and the general public, their self-perception and self-projection, poise and personal appearance. Ms. Wheelchair Nevada is a symbol of the dignity and productiveness of disabled persons. The selected candidate must communicate both the needs and the accomplishments of the disability community to the general public, the business community and the government.

State coordinator Tammy Wilber is seeking contestants, volunteers, sponsorship and a location to hold the first Ms. Wheelchair Nevada Pageant 2012. To help email her at mswheelchair
nevada@yahoo.com or call 206-714-1253.

Diabetes discussion scheduled
for Sun City Aliante

Dr. James LeFever, a chiropractic physician, is the featured speaker for a seminar entitled "Survival of the Fittest -- Diabetes" at 10 a.m. Monday for Sun City Aliante residents at Sun City Aliante.

Diabetes is the fifth-leading cause of death in America. Five of the top six causes of death are related to poor lifestyle choices. Sign up at the monitor's desk. Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/3cu2ufj.

Church to host Food Festival

St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church's annual International Food Festival is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church, 5400 Annie Oakley Drive. The festival is set to feature food from Bulgaria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Romania, Russia, Serbia and the United States. Planned activities include church tours, a choir concert, games, ethnic dancing, Russian acrobats, a raffle and silent auction and a performance of David Poe's Dixieland Band. Admission is $2 or free for kids 7 or younger. Festgoers with a valid military, police, fire department or Clark County School District identification get in free. For more information, visit lasvegasorthodox.com or call 898-4800.

Department of Public Safety awards NLVPD grant funds

The Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety awarded the North Las Vegas Police Department $60,000 in federal grant funds for the Pedestrian Safety Campaign titled "Pedestrians can Walk Safely." This money will be used to continue conducting pedestrian safety events throughout North Las Vegas from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2012.

During pedestrian safety events, officers focus their efforts on crosswalks with high vehicular and pedestrian traffic volume. They target violations committed by drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians in clearly marked crosswalks and pedestrians who fail to use marked crosswalks.

The goal of this campaign is to educate both drivers and pedestrians to be more aware of their surroundings on the roadway. The goal is to reduce the number of automobile/pedestrian collisions that occur each year.

These efforts are designed and conducted in conjunction with the statewide "Pedestrians Can Walk Safely" campaign, made possible by a Traffic Safety grant from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. For more information, contact the NLVPD Public Communications Office at 633-9111.

Enroll in kiddie college

The city of North Las Vegas' Kiddie Kollege program at the Neighborhood Recreation Center, 1638 N. Bruce St., is enrolling for the 2011-12 session.

Classes run through May.

Kiddie Kollege offers a positive recreational learning environment using creative art, music and constructive play for children 3 to 5.

Programs are offered two days per week: Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. Classes are two-hour sessions.

Walk-in registration is accepted at the Neighborhood Recreation Center. For more information, call 633-1600.

Medical group to host
question-and-answer session

HealthCare Partners Medical Group has scheduled a question-and-answer session and breakfast about HealthCare Partners' Total Care from 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 15 in the social hall at Sun City Aliante. Giveaways and raffles will be available.

For more information, go to keepmydoctornv.com. To contact Sun City Aliante, call 638-5000.

BIG GIVE TO BE DAY OF ONLINE DONATION for state's charities NOV. 17

Nevada's Big Give is planned for Nov. 17. It's a day of online giving to benefit charities in the state. This annual initiative, launched by NevadaGIVES, with United Way of Southern Nevada as lead sponsor, is designed to bring new donors and dollars to nonprofit groups.

Every registered 501(c)(3) organization in Nevada automatically will receive donations through the website nvbiggive.org.

The goal is to raise $1 million in one 24-hour period for nonprofit groups across the state by encouraging Nevadans to give where they live.

Association plans philanthropy awards luncheon

The Las Vegas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals has scheduled its 20th annual Philanthropy Awards Luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 18 -- National Philanthropy Day -- at the Culinary Training Academy of Nevada Partner's Campus, 710 W. Lake Mead Blvd., to honor a group of locals for their service and commitment to Las Vegas.

The Outstanding Philanthropist award will be given to Glenn Christenson, a leader in the community.

NV Energy will be accepting the award for Outstanding Corporate/Foundation. The NV Energy Foundation has accumulated $5.4 million for local nonprofit organizations and has a commitment to education, employees and seniors.

The award given for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy goes to Ayden Sebastian. At 7, Sebastian started his work in community service when he decided to turn his birthday party into a fundraiser in which he raised $800.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Jeffrey Gordon, president and CEO of Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Keynote speaker and former U.S. Sen. and Gov. Richard Bryan will help honor the residents who have gone above and beyond for others in the community.

Tickets are $60 and can be purchased at afplasvegas.org or by calling 688-4351.