Los Angeles Zoo

Karen S. Kim SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT -- The Burbank Recycle Center is hosting a computer and electronics recycling event Saturday at the Los Angeles Zoo. Residents are encouraged to bring their old computers, monitors, printers, network equipment, cables, telephones, televisions, video games, cell phones, radios, stereos, video machines and electronic toys. Microwaves, conventional ovens, batteries and computer software will not be accepted for recycling.

Amber Willard GRIFFITH PARK -- Visitors were allowed to get a little closer to some of the animals recently at the Los Angeles Zoo, with the opening of a petting area and other sections especially for children. After a 14-year absence of a petting zoo, the Winnick Family Children's Zoo opened Aug. 16 on a 2-acre site near the zoo's entrance. Five-year-old Rachel Trail was one of the first children into Muriel's Ranch, the petting area with goats and alpacas, as well as a miniature horse and donkey.

Sandra Kraisirideja, People LOS ANGELES ZOO -- After 28 years of being an anchor and reporter for KNX-AM (1070), Beach Rogers said he was looking for a way to give back to the community and have fun at the same time. As a lifelong supporter of the Los Angeles Zoo, Rogers, who lives in Glendale, said he immediately looked into volunteer opportunities there. "I hadn't worked with kids before and I wanted to see if I could do it, so I started as a 'bus jumper,' welcoming school groups to the zoo. After that, I wanted to do more," he said.

Robert Chacon A couple of hippopotamuses at the Los Angeles Zoo on Thursday got their treats early as part of the zoo's kickoff to a weekend of Halloween events. The pair, 30-year-old Otis and 38-year-old Maggie, did not have to perform any tricks for their annual feast of pumpkins, apples and corn stalks. After their caretakers opened the doors to their pen, the hippos splashed into their pool and propped themselves against the front wall of the enclosure, where zoo employees tossed apples into their gaping jaws.

Jessica Taverna The Burbank Park and Recreation Department's Senior Services program has open seats for several upcoming day trips. Space remains for a day at the Los Angeles Zoo on April 13, for $32; an afternoon at Dodger Stadium for Opening Day on April 14, for $26; a day at the races at Santa Anita Park on April 20, for $28; a tour of the Getty Museum on May 20, for $13; and a train trip and barbecue on the ...

Lolita Harper LOS ANGELES ZOO -- There were so many facts to remember: The difference between Asian and African elephants can be found in size of their ears. South American tapirs have prehensile noses, which means they use it like a finger. Baby, the Indian Python, is 16 feet long and weighs 227 pounds. Debbie Nathanson, Los Angeles Zoo docent, could go on and on about her knowledge of the animals at the zoo. After recently graduating from the docent class -- which is 26 weeks long -- the Burbank resident was ready to help lead one of the two-hour tours during the zoo's Sundown Safari, an overnight camping trip presented by the Los Angeles Zoo. More than 115 people attended the first of 12 mini-weekend getaways offered at the zoo. Campers ranged from infants to grandparents as the safari was designed for family members of all ages, said Andrea Chisholm, Sundown Safari coordinator.

The Los Angeles Zoo will increase the price of admission by 75 cents beginning July 2. Admission will cost $9, $6 for seniors and $4 for children between 2 and 12. Kids younger than 2 are free. More than 1,200 mammals, birds and reptiles, including rare and endangered species, are housed within the zoo's 120 acres. The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Dec. 25. It is at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, at the junction of the Golden State (5)

Robert Blechl GRIFFITH PARK -- Melissa Sherrills said she was better equipped for the next Southern California shaker after attending the Emergency Preparedness Fair. "I'm going to have an escape plan so I can meet with my parents and keep it somewhere so I can see it and memorize it," said Melissa, a third-grader at West Athens Elementary School in Los Angeles. The ninth annual Emergency Preparedness Fair, which began Friday in the Los Angeles Zoo parking lot, features more than 200 private and public agencies teaching people how to remain safe after a major earthquake.

Gary Moskowitz LOS ANGELES -- Parents of students at St. Francis Xavier School will join a mock player's club for a night of gambling, raffles and silent auctions next week during the school's largest fund-raiser of the year. Safari Under the Stars is the theme of the evening's activities, which will begin with a tram ride to the Treetops Terrace at the Los Angeles Zoo as a tour guide informs players about the zoo and the night's festivities. Zoo animals will be making special appearances.

Mardi Gras benefit helps Childrens Hospital The second annual benefit for Friends of Childrens Hospital was Feb. 24 at the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena, with more than 100 guests attending the Mardi Gras Gala. Friends of Childrens Hospital is a group of women who have have come together to support the Children's Center for cancer and blood diseases at the hospital. Local members are Ashley Fong of La Canada Flintridge and Kara Ebright of Glendale.

