The City of North Las Vegas is pleased to present the 7th Annual Tastes & Tunes celebration, a festival of culture, heritage and music.

The festivities include musical guests, an assortment of culinary fare, amusement park rides, eclectic art, street vendors, performers, a classic car show and sanctioned boxing bouts.

The fun kicks off from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, May 15 and continues from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.

Admission is free.

An all-day pass for carnival rides provided by Davis Amusements Cascadia costs $25 per person if purchased on site.  Advanced tickets will be on sale for $20 per person from now through May 13 at Silver Mesa Recreation Center, 4025 Allen Lane, at the Neighborhood Recreation Center, 1638 N. Bruce Street and at the City’s Special Events Office, 780 W. Craig Road, Suite A.

For more information, call 633-2650.

Building Safety Week

The City of North Las Vegas is joining communities across the country for Building Safety Week, designated May 3 through May 9, to promote the importance of building safety and fire prevention codes in protecting life and property.

Building Safety Week will lead up to a three-month permit amnesty program in North Las Vegas.  The amnesty will allow North Las Vegas residents who attend free program seminars in June or July the opportunity to acquire permits for pre-existing, non-permitted structures without having to pay the usual fines, citations or double permit fees.

“Public safety is our No. 1 concern,” North Las Vegas Building Official Gregory Blackburn said.  “During Building Safety Week and all year long, building safety and fire prevention officials work to protect North Las Vegans by ensuring the safe construction of buildings and homes throughout the City.”

This year’s Building Safety Week theme is, “Building Safety: Where you live, work and play.”  When most people enter a building they are unlikely to give a second thought to whether it is properly constructed and safe.  But local safety experts work each day to ensure all aspects of construction are safe and code compliant.

The City Council at its May 6 meeting is expected to issue a proclamation for Building Safety Week.  The City Council meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 2200 Civic Center Drive.

Building Safety Week began in 1980 to increase participation in safe building practices and code compliance among building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, builders, engineers, the construction industry and property owners.

For more information, call Building Official Greg Blackburn at 633-2948.  Information, including brochures on flood cleanup, mold prevention, green building and preparing for natural disasters, also is available at the City’s service counter at 2240 Civic Center Drive.