FAMILY PRIDE: Little Joe y La Familia,...

FAMILY PRIDE: Little Joe y La Familia, a pioneering Tex-Mex band, will perform at the Ventura Theatre on Saturday (F1A). Leader Joe Hernandez, who began his career in 1959, called his first band Little Joe and the Latinaires. “In those days, there was Little Stevie Wonder, Little Anthony, Little Esther, Little Richard--a bunch of littles,” he said. . . . Hernandez says it was tough at times to stick to his roots, but he’s glad he did: “A lot of the other kids my age were singing rock ‘n’ roll in English, but I had always sung the Spanish songs I heard my Dad and uncle sing, and I really loved them.”

MIXED SIGNALS: John Miranda was happy to get a letter from Gov. Pete Wilson late last year endorsing his efforts to build a playground for the children at Camarillo State Hospital. So Miranda, who started Marines & Friends 4 the Camarillo Kids several years ago, was stunned this week when Wilson suggested closing the hospital (B1). . . . “I knew that various departments were making various recommendations, but it was a shock and surprise to see he was right in the middle of it,” Miranda said. The ex-Marine said his group will continue visiting the developmentally disabled children as long as they are there.

NO SHOW: When television celeb Sasha Mitchell missed a court appearance for the third time, the judge ordered his arrest (B6). . . . Deputy Dist. Atty. John Colombo wants Mitchell to serve some time for failing to comply with requirements in the spousal-abuse case, and then he wants him back on probation. “We want to have as much guidance over him as possible so he doesn’t do this again.”

TODAY: “Send in the Clowns” will be presented by the Ventura Drama Troupe at 516 E. Main St., Ventura; 1 p.m.; free. Info: 644-7800. More events, B2

WEATHER: Windy and warm, with highs to the low 80s. B10

--Lynne Barnes

* The Top of Today’s News is on A2