HAPPY ENDING: A group of junior lifeguards...

HAPPY ENDING: A group of junior lifeguards visiting here from New Zealand, the victims of thieves last weekend, found themselves among friends after all. After learning about the theft of the teen-agers’ airline tickets, Sharon Pettit of Cypress, the wife of a United Airlines exec, got him to replace all the tickets--free. Passports will be replaced by the New Zealand Embassy--free. . . . “What started as a sad story turned out to really impress our guests,” says Kara Johan of Orange, from one of the host families.

TRAVELING REX: One thing Americans and Russians have in common is a fascination with dinosaurs. Nearly 10,000 visitors a day have been wandering among the 17 robotic, life-size prehistoric replicas in Moscow’s Sokolniki Park. The animated dinosaurs were created by Dinamation of Irvine, which is hitting 100 cities worldwide with such exhibits this year. . . . The Russian exhibit runs until Sept. 10. Says Dinamation founder Chris Mays: “We’re proud to . . . bring smiles to the Russian people.”

CHRISTY’S MAN: This month’s Esquire magazine cover shows Christie Brinkley topless, but appropriately covered by a copy of Henry Kissinger’s latest book, “Diplomacy.” But is it autographed? . . . You can get the former secretary of state to sign one for you next Wednesday. He’s kicking off the Distinguished Authors series at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace--and signing some books. But library policy: He won’t sign unless you buy it there.

THE ELVIS MARKET: One famous Nixon picture prominently displayed at the presidential library shows him posing in the Oval Office with an unusual visitor, Elvis Presley. An original of that picture, plus three small gifts the President gave Elvis, go on the auction block in Los Angeles on Monday. Fine-art auctioneers Butterfield & Butterfield estimate the picture’s value at a minimum of $6,000. Priciest item: The federal drug agent’s badge Nixon gave Elvis, valued at a minimum of $10,000.