Red Ridge Park

Tanaka Elementary School students recently helped welcome District F’s newest park – a 28-acre oasis at 9135 W. Maule Ave. near Durango Drive and the 215 Beltway in southwest Las Vegas.

The new Red Ridge Park, which is next to the school, has a water-play area, playground, soccer field, two Little League baseball fields and picnic area.

The county is also in the midst of planning for a new regional park for the southwest. The 378-acre regional park will be between Buffalo and Durango and between Warm Springs and Windmill, and next to Sierra Vista High School.

A master plan for this regional park may be completed by the end of the year. The park will be developed in phases, with the 20-acre first phase expected to be completed within the next two years.

Commissioner, Volunteers Cleanup District F

Dozens of youth from The Crossing Church joined the commissioner and other volunteers recently to spend a Saturday morning cleaning up graffiti and trash.

Graffiti is a crime that hurts property values, attracts crime and costs local governments and businesses millions of dollars a year to clean up.

Regular cleanups like this one send a strong message of community pride and are a great help in our effort to eliminate blight from our neighborhoods.

Two New Affordable Housing Complexes Open

Harmon Pines Senior Apartments

Arbor Pointe Apartments

Clark County, state, federal and private sector partners celebrated the grand opening of two affordable housing apartment complexes in District F recently.

The Arbor Pointe Apartments and Harmon Pines Senior Apartments are both top-notch apartment complexes that help fill the tremendous need for affordable housing in our community. Both projects are testaments to the collaboration from the public and private sector partners involved.

The apartments are also the first and second projects to benefit from a provision in the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act that allows local governments to buy land for affordable housing from the Bureau of Land Management at up to a 95-percent discount.

Arbor Pointe, a Fore Property Company project, is a 180-unit complex of three-story garden-style buildings housing two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging in size from 1,081 to 1,224 square feet. Amenities include a resort-style clubhouse, resident computer center, media lounge, fitness center, swimming pool, tot lot and shaded picnic areas. The Arbor Pointe Apartments are at 8855 W. Arby Ave. in Las Vegas.

Residents there are allowed to make no more than 60 percent of the Clark County area median income, which is approximately $39,420 a year for a family of four. Rents start as low as $580 a month. For more information about living at Arbor Pointe call (702) 685-2787.

Harmon Pines, a Nevada H.A.N.D., Inc. project, has 105 apartments, including six that are fully handicapped accessible with roll-in showers. Monthly rents start at $390 for a one-bedroom apartment and $460 for a two-bedroom apartment. Qualifying seniors will have an annual income starting at $17,880 for a one-person household, or $20,440 for a two-person household. The complex offers a computer center, library, game room, beauty salon, fitness center, theater, medical examination room, and free transportation for errands. For lease information contact Property Manager Veronica Magdaleno, at 433-4015 or Nevada HAND’s main office at 739-3345 ext. 0. The apartment complex is at 6000 W. Harmon Ave. in Las Vegas.  

Summer’s the Season of Fun for All Ages in District F

Helen Meyer Community Center

As the temperatures climb past 100 degrees, residents of all ages in District F can take solace from the sun with activities and classes at Clark County Parks and Recreation centers.

The Helen Meyer Community Center, at 4525 New Forest Drive, offers programs for youth ages 3 to 15. From RecTrek and TeenTrek to expanded classes, the center offers many reasons to leave the house this summer. Two new classes have been added for ages 3 to 5 for the summer.

The Meyer in the Morning Activity Camp is from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. Monday through Friday and provides physical activities, arts and crafts projects, stories, songs and games. Spots are currently available for July and August.

Meyer’s Make a Mess Afternoon – from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday – allows children to find their artistic abilities, and parents don’t have to worry about the mess. Children will experiment with crayons, markers, clay, watercolors, paper mache, craft sticks and more.

For cost and other information about the activities at Helen Meyer Community Center, call the center at 455-7723.

