High school students brighten Summerlin Hospital

     A visit to Summerlin Hospital may not be quite so scary for young patients thanks to several murals that now brighten the hallways of the hospital's pediatric and maternity centers. Summerlin Sam, the beloved mascot of the Summerlin master-planned community, is featured in the murals drawn by Palo Verde High School art students.
      With funding and assistance from The Howard Hughes Corp., the murals were brought to life under the direction of Palo Verde High School art instructor, Bob Nicholson. He and five students spent hours creating and sketching the mural designs, which are located in the pediatric examination room, play room and hallway, as well as in the intensive care neonatal nursery and at the entrance to The BirthPlace, the hospital's maternity center.
      The company made a donation to the high school's art department and presented the students with savings bonds for their efforts.
      Summerlin Hospital Medical Center CEO, K.D. Justyn, recently presented plaques to the developer and Palo Verde High School acknowledging their roles in bringing Summerlin Sam to the hospital.
      "Summerlin Sam's presence brings a smile to everyone's face, not just the kids," Justyn said. "The colorful, engaging murals of Sam at play help to take the edge off what can be a frightening experience for young children. We appreciate The Howard Hughes Corporation for sharing Sam with the hospital and we appreciate the Palo Verde High School art department for sharing its talent."
      According to Justyn, the murals make the mascot's monthly visits to the hospital even more meaningful. "When that seven-foot rabbit shows up, the kids get very excited. He's even more delightful in person than he is in paint."
      Developed by The Howard Hughes Corp., Summerlin has ranked as the nation's top-selling master-planned community six of the past seven years, according to an independent survey by Robert Charles Lesser & Co. The community is comprised of villages, each with its own park or golf course.
      The development is home to two Tournament Players Club golf courses, three Sun City courses and two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses currently under development. The community is also home to nine major parks, more than 40 neighborhood parks, 35 completed miles of the 100-mile Summerlin Trail system, a dozen schools, houses of worship, business parks, shopping centers, medical centers and more than 230 model homes.
      Homes are available in a variety of styles, from single-family homes to townhomes and condominiums, priced from the mid-$80,000s to more than $500,000.
      Custom lots from one-third to one-half acre are also available, priced from $80,000 to $300,000. Pre-designed custom homes built by Summerlin's Featured Custom Builders are priced from $500,000 to more than $1 million.
      Luxury apartment homes also are available and rent from the $700s.
      To visit the sales centers, take Summerlin Parkway to Town Center Drive and turn north, then turn east on Hillwood Drive. Or, take Sahara Avenue to Blue Willow Lane, west of Hualapai Way, and turn south.
      Both centers are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.