Southwest and Spring Valley Neighborhood News

Travel Club to meet at Tap House

The Las Vegas Single Social and Travel Club for Mature Adults invites prospective members to its meetings, which are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd.

The meet-and-greet portion is set to start at 6 p.m. Meeting discussions focus on day trips, local events, in-state and out-of-state traveling, cruises and international traveling. A guest speaker frequently is featured. The meeting closes at about 7:30 p.m., and appetizers are served as the group mingles.

The next meeting is set for today. For more information, call 888-324-2028.

Star Party planned in Red Rock Canyon

An Astronomy in the Park Star Party is planned for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Visitor Center, 1000 Scenic Loop Drive. The Las Vegas Astronomical Society plans a presentation titled "Jupiter-King of the Planets," followed by telescope viewing of the moon just after sunset and deep-sky viewing of galaxies, nebulae and star clusters as the sky darkens. A laser-guided tour of the sky is set for 8 p.m. ADA parking and access to video-assisted viewing of the night sky is available for those in wheelchairs or those who may have difficulty observing through a telescope eyepiece. For more information, call Rob Lambert at 461-1390 or go to lvastronomy.com.

Vendors needed at church's community yard sale

Vendors are needed for a community-wide craft and yard sale planned from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 8 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4601 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

Vendors need not be affiliated with the church and may sell any legal product except food.

To reserve a sale space or ask questions, call 648-8437 between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A donation of $5 will be requested if the vendor provides his table and $10 if the church provides it.

Lord of the Rings In Concert scheduled at The Orleans

The Lord of the Rings In Concert: The Fellowship of the Ring is scheduled for 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Orleans Arena, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. This musical and theatrical event features Howard Shore's complete Academy Award and Grammy--winning score, performed live on stage by more than 200 musicians.

Celebrated Maestro Ludwig Wicki, the preeminent conductor of Howard Shore's Ring music, will conduct the performance. Joining Maestro Wicki is soprano Kaitlyn Lusk, who has toured the world as a soloist in The Lord of the Rings Symphony.

Peter Jackson's complete award-winning movie will be projected digitally in high-definition, on a 60-foot screen during the concert. The performance is part of a nine-city West Coast tour. Seating is reserved, and tickets range from $35 to $125. For more information, call 284-7777 or visit orleansarena.com or lordoftheringsin concert.com.

Rappel down the Rio for a good cause

The Rio, 3700 W. Flamingo Road, is set to host Over the Edge, a fundraising rappelling event to benefit Special Olympics Nevada, on Oct. 15. As many as 100 people will make their way down the northwest side of the building on two ropes to raise money for the charity. Flamingo Las Vegas headliner Nathan Burton, UFC champion Chuck "Iceman" Liddell, UNLV mascot Hey Reb! and other local celebrities will join Special Olympics in their quest to raise as much as $100,000 from the event.

Participants, known as "edgers," must raise at least $1,000 in support of the activities and programs of Special Olympics Nevada and preregister at overtheedgelasvegas.com to partake. All funds will go toward providing training opportunities, equipment, uniforms and practice venues for some 4,000 Special Olympics athletes in Nevada. All "edgers" must be in good health and weigh at least 100 pounds and no more than 300 pounds.

The rappelling will be supervised by Over the Edge, a Nova Scotia company that has organized dozens of rappelling events all over North America. "Edgers" can solicit donations from family, friends and co-workers through the Over the Edge online giving site and businesses can pool donations to fund a "Toss Your Boss" campaign. For more information, visit overtheedge lasvegas.com.

Fall Festival planned Oct. 15 at Coronado Ranch

An American West Fall Festival is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at American West Brookfield at Coronado Ranch, 6831 Philharmonic Ave. Shops and restaurants are set to be open, and music, food and a raffle is planned. For more information, call 308-1111 or visit americanwesthomes.com.

Oktoberfest scheduled at church

Oktoberfest is set from 1 to 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church, 8425 W. Windmill Lane. Tickets are $10 for adults, and children are $5. The event will include authentic German cuisine, live music, raffle prizes and a Bavarian costume contest. Proceeds benefit the youth ministry and various outreach programs. For tickets, call 873-3589 or purchase them at the event.

Golf tournament set to support paralysis foundation

The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is set to hold its sixth annual Racing to Recovery Golf Tournament presented by IZOD on Oct. 17 at Southern Highlands Golf Club, 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway. The tournament is being held in conjunction with the IZOD IndyCar Series season finale on Oct. 16 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and will feature celebrity golfers from the entertainment and sports communities. In addition to local celebrities and athletes, IZOD IndyCar Series drivers and other prominent members of the racing community are set to participate. The foundation was started in 2000 by Indy Racing League driver Sam Schmidt shortly after a practice-run crash left him paralyzed from the chest down and focuses on curing paralysis by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances benefiting those with spinal cord injuries, stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. For registration and sponsorship information, go to samschmidtgolf.org, email registration@samschmidtgolf.org or call 317-236-9999.

