NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Jim Miller/ViewLuke Martinez, 8, makes a move at the rated Scholastic Chess Tournament hosted by the Palo Verde High School Chess Club for all grades on Dec. 8 at Our Lady of Las Vegas School, 3050 Alta Drive. Advertisement

EXPLORE UNLV'S HISTORY AT THE BARRICK MUSEUM

An exhibit of photographs and memorabilia highlighting UNLV's first 50 years will be on display at the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History on the UNLV campus through Jan. 4. The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It will be closed on Christmas Day. Admission is free. Call 895-4712.

Cinevegas, library to launch screening series

The CineVegas Film Festival has teamed up with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District to present CineVegas from the Vault, a new screening series highlighting films that CineVegas has either premiered or shown during its 10-year history.

The screenings will be free and open to the public, and will be held at 7 p.m. at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, the first Thursday of every month, beginning next month.

The series will kick off on Jan. 3 with the film "Happy Here and Now," which premiered in 2002 at CineVegas. Set in the near future, the film explores the inner reaches of isolated souls searching for connection in a contemporary wilderness.

Other films to be featured in the series include: "Apart from That" (2005), "Windy City Heat" (2004) and "Mitchellville" (2004).

CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROGRAM RETURNS

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension is participating in a community-wide Christmas tree recycling program again this year, which will allow Las Vegans to take their tree to a drop-off site between Wednesday and Jan. 15 and recycle the trees into raw materials for mulch to be used in parks and public spaces throughout Clark County.

The recycling center cannot accept wreaths, garland or flocked trees, and residents should remember to remove all lights and decorations. To find a recycling center, visit www.springspreserve.org or call the Nevada Recycling hot line at (800) 597-5865.