JAPAN WATCH: Officials at the Port of...

JAPAN WATCH: Officials at the Port of Hueneme are closely monitoring recovery efforts in earthquake-shattered Japan (A1). . . . In the last fiscal year, the port shipped nearly 178,000 tons of citrus to Japan--about half to Sakai, across Osaka Bay from Kobe, and the rest to Tokyo. “As far as landing the shipments, that looks like it will go on pretty much unimpeded,” port spokesman Kam Quarles said. “But the road and rail situation once they arrive at the port are another issue.” . . . Shipment time between here and there is about two weeks.

FAT CITY: Calories, fat grams . . . when it comes to doughnuts, who’s counting? Apparently not the legions of doughnut devotees in Ventura County, whose love of the deep-fried comfort food has helped fuel a proliferation of shops (Ventura County Life, Page 8). . . . What the doughnut lacks in nutritional value, it makes up for in a history that dates back to biblical times.

LET IT SNOW: As if the rainy weather for days on end wasn’t enough . . . some Camarillo schoolchildren will celebrate with more wet stuff: snow. A snow-blowing machine will blanket the playground of Pleasant Valley Baptist School today. . . . Playing in the white stuff can be as messy as playing in the rain. “Kids will bring a change of clothes,” preschool director Patty Tanner said.