| CURRENT WEATHER: Clear, 41° |
|
|
|
||
|
||||
|
May 27, 2005
Las Vegas mayor proclaims special day for Tecopa's Gilbert
By ROBIN FLINCHUM The award commemorates the fact that Gilbert is one of those rare souls who can't only say she lived in Las Vegas for more than 50 years, but that she also worked there, nursing the city's residents through all manner of illnesses and injury. "I bet she's taken care of a lot of Las Vegas in the past 50 years," said Rick Plummer, Director of Public Affairs at Mountain View Hospital, where Gilbert recently retired. "Our vision is caring, compassionate commitment and she embodies that. She's like everybody's grandma. She has that extra thing that can't be taught in nursing school. She knows when to take an extra moment to give a hug or hold a hand." Goodman's office, said Public Information Officer Diana Paul, agreed that such an achievement deserved recognition. "The mayor thought it would be great to recognize her for all her years of service and contributions," Paul said. Arlene Gilbert Day in Las Vegas was held May 6, which also happened to be National Nurses Day, and kicked off a weeklong celebration at Mountain View Hospital in honor of its nursing staff. Gilbert said she was a little overwhelmed by the ceremony, in which she was awarded a proclamation from the mayor's office and a bouquet of flowers from the hospital administrator. So far, 2005 has been a year of celebrations for Gilbert who, in addition to her recent retirement, will also celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary to husband George Gilbert in August. The Gilberts now live fulltime in Tecopa, where they dedicate a great deal of energy to a volunteer recycling service they operate for the local community. The Death Valley Chamber of Commerce named George Gilbert this year's Citizen of the Year for his volunteer contributions to Southeast Inyo events over the years. Gilbert said she is enjoying her retirement, though she does miss nursing. "I get the itch sometimes when I watch one of those trauma shows on TV," Gilbert said. "But it's time to go on and do new things." She also enjoyed the nursing week festivities at the hospital, Gilbert said. Gilbert was a trauma nurse for much of her career. She also did post-anesthesia care at Mountain View Hospital. "Hers was the first face people would see when they came out of surgery," Plummer said. "She's a very nurturing and caring person. Just think of all the people she's helped in 50 years. That's a lot of patients." |
