DONATION TO HELP CONSERVATION.

Byline: SIMON SCHRAMM Community columnist

The Westlake Village Garden Club recently contributed $500 to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area for its programs and efforts in promoting conservation.

The money will benefit properties such as the Peter Strauss Ranch on Mulholland Drive, and help fund concerts and art shows.

``This is a very nice donation that we can use as it assists us, where we can provide the public with education on our natural resources,'' Park Ranger Ken Low said.

The proximity of the recreation agency, and its abundance of activities, prompted the garden club to make the donation.

``We like giving to charities that we can see in our area, charities that our local community will benefit from,'' said Molly Zimmermann, president of the club, which also contributes to Meals on Wheels, Wellness Community and Creative Smile, an animal-assisted therapy program.

Ruth Huyler Glass has been named head of the Wesley School in North Hollywood, which serves 200 students in kindergarten through eighth grades.

An educator and administrator with 30 years of experience, she will succeed Chuck Potts, the founding head of school, who will retire at the end of the academic year. Her appointment is the result of a nine-month search and is effective July 1.

Currently, Glass is the head of school at the Odyssey Program in Malibu, which educates elementary and middle school students, including those with developmental challenges

Alisha Sela of Woodland Hills traveled to Israel with 86 other students of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York as part of an effort to spur travel to Israel.

The trip, which ends today, was designed to teach students how to promote tourism to the Middle Eastern nation, which has been plagued in recent months by a flare-up of violence between Jews and Palestinians.

During their stay, students learned about the devastating effects of the Palestinian uprising, met with officials of the Israeli government and interacted with students at the Jewish Theological Seminary's Jerusalem campus, among other activities.

The San Fernando Valley branch of The California Writer's Club is sponsoring a writing contest for local fifth-graders.

The theme is ``My Special Friend.'' Students may submit fiction, nonfiction, an essay or poetry about a person, animal or imaginary friend.

Submissions must be the original work of the student. Stories, nonfiction and essays must not exceed 750 words. and poems must not exceed 22 lines. Entries must be typed on 8 1/2-by-11-inch paper. Entries will be judged on creativity and originality. Each student's name, address, name of school and name of teacher must be included in the top left-hand corner of the first page.

Martha Soto has been named dean of academic affairs for Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar.

Soto began her new duties at the campus on Jan. 6. She comes to Mission College from the University of Southern California, where she served as associate director of the Center for Urban Education and as an adjunct professor in the Rossier School of Education.