DAY FOR AFRICA: Carl Burrowes of Fullerton...

DAY FOR AFRICA: Carl Burrowes of Fullerton likes to pull this quiz on people: Name another country that has a red, white and blue flag and celebrates its independence day in July. It’s his native Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic at 147 years old. . . . More than 200 Liberians who live here now will celebrate the event today at William R. Mason Regional Park in Irvine. Burrowes says entertainment will include soccer for the adults and Liberian folk tales for the children.

CAR CITY: The Saturn Corp. promotes the notion that Saturn car owners are one big happy family. More than 8,000 Saturn owners have purchased $16 discount tickets to spend today at Knott’s Berry Farm. Included is a picnic lunch, a T-shirt and a preview of the 1995 Saturn. . . . One sticky question: If you’re one of 8,200, how do you find your car in the parking lot? “By paying very careful attention where you park,” says Knott’s spokesman Bob Ochsner.

EARLY OPERA: One tiny fear about tonight’s gala preview of “Phantom of the Opera” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa: That regular patrons used to its usual 8 p.m. starting time will miss the first act. “Phantom”--tonight only--starts at 7. (Sunday’s opening is at 7:30, and all performances after that start at 8). . . . South Coast Plaza Village’s six restaurants will join in on the hoopla: They’ll provide free shuttle service on weekends for ticket holders, to save on parking hassles at the center.

NO REAL PIONEERS: Maybe the California Angels aren’t having the kind of season they want. But they’re doing better than the other baseball team that shares Anaheim Stadium with them--the Pioneers. That’s the name of the fictional, losing American League West baseball team on the sitcom “Hardball,” which is unveiled on Fox TV this fall. Why did they choose Anaheim Stadium? Producers say it was cheaper to rent than Dodger Stadium and less instantly identifiable. The losing team, they are quick to add, was not modeled after the Angels.