TRASH TRIUMPH: East Ventura County residents are...

TRASH TRIUMPH: East Ventura County residents are applauding a decision by Waste Management not to truck trash from the city of Oceanside to the Simi Valley Landfill (B6) . . . It’s the latest go-round in a game of who gets trash from where. Though the Simi Valley dump has escaped the clutches of its neighbor to the south, Oceanside still has its eye on sites in Lancaster, Bradley and the City of Industry.

KICKING BARRIERS: They may be best friends, but when it comes to playing football it’s every girl for herself. . . . Chrissy Sanford kicks for the Newbury Park High School football team and Joy Barry does the same for rival Thousand Oaks High (C8). . . . The 16-year-old juniors are part of a statewide trend--71 girls played varsity football in California last year, more than five times as many as in 1991. . . . Their skill on the field has snuffed some of the skepticism from spectators--and teammates. Said Joy: “They’ve come to respect what I do.”

COVER OF NIGHT: Some cyclists have discovered a new way to hit the road: after dark. (Ventura County Life, Page 8) . . . Mountain bike riders are taking to Ventura County trails at nightfall--but with powerful battery-operated lamps to light the way. . . . Aside from the danger of riding into unseen objects--say, a cow--night riding offers special rewards. “It’s so cool and quiet,” said Paul Sailor of Ventura. “All you hear are crickets and the wind in the trees.”

FIT AS A FIDDLE: For some exercise buffs, bulging biceps aren’t everything. . . . That’s why Shana Sable of Simi Valley gave up bodybuilding competitions a few years ago for a new kind of contest: fitness shows. Sable won a regional competition of Ms. Fitness America, and will represent California at the nationals in November. . . . Contestants are judged on--you guessed it--fitness, as well as strength, coordination and flexibility. Sable, 30, believes the popularity of the hybrid sport is growing. “It’s definitely appealing to the masses.”