LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Loneliness has become a significant health issue for people everywhere, and the holiday season sometimes intensifies those feelings. For many, December looks like family gatherings, matching pajamas and bustling homes. But this time of year can also be very difficult for those who may be battling distance, work commitments or recent life changes.

Marc Valli, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, has lived in Las Vegas since 1988. He moved to Nevada to join a ministry and be closer to his wife’s parents.

WATCH| Shellye Leggett talks to an army vet who’s recently moved into Escalante at the Lakes assisted living facility

Holiday loneliness affects thousands in Nevada as many face Christmas away from loved ones

“I wanted to come and join ministry here. Also my wife’s parents lived here,” Valli said.

Valli’s wife Barbara, known to friends and family as Bobby, passed away in 2018 after 54 years of marriage.

“I’m still counting the years. We’ve been married 54 years,” he said.

His children moved him into Escalante at the Lakes assisted living facility in June, making this his first holiday season in his new home.

“People are very nice, they treat you good,” Valli said.

Come Christmas Day, the facility’s common room will be filled with residents ready for holiday activities, but Valli hopes to get outside these walls to see his family that still lives nearby.

“I have grandkids. One goes to Cal Poly. He’s here right now, but he’s on vacation, and then I have two little granddaughters, one’s 11, one’s 7,” Valli said. “I don’t know if they’re gonna come for Christmas or I’m going there.”

Gus Farias, the executive director of Escalante at the Lakes Assisted Living, says many of his residents don’t have family nearby. Keeping their spirits high throughout the holidays is an important task.

“We can tell when our residents are feeling down. There’s a lot of pressure during the holidays because some of our residents don’t have families that are nearby, but they have us,” Farias said.

The organisation A Mission for Michael released a study showing just how many people are expected to spend the holidays alone this year. Nevada ranked 43rd on the list of loneliest states, with more than 212,000 people expected to spend Christmas by themselves.

“It’s pretty surprising that there’s so many Nevadans that are gonna spend the holidays by themselves,” Farias said.

He says combating loneliness will take a community effort.

“When you’re at the grocery store or whatever, reach, look back and ask them, you know, wish them a merry Christmas or happy holidays and ask them how they passed their holidays in the past because we, we as a younger generation than our seniors, we can learn a lot from that,” Farias said.

It’s an effort that Valli says makes the holidays a little brighter.

“Oh, it makes a big difference,” he said.

A trio of grade 1 races are set to take place on Santa Anita Park‘s opening day Dec. 28, but the undercard of graded stakes action will add to the fireworks with an expected clash of recent grade 1 winners in the $200,000 Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2).

Those grade 1 winners both emerge from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert with Nysos  carrying the silks of Baoma Corp. and Nevada Beach  racing for Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman.

Nysos is aiming to cap his 4-year-old season with a fourth consecutive triumph. Although it has been challenging at times to keep the son of Nyquist   on the track, his talent has never been in doubt with six wins from seven starts. He proved himself at the top level Nov. 1 with a thrilling, stretch-duel victory over champion Citizen Bull   in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

A $550,000 purchase from the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale has raced the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Pincay only once before, triumphing by 2 3/4 lengths in the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar. He’ll be on comfortable ground as his three starts at Santa Anita have been won by a combined 23 1/2 lengths.

Santa Anita has also been a productive track for Nevada Beach, who won the Goodwood Stakes (G1) there in September. Going into this race, the son of Omaha Beach   bounced back from a seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) to outgame British Isles  by a half-length in the Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar Nov. 22.

British Isles is among five rivals entered in the Pincay from outside the Baffert barn, a group that includes grade 3 winner Cornishman .

Namaron, Maaz Meet Again in Mathis Mile

Seven 3-year-old runners are entered in the $200,000 Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T) traveling a mile on turf.

Hronis Racing’s Namaron  is the lone contender with winning success at the graded level, courtesy of a group 3 triumph in Germany in April. The Amaron  gelding’s two American starts for trainer John Sadler have both resulted in third-place finishes against stakes company.

The most recent came in October’s Twilight Derby (G2T) at Santa Anita where he finished a half-length behind runner-up Maaz . That French-bred runner trained by Michael McCarthy for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables, Sabby Racing, and Michael House returned in the Hollywood Derby (G1T), finishing seventh and beaten 4 3/4 lengths after his saddle slipped early in the race.

Endlessly Aims to Right the Ship in San Gabriel

Considered one of the top turf talents of his crop as a 2-year-old, Endlessly  is aiming to right the ship and close out his 4-year-old season with a win in the $100,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G3T).

The Amerman Racing homebred finished third in the American Stakes (G3T)—his seasonal debut this spring and first start in 8 1/2 months—but has not reached the board in three starts since. McCarthy gave the 4-year-old Oscar Performance   colt a little break following the Aug. 30 Del Mar Handicap (G2T) where he loomed a threat early but then faded to ninth. McCarthy also removes the blinkers he added two starts back.

McCarthy will also saddle grade 1-placed Mondego  for Cheyenne Stables.

Also looking to right the ship is Kretz Racing’s Cabo Spirit  for trainer George Papaprodromou. After defeating Endlessly in the American Stakes, he went on to hit the board in four straight graded attempts. However, the typical pacesetter had competition on the lead in his most recent start, the Nov. 29 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) and faded to finish eighth.

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Jewish Nevada hosted its annual Menorah Lighting event at Downtown Summerlin, offering entertainment and activities for the whole family to celebrate Hanukkah.

Attendees enjoyed free jelly donuts, hot cocoa, and ice skating at the Rock Rink.

Stefanie Tuzman is the President and CEO of Jewish Nevada.

She says, “We are so excited to be lighting the eighth and final candle of Hanukkah. There’s a bunch of kids activities. Downtown Summerlin generously donated some prizes for us to be able to giveaway.”

Jewish Nevada held a raffle, with participants for a chance to win prizes.