Let It Rain

With five days and, very likely, one storm to go before the new year, 1996 has already delivered slightly more rain than usual to the San Fernando Valley. . . . But unless the storm now bearing down from Northern California (A3) brings a dozen inches of precipitation--which it won’t, forecasters say--this year’s rainfall total won’t even approach 1995’s 29.3 inches.

Rainfall Comparison

Total rainfall in Woodland Hills:

1995: 29.30 inches

1996: 17.02 inches* 1994: 11.04 inches

Average: 16.27 inches

* rainfall total to date

Source: WeatherData Inc

Wrong Elmo

In this, the season of Tickle Me Elmo, how could a prank caller have resisted? . . . Lois Rochetti, who works at Elmo Manufacturing Corp. in Chatsworth, answered the call Thursday. She politely explained to the man that her company could not supply a wiggling, giggling doll, but could indeed offer, among other electronic goodies, a nice TV security camera. His reply: “When you tickle those, do they laugh?”

Order on the Green

During the putting contest at the “Legal Challenge” charity golf tournament Jan. 27 at the Braemar Country Club in Tarzana, putters will be . . . illegal. The participating lawyers and judges will have to take to the green with gavels.