Desert Breeze Community Center

Sports, arts, recreation and a host of classes are available this summer at Desert Breeze Community Center, 8275 Spring Mountain Road. The Athletic Adventures Teens Camp for ages 13 to 17 is designed to provide interesting and fun athletic activities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Along with sports activities, the group works on team building exercises, swimming and related field trips. The cost is $50.

For the younger set, RecTrek offers elementary school-aged children activities such as painting, drawing, crafts, themed projects, sports, games, field trips, skits, drama, movies, science projects and swimming. Cost is $15 per day or $70 per week per child.

Youth basketball leagues give ages 6 to 8 and 12 to 14 the opportunity to learn teamwork, sportsmanship, safety and fair play in a fun sporting environment. Leagues operate from June to August and are $55.

Desert Breeze also offers classes in guitar, art and dance for all ages as well as exercise and fitness classes, golf, basketball, yoga and adult volleyball. Adaptive swim classes, dog obedience training, parent-tot play groups, sewing, scrapbooking, personal training and senior stretch and tone are just some of the options available to residents.

For additional information on classes at Desert Breeze Recreation Center, call 455-8334.

West Flamingo Community Center and Park

Summer doesn’t just have to be for the kids. Seniors can stay active and have fun during the warmest months of year, too. Seniors at the West Flamingo Active Adult Center, 6255 W. Flamingo Road, can enjoy field trips geared to make their children and grandchildren jealous.

Seniors will take in some theater during Super Summer Theater’s 2009 season on June 18 with "The Buddy Holly Story," July 24 with "West Side Story" and Aug. 27 with "Once on This Island." Seniors meet at the center and board the van at 5:30 p.m. and return after the performance at 11 p.m. The cost for each play is $14. Registration is required for each play.

Other field trips include the Zappos Factory Tour with lunch at Claim Jumper from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 10 and shopping at Town Square with lunch at the Bar Louie Tavern and Grill from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 30.

Seniors can take in a newly-released movie in the comfort of the center at 2:30 p.m. every Friday. Movies for June include "Bride Wars" on June 5, "The Wrestler" on June 12, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" on June 19 and "Revolutionary Road" on June 26. July titles will be available at the end of June and can be obtained by calling the center at 455-7742.

The center also offers classes, fitness classes and teams in pickleball, table tennis and walking; senior advocacy representatives, AARP’s Safe Driving Program, financial awareness seminars and special events such as free doughnuts for dads from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on June 18. Registration is required for all field trips and classes. For additional information, or to register, call the West Flamingo Active Adult Center at 455-7742.

Congratulations to Alexander Dawson School students Zachary Schaffer, Michael Kwok, and Dayne Fernandez along with their teacher Camille McCue and engineering mentor Dr. David James.

This team of forward thinkers, which called themselves the Alpha Luna Prime Team, represented our community in the Future City National Finals competition in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.  While there, the team won a special award for "Best Use of Aerospace Techology in a Future City."

The competition, organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics – National Capital Section, involved only 38 middle school teams from across the country. Each team won a spot in the national competition through regional contests.  

As a part of the competition, the middle school students created cities of the future, first on computer and then in large tabletop models. Working in teams with a teacher and volunteer engineer mentor, students created their city, wrote a city abstract and an essay, and presented and defended their cities before engineer judges at the competition.

The students created detailed, often fantastic, cities of tomorrow that gave intriguing insights into how young minds envision their future. At the same time, their bold designs and innovative concepts provided a refreshingly optimistic appreciation of how our nation can realistically deal with the many challenges facing cities, including environmental disasters, crime, urban decay and urban sprawl.

Summer Safety: Around the Pool and in the Heat

Summer vacation is here as is the heat, and so now is a good time to remember a few tips that will keep us all safe this season.

During the few seconds it can take to grab a towel, answer the phone or answer the door a child can get into the pool.

It is also important to make sure there are barriers between children and pools when they are not being used. According to the Southern Nevada Pool Code, pools, spas and hot tubs must be completely enclosed by fences that are at least 5-feet-tall, and gates must be self-closing and self-latching.

