STATION STUDY: Simi Valley’s police station was...

STATION STUDY: Simi Valley’s police station was already ailing, but the Jan. 17 earthquake pushed the deteriorating facility onto the critical list. . . . The city will decide tonight whether to fund a study on replacing police headquarters, which received about $200,000 in quake damage (B5). A new station could cost up to $11.3 million. . . . The city has patched up much of the damage. “Who’s to say what would happen if we had another earthquake,” Detective Gene Hostetler said.

BUGGED OUT: James Fujita is only 12, but when it comes to bugs, he’s bright beyond his years (B1). . . . The Oxnard youngster, obsessed with insects since he was a toddler, has taken his passion to the lecture circuit, speaking at Ventura County schools. . . . He has worked with some of the top entomologists in the field. But at school, his parents have refused to let him skip grades. “We don’t want to rob him of his childhood,” said his father, David.

HIS HONOR: Ventura County Municipal Judge Herbert Curtis III has won a national award for his volunteer efforts in the community. . . . Curtis was honored by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives for helping such groups as the Boys and Girls Club, the local Boy Scouts of America and the Ventura County Symphony Assn. . . . The former civics teacher said he particularly enjoys helping young people. “It’s a way to return some of the great memories and experiences I’ve had here in the county,” said Curtis, 46.

HOME FRONT: Once, their main concern was whether neighbors painted their houses the proper shade of beige. . . . But increasingly, Thousand Oaks homeowners groups have become a political force, taking on everything from lobbying City Hall to monitoring development (B5).