Citizens of Mesquite,

Thank you for signing up for my newsletter.

I am your representative for the Southern Nevada Health District and I will always update you on the latest news in that area.

It's a new year and no time is better than now to review our accomplishments from last year and make plans for 2022. I hope you are as excited as I am to make good things happen!

Yes, we’ve some challenges ahead, but with the right amount of attention, diligence, search for best practices, collaboration, and kindness, we will succeed.
Health News
Resources from Health District

Southern Nevada Health District offers resources to help you live a healthier life and be your best self in 2022 with free online tools, classes, and programs. For information, visit Get Healthy Clark County or Spanish-language Viva Saludable websites. They offer free smartphone apps to help increase physical activity and eat better. The Walk Around Nevada app and online program helps track daily physical activities. The Neon to Nature app can help locate walking, hiking, biking, or horse trails throughout Clark County. Half My Plate can provide a little motivation to include more fruits and vegetables. The SNAP Cooking app has healthy recipes and makes it easy to find retailers accepting SNAP benefits. To find the app that fits your lifestyle, visit Get Healthy Clark County Mobile Apps page.
 
Quit Smoking
Free tobacco cessation resources are available to help you quit smoking, including the Nevada Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). The Quitline is available in English and Spanish 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569) for Nevadans age 13 and older. Callers will work with a coach who can provide quitting assistance and some people may be eligible to receive free supplies of nicotine replacement patches, gum, or lozenges. For more information, visit Get Healthy Clark County Live Tobacco Free or Viva Saludable Live Tobacco Free websites.
 
Free Diabetes Self-Management Classes
For people with diabetes, self-management is key to staying healthy and reducing the risk of complications. Free classes are taught by trained facilitators who can help participants better manage their condition with evidence-based meal planning, physical activity, and diabetes resources. The class is appropriate for people living with diabetes, caregivers, and people who have prediabetes. Virtual and in-person classes are scheduled throughout 2022. For information visit www.gethealthyclarkcounty.org/myd, call (702) 759-1270, or email gethealthy@snhd.org or vivasaludable@snhd.org.
 
What would you like to see offered here in Mesquite or online? Contact me at karen@karendutkowski.com and let me know your thoughts as I feel we could use more services available to our residents.
SNHD COVID-19 - January 14, 2022

Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) continues to encourage people to get tested at one of the community COVID testing sites rather than visiting a hospital emergency department for testing. With the current increase in COVID-19 cases and influenza season, it is important to keep emergency departments from becoming overwhelmed with individuals seeking COVID-19 testing. For more information, a list of testing sites, or to register, visit: www.snhd.info/covid-testing.

SNHD is among the community partners receiving COVID-19 self-test kits ordered by the State of Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Emergency Management. Self-test kits are a tool people can use to determine their COVID-19 status and begin to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Self-test kit results are not reported to the Health District or Nevada Division of Health and Human Services. Individuals who test positive should self-isolate immediately and notify their close contacts. Information about self-isolation and quarantine are available: www.snhd.info/covid-selftesting.
Mesquite COVID-19 Testing - Self-Test Kits
The City of Mesquite has received an allotment of BinaxNOW COVID-19 antigen self-test kits mentioned above. This test, though not quite as accurate as laboratory-confirmed testing, is helpful to know if you test positive and should begin to self-isolate.

Mesquite Fire and Rescue CERT volunteers are distributing kits to residents at Fire Station 1 behind City Hall in a drive-through fashion. Due to limited supplies, proof of residency is required (Mesquite, Bunkerville, Beaver Dam, Littlefield, and Scenic). Also, note CERT volunteers will only be able to distribute for those within the vehicle. Check the City's website for updates. https://www.mesquitenv.gov/

Drive-throughs are open behind Mesquite City Hall while supplies last.
Monday: 10-1; Wednesday: 4-7; Friday: 10-1

Thanks to our Community Emergency Response Team volunteers for stepping up to yet another challenge!
COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Testing
Covid-19 PCR testing has been deemed one of the "gold-standard" tests often required for travel or return to work.

The City of Mesquite has worked with SNHD to host a mobile COVID-19 testing site monitored and administered by Curative, a leader in on-demand public health service programs. The test consists of a shallow, self-administered PCR nasal swab and results are typically provided within 24-48 hours. Log onto their website, Curative.com, and book your appointment. Appointments are available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The testing location is at The Jimmie Hughes Campus at 150 North Yucca Street near the Mesquite SNHD clinic.

If you are visually impaired or need additional assistance, please call Curative's support line at 888-702-9042 to find and book an appointment.
Breaking The Cycle Specialty Court Program
I recently met with Municipal Court Judge Ryan Toone and his staff to learn more about something positive happening in our community. You may have heard about the Breaking The Cycle program which started here in Mesquite in 2015 to help drug court participants get help. Programs such as this are a result of Assembly Bill 29 (NRS 176.0613) whereby a Specialty Court Funding and Policy Committee oversees application, funding, policies, and procedural standards.

