Twists, turns and strides: Centennial Hills year in review
As Centennial Hills residents declare their New Year's resolutions for 2013, the previous year was marked by some milestones.
COUNCILMAN ROSS BEATS RECALL
Ward 6 Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross maintained his seat on the council by earning 4,319 votes in a special recall election in January against Planning Commissioner Byron Goynes, who received 1,845 votes. Reflecting on what he thought the top stories of 2012 were, Ross topped his list with his victory. "I won my recall and I was named public official of the year. I won every precinct except one," he said.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Jan. 31 that Ross reported raising $106,440 for the 20-day campaign, compared with Goynes' $9,000. The committee to unseat Ross was largely funded by car dealer Joe Scala, according to the Review-Journal.
LAS VEGAS SKI & SNOWBOARD RESORT CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY
The Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration with a gala Nov. 16 at the Amanda Harris Gallery of Contemporary Art and the Lady Silvia bar and lounge. Kevin Stickelman, the resort's president and general manager, said in November that the goal of the anniversary was to get more valley residents on the slopes.
"Over time, the ski area has lost its place in the Las Vegas area, and we really want to bring it back," he said.
The resort plans another celebration with regional athletes, a bar, prizes, food and live music on Feb. 16.
As part of a $35 million development plan, the resort plans to open 14 new trails, remodel the Bighorn Grill, introduce a new grooming machine and open a new guest locker room and on-mountain grill this season.
TULE SPRINGS supporters ADVOCATE
EFFORTS to preserve area for its fossils
Jill DeStefano, founder of the Protectors of Tule Springs, said in November that she was optimistic that the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument legislation in Congress would be taken up after the presidential election in November. The legislation to dedicate the land was introduced in the U.S. Senate and House in June, though no movement had been taken at press time.
The land includes fossils from numerous animals, including mammoths, bison, horses, camels, giant sloths and the giant North American lion, DeStefano told View Neighborhood Newspapers in November. It's known as one of the best examples of the Pleistocene paleontologic sites in western North America, she said. The group held its first formal membership meeting, four years after collecting more than 10,000 signatures in support of its lobbying. It plans its next meeting from 6 to
7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Aliante Library at 2400 Deer Springs Road, North Las Vegas.
"It's amazing how much we've been talking to people for six years and how many people still don't know about it," she said in November.
GILCREASE PUTS its MASTER PLAN ON HOLD
Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary delayed the construction of the first phase of its master plan after the board failed to raise enough money for the projects.
The construction was scheduled to begin last fall, but executive director Taylor Andrews said it is unclear when construction will begin. Gilcrease fell $300,000 short of the $600,000 needed for phase one, which would include a new parking facility and plumbing work to connect with the city's sewer system.
The entire project is estimated to cost $10 million and would entail major renovations, including an updated public entrance, a courtyard and animal habitats, Andrews said in November.
Andrews said there are concerns about the sanctuary's sustainability because it loses between $200,000 and $300,000 each year.
Board members are split between using the money they have already raised for new animal habitats or launching a fundraising effort to raise the rest of the funds, board member Jessica Pigula said in November.
"To complete phase one, we don't have enough money, and we need to raise money, but for me, I would rather just take the money and build aviaries," she said at the time.
TOURO university TEAMS UP FOR NEW FACILITY FOR INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGED
Nonprofit New Vista and Touro University Nevada broke ground on Nevada's first medical clinic and senior center for intellectually challenged people Oct. 2 in Centennial Hills.
Kelly DeGuzman, CEO of New Vista, said the facility is estimated to cost $1.2 million and will not only address the special needs of an under-served community but will help teach Touro students about the unique challenges in caring for this population.
Dr. Mitchell Forman, dean of the university's College of Osteopathic Medicine, said in October, "This partnership provides not only an opportunity for our students to have hands-on experience working with intellectually challenged individuals, but equally as important, it provides individuals and their families with expanded access to health care."
New Vista and Touro plan to serve 6,000 patients from the community and New Vista's current programs, which support more than 100 people across the valley.
The medical center will offer therapy, medication administration, non-life-threatening emergency assistance, breathing treatments, nutrition and physical activity planning.
"A large segment of the population has little or no health care," Forman said. "The most fragile in our society are often the most ignored, so this is an opportunity for us to give care."
CONSTRUCTION WRAPS UP ON U.S. 95
The Nevada Department of Transportation reopened many lanes on U.S. Highway 95 last fall, nearly completing the U.S. 95 Northwest Corridor phase one project.
While some orange construction cones remained in late December, the $70 million phase one project nears completion.
"Traffic is so much nicer because they finally finished (U.S.) 95," Ross said.
Contact Centennial and North Las Vegas View reporter Laura Phelps at lphelps@viewnews.com or 702-477-3839.
