THAT TIME AGAIN: We only have two...

THAT TIME AGAIN: We only have two more days to settle our score with Uncle Sam, and you can bet many of us will wait again till the last second to file our taxes. And who can blame us? After all, these days, you have to work till early May (above) before you’ve earned enough just to pay your taxes. . . . And, because of the quake, many will seek extensions (B1).

BIRTHDAY: Last week, Jews commemorated a somber occasion--the Holocaust. This week, the mood is quite different. The state of Israel turns 46, and despite the violence of recent weeks, all is not gloomy in the Holy Land. . . . “There have been a lot of tense times,” said Neal Schnall, principal of the Hebrew School at Temple Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, “but the mood is still one of hope.”

RESEDA QUAKE: We’ll always call it the Northridge quake, but the epicenter was actually in Reseda. Fair is fair. So, on Tuesday, Councilman Hal Bernson gave a mock quitclaim deed to Councilwoman Laura Chick, saying it “shall be known as the Reseda earthquake, the Reseda temblor, the shaker of Reseda, or any such other name the community of Reseda may desire.”. . . Funny, though, Northridge didn’t give up its right to relief funds.

WATER RATES: Summer is just around the corner, and that means we’ll use more water. And we’ll certainly pay for it. Or maybe we won’t. A City Council committee has recommended extending winter water rates, which are much lower than summer figures. . . . But some still favor a system in which heavy users pay a higher rate (B3).

RICH RIDE: Long after their glory years, cowboys can still draw a crowd. And they’re pretty good for business too. Based on a survey, last month’s Cowboy Poetry, Music and Film Festival poured almost $250,000 into the local economy. . . . “The point is, we’re bringing people into Santa Clarita and they’re spending their money,” said a city official. (B7).