A Day In Paradise

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani (middle in red) takes a walk on the dark side at the Summerfest event.

Over 2,000 residents came out to celebrate “Paradise Neighborhood Summerfest” with Chris G. and Metro Community Oriented Police (C.O.P.) officers on June 6 at Molasky Park. 

Neighbors enjoyed a variety of activities including inflatable jumpers, a rock-climbing wall and live bands during the day-long festival. 

Professional athletes in golf, tennis and boxing volunteered their time to instruct the kids. NASCAR racecars and an official SWAT team van were on display along with mounted police officers. 

Free raffle prizes donated by local businesses such as an iPod, restaurant certificates and Target gift cards were given out hourly. The special event was created to raise community awareness about crime prevention and to celebrate neighborhood pride within Paradise Township. Because of the consistent community policing in the area and direct access to county agencies and representatives, it has become a safer place to live and work.  

Special thanks to the Parks and Recreation staff and community partners such as Panda Express, Tortillas Incorporated and Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant. These local businesses donated great food for all of the attendees. 

New Developments With Flamingo Arroyo Trail

There will be a presentation and update on a portion of the Flamingo Arroyo Trail at the upcoming Winchester Town Advisory Board meeting. 

The project includes two trailheads, one at Sloan Lane near Desert Rose Golf Course and the other at the Pecos-McLeod interconnect. They will include many amenities such as shade shelters, benches, bike racks, and dog bag dispensers. The trailheads include landscaping, drinking fountains and parking in addition to other features.

• The Winchester TAB meets Wednesday, July 1, at 6 p.m. at the Winchester Community Center, 3130 McLeod.

NV Energy to Hold Senior Energy Assistance Expo July 11

If you are 62 years of age or older and need assistance paying your overdue energy bill, NV Energy is holding a Senior Energy Assistance Expo on Saturday, July 11, at:

East Las Vegas Community
Senior Center, Ballroom
250 N. Eastern Ave.
Noon to 4 p.m.

The following agencies will be available to help you pay your past due bill (up to a maximum of $350), discuss weatherization options for your home, obtain free A/C repair and more: NV Energy, Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas - FRC, Clark County Senior Advocate, Clark County Senior Protective Services, Comfort Savings, Division of Aging, Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, East Central Family Services, HELP of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas-Clark County Urban League, Nevada Association of Latin Americans (NALA), Olive Crest, Public Utilities
Commission of Nevada, Rebuilding Together, Salvation Army and United Way of Southern Nevada.

To receive assistance:

• You must not have received energy assistance in the
  previous 12 months.
• You must be a permanent residential customer of
  NV Energy who is at least 62 years of age or older or
  medically fragile (Green Cross coded).
• Your NV Energy bill must be in your name and you
  must live at the address for which assistance is
  requested.
• The maximum annual gross income of your
  household must be within the guidelines below.

Your maximum annual gross income must not exceed an annual gross income of $29,300 for 1-2 people, $34,400 for 3 people, $41,500 for 4 people, $48,600 for 5 people or $55,700 for 6 people.

Documents to bring to the event:

• Letter of invitation.
• Nevada driver license or Nevada State ID.
• Your past due NV Energy electric bill in need of payment (at least 14 days past due).
• Proof of income or pending income. “Cash only” applicants must provide one of the following: Letter from the employer on company letterhead; current bank statement showing recent deposit activity; or current income tax records.

Important conditions:

• If you receive energy assistance and have an unpaid balance remaining, you must make payment arrangements for the balance at the event.
• The energy assistance awarded at this event cannot be used to pay on closed accounts or transferred accounts, deposits, returned check fees and charges, meter damage charges, fraudulent usage fees or final bills.
• The energy assistance you are awarded cannot be used to restore service if it has been terminated due to non-payment or because of a default in payment arrangements.

Road Projects Could Cause Delays

• Lamb Boulevard from Boulder Highway to Charleston Boulevard
• Twain Avenue from Swenson Street to Maryland Parkway
• Paradise Road from Desert Inn Road to Sahara Avenue
• Sahara Avenue from Nellis Boulevard to the Las Vegas Wash
• Jones Boulevard from Russell Road to Tropicana Avenue
• Eastern Avenue from I-215 to Chandler Avenue

New Project Hopes to Stem Problem of Abandoned Pets

Article provided by The Shelter Pet Project

Around 8 million dogs and cats enter shelters and rescue groups every year, and an estimated 3 million healthy and treatable pets never find a loving home.

The Shelter Pet Project (SPP), a national Ad Council campaign sponsored by Maddie’s Fund^® and The Humane Society of the United States in partnership with the entire animal welfare movement, is going to change that.

