DIGNIFIED END OFFERED FOR WORN FLAGS.

Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY 

Odds and ends from around the Valley:

Here's a young man who deserves some special recognition. He's Jonathon Lawes, a Boy Scout with Troop 335, who is working on a community service project to earn the rank of Eagle.

``I am going to collect old, tattered American flags, then, at an appropriate time and place, properly retire the flags with full honors in a proper ceremony,'' the 16-year-old Chatsworth High student wrote in a flier being placed around the community.

``If you have any flags that need to be retired, please send them to Jonathon Lawes at 9945 Shoup Ave., Chatsworth 91311, or contact me at [phone], and ask for Jonathon. Let me know where I can pick them up at a set time. Thank you.''

No. Thank you, son. There are a lot of people who have no idea how to dispose of the tattered flags they've been flying since 9-11, but do know they shouldn't just throw them away.

So what do you say we take the kid up on his offer and send him those old flags? When the time comes for the retirement ceremony that the American Legion will help Jonathon put on in about a month, I'll let you know about it, and we'll do a follow-up story.

If you have a loved one serving in the U.S. military - and proudly want people to know about it - stop by Assemblyman Keith Richman's office in Granada Hills and pick up a Blue Star banner to display in your window.

The tradition was started in 1917 by a father who had two sons on the front lines in World War I. Since then, the banners have become the unofficial national symbol of having a child in military service.

``Blue Star service banners are an excellent way for military families to demonstrate support for their loved ones and to build community support for those families,'' Richman said.

The family member can be a son, daughter, brother, sister, wife, husband or grandchild in the armed forces, including activated National Guard and Reserve units.

Richmond's field office is located at 10727 White Oak Ave. in Granada Hills, and the telephone number is [phone]. The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Morosco, who was named 2003 Woman of the Year by state Assemblywoman Fran Pavley at a special ceremony at the State Capitol last week.

Liz began a program in the Topanga Canyon office of the Guide Dogs for the Blind that enables blind children to be involved in the community and that teaches them care and handling skills they might need with a guide dog.

``Helping people reach their goal of independent traveling by partnering with a guide dog has been a motivating factor in my life,'' Morosco said in receiving the honor from Pavley, who has raised and prepared four puppies for guide dog training.

And finally, some good news.

Nico Bellucci, whom I called the ``bravest little boy in town'' when I wrote about him in April 2001, is doing great.

He's 7 now and still battling a rare kidney disease that's been threatening him since birth.

``He's able to go to school and even play baseball, so we're all so very happy and grateful,'' said his mother, Peggy Bellucci.

The cold, hard facts are that most kids with infantile polycystic kidney disease don't survive childbirth, so in that sense, Nico has been lucky. But the probability of his reaching adolescence is small unless a cure can be found.

To support pediatric kidney research at the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, a two-mile fund-raising walk - the Nico Challenge II - will be held April 12 at the Janss Marketplace, Moorpark Road and Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m., and the walk will start at 10. Donations are requested: $10 for an adult walker, $5 for a junior walker under 12, and $20 for a family of five or fewer.

If you can't make the walk, a tax deductible donation can be mailed to the Nico Challenge, 3169 Radcliffe Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.

For more information call [phone].