Naturalists are on hand from 2-3 the first Saturday of each month to guide individuals and families through the free, hands-on experience. Info: 303-730-1022 or sspr.org.

Nature movies | Morrison Nature Center, 16002 E. Smith Road, offers a free nature movie, popcorn and hands-on projects at 2 p.m. the 3rd Sunday monthly. Register: 303-739-2428.

Kids nature programs | Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road, Aurora, offers a free program for kids ages 5 and under every Thursday at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. with puppets, stories, activities and outdoor exploration. Info: 303-739-2428 or auroragov.org/parksandopenspace.

Kids nature programs | Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch, 16002 E. Smith Road, Aurora, offers a free program for kids ages 6-10, "Junior Rangers," which meets the second Sunday every month at 1:30 p.m.

Dreams, bullpen stressing me out

Last night I dreamed I was sent out to Turner Field in the middle of a Braves game, having seen not one minute of spring training and told to come up with something to write, ready to turn in at the end of the game.

Let me back up for a second. For those not reading carefully it's CARROLL again - hey! Wassup? Long time! - and I'm feeling a little out of it after submersing myself in hockey (hockey?) and a little Hawks and Falcons for the last three months.

Open-wheel stars in enter NASCAR, a different world

Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. know a bit about the formerly named California Speedway, each having won here in a open-wheel car.

However, that experience will count little this weekend when Franchitti and Hornish join Patrick Carpentier at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500. Another open-wheel refugee, Juan Pablo Montoya, will also compete today.

Montoya was brought into NASCAR by team owner ChipGanassi, for whom he ran in Championship Auto Racing Teams before moving to Formula One.

Franchitti won at the Fontana track in 2005 under the CART banner while Hornish claimed the checkered flag in Indy Racing League races in 2002 and '03,each time by less than a second.

In fact, Hornish's win in 2003 was the fastest race in track history; he averaged 207.151 mph at the Toyota Indy400.

Mid-Valley briefs

Mid-Valley briefs from Tuesday's paper. Colusa Anti-gang meeting at casino "From Survival to Success," a conference focusing on at-risk youth and alternate gang prevention approaches, will be held Wednesday at the Colusa Casino conference room. Admission is free. The business is at 3770 Highway 45 in Colusa. Planned from 4 to 6 p.m., the event features speaker Francisco Reveles, a professor at California State University, Sacramento. An expert on at-risk youth, gangs and gang prevention, he will look specifically at Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties, including the most recent research. Sponsors include Woodland Community College, Yuba College, Colusa County Office of Education and Colusa County Native American Education Commission. Yuba City Fruit tree sale Saturday More than 500 various fruit trees are featured in the annual Fruit Tree Sale hosted by the Parents Club of St.

Jeep Rubicon Offers an Off-road Blast from the Past

In an age when more and more vehicles seem to be embracing the look and/or feel of vehicles past (just look at the PT Cruiser or the current Mustang), the basic, garden variety Jeep doesn't have to follow such trends. Nope, it continues to look pretty much like it always has, the body style millions have come to know and love since the U.S. Army was given the Willys back in 1941.

Oh, it's changed, all right. In fact, for the 2007 model year the classic Jeep, now called the Wrangler, even stretches itself to add a pair of rear doors, while becoming even boxier than before. And it ups its off road ante through more ground clearance, larger wheels and tires, (optional) next-generation Command-Trac and Rock-Trac transfer cases, new electric axle lockers, and electronic-disconnecting front sway bar.

Technology Leader SECNAP Introduces Hosted Spam Solution

BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- SECNAP(R) Network Security Corporation today announced the addition of an innovative hosted solution to the company's extensive anti-spam product line. Hosted SpammerTrap(TM) leverages the same user-friendly software as the popular SECNAP SpammerTrap(TM) line of email security devices to deliver virtually 100% accuracy around the clock.

According to Ilan Zachar, CIO of Gazit Group USA, "We were using a competitor's hosted service (Postini) but found that we required some functionality they didn't offer.

Britney Spears 'Happily Dating' Paparazzi Photographer, His Photo ...

Besides her father, Jamie, Ghalib was the only visitor Spears had at Cedars-Sinai hospital that she actually requested, the agency claims.

The agency also writes, "After being released from the hospital, Britney and Adnan spent the night and the following days together resting, eating, sleeping, shopping and talking about life and the love they have for their families." The agency calls this "much-needed quality time" so the couple could escape "from the constant pressure of being hounded by the media."

Ghalib himself is a member of the media and has contributed to that media coverage — including an interview he gave to "20/20." But Finalpixx insists that Ghalib was not paid for the interview and that it was before "anything had happened between Britney and Adnan." "The airing of the interview was just coincidental," Finalpixx claims.