NO CHAINS: Some residents of the Ojai...

NO CHAINS: Some residents of the Ojai Valley, wedded to the community’s quaintness, would prefer not to see any chain franchises move in. The latest skirmish in the war against the big guys: a citizen-led effort to keep out a Pay Less drugstore (B1). . . . Other communities that initially opposed fast-food chains have decided they could stomach them--if they were disguised to blend with the town’s architecture.

BEASTS OF BURDEN: Llama, peafowl, pygmy goat--which ranks higher in the animal kingdom? Looking to simplify zoning laws, county officials are considering revising a system that rates domestic and other animals. . . . Cows and horses would each be one whole “animal unit factor.” Dogs and cats would account for a quarter-unit, a hog a half-unit, and a gerbil just one one-hundredth of a unit. Based on noise, roosters are higher in the pecking order than hens. “You can bet we get a lot more complaints about roosters,” said county senior planner Carl Morehouse.

KEEPING IT WILD: The Sespe Wilderness--rugged, unspoiled, stunningly beautiful--looks for the most part today as it did thousands of years ago when the Chumash lived there (Ventura County Life, Page 10). . . . Now, the 220,500-acre expanse of Los Padres National Forest is federally protected from development. For trekkers making the tough sojourn into the interior, the panoramic vistas are ample reward. “It’s like riding into a dream,” said Tony Alvis, who leads horseback tours of Los Padres.

SIMI HOOPS--When it comes to basketball, Simi Valley High School has its share of stars--past and present. . . . This year, forward Tawnee Cooper is working toward a college scholarship (C10). Talent helps--as does a 3.4 grade-point average. . . . And former Simi basketball Coach Bob Hawking now heads Cal State Fullerton’s NCAA Division I program (C10). “I decided I wanted to do something different,” said the Simi Valley resident, who commutes to Fullerton.