PRIME VIEW BRIEFS

TAXES

Help available for IRS, Utility Rebate Program

Volunteers from AARP will offer residents ages 50 and older free assistance with personal income tax form preparation and electronic filing.

Bring a copy of your 2007 income tax return and all applicable 2008 paperwork.

Appointments are required at all locations. Call weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

* Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive, 229-1702.

* Derfelt Senior Center, 3343 W. Washington Ave., 229-6601.

* Doolittle Senior Center, 1930 N. J St., 229-6125.

* East Las Vegas Community Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., 229-1515.

* Las Vegas Senior Center, 451 E. Bonanza Road, 229-6454.

Volunteers are available to help with form preparation for the Utility Tax Rebate Program. The rebate is available for those 60 and older, single or married. Bring copies of your 2008 utility bills, identification and proof of income. First come, first served.

Assistance is free and available through March 19 at the following locations. Call for hours and days of the week, as times vary per center:

* Doolittle Senior Center, 1930 N. J St., 229-6125.

* Derfelt Senior Center, 3343 W. Washington Ave., 229-6601.

* East Las Vegas Community Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., 229-1515.

* Las Vegas Senior Center, 451 E. Bonanza Road, 229-6454.

* Howard Lieburn Senior Center, 6230 Garwood Ave., 229-1600.

BOOK EVENTS

Food temptress plans event Feb. 21

Rekaya Gibson plans to sign copies of her book "The Food Temptress" at the Aliante Library, 2400 W. Deer Springs Way, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 21.

For more information, visit www.foodtemptress.com.

Children's writers and the path to publication

The Society of Children's Book Writer & Illustrators in Las Vegas plans a general meeting at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.

Barry Lyga, author of "The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl," "Boy Toy" and "Hero-Type," will speak about the two things it takes to get a book deal. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Author to screen films

Author, poet, filmmaker, writer-director M. K. Asante Jr. is set to moderate a film screening and question-and-answer forum at 11 a.m. Feb. 7 at the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

Asante's books include "It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop," "Beautiful. And Ugly Too" and "Like Water Running Off My Back." His latest film, "The Black Candle: A Kwanzaa Celebration," is narrated by Maya Angelou.

'A Rare Breed of Love" tour to visit libraries

Author-psychologist Jana Kohl and her dog Baby will tour several local libraries in February.

Baby spent the first nine years of her life locked in a cage at a puppy mill, was rescued and became the inspiration for "A Rare Breed of Love."

Events are set for 2 p.m. Feb. 21 at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.; 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Drive; 1:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave.; and 4 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Sunrise Library, 5400 Harris Ave. For more information, call 507-3583.

Russell Banks to speak at UNLV on Feb. 24

Russell Banks, author of "The Reserve," "Cloudsplitter," "The Darling," "The Relation of My Imprisonment," "Continental Drift," "Rule of the Bone," "Affliction" and "The Sweet Hereafter," will speak at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 in the UNLV Student Union Theatre.

Banks will serve as the Elias Ghanem chairman in Creative Writing at UNLV from mid-February to mid-March. He is the founding president of Cities of Refuge North America and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

His presentation is free and open to the public.

Henderson Libraries sell books in-house, online

Readers can support Henderson Libraries through in-library and online book sales. A store has been created through Amazon.com and can be reached by visiting www.mypubliclibrary.com and selecting "book sales."

In-library book sales are held at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway, and the Gibson Library, 280 S. Water St. The sales also will be held at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway, once it reopens next year.

The microphone is open on Thursday nights

Writers, poets and acoustic musicians are welcome to perform during open mic nights starting at 7 p.m. every Thursday at Cheesecake and Crime, 10545 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 100.

Bookstore offers writers group on Wednesdays

Borders bookstore has a writers group at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, 2190 N. Rainbow Blvd.

Learn more about area authors

Authors are invited to share information with readers and other writers at the 18Q Web site www. eighteenquestions.com.

Surveys are posted on the Web site and sent out as part of The Fabulist Flash, a weekly eZine.

Author is regular at McCarran Airport

Just about every Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., readers can catch William "Slick" Hanner, co-author of "Thief! The Gutsy, True Story of an Ex-con Artist" signing books at the McCarran International Airport Borders. For information about the book, visit Thieftruestory.com.

RECREATION

North Las Vegas Curves issues a free invite

Curves of North Las Vegas, 5181 Camino al Norte, is rolling out the red carpet to members of the Healthways SilverSneakers Fitness Program.

SilverSneakers members are eligible to join Curves of North Las Vegas for free.

"As you age, your risks for debilitating disease increase, and being overweight or obese significantly adds to that risk," said club owner Mary Wise. "At Curves of North Las Vegas, we have programs that help women of all ages do the three most significant things they can do to decrease their risks -- manage their weight, exercise regularly and eat healthfully."

For more information, call Wise at 399-5358.