COLUMN: Welcome, Summerlin's newest star

The Summerlin Millennium Baby event put on by The Howard Hughes Corp. and Summerlin Hospital Medical Center could have been a disaster. Afterall, when 12 babies are gathered in one place, chances are there will be a lot of noise.

But not this crowd. The babies were all on their best behavior and seemingly interested in the proceedings.

Sheila Conway, mother of October baby Carmen Rose Conway, sat across the aisle from me with her 2-year-old son, Shawn. He wasn't in the mood to sit still for speeches, so Conway had her hands full trying to manage a newborn and the baby's big brother.

I could relate.

Tyler Thomas, the January baby, started to get bored and was squirming around in his mother's arms until Summerlin Sam showed up. Tyler couldn't keep his eyes off Sam and was as good as gold through the remainder of the festivities.

Riley Steel, Mr. February, found his voice and was competing with the speech of Hughes Corp. President Dan Van Epp. Riley chatted through the proceedings and enchanted everyone with his golden curls and apple cheeks.

Aurora Holladay, Miss August, sat behind me and was the subject of a TV camera closeup as she smiled and drooled. Other drooling monthly winners were: Roman Ingrassi, March; Kyra Kisner, April; Chase Morrow, May; Alexis Weiss, June; Alesia Sandoval, July; and Alexa Archuleta, September. November and December babies Ashley Pushnick and Weston Brown seemed content to nap away the time.

As a grandmother of 12, I was in heaven. Babies were always my weakness and here I was, surrounded by them.

Each winner had won a gift package of 250 diapers, a one-month supply of formula, a $250 shopping spree at the Fashion Show mall, a $100 savings bond, a photo package, and a choice of a three-month membership to a fitness center or a $50 gift certificate from a baby accessories store.

The Jan. 10 event was held to pull one baby's name out of a hat -- the one of 12 who would be the Summerlin Millennium Baby with a prize package totaling $10,000. Included in the package were $2,000 in stock from The Rouse Co., parent company of Hughes Corp.; $2,000 in stock from Universal Health Services, parent company of the hospital; a $2,000 fee for appearing in a Summerlin promotion; a $2,000 shopping spree at the Fashion Show; and dance or karate lessons from Nevada Ballet Theatre.

Sheila Conway let out a whoop when her daughter's name was picked. It was fated, though. Carmen Rose was born on Oct. 20; her mother was born on Oct. 20; I was born on Oct. 20.

Miss Summerlin Millennium yawned and stretched as her picture was being taken. Carmen Rose was totally uninterested in the fact her name will be engraved on a plaque attached to one of the "Aesop's Fables" sculptures in The Willows Paseo Park.

I was delighted to see almost all the dads were at the event. Summerlin made it easier for both parents to attend by holding the news conference close to lunchtime. Some proud grandparents also made an appearance, and several staff members from the hospital stopped by to see the babies helped deliver.

Summerlin always comes up with the most imaginative promotions. And they can thank publicist Melissa Warren for that. Warren is a partner at Faiss Foley Merica and has been Summerlin's P.R. person since its inception.

The master-planned community has been through several ad agencies, but has treasured Warren's service through the years.

Congratulations to the Conways and beautiful little Carmen Rose. I'm sure we'll be hearing more from you.

Carmel Hopkins, real estate product manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, can be reached at 380-4574. Her e-mail address is Carmel_Hopkins@ lasvegasnewspapers.com. Snail mail is P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

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