North Las Vegas neighborhood news, Feb. 4-10

RULING PUTS A DENT IN CITY CREDIT RATING

Credit rating agency Fitch downgraded North Las Vegas’ municipal bond rating from B++ to B last month, the second time the agency has lowered the city’s credit rating in a little more than six months.

The Jan. 24 downgrade came less than a week after a Clark County District Court judge ruled that officials do not have the authority to suspend millions in long-sought union employee pay raises to help balance the city’s books. City leaders plan to appeal the decision.

Fitch predicts the city will “likely face insolvency or state receivership” as a result of last month’s ruling, which could force the city to make an estimated $41 million in back pay and interest payments by 2015.

LUNCHEON SET TO HIGHLIGHT HEART HEALTH IN LATINO WOMEN

More than 200 women are set to attend the Go Red Por Tu Corazon Luncheon, from 9 a.m.. to 1 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Aliante, 7300 Aliante Parkway. The event offers information about heart disease and stroke in Latino women and what they can do to prevent risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, high cholesterol levels and obesity. To register, visit lvportucorazon.org.

SENIOR NONPROFIT SEEKS AWARD NOMINEES

The Nevada Delegation of the National Silver Haired Congress is seeking nominations for its Nevada Senior Citizen of the Year award.

Nonprofit NSHC members, working in partnership with the Aging Services Directors Organization, plan to consider nominees based on volunteer work contributions made “above and beyond the call of duty,” at the local, state and/or national level.

MASTER GARDENERS TO HOST KIDS GARDENING CLASSES

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Junior Master Gardener program plans to offer hands-on gardening activities from 9 a.m. to noon every other Saturday at the Clark County Center for Urban Food Production, 4600 Horse Road.

Children ages 7-12 are invited to attend. The eight-session-per-semester class fee is $50. Students must register to participate.

For more information, contact Karyn Johnson at 702-257-5523 or email johnsonk@unce.unr.edu.

NEIGHBORHOOD REC CENTER OFFERS SENIOR ACTIVITIES

The Neighborhood Recreation Center, 1638 N. Bruce St., offers senior activities for adults 55 or older from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Daily leisure activities, classes and monthly trips are offered to Social Senior members who pay a $3 annual membership fee. For more information, call 702-633-1492 or 702-633-1600.

WEST LAS VEGAS ARTS CENTER HOSTS POETS CORNER

The West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., hosts poets corner readings with Keith Brantley at 7 p.m. the first and third Friday of each month. For more information, contact the center at 702-229-4800.

ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY HOLDS OUTREACH EVENTS

The Las Vegas Astronomical Society holds events every month for those interested in learning about astronomy. The society meets at 7:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the College of Southern Nevada Planetarium, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., usually with a speaker or program on an astronomical topic.

For more information on the group, visit lvastronomy.com.

SENIOR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION GAMES PLANNED

The North Las Vegas-based Las Vegas Senior Softball Association plans to play games Tuesday and Thursday mornings in Lorenzi Park, 3333 W. Washington Ave. League teams open to men 50 to 64, 65 or older and women 50 or older.

For more information, visit lvssa.com.

NORTH LAS VEGAS COAST GUARD GROUP TO MEET

The North Las Vegas Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla is set to meet at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of the month at the North Las Vegas Airport, 2730 Airport Drive.

For more information on the group, call flotilla commander Barry Keller at 702-219-2236 or visit goaux.us.

MASTER GARDENERS OFFER WEEKLY TOURS

Master Gardeners offer weekly garden tours from 10 a.m. to noon Fridays at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Demonstration Gardens, 8050 Paradise Road.

Master Gardeners plan to offer free weekly walking tours aimed at teaching visitors about many of the more than 500 plants that grow in harsh southwestern desert landscapes around Las Vegas.

In addition to scheduled tours, the grounds are open for self-guided tours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

For more information, call the Master Gardener Help Desk at 702-257-5555 or visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/mastergardenersofsouthernnevada.

CIVIL AIR PATROL TO MEET

The Nellis Senior Squadron of the Nevada Wing Civil Air Patrol meets from 7 to 8 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month in the Grand Canyon Room at the North Las Vegas Air Terminal, 2730 Airport Drive. The Civil Air Patrol is a nonprofit organization with 56,000 members nationwide. It performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions. Attendees must be 18 or older. For more information, contact Maj. Mark Goodman at 702-326-7363 or mgoodman56@me.com.

ALIANTE LIBRARY WRITERS CLUB TO MEET MONTHLY

The Aliante Library Writers Club is set to meet monthly from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on select Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Aliante Library, 2400 w. Deer Springs Road. The group gathers for networking, readings and learning about writing. For more information, call 702-839-2980, visit nlvld.org or email Glory Wade at glorywadewriter@gmail.com.

LEGO CLUB TO MEET MONTHLY

The North Las Vegas Library plans to meet monthly from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the North Las Vegas Library, 2300 Civic Center Drive. All ages are welcome. Jigsaw puzzles are provided. For more information, contact the library at 702-633-1070 or visit www.nlvld.org.

NORTH VALLEY LEADERSHIP TEAM TO MEET

The North Valley Leadership Team meets at 10 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at the Pearson Community Center, 1625 W. Carey Ave. For more information on the group and its efforts, contact president Lydia Garrett at 702-413-3034.

PEARSON CENTER HOSTS WALKING CLUB

The Pearson Community Center plans its Positive Movement walking club at 6 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday at 1625 W. Carey Ave.

Participants aim to encourage each other physically, emotionally and spiritually by walking on the track.

For more information, call the center at 702-455-1220.

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.

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 at the Aliante, 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.

NORTH LAS VEGAS 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.