Life Long Dreams for Disabled Children

A special thanks to friend and fellow real estate agent, Sam Wagmeister, who wrote this article and is diligent about keeping the public informed of these very special events. My brother Doug, while not Downs Syndrome, is a special mentally challenged man, and he would absolutely love to be part of a program like this. One of his favorite things to do is to buzz cut his hair, put on his white jacket and shades and pretend to be Tom Cruise in Top Gun.

 

Kathleen "Kat" Ray, the reigning Ms. Senior Nevada, stepped to the stage just over two years ago clutching the hand of a Down Syndrome teenage girl and the two greeted the audience in song. Responding with teary eyes, the spectators burst into a standing ovation as the final notes reverberated through the theater. 

 

 

Sunday afternoon Life Long Dreams will present great entertainment with an Open House in their new offices. The cast of performers is reminiscent of that earlier inspirational presentation. Life Long Dreams is a non-profit struggling in today's economy to help kids "transform disability into special ability through the arts." This year, the stage, the theater seating, the theatrical lighting will be gone but... the level of performance, the quality of the performers and the commitment of the organization remains as strong as ever. Among those contributing their time and talents to raise needed funds for these great, talented disabled  kids are:

• Lambus Dean, star of the 1-man Sammy Davis tribute
• Ronnie Rose perennial vocal favorite
• BMA award winner Genevieve
• Ramon Scruggs, Motown and R&B vocalist
• Woody Woods, pianist and composer
• Bee J Kunkle, former Mouseketeer
• Greg Austin, lead singer in Magic of Motown at South Point
• Mark OToole, crooner and host of The Vegas Voice Afternoon Affair at Sunset Station
• Jazzin' Jeannie Brie, jazz and swing era singer
• Willie Fish, drummer
• Vita Corimbi of Menopause the Musical
• Lisa Gay, vocalist
• Tony Drake, guitarist with Lou Rawls and others
• LJ Harness, Helping Hands of Las Vegas 'Man of the Year' Honoree
• Tribute artist Peter Pavone
• Saxophonist Martin Mancuso
• ...and more to come

Life Long Dreams inspires the disabled children and young adults to follow their dream and express their creativity through performing and visual arts. Many of the children's and young adult's paintings will be on display and available for purchase. A silent auction is planned and refreshments will be served. 

100% of all proceeds will go to the continuing operation of Life Long Dreams. 

The Open House is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 24, 2:00-4:00 PM in the new offices of Life Long Dreams, 1785 E. Sahara Av., between Maryland Parkway and Eastern. Look for Suite 360. Admission is a $10 donation and refreshments will be provided. 

For a 3-minute promotional video showcasing the kids and goals of Life Long Dreams, click here. 

For a deeper meaning of what Life Long Dreams brings to their kids, grab a box of Kleenex and spend 10 minutes watching this video...click here. 

Please plan to attend, or donate by clicking here and locating the Donate button at the top of the page. 

Special thanks to Genevieve Dew for her tireless efforts in helping to keep for these great kids their Life Long Dreams.

 

To attain the dream of home ownership, search homes for sale in Las Vegas.

Halloween in Anthem Country Club!

In every city, there are certain streets that become famous for their holiday celebrations, drawing crowds of participants. Among the best neighborhoods in Las Vegas for Halloween treats is Anthem Country Club in Henderson, and, more specifically, Plum Hollow.

Plum Hollow is a neighborhood of about 55 homes within Anthem Country Club. Of course Anthem is a guard gated golf course community, so you have to know someone to gain access. But if you do, it is a Halloween bonanza!

It all started when the four residents of Darcy Court (a smaller cul de sac inside Plum Hollow) decided to get together and elaborately decorate their homes with a theme, Spooky Hollow.  Word quickly spread, and after only a couple of Halloweens, it was THE hottest place in town and the cul de sac had to be cordoned off to cars. It has now become a neighborhood tradition and one gigantic block party.

My personal favorite was the "Haunted High" Halloween. One front yard sported a high school football field complete with goal posts and yard markers. There were life size skeletons dressed up in football jerseys in the midst of a scrimmage. The next yard over featured the high school prom. The prom skeleton king and queen sat on thrones surrounded by their skeleton prom court, all in formal prom attire. You get the picture.

How insane is it? A resident of Plum Hollow can expect to get about 1,000 Trick or Treaters of all ages. That is NOT a typo. Literally about 1,000! They come in carloads, busloads and vanloads, by golf carts, scooters and bikes.  The Homeowner's Association in Anthem has even seriously considered giving the residents of Plum Hollow an annual stipend to help pay for the candy.

How do I know all this? I live right on the corner at the entry to Plum Hollow. I am the first house hit by the candy munchkins each year.  Last year one of my friends who lives at the far end of the street had purchased 800 Rice Crispy Treats to distribute. She ran out by 7pm and had to shut off her lights.

