Community news briefs for December 15, 1999

Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1999 | 10:10 a.m.

Candlelight vigil scheduled for Friday

Catholic Charities will host the Southern Nevada Homeless Coalition's annual Candlelight Memorial Vigil 4 p.m. Friday at Catholic Charities' St. Vincent Plaza, 1501 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

The vigil will remember homeless people who have died during the year. For more information call 385-2662.

Community celebration planned Saturday

A community celebration to commemorate the opening of Magdalena's Vegas Mountain Family Park will be 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday at 4580 Vegas Valley Drive at Mountain Vista Drive.

The event is free to the public. A dedication ceremony hosted by Commissioner Myrna Williams will kick off the celebration, which will be followed by children's games, arts and crafts projects, music and light refreshments.

Goodman postpones open door meeting

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman will not hold an open door meeting with residents this month due to the holiday season.

The next scheduled open meeting will be on Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 400 E. Stewart Ave.

Residents can bring any concern to the mayor's attention during that meeting.

The Dec. 22 live television program Goodman hosts will also be rescheduled to January.

McDonald plans annual dinner for seniors

Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald will sponsor his eighth holiday meal this season on Thursday at Doolittle Senior Center.

McDonald and newly appointed Councilman Lawrence Weekly will feed about 150 seniors at the center at 1950 N. J St. The Doolittle Seniors Choir will perform at 11 a.m., with the meal to follow at 11:30 a.m.

An estimated 1,250 senior citizens have taken part in McDonald's holiday meals.

Nevadan named head of industry association

Howard Skolnik, the assistant director of the Nevada Department of Prisons, has been elected chairman of the Correctional Industries Association, a national association of prison industry administrators.

Skolnik has been a member of the association's board since 1987 and was president of the association from 1985 to 1986. He is also president of the Western Correctional Industries Association, a position he previously held in 1989.

Skolnik's term as chairman to the Correctional Industries Association begins Jan 1.

Film professor wins Alumni Faculty Award

Francisco Menendez, an associate professor and chairman of UNLV's film studies department, was the November recipient of the Alumni Faculty Award for Excellence in Academics and Student Focus.

Menendez, a faculty member for nine years, has authored and co-authored more than 30 scholarly articles and conference papers. He has served as editor or formal respondent on 10 film projects and has produced and directed several documentaries.

He is board member of CineVegas and Script.