We will be getting a rare look at the Navy's San Nicolas Island today with the ribbon-cutting for its new pier. Staff writer Raul Hernandez (rhernandez@VenturaCountyStar.com)is out at the ceremony. San Nicolas is the island the Navy uses for its testing ... much of it cloaked in secrecy and so the rest of us don't often get a look at the place. We will for tomorrow's Star.

Staff writer Zeke Barlow (zbarlow@VenturaCountyStar.com) has his story ready on Rebuild Ventura County, the local alliance of various agencies that is helping folks get back on their feet after the winter storms. Federal help and insurance only pay so much of the bill. Rebuild Ventura County is trying to fill in those gaps.

We'll also have coverage of Santa Paula's grand kickoff of the Vinick for President campaign ... at least it's the Vinick from Santa Paula for President campaign. With tongue firmly in cheek, Santa Paula is lobbying the producers of the hit TV show "The West Wing" to make one of their fictional presidential candidates, played by Alan Alda, from Santa Paula. When Alda's character announced his candidacy, the event was filmed in Fillmore. Staff writer Kathleen Wilson(kwilson@VenturaCountyStar.com) will be at the big event today.

The latest figures from California Association of Realtors on home sales are to be released today. We're not sure the current figures will include the numbers from Ventura County in March, but if they do we'll look to see if they should be brought out to Page One for tomorrow.

And we're following the latest in the long-running battle by the City of Simi Valley to keep a strip club out of town. Staff writer Teresa Rochester (trochester@VenturaCountyStar.com) will have that story.

The big story off the wire is the tragic train crash in Japan. The latest is that 52 died in that accident.