Vegas Voice 7-17 web

Want to Volunteer?
By: Victoria Seaman / Victoria’s Corner
Changes on the Las Vegas City Council may
mean changes to Senior Board
The Las Vegas City Council will have two new
representatives in July: Steve Seroka and Michele Fiore. These new
council people will help oversee the range of senior services offered by
the City of Las Vegas.
Most of these services are evaluated by the city’s Senior Citizens’
Advisory Board. Members are appointed on the recommendation of
the city council, with one individual representing each ward and two
members representing the city at large recommended by the mayor. Each
must be a resident of the City of Las Vegas.
This board currently has two vacancies for Wards 2 and 4, but others
may be shuffled around as a result of the city council elections.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to get involved and want to
improve or change the services that are offered by the city - especially
those offered by senior centers, this is a great opportunity to serve your
community and help make Las Vegas a better place to live, work and
play.
The city operates six active adult and senior centers. These facilities
offer classes, social groups and services, computer labs, small libraries,
access to media programs and low cost room rentals. The Las Vegas
Senior Center, located in downtown Las Vegas, also organizes excursions
and groups of seniors who travel together known as Tripsters.
All of these programs rely on citizen involvement in government
and the board to make wise recommendations to the City Council for
guidance and direction. We need Las
Vegans of all ages represented to the
council.
If you’ve got the urge to serve,
Project Director Bill Caserta
with Victoria
you can apply on the Boards and
Commissions page located at www.
LasVegasNevada.gov.
Victoria Seaman is a former Nevada Assemblywoman,
businesswoman and currently a Realtor in Las Vegas. You can
contact Victoria at: victoria@victoriaseaman.com.
Nelson Sardelli and His Troops
By: Sam Wagmeister / People & Places
The dining hall had been transformed into a
war-era cabaret. Their years of service and
historic battles long behind them, the troops in
attendance are residents of the Nevada Veterans Home in Boulder City, a
state-owned facility for veterans needing skilled nursing care.
Each Father’s Day, entertainer Nelson Sardelli enlists his troops - the
singers, magicians and comedians who christened Las Vegas as the
Entertainment Capital of the World. Sardelli himself was a contributor
to that culture.
At 21, he emigrated from Brazil. “Two months later, I was drafted.” He
was drafted again in 1965, but this time to headline in Girls ala Cart in
Vegas, the town he never left.
This Father’s Day, nearly 30 performers answered Sardelli’s call;
including comedian and Tonight Show veteran Pete Barbutt, retired
magician Lance Burton, the familiar face-that-nobody-knows, 3’11”
Felix Silla who starred as Cousin It, Robby the Robot and roles in Star
Wars, Spaceballs and others.
The event has become a true Vegas-style impromptu lounge show.
“Our residents look forward to this all year,” said a Veterans Home staffer.
Drummer Gary Olds has served as musical director from the beginning.
The singers reach into a musical era that enriched these soldiers,
sailors, pilots and front-line guys who ducked bullets and bombs. Most of
them are now confined to wheelchairs and walkers.
The program included what Diane Lopez called an era “when songs
actually meant something”: It Had to be You, When You’re Smilin’, I
Can Only Give You Love and Jeannie Brie’s tear provoking rendition of
Vera Lynn’s World War II classic, We’ll Meet Again.
Sardelli’s program of entertainers who give up the Father’s Day
mornings included current headliners Carmine Mandia, Michael Monge,
George Bugatti, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Gary Anderson on
saxophone and more. Many have a long history with the event.
Retired comedian/singer/musician Peter Anthony who helped establish
the Entertainment Capital moniker is a 14-year member of Sardelli’s
troupe. “I’m grateful for what these guys and gals did for us.”
Sardelli, whose roots include opening for Judy Garland, agrees, “This is
my way to give back. What my father taught me.”
Honoring Our Founder
During this patriotic month as we celebrate our
109 fighters on December 19, 1944, during the Battle of
Independence, we at Miracle-Ear want to honor
the Bulge. Dahlberg accounted for, four enemy planes that
War Hero and our Founder, Kenneth Dahlberg. May he
rest in peace.
Dahlberg Electronics manufactured the first Miracle-
Ear hearing aid in 1948. Kenneth Dahlberg started
Dahlberg Electronics after he left a position as an assistant
to the president of Telex Communications.
Kenneth Dahlberg was drafted into the army in 1941
and became an aviation cadet in the United States
day.
He himself was shot down and rescued by American
soldiers. On February 14, 1945, Dahlberg’s plane was shot
down for the third and final time near Bitburg, Germany.
He was a prisoner of war for the duration of World War II.
While designing a wireless hearing aid, Mr. Dahlberg’s
friend said, “it will be a miracle if that device works…”
and the rest is history! Miracle-Ear products and services
Army Air Forces (USAAF). One of his instructors was Kenneth Dahlberg are the most advanced in the hearing aid industry.
future Senator Barry Goldwater.
For over 70 years, Miracle-Ear, has specialized in
After training, Dahlberg flew the P-47
Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang with
the USAAF 353rd Fighter Squadron,
and 354th Fighter Group Ninth
Air Force in Europe. A fighter
ace, Dahlberg was credited with
14 aerial victories.
Mr. Dahlberg’s plane was shot down
three times. The first time, he bailed out
near Paris, and was sheltered by the French Resistance.
designing and manufacturing customizable
hearing solutions that feature discreet,
comfortable products designed to
meet each individual’s hearing
loss needs. Miracle-Ear boasts
the largest and only nationwide
network of hearing care centers.
Miracle-Ear has been servicing
the Las Vegas Valley for over 30 years as a
trusted resource for hearing health care, offering state
He received numerous awards and decorations, including of the art technology and outstanding customer service at six convenient
the Distinguished Service Cross for leading a flight of 16 P-47
Thunderbolts (354th) against an attack of 70 German Messerschmitt Bf
locations.
What will your Miracle SOUND like?
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July 2017
Jeanne Brie; (L-R) George Bugatti, Felix Silla, Nik Mastrangelo,
Michael Monge, Carmine Mandia; Sardelli with Felix Silla
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