Celebrations

The aroma of sizzling kabob and falafel wafted through the William Mason Regional Park here Sunday as more than 30,000 people continued the celebration of the Persian New Year with a barbecue picnic. For 13 days each spring, Iranians throughout the world dance, exchange gifts and feast in honor of Nouruz, or New Day, which starts with the vernal equinox (March 20 this year). According to lore, this equinox marks the day the world was created.

In the midst of its shops and restaurants, the Westminster Mall has added a tide pool, a 50-ton sand sculpture, massive snakes, iguanas, monkeys and other attractions this month in celebration of Earth Day on April 22. Titled "Project Earth," the exhibit is divided into four sections in different wings of the mall: desert, ocean, forest and wildlife. Each area is staffed by an educator or animal handler to answer questions.

So how does a veteran volunteer at Sherman Oaks Hospital and Health Center celebrate her 100th birthday, anyhow? For Starr Mitchell, the celebration included a party with lemon cake--it's her favorite--fruit punch, a gift book on Jewish history and a gathering of a few dozen of her favorite doctors, nurses and fellow volunteers from the hospital's Social Services Department.

So how does a veteran volunteer at Sherman Oaks Hospital and Health Center celebrate her 100th birthday? If the volunteer is Starr Mitchell, the celebration includes a party with lemon cake (it's her favorite), fruit punch, a book on Jewish history and a gathering of a few dozen of her favorite doctors, nurses and fellow volunteers from the hospital's Social Services Department.

Every town has its hidden treasures, like that little taco stand that turns out the best carne asada in the county or that quiet, leafy park so far off the beaten path that only the locals know about it. Residents tend to keep such community jewels to themselves. But Fullerton, a city with an ample supply of visual and performing art venues, apparently can't help but brag.

The City Council has renewed a declaration made two decades ago to observe Dec. 6 as Ole Hanson Day. That was the date in 1925 when city founder Ole Hanson broke ground for a settlement. Members of the San Clemente Historical Society reminded council members this week that in 1975, the date was highlighted but over the years has been forgotten.

A special tribute to the community's elders will be part of a Kwanzaa celebration tonight hosted by the San Fernando Valley Section of the National Council of Negro Women. The celebration will be held in the recreation center at Hubert H. Humphrey Memorial Park, which serves as a children's center during the week, said Valerie Moody, historian for the NCNW. "The reason we're having it in the children's center is because the children need to know about our culture," she said.

Hundreds of feet above Simi Valley, mountain biker Ian Petrovskis spent Christmas morning bombing across the rutted flanks of Rocky Peak. Miles away from home and hearth, the Brill family cast anchovy-wrapped hooks off the Ventura Pier and fished for perch. The Holmeses--Dan and Sharlene, Mike and Steve--tooled around Los Robles Golf Course, chipping away at their annual 18 holes of Christmas golf until it was time to return home for a big barbecue meal and an afternoon of charades and poker.

The Jones family of Garden Grove won't be among those suffering from post-Christmas blues today, even though they will have the same piles of wrapping paper, ribbon and other holiday debris as everybody else. Instead, they will celebrate the first day of another tradition, equally rich with cultural meaning and nuance.

From a primo tamale stand in East Los Angeles to the sweet surf of Manhattan Beach and from the serenity of a Pasadena children's church chorale to desperate shopping aisles citywide, Los Angeles worshiped Tuesday at the altars of spirituality, commerce, nature and tradition. And, mostly, it was good. Not bound by snow or overriding regional habit, Christmas Eve in Los Angeles becomes a free-form construct.