The students at Hancock Park Elementary school...

The students at Hancock Park Elementary school were upset earlier this year when Mayor Tom Bradley proclaimed “Freddy Krueger Day” on the eve of the Friday the 13th opening of the latest installment of the horror movie series.

“They got a bad feeling,” explained teacher Kathy Smith, “especially since L.A. already has such a reputation for violence.”

The students fired off a letter of protest to the mayor. His response “didn’t set too well” with the students, either, Smith said. “He wrote that the (Freddy) movies were all filmed in L.A. and that they were good for our economy,” Smith said.

The students wrote back again, asking why not honor a positive role model, such as their principal, Brenda Steppes?

And the mayor did just that Friday, sending an aide to the Fairfax Avenue school.

It was, by the way, Friday the 13th.

“The kids noticed that right away,” Smith said.

You may be receiving another letter, Mr. Mayor.

A misspelled return address in a letter received by Al Hix of Hollywood struck him as “a great description of what L.A.’s citizenry try so hard to be.”

It said: “Los Ageless.”

Some people are content to collect stamps or coins. Kim Abeles collects smog. And she’s transforming it into art, of a sort.

At several outdoor stations in the Southland, Abeles has set up sheets of plexiglass stenciled with adhesive images of the body’s vital organs. Particulate matter (the stuff we breathe) will gradually imprint itself upon the stencils.

“Thirty Days in California,” the name of Abeles’ project, is being sponsored by the state Bureau of Automotive Repair as a reminder to ride-share and to observe the state’s smog check law.

Abeles’ works-in-pollution, which are available for public viewing, can be seen at the state Museum of Science and Industry, Olvera Street, the county Arboretum in Arcadia and the Cabrillo Marine Museum in San Pedro.

The contaminated pieces will be exhibited together next month at a date to be announced.

You don’t see art shows like this in Seattle.

Headline in the Long Beach Press-Telegram after that city had been rejected as the site of a theme park:

“Disney: We’re Going to Anaheim.”

Another actor running for President?

This time, it’s Ruben Blades, who has appeared in “The Milagro Beanfield War” and “Mo’ Better Blues,” among other films.

Unlike Ronald Reagan, however, Blades won’t make his love for America an election theme.

He’s running for President of his native Panama.

A cartoon in the Pittsburgh Press depicts President Bush holding a folder titled, “Trade Deficit,” while telling a Japanese official: “All we ask is that you buy more American-made products.”

“OK,” says the official, “I’ll take Los Angeles.”

It’s already taken. How about Los Ageless?

miscelLAny:

The Hawaiian star Duke Kahanamoku was the first inductee at the inaugural ceremonies of the Surfing Hall of Fame held in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1965.