TIDY SUMS: Parting is sweet sorrow, but...

TIDY SUMS: Parting is sweet sorrow, but money helps ease the pain. . . . Some Ventura County officials leaving the employ of local government are getting healthy farewell checks from the county (B1). . . . Outgoing Supervisors Vicky Howard and Maria VanderKolk and Chief Administrative Officer Richard Wittenberg will receive lump sums for extra vacation time. . . . Perks for local government officials were a hot topic a couple of years ago--but whether reforms went far enough remains an issue of debate for watchdog groups.

SAFE HAVEN: It’s been five months since Casa Pacifica, the county’s only residence for abused and neglected children, opened its doors to youngsters (B1). . . . Fund-raising efforts to meet operating expenses are continuing, on the heels of a construction campaign that brought in about $10 million. . . . “The need’s still there,” spokeswoman Tanya Gonzales said. Officials are hoping to raise $450,000 toward operating costs this fiscal year--about 10% of the annual budget.

FAST QUIPS: Sporting a vanity license plate has almost become a California cliche. . . . But in a game of one-upmanship, Ventura motorcycle cops are weighing in with their own retort to motorists whose plates boast about the driver’s speeding abilities. Officers have installed frames around their license plates with such phrases as: “If you got the speed, I’ve got the time.” . . . The attempt at humor isn’t always a big hit for motorists caught in the fast lane, police say.

GIVING BACK: As school finances tighten, teachers often find themselves dipping into their personal budgets to pay for basic classroom equipment. . . . In the spirit of the season, one teacher suggests that ordinary citizens think about giving to teachers (Voices, Page B13). . . . In Ventura, the school district’s educational foundation has already such a campaign under way. Participating downtown merchants are donating a portion of their sales proceeds to a fund that provides grants to help teachers meet classroom expenses.