As the Clark County Centennial winds down, the County Commissioners buried a time capsule yesterday so that in 2109 future County Commisssioners could dig it up and see how we lived and celebrated the past.  This time capsule joins a small group of other time capsules buried around the Valley and for the most part, are either lost or forgotten.  Let's hope that doesn't happen this time.

In 2109, Clark County’s future commissioners will open a capsule containing a peek into history.

Clark County’s commissioners buried a time capsule Tuesday morning at the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Parkway. The burial of the capsule is part of a year of events commemorating the county’s centennial.

Each commissioner placed an item in the capsule.

Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid contributed a letter that discussed difficult economic times but expressed hope for a better future.

“My hope is that, as good as gaming has been to our generations, yours may benefit from a more diversified economy — and that, as a result, your citizens prosper,” the letter said.

Clark County Manager Virginia Vanetine, Reid, Commission Vice Chairwoman Susan Brager, and commissioners Larry Brown, Tom Collins, Steve Sisolak and Lawrence Weekly spoke at the event.

The year’s centennial events were meant not only to preserve the past but to bring together the community today, officials said.

“I think Clark County is a transient place,” Reid said. “We need a greater sense of community...We want to make people understand that there’s a rich history here.”

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, a former educator, contributed a half of a wooden apple for education. Written on it was: “An apple for the teacher, support public education, 11/30/2009” and the commissioner’s signature.

Former Las Vegas Stars baseball player Larry Brown contributed a baseball with the names of his three children and his wife written on it.

“Baseball brought me to Las Vegas,” he said, adding that his life here has been about “baseball and bureaucracy.”

A children’s book titled “Springs in the Desert: A Kid’s History of Las Vegas,” and clippings from the Las Vegas Sun, the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the New York Times were also included.

“Learning about our history is important,” said Brager, who contributed a scrapbook of photos. “We’re still a baby, baby state.”

Many items focused on the environment.

A history of Lake Mead, which has an uncertain future, was included, as well as poker chips that read: “Protect and conserve our water — a safe bet.”

Collins contributed a belt buckle and a letter.

“There are a lot of neat things here,” Collins said. “We are the greatest destination in the world.”

Sisolak contributed a bottle of red wine.

“They’ll be able to dig it up and hopefully be able to toast to the last 100 years,” he said.

I had to take LasVegasMom (my mother) to the ER yesterday afternoon (Monday) and they admitted her to the hospital late last night.

Right now, she has a nasty bacterial infection (cellulitis) that may have spread to her bloodstream.

And she may need another hip replacement.  Or not, it could just be the cellulitis.

Posting will be light here in the next couple of days until the doctors tell me more.

Please bear with us and I promise, we will be back with an update on LasVegasMom as well as  more history and more upcoming events!

 You know how much we love the Mint Hotel around here.  Well, we aren't the only ones.  Seems our good friend, John L. Smith, columnist for the Review-Journal, does as well!

From today's R-J:

With the crescendo of coverage of the opening of CityCenter and its promise of 12,000 jobs, you might have missed the news of the downtown closing and loss of 100 jobs. Although in recent years it's been called Binion's hotel, most locals still recognize the tower with the penthouse restaurant as the Mint, a casino that opened in the mid-1950s, was bought by Del Webb in 1961, and in 1965 briefly became the valley's tallest building.

The Mint was eventually bought by the Binion family and is now the property of TLC Casino Enterprises, but I never heard anyone but tourists call it Binion's hotel.

With its glass elevator, ritzy "Top of the Mint" restaurant, Quarterdeck seafood house, and Merri Mint Lounge, it was a happening place. In its heyday, Vic Damone and Patsy Cline headlined there. The Mint 400 off-road race attracted national media to Fremont Street.

Thompson drew an assignment to write about a narcotics officers' convention and the Mint 400 when he crossed the desert on his long, strange trip. He stayed at the Mint in Room 1850. A legend was born, but Thompson didn't need hallucinogens to colorize the Mint's characters. They were everywhere.

Suzi Arden and Freddie Bell were lounge favorites. Lee Greenwood dealt cards there. And singer Patti York, Howe recalls, occasionally worked as an elevator operator.

