STILL HUSTLING: Their dream of landing a...

STILL HUSTLING: Their dream of landing a Mercedes-Benz plant in Ventura County is dead, but business and government leaders known as the Red Team are still trying to attract big employers to Ventura County. “There’s nothing right now of Mercedes’ caliber on the front burner,� said Tab Berg, aide to Assemblyman Nao Takasugi (R-Oxnard). “But the network is alive.�. . . Supervisor Maggie Kildee’s Council on Economic Vitality will report next month on the feasibility of starting an economic development corporation for the county. . . . Mercedes-Benz is expected to announce today its choice for a new plant site: Alabama (D1).

TRIAL BALLOON: What to do with one of the most scenic hills in Thousand Oaks? An advisory committee is studying that question, but member Russ Goodenough couldn’t wait to give council members his idea for the ridge behind the old City Hall on Hillcrest Drive. He wants to build a 50-foot metal sculpture of a golden oak, visible from all parts of the city. . . . “We need something that will distinguish this community in the same way the Golden Gate Bridge distinguishes San Francisco and the Eiffel Tower distinguishes Paris,� Goodenough said. . . . Council members accepted the suggestion late Tuesday without comment.

BOARD GAMES: Forget the personal ads. Computer bulletin boards have replaced singles bars as the hip way to hook up (Ventura County Life, J6). . . . Ventura County has about 70 boards, linking people interested in everything from poetry to Perot.

RARE DAY: In Southern California, it occurs only in September, and only in a few places each year: The date matches the ZIP code. Today it happens in Simi Valley, which has ZIP code 93093. . . . “It’s very unusual, because a lot of the possible ZIP code combinations aren’t used,� said postal service spokeswoman Terri Bouffiou. A special postmark noting the numerical coincidence will be used today at the main post office at 2551 N. Galena Ave. . . . Nobody lives in ZIP code 93093. It’s devoted to post office boxes.