PATIENCE: Five years ago this week, it...

PATIENCE: Five years ago this week, it wasn’t the Democratic Party that came down--it was the Berlin Wall. But some ex-East Germans still believe that life was better under communism, says Franz Vogel, manager of the Old Heidelberg restaurant in Van Nuys. . . . Vogel, 43, who came to the United States in 1981, says: “Capitalism takes time. Things were worse in East Germany than we thought.”

BLOOD DRIVE: The county needs blood, and the Valley should be a big contributor. The situation is so dire, in fact, that the American Red Cross will hold its annual holiday blood drive Thanksgiving week, a month earlier than usual. . . . In all, 25% of the county’s blood donations come from the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.

COLLECTORS: What do a vintage Chatty Cathy doll, a pre-1969 Matchbox car and a brass purse necklace (above) have in common? Come to think of it, nothing. Except that they are among the thousands of highly coveted possessions of die-hard Valley collectors. . . . Says Frank Piccolo of Sherman Oaks: “Yes, they’re material things, but they give you enjoyment that other people may not.” See Valley Life! Page 10.

THE WAY HE IS: Barbra, back on tour so soon? Well, sort of. You won’t actually see the great one herself, but you can catch many of her popular hits Sunday at the Academy Plaza Theatre in North Hollywood. Illusionist Jim Bailey will become Barbra for the night (Valley Life! Page 3). . . . “I am an actor who happens to sing and portray women rather than men,” says Bailey, also known for his rendition of Judy Garland.

DEEP FREEZE: Players, owners, and fans aren’t the only casualties from the NHL lockout (C2). . . . Some shops selling hockey-related items have been skating on thin ice as well. Says Larry Bruyere, owner of All-Star Hockey-N-Sports in North Hills: “Last year, when the NHL was doing so well, we ran out during the Christmas rush. This year, it’s been disastrous.”