SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: BRIEFLY : CHICK INTRODUCES AREA CODE RESOLUTION.

The Los Angeles City Council was asked Friday to oppose any plan to further divide the San Fernando Valley with a new telephone area code.

Councilwoman Laura Chick, with the support of six other council members representing the Valley, introduced a resolution urging the Valley all be kept in the present 818 area code.

``The addition of a fourth area code dividing the city of Los Angeles could lead to confusion as well as disrupt the public and private business in the city,'' Chick said. Action on the resolution is scheduled for Tuesday.

SOURCE: - Daily News Gunmen assault two in separate robberies

A man and a woman, both in their 50s, were pistol-whipped and robbed Friday in two unrelated assaults about a mile apart in the West Valley, police said. There were no arrests in either incident.

About 9:20 a.m. in the 23000 block of Vanowen Street in West Hills, a man walked in on three intruders who were burglarizing his home, said West Valley robbery Detective Larry Kagele.

The 55-year-old victim, who was not identified by police, was tied up and beaten with a handgun before the suspects fled, Kagele said.

About 3-1/2 hours later, a woman was attacked in front of her sister's house in West Hills in the 6500 block of Gross Avenue by a gunman who stole her purse, hit her in the head with a gun and fled in a car, police said.

Detectives ruled out any connection between the two cases, Kagele said.

Both victims were reported in good condition at area hospitals.

SOURCE: - Daily News Police arrest couple in fraud scheme

SHERMAN OAKS - Police have arrested a husband and wife on suspicion of running a fraud scheme in which they used stolen credit card information to charge thousands of dollars in goods and then resell them.

Eyituoyo Commey, 34, and his wife, Philomena Ejededawe, 32, were arrested Thursday.

In searching the couple's apartment in the 15000 block of Magnolia Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, police found new computers, fax machines, cellular phones and numerous credit cards and checks.

Police also raided storage units in North Hollywood and in Los Angeles and found caches of consumer goods still in boxes, and a search of a safe deposit box uncovered $85,000 in cash.

Commey was arrested and held on $1 million bail. His wife, also arrested, was being held on $500,000 bail, police said.

SOURCE: - Daily News Checker Cab transfer one step closer

Setting the stage for the transfer of a taxi franchise in the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles City Council approved a stipulation Friday that would allow a new firm to take over the operation.

The court stipulation says that if United Independent Taxi Drivers (UITD) Inc. qualifies under city regulations, it will be allowed to take over the franchise currently held by San Fernando Valley Checker Cab.

Checker Cab filed for bankruptcy protection last year and UITD won a bankruptcy-court auction to buy Checker Cab's assets for $1.4 million recently.

The court has permitted UITD to operate Checker Cab's taxis in the Valley pending a final vote by the city Transportation Commission and City Council to approve the transfer in the coming months.

SOURCE: - Daily News Cesar Chavez to be honored with march

SAN FERNANDO - In honor of Cesar Chavez's birthday Sunday, hundreds of high school youths will march at 1 p.m. today from San Fernando High School to City Hall.

The march will commemorate the late labor leader's contributions as the founder of the United Farm Workers.

Students from all over the Valley are invited to meet at the high school at 11133 O'Melveny Ave. and proceed to City Hall, at 117 Macneil St.

A program will continue at City Hall, with performances by folk dancers, a mariachi group, and presentations by city officials and youth leaders, said Bill Gallegos of the San Fernando Valley Partnership, one of the sponsors of the march.

SOURCE: - Daily News