About four years ago, we tried to hold a Halloween party at our house for about 80 people. We spent three weeks decorating, and constructed a spooky Bat Cave with rolling mist at the entry to our home for guests to enter through.  Before we knew it, our front courtyard was a sea of bodies and no one could get in or out. Complete strangers (mostly older teenagers) were walking through our home, eating the food, helping themselves to drinks, and dancing to the band. We had to escort them out, politely but firmly, and finally station a "guard" at the front door.

Of course, if you are considering buying a home in Anthem and are not super crazy about Halloween, you might want to skip Plum Hollow. But the good news is, the other neighborhoods in Anthem get a more traditional flow of Spidermen, lady bugs and fairy princesses, anywhere between 30 to 50 kids. I still get a kick out of it, and it's only one night a year. And when we want to take a break, we can always just go out to dinner and a movie for the evening.

Affordable Las Vegas Master Planned Communities

There are a wide variety of master planned communities in Las Vegas, with homes in all price ranges, from starter homes to multi million dollar estates. Below are some of the most popular and affordable communities, from one side of the Valley to the other.

 

Aliante is a beautiful master planned community in North Las Vegas, set against the back drop of the majestic Sheep Mountain Range. This huge 1905 acre community has more than 6500 homes as well as commercial centers, shopping, dining, and even a brand new casino, Aliante Station Casino.

 

There are several types of housing in Aliante, from starter homes to retirement homes in the extensive Sun City Aliante. In addition, there are more upscale luxury homes offered in the Club Aliante area.

 

Aliante includes 428 acres dedicated for use by the public and for recreation. There are three parks, a natural arroyo, and a 24 mile interconnecting trail system. The 20 acre Nature Discovery Park has huge grass fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, a large pond, and tennis and volleyball courts. Click here to view Aliante homes for sale

 

Desert Shores is lush community of scenic man-made lakes and canals on the northwest side of the Las Vegas Valley adjoining the Summerlin master plan, and it is one of the few lake communities in the entire Las Vegas Valley. Watch out for the duck and swan crossings!  Feathered inhabitants roam freely throughout the tranquil neighborhoods here.

 

Developed in 1988 by RA Builders, construction was completed in the mid 1990s. Sprawling over 682 acres, there are 22 residential neighborhoods and 3068 residences, with choices ranging from cozy condominiums to lake front luxury custom estates. Click here to view Desert Shores homes for sale

 

Green Valley Ranch is a small resident-friendly master planned community on 1300 acres in the foothills of the Black Mountains of Henderson, Nevada. Green Valley Ranch is noted for its biking trails, parks, walking paths, green belts and wonderful schools with panoramic views of the Las Vegas Valley below.

 

In the heart of Green Valley Ranch is The District, a vibrant outdoor mall of tree-lined cobblestone streets and quaint main plaza featuring more than 50 boutique shops and restaurants. There are approximately 4,000 homes and condos in Green Valley Ranch, divided up into 30 smaller neighborhoods of various sizes and price ranges including custom homes in the prestigious Estates at Green Valley Ranch. Click here to view Green Valley Ranch homes for sale

 

Summerlin is a beautiful master planned community on the western rim of Las Vegas, only 12 minutes from downtown or 20 minutes to the Las Vegas Strip. By far the largest master planned community in the city and rated #1 for growth in the entire nation, Summerlin occupies 22,500 acres and features an extensive array of parks (over 150), biking and hiking trails (more than 150 miles), shops, schools, libraries and business districts, as well as community tennis courts and pools, baseball and soccer fields, recreational facilities and an amphitheater for the performing arts.

 

Currently there are 19 distinct ”Villages” in the Summerlin area, though eventually there will be a total of 31. A “village” is a mini master planned neighborhood with its own parks, shopping, restaurants and trails. Just to give you an idea of the diversity, below are brief descriptions of some of the villages in Summerlin. Click here to view Summerlin homes for sale.

 

Mountains Edge, tucked away in a secluded desert canyon on the southwestern edge of the Las Vegas Valley, is a beautiful master planned community of approximately 12,500 residences on 3,000 acres meandering around 500 acres of community parks and trails. Ancient Indian tribes roamed this area to find water and new hunting grounds, and to this day their petroglyphs remain etched into the canyon walls of the surrounding mountains. Later, during the 19th century, frontiersmen traversed the Old Spanish Trail which passed right by the entrance to Exploration Park.

 

Mountains Edge contains over 30 separate villages by more than 20 different builders, each with its own unique flair and common amenities including: community pools, neighborhood parks, walking and biking trails, playgrounds, and athletic fields. Property types range from easy maintenance condos to large family homes and everything in between. Click here to view Mountains Edge homes for sale.