RARE DEPARTURE: Maria VanderKolk is retiring from...

RARE DEPARTURE: Maria VanderKolk is retiring from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors (B1)--something no other supervisor in memory has done after only one term. Lots have been defeated after four years, but voluntary departures are unusual. . . . “You might have to go back to the last century to find the last time that’s been done,” veteran Supervisor John Flynn said. . . . VanderKolk’s District 2--Thousand Oaks and Port Hueneme--has a history of long-serving supervisors. Since 1918, only two have held just one term: VanderKolk and the woman she defeated, Madge L. Schaefer.

BUILDING HABITAT: The group’s name is Habitat for Humanity, but its local chapter could be called Habitat for Henderson--as in Charlie Henderson of Oak View. He’s the only person to have a home built by Habitat of Ventura County. . . . But now the 10-year-old group is preparing to construct a house in Thousand Oaks and hopes to obtain land in other cities (B4). . . . The 72-year-old Henderson moved into his three-bedroom modular house in July, after living in adobe structures for 30 years. “He didn’t have any comforts,” a caretaker said. “Now he’s growing fat and sassy.”

THRIFTY GIFTS: This economic slump doesn’t have to be the pinch that stole Christmas. With a little imagination, you can have a festive holiday without going broke (Ventura County Life, Page 28). . . . One way to save: Eliminate gift wrap. Spray paint and last year’s holiday cards can dress up a package as well as store wrap.

TIMELY TOYS: Move over, Barbie. Make room on the toy-store shelves for Kenya, Imani, Consuela and all those other dolls aimed at minority children (E1). Reason for the minority doll boom: economics. Of the 34 million children ages 5 to 14, 27% are black or Latino. . . . Kids aren’t the only ones demanding culture-specific dolls. “It’s really been increasing among collectors in the last two years,” said Carolyn D’Angelo of Fantasy World of Dolls in Ventura. . . . Of her 35 students, five are minorities making dolls that reflect their heritage.