‘IN’ SPOTS: Three Valley schools are the...

‘IN’ SPOTS: Three Valley schools are the most popular spots for public school students seeking transfers from neighborhood campuses. Repeat winner Taft High School in Woodland Hills was picked by 496 students seeking transfers. Sherman Oaks’ Millikan took honors among middle schools. Sylmar’s Harding Street School was No. 1 among grade schools. In all, 9,949 students took part in the program.

BY OWNER: It’s true that most pros caution against selling your home without a real estate agent. But one Encino couple are trying to disprove conventional wisdom by marketing their own property. . . . They hope to save the 6% commission--and recoup some of their lost property value. See Valley Business (D7A).

THAT’S SWEET: Budding bakers in the Glendale Community College culinary arts program have filled a tall--and until now top-secret--order for cookies from the White House. Now they can finally tell of the lacy snowflake cookies, like the one Ana Gonzalez is holding, that will decorate the White House Christmas trees. They’re edible, but after a month on the tree, “I don’t think I would try it,” warned department head Yeimei Wang.

GIVE ME FIVE: It’s a big week for County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. Today, he takes over the board’s chairmanship, a largely ceremonial post but one it doesn’t hurt to have when you’re running for a fifth term. . . . Antonovich kicked off his reelection bid Monday by filing papers. No serious opposition is expected, in part because of Antonovich’s bankroll. So far, he has raised $511,941 for the March election.

WRITER’S CRAMP: Through it all, Antonovich is busy signing 20,000 Christmas cards for his most intimate friends and supporters. . . . The cards were donated by Good Shepherd Lutheran Home of the West, a facility for the mentally retarded. Hard to believe, but Antonovich says he writes a personal greeting on each card.