Community briefs for December 22, 2004

Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004 | 9:02 a.m.

Church to hold Christmas pageant

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church will hold its Christmas pageant at 3 p.m. Friday at the church, 10075 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 114 in Henderson.

There will be the Holy Family, the Shepherds, the angels and the magi, processing to Bethlehem, at the accompaniment of choir, brass ensemble and dance.

A live nativity will be formed before the altar on the Pavilion stage, similar to how St. Francis of Assisi celebrated Christmas Mass at Greccio.

Everyone is welcome. Call 914-2175 for more information.

Christmas in Barrio set Friday

The Mexican Patriotic Committee will hold its ninth annual Christmas in the Barrio for children under 10 years of age 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday at Escobedo Plaza, 760 N. Eastern Ave.

Ronald McDonald and Santa Claus will be on hand to distribute toys and entertain the children with pinatas and games.

Parents can register their children at 393-3094.

Navy League plans special speaker

Capt. Mark Storch, commanding officer of the Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, Calif., will speak at the Navy League dinner meeting Tuesday.

The evening will begin with nohost cocktails at 6:30 p.m. in the Banquet Room at the Fiesta Rancho at Rancho Drive and Lake Mead Boulevard, followed by dinner.

The event is open to the public. Admission is $20. Reservations are encouraged. Call Norma Schaefer at 360-4028.

Everyone is invited

to the 2005 Street and Shelter Count 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Problem Gambling Center, 2330 Paseo del Prado, Suite C-109, to share ideas about ways to locate and count the unsheltered homeless. Call 455-5025 for more information.

FEMA grant to help homeless

The Federal Emergency Managment Agency on Tuesday announced it would earmark almost $750,000 to feed the hungry and homeless in Clark County.

The money was made available through Congress' Emergency Food and Shelter Program, a program that supports similar agencies in more than 2,500 cities nationwide, a prepared statement from Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., said.

The funds, for use in 2005, will be used for food, rent and mortgage payments as well as assistance paying utility bills, according to the statement.

While the Zion Canyon visitor center

and Zion Human History Museum will be closed Christmas Day, Zion National Park will be open for activities including sightseeing and trail hiking, the National Park Service said. The Kolob Canyon visitor center and Zion Lodge will be open on Christmas Day.