Getting a Lego Up on Crime Problem

You no doubt know that the new Legoland California amusement park has a section with some scale models depicting life in Southern California. There are no car chases, but one Beverly Hills mansion has a cop on the roof, pursuing a suspected burglar. By the way, the admission price for adults to the Carlsbad attraction is $32, which some might also consider a crime.

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FROM THE OBVIOUS TO THE SUBTLE: In today’s warning file (see accompanying), Alan Bosshardt of Lawndale was surprised that a flier on reptile safety would have to tell pet owners to forgo smooches. The Huntington Library in San Marino, meanwhile, has signs on its grounds informing visitors that they cannot carve their initials on the bamboo trees. Kissing the bamboo trees is permitted, I believe.

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OUT OF HIBERNATION: Just when I thought Ventubear was in peaceful retirement after being pulled off some power lines, the stuffed toy is involved in another mystery.

It started after James Dawson e-mailed me with a request to publish a picture of the creature, which hung above the Ventura Freeway for weeks.

“I’m one of the millions of Ventubear fans (OK, maybe dozens),” he said. “But we’ve never seen him up close--only admired him as he dangled 50 feet above the freeway.”

I phoned the Department of Water and Power, Ventubear’s rescuer, only to find it had disappeared from the DWP field office where it was being displayed as a keepsake. (Oddly enough, I had received a call a few weeks earlier from a woman who said she thought that Ventubear could be sold over the Internet for $5,000 or more).

So where is the little guy? As I drive the freeways, I keep checking the power lines above.

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THE OTHER KAZAN ISSUE: In last Saturday’s Calendar section, a tongue-in-cheek letter from Paul Serchia of L.A. said, “I believe Lainie Kazan is richly deserving of a special Oscar for her lifetime achievement. . . .”

A day later, at the Oscars, presenter Robin Williams said, “In terms of the Kazan controversy--let Lainie sing!”

A coincidence I’m sure.

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NEXT DESTINATION OF VENTUBEAR? No sooner did I mention the dearth of songs paying tribute to the city of Needles than Wayne Terry quoted the lyrics from “Never Been to Spain”:

Well I never been to England

But I kinda like the Beatles

Well I headed for Las Vegas

Only made it out to Needles

Added Terry: “They just don’t write ‘em like that anymore.”

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NUTTY PLOT: Baseball season is here and Dodger Stadium’s most beloved performer is ready to swing into action. I’m referring, of course, to Roger “the Peanut Man” Owens, the vendor who has appeared on the “Tonight Show” several times.

But Owens will also demonstrate his famous behind-the-back delivery system on a March 31 episode of TV’s “Drew Carey Show.” The plot evidently involves the death of a big baseball fan. At least that’s my guess why Roger will be seen pitching peanuts to the mourners at a funeral.

miscelLAny:

Galen Beery noticed that a La Verne resident seeking approval to keep a potbellied pig as a pet listed an address on Hormel Avenue.

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Steve Harvey can be reached by phone at (213) 237-7083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com and by mail at L.A. Times, Times Mirror Square, L.A. 90053.