Community briefs for Jan. 9, 2004

Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 | 8:54 a.m.

Blood emergency continues in area

United Blood Services extended the emergency shortage of blood for the third day Thursday.

The local blood bank and 20 area hospitals it serves have been in continual communication as local physicians and hospital personnel closely monitor hospital stock levels for on-going surgeries, spokesman Dan Perlstein said.

Due to low inventory, United Blood Services is not able to restock hospitals to maintain their needs, Gary Haman, Hospital Services director said.

Las Vegas joins a number of cities that have declared emergency shortages of blood.

Donors can call 233-9620 to make an appointment to donate blood or for directions to the nearest blood center as a walk-in.

Eligible donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds.

These locations will host blood drives next week for United Blood Services, 6930 W. Charleston Blvd.:

Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Coca-Cola, 320 N. Mojave Road; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First Performance, 600 Pilot Road; noon to 8 p.m., AVI hotel, 10000 Aha Macave Parkway, Laughlin.

Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Stoller-Navarro, 7710

Jan. 17: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Courage Unlimited, 1950 N. J St.

Lecture scheduled on bipolar kids

Division of Child and Family Services, Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services and Las Vegas-Clark County Library District are offering a lecture on "A Parent's Perspective on the Bipolar Roller Coaster Ride," a presentation by Cheryl Murphy from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.

The topic will be a parent's definition of bipolar and how it effects families; the realities of living with a bipolar child -- the mood, the mood swings, the abuse, the sweetness, the caring, the hating and lack of trust that families endure, and the strategies used to keep the family together.

The event is free and open to the public.

Call 486-0499 or 486-6021.

Griffith United Methodist Church

will hold its 50th anniversary barbecue and concert from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at the church, 1701 E. Oakey Blvd. The event will include food and live music. For more information, call 384-5255.

The Clark County Public Education Foundation

will get its just desserts this weekend as the new Claim Jumper restaurant on Green Valley Parkway at Interstate 215 in Henderson donates proceeds from sales of its chocolate motherlode cake to the organization that provides funding and resources to public schools in Southern Nevada.