Southwest and Spring Valley Neighborhood News

LAS VEGAS WALGREENS COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR HELP OF SOUTHERN NEVADA

Walgreens drugstore's 80 valley locations are collecting donations to benefit HELP of Southern Nevada through Sept. 30. The nonprofit provides assistance to low-income families, homeless teens and adults to become more self-sufficient. For more information, call 369-4357 or visit helpsonv.org.

TRAVEL CLUB TO MEET AT THE TAP HOUSE

The Las Vegas Single Social Travel Club invites prospective members to its meetings, which are scheduled the fourth Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is set for today at The Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd.

The meet-and-greet portion is set to start at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room, and the formal meeting is set for 7 p.m.

Discussions focus on traveling from day trips, local events, in-state and out-of-state traveling, cruises and international traveling. A guest speaker frequently is featured. The meeting closes about 8 p.m. when appetizers are served and the group mingles. For more information, call 888-324-2028.

NEXT RED ROCK CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING SET FOR WEDNESDAY

The next Red Rock Citizens Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Blue Diamond Recreation Hall, 1 Village Drive.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS GROUP plans MATERNITY CARE RALLY MONDAY

Improving Birth, a national women's rights organization, in conjunction with the International Caesarean Awareness Network and the American Association of Birth Centers, is scheduled to host a rally aimed at improving the quality of maternity care in the United States. The rally is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at Pinkpeas Pregnancy and Parenting Care Center, 3920 W. Charleston Blvd. For more information on the Improving Birth National Rally for Change, visit improvingbirth.org.

CRUISE & VACATION SHOW TO BENEFIT CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN NEVADA

The 18th annual Cruise & Vacation Show is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 8 at The Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave.

Travel representatives from around the world are expected to be available. Scheduled exhibitors include cruise lines, tour operators, tourist boards, hotels, resorts and other travel-related services. The program will include Holland America's Alaska Travel Show, river cruising in Europe and Asia, Tauck tours in Australia, South America and Africa and American Express Vacations' luxury villa rentals.

Free entry tickets are available at any Prestige Travel office, or pay $3 at the door. Entry proceeds will be donated to Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.

NEVADA SCHOOL OF DANCE PLANS 'NUTCRACKER' AUDITIONS

The Nevada School of Dance is planning open auditions for its second production of "The Nutcracker" from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at 6072 S. Durango Drive.

Openings are for the parts of mice, bon bons, angels, party children, soldiers and Chinese dancers for children ages 5 to 10 with or without previous ballet experience. Male and female preteen and teen dancers with ballet experience may audition for the snowflakes dance, snow princess and prince, Spanish dancers, Russian dancers, Arabian dancers and the waltz of the flowers.

Adults are welcome to try out for the party parents' scene.

Auditions are free. If selected, a participation fee will apply.

For the past seven years, the school's director Luz Morante has cast young dancers to perform the main parts and the entire corps de ballet, offering a full-length professional production in which kids are the stars.

Performances are scheduled for Dec. 21 and 22 at the Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School Performing Arts Center.

Nevada School of Dance is the dance division of Nevada Arts Academy. For a detailed schedule and instructions, call 248-1288 or visit nevadascoolofdance.org.

LOCAL COMPANY DONATES LIGHTS TO AREA SCHOOL

High Tech Lights of Las Vegas, 6280 S. Valley View Blvd., has announced the donation of $5,000 worth of LED lights to Las Vegas Urban League Partner 100 Academy of Excellence, 2341 Comstock Drive. The location is a kindergarten through eighth-grade public charter school. For more information, visit hightechlights.com or 100academy.com.

ChILDHOOD CANCER SUPPORT RACE PLANNED AT MOUNTAIN'S EDGE

To honor September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Candlelighters 5K & One Mile Race for Our Kids is planned at 6:30 a.m. Sept. 8 at Exploration Peak Park in Mountain's Edge, 9275 S. Buffalo Drive.

