COMMUNITY NEWS ROTARY NAMES 'ANGELS OF YEAR'.

TOLUCA LAKE - Area Rotary Clubs have named five ``Angels of the Year'' - outstanding volunteers from the Southeast San Fernando Valley recognized for selfless acts in their communities.

Those recognized at a ceremony this past week in North Hollywood area:

--Richard E. Baker, chairman of board for the Providence Saint Joseph Foundation, is spearheading the panel overseeing construction of an integrated cancer center at the medical center.

--Sam Asheghian, owner of an automobile repair shop, who has organized such programs as ``Holidays in the Park'' to bring recognition to merchants in his Burbank neighborhood.

--Mary Rose Schallert, who volunteers daily at Activities for Retarded Children and Adults and on Saturdays oversees socialization and recreational programs for more than 60 severely disabled adults.

--Karen Christoffersen, who has provided time and money for 20 years to the Burbank Sister City Committee and volunteered in a student exchange program with Ota, Japan.

--Peter McGrath, an activist for senior citizens, affordable housing and the homeless for 20 years. He is currently chairman of the nutrition program for the Los Angeles Area Agency on Aging.

Finalists for the 23rd annual Bravo Award, which recognizes outstanding Los Angeles-area teachers and schools in art education, will honor finalists and winners March 1.

Several teachers and schools in the San Fernando Valley area have been nominated for the three awards, which will go to a school, arts teacher and general classroom teacher.

The winning school will receive a $10,000 cash award, while the two winning teachers will receive $4,000 each.

The event is supported by the Music Center of Los Angeles County.

Included in the finalists are: Viewpoint School in Calabasas; music teacher Kathy King of Chaminade College Preparatory Middle School in Chatsworth; teacher Cathy Paulson of Tulsa Street Elementary School in Granada Hills; co-principals Linda Evans and Mike Livingston of Crescenta Valley High in La Crescenta; theater teacher Karen Teeter from John Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley; teacher Lhana Van Lamsweerde from Nestle Elementary School in Tarzana; and teacher Tracey Schroeder from Kester Avenue Elementary in Van Nuys.

The Blank Theatre Company's nationwide Young Playwright's Festival is now seeking submissions from playwrights 19 years and younger through March 15.

Winning plays will be presented by professional actors and directors in June, with five performances of each play during a weekend run at Hollywood's Hudson Theatre.

Now in its 13th year, the festival produces the work of eight to 12 teenage playwrights each year. The festival has produced 136 plays by young playwrights from more than 20 states since 1993.

``The plays submitted each year continue to astound me, but these teenage playwrights astound me even more,'' said actor Noah Wyle, artistic producer at The Blank.

``The winners have been thrilled to see their plays presented by professionals, but working with these young writers has given all of the artists involved a renewed sense of purpose. We learn just as much from the playwrights as they learn from us.''

For more information on the competition, check the festival's Web site at YoungPlaywrights.com or TheBlank.com.