EARTH DAY: It’s time once again to...

EARTH DAY: It’s time once again to praise the only planet we have and do some things that might help it stick around a little longer. Yes, Earth Day is here, which means a whole slew of activities around the Valley today and Saturday (Valley Life! Page 33). . . . You can help out by cleaning up beaches, planting trees or recycling (B2).

WELCOME BACK: Something was wrong this spring: no Girl Scout cookies. Blame it on the quake, which put our sugar binge back a month. Well, relief is finally here. Starting today, Girl Scouts will be selling cookies all over the Valley. . . . “We got calls from people who thought they missed it,” a San Fernando Valley Girl Scout Council spokeswoman said.

PARENTAL DECISIONS: A special section on parenting in today’s paper provides helpful information and advice for everyone who struggles with raising a family. How do you teach children to deal with bullies? How do you get the little one to sleep? Also, how to handle birthday parties, how to choose a summer camp and teaching adolescents to dance--and behave (Valley Parenting).

FOREIGN LEGEND: He may be the most popular German import to hit Northridge since Beck’s beer. He’s Oliver Heitmann, a CSUN volleyball star who gives the Matadors a chance for the Final Four (C8). . . . “We don’t have a great team,” a teammate said. “But we have a good team, and we have that one guy--Oliver--who can take over a game.”

OFF THE COURT: But things aren’t so hunky-dory with the CSUN women’s basketball program. In fact, they’re not very good at all. Now comes word that the dismissal Wednesday of two players came after a feud that began with “a severe violation” of team policy, according to Coach Kim Chandler (C8). . . . “I won’t jeopardize the principles of this program no matter who is involved,” she said.