Developer of Proposed Arena Near M Resort...No Longer Viable

STADIUM PROJECT MANAGER SAYS IT'S NO LONGER VIABLE....ALSO LOSES IN COURT on ANOTHER DEAL GONE BAD

It all sounded TOO GOOD to be TRUE when Developer Chris Milam brought up a Sports Complex in our own backyard near the M Resort; and apparently, IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE after all.

Henderson City Manager, Jacob Snow, was recently notified that Milam was TERMINATING the project.

Ouch !

There's always a BUT.....

Milam's letter went on to say that "We are fully committed to achieving development of the arena complex and accompanying development in a way that will greatly enhance the city and surrounding areas."

No one seems to understand that part of the letter, and there is speculation that "development" will involve residential properties, something the City Council was led to believe was not part of the deal.

City Attorney Josh Reid evidently believes that to be the case, and wrote a letter to Milam that "we have a problem."

Read the entire article from the front page of the November 30, 2012 edition of the Las Vegas Review Journal:

http://www.lvrj.com/news/arena-developer-calls-project-not-viable-still-wants-to-develop-land-181481151.html

And the troubles for Chris Milam didn't seem to stop there. 

In a decision by the Nevada Supreme Court, dated November 28, 2012, the court, by a vote of 6-1 UPHELD a $1.1 million judgment against  Mr, Milam resulting from an accusation of lying to his business partners.

Here's the full article that was also located on Page 5 of the Review Journal of the November 30, 2012 edition.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/justices-uphold-judgment-against-developer-milam-over-hard-rock-tower-181421911.html

As part of the early discussions, a number of us were both optimistic, as well as skeptical, of the arena project when it was first proposed.

One such individual, recently defeated Clark County School Board candidate, Kevinn Donovan, was particularly critical of the arena arrangement.

Local residents, forum owner of www.anthemtoday.com,  Rana Goodman, and former SCA board candidate, Nelson Orth also brought strong concerns to the City Council as to the viability and credibility of the arrangement as well.

And sadly, they were ignored by Henderson officials.

Is it over?

Probably not, but one thing seems rather certain at this point...

Las Vegas will continue to linger without a major sports team.

Dick Arendt

A Website for Those Who Like to Eat

We received a great tip from a resident who has enjoyed dining bargains for years.

Like to Eat?

Click on our page entitled:

DINING BARGAINS for SUN CITY ANTHEM RESIDENTS 

(located on the right side of the Anthem Opinions main page)

Sun City Anthem Resident Named to Nevada Real Estate Division

Former Sun City Anthem Board Director Appointed to Nevada Real Estate Division by Governor

We wish to congratulate BOB FRANK, former Board Vice President, for his recent appointment to the Nevada Real Estate Division by Governor Sandoval.

Click on Certificate

Bob joins recent appointee, Jonathan Frederich, who replaced former Sun City Anthem Director, Favil West, as one of three appointees who represent the interests of homeowners.

Mr. Frank is replacing Director, Marilyn Brainard.  

Both men are well known for their homeowner rights positions.

Perhaps our community should now take another look at this man, a man whose background was thoroughly vetted by the Governor's office prior to appointment, yet who has been relentlessly ridiculed by anther blog owner over the years.

The obvious question here is WHO IS THE MORE CREDIBLE OF THE TWO? 

The Governor of our state, a man ELECTED by the people...

Or a blog owner,  who believes HE SPEAKS for them ?

Smart Meter Opt-Out will Cost $$$

SMART METER OPT-OUT PLAN WILL COST $$$

The Public Utility Commission came to a decision yesterday about the Smart Meter...or so we think !

The commission voted 2-1 to ALLOW you to opt-out of the Smart Meter; however, it will cost you.

The amount: 

a. One flat charge of $98.75

and

b. A monthly cost of $9.00.

For those who have followed the Smart Meter saga, these devices have received a great deal of scrutiny over the past few years due to a concern over transmitting data electronically, possibly subjecting it to "hackers" in order to obtain personal information.

Health concerns have also been expressed, but perhaps the greatest concern is the rate structure that the Smart Meter would enable NV Energy to charge substantially higher rates during peak hours of usage, with lower rates at other times.

The opt-out would be for a four year period that would either disappear or become permanent after 2016.

Read today's article in the Business Section of the Las Vegas Review Journal.

If you do not get the newspaper, here is a link if you wish to learn more about it.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/puc-settles-on-smart-meter-opt-out-program-181061651.html

Is this the end?  No one seems to know, Petitions may be filed in order to delay this decision.

Have any of you that have accepted the Smart Meter experienced a substantial increase in your bills since it has been installed?

We'd like to know, because more knowledge can better help all of us to make a decision that serves the best interests of our community.

Let Us Entertain You

Fun In the Lost & Found

Laughing is good for the soul, and as promised, we also told you we would try and entertain you as well.

This is one of those times.

In my opinion, laughing at yourself is the best medicine in the world. It's a sign of being secure in who you are; that life should be a comedic experience as we get older.