The Clark County Fire and Development Services departments are co-sponsors with the Southern Nevada Health District of the "ABC&D's of Drowning Prevention" campaign, which emphasizes the need for adult supervision and barriers around pools to prevent drownings. For more information visit the Fire Department Web page by clicking here.

Remember:

• Always have a designated child watcher when children are near any pool or body of water.
• Close and lock all doors, windows and gates leading to pools when not in use.
• Keep a phone near the pool to ensure children are not left unattended if the phone rings.
• Never swim when thunder or lightening are present.
• Never dive into unfamiliar or shallow bodies of water.

Also, there are many vacant homes with swimming pools. If there is a vacant home in your neighborhood with a pool, and the backyard is not secure, please contact Clark County Code Enforcement at (702) 455-4191 or the commission office immediately at (702) 455-3501.

This is considered an immediate public safety hazard and we will work with the Southern Nevada Health District to get the site secured and the pool drained if possible.

It is also important to be mindful of the heat.

Exposure to excessive heat can cause heat exhaustion and more serious health problems for anyone, especially children, the elderly and people with heart disease, poor circulation and weight problems.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps and dizziness. Prevention is the key to dealing with this danger, and the best prevention is to drink plenty of fluids.

Some other reminders to keep you safe during the hot summer months include:

• Drink water even if you don’t feel thirsty.
• Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages, which contribute to dehydration.
• Always carry plenty of water with you and a mobile phone. You never know what might happen during the day that could keep you outdoors longer than anticipated.
• Dress for summer with clothes that are loose, lightweight and light-colors.
• Use sunscreen with a high SPF to protect against sunburn and skin cancer.
• Look in on friends and family, especially the elderly who may need help adjusting to the heat.
• Limit errands and outdoor activities to before noon or in the evening to avoid being out during the hottest part of the day.

What To Do About Stagnant Pools in Your Neighborhood

Unused and dirty pools are not only a danger because a person could fall in, those pools can also be a breeding area for mosquitoes and other pests.

The Southern Nevada Health District will respond to all citizen-generated complaints of stagnant swimming pools. Code Enforcement agencies are available to assist, however they do not have chemicals to prevent mosquito breeding. Each code group has different pool response protocols; therefore, we will tailor our referral methods to match their response.

Contact numbers for various agencies:

Clark County Code Enforcement (702) 455-7655

Henderson 267-3955

Las Vegas 229-4915, or 229-5103

North Las Vegas 633-1677

Flash Flood Season is Almost Here

Flash flood season is July through September, but floods can happen any time of the year so it is important to be prepared and to know what to do if you get caught in a flash flood.

The National Weather Service will declare flood watches or warnings if necessary. A Flash Flood Watch means that a flood is possible in your area. A Flash Flood Warning means that a flood is already occurring or will occur very soon.

If you are caught in a sudden, major storm, which may cause flooding, it is usually safer for you to stay where you are and wait out the storm rather than trying to drive through it.

So if you are driving when a major storm hits, think about finding some ground higher than the street to pull onto until the storm passes.

Remember never drive through a flooded road or around barricades. It can be difficult to determine how deep floodwaters are and floodwaters can rise dramatically in minutes.

If you do get stuck in a stalled car, remember that it might be safer to stay with your vehicle. Fast moving water, even only a few inches deep can quickly sweep you off your feet.

Never let children or pets play in or near floodwaters, which are fast moving and can contain dangerous debris and chemicals.

For more information, please check the Regional Flood Control District’s Web site at www.regionalflood.org.

County Workers Vote to Cut Pay Raises as Deficit Grows

Many Clark County workers recently agreed to reduce annual pay raises, a decision that will save taxpayers millions of dollars a year through mid-2011.

The workers are members of Service Employees International Union Local 1107, the largest of three unions representing county workers. They approved a 2 percent reduction in cost-of-living raises, and a 1 percent reduction to the top range of merit raises for Clark County and UMC employees, effective July 1. It is important to note that these employees were under no obligation to change the terms of their existing contract, but we asked for their help and they responded with an extraordinary display of support for the county during this difficult time.

