BIDEN BOOK: U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., on Thursday signed copies of his new book, "Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics," at the Borders store at 2190 N. Rainbow Blvd. A quick interview of those standing in line waiting for a chance to chat with the presidential candidate netted one independent, one Republican (admittedly, buying a copy for her father), one former John Edwards supporter, and a couple of active Democrats who have Biden pegged as a man of substance.

TROOP PACKAGES: The Democratic Veterans & Military Families Caucus continues to look after our troops, and this time it's teaming up with Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 525 to assemble packages to aid injured soldiers in the U.S. military hospital at Landstuhl, Germany.

The group is seeking donations of phone cards, CDs, DVDs, batteries, magazines, books and toiletry items for care packages, which will be assembled beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday at the plumbers union hall at 760 N. Lamb Blvd.

THE BALLPLAYER: The Las Vegas 51s crank up their final homestand of the season tonight with John Kruk Bobblehead Night. Kruk, the popular ESPN baseball analyst and former big leaguer, was an all-star at Cashman Field.

But I noticed Kruk has put on a few pounds since his Las Vegas playing days.

Perhaps John Kruk Bobblebelly Night would be more appropriate.

GOT GOLF?: The Concours d'Elegance Las Vegas Golf Tournament set for Monday, Sept. 17, at the TPC at the Canyons will benefit the Kiwanis Clubs of Southern Nevada. Thousands of advertisements promoting the tournament have been printed on the side of Anderson Dairy milk cartons.

It's a nice gesture, but I have to be honest. I don't know any golfers who drink milk.

Non-milk drinkers seeking to pony up for a good cause are invited to call Pete Shevlin at 697-7126 for more information.

ANIMAL FOUNDATION: It's fascinating to watch the pummeling of activist Janie Greenspun Gale, who is in the center of the turmoil surrounding the Lied Animal Foundation. Criticism aside, there would be no animal shelter without her. She has spent more than $12 million on the shelter in recent years.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Longtime residents of the diminutive Chalet Vegas condominiums are trying to prevent the Paradise Road property from transitioning into a time-share. And they're getting increasingly critical of homeowners association representative Michael Buono Sr., whose name recently surfaced in an Arizona sports gambling investigation.

BOULEVARD II: Here's a vintage idea. It's called the Grape Expectations Nevada School of Winemaking. Located at 1971 Whitney Mesa in Henderson, Grape Expectations allows students to get their hands -- or is it feet? -- wet as they experience the winemaking process and end up with bottles to take home. The school is run by Charlie Peters and Louis Sodano. I hear even the "C" students enjoy themselves. ... The "Wynn Palms" sounds like a dreamy joint casino venture, doesn't it? It's not quite that, but it is the name of an apartment complex located at Wynn Road and Twain Avenue. A quick check of the place revealed no high rollers.

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