Community Spirit

Community Rallies Against Violence

Submitted by Natalie Cullen, Online Editor

Friday, March 22nd, 2013, 1:57pm

Metro Police, religious leaders and neighbors rallied together Thursday night to stop the violence in one area of the Las Vegas valley.

There have been three separate murders at or near the Wynn Palm Apartments near Twain Avenue and Arville Street in the past three months. The latest happened just three days ago.

Police assigned to the area and community leaders said enough is enough. They helped put together a community celebration to help people feel safe and to keep more crimes from happening.

"There is no need to live in a complex or anywhere inside this valley where you can't feel that you can have a very high quality of life. And that is the message," Metro Police Captain Matt McCarthy said.

Church leaders who help put together these types of community activation events the gathering had one of the biggest turnouts they have ever seen.

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Special Olympics Holds Ultimate Challenge and Receives Major Donation

Submitted by Natalie Cullen, Online Editor

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013, 4:57pm

Special Olympics Holds Ultimate Challenge and Receives Major Donation

A program that helps kids of all abilities enjoy sports with their peers kicked off their Ultimate Challenge Wednesday and received a major donation from the Caesars Foundation.

Special Olympics Nevada's Schools Partnership Program works with the Clark County School District to help kids of different abilities participate in sporting events throughout the year.

The Ultimate Challenge is specifically for kids with severe to profound intellectual disabilities, who are not able to participate in the Special Olympics competitions.

During Wednesday's event, they took part in adapted activities like Wii Sports, whack-a-mole, and Angry Birds cheered on by students and faculty from Fertitta Middle School.

The Schools Partnership Program also received a $25,000 donation from Caesars Foundation.

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Opportunity Village Puts on Show for Elvis' Birthday

Submitted by Natalie Cullen, Online Editor

Tuesday, January 8th, 2013, 4:12pm

Opportunity Village Puts on Show for Elvis' Birthday

Opportunity Village celebrated the King's birthday with a special performance by its own dance troupe and an Elvis impersonator.

The OV Elvi and Elvis impersonator Jesse Garon performed at the nonprofit's Engelstad Campus at Buffalo Drive and Russell Road Tuesday, which would have been Elvis Presley's 78th birthday.

The performance opened with the Opportunity Village Roaring Thunder percussion team. Then clients of the nonprofit dressed as Elvis sang some of his most famous songs and performed his famous dance moves.

"They feel very special. They are very proud that they are able to do this tribute to Elvis. They are people who want a chance at a life that we all take for granted and here they are and they are doing something that is fun and exciting that everyone wants to be a part of," executive director Linda Smith said.

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Opportunity Village to Celebrate Elvis' Birthday

Submitted by Natalie Cullen, Online Editor

Monday, January 7th, 2013, 4:47pm

Opportunity Village to Celebrate Elvis' Birthday

Opportunity Village will host a celebration of the King Tuesday for what would have been Elvis Presley's 78th birthday.

The nonprofit's Engelsted Campus at Buffalo Drive and Patrick Lane will host an 11 a.m. performance by the Opportunity Village dance troupe, the OV Elvi, and Elvis impersonator Jesse Garon.

The show will open with the Opportunity Village Roaring Thunder percussion team. The OV Elvi will be dressed as Elvis and perform his signature songs and dance moves.

The finale will feature Jesse Garon performing the Elvis classic: "Blue Suede Shoes."

Opportunity Village is the official manufacturer of Elvis' scarves. Those scarves will be on display at the performance.

The show is open to the public.

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Donate Blood and Get Buffet Voucher

Submitted by Natalie Cullen, Online Editor

Friday, January 4th, 2013, 3:37pm

Donating blood will help people get some free food at the Orleans Hotel & Casino.

United Blood Services is holding a blood drive at the hotel and casino and anyone 21 years old and over who donates blood will get a voucher to the French Market Buffet.

Those who donate will also be entered to win a one-year lease on a Dodge Dart from Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram. The drawing is not just for those who donate blood at the weekend event. Anyone can be entered in the drawing if he or she donates at the United Blood Services Donation Center or at a mobile blood drive through January 30.

The donation drive is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Dauphine banquet room, which is on the second floor.

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Choirs, Commissioners Mark Holiday Season

Submitted by Adam Candee, 8 News NOW

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012, 2:55pm

High school choirs, county commissioners and Santa Claus will take part in holiday festivities the next two days at the Clark County Government Center.

A tree lighting will be the centerpiece of events at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The 35-foot-tall tree was last put up in 2008 and features 2,000 lights and ornaments as well.

On Thursday and Friday, local high school choirs will be performing in the Government Center rotunda at 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. The schedule:

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Seniors to Seniors: The Big Give

Submitted by Diane Bush, Clark County Museum Supervisor

Monday, December 3rd, 2012, 2:25pm

Some of the seniors who attend the Knit & Crochet and Little Workshop classes at West Flamingo Senior Center were asked if they would like to take on a project making knit and crochet items for participants who reside in a local residential retirement home.

They have been working on the project for about two months. About 20 of the seniors have been making lap blankets, scarves, hats, booties, shawls and more. We will be delivering the items to the Life Care Center of Las Vegas on December 5 to give their residents a Holiday gift. Nancy Bean, one of the center Recreation Specialists, has been working with the seniors to coordinate their efforts.

We have a great group of ladies who have put their special touches to each item made. The center staff is impressed by all the hard work the seniors have done the past few months in completing this project, ensuring that the residents at the Life Care Center of Las Vegas will have a gift at holiday time.