The county started implementing budget reduction measures in May 2008 due to tax revenue loses from the downturn in the local economy. Revenue from property taxes, sales taxes and other sources continues to decline, and the county is now facing a growing budget deficit.

The county has taken several steps to address the budget shortfall, including keeping more than 400 positions vacant. In January, the county manager eliminated salary increases for the county and UMC management employees.

Departments have presented a series of cost-containment reports to the County Commission since the beginning of the year. In March the County Commission approved the Voluntary Separation Program, which enables the county to downsize and restructure positions by allowing employees to voluntarily resign or retire.

State reductions in Medicaid funding already have lead to cuts in several programs at UMC, including high-risk obstetrics, mammography, and outpatient dialysis, and we still have a lot of tough decisions ahead.

But we are grateful for our employees’ willingness to work with us and be our partner in addressing our budget problems.

Foster Families Needed, Especially in Six Key Zip Codes

Clark County wants you to consider becoming a foster parent, especially if you live in one of six zip codes in our community.

Clark County has more than 2,000 children in its foster care system. The top six zip codes from which the foster care children originate are 89101, 89115, 89030, 89108, 89121 and 89110. While more foster families are needed throughout the valley, the county is stepping up its foster care recruitment efforts in these zip codes to ease transitions for children.

"A child's world in many cases is as small as a few square miles," said Vickie Wilson, who recruits foster families for Clark County's Family Services Department. "Within that world are the familiar touchstones of life such as school, playgrounds, neighbors, and friends. Keeping foster children in their neighborhoods makes it easier for the foster family to work with the biological family for the good of the child."

Foster care professionals consider several factors when identifying foster care placements, including proximity to parents and siblings, the child's school, activities, and social network. Considerations also include the child's academic performance, existing friendships, and the chances of reunification with the natural parents for a safe return home.

Clark County hopes to increase the number of foster parents through new initiatives that target specific communities and demographic groups. This will include offering orientations and trainings, as well as targeted outreach in areas of high need.

The department is also always looking for prospective adoptive parents to enroll in the Adoption Program, which is designed to match families with a waiting child or children who need a permanent home. This process involves education, training and an adoption home study, which assists the review team to find the best possible match for your home.

Anyone 21 or older who meets the licensing and other minimum requirements can become a foster or adoptive parent.

Our Needs:

• Those able to foster/adopt sibling groups
• Those able to foster/adopt infants/toddlers
• Those able to foster/adopt newborns
• Those able to foster/adopt drug and alcohol exposed infants
• Those able to foster/adopt children with special health care needs and developmental needs
• Those able to foster/adopt teen moms and their children
• Those able to provide short-term care to provide relief for other foster families as respite providers
• Those able to accept immediate placements- 24 Hours a day

Minimum Requirements

• Telephone
• Transportation
• Housing (can be a rental)
• Financial Stability (we do not run credit checks)
• Home and Car Insurance
• Lifestyle free from drug/alcohol or law enforcement difficulties
• Flexibility
• Strong Support System
• Commitment

Licensing Requirements

• Complete approximately 30 hours or less training
• Approved fingerprinting
• Approved background check
• TB Testing
• CPR/First Aid Training
• Completed DFS Foster & Adoption Program Application

A physical is required for an approved adoption home study. For information about the Clark County Foster and Adoption Program, please contact us at 702-455-0181 or e-mail us at fosterclarkcounty@co.clark.nv.us

Iconic Welcome Sign Listed in National Register of Historic Places  

The "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places, a significant milestone in the sign’s 50-year history, county and state officials announced.

Nevada Historic Preservation Officer Ron James, whose office forwarded the county’s application to the National Park Service for consideration, said the Register is the nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of recognition and preservation.

"This sign is one of the most recognizable images associated with Nevada and its tourism industry," said James. "This national honor underscores the historic value of the sign."

