Briefs

ART

Rodin pieces

now on display

The Las Vegas Art Museum, 9600 West Sahara Ave., is now showing "Rodin's Obsession: The Gates of Hell."

The selections are from the collection of Iris and B. Gerald Cantor. There are about 30 pieces including his famous "The Thinker," and "The Kiss." The show runs through mid-September.

The museum is open Tuesday though Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. (closed Monday). Admission is $5 per person; seniors $3; students $2; children under 12 get in free with adult paid admission.

Call 360-8000 for more information.

MEETINGS

Toastmasters offer

public speaking tips

Do you want to feel more comfortable with public speaking? A free demonstration meeting of Toastmasters International will be held tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Convention Center.

The event, sponsored by the Golden Communicators Club, will show you secrets to feeling more at ease, getting your point across and making a memorable presentation.

For reserve seating call Ellie at 646-3123 or Bonnie at 386-8247.

CHARITIES

Salvation Army seeks

food donations

Being hungry is a terrible thing. The Salvation Army is short of dry good food items and is asking the community for help shoring up its supplies.

Especially needed are donations of macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, dry cereal and pasta.

Anyone who would like to donate these items can bring them to 2900 Palomino Lane near Charleston Boulevard and Rancho Drive.

FESTIVAL

Hispanic heritage

to be celebrated

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Fiestas Patrias at Lorenzi Park (on Washington Avenue between Valley View Boulevard and Rancho Drive) Sept. 9 beginning at 10 a.m.

The event will include nonstop music from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with talent from several locals groups as well as Los Humildies, Grupo Mojado and a mariachi group.

There will also be events for children with face painters, balloon artists and cartoon characters as well as educational programs like D.A.R.E., free ID and fingerprinting cards and other surprises.

The event is hosted by La Nueva 103.5 FM, Recuerdo 870 AM and the City of Las Vegas.

For more information call 284-6400.

INSURANCE

Help available for

kids' health program

University Medical Center is offering assistance to parents wishing to enroll children in Nevada Children's Health Insurance Program/Nevada Check Up.

Nevada Check Up provides low-cost, comprehensive health coverage to uninsured children, ages newborn to 18, who are not covered by private insurance or Medicaid. The program covers inpatient and outpatient hospital visits, physician services, X-rays, dental, vision, hearing, prescriptions, ambulance services, chiropractor visits, immunizations, laboratory services and more.

Eligibility is based on a family's gross annual income. Through the program, all children in a household could get insurance for as low as $10 every three months.

Parents may stop by the Enterprise Health and Dental Center, 1700 Wheeler Peak St., Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for assistance.

Parents should bring income verification and documentation stating that the child is a legal resident or U.S. citizen. Immigration status is not affected by applying for the Nevada Check Up, nor is the parent's citizenship status questioned. Bilingual specialists will be available.

Call 383-1922 for appointments.

BENEFIT

Parkinson's disease

walk-a-thon Sept. 8

The seventh annual Las Vegas Parkinson's disease Walk-a-thon will be held Sept. 8 at the theme park of the MGM Grand from 8 a.m. to 10:30.

Last year more than 100 people participated on the walk and raised $8,541. Teams this year include employees from the MGM Grand, Convention Services Department and Templeton Realty will walk.

All walkers receive a ticket stub for a drawing. Prizes include show tickets to Siegfried & Roy, Debbie Reynolds, Smothers Brothers and dinners for two at Lawry's and other restaurants.

Approximately 15,000 people in Southern Nevada have Parkinson's disease.

Call 464-3132 for more information or to register.

EXHIBITION

County sponsors

annual eXtreme Thing

Clark County is sponsoring the Sixth Annual eXtreme Thing, amateur skateboard, in-line and BMX Competition at Desert Breeze Skate Park, 8275 Spring Mountain Road, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

An exhibition is scheduled between four local board shops as well as four to six national acts (bands to be determined), world class break dancers and professional skaters. BMX riders will be on site to sign autographs. Food vendors and exhibitors will be on hand as well.

Tickets are $5 and available in advance through Ticketmaster at 474-4000. Anyone interested in participating should contact Joe House at 455-7006 or Brian Saliba at 455-8838.

EVENTS

Water district offers

conservation help

On Sept. 8, the Water District is holding a conservation event at the Albertson's on Sahara Avenue and Fort Apache Way. There will be an information table, water clock to show homeowners how to best keep lawns green, refreshments and an appearance by Deputy Drip.

Also, the Desert Demonstration Gardens ,3701 W. Alta Drive, will also hold an event Sept. 29 that will include a speaker and refreshments.

For more information call The Water Authority at 258-3939.

MEDICINE

Men 55 and older

needed for study

Southern Nevada Cancer Research Foundation is looking for men age 55 and older to participate in a cancer-prevention trial using vitamin E and selenium. This is the largest ever prostate prevention study and involved more than 400 sites in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and is expected to incorporate findings from more than 32,000 men.

The study is being conducted under the auspices of the National Cancer Institute and the participants' health will be followed for 12 years.

"Previous research involving vitamin E and selenium suggested that these nutrients might prevent prostate cancer, but we don't know for sure, " said Dr. John Ellerton, the principal investigator for the Southern Nevada Cancer Research Foundation. "When (the study) is complete, we'll know wether these supplements can prevent prostate cancer."

Men interested in joining the study can call 598-0103.

Health screenings

offered at stores

Silver State Health Testing will be offering ongoing health screenings at various Smith's and Vons stores throughout the valley. The testing is noninvasive and can determine bone density and pick up on various medical problems such as plaque deposits. The staff can also check the abdominal aorta for aneurysms. They can find and identify tumors, cysts in kidneys and livers and can check for gall stones. In the past month, two people's lives have been saved, one was a woman with a rare form of liver cancer.

"People will often come into the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions, see us and decide to get tested," said Jim Stroh, owner and operator. "Low and behold we found a gentleman with a 7-centimeter aneurysm. He would have had an attack in a couple of days and would have had no idea it was in his body if we hadn't tested him."

Cost of the exam is $125. Call 255-3017 for more information.

ANTIQUES

Free appraisals

offered each month

Ever wonder what the value is of that dusty old vase Aunt Minnie left you? Find out at the "Roadshow," held at the Antique Sampler Shoppes, 6115 W. Tropicana Ave.

Upcoming dates are Sept. 18, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; Oct. 3, 2 to 4 p.m.; Oct. 16, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; Nov. 7, 2 to 4 p.m.; Nov. 20, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 5, 2 to 4 p.m. and Dec. 18, 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Free verbal appraisals will be done by resident antique expert Dee Perino the first Wednesday of each month, from 2 to 4 p.m. Perino has been in the antique business for more than two decades and is regularly called on to handle estate sales, insurance appraisals and bank sales.

The Antique Sampler Shoppes houses a variety of fine collectables in a 40,000-square-foot building. Call 368-1170 for more information.