HOT STUFF: Who says good guys finish...

HOT STUFF: Who says good guys finish last? Eight Los Angeles County firefighters will be rewarded today for their heroism in daring rescues around the Valley area. The rescues include extracting a building inspector from a 68-foot shaft in Valencia, plucking a motorist whose truck had been swept down Placerita Canyon, and freeing a trapped man at the Northridge Fashion Center after the 1994 temblor.

BUDGET BITES: Think you have to settle for a stale tub of popcorn when you rush to a movie? Think again. . . . Eateries on Ventura Boulevard offer fast, filling fare for only a few dollars. From steamed clams at Delmonico’s to papri chat at Akbar Grill, eating on the cheap goes hand in hand with eating on the fly. See Valley Life! Page 19.

FEELING GOOFY: Recognize this angst-ridden face from your driver training films? It’s the Goofy who becomes a maniacal jerk when he climbs behind the wheel. Unfortunately, Valley drivers encounter plenty of real jerks on local roadways. Today’s Street Smart column (B2) tells how to endure such encounters.

TAXI DISSERVICE? There are only two taxi companies with permits to serve the Valley, and now one of them may face a challenge. . . . The city’s Board of Transportation voted Thursday to seek bids from competitors of Checker Cab, which has operated in the Valley since 1992. City officials claim Checker Cab has not met promises for providing service. The bid request still must be approved by the City Council and Mayor Richard Riordan.

HISTORIC PATTERN: During the Depression in 1933, thousands of American women spent tens of thousands of hours with needle and thread for the title of “Best Quiltmaker” and the $1,000 prize. Now, Valley residents can view the quilts--and learn about the winner who didn’t sew a single stitch--at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage. See Valley Life! Page 3.