And....it sure beats the old goats who sit and complain about everything from bad food, to sore feet, the number of pills they take, and the number of surgeries they've had....and have planned. (BARF !)

Who cares what people think ????

By now, you are who you are, and besides, people expect us seniors...well, to be seniors...with moments of "forgetfulness."

And I too, qualify in that "forgetfulness" category.

Yesterday was going to be a special day.  I was taking my wife to the Smith Center to see "The Addams Family" and then a romantic dinner at "Primarily Prime Rib" at the South Point Hotel & Casino.

The evening was wonderful....

UNTIL...

I woke up this morning getting ready for Cyber Monday.

There I was, getting ready for Christmas and Hannukah (I'm Catholic and my wife is Jewish), searching the web for bargains, finding them, getting ready to buy them...

UNTIL...

I realized my credit card was NOT WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, namely in my wallet.

Thoughts running through my head as to where it was, who had used it, and how I was going to have to go through the embarrassing explanation to the credit card company convincing them I wasn't in Pennsylvania buying $3,000 of computer equipment.

...and even worse....

Telling my wife, Marla, that I had to cancel it !

Then it hit me.  I was so concerned about getting my coupons taken care of at the South Point (you know, the "free" meal that cost over $1,000 in slot machine play), that I realized that I had forgotten it at Primarily Prime Rib.

It was 4:30am this morning, and on the phone I was to the South Point operator who directed me to the "Lost & Found."

And there he was, good ole Tom in the Security Department that had my credit card after all.

I jumped in the car "in my jammies" and off to see Tom I went at 5:00am this morning. 

The hell with looking good...I needed my credit card. That was all that mattered !

Well I got the credit card, but I also had a laugh or two with Tom. 

Things aren't very busy at the South Point at 5:00am, and then I asked him, "Tom, just what are some of the items that have been turned in, and do you have a top 3?"

Tom didn't hesitate, and that's today's smile.

#3.  An individual eating breakfast, left his false teeth in the Cafe. He never picked them up, and if by some chance it's you, they are still in a safe at the South Point.

#2. A set of crutches.  How this guy or gal left the hotel without the crutches, had everyone wondering about that one. They too, are still there.

But, last but not least, the best without a doubt....

Now keep in mind, the South Point arena is the home of a couple of rodeos each year....

#1.  Someone left THEIR HORSE....and never picked it up.

I'd like to say that horse is in the same safe with the false teeth and crutches, but someone eventually took the poor thing and gave it a good home.

So there you have it, FUN in the LOST & FOUND !

And an opportunity to me to laugh at myself and those who are every bit as "forgetful" as I.

I guess it's true what they say....

"What goes on in Vegas, STAYS in Vegas."

Have a great day.

Dick Arendt

Making Sure Your Garage is Ready for the Winter

Looking for some advice on Garage Maintenance as we enter the winter months?

Check out the latest article in our information page segment entitled:

"Mr. Fix-It's World of Home Improvement"

(located on the right side of this page)

A Change in Subscribing to Anthen Opinions

A Change in Subscribing to

 Anthem Opinions

We told you we were in the "fine tuning" stage, and....

We've GREATLY simplified the way you can subscribe to Anthem Opinions and make comments to any articles.

There is no longer any reason to identify yourself.

Comments may be made by either using your real name or anonymously.

See our "Information Pages"  on the right side of website as to posting on either basis.

Here's all you have to do in order to receive Anthem Opinions.

1.  Click on this link:

http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=AnthemOpinions&loc=en_US

2. Enter your email address.

3. Enter a few letters to make sure you're not SPAM.

4. Click on "Complete Subscription Request."

You've now one of the "family."

Why We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving Story

Wishing all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Need a smile?

Click on our "History & Holidays" Infomration Page to the right and find out:

"Why We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving"

What is the "Fiscal Cliff?"

WHAT IS THE FISCAL CLIFF ?

41 days left to 2012, and before you know it, another New Year will be here.

As you go about your spending frenzy on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I suggest you leave a little bit left in that piggy bank for 2013 planning.

Why?

Because of something called the "Fiscal Cliff."

If you've paid much attention to the economic news lately, you may have heard of that term, but how many of you know what it really means?

When you fall off a cliff, you will certainly be severely injured, if not die, and that is the fear that exists in our economy.

The "fiscal cliff" refers to the Bush tax cuts that will expire in 41 days.

In the recent election, the battle cry for "the middle class" was heard loud and clear, but unless this crisis is solved shortly, the "middle class" will really have something to cry about !

Just what does this mean to most Americans?

First and foremost, EVERYONES tax rates will increase. Current income tax brackets of 10%, 15%, 25%, 33%, and 35%, will AUTOMATICALLY increase to 15%, 28%, 31%, 36%, and 39.6%.

Secondly, CAPITAL GAINS taxation will radically change, especially if you have dividend income.  For most Americans, tax rates will increase from 15% to a maximum of 39.6%.

