Community news briefs for December 31, 2002

Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002 | 8:59 a.m.

Spend a night at Red Rock

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers hikes, walks and programs free of charge. To make required reservations or for more information on these or other programs, call 363-1922:

Freaky Friday: A night in the desert while on a two-mile moderate hike, Friday.

Red Rock Day Camp: An outdoor classroom at Red Rock Canyon along with a hike and craft, Friday.

Icicles: A three-mile moderate hike while scrambling into a canyon named for its chilly demeanor, Friday.

NLV plans public meetings on parks

North Las Vegas will host two public meetings next week to get input on the city's Parks and Recreational Facilities Master Plan Update.

The first meeting will be held 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Neighborhood Recreation Center, 1638 N. Bruce St.

The second meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Silver Mesa Recreation Center, 4025 Allen Lane.

"Residents are encouraged to attend and express their views concerning the type and quality of parks, recreational facilities and recreational programs they would like the city to provide," a city statement said.

For more information, contact Tony Taylor at 633-1175.

Zoe Albright will conduct a mini training program,

People with Arthritis Can Exercise, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 12 during the Las Vegas FMS/CFS Support Group meeting at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center, 2075 E. Flamingo Road. Call Sheryl at 647-4791 or Judy at 259-6459.

Arbor Day group to give away trees

Ten free flowering trees will be given to each person who joins The National Arbor Day Foundation during January 2003, as part of the nonprofit Foundation's Trees for American campaign.

The 10 trees are two white flowering dogwoods, two flowering crabapples, two goldenraintrees, two Washington hawthorns and two American redbuds.

To become a member of the foundation and to receive the free trees, send a $10 contribution to Ten Free Flowering Trees, National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410, by Jan. 31.

For more information, call (402) 474-5655.

CLOSINGS

New Year's Day has not always been Jan. 1. New Year's Day has been observed as early as Sept. 21 (autumn equinox) and as late as June 21 (summer solstice). With the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, New Year's Day moved to Jan. 1 for most countries. Some entities may close early on New Year's Eve Tuesday. Here's what's open and closed New Year's Day Wednesday:

SAFETY: Police and fire emergency services as usual. Administrative offices closed.

UTILITIES: Closed: Nevada Power Co., Sprint, Las Vegas Valley Water District, Southwest Gas, Cox Communications cable television.

GOVERNMENT: Closed: Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Clark County, state, courts, federal offices, federal courthouse.

SCHOOLS: Closed, no classes: Clark County School District, UNLV, Community College of Southern Nevada. (Note: Classes at public schools resume Jan. 6. Classes at the university and community college resume Jan. 21.)

MAIL: Closed, no deliveries: U.S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service.

NEWSPAPER: Sun offices closed. Sun published in combined morning editions with the Review-Journal.

TRANSIT: Downtown Transportation Center: Open; City trolleys: Not running; Citizen Area Transit: Holiday schedule (fewer buses on fixed routes). Note: from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 6 p.m. Wednesday, CAT bus rides are free.

LIBRARIES: Closed: Las Vegas-Clark County District, Henderson District, North Las Vegas District, Boulder City Municipal.

GARBAGE: Republic Services of Southern Nevada pickups as usual.

MATRIMONY: Marriage License Bureau open 24 hours, starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday, closing at midnight Wednesday.

FINANCIAL: Closed: Brokerage firms, many banks. (Note: State law allows banks to open on holidays as long as they post transactions to the next regular business day. Check your local branch for holiday hours.)

PARKING: City parking metered spaces free.

Several youths get Eagle Scout honors

These young Southern Nevada men recently earned the distinction of Eagle Scout from the Boulder Dam Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America:

Jonathan Blake Cleghorn, 17; Scott Eidum Forsyth, 13; Michael David Freidhof, 18; Jayson Reed Gifford, 18; Boyce Trent Harper, 18; Ryan David Johnson, 18; Daniel Harris Jolley, 15; Matthew Hajime Kikuchi, 16; Nickolas Laymon, 15; Taylor Alan Ludwig, 17; Joel Kevin McDonald, 16; Alex James Pincock, 18; Robert M. Rosser Jr.; Chase Edward Smith, 17; Nolan Ford St. John, 18, and Michael Kent Wanlass, 15.