FIRST FLIGHT: When Eileen Collins becomes the...

FIRST FLIGHT: When Eileen Collins becomes the first female space shuttle pilot Feb. 2, she’ll take part of a Valley legend into space with her: Amelia Earhart’s scarf. Both are local heroes--Earhart set flying records from Van Nuys Airport in 1929 and Collins attended test pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base. . . . Paula Bazar, a member of Earhart’s “Ninety-Nines” women’s aviation chapter in Van Nuys, approves of Collins’ tribute: “She’s a pioneer in space and Amelia Earhart was a pioneer in aviation. I think the fact that both are women is an important footnote.”

COLLEGE TREK: What a long, strange Trek it’s been. . . . “Star Trek: Voyager” executive producer Jeri Taylor thanks former Cal State Northridge professor Mort Auerbach for stirring her interest in political science in the 1960s: “That is something that has come to bear in a strange way in ‘Star Trek,’ ” she said. “We come into contact with so many alien species and we have to work with their governments and political systems.” . . . Next Monday’s episode: The crew encounters political protesters on a distant planet--filmed at the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys.

RECORD MONTH: It’s El Nino (A1, A3), or something, but the rain keeps falling. . . . Nancy Seaman above, stands at the edge of what used to be Falls Drive in Topanga, the only public access to her home (B2). The road was washed out by rains that hit record levels at UCLA Tuesday: the January rainfall total so far was 18.38 inches, which breaks the all-time monthly record of 18.37 inches set in February, 1980.

SMOKE SCREENED: Burbank Airport may become the last refuge for air travelers who want a light, following action taken Tuesday in Los Angeles. . . . An L.A. City Council panel approved an ordinance that would ban smoking in Los Angeles International Airport bars, pending approval by the full City Council. Smoking is already banned in LAX terminals. Burbank Airport, which is governed by the Burbank City Council, bans smoking in its terminal, but not in its four bars.

TONIGHT: The San Fernando Valley Banjo Band performs at 7:30 at Skoby’s, 20419 Devonshire St., Chatsworth. Info: (818) 718-0433.