The Welcome sign is located on the median of Las Vegas Boulevard in unincorporated Clark County, just south of the Russell Road exit on Interstate 15. It reads, "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada" on the front and "Drive Carefully" and "Come Back Soon" on the back.

The sign is owned by Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) and leased to Clark County. "As owner of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, YESCO is proud to be the stewards of this important cultural resource which has done so much to promote a positive, vibrant image for Las Vegas and Clark County for the past 50 years," said John Williams, the company's vice president and general manager.

The sign was designed by Betty Whitehead Willis of Western Neon, at the time one of a few women in the nation working as sign designers. In 1959 a group of Strip hotel owners asked the Clark County Commission to fund the design and construction of a sign to welcome visitors to Las Vegas. The winning bid, from Western Neon, was for $4,000. Later, YESCO bought out Western Neon and became the sign’s owner.

The Welcome sign was placed on the old U.S. Highway 91, which was the main route from Southern California. The closest hotel was the Hacienda, located where Mandalay Bay is now. Clark County Commission meeting minutes in May 1959 note that the sign was to be located just north of the old McCarran airport. It is still at that location, although the main route for travelers is now I-15, and the old McCarran airport is now Signature Executive Terminal.

In the 1990s, another group of hotel owners, thinking the sign had outlived its day, commissioned a study to determine whether a new structure should be built. A public outcry followed and the sign remained. Although YESCO owns the trademark, the image of the Welcome sign was never copyrighted, so it has been used freely for commercial and non-commercial purposes for decades. As a result, it is recognizable internationally and the Welcome sign’s popularity as a tourist destination and photo opportunity continues to grow.

In January, Clark County completed work on a parking lot in the median just south of the sign to enable individuals and groups to safely take pictures of the sign without having to park on the side of the road and run across three lanes of traffic to get there. The new lot also provides access to the sign for the disabled for the first time. Access to the sign had been somewhat limited since its creation in 1959. The new lot features 12 parking spots, including two for the disabled, plus space for two buses.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the installation of the Welcome sign, which has marked the southern approach to the Strip since 1959.

"…For its association with the post-World War II entertainment, tourism and advertising industries. The 1950s saw an explosion of casino construction on the Las Vegas Strip, and the 1959 Welcome sign represented the optimism and boosterism of Las Vegas casino owners and civic leaders. The fifties also saw the development of national advertising into a fine art, which made Las Vegas a most desired tourist destination and indeed, a household word across the country and around the world."

"Designer Betty Whitehead Willis was a Las Vegas native and daughter of a pioneer southern Nevada family. She attended art school in Los Angeles and had a career as a graphic designer before becoming a sign designer in the early fifties. Willis also designed, among others, the locally treasured Blue Angel Motel sign, and the 1955 Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino sign."

"…As an excellent example of Exaggerated Modern/Googie architecture (1940s-1960s). The sign utilizes a stretched diamond shape with curved sides, set against an angular double column, outlined with light bulbs to accentuate the unusual shape, which are characteristics of Exaggerated Modern/Googie. The sign has become a cultural icon, known and loved around the world, not just because of its historical value and association with Las Vegas, but also because it is one of the dwindling examples of Exaggerated Modern in the southwest and especially in Las Vegas."

The National Register provides recognition for properties regarded as historically or architecturally significant. For a current list of properties in the National Register of Historic Places and Nevada State Register of Historic Places, visit the State Historic Preservation Office’s Web site at NevadaCulture.org (click on SHPO). For more information, call Ron James at (775) 684-3440.

County Celebrates 100th Birthday Bash with Float at Helldorado Parade 

Clark County's centennial-themed entry into the Helldorado Parade held on may 16 featured a three-tiered birthday cake with white and gold frosting and sparkles with small, white LED twinkle lights and a rotating, gold-sparkled "100" figure. The cake sat atop an oversized birthday present wrapped in gold atop an 8-foot circular base covered in gold shimmer rain skirting.

