Briefs

To help ease the transition from the lazy, hazy days of summer to the beginning of a new school year, the Springs Preserve is offering free admission to all local children ages 17 and under this month of August.

For the entire month, Nevada resident children 17 and younger will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

The family-friendly destination includes exhibits and attractions such as the Origen Experience where you can get up close and personal with live desert animals, People of the Springs gallery where you can see how water played a pivotal role in the area’s development, and the opportunity to experience a flash flood. Additionally, there are trails and gardens, exhibits about sustainability, and a variety of interactive games and activities.

The Springs preserve is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Regular admission fees of $9.95 for local adults and $8.95 for local seniors aged 65 and older and students aged 18 and older will still apply.

The Springs Preserve is located at 333 S. Valley View Blvd.

For more information, visit www.springspreserve.org.

Pear, apple festival planned for Aug. 21 at Whole Foods

A Pear and Early Apple Festival, showcasing locally grown fruit, will be held Aug. 21 at Whole Foods Market, 8855 W. Charleston Blvd.

Presented by Whole Foods and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Orchard in North Las Vegas, the festival will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. It will include fresh, pesticide-free fruit along with information about canning pears and apples from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There also will be freezing and drying demonstrations.

The pears, Monterrey, and the apples, Gala and Mutsu, will be supplied from the orchard and Gilcrease Orchards. Pear and apple season continues through the end of December.

Also available at the festival will be bee boxes. Bee boxes encourage the nesting of local, native bees. They pollinate vegetable gardens and will not become “Africanized.” They will be available for a small donation, usually $8 for the basic box.

For more information about, contact Bob Morris at 257-5509 or e-mail morrisr@unce.unr.edu.