RETIRED ZOO ANIMALS NEED FUNDS FOR NATURAL HABITAT.

Byline: Diana Peyton Community columnist

Mollie Hogan needs a ``freedom cage'' for her wild animal friends. The former zoo keeper has been running a retired zoo animal care facility in Topanga called the Nature of Wildworks for four years.

Roaming space for the menagerie is what Hogan means when she describes the oxymoron, ``freedom cage.'' Her dream is for ``a securely closed 2,000-square-foot expanse with grass, water, shrubs, logs, enrichment goodies and space,'' she said. The price tag is estimated at $10,000. It would give the animals more area than the minimum enclosure required by the California Department of Fish and Game.

``Most of the animals are in cages,'' she said. ``We take them for walks and things but they need a natural habitat. We have an area staked out, but don't have the funds to build it.''

She resigned from the Los Angeles Zoo at the beginning of August. To support her nonprofit project, Hogan charges fees to conduct outreach programs with animal performers.

Phoenix, a mountain lion who has been a companion since his birth, has taken a place at her side now that Bonsai, a wild cat called a caracal, died this year. She feeds, nurtures and keeps 25 wild animals with the help of 30 volunteers. The habitat would be used by mountain lions, wolves, foxes, bobcats, kinkajous, opossums, squirrels, macaws, hawks and owls from the Los Angeles Zoo.

The Golden Hands Award will be presented to Terry and Carole York, owners of Terry York Automotive Group, from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Fernando Valley at a dinner to be held in their honor.

The couple is being recognized for services and contributions to the organization. ``Their heart has always been to provide for young people,'' said Leroy Chase Program Director.

``The Yorks have served the Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Fernando Valley for over 20 years. Terry York has served on the Board of Directors, the Advisory Board and he was a very important individual in the clubs' building campaign. The couple has helped the program to meet many of its obligations,'' Chase said.

The guest list includes; Steve L. Soboroff, president of Soboroff & Partners, and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who will serve as the honorary chairman for the evening. The dinner is planned for Oct. 22 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City.

The Boys & Girls Clubs have served Valley children for 32 years.

Mariachi Cobras de Jalisco and Mariachi Los Halcones will represent the city of San Fernando at Disneyland Oct. 17 in a Mariachi Festival sponsored by the McDonald's Corp.

The Mariachi groups of schoolchildren will compete with other southern California bands in a showcase finale at Frontierland.

The Mariachi Cobras de Jalisco is self-directed by its 10 members.

Some of the musicians who will be performing attend San Fernando Middle School. They are; Juan Zepeda, Roberto Diaz, Guillermo Santillan, Sarai Santillan and Kevin Reynaga.

Other members are Daniel Herrera, North Hollywood High School; Evelyn Galvan, Hillary T. Broadous Elementary School; Kelly Reynaga, Vaughn Street Elementary School; Elizabeth Huizar, Olive Vista Middle School; and Aaron Reynaga, Oliver Wendell Holmes Middle School.

Members of the Los Halcones are from San Fernando Middle School: Sergio Banales, Jesus Becerra, Mariana Castrellon, Benjamin Cuarenta, Grisel Diaz, Roberto Diaz, Refugio Juarez, Laura Mendoza, Manuel Mendoza, Felipe Navarro, Melody Ortega, Kevin Reynaga, Zulema Rojo, Guillermo Santillan, Sarai Santillan, Alisandro Vasquez, Angelina Vasquez, Rudy Vasquez and Juan Zepeda.

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Photo: Phoenix, a mountain lion, lives at Mollie Hogan's Topanga animal care facility.