NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Photos by David Becker/ViewArmy Top Fuel drag racer and five-time champion Tony Schumacher brought his car to Tom Garrett?s auto shop class at Arbor View High School, 7500 Whispering Sands Drive, April 10 to share car stories with teachers and students. Schumacher was in town for the Top Fuel dragster race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Top, Grayson Pendry, front, goes in head first as Taylor Holmes looks on while examining the cockpit area of the car. Bottom, Schumacher, left, shares a racing video of himself with freshmen Morgan Thompson, center, and Breann Christensen. Advertisement

SAXBY'S COFFEE HOUSE TO HOST LOCAL ART SHOW SATURDAY

North Las Vegas magazine JaCE and Saxby's Coffee, 475 W. Craig Road, will exhibit the work of North Las Vegas artists from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

The event combines the best of local poetry, local visual art and coffee.

For more information, call 438-4800.

SENIORS COMPUTER LITERACY PROGRAM TAKING REGISTRATION

Spring and fall session registration is currently open for a free Computer Literacy Program for adults ages 55 or older.

Instruction will include Introduction to Computers, Microsoft Word 1 & 2, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Excel and Internet use, all from beginners to more advanced users.

The program is sponsored by the Las Vegas-Clark County Urban League from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Martin Luther King Senior Center at 2420 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Building B.

For more information, call 636-0064 or visit www.lvccul.org.

DISCOVER GOOD NEIGHBORS

An Aliante neighborhood event at Nature Discovery Park, 2600 Nature Discovery Drive, will feature music, food, games and prizes from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Local businesses focusing on home protection and community services, such as Neighborhood Watch, will be on hand to provide information to help homeowners work together with law enforcement to prevent crime. The event will include a special appearance by McGruff the Crime Dog. Winchell's Chef George will show off his favorite menu items.

Face painting, balloons and a raffle round out the community event.

For more information, call 809-2274.

THE PLANETARIUM AT CSN SCREENS 'BLACK HOLES'

They lurk in the universe like cosmic dragons, unseen voids with the energy of a million suns. They can devour entire stars, and once in their grasp, nothing, not even light, can escape. Few mysteries in the universe have the power and awe of the black hole. Only now are we on the verge of understanding their true nature. What are they? How are they made? Is the earth in danger of being pulled into one?

Discover the answers at the College of Southern Nevada in a screening of the Digistar film "Black Holes," narrated by film actor John de Lancie (Q in the Star Trek TV series). The program has a running time of approximately 37 minutes. It is suitable for grades 3 and up. The film premieres May 2. Programs are presented every Friday at 6 and 7:30 p.m. and every Saturday at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Presentations start on time and there is no late seating.

Admission prices are $6 for general admission and $4 for seniors older than 55, children under 12 and CSN students. Youth groups, where one person buys all of the tickets, also qualify for the discount price. The Cheyenne campus of the College of Southern Nevada is located at 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave.

For more information, call the planetarium at 651-4505 or visit www.csn.edu/planetarium/.

CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

The city of North Las Vegas Human Resources volunteer program is seeking volunteers to participate in focus groups, community cleanups, gardening projects, planning and other activities. Volunteers will be matched with projects in their area of interest for either the short or long term. A volunteer coordinator will provide support and supervision.

For more information, call Sheila Thompson at 633-1156, or visit the human resources department, 2290 McDaniel St., Suite 2B. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

WORDSMITHS, POETS TO GATHER

Almary Gaston II will host an open mic gathering of poets and wordsmiths every second Thursday of the month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the North Las Vegas Library, 230 Civic Center Drive. Free admission and refreshments are provided. This is an all-ages event. For more information, call 633-1070.

FIRE CHIEF TO HOST STORYTIME

The Aliante Library presents storytime with North Las Vegas Fire Chief Al Gillespie each Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. For more information, call 839-2980 or stop by the library at 2400 Deer Springs Way.

STUDIO OFFERS FREE TWO-STEP LESSONS

Free weekly dance lessons are offered at Larry's Hideaway, 3360 Thom Blvd. Dance instructor Pat Mathers leads participants in country two-step lessons on Monday night, West Coast swing on Wednesdays and Nite Club two-step on Thursday nights. Lessons are from 7 to 9 p.m.

For more information, call Larry's Hideaway at 645-1899.

NORTH LAS VEGAS HOSTS SIXTH ANNUAL TASTES & TUNES

The city of North Las Vegas will host its sixth annual Tastes & Tunes celebration with a festival of culture, heritage and music. Festivities will include musical guests, art and street vendors, performers, a classic car show, sanctioned boxing bouts, dance competitions and culinary fare, featuring the city's first salsa recipe contest. All-day passes for carnival rides provided by Davis Amusements Cascadia cost $25 per person if purchased on site. Advanced tickets will be on sale for $20 per person through May 16 at Silver Mesa Recreation Center, 4025 Allen Lane, at the Neighborhood Recreation Center, 1638 N. Bruce St., and at the city's Special Events office, 780 W. Craig Road, Suite A.

The fun kicks off from 5 to 11 p.m. on May 16 and continues from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on May 17 at the North Las Vegas City Hall campus 2200 Civic Center Drive. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.cityofnorthlasvegas.com.

ENJOY FRUITS OF THE HARVEST

The Thursday harvest market will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the campus of City Hall, 2200 Civic Center Drive. The Friday harvest market will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. at Nature Discovery Park, 2627 Nature Park Drive.

The Friday Harvest market at Nature Discovery Park has a new location on the other side of the park next to the library. Thursday's location will stay the same.