PASSING THROUGH: En route from Greece to...

PASSING THROUGH: En route from Greece to Atlanta, the Olympic Torch will pass briefly through the Valley. On April 27, when the flame reaches the West Coast, runners will cut through Burbank along Alameda Avenue to Barham Boulevard, then into L.A. on Cahuenga Boulevard.

PASSING BY: On the other hand, Republican presidential hopeful Bob Dole will not be passing through these parts when he comes to California on Friday, despite earlier indications that he might stop in Palmdale. . . . He’s not even going to see a new headquarters set up in Glendale. “Thank God,” said Michele Davis, the California campaign’s executive director, “because it’s a mess.” Dole, Davis promises, will visit the Valley next time.

SPRING SWING: Morgan Betterton, 4, enjoyed warm sunshine Tuesday in a swing at the Studio City Recreation Center. With temperatures in the 80s, winter was a mere memory. . . . Today is the first day of spring after a cold season that was, in the end, pretty average, said Bruce Rockwell of the National Weather Service. The first part of winter was warm and dry, he said, but the last was cold and wet, making for a normal year overall. The Valley’s hottest day was Feb. 7 (91 in Burbank), and the coldest was Feb. 27 (26 in Newhall and 30 in Woodland Hills). Winter rain: 11 1/2 inches.

ENCINO OAK: Old Lang, the oldest oak in Encino, struggles for survival among mini-malls, a reduced water supply and commuters who fear its limbs will fall on their cars. . . . Life & Style (E1) takes a look.

WALKING TIPS: In Santa Clarita, officials are worried that pedestrians don’t understand the walk signals on traffic lights. So they’re putting up signs explaining what to do. “The green walking figure,” explains the city, means, “start crossing, watch for cars.” . . . Uh, thanks.