Southwest and Spring Valley Neighborhood News

GOVERNMENT ADVISERS SOUGHT

Clark County is seeking interested residents of unincorporated towns to serve on town advisory boards and citizens advisory councils. The boards and councils hold public meetings at least once a month to discuss and make recommendations on long-term planning, zoning changes, public works projects, county programs and ordinances that may affect their town.

In the Las Vegas Valley, applicants for the two-year volunteer position are sought for Enterprise, Mount Charleston, Paradise, Spring Valley, Sunrise Manor, Whitney, Winchester and Lone Mountain.

Applicants must be eligible to vote and live within the area encompassed by the TAB or CAC they are applying for and attend annual training. Applications are available at clarkcountynv.gov and are due by Dec. 7.

BARKING DOGS GROOMING BOUTIQUE OFFERING FREE MONTHLY CONSULTATIONS

Barking Dogs Self-Wash & Grooming, 9325 S. Cimarron Road, No. 145, has announced a Meeting of the Minds event, set for 1 to 3 p.m. every second Sunday, in which attendees can consult with experts in nutrition, behavioral training and holistic treatments for their pets. For more information, call 702-247-9274.

LAS VEGAS GREAT SANTA RUN SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY

The Las Vegas Great Santa Run is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Town Square Las Vegas, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The 5K run registration costs $40 for adults, $35 for team captains, $25 for children 2 to 12 and $10 for dogs. Day-of-event registration is $50 for adults and $35 for children. The registration fee includes a five-piece Santa suit and gifts, and all proceeds benefit Opportunity Village, 6300 W. Oakey Blvd.

Opportunity Village is a nonprofit organization that serves people with significant intellectual disabilities. Registration opens and entertainment begins at 8 a.m.

For more information or to register, visit lasvegassantarun.org or call Crystal Kovacs at 702-880-4038.

WHOLE FOODS MARKET ANNOUNCES GRAB & GIVE PROGRAM

Whole Foods Market has announced its Grab & Give program. Through Dec. 31, shoppers can purchase and donate meals and other essentials for families in need.

Whole Foods Market will allow shoppers to choose to make a donation of $5, $10, $25 or more to provide a full meal for a family of four, including healthy options from Whole Foods Market's 365 Everyday Value line of products.

Additionally, shoppers can make a $5 donation for personal hygiene items.

As donations come in, Whole Foods Market stores will give them to partner nonprofit charities, which will distribute the items to local families in need.

IMPACT LAS VEGAS SEEKS 100 WOMEN TO JOIN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Impact Las Vegas, a new Southern Nevada nonprofit group, is seeking 100 women who are motivated to make a difference in the community to join the organization by the end of the year.

Impact Las Vegas is a nonprofit women's giving circle. Membership consists of women who donate $1,000 each year by Dec. 31. Membership donations are pooled from a minimum of 100 members to fund an annual $100,000 grant to a Southern Nevada nonprofit organization in one of five focus areas: culture, education, environment, family or health and wellness.

Once the minimum 100-member threshold is reached, 100 percent of member donations are returned to the community in the form of a grant. In June 2013, Impact Las Vegas members will each cast one vote to determine the nonprofit grant recipient(s) for that year.

For more information or to become a member, visit impact-lv.org or email info@impact-lv.org.

NOVEMBER IS AMERICAN DIABETES MONTH

The Southern Nevada Health District and its community partners are offering education, self-management classes and support for people with diabetes and their families in recognition of American Diabetes Month. For more information, contact the health district's Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at 702-759-1270 or visit gethealthyclarkcounty.org.

WRITE A LETTER TO SANTA, HELP A CHARITY

Residents throughout the Las Vegas Valley can write a letter to Santa Claus and drop it off to the Santa letterbox at any valley Macy's store to benefit Make-A-Wish of Southern Nevada. For each stamped letter received, Macy's will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million. Letters can be delivered through Dec. 24.

INDOOR SHOOTING RANGE TO DONATE PROCEEDS TO CANCER FOUNDATION

The Range 702, 4699 S. Dean Martin Drive, has announced that it will donate 10 percent of its retail proceeds generated during November and December to Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada. This will be based on sales from the facility's clothing and gift items. The Range 702 celebrated its grand opening by pledging 20 percent of proceeds during October to the nonprofit group.

