valleytalk/24″/mike1st/mark2nd Siberian Immigrant One of the newest and most unusual citizens of San Fernando is “Jodie,” a rare, eight-month-old Siberian tiger cub who is taking up residence at the Wildlife Way Station, a refuge for wild and exotic animals located in the city. The tiger’s journey to the Valley has been a torturous one. She was taken from her natural habitat and smuggled on the black market to Ireland, where she was discovered in extremely poor condition by Irish wildlife officials. After being nursed back to health, Jodie arrived in L.A. late last month on a trip donated by Burlington Air Express and American Airlines. Jodie will remain in San Fernando for the forseeable future. She is being cared for by Martine Colette, founder of the Wildlife Way Station and an expert in the care of tigers, lions and other rare, large cats. Instant Sequel “Hercules,” this summer’s animated film cum massive marketing event cum toy and merchandise launchpad from Walt Disney Co., won’t even hit screens until next month, but the studio is already working on a made-for-video sequel. Disney has discovered that many of its animated films actually make more money on video than they did in their original theatrical release, according to a story in the Hollywood Reporter. So the studio is not only re-releasing an unprecedented number of old features on video, it is gearing up to produce more straight-to-video movies than ever before. Re-issues already out or coming soon include such Disney classics as “Bambi,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Mary Poppins” and “The Jungle Book.” Meanwhile, made-for-video sequels to “Hercules,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Toy Story” and “Pocahontas” are all in the works. Sick Humor The 65-year-old Northridge Pharmacy is more than just a place to get your prescription filled, the pharmacist will also try to tickle your funny bone. Pharmacist and owner Barry Pascal recently had his book “Funny Bones” published by Thoth Press. Pascal calls it the official health joke book containing “sick” humor. For instance, “My doctor offered me a deal. He’d take out my appendix if I’d take out his daughter.” Not funny enough? Try, “My doctor had an embarrassing moment the other day. It took two weeks for some test results he had performed to come back. They said the patient only had one week to live.” Despite being a pharmacist for 25 years, Pascal has never allowed his avocation of being a pharmacist interfere with his true vocation of cornering customers and telling them the latest joke. The book was published to save the wear and tear on his throat, according to Pascal. 99 Bottles of Beer No one likes warm beer. That’s the defense being offered by 99 Cents Only Stores, which is set this month to open its newest location a block away from an elementary school in Newhall. Parents of children attending Wiley Canyon Elementary School are protesting the issuance of a liquor license to the store, saying the sale of alcohol will attract undesirables to the area. But Henry Miller, a company spokesman, disputes the claim, saying the temperature of the alcohol sold will prevent vagrancy. “Nothing will be sold cold. It will all be warm,” Miller told Santa Clarita’s The Signal. “You can go into Vons or Ralphs and it’s cold. And when it’s cold, you’re more likely to drink it in the area.” Among the warm alcoholic beverages the store plans to sell, Miller said, is Bulgarian-made beer, which will sell for two or three bottles for 99 cents. Fashionably Short Vestar Development Co. is going to demolish the Glendale Fashion Center and build a new mall in its place. The name will be retained since it is well known to shoppers. But a look at Vestar’s tenant list indicates the new Glendale Fashion Center will be very short on fashion. Arguably the only tenant coming even close to fitting that description is Ross Dress for Less, which, last time we checked, isn’t often mentioned in the fashion magazines. Other tenants slated to grace the shop spaces in the new “fashion center” include: Ralphs supermarket, Long’s drugs, Best Buy electronics, Barnes & Noble books, Cost Plus imports and Petco. Could Petco be coming out with a line of designer-label doggie sweaters? Greetings, Colleague Hallmark might care enough to send the very best, but Conceptual Thinking Inc. hopes to look after your business clients. The Burbank-based company sells “greeting cards for business people.” One card features an old photo of kids on a ladder, with the words, “Thanks for helping me climb the corporate ladder.” Another card might be good for a sales person who can’t get through to a prospective client. The cover photo is of a remote castle, with the words, “I can’t seem to reach you.” Inside, the card says, “Call me.” Some of the cards have a fairly somber message. The front of another card depicts a church and two grave stones, with the words “Someday We Will Both Be Dead.” On the inside it says “Let’s Do Some Business Before It’s Too Late.”