Opening ceremonies are set for 7:30 a.m.; the 5K competitive run is set for 8 a.m.; and the 5K run and one-mile stroll are set for 8:15 a.m. Other activities are to continue until 11 a.m.

Food and refreshments, raffle prizes - including a Disneyland trip for four - children's play and art areas, a bone marrow drive, an awards ceremony and booths and exhibitors are planned.

To participate, costs are: $25 per team member, $30 for individual adults, $20 for seniors 65 or older, $15 for children 3-12 years old, $40 for race-day registration, and free for childhood cancer survivors, children younger than 3 and non-participants. Leashed pets are welcome.

Presented by Mountain's Edge and Walmart, the annual fundraiser, now in its 22nd year, benefits the nonprofit Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada, 8990 Spanish Ridge Ave., which raises funds to support children and their families affected by cancer. Families, friends, businesses and co-workers are encouraged to organize, join or donate.

For more information or to register, visit candlelightersnv.org or call 737-1919. The online registration deadline is Sept. 4, and mailed registrations must be postmarked by Monday.

SIGN UP NOW FOR SEPT. 8 RED ROCK 5K

The Red Rock 5K is slated for 9 a.m. Sept. 8 at the Arroyo Golf Course at Red Rock Country Club, 2205 Red Springs Drive.

The course is scenic and challenging, following the rolling landscapes of the area. For more information, visit rynorunning.com.

CHURCH SCHEDULES FINANCIAL SEMINARS

Good Samaritan Lutheran Church is set to host Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace seminar beginning Sept. 20. The nine-week class will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays in the New Hope Christian Academy building on the church campus at 8425 W. Windmill Lane.

The class shows participants how to get rid of debt, manage money, spend and save wisely.

The seminar cost is $95 per family.

For more information and/or to register, contact facilitator Kristin Poteet at 623-521-1515 or skpoteet@hotmail.com.

THIRD ANNUAL ROCKIN' WALK PLANNED FOR SEPT. 30 TO BENEFIT GOODIE TWO SHOES

The third annual Rockin' Walk to benefit the nonprofit Goodie Two Shoes Foundation is slated for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 30 as part of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin, 1700 Village Center Circle.

The outdoor, family-friendly walking event will raise funds to provide disadvantaged children with new shoes and socks. It is sponsored by the Brenden-Mann Foundation.

Participants can choose from the one-mile mixed hole, 2.5-mile back-nine or five-mile 18-hole walking options and enjoy the scenic views of TPC Summerlin, live entertainment and prizes. Each registered walker also will receive a souvenir T-shirt and a single-day admission ticket for the tournament, which is scheduled for Oct. 1-7.

Early registration fees are $15 for children 3 to 17 and $30 for those 18 or older until Sept. 14. Fees will increase by $5 after the early registration deadline. A new pair of shoes and five to six pairs of socks can be provided to needy children for every $25 raised. Walk participants can preregister online or the morning of the walk, and space is limited to the first 1,500 walkers.

For more information, visit jtshrinersopen.com/en/scheduleofevents/sundaysep30.aspx. To register, visit goodietwoshoes.org or call 617-4027.

RESCUE GROUP BEGINS CAMPAIGN TO FUND PERMANENT SHELTER

Area animal rescue Adopt a Rescue Pet has launched its Beggin' for Bucks: 65,000 Pet Lovers Wanted campaign to support the organization's effort to build a no-kill animal sanctuary and canine retirement ranch. The goal is to reach $650,000 by collecting $10 from 65,000 people by Oct. 15.

The sanctuary, slated to be located on several acres in Amargosa Valley, will house 300 dogs.

To support the effort, visit facebook.com/arplasvegas.

BLOOD DONORS TO GET FREE TICKETS

United Blood Services of Las Vegas is offering two free to tickets to "The Mentalist" to donors throughout August.