Developed pro bono by Draftfcb Chicago and with an annual commercial value of tens of millions of dollars, the campaign will utilize TV, print, radio, and outdoor public service advertising, along with an interactive web site to encourage millions of people who are looking for a companion animal to make shelter and rescue dogs and cats their first choice for adoption. If we succeed, we will virtually empty our shelters and reach our goal of a no-kill nation.

But we need your help. We at Maddie’s Fund are inviting you — your organization, your shelter, your rescue group, and you personally — to be a part of this ground-breaking national campaign right now.

Please go to http://www.theshelterpetproject.org and sign up to receive regular updates on the development of the campaign and all the different ways that you can expand your involvement in saving the lives of America’s homeless pets.

The campaign launches in August, and marks the first time in its more than 60-year history that the Ad Council has taken on an animal welfare cause. We need you to add your voice to this historic campaign and spread the word that shelter pets are great pets!

Read more about The Shelter Pet Project in the most recent newsletter, and sign up today!  

Early Summer Often Brings More Feral Kittens

Kittens--everybody loves cute little kittens. Cats are interesting in that they normally have only one litter of kittens a year in the spring. Our climate is mild enough that they will often have a second litter in the fall. I have received reports that some of ours will even have two litters in the spring and early summer. We are currently in the middle of the spring kitten season.

What does this mean to those of us working with the cats and the public in general? There are estimated to be as many as 200,000 feral, lost, or abandoned cats in the Las Vegas Valley. This means that there are currently tens of thousands of kittens under our houses and in our bushes. Every rescue group is working as hard as it can and simply cannot keep up. The tragedy is that in spite of everybody’s best efforts about 90 percent of these kittens will not see their first birthday.

This tragedy can be stopped. The first step is for responsible pet owners to have their cats spayed and neutered. This will prevent these cats from adding to the breeding population when they are unfortunately lost or abandoned. Lied and Heaven Can Wait are expanding their high-quality, low cost spay/neuter surgery operations to assist in this arena.

My primary focus is the cats after they have been lost or abandoned and are living on the street. These are managed with the Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) process where the cats are humanely trapped, sterilized and vaccinated and then returned to the area where they were trapped. This removes these cats from the breeding population and allows them to live out their lives under the care of a Colony Caretaker who feeds and monitors the colony of cats. Assistance with trapping and free spay/neuter surgeries is available through several of our rescue groups.

It is time for responsible pet owners to prevent the addition of even more cats to the feral population by spaying and neutering their pets. It is also time for us to start managing more of the cats already on the streets. For information on upcoming TNR classes and the TNR process, please visit my web site at http://www.clarkcountyferalcats.org.

Keith Williams
Clark County Feral Cat Colony Central Sponsor

Health District Offers Back-to- School Shots

Summer is an excellent opportunity to get school children caught up on immunizations at the Southern Nevada Health District. Immunizations are available Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at all of its public health centers. Parents must bring immunization records.  Children with no records will have to begin the immunization sequence from the beginning. Non-custodial adults may accompany a child; however, written consent must be provided to the health district from the parent or guardian at the time of service. An administrative fee of $16 per patient for one immunization or $25 per patient for two or more immunizations will be collected.  Some vaccines might require an additional fee. For more information, contact the Southern Nevada Health District’s immunization office at (702) 759-0850 or visit www.SouthernNevadaHealthDistrict.org.

The health district’s public health centers are located at:

• Ravenholt Public Health Center, 625 Shadow Lane, Las Vegas
• East Las Vegas Public Health Center, 560 N. Nellis Blvd., Suite E12, Las Vegas
• Henderson Public Health Center, 520 E. Lake Mead Parkway, Henderson
• North Las Vegas Public Health Center, 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, North Las Vegas

The Clark County School District requires the following vaccinations for students enrolling in public or private school: chickenpox (varicella); hepatitis A; hepatitis B; polio; tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap); and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR).  Parents who have recently moved to Nevada should note the chickenpox and hepatitis A vaccinations are not required in all states, so immunizations that were up-to-date in other states might not be current in Nevada. The health district also suggests a second dose of the chickenpox vaccine for school-age children as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In addition, children entering seventh grade must be immunized against Bordetella pertussis. The health district provides the Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis) vaccine to meet the mandate. College freshmen younger than 24 years old who will live in on-campus housing at a Nevada college or university are required to receive the Neisseria meningiditis (Meningococcus) vaccine.

The Southern Nevada Health District will offer extended hours for back-to-school immunizations between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at its Shadow Lane location Monday through Friday, Aug. 17-21, and Monday through Friday, Aug. 24-28.  The health district’s Shadow Lane location will also offer Saturday back-to-school immunization clinics: Aug. 8, 15 and 22 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. No other health district services will be offered after 4:30 p.m. or during Saturday clinics.