Adonna Khare is wild about her art. The 26-year-old artist uses pencil to draw murals of animals but adds human body parts, giving them a whimsical touch. Khare, of Burbank, will finish her master's of fine arts degree in illustration this winter at Cal State Long Beach. Her graduate solo show, titled "Beast," is on display at the college's Gatov Gallery through Thursday. "As an undergraduate at Cal State Long Beach, I started drawing small pencil drawings of animals and made them larger and larger as time went by," she said.

LOS ANGELES -- A proposed sewer project by the city of Los Angeles with an alignment that could go through Burbank will be the subject of a hearing taking place on Thursday. The proposed Burbank-Glendale Interceptor Sewer project would extend nearly 6 miles from the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park to Toluca Lake. "This is our effort to reach out and make sure everyone has a chance to give input," said Adel Hagekhalil, a division manager with the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation.

City encouraging residents to give comments to Los Angeles on sewer project that could be built going through Rancho District.RANCHO DISTRICT -- City officials are encouraging residents to send in their comments on a sewer project proposed by the city of Los Angeles that could be built through the Rancho District neighborhood. Comments on the project's draft environmental report will be accepted by the Los Angeles Public Works Department through the end of February on the proposed Burbank-Glendale Interceptor Sewer project, which would extend nearly 6 miles, from the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park to Toluca Lake.

Sarah Hill The bigger dogs at the Burbank Animal Shelter are often overlooked by people wanting to take home puppies instead. But Hamilton Manalo,a recent volunteer at the Burbank Animal Shelter volunteer, made sure the big ones were not too neglected. Taking them out for walks and play time is good "quiet time," he said. Hamilton, 18, is one of many local teens who spent time over the summer volunteering at a variety of Burbank and Los Angeles area programs and organizations.

Hop over to the Los Angeles Zoo The Los Angeles Zoo is hopping with bunnies this weekend. A variety of activities with these furry friends will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday at the zoo's new front entrance, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. Children can pet rabbits, take photographs with the Easter Bunny and even get painted-on whiskers and paper bunny ears to look like one. They will also get carrot seeds to take home and plant.

Darleene Barrientos Ben, a spider monkey living at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, didn't seem too interested in getting in on the pinata-busting with some of his neighbors Thursday. And he certainly didn't seem to want to go about it the normal way, poking it with a stick until it yielded treats. Then he saw a large oval one to his liking and he took hold of it with his mouth and climbed down to the floor where he could better pick it apart.

TODAY Wildwood and Stough Canyon parks present an "Early Wildflower and Native Plant" hike at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 238-5440. Belmont Village presents a yoga retreat from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 455 E. Angeleno Ave. Admission is $35. For reservations or more information, call 953-4487. The Creative Arts Center presents watercolor paintings by Louie Gadal through Thursday at 1100 W. Clark Ave. The center hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Gary Moskowitz Until this weekend, Eric Davis had no idea he was a monkey. While attending the sixth annual Lunar New Year celebration at the Los Angeles Zoo on Saturday, Davis found out that 1920 -- the year of his birth -- was the Year of the Monkey, according to the ancient Chinese lunar calendar. According to Chinese astrology, the New Year begins at midnight Thursday, and 2004 is the Year of the Monkey. 2003 was the Year of the Sheep. A person's animal sign and personality traits, according to the lunar calendar, are determined by the person's birth year.

TODAY The Burbank Farmers' Market is from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekly at the intersection of 3rd Street and Orange Grove Avenue. For more information, call 847-4673. A Pomeranian Town Hall is from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Magnolia Park United Methodist Church, 2828 W. Magnolia Blvd. The event, hosted by the Immigrant Genealogical Society, features seminars by Pomeranian genealogists. The cost is $12.50. For more information, call 848-3122. Hands Across the Battlefield collects donations at the Burbank Vikings 2003 homecoming celebration beginning at 9 a.m. at Burbank High School, 902 N. 3rd St. For more information, call 415-1487.

Robert Chacon A couple of hippopotamuses at the Los Angeles Zoo on Thursday got their treats early as part of the zoo's kickoff to a weekend of Halloween events. The pair, 30-year-old Otis and 38-year-old Maggie, did not have to perform any tricks for their annual feast of pumpkins, apples and corn stalks. After their caretakers opened the doors to their pen, the hippos splashed into their pool and propped themselves against the front wall of the enclosure, where zoo employees tossed apples into their gaping jaws.