Summerlin Area Neighborhood News, Dec. 11-17, 2014

CHURCH TO HOST SERVICES AT DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN

Relentless Church, a new nondenominational Christian church, is set to start offering services Jan. 18 at Regal Downtown Summerlin 5, 2070 Park Center Drive.

The effort is being done in partnership with Benny Perez’s Church At South Las Vegas, 3051 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, and Shane Philip’s The Crossing, A Christian Church, 7950 W. Windmill Lane. The new church will be led by Joe Pena, a pastor from Hope Church in Kalispell, Mont.

For more information, visit relentlesschurch.tv.

CREDIT UNION OFFERS OPTION TO SKIP A LOAN PAYMENT FOR HOLIDAY CHARITY

America First Credit Union is offering members to opportunity to skip a loan payment during the holiday months to provide shoes for children in need. The Skip a Loan Payment program lets members skip monthly loan payments through January for $25. America First will donate a portion of that fee to purchase shoes for children in need in time for the holidays through the credit union’s volunteer service arm, the America First Credit Union Charitable Foundation.

America First expects to present the gift-wrapped shoes to children from 15 schools and service organizations at special holiday events throughout December, including those in the Las Vegas Valley.

For more information, call 800-999-3961 or visit americafirst.com.

RAILROAD WORKERS TO GATHER DEC. 16

The National Association of Retired and Veteran Railroad Workers plans to meet at 10 a.m. Dec. 16 at Mad Matty’s, 8100 W. Sahara Ave.

One of the group’s goals is to keep people knowledgeable about political actions that affect their pensions. Meetings are a good way to say connected, meet others who worked in the industry and share tales from days on the job.

For more information, visit narvre.info.

TIVOLI VILLAGE TO HOST PET ADOPTIONS

Tivoli Village, 450 S. Rampart Blvd., plans to host pet adoptions for the Las Vegas Hot-Diggity Dachshund Club and Rescue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 28.

For more information, visit tivolivillagelv.com.

REI TO HOST FREE PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS

REI plans to offer the class Outdoor Photography Basics — Point & Shoot at 7 p.m Jan. 6 at its Boca Park facility, 710 S. Rampart Blvd.

Join an REI GreenVest to learn how to take photos and videos up a notch with classes specially focused on outdoor photography. Capture the perfect landscape, colorful sunrise, snow-covered trail, or star-filled sky, and learn tips and tricks for digital and film camera with in-store and in-the-field opportunities.

The event is free, but sign-ups are required. To register, visit rei.com or call 702-951-4488.

RED ROCK CANYON SEEKS ARTISTS FOR 2015 RESIDENCIES

Applications are being accepted for the spring 2015 artists’ residencies at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. All artists working in any field, including writers, musicians, sculptors, painters and performance artists, are invited to apply for residencies lasting two or three weeks in March, April or May.

The Red Rock Canyon Artist-in-Residence program will select three artists, with each receiving a $1,000 stipend for developing their work in response to Red Rock Canyon and leading a community engagement project of their design. Artists will be selected by a panel of arts professionals, community members and Bureau of Land Management staff members.

Applications are being accepted with a postmarked deadline of Jan. 31. For more information, visit rrc-air.org.

CITY OF LAS VEGAS TO OFFER WINTER CAMPS

The Holiday Kids Camp for first- through fifth-graders is set to be offered by the city of Las Vegas. Parents can register their child from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 (no camp Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) at the Cimarron Rose Community Center, 5591 N. Cimarron Road.

The cost is $100 per child per week. Registration is limited.

Expect arts and crafts, games, sports, cooking, movies, field trips and more.

For more information, call 702-229-1607.

AARP SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR FREE TAX PREPARATION PROGRAM

The AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program plans to offer free tax assistance and preparation for taxpayers with low to moderate income. In its 46th year, the program is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention to the older population. The service is offered in conjunction with the IRS and is open to anyone, not just AARP members.

Last year in Nevada, 260 volunteers helped more than 12,700 people file federal tax returns and answered tax-related questions. The program is offered at senior centers, libraries and other convenient locations.

The program needs volunteers. Tax volunteers must complete a tax preparation workshop from the IRS before working with taxpayers. There is also a need for grass-roots leadership, on-site greeters and those who can provide language assistance in Spanish, Mandarin or Cantonese.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/4r34r8v or call 888-227-7669.

USTA-NEVADA OFFERS FREE TENNIS LESSONS FOR ALL AGES

The United States Tennis Association-Nevada is offering free tennis lessons to people of all ages. Participants are asked to visit ustanevada.com to complete the registration form. They will be emailed a certificate to take a free tennis lesson at any of the participating facilities.

Free loaner tennis rackets are available through USTA-Nevada’s Racquet Recycle Program. Everyone who registers will receive a free Nevada Tennis Association membership, which includes a newsletter and special invitations to community tennis events.

For more information, email freetennis@ustanevada.com or call 702-792-8384, ext. 101.