LOOKING BACK: Imagine, says Rancho Santiago College...

LOOKING BACK: Imagine, says Rancho Santiago College professor Lee Mallory, “those who might have stood side by side in battle now sharing their poetry about it.” The college will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of Saigon on April 23-30. Events will include poetry readings, films on the war and Vietnamese American students speaking on life both before and after 1975. . . . Says Mallory, one of the organizers: “It’s taken a lot of planning, with so many conflicting emotions involved.”

ARTS REMEMBRANCE: The Orange County Performing Arts Center will also include Vietnam reflections that week. A black-and-white photo exhibition mainly by Vietnamese-American photographers--depicting Vietnam life before 1975 and now--will be on display in the plaza level lobby. But Sunday, April 23, is the only free public viewing day. . . . Also that week at the center: The Pacific Symphony Orchestra performs “Fire Water Paper: A Vietnam Oratorio,” which it had commissioned for the anniversary.

NO MAJOR STEP: At the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Major Donald Hairston was in charge of military emergency operations: Northridge earthquake, local floods and fires, Somalian relief. When he recently retired, the perfect job for him was available: The local American Red Cross chapter has named him its new disaster emergency services director. . . . Says Hairston, 39: “This was a natural for me. The only difference is, I’m in a business suit instead of a uniform.”

WONDER YEARS? Amateur champion Tiger Woods of Cypress so impressed TV commentators at the Masters the past week that their question was inevitable: Will the Stanford University freshman leave school early to join the lucrative pro golf tour? . . . No, was Woods’ response: “It’s the right time for me to live it up a little bit. You’re only young once, and college is such a great atmosphere. I really love it.” He flew back from Augusta, Ga., late Sunday in time to be in class at 9 a.m. Monday.