Club looking for new members, meeting Oct. 19

The Summerlin Lions Club is seeking new members, 18 years or older, to help with projects to serve the community with voluntary vision and foot screenings, student programs and senior projects. Meet the Lions at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Desert Breeze Community Center, 8275 Spring Mountain Road. An RSVP is required to enjoy the free Chinese buffet to non-Lions interested in giving back to the community. For more information, contact Esther Louie at 341-7882.

Nevada Cooperative Extension offers information on invasive species

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Master Gardener volunteers are working with community members to maintain the health of Nevada's urban forests. Through the Citizens Monitoring for Invasive Bark Beetles program, Master Gardeners provide information on maintaining tree vigor by recognizing problems as they first arise, before extensive damage occurs.

The information is offered free of charge. Homeowners, landscapers and community groups can arrange to have a Bark Beetle workshop on their site or at the Cooperative Extension office in Las Vegas. For more information, contact Dr. Angela O'Callaghan at 257-5581 or email ocallaghana@ unce.unr.edu.

NV Energy accepting solar rebate applications through Wednesday

NV Energy is accepting applications through Wednesday for its solar rebate program. Customers who submit their application before Wednesday will be part of the application process Sunday for the available rebates.

More rebates will be available in the first half of 2012; customers also can take advantage of other rebate programs, including solar hot water heating and wind and hydro rebates.

Interested parties must first visit the website, as there are steps that need to be taken before applying. Visit nvenergy.com and click on "save energy" then "solar, wind and hydro rebates."

City of las vegas Youth grant applications being accepted

The city of Las Vegas is accepting grant applications for youths looking to help improve their communities. As part of the Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program (YNAPP), the city is offering grants of up to $1,000 for young people to create and implement neighborhood-based service learning projects of their own design. Schools, school classes, churches, community and civic groups that are youth-driven are encouraged to apply.

Applications will be accepted through Oct. 10 by visiting www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Apply/grants.htm.

YNAPP is designed to use the gifts and talents of young people while helping them grow into community leaders. The program challenges youths to take stock of their community, identify a community need or issue and then develop a project to address that need, with the assistance of YNAPP funding provided by the city of Las Vegas.

Grants are available for projects that are developed and implemented by youth with adults serving as advisers, address a neighborhood need, occur within Las Vegas city limits, match grant funds with volunteer labor and partner with a neighborhood association located in city limits. Donations of materials and in-kind services are also permitted. City staff members can assist with locating a nearby neighborhood association.

For more information regarding the grant programs and how to obtain grant applications, contact YNAPP coordinator Lisa Campbell at 229-5406 or email her at lcampbell@lasvegas nevada.gov.

Smiles for Survivors Foundation to hold fundraising event

Smiles for Survivors Foundation is holding its inaugural Blow Out Breast Cancer fundraising event from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 20 at Square Colour Salon + Spa, 1225 S. Fort Apache Road, Suite 160. The event is open to women and men and includes salon treatments, food, champagne, live music and a silent auction.

Smiles for Survivors is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of cancer treatment's impact on oral health, providing necessary dental care for breast cancer patients and survivors and offering breast cancer education. Tickets for the event vary based on salon services. All proceeds go to Smiles for Survivors Foundation. All services will be performed by Square's highly trained team of stylists and beauty technicians. Packages are available, and ticket prices are:

General admission: $20 for event admission only; no spa services included.

Pretty in Pink: $30, includes admission and a customized blow out.

Rocking Rose: $45, includes admission, a customized blow out and a polish change.

Fabulous Fuchsia: $70, includes admission, a customized blow out, brow shaping, polish change and a lash application.

It is $20 for each additional service. Appointments are strongly recommended for the event. Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more details or to make an appointment, call 255-7050 or email info@smilesforsurvivors.org.

Make a Difference Day planned at church

Make a Difference Day is set from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Oct. 22 at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church, 8425 W. Windmill Lane. The church plans to host a "Dress a Girl Around the World Sew-a-Thon" to create dresses and washcloths to include in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. For more information or to participate in the sew-a-thon, contact Jil Gertz at lvspeak@aol.com. To learn more about Operation Christmas Child, contact Paulette Fittshur at 371-6000.

Boys Nite Out planned for end of October

The Boys and Girls Club of Las Vegas Boys Nite Out is scheduled from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 26 at Lied Memorial Clubhouse, 2850 Lindell Road. Participant tickets at $50, and sponsors and donations are welcome. For more information, visit boysniteout2011.eventbrite.com/.