The large birthday present displayed a golden "Clark County Centennial" sign on two sides so that it was visible to guests along the Fourth Street parade route in downtown Las Vegas. A large ribbon banner extended off the gift front and back displaying the "100 Years, from 1909 to 2009, a Century of Service" signage. The long banner display was bordered in colorful, brightly lit rope lights, and ran the entire length of the float.

There were small groupings of assorted-sized boxes, decorated in festive birthday wrapping papers and bows. The lower half of the float sparkled with hundreds of flashing, miniature LED twinkle lights. (See attached rendering of the float.)

Other centennial-themed projects sponsored by the county included a touring history exhibit about rural Clark County, the grand opening of the Candlelight Wedding Chapel and of a 1910 railroad cottage at the Clark County Museum; the placement of historical markers; brochures; a mural at the Winchester Cultural Center; history panel discussions; historical programming on Channel 4; the burial of a time capsule in December and partnerships with the Clark County School District and the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.

Clark County also has nominated the famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign to the National Historic Register. The Strip is located in unincorporated Clark County and is not part of any city. The Centennial Web site also features historical information, a listing of events, a trivia contest, a link to a geocaching project, and a section where residents can share their historical stories. Residents also may add themselves to an electronic mailing list to stay abreast of centennial updates.

Clark County was officially formed on July 1, 1909, out of what had been Lincoln County and is named for railroad baron William Andrews Clark. The city of Las Vegas, which includes downtown and the area north of the Strip, was incorporated two years later in 1911. Those interested in additional information on Clark County’s Centennial celebrations can visit the Web site or call 455-8200.

Fifth-Grader Gets Her Art Displayed on Anti-Graffiti Bus

(Article Courtesy of the Southern Nevada Regional Transportation Commission)

Fifth-grader Pamela Torres of Ruby Thomas Elementary, watched agape as a 40-foot bus from the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) rolled up wrapped in her artwork.

Torres had the winning design in an annual poster contest aimed at educating local children on the importance of creating a graffiti-free community. Her visual message will travel the RTC routes for one year to promote the anti-graffiti message. She also received a $150 gift certificate from Veolia Transportation.

The RTC teamed up again with the Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department D.A.R.E. and anti-graffiti units, Vector Media Las Vegas and Veolia Transportation to host the poster contest.

Sixteen local elementary schools participated in this year’s contest with 182 entries. The entries were narrowed down to 10 and the community was able to vote on their favorite.

Four additional posters were also honored and will be displayed on various RTC transit vehicles courtesy of Vector Media.

The Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition was formed in 1997 to reduce graffiti vandalism. The coalition meets regularly to discuss methods of reducing graffiti through education, enforcement and eradication.

RTC Unveils Grease Bus on Earth Day

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) recently unveiled its 40-foot long grease-powered bus. The environmentally friendly bus will bare sustainability-themed artwork on its sides.

The artists who will have their artwork displayed on the bus are Rolf Pangilman of Becker Middle School and Kiana Spengler of Mojave High School.

The grease bus will be used as a training vehicle and will travel throughout the valley. The oil in the bus will be strained and then directly mixed with diesel, requiring less processing than biodiesel fuel. It will run on recycled grease from the kitchen of N9NE Steakhouse, co-owned by Jenna Morton.

Federal Government Targets Mortgage Scam Companies

Unscrupulous mortgage companies are targeting unsuspecting and often struggling homeowners by promising to refinance their home using money from the Obama administration.

Frauds often involve companies with official-sounding names. The Federal Trade Commission has warned 71 companies and filed complaints against the Federal Loan Modification Law Center, based in Northridge, Ca; Bailout.hud-gov.us of Newport Beach, Ca; and Home Assure LLC, based out of Clearwater, Fla.

There are currently 2,100 mortgage fraud cases under investigation by the FBI, an increase of about 400 from five years ago.

Homeowners can locate free housing counselors at http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov or by calling (888) 995-HOPE.

Go "Where Fun Happens"

Looking for something to do? Click here for a list of events going on in Clark County parks this week.

District F Map