Community news briefs for February 7, 2002

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002 | 9:03 a.m.

Tournament open to school students

The Associated General Contractors' seventh annual House of Cards tournament will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Galleria at Sunset mall.

The tournament is organized in conjunction with AGC's student chapter out of UNLV's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The contest is free and open to all Clark County middle and high school students.

The tournament is designed to spark interest in the construction industry and provide a potential career path for students looking to the future.

Students will supply their own scissors and will be given five decks of cards, donated from local casinos and a few hundred architectural or drafting dots. The finished products will be completed with the application of the tools only. For more information, call 796-9986.

St. Rose presents 45th annual event

St. Rose Dominican Hospital and Health Foundation presents its 45th annual Mardi Gras Ball at 6 p.m. Saturday at Green Valley Ranch Station.

The ball will feature three separate auctions, a silent auction, a live auction, and an interactive video auction -- the only one of its kind in Las Vegas. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of packages, including a Las Vegas Speedway package, dinner parties and trips.

Tickets are $250. For more information, call 616-7630.

All proceeds from St. Rose fund-raisers, benefit St. Rose Dominican Hospital and its community outreach programs.

Desert Babies scheduled for young ones

Children 3 and 4 years old will be treated to a special program, Desert Babies, 10-11 a.m. Wednesday at the Red Rock Canyon Visitors Center.

Another event on Wednesday is Bird Watching at Pine Creek, for all ages to identify many species of birds on a 2 1/2 mile hike with Athena.

The two events are part of the continuing schedule of hikes and walks that are free of charge at Red Rock Canyon. Reservations are required for all programs, which begin at the Visitors Center. To make reservations or for information call 363-1922.

Juan Garcia Gardens to open in LV

Low-income Las Vegans now have another option when looking for an affordable home. The Juan Garcia Gardens development was scheduled to open today, offering low-income residents family-style apartment homes in eastern Las Vegas.

The development, located at the corner of 28th Street and Sunrise Avenue, will provide housing for 52 families that make 50 percent or less than the valley's median area income.

Juan Garcia Gardens was developed through a partnership between the Las Vegas Housing Authority and Community Development Programs Center.

A Valentine's Day program

featuring stories, songs and crafts will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the North Las Vegas Library, 2300 Civic Center Drive. Call 633-1070.