The Visually Handicapped School for Adults this...

The Visually Handicapped School for Adults this week appealed to the Los Angeles Unified School District to speed up its decision whether to allow the nonprofit organization to move into an unused junior high school in Woodland Hills. Linda Williams, executive director of the Van Nuys-based school, said Tuesday that the center needs to expand because its present home at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is too small to serve its 200 students. As a result, she applied to the school district for several rooms at Hughes Junior High School, which closed in 1983. The school for the blind must pay for any improvements required to make the rooms usable--probably about $100,000--if its application is approved. Williams said the school will need donations to make the improvements. The school’s mailing address is P.O. Box 900, Woodland Hills 91365.

The American Heart Assn. will recognize its volunteers and donors from the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks area during a cocktail reception in their honor Wednesday. The reception, which is also intended to acquaint area residents with the organization, will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Van Nuys branch of Capital Bank of California, 6454 Van Nuys Blvd. The organization raises money for medical research and education programs dealing with heart disease, the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States. For reservations and information, call 800-698-1156 by Sunday. Admission is by donation.