Community briefs for April 6, 2005

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 | 8:50 a.m.

Program to help kidney patients

"Kidney Care: Finding Your Strength," a free educational program to educate those diagnosed with or at risk for kidney disease or reduced kidney function, will be 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 17 at the Renaissance hotel on Paradise Road.

Key risk factors include: diabetes, high blood pressure and a family history.

The program is presented by the American Association of Kidney Patients. For more information or to register, call (800) 749-2257.

Wine tasters set for UNLVino

The 31st annual UNLVino grand wine-tasting event to benefit the UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration will be 2-5 p.m. April 23 in Bally's Event Center.

Wine lovers and wine makers will have the opportunity to meet and sample more than 700 wines from 325 wineries, including the latest releases and best vintages, all while supporting the advancement of higher education.

Live music and a Southern Nevada Wine and Spirits specialty wine auction will also be featured.

Tickets are $50 in advance and can be purchased at the Bally's Box Office; $75 at the door. Call 876-4500 or log onto www.unlvino.com.

Visually impaired invited to event

The Las Vegas Centennial event "Come On Out and See Us" is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 23 at the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave.

The event will focus on enhancing the quality of life for the visually impaired, will offer guide dogs, white cane and talking book demonstrations, information on a variety of aids for low vision, clowns, live entertainment, carnival games and information booths.

Children and adults will play beeper ball and goalball, both sports for individuals with visual impairments.

The event is sponsored by the Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services Adaptive Recreation Division, Nevada Council of the Blind, Blind Center of Nevada, and Blind Connect. Call 304-0512.

Blood pressure screenings

will be offered free to Senior Friends members from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesdays at the MountainView Senior Friends office, 8524 Del Webb Blvd. Call 255-5404.

Those interested in donating blood

can do so from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday in Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center's Education Rooms 1 and 2, 9300 W. Sunset Road. To schedule an appointment, call 228-8400, ext. 241.

Twenty-four free tax service certificates

will be given away now through April 15 (good for free tax preparation services this year or next) at Krispy Kremes at 9191 S. Eastern Ave., 7015 W. Spring Mountain Road, and 1331 W. Craig Road in North Las Vegas. The event is sponsored by Liberty Tax Service and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.

Volunteers from AARP

will help with income tax preparation and electronic filing from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday by appointment at the Las Vegas Senior Center, 451 E. Bonanza Road. Call 229-6454.