DROPPING DOWN: If April showers bring May...

DROPPING DOWN: If April showers bring May flowers, May showers must bring plenty of surprises, especially if you live in the Valley (B1). . . . “Most of the time you don’t get very much and, once in a while, you get unloaded on,” said WeatherData Inc. meteorologist Steve Pryor. Soggiest months of May are shown above. The wettest Valley month ever? Last January, when precipitation totaled 17.51 inches.

DOUBLE DUTY: Bilingualism is turning out to be good business. . . . Employers will often pay added incentives to workers fluent in more than one language. And employees get the message: the number of L.A. area residents taking Berlitz language classes for job-related reasons is up 13% in the past four years. See Valley Business, Page 10.

DO-IT-YOURSELF: Want to save thousands of dollars on your next house? Get a hammer. . . . For some people, building their own home is cheaper than shoveling the money to contractors. But it doesn’t come easy. “I would only recommend this kind of a project to someone who has a strong will,” said Robert Plaisted, whose family is saving up to $125,000 by building their home near Sylmar. See Valley Business, Page 7.

SCHOOL’S OUT: Remember that nighttime high school being discussed in Glendale? You can forget about it. School officials say only 34 students signed up for the proposed Evening High School by Monday’s deadline. (B1).

FUNNY BUSINESS: What’s Sonic the Hedgehog doing in China? Making money for DIC Entertainment, that’s what. The Burbank-based company is laughing all the way to the bank by televising cartoons and other kids’ shows in China. Popular programs: “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog” and “Madeline.” See Valley Business, Page 3.

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May Showers

Valley rainstorms in the month of May are nearly as rare as snowstorms in July. Rainiest Mays since 1949:

Inches of rainfall measured at Pierce College, Woodland Hills 1955: .65 1956: .74 1977: 3.37 1990: 1.57 Source: Dataquick Information Services