Third, if you are still working, your payroll tax will increase from 4.2% to 6.2%.

Fourth, the Alternative Minimum Tax will apply to millions of additional Americans.

Just what is that tax?

http://taxes.about.com/od/1040/a/minimum_tax.htm

Fifth....this is perhaps the WORST for those who have intentions of "leaving monetary legacies" to your children....

The estate tax limit WILL REDUCE from $5.1 million to $1.0 million, and the tax rate will increase from 35% of everything above $5.1 million to 55% on amounts above $1 million.

Not worried about this one?  Perhaps you should.

This "death tax" is imposed on the entire value of your estate.  Add in the value of your home, your cars, your savings, the value of stocks & bonds (as of the date of death), and the one item most people are unaware of, THE PROCEEDS of YOUR LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES, and you might be surprised how quickly that adds up to $ 1 million.

Will this apply to you?  Read this.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2012/11/15/will-the-estate-tax-boomerang-as-we-go-over-the-fiscal-cliff/

Of course there are many estate planning tools that may be employed to minimize how these tax changes will affect you, and proper counsel from a qualified tax consultant should be a MUST within the next 41 days, if this concerns you.

Other changes...MEDICARE PAYMENTS to PHYSICIANS will DROP 30%, and national security concerns are eminent due to the substantial reduction that will AUTOMATICALLY TAKE PLACE in our national defense budget.

Here's some additional information YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF and THOROUGHLY discuss with your accountant.

http://www.cfr.org/economics/fiscal-cliff/p28757

Know exactly what changes will take place without some form of action by the congress and president.

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/fiscal-cliff-expiring-tax-laws.aspx

And remember this saying:

PEOPLE DON'T PLAN TO FAIL, THEY FAIL TO PLAN.

Federal Court to Decide if Residents Were Injured by Henderson Officials

Sun City Anthem Residents Sue City of Henderson

Former Henderson Police Chief, Jutta Chambers and Sgt. Jeffrey Farley of the Henderson Police Department, as well as the City of Henderson, were sued by Sun City Residents, Bob Frank & Tim Stebbins, on November 16, 2012,  following three years of allegations for filing a false police report.

The actual text of the complaint can be obtained as a PDF file on the www.anthemtoday.com website.

The misdemeanor case, after three years, was dismissed some time ago when the state's attorney made the determination that the allegations were without merit.

There is little doubt that this matter will, in all probability, take years to proceed through the court system.

What we find odd is that the one community publication, after years of obsession referring to both men as "criminals," has now decided to refrain from commenting on this litigation.

Perhaps the miscellaneous "Doe" potential future defendants might involve those who have been continuously defended by that publication, and/or contributed to the rhetoric over the years in condemning Frank & Stebbins in the court of public opinion.

As the saying goes, each person is entitled to "have their day in court" and these men, having been through humiliation and expense over a substantial period of time, were eventually exonerated for any wrongdoing.

This issue goes far beyond the financial relief both men are seeking.  It proceeds to the credibility of those who seek to defame others in the eyes of people by using the precious power of the written word as a source they trust for accuracy.

Ordinarily this type of action would be considered a private matter and not worthy of commentary, but as a result of the continuous verbal assaults made on these men over the past three years, and the emotional  and financial suffering both have endured, this issue must come to a truthful conclusion.

We, the residents of Sun City Anthem, are entitled to the truth, and we trust our justice system will open many doors in the days to come from depositions of individuals, with a jury making a determination as to the relief, if any, these men are entitled, for what they endured.

The Tax Settlement...... Kudos or Criticism?

Sun City Anthem Tax Settlement Comments

OK, we have reduced the tax penalty to 8 cents on the dollar. Should we be celebrating and giving praise to our administration for orchestrating a big reduction? Maybe, 8% is better than 100%.

But why are we in this mess in the first place? Why should we be celebrating paying a fine and interest.

What and who created the problem? A prior board was informed of the potential liability. They were advised that the carryover of funds would create a problem. They ignored an expert who detailed in a letter how these funds should be handled. They were told to return the excess funds to avoid this tax penalty. They wrote to the expert, who was a resident, and told him he was wrong. THEY WERE WRONG and we received a penalty. So, why are we celebrating a negotiated smaller penalty?

Shame, shame. We should heed the warning signs so we are not liable for tax penalties. 

Who were the experts that we hired that influenced our board? Were they paid to give us expert advice? Were they paid for their service? If so, in the spirit of transparency, we the residents should know how much we have spent on incorrect advice.  If they were, they should return all their bills and fees for giving us bad advice that created a tax penalty.  Let's place blame where it belongs..on the advisors that guided our board.

As long as we are discussing experts and how much we pay for this good advice, why are we not utilizing more of the expertise that we have within our resident community.  We have a large number of individuals from all walks of life with careers of experience.  How can we best utilize the talent that we have right under our noses.  Are you one of those?  Are you involved to help our community create a better and more efficient environment.  If more of us are givers, we will all benefit.