STAYING HOME: It’s been two years since...

STAYING HOME: It’s been two years since a sex scandal called Tailhook rocked the Navy. Now the Tailhook Assn. is holding another convention (A3), but Rear Adm. William E. Newman won’t be attending this time. . . . Newman, commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center at Point Mugu, was tarred by Tailhook even though he left the 1991 gathering before the infamous party where 36 women were molested. Afterward, Newman was one of 35 senior officers urged to rethink their career goals. . . . Newman will speak tonight at a Ventura dinner marking the Navy’s 218th birthday. On Oct. 13, 1775, the Continental Congress bought two vessels--the origin of today’s fleet.

CHUMASH AID: Chumash Indians once ruled what is now Ventura County. Now descendants of the Chumash have a friend in county government. . . . Supervisor Maria VanderKolk wants the county to promote the Chumash’s “persistence as a traditional culture.”. . . VanderKolk’s proposal, to be discussed Tuesday, was sent to the Government Center in Shisholop--the Chumash term for Ventura. Ojai, Port Hueneme and Simi Valley also take their names from Chumash words. . . . About 4,000 Chumash descendants live in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

NEWCOMER: Two weeks ago, Bryan Wilkins was the star runner at Antelope Valley’s Littlerock High School, accounting for every offensive point in three games. But after a midseason transfer, he starts for Moorpark High tonight against Oak Park (C11).

BERRY IMPORTANT: California eggs have a state commission, and they’ve been cracking up TV audiences with those ads urging us to “give ‘em a break.” Now the state’s strawberries may get their own commission. . . . Gov. Pete Wilson has signed a bill allowing the strawberry advisory board to upgrade itself to commission status for promotions and research. . . . Rather than running ads, however, growers will focus on developing tasty new varieties, board President David Riggs said. . . . Ventura County has 4,340 acres of strawberries.