WHEELERS AND DEALERS: Ventura County transportation officials...

WHEELERS AND DEALERS: Ventura County transportation officials are doing everything they can to coax commuters out of their cars and into trains and buses (B1). . . . But it’s going to take a lot more coaxing in some areas, particularly in the east county. In Simi Valley, 34% of the households own three or more cars. This means more cars on local roads, but it also means more customer traffic for Simi Valley auto dealers like Darrell Coletto. “We hope the trend continues to grow.”

Car Happy Percentage of households with three or more cars:

Simi Valley: 34% Thousand Oaks: 30.5 Moorpark: 28.8 Oxnard: 25.0 Camarillo: 24.4 Fillmore: 22.4 Santa Paula: 21.6 Ventura: 21.4 Ojai: 19.6 Port Hueneme: 15.6

Source: U.S. Census

PAPER FOLDS: The big news at the Oxnard Press-Courier on Monday was the announcement by the publisher that the paper will cease publication this week after 95 years as the city’s hometown paper (B1). . . . Officials cited the California economy, the competitive market and declining ad sales for the move. Said publisher Kirk A. Davis, “We recognize that newspapers provide an important public service, but this is a business and we weren’t able to meet all of our obligations.”

FLAG DAY: Today marks the 217th anniversary of Old Glory. Although cotton was the primary material used in flag making in 1777, this is no longer the case. Polyester and nylon are also used and, while more expensive than cotton, are preferred by some because of their lasting quality. . . . “Nylon flies better and dries better than cotton,” said Dan Lanshe, co-owner of American Eagle Flags & Banners in Ventura. “It also has a nice snap to it.”

BABY BUSINESS: Hoping to attract more Medi-Cal patients, Community Memorial Hospital recently opened a clinic near Oxnard’s La Colonia neighborhood to serve new mothers. Now Ventura County Medical Center is proposing to do the same, as competition between the two hospitals for low-income patients escalates (B1). . . . Richard Reisman of Community Memorial said the hospital must expand its opportunities in poor areas like La Colonia. “We are latecomers, but we’re very serious about being here now.”