He had written it earlier in the newsroom and informed his KLAS-TV colleagues that he was going to pop the question that night.

"They asked me if I wanted to do it live," said Florendo.

He played it safe because Bartol didn't know what was planned, "and I didn't want to put her on the spot."

So, when Bartol, an event planner at Fashion Show Mall, got to the end of the letter, Florendo put the mic on the ground as the fireworks started going off and got down on one knee in the middle of the New Year's Eve crowd.

When Bartol said yes, the crowd erupted into cheers.

Florendo and Bartol met about a year ago at a dog park near Buffalo Drive and Washington Avenue, when their dogs made a connection.

Bartol's beagle wandered over to Florendo and left a surprise at his feet. An aghast Bartol rushed over with a plastic baggie. The two dog lovers had some laughs and hit it off.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

The New Year's Eve fireworks fiasco -- raise your hand if you saw even one rocket's red glare -- will require some major image repair, after tens of thousands of tourists went home groaning that Las Vegas failed to deliver on the wow promise. ...

More recession-related rumblings: We hear Trader Vic's at Planet Hollywood Resort is close to getting a name change and new management. ...

The woman who was reported missing from a Miami-based cruise ship on Christmas morning was married in Las Vegas a year ago. At the time of her disappearance, Jennifer Ellis-Seitz, 36, was on a cruise to Cancun to celebrate her wedding anniversary with her husband, Ray Seitz. They were married at Vegas Wedding Chapel, 555 S. Third Street, on Dec. 8, 2007. Her family issued a statement saying she had been battling emotional issues and they suspected she "chose an unfortunate ending to her life." ...

SIGHTINGS

Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowbous, spotted at the Palms on Saturday. ... Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, in the front row at Bette Midler's show (Caesars Palace) on Saturday and later backstage. ... Midler with friends, at FireFly, the popular tapas restaurant on Paradise Road, for dinner on Friday. ... "Dancing With the Stars" co-host Samantha Harris, celebrating her 35th birthday belatedly on Friday at Blush (Wynn). She also watched "Le Reve" at Wynn Las Vegas. Her birthday was Nov. 27. Harris launched the first-ever Las Vegas bureau for "Extra" in 1994 as the anchor. ... Rising actor Adam Gregory celebrated his 21st birthday Friday at The Bank (Bellagio) with cake, sparklers and his girlfriend, Jessica Lowndes, who co-stars with him in the new "90210" TV series. Gregory also has a starring role in the upcoming feature film, "Hannah Montana: The Movie." ... At Tao (Venetian) on Friday: David Spade, dining with "The Dark Knight" actor Aaron Eckhart. At another table: actress Michelle Trachtenberg, celebrating her sister's birthday. Comedian Mike Epps was hanging out near the bar. ... The "Ikki Twins," Rikki and Vikki Mongeon, the bisexual identical twin sisters from MTV's hit reality series, "A Double Shot at Love," serving as celebrity hosts at Jet at The Mirage. Also in the house: hip hopper Cee-Lo.

THE PUNCH LINE

"After jumping on her couch, Oprah hammer-locked me 'til I coughed blood." -- From David Letterman's "Top Ten Craziest Things People Say About Tom Cruise on the Internet."

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.