THE BLOOM IS OFF: Part of Thomas...

THE BLOOM IS OFF: Part of Thomas Lakin’s legacy to the Ventura County Community College District are the roses he planted at its headquarters (B1). But Lakin, who was instrumental in keeping them tended, died last year, and now many are withering. So Trustee John Tallman, another rose-lover, has issued a plea asking the public to help out. . . . One district employee who has helped cites the rewards: “I just have a real love for flowers and I don’t have much of a yard myself,” said budget analyst Klarene Merry. “It just gives you a good, warm, fuzzy feeling.”

WINDBLOWN: Santa Ana winds earlier this week affected more than the firefighters who were put on alert. Glenna Kurz, a participant in Oxnard’s Christmas Tree Lane, found that the head of the 20-foot toy soldier in her yard disappeared in the gusts. . . . After a search, the missing noggin was found three blocks away by a neighbor. “It was quite funny,” Kurz said. “We couldn’t find it anywhere.” . . . Christmas Tree Lane is just one of the holiday events in the area (B1).

BEACH PATROL: David Holland of Port Hueneme loves the ocean, so when he heard about a program asking volunteers to adopt a beach, he and his wife, Takako, signed up. . . . The program calls for the couple to clean a stretch of sand near Marina Park for a year, and the initial scouring went well, Holland said. “The day we did it, the weather was like today. Spending three hours on a beach in weather like that is a pleasure.” . . . The program is run by the nonprofit Partners in Progress. Call 652-4555 to volunteer.

PARK PLAQUES: Partners in Progress has other options for those who want to help beautify Ventura without hitting the beach. You can take care of holiday gifts by purchasing park benches (for $600), barbecues ($200), picnic tables ($700) or water fountains ($800-$1,100). Those include a plaque on the item. . . . For a mere $100, the lower-key gift-giver can dedicate a tree in someone’s name and come away with a certificate.