Briefs

CHRISTMAS

Angel Tree campaign

begins this week

The annual Salvation Army Angel Tree Campaign begins Friday and runs through Dec. 13, with Christmas Angel Trees in the Boulevard, Galleria and Meadows malls.

The campaign strives to provide holiday toys and clothing to the estimated 10,500 disadvantaged boys and girls in the Las Vegas area.

Children may be "adopted" from the trees at the mall-sites, or new, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at the following locations; Paddock Pools in Summerlin and Green Valley, the All American Sports Park, KVVU-TV (Channel 5) and Regal Cinemas. Paddock Pools will provide discount coupons while supply lasts for each donation made at its stores.

Those interested in making a donation to the Christmas Angel Tree Campaign, contact the Salvation Army or call KVVU at 435-5555.

DANCE

Theater presents

'The Nutcracker'

Nevada Ballet Theatre's production of Tchaikovsky's traditional Christmas ballet "The Nutcracker" begins Dec. 14 at UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre. Nevada Ballet artistic director Bruce Steivel choreographs the annual Las Vegas family event.

Tickets for the production, which runs through Dec. 26, may be purchased through the UNLV box office at 895-2787 or online at www.tickets.com/ unlvboxoffice. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

EVENT

Charity function

slated at The Bellagio

HELP of Southern Nevada plans to host an afternoon tea benefit Nov. 30 at The Bellagio. The "Tea, Trends, & Tranquility" event is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 each or $1,000 for a table of 10. The event is scheduled to include a traditional tea, a fashion presentation by Saks Fifth Avenue and an auction of Las Vegas hotel spa packages.

HELP of Southern Nevada sponsors a program for displaced homemakers. They also provide emergency resource services, family resource centers and weatherization assistance.

Those interested or to purchase tickets can call Amy Hendrix at 369-4357.

DEDICATION

UNLV students

rededicate plaza

The Valerie Pida Plaza at UNLV was rededicated Nov. 9. UNLV sorority and fraternity members raised money to purchase a new plaque for the plaza.

Valerie Pida was a UNLV student from 1985 to 1991 and was once named an "Unsung American Hero" by Newsweek magazine. Pida majored in marketing and hotel administration and was a cheerleader, homecoming queen and Delta Zeta sorority member.

Pida died in 1992 at age 25 following a 12-year battle with cancer. In 1991, Pida cut the ribbon during the original dedication of the plaza that bears her name.