Community briefs for August 18, 2004

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004 | 8:35 a.m.

Nutrition classes set for parents

Family to Family Connection Las Vegas West is offering free nutrition classes to parents of infants and toddlers.

Nutrition classes being offered include nutrition basics, how to make your own baby food, how to read food labels, the importance of the food groups, understanding artificial sweeteners versus sugar and breast-feeding basics and support.

To get more information or to register for classes, call 870-9583 or visit the Family to Family Connection Web site at www.newbabycenter.com.

Back-to-school shots get new hours

The Clark County Health District will offer extended back-to-school immunization hours at its main campus, 625 Shadow Lane. The extended hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

These vaccinations are required for students enrolling in public or private school: chickenpox, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella.

Parents who have recently moved to Nevada should note the chickenpox and hepatitis A vaccinations are not required in all states, so immunizations that were up-to-date in other states may not be current in Nevada.

Most immunizations are free of charge; however, an administrative fee of $15 per patient will be collected.

Home-buying class on tap in Spanish

The seminar Buying Your First Home will be taught in Spanish by Araceli Vazquez of Countrywide Home Loans from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the North Las Vegas Library, 2300 Civic Center Drive.

Questions that will be addressed are: What kinds of low cost home loans are available? How do I qualify for a home loan? Are there agencies that can help me in the process or provide me with information?

For more information, call 633-1070.

Assistance League holds school drive

The Assistance League of Las Vegas will hold its second annual citywide Back-to-School supply drive for Operation School Bell Saturday and Sunday and Aug. 28 and Aug. 29.

The supplies collected will assist lower income children throughout the school year. Items needed include notebook paper, pencils, glue,crayons, backpacks and more. Students are referred by the Clark County School District.

For more information, call 243-4766.

Women's health expo set Saturday

"Celebrating the Women in Your Life," a free public health expo, will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Stardust.

The event is design to provide a unique approach to empower all women in the Las Vegas community with valuable information about resources that are available to them at little or no cost. The event will explore and celebrate all areas of women's health and wellness. A sample of what will be available includes: Mammovan of Nevada; United Blood Services; health screenings and information; raffles and hourly door prize drawings; two afternoon shows; and speakers throughout the day addressing women's health issues.

For more information, call 318-8452 or 808-9195.

Local students will join Girls Nation

Two Southern Nevada students, seniors Samantha Steelman of Las Vegas Academy and Marybeth Acac of Rancho High School, were chosen to attend the 58th session of the American Legion Auxiliary's Girls Nation in Washington, D.C., July 24-31.

The program will introduce 96 female high school students to the structure and functions of the federal government by allowing them to take part in a caucus, organize committees and conduct hearings on bills according to United States Senate rules. The students will also be able to visit capitol landmarks.

The American Legion Auxiliary is a women's service organization that sponsors volunteer programs on national and local levels, focusing on veterans, young people and the community.

LV library boss to head U.S. group

The executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is the president-elect of the Public Library Association.

Daniel Walters, who recently underwent his annual review by the Library District board, said he would focus on the "effect of economic conditions on library services and patron privacy issues" as vice-president, said district spokeswoman Patricia Marvel.

The Public Library Association is a division of the American Library Association that aims to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to their communities.