Southwest and Spring Valley Neighborhood News

BUSINESS ALLIANCE WORKSHOP PLANNED

Marlon Call is offering free 90-minute workshops for business owners in January at his office, 6069 S. Fort Apache Road, Suite 121. The workshop schedule is on an appointment basis. Entitled Breakthrough Business Alliance, the workshops' goal is to teach business owners how to align with their employees; how to create strategic alliances by turning acquaintances into business partners; and how to align a business with a personal brand. To schedule, sign up online at theinsurancecowboy.com or call 702-203-5954.

LEGISLATORS ANNOUNCE HOMEOWNER WORKSHOP

State Sen. Justin Jones, Assemblyman James Healey and the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada are set to host a New Year, New Options: Getting Help for Staying in Your Home workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Reedom Elementary School, 10025 Rumrill St.

The workshop is to feature a short presentation from the center and other participants on new programs available to homeowners for refinancing mortgages. Attendees will then have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives of the Legal Aid Center, Financial Guidance Center and lenders, such as Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Chase, to discuss options for staying in their homes and reducing their mortgages. For more information, contact Miranda Jones at 702-882-5696 or bmjjmcl@gmail.com.

COMMERCIAL MARKETING GROUP PLANS INSTALLATION MEETING

U.S. Bancorp has announced that its breakfast meeting and installation of 2013 officers and board of directors is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. Wednesday at Sierra Gold, 6515 S. Jones Blvd. The cost is $25 in advance or $30 at the door. RSVP by emailing kpentony@ogienviro.com.

BLOOD DRIVE PLANNED AT AREA SHOOTING RANGE

A blood drive is planned from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday at indoor shooting range Guns and Ammo Garage, 5155 S. Dean Martin Drive. January is National Volunteer Blood Donor Month, and United Blood Services will have a Bloodmobile at the range to collect donations for patients in area hospitals. All donors will receive free range time at Guns and Ammo Garage. To make an appointment to donate, visit tinyurl.com/driverange.

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 through Friday 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.

COMPUTER CLUB PLANNING MONTHLY MEETING FOR JAN. 28

The Clark County Commodore Computer Club (aka the 5Cs) plans to host its monthly meeting from 9 to 11 a.m. Jan. 28 in the Wengert Conference Room at NV Energy, 6226 W. Sahara Ave. The group of Commodore Computers enthusiasts meets the fourth Saturday of each month. For more information, contact Al Jackson at 702-645-2402 or ajax2@outlook.com.

DIVORCE INFORMATION GROUP PLANS MONTHLY MEETINGS

Second Saturdays Las Vegas is offering workshops from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the second Saturday of the month at the Women's Group Empowerment Center, 6445 S. Tenaya Way, Suite 120. The workshops offer information to women seeking or going through a divorce.

Following the business model of wife.org, the originator of the Second Saturday Divorce Workshops program, Second Saturdays Las Vegas has created a monthly seminar featuring financial advisers, divorce attorneys, family therapists and mediators to guide women through the next steps of divorce.

Professionals presenting information include: the divorce process and legal fees; protecting yourself legally and financially; child custody and child and alimony support; information about dealing with a hostile spouse; helping your family cope with the stress of divorce and rebuilding self-esteem; preparing for divorce; dividing property and the tax consequences of divorce; and avoiding divorce court and the benefits of the collaborative law process.

For more information about Second Saturdays Las Vegas and upcoming workshops, visit secondsaturdayslv.com.

BARKING DOGS GROOMING BOUTIQUE OFFERING FREE MONTHLY CONSULTATIONS

Barking Dogs Self-Wash & Grooming, 9325 S. Cimarron Road, No. 145, has announced a monthly Meeting of the Minds event, set for 1 to 3 p.m. every second Sunday, in which attendees can consult with experts in nutrition, behavioral training and holistic treatments for their pets. For more information, call 702-247-9274.

DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY SERVICES SEEKS FOSTER HOMES

The Clark County Department of Family Services is seeking members of the public willing to become foster parents. The program involves individuals and families providing safe, stable and loving environments for children in need of temporary out-of-home care.

Information packets are available and include an overview of the program and the latest session schedule. For more information or to request a packet, call 702-455-0181.

YOUTH FOUNDATION BENEFITS FROM PT'S GENEROSITY

PT's Entertainment Group, operator of PT's and Sierra Gold taverns, donated $25,000 to the Shane Victorino Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting opportunities for underserved youths. The foundation engages in projects that provide children in need with educational, recreational and wellness programs.

