Gabrielino Indians

WHILE ANGELENOS can anticipate a Metro Rail system in their future, harking back to what local travel used to be conjures up memories. In the mid-1920s, the Red Tower Car of the Pacific Electric Railway system journeyed from Los Angeles to the Newport/Balboa Pavilion. Its sole purpose: to repair any damage that may have occurred along the tracks. Nearly seven decades later, this 40-foot-long restored Red Car has become a city museum.

Like at any birthday party, the guests were given balloons and sang an off-key rendition of "Happy Birthday." But something about this particular celebration struck 7-year-old Alex Gomez as odd. "I never thought the city could have a birthday party," said the Monterey Highland Elementary School second-grader. "I never thought the city was alive." But Alex and about 2,500 other residents discovered Wednesday that, after 80 years, Monterey Park is still alive and kicking.

Over the objections of environmentalists, Native American groups, some homeowners and two political candidates, the Los Angeles City Council approved a 119-home development Wednesday on the West Bluff south of the Ballona Wetlands in the Westchester-Playa Vista area. Critics say the 44-acre site at 7501 80th St., to be developed by Catellus Development Corp.

Bad news for President Clinton. The San Gabriel Unified School District will not consider naming its first high school after him. A majority of more than 60 students and local residents who responded to a district request for high school names suggested Clinton's. But a district committee decided it is too soon to use the name of the five-month president. Three names will be chosen for a ballot that will appear in the district newsletter later this year.

FAMED for their epic navigational feats, the Polynesians may have sailed a lot farther than anyone suspected. Two researchers have found limited but intriguing evidence that suggests these mariners made it to Southern California between AD 400 and AD 800.

Bringing the beauty of the neighboring mountains and canyons into her Beverly Hills home, Helen Schram weaves the hues and textures of native willows, ivy, palms and grasses into baskets of every size and shape. Long needles of Torrey pine combine with feathers from roosters and an Indian rock partridge called a chukar, above left.

With the help of shells, feathers, and a little face paint, Mickey Macdonald of Palos Verdes Estates will be transformed Saturday into Yee-ay, the Indian Bird Lady, weaver of tales of American Indian lore and legend. Macdonald, a storyteller and volunteer at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, is part of the center's Indian Days celebration honoring the Gabrielino Indians, the earliest inhabitants of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

It might be hard to imagine today, but the Sunland-Tujunga area was once a popular vacation spot, which offered fancy resorts and scenic landscapes. Years ago, it was among the favorite spots for Los Angeles residents to relax and get away from hectic city life. The area was also known for its olive groves, where olive oil was sold. Of course, that was in the 1920s, and the area has changed so much it's difficult to imagine what it once was like.

Smokey Bear may have been the pioneer, but these days there is also room for the Trash Dragon, Compost Connie and Recycle Ray, the Drip Dudes, Captain Hydro and the Water Bandit, and Tammy the Recycling Eagle. All of these environmental characters, including the venerable Smokey, will be in the Earth Parade, which will start at 9 a.m.