The health district will hold immunization clinics at several local malls in August between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.  The Meadows Mall, 4300 Meadows Lane, Saturday, Aug. 8; The Boulevard Mall, 3528 S. Maryland Parkway, Saturday, Aug. 15; and The Galleria Mall, 1300 W. Sunset Rd. in Henderson, Saturday, Aug. 22.

What to Do If Your Property Is Tagged with Graffiti

Contents of article courtesy of the Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition

With graffiti vandalism continuing to be the most costly property crime our community faces our local public agencies are expanding efforts to curb graffiti and bring vandals to justice. One of these measures includes the use of high-tech camera systems which monitor high-graffiti areas. The cameras snap a photo of the graffiti vandal in the act. Some cameras also give a loud audible warning to the offender that they have just been photographed. The photos may then be forwarded to law enforcement for investigation or provided to the media.

Many graffiti vandals commit their crime in a manner that is clandestine. They often operate under the cover of darkness or in a manner that reduces their visibility. These camera systems are an effective means of documenting the crime as it is happening and then serve as a deterrent.

You can also take steps to report graffiti in your area and have it removed:

• To make a police report: Stop by your closest police station and make a report. This report will be assigned to a detective and the matter will be investigated. The owner of the property which was damaged must be the person making the report.

• To have graffiti removed: If the damaged property is yours you should remove the graffiti immediately. You can do it yourself with paint or graffiti removal products, contact a graffiti removal company, or call for public removal if the damaged property is a wall that faces a public roadway. For public removal call the Southern Nevada Graffiti Hotline at (702) 455-4509. You may also receive free paint and supplies so you and your neighbors can remove graffiti in your neighborhood immediately when it appears.

• To report a known graffiti vandal: To report information about a known graffiti vandal you can contact the police department of the city you live in. If you wish to remain anonymous you may contact Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555. If an arrest is made and the charge is a felony (damage exceeding $5,000) you may be eligible for a cash award.

• To report graffiti in progress: If you see a graffiti vandal in the act of placing graffiti, notify the police. It is a crime in progress and you may call 911. A police call-taker will dispatch officers to the location. Do not intervene or try to stop the vandal. Do not place yourself in jeopardy or in a position of liability. Be a good witness for responding officers.

When Art Becomes A Crime

Contents of article courtesy of the Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition

Many people argue that graffiti is art, but when there is no permission given, that is when it becomes a crime.  

A “crime” is generally defined as an act committed by a person who injures another person or another person’s property. There must be intent on the part of the offender, and there must be a victim who wishes for the offender to be criminally prosecuted. When investigating a graffiti offense the police must establish that there was no legitimate authorization for the graffiti to be placed before an arrest can be made.

Often graffiti vandals who deface property without permission describe themselves as “spray-tip artists” or “aerosol artists.” Anyone can label themselves an “artist,” but it is important to understand that when graffiti is placed on property without permission and the owner of the property has not authorized the graffiti a crime has been committed.

Graffiti is one of the most costly property crimes any community has to confront and manage. There is nothing artistic about damaging the property of others and victimizing citizens.

Graffiti placed without permission is not art, it is crime.

'Slappers' A New Kind of Graffiti

Contents of article courtesy of the Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition

Many graffiti vandals use stickers in order to display their graffiti. The vandals call these stickers “slappers.” Often they will take blank stickers or a stack of mailing labels and pre-tag them with their
moniker or message. 

They can then use these slappers to place their tag in locations and under circumstances where they cannot readily use a marker or spray paint. Using slappers falls under Nevada’s Placing Graffiti statute because the law describes graffiti as defacement, which includes “affixing” markings to objects as well as defacement with writing or etching. Many graffiti vandals who consider themselves “street artists” do not participate in using slappers because it is considered to be low-class, childish and appealing only to vandals who lack artistic skill. 

The use of these slappers however is very prominent in our community and contributes greatly to our overall graffiti problem. Many of these
slappers are placed using adhesive labels which cannot be removed without causing permanent damage.

Got Permits? Clark County Reaches Out to Residents

Clark County’s Department of Development Services unveiled a public outreach effort aimed at educating homeowners about the need to obtain building permits and inspections for home remodel and repair projects.

Building permits and inspections are required for construction or remodeling work that could impact the health and safety of a home or building’s occupants. Development Services produced several brochures in English and Spanish to explain common types of residential building permits required for projects. The brochures are posted on Development Services’ Web site in a special section devoted to the campaign via www.accessclarkcounty.com. Other “Got Permits?” materials include bilingual public service announcements for radio and television stations created by Clark County Television (CCTV) Channel 4. The Home Depot also is partnering in the education effort. Development Services staff will help promote the campaign through a new outreach program called “Ask the Inspector.” Inspectors and staff from the department will attend home shows and community events to help answer questions from the public about permits, inspections and the process for submitting applications and building plans.         