Shane Victorino is a two-time major league baseball All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner and newly signed Boston Red Sox outfielder. For more information, visit shanevictorino foundation.org.

U.S. TENNIS ASSOCIATION SEEKS DONATED ITEMS

The United States Tennis Association-Nevada is asking for donations of old wooden tennis rackets, usable tennis rackets, old trophies, ball machines, items for a silent auction or raffle, a digital photo camera, an office phone system and computers or laptops.

Items can be dropped off at the USTA-Nevada office, 1333 N. Buffalo Drive, Suite 130.

For more information, call 702-792-8384 or email support@ustanevada.com.

HOSPICE PET THERAPY PROGRAM SEEKS DOG BEDS AND BLANKETS

Nathan Adelson Hospice's Pet Therapy Program is promoting its second annual Dog Bed & Blanket Drive to benefit local animal shelters.

Through Jan. 31, Nathan Adelson Hospice and the Jolley Urga Wirth Woodbury & Standish law firm will be collecting new or gently used dog beds and blankets, towels and unopened dog food.

Donations can be dropped off at any of the Nathan Adelson Hospice locations: 4141 Swenson St.; in the MountainView Medical Office Building, 3150 N. Tenaya Way, Suite 350; 1401 S. Highway 160, Suite B, Pahrump; and 1201 Nevada State Drive, Henderson. They also can be dropped off to attorneys Holly Fic and Jennifer Poynter-Willis at the Jolley Urga Wirth Woodbury & Standish law firm, 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 1600.

Last year's campaign generated more than 2,000 items for local shelters. For more information, call 702-870-0000.

LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY RECEIVES $10,000 FROM FIREFIGHTERS UNION

The Southern Nevada office of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society received a $10,000 check from the Clark County Firefighters Union.

The annual Go Pink fundraiser, held in October, sent firefighters to community venues wearing the pink T-shirts they also sold to raise funds for cancer research and patient support. The funds will help address quality-of-life issues such as educating local patients and healthcare professionals, assisting local patients with treatment costs and providing national research to help find a cure for blood cancers. For more information, visit lls.org.

HOSPITAL SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center, 5400 S. Rainbow Blvd., is looking for volunteers to help at its facility. For more information, contact marketing director Naomi Jones at 702-853-3308 or naomi.jones@uhsinc.com.

NONPROFIT IT'S ALL ABOUT KIDZ BEGINS SPONSORSHIP CAMPAIGN

Local nonprofit It's All About Kidz launched a sponsorship campaign calling for any company, organization or individual to sponsor a mother and child who is enrolled in the sober living program. The southwest-area group focuses on providing a sober living environment to women and their children while providing services for them to become self-sufficient. The nonprofit also serves as a foster care agency to provide temporary living arrangements for children. September marked the organization's one-year anniversary, and people looking to get involved can participate by becoming a foster parent, offering financial support and/or participating in the New Beginnings Coat and Shoe Drive started Dec. 1 at the Behavioral Treatment and Foster Care Agency at 3450 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 500. For more information, call 702-631-0230 or visit aakidz.org.

WATER AUTHORITY REMINDS RESIDENTS ABOUT WINTER RESTRICTIONS

The Southern Nevada Water Authority reminds residents that winter watering restrictions are in effect, and watering is limited to one assigned day a week through Feb. 28.

Watering restrictions also apply to drip irrigation systems. Sunday is not an optional watering day.

If you notice that frost or a freeze has damaged a plant, leave it alone until warmer weather arrives and new growth appears. Pruning or transplanting a plant during the winter months can hurt or kill it. Watering should be done in mid-morning to avoid afternoon winds that make sprinklers less effective and avoid the risk of icing.

For more information, visit snwa.com or call 702-258-7283.

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.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO TRANSPORT PATIENTS TO CANCER TREATMENTS

Every day, thousands of Las Vegas cancer patients need a ride to their cancer treatment but don't have a means to get there. The American Cancer Society Road to Recovery program provides transportation to and from treatment for people unable to drive themselves. The program has 50 drivers enrolled, and the current need demands at least 100 to meet all the requests.

Volunteer drivers must have a valid Nevada driver's license, a safe, reliable vehicle, proof of automobile insurance, a safe driving history and be in good health. The commitment is about four hours a week however it works with volunteers' schedules.

For more information, call Debra Armstrong at 702-891-9023.