Columnist Susan Snyder: Kids’ coats needed as temps drop

Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005 | 8:09 a.m.

Jacket-weather has returned to the Las Vegas Valley.

Nice -- if you own one.

But Las Vegas resident Harriet Bernard says many children don't. For a sixth year Bernard is collecting coats for donation to area children through the Salvation Army.

Drop boxes will be set up in 39 area Albertsons stores from Wednesday through Oct. 22. Al Phillips the Cleaner will clean them free.

Bernard started the annual coat drive about a year after moving here from Maine in 1999. For more information, shoot her an e-mail, harriet@ladiesdayoutlv.com.

Drop off those coats on the way to one of the Bureau of Land Management's cleanup events, scheduled this weekend and next.

Volunteers are needed from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday for a cleanup in the northeast corner of the new Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. From Las Vegas, take U.S. 95 south to Horizon Drive (Exit 59), and turn right. At Horizon Ridge Drive, turn left and head to Paradise Hills, then turn right.

At the next intersection, you'll see signs leading you to the registration area.

The second cleanup is 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 24, in the Cottonwood Valley area of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, between mile markers 16 and 17 off State Route 160 (Blue Diamond Road).

From Interstate 15, exit west on SR 160 (like you're heading toward Pahrump). After driving 16 miles, look for the blue Nevada-shaped sign and turn left on the dirt road there. Park where it says to, and walk to the registration table.

To register online before either event, log onto www.getoutdoorsnevada.org. Or contact Jim Cribbs, 515-5234, james]cribbs@blm.gov.

Is your mom hot?

Not talking flashes. We're talking date material.

MTV is hosting a casting call Saturday for mother-daughter and mother-son teams to appear the channel's "Date My Mom" reality game show. The search will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the new Empire Ballroom nightclub, 3765 Las Vegas Blvd. South. That's on the Strip between Harmon and Tropicana avenues.

If you can stand an afternoon of fussy fashion, fussy cakes and fussy women, Premier Bride magazine is hosting a bridal show at the Rio Saturday.

The show, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Amazon Ballroom, will feature displays from wedding professionals who offer services to make even a mother-in-law happy.

Admission is $15. The first 50 brides also will receive a free copy of "Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul." (Let's hear it for re-gifting.) Save $5 by registering online at www.vegasbridalshow.com. (Save a bundle by eloping.)

Finally, it's never to early to start working on that book.

Henderson Libraries, in conjunction with the Vegas Valley Book Festival, will host a free, daylong workshop for aspiring writers in fourth through sixth grades on Saturday, Oct. 15, in Henderson's Paseo Verde Library.

Registration deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 12. Call, 492-6581.