Long before Thompson made the scene, Lee Marvin and Woody Strode took a break from the 1966 shooting of "The Professionals" and made headlines when they ambushed Vegas Vic from their suite at the Mint.

Whether out of an abundance of playfulness or whiskey, Marvin and Strode got it in their minds Vegas Vic was making too much noise. Since they had a long bow at their disposal (the movie was a Western), they used it to shoot arrows at the metal cowboy famous for saying "Howdy Podner!"

Vic escaped with minor injuries, and Marvin and Strode got their archery privileges taken away.

That was tame compared to the time former Mint public relations director Howe whacked a Christmas tree and wound up on the naughty list.

At the Top of the Mint, management placed a Christmas tree to celebrate the season. Trouble was, the crowds were big and the tree kept getting in the way of customers. Howe rang in the New Year by hurling the offending evergreen off the top of the Mint and watching it twinkle out of sight.

That would have ended it if New Year's celebrants hadn't seen an object dropping through the darkness and assumed it was a jumper. Security was called, but Howe wasn't fired. He was only suspended.

Howe confirms the story, but playfully adds, "There's no truth to the rumor I was naked at the time."

Watching the tower go dark is almost too much for this die-hard Vegas guy to take.

"When I heard, my stomach just fell out," Howe says. "The Mint was a perfect place. It made money. It was a boutique little (365-room) hotel with a great staff and great service. We treated the $5,000 cardholder like a high roller. The Mint had a certain cachet that a lot of properties on the Strip wish they'd had. It's a damn shame it's gone."

Ironically, the boutique hotel experience is part of the $8.5 billion CityCenter's marketing strategy.

May the new Las Vegas have even half the colorful characters that place did.

The Annual Friends of Classic Las Vegas Holiday Party will be held on Sunday, Dec. 6th.

The General Meeting begins at 3:00 pm and includes a wonderful Holiday buffet.

Also, as part of the festivities, long-time resident and former manager of the Las Vegas News Bureau, Don Payne, will be joining us to give a talk on the history of Las Vegas.  Don was manager of the News Bureau in its hey-day and worked with photographers like Don English.

This should be a wonderful way to kick off the holidays.  We hope you will join us whether you are a member, a friend of a member or looking for a reason to join, we hope you will come celebrate the season with us, give thanks for all the good works we have accomplished this year and throw in with us to help us accomplish more good works in the coming year.

Feel free to email me at Lynn@classiclasvegas.com for the address!

We hope to see you there!



 The Las Vegas City Council invites you to join Councilman Steve Ross for a Cowboy Christmas at Tule Springs this Saturday, December 5th!

Residents are invited to saddle up for a good time and join Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman and Ward 6 Councilman Steven D. Ross as they bring Santa on horseback to the annual Cowboy Christmas at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 9200 Tule Springs Road, on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
 
Party like a cowboy and enjoy the free fun including: a jump house, petting zoo, hay rides, face painting, balloon artists, photos with Santa, games and more. The Las Vegas Farmers’ Market will offer fresh regional produce and other goodies for sale. Centennial, Shadow Ridge, Arbor View, Saville, Escobedo and Lied choirs will entertain with holiday songs. Festivities will include a historic ranch house dedication.

Share the holiday spirit by helping others who are in need. The U.S. Marines will be collecting toys for the Toys for Tots drive. The Jude 22 food pantry will be collecting non-perishable food items for seniors in need.  Residents are also invited to donate old cellular phones for the Cell Phones for Soldiers Program.

“Many in our community are struggling this season,” Councilman Ross said. “This event is a good opportunity to share the holiday spirit with your neighbors in a carefree, fun atmosphere.”

Centennial, Shadow Ridge, Arbor View, Saville, Escobedo and Lied Choirs

• Historic ranch house dedication
• Photos with Santa
• Hayrides
• Petting zoo
• Jump house
• Face painting
• Farmers’ market
• Craft & food vendors
• Share the gift of giving!
• U.S. Marines will be collecting toys for the Toys for Tots Drive.
•  Jude 22will be collecting non-perishable food items for needy Seniors.

Hope to see you there!