Community briefs for December 9, 2004

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004 | 9:15 a.m.

Phone cards asked for overseas toops

The Southern Nevada Chapter of the American National Red Cross is asking Southern Nevadans to donate 100-minute phone cards for use by service members who are stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

The organization will accept contributions of phone cards through Friday. Deliver or mail the cards to the Chapter Office located at 3672 N. Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130.

Call 791-3311, ext. 3034 or ext. 3022.

Firefighters will collect bicycles

The Las Vegas Firefighters Benefit Association is sponsoring the fourth annual Adopt-A-Bike program to benefit children for the holidays.

The association will be accepting gently used or new bikes until Dec. 21. The bikes are cleaned and repaired for distribution to Las Vegas children whose families may not be able to afford bicycles for the holidays.

Bikes can be dropped off at these locations:

Fire Station 1, 500 N. Casino Center Blvd.; Fire Station 7, 10101 Banbury Cross Drive; and Fire Station 42, 7331 W. Cheyenne Ave.

Call 383-2888 or 226-4670.

Councilman hosts annual toy drive

The annual Ward 5 Toy Drive distribution is scheduled 6 p.m. Tuesday at Cashman Field.

Las Vegas Councilman Lawrence Weekly in conjunction with KVEG 97.5-FM and Wal-Mart, are holding the toy drive through the month of December. Residents interested in donating an unwrapped toy for children ages 4 to 14 years of age should contact Weekly's office at 229-6405. Unwrapped toys can be dropped off to the councilman's office on the 10th floor of Las Vegas City Hall, 400 Stewart Ave., through Dec. 20.

For more information, call 229-6582.

Rachel Hunt, owner of AngelHawk Creations,

will donate 10 percent of her sales proceeds from the Winter Fest Craft Fair scheduled 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Henderson Pavilion, to Operation School Bell, which provides new school clothes for needy and homeless children throughout the Clark County School District. For more information, call 263-1994.

Troops to see public rally

A public rally, Operation Holiday Cheer, will be streamed over the Internet to all military bases worldwide, providing families a chance to deliver personal greetings to loved ones deployed abroad.

The event will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the Heinrich YMCA, 4141 Meadows Lane.

The event is expected to draw Las Vegas celebrity entertainers, top Pentagon officials, military families and platoons stationed as far away as Texas.

Nellis Air Force Base and the Pentagon will deliver wristbands inscribed with the words "Defending Freedom" to more than 200,000 U.S. troops now serving in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

Businessman Phil Randazzo is producing similar wristbands that carry the additional message "Pray for Our Troops" for Americans to purchase at the event or online at www.defendingfreedom.net. The wristbands are $2, and all proceeds will support various military charities.

Mutts, masters run, walks, planned

The Department of Leisure Services' Veterans Memorial Leisure Services Center will begin its second annual Mutts 'n' Masters 5k run/walk and a one-mile run/walk at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Memorial Leisure Services Center, 101 N. Pavilion Center Drive, for all ages and abilities, with or without a dog.

The "Masters and Muttsters" of the ceremony will be Las Vegas Councilman Steve Wolfson and his dogs, Kobe and Magic, and television weatherman John Fredericks and his dog, Jordan.

Registration fee for the 5k is $20 and $15 for the one-mile run/walk prior to Friday; $30 for the 5K and $25 for the one/mile run/walk the day of the event. Call 229-1110.

The Valley Automall,

which is featuring a Winter Wonderland now through the end of the month with free horse-drawn carriage rides and carolers present 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, is collecting donations of duffle bags for foster teens. Call 385-7300.