Midway-area bank manager foils would-be robber A would-be robber left empty-handed from the Comerica Bank near Rosecrans Street Monday morning after the bank manager denied access to the suspect before the bank opened, according to police. The robber, described as a white man in his mid-40s to mid-50s, claimed to have a gun and demanded to be let in — a demand the bank manager refused. The suspect reportedly fled the scene in a gold-colored, full-size extended cab truck. He was described as about 5-feet 7-inches-tall, weighing about 175 pounds, wearing a white cap, gray sweatshirt, jeans and large sunglasses. Police are asking the public’s help to identify the would-be robber and urge anyone with information to call the police department’s robbery division at (619) 531-2299. — Kevin McKay
Police probe shooting at Point Loma hotel Police investigators are probing a shooting at the Quality Inn in the Roseville-Fleetridge area Sunday night following an altercation in the bar. According to police, a 37-year-old man was shot around 10:20 p.m. after he was ejected from the hotel’s bar on Nimitz Boulevard and a fight with three or four other men spilled into a hallway at the hotel. Investigators said the man suffered a grazing wound to the head and gunshot wounds to the legs and buttocks. The injuries were not considered life threatening, according to police. The suspects were described only as black men in their 20s or 30s. — Kevin McKay Suspected carjacker, OB robber set for hearing A carjacker who is alleged to have shot a man and later robbed three tourists outside an Ocean Beach hostel is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Feb. 15. Treviyon DeShawn Rew, 18, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, four robberies, auto theft, carjacking and carrying a concealed weapon. His case is being heard in Chula Vista Superior Court because the shooting and carjacking took place in National City. Rew is accused of shooting Sean Simpson, 26, five times in the back on July 22 in the parking lot of his condominium. Simpson’s car was then stolen and used to rob three Irish tourists in Ocean Beach two hours later. The three victims — all women — were sitting on the front steps of the Ocean Beach International Hostel on Newport Avenue at the time. Rew and another man are accused of pulling a gun on the tourists, who are in their 20s, according to investigators. Taken were wallets, cell phones and passports. Deputy District Attorney Dave Grapilon said authorities have not yet located the second suspect. He said Simpson, the shooting victim, is “making a good recovery.” Rew remains in custody on $1.55 million bail. — Neal Putnam
PCPB seeks candidates for five open board seats The Peninsula Community Planning Board is seeking candidates to fill five open board seats for members whose three-year terms are up.  Terms are expiring for Chuck Mellor, Shelly Kilbourn, Donna Kaup, Jim Lester and Scott Brown. It is not yet clear whether any or all five will seek re-election in the March 17 balloting. To qualify as a candidate, interested parties must be at least 18 years of age and be affiliated with the community as: (1) a property owner, who is an individual identified as the sole or partial owner of record, of a real property (either developed or undeveloped), within the community planning area; (2) a resident, who is an individual whose primary address of residence is an address in the community planning area; or (3) a local business person, who is a local business or not-for-profit owner or operator at a non-residential real property address in the community planning area. A recognized community member may become an eligible candidate by: (a) attending one meeting of the Peninsula Community Planning Board’s regular meetings (including a planned candidate forum on Thursday, March 10) occurring during the 12-month period prior to the March general election, with such attendance acknowledged by the planning board chair or secretary or reflected in minutes; and (b) submitting a completed application to the election subcommittee. The deadline to qualify for candidacy in the March general election is on or before the March 10 candidate forum. For additional information and/or to download an application, visit www.pcpb.net. Questions may be directed to PCPB Election Committee Chairwoman Helen Kinnaird at (619) 224-9897. OBMA extends deadline until Feb. 15 for biz directory The Ocean Beach MainStreet Association (OBMA) has extended the deadline for local merchants to submit advertising copy, ad coupons and listing information for the 2011-12 edition of the OB Local Business Directory. About 23,000 copies will be printed and distributed in the 92106 and 92107 ZIP codes — some in the 92110 area — including some distribution inside The Peninsula Beacon as part of an ongoing partnership. Other copies will be distributed through high-traffic businesses and the OBMA office, along with other local special events like the Ocean Beach Farmers Market. OBMA officials said volunteers will also go door-to-door in March to deliver directories from Sunset Cliffs Boulevard to the ocean and from West Point Loma Boulevard to Point Loma Avenue. The OB Local Business Directory is a project of the OBMA Promotion Committee.  The cover art was designed by Ashley Lewis of Dog Beach Design. Merchants still wishing to participate in the directory and residents wishing to volunteer may contact the OBMA office at (619) 224-4906. MAKUA child advocates to host informational session The Point Loma-based child-advocacy group Makua — which serves as the local auxiliary for Voices for Children — will host an informational panel about its Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) on Monday, Jan. 31. With heavy caseloads and a shortage of social workers, CASAs are volunteers who speak on behalf of foster children who must make mandatory appearances in juvenile court every six months to gauge their progress in the foster-family system. The informational session will explain the roles of CASAs and how interested residents can get involved. The event will feature light refreshments beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center of Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, located at 2128 Chatsworth Blvd. For more information, e-mail [email protected]. Public restrooms to close temporarily at lighthouse The public restrooms at the Historic Old Point Loma Lighthouse will be closed from Feb. 27 until March 7 to replace inoperable lift stations used to pump sewage, according to officials at Cabrillo National Monument. The public restrooms at the visitor center will be unaffected by the work, however, and will be open for visitor use. For more information, call (619) 557-5450, or visit http://www.nps.gov/cabr/. Silver Gate school slates benefit concert Silver Gate Elementary School will hold an inaugural benefit concert on Saturday, Jan. 29, featuring four local bands. The event takes place at Humphrey’s Backstage Live from 2 to 8 p.m., and proceeds will benefit Silver Gate Elementary. The event will include music, food, drinks and dancing. The cover charge at the door is $10 for adults and free admission for children until 8 p.m. when the lounge opens for those of legal drinking age. Scheduled are: • 2 to 3:30 p.m.: GoMango’s First Friday Club (www.firstfridaymusicclub.com) – Glen Fisher of GoMango Invasion Orchestra and Fish and The Seaweeds fame (www.gomangoinvasion.com). • 3:30 to 5 p.m.: The Moonlighters, a jazz band that plays at Old Venice and includes guitar-playing dad Steve Power from Silver Gate Elementary, as well as Austin Bunn on drums. • 5 to 6:30 p.m.: The Weener Pigs (www.weenerpigs.com) is a ’70s rock ’n’ roll cover band that features Silver Gate dad Adam Harris on lead vocals and local dentist Dr. Jim Jones from Seaside Dentistry on drums. • 6:30 to 8 p.m.: Super Plate, an ’80’s cover band featuring local firefighter and Silver Gate dad Frank Godinez. Humphrey’s Backstage Live is located at 2241 Shelter Island Drive. For more information, call (619) 224-3577, or visit www.humphreysbackstagelive.com.