JAZZ MAN: Saxophonist Tom Scott has played...

JAZZ MAN: Saxophonist Tom Scott has played backup for such artists as Joni Mitchell on “Court and Spark” and Steely Dan on “Aja.” He’s been the bandleader for the Pat Sajak and Chevy Chase television shows. And now he’s musical director for the upcoming Academy Awards. . . . So what does this renaissance musician do to relax on weekends? This Sunday, he’ll be at Wheeler Hot Springs with Ojai pianist Roger Kellaway doing a dinner-concert of jazz standards (F1A).

BANNER FLIGHT: If all goes according to plan, when the space shuttle Columbia takes off today, it will be carrying a banner made by a fifth-grade class at Thousand Oaks’ Acacia School. That is thanks to astronaut Scott Horowitz, who attended Acacia as a sixth-grader. . . . Teacher Sharon Sickler says her students are quite excited about the prospect of meeting Horowitz, who has promised to return the banner to Acacia after the 13-day mission. And the class will be e-mailing Horowitz while he’s orbiting, Sickler said. . . . The banner carries the message: “Follow your dreams to the ends of the earth and beyond.”

MIXED FORECAST: The forecast for the county’s economic future is mixed, but it’s more good than bad (B1), experts say. . . . What’s keeping it darker is that uncertainty breeds more uncertainty, says Steve Kinney of the Greater Oxnard Economic Development Corp. For instance, he says, even though interest rates are down, home sales aren’t up. “People’s uncertainty about the job market is undermining what should be a strong home-buying market,” he says.