“Building permits and inspections help ensure the safety of your home for you and your family, as well as protect your investment,” said Ron Lynn, the county’s building official and director of the Department of Development Services. “Faulty installations can cause fires, flood damage and other hazards. If you do projects without permits and inspections, you may find yourself in a situation were the work isn’t covered by insurance. You also may have to do costly repairs when you sell your home if work was done without permits.”

On June 2 the County Commission approved a 90-day amnesty program that waives penalties and investigative fees on residential construction work done without permits. Homeowners who report work done without permits on their homes from June 2 to Sept. 1 will be subject to paying normal fees for permits and inspections but not penalties. 

Building officials say work that changes the structural integrity of a room requires a general building permit. Alterations to a home’s electrical, plumbing or mechanical system usually require a related permit as well. Examples include room additions, garage conversions, re-roofing when the roof load is increased, and installing new wiring for new outlets, ceiling fans or light fixtures. Projects that are cosmetic in nature generally do not require permits. Examples include painting, replacing existing doors and windows and light fixtures, or replacing floor coverings and standard items such as toilets or stoves. Other common home improvement projects that require permits include pools and spas, fences and water heaters and water softeners.

In conjunction with the kickoff of the “Got Permits?” campaign, Development Services also unveiled a new page on its Web site that allows homeowners to obtain plumbing permits for water heaters and water softeners online. Customers can go directly to the site to fill out and submit their application for a water heater or water softener permit, and pay for it online with a credit card. The permit is emailed to customers when the transaction is complete. Upon installation of the items, homeowners can then schedule an inspection online or call Development Services directly at (702) 455-3000. All permit fees include the cost of inspections. The department launched a pilot program last year with commercial customers to test its ability to offer permits for water heaters and water softeners online. “We continue to strive to provide enhanced services to all the citizens of Clark County,” said Lynn.  “In the future we’ll be expanding the program to cover other types of projects that lend themselves to online submissions.”

Applications for building and related permits for all other projects besides water heaters and water softeners need to be submitted in person, along with any necessary project plans, at Development Services’ Permit Application Center, located at 4701 W. Russell Road or at the department’s offices in Laughlin or Overton. The time it takes to get a permit depends on the complexity of the project. Permit applications and plans for many small home improvement and repair projects such as patio covers and enclosures can be processed over the counter while you wait. Plan reviews for new homes or major remodeling projects may take three days to a week. Fees for building permits and plan reviews are based on the construction value of projects. A fee calculator is available online to help homeowners determine fees. Homeowners also can call Development Services’ Russell Road office at (702) 455-8010 to speak with a building permit specialist for help calculating fees. Phone numbers for the department’s office in Laughlin is (702) 298-2436 and Overton is (702) 397-8087.

McCarran Traffic Complaints

The reconstruction of McCarran International Airport's primary arrival runway (Runway 07R-25L) was completed on April 28th and the runway opened on April 29th. But, because the other east-west runway (Runway 07L-25R) was overused during the six-month construction period, some repair work was needed which necessitated a runway configuration flow that still included some departures to the north. Additionally, the instrument landing system for Runway 07R-25L needed to be calibrated, which also closed the runway for a few days after the April 29th opening. Finally, the Las Vegas Valley has experienced winds from the north and northeast throughout the month of May. (Winds from these two directions also require the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] to direct aircraft to depart to the north because in order to gain altitude, aircraft must take off into the wind.)

On May 30th, the FAA changed the runway configuration to a flow that included departures to the north and arrivals from the south and east. The runway configuration changed directions to that which mostly aligns with the weather patterns. Once the winds changed direction later in the day, the FAA went back to our typical runway configuration.

There will continue to be times when the FAA will direct aircraft to depart to the north. Please note that Clark County does not assign runway use at McCarran. For safety reasons, the FAA has sole authority over runway assignments.

If you have any further questions, please let me know.

Know Your Neighborhood. Attend First Tuesday on July 7th

Article and graphics courtesy of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's 1st Tuesday program is an excellent opportunity for citizens to get involved with their police department.

On the first Tuesday of every month, police open the doors to local substations from 7  to 8 p.m. for the community to have an open forum of communication with the police officers who patrol their neighborhoods.

Each month a different area of the police department is highlighted so the community can get a better idea of what goes on "behind the scenes" throughout the different sections of the department.  On July 7 at 7 p.m. officers will go over gun safety. Please join them at the following location:

Convention Center Area Command
750 Sierra Vista (at Swenson)
Las Vegas, NV 89169
(702) 828-6430

Here are some other locations of substations in District E. Find one near you and get connected:

Northeast Area Command
831 N. Mojave
(702) 828-3403

South Central Area Command
4860 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(at Las Vegas Boulevard South and Russell)
(702) 828-8272

Southeast Area Command
3675 E. Harmon Ave.
(At Pearl and Harmon)
(702) 828-3206

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 E Map

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