Summerlin/Summerlin South Neighborhood News, Dec. 17-23

LEARN THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING AT LUNCH WORKSHOP SERIES

The Las Vegas Recovery Center’s inaugural Food for Thought Continuing Education Unit monthly lunch workshop series is set for noon Dec. 18 at Central Recovery, 3321 N. Buffalo Drive, Suite 100.

Registration is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. Nationally renowned interventionist Ed Storti plans to present The Art of Public Speaking at noon. Lunch is planned for all participants at 1 p.m.

There is no cost. A one-hour continuing education unit has been approved for this workshop by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners.

To RSVP, contact Darcy Yurek at dyurek@centralrecovery.com.

SUN CITY SUMMERLIN BOARD PLANS BRAINSTORMING WORKSHOP

The Sun City Summerlin Community Association Inc. Board of Directors invites Sun City Summerlin residents to participate in a brainstorming workshop planned for 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 19 in the committee room at the Desert Vista Community Center, 10360 Sun City Blvd.

FIREFLY PLANS HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE THROUGH DEC. 20

Firefly Tapas Kitchen & Bar plans to host a toy drive, Toys for Tapas, through Dec. 20 to benefit foster children, including those at Child Haven.

Firefly will be accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys at its Summerlin-area location, 9560 W. Sahara Ave. Toys will be donated directly to the Clark County Department of Family Services for distribution.

For each toy donation, patrons will receive one free tapas of the day or a voucher for a glass of sangria, good through Jan. 31.

For more information, visit fireflylv.com.

DROP OFF A NEW TOY TO HELP CHILD HAVEN

The Napoli Group is accepting donations of toys for Child Haven through Dec. 20 at its offices, 6620 S. Tenaya Way, Suite 120.

New and unwrapped toys for children 8-18 can be dropped off from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Items will be picked up regularly by the Clark County Division of Family Services.

For more information, visit thenapoligroup.com or call 702-378-3629.

LIBRARY CLOSURES NOTED

With the holidays come abbreviated hours for the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. All libraries are scheduled to be closed Dec. 24 and 25 and at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 and all day Jan. 1.

Jan. 20 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and all libraries are set to be closed.

For more information, visit lvccld.org.

LA MADRE SPRING HIKE SET FOR DEC. 28 AT RED ROCK CANYON

The La Madre Spring Hike: Celebrating Wilderness is planned for Dec. 28 at Red Rock Canyon.

This hike involves a great area to observe the geology of Red Rock’s Keystone Thrust. It is also a great place to spot bighorn sheep and the many birds of Red Rock. Hikers will learn how Native Americans found uses for their resources in order to survive in the harsh desert environment.

The hike is rated moderate and covers 3.3 miles round trip. It is for hikers 15 or older. There is limited space, so reservations are required. For more information or to register, call 702-515-5367.

FLOYD LAMB PARK TO HOST HEART ASSOCIATION EVENT DEC. 31

Commitment Day, a supporter of the American Heart Association’s My Heart. My Life healthy living initiative, which aims to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent by 2020, is slated for 3 p.m. Dec. 31 at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 9200 Tule Springs Road. A 5K course is planned.

The entry fee is $30 or $25 for Life Time Fitness members and those 17 or younger who are registering with an adult.

For more information, call 702-228-2611.

FOOD BEING COLLECTED FOR RESCUE MISSION

Urology Specialists of Nevada is taking part in the Las Vegas Rescue Mission’s 2013 annual food drive by collecting donations at its three office locations through Dec. 31.

All nonperishable food items will be accepted at its MountainView campus office, 3150 N. Tenaya Way, Suite 165.

For more information, visit vegasrescue.org.

CHEFS FOR KIDS 5K RUN/1 MILE WALK PLANNED FOR JAN. 18

The Chefs for Kids 5K Run/1 Mile Fun Walk is scheduled for 9 a.m. Jan. 18 at W. Wayne Bunker Family Park, 7351 W. Alexander Road.

Each runner/walker will receive a Chefs for Kids T-shirt, a goodie bag and a free pancake breakfast. A raffle is also planned.

The Las Vegas Track Club has agreed to provide race bibs and computerized timing. Trophies will be awarded in some categories. Age categories begin at 12 or younger.

Participant fees are $25 for adults for the 5K and $20 for the Fun Walk, $20 for children 12 or younger and per runner for groups of 10 or more. The race-day fee is $35.

Online registration is available at active.com, or mail checks payable to LVTC to P.O. Box 30134, Las Vegas, NV 89173. Packet pickup will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Red Rock Running Company, 7350 W. Cheyenne Ave., or from 8 to 8:45 a.m. on race day.

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Sandy Boyer at 702-460-1852.

NATHAN ADELSON HOSPICE HOSTING DOG BED AND BLANKET DRIVE

The Pet Therapy Program at Nathan Adelson Hospice is holding its third annual Dog Bed & Blanket Drive to help keep shelter animals warm this season.

Through Jan. 31, the hospice is collecting new or gently used dog beds, blankets and towels, as well as unopened dog food, to deliver to local animal shelters. In the valley, donations can be dropped off at 4141 Swenson St.; 3150 N. Tenaya Way, Suite 350, next to MountainView Hospital; or 1201 Nevada State Drive in Henderson.

More than 3,500 items were donated to local shelters over the last two winter seasons through the drive. For more information, visit nah.org.

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP HOSTS WEEKLY MEETINGS

GriefShare, a national program for those dealing with loss, is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, 6200 W. Lone Mountain Road. Weekly meetings include video showings and discussion. For more information, contact the group at 702-481-5833.