Southwest and Spring Valley Neighborhood News

Church seeking seamstresses
for impoverished nations

Seamstresses across the Las Vegas Valley are invited to help sew dresses and washcloths for children in impoverished nations. Volunteers will sew as many T-shirt and pillowcase dresses as possible for children ages 2-14 to pack as gifts for Operation Christmas Child. Good Samaritan Lutheran Church, 8425 W. Windmill Lane, is collecting pillowcases, young girls' tank tops or T-shirts, thread, elastic, binding, lace and towels. Bring your sewing machines. Non-seamstresses are also invited to help cut, pin and pack. Operation Christmas Child is the world's largest Christmas project. Contact project coordinator Jil Gertz at 275-4458 or show up at the church and ask for her.

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 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 mswheelchairnevada@yahoo.com or call 206-714-1253.

Reiki healing circle planned
at funeral services location

Reiki masters the Rev. Peggy Ashman and the Rev. Karen Jackson have scheduled a Reiki healing circle at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Dec. 7 at Kraft and Sussman Funeral Services, 3975 S. Durango Drive, Suite 204. The circle is intended to help those who have experienced a loss and desire some gentle assistance in moving through the stages of grief. This relaxation technique is intended to be calming and help relieve the body of emotional distress and sorrow.

United Way women's leadership council to host suit drive

United Way of Southern Nevada's Women's Leadership Council has scheduled its annual suit drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at NV Energy, 6226 W. Sahara Ave. The organization is collecting new and gently used women's business apparel, including suits, handbags, shoes, belts and more to assist those in need. Items collected benefit Safe Nest, S.A.F.E. House, the Shade Tree and Goodwill of Southern Nevada Career Connections, HELP of Southern Nevada, HopeLink and W.O.R.C.

Christ the King church plans
Silent and Live Auctions

Silent and live auctions are planned at 7 p.m. Friday at Christ the King Catholic Community, 4925 S. Torrey Pines Drive. Choice wines and specialty appetizers will be served. Tickets are $20 per person or $30 per couple. Auction items include two cars, a Suzuki upright piano, china, Waterford crystal, collectibles, hand crafts, antiques, jewelry and spa treatments. Free daycare will be provided for children younger than 8.

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.

For more information, call 871-1904.

Superior Cage Combat returns
friday to The Orleans

Superior Cage Combat 3, a mixed martial arts event, is set for 7 p.m. Friday at The Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. The event will feature a superior cage combat rematch between John Alessio and Robert Emerson and a title fight between Bristol Marunde and Elvis Mutapcic. The following local fighters are scheduled to be compete: John Alessio, Blas Avena, Phil Dace, Danny Davis Jr., Cameron Diffley, Shawn Fitzsimmons, Kui Gonsalves, Steve Lopez, Bristol Marunde, Jerry Shapiro, Sidney Silva, Dave Terrel, Javier Torres and Lance Wipf. Tickets start at $35. For more information, visit orleansarena.com.

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.

OPEN HOUSE TO ADDRESS CONSTRUCTION AT RED ROCK CANYON

The Bureau of Land Management's Red Rock/Sloan Field Office plans to host an open house from noon to 7 p.m. Nov. 9, with short overview presentations planned for 2 and 6 p.m., at the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center.

The public can participate in an environmental assessment that analyzes the construction of Zone 2 of the State Route 159 Multi-Use Trail within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Zone 2 starts at the Scenic Loop Drive and visitor entrance road and parallels State Route 159 until it connects to the Scenic Loop Drive exit parking lot.

At the Scenic Loop Drive fee booth, tell the attendant you are attending the public meeting, and you will not be required to pay to enter.

Written comments also may be addressed to James Lee Kirk, BLM Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130, e-mailed to jkirk@blm.gov or faxed to 363-6779.

For more information, visit www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.html, go to Links of Interest and select National NEPA Register Page, or call Kirk at 515-5227.

Spring Mountain Ranch Mountain Man rendezvous planned

The Spring Mountain Free Trappers have planned their 2011 rendezvous for Nov. 11-13 at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The public is welcome to attend, and traditional shooting competitions will be held. For more information, call Buffalo Rumpcq at 645-2658, Atasicq at 586-7317 or visit smft.org.cq

Solari Hospice planning
Celebration of Life ceremony

The botanical gardens of the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., will be the setting of Solari Hospice Care's Celebration of Life ceremony, which is planned from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 12.

This event honors the lives of Solari Hospice Care patients who have died between November 2009 and December 2010 and symbolizes closure of the yearlong formal bereavement process. The service will include comments from Solari Hospice Care administrators and staff, an inspirational song, a message of comfort and the reading of patients' names. Refreshments will be provided.

Special notices are being sent to each patient's loved ones. All friends and relatives of patients are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, call 870-0000. To learn more about Solari Hospice Care, visit solarihospice.com, e-mail info@solarihospice.net or follow @SolariHospice on Twitter or Facebook.

RAWards indie art showcase planned

The 2011 Las Vegas RAWards semi-finals showcase is planned for 8:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Tommy Rocker's, 4275 Dean Martin Drive. The event is for those 21 or older, cocktail attire is required and DJ Lord Q will be providing the music. Live voting on art, fashion, music, accessories, performing art, hair, makeup, film and photography is planned. Tickets are $10 pre-sale, $15 the week of and $20 at the door. For more information, go to rawartists.org/rawards2011.

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.

Fundraiser to benefit Adopt A Rescue Pet

Two Tickle Your Ribs comedy show fundraisers are planned to benefit Adopt A Rescue Pet, a nonprofit no-kill animal shelter at Buzz BBQ's two locations.

The first show is scheduled for 8 p.m. Nov. 18 at 9640 W. Tropicana Ave., and the second is set for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at 7121 W. Craig Road. Tickets for both shows are $5; 25 percent of the proceeds will go to support the animals if a coupon is presented to the server. To print out the coupon, visit facebook.com/arplasvegas or adoptarescuepet.org or email arpinfo@adoptarescuepet.org with "Buzz Support Coupon" as the subject line. For more information, call 489-2800 or 294-2899.

Mule Deer Foundation plans
annual banquet nov. 19

The Las Vegas Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation plans to host its annual banquet and auction Nov. 19 at the Elks Lodge, 4100 W. Charleston Blvd. Doors are set to open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner to start at 7 p.m.

The event will feature a social hour and dinner followed by a benefit auction. The door prize will be a gun.

Tickets start at $50. Proceeds will benefit the Nevada Department of Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Restoration in Southern Nevada.

Visit muledeer.org and click on "Nevada" to download a registration form or call 888-375-3337.

Kraft and Sussman funeral services
to host discussion on aging

A healthy aging seminar is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at Kraft & Sussman Funeral Services, 3975 S. Durango Drive, Suite 204. Lisa Rosenberg, M.D., is scheduled to speak. Learn what to expect and ways you can be proactive in managing these changes and easing the effects of aging on your body.