GONE SOUTH: Luscious red home-grown tomatoes--as opposed...

GONE SOUTH: Luscious red home-grown tomatoes--as opposed to the pale pink supermarket variety--are ripening in back yards across Ventura County. But not on the county’s farms. . . . “We probably have less than 200 acres of pole tomatoes,” said Rex Laird of the Ventura County Farm Bureau. “We used to have hundreds and hundreds.” What happened? “It’s very labor-intensive. We couldn’t compete with Mexico.” . . . Nowadays, most of the county’s commercially grown tomatoes end up in cans.

HOLDUPS DOWN: By this time last year, robbers had hit Ventura County banks 69 times, on their way to a record 97 holdups for the year. So far this year: Just 37. . . . Bank holdups are down across Southern California, but the FBI hesitates to draw conclusions. Special Agent Steven Berry cited better security at banks and expanded law enforcement. . . . Typically, 80% of county bank robberies end with an arrest. Average sentence: six years.

COURT COURTSHIPS: Lela Henke-Dobroth is one of Ventura County’s top prosecutors (B1). She’s also one of several people who have found mates at the Hall of Justice. . . . Henke-Dobroth’s husband is Municipal Judge John E. Dobroth. Deputy Dist. Atty. Rebecca S. Riley is married to Superior Court Judge Ken W. Riley. And court reporter Dorothea Bradley is the wife of Superior Court Judge Robert C. Bradley. . . . The prosecutors can’t practice in front of their husbands, of course. Said Rebecca Riley: “We ride in together. That’s about it.”

FAIR FREEBIE: For the second year in a row, the Ventura County Fair is letting 100-year-olds in free. But there’s been no onslaught of centenarians--not even one, in fact. “There’s not been a big run on it, or even a big walk on it,” said spokeswoman Teri Raley. . . . Admission is $3 for seniors, but on Tuesday it’s free. “They appreciate traditional fair things,” Raley said. “When they see a prize quilt, they know the effort that went into it.”

Tomato Tumbles

Ventura County’s tomato crop has declined over the years.

Source: Ventura County Statistical Abstract