For more information about the group, visit candlelightersnv.org.

The business' hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. For more information, call 702-485-3232.

RADIO-THONS TO BENEFIT THREE SQUARE FOOD BANK

Three Square's Fight Holiday Hunger program is happening through Dec. 31. The food bank has partnered with Barrick North America, Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, IGT and Towbin Automotive so all cash contributions are matched dollar for dollar.

As part of Fight Holiday Hunger, radio-thons are planned from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. For two days, KJUL 104.7 FM is asking listeners to phone in monetary donations. Similar to telethons, various prizes will be offered, such as show tickets and dinners. The call-in number is 702-258-6060, or visit kjul1047.com.

Also, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 13 and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 14, X107.5 FM and Ultimate Fighting Championship plan to host a radio-thon in the parking lot at Wal-Mart, 7200 Arroyo Crossing Parkway. Morning radio personalities Dave Farra and Jason Mahoney will welcome special on-air guests, including UFC fighters, who will sign autographs and meet with fans. X107.5 will be asking for non-perishable food items and/or cash and check donations.

To make a donation or for more information, visit fightholidayhunger.com or x1075lasvegas.radio.com.

WINDER FARMS' TURKEY DRIVE TO BENEFIT THREE SQUARE

Winder Farms plans to conduct a turkey drive to benefit Three Square food bank through Dec. 31.

Winder Farms asks customers to donate by clicking on Donate a Turkey to the Food Bank, then Add to Next Delivery during their regular online shopping at winderfarms.com. The cost of the turkey will be added to the customer's next bill, and Winder Farms will deliver the turkey to Three Square.

WALKER FURNITURE SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS PROGRAM

Walker Furniture is accepting nomination letters on behalf of Clark County individuals and families for its 19th annual Home for the Holidays program, which supplies free furniture to families who have faced financial difficulty.

CEO Larry Alterwitz is expanding the program to assist 28 families. HELP of Southern Nevada will identify which nominated families display the most genuine need for new furnishings.

Past recipients have included single-parent households facing financial difficulty; families with children suffering from physical or mental disorders; families that have lost their homes and belongings to fires; and families that have been affected by illness, domestic violence or sexual abuse.

Letters can be mailed or hand-delivered to Larry Alterwitz, CEO Walker Furniture, 301 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89106; faxed to 702-384-7772; or emailed to cnelson@walkerfurniture.com. Letters can also be submitted at walkerfurniture.com by clicking on the "Home for the Holidays" icon. The letters must be received by Dec. 7. Recipients are expected to be announced Dec. 19.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD SERVICES SEEKS SITES FOR BLOOD DRIVES

The American Red Cross Blood Services is the predominant supplier of blood products for Southern Nevada and has increased staffing to increase the number of blood drives in Las Vegas.

The Red Cross invites community-minded businesses, churches, schools and other organizations to host blood drives in locations across the city.

To meet the demand for blood products in the Las Vegas hospitals it serves, the Red Cross needs to schedule two or more blood drives every business day. It is estimated that in the coming year, about 48,000 Las Vegas patients will need a red blood cell transfusion in a hospital the Red Cross serves.

Las Vegas residents interested in sponsoring a blood drive or donating blood should call 702-522-4000.

SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH DISTRICT NO LONGER OFFERING TUBERCULOSIS TESTING

As of Nov. 1, the Southern Nevada Health District no longer provides tuberculosis testing for health card applications. TB tests are required for all health card applications except food handlers and health club attendants. Applicants must still present their TB test results to the health district when they apply for their health card. Alternative testing resources can be found at snhd.info.

Volunteers needed to transport patients to cancer treatments

Every day, thousands of Las Vegas cancer patients need a ride to their cancer treatment but don't have a means to get there. The American Cancer Society Road to Recovery program provides transportation to and from treatment for people unable to drive themselves. The program has 50 drivers enrolled, and the current need demands at least 100 to meet all the requests.

Volunteer drivers must have a valid Nevada driver's license, a safe, reliable vehicle, proof of automobile insurance, a safe driving history and be in good health. The commitment is about four hours a week however it works with volunteers' schedules.

For more information, call Debra Armstrong at 702-891-9023.

