Paradise/Downtown Neighborhood News

City of Las Vegas parking manager Brandy Stanley and officials unveiled a downtown parking plan at the Jan. 4 City Council meeting, highlighting downtown’s parking surplus and how it could mean cheaper ways of building large developments.

The plan is aimed at addressing goals for improving parking and the creation of a Parking Services Division.

There are about 47,500 parking spaces downtown, with the city managing about 4,200 — or 9 percent — of these, according to Stanley’s plan.

The surplus of spaces allows for developers to save on construction costs of parking garages or additional parking locations, according to a Jan. 4 Las Vegas Review-Journal article.

MEDICARE COUNSELING SESSIONS
SET FOR WEDNESDAY

Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center plans to hold Medicare counseling classes from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at its H2U office, 3061 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 102, by appointment only every 20 minutes.

Medicare volunteers are scheduled to assist individuals in going through the Medicare process. Call 735-5510 or visit sunrisehospital.com to schedule an appointment.

PRUNING CLASSES PLANNED

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener Orchard plans to hold one-hour pruning classes for figs, pomegranates and persimmons from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday at the Orchard, 7700 Horse Drive.

Reservations are not required, and a $5 donation for classes and educational research support is requested.

For more information, contact Jonathan Chodacki at 257-5532 or chodackij@unce.unr.edu.

SHOW AT SPRINGS PRESERVE
FEATURES RAPTORS

Raptor experts and educators David Kanellis and Alyssa Collins plan to present “Wings Over the Springs” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through March at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd.

The show is free for members or with paid admission into the preserve, and patrons get live interaction with nonnative hawk eagles, falcons, owls and other species in the free-flight presentation.

The couple co-founded Airborne Raptors Unlimited, a Centennial Hills-based organization dedicated to raptor awareness and education.

For more information, visit airborneraptors.com or call 580-1386.

REGISTRATION AND INFORMATIONAL EVENT SET FOR MASTER GARDENER TRAINING

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension is scheduled to hold an information and registration session for the Spring 2012 Master Gardener Training at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road.

The program, open to those interested in volunteering to share gardening information, is set to begin March 12 and will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

To reserve a spot, contact program assistant Mary Bertsch at 257-5501 or bertschm@unce.unr.edu.

LECTURE TO DISCUSS
THE LIFE SENTRY PENDANT

The Howard Lieburn Senior Center, 6230 Garwood Ave., is set to host a free lecture at 1 p.m. Jan. 24 about the Life Sentry pendant. A representative from Life Sentry will be on hand to demonstrate how the pendant works and answer questions. Advance registration is required.

For more information, call 229-1600 or visit lasvegasnevada.gov.

FILM TO LOOK AT HOW MOB
WAS PORTRAYED IN POP CULTURE

Nicholas Pileggi, Hollywood author, producer and screenwriter, is set to host a special film for the Mob Museum as part of an exhibit on how the mob is portrayed in pop culture.

Pileggi is known for his book and screenplay, “Casino,” and his book, “Wiseguy,” which was adapted for the “Goodfellas” movie. The Mob Museum is slated to open Feb. 14.

For more information, call 229-2734 or visit themobmuseum.org.

PROGRAM TO FOCUS ON WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY PROGRAM

Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, 3186 S. Maryland Parkway, launched a bariatric surgery weight-loss program this month and is scheduled to host a free session about the surgery from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the hospital’s auditorium.

Registration is required. For more information, call 233-5454 or visit sunrisehospital.com.

FREE BUNCO SCHEDULED AT SENIOR CENTER

The East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., is scheduled to host free bunco at 10 a.m. Wednesday for seniors. Attendees are encouraged to bring a snack to share. Call 229-1515 or visit lasvegasnevada.gov.

SKILLS FOR NONPROFIT GROUPS
TO BE TAUGHT AT WORKSHOP

The Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, plans to host a nonprofit survival skills workshop designed to help nonprofit leaders to develop financial skills for their organizations at 2 p.m. Thursday in the large conference room. Jim Clinton of Clinton Non-Profit Consulting is scheduled to be on hand to assist attendees. Call 507-3400 or RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/6socpaf.

THOSE WHO WORK FOR NONPROFIT GROUPS CAN MINGLE AT WEDNESDAY EVENT

The Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, is slated to host a munch & mingle event for nonprofits beginning at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday at the Jewel Box Theater. Attendees are encouraged to bring business cards and their own lunch to network with others involved with area nonprofit organizations. Call 507-3400 or visit lvccld.org.