Community briefs for April 28, 2004

Wednesday, April 28, 2004 | 8:35 a.m.

Excursion planned to Grand Canyon

The Jewish Community Center is offering a trip Tuesday and Wednesday to the Grand Canyon that will include traveling aboard a luxury coach to and from the canyon, an overnight stay at Yavapai Lodge, tours to the South and East Rim and a stop at the Wahputki Indian ruins.

All meals and drinks (except alcohol) are included and options will include vegetarian meals. Gratuities are included for the tour guide and bus driver.

Cost is $220 double occupancy, $260 single occupancy. Nonmembers are $260 double occupancy and $300 single occupancy.

For reservations, call 794-0090.

Tip-A-Cop food benefit scheduled

Tip-A-Cop, an annual fund-raising event organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, Special Olympics and Claim Jumper will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Claim Jumper, 601 N. Green Valley Parkway.

Law enforcement officers volunteer their time as "celebrity waiters" and receive tips to raise funds for Special Olympics.

Each officer is introduced at each table by the food servers and the officers assist the servers with greeting and seating guests, beverage service, bussing/setting tables and running food.

Event to feature food of western LV

Canyon Gate Country Club will hold its fourth annual Taste of the West Side event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the Canyon Gate Country Club, 8700 W. Sahara Ave.

The event will feature more than 20 restaurants from western Las Vegas. Participants include: Bella Luna, Bertolini's, Carrabba's Fellini's, Fleming's, Jazzed Cafe, Kona Grill, Las Vegas Coffee Company, Malibu Chan's, Nora's, Paymon's Mediterranean Cafe, Rosemary's Roy's, the Chocolate Guy, Wasabi Cafe, Z'Tejas Grill and more.

Each restaurant will bring samples from their menus for everyone to enjoy.

To register, call 363-0303.

The Jewish Federation of Las Vegas

will host Israel Independence Day 2004, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in Bellagio's Grand Ballroom to celebrate Israel's 56th year of statehood. The festival will feature more than 100 booths, including Israeli artisans and merchants and their wares, refreshments, Israeli singing and dancing, a children's area with games and arts and crafts. Admission is free. Call 732-0556.

More than 20 Lit'l Scholar

kindergartners will participate in a bicycle safety training program as part of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's annual Trike-A-Thon from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Lit'l Scholar Preschool and Kindergarten, 8961 Hillpointe Road. The event will promote bicycle safety while raising money for childhood cancer research. For more information, call 256-5300.

The Friends of the Las Vegas Charter

School of the Deaf, with the assistance of For Kids Now, are hosting a fund-raiser fashion show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Palace Station. The event will include a buffet lunch, entertainment and raffle. Admission is $25. Call 385-3323.

Friends of the Wilderness

organizer Susan Potts will present a slide show about Nevada wilderness at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Las Vegas Paiute Center, 1 Paiute Drive. The slide show will focus on beautiful wild lands in Lincoln County that may be part of new wilderness legislation. Call 656-8132.

The second annual Tastes and Tunes

festival is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday in front of the North Las Vegas City Hall at 2200 Civic Center Drive. The event will feature live entertainment from well-known artists such as Next Movement and The S.O.S Band, and a diverse selection of food. More than 75 classic vehicles will also be on display and compete for prizes. Admission is free.

The Mommy & Me Company

is launching a mall tour on Monday at the Meadows mall, 4300 Meadows Lane, bringing Playgroup Favorites tunes and activities to families. Each event will include a 20-minute music and movement class, a 10-minute story time and 15 minutes of arts and crafts. For more information, call 878-4849 or visit ww.mommyandme.com.