BACK TO NORMAL: Last year, Ojai Valley...

BACK TO NORMAL: Last year, Ojai Valley residents raised more than $100,000 to pay for a liver transplant for Aaron Clement. Today, 3 1/2 months after surgery, Aaron is “having a ball with life,” said his mother, Annie Luftenburg. “He’s just a completely normal 15-year-old. It’s wonderful.” Aaron starts summer school soon to catch up on lessons he missed during a 15-month battle with cancer. . . . Today, a Nicaraguan teen-ager has open-heart surgery at a Thousand Oaks hospital (Section B).

BAD TIMING: Riders may not like paying a quarter more to ride South Coast Area Transit buses, but at least they won’t have to endure the strains of minstrels and mariachi players. The bus system, which serves west Ventura County, has dropped plans for on-board entertainment during its 20th anniversary July 7. . . . “They shouldn’t have people walking around, falling on passengers,” said Larry Wear of the drivers union. SCAT board members said it would look bad to throw a party after a fare hike.

PURPLE PROSE: “The spray turned into rainbows that danced in the air and then faded.” So writes Ray Maloney in “The Impact Zone,” one of several current books set in Ventura County. Two are enjoying a run on the bestseller charts. Ventura County Life, J8.

NEW RECRUITS: The Ventura County Planning Commission may discuss the Weldon Canyon landfill today (B1), but no matter what happens, dump-the-dump forces are digging in for the long haul. To finance the effort, they’ve enlisted big names in pop music to join the anti-Weldon movie and TV actors. Headlining two fund-raisers at the Ventura Concert Theatre on June 27: Jackson Browne, David Crosby and Kenny Loggins. . . . Cheap seats are $15, but for $50, you can mingle with the stars beforehand.

SHUT OUT: Simi Valley High’s high-scoring baseball team found runs in short supply in the Southern Section Division I title game. The Pioneers had only two hits in a 3-0 Esperanza loss. (C1)