Columnist Joe Delaney: Local care facility says thanks to early supporters

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998 | 10:09 a.m.

WESTCARE, so vital to this community, provides crisis intervention, treatment, prevention, education, research, and training in fulfilling community needs for youth, adults, and family units related to substance abuse and behavioral and physical health. ... This is the facility's 25th anniversary.

Sunday, in the Flamingo Hilton's Sunset Ballroom, starting with a social hour at 6 p.m., dinner at 7, and very few speeches, Westcare honors a dozen of its early contributors.

The LV Sun's Executive Editor Gov. Mike O'Callaghan, Ruthe Deskin, this columnist, Richard Ham, Frank Keyser, Tex King, Jack Kogan, Robert McNutt, Mary Rymer, Joyce Standish, Dr. William Sullivan and Dick Thomas are the honorees. ... Our involvement goes back to the beginning, when Westcare was first known as Fitz House.

How it began

Former local Teamsters offical Dick Thomas persuaded Frank E. Fitzsimmons, then head of Teamsters International, to acquire a building at 8th & Ogden, once a hospital... Named Fitzsimmons House, this was shortened to Fitz House. ... In the summer of 1978, Fitz House was in financial trouble and needed $20,000 to keep its doors open.

Bob McNutt, Bob Kaltenborn, original owner of Pop's Oasis in Jean, Armand Sylvestri -- the latter two deceased -- and I went to then Valley Bank to co-sign a note for the money which would pay off the debts. ... We assured the loan officer that a Fitz House County Fair, which I would produce at the Convention Center, would pay off the loan within six months.

Milton Berle, Alan King and the Treniers were among the stars who performed on Oct. 29, 1978. ... The County Fair grossed $35,000. ... We paid off the note and Fitz House had some operating capital.

Westcare today

Dick Steinberg was there, back in 1978, as a temporary employee, not sure he was going to remain in Las Vegas. ... Today, Steinberg is Westcare's president and CEO, heading an organization successful here, in the Laughlin-Bullhead City-Needles area, plus two other facilities in Arizona and four functioning in Fresno, Calif.

If every parent who had a youngster or an adult who has been helped by Westcare during this past quarter-century would attend (and they should), we could fill the Flamingo Hilton's Sunset Ballroom many times over. ... Westcare needs and deserves your support. ... We promise you a good meal and a very pleasant early evening.

Paulson Dice's Paul Endy is donating a mint-condition 1973 red Volkswagon Convertible to the Westcare Sunday event. ... Some lucky attendee could drive it home after the dinner.

Star-policy rundown

It's George Carlin-Dennis Blair (Bally's); Natalie Cole (Caesars); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); K.C. & The Sunshine Band plus Laura Branigan, starting Friday (LV Hilton); Tom Jones (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell (Orleans) and Danny Gans (Rio).

The Goo Goo Dolls are at the Hard Rock, 8 p.m. Friday, followed by Joe Satriani at 8 p.m. on Saturday. ... Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling is at the Top of the Riviera, 10 p.m. Friday and 9 p.m. Saturday. ... Sunday is closing night for "Tap Dogs" at the Stratosphere. ... We're certain they will be back in Las Vegas before long.

Gary Dee has replaced Frank Marino in Norbert Aleman's "An Evening At La Cage" at the Riviera through Nov. 15. ... Marino returns as Joan Rivers on Nov. 20.

Thursday addenda

Maxim Gorky's "The Summer People" continues through Oct. 26 with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday. ... Also on Sunday, don't miss the 14th annual "76+4 Trombones Concert" in UNLV's Ham Hall at 2 p.m. ... Jazz great Carl Fontana, Bill Tole, Jim Fitzgerald and Steve Slater are featured soloists. ... Cork Proctor emcees; tickets are tax-deductible.

St. Jude's Ranch For Children holds its 31st annual Open House and Ranch Family Reunion Sunday, starting with Mass at 9 a.m. ... St. Jude's Ranch deserves your support as well. ... See you Friday.