THAT’S POLITICS: A rousing presidential debate at...

THAT’S POLITICS: A rousing presidential debate at the Reagan library seemed like a good idea only a short while ago. That’s when Republican candidates were still duking it out in early primaries. . . . But with Bob Dole’s continuing string of successes (A1), the likelihood of his swapping verbal blows at a proposed debate March 24 near Simi Valley is waning. Says a Reagan library official: “It looks like we’re going to cancel it.”

A NEW LOOK: They used to be everywhere around Southern California, but ficus trees have lost favor, thanks to cracked sidewalks and blocked street signs (A1). . . . The city of Ventura’s decision last year to replace the ficus on California Street with palms and honey locusts touched off a debate. But since the street was being torn up anyway, city planner Pat Richardson said, the city decided to put in trees that opened up the view to the ocean and improved visibility for local businesses.

HE CAN PLAY: Last weekend was busy for Thousand Oaks High sophomore Dave Perry. His band, Andromeda, played at the Roxy in Hollywood on Friday night to a packed house that included Steve Miller Band member and family friend Kenny Lewis. . . . On Saturday, 15-year-old Dave made his varsity pitching debut, tossing two shutout innings in Thousand Oaks’ victory over Monroe. Atlantic Records has expressed interest in the punk-funk sound of Andromeda, which also includes Thousand Oaks High students Ian Hendrickson, Jorel Miller and Brian Hendrix.

FIELD ISSUE: Farmers were happy and farm worker groups weren’t after Gov. Pete Wilson extended the use of the soil fumigant methyl bromide through December 1997. (B12) “Strawberry yields would drop quite significantly” without the fumigant, said Santa Paula farmer John Ferro. . . . But Eileen McCarthy of California Rural Legal Assistance says methyl bromide should have been banned: “The issue comes down to one of economics versus safety.”