DIVORCE INFORMATION GROUP PLANS MONTHLY MEETINGS

Second Saturdays Las Vegas is offering workshops from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Women's Group Empowerment Center, 6445 S. Tenaya Way, Suite 120. The next meeting is set for Dec. 8. The workshops offer information to women seeking or going through a divorce.

Following the business model of wife.org, the originator of the Second Saturday Divorce Workshops program, Second Saturdays Las Vegas has created a monthly seminar featuring financial advisers, divorce attorneys, family therapists and mediators to guide women through the next steps of divorce.

Professionals presenting information include: the divorce process and legal fees; protecting yourself legally and financially; child custody and child and alimony support; information about dealing with a hostile spouse; helping your family cope with the stress of divorce and rebuilding self-esteem; preparing for divorce; dividing property and the tax consequences of divorce; and avoiding divorce court and the benefits of the collaborative law process.

For more information about Second Saturdays Las Vegas and upcoming workshops, visit secondsaturdayslv.com.

SENIORS ASKED TO SIGN UP FOR L'DOR V'DOR HANUKKAH PARTY

The L'Dor V'Dor Hanukkah party is planned from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Dec. 4 at Temple Beth Sholom, 10700 Havenwood Lane.

Homebound and facility-bound seniors throughout the city are invited. This event carries forward the L'Dor V'Dor tradition into its 12th year and provides a free, catered dinner to seniors. Individual seniors attend from their own homes. Groups of seniors attend from more than 20 living facilities around the Las Vegas Valley. More than 200 seniors are expected.

Guests are picked up by buses from the residential facilities; individual rides are provided for those who are unable to get to there on their own. L'Dor V'Dor provides both forms of transportation at no cost.

Entertainment will be by students from the Sandra and Stanley Mallin Early Childhood Center, doing their Hanukkah program. After the entertainment, Gustav Mauler, chef and owner of Spiedini Ristorante, will cater the luncheon with traditional latkes. There will be birthday cakes to celebrate the century mark for guests who are about to turn 100.

There is no cost to seniors, but reservations are required by today. To participate, contact Elaine Jacobs at 702-228-0247.

HEALTH DISTRICT OFFERS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The Southern Nevada Health District offers environmental health services at its new main facility, 330 S. Valley View Blvd., near the Meadows Mall and Springs Preserve. Services already offered at the new facility include flu shots, adult and childhood vaccines, travel vaccines and newborn screenings.

Client-accessed environmental programs offered out of the Valley View facility include plan review services for pools, food establishments, body art establishments, child care facilities, schools and special events. Previously these services were offered out of the health district's Henderson and Spring Valley public health centers.

For more information, visit snhd.info or call 702-759-4636.

HELP OF SOUTHERN NEVADA SEEKS HOLIDAY VOLUNTEERS

HELP of Southern Nevada is calling for volunteers to assist with a number of programs this holiday season. Assistance is accepted from individuals who can donate any amount of time.

Areas where volunteers are needed include: assisting clients with their applications for holiday programs at HELP's main campus, 1640 E. Flamingo Road; assisting in receiving donated Thanksgiving turkeys at various locations (turkeys will be given to more than 1,200 families); and assisting in receiving holiday gifts for selected clients in the Adopt-A-Family program.

To volunteer, contact Joan Lima at jlima@helpsonv.org or 702-369-4357.

AARP TAX-AIDE SEEKING VOLUNTEER HELP

AARP Tax-Aide NV, which prepares free personal income tax returns for residents in the lower- to middle-income brackets, is seeking unpaid volunteers to prepare taxes, greet clients and program computers in early 2013. Training is scheduled for Jan. 7-11 on the west side of the Las Vegas Valley and Jan. 21-25 on the east side. For more information or to volunteer, email taxesbarb@cox.net or jerrytaxes@cox.net.

TRAVEL CLUB TO MEET AT TAP HOUSE

The Las Vegas Single Social Travel Club for Mature Adults invites prospective members to its meetings, which are scheduled for 7 p.m. the last Tuesday of the month at The Tap House, 5589 W. Charleston Blvd. The next one is scheduled for today.

The meet-and-greet portion is set to start at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room. 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 8 p.m., when appetizers are served and the group mingles. For more information, call 888-324-2028.