HOPEFUL MEMORY: Toluca Lake resident Bob Hope...

HOPEFUL MEMORY: Toluca Lake resident Bob Hope celebrated Monday’s 50th anniversary of V-E Day in his own unique fashion. . . . During World War II, Hope helped entertain more than 9 million GIs. And on Monday, he celebrated his freedom of choice. “We went to In-N-Out Burger,” said Hope, 91. “That and a chocolate shake and I’m set for the day.”

NOW SEATING: Open enrollment in the Los Angeles Unified School District kicked off Monday with nearly 21,000 empty classroom seats up for grabs--including 9,754 seats at 120 Valley schools. The state-mandated program allows parents to register their children until June 9 (B1).

SPECIAL DELIVERY: They survived our earthquake and wanted to give something back. So a group from Northridge Middle School went to Oklahoma City with letters of support for victims of the April 19 bombing (B3). . . . Among those delivering a personal message was James Bautista, above. He said: “It’s sad that it takes something tragic like this to bring us together.”

QUAKE FIX: Worried that your home’s earthquake repairs were botched by your contractor? You’re not alone. . . . State officials received more than 29,407 consumer complaints within the past year, leading to 3,299 penalties against licensed and unlicensed contractors alike. To see what you can do, see Valley Business, Page 8.

NO BREAK: KLOS-FM radio personality Mark Thompson can’t get a break. . . . The co-host of “The Mark and Brian Show” spent much of Monday’s program being ribbed for jumping a counter Saturday at the Santa Clarita sheriff’s station, where he was cited for trespassing. The Canyon Country resident, 39, told his audience that he went back to retrieve the belongings of a jailed friend he’d been visiting. “It was a misunderstanding,” Thompson said. “I didn’t go in there guns blazing and liquored up.” Thompson will have one more chance to explain--before a judge in June.