HUMAN MESSAGE: Orange County doesn’t intend to...

HUMAN MESSAGE: Orange County doesn’t intend to forget American troops in Bosnia. Today, more than 1,000 people are expected to gather at Lake Hills Community Church in Laguna Hills to sing Christmas carols in front of a video camera. The tape will be sent to Bosnia and broadcast by the Armed Forces Network on Christmas Day. “Our soldiers will be digging trenches, they’ll be in tents,” says organizer Steve Gooden. “We just want to make them feel at home on Christmas of all days.” Show time is 7:30 p.m. and the public is invited.

THE ‘B’ TEAM: The city of Orange, at the behest of local residents Michelle Gregory and Sandy Strait, wants to do its share for the troops too. It’s adopting a U.S. Army B Company unit--one of the first in. City residents are encouraged to send care packages or write its soldiers--address B Company, 4/12 INF. REGT., Unit 23715, APO AE09034. . . . Says Gregory: “Everybody has their own opinions on Bosnia. But regardless, we have to support the troops.”

DUCKS’ CHEER: Holiday visits to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County by 12 Mighty Duck players Thursday were particularly special for Eric Viola, 9, and Brandon Oba, 23. They were greeted in the oncology intensive care unit by the Ducks’ Milos Holan, who has a slow-progressing form of leukemia. . . . Says recreation therapist Susan Gallegos: “That was really positive for both of them, to see that he’s out there doing it, continuing on with a normal life while going through this battle.”

STUDENT AID: There’s a party at Irvine Valley College today, where Christmas packages of turkey, ham and vegetables will go to the needy--meaning needy students. Faculty, staff and students have put together nearly 200 care packages for students struggling financially--many of them single parents, or just alone for the holidays. . . . Says counselor Bari Rudmann: “They are thinking, ‘I am trying to make a better life for my kids and I still can’t give them any presents.’ ”