Breaking The Cycle coordinates efforts of judiciary, prosecution, defense, probation, law enforcement, treatment, mental health, and other social services to help people over whom the court has jurisdiction due to alcohol or drug abuse. Participants over age 18 agree to an 18-month period of weekly counseling, random drug testing, curfews, and GED classes tailored to their needs to succeed in staying drug or alcohol-free and finding new jobs or places to live. At the end of the program, a participant often has their case dismissed or removed from their record.

Lindy Hulet is the Program Administrator and Mike Vanhouten is the Case Manager. With the assistance of local community partners Judge Toone, Lindy, Mike, and others have worked together to help 24 individuals graduate from the program thus far. They tell me what is especially rewarding is helping expectant mothers through the birth of their children, drug-free.

Participants in the program graduate at various times of the month. If you are interested in attending, call 702-346-5291, Extension 6806 to inquire about upcoming graduations. This is open to the public, but space is limited, so please let them know you plan to attend.
Mesquite Police Department Volunteers
At the January 10 Council Meeting, Mesquite Police Department Volunteer Coordinator Jean Battaglia provided a comprehensive report on the 2021 activities of 28 volunteers supporting our community. Last year the volunteers provided a grand total of 18,123 hours serving police, advocate, watchdog, and animal control activities.

The Independent Sector, a coalition of charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs, calculates the dollar value of volunteer time at $27.40 per hour. This means our city last year benefited $496,570 in support of our community. 

The best part is our volunteers are often familiar faces who help ease our need for assistance, be it at a special event, police call-out, health crisis, vacation check, or taking care of misdirected pets.

Thank you, Chief Chesley, Jean Battaglia, and all our volunteers. You are so valuable to our community!
2022 Mesquite Senior Games

Registration is now open for the 2022 spring events. Check out the brochure by clicking on this image.
Mayor's State of the City Address
The public is invited to Mayor Allan Litman's State of the City Address on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. at Mesquite City Hall, 10 E. Mesquite Boulevard, in City Council Chambers on the Second Floor. Mayor Litman will outline the City of Mesquite's past accomplishments and future goals for the coming year. Light refreshments will be served.

The event will also be televised on the cable channel and live-streamed on the City of Mesquite website.
Rec Center Wins Bike Playground Skills Course
Parks & Rec Business and Camp Business magazines announced our Mesquite Recreation Center is the winner of a Bike Playground Skills Course from American Ramp Company in their inaugural Great Fall Giveaway. The course is valued at $15,000 and includes features such as ladder bridges, rollers, tunnels, and teeter-totters specifically designed to offer a variety of fun obstacles that safely build cycling confidence. Recreation Coordinator Nicole Burton submitted the application on behalf of the city.

American Ramp Company is one of the most diverse action sports park design and construction teams in the world.

Congratulations, Nicole Burton, and the Rec Center! More details will be forthcoming.
AARP Shred Station Coming to Senior Center
Mesquite Senior Center, along with AARP, is raising awareness about consumer fraud and identity theft by teaching individuals how to best protect themselves from becoming a victim of scams or fraud. AARP Nevada is launching a state-wide education effort by establishing “shred stations.” Mesquite Senior Center was chosen as a host site for our community.

This shred station will be easily accessible for individuals to shred sensitive documents, learn about new scam/fraud tactics in Nevada and obtain information on the AARP Fraud Watch Network. The shred station is not designed for bulk or business use. There is no cost for its use.

For more information about this program contact Krissy Hall at the Senior Center at 702-346-5290
Audition for Virgin Valley Theatre Group
Auditions are being held for the Virgin Valley Theatre Group's next original melodrama in a series set in Lizard, Nevada in the 1960s. It's called Wedding Bell Blues or How the Virgin Valley Got Its Groove On.

The heroine is Crystal Ball, the owner of the local bridal shop, Enchanted Garden. The villains are Slip Shod, who owns the bank, and Mrs. Sippi, who wants to rise to the top of Lizard society no matter what it takes. Her daughter, Missy Sippi, is always a bridesmaid and never a bride. The innocent bride-to-be is Paisley Tye and her betrothed is Brighton Early. Locals include Rainbow Trout, Lucky Chance, Adam Zapple, and Howie Doohan.

Auditions are scheduled for January 18th and 19th at 6:00 p.m. at Mesquite Community Theatre, 150 N. Yucca Street. Do come and audition even if you have never been on stage before. They love having fun and sharing the 'theatre' experience.

They will be casting five female and five male speaking roles and two male and two female singers. Be prepared to show your talent by singing a song of your choice from the 1960s. The script will be available at 5:00 p.m. if you would like to come early and check it out in advance.

You must show proof of current and complete COVID-19 vaccinations in order to audition.
Hot Air Balloon Festival
One of my favorite colorful events is happening on January 28, 29 and 30. The annual hot air balloon festival will include balloon launches each morning (weather permitting) along with night glow and live entertainment in the Skydome Lounge at the Casablanca Resort and Casino.

If you haven't seen the balloons float above our city, you are in for a treat.

You can grab wonderful pictures from various high spots around Mesquite.
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Be safe, everyone.

Karen