Donors supplying blood or plasma are eligible to receive the free entertainment vouchers. "The Mentalist" plays Tuesdays and Thursdays at the V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Currently, UBS has a critical need for type O negative blood, which is the universal donor and can be given to all other blood types.

To schedule an appointment or to donate blood, visit one of United Blood Services' three Southern Nevada locations: 6930 W. Charleston Blvd.; 601 Whitney Ranch Drive, Suite 20, in Henderson; and 4950 W. Craig Road.

For more information, visit unitedbloodservices.org.

WINDER FARMS PLANS FARMERS MARKET

Southwest area-based Winder Farms is planning to hold a farmers market set for 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 26 in the south parking lot of Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road.

Companies are encouraged to sign up and become a vendor at the Winder Farms Farmers Market. For more information on how to become a vendor, email Sean McCrady at sean.mccrady@winderfarms.com.

For more information, visit winderfarms.com.

FORECLOSED UPON PETS NEEDS FOSTER FAMILIES

Foreclosed Upon Pets Inc. needs foster families for dogs and cats that have been relinquished by owners, left in foreclosed homes, found on the street or need a new home when the owner dies or is deployed.

Fostering usually involves short-term stints, typically ranging from a few weeks to a few months. Assistance is given to foster families, if needed, in the way of food, toys, medicine and veterinary care.

Foreclosed Upon Pets Inc. does its best to match foster families with a short-term companion that suits their lifestyle.

Foster families increase an animal's chance of being adopted by providing feedback on the temperament, activity level and likes and dislikes.

For more information, complete the foster form online at forecloseduponpets.org/, call 272-0010 or email forecloseduponpets@hotmail.com.

ANIMAL FOUNDATION SEEKING DONATED LINENS

Nonprofit The Animal Foundation, 655 N. Mojave Road, one of Nevada's largest open-admission animal shelters and pet adoption centers, is seeking donations of new and gently used linens, including towels, blankets, sheets, pillowcases, T-shirts and sweat shirts.

During summer, The Animal Foundation receives more than 100 animals per day. Donated linens are used to make the animals more comfortable and to keep the young and underweight animals warm.

Due to the cleaning procedures for donated linens, items must be washed in a high bleach-to-water concentration, which breaks down materials quickly. Additionally, once an item has been torn, it cannot be used again. Items with stuffing (comforters, pillows, dog beds, etc.) can be used only once as they cannot be completely disinfected.

Linens can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at the shelter. For more information, visit animalfoundation.com.

MAMMOVAN SCHEDULED TO OFFER LOW-COST BREAST CANCER SCREENINGS

Thanks to a $10,000 grant from Food 4 Less, Nevada Health Center's Mammovan is scheduled to offer low- to no-cost breast cancer screenings at selected Food 4 Less locations. Stops are scheduled from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at 1955 N. Nellis Blvd., Sept. 4 at 1301 S. Boulder Highway and Nov. 21 at 2255 Las Vegas Blvd. North. For more information, visit nvhealthcenters.org.

WINDER FARMS PLANS BREAST CANCER SUPPORT INITIATIVE

Winder Farms plans to make a donation to the local affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for every Winder Farms strawberry milk sold through Oct. 31 (Breast Cancer Awareness Month). To remind customers of the charitable initiative, labels on 16-ounce and half-gallon bottles have been changed and will now feature the Susan G. Komen for the Cure pink ribbon.

Winder Farms has also created a Friends of the Farm offer to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For every new customer who signs up for Winder Farms using the promotional code "KOMEN," $25 will go to the charity. For more information, visit winderfarms.com.

VACATION TRADE SHOW PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT CATHOLIC CHARITIES

The 18th annual Cruise and Vacation Show is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 8 at The Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. Travel representatives from around the world are scheduled to be available to present the latest in travel trends. Free entry tickets are available at any Prestige Travel office. Entry costs $3 at the door with all proceeds benefiting Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. For more information, call 253-9909.