WAKE-UP CALL: Nothing like an earthquake to...

WAKE-UP CALL: Nothing like an earthquake to get people interested in the idea of disaster training. Since January’s temblor, 5,500 Santa Clarita residents have signed up for the city’s program (B8). . . . But the quake didn’t catch Jamie Choate and her neighborhood by surprise. They’ve met monthly for the last four years, going through emergency drills and inviting local officials to speak.

BIG BOOT: Chris Sailer is sure to get a kick out of the honor he received Wednesday from USA Today. The Notre Dame High School kicker made its All-USA Team, and why not? He’s being courted by Stanford, Arizona, UCLA and Colorado State. . . . “I got the phone call this morning and I was really shocked. It was really surprising to see me on the team along with everybody else that was on there. It’s a big honor.” (C10).

WRAPPER: Most men don’t have a clue when it comes to gift-wrapping. But most men are not anything like Massimo Butera. Butera, above, runs a small shop in Studio City that does big business this time of year (B1). . . . He also offers a list of tips that can save time and money.

GIVE SHELTER: Actress Lindsay Wagner, who sells cars on television, will make a national pitch next month for a Valley group that helps runaways. On Jan. 9, Wagner will read a public service announcement on ABC for Children of the Night in Van Nuys. The spot will provide a toll-free hot line. . . . It will air after “Fighting for My Daughter,” starring Wagner as a mom who rescues her teen-age daughter from pimps and drugs.

RUN AND GUN: Paul Westhead’s philosophy of basketball is really simple--shoot first and ask questions later. That’s just as well for former area stars G. C. Marcaccini (Notre Dame) and Pharoah Davis (Highland), who get plenty of scoring chances at George Mason University. “It looks like the Indy 500,” Davis said (C1). . . . The Patriots play second-ranked UCLA tonight.