TOUCHY ISSUE: Ever see a lot of...

TOUCHY ISSUE: Ever see a lot of compassion at school board meetings? The Irvine Unified School District has adopted its first-ever ethics code, and the only argument at all came on the wording of its “compassion” section. It calls for board members to “exhibit generosity and love” toward their fellow board colleagues. . . . Objected board member Mary Ellen Hadley: “I love ‘touchy-feely,’ but this is too much for me.” She finally voted with the others, adding: “If we need to love one another, then I guess that’s OK.”

K’S ANGEL: Some people are upset with Orange County’s two new Super Kmarts, convinced they’ll hurt smaller businesses. But Kmart officials expect only happy campers this afternoon, when veteran TV actress Jaclyn Smith signs autographs and promotes her clothing line at the new Anaheim Hills Super Kmart. . . . One reason Kmarts love her so: They’ve sold 35 million pieces with her name on them since Smith signed on with Kmart nine years ago.

REVISED THINKING: It came as a shocker to young people at the Castille Elementary School in Mission Viejo, when noted children’s author Connie Porter told them Monday that she usually does many revisions of her writing. “Most students never want to write anything more than once,” chuckled principal Susan McGill. “This was learning experience for them.” . . . Porter, whose “Addy” series is a hit on the children’s bestseller list, urged students never to limit their imagination.

HOLIDAY HARVEST: Disneyland is getting its own winter blizzard--of poinsettias. Beginning today, Disney gardeners will plant 20,000 of the traditional holiday flowers. Most of the plants that will be popping up around the theme park will be red, of course, but there will be other colors, including speckled. . . . Says its landscaping crew chief, Karen Hedges: “To see 1,000 colorful poinsettias in a bed is spectacular.”