UP AND DOWN: The good news: Police...

UP AND DOWN: The good news: Police say violent crime in the San Fernando Valley dropped more than 8% during the first three months of 1995. The bad news: Valley property crimes rose nearly 8% in the same period. Police blamed much of this increase on a rash of West Valley car phone thefts (B4).

POSTAL POOCH: A Lancaster man learned the hard way what can happen when you leave your dog tied up. . . . Coming out of a liquor store the other night, our victim found his terrier missing. Turns out that it was down the street, having been dognaped by two kids who were in the process of stuffing it into a large, blue corner mailbox. . . . The youths took off, but the pooch was still in there with the mail. In the end, a sheriff’s deputy was forced to pry open the box to save the dog. “The dog was no worse for wear,” a sheriff’s official said, and there was no ransom note for the doggy in the mailbox. . . .

GOING SOLO: Amy Hill, above, is perhaps best known as the grandmother on TV’s “All-American Girl.” But she’s also performing at the upcoming Solo / L.A. Festival in Studio City. . . . The event celebrates the Southland’s diversity with performances ranging from Latino to lesbian storytelling. See Valley Life!, Page 4.

POTTERY PICASSO: There’s nothing like a little pot to unleash your artistic abilities. . . . No, not that kind of pot. The ceramic type--along with bowls, plates and even dinosaurs. All of which can be painted by budding Picassos at Color Me Mine in Encino. Times staff writer Abigail Goldman paints a colorful visit to this oasis of unfinished pottery in Valley Life!, Page 12.

KICKOFF: Here’s a news flash for those who say the Valley area needs a pro sports team: There is one. . . . After two years at Valley College, the Valley Golden Eagles professional soccer team moved this season to Moorpark High School (C8). Owner John Campbell has high hopes for the home debut: “I’ll be astonished if we don’t get 1,000 fans at the first game,” he said.