Stough Canyon Nature Center

One would expect the Verdugo Mountains to be a popular place to hike, given that they're surrounded by four freeways and the cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena. Such is not the case. This 13-mile-long, three-mile-wide range remains surprisingly underappreciated. Awareness of the mountains may increase soon, thanks to the Stough Canyon Nature Center, which opened in March in the hills above Burbank.

One would expect the Verdugo Mountains to be a popular place to hike, given that they're surrounded by four freeways and the cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena. Such is not the case. This 13-mile-long, three-mile-wide range remains surprisingly underappreciated. Awareness of the mountains may increase soon, thanks to the Stough Canyon Nature Center, which opened in March in the hills above Burbank.

Nature enthusiasts and Burbank officials this weekend will celebrate the opening of the long-awaited Stough Canyon Nature Center, which is being called the "crowning jewel" of the local park system. Located northwest of De Bell Municipal Golf Course, the $2.4-million center contains a 1,200-square-foot exhibit space, two classrooms, an amphitheater and a small library that officials hope will inspire the public to explore and protect the surrounding area.

Nature enthusiasts and Burbank officials this weekend will celebrate the opening of the long-awaited Stough Canyon Nature Center, which is being called the "crowning jewel" of the local park system. Located northwest of De Bell Municipal Golf Course, the $2.4-million center contains a 1,200-square-foot exhibit space, two classrooms, an amphitheater and a small library that officials hope will inspire the public to explore and protect the surrounding area.

Nature enthusiasts and city officials this weekend will celebrate the grand opening of the long-awaited Stough Canyon Nature Center, which is being called the "crowning jewel" of the local park system. Located northwest of De Bell Municipal Golf Course, the $2.4-million center contains a 1,200-square-foot exhibit space, two classrooms, an outdoor amphitheater and a small library that officials hope will inspire the public to explore, and in turn, protect the surrounding area.

If you find yourself puttering around the garage or attic and come across your great-grandparents' collection of mounted butterflies or Native American baskets, you might consider making a gift to the new Stough Canyon Nature Center in Burbank.

Partners for Life, a coalition of 13 local humane organizations, and the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services will hold a new volunteers orientation meeting Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the East Valley Animal Shelter, 13131 Sherman Way, North Hollywood. Free. (818) 710-9898. The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control Equine Response Team will hold a volunteer orientation meeting March 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lost Hills Sheriff Station, 27058 Agoura Road, Agoura.

It's summertime, and the warm evenings are perfect for exploring the "dark" side of Southern California. When the sun goes down, many families opt for some safe outdoor fun that brings them a little closer to nature. These events happen only when the stars come out. Stargazing At Griffith Park Observatory (2800 E. Observatory Road, Los Angeles), visitors can check out the heavens with the observatory's telescope, which is opened to the public 7 to 9:45 p.m. daily.

The northern part of Los Angeles County stands to gain more than $50 million in park and trail improvement and development money after voters enthusiastically supported Proposition A, a $540-million parks assessment initiative. And the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys will be able to compete for a share of nearly $150 million more earmarked for countywide projects ranging from graffiti removal to tree planting.

EXACTLY how Dave Stewart, co-founder of the '80s pop supergroup the Eurythmics, came to launch a new multimedia venture with the environmental crusaders of Greenpeace is a story of Information Age synergy. It is a story of rock star entrepreneurship, MySpace-era interconnectivity and the ecological crisis mind-set that has seized almost every segment of culture since the release of Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."

Nature enthusiasts and city officials this weekend will celebrate the grand opening of the long-awaited Stough Canyon Nature Center, which is being called the "crowning jewel" of the local park system. Located northwest of De Bell Municipal Golf Course, the $2.4-million center contains a 1,200-square-foot exhibit space, two classrooms, an outdoor amphitheater and a small library that officials hope will inspire the public to explore, and in turn, protect the surrounding area.

On the surface, the $319-million parks measure on the Los Angeles County ballot is very simple. Underneath lies a story of intense behind-the-scenes bargaining at the Board of Supervisors. For Measure A was carefully crafted to draw maximum support by offering something for almost everyone from young people in danger of joining gangs to seniors needing a safe place to meet. The ballot measure would raise property taxes modestly--an estimated $6.

This weekend, you could celebrate Earth Day -- which is technically Tuesday -- among L.A.'s stalled freeways, its overbooked apartments and endless arid concrete sidewalks. Or, like the hundreds of thousands of us who trek through Southern California's public gardens each year, you could put spring to better use. Don't know a genus